Experimental verification of self-calibration radiometer based on spontaneous parametric downconversion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Dongyang; Zheng, Xiaobing; Li, Jianjun; Hu, Youbo; Xia, Maopeng; Salam, Abdul; Zhang, Peng

2018-03-01

Based on spontaneous parametric downconversion process, we propose a novel self-calibration radiometer scheme which can self-calibrate the degradation of its own response and ultimately monitor the fluctuation of a target radiation. Monitor results were independent of its degradation and not linked to the primary standard detector scale. The principle and feasibility of the proposed scheme were verified by observing bromine-tungsten lamp. A relative standard deviation of 0.39 % was obtained for stable bromine-tungsten lamp. Results show that the proposed scheme is advanced of its principle. The proposed scheme could make a significant breakthrough in the self-calibration issue on the space platform.

Polarization switch of four-wave mixing in a lawtunable fiber optical parametric oscillator.

PubMed

Yang, Kangwen; Ye, Pengbo; Zheng, Shikai; Jiang, Jieshi; Huang, Kun; Hao, Qiang; Zeng, Heping

2018-02-05

We reported the simultaneous generation and selective manipulation of scalar and cross-phase modulation instabilities in a fiber optical parametric oscillator. Numerical and experimental results show independent control of parametric gain by changing the input pump polarization state. The resonant cavity enables power enhancement of 45 dB for the spontaneous sidebands, generating laser pulses tunable from 783 to 791 nm and 896 to 1005 nm due to the combination of four-wave mixing, cascaded Raman scattering and other nonlinear effects. This gain controlled, wavelength tunable, fiber-based laser source may find applications in the fields of nonlinear biomedical imaging and stimulated Raman spectroscopy.

The spontaneous emission factor for lasers with gain induced waveguiding

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Newstein, M.

1984-11-01

The expression for the spontaneous emission factor for lasers with gain induced waveguiding has a factor K, called by Petermann ''the astigmatism parameter.'' This factor has been invoked to explain spectral and dynamic characteristics of this class of lasers. We contend that the widely accepted form of the K factor is based on a derivation which is not appropriate for the typical laser situation where the spontaneous emission factor is much smaller than unity. An alternative derivation is presented which leads to a different form for the K factor. The new expression predicts much smaller values under conditions where themore » previous theory gave values large compared to unity. Petermann's form for the K factor is shown to be relevant to large gain linear amplifiers where the power is amplified spontaneous emission noise. The expression for the power output has Petermann's value of K as a factor. The difference in the two situations is that in the laser oscillator the typical atom of interest couples a small portion of its incoherent spontaneous emission into the dominant mode, whereas in the amplifier only the atoms at the input end are important as sources and their output is converted to a greater degree into the dominant mode through the propagation process. In this analysis the authors use a classical model of radiating point dipoles in a continuous medium characterized by a complex permittivity. Since uncritical use of this model will lead to infinite radiation resistance they address the problem of its self-consistency.« less

Demonstration of optical parametric gain generation in the 1 μm regime based on a photonic crystal fiber pumped by a picosecond mode-locked ytterbium-doped fiber laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Lei; Yang, Si-Gang; Wang, Xiao-Jian; Gou, Dou-Dou; Chen, Hong-Wei; Chen, Ming-Hua; Xie, Shi-Zhong

2014-01-01

We report the experimental demonstration of the optical parametric gain generation in the 1 μm regime based on a photonic crystal fiber (PCF) with a zero group velocity dispersion (GVD) wavelength of 1062 nm pumped by a homemade tunable picosecond mode-locked ytterbium-doped fiber laser. A broad parametric gain band is obtained by pumping the PCF in the anomalous GVD regime with a relatively low power. Two separated narrow parametric gain bands are observed by pumping the PCF in the normal GVD regime. The peak of the parametric gain profile can be tuned from 927 to 1038 nm and from 1099 to 1228 nm. This widely tunable parametric gain band can be used for a broad band optical parametric amplifier, large span wavelength conversion or a tunable optical parametric oscillator.

Spontaneous physical activity protects against fat mass gain

PubMed Central

Teske, Jennifer A.; Billington, Charles J.; Kuskowski, Michael A.; Kotz, Catherine M.

2011-01-01

It is unclear whether elevated spontaneous physical activity (SPA, very low-intensity physical activity) positively influences body composition long-term. Objective We determined whether SPA and caloric intake were differentially related to the growth curve trajectories of body weight, FM and FFM between obesity resistant and Sprague-Dawley rats at specific age intervals. Design and Subjects Body composition, SPA and caloric intake were measured in selectively-bred obesity resistant and out-bred Sprague-Dawley rats from 1-18 mo. Data from development throughout maturation were analyzed by longitudinal growth curve modeling to determine the rate and acceleration of body weight, fat mass (FM) and fat-free mass (FFM) gain. Results Obesity resistant rats had a lower rate of FM gain overall, a lower acceleration in body weight early in life, significantly greater SPA and lower cumulative caloric intake. Greater SPA in obesity resistant rats was significantly associated with a lower rate of FM gain overall and lower acceleration in body weight early in life. Obesity resistant rats lost less FFM compared to Sprague-Dawley rats despite that obesity resistant rats had a lower acceleration in FFM gain early in life. Obesity resistant rats gained less FM and more FFM per gram body weight and were less energy efficient than Sprague-Dawley rats. Caloric intake was significantly and positively related to body weight, FM and FFM gain in both groups. Circadian patterns of caloric intake were group and age-dependent. Our data demonstrate that elevated and sustained SPA during development and over the lifespan are related to the reduced the rate of FM gain and may preserve FFM. Conclusion These data support the idea that SPA level is a reproducible marker that reliably predicts propensity for obesity in rats, and that elevated levels of SPA maintained during the lifespan promote a lean phenotype. PMID:21610695

Theory and Simulation of Gain-Guided Noncollinear Modes in Chirped Quasi-Phase-Matched Optical Parametric Amplifiers

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Charbonneau-Lefort, Mathieu; Afeyan, Bedros; Fejer, Martin

Chirped quasi-phase-matched (QPM) gratings offer essentially constant gain over wide bandwidths, making them promising candidates for short-pulse optical parametric amplifiers. However, experiments have shown that high-gain non-collinear processes exist in spite of the dephasing caused by the non-uniformity of the QPM grating and compete with the desired collinear broadband gain of the amplifier. In this paper, these non-collinear gain-guided modes are investigated numerically and analytically in a model that includes longitudinal non-uniformity of the phase-matching profile, lateral localization of the pump beam and non-collinear propagation of the interacting waves.

Simple performance evaluation of pulsed spontaneous parametric down-conversion sources for quantum communications.

PubMed

Smirr, Jean-Loup; Guilbaud, Sylvain; Ghalbouni, Joe; Frey, Robert; Diamanti, Eleni; Alléaume, Romain; Zaquine, Isabelle

2011-01-17

Fast characterization of pulsed spontaneous parametric down conversion (SPDC) sources is important for applications in quantum information processing and communications. We propose a simple method to perform this task, which only requires measuring the counts on the two output channels and the coincidences between them, as well as modeling the filter used to reduce the source bandwidth. The proposed method is experimentally tested and used for a complete evaluation of SPDC sources (pair emission probability, total losses, and fidelity) of various bandwidths. This method can find applications in the setting up of SPDC sources and in the continuous verification of the quality of quantum communication links.

Gain measurement of a CuBr laser by means of modified amplified spontaneous emission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chan, W. C.; Liu, H. P.; Yen, S. H.; Chen, W. Y.; Lin, Y. H.; Chen, W. C.

1990-05-01

A modified amplified spontaneous emission technique has been introduced to measure the radial distributions of the gain and the saturation energy density of the output of a double-discharge pulsed CuBr laser. An asymmetric distribution of the gain was obtained. With the laser tube temperature at 420 °C, the peak value of the gain and the saturation energy density are 70 db/m and 85 μJ/cm3, respectively.

A new design methodology of obtaining wide band high gain broadband parametric source for infrared wavelength applications

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Maji, Partha Sona; Roy Chaudhuri, Partha

In this article, we have presented a new design methodology of obtaining wide band parametric sources based on highly nonlinear chalcogenide material of As{sub 2}S{sub 3}. The dispersion profile of the photonic crystal fiber (PCF) has been engineered wisely by reducing the diameter of the second air-hole ring to have a favorable higher order dispersion parameter. The parametric gain dependence upon fiber length, pump power, and different pumping wavelengths has been investigated in detail. Based upon the nonlinear four wave mixing phenomenon, we are able to achieve a wideband parametric amplifier with peak gain of 29 dB with FWHM of ≈2000 nmmore » around the IR wavelength by proper tailoring of the dispersion profile of the PCF with a continuous wave Erbium (Er{sup 3+})-doped ZBLAN fiber laser emitting at 2.8 μm as the pump source with an average power of 5 W. The new design methodology will unleash a new dimension to the chalcogenide material based investigation for wavelength translation around IR wavelength band.« less

Modeling of enhanced spontaneous parametric down-conversion in plasmonic and dielectric structures with realistic waves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Loot, A.; Hizhnyakov, V.

2018-05-01

A numerical study of the enhancement of the spontaneous parametric down-conversion in plasmonic and dielectric structures is considered. The modeling is done using a nonlinear transfer-matrix method which is extended to include vacuum fluctuations and realistic waves (e.g. Gaussian beam). The results indicate that in the case of short-range surface plasmon polaritons, the main limiting factor of the enhancement is the short length of the coherent buildup. In the case of long-range surface plasmon polaritons or dielectric guided waves, the very narrow resonances are the main limiting factor instead.

Entangled photon pair generation by spontaneous parametric down-conversion in finite-length one-dimensional photonic crystals

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Centini, M.; Sciscione, L.; Sibilia, C.

A description of spontaneous parametric down-conversion in finite-length one-dimensional nonlinear photonic crystals is developed using semiclassical and quantum approaches. It is shown that if a suitable averaging is added to the semiclassical model, its results are in very good agreement with the quantum approach. We propose two structures made with GaN/AlN that generate both degenerate and nondegenerate entangled photon pairs. Both structures are designed so as to achieve a high efficiency of the nonlinear process.

Multi-copy entanglement purification with practical spontaneous parametric down conversion sources

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Shuai-Shuai; Shu, Qi; Zhou, Lan; Sheng, Yu-Bo

2017-06-01

Entanglement purification is to distill the high quality entanglement from the low quality entanglement with local operations and classical communications. It is one of the key technologies in long-distance quantum communication. We discuss an entanglement purification protocol (EPP) with spontaneous parametric down conversion (SPDC) sources, in contrast to previous EPP with multi-copy mixed states, which requires ideal entanglement sources. We show that the SPDC source is not an obstacle for purification, but can benefit the fidelity of the purified mixed state. This EPP works for linear optics and is feasible in current experiment technology. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 11474168 and 61401222), the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province, China (Grant No. BK20151502), the Qing Lan Project in Jiangsu Province, China, and a Project Funded by the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, China.

Ultra-wideband and high-gain parametric amplification in telecom wavelengths with an optimally mode-matched PPLN waveguide.

PubMed

Sua, Yong Meng; Chen, Jia-Yang; Huang, Yu-Ping

2018-06-15

We report a wideband optical parametric amplification (OPA) over 14 THz covering telecom S, C, and L bands with observed maximum parametric gain of 38.3 dB. The OPA is realized through cascaded second-harmonic generation and difference-frequency generation (cSHG-DFG) in a 2 cm periodically poled LiNbO 3 (PPLN) waveguide. With tailored cross section geometry, the waveguide is optimally mode matched for efficient cascaded nonlinear wave mixing. We also identify and study the effect of competing nonlinear processes in this cSHG-DFG configuration.

Dressed Gain from the Parametrically Amplified Four-Wave Mixing Process in an Atomic Vapor.

PubMed

Zhang, Zhaoyang; Wen, Feng; Che, Junling; Zhang, Dan; Li, Changbiao; Zhang, Yanpeng; Xiao, Min

2015-10-14

With a forward cone emitting from the strong pump laser in a thermal rubidium atomic vapor, we investigate the non-degenerate parametrically amplified four-wave mixing (PA-FWM) process with dressing effects in a three-level "double-Λ" configuration both theoretically and experimentally. By seeding a weak probe field into the Stokes or anti-Stokes channel of the FWM, the gain processes are generated in the bright twin beams which are called conjugate and probe beams, respectively. However, the strong dressing effect of the pump beam will dramatically affect the gain factors both in the probe and conjugate channels, and can inevitably impose an influence on the quantum effects such as entangled degree and the quantum noise reduction between the two channels. We systematically investigate the intensity evolution of the dressed gain processes by manipulating the atomic density, the Rabi frequency and the frequency detuning. Such dressing effects are also visually evidenced by the observation of Autler-Townes splitting of the gain peaks. The investigation can contribute to the development of quantum information processing and quantum communications.

Dressed Gain from the Parametrically Amplified Four-Wave Mixing Process in an Atomic Vapor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Zhaoyang; Wen, Feng; Che, Junling; Zhang, Dan; Li, Changbiao; Zhang, Yanpeng; Xiao, Min

2015-10-01

With a forward cone emitting from the strong pump laser in a thermal rubidium atomic vapor, we investigate the non-degenerate parametrically amplified four-wave mixing (PA-FWM) process with dressing effects in a three-level “double-Λ” configuration both theoretically and experimentally. By seeding a weak probe field into the Stokes or anti-Stokes channel of the FWM, the gain processes are generated in the bright twin beams which are called conjugate and probe beams, respectively. However, the strong dressing effect of the pump beam will dramatically affect the gain factors both in the probe and conjugate channels, and can inevitably impose an influence on the quantum effects such as entangled degree and the quantum noise reduction between the two channels. We systematically investigate the intensity evolution of the dressed gain processes by manipulating the atomic density, the Rabi frequency and the frequency detuning. Such dressing effects are also visually evidenced by the observation of Autler-Townes splitting of the gain peaks. The investigation can contribute to the development of quantum information processing and quantum communications.

Determination of baroreflex gain using auto-regressive moving-average analysis during spontaneous breathing.

PubMed

O'Leary, D D; Lin, D C; Hughson, R L

1999-09-01

The heart rate component of the arterial baroreflex gain (BRG) was determined with auto-regressive moving-average (ARMA) analysis during each of spontaneous (SB) and random breathing (RB) protocols. Ten healthy subjects completed each breathing pattern on two different days in each of two different body positions, supine (SUP) and head-up tilt (HUT). The R-R interval, systolic arterial pressure (SAP) and instantaneous lung volume were recorded continuously. BRG was estimated from the ARMA impulse response relationship of R-R interval to SAP and from the spontaneous sequence method. The results indicated that both the ARMA and spontaneous sequence methods were reproducible (r = 0.76 and r = 0.85, respectively). As expected, BRG was significantly less in the HUT compared to SUP position for both ARMA (mean +/- SEM; 3.5 +/- 0.3 versus 11.2 +/- 1.4 ms mmHg-1; P < 0.01) and spontaneous sequence analysis (10.3 +/- 0.8 versus 31.5 +/- 2.3 ms mmHg-1; P < 0.001). However, no significant difference was found between BRG during RB and SB protocols for either ARMA (7.9 +/- 1.4 versus 6.7 +/- 0.8 ms mmHg-1; P = 0.27) or spontaneous sequence methods (21.8 +/- 2.7 versus 20.0 +/- 2.1 ms mmHg-1; P = 0.24). BRG was correlated during RB and SB protocols (r = 0.80; P < 0.0001). ARMA and spontaneous BRG estimates were correlated (r = 0.79; P < 0.0001), with spontaneous sequence values being consistently larger (P < 0.0001). In conclusion, we have shown that ARMA-derived BRG values are reproducible and that they can be determined during SB conditions, making the ARMA method appropriate for use in a wider range of patients.

Investigation of the photon statistics of parametric fluorescence in a traveling-wave parametric amplifier by means of self-homodyne tomography.

PubMed

Vasilyev, M; Choi, S K; Kumar, P; D'Ariano, G M

1998-09-01

Photon-number distributions for parametric fluorescence from a nondegenerate optical parametric amplifier are measured with a novel self-homodyne technique. These distributions exhibit the thermal-state character predicted by theory. However, a difference between the fluorescence gain and the signal gain of the parametric amplifier is observed. We attribute this difference to a change in the signal-beam profile during the traveling-wave pulsed amplification process.

Realization of the purely spatial Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paradox in full-field images of spontaneous parametric down-conversion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moreau, Paul-Antoine; Mougin-Sisini, Joé; Devaux, Fabrice; Lantz, Eric

2012-07-01

We demonstrate Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen (EPR) entanglement by detecting purely spatial quantum correlations in the near and far fields of spontaneous parametric down-conversion generated in a type-2 beta barium borate crystal. Full-field imaging is performed in the photon-counting regime with an electron-multiplying CCD camera. The data are used without any postselection, and we obtain a violation of Heisenberg inequalities with inferred quantities taking into account all the biphoton pairs in both the near and far fields by integration on the entire two-dimensional transverse planes. This ensures a rigorous demonstration of the EPR paradox in its original position-momentum form.

Spatiotemporal structure of biphoton entanglement in type-II parametric down-conversion

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Brambilla, E.; Caspani, L.; Lugiato, L. A.

2010-07-15

We investigate the spatiotemporal structure of the biphoton correlation in type-II parametric down-conversion (PDC). As in type-I PDC [Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 223601 (2009)], we find that the correlation is nonfactorizable in space and time. Differently from type I, the type-II correlation in the spontaneous regime displays an asymmetric V-shaped structure in any cross section including time and one transverse dimension. This asymmetry along the temporal coordinate originates from the signal-idler group velocity mismatch and tends to disappear as the parametric gain is raised. We observe a progressive transition toward a symmetric X-shaped geometry similar to that found in typemore » I when stimulated PDC becomes dominant. We also give quantitative evaluations of the localization in space and in time of the correlation, analyze its behavior for different crystal tuning angles, and underline qualitative differences with respect to type-I PDC.« less

Ultrafast optical transistor and router of multi-order fluorescence and spontaneous parametric four-wave mixing in Pr³⁺:YSO.

PubMed

Wen, Feng; Ali, Imran; Hasan, Abdulkhaleq; Li, Changbiao; Tang, Haijun; Zhang, Yufei; Zhang, Yanpeng

2015-10-15

We study the realization of an optical transistor (switch and amplifier) and router in multi-order fluorescence (FL) and spontaneous parametric four-wave mixing (SP-FWM). We estimate that the switching speed is about 15 ns. The router action results from the Autler-Townes splitting in spectral or time domain. The switch and amplifier are realized by dressing suppression and enhancement in FL and SP-FWM. The optical transistor and router can be controlled by multi-parameters (i.e., power, detuning, or polarization).

Giant gain from spontaneously generated coherence in Y-type double quantum dot structure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Al-Nashy, B.; Razzaghi, Sonia; Al-Musawi, Muwaffaq Abdullah; Rasooli Saghai, H.; Al-Khursan, Amin H.

A theoretical model was presented for linear susceptibility using density matrix theory for Y-configuration of double quantum dots (QDs) system including spontaneously generated coherence (SGC). Two SGC components are included for this system: V, and Λ subsystems. It is shown that at high V-component, the system have a giga gain. At low Λ-system component; it is possible to controls the light speed between superluminal and subluminal using one parameter by increasing SGC component of the V-system. This have applications in quantum information storage and spatially-varying temporal clock.

Energy expenditure, spontaneous physical activity and with weight gain in kidney transplant recipients.

