Resolution and sensitivity of a Fabry-Perot interferometer with a photon-number-resolving detector

With photon-number resolving detectors, we show compression of interference fringes with increasing photon numbers for a Fabry-Perot interferometer. This feature provides a higher precision in determining the position of the interference maxima compared to a classical detection strategy. We also theoretically show supersensitivity if N-photon states are sent into the interferometer and a photon-number resolving measurement is performed.Comment: 8 pages, 12 figures, 1 table, minor extensions, title changed, new figures added, reference correcte

ISWP Caster Test Version 2.2

This document contains the assembly instructions, electrical wiring information, component manuals, bill of materials, and part drawings required for building the ISWP Caster Test equipment

Research and Development of an Appropriate Electric Powered Wheelchair for India

The need for assistive technology (AT) extends far outside of the countries where users have the financial capacity to buy them, or there is a social welfare infrastructure to subsidize their purchase. In developing countries, where both technology and financial resources are scarce, AT users face tremendous challenges to find high-quality devices that are affordable. This scenario is in part due to organizations who transfer sub-standard AT to these countries by taking a 'something is better than nothing approach' to a clinically and technologically challenging problem. The goal of this work is to develop and demonstrate AT design and technology transfer strategies that take into consideration the clinical and technological needs of the intended user population. Although other projects have and do take these important user-centered factors into consideration, this work represents the first comprehensive attempt from an academic perspective, where hypotheses are proposed and tested, and design goals are described and evaluated with respect to the final product. The main focus of this work is on mobility devices (wheelchairs, specifically) although many of the protocols and techniques could be extended to address AT design and technology transfer to developing countries in general. The first part of this dissertation (Chapters 1 & 2) focuses on the background literature, and proposes a model describing the important factors influencing the success or failure of a wheelchair technology transfer project. The second part of this dissertation provides a case study in the development of an electric powered wheelchair for users in India. First, an analysis of a commercially available low-cost powered wheelchairs were evaluated (Chapter 3). Second, a study to assess the needs of users in India was performed using a modified ethnographic approach (Chapter 4). Third, the design and evaluation of a novel low-cost electric powered wheelchair for Indian users is described (Chapter 5). The final chapter (Chapter 6) discusses the implication of this work and suggests future directions. The entire drawing-set for the second generation prototype developed here is also included, allowing others to build upon the approach and the design developed here

ISWP Wheelchair Double Drum Test Version 1.3

This document outlines the required materials and proper assembly instructions for the International Society of Wheelchair Professionals Standard Testing -- Wheelchair Double Drum Testing Machine in compliance with RESNA WC-1 ISO 7176 standards that require performing 200,000 revolutions at a speed of 1 m/s +/- 0.1 m/s. Following the detailed assembly instructions are a bill of materials and 2-dimensional drawings for all of the sub-assemblies and their individual parts. This document outlines the electrical requirements and recommendations to successfully build this equipment, however specific electrical components and electrical assembly instructions are to be determined by the user

ISWP Wheelchair Curb Drop Test Version 1.3

This document outlines the required materials and proper assembly instructions for the International Society of Wheelchair Professionals Standard Testing --Wheelchair Curb Drop Testing Machine in compliance with RESNA WC-1/ ISO 7176 standards that require dropping the wheelchair from a height of 50 mm for 6,666 cycles. Following the detailed assembly instructions are a bill of materials and 2-dimensional drawings for all of the sub-assemblies and their individual parts. This document outlines the electrical requirements and recommendations

Wayfinding and Navigation for People with Disabilities Using Social Navigation Networks

To achieve safe and independent mobility, people usually depend on published information, prior experience, the knowledge of others, and/or technology to navigate unfamiliar outdoor and indoor environments. Today, due to advances in various technologies, wayfinding and navigation systems and services are commonplace and are accessible on desktop, laptop, and mobile devices. However, despite their popularity and widespread use, current wayfinding and navigation solutions often fail to address the needs of people with disabilities (PWDs). We argue that these shortcomings are primarily due to the ubiquity of the compute-centric approach adopted in these systems and services, where they do not benefit from the experience-centric approach. We propose that following a hybrid approach of combining experience-centric and compute-centric methods will overcome the shortcomings of current wayfinding and navigation solutions for PWDs

International Society of Wheelchair Professionals Standards Testing - Testing Dummy

This document outlines the required materials and proper assembly instructions for the International Society of Wheelchair Professionals Standards Testing - Testing Dummy. These instructions are for a 100kg testing dummy in compliance with ISO 7176 / RESNA WC-1 standards. Following the detailed assembly instructions are a bill of materials and 2-dimensional drawings for all of the sub-assemblies and their individual parts

