Information theoretic approach for assessing image fidelity in photon-counting arrays

The method of photon-counting integral imaging has been introduced recently for three-dimensional object sensing, visualization, recognition and classification of scenes under photon-starved conditions. This paper presents an information-theoretic model for the photon-counting imaging (PCI) method, thereby providing a rigorous foundation for the merits of PCI in terms of image fidelity. This, in turn, can facilitate our understanding of the demonstrated success of photon-counting integral imaging in compressive imaging and classification. The mutual information between the source and photon-counted images is derived in a Markov random field setting and normalized by the source-image’s entropy, yielding a fidelity metric that is between zero and unity, which respectively corresponds to complete loss of information and full preservation of information. Calculations suggest that the PCI fidelity metric increases with spatial correlation in source image, from which we infer that the PCI method is particularly effective for source images with high spatial correlation; the metric also increases with the reduction in photon-number uncertainty. As an application to the theory, an image-classification problem is considered showing a congruous relationship between the fidelity metric and classifier’s performance

Very Small p-values

Letter to the editor regarding an article by Hartz et al1 published in JAMA Psychiatry

Essays on Shariah Compliant Stocks

Butter, F.A.G. den [Promotor

Role of Work Activities and Knowledge Sharing in Employee Sustainable Social Well-Being Along with the Moderating Role of Supply Chain Education

The objective of this study is to examine the role of work activities and knowledge sharing in employee sustainable social well-being. The moderating role of supply chain education (SCE) was also examined. Therefore, this study examined the relationship between work activities, knowledge sharing, SCE and sustainable social well-being. Population of the study is the garment companies of Indonesia. Employees of these companies were selected as the respondents. Consequently, data collection was performed among the garment companies of Indonesia. For the purpose of data collection, questionnaire was distribution among the garment company employees. Data were analyzed by using Partial Least Square (PLS). Results of the study highlighted that work activities have positive effect on sustainable social well-being. Knowledge sharing also shows the positive effect on sustainable social well-being. Moreover, SCE shows positive influence to enhance the sustainable social well-being directly and by playing the moderating role between work activities and sustainable social well-being

Homogenising the design criteria of a community battery energy storage for better grid integration

Historically, minimum system demand has usually occurred overnight. However, in recent years, the increased penetration of rooftop photovoltaic systems (RPVs) has caused an even lower demand at midday, forcing some of the conventional generators to shut down only hours before the evening peak demand period. This further complicates the job of power system operators, who need to run the conventional generator at the minimum stable level at the midday low-demand period so that they can reliably supply power during the peak periods. Employing a community battery storage system can alleviate some of the technical issues caused by the high penetration of RPVs. This paper proposed a design criterion for community battery energy storage systems and employed the battery for the improvement of the duck curve profile and providing the desired level of peak-shaving. Furthermore, remote communities with high penetration of RPVs with a community battery energy storage can achieve the desired level of self-sufficiency. To this end, this study recommends and confirms an applicable design criterion for community battery energy storage. The study shows that the suitable size of community battery storage should be based on the community’s daily excess generation and consumption requirements. The results of various scenarios performed on the proposed design criterion show the extent to which the desired objectives of peak-shaving, duck curve mitigation, and self-sufficiency can be achieved

On the analytical formulation of excess noise in avalanche photodiodes with dead space

Simple, approximate formulas are developed to calculate the mean gain and excess noise factor for avalanche photodiodes using the dead-space multiplication theory in the regime of small multiplication width and high applied electric field. The accuracy of the approximation is investigated by comparing it to the exact numerical method using recursive coupled integral equations and it is found that it works for dead spaces up to 15% of the multiplication width, which is substantial. The approximation is also tested for real materials such as GaAs, InP and Si for various multiplication widths, and the results found are accurate within ∼ 15% of the actual noise, which is a significant improvement over the local-theory noise formula. The results obtained for the mean gain also confirm the recently reported relationship between experimentally determined local ionization coefficients and the enabled non-local ionization coefficients

Boron nitride nanoscrolls: structure, synthesis, and applications

This is the author accepted manuscriptBoron nitride nanoscrolls (BNS) are open-ended, one-dimensional (1D) nanostructures made by the process of rolling boron nitride nanosheets (BNNS) into a scroll-like morphology. BNS offer a high surface area to volume ratio and possess many unique properties (similar to carbon nanotubes (CNT), carbon nanoscrolls (CNS) and boron nitride nanotubes (BNT)) such as high resistance to oxidation, chemical stability, increased lubrication, high-temperature resistance, electrical insulation, the ability to cap molecules inside and at the ends,and a wide band gap regardless of chirality. Despite these attractive featuresand properties well suited for applications in biotechnology, energy storage, and electronics, the true potential of boron nitride, and BNS as the next ‘miracle material’ is yet to be fully explored. In this critical review, we assess, for the first time, various studies published on the formation, structural and dynamic characteristics of BNS, potential routes for BNS synthesis, and the toxicology of BNS. Finally, the future perspectives of BNS are discussed in view of its unique and exceptional candidacy for many (real-world) applications

Violation of Heisenberg's Measurement-Disturbance Relationship by Weak Measurements

While there is a rigorously proven relationship about uncertainties intrinsic to any quantum system, often referred to as "Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle," Heisenberg originally formulated his ideas in terms of a relationship between the precision of a measurement and the disturbance it must create. Although this latter relationship is not rigorously proven, it is commonly believed (and taught) as an aspect of the broader uncertainty principle. Here, we experimentally observe a violation of Heisenberg's "measurement-disturbance relationship", using weak measurements to characterize a quantum system before and after it interacts with a measurement apparatus. Our experiment implements a 2010 proposal of Lund and Wiseman to confirm a revised measurement-disturbance relationship derived by Ozawa in 2003. Its results have broad implications for the foundations of quantum mechanics and for practical issues in quantum mechanics.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Not All Children with Cystic Fibrosis Have Abnormal Esophageal Neutralization during Chemical Clearance of Acid Reflux.

PurposeAcid neutralization during chemical clearance is significantly prolonged in children with cystic fibrosis, compared to symptomatic children without cystic fibrosis. The absence of available reference values impeded identification of abnormal findings within individual patients with and without cystic fibrosis. The present study aimed to test the hypothesis that significantly more children with cystic fibrosis have acid neutralization durations during chemical clearance that fall outside the physiological range.MethodsPublished reference value for acid neutralization duration during chemical clearance (determined using combined impedance/pH monitoring) was used to assess esophageal acid neutralization efficiency during chemical clearance in 16 children with cystic fibrosis (3 to <18 years) and 16 age-matched children without cystic fibrosis.ResultsDuration of acid neutralization during chemical clearance exceeded the upper end of the physiological range in 9 of 16 (56.3%) children with and in 3 of 16 (18.8%) children without cystic fibrosis (p=0.0412). The likelihood ratio for duration indicated that children with cystic fibrosis are 2.1-times more likely to have abnormal acid neutralization during chemical clearance, and children with abnormal acid neutralization during chemical clearance are 1.5-times more likely to have cystic fibrosis.ConclusionSignificantly more (but not all) children with cystic fibrosis have abnormally prolonged esophageal clearance of acid. Children with cystic fibrosis are more likely to have abnormal acid neutralization during chemical clearance. Additional studies involving larger sample sizes are needed to address the importance of genotype, esophageal motility, composition and volume of saliva, and gastric acidity on acid neutralization efficiency in cystic fibrosis children