Gait Classification Based on Micro-Doppler Features

This paper focuses on the classification of human gaits based on micro-Doppler signatures. The micro-Doppler signatures can represent detailed information about the human gaits, which helps in judging the threat of a personnel target. The proposed method consists of three major steps. Firstly, the micro-Doppler signatures are obtained by performing time-frequency analysis on the radar data. Then two micro-Doppler features are extracted from the time-frequency domain. Finally, the one-versus-one support vector machine (SVM) is used to realize multi-class classification. Experiments on real data show that, with the selected features, high classification accuracy of the human gaits of interest can be achieved

Delivering public services in the mixed economy of welfare : perspectives from the voluntary and community sector in rural England

The voluntary and community sector in England is playing an increasingly important role in the delivery of public services to older adults and in doing so they rely on unpaid volunteers. In this article, we draw on the findings of a recent qualitative study of the impact on the voluntary and community sector of delivering ‘low-level’ public services that promote independent living and wellbeing in old age. The fieldwork focused on services that help older adults aged 70+ living in remote rural communities across three English regions. Those charged with service delivery, which is increasingly the voluntary and community sector, face particular challenges, such as uncertain funding regimes and reliance on volunteer labour

Finite-Size Scaling Study of the Three-Dimensional Classical Heisenberg Model

We use the single-cluster Monte Carlo update algorithm to simulate the three-dimensional classical Heisenberg model in the critical region on simple cubic lattices of size $L^3$ with $L=12, 16, 20, 24, 32, 40$, and $48$. By means of finite-size scaling analyses we compute high-precision estimates of the critical temperature and the critical exponents, using extensively histogram reweighting and optimization techniques. Measurements of the autocorrelation time show the expected reduction of critical slowing down at the phase transition. This allows simulations on significantly larger lattices than in previous studies and consequently a better control over systematic errors in finite-size scaling analyses.Comment: 9 pages, FUB-HEP 9/92, HLRZ Preprint 56/92, August 199

High-Temperature Series Analyses of the Classical Heisenberg and XY Model

Although there is now a good measure of agreement between Monte Carlo and high-temperature series expansion estimates for Ising ($n=1$) models, published results for the critical temperature from series expansions up to 12{\em th} order for the three-dimensional classical Heisenberg ($n=3$) and XY ($n=2$) model do not agree very well with recent high-precision Monte Carlo estimates. In order to clarify this discrepancy we have analyzed extended high-temperature series expansions of the susceptibility, the second correlation moment, and the second field derivative of the susceptibility, which have been derived a few years ago by L\"uscher and Weisz for general $O(n)$ vector spin models on $D$-dimensional hypercubic lattices up to 14{\em th} order in $K \equiv J/k_B T$. By analyzing these series expansions in three dimensions with two different methods that allow for confluent correction terms, we obtain good agreement with the standard field theory exponent estimates and with the critical temperature estimates from the new high-precision MC simulations. Furthermore, for the Heisenberg model we reanalyze existing series for the susceptibility on the BCC lattice up to 11{\em th} order and on the FCC lattice up to 12{\em th} order.Comment: 15 pages, Latex, 2 PS figures not included. FUB-HEP 18/92 and HLRZ 76/9

Impact of Novel Sorghum Bran Diets on DSS-Induced Colitis.

We have demonstrated that polyphenol-rich sorghum bran diets alter fecal microbiota; however, little is known regarding their effect on colon inflammation. Our aim was to characterize the effect of sorghum bran diets on intestinal homeostasis during dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (N = 20/diet) were provided diets containing 6% fiber from cellulose, or Black (3-deoxyanthocyanins), Sumac (condensed tannins) or Hi Tannin Black (both) sorghum bran. Colitis was induced (N = 10/diet) with three separate 48-h exposures to 3% DSS, and feces were collected. On Day 82, animals were euthanized and the colon resected. Only discrete mucosal lesions, with no diarrhea or bloody stools, were observed in DSS rats. Only bran diets upregulated proliferation and Tff3, Tgfβ and short chain fatty acids (SCFA) transporter expression after a DSS challenge. DSS did not significantly affect fecal SCFA concentrations. Bran diets alone upregulated repair mechanisms and SCFA transporter expression, which suggests these polyphenol-rich sorghum brans may suppress some consequences of colitis

Multi-disciplinary perspectives: application of the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research to evaluate a health coaching initiative

Long term conditions are a leading cause of mortality and morbidity. Their management is founded on a combination of approaches involving government policy, better integration between health and care systems, and individual responsibility for self-care. Health coaching has emerged as an approach to encouraging individual responsibility and enhancing the self-management of long term conditions. This paper focuses on the evaluation of a workforce initiative in a diverse and socially deprived community. The initiative sought both to improve integration between health and care services for people with long term conditions, and equip practitioners with health coaching skills. The aim of the study was to contribute an empirical understanding of what practitioners perceive to be the contextual factors that impact on the adoption of health coaching in community settings. These factors were conceptualised using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). A stratified purposive sample of 22 health and care practitioners took part in semi-structured telephone interviews. Data were analysed using the CFIR as an analytical framework. The perceptions of trainees mapped onto the major domains of the CFIR: characteristics of the intervention, outer setting, inner setting, characteristics of individuals involved, and process of implementation. Individual patient expectations, co-morbidities and social context were central to the extent to which practitioners and patients engaged with health coaching. Structural constraints within provider services and the wider NHS were also reported as discouraging initiatives that focused on long term rewards rather than short term wins. The authors recommend further research is undertaken both to understand the role of health coaching in disadvantaged communities and ensure the service user voice is heard

Universal growth scheme for quantum dots with low fine-Structure splitting at various emission wavelengths

Efficient sources of individual pairs of entangled photons are required for quantum networks to operate using fibre optic infrastructure. Entangled light can be generated by quantum dots (QDs) with naturally small fine-structure-splitting (FSS) between exciton eigenstates. Moreover, QDs can be engineered to emit at standard telecom wavelengths. To achieve sufficient signal intensity for applications, QDs have been incorporated into 1D optical microcavities. However, combining these properties in a single device has so far proved elusive. Here, we introduce a growth strategy to realise QDs with small FSS in the conventional telecom band, and within an optical cavity. Our approach employs droplet-epitaxy of InAs quantum dots on (001) substrates. We show the scheme improves the symmetry of the dots by 72%. Furthermore, our technique is universal, and produces low FSS QDs by molecular beam epitaxy on GaAs emitting at ~900nm, and metal-organic vapour phase epitaxy on InP emitting at 1550 nm, with mean FSS 4x smaller than for Stranski-Krastanow QDs

Consuming post-disaster destinations: The case of Sichuan, China

Addressing the call for a better understanding of tourist behavior in relation to post-disaster destinations, this study explores the motivations and intentions of potential domestic tourists (from non-hit areas) to visit Sichuan, China in the aftermath of an earthquake. Drawing on dark tourism theories, this study offers a more comprehensive insight into the consumption of post-disaster destinations, aiming to capture the impact of the changes to the destination’s attributes on tourist behavior. The findings move beyond the common approach to tourism recovery, which solely focuses on reviving the traditional ‘‘non-dark’’ products. This study reveals the importance of newly formed dark attributes that emerge from the disaster as another means to destination recovery, reflected in the emergence of new tourist segments