PubMed

Heng, Anne-Elisabeth; Montaurier, Christophe; Cano, Noël; Caillot, Nicolas; Blot, A; Meunier, Nathalie; Pereira, Bruno; Marceau, Geoffroy; Sapin, Vincent; Jouve, Christelle; Boirie, Yves; Deteix, Patrice; Morio, Beatrice

2015-06-01

Alterations in energy metabolism could trigger weight gain after renal transplantation. Nineteen transplanted non-diabetic men, 53 ± 1.6 years old, receiving calcineurin inhibitors but no corticosteroids were studied. They were compared with nine healthy men matched for height, age and lean body mass. Daily energy expenditure and its components (sleeping, basal and absorptive metabolic rates) were analyzed for 24 h in calorimetric chambers and for 4 days in free living conditions using calibrated accelerometry. Other variables known to influence energy expenditure were assessed: body composition, physical activity, 4-day food intake, drug consumption, serum C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, thyroid and parathyroid hormones, and epinephrine. Transplant recipients who gained more than 5% body weight after transplantation (n = 11, +11.0 ± 1.5 kg) were compared with those who did not (n = 8) and with the controls. Weight gain compared with non-weight gain patients and controls exhibited higher fat mass without change in lean body mass. Daily, sleeping and resting energy expenditure adjusted for lean body mass was significantly higher in non-weight gain (167.1 ± 4.2 kJ/kg/lean body mass/24 h, P < 0.05) compared with weight gain patients (147.4 ± 3.6) and controls (146.1 ± 4.6). Weight gain compared with controls and non-weight gain subjects had lower free living physical activity and a higher consumption of antihypertensive drugs and β-blockers. After kidney transplantation, weight gain patients were characterized by lower adjusted energy expenditure, reduced spontaneous physical activity but a more sedentary life style and a trend toward a higher energy intake explaining the reason they gained weight. The nWG KTR had increased resting and sleeping EE which protected them from weight gain. Such hypermetabolism was also observed in 24-h EE measurements. By comparison with the nWG patients, the WG transplant recipients were characterized by higher �

Effects of polarization mode dispersion on polarization-entangled photons generated via broadband pumped spontaneous parametric down-conversion

PubMed Central

Lim, Hyang-Tag; Hong, Kang-Hee; Kim, Yoon-Ho

2016-01-01

An inexpensive and compact frequency multi-mode diode laser enables a compact two-photon polarization entanglement source via the continuous wave broadband pumped spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) process. Entanglement degradation caused by polarization mode dispersion (PMD) is one of the critical issues in optical fiber-based polarization entanglement distribution. We theoretically and experimentally investigate how the initial entanglement is degraded when the two-photon polarization entangled state undergoes PMD. We report an effect of PMD unique to broadband pumped SPDC, equally applicable to pulsed pumping as well as cw broadband pumping, which is that the amount of the entanglement degradation is asymmetrical to the PMD introduced to each quantum channel. We believe that our results have important applications in long-distance distribution of polarization entanglement via optical fiber channels. PMID:27174100

Two-Photon Quantum Entanglement from Type-II Spontaneous Parametric Down-Conversion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pittman, Todd Butler

The concept of two (or more) particle entanglement lies at the heart of many fascinating questions concerning the foundations of quantum mechanics. The counterintuitive nonlocal behavior of entangled states led Einstein, Podolsky, and Rosen (EPR) to ask their famous 1935 question, "Can quantum mechanical description of reality be considered complete?". Although the debate has been raging on for more than 60 years, there is still no absolutely conclusive answer to this question. For if entangled states exist and can be observed, then accepting quantum mechanics as a complete theory requires a drastic overhaul of one's physical intuition with regards to the common sense notions of locality and reality put forth by EPR. Contained herein are the results of research investigating various non-classical features of the two-photon entangled states produced in Type-II Spontaneous Parametric Down -Conversion (SPDC). Through a series of experiments we have manifest the nonlocal nature of the quantum mechanical "two-photon effective wavefunction" (or Biphoton) realized by certain photon-counting coincidence measurements performed on these states. In particular, we examine a special double entanglement, in which the states are seen to be simultaneously entangled in both spin and space-time variables. The observed phenomena based on this double entanglement lead to many interesting results which defy classical explanation, but are well described within the framework of quantum mechanics. The implications provide a unique perspective concerning the nature of the photon, and the concept of quantum entanglement.

Ultra-flat wideband single-pump Raman-enhanced parametric amplification.

PubMed

Gordienko, V; Stephens, M F C; El-Taher, A E; Doran, N J

2017-03-06

We experimentally optimize a single pump fiber optical parametric amplifier in terms of gain spectral bandwidth and gain variation (GV). We find that optimal performance is achieved with the pump tuned to the zero-dispersion wavelength of dispersion stable highly nonlinear fiber (HNLF). We demonstrate further improvement of parametric gain bandwidth and GV by decreasing the HNLF length. We discover that Raman and parametric gain spectra produced by the same pump may be merged together to enhance overall gain bandwidth, while keeping GV low. Consequently, we report an ultra-flat gain of 9.6 ± 0.5 dB over a range of 111 nm (12.8 THz) on one side of the pump. Additionally, we demonstrate amplification of a 60 Gbit/s QPSK signal tuned over a portion of the available bandwidth with OSNR penalty less than 1 dB for Q² below 14 dB.

Parametric amplification in MoS2 drum resonator.

PubMed

Prasad, Parmeshwar; Arora, Nishta; Naik, A K

2017-11-30

Parametric amplification is widely used in diverse areas from optics to electronic circuits to enhance low level signals by varying relevant system parameters. Parametric amplification has also been performed in several micro-nano resonators including nano-electromechanical system (NEMS) resonators based on a two-dimensional (2D) material. Here, we report the enhancement of mechanical response in a MoS 2 drum resonator using degenerate parametric amplification. We use parametric pumping to modulate the spring constant of the MoS 2 resonator and achieve a 10 dB amplitude gain. We also demonstrate quality factor enhancement in the resonator with parametric amplification. We investigate the effect of cubic nonlinearity on parametric amplification and show that it limits the gain of the mechanical resonator. Amplifying ultra-small displacements at room temperature and understanding the limitations of the amplification in these devices is key for using these devices for practical applications.

Distribution of polarization-entangled photonpairs produced via spontaneous parametric down-conversion within a local-area fiber network: theoretical model and experiment.

PubMed

Lim, Han Chuen; Yoshizawa, Akio; Tsuchida, Hidemi; Kikuchi, Kazuro

2008-09-15

We present a theoretical model for the distribution of polarization-entangled photon-pairs produced via spontaneous parametric down-conversion within a local-area fiber network. This model allows an entanglement distributor who plays the role of a service provider to determine the photon-pair generation rate giving highest two-photon interference fringe visibility for any pair of users, when given user-specific parameters. Usefulness of this model is illustrated in an example and confirmed in an experiment, where polarization-entangled photon-pairs are distributed over 82 km and 132 km of dispersion-managed optical fiber. Experimentally observed visibilities and entanglement fidelities are in good agreement with theoretically predicted values.

Spontaneous parametric down conversion with a depleted pump as an analogue for black hole evaporation/particle production

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alsing, P. M.; Fanto, M. L.

2016-05-01

In this work we argue that black hole evaporation/particle production has a very close analogy to the laboratory process of spontaneous parametric down conversion, when the pump is allowed to deplete. We present an analytical formulation of the recent one-shot decoupling model that was numerically analyzed in Bradler and Adami Phys. Rev. Lett. 116, 101301 (2016) [arXiv:1505.0284]. We compute the resulting "Page Information" curves, which describe the rate at which information escapes form the black hole as it evaporates, for the reduced density matrices for the evaporating black hole internal degrees of freedom, and emitted Hawking radiation pairs entangled across the horizon. The present work reviews and attempts to elucidate the trilinear Hamiltonian models for black hole evaporation/particle production recently investigated by the authors in Class. Quant. Grav 32, 075010 (2015) [arXiv:1408.4491] and Class. Quant. Grav 33, 015005 (2016) [arXiv:1507.00429].

Josephson parametric converter saturation and higher order effects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, G.; Chien, T.-C.; Cao, X.; Lanes, O.; Alpern, E.; Pekker, D.; Hatridge, M.

2017-11-01

Microwave parametric amplifiers based on Josephson junctions have become indispensable components of many quantum information experiments. One key limitation which has not been well predicted by theory is the gain saturation behavior which limits the amplifier's ability to process large amplitude signals. The typical explanation for this behavior in phase-preserving amplifiers based on three-wave mixing, such as the Josephson Parametric Converter, is pump depletion, in which the consumption of pump photons to produce amplification results in a reduction in gain. However, in this work, we present experimental data and theoretical calculations showing that the fourth-order Kerr nonlinearities inherent in Josephson junctions are the dominant factor. The Kerr-based theory has the unusual property of causing saturation to both lower and higher gains, depending on bias conditions. This work presents an efficient methodology for optimizing device performance in the presence of Kerr nonlinearities while retaining device tunability and points to the necessity of controlling higher-order Hamiltonian terms to make further improvements in parametric devices.

Continuous-wave infrared optical gain and amplified spontaneous emission at ultralow threshold by colloidal HgTe quantum dots.

PubMed

Geiregat, Pieter; Houtepen, Arjan J; Sagar, Laxmi Kishore; Infante, Ivan; Zapata, Felipe; Grigel, Valeriia; Allan, Guy; Delerue, Christophe; Van Thourhout, Dries; Hens, Zeger

2018-01-01

Colloidal quantum dots (QDs) raise more and more interest as solution-processable and tunable optical gain materials. However, especially for infrared active QDs, optical gain remains inefficient. Since stimulated emission involves multifold degenerate band-edge states, population inversion can be attained only at high pump power and must compete with efficient multi-exciton recombination. Here, we show that mercury telluride (HgTe) QDs exhibit size-tunable stimulated emission throughout the near-infrared telecom window at thresholds unmatched by any QD studied before. We attribute this unique behaviour to surface-localized states in the bandgap that turn HgTe QDs into 4-level systems. The resulting long-lived population inversion induces amplified spontaneous emission under continuous-wave optical pumping at power levels compatible with solar irradiation and direct current electrical pumping. These results introduce an alternative approach for low-threshold QD-based gain media based on intentional trap states that paves the way for solution-processed infrared QD lasers and amplifiers.

Continuous-wave infrared optical gain and amplified spontaneous emission at ultralow threshold by colloidal HgTe quantum dots

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Geiregat, Pieter; Houtepen, Arjan J.; Sagar, Laxmi Kishore; Infante, Ivan; Zapata, Felipe; Grigel, Valeriia; Allan, Guy; Delerue, Christophe; van Thourhout, Dries; Hens, Zeger

2018-01-01

Colloidal quantum dots (QDs) raise more and more interest as solution-processable and tunable optical gain materials. However, especially for infrared active QDs, optical gain remains inefficient. Since stimulated emission involves multifold degenerate band-edge states, population inversion can be attained only at high pump power and must compete with efficient multi-exciton recombination. Here, we show that mercury telluride (HgTe) QDs exhibit size-tunable stimulated emission throughout the near-infrared telecom window at thresholds unmatched by any QD studied before. We attribute this unique behaviour to surface-localized states in the bandgap that turn HgTe QDs into 4-level systems. The resulting long-lived population inversion induces amplified spontaneous emission under continuous-wave optical pumping at power levels compatible with solar irradiation and direct current electrical pumping. These results introduce an alternative approach for low-threshold QD-based gain media based on intentional trap states that paves the way for solution-processed infrared QD lasers and amplifiers.

Competing collinear and noncollinear interactions in chirped quasi-phase-matched optical parametric amplifiers

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Charbonneau-Lefort, Mathieu; Afeyan, Bedros; Fejer, M. M.

Chirped quasi-phase-matched optical parametric amplifiers (chirped QPM OPAs) are investigated experimentally. The measured collinear gain is constant over a broad bandwidth, which makes these devices attractive candidates for use in femtosecond amplifier systems. The experiment also shows that chirped QPM OPAs support noncollinear gain-guided modes. These modes can dominate the desired collinear gain and generate intense parametric fluorescence. Finally, design guidelines to mitigate these parasitic processes are discussed.

Associations of maternal pre-pregnancy underweight with small-for-gestational-age and spontaneous preterm birth, and optimal gestational weight gain in Japanese women.

PubMed

Fujiwara, Kana; Aoki, Shigeru; Kurasawa, Kentaro; Okuda, Mika; Takahashi, Tsuneo; Hirahara, Fumiki

2014-04-01

To determine associations of maternal pre-pregnancy underweight with poor outcomes and evaluate how gestational weight gain affects risks for such outcomes in pre-pregnancy underweight Japanese women. By analyzing the January 2001-December 2012 hospital database, we retrospectively identified 6954 women with pre-pregnancy normal weights (body mass index, 18.5-24.9 kg/m²) and 1057 pre-pregnancy underweight women (body mass index, <18.5 kg/m²) who delivered at the Perinatal Maternity and Neonatal Center of Yokohama City University. These women were stratified by weekly weight gain during the second/third trimesters to investigate associations of gestational weight gain with spontaneous preterm birth and small for gestational age (SGA). Spontaneous preterm birth and SGA incidences were compared with those of women meeting Institute of Medicine (IO M) guidelines to determine optimal weight gain in Japanese women. Preterm birth and SGA incidences were significantly higher in pre-pregnancy underweight than in pre-pregnancy normal weight women (4.6% vs 2.4% [P=0.005] and 13.9% vs 9.7% [P = 0.003], respectively). For pre-pregnancy normal weight women, preterm birth incidence was significantly higher in those with weight gain of less than 0.2 kg/week than in those IOM guidelines. For pre-pregnancy underweight women, preterm birth and SGA incidences were significantly higher in those with weight gain of less than 0.3 kg/week than in those meeting IOM guidelines. Preterm birth and SGA incidences did not differ significantly between pre-pregnancy normal weight women with weight gain of 0.2 kg/week or more and pre-pregnancy underweight women with weight gain of 0.3 kg/week or more, as compared to women meeting IOM guidelines. These results suggest that IOM guidelines for gestational weight gain may lack external validity in Japanese women. © 2014 The Authors. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research © 2014 Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Quantum optical measurement with tripartite entangled photons generated by triple parametric down-conversion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cho, Minhaeng

2018-05-01

Parametric down-conversion is a second-order nonlinear optical process annihilating a pump photon and creating a pair of photons in the signal and idler modes. Then, by using two parametric down-converters and introducing a path indistinguishability for the two generated idler modes, a quantum coherence between two conjugate signal beams can be induced. Such a double spontaneous or stimulated parametric down-conversion scheme has been used to demonstrate quantum spectroscopy and imaging with undetected idler photons via measuring one-photon interference between their correlated signal beams. Recently, we considered another quantum optical measurement scheme utilizing W-type tripartite entangled signal photons that can be generated by employing three spontaneous parametric down-conversion crystals and by inducing coherences or path-indistinguishabilities between their correlated idler beams and between quantum vacuum fields. Here, we consider an extended triple stimulated parametric down-conversion scheme for quantum optical measurement of sample properties with undetected idler and photons. Noting the real effect of vacuum field indistinguishability on the fringe visibility as well as the role of zero-point field energy in the interferometry, we show that this scheme is an ideal and efficient way to create a coherent state of W-type entangled signal photons. We anticipate that this scheme would be of critical use in further developing quantum optical measurements in spectroscopy and microscopy with undetected photons.

Quantum optical measurement with tripartite entangled photons generated by triple parametric down-conversion.

PubMed

Cho, Minhaeng

2018-05-14

Parametric down-conversion is a second-order nonlinear optical process annihilating a pump photon and creating a pair of photons in the signal and idler modes. Then, by using two parametric down-converters and introducing a path indistinguishability for the two generated idler modes, a quantum coherence between two conjugate signal beams can be induced. Such a double spontaneous or stimulated parametric down-conversion scheme has been used to demonstrate quantum spectroscopy and imaging with undetected idler photons via measuring one-photon interference between their correlated signal beams. Recently, we considered another quantum optical measurement scheme utilizing W-type tripartite entangled signal photons that can be generated by employing three spontaneous parametric down-conversion crystals and by inducing coherences or path-indistinguishabilities between their correlated idler beams and between quantum vacuum fields. Here, we consider an extended triple stimulated parametric down-conversion scheme for quantum optical measurement of sample properties with undetected idler and photons. Noting the real effect of vacuum field indistinguishability on the fringe visibility as well as the role of zero-point field energy in the interferometry, we show that this scheme is an ideal and efficient way to create a coherent state of W-type entangled signal photons. We anticipate that this scheme would be of critical use in further developing quantum optical measurements in spectroscopy and microscopy with undetected photons.

Sensitivity enhancement of remotely coupled NMR detectors using wirelessly powered parametric amplification.

PubMed

Qian, Chunqi; Murphy-Boesch, Joseph; Dodd, Stephen; Koretsky, Alan

2012-09-01

A completely wireless detection coil with an integrated parametric amplifier has been constructed to provide local amplification and transmission of MR signals. The sample coil is one element of a parametric amplifier using a zero-bias diode that mixes the weak MR signal with a strong pump signal that is obtained from an inductively coupled external loop. The NMR sample coil develops current gain via reduction in the effective coil resistance. Higher gain can be obtained by adjusting the level of the pumping power closer to the oscillation threshold, but the gain is ultimately constrained by the bandwidth requirement of MRI experiments. A feasibility study here shows that on a NaCl/D(2) O phantom, (23) Na signals with 20 dB of gain can be readily obtained with a concomitant bandwidth of 144 kHz. This gain is high enough that the integrated coil with parametric amplifier, which is coupled inductively to external loops, can provide sensitivity approaching that of direct wire connection. Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Generalized parametric down conversion, many particle interferometry, and Bell's theorem

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Choi, Hyung Sup

1992-01-01

A new field of multi-particle interferometry is introduced using a nonlinear optical spontaneous parametric down conversion (SPDC) of a photon into more than two photons. The study of SPDC using a realistic Hamiltonian in a multi-mode shows that at least a low conversion rate limit is possible. The down converted field exhibits many stronger nonclassical phenomena than the usual two photon parametric down conversion. Application of the multi-particle interferometry to a recently proposed many particle Bell's theorem on the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen problem is given.

Parametric amplification and bidirectional invisibility in PT -symmetric time-Floquet systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koutserimpas, Theodoros T.; Alù, Andrea; Fleury, Romain

2018-01-01

Parity-time (PT )-symmetric wave devices, which exploit balanced interactions between material gain and loss, exhibit extraordinary properties, including lasing and flux-conserving scattering processes. In a seemingly different research field, periodically driven systems, also known as time-Floquet systems, have been widely studied as a relevant platform for reconfigurable active wave control and manipulation. In this article, we explore the connection between PT -symmetry and parametric time-Floquet systems. Instead of relying on material gain, we use parametric amplification by considering a time-periodic modulation of the refractive index at a frequency equal to twice the incident signal frequency. We show that the scattering from a simple parametric slab, whose dynamics follows the Mathieu equation, can be described by a PT -symmetric scattering matrix, whose PT -breaking threshold corresponds to the Mathieu instability threshold. By combining different parametric slabs modulated out of phase, we create PT -symmetric time-Floquet systems that feature exceptional scattering properties, such as coherent perfect absorption (CPA)-laser operation and bidirectional invisibility. These bidirectional properties, rare for regular PT -symmetric systems, are related to a compensation of parametric amplification due to multiple scattering between two parametric systems modulated with a phase difference.

Resonant parametric interference effect in spontaneous bremsstrahlung of an electron in the field of a nucleus and two pulsed laser waves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lebed', A. A.; Padusenko, E. A.; Roshchupkin, S. P.; Dubov, V. V.

2018-04-01

Electron-nucleus bremsstrahlung in the field of two moderately strong pulsed laser waves in the case of incommensurate frequencies is theoretically studied under resonant conditions. The process is studied in detail in a special kinematic region, where stimulated processes with correlated emission and absorption of photons of the first and second waves become predominant (parametric interference effect). The availability of this region is caused by interference of the first and second laser waves. The correspondence between the emission angle and the final-electron energy is established in this interference kinematic. In this case, the cross-sectional properties are determined by the multiphoton quantum interference parameter, which is proportional to the product of intensities of the first and second waves. The resonant differential cross section of electron-nucleus spontaneous bremsstrahlung with simultaneous registration of both emission angles of the spontaneous photon and the scattered electron can exceed by four or five orders of magnitude the corresponding cross section in the absence of an external field. It was shown for nonrelativistic electrons that the resonant cross section of the studied process in the field of two pulsed laser waves within the interference region in two order of magnitude may exceed corresponding cross sections at other scattering kinematics. The obtained results may be experimentally verified, for example, by scientific facilities at sources of pulsed laser radiation (such as SLAC, FAIR, XFEL, ELI).

Ku band low noise parametric amplifier

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1976-01-01

A low noise, K sub u-band, parametric amplifier (paramp) was developed. The unit is a spacecraft-qualifiable, prototype, parametric amplifier for eventual application in the shuttle orbiter. The amplifier was required to have a noise temperature of less than 150 K. A noise temperature of less than 120 K at a gain level of 17 db was achieved. A 3-db bandwidth in excess of 350 MHz was attained, while deviation from phase linearity of about + or - 1 degree over 50 MHz was achieved. The paramp operates within specification over an ambient temperature range of -5 C to +50 C. The performance requirements and the operation of the K sub u-band parametric amplifier system are described. The final test results are also given.

Measurement of the photon statistics and the noise figure of a fiber-optic parametric amplifier.

PubMed

Voss, Paul L; Tang, Renyong; Kumar, Prem

2003-04-01

We report measurement of the noise statistics of spontaneous parametric fluorescence in a fiber parametric amplifier with single-mode, single-photon resolution. We employ optical homodyne tomography for this purpose, which also provides a self-calibrating measurement of the noise figure of the amplifier. The measured photon statistics agree with quantum-mechanical predictions, and the amplifier's noise figure is found to be almost quantum limited.

Study of the amplified spontaneous emission spectral width and gain coefficient for a KrF laser in unsaturated and saturated conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hariri, A.; Sarikhani, S.

2014-01-01

On the basis of a model of a geometrically dependent gain coefficient, the amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) spectral width was calculated analytically for the nearly resonant transition of ν ˜ ν0, and also numerically for a wide range of transition frequencies. For this purpose, the intensity rate equation was used under unsaturated and saturated conditions. For verifying the proposed model, reported measurements of the ASE energy versus the excitation length for a KrF laser were used. For the excitation length of l = 84 cm corresponding to single-path propagation, the ASE spectral width for the homogeneously broadened transition was calculated to be 6.28 Å, to be compared with the measured 4.1 Å spectral width reported for a KrF oscillator utilizing a two-mirror resonator. With the gain parameters obtained from the ASE energy measurements, the unsaturated and saturated gain coefficients for l = 84 cm were calculated to be 0.042 cm-1 and 0.014 cm-1, respectively. These values of the gain coefficient are comparable to but slightly lower than the measured gain coefficient for laser systems of 80-100 cm excitation lengths reported from different laboratories.

Noise-figure limit of fiber-optical parametric amplifiers and wavelength converters: experimental investigation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tang, Renyong; Voss, Paul L.; Lasri, Jacob; Devgan, Preetpaul; Kumar, Prem

2004-10-01

Recent theoretical work predicts that the quantum-limited noise figure of a chi(3)-based fiber-optical parametric amplifier operating as a phase-insensitive in-line amplifier or as a wavelength converter exceeds the standard 3-dB limit at high gain. The degradation of the noise figure is caused by the excess noise added by the unavoidable Raman gain and loss occurring at the signal and the converted wavelengths. We present detailed experimental evidence in support of this theory through measurements of the gain and noise-figure spectra for phase-insensitive parametric amplification and wavelength conversion in a continuous-wave amplifier made from 4.4 km of dispersion-shifted fiber. The theory is also extended to include the effect of distributed linear loss on the noise figure of such a long-length parametric amplifier and wavelength converter.

