2,958 research outputs found
SELECTING THE "BEST" PREDICTION MODEL: AN APPLICATION TO AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVES
A credit scoring function incorporating statistical selection criteria was proposed to evaluate the credit worthiness of agricultural cooperative loans in the Fifth Farm Credit District. In-sample (1981-1986) and out-of-sample (1988) prediction performance of the selected models were evaluated using rank transformation discriminant analysis, logit, and probit. Results indicate superior out-of-sample performance for the management oriented approach relative to classification of unacceptable loans, and poor performance of the rank transformation in out-of-sample prediction.Agribusiness,
Range-resolved signal processing for fibre segment interferometry applied to dynamic long-gauge length strain sensing
A range-resolved interferometric signal processing technique using sinusoidal optical frequency modulation is applied to fibre segment interferometry. Here, six optical fibre segments of gauge length 12.5 cm are used as interferometric strain sensors and are formed between seven weak, broadband fibre Bragg gratings, acting as in-fibre partial reflectors. In a very simple and cost-effective optical setup using injection current modulation of a laser diode source, interferometric measurement of acoustic wave propagation in a metal rod is used to demonstrate the capabilities of the technique
Implementation Strategies for Interventions Aiming to Increase Participation in Mail-Out Bowel Cancer Screening Programs: A Realist Review.
Background: Bowel cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the third most common cause of cancer-related death, with 1,849,518 new cases of bowel diagnosed and 880,792 deaths reported globally in 2018 alone. Survival can be improved through early detection via national mail-out bowel cancer screening programs; however, participation remains low in many countries. Behavior change is therefore required to increase participation. This realist review aims to (a) identify the behavior change techniques (BCTs) used in each intervention, (b) understand the mechanisms of action (MoAs) responsible for the BCT effectiveness, and (c) apply a behavior change model to inform how MoAs can be combined to increase screening participation. Methods: We systematically reviewed the literature for interventions aiming to increase participation in mail-out bowel cancer screening. We used a four-stage realist synthesis approach whereby (1) interventions were extracted from each study; (2) BCTs applied in each intervention were identified and coded using the BCT Taxonomy-v1; (3) the Theory and Techniques Tool was used to link BCTs to their MoA; and (4) BCTs and MoAs were categorized according to their effectiveness and what Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) stage of change they would affect. Results: We identified 68 intervention trials using 26 unique BCTs and 13 MoAs to increase participation. Sixteen BCTs and 10 MoAs were identified within the interventions that successfully increased participation rates. Interventions targeting both stages of the HAPA model had a higher success rate (80%) than those targeting one stage of change (51%). When targeting only one stage, interventions targeting the volitional stage had a higher success rate (71%) than interventions targeting only the motivational stage of change (26%). Conclusion: Importantly, this review identified a suite of BCTs and MoAs effective for increasing participation in mail-out bowel cancer screening programs. With increased participation in bowel cancer screening leading to improved survival, our findings are key to informing the improvement of policy and interventions that aim to increase screening using specific strategies at key stages of health decision-making
Time-Resolved Spin Torque Switching and Enhanced Damping in Py/Cu/Py Spin-Valve Nanopillars
We report time-resolved measurements of current-induced reversal of a free
magnetic layer in Py/Cu/Py elliptical nanopillars at temperatures T = 4.2 K to
160 K. Comparison of the data to Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert macrospin simulations
of the free layer switching yields numerical values for the spin torque and the
Gilbert damping parameters as functions of T. The damping is strongly
T-dependent, which we attribute to the antiferromagnetic pinning behavior of a
thin permalloy oxide layer around the perimeter of the free layer. This
adventitious antiferromagnetic pinning layer can have a major impact on spin
torque phenomena.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure
Cosmic-ray Monte Carlo predictions for forward particle production in p-p, p-Pb, and Pb-Pb collisions at the LHC
We present and compare the predictions of various cosmic-ray Monte Carlo
models for the energy (dE/deta) and particle (dN/deta) flows in p-p, p-Pb and
Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt(s) = 14, 8.8, and 5.5 TeV respectively, in the range
covered by forward LHC detectors like CASTOR or TOTEM (5.2<|eta|<6.6) and ZDC
or LHCf (|eta|>8.1 for neutrals).Comment: 5 pages, 5 figs. Poster proceedings Quark-Matter'08, Jaipur. To
appear in Indian J. of Phy
Experimental requirements for Grover's algorithm in optical quantum computation
The field of linear optical quantum computation (LOQC) will soon need a
repertoire of experimental milestones. We make progress in this direction by
describing several experiments based on Grover's algorithm. These experiments
range from a relatively simple implementation using only a single non-scalable
CNOT gate to the most complex, requiring two concatenated scalable CNOT gates,
and thus form a useful set of early milestones for LOQC. We also give a
complete description of basic LOQC using polarization-encoded qubits, making
use of many simplifications to the original scheme of Knill, Laflamme, and
Milburn.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figure
Quantum Distribution of Gaussian Keys with Squeezed States
A continuous key distribution scheme is proposed that relies on a pair of
canonically conjugate quantum variables. It allows two remote parties to share
a secret Gaussian key by encoding it into one of the two quadrature components
of a single-mode electromagnetic field. The resulting quantum cryptographic
information vs disturbance tradeoff is investigated for an individual attack
based on the optimal continuous cloning machine. It is shown that the
information gained by the eavesdropper then simply equals the information lost
by the receiver.Comment: 5 pages, RevTe
Fibre segment interferometry for dynamic strain measurements
Using a novel range-resolved interferometric signal processing technique based on the sinusoidal optical frequency modulation of a cost-effective laser diode, a fibre sensing approach termed fibre segment interferometry (FSI) is described. In FSI, a chain of long-gauge length fibre optic strain sensors are separated by identical in-fibre partial reflectors. Targeted at dynamic strain analysis and ultrasound detection for structural health monitoring, this approach allows integrated strain measurements along fibre segments, removing the sensing gaps and sensitivity to inhomogeneities found with localized fibre sensors. In this paper, the multiplexing of six fibre segments, each of length 12.5 cm, is demonstrated. The sensor array can be interrogated at 98 kHz data rate, achieving dynamic strain noise levels 0:14 n Hz 0:5. The reflector fabrication is discussed, an analysis of linearity and noise performance is carried out and results from an exemplar experiment to determine the speed-of-sound of a stainless steel rod are shown
Demonstration of the spatial separation of the entangled quantum side-bands of an optical field
Quantum optics experiments on "bright" beams typically probe correlations
between side-band modes. However the extra degree of freedom represented by
this dual mode picture is generally ignored. We demonstrate the experimental
operation of a device which can be used to separate the quantum side-bands of
an optical field. We use this device to explicitly demonstrate the quantum
entanglement between the side-bands of a squeezed beam
Zero-bias anomalies and boson-assisted tunneling through quantum dots
We study resonant tunneling through a quantum dot with one degenerate level
in the presence of a strong Coulomb repulsion and a bosonic environment. Using
a real-time approach we calculate the spectral density and the nonlinear
current within a conserving approximation. The spectral density shows a
multiplet of Kondo peaks split by the transport voltage and boson frequencies.
As a consequence we find a zero-bias anomaly in the differential conductance
which can show a local maximum or minimum depending on the level position. The
results are compared with recent experiments.Comment: 4 pages, revtex, 5 postscript figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. Let
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