Critical States Embedded in the Continuum

We introduce a class of critical states which are embedded in the continuum (CSC) of one-dimensional optical waveguide array with one non-Hermitian defect. These states are at the verge of being fractal and have real propagation constant. They emerge at a phase transition which is driven by the imaginary refractive index of the defect waveguide and it is accompanied by a mode segregation which reveals analogies with the Dicke super -radiance. Below this point the states are extended while above they evolve to exponentially localized modes. An addition of a background gain or loss can turn these localized states to bound states in the continuum.Comment: 4.5 pages, 3 figures, 1 page of supplementary material including one figur

Usability analysis of 3D Maps for Pedestrian Navigation among different demographic profiles

3-Dimensional (3D) maps may provide the users with a more real-world like view in comparison with the 2-Dimensional (2D) maps. 3D maps offer more degree of freedom in movement to the users, a first-person perspective view and other dynamic details such as time of the day, weather could also be incorporated. This paper demonstrates the evaluation of the usability of 3D maps for navigation purposes, in several general aspects including recognizing landmarks and using these visual cues for navigation among different representative user-groups. The 3D model was designed to replicate the High Street, Stratford, London, UK. The participants of the survey were required to explore the model, identify and memorize the landmarks and form a mental map. They were also asked to reproduce the route they took in a 2D paper map and answer a questionnaire on their perception of their own cognitive abilities and their response on the performance of the 3D model. The results confirmed that the usability can vary among users of different demographic profiles – age, gender and language and familiarity with 3D technologies. It also showed that with some improvements in level of details incorporated in the model and design, 3D maps could become a useful tool for navigation purposes

Simulating and Modeling the Signal Attenuation of Wireless Local Area Network for Indoor Positioning

Location is a key filter for mobile services, including navigation or advertising. However, positioning and localization inside buildings and in indoor spaces, where users spend most of their time and where the signals of the most widely-used positioning system, i.e. Global Navigation Satellite Systems such as GPS (Global Positioning System), are not available, can be challenging. In this regard, Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN), e.g. Wi-Fi, can be used for positioning purposes by using a WLAN-enabled device, e.g. a smartphone, to measure and match the Received Signal Strength (RSS) of a signal broadcast by an access point. The challenges of this approach are that accurate maps of RSS are required, and that measuring RSS can be affected by many factors, including the dynamics of the environment and the orientation and type of a device. This paper provides a path-loss model to produce RSS maps automatically from floor plans and introduces an agent-based simulation approach to investigate different positioning methods. This provides a pathway to reduce the time and effort associated with WLAN positioning research

Signal Attenuation Modelling in WLAN Positioning

Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN), as the most widely used indoor positioning technology, can localise users by measuring the Received Signal Strength (RSS) from multiple Access Points (AP). The challenges of this approach are that measuring RSS can be easily affected by several parameters, including how the users hold the device, e.g. device orientation, and that accurate maps of RSS are required. This paper (A) introduces a bell-curve model of signal attenuation from orientation, allowing more accurate RSS measurement, and (B) identifies collinearity issues with a path-loss model used to automatically create RSS maps, suggesting a simpler and more robust alternative

V-06.02: Laparoscopic radical cystoprostatic adenectomy

Introduction: We hereby present a new laparoscopic prostate-preserving cystectomy technique that aims at reducing sexual dysfunction and urinary incontinence in comparison with the conventional technique of laparoscopic radical cystoprostatectom

Transport development, intellectual property rights protection and innovation: The case of the Yangtze River Delta Region, China

The links between transport development and economic growth have been widely discussed in the field of transport governance and economics. However, the existing studies have not included an institutional variable when exploring the role of transport development in innovation disparities within a region. In order to fill the research gap, this paper examines whether transport development and the institution of intellectual property rights (IPRs) can assist in understanding disparities between cities in terms of innovation, using the Yangtze River Delta Region (YRDR) as a case study. The impact mechanism is twofold. Firstly, transport development can affect institutions, including IPRs protection, which in turn has an influence on innovation. Secondly, evidence from existing economic literature suggests a link between transport development and innovation through economic agglomeration, production factors and industrial flows. We first employ ordinary least squares (OLS) regression to test the basic associations between transport development and innovation. We then apply two-stage least squares (2SLS) regression analysis to address endogeneity and add a spatial model to examine neighbour effects. The findings show that IPRs protection has a positive effect on patenting and research and development (R&D), while the roles played by transport development stock and density in patenting and R&D are more mixed. Moreover, our findings on neighbour effects show that agglomeration economies exist in the YRDR. These findings have important policy implications regarding urban agglomeration for both the YRDR specifically and China overall

The Impact of Biases in the Crowdsourced Trajectories on the Output of Data Mining Processes

The emergence of the Geoweb has provided an unprecedented capacity for generating and sharing digital content by professional and non- professional participants in the form of crowdsourcing projects, such as OpenStreetMap (OSM) or Wikimapia. Despite the success of such projects, the impacts of the inherent biases within the ‘crowd’ and/or the ‘crowdsourced’ data it produces are not well explored. In this paper we examine the impact of biased trajectory data on the output of spatio-temporal data mining process. To do so, an experiment was conducted. The biases are intentionally added to the input data; i.e. the input trajectories were divided into two sets of training and control datasets but not randomly (as opposed to the data mining procedures). They are divided by time of day and week, weather conditions, contributors’ gender and spatial and temporal density of trajectory in 1km grids. The accuracy of the predictive models are then measured (both for training and control data) and biases gradually moderated to see how the accuracy of the very same model is changing with respect to the biased input data. We show that the same data mining technique yields different results in terms of the nature of the clusters and identified attributes

Device-induced perforation of right atrium following interventional closure of Atrial Septal Defect (ASD)

This is a case presentation of a 26-year-old woman with a moderate-sized atrial septal secundum defect (17mm) who underwent catheterism, during which an Amplatzer Septal Occluder number 26 was inserted successfully. On the second postoperative day, she deteriorated and a clinical examination showed a typical tamponade. After a percutaneous aspiration of the pericardial cavity and transient improvement in vital signs, a pig-tail catheter was inserted percutaneously emergently, and the patient was transferred to the operating room in a preshock state. During the operation, an active bleeding point in the superoanterior aspect of the right atrium near the aortic root was detected, which was repaired by direct suture and pericardial patch reinforcement. The Amplatzer device was removed and the atrial septal defect was repaired with a pericardial patch. A lethal complication of the interventional closure of atrial septal defect, properly treated by an emergent intervention and operation, is presented and discussed herein