On the ''excess spontaneous emission factor'' in gainguided laser amplifiers

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Haus, H.A.; Kawakami, S.

1985-01-01

Petermann computed an ''excess spontaneous emission factor'' for gain-guided laser. In this paper, the authors investigate further the role of this factor. Such a factor also appears in the treatment of thermodynamic equilibrium in an attenuating medium-a seeming paradox. Further investigation shows that the excess spontaneous emission excitation at thermal equilibrium is cancelled by the excitations in the other modes which are correlated with that in the fundamental mode. In a medium with gain, cancellation also occurs in a short amplifier in which there is no gain discrimination among modes. The ''excess spontaneous emission factor'' is fully present only inmore » a system in which the different higher order modes have an appreciably smaller gain than the lowest order mode, a high gain amplifier. An analysis of the signal-tonoise ratio of a high gain amplifier reveals that the excess noise factor can be fully compensated by proper input excitation by a lens arrangement. The lens arrangement provides the signal with an ''excess gain'' factor. An ''excess gain'' factor is also present when a thermal source is used.« less

Increasing spontaneous language in three autistic children.

PubMed Central

Matson, J L; Sevin, J A; Fridley, D; Love, S R

1990-01-01

A time delay procedure was used to increase spontaneous verbalizations of 3 autistic children. Multiple baseline across behaviors designs were used with target responses, selected via a social validation procedure, of two spontaneous responses ("please" and "thank you") and one verbally prompted response ("you're welcome"). The results indicate gains across target behaviors for all children, with occurrence across other stimuli and settings. These gains were validated socially with 10 adults. Furthermore, increases in appropriate language had no effect on levels of inappropriate speech. PMID:2373659

Progress towards practical device-independent quantum key distribution with spontaneous parametric down-conversion sources, on-off photodetectors, and entanglement swapping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seshadreesan, Kaushik P.; Takeoka, Masahiro; Sasaki, Masahide

2016-04-01

Device-independent quantum key distribution (DIQKD) guarantees unconditional security of a secret key without making assumptions about the internal workings of the devices used for distribution. It does so using the loophole-free violation of a Bell's inequality. The primary challenge in realizing DIQKD in practice is the detection loophole problem that is inherent to photonic tests of Bell' s inequalities over lossy channels. We revisit the proposal of Curty and Moroder [Phys. Rev. A 84, 010304(R) (2011), 10.1103/PhysRevA.84.010304] to use a linear optics-based entanglement-swapping relay (ESR) to counter this problem. We consider realistic models for the entanglement sources and photodetectors: more precisely, (a) polarization-entangled states based on pulsed spontaneous parametric down-conversion sources with infinitely higher-order multiphoton components and multimode spectral structure, and (b) on-off photodetectors with nonunit efficiencies and nonzero dark-count probabilities. We show that the ESR-based scheme is robust against the above imperfections and enables positive key rates at distances much larger than what is possible otherwise.

New Logic Circuit with DC Parametric Excitation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sugahara, Masanori; Kaneda, Hisayoshi

1982-12-01

It is shown that dc parametric excitation is possible in a circuit named JUDO, which is composed of two resistively-connected Josephson junctions. Simulation study proves that the circuit has large gain and properties suitable for the construction of small, high-speed logic circuits.

Time-bin entangled photon pairs from spontaneous parametric down-conversion pumped by a cw multi-mode diode laser.

PubMed

Kwon, Osung; Park, Kwang-Kyoon; Ra, Young-Sik; Kim, Yong-Su; Kim, Yoon-Ho

2013-10-21

Generation of time-bin entangled photon pairs requires the use of the Franson interferometer which consists of two spatially separated unbalanced Mach-Zehnder interferometers through which the signal and idler photons from spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) are made to transmit individually. There have been two SPDC pumping regimes where the scheme works: the narrowband regime and the double-pulse regime. In the narrowband regime, the SPDC process is pumped by a narrowband cw laser with the coherence length much longer than the path length difference of the Franson interferometer. In the double-pulse regime, the longitudinal separation between the pulse pair is made equal to the path length difference of the Franson interferometer. In this paper, we propose another regime by which the generation of time-bin entanglement is possible and demonstrate the scheme experimentally. In our scheme, differently from the previous approaches, the SPDC process is pumped by a cw multi-mode (i.e., short coherence length) laser and makes use of the coherence revival property of such a laser. The high-visibility two-photon Franson interference demonstrates clearly that high-quality time-bin entanglement source can be developed using inexpensive cw multi-mode diode lasers for various quantum communication applications.

Direct Estimation of Kinetic Parametric Images for Dynamic PET

PubMed Central

Wang, Guobao; Qi, Jinyi

2013-01-01

Dynamic positron emission tomography (PET) can monitor spatiotemporal distribution of radiotracer in vivo. The spatiotemporal information can be used to estimate parametric images of radiotracer kinetics that are of physiological and biochemical interests. Direct estimation of parametric images from raw projection data allows accurate noise modeling and has been shown to offer better image quality than conventional indirect methods, which reconstruct a sequence of PET images first and then perform tracer kinetic modeling pixel-by-pixel. Direct reconstruction of parametric images has gained increasing interests with the advances in computing hardware. Many direct reconstruction algorithms have been developed for different kinetic models. In this paper we review the recent progress in the development of direct reconstruction algorithms for parametric image estimation. Algorithms for linear and nonlinear kinetic models are described and their properties are discussed. PMID:24396500

Terahertz wave parametric oscillations at polariton resonance using a MgO:LiNbO₃ crystal.

PubMed

Li, Zhongyang; Bing, Pibin; Yuan, Sheng; Xu, Degang; Yao, Jianquan

2015-06-20

Terahertz wave (THz-wave) parametric oscillations with a noncollinear phase-matching scheme at polariton resonance using a MgO:LiNbO₃ crystal with a surface-emitted configuration are investigated. We investigate frequency tuning characteristics of a THz-wave via varying the wavelength of the pump wave and phase-matching angle. The effective parametric gain length under the noncollinear phase-matching condition is calculated. Parametric gain and absorption characteristics of a THz-wave in the vicinity of polariton resonances are analyzed.

Four photon parametric amplification. [in unbiased Josephson junction

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Parrish, P. T.; Feldman, M. J.; Ohta, H.; Chiao, R. Y.

1974-01-01

An analysis is presented describing four-photon parametric amplification in an unbiased Josephson junction. Central to the theory is the model of the Josephson effect as a nonlinear inductance. Linear, small signal analysis is applied to the two-fluid model of the Josephson junction. The gain, gain-bandwidth product, high frequency limit, and effective noise temperature are calculated for a cavity reflection amplifier. The analysis is extended to multiple (series-connected) junctions and subharmonic pumping.

Traveling wave parametric amplifier with Josephson junctions using minimal resonator phase matching

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

White, T. C.; Mutus, J. Y.; Hoi, I.-C.

Josephson parametric amplifiers have become a critical tool in superconducting device physics due to their high gain and quantum-limited noise. Traveling wave parametric amplifiers (TWPAs) promise similar noise performance, while allowing for significant increases in both bandwidth and dynamic range. We present a TWPA device based on an LC-ladder transmission line of Josephson junctions and parallel plate capacitors using low-loss amorphous silicon dielectric. Crucially, we have inserted λ/4 resonators at regular intervals along the transmission line in order to maintain the phase matching condition between pump, signal, and idler and increase gain. We achieve an average gain of 12 dB acrossmore » a 4 GHz span, along with an average saturation power of −92 dBm with noise approaching the quantum limit.« less

Optical parametric amplification and oscillation assisted by low-frequency stimulated emission.

PubMed

Longhi, Stefano

2016-04-15

Optical parametric amplification and oscillation provide powerful tools for coherent light generation in spectral regions inaccessible to lasers. Parametric gain is based on a frequency down-conversion process and, thus, it cannot be realized for signal waves at a frequency ω3 higher than the frequency of the pump wave ω1. In this Letter, we suggest a route toward the realization of upconversion optical parametric amplification and oscillation, i.e., amplification of the signal wave by a coherent pump wave of lower frequency, assisted by stimulated emission of the auxiliary idler wave. When the signal field is resonated in an optical cavity, parametric oscillation is obtained. Design parameters for the observation of upconversion optical parametric oscillation at λ3=465 nm are given for a periodically poled lithium-niobate (PPLN) crystal doped with Nd(3+) ions.

Study of parametric instability in gravitational wave detectors with silicon test masses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Jue; Zhao, Chunnong; Ju, Li; Blair, David

2017-03-01

Parametric instability is an intrinsic risk in high power laser interferometer gravitational wave detectors, in which the optical cavity modes interact with the acoustic modes of the mirrors, leading to exponential growth of the acoustic vibration. In this paper, we investigate the potential parametric instability for a proposed next generation gravitational wave detector, the LIGO Voyager blue design, with cooled silicon test masses of size 45 cm in diameter and 55 cm in thickness. It is shown that there would be about two unstable modes per test mass at an arm cavity power of 3 MW, with the highest parametric gain of  ∼76. While this is less than the predicted number of unstable modes for Advanced LIGO (∼40 modes with max gain of  ∼32 at the designed operating power of 830 kW), the importance of developing suitable instability suppression schemes is emphasized.

Josephson Parametric Reflection Amplifier with Integrated Directionality

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Westig, M. P.; Klapwijk, T. M.

2018-06-01

A directional superconducting parametric amplifier in the GHz frequency range is designed and analyzed, suitable for low-power read-out of microwave kinetic inductance detectors employed in astrophysics and when combined with a nonreciprocal device at its input also for circuit quantum electrodynamics. It consists of a one-wavelength-long nondegenerate Josephson parametric reflection amplifier circuit. The device has two Josephson-junction oscillators, connected via a tailored impedance to an on-chip passive circuit which directs the in- to the output port. The amplifier provides a gain of 20 dB over a bandwidth of 220 MHz on the signal as well as on the idler portion of the amplified input and the total photon shot noise referred to the input corresponds to maximally approximately 1.3 photons per second per Hertz of bandwidth. We predict a factor of 4 increase in dynamic range compared to conventional Josephson parametric amplifiers.

The parametric resonance—from LEGO Mindstorms to cold atoms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kawalec, Tomasz; Sierant, Aleksandra

2017-07-01

We show an experimental setup based on a popular LEGO Mindstorms set, allowing us to both observe and investigate the parametric resonance phenomenon. The presented method is simple but covers a variety of student activities like embedded software development, conducting measurements, data collection and analysis. It may be used during science shows, as part of student projects and to illustrate the parametric resonance in mechanics or even quantum physics, during lectures or classes. The parametrically driven LEGO pendulum gains energy in a spectacular way, increasing its amplitude from 10° to about 100° within a few tens of seconds. We provide also a short description of a wireless absolute orientation sensor that may be used in quantitative analysis of driven or free pendulum movement.

A Parametric Oscillator Experiment for Undergraduates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huff, Alison; Thompson, Johnathon; Pate, Jacob; Kim, Hannah; Chiao, Raymond; Sharping, Jay

We describe an upper-division undergraduate-level analytic mechanics experiment or classroom demonstration of a weakly-damped pendulum driven into parametric resonance. Students can derive the equations of motion from first principles and extract key oscillator features, such as quality factor and parametric gain, from experimental data. The apparatus is compact, portable and easily constructed from inexpensive components. Motion control and data acquisition are accomplished using an Arduino micro-controller incorporating a servo motor, laser sensor, and data logger. We record the passage time of the pendulum through its equilibrium position and obtain the maximum speed per oscillation as a function of time. As examples of the interesting physics which the experiment reveals, we present contour plots depicting the energy of the system as functions of driven frequency and modulation depth. We observe the transition to steady state oscillation and compare the experimental oscillation threshold with theoretical expectations. A thorough understanding of this hands-on laboratory exercise provides a foundation for current research in quantum information and opto-mechanics, where damped harmonic motion, quality factor, and parametric amplification are central.

Ultra-Broad-Band Optical Parametric Amplifier or Oscillator

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Strekalov, Dmitry; Matsko, Andrey; Savchenkov, Anatolly; Maleki, Lute

2009-01-01

A concept for an ultra-broad-band optical parametric amplifier or oscillator has emerged as a by-product of a theoretical study in fundamental quantum optics. The study was originally intended to address the question of whether the two-photon temporal correlation function of light [in particular, light produced by spontaneous parametric down conversion (SPDC)] can be considerably narrower than the inverse of the spectral width (bandwidth) of the light. The answer to the question was found to be negative. More specifically, on the basis of the universal integral relations between the quantum two-photon temporal correlation and the classical spectrum of light, it was found that the lower limit of two-photon correlation time is set approximately by the inverse of the bandwidth. The mathematical solution for the minimum two-photon correlation time also provides the minimum relative frequency dispersion of the down-converted light components; in turn, the minimum relative frequency dispersion translates to the maximum bandwidth, which is important for the design of an ultra-broad-band optical parametric oscillator or amplifier. In the study, results of an analysis of the general integral relations were applied in the case of an optically nonlinear, frequency-dispersive crystal in which SPDC produces collinear photons. Equations were found for the crystal orientation and pump wavelength, specific for each parametric-down-converting crystal, that eliminate the relative frequency dispersion of collinear degenerate (equal-frequency) signal and idler components up to the fourth order in the frequency-detuning parameter

Circulation and Directional Amplification in the Josephson Parametric Converter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hatridge, Michael

Nonreciprocal transport and directional amplification of weak microwave signals are fundamental ingredients in performing efficient measurements of quantum states of flying microwave light. This challenge has been partly met, as quantum-limited amplification is now regularly achieved with parametrically-driven, Josephson-junction based superconducting circuits. However, these devices are typically non-directional, requiring external circulators to separate incoming and outgoing signals. Recently this limitation has been overcome by several proposals and experimental realizations of both directional amplifiers and circulators based on interference between several parametric processes in a single device. This new class of multi-parametrically driven devices holds the promise of achieving a variety of desirable characteristics simultaneously- directionality, reduced gain-bandwidth constraints and quantum-limited added noise, and are good candidates for on-chip integration with other superconducting circuits such as qubits.

Frequency domain optical parametric amplification

PubMed Central

Schmidt, Bruno E.; Thiré, Nicolas; Boivin, Maxime; Laramée, Antoine; Poitras, François; Lebrun, Guy; Ozaki, Tsuneyuki; Ibrahim, Heide; Légaré, François

2014-01-01

Today’s ultrafast lasers operate at the physical limits of optical materials to reach extreme performances. Amplification of single-cycle laser pulses with their corresponding octave-spanning spectra still remains a formidable challenge since the universal dilemma of gain narrowing sets limits for both real level pumped amplifiers as well as parametric amplifiers. We demonstrate that employing parametric amplification in the frequency domain rather than in time domain opens up new design opportunities for ultrafast laser science, with the potential to generate single-cycle multi-terawatt pulses. Fundamental restrictions arising from phase mismatch and damage threshold of nonlinear laser crystals are not only circumvented but also exploited to produce a synergy between increased seed spectrum and increased pump energy. This concept was successfully demonstrated by generating carrier envelope phase stable, 1.43 mJ two-cycle pulses at 1.8 μm wavelength. PMID:24805968

Frequency non-degenerate phase-sensitive optical parametric amplification based on four-wave-mixing in width-modulated silicon waveguides.

PubMed

Wang, Zhaolu; Liu, Hongjun; Sun, Qibing; Huang, Nan; Li, Xuefeng

2014-12-15

A width-modulated silicon waveguide is proposed to realize non-degenerate phase sensitive optical parametric amplification. It is found that the relative phase at the input of the phase sensitive amplifier (PSA) θIn-PSA can be tuned by tailoring the width and length of the second segment of the width-modulated silicon waveguide, which will influence the gain in the parametric amplification process. The maximum gain of PSA is larger by 9 dB compared with the phase insensitive amplifier (PIA) gain, and the gain bandwidth of PSA is larger by 35 nm compared with the gain bandwidth of PIA. Our on-chip PSA can find important potential applications in highly integrated optical circuits for optical chip-to-chip communication and computers.

Excess spontaneous emission in non-Hermitian optical systems. I. Laser amplifiers

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Siegman, A.E.

1989-02-01

Petermann first predicted in 1979 the existence of an excess-spontaneous-emission factor in gain-guided semiconductor lasers. We show that an excess spontaneous emission of this type, and also a correlation between the spontaneous emission into different cavity modes, will in fact be present in all open-sided laser resonators or optical lens guides. These properties arise from the non-self-adjoint or non-power-orthogonal nature of the optical resonator modes. The spontaneous-emission rate is only slightly enhanced in stable-resonator or index-guided structures, but can become very much larger than normal in gain-guided or geometrically unstable structures. Optical resonators or lens guides that have an excessmore » noise emission necessarily also exhibit an ''excess initial-mode excitation factor'' for externally injected signals. As a result, the excess spontaneous emission can be balanced out and the usual quantum-noise limit recovered in laser amplifiers and in injection-seeded laser oscillators, but not in free-running laser oscillators.« less

A general framework for parametric survival analysis.

PubMed

Crowther, Michael J; Lambert, Paul C

2014-12-30

Parametric survival models are being increasingly used as an alternative to the Cox model in biomedical research. Through direct modelling of the baseline hazard function, we can gain greater understanding of the risk profile of patients over time, obtaining absolute measures of risk. Commonly used parametric survival models, such as the Weibull, make restrictive assumptions of the baseline hazard function, such as monotonicity, which is often violated in clinical datasets. In this article, we extend the general framework of parametric survival models proposed by Crowther and Lambert (Journal of Statistical Software 53:12, 2013), to incorporate relative survival, and robust and cluster robust standard errors. We describe the general framework through three applications to clinical datasets, in particular, illustrating the use of restricted cubic splines, modelled on the log hazard scale, to provide a highly flexible survival modelling framework. Through the use of restricted cubic splines, we can derive the cumulative hazard function analytically beyond the boundary knots, resulting in a combined analytic/numerical approach, which substantially improves the estimation process compared with only using numerical integration. User-friendly Stata software is provided, which significantly extends parametric survival models available in standard software. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Noncritical quadrature squeezing through spontaneous polarization symmetry breaking.

PubMed

Garcia-Ferrer, Ferran V; Navarrete-Benlloch, Carlos; de Valcárcel, Germán J; Roldán, Eugenio

2010-07-01

We discuss the possibility of generating noncritical quadrature squeezing by spontaneous polarization symmetry breaking. We first consider Type II frequency-degenerate optical parametric oscillators but discard them for a number of reasons. Then we propose a four-wave-mixing cavity, in which the polarization of the output mode is always linear but has an arbitrary orientation. We show that in such a cavity, complete noise suppression in a quadrature of the output field occurs, irrespective of the parameter values.

Excess noise in gain-guided amplifiers

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Deutsch, I.H.; Garrison, J.C.; Wright, E.M.

1991-06-01

A second-quantized theory of the radiation field is used to study the origin of the excess noise observed in gain-guided amplifiers. We find that the reduction of the signal-to-noise ratio is a function of the length of the amplifier, and thus the enhancement of the noise is a propagation effect arising from longitudinally inhomogeneous gain of the noise rather than from an excess of local spontaneous emission. We confirm this conclusion by showing that the microscopic rate of spontaneous emission into a given non-power-orthogonal cavity mode is not enhanced by the Petermann factor. In addition, we illustrate the difficulties associatedmore » with photon statistics for this and other open systems by showing that no acceptable family of photon-number operators corresponds to a set of non-power-orthogonal cavity modes.« less

Performance scaling via passive pulse shaping in cavity-enhanced optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification.

PubMed

Siddiqui, Aleem M; Moses, Jeffrey; Hong, Kyung-Han; Lai, Chien-Jen; Kärtner, Franz X

2010-06-15

We show that an enhancement cavity seeded at the full repetition rate of the pump laser can automatically reshape small-signal gain across the interacting pulses in an optical parametric chirped-pulse amplifier for close-to-optimal operation, significantly increasing both the gain bandwidth and the conversion efficiency, in addition to boosting gain for high-repetition-rate amplification. Applied to a degenerate amplifier, the technique can provide an octave-spanning gain bandwidth.

Parametric Amplifier and Oscillator Based on Josephson Junction Circuitry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamamoto, T.; Koshino, K.; Nakamura, Y.

While the demand for low-noise amplification is ubiquitous, applications where the quantum-limited noise performance is indispensable are not very common. Microwave parametric amplifiers with near quantum-limited noise performance were first demonstrated more than 20 years ago. However, there had been little effort until recently to improve the performance or the ease of use of these amplifiers, partly because of a lack of any urgent motivation. The emergence of the field of quantum information processing in superconducting systems has changed this situation dramatically. The need to reliably read out the state of a given qubit using a very weak microwave probe within a very short time has led to renewed interest in these quantum-limited microwave amplifiers, which are already widely used as tools in this field. Here, we describe the quantum mechanical theory for one particular parametric amplifier design, called the flux-driven Josephson parametric amplifier, which we developed in 2008. The theory predicts the performance of this parametric amplifier, including its gain, bandwidth, and noise temperature. We also present the phase detection capability of this amplifier when it is operated with a pump power that is above the threshold, i.e., as a parametric phase-locked oscillator or parametron.