A conceptual framework to assess effectiveness in wheelchair provision

Background: Currently, inadequate wheelchair provision has forced many people with disabilities to be trapped in a cycle of poverty and deprivation, limiting their ability to access education, work and social facilities. This issue is in part because of the lack of collaboration among various stakeholders who need to work together to design, manufacture and deliver such assistive mobility devices. This in turn has led to inadequate evidence about intervention effectiveness, disability prevalence and subsequent costeffectiveness that would help facilitate appropriate provision and support for people with disabilities. Objectives: In this paper, we describe a novel conceptual framework that can be tested across the globe to study and evaluate the effectiveness of wheelchair provision. Method: The Comparative Effectiveness Research Subcommittee (CER-SC), consisting of the authors of this article, housed within the Evidence-Based Practice Working Group (EBP-WG) of the International Society of Wheelchair Professionals (ISWP), conducted a scoping review of scientific literature and standard practices used during wheelchair service provision. The literature review was followed by a series of discussion groups. Results: The three iterations of the conceptual framework are described in this manuscript. Conclusion: We believe that adoption of this conceptual framework could have broad applications in wheelchair provision globally to develop evidence-based practices. Such a perspective will help in the comparison of different strategies employed in wheelchair provision and further improve clinical guidelines. Further work is being conducted to test the efficacy of this conceptual framework to evaluate effectiveness of wheelchair service provision in various settings across the globe

The Victorian Newsletter (Spring 1979)

The Victorian Newsletter is sponsored for the Victorian Group of the Modern Language Association by the University of Florida and is published twice annually.Déjà vu Inverted: the Imminent Future in Walter Pater's Marius the Epicurean / William E. Buckler -- Rights, Reason, and Redemption: Charlotte Brontë's Neo-Platonism / Sara Moore Putzell -- Tractarian Aesthetics: Analogy and Reserve in Keble and Newman / G. B. Tennyson -- Bruising the Serpent's Head: Typological Symbol in Victorian Poetry / George P. Landow -- High Tea and Matzo Balls: Religion in the Victorian Jewish Novel / Linda Gertner Zatlin -- Hardy, Barnes, and the Provincial / Donald Wesling -- Father and Mother in Father and Son / E. Pearlman -- Time in Nicholas Nickelby / Patricia Marks -- In Which a Poet is Frightened by a Lion: The Philosophical Context of Mill's Poetic Theory / Jonathan Loesburg -- Books Received -- Victorian Group New

Refined annotation and assembly of the Tetrahymena thermophila genome sequence through EST analysis, comparative genomic hybridization, and targeted gap closure

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Tetrahymena thermophila</it>, a widely studied model for cellular and molecular biology, is a binucleated single-celled organism with a germline micronucleus (MIC) and somatic macronucleus (MAC). The recent draft MAC genome assembly revealed low sequence repetitiveness, a result of the epigenetic removal of invasive DNA elements found only in the MIC genome. Such low repetitiveness makes complete closure of the MAC genome a feasible goal, which to achieve would require standard closure methods as well as removal of minor MIC contamination of the MAC genome assembly. Highly accurate preliminary annotation of <it>Tetrahymena</it>'s coding potential was hindered by the lack of both comparative genomic sequence information from close relatives and significant amounts of cDNA evidence, thus limiting the value of the genomic information and also leaving unanswered certain questions, such as the frequency of alternative splicing.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We addressed the problem of MIC contamination using comparative genomic hybridization with purified MIC and MAC DNA probes against a whole genome oligonucleotide microarray, allowing the identification of 763 genome scaffolds likely to contain MIC-limited DNA sequences. We also employed standard genome closure methods to essentially finish over 60% of the MAC genome. For the improvement of annotation, we have sequenced and analyzed over 60,000 verified EST reads from a variety of cellular growth and development conditions. Using this EST evidence, a combination of automated and manual reannotation efforts led to updates that affect 16% of the current protein-coding gene models. By comparing EST abundance, many genes showing apparent differential expression between these conditions were identified. Rare instances of alternative splicing and uses of the non-standard amino acid selenocysteine were also identified.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We report here significant progress in genome closure and reannotation of <it>Tetrahymena thermophila</it>. Our experience to date suggests that complete closure of the MAC genome is attainable. Using the new EST evidence, automated and manual curation has resulted in substantial improvements to the over 24,000 gene models, which will be valuable to researchers studying this model organism as well as for comparative genomics purposes.</p