Applied constant gain amplification in circulating loop experiments

The reconfiguration of channel or wavelength routes in optically transparent mesh networks can lead to deviations in channel power that may impact transmission performance. A new experimental approach, applied constant gain, is used to maintain constant gain in a circulating loop enabling the study of gain error effects on long-haul transmission under reconfigured channel loading. Using this technique we examine a number of channel configurations and system tuning operations for both full-span dispersion-compensated and optimized dispersion-managed systems. For each system design, large power divergence was observed with a maximum of 15 dB at 2240 km, when switching was implemented without additional system tuning. For a bit error rate of 10-3, the maximum number of loop circulations was reduced by up to 33%

Dynamic circulating-loop methods for transmission experiments in optically transparent networks

Recent experiments incorporating multiple fast switching elements and automated system configuration in a circulating loop apparatus have enabled the study of aspects of long-haul WDM transmission unique to optically transparent networks. Techniques include per-span switching to measure the performance limits due to dispersion compensation granularity and mesh network walk-off, and applied constant-gain amplification to evaluate wavelength reconfiguration penalties

Affordable Farmworker Housing

In this Senior Design project, engineers designed a residential, affordable housing complex that provides adequate living space. These housing complexes will be suitable residences, as well as being beneficial to the farm owners. As there are many different farmworkers and farms in California1, this housing complex will be a reproducible model that can work on any farm in California with slight adjustments. However, in order to provide the work necessary for a senior design project, it was necessary to choose an actual site where one could design a real project, but there will not be any features that are specific to the location to maintain reproducibility. The design of this project included site considerations and alterations that may arise with a project such as this. The site of this project is a parcel located in Salinas, California, which is a city known for its agricultural production. The APN for this site is 153-091-020-000, and it is located on the corner of East Boronda and Natividad Road. Figure 1 provides a picture of the site

Inflation and String Theory

We review cosmological inflation and its realization in quantum field theory and in string theory. This material is a portion of a book, also entitled "Inflation and String Theory", to be published by Cambridge University Press.Comment: 349 pages, 48 figures. Draft of a book to be published by Cambridge University Press. Comments welcome

The Cretaceous Angolan turtle Angolachelys mbaxi, description of a new specimen of the postcranial skeleton

The turtle Angolachelys mbaxi Mateus et al., 2009, is an enigmatic turtle from the Late Cretaceous of Angola which in its description it was erected a new clade, the Angolachelonia Mateus et al., 2009. The phylogenetic position of Angolachelys and Angolachelonia has been questioned and reviewed multiple times since their definition. The new specimen of Angolachelys mbaxi, collected from the same locality as the holotype, consists of postcranial material and a skull, which will not be described in this thesis. The postcranial material is described and studied in this thesis, with the objective of reviewing and ascribing the phylogenetic position of Angolachelys and confirming the validity of Angolachelonia as a clade, to confirm if Angolachelys and the Angolachelonia were in fact of the marine ecology, and therefore suggesting the existence of an evolutionary transition to the marine habit by the Angolachelonia. The paleoecology of Angolachelys mbaxi is studied, namely in respect to the adaptations of its feeding habits. Angolachelys and the Angolachelonia were found in multiple phylogenetic positions, the most prevalent being found as the sister taxon of the Chelonioidea. Angolachelys has been defined as a marine turtle, with features indicative of a more pelagic lifestyleA tartaruga Angolachelys mbaxi Mateus et al., 2009, é uma tartaruga enigmática do Cretáceo Superior de Angola que na sua descrição foi erigida um novo clado, a Angolachelonia. A posição filogenética de Angolachelys e Angolachelonia foi questionada e revista várias vezes desde a sua definição. O novo espécime de Angolachelys mbaxi, recolhido na mesma localidade do holótipo, constituído por material pós-craniano é descrito e estudado nesta tese, com o objetivo de rever e atribuir a posição filogenética de Angolachelys e confirmar a validade de Angolachelonia como clado, confirmar se Angolachelys e a Angolachelonia eram de facto da ecologia marinha, sugerindo assim a existência de uma transição evolutiva para o hábito marinho pela Angolachelonia. É estudada a paleoecologia de Angolachelys mbaxi, nomeadamente no que diz respeito às adaptações dos seus hábitos alimentares. Angolachelys e Angolachelonia foram encontrados em várias posições filogenéticas, a mais prevalente sendo encontrada como o táxon irmão de Chelonioidea. Angolachelys foi definida como uma tartaruga marinha, com características indicativas de um estilo de vida mais pelágico

