Atmospheric image blur with finite outer scale or partial adaptive correction

Seeing-limited resolution in large telescopes working over wide wavelength range depends substantially on the turbulence outer scale and cannot be adequately described by one "seeing" value. We attempt to clarify frequent confusions on this matter. We study the effects of finite turbulence outer scale and partial adaptive corrections by means of analytical calculations and numerical simulations. If a von Karman turbulence model is adopted, a simple approximate formula captures the dependence of atmospheric long-exposure resolution on the outer scale over the entire practically interesting range of telescope diameters and wavelengths. In the infrared (IR), the difference with the standard Kolmogorov seeing formula can exceed a factor of two. We find that low-order adaptive turbulence correction produces residual wave-fronts with effectively small outer scale, so even very low compensation order leads to a substantial improvement in resolution over seeing, compared to the standard theory. Seeing-limited resolution of large telescopes, especially in the IR, is currently under-estimated by not accounting for the outer scale. On the other hand, adaptive-optics systems designed for diffraction-limited imaging in the IR can improve the resolution in the visible by as much as two times.Comment: A&A accepte

The Influence of Ottoman Empire on the conservation of the architectural heritage in Jerusalem

Jerusalem is one of the oldest cities in the world. It was built by the Canaanites in 3000 B.C., became the first Qiblaof Muslims and is the third holiest shrine after Mecca and Medina. It is believed to be the only sacred city in the world that is considered historically and spiritually significant to Muslims, Christians, and Jews alike. Since its establishment, the city had been subjected to a series of changes as the result of political, economic and social developments that affected the architectural formation through successive periods from the beginning leading up to the Ottoman Era, which then achieved relative stability. The research aims to examine and review the conservation mechanisms of the architectural buildings during the Ottomans rule in Jerusalem for more than 400 years, and how the Ottoman Sultans had contributed in revitalizing and protecting the city from loss and extinction. The researcher followed the historical interpretive method using descriptive analysis based on a literature review and preliminary study to determine Ottoman practices in conserving the historical and architectural heritage of Jerusalem. The research found that the Ottoman efforts towards conserving the architectural heritage in Jerusalem fell into four categories (Renovation, Restoration, Reconstruction and Rehabilitation). The Ottomans focused on the conservation of the existing buildings rather than new construction, because of their respect of local traditions and the holy places.Yerusalem adalah salah satu kota tertua di dunia. Dibangun oleh orang-orang Kanaan pada 3000 SM, kota ini menjadi kiblat pertama umat Islam dan merupakan tempat suci ketiga setelah Mekkah dan Madinah. Kota ini diyakini sebagai satu-satunya kota suci di dunia yang dianggap penting secara historis dan spiritual bagi umat Islam, Kristen, dan Yahudi. Sejak didirikan, kota ini telah mengalami serangkaian perubahan sebagai akibat dari perkembangan politik, ekonomi dan sosial yang memengaruhi pembentukan arsitektur melalui periode-periode berturut-turut dari awal menuju era Ottoman, yang kemudian mencapai stabilitas relatif. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menguji dan meninjau mekanisme konservasi bangunan arsitektur selama pemerintahan Ottoman di Yerusalem selama lebih dari 400 tahun, dan bagaimana Sultan Ottoman telah berkontribusi dalam merevitalisasi dan melindungi kota dari kehilangan dan kepunahan. Peneliti mengikuti metode interpretif historis dan analisis deskriptif berdasarkan tinjauan literatur dan studi pendahuluan untuk menentukan praktik Ottoman dalam melestarikan warisan sejarah dan arsitektur Yerusalem. Penelitian ini menemukan bahwa upaya Ottoman ke arah pelestarian warisan arsitektur di Yerusalem jatuh ke dalam empat kategori (Renovasi, Restorasi, Rekonstruksi dan Rehabilitasi). Ottoman berfokus pada konservasi bangunan yang ada daripada konstruksi baru, karena rasa hormat mereka terhadap tradisi lokal dan tempat-tempat suci.

