RAPID ANALYTICAL VERIFICATION OF HANDWRITTEN ALPHANUMERIC ADDRESS FIELDS

Microsoft, Motorola, Siemens, Hitachi, IAPR, NICI, IUF This paper presents a combination of fuzzy system and dynamic analytical model to deal with imprecise data derived from feature extraction in handwritten address images which are compared against postulated addresses for address verification. A dynamic building­number locator is able to locate and recognise the building­number, without knowing exactly where the building­number starts in the candidate address line. The overall system achieved a correct sorting rate of 72.9%, 27.1% rejection rate and 0.0% error rate on a blind test set of 450 cursive handwritten addresses.

The effect of desiccation on the emission of volatile bromocarbons from two common temperate macroalgae

Exposure of intertidal macroalgae during low tide has been linked to the emission of a variety of atmospherically-important trace gases into the coastal atmosphere. In recent years, several studies have investigated the role of inorganic iodine and organoiodides as antioxidants and their emission during exposure to combat oxidative stress, yet the role of organic bromine species during desiccation is less well understood. In this study the emission of dibromomethane (CH2Br2) and bromoform (CHBr3) during exposure and desiccation of two common temperate macroalgae, Fucus vesiculosus and Ulva intestinalis, is reported. Determination of the impact exposure may have on algal physiological processes is difficult as intertidal species are adapted to desiccation and may undergo varying degrees of desiccation before their physiology is affected. For this reason we include comparisons between photosynthetic capacity (Fv/Fm) and halocarbon emissions during a desiccation time series. In addition, the role of rewetting with freshwater to simulate exposure to rain was also investigated. Our results show that an immediate flux of bromocarbons occurs upon exposure, followed by a decline in bromocarbon emissions. We suggest that this immediate bromocarbon pulse may be linked to volatilisation or emissions of existing bromocarbon stores from the algal surface rather than the production of bromocarbons as an antioxidant response

Success and limiting factors in health service innovation: a theory generating mixed-methods evaluation of UK projects

Objectives: To explore and explain success and limiting factors in UK health service innovation. Design: Mixed methods evaluation of a series of health service innovations involving a survey and interviews, with theory-generating analysis. Setting: The research explored innovations supported by one of the UK’s Academic Health Science Networks which provides small grants, awards and structural support to health service innovators including clinical academics, health and social care professionals and third-sector organisations. Participants: All recipients of funding or support 2014–2018 were invited to participate. We analysed survey responses relating to 56 innovation projects. Results: Responses were used to conceptualise success along two axes: value creation for the intended beneficiaries and expansion beyond its original pilot. An analysis of variance between categories of success indicated that participation, motivation and evaluation were critical to value generation; organisational, educational and administrative support were critical to expansion; and leadership and collaborative expertise were critical to both value creation and expansion. Additional limiting factors derived from qualitative responses included difficulties navigating the boundaries and intersections between organisations, professions, sectors and cultures; a lack of support for innovation beyond the start-up phase; a lack of protected time; and staff burn-out and turnover. Conclusions: A nested hierarchy of innovation needs has been derived via an analysis of these factors, providing targeted suggestions to enhance the success of future innovations. Data availability statement Data are available upon reasonable request. Due to the highly individual nature of healthcare innovations and the limited geographic area of this study, we are unable to provide our raw data. We undertake to provide a redacted data set upon reasonable request

References

www.biogeosciences-discuss.net/11/10673/2014/ doi:10.5194/bgd-11-10673-2014 © Author(s) 2014. CC Attribution 3.0 License. This discussion paper is/has been under review for the journal Biogeosciences (BG). Please refer to the corresponding final paper in BG if available. The effect of desiccation on the emission of volatile bromocarbons from two common temperate macroalga

