Diffraction by an imperfect half plane in a bianisotropic medium

A general theory to study the electromagnetic diffraction by imperfect half planes immersed in linear homogeneous bianisotropic media is presented. The problem is formulated in terms of Wiener-Hopf equations by deriving explicit spectral domain expressions for the characteristic impedances of bianisotropic media, which allow one to exploit their analytical properties. In the simpler case of perfect electric conducting and perfect magnetic conducting half planes, the Wiener-Hopf equations involve matrices of order 2, which can be factorized in closed form if the constitutive tensors of the bianisotropic material are of special form. Four of these special cases are discussed in detail. In order to deal with the more general problem, a technique to numerically factorize the Wiener-Hopf matrix kernels is presented. Our numerical approach is discussed on one example, by considering the previously unsolved problem of a perfect electric conducting half plane in a gyrotropic medium. The reported numerical results show that the diffracted field contribution is obtained by use of the saddle point integration method

A conceptual model for semantically-based e-government portals

Issues of semantic interoperability and service integration for e-government portals are the domain of interest of the present paper. We propose a Conceptual Model for One-Stop e-Government Portals based on the Semantic Web Service technology. We describe our research into building the three basic ontologies and their integration with standard ontologies. The result is a project-independent reusable model. At the same time, we outline a simple methodology for applying the proposed conceptual model into a specific scenario

Cylindrical Resonator Sectorally Filled With DNG Metamaterial and Excited by a Line Source

A circular cylindrical resonator with metallic walls is analyzed in the phasor domain. The resonator contains a wedge of double-negative (DNG) metamaterial that is anti-isorefractive to the double-positive (DPS) material filling the remaining volume of the resonator, and whose edge is located on the resonator axis. The resonance conditions are established. The problem of an electric line source parallel to the axis and located anywhere inside the DPS region is solved exactly. Numerical results are presented and discusse

Cylindrical resonator filled with four alternating sectors of DPS and DNG materials

A circular cylindrical metallic resonator with four alternating sectors of DPS and DNG materials is analyzed, in the frequency domain. The two materials are linear, lossless, homogeneous, and anti-isorefractive to each other. The electric field is assumed to be parallel to the cylinder axis. It is also shown that the resonator's dispersion relation is always satisfied for particular geometries. Numerical results for several sectors' combinations will be presented and discussed at the conferenc

Semiotic Annotation of Narrative Video Commercials: Bridging the Gap between Artifacts and Ontologies

Drawing on semiotic theories, the paper proposes a new concept of annotation \u2013 called semiotic annotation \u2013 whose goal is to describe the multilayered articulation of meaning inscribed within narrative video commercials by their designers. The approach exploits the use of a meta-model of the narrative video genre providing the conceptualizations and the vocabulary for analysis and annotation. By explicating design knowledge embodied in the video, semiotic annotation plays the role of intermediate level knowledge between the meta-model (an informal ontology) and practice (the concrete video artifact). In order to assess the feasibility of the approach, a test bed is presented and results are reported. A final discussion about the potential contribution of semiotic annotation in the fields of Research Through Design, Technological Mediation, and Interface Criticism concludes the study

Intraoperative neuromonitoring versus visual nerve identification for prevention of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury in adults undergoing thyroid surgery

This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (Intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the effects of intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) versus visual nerve identification for prevention of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury in adults undergoing thyroid surgery

Multimedia analysis and design: a conceptual framework

The paper proposes a conceptual model inspired to semiotic theories, to be applied to the analysis and design of multimedia. We introduce a meta-model with four levels of semantic aggregation. There results a framework of concepts, relations and processes accounting for the multiple meanings that arise from a multimedia text. We explore the effectiveness of the model by considering four commercial clips by the brand Lanc\uf4me. Our analysis confirms that the framework is well suited to the analysis, indexing, design of narrative multimedia

Creating awareness of kinaesthetic learning using the Experience API: current practices, emerging challenges, possible solutions

We describe our use of the Experience API in preparing blue-collar workers for three frequently arising work contexts, including, for example, the requirement to perform maintenance tasks exactly as specified, consistently, quickly, and without error. We provide some theoretical underpinning for modifying and updating the API to remain useful in near-future training scenarios, such as having a shorter time allowed for kinaesthetic learning experiences than in traditional apprenticeships or training. We propose ways to involve a wide range of stakeholders in appraising the API and ensuring that any enhancements to it, or add-ons, are useful, feasible and compatible with current TEL practices and tools, such as learning-design modelling languages

The measure of effectiveness of a short-term 2-week intensive Cardiac Rehabilitation program in decreasing levels of anxiety and depression

Research on heart disease have found a strong and consistent evidence of association between some psychosocial risk factors, including depression, anxiety, self-efficacy, lack of social support and outcome of disease. Depression increases the risk of cardiac death and is highly predictive of reduced adherence to recommended treatments; anxiety appears to be linked to adverse cardiac outcomes. It was demonstrated that Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR) leads to substantial improvements and positive outcomes because combines the prescription of physical activity with the modification of risk factors and aims to reduce symptoms related to the disease and the risk of new cardiovascular events. The main objective of this study is to determine if a short and intense CR program can produce a positive impact on anxious and depressive symptoms revealed in cardiac patients, confirming results of previous researches. The protocol was proposed to all patients referred for an outpatient CR after an acute event who attended the short 2-week intensive rehabilitation program. A total of 157 patients recruited at the operating unit of Cardiology, in the Hospital of Cittadella (Italy), was included in the analysis. The Beck Depression Inventory-II and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Y were administered to the patients. SPSS 17.0 was used for statistical analysis. T-tests for paired samples were used to evaluate differences between the beginning and the end of the CR program. There was a statistically significant difference between the beginning and the end of the CR program. Results for paired samples showed significant differences in all factors of the BDI-II and in the total score. In addition, a statistically significant difference was found even in the state - anxiety subscale. No significant difference was detected for the trait anxiety. According to recent studies, this research shows that the CR program has a significant impact on levels of anxiety and depression, because all activities focus their commitment on changing the patient’s personal beliefs and perception of illness, promoting the exchange of information and sharing of concerns and fears, increasing the patient’s resilience with the aim of enabling him/her to reorganize positively his/her personal, family and professional sphere