Comparison of soft tissue changes following orthodontic treatment with two different extraction patterns: Four first premolars vs. four second premolars

The purpose of this study was to compare the soft tissue changes in subjects with orthodontic treatment involving two different extraction patterns: four first premolars or four second premolars. Pretreatment and posttreatment orthodontic treatment records of 81 four premolar extraction patients were obtained and divided into two groups: (PM1) four first premolar extraction group (n= 48) and, (PM2) four second premolar extraction group (n=33). A comparison was made of the changes between the pre- and posttreatment measurements of nasolabial angle (NLA), upper and lower lips to E-plane(mm) using age, sex, upper lip thickness, convexity, and facial axis as variables. Correlation tests were also performed between changes in dental and soft tissue outcomes. The results showed that the NLA increased in both treatment groups indicating a reduction in soft tissue lip protrusion. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (p=0.99). The average change in lip position between the two groups was not statistically significantly different (p=0.68 and p=0.27 for the upper and lower lip to E-plane, respectively). The upper lip position was strongly correlated with the position of the upper incisor and the lower lip. Conclusion: There was no statistically significant difference between the change in the nasolabial angle or the retraction of the upper and lower lips between four first and four second premolar extraction orthodontic treatments. Furthermore, the change in the nasolabial angle was not significantly correlated with any dental or skeletal changes in either group. Clinically significant difference was found between the groups in some dental and soft tissue outcomes. Extraction pattern alone was not a significant predictor of the changes in soft tissues

Comparison of soft tissue changes following orthodontie treatment with two different extraction patterns: Four first premolars vs. four second premolars

The purpose of this study was to compare the soft tissue changes in subjects with orthodontie treatment involving two different extraction patterns: four first premolars or four second premolars. Pretreatment and posttreatment orthodontie treatment records of 81 four premolar extraction patients were obtained and divided into two groups: (PM1) four first premolar extraction group (n= 48) and, (PM2) four second premolar extraction group (n=33). A comparison was made of the changes between the pre- and posttreatment measurements of nasolabial angle (NLA), upper and lower lips to E-plane(mm) using age, sex, upper lip thickness, convexity, and facial axis as variables. Correlation tests were also performed between changes in dental and soft tissue outcomes. The results showed that the NLA increased in both treatment groups indicating a reduction in soft tissue lip protrusion. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (p=0.99). The average change in lip position between the two groups was not statistically significantly different (p=0.68 and p=0.27 for the upper and lower lip to E-plane, respectively). The upper lip position was strongly correlated with the position of the upper incisor and the lower lip. Conclusion: There was no statistically significant difference between the change in the nasolabial angle or the retraction of the upper and lower lips between four first and four second premolar extraction orthodontie treatments. Furthermore, the change in the nasolabial angle was not significantly correlated with any dental or skeletal changes in either group. Clinically significant difference was found between the groups in some dental and soft tissue outcomes. Extraction pattern alone was not a significant predictor of the changes in soft tissues

The Economic Impact of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership on Canadian and Saskatchewan Economies: A Computable General Equilibrium-Based Analysis

