Illumination uniformity in endoscopic imaging

Standardised endoscopic digital images were taken and analysed using an image analysis software (National Instruments Vision Assistant version 7.1.1). The luminance plane was extracted and the pixel intensity distribution was determined along a horizontal line at the position of highest average intensity (centroid). The data was exported to MS Excel and the pixel intensity (y-axis) was plotted against pixel position (x-axis). A trendline using a 2nd order polynomial curve was fitted to each data set. The resultant equation for each curve was compared with equations obtained from other images taken under various illumination conditions and settings

Ecological Agro-ecosystem Sustainable Development in Relationship to Other Sectors in the Economic System, and Human Ecological Footprint and Imprint☆

Abstract Sustainable agriculture is the major economic sector (i.e. about 30% of Global economy) with the industrial and trading system in the world's economy. It is important to understand why the sustainable development is very important to the point of view of improving of human life and reducing the poverty. Additionally, we need to sustain our natural resources to be replenished and continue support our human population growth that is continued to increase in alarming rate rather than development, which is in a slow rate that does not meet the demands. This paper is to discuss the importance of global agro-ecosystems, to support humans' needs for feeding and continue their lives in a healthy and sustainable life and to function within the society. In addition, the paper will show the availability of the agriculture natural resources in terms of global ecological biological capacities in hectares and the trends in using these resources in terms of an ecological footprint in hectares. Additionally, we study the term of ecological human imprint in relation to the agro-ecosystem as suggested by Shakir Hanna et al., 2014 . Further the paper will address the impacts of agro-ecosystem on global economy and, further discuss the impacts of human technological advances on agro-ecosystems ecologically, economically, and social importance. Our results show that the global population will be 10.50 billion people in 2050 (i.e. 1.1% the current population growth). The available global cropped land is 2.36 billion global hectares in 2008.The question is the Earth able to provide food and other agricultural products to support the healthy living of all human beings in year 2050 at the current growth rate? The paper is discussing these concerns

Localization and conductance fluctuations in the integer quantum Hall effect: Real--space renormalization group approach

We consider the network model of the integer quantum Hall effect transition. By generalizing the real--space renormalization group procedure for the classical percolation to the case of quantum percolation, we derive a closed renormalization group (RG) equation for the universal distribution of conductance of the quantum Hall sample at the transition. We find an approximate solution of the RG equation and use it to calculate the critical exponent of the localization length and the central moments of the conductance distribution. The results obtained are compared with the results of recent numerical simulations.Comment: 17 pages, RevTex, 7 figure

Causality and the effective range expansion

We derive the generalization of Wigner's causality bounds and Bethe's integral formula for the effective range parameter to arbitrary dimension and arbitrary angular momentum. We also discuss the impact of these constraints on the separation of low- and high-momentum scales and universality in low-energy scattering. Some of our results were summarized earlier in a letter publication. In this work, we present full derivations and several detailed examples.Comment: 27 pages, 5 figures, explicit examples added, typos corrected, final versio

Causality and universality in low-energy quantum scattering

We generalize Wigner's causality bounds and Bethe's integral formula for the effective range to arbitrary dimension and arbitrary angular momentum. Moreover, we discuss the impact of these constraints on the separation of low- and high-momentum scales and universality in low-energy quantum scattering.Comment: 9 pages, 1 figure, published versio

Formation of atomic tritium clusters and condensates

We present an extensive study of the static and dynamic properties of systems of spin-polarized tritium atoms. In particular, we calculate the two-body |F,m_F>=|0,0> s-wave scattering length and show that it can be manipulated via a Feshbach resonance at a field strength of about 870G. Such a resonance might be exploited to make and control a Bose-Einstein condensate of tritium in the |0,0> state. It is further shown that the quartet tritium trimer is the only bound hydrogen isotope and that its single vibrational bound state is a Borromean state. The ground state properties of larger spin-polarized tritium clusters are also presented and compared with those of helium clusters.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Landau level mixing and spin degeneracy in the quantum Hall effect

We study dynamics of electrons in a magnetic field using a network model with two channels per link with random mixing in a random intrachannel potential; the channels represent either two Landau levels or two spin states. We consider channel mixing as function of the energy separation of the two extended states and show that its effect changes from repulsion to attraction as the energy separation increases. For two Landau levels this leads to level floating at low magnetic fields while for Zeeman split spin states we predict level attraction at high magnetic fields, accounting for ESR data. We also study random mixing of two degenerate channels, while the intrachannel potential is periodic (non-random). We find a single extended state with a localization exponent $\nu\approx 1.1$ for real scattering at nodes; the general case has also a single extended state, though the localized nature of nearby states sets in at unusually large scales.Comment: 18 pages, 11 tex-files and 1 ps-file of figure

An optically actuated surface scanning probe

We demonstrate the use of an extended, optically trapped probe that is capable of imaging surface topography with nanometre precision, whilst applying ultra-low, femto-Newton sized forces. This degree of precision and sensitivity is acquired through three distinct strategies. First, the probe itself is shaped in such a way as to soften the trap along the sensing axis and stiffen it in transverse directions. Next, these characteristics are enhanced by selectively position clamping independent motions of the probe. Finally, force clamping is used to refine the surface contact response. Detailed analyses are presented for each of these mechanisms. To test our sensor, we scan it laterally over a calibration sample consisting of a series of graduated steps, and demonstrate a height resolution of ∼ 11 nm. Using equipartition theory, we estimate that an average force of only ∼ 140 fN is exerted on the sample during the scan, making this technique ideal for the investigation of delicate biological samples

Integer Quantum Hall Effect in Double-Layer Systems

We consider the localization of independent electron orbitals in double-layer two-dimensional electron systems in the strong magnetic field limit. Our study is based on numerical Thouless number calculations for realistic microscopic models and on transfer matrix calculations for phenomenological network models. The microscopic calculations indicate a crossover regime for weak interlayer tunneling in which the correlation length exponent appears to increase. Comparison of network model calculations with microscopic calculations casts doubt on their generic applicability.Comment: 14 pages, 12 figures included, RevTeX 3.0 and epsf. Additional reference