Specification and Data Presentation in Linear Control Systems-Part Two

This is the second part of a 2 volume report on the specification and data presentation in linear control systems. This volume deals with Sample Data Systems, Linear Time Variable Parameter Systems, and Performance Indices, which are respectively Chapter II, III, and IV of the volume. Since these subjects are somewhat unrelated, a separate abstract is given at the beginning of each chapter, with the exception of the introductory Chapter I. The separate chapter abstracts are repeated here for the convenience of the reader. Abstract - Linear Sampled Data Control Systems The specifications recommended, for use with sampled data control systems are those recommended for linear, continuous systems [1]. These specifications must be supplemented, as is dictated by the requirements of a particular system, by compatibility considerations that are detailed in the following sections. Abstract - The Specification of Linear Time Variable Parameter Systems Linear time variable parameter (LTVP) systems are defined and subdivided into those systems with fast or slow variations and/or large or small variations. The methods of analysis of such systems are reviewed, and the following recommendations are made. Specifications 1) Time Domain Specifications (a) LTVP systems with fast variation of parameters. Simulated unfrozen system step function responses should all lie within a prescribed envelope. Whenever possible, the actual system response should be obtained. (b) LTVP systems with slow variation of parameters. Simulated or actual frozen or unfrozen system step function responses should all lie within a prescribed envelope. 2) Frequency Domain Specifications (a) LTVP system with fast variation of parameters. Frequency domain specifications are not recommended. (b) LTFP system with slow variation of parameters. The family of frequency response curves of the system frozen at different instants should all lie within a predetermined envelope. Data Presentation It is recommended that the region of variation of closed loop poles of the frozen system be exhibited on the complex plane. Thus, for example, if the only varying parameter is an open loop gain, then the region of variation of the closed loop poles will correspond to the root loci over the total range of variation of gain. It is also recommended that a family of Nyquist diagrams corresponding to the system frozen at different instants be displayed in the case of system with slow variations of parameters. Abstract - Performance Index This study was undertaken to determine whether or not Performance Indices should be used to evaluate and specify control systems* It is recommended that they not be used at this time by the Air Force for the stated purpose. A performance index is defined and detailed discussions are presented for the various performance indices. Analytical methods for evaluating performance indices are presented

Stability of Nonlinear Control Systems by the Second Method of Liapunov

This report investigates the stability of autonomous closed-loop control systems containing nonlinear elements. An n-th order nonlinear autonomous system is described by a set of n first order differential equations of the type dxi/dt=xi(x1, x2, …xn) i=1,2,…n. Liapunov\u27s second (direct) method is used in the stability analysis of such systems. This method enables one to prove that a system is stable (or unstable) if a function V=V (x1, x2, … xn) can be found which, together with its time derivative, satisfies the requirements of Liapunov\u27s stability (or instability) theorems. At the present time, there are no generally applicable straight forward procedures available for constructing these Liapunov\u27s functions. Several Liapunov\u27s functions, applicable to systems described in the canonic form of differential equations, have been reported in the literature. In this report, it is shown that any autonomous closed-loop system containing a single nonlinear element can be described by canonic differential equations. The stability criteria derived from the Liapunov\u27s functions for canonic systems give sufficient and not necessary conditions for stability. It is known that these criteria reject many systems which are actually stable. The reasons why stable systems are sometimes rejected by these simplified stability criteria are investigated in the report. It is found that a closed-loop system will always be rejected by these simplified stabi1ity criteria if the root locus of the transfer function G(s), representing the linear portion of the system, is not confined to the left-half of the s-plane for all positive values of the loop gain. A pole-shifting technique and a zero-shifting technique, extending -the applicability of the simplified stability criteria to systems that are stable for sufficiently high and/or sufficiently low values of the loop gain, are proposed in this report. New simplified stability criteria have been developed which incorporate the changes in the canonic form of differential equations caused by the application of the zero-shifting technique. Other methods of constructing Liapunov\u27s functions for nonlinear control systems are presented in Chapter III, These include the work of Pliss, Aizerman and Krasovski. Numerous other procedures, which have been reported in literature, apply to only very special cases of automatic control systems. No attempt has been made to account for all of these special cases and the presentation of methods of constructing Liapunov’s functions is limited to only those which are more generally applicable. A pseudo-canonic transformation has been developed which enables one to find stability criteria of canonic systems without the use of complex variables. The results of this research indicate that the second method of Liapunov is a very powerfuI tool of exact stability analysis of nonlinear systems. Additional research, especially in the direction of the methods of construction of Liapunov’s functions, will not only yield new analysis and synthesis procedures, but also will aid in arriving at a set of meaningful performance specifications for nonlinear control systems