Compactification Effects in D-brane Inflation

We determine the scalar potential for a D3-brane in a warped conifold background subject to general ultraviolet perturbations. Incorporating the effects of imaginary anti-self-dual (IASD) fluxes and four-dimensional curvature at the nonlinear level, we compute the leading terms in the D3-brane potential. We then provide strong cross-checks of our results by reproducing them in the dual gauge theory. Finally, we observe that the D3-brane potential induced by nonperturbative effects on D7-branes can be represented by a ten-dimensional supergravity solution containing suitable IASD fluxes. Our method allows for the systematic inclusion of compactification effects and serves to constrain the D3-brane effective action in a large class of stabilized compactifications.Comment: 4 pages; v2: minor correction

Dual diagnosis: a community perspective

This report presents a community inquiry project concerned with addressing Dual Diagnosis needs in the urban communities of Finglas and Cabra, North Dublin. The study was funded by the Social Inclusion/ Addiction Service, CH09, Health Service Executive and Finglas/Cabra Local Drug & Alcohol Task Force. This Participatory Action Research study involved a process in which the research participants were in partnership with the research team for the duration of the study. This project had two research cycles over a nine-month period. In the first month of the study, the community research group (CRG) was established to oversee, support and participate in the research process. This group included members of the community such as service users, their family members and service providers. Throughout this inquiry, central to all activities, was the importance of ensuring that there was a shared community conversation about the local Dual Diagnosis needs. This study achieved this using Participatory Action Research methods. The first cycle comprised of an Open Dialogue Community Forum and three focus groups. Participants included local residents, service users, community representatives, local health, and social care professionals. During this cycle, participants shared personal experiences of Dual Diagnosis and the difficulties in accessing appropriate treatment and care, which often lacks compassion for individuals seeking help. Family members spoke about the effect Dual Diagnosis has had on their own and on their relatives’ lives. Professionals shared their experiences of working and supporting clients with Dual Diagnosis. Findings in this cycle mirrored those from the international literature. For example, no joined up policy, restricted and inappropriate service access, limited family support, a lack of intra agency collaboration, organisational struggles for professionals to liaise across services and agencies in relation to collaborative care. Cycle two focused on how the communities and local organisations can provide effective care for people with Dual Diagnosis and their families, along with required government directives. A second Open Dialogue Forum identified the required actions at community, organisational and governmental level. The findings are summarised across three main domains: Community response; Organisational requirements; Governmental responsibility. This research provides a community insight into the impact of Dual Diagnosis. It highlights ways to address Dual Diagnosis through a series of interconnecting actions supported by governmental and policy change. Additionally, the findings have implications for the two communities and national policy makers. Notably, this work contributes to the dialogue surrounding the unmet needs of those who experience Dual Diagnosis. Of particular relevance to this research is the process by which the community was galvanised and the representative stakeholders brought together in dialogue. Crucially, this process was deemed a significant outcome of this research in that it facilitated the emergence of mutually agreed findings. The community stakeholders can now establish a process towards enacting the required changes to develop provision for people with Dual Diagnosis and their families. This research demonstrates that the community experience of Dual Diagnosis is complex and impactful. Importantly, it appears that there are systemic issues effecting the two communities’ ability to respond to Dual Diagnosis. It is rare for research to present the shared voices of service users, their families and those they seek help from about the impact of a challenging condition like Dual Diagnosis. This collective voice needs acknowledgment as it is grounded in the shared desire to address the needs of those with Dual Diagnosis from a community and local organisational level while signposting both policy and operational changes to drive and facilitate this