Markovian Dynamics of Josephson Parametric Amplification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaiser, Waldemar; Haider, Michael; Russer, Johannes A.; Russer, Peter; Jirauschek, Christian

2017-09-01

In this work, we derive the dynamics of the lossy DC pumped non-degenerate Josephson parametric amplifier (DCPJPA). The main element in a DCPJPA is the superconducting Josephson junction. The DC bias generates the AC Josephson current varying the nonlinear inductance of the junction. By this way the Josephson junction acts as the pump oscillator as well as the time varying reactance of the parametric amplifier. In quantum-limited amplification, losses and noise have an increased impact on the characteristics of an amplifier. We outline the classical model of the lossy DCPJPA and derive the available noise power spectral densities. A classical treatment is not capable of including properties like spontaneous emission which is mandatory in case of amplification at the quantum limit. Thus, we derive a quantum mechanical model of the lossy DCPJPA. Thermal losses are modeled by the quantum Langevin approach, by coupling the quantized system to a photon heat bath in thermodynamic equilibrium. The mode occupation in the bath follows the Bose-Einstein statistics. Based on the second quantization formalism, we derive the Heisenberg equations of motion of both resonator modes. We assume the dynamics of the system to follow the Markovian approximation, i.e. the system only depends on its actual state and is memory-free. We explicitly compute the time evolution of the contributions to the signal mode energy and give numeric examples based on different damping and coupling constants. Our analytic results show, that this model is capable of including thermal noise into the description of the DC pumped non-degenerate Josephson parametric amplifier.

Relaxation oscillation suppression in continuous-wave intracavity optical parametric oscillators.

PubMed

Stothard, David J M; Dunn, Malcolm H

2010-01-18

We report a solution to the long standing problem of the occurrence of spontaneous and long-lived bursts of relaxation oscillations which occur when a continuous-wave optical parametric oscillator is operated within the cavity of the parent pump-laser. By placing a second nonlinear crystal within the pump-wave cavity for the purpose of second-harmonic-generation of the pump-wave the additional nonlinear loss thereby arising due to up-conversion effectively suppresses the relaxation oscillations with very little reduction in down-converted power.

Reflex effects on renal nerve activity characteristics in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

PubMed

DiBona, G F; Jones, S Y; Sawin, L L

1997-11-01

The effects of arterial and cardiac baroreflex activation on the discharge characteristics of renal sympathetic nerve activity were evaluated in conscious spontaneously hypertensive and Wistar-Kyoto rats. In spontaneously hypertensive rats compared with Wistar-Kyoto rats, (1) arterial baroreflex regulation of renal sympathetic nerve activity was reset to a higher arterial pressure and the gain was decreased and (2) cardiac baroreflex regulation of renal sympathetic nerve activity exhibited a lower gain. With the use of sympathetic peak detection analysis, the inhibition of integrated renal sympathetic nerve activity, which occurred during both increased arterial pressure (arterial baroreflex) and right atrial pressure (cardiac baroreflex), was due to parallel decreases in peak height with little change in peak frequency in both spontaneously hypertensive and Wistar-Kyoto rats. Arterial and cardiac baroreflex inhibition of renal sympathetic nerve activity in Wistar-Kyoto and spontaneously hypertensive rats is due to a parallel reduction in the number of active renal sympathetic nerve fibers.

Spontaneous regression of neuroblastoma.

PubMed

Brodeur, Garrett M

2018-05-01

Neuroblastomas are characterized by heterogeneous clinical behavior, from spontaneous regression or differentiation into a benign ganglioneuroma, to relentless progression despite aggressive, multimodality therapy. Indeed, neuroblastoma is unique among human cancers in terms of its propensity to undergo spontaneous regression. The strongest evidence for this comes from the mass screening studies conducted in Japan, North America and Europe and it is most evident in infants with stage 4S disease. This propensity is associated with a pattern of genomic change characterized by whole chromosome gains rather than segmental chromosome changes but the mechanism(s) underlying spontaneous regression are currently a matter of speculation. There is evidence to support several possible mechanisms of spontaneous regression in neuroblastomas: (1) neurotrophin deprivation, (2) loss of telomerase activity, (3) humoral or cellular immunity and (4) alterations in epigenetic regulation and possibly other mechanisms. It is likely that a better understanding of the mechanisms of spontaneous regression will help to identify targeted therapeutic approaches for these tumors. The most easily targeted mechanism is the delayed activation of developmentally programmed cell death regulated by the tropomyosin receptor kinase A (TrkA) pathway. Pan-Trk inhibitors are currently in clinical trials and so Trk inhibition might be used as the first line of therapy in infants with biologically favorable tumors that require treatment. Alternative approaches consist of breaking immune tolerance to tumor antigens but approaches to telomere shortening or epigenetic regulation are not easily druggable. The different mechanisms of spontaneous neuroblastoma regression are reviewed here, along with possible therapeutic approaches.

Spontaneous Action and Transformative Learning: Empirical Investigations and Pragmatist Reflections

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nohl, Arnd-Michael

2009-01-01

Whereas present theories of transformative learning tend to focus on the rational and reflective actor, in this article it is suggested that spontaneous action may play a decisive role in transformative learning too. In the spontaneity of action, novelty finds its way into life, gains momentum, is respected by others and reflected by the actor.…

Pushing the limits of CMOS optical parametric amplifiers with USRN:Si7N3 above the two-photon absorption edge

PubMed Central

Ooi, K. J. A.; Ng, D. K. T.; Wang, T.; Chee, A. K. L.; Ng, S. K.; Wang, Q.; Ang, L. K.; Agarwal, A. M.; Kimerling, L. C.; Tan, D. T. H.

2017-01-01

CMOS platforms operating at the telecommunications wavelength either reside within the highly dissipative two-photon regime in silicon-based optical devices, or possess small nonlinearities. Bandgap engineering of non-stoichiometric silicon nitride using state-of-the-art fabrication techniques has led to our development of USRN (ultra-silicon-rich nitride) in the form of Si7N3, that possesses a high Kerr nonlinearity (2.8 × 10−13 cm2 W−1), an order of magnitude larger than that in stoichiometric silicon nitride. Here we experimentally demonstrate high-gain optical parametric amplification using USRN, which is compositionally tailored such that the 1,550 nm wavelength resides above the two-photon absorption edge, while still possessing large nonlinearities. Optical parametric gain of 42.5 dB, as well as cascaded four-wave mixing with gain down to the third idler is observed and attributed to the high photon efficiency achieved through operating above the two-photon absorption edge, representing one of the largest optical parametric gains to date on a CMOS platform. PMID:28051064

Direct fluorescence characterisation of a picosecond seeded optical parametric amplifier

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stuart, N. H.; Bigourd, D.; Hill, R. W.; Robinson, T. S.; Mecseki, K.; Patankar, S.; New, G. H. C.; Smith, R. A.

2015-02-01

The temporal intensity contrast of high-power lasers based on optical parametric amplification (OPA) can be limited by parametric fluorescence from the non-linear gain stages. Here we present a spectroscopic method for direct measurement of unwanted parametric fluorescence widely applicable from unseeded to fully seeded and saturated OPA operation. Our technique employs simultaneous spectroscopy of fluorescence photons slightly outside the seed bandwidth and strongly attenuated light at the seed central wavelength. To demonstrate its applicability we have characterised the performance of a two-stage picosecond OPA pre-amplifier with 2.8×105 gain, delivering 335 μJ pulses at 1054 nm. We show that fluorescence from a strongly seeded OPA is reduced by ~500× from the undepleted to full pump depletion regimes. We also determine the vacuum fluctuation driven noise term seeding this OPA fluorescence to be 0.7±0.4 photons ps-1 nm-1 bandwidth. The resulting shot-to-shot statistics highlights a 1.5% probability of a five-fold and 0.3% probability of a ten-fold increase of fluorescence above the average value. Finally, we show that OPA fluorescence can be limited to a few-ps pedestal with 3×10-9 temporal intensity contrast 1.3 ps ahead of an intense laser pulse, a level highly attractive for large scale chirped-pulse OPA laser systems.

Raman-noise-induced noise-figure limit for chi (3) parametric amplifiers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Voss, Paul L.; Kumar, Prem

2004-03-01

The nonzero response time of the Kerr [chi (3)] nonlinearity determines the quantum-limited noise figure of c3 parametric amplifiers. This nonzero response time of the nonlinearity requires coupling of the parametric amplification process to a molecular-vibration phonon bath, causing the addition of excess noise through Raman gain or loss at temperatures above 0 K. The effect of this excess noise on the noise figure can be surprisingly significant. We derive analytical expressions for this quantum-limited noise figure for phase-insensitive operation of a chi (3) amplifier and show good agreement with published noise-figure measurements.

Imaging non-Gaussian output fields produced by Josephson parametric amplifiers: experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Toyli, D. M.; Venkatramani, A. V.; Boutin, S.; Eddins, A.; Didier, N.; Clerk, A. A.; Blais, A.; Siddiqi, I.

2015-03-01

In recent years, squeezed microwave states have become the focus of intense research motivated by applications in continuous-variables quantum computation and precision qubit measurement. Despite numerous demonstrations of vacuum squeezing with superconducting parametric amplifiers such as the Josephson parametric amplifier (JPA), most experiments have also suggested that the squeezed output field becomes non-ideal at the large (> 10dB) signal gains required for low-noise qubit measurement. Here we describe a systematic experimental study of JPA squeezing performance in this regime for varying lumped-element device designs and pumping methods. We reconstruct the JPA output fields through homodyne detection of the field moments and quantify the deviations from an ideal squeezed state using maximal entropy techniques. These methods provide a powerful diagnostic tool to understand how effects such as gain compression impact JPA squeezing. Our results highlight the importance of weak device nonlinearity for generating highly squeezed states. This work is supported by ARO and ONR.

Hysteretic Flux Response and Nondegenerate Gain of Flux-Driven Josephson Parametric Amplifiers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pogorzalek, Stefan; Fedorov, Kirill G.; Zhong, Ling; Goetz, Jan; Wulschner, Friedrich; Fischer, Michael; Eder, Peter; Xie, Edwar; Inomata, Kunihiro; Yamamoto, Tsuyoshi; Nakamura, Yasunobu; Marx, Achim; Deppe, Frank; Gross, Rudolf

2017-08-01

Josephson parametric amplifiers (JPAs) have become key devices in quantum science and technology with superconducting circuits. In particular, they can be utilized as quantum-limited amplifiers or as a source of squeezed microwave fields. Here, we report on the detailed measurements of five flux-driven JPAs exhibiting a hysteretic dependence of the resonant frequency on the applied magnetic flux. We model the measured characteristics by numerical simulations based on the two-dimensional potential landscape of the dc superconducting quantum interference devices, which provide the JPA nonlinearity for a nonzero screening parameter βL>0 and demonstrate excellent agreement between the numerical results and the experimental data. Furthermore, we study the nondegenerate response of different JPAs and accurately describe the experimental results with our theory.

Optical parametric amplifiers using chirped quasi-phase-matching gratings I: practical design formulas

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Charbonneau-Lefort, Mathieu; Afeyan, Bedros; Fejer, M. M.

Optical parametric amplifiers using chirped quasi-phase-matching (QPM) gratings offer the possibility of engineering the gain and group delay spectra. We give practical formulas for the design of such amplifiers. We consider linearly chirped QPM gratings providing constant gain over a broad bandwidth, sinusoidally modulated profiles for selective frequency amplification and a pair of QPM gratings working in tandem to ensure constant gain and constant group delay at the same time across the spectrum. Finally, the analysis is carried out in the frequency domain using Wentzel–Kramers–Brillouin analysis.

Spontaneous cooperation for prosocials, but not for proselfs: Social value orientation moderates spontaneous cooperation behavior

PubMed Central

Mischkowski, Dorothee; Glöckner, Andreas

2016-01-01

Cooperation is essential for the success of societies and there is an ongoing debate whether individuals have therefore developed a general spontaneous tendency to cooperate or not. Findings that cooperative behavior is related to shorter decision times provide support for the spontaneous cooperation effect, although contrary results have also been reported. We show that cooperative behavior is better described as person × situation interaction, in that there is a spontaneous cooperation effect for prosocial but not for proself persons. In three studies, one involving population representative samples from the US and Germany, we found that cooperation in a public good game is dependent on an interaction between individuals’ social value orientation and decision time. Increasing deliberation about the dilemma situation does not affect persons that are selfish to begin with, but it is related to decreasing cooperation for prosocial persons that gain positive utility from outcomes of others and score high on the related general personality trait honesty/humility. Our results demonstrate that the spontaneous cooperation hypothesis has to be qualified in that it is limited to persons with a specific personality and social values. Furthermore, they allow reconciling conflicting previous findings by identifying an important moderator for the effect. PMID:26876773

Short pulse generation from a passively mode-locked fiber optical parametric oscillator with optical time-stretch.

PubMed

Qiu, Yi; Wei, Xiaoming; Du, Shuxin; Wong, Kenneth K Y; Tsia, Kevin K; Xu, Yiqing

2018-04-16

We propose a passively mode-locked fiber optical parametric oscillator assisted with optical time-stretch. Thanks to the lately developed optical time-stretch technique, the onset oscillating spectral components can be temporally dispersed across the pump envelope and further compete for the parametric gain with the other parts of onset oscillating sidebands within the pump envelope. By matching the amount of dispersion in optical time-stretch with the pulse width of the quasi-CW pump and oscillating one of the parametric sidebands inside the fiber cavity, we numerically show that the fiber parametric oscillator can be operated in a single pulse regime. By varying the amount of the intracavity dispersion, we further verify that the origin of this single pulse mode-locking regime is due to the optical pulse stretching and compression.

Amplified spontaneous emission in solar-pumped iodine laser

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cho, Yong S.; Hwang, In H.; Han, Kwang S.; Lee, Ja H.

1992-01-01

The amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) from a long pulse, solar-simulating radiation pumped iodine laser amplifier is studied. The ASE threshold pump intensity is almost proportional to the inverse of the laser gain length when the gas pressure is constant in the laser tube.

Pump Spectral Bandwidth, Birefringence, and Entanglement in Type-II Parametric Down Conversion

DOE PAGES

Erenso, Daniel

2009-01-01

The twin photons produced by a type-II spontaneous parametric down conversion are well know as a potential source of photons for quantum teleportation due to the strong entanglement in polarization. This strong entanglement in polarization, however, depends on the spectral composition of the pump photon and the nature of optical isotropy of the crystal. By exact numerical calculation of the concurrence, we have shown that how pump photons spectral width and the birefringence nature of the crystal directly affect the degree of polarization entanglement of the twin photons.

Parametric Cost Deployment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dean, Edwin B.

1995-01-01

Parametric cost analysis is a mathematical approach to estimating cost. Parametric cost analysis uses non-cost parameters, such as quality characteristics, to estimate the cost to bring forth, sustain, and retire a product. This paper reviews parametric cost analysis and shows how it can be used within the cost deployment process.

The association of gestational weight gain per institute of medicine guidelines and prepregnancy body mass index on outcomes of twin pregnancies.

PubMed

González-Quintero, Victor H; Kathiresan, Anupama S Q; Tudela, Felipe José; Rhea, Debbie; Desch, Cheryl; Istwan, Niki

2012-06-01

To determine if current recommendations for weight gain in twin pregnancies according to maternal prepregnancy body mass index (PPBMI) influence perinatal outcomes. We identified women with twins enrolled in a maternity risk screening and education program with initial screening and prenatal care initiated at <20 weeks and delivery at >23.9 weeks. Women with normal, overweight, or obese PPBMI were included (n = 5129). Pregnancy outcomes were compared between those women with weight gain meeting or exceeding 2009 Institute of Medicine recommendations and patients who did not meet weight gain guidelines. Rates of spontaneous preterm delivery at <35 weeks were higher in all PPBMI groups for those with weight gain below guidelines. In all PPBMI groups, numbers of pregnancies with both infants weighing >2500 g or >1500 g were significantly higher for women gaining weight at or above guidelines. Logistic regression analysis was utilized to assess multivariate impact on outcome of spontaneous preterm delivery at <35 weeks showing that regardless of PPBMI level, women who gain below recommended guidelines are 50% more likely to deliver spontaneously at <35 weeks. In twin pregnancies, weight gain below recommended guidelines determined by maternal PPBMI is associated with higher rates of spontaneous preterm delivery at <35 weeks. Copyright © 2012 Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Stick balancing with reflex delay in case of parametric forcing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Insperger, Tamas

2011-04-01

The effect of parametric forcing on a PD control of an inverted pendulum is analyzed in the presence of feedback delay. The stability of the time-periodic and time-delayed system is determined numerically using the first-order semi-discretization method in the 5-dimensional parameter space of the pendulum's length, the forcing frequency, the forcing amplitude, the proportional and the differential gains. It is shown that the critical length of the pendulum (that can just be balanced against the time-delay) can significantly be decreased by parametric forcing even if the maximum forcing acceleration is limited. The numerical analysis showed that the critical stick length about 30 cm corresponding to the unforced system with reflex delay 0.1 s can be decreased to 18 cm with keeping maximum acceleration below the gravitational acceleration.

Phonon-assisted nonlinear optical processes in ultrashort-pulse pumped optical parametric amplifiers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Isaienko, Oleksandr; Robel, István

2016-03-01

Optically active phonon modes in ferroelectrics such as potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) and potassium titanyl arsenate (KTA) in the ~7-20 THz range play an important role in applications of these materials in Raman lasing and terahertz wave generation. Previous studies with picosecond pulse excitation demonstrated that the interaction of pump pulses with phonons can lead to efficient stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) accompanying optical parametric oscillation or amplification processes (OPO/OPA), and to efficient polariton-phonon scattering. In this work, we investigate the behavior of infrared OPAs employing KTP or KTA crystals when pumped with ~800-nm ultrashort pulses of duration comparable to the oscillation period of the optical phonons. We demonstrate that under conditions of coherent impulsive Raman excitation of the phonons, when the effective χ(2) nonlinearity cannot be considered instantaneous, the parametrically amplified waves (most notably, signal) undergo significant spectral modulations leading to an overall redshift of the OPA output. The pump intensity dependence of the redshifted OPA output, the temporal evolution of the parametric gain, as well as the pump spectral modulations suggest the presence of coupling between the nonlinear optical polarizations PNL of the impulsively excited phonons and those of parametrically amplified waves.

Nonreciprocal Gain in Non-Hermitian Time-Floquet Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koutserimpas, Theodoros T.; Fleury, Romain

2018-02-01

We explore the unconventional wave scattering properties of non-Hermitian systems in which amplification or damping are induced by time-periodic modulation. These non-Hermitian time-Floquet systems are capable of nonreciprocal operations in the frequency domain, which can be exploited to induce novel physical phenomena such as unidirectional wave amplification and perfect nonreciprocal response with zero or even negative insertion losses. This unique behavior is obtained by imparting a specific low-frequency time-periodic modulation to the complex coupling between lossless resonators, promoting only upward frequency conversion, and leading to nonreciprocal parametric gain. We provide a full-wave demonstration of our findings in a one-way microwave amplifier, and establish the potential of non-Hermitian time-Floquet devices for insertion-loss free microwave isolation and unidirectional parametric amplification.

Quantum spatial propagation of squeezed light in a degenerate parametric amplifier

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Deutsch, Ivan H.; Garrison, John C.

1992-01-01

Differential equations which describe the steady state spatial evolution of nonclassical light are established using standard quantum field theoretic techniques. A Schroedinger equation for the state vector of the optical field is derived using the quantum analog of the slowly varying envelope approximation (SVEA). The steady state solutions are those that satisfy the time independent Schroedinger equation. The resulting eigenvalue problem then leads to the spatial propagation equations. For the degenerate parametric amplifier this method shows that the squeezing parameter obey nonlinear differential equations coupled by the amplifier gain and phase mismatch. The solution to these differential equations is equivalent to one obtained from the classical three wave mixing steady state solution to the parametric amplifier with a nondepleted pump.

Parametric and non-parametric modeling of short-term synaptic plasticity. Part I: computational study

PubMed Central

Marmarelis, Vasilis Z.; Berger, Theodore W.

2009-01-01

Parametric and non-parametric modeling methods are combined to study the short-term plasticity (STP) of synapses in the central nervous system (CNS). The nonlinear dynamics of STP are modeled by means: (1) previously proposed parametric models based on mechanistic hypotheses and/or specific dynamical processes, and (2) non-parametric models (in the form of Volterra kernels) that transforms the presynaptic signals into postsynaptic signals. In order to synergistically use the two approaches, we estimate the Volterra kernels of the parametric models of STP for four types of synapses using synthetic broadband input–output data. Results show that the non-parametric models accurately and efficiently replicate the input–output transformations of the parametric models. Volterra kernels provide a general and quantitative representation of the STP. PMID:18506609

Parametric modeling studies of turbulent non-premixed jet flames with thin reaction zones

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Haifeng

2013-11-01

The Sydney piloted jet flame series (Flames L, B, and M) feature thinner reaction zones and hence impose greater challenges to modeling than the Sanida Piloted jet flames (Flames D, E, and F). Recently, the Sydney flames received renewed interest due to these challenges. Several new modeling efforts have emerged. However, no systematic parametric modeling studies have been reported for the Sydney flames. A large set of modeling computations of the Sydney flames is presented here by using the coupled large eddy simulation (LES)/probability density function (PDF) method. Parametric studies are performed to gain insight into the model performance, its sensitivity and the effect of numerics.