Capability of Nilpotent Lie algebras with small derived Subalgebra

In this paper, we classify all capable nilpotent Lie algebras with derived subalgebra of dimension at most 1.Comment: To appear in J. Algebra with new contributions of F.G. Russ

A growing threat to the ozone layer from short-lived anthropogenic chlorocarbons

Large and effective reductions in emissions of long-lived ozone-depleting substance (ODS) are being achieved through the Montreal Protocol, the effectiveness of which can be seen in the declining atmospheric abundances of many ODSs. An important remaining uncertainty concerns the role of very short-lived substances (VSLSs) which, owing to their relatively short atmospheric lifetimes (less than 6 months), are not regulated under the Montreal Protocol. Recent studies have found an unexplained increase in the global tropospheric abundance of one VSLS, dichloromethane (CH2Cl2), which has increased by around 60 % over the past decade. Here we report dramatic enhancements of several chlorine-containing VSLSs (Cl-VSLSs), including CH2Cl2 and CH2ClCH2Cl (1,2-dichloroethane), observed in surface and upper-tropospheric air in East and South East Asia. Surface observations were, on occasion, an order of magnitude higher than previously reported in the marine boundary layer, whilst upper-tropospheric data were up to 3 times higher than expected. In addition, we provide further evidence of an atmospheric transport mechanism whereby substantial amounts of industrial pollution from East Asia, including these chlorinated VSLSs, can rapidly, and regularly, be transported to tropical regions of the western Pacific and subsequently uplifted to the tropical upper troposphere. This latter region is a major provider of air entering the stratosphere, and so this mechanism, in conjunction with increasing emissions of Cl-VSLSs from East Asia, could potentially slow the expected recovery of stratospheric ozone

Individual crypt genetic heterogeneity and the origin of metaplastic glandular epithelium in human Barrett’s oesophagus

OBJECTIVES: Current models of clonal expansion in human Barrett's oesophagus are based upon heterogenous, flow-purified biopsy analysis taken at multiple segment levels. Detection of identical mutation fingerprints from these biopsy samples led to the proposal that a mutated clone with a selective advantage can clonally expand to fill an entire Barrett's segment at the expense of competing clones (selective sweep to fixation model). We aimed to assess clonality at a much higher resolution by microdissecting and genetically analysing individual crypts. The histogenesis of Barrett's metaplasia and neo-squamous islands has never been demonstrated. We investigated the oesophageal gland squamous ducts as the source of both epithelial sub-types. METHODS: Individual crypts across Barrett's biopsy and oesophagectomy blocks were dissected. Determination of tumour suppressor gene loss of heterozygosity patterns, p16 and p53 point mutations were carried out on a crypt-by-crypt basis. Cases of contiguous neo-squamous islands and columnar metaplasia with oesophageal squamous ducts were identified. Tissues were isolated by laser capture microdissection and genetically analysed. RESULTS: Individual crypt dissection revealed mutation patterns that were masked in whole biopsy analysis. Dissection across oesophagectomy specimens demonstrated marked clonal heterogeneity, with multiple independent clones present. We identified a p16 point mutation arising in the squamous epithelium of the oesophageal gland duct, which was also present in a contiguous metaplastic crypt, whereas neo-squamous islands arising from squamous ducts were wild-type with respect to surrounding Barrett's dysplasia. CONCLUSIONS: By studying clonality at the crypt level we demonstrate that Barrett's heterogeneity arises from multiple independent clones, in contrast to the selective sweep to fixation model of clonal expansion previously described. We suggest that the squamous gland ducts situated throughout the oesophagus are the source of a progenitor cell that may be susceptible to gene mutation resulting in conversion to Barrett's metaplastic epithelium. Additionally, these data suggest that wild-type ducts may be the source of neo-squamous islands