Trends Abroad: Australia

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Vortex sorter for Bose-Einstein condensates

We have designed interferometers that sort Bose-Einstein condensates into their vortex components. The Bose-Einstein condensates in the two arms of the interferometer are rotated with respect to each other through fixed angles; different vortex components then exit the interferometer in different directions. The method we use to rotate the Bose-Einstein condensates involves asymmetric phase imprinting and is itself new. We have modelled rotation through fixed angles and sorting into vortex components with even and odd values of the topological charge of 2-dimensional Bose-Einstein condensates in a number of states (pure or superposition vortex states for different values of the scattering length). Our scheme may have applications for quantum information processing.Comment: 4 pages, high resolution figures can be obtained from the author

The subjective effect of multiple co-channel frequency modulated television interference

As the geostationary orbit/spectrum becomes saturated, there is a need for the ability to reuse frequency assignments. Protection ratios (the ratio of wanted signal power to interfering signal power at the receiver) play a key role in determining efficient frequency reuse plans. A knowledge of the manner in which multiple sources of co-channel interference combine is vital in determining protection ratio requirements such that suitable margin may be allocated for multiple interfering signals. Results of tests examining the subjective assessment of multiple co-channel frequency modulated television signals interfering with another frequency modulated TV system are presented

The evolution of Condorcet’s ideas during the revolution

Introduction Aim of the thesis: (a) to show to what extent Condorcet's ideas were influenced by those of the eighteenth century "philosophes"; (b) to show how the inconsistencies in his behaviour were not as important as has been said; and were due to the need to adapt the reform project he had drawn up before 1789 to the events of 1789-93; (c) to show to what extent the Girondin constitutional project grew out of Condorcet's original reform plan; (d) to illustrate the difficulties experienced generally by political theorists when seeking to put their ideas into practice. Chapter I An examination of Condorcet's reform plans between 1775 and 1789. 1. The doctrine of the Rights of Man: its ideological basis. 2. The reform plans: (a) Constitutional reform: how Condorcet wished to establish a "democratic" constitution which would reconcile the ideal of "popular sovereignty" with the necessity for a representative system of government. (b) The reforms of the major abuses in the judicature, the penal system and the tax system. Chapter II An examination of Condorcet's ideas between August 1788 and June 1791. 1. The summoning and opening of Etats-Generaux. Condorcet's disappointment and his attempts to ensure that they were transformed into a National Assembly. 2. The Constituent Assembly: (a) Condorcet's work as a member of the Commufie's general assembly in the field of local government and electoral reform. (b) His attempt to establish a centre party between May 1790 and May 1791. (c) His reactions to the Constituent Assembly's reforms of the judicature, the penal system, the tax system and the organisation of the Church. Chapter III An examination of the evolution of Condorcet's ideas between the King's flight and the 10th August revolution. 1. From the King's flight to the meeting of the Legislative Assembly. The evolution of Condorcet's ideas in the field of executive reform. 2. The Legislative Assembly:(a) The "loyalty" policy, October 1791. (b) The slide into war, November 1791 to April 1792. (c) The 10th August revolution and Condorcet's reaction to it. Chapter IV An examination of Condorcet's activities and writings between 10th August 1792 and his death. 1. From 10th August to the meeting of the Convention. 2. The Convention: (a) His relations with the Girondins and the Montagnards. (b) His attitude towards the King's trial. (c) His election to the constitutional committee. 3. An examination of the Girondin constitutional project. 4. The rejection of the project and Condorcet's end. Conclusion Condorcet's behaviour during the Revolution was dictated by one important need - that of adapting a long-term project for political reform to the period of swift change which took place in the years following 1789

Real-time data compression of broadcast video signals

A non-adaptive predictor, a nonuniform quantizer, and a multi-level Huffman coder are incorporated into a differential pulse code modulation system for coding and decoding broadcast video signals in real time

Validation of a novel scoring system for changes in skeletal manifestations of hypophosphatasia in newborns, infants, and children: The Radiographic Global Impression of Change scale

Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is the heritable metabolic disease characterized by impaired skeletal mineralization due to low activity of the tissue-nonspecific isoenzyme of alkaline phosphatase. Although HPP during growth often manifests with distinctive radiographic skeletal features, no validated method was available to quantify them, including changes over time. We created the Radiographic Global Impression of Change (RGI-C) scale to assess changes in the skeletal burden of pediatric HPP. Site-specific pairs of radiographs of newborns, infants, and children with HPP from three clinical studies of asfotase alfa, an enzyme replacement therapy for HPP, were obtained at baseline and during treatment. Each pair was scored by three pediatric radiologists ( raters ), with nine raters across the three studies. Intrarater and interrater agreement was determined by weighted Kappa coefficients. Interrater reliability was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and by two-way random effects analysis of variance (ANOVA) and a mixed-model repeated measures ANOVA. Pearson correlation coefficients evaluated relationships of the RGI-C to the Rickets Severity Scale (RSS), Pediatric Outcomes Data Collection Instrument Global Function Parent Normative Score, Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index, 6-Minute Walk Test percent predicted, and Z-score for height in patients aged 6 to 12 years at baseline. Eighty-nine percent (8/9) of raters showed substantial or almost perfect intrarater agreement of sequential RGI-C scores (weighted Kappa coefficients, 0.72 to 0.93) and moderate or substantial interrater agreement (weighted Kappa coefficients, 0.53 to 0.71) in patients aged 0 to 12 years at baseline. Moderate-to-good interrater reliability was observed (ICC, 0.57 to 0.65). RGI-C scores were significantly (p ≤ 0.0065) correlated with the RSS and with measures of global function, disability, endurance, and growth in the patients aged 6 to 12 years at baseline. Thus, the RGI-C is valid and reliable for detecting clinically important changes in skeletal manifestations of severe HPP in newborns, infants, and children, including during asfotase alfa treatment. © 2018 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research Published by Wiley Periodicals Inc