Noncritical generation of nonclassical frequency combs via spontaneous rotational symmetry breaking

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Navarrete-Benlloch, Carlos; Patera, Giuseppe; de Valcárcel, Germán J.

2017-10-01

Synchronously pumped optical parametric oscillators (SPOPOs) are optical cavities driven by mode-locked lasers, and containing a nonlinear crystal capable of down-converting a frequency comb to lower frequencies. SPOPOs have received a lot of attention lately because their intrinsic multimode nature makes them compact sources of quantum correlated light with promising applications in modern quantum information technologies. In this work we show that SPOPOs are also capable of accessing the challenging and interesting regime where spontaneous symmetry breaking confers strong nonclassical properties to the emitted light, which has eluded experimental observation so far. Apart from opening the possibility of studying experimentally this elusive regime of dissipative phase transitions, our predictions will have a practical impact, since we show that spontaneous symmetry breaking provides a specific spatiotemporal mode with large quadrature squeezing for any value of the system parameters, turning SPOPOs into robust sources of highly nonclassical light above threshold.

Theoretical investigation of gain-clamped semiconductor optical amplifiers using the amplified spontaneous emission compensating effect

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jia, Xin-Hong

2006-12-01

The theoretical model on gain-clamped semiconductor optical amplifiers (GC-SOAs) based on compensating light has been constructed. Using this model, the effects of insertion position and peak reflectivity of the fiber Bragg grating (FBG) on the gain clamping and noise figure (NF) characteristics of GC-SOA are analyzed. The results show that the effect of the FBG insertion position on gain clamping is slight, but the lower NF can be obtained for input FBG-type GC-SOA; when the FBG peak wavelength is designed to close the signal wavelength, the gain clamping and NF characteristics that can be reached are better. Further study shows that, with the increased peak reflectivity of the FBG, the critical input power is broadened and the gain tends to be varied slowly; the larger bias current is helpful to raise gain and decrease the noise figure but is harmful to a gain flatness characteristic.

Parametric vs. non-parametric statistics of low resolution electromagnetic tomography (LORETA).

PubMed

Thatcher, R W; North, D; Biver, C

2005-01-01

This study compared the relative statistical sensitivity of non-parametric and parametric statistics of 3-dimensional current sources as estimated by the EEG inverse solution Low Resolution Electromagnetic Tomography (LORETA). One would expect approximately 5% false positives (classification of a normal as abnormal) at the P < .025 level of probability (two tailed test) and approximately 1% false positives at the P < .005 level. EEG digital samples (2 second intervals sampled 128 Hz, 1 to 2 minutes eyes closed) from 43 normal adult subjects were imported into the Key Institute's LORETA program. We then used the Key Institute's cross-spectrum and the Key Institute's LORETA output files (*.lor) as the 2,394 gray matter pixel representation of 3-dimensional currents at different frequencies. The mean and standard deviation *.lor files were computed for each of the 2,394 gray matter pixels for each of the 43 subjects. Tests of Gaussianity and different transforms were computed in order to best approximate a normal distribution for each frequency and gray matter pixel. The relative sensitivity of parametric vs. non-parametric statistics were compared using a "leave-one-out" cross validation method in which individual normal subjects were withdrawn and then statistically classified as being either normal or abnormal based on the remaining subjects. Log10 transforms approximated Gaussian distribution in the range of 95% to 99% accuracy. Parametric Z score tests at P < .05 cross-validation demonstrated an average misclassification rate of approximately 4.25%, and range over the 2,394 gray matter pixels was 27.66% to 0.11%. At P < .01 parametric Z score cross-validation false positives were 0.26% and ranged from 6.65% to 0% false positives. The non-parametric Key Institute's t-max statistic at P < .05 had an average misclassification error rate of 7.64% and ranged from 43.37% to 0.04% false positives. The nonparametric t-max at P < .01 had an average misclassification rate

Mode Engineering of Single Photons from Cavity Spontaneous Parametric Down-Conversion Source and Quantum Dots

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paudel, Uttam

Over the past decade, much effort has been made in identifying and characterizing systems that can form a building block of quantum networks, among which semiconductor quantum dots (QD) and spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) source are two of the most promising candidates. The work presented in this thesis will be centered on investigating and engineering the mentioned systems for generating customizable single photons. A type-II SPDC source can generate a highly flexible pair of entangled photons that can be used to interface disparate quantum systems. In this thesis, we have successfully implemented a cavity-SPDC source that emits polarization correlated photons at 942 nm with a lifetime of 950-1050ps that mode matches closely with InAs/GaAs QD photons. The source emits 80 photon pairs per second per mW pump power within the 150MHz bandwidth. Though the detection of idler photons, the source is capable of emitting heralded photons with g2?0.5 for up to 40 mW pump power. For a low pump power of 5 mW, the heralded g2 is 0.06, indicating that the system is an excellent heralded single photon source. By directly exciting a single QD with cavity-SPDC photons, we have demonstrated a heralded-absorption of SPDC photons by QD, resulting in the coupling of the two systems. Due to the large pump bandwidth, the emitted source is highly multimode in nature, requiring us to post-filter the downconverted field, resulting in a lower photon pair emission rate. We propose placing an intra-cavity etalon to suppress the multi-mode emissions and increase the photon count rate. Understanding and experimentally implementing two-photon interference (HOM) measurements will be crucial for building a scalable quantum network. A detailed theoretical description of HOM measurements is given and is experimentally demonstrated using photons emitted by QD. Through HOM measurements we demonstrated that the QD sample in the study is capable of emitting indistinguishable photons, with

The Absolute Stability Analysis in Fuzzy Control Systems with Parametric Uncertainties and Reference Inputs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Bing-Fei; Ma, Li-Shan; Perng, Jau-Woei

This study analyzes the absolute stability in P and PD type fuzzy logic control systems with both certain and uncertain linear plants. Stability analysis includes the reference input, actuator gain and interval plant parameters. For certain linear plants, the stability (i.e. the stable equilibriums of error) in P and PD types is analyzed with the Popov or linearization methods under various reference inputs and actuator gains. The steady state errors of fuzzy control systems are also addressed in the parameter plane. The parametric robust Popov criterion for parametric absolute stability based on Lur'e systems is also applied to the stability analysis of P type fuzzy control systems with uncertain plants. The PD type fuzzy logic controller in our approach is a single-input fuzzy logic controller and is transformed into the P type for analysis. In our work, the absolute stability analysis of fuzzy control systems is given with respect to a non-zero reference input and an uncertain linear plant with the parametric robust Popov criterion unlike previous works. Moreover, a fuzzy current controlled RC circuit is designed with PSPICE models. Both numerical and PSPICE simulations are provided to verify the analytical results. Furthermore, the oscillation mechanism in fuzzy control systems is specified with various equilibrium points of view in the simulation example. Finally, the comparisons are also given to show the effectiveness of the analysis method.

Gain measurements of the Ca-Xe charge exchange system. [for UV lasers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Michels, C. J.; Chubb, D. L.

1978-01-01

Charge-exchange-pumped Ca(+) was studied for possible positive laser gain at 370.6 and 315.9 nm using an Xe MPD arc as the Xe(+) source. The present paper describes the MPD arc, the calcium injection system, the diagnostics for gain, and spontaneous emission measurements and results. No positive gain measurements were observed. A small Xe-Ca charge exchange cross section compared to He-metal laser systems charge exchange cross sections is the most probable reason why the result was negative.

Phonon-assisted nonlinear optical processes in ultrashort-pulse pumped optical parametric amplifiers

DOE PAGES

Isaienko, Oleksandr; Robel, Istvan

2016-03-15

Optically active phonon modes in ferroelectrics such as potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) and potassium titanyl arsenate (KTA) in the ~7–20 THz range play an important role in applications of these materials in Raman lasing and terahertz wave generation. Previous studies with picosecond pulse excitation demonstrated that the interaction of pump pulses with phonons can lead to efficient stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) accompanying optical parametric oscillation or amplification processes (OPO/OPA), and to efficient polariton-phonon scattering. In this work, we investigate the behavior of infrared OPAs employing KTP or KTA crystals when pumped with ~800-nm ultrashort pulses of duration comparable to themore » oscillation period of the optical phonons. We demonstrate that under conditions of coherent impulsive Raman excitation of the phonons, when the effective χ (2) nonlinearity cannot be considered instantaneous, the parametrically amplified waves (most notably, signal) undergo significant spectral modulations leading to an overall redshift of the OPA output. Furthermore, the pump intensity dependence of the redshifted OPA output, the temporal evolution of the parametric gain, as well as the pump spectral modulations suggest the presence of coupling between the nonlinear optical polarizations P NL of the impulsively excited phonons and those of parametrically amplified waves.« less

2.5 TW, two-cycle IR laser pulses via frequency domain optical parametric amplification.

PubMed

Gruson, V; Ernotte, G; Lassonde, P; Laramée, A; Bionta, M R; Chaker, M; Di Mauro, L; Corkum, P B; Ibrahim, H; Schmidt, B E; Legaré, F

2017-10-30

Broadband optical parametric amplification in the IR region has reached a new milestone through the use of a non-collinear Frequency domain Optical Parametric Amplification system. We report a laser source delivering 11.6 fs pulses with 30 mJ of energy at a central wavelength of 1.8 μm at 10 Hz repetition rate corresponding to a peak power of 2.5 TW. The peak power scaling is accompanied by a pulse shortening of about 20% upon amplification due to the spectral reshaping with higher gain in the spectral wings. This source paves the way for high flux soft X-ray pulses and IR-driven laser wakefield acceleration.

Abnormal Auditory Gain in Hyperacusis: Investigation with a Computational Model

PubMed Central

Diehl, Peter U.; Schaette, Roland

2015-01-01

Hyperacusis is a frequent auditory disorder that is characterized by abnormal loudness perception where sounds of relatively normal volume are perceived as too loud or even painfully loud. As hyperacusis patients show decreased loudness discomfort levels (LDLs) and steeper loudness growth functions, it has been hypothesized that hyperacusis might be caused by an increase in neuronal response gain in the auditory system. Moreover, since about 85% of hyperacusis patients also experience tinnitus, the conditions might be caused by a common mechanism. However, the mechanisms that give rise to hyperacusis have remained unclear. Here, we have used a computational model of the auditory system to investigate candidate mechanisms for hyperacusis. Assuming that perceived loudness is proportional to the summed activity of all auditory nerve (AN) fibers, the model was tuned to reproduce normal loudness perception. We then evaluated a variety of potential hyperacusis gain mechanisms by determining their effects on model equal-loudness contours and comparing the results to the LDLs of hyperacusis patients with normal hearing thresholds. Hyperacusis was best accounted for by an increase in non-linear gain in the central auditory system. Good fits to the average patient LDLs were obtained for a general increase in gain that affected all frequency channels to the same degree, and also for a frequency-specific gain increase in the high-frequency range. Moreover, the gain needed to be applied after subtraction of spontaneous activity of the AN, which is in contrast to current theories of tinnitus generation based on amplification of spontaneous activity. Hyperacusis and tinnitus might therefore be caused by different changes in neuronal processing in the central auditory system. PMID:26236277

Multiple Frequency Parametric Sonar

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-09-28

300003 1 MULTIPLE FREQUENCY PARAMETRIC SONAR STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT INTEREST [0001] The invention described herein may be manufactured and...a method for increasing the bandwidth of a parametric sonar system by using multiple primary frequencies rather than only two primary frequencies...2) Description of Prior Art [0004] Parametric sonar generates narrow beams at low frequencies by projecting sound at two distinct primary

A continuous-wave, widely tunable, intra-cavity, singly resonant, magnesium-doped, periodically poled lithium niobate optical parametric oscillator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Z. P.; Duan, Y. M.; Wu, K. R.; Zhang, G.; Zhu, H. Y.; Wang, X. L.; Chen, Y. H.; Xue, Z. Q.; Lin, Q.; Song, G. C.; Su, H.

2013-05-01

We report a continuous-wave (CW), intra-cavity singly resonant optical parametric oscillator (OPO), based on periodically poled MgO:LiNbO3 pumped by a diode-end-pumped CW Nd:YVO4 laser, and calculate the gain of optical parametric amplification as a function of pump beam waist (at 1064 nm) in the singly resonant OPO (SRO) cavity, to balance the mode-matching and the intensity for the higher gain of a signal wave in the operation of the SRO. In order to achieve maximum gain, we use a convex lens to limit the 1064 nm beam waist. In the experiment, a tunable signal output from 1492 to 1614 nm and an idler output from 3122 to 3709 nm are obtained. For an 808 nm pump power of 11.5 W, a maximum signal output power of up to 2.48 W at 1586 nm and an idler output power of 1.1 W at 3232 nm are achieved with a total optical-to-optical conversion efficiency of 31%.

Photon-phonon parametric oscillation induced by quadratic coupling in an optomechanical resonator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Lin; Ji, Fengzhou; Zhang, Xu; Zhang, Weiping

2017-07-01

A direct photon-phonon parametric effect of quadratic coupling on the mean-field dynamics of an optomechanical resonator in the large-scale-movement regime is found and investigated. Under a weak pumping power, the mechanical resonator damps to a steady state with a nonlinear static response sensitively modified by the quadratic coupling. When the driving power increases beyond the static energy balance, the steady states lose their stabilities via Hopf bifurcations, and the resonator produces stable self-sustained oscillation (limit-circle behavior) of discrete energies with step-like amplitudes due to the parametric effect of quadratic coupling, which can be understood roughly by the power balance between gain and loss on the resonator. A further increase in the pumping power can induce a chaotic dynamic of the resonator via a typical routine of period-doubling bifurcation, but which can be stabilized by the parametric effect through an inversion-bifurcation process back to the limit-circle states. The bifurcation-to-inverse-bifurcation transitions are numerically verified by the maximal Lyapunov exponents of the dynamics, which indicate an efficient way of suppressing the chaotic behavior of the optomechanical resonator by quadratic coupling. Furthermore, the parametric effect of quadratic coupling on the dynamic transitions of an optomechanical resonator can be conveniently detected or traced by the output power spectrum of the cavity field.

Enhancing optical gains in Si nanocrystals via hydrogenation and cerium ion doping

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wang, Dong-Chen; Li, Yan-Li; Song, Sheng-Chi

We report optical gain enhancements in Si nanocrystals (Si-NCs) via hydrogenation and Ce{sup 3+} ion doping. Variable stripe length technique was used to obtain gains. At 0.3 W/cm{sup 2} pumping power density of pulsed laser, net gains were observed together with gain enhancements after hydrogenation and/or Ce{sup 3+} ion doping; gains after loss corrections were between 89.52 and 341.95 cm{sup −1}; and the photoluminescence (PL) lifetime was found to decrease with the increasing gain enhancement. At 0.04 W/cm{sup 2} power density, however, no net gain was found and the PL lifetime increased with the increasing PL enhancement. The results were discussed according tomore » stimulated and spontaneous excitation and de-excitation mechanisms of Si-NCs.« less

Multi-dressing suppression and enhancement and all-optical switching in parametrically amplified four-wave mixing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Xinghua; Zhang, Dan; Sun, Ming; Li, Kangkang; Wang, Zhiguo; Zhang, Yanpeng

2018-04-01

We study different dressing effects in parametrically amplified four-wave mixing (PA-FWM) processes. By seeding a weak probe laser into the Stokes or anti-Stokes channel of the FWM, the gain process is generated in the so-called bright twin beams which are the probe and conjugate beams. The dressing types dramatically affect the gain factors in both the probe and conjugate channels. The gain factor of the FWM signal decreases under the cascade-type dressing and the signal's shape splits into two dips under this dressing type. However, the intensity of the FWM signal changes from suppression to enhancement under the parallel-type dressing. We will apply this switching process to all-optical switching.

Rephasing invariant parametrization of flavor mixing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Tae-Hun

A new rephasing invariant parametrization for the 3 x 3 CKM matrix, called (x, y) parametrization, is introduced and the properties and applications of the parametrization are discussed. The overall phase condition leads this parametrization to have only six rephsing invariant parameters and two constraints. Its simplicity and regularity become apparent when it is applied to the one-loop RGE (renormalization group equations) for the Yukawa couplings. The implications of this parametrization for unification of the Yukawa couplings are also explored.

Realization of the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paradox using momentum- and position-entangled photons from spontaneous parametric down conversion.

PubMed

Howell, John C; Bennink, Ryan S; Bentley, Sean J; Boyd, R W

2004-05-28

We report on a momentum-position realization of the EPR paradox using direct detection in the near and far fields of the photons emitted by collinear type-II phase-matched parametric down conversion. Using this approach we achieved a measured two-photon momentum-position variance product of 0.01 variant Planck's over 2pi (2), which dramatically violates the bounds for the EPR and separability criteria.

Two-octave spanning single pump parametric amplification at 1550 nm in a host lead-silicate binary multi-clad microstructure fiber: Influence of multi-order dispersion engineering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chatterjee, Sudip K.; Khan, Saba N.; Chaudhuri, Partha Roy

2014-12-01

An ultra-wide 1646 nm (1084-2730 nm), continuous-wave single pump parametric amplification spanning from near-infrared to short-wave infrared band (NIR-SWIR) in a host lead-silicate based binary multi-clad microstructure fiber (BMMF) is analyzed and reported. This ultra-broad band (widest reported to date) parametric amplification with gain more than 10 dB is theoretically achieved by a combination of low input pump power source ~7 W and a short-length of ~70 cm of nonlinear-BMMF through accurately engineered multi-order dispersion coefficients. A highly efficient theoretical formulation based on four-wave-mixing (FWM) is worked out to determine fiber's chromatic dispersion (D) profile which is used to optimise the gain-bandwidth and ripple of the parametric gain profile. It is seen that by appropriately controlling the higher-order dispersion coefficient (up-to sixth order), a great enhancement in the gain-bandwidth (2-3 times) can be achieved when operated very close to zero-dispersion wavelength (ZDW) in the anomalous dispersion regime. Moreover, the proposed theoretical model can predict the maximum realizable spectral width and the required pump-detuning (w.r.t ZDW) of any advanced complex microstructured fiber. Our thorough investigation of the wide variety of broadband gain spectra obtained as an integral part of this research work opens up the way for realizing amplification in the region (SWIR) located far from the pump (NIR) where good amplifiers currently do not exist.

Combined non-parametric and parametric approach for identification of time-variant systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dziedziech, Kajetan; Czop, Piotr; Staszewski, Wieslaw J.; Uhl, Tadeusz

2018-03-01

Identification of systems, structures and machines with variable physical parameters is a challenging task especially when time-varying vibration modes are involved. The paper proposes a new combined, two-step - i.e. non-parametric and parametric - modelling approach in order to determine time-varying vibration modes based on input-output measurements. Single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) vibration modes from multi-degree-of-freedom (MDOF) non-parametric system representation are extracted in the first step with the use of time-frequency wavelet-based filters. The second step involves time-varying parametric representation of extracted modes with the use of recursive linear autoregressive-moving-average with exogenous inputs (ARMAX) models. The combined approach is demonstrated using system identification analysis based on the experimental mass-varying MDOF frame-like structure subjected to random excitation. The results show that the proposed combined method correctly captures the dynamics of the analysed structure, using minimum a priori information on the model.

Optical gain in GaAsBi/GaAs quantum well diode lasers

PubMed Central

Marko, Igor P.; Broderick, Christopher A.; Jin, Shirong; Ludewig, Peter; Stolz, Wolfgang; Volz, Kerstin; Rorison, Judy M.; O’Reilly, Eoin P.; Sweeney, Stephen J.

2016-01-01

Electrically pumped GaAsBi/GaAs quantum well lasers are a promising new class of near-infrared devices where, by use of the unusual band structure properties of GaAsBi alloys, it is possible to suppress the dominant energy-consuming Auger recombination and inter-valence band absorption loss mechanisms, which greatly impact upon the device performance. Suppression of these loss mechanisms promises to lead to highly efficient, uncooled operation of telecommunications lasers, making GaAsBi system a strong candidate for the development of next-generation semiconductor lasers. In this report we present the first experimentally measured optical gain, absorption and spontaneous emission spectra for GaAsBi-based quantum well laser structures. We determine internal optical losses of 10–15 cm−1 and a peak modal gain of 24 cm−1, corresponding to a material gain of approximately 1500 cm−1 at a current density of 2 kA cm−2. To complement the experimental studies, a theoretical analysis of the spontaneous emission and optical gain spectra is presented, using a model based upon a 12-band k.p Hamiltonian for GaAsBi alloys. The results of our theoretical calculations are in excellent quantitative agreement with the experimental data, and together provide a powerful predictive capability for use in the design and optimisation of high efficiency lasers in the infrared. PMID:27363930

Chirp and temperature effects in parametric down conversion from crystals pumped at 800 nm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sánchez-Lozano, X.; Wiechers, C.; Lucio, J. L.

2018-04-01

We consider spontaneous parametric down conversion from aperiodic poled crystals pumped at 800 nm. Our analyses account the effect of internal and external parameters, where, in the former, we include the crystal chirp and length, while in the latter temperature, also the pump chirp and other beam properties. The typical distribution produced is a pop-tab like structure in frequency-momentum space, and our results show that this system is a versatile light source, appropriated to manipulate the frequency and transverse momentum properties of the light produced. We briefly comment on the potential usefulness of the types of telecom wavelength light produced, in particular for quantum information applications.

