Noise in homodyne detection

A simple but rigorous analysis of the important sources of noise in homodyne detection is presented. Output noise and signal-to-noise ratios are compared for direct detection, conventional (one-port) homodyning, and two-port homodyning, in which one monitors both output ports of a 50-50 beam splitter. It is shown that two-port homodyning is insensitive to local-oscillator quadrature-phase noise and hence provides (1) a means of detecting reduced quadrature-phase fluctuations (squeezing) that is perhaps more practical than one-port homodyning and (2) an output signal-to-noise ratio that can be a modest to significant improvement over that of one-port homodyning and direct detection

Interpolation and scattered data fitting on manifolds using projected Powell–Sabin splines

We present methods for either interpolating data or for fitting scattered data on a two-dimensional smooth manifold. The methods are based on a local bivariate Powell-Sabin interpolation scheme, and make use of a family of charts {(Uξ , ξ)}ξ∈ satisfying certain conditions of smooth dependence on ξ. If is a C2-manifold embedded into R3, then projections into tangent planes can be employed. The data fitting method is a two-stage method. We prove that the resulting function on the manifold is continuously differentiable, and establish error bounds for both methods for the case when the data are generated by a smooth function

Scattered data fitting on surfaces using projected Powell-Sabin splines

We present C1 methods for either interpolating data or for fitting scattered data associated with a smooth function on a two-dimensional smooth manifold Ω embedded into R3. The methods are based on a local bivariate Powell-Sabin interpolation scheme, and make use of local projections on the tangent planes. The data fitting method is a two-stage method. We illustrate the performance of the algorithms with some numerical examples, which, in particular, confirm the O(h3) order of convergence as the data becomes dens

On stable local bases for bivariate polynomial spline spaces

Stable locally supported bases are constructed for the spaces \cal S d r (\triangle) of polynomial splines of degree d≥ 3r+2 and smoothness r defined on triangulations \triangle , as well as for various superspline subspaces. In addition, we show that for r≥ 1 , in general, it is impossible to construct bases which are simultaneously stable and locally linearly independent

Video signal processing system uses gated current mode switches to perform high speed multiplication and digital-to-analog conversion

Video signal processor uses special-purpose integrated circuits with nonsaturating current mode switching to accept texture and color information from a digital computer in a visual spaceflight simulator and to combine these, for display on color CRT with analog information concerning fading

Amitai Etzioni: Communitarian Centrist and Principled Pluralist

During his 60 year career at Columbia and George Washington Universities, Amitai Etzioni has made many contributions to interdisciplinary understandings of social movements, become a respected public intellectual addressing many American and trans-national contemporary issues, and been a founder and leader of the Commununitarian Network

In Contradiction with Culture: A Study of French Vegetarians

This paper examines the relationship between modern French vegetarians and the vast French culinary tradition. Historically composed of meat, dairy, and animal by-products, French cuisine is at odds with a growing trend to become vegetarian or vegan, a movement which embraces greener and more compassionate ethics. The research is divided into three sections: animal rights, ecology, and personal health, these being the most popular reasons one adopts a vegetarian or vegan diet. In each category, the French tradition is contrasted with the behaviors and thoughts of French vegans or vegetarians. The purpose of this project is to highlight how French vegans and vegetarians are veering away from what has been popular cuisine, and to show how French vegans and vegetarians may be creating new traditions and new forms of cuisine. With the World Health Organization declaring many types of meat carcinogenic, the recommendation to eat more plant-based has followed. Therefore, it is important to understand how the French vegan and vegetarian movement fits in with the wider global movement to consume less meat and dairy products. Research methodology includes examining studies of French vegetarians conducted in English and in French, comparing articles published in newspapers, analyzing statistics related to diet and health, and gathering information from French animal liberation organizations like PETA France and L214. Ultimately, the expected conclusion of this research is to find how France is either moving away from and/or holding onto its longstanding culinary history as the animal liberation movement gains momentum

The Labor of Play: the Political Economy of Computer Game Culture

This dissertation questions the relationship between computer game culture and ideologies of neoliberalism and financialization. It questions the role computer games play in cultivating neoliberal practices and how the industry develops games and systems making play and work indistinguishable activities. Chapter 1 examines how computer game inculcate players into neoliberal practice through play. In chapter 2, the project shows Blizzard Entertainment systematically redevelops their games to encourage perpetual play aimed at increasing the consumption of digital commodities and currencies. Chapter 3 considers the role of esports, or professional competitive computer game play, to disperse neoliberal ideologies amongst nonprofessional players. Chapter 4 examines the streaming platform Twitch and the transformation of computer gameplay into a consumable commodity. This chapter examines Twitch’s systems designed at making production and consumption inseparable practices. The dissertation concludes by examining the economic, conceptual, and theoretical collapses threatening game culture and the field of game studies

Group Involvements in City Politics and Pluralist Theory

The assessments of 75 councilors and mayors in eight cities in the Kansas City metropolitan area provide global measures of group organization, activity, and influence in community politics and measures of their specific involvements in 73 issues that arose in these communities. While variations in group involvement and influence—both in exercising social control and contributing to social production—are reported, the most general findings are that groups are less involved in city politics and their limited involvements are less conflictive than suggested by orthodox understandings of pluralist theory. I argue that these results point to the need to reformulate pluralist theory, not abandon it