Skeletal, plumage, and maceration techniques for separating year classes of bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus Linnaeus)

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1967 T56Master of Scienc

Relative multiplexing for minimizing switching in linear-optical quantum computing

Many existing schemes for linear-optical quantum computing (LOQC) depend on multiplexing (MUX), which uses dynamic routing to enable near-deterministic gates and sources to be constructed using heralded, probabilistic primitives. MUXing accounts for the overwhelming majority of active switching demands in current LOQC architectures. In this manuscript, we introduce relative multiplexing (RMUX), a general-purpose optimization which can dramatically reduce the active switching requirements for MUX in LOQC, and thereby reduce hardware complexity and energy consumption, as well as relaxing demands on performance for various photonic components. We discuss the application of RMUX to the generation of entangled states from probabilistic single-photon sources, and argue that an order of magnitude improvement in the rate of generation of Bell states can be achieved. In addition, we apply RMUX to the proposal for percolation of a 3D cluster state in [PRL 115, 020502 (2015)], and we find that RMUX allows a 2.4x increase in loss tolerance for this architecture.Comment: Published version, New Journal of Physics, Volume 19, June 201

Magnetic Field Energy Harvesting Under Overhead Power Lines

Condition monitoring for overhead power lines is critical for power transmission networks to improve their reliability, detect potential problems in the early stage, and ensure the utilization of the transmitting full capacity. Energy harvesting can be an effective solution for autonomous self-powered wireless sensors. In this paper, a novel bow-tie-shaped coil is proposed, which is placed directly under overhead power lines to scavenge the magnetic field energy. Compared to the conventional method by mounting the energy harvester on the power lines, this approach provides more flexibility and space to power bigger sensors such as the weather station. As the harvesting coil cannot entirely enclose the power lines, the demagnetization factor that is closely related to the core geometry should be considered and optimized. Thus a new bow-tie-shape core is designed to produce a much lower demagnetization factor (hence more power) than that of the conventional solenoid. The selection of core material is studied and found that Mn-Zn ferrite is the most suitable core material because it greatly reduces the eddy current losses and also has high permeability. Experiment results show that the bow-tie coil could have a power density of 1.86 μW/cm 3 when placed in a magnetic flux density of 7 μT rms . This value is 15 times greater than the reported results under the same condition. If a longer bow-tie coil with more turns is placed in a magnetic flux density of 11μT rms , the produced power density is 103.5 μW/cm 3 , which is comparable to a solar panel working during a cloudy day. Thus, the proposed solution is a very efficient and attractive method for harvesting the magnetic field energy for a range of monitoring applications

Agent-based models of social behaviour and communication in evacuations: A systematic review

Most modern agent-based evacuation models involve interactions between evacuees. However, the assumed reasons for interactions and portrayal of them may be overly simple. Research from social psychology suggests that people interact and communicate with one another when evacuating and evacuee response is impacted by the way information is communicated. Thus, we conducted a systematic review of agent-based evacuation models to identify 1) how social interactions and communication approaches between agents are simulated, and 2) what key variables related to evacuation are addressed in these models. We searched Web of Science and ScienceDirect to identify articles that simulated information exchange between agents during evacuations, and social behaviour during evacuations. From the final 70 included articles, we categorised eight types of social interaction that increased in social complexity from collision avoidance to social influence based on strength of social connections with other agents. In the 17 models which simulated communication, we categorised four ways that agents communicate information: spatially through information trails or radii around agents, via social networks and via external communication. Finally, the variables either manipulated or measured in the models were categorised into the following groups: environmental condition, personal attributes of the agents, procedure, and source of information. We discuss promising directions for agent-based evacuation models to capture the effects of communication and group dynamics on evacuee behaviour. Moreover, we demonstrate how communication and group dynamics may impact the variables commonly used in agent-based evacuation models.Comment: Pre-print submitted to Safety Science special issue following the 2023 Pedestrian and Evacuation Dynamics conferenc

PBIS Faculty Ownership and Buy-in from Implementation to Emergent/Operational

This presentation will discuss the intricacies involved in ensuring staff ownership during implementation through emergent and into operational stages with the PBIS process. The goal of the PBIS team was that staff would embrace, implement and use PBIS with fidelity. The PBIS team worked diligently to form a plan of introduction and implementation that would ultimately lead to positive change in faculty behavior. It was vital to our team that staff full invest in PBIS and the positive culture change it would bring to our program and student achievement. This presentation will explore the advanced planning, staff training, staff incentives and follow up procedures used by the team to ascertain staff ownership and fidelity with implementing PBIS

Brucellosis, genital campylobacteriosis and other factors affecting calving rate of cattle in three states of Northern Nigeria