Gain media edge treatment to suppress amplified spontaneous emission in a high power laser

DOEpatents

Hackel, Lloyd A [Livermore, CA; Soules, Thomas F [Livermore, CA; Fochs, Scott N [Livermore, CA; Rotter, Mark D [San Ramon, CA; Letts, Stephan A [San Ramon, CA

2011-02-22

A novel method and apparatus for suppressing ASE and/or parasitic oscillation modes in a laser is introduced. By roughening one or more peripheral edges of a solid-state crystal or ceramic laser gain media and by bonding such edges to a predetermined electromagnetic absorbing material arranged adjacent to the entire outer surface of the peripheral edges of the roughened laser gain media, ASE, parasitic oscillation modes and/or residual pump energy can be effectively suppressed.

Parametric Cooling of Ultracold Atoms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boguslawski, Matthew; Bharath, H. M.; Barrios, Maryrose; Chapman, Michael

2017-04-01

An oscillator is characterized by a restoring force which determines the natural frequency at which oscillations occur. The amplitude and phase-noise of these oscillations can be amplified or squeezed by modulating the magnitude of this force (e.g. the stiffness of the spring) at twice the natural frequency. This is parametric excitation; a long-studied phenomena in both the classical and quantum regimes. Parametric cooling, or the parametric squeezing of thermo-mechanical noise in oscillators has been studied in micro-mechanical oscillators and trapped ions. We study parametric cooling in ultracold atoms. This method shows a modest reduction of the variance of atomic momenta, and can be easily employed with pre-existing controls in many experiments. Parametric cooling is comparable to delta-kicked cooling, sharing similar limitations. We expect this cooling to find utility in microgravity experiments where the experiment duration is limited by atomic free expansion.

Encapsulated high frequency (235 kHz), high-Q (100 k) disk resonator gyroscope with electrostatic parametric pump

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahn, C. H.; Nitzan, S.; Ng, E. J.; Hong, V. A.; Yang, Y.; Kimbrell, T.; Horsley, D. A.; Kenny, T. W.

2014-12-01

In this paper, we explore the effects of electrostatic parametric amplification on a high quality factor (Q > 100 000) encapsulated disk resonator gyroscope (DRG), fabricated in <100> silicon. The DRG was operated in the n = 2 degenerate wineglass mode at 235 kHz, and electrostatically tuned so that the frequency split between the two degenerate modes was less than 100 mHz. A parametric pump at twice the resonant frequency is applied to the sense axis of the DRG, resulting in a maximum scale factor of 156.6 μV/(°/s), an 8.8× improvement over the non-amplified performance. When operated with a parametric gain of 5.4, a minimum angle random walk of 0.034°/√h and bias instability of 1.15°/h are achieved, representing an improvement by a factor of 4.3× and 1.5×, respectively.

Spectral gain measurements of quantum confined emitters, and design and fabrication of intersubband quantum box laser structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsvid, Gene

Semiconductor laser active regions are commonly characterized by photo- and electro-luminescence (PL, EL) and cavity length analysis. However quantitative spectral information is not readily extracted from PL and EL data and comparison of different active region materials can be difficult. More quantifiable spectral information is contained in the optical gain spectra. This work reports on spectral gain studies, using multi-segmented interband devices, of InGaAs quantum well and quantum dot active regions grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). Using the fundamental connection between gain and spontaneous emission spectra, the spontaneous radiative current and spontaneous radiative efficiency is evaluated for these active regions. The spectral gain and spontaneous radiative efficiency measurements of 980 nm emitting InGaAs quantum well (QW) material provides a benchmark comparison to previous results obtained on highly-strained, 1200 nm emitting InGaAs QW material. These studies provide insight into carrier recombination and the role of the current injection efficiency in InGaAs QW lasers. The spectral gain of self-assembled MOCVD grown InGaAs quantum dots (QD) active regions are also investigated, allowing for comparison to InGaAs QW material. The second part of my talk will cover intersubband-transition QW and quantum-box (QB) lasers. Quantum cascade (QC) lasers have emerged as compact and technologically important light sources in the mid-infrared (IR) and far-IR wavelength ranges infringing on the near-IR and terahertz spectral regions respectively. However, the overall power conversion efficiency, so-called wallplug efficiency, of the best QC lasers, emitting around 5 microns, is ˜9% in CW operation and very unlikely to exceed 15%. In order to dramatically improve the wallplug efficiency of mid-IR lasers (i.e., to about 50%), intersubband QB (IQB) lasers have been proposed. The basic idea, the optimal design and the progress towards the

Gain media edge treatment to suppress amplified spontaneous emission in a high power laser

DOEpatents

Hackel, Lloyd A.; Soules, Thomas F.; Fochs, Scott N.; Rotter, Mark D.; Letts, Stephan A.

2008-12-09

A novel method and apparatus for suppressing ASE and parasitic oscillation modes in a high average power laser is introduced. By roughening one or more peripheral edges of a solid-state crystal or ceramic laser gain media and by bonding such edges using a substantially high index bonding elastomer or epoxy to a predetermined electromagnetic absorbing arranged adjacent to the entire outer surface of the peripheral edges of the roughened laser gain media, ASE and parasitic oscillation modes can be effectively suppressed.

Decreased oscillation threshold of a continuous-wave OPO using a semiconductor gain mirror.

PubMed

Siltanen, Mikael; Leinonen, Tomi; Halonen, Lauri

2011-09-26

We have constructed a singly resonant, continuous-wave optical parametric oscillator, where the signal beam resonates and is amplified by a semiconductor gain mirror. The gain mirror can significantly decrease the oscillation threshold compared to an identical system with conventional mirrors. The largest idler beam tuning range reached by changing the pump laser wavelength alone is from 3.6 to 4.7 µm. The single mode output power is limited but can be continuously scanned for at least 220 GHz by adding optical components in the oscillator cavity for increased stability. © 2011 Optical Society of America

Functionally Equivalent Variants in a Non-standard Variety and Their Implications for Universal Grammar: A Spontaneous Speech Corpus.

PubMed

Leivada, Evelina; Papadopoulou, Elena; Pavlou, Natalia

2017-01-01

Findings from the field of experimental linguistics have shown that a native speaker may judge a variant that is part of her grammar as unacceptable, but still use it productively in spontaneous speech. The process of eliciting acceptability judgments from speakers of non-standard languages is sometimes clouded by factors akin to prescriptive notions of grammatical correctness. It has been argued that standardization enhances the ability to make clear-cut judgments, while non-standardization may result to grammatical hybridity, often manifested in the form of functionally equivalent variants in the repertoire of a single speaker. Recognizing the importance of working with corpora of spontaneous speech, this work investigates patterns of variation in the spontaneous production of five neurotypical, adult speakers of a non-standard variety in terms of three variants, each targeting one level of linguistic analysis: syntax, morphology, and phonology. The results reveal the existence of functionally equivalent variants across speakers and levels of analysis. We first discuss these findings in relation to the notions of competing, mixed, and fused grammars, and then we flesh out the implications that different values of the same variant carry for parametric approaches to Universal Grammar. We observe that intraspeaker realizations of different values of the same variant within the same syntactic environment are incompatible with the 'triggering-a-single-value' approach of parametric models, but we argue that they are compatible with the concept of Universal Grammar itself. Since the analysis of these variants is ultimately a way of investigating the status of Universal Grammar primitives, we conclude that claims about the alleged unfalsifiability of (the contents of) Universal Grammar are unfounded.

Functionally Equivalent Variants in a Non-standard Variety and Their Implications for Universal Grammar: A Spontaneous Speech Corpus

PubMed Central

Leivada, Evelina; Papadopoulou, Elena; Pavlou, Natalia

2017-01-01

Findings from the field of experimental linguistics have shown that a native speaker may judge a variant that is part of her grammar as unacceptable, but still use it productively in spontaneous speech. The process of eliciting acceptability judgments from speakers of non-standard languages is sometimes clouded by factors akin to prescriptive notions of grammatical correctness. It has been argued that standardization enhances the ability to make clear-cut judgments, while non-standardization may result to grammatical hybridity, often manifested in the form of functionally equivalent variants in the repertoire of a single speaker. Recognizing the importance of working with corpora of spontaneous speech, this work investigates patterns of variation in the spontaneous production of five neurotypical, adult speakers of a non-standard variety in terms of three variants, each targeting one level of linguistic analysis: syntax, morphology, and phonology. The results reveal the existence of functionally equivalent variants across speakers and levels of analysis. We first discuss these findings in relation to the notions of competing, mixed, and fused grammars, and then we flesh out the implications that different values of the same variant carry for parametric approaches to Universal Grammar. We observe that intraspeaker realizations of different values of the same variant within the same syntactic environment are incompatible with the ‘triggering-a-single-value’ approach of parametric models, but we argue that they are compatible with the concept of Universal Grammar itself. Since the analysis of these variants is ultimately a way of investigating the status of Universal Grammar primitives, we conclude that claims about the alleged unfalsifiability of (the contents of) Universal Grammar are unfounded. PMID:28790953

Stability analysis of fuzzy parametric uncertain systems.

PubMed

Bhiwani, R J; Patre, B M

2011-10-01

In this paper, the determination of stability margin, gain and phase margin aspects of fuzzy parametric uncertain systems are dealt. The stability analysis of uncertain linear systems with coefficients described by fuzzy functions is studied. A complexity reduced technique for determining the stability margin for FPUS is proposed. The method suggested is dependent on the order of the characteristic polynomial. In order to find the stability margin of interval polynomials of order less than 5, it is not always necessary to determine and check all four Kharitonov's polynomials. It has been shown that, for determining stability margin of FPUS of order five, four, and three we require only 3, 2, and 1 Kharitonov's polynomials respectively. Only for sixth and higher order polynomials, a complete set of Kharitonov's polynomials are needed to determine the stability margin. Thus for lower order systems, the calculations are reduced to a large extent. This idea has been extended to determine the stability margin of fuzzy interval polynomials. It is also shown that the gain and phase margin of FPUS can be determined analytically without using graphical techniques. Copyright © 2011 ISA. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Using Survival Analysis to Improve Estimates of Life Year Gains in Policy Evaluations.

PubMed

Meacock, Rachel; Sutton, Matt; Kristensen, Søren Rud; Harrison, Mark

2017-05-01

Policy evaluations taking a lifetime horizon have converted estimated changes in short-term mortality to expected life year gains using general population life expectancy. However, the life expectancy of the affected patients may differ from the general population. In trials, survival models are commonly used to extrapolate life year gains. The objective was to demonstrate the feasibility and materiality of using parametric survival models to extrapolate future survival in health care policy evaluations. We used our previous cost-effectiveness analysis of a pay-for-performance program as a motivating example. We first used the cohort of patients admitted prior to the program to compare 3 methods for estimating remaining life expectancy. We then used a difference-in-differences framework to estimate the life year gains associated with the program using general population life expectancy and survival models. Patient-level data from Hospital Episode Statistics was utilized for patients admitted to hospitals in England for pneumonia between 1 April 2007 and 31 March 2008 and between 1 April 2009 and 31 March 2010, and linked to death records for the period from 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2011. In our cohort of patients, using parametric survival models rather than general population life expectancy figures reduced the estimated mean life years remaining by 30% (9.19 v. 13.15 years, respectively). However, the estimated mean life year gains associated with the program are larger using survival models (0.380 years) compared to using general population life expectancy (0.154 years). Using general population life expectancy to estimate the impact of health care policies can overestimate life expectancy but underestimate the impact of policies on life year gains. Using a longer follow-up period improved the accuracy of estimated survival and program impact considerably.

Experimental demonstration of fiber optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Yue; Cheung, Kim K. Y.; Chui, P. C.; Wong, Kenneth K. Y.

2010-02-01

A fiber optical parametric chirped-pulse amplifier (FOPCPA) is experimentally demonstrated. A 1.76 ps signal at 1542 nm with a peak power of 20 mW is broadened to 40 ps, and then amplified by a 100-ps pulsed pump at 1560 nm. The corresponding idler at 1578 nm is generated as the FOPCPA output. The same medium used to stretch the signal is deployed to compress the idler to 3.8 ps, and another spool of fiber is deployed to further compress the idler to 1.87 ps. The peak power of the compressed idler is 2 W, which corresponds to a gain of 20 dB.

Flat and ultra-broadband two-pump fiber optical parametric amplifiers based on photonic crystal fibers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cao, Nan; Zhu, Hongna; Li, Peipei; Taccheo, Stefano; Zhu, Yuanna; Gao, Xiaorong; Wang, Zeyong

2018-06-01

A two-pump fiber optical parametric amplifier (FOPA) based on the photonic crystal fiber (PCF) in the telecommunication region is investigated numerically. The fiber loss and pump depletion are considered. The influences of the fiber length, input signal power, input pump power, and the center pump wavelength on the gain bandwidth, flatness, and peak gain are discussed. The 6-wave model-based analysis of two-pump FOPA is also achieved and compared with that based on the 4-wave model; furthermore, the gain properties of the FOPA based on the 6-wave model are optimized and investigated. The comparison results show that the PCF-based two-pump FOPA achieves flatter and wider gain spectra with less fiber length and input pump power compared to the two-pump FOPA based on the normal highly nonlinear fiber, where the obtained results show the great potential of the FOPA for the optical communication system.

Flat and ultra-broadband two-pump fiber optical parametric amplifiers based on photonic crystal fibers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cao, Nan; Zhu, Hongna; Li, Peipei; Taccheo, Stefano; Zhu, Yuanna; Gao, Xiaorong; Wang, Zeyong

2018-03-01

A two-pump fiber optical parametric amplifier (FOPA) based on the photonic crystal fiber (PCF) in the telecommunication region is investigated numerically. The fiber loss and pump depletion are considered. The influences of the fiber length, input signal power, input pump power, and the center pump wavelength on the gain bandwidth, flatness, and peak gain are discussed. The 6-wave model-based analysis of two-pump FOPA is also achieved and compared with that based on the 4-wave model; furthermore, the gain properties of the FOPA based on the 6-wave model are optimized and investigated. The comparison results show that the PCF-based two-pump FOPA achieves flatter and wider gain spectra with less fiber length and input pump power compared to the two-pump FOPA based on the normal highly nonlinear fiber, where the obtained results show the great potential of the FOPA for the optical communication system.

Coherent frequency division with a degenerate synchronously pumped optical parametric oscillator.

PubMed

Wan, Chenchen; Li, Peng; Ruehl, Axel; Hartl, Ingmar

2018-03-01

Synchronously pumped optical parametric oscillators (OPOs) are important tools for frequency comb (FC) generation in the mid-IR spectral range, where few suitable laser gain materials exist. For degenerate OPOs, self-phase-locking to the pump FC has been demonstrated. Here, we present a phase noise study of the carrier envelope offset frequency, revealing a -6  dB reduction compared to the pump FC over a wide Fourier frequency range. These results demonstrate that a degenerate OPO can be an ideal coherent frequency divider without any excess noise.

Giant Pulse Phenomena in a High Gain Erbium Doped Fiber Amplifier

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Li, Stephen X.; Merritt, Scott; Krainak, Michael A.; Yu, Anthony

2018-01-01

High gain Erbium Doped Fiber Amplifiers (EDFAs) are vulnerable to optical damage when unseeded, e.g. due to nonlinear effects that produce random, spontaneous Q-switched (SQS) pulses with high peak power, i.e. giant pulses. Giant pulses can damage either the components within a high gain EDFA or external components and systems coupled to the EDFA. We explore the conditions under which a reflective, polarization-maintaining (PM), core-pumped high gain EDFA generates giant pulses, provide details on the evolution of normal pulses into giant pulses, and provide results on the transient effects of giant pulses on an amplifier's fused-fiber couplers, an effect which we call Fiber Overload Induced Leakage (FOIL). While FOIL's effect on fused-fiber couplers is temporary, its damage to forward pump lasers in a high gain EDFA can be permanent.

A Parametric k-Means Algorithm

PubMed Central

Tarpey, Thaddeus

2007-01-01

Summary The k points that optimally represent a distribution (usually in terms of a squared error loss) are called the k principal points. This paper presents a computationally intensive method that automatically determines the principal points of a parametric distribution. Cluster means from the k-means algorithm are nonparametric estimators of principal points. A parametric k-means approach is introduced for estimating principal points by running the k-means algorithm on a very large simulated data set from a distribution whose parameters are estimated using maximum likelihood. Theoretical and simulation results are presented comparing the parametric k-means algorithm to the usual k-means algorithm and an example on determining sizes of gas masks is used to illustrate the parametric k-means algorithm. PMID:17917692

Higher Flexibility and Better Immediate Spontaneous Correction May Not Gain Better Results for Nonstructural Thoracic Curve in Lenke 5C AIS Patients

PubMed Central

Zhang, Yanbin; Lin, Guanfeng; Wang, Shengru; Zhang, Jianguo; Shen, Jianxiong; Wang, Yipeng; Guo, Jianwei; Yang, Xinyu; Zhao, Lijuan

2016-01-01

Study Design. Retrospective study. Objective. To study the behavior of the unfused thoracic curve in Lenke type 5C during the follow-up and to identify risk factors for its correction loss. Summary of Background Data. Few studies have focused on the spontaneous behaviors of the unfused thoracic curve after selective thoracolumbar or lumbar fusion during the follow-up and the risk factors for spontaneous correction loss. Methods. We retrospectively reviewed 45 patients (41 females and 4 males) with AIS who underwent selective TL/L fusion from 2006 to 2012 in a single institution. The follow-up averaged 36 months (range, 24–105 months). Patients were divided into two groups. Thoracic curves in group A improved or maintained their curve magnitude after spontaneous correction, with a negative or no correction loss during the follow-up. Thoracic curves in group B deteriorated after spontaneous correction with a positive correction loss. Univariate analysis and multivariate analysis were built to identify the risk factors for correction loss of the unfused thoracic curves. Results. The minor thoracic curve was 26° preoperatively. It was corrected to 13° immediately with a spontaneous correction of 48.5%. At final follow-up it was 14° with a correction loss of 1°. Thoracic curves did not deteriorate after spontaneous correction in 23 cases in group A, while 22 cases were identified with thoracic curve progressing in group B. In multivariate analysis, two risk factors were independently associated with thoracic correction loss: higher flexibility and better immediate spontaneous correction rate of thoracic curve. Conclusion. Posterior selective TL/L fusion with pedicle screw constructs is an effective treatment for Lenke 5C AIS patients. Nonstructural thoracic curves with higher flexibility or better immediate correction are more likely to progress during the follow-up and close attentions must be paid to these patients in case of decompensation. Level of Evidence: 4

Spontaneous Fission

DOE R&D Accomplishments Database

Segre, Emilio

1950-11-22

The first attempt to discover spontaneous fission in uranium was made by [Willard] Libby, who, however, failed to detect it on account of the smallness of effect. In 1940, [K. A.] Petrzhak and [G. N.] Flerov, using more sensitive methods, discovered spontaneous fission in uranium and gave some rough estimates of the spontaneous fission decay constant of this substance. Subsequently, extensive experimental work on the subject has been performed by several investigators and will be quoted in the various sections. [N.] Bohr and [A.] Wheeler have given a theory of the effect based on the usual ideas of penetration of potential barriers. On this project spontaneous fission has been studied for the past several years in an effort to obtain a complete picture of the phenomenon. For this purpose the spontaneous fission decay constants {lambda} have been measured for separated isotopes of the heavy elements wherever possible. Moreover, the number {nu} of neutrons emitted per fission has been measured wherever feasible, and other characteristics of the spontaneous fission process have been studied. This report summarizes the spontaneous fission work done at Los Alamos up to January 1, 1945. A chronological record of the work is contained in the Los Alamos monthly reports.

Excess spontaneous emission in non-Hermitian optical systems. II. Laser oscillators

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Siegman, A.E.

1989-02-01

When the Petermann excess-spontaneous-emission factor described in the accompanying paper (Siegman, preceding paper, Phys. Rev. A 39, 1253 (1989)) is taken into account, we find that the quantum-noise fluctuations or Schawlow-Townes fluctuations in the output spectrum of a laser oscillator will be multiplied by this excess noise factor. The excess spontaneous emission in a laser oscillator cannot be canceled by adjoint-mode-excitation techniques as it can be in a laser amplifier. The resulting noise enhancement can be very sizable (100 to 1000 times or more) in gain-guided laser oscillators, and especially in laser oscillators using geometrically unstable cavities with moderate tomore » high magnifications and Fresnel numbers.« less

Impact of state updating and multi-parametric ensemble for streamflow hindcasting in European river basins

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Noh, S. J.; Rakovec, O.; Kumar, R.; Samaniego, L. E.

2015-12-01

Accurate and reliable streamflow prediction is essential to mitigate social and economic damage coming from water-related disasters such as flood and drought. Sequential data assimilation (DA) may facilitate improved streamflow prediction using real-time observations to correct internal model states. In conventional DA methods such as state updating, parametric uncertainty is often ignored mainly due to practical limitations of methodology to specify modeling uncertainty with limited ensemble members. However, if parametric uncertainty related with routing and runoff components is not incorporated properly, predictive uncertainty by model ensemble may be insufficient to capture dynamics of observations, which may deteriorate predictability. Recently, a multi-scale parameter regionalization (MPR) method was proposed to make hydrologic predictions at different scales using a same set of model parameters without losing much of the model performance. The MPR method incorporated within the mesoscale hydrologic model (mHM, http://www.ufz.de/mhm) could effectively represent and control uncertainty of high-dimensional parameters in a distributed model using global parameters. In this study, we evaluate impacts of streamflow data assimilation over European river basins. Especially, a multi-parametric ensemble approach is tested to consider the effects of parametric uncertainty in DA. Because augmentation of parameters is not required within an assimilation window, the approach could be more stable with limited ensemble members and have potential for operational uses. To consider the response times and non-Gaussian characteristics of internal hydrologic processes, lagged particle filtering is utilized. The presentation will be focused on gains and limitations of streamflow data assimilation and multi-parametric ensemble method over large-scale basins.