Canada has recently concluded negotiations on the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) with ten Pacific-Rim countries. The CPTPP is a multilateral free trade agreement formerly known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). The CPTPP’s provisions for market access include lowering trade barriers and eliminating investment obstacles among member countries. In a nutshell, CPTPP addresses trade barriers (NTBs), labour movements, investment protection, environmental standards and telecommunication services. The potential impacts of the CPTPP can be organized into six categories: stimulating competition, encouraging technology and investment flow, enhancing access to all CPTPP countries, generating new opportunities for different economic sectors, generating price advantages for some Canadian exports, and creating benefits for Canadian businesses and workers. This study assesses the likely economic impact of the CPTPP agreements on Canada’s national economy, and on Saskatchewan’s provincial economy in 2030. This was accomplished by building two static Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) models: national and subnational, with a particular focus on agricultural sectors. The data for these models were obtained from the Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP) database. The approach of the subnational CGE model was based on splitting Canada’s national database into two databases: Saskatchewan, and the rest of Canada. In this process, Saskatchewan was treated as a separate trading entity with interprovincial and international trade flows, which accounts for the province’s total trade. The study modeled the estimated impact of the CPTPP on both Canada’s and Saskatchewan’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), exports, imports, and other main economic indicators. To fulfill the objectives of this study, three scenarios were simulated: One, Baseline scenario, where a growth projection model was developed to simulate the economic and trade growth in 2030 among the CPTPP countries, the United States and the rest of the world without the CPTPP. In this scenario, the natural growth for all the regions based on past performance in terms of population, labour force, and capital was accounted for. Other trade agreements between member countries, which will be implemented over the coming decade, was also accounted for in this analysis. Two, In the second scenario called CPTPP scenario, it was assumed that the CPTPP would be fully implemented. Trade barriers were reduced/eliminated between CPTPP member countries as per CPTPP agreement. The goal of this analysis was to capture the potential impact of CPTPP on the members’ economies in general, and on Canada and Saskatchewan economies in details. Three, In the third scenario named TPP, the former TPP agreement was simulated. The goal of this simulation was to evaluate the potential impact of the former TPP if it had been implemented and compare it with the CPTPP impact on Canada and Saskatchewan economies. All scenarios were simulated under the assumption that the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is in place. The national and subnational models indicated that the CPTPP would generate long-term economic gains for Canada and other CPTPP members. Furthermore, the study showed that that the economic gains for Canada and Saskatchewan under CPTPP are greater than TPP. This can be attributed to the fact that Canada’s trade with the US is already liberalized as part of NAFTA, thus CPTPP would open new key markets such as Japan (the world’s third-largest economy) for Canadian product, while keeping a strong liberalized trade relationship with its largest trade partner, i.e., the US. The national model-based analysis suggested that if the CPTPP is fully implemented, Canada’s total agricultural imports and exports would increase by 1.22% and 4.78%, respectively, over the baseline scenario; net increase in Canada’s total trade is projected under this scenario. In terms of commodity breakdown, meat and dairy products were expected to be most affected. In contrast, the economic gains for Canada if the TPP had been implemented would be relatively less than CPTPP. Overall, Canada’s GDP gains would total 3.9 billion USD under the CPTPP, compared with 1.4 billion under the TPP. The subnational model results showed that CPTPP impact on Saskatchewan would be more noticeable than on Canada. Under the CPTPP scenario, Saskatchewan’s total agricultural imports and exports (including interprovincial trade) were projected to increase by 6.02% and 5.64%, respectively, relative to the baseline growth projection scenario. Most of this expansion is due to the growth in agricultural trade with Japan. An improvement in Saskatchewan’s agricultural trade balance was also projected under the CPTPP simulation. Similar to the national model, the economic gains for Saskatchewan if the TPP had been implemented would be relatively less than the CPTPP. Saskatchewan’s GDP gains would total 1.1 billion USD under the CPTPP, compared with 679 million USD under the TPP. This study shows that trade liberalization can affect regions within a country differently depending on their trade relationships, areas of specialization in trade, and their level of dependency on sectors subject to relatively deeper liberalization. Therefore, subnational analysis of trade agreements impact is a valuable approach to capture these differences and to assess the national trade agreements and trade liberalization impact on internal or interprovincial trade flows within a country, which would also be subject to change by these trade agreements

Homomorphic Data Isolation for Hardware Trojan Protection

The interest in homomorphic encryption/decryption is increasing due to its excellent security properties and operating facilities. It allows operating on data without revealing its content. In this work, we suggest using homomorphism for Hardware Trojan protection. We implement two partial homomorphic designs based on ElGamal encryption/decryption scheme. The first design is a multiplicative homomorphic, whereas the second one is an additive homomorphic. We implement the proposed designs on a low-cost Xilinx Spartan-6 FPGA. Area utilization, delay, and power consumption are reported for both designs. Furthermore, we introduce a dual-circuit design that combines the two earlier designs using resource sharing in order to have minimum area cost. Experimental results show that our dual-circuit design saves 35% of the logic resources compared to a regular design without resource sharing. The saving in power consumption is 20%, whereas the number of cycles needed remains almost the sam