BACKGROUND: Reproductive diseases limit the productivity of cattle worldwide and represent an important obstacle to profitable cattle enterprise. In this study, herd brucellosis and bovine genital campylobacteriosis (BGC) status, and demographic and management variables were determined and related to predicted calving rate (PrCR) of cattle herds in Adamawa, Kaduna and Kano states, Nigeria. Serum samples, preputial scrapings, questionnaire data, trans-rectal palpation and farm records were used from 271 herds. The Rose-Bengal plate test and competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used for Brucella serology and culture and identification from preputial samples for BGC. A herd was classified as positive if one or more animals tested positive. The PrCR was determined as the number of calvings expected during the previous 6 and next 6 months as a percentage of the number of postpubertal heifers and cows in the herd. A multilevel linear regression model was used to estimate the herd-level effect of Brucella abortus seropositivity, Campylobacter fetus infection and other factors on calculated PrCR. RESULTS : The reproductive performance of the cattle herds was generally poor: Only 6.5% of the nursing cows were pregnant and 51.1% were non-pregnant and acyclic; the mean annual PrCR was 51.4%. Brucella abortus and C. fetus infection of herds were independently associated with absolute reduction in PrCR of 14.9% and 8.4%, respectively. There was also a strong negative association between within-herd Brucella seroprevalence and PrCR. Presence of small ruminants, animal introduction without quarantine and the presence of handling facilities were associated with lower PrCR, whereas larger herd size, supplementary feeding, routine mineral supplementation and care during parturition were associated with higher PrCR. CONCLUSIONS : Brucellosis and BGC may be largely responsible for the poor reproductive performance of indigenous Nigerian cattle. Farmer education and measures to improve the fertility of cattle herds are suggested.The partial funding by the Department of Production Animal Studies, University of Pretoria is appreciated.http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcvetresam201

Parental and clinician agreement of illness severity in children with RTIs:Secondary analysis of data from a prospective cohort study

Background: severity assessments of respiratory tract infection (RTI) in children are known to differ between parents and clinicians, but determinants of perceived severity are unknown. Aim: to investigate the (dis)agreement between, and compare the determinants of, parent and clinician severity scores. Design and setting: secondary analysis of data from a prospective cohort study of 8394 children presenting to primary care with acute (≤28 days) cough and RTI. Method: data on sociodemographic factors, parent-reported symptoms, clinician-reported findings, and severity assessments were used. Kappa (κ)-statistics were used to investigate (dis) agreement, whereas multivariable logistic regression was used to identify the factors associated with illness severity. Results: parents reported higher illness severity (mean 5.2 [standard deviation (SD) 1.8], median 5 [interquartile range (IQR) 4–7]), than clinicians (mean 3.1 [SD 1.7], median 3 [IQR 2–4], P&lt;0.0001). There was low positive correlation between these scores (+0.43) and poor inter-rater agreement between parents and clinicians (κ 0.049). The number of clinical signs was highly correlated with clinician scores (+0.71). Parent-reported symptoms (in the previous 24 hours) that were independently associated with higher illness severity scores, in order of importance, were: severe fever, severe cough, rapid breathing, severe reduced eating, moderate-to-severe reduced fluid intake, severe disturbed sleep, and change in cry. Three of these symptoms (severe fever, rapid breathing, and change in cry) along with inter/ subcostal recession, crackles/crepitations, nasal flaring, wheeze, and drowsiness/irritability were associated with higher clinician scores. Conclusion: clinicians and parents use different factors and make different judgements about the severity of children’s RTI. Improved understanding of the factors that concern parents could improve parent–clinician communication and consultation outcomes.</p

Technique for the calibration of hydrophones in the frequency range 10 to 600 kHz using a heterodyne interferometer and an acoustically compliant membrane

A technique for the calibration of hydrophones using an optical method is presented. In the method, a measurement is made of the acoustic particle velocity in the field of a transducer by use of a thin plastic pellicle that is used to reflect the optical beam of a laser vibrometer, the pellicle being acoustically transparent at the frequency of interest. The hydrophone under test is then substituted for the pellicle, and the hydrophone response to the known acoustic field is measured. A commercially available laser vibrometer is used to undertake the calibrations, and results are presented over a frequency range from 10 to 600 kHz. A comparison is made with the method of three-transducer spherical-wave reciprocity, with agreement of better than 0.5 dB over the majority of the frequency range. The pellicle used is in the form of a narrow strip of thin Mylar©, and a discussion is given of the effect of the properties of the pellicle on the measurement results. The initial results presented here show that the method has the potential to form the basis of a primary standard method, with the calibration traceable to standards of length measurement through the wavelength of the laser light

ITC EUREST-PLUS Spain: protocol of a prospective longitudinal study of smokers in Spain

Objective: The ITC EUREST-PLUS Spain Survey is a longitudinal study of a representative sample of Spanish adult (≥18 years old) smokers. This protocol describes the methods of the 2021 follow-up survey. Method: The ITC EUREST-PLUS Survey, a prospective cohort study of a representative sample of smokers in six European countries, was conducted in 2016 (baseline) and 2018 (waves 1 and 2). The 2021 ITC EUREST-PLUS Spain Survey is a continuation of the Spanish cohort with a new interview in 2021 (wave 3). Lost participants were replaced with new smokers recruited using the same multi-stage sampling design. This latest follow-up aims to examine current patterns and transitions of tobacco use and to evaluate the impact of new tobacco-related policies. Comments: The ITC EUREST-PLUS Spain Survey will provide recent information about the impact of tobacco control policies on smoking behaviour