Spectral gain investigation of large size OPCPA based on partially deuterated KDP

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Galimberti, Marco; Boyle, Alexis; Musgrave, Ian O.; Oliveira, Pedro; Pepler, Dave; Shaikh, Waseem; Winstone, Trevor B.; Wyatt, Adam; Hernandez-Gomez, Cristina

2018-01-01

The Optical Parametric Chirped Pulse Amplification is one of the most promising techniques to deliver 20PW laser system. The already available KD*P in large size is a good candidate as nonlinear crystal. In this article we report the experimental analysis of the spectral small signal gain for KD*P at 70% deuteration level for different phase matching and non-collinear angle. The data is also compared with a theoretical model.

Spontaneous C. septicum gas gangrene: A literature review.

PubMed

Srivastava, Ira; Aldape, Michael J; Bryant, Amy E; Stevens, Dennis L

2017-12-01

As the infectious disease paradigm undergoes a subtle shift, unusual infections associated with malignancy and immunosuppression are being increasingly reported. Spontaneous or non-traumatic Clostridium septicum infection is one such unusual infection which has gained prominence. This article aims to understand the pathophysiology, clinical manifestations and current trends in diagnosing and treating this rare but deadly infection. To understand the multifactorial causation of this infection a review of published cases of spontaneous C. septicum gas gangrene was performed and a total of 94 such cases were identified. Several factors were analyzed for each case: age, infection location and underlying illness, presenting signs and symptoms, neutropenia, gross pathology of the colon, antibiotic use, surgical intervention, and survival. A known or occult malignancy was present in 71% patients and an overall mortality of 67% was observed. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Optical gain characteristics of C 460 and C 450.

PubMed

Sharma, Vijay K; Sahare, P D; Pandey, A; Mohan, D

2003-03-15

Dye concentration dependent gain spectra for Coumarin 460 (C 460) and Coumarin 450 (C 450) in ethanol have been studied using Amplified Spontaneous Emission (ASE) technique under Nitrogen laser (337.1 nm) excitation in the concentration range 10(-2)-10(-5) m/l. The dependence of lasing wavelength and peak gain on concentration have been understood in terms of variation of fluorescence lifetime, which is due to photo-physical processes such as radiation trapping and concentration-quenching. Pump intensity dependence of efficiency is also explained in terms of fluorescence lifetime. A comparison of the stability of the two dyes has also been made on the basis of the functional groups at different positions of the basic coumarin. Copyright 2002 Elsevier Science B.V.

Hyperbolic and semi-parametric models in finance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bingham, N. H.; Kiesel, Rüdiger

2001-02-01

The benchmark Black-Scholes-Merton model of mathematical finance is parametric, based on the normal/Gaussian distribution. Its principal parametric competitor, the hyperbolic model of Barndorff-Nielsen, Eberlein and others, is briefly discussed. Our main theme is the use of semi-parametric models, incorporating the mean vector and covariance matrix as in the Markowitz approach, plus a non-parametric part, a scalar function incorporating features such as tail-decay. Implementation is also briefly discussed.

Amplification of microwaves by superconducting microbridges in a four-wave parametric mode

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Parrish, P. T.; Chiao, R. Y.

1974-01-01

Parametric amplification of microwaves was observed using thin-film junctions of the Anderson-Dayem type. A series of 80 such junctions were incorporated into the upper conductor of a broadband 50-ohm microstrip transmission line with no DC bias. The amplifier was operated in the 'doubly degenerate' mode with signal, pump, and idler frequencies closely and equally spaced. An electronic gain of 12 dB at 10 GHz was observed. The bandwidth was measured to be 1 GHz and the noise temperature to be less than 20 K.

Spontaneous Dancemaking with Beginning Improvisers: Foundational Practices in Presence, Stillness, and Problem Solving

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Martin, Nina

2017-01-01

Many dance artists in their first encounters with improvisational dance making begin not only to learn how to compose spontaneously, but also to gain skills for coping with the uncertainties inherent in the form. This article suggests helpful dance scores for beginning students of physical improvisation and those who teach improvisational…

Optimal Operation of a Josephson Parametric Amplifier for Vacuum Squeezing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Malnou, M.; Palken, D. A.; Vale, Leila R.; Hilton, Gene C.; Lehnert, K. W.

2018-04-01

A Josephson parametric amplifier (JPA) can create squeezed states of microwave light, lowering the noise associated with certain quantum measurements. We experimentally study how the JPA's pump influences the phase-sensitive amplification and deamplification of a coherent tone's amplitude when that amplitude is commensurate with vacuum fluctuations. We predict and demonstrate that, by operating the JPA with a single current pump whose power is greater than the value that maximizes gain, the amplifier distortion is reduced and, consequently, squeezing is improved. Optimizing the singly pumped JPA's operation in this fashion, we directly observe 3.87 ±0.03 dB of vacuum squeezing over a bandwidth of 30 MHz.

Wide range operation of regenerative optical parametric wavelength converter using ASE-degraded 43-Gb/s RZ-DPSK signals.

PubMed

Gao, Mingyi; Kurumida, Junya; Namiki, Shu

2011-11-07

For sustainable growth of the Internet, wavelength-tunable optical regeneration is the key to scaling up high energy-efficiency dynamic optical path networks while keeping the flexibility of the network. Wavelength-tunable optical parametric regenerator (T-OPR) based on the gain saturation effect of parametric amplification in a highly nonlinear fiber is promising for noise reduction in phase-shift keying signals. In this paper, we experimentally evaluated the T-OPR performance for ASE-degraded 43-Gb/s RZ-DPSK signals over a 20-nm input wavelength range between 1527 nm and 1547 nm. As a result, we achieved improved power penalty performance for the regenerated idler with a proper pump power range.

Tools in the orbit space approach to the study of invariant functions: rational parametrization of strata

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sartori, G.; Valente, G.

2003-02-01

Functions which are equivariant or invariant under the transformations of a compact linear group G acting in a Euclidean space Bbb Rn, can profitably be studied as functions defined in the orbit space of the group. The orbit space is the union of a finite set of strata, which are semialgebraic manifolds formed by the G-orbits with the same orbit-type. In this paper, we provide a simple recipe to obtain rational parametrizations of the strata. Our results can be easily exploited, in many physical contexts where the study of equivariant or invariant functions is important, for instance in the determination of patterns of spontaneous symmetry breaking, in the analysis of phase spaces and structural phase transitions (Landau theory), in equivariant bifurcation theory, in crystal field theory and in most areas where use is made of symmetry-adapted functions. A physically significant example of utilization of the recipe is given, related to spontaneous polarization in chiral biaxial liquid crystals, where the advantages with respect to previous heuristic approaches are shown.

Conception de lois de pilotage robustes et sequencement de gains par l'approche de systemes lineaires a parametres variants

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hentabli, Kamel

, commande robuste, approche Hinfinity , mu-synthese, systemes lineaires a parametres variants, sequencement de gains, transformation lineaire fractionnelle, inegalite matricielle lineaire.

Parametric resonance in tunable superconducting cavities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wustmann, Waltraut; Shumeiko, Vitaly

2013-05-01

We develop a theory of parametric resonance in tunable superconducting cavities. The nonlinearity introduced by the superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) attached to the cavity and damping due to connection of the cavity to a transmission line are taken into consideration. We study in detail the nonlinear classical dynamics of the cavity field below and above the parametric threshold for the degenerate parametric resonance, featuring regimes of multistability and parametric radiation. We investigate the phase-sensitive amplification of external signals on resonance, as well as amplification of detuned signals, and relate the amplifier performance to that of linear parametric amplifiers. We also discuss applications of the device for dispersive qubit readout. Beyond the classical response of the cavity, we investigate small quantum fluctuations around the amplified classical signals. We evaluate the noise power spectrum both for the internal field in the cavity and the output field. Other quantum-statistical properties of the noise are addressed such as squeezing spectra, second-order coherence, and two-mode entanglement.

Optimization of two-photon wave function in parametric down conversion by adaptive optics control of the pump radiation.

PubMed

Minozzi, M; Bonora, S; Sergienko, A V; Vallone, G; Villoresi, P

2013-02-15

We present an efficient method for optimizing the spatial profile of entangled-photon wave function produced in a spontaneous parametric down conversion process. A deformable mirror that modifies a wavefront of a 404 nm CW diode laser pump interacting with a nonlinear β-barium borate type-I crystal effectively controls the profile of the joint biphoton function. The use of a feedback signal extracted from the biphoton coincidence rate is used to achieve the optimal wavefront shape. The optimization of the two-photon coupling into two, single spatial modes for correlated detection is used for a practical demonstration of this physical principle.

Why preferring parametric forecasting to nonparametric methods?

PubMed

Jabot, Franck

2015-05-07

A recent series of papers by Charles T. Perretti and collaborators have shown that nonparametric forecasting methods can outperform parametric methods in noisy nonlinear systems. Such a situation can arise because of two main reasons: the instability of parametric inference procedures in chaotic systems which can lead to biased parameter estimates, and the discrepancy between the real system dynamics and the modeled one, a problem that Perretti and collaborators call "the true model myth". Should ecologists go on using the demanding parametric machinery when trying to forecast the dynamics of complex ecosystems? Or should they rely on the elegant nonparametric approach that appears so promising? It will be here argued that ecological forecasting based on parametric models presents two key comparative advantages over nonparametric approaches. First, the likelihood of parametric forecasting failure can be diagnosed thanks to simple Bayesian model checking procedures. Second, when parametric forecasting is diagnosed to be reliable, forecasting uncertainty can be estimated on virtual data generated with the fitted to data parametric model. In contrast, nonparametric techniques provide forecasts with unknown reliability. This argumentation is illustrated with the simple theta-logistic model that was previously used by Perretti and collaborators to make their point. It should convince ecologists to stick to standard parametric approaches, until methods have been developed to assess the reliability of nonparametric forecasting. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Dimer with gain and loss: Integrability and {P}{T}-symmetry restoration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barashenkov, I. V.; Pelinovsky, D. E.; Dubard, P.

2015-08-01

A {P}{T}-symmetric nonlinear Schrödinger dimer is a two-site discrete nonlinear Schrödinger equation with one site losing and the other one gaining energy at the same rate. In this paper, two four-parameter families of cubic {P}{T}-symmetric dimers are constructed as gain-loss extensions of their conservative, Hamiltonian, counterparts. We prove that all these damped-driven equations define completely integrable Hamiltonian systems. The second aim of our study is to identify nonlinearities that give rise to the spontaneous {P}{T}-symmetry restoration. When the symmetry of the underlying linear dimer is broken and an unstable small perturbation starts to grow, the nonlinear coupling of the required type will divert an increasingly large percentage of energy from the gaining to the losing site. As a result, the exponential growth will be saturated and all trajectories remain trapped in a finite part of the phase space regardless of the value of the gain-loss coefficient.

Parametric instability of shaft with discs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wahab, A. M. Abdul; Rasid, Z. A.; Abu, A.; Rudin, N. F. Mohd Noor

2017-12-01

The occurrence of resonance is a major criterion to be considered in the design of shaft. While force resonance occurs merely when the natural frequency of the rotor system equals speed of the shaft, parametric resonance or parametric instability can occur at excitation speed that is integral or sub-multiple of the frequency of the rotor. This makes the study on parametric resonance crucial. Parametric instability of a shaft system consisting of a shaft and disks has been investigated in this study. The finite element formulation of the Mathieu-Hill equation that represents the parametric instability problem of the shaft is developed based on Timoshenko’s beam theory and Nelson’s finite element method (FEM) model that considers the effect of torsional motion on such problem. The Bolotin’s method is used to determine the regions of instability and the Strut-Ince diagram. The validation works show that the results of this study are in close agreement to past results. It is found that a larger radius of disk will cause the shaft to become more unstable compared to smaller radius although both weights are similar. Furthermore, the effect of torsional motion on the parametric instability of the shaft is significant at higher rotating speed.

Spontaneous mirror left-right symmetry breaking for leptogenesis parametrized by Majorana neutrino mass matrix

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gu, Pei-Hong

2017-10-01

We introduce a mirror copy of the ordinary fermions and Higgs scalars for embedding the SU(2) L × U(1) Y electroweak gauge symmetry into an SU(2) L × SU(2) R × U(1) B-L left-right gauge symmetry. We then show the spontaneous left-right symmetry breaking can automatically break the parity symmetry motivated by solving the strong CP problem. Through the SU(2) R gauge interactions, a mirror Majorana neutrino can decay into a mirror charged lepton and two mirror quarks. Consequently we can obtain a lepton asymmetry stored in the mirror charged leptons. The Yukawa couplings of the mirror and ordinary charged fermions to a dark matter scalar then can transfer the mirror lepton asymmetry to an ordinary lepton asymmetry which provides a solution to the cosmic baryon asymmetry in association with the SU(2) L sphaleron processes. In this scenario, the baryon asymmetry can be well described by the neutrino mass matrix up to an overall factor.

Parametric nanomechanical amplification at very high frequency.

PubMed

Karabalin, R B; Feng, X L; Roukes, M L

2009-09-01

Parametric resonance and amplification are important in both fundamental physics and technological applications. Here we report very high frequency (VHF) parametric resonators and mechanical-domain amplifiers based on nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS). Compound mechanical nanostructures patterned by multilayer, top-down nanofabrication are read out by a novel scheme that parametrically modulates longitudinal stress in doubly clamped beam NEMS resonators. Parametric pumping and signal amplification are demonstrated for VHF resonators up to approximately 130 MHz and provide useful enhancement of both resonance signal amplitude and quality factor. We find that Joule heating and reduced thermal conductance in these nanostructures ultimately impose an upper limit to device performance. We develop a theoretical model to account for both the parametric response and nonequilibrium thermal transport in these composite nanostructures. The results closely conform to our experimental observations, elucidate the frequency and threshold-voltage scaling in parametric VHF NEMS resonators and sensors, and establish the ultimate sensitivity limits of this approach.

Parametric and non-parametric approach for sensory RATA (Rate-All-That-Apply) method of ledre profile attributes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hastuti, S.; Harijono; Murtini, E. S.; Fibrianto, K.

2018-03-01

This current study is aimed to investigate the use of parametric and non-parametric approach for sensory RATA (Rate-All-That-Apply) method. Ledre as Bojonegoro unique local food product was used as point of interest, in which 319 panelists were involved in the study. The result showed that ledre is characterized as easy-crushed texture, sticky in mouth, stingy sensation and easy to swallow. It has also strong banana flavour with brown in colour. Compared to eggroll and semprong, ledre has more variances in terms of taste as well the roll length. As RATA questionnaire is designed to collect categorical data, non-parametric approach is the common statistical procedure. However, similar results were also obtained as parametric approach, regardless the fact of non-normal distributed data. Thus, it suggests that parametric approach can be applicable for consumer study with large number of respondents, even though it may not satisfy the assumption of ANOVA (Analysis of Variances).

Pictionary-based fMRI paradigm to study the neural correlates of spontaneous improvisation and figural creativity.

PubMed

Saggar, Manish; Quintin, Eve-Marie; Kienitz, Eliza; Bott, Nicholas T; Sun, Zhaochun; Hong, Wei-Chen; Chien, Yin-hsuan; Liu, Ning; Dougherty, Robert F; Royalty, Adam; Hawthorne, Grace; Reiss, Allan L

2015-05-28

A novel game-like and creativity-conducive fMRI paradigm is developed to assess the neural correlates of spontaneous improvisation and figural creativity in healthy adults. Participants were engaged in the word-guessing game of Pictionary(TM), using an MR-safe drawing tablet and no explicit instructions to be "creative". Using the primary contrast of drawing a given word versus drawing a control word (zigzag), we observed increased engagement of cerebellum, thalamus, left parietal cortex, right superior frontal, left prefrontal and paracingulate/cingulate regions, such that activation in the cingulate and left prefrontal cortices negatively influenced task performance. Further, using parametric fMRI analysis, increasing subjective difficulty ratings for drawing the word engaged higher activations in the left pre-frontal cortices, whereas higher expert-rated creative content in the drawings was associated with increased engagement of bilateral cerebellum. Altogether, our data suggest that cerebral-cerebellar interaction underlying implicit processing of mental representations has a facilitative effect on spontaneous improvisation and figural creativity.

Pictionary-based fMRI paradigm to study the neural correlates of spontaneous improvisation and figural creativity

PubMed Central

Saggar, Manish; Quintin, Eve-Marie; Kienitz, Eliza; Bott, Nicholas T.; Sun, Zhaochun; Hong, Wei-Chen; Chien, Yin-hsuan; Liu, Ning; Dougherty, Robert F.; Royalty, Adam; Hawthorne, Grace; Reiss, Allan L.

2015-01-01

A novel game-like and creativity-conducive fMRI paradigm is developed to assess the neural correlates of spontaneous improvisation and figural creativity in healthy adults. Participants were engaged in the word-guessing game of PictionaryTM, using an MR-safe drawing tablet and no explicit instructions to be “creative”. Using the primary contrast of drawing a given word versus drawing a control word (zigzag), we observed increased engagement of cerebellum, thalamus, left parietal cortex, right superior frontal, left prefrontal and paracingulate/cingulate regions, such that activation in the cingulate and left prefrontal cortices negatively influenced task performance. Further, using parametric fMRI analysis, increasing subjective difficulty ratings for drawing the word engaged higher activations in the left pre-frontal cortices, whereas higher expert-rated creative content in the drawings was associated with increased engagement of bilateral cerebellum. Altogether, our data suggest that cerebral-cerebellar interaction underlying implicit processing of mental representations has a facilitative effect on spontaneous improvisation and figural creativity. PMID:26018874

Multibeam Formation with a Parametric Sonar

DTIC Science & Technology

1976-03-05

AD-A022 815 MULTIBEAM FORMATION WITH A PARAMETRIC SONAR Robert L. White Texas University at Austin Prepared for: Office of Naval Research 5 March...PARAMETRIC SONAR Final Report under Contract N00014-70-A-0166, Task 0020 1 February - 31 July 1974 Robe&, L. White OFFICE OF NAVAL RESEARCH Contract N00014...78712 APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE; DISTRIBUTION UNLIMITED. r-X: ~ ... ABSTRACT Parametric sonar has proven to be an effective concept in sonar

Eigenvalue assignment by minimal state-feedback gain in LTI multivariable systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ataei, Mohammad; Enshaee, Ali

2011-12-01

In this article, an improved method for eigenvalue assignment via state feedback in the linear time-invariant multivariable systems is proposed. This method is based on elementary similarity operations, and involves mainly utilisation of vector companion forms, and thus is very simple and easy to implement on a digital computer. In addition to the controllable systems, the proposed method can be applied for the stabilisable ones and also systems with linearly dependent inputs. Moreover, two types of state-feedback gain matrices can be achieved by this method: (1) the numerical one, which is unique, and (2) the parametric one, in which its parameters are determined in order to achieve a gain matrix with minimum Frobenius norm. The numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the advantages of the proposed method.

Towards zero-threshold optical gain using charged semiconductor quantum dots

DOE PAGES

Wu, Kaifeng; Park, Young -Shin; Lim, Jaehoon; ...

2017-10-16

Colloidal semiconductor quantum dots are attractive materials for the realization of solution-processable lasers. However, their applications as optical-gain media are complicated by a non-unity degeneracy of band-edge states, because of which multiexcitons are required to achieve the lasing regime. This increases the lasing thresholds and leads to very short optical gain lifetimes limited by nonradiative Auger recombination. Here, we show that these problems can be at least partially resolved by employing not neutral but negatively charged quantum dots. By applying photodoping to specially engineered quantum dots with impeded Auger decay, we demonstrate a considerable reduction of the optical gain thresholdmore » due to suppression of ground-state absorption by pre-existing carriers. Moreover, by injecting approximately one electron per dot on average, we achieve a more than twofold reduction in the amplified spontaneous emission threshold, bringing it to the sub-single-exciton level. Furthermore, these measurements indicate the feasibility of ‘zero-threshold’ gain achievable by completely blocking the band-edge state with two electrons.« less

Towards zero-threshold optical gain using charged semiconductor quantum dots

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wu, Kaifeng; Park, Young -Shin; Lim, Jaehoon

Colloidal semiconductor quantum dots are attractive materials for the realization of solution-processable lasers. However, their applications as optical-gain media are complicated by a non-unity degeneracy of band-edge states, because of which multiexcitons are required to achieve the lasing regime. This increases the lasing thresholds and leads to very short optical gain lifetimes limited by nonradiative Auger recombination. Here, we show that these problems can be at least partially resolved by employing not neutral but negatively charged quantum dots. By applying photodoping to specially engineered quantum dots with impeded Auger decay, we demonstrate a considerable reduction of the optical gain thresholdmore » due to suppression of ground-state absorption by pre-existing carriers. Moreover, by injecting approximately one electron per dot on average, we achieve a more than twofold reduction in the amplified spontaneous emission threshold, bringing it to the sub-single-exciton level. Furthermore, these measurements indicate the feasibility of ‘zero-threshold’ gain achievable by completely blocking the band-edge state with two electrons.« less

Numerical investigation of spontaneous flame propagation under RCCI conditions

DOE PAGES

Bhagatwala, Ankit V; Sankaran, Ramanan; Kokjohn, Sage; ...

