Correction function in the Lidar equation and the solution techniques for CO2 Lidar date reduction

For lidar systems with long laser pulses the unusual behavior of the near-range signals causes serious difficulties and large errors in reduction. The commonly used lidar equation is no longer applicable since the convolution of the laser pulse with the atmospheric parameter distributions should be taken into account. It is important to give more insight into this problem and find the solution techniques. Starting from the original equation, a general form is suggested for the single scattering lidar equation where a correction function Cr is introduced. The correction Function Cr(R) derived from the original equation indicates the departure from the normal lidar equation. Examples of Cr(R) for a coaxial CO2 lidar system are presented. The Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL) errors caused by the differences of Cr(R) for H2O measurements are plotted against height

Enhanced Convergence and Robust Performance of Randomized Dynamical Decoupling

We demonstrate the advantages of randomization in coherent quantum dynamical control. For systems which are either time-varying or require decoupling cycles involving a large number of operations, we find that simple randomized protocols offer superior convergence and stability as compared to deterministic counterparts. In addition, we show how randomization always allows to outperform purely deterministic schemes at long times, including combinatorial and concatenated methods. General criteria for optimally interpolating between deterministic and stochastic design are proposed and illustrated in explicit decoupling scenarios relevant to quantum information storage.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, replaced with final versio

Thyroid hormones correlate with field metabolic rate in ponies, Equus ferus caballus

Acknowledgments The authors thank Jürgen Dörl for technical help and for taking care of the animals and Peter Thompson for technical assistance with the doubly labelled water analysis. Funding The study was supported by a grant from the German Research Foundation (DFG;GE 704/13-1).Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Evaluation of existing and new methods of tracking glacier terminus change

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors thank two anonymous reviewers for constructive comments that helped to improve the manuscript. This research was financially supported by J.M.L.’s PhD funding from UK Natural Environment Research Council grant No. NE/I528742/1.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Einstein Observatory solid state spectrometer observations of M87 and the Virgo cluster

X-ray observations of the galaxy M87 and of a region in the Virgo cluster displaced 7 minutes from the center of M87 are presented. X-ray spectra are obtained at these two locations with the slid state spectrometer onboard the Einstein Observatory. Emission lines were observed in both locations, indicating the presence of heavy elements at abundances approximately solar (to within a factor of 2). A temperature gradient, T increases from approximately 1.4 keV at the position of M87 to T approximately 3.35 keV 7' away, was detected. There is lower temperature thermal emission at the center of M87 with T approximately 0.6 keV, consistent with models for cooling flows in this cluster. In addition to the thermal emission, a power law component in the spectrum of M87, was detected consistent with that observed by HEAO-1, indicating that this component probably originates in the galaxy itself. The presence of intracluster gas having density approximately .001 cu cm and temperature approximately 30 million K is indicated

Examining the Effectiveness of an Intervention to Increase Provider Assessment of Overweight and Obesity in the Primary Care Setting

Obesity is an epidemic among adults in the United States, leading to a multitude of co-morbidities and billions of dollars in annual healthcare expenditures. Although primary care is the ideal setting for identification and treatment of overweight/obesity, it is often overlooked by providers. This capstone project was formed by three manuscripts, which were written to explore the lack of overweight/obesity identification and treatment in the primary care setting. Emphasis was made throughout the three manuscripts on the importance of providers using body mass index (BMI) as an objective means to discuss overweight/obesity with patients. The first manuscript is an integrative review of literature related to the use of BMI as a tool to diagnose obesity in primary care. The second manuscript is an analysis of the 2013 guideline published by the American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology, and The Obesity Society related to overweight/obesity among adults. The third manuscript outlines a quality improvement study that was conducted at a family practice clinic to improve provider documentation of overweight/obesity diagnosis and treatment through use of a sticky note prompt alerting providers to patient BMI. Findings from this study yielded statistically significant improvements in provider documentation of overweight/obesity diagnosis and treatment to reveal that solutions are available to address this problem in healthcare

Linking Cost-Volume-Profit Analysis with Goal Analysis in the Curriculum Using Spreadsheet Applications

This paper is designed to demonstrate successful innovations in education, namely combining a managerial accounting concept with a menu analysis concept using spreadsheet applications. The managerial accounting concept of cost-volume-profit (CVP) analysis predicts the sales dollars and volume required to achieve desired profit (or breakeven) based on known costs. The menu analysis concept of goal value (GV) analysis evaluates each menu item\u27s food cost percentage, contribution margin, popularity nonfood variable costs (e.g., variable labor costs), and selling price. CVP analysis is used to establish targets for the entire operation, whereas GV analysis evaluates individual menu items against those operational targets. GV analysis is based on the operational goals in terms of food cost, other variable costs, selling price, and number of covers. If, for example, the CVP analysis suggests that the number of covers needed to generate desired profits will not likely be achieved, costs should be evaluated. If food and labor costs are reduced to generate a more reasonable sales figure in CVP by increasing contribution margin, then those changes affect the desired food and variable (labor) costs in GV analysis. In addition, desired selling price (check average) and number of covers in GV analysis should be set based on results in CVP analysis. Therefore, the two analyses can be strategically linked. In order to effectively teach the linkage between CVP analysis and GV analysis, the author presents spreadsheet applications that combine the two analyses

Research interventions to strengthen irrigators' associations

Irrigation management, Water distribution, Financing, Data collection, Operations, Maintenance, Performance indexes, Privatization, Farmer-agency interactions, Institution building, Farmers associations, Training, Participatory management, Leadership, Farm Management, Institutional and Behavioral Economics, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession,

New initiatives in the development of customary land: group versus individual interests

In 2007, Papua New Guinea's National Research Institute published a report from the National Land Development Taskforce, Land Administration, Land Dispute Settlement, and Customary Land Development, which supported the current 'customary' system. This document was followed by the National Land Development Program Concept Design Document (National Land Development Program 2007). The PNG Cabinet endorsed the program outlined in this document and 28 million kina was committed for its implementation in the 2008 Budget. The program follows the concept of development through incorporated land groups, as introduced in the 1970s through the Incorporated Land Groups Act. This paper argues that land development in Papua New Guinea will continue to be marred by serious agency problems as long as the legal system fails to give definition to individual rights or interests in land