2015-06-30

This paper presents results from one and two-dimensional direct numerical simulations under Reactivity Controlled Compression Ignition (RCCI) conditions of a primary reference fuel (PRF) mixture consisting of n-heptane and iso-octane. RCCI uses in-cylinder blending of two fuels with different autoignition characteristics to control combustion phasing and the rate of heat release. These simulations employ an improved model of compression heating through mass source/sink terms developed in a previous work by Bhagatwala et al. (2014), which incorporates feedback from the flow to follow a predetermined experimental pressure trace. Two-dimensional simulations explored parametric variations with respect to temperature stratification, pressure profiles andmore » n-heptane concentration. Furthermore, statistics derived from analysis of diffusion/reaction balances locally normal to the flame surface were used to elucidate combustion characteristics for the different cases. Both deflagration and spontaneous ignition fronts were observed to co-exist, however it was found that higher n-heptane concentration provided a greater degree of flame propagation, whereas lower n-heptane concentration (higher fraction of iso-octane) resulted in more spontaneous ignition fronts. A significant finding was that simulations initialized with a uniform initial temperature and a stratified n-heptane concentration field, resulted in a large fraction of combustion occurring through flame propagation. The proportion of spontaneous ignition fronts increased at higher pressures due to shorter ignition delay when other factors were held constant. For the same pressure and fuel concentration, the contribution of flame propagation to the overall combustion was found to depend on the level of thermal stratification, with higher initial temperature gradients resulting in more deflagration and lower gradients generating more ignition fronts. Statistics of ignition delay are computed to assess the Zel�

Parametric infrared tunable laser system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Garbuny, M.; Henningsen, T.; Sutter, J. R.

1980-01-01

A parametric tunable infrared laser system was built to serve as transmitter for the remote detection and density measurement of pollutant, poisonous, or trace gases in the atmosphere. The system operates with a YAG:Nd laser oscillator amplifier chain which pumps a parametric tunable frequency converter. The completed system produced pulse energies of up to 30 mJ. The output is tunable from 1.5 to 3.6 micrometers at linewidths of 0.2-0.5 /cm (FWHM), although the limits of the tuning range and the narrower line crystals presently in the parametric converter by samples of the higher quality already demonstrated is expected to improve the system performance further.

Mechanical Parametric Oscillations and Waves

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dittrich, William; Minkin, Leonid; Shapovalov, Alexander S.

2013-01-01

Usually parametric oscillations are not the topic of general physics courses. Probably it is because the mathematical theory of this phenomenon is relatively complicated, and until quite recently laboratory experiments for students were difficult to implement. However parametric oscillations are good illustrations of the laws of physics and can be…

Does Spontaneous Favorability to Power (vs. Universalism) Values Predict Spontaneous Prejudice and Discrimination?

PubMed

Souchon, Nicolas; Maio, Gregory R; Hanel, Paul H P; Bardin, Brigitte

2017-10-01

We conducted five studies testing whether an implicit measure of favorability toward power over universalism values predicts spontaneous prejudice and discrimination. Studies 1 (N = 192) and 2 (N = 86) examined correlations between spontaneous favorability toward power (vs. universalism) values, achievement (vs. benevolence) values, and a spontaneous measure of prejudice toward ethnic minorities. Study 3 (N = 159) tested whether conditioning participants to associate power values with positive adjectives and universalism values with negative adjectives (or inversely) affects spontaneous prejudice. Study 4 (N = 95) tested whether decision bias toward female handball players could be predicted by spontaneous attitude toward power (vs. universalism) values. Study 5 (N = 123) examined correlations between spontaneous attitude toward power (vs. universalism) values, spontaneous importance toward power (vs. universalism) values, and spontaneous prejudice toward Black African people. Spontaneous positivity toward power (vs. universalism) values was associated with spontaneous negativity toward minorities and predicted gender bias in a decision task, whereas the explicit measures did not. These results indicate that the implicit assessment of evaluative responses attached to human values helps to model value-attitude-behavior relations. © 2016 The Authors. Journal of Personality Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Parametric Evaluation of Interstellar Exploration Mission Concepts

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Adams, Robert B.

2017-01-01

One persistent difficulty in evaluating the myriad advanced propulsion concepts proposed over the last 60 years is a true apples to apples comparison of the expected gain in performance. This analysis is complicated by numerous factors including, multiple missions of interest to the advanced propulsion community, the lack of a credible closed form solution to 'medium thrust' trajectories, and lack of detailed design data for most proposed concepts that lend credibility to engine performance estimates. This paper describes a process on how to make fair comparisons of different propulsion concepts for multiple missions over a wide range of performance values. The figure below illustrates this process. This paper describes in detail the process and outlines the status so far in compiling the required data. Parametric data for several missions are calculated and plotted against specific power-specific impulse scatter plots of expected propulsion system performance. The overlay between required performance as defined by the trajectory parametrics and expected performance as defined in the literature for major categories of propulsion systems clearly defines which propulsion systems are the most apt for a given mission. The application of the Buckingham Pi theorem to general parameters for interstellar exploration ( mission time, mass, specific impulse, specific power, distance, propulsion source energy/mass, etc.) yields a number of dimensionless variables. The relationships of these variables can then be explored before application to a particular mission. Like in the fields of fluid mechanics and heat transfer, the use of the Buckingham Pi theorem results in new variables to make apples to apples comparisons.

Broadband parametric amplifiers based on nonlinear kinetic inductance artificial transmission lines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chaudhuri, S.; Li, D.; Irwin, K. D.; Bockstiegel, C.; Hubmayr, J.; Ullom, J. N.; Vissers, M. R.; Gao, J.

2017-04-01

We present broadband parametric amplifiers based on the kinetic inductance of superconducting NbTiN thin films in an artificial (lumped-element) transmission line architecture. We demonstrate two amplifier designs implementing different phase matching techniques: periodic impedance loading and resonator phase shifters placed periodically along the transmission line. Our design offers several advantages over previous CPW-based amplifiers, including intrinsic 50 Ω characteristic impedance, natural suppression of higher pump harmonics, lower required pump power, and shorter total trace length. Experimental realizations of both versions of the amplifiers are demonstrated. With a transmission line length of 20 cm, we have achieved gains of 15 dB over several GHz of bandwidth.

Phase noise suppression through parametric filtering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cassella, Cristian; Strachan, Scott; Shaw, Steven W.; Piazza, Gianluca

2017-02-01

In this work, we introduce and experimentally demonstrate a parametric phase noise suppression technique, which we call "parametric phase noise filtering." This technique is based on the use of a solid-state parametric amplifier operating in its instability region and included in a non-autonomous feedback loop connected at the output of a noisy oscillator. We demonstrate that such a system behaves as a parametrically driven Duffing resonator and can operate at special points where it becomes largely immune to the phase fluctuations that affect the oscillator output signal. A prototype of a parametric phase noise filter (PFIL) was designed and fabricated to operate in the very-high-frequency range. The PFIL prototype allowed us to significantly reduce the phase noise at the output of a commercial signal generator operating around 220 MHz. Noise reduction of 16 dB (40×) and 13 dB (20×) were obtained, respectively, at 1 and 10 kHz offsets from the carrier frequency. The demonstration of this phase noise suppression technique opens up scenarios in the development of passive and low-cost phase noise cancellation circuits for any application demanding high quality frequency generation.

Facial Performance Transfer via Deformable Models and Parametric Correspondence.

PubMed

Asthana, Akshay; de la Hunty, Miles; Dhall, Abhinav; Goecke, Roland

2012-09-01

The issue of transferring facial performance from one person's face to another's has been an area of interest for the movie industry and the computer graphics community for quite some time. In recent years, deformable face models, such as the Active Appearance Model (AAM), have made it possible to track and synthesize faces in real time. Not surprisingly, deformable face model-based approaches for facial performance transfer have gained tremendous interest in the computer vision and graphics community. In this paper, we focus on the problem of real-time facial performance transfer using the AAM framework. We propose a novel approach of learning the mapping between the parameters of two completely independent AAMs, using them to facilitate the facial performance transfer in a more realistic manner than previous approaches. The main advantage of modeling this parametric correspondence is that it allows a "meaningful" transfer of both the nonrigid shape and texture across faces irrespective of the speakers' gender, shape, and size of the faces, and illumination conditions. We explore linear and nonlinear methods for modeling the parametric correspondence between the AAMs and show that the sparse linear regression method performs the best. Moreover, we show the utility of the proposed framework for a cross-language facial performance transfer that is an area of interest for the movie dubbing industry.

Self-seeding ring optical parametric oscillator

DOEpatents

Smith, Arlee V [Albuquerque, NM; Armstrong, Darrell J [Albuquerque, NM

2005-12-27

An optical parametric oscillator apparatus utilizing self-seeding with an external nanosecond-duration pump source to generate a seed pulse resulting in increased conversion efficiency. An optical parametric oscillator with a ring configuration are combined with a pump that injection seeds the optical parametric oscillator with a nanosecond duration, mJ pulse in the reverse direction as the main pulse. A retroreflecting means outside the cavity injects the seed pulse back into the cavity in the direction of the main pulse to seed the main pulse, resulting in higher conversion efficiency.

High-power Femtosecond Optical Parametric Amplification at 1 kHz in BiB(3)O(6) pumped at 800 nm.

PubMed

Petrov, Valentin; Noack, Frank; Tzankov, Pancho; Ghotbi, Masood; Ebrahim-Zadeh, Majid; Nikolov, Ivailo; Buchvarov, Ivan

2007-01-22

Substantial power scaling of a travelling-wave femtosecond optical parametric amplifier, pumped near 800 nm by a 1 kHz Ti:sapphire laser amplifier, is demonstrated using monoclinic BiB(3)O(6) in a two stage scheme with continuum seeding. Total energy output (signal plus idler) exceeding 1 mJ is achieved, corresponding to an intrinsic conversion efficiency of approximately 32% for the second stage. The tunability extends from 1.1 to 2.9 microm. The high parametric gain and broad amplification bandwidth of this crystal allowed the maintenance of the pump pulse duration, leading to pulse lengths less than 140 fs, both for the signal and idler pulses, even at such high output levels.

Are Consonant Intervals Music to Their Ears?: Spontaneous Acoustic Preferences in a Nonhuman Primate

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McDermott, Josh; Hauser, Marc

2004-01-01

Humans find some sounds more pleasing than others; such preferences may underlie our enjoyment of music. To gain insight into the evolutionary origins of these preferences, we explored whether they are present in other animals. We designed a novel method to measure the spontaneous sound preferences of cotton-top tamarins, a species that has been…

Characteristics of stereo reproduction with parametric loudspeakers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aoki, Shigeaki; Toba, Masayoshi; Tsujita, Norihisa

2012-05-01

A parametric loudspeaker utilizes nonlinearity of a medium and is known as a super-directivity loudspeaker. The parametric loudspeaker is one of the prominent applications of nonlinear ultrasonics. So far, the applications have been limited monaural reproduction sound system for public address in museum, station and street etc. In this paper, we discussed characteristics of stereo reproduction with two parametric loudspeakers by comparing with those with two ordinary dynamic loudspeakers. In subjective tests, three typical listening positions were selected to investigate the possibility of correct sound localization in a wide listening area. The binaural information was ILD (Interaural Level Difference) or ITD (Interaural Time Delay). The parametric loudspeaker was an equilateral hexagon. The inner and outer diameters were 99 and 112 mm, respectively. Signals were 500 Hz, 1 kHz, 2 kHz and 4 kHz pure tones and pink noise. Three young males listened to test signals 10 times in each listening condition. Subjective test results showed that listeners at the three typical listening positions perceived correct sound localization of all signals using the parametric loudspeakers. It was almost similar to those using the ordinary dynamic loudspeakers, however, except for the case of sinusoidal waves with ITD. It was determined the parametric loudspeaker could exclude the contradiction between the binaural information ILD and ITD that occurred in stereo reproduction with ordinary dynamic loudspeakers because the super directivity of parametric loudspeaker suppressed the cross talk components.

An artificial stress asperity for initialization of spontaneous rupture propagation - a parametric study of a dynamic model with linear slip-weakening friction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Galis, M.; Pelties, C.; Kristek, J.; Moczo, P.

2012-04-01

Artificial procedures are used to initiate spontaneous rupture on faults with the linear slip-weakening (LSW) friction law. Probably the most frequent technique is the stress asperity. It is important to minimize effects of the artificial initialization on the phase of the spontaneous rupture propagation. The effects may strongly depend on the geometry and size of the asperity, spatial distribution of the stress in and around the asperity, and a maximum stress-overshoot value. A square initialization zone with the stress discontinuously falling down at the asperity border to the level of the initial stress has been frequently applied (e.g., in the SCEC verification exercise). Galis et al. (2010) and Bizzarri (2010) independently introduced the elliptical asperity with a smooth spatial stress distribution in and around the asperity. In both papers the width of smoothing/tapering zone was only ad-hoc defined. Numerical simulations indicate that the ADER-DG method can account for a discontinuous-stress initialization more accurately than the FE method. Considering the ADER-DG solution a reference we performed numerical simulations in order to define the width of the smoothing/tapering zone to be used in the FE and FD-FE hybrid methods for spontaneous rupture propagation. We considered different sizes of initialization zone, different shapes of the initialization zone (square, circle, ellipse), different spatial distributions of stress (smooth, discontinuous), and different stress-overshoot values to investigate conditions of the spontaneous rupture propagation. We compare our numerical results with the 2D and 3D estimates by Andrews (1976a,b), Day (1982), Campillo & Ionescu (1997), Favreau at al. (1999) and Uenishi & Rice (2003, 2004). Results of our study may help modelers to better setup the initialization zone in order to avoid, e.g., a too large initialization zone and reduce numerical artifacts.

Research on High-Intensity Picosecond Pump Laser in Short Pulse Optical Parametric Amplification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pan, Xue; Peng, Yu-Jie; Wang, Jiang-Feng; Lu, Xing-Hua; Ouyang, Xiao-Ping; Chen, Jia-Lin; Jiang, You-En; Fan, Wei; Li, Xue-Chun

2013-01-01

A 527 nm pump laser generating 1.7 mJ energy with peak power of more than 0.12 GW is demonstrated. The theoretical simulation result shows that it has 106 gain in the picosecond-pump optical parametric chirped pulse amplification when the pump laser peak power is 0.1 GW and the intensity is more than 5 GW/cm2, and that it can limit the parametric fluorescence in the picosecond time scale of pump duration. The pump laser system adopts a master-oscillator power amplifier, which integrates a more than 30 pJ fiber-based oscillator with a 150 μJ regenerative amplifier and a relay-imaged four-pass diode-pump Nd glass amplifier to generate a 1 Hz top hat spatial beam and about 14 ps temporal Guassian pulse with <2% pulse-to-pulse energy stability. The output energy of the power amplifier is limited to 4 mJ for B-integral concern, and the frequency doubling efficiency can reach 65% with input intensity 10 GW/cm2.

An improvement of quantum parametric methods by using SGSA parameterization technique and new elementary parametric functionals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sánchez, M.; Oldenhof, M.; Freitez, J. A.; Mundim, K. C.; Ruette, F.

A systematic improvement of parametric quantum methods (PQM) is performed by considering: (a) a new application of parameterization procedure to PQMs and (b) novel parametric functionals based on properties of elementary parametric functionals (EPF) [Ruette et al., Int J Quantum Chem 2008, 108, 1831]. Parameterization was carried out by using the simplified generalized simulated annealing (SGSA) method in the CATIVIC program. This code has been parallelized and comparison with MOPAC/2007 (PM6) and MINDO/SR was performed for a set of molecules with C=C, C=H, and H=H bonds. Results showed better accuracy than MINDO/SR and MOPAC-2007 for a selected trial set of molecules.

Grating lobe elimination in steerable parametric loudspeaker.

PubMed

Shi, Chuang; Gan, Woon-Seng

2011-02-01

In the past two decades, the majority of research on the parametric loudspeaker has concentrated on the nonlinear modeling of acoustic propagation and pre-processing techniques to reduce nonlinear distortion in sound reproduction. There are, however, very few studies on directivity control of the parametric loudspeaker. In this paper, we propose an equivalent circular Gaussian source array that approximates the directivity characteristics of the linear ultrasonic transducer array. By using this approximation, the directivity of the sound beam from the parametric loudspeaker can be predicted by the product directivity principle. New theoretical results, which are verified through measurements, are presented to show the effectiveness of the delay-and-sum beamsteering structure for the parametric loudspeaker. Unlike the conventional loudspeaker array, where the spacing between array elements must be less than half the wavelength to avoid spatial aliasing, the parametric loudspeaker can take advantage of grating lobe elimination to extend the spacing of ultrasonic transducer array to more than 1.5 wavelengths in a typical application.

Estimating technical efficiency in the hospital sector with panel data: a comparison of parametric and non-parametric techniques.

PubMed

Siciliani, Luigi

2006-01-01

Policy makers are increasingly interested in developing performance indicators that measure hospital efficiency. These indicators may give the purchasers of health services an additional regulatory tool to contain health expenditure. Using panel data, this study compares different parametric (econometric) and non-parametric (linear programming) techniques for the measurement of a hospital's technical efficiency. This comparison was made using a sample of 17 Italian hospitals in the years 1996-9. Highest correlations are found in the efficiency scores between the non-parametric data envelopment analysis under the constant returns to scale assumption (DEA-CRS) and several parametric models. Correlation reduces markedly when using more flexible non-parametric specifications such as data envelopment analysis under the variable returns to scale assumption (DEA-VRS) and the free disposal hull (FDH) model. Correlation also generally reduces when moving from one output to two-output specifications. This analysis suggests that there is scope for developing performance indicators at hospital level using panel data, but it is important that extensive sensitivity analysis is carried out if purchasers wish to make use of these indicators in practice.

Parametric source of two-photon states with a tunable degree of entanglement and mixing: Experimental preparation of Werner states and maximally entangled mixed states

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cinelli, C.; Di Nepi, G.; De Martini, F.

2004-08-01

A parametric source of polarization-entangled photon pairs with striking spatial characteristics is reported. The distribution of the output electromagnetic k modes excited by spontaneous parametric down-conversion and coupled to the output detectors can be very broad. Using these states realized over a full entanglement ring output distribution, the nonlocal properties of the generated entanglement have been tested by standard Bell measurements and by Ou-Mandel interferometry. A 'mode-patchwork' technique based on the quantum superposition principle is adopted to synthesize in a straightforward and reliable way any kind of mixed state, of large conceptual and technological interest in modern quantum information. Tunablemore » Werner states and maximally entangled mixed states have indeed been created by this technique and investigated by quantum tomography. A study of the entropic and nonlocal properties of these states has been undertaken experimentally and theoretically, by a unifying variational approach.« less

Tremor Detection Using Parametric and Non-Parametric Spectral Estimation Methods: A Comparison with Clinical Assessment

PubMed Central

Martinez Manzanera, Octavio; Elting, Jan Willem; van der Hoeven, Johannes H.; Maurits, Natasha M.

2016-01-01

In the clinic, tremor is diagnosed during a time-limited process in which patients are observed and the characteristics of tremor are visually assessed. For some tremor disorders, a more detailed analysis of these characteristics is needed. Accelerometry and electromyography can be used to obtain a better insight into tremor. Typically, routine clinical assessment of accelerometry and electromyography data involves visual inspection by clinicians and occasionally computational analysis to obtain objective characteristics of tremor. However, for some tremor disorders these characteristics may be different during daily activity. This variability in presentation between the clinic and daily life makes a differential diagnosis more difficult. A long-term recording of tremor by accelerometry and/or electromyography in the home environment could help to give a better insight into the tremor disorder. However, an evaluation of such recordings using routine clinical standards would take too much time. We evaluated a range of techniques that automatically detect tremor segments in accelerometer data, as accelerometer data is more easily obtained in the home environment than electromyography data. Time can be saved if clinicians only have to evaluate the tremor characteristics of segments that have been automatically detected in longer daily activity recordings. We tested four non-parametric methods and five parametric methods on clinical accelerometer data from 14 patients with different tremor disorders. The consensus between two clinicians regarding the presence or absence of tremor on 3943 segments of accelerometer data was employed as reference. The nine methods were tested against this reference to identify their optimal parameters. Non-parametric methods generally performed better than parametric methods on our dataset when optimal parameters were used. However, one parametric method, employing the high frequency content of the tremor bandwidth under consideration

Parametric robust control and system identification: Unified approach

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Keel, Leehyun

1994-01-01

Despite significant advancement in the area of robust parametric control, the problem of synthesizing such a controller is still a wide open problem. Thus, we attempt to give a solution to this important problem. Our approach captures the parametric uncertainty as an H(sub infinity) unstructured uncertainty so that H(sub infinity) synthesis techniques are applicable. Although the techniques cannot cope with the exact parametric uncertainty, they give a reasonable guideline to model the unstructured uncertainty that contains the parametric uncertainty. An additional loop shaping technique is also introduced to relax its conservatism.

Zero- vs. one-dimensional, parametric vs. non-parametric, and confidence interval vs. hypothesis testing procedures in one-dimensional biomechanical trajectory analysis.

PubMed

Pataky, Todd C; Vanrenterghem, Jos; Robinson, Mark A

2015-05-01

Biomechanical processes are often manifested as one-dimensional (1D) trajectories. It has been shown that 1D confidence intervals (CIs) are biased when based on 0D statistical procedures, and the non-parametric 1D bootstrap CI has emerged in the Biomechanics literature as a viable solution. The primary purpose of this paper was to clarify that, for 1D biomechanics datasets, the distinction between 0D and 1D methods is much more important than the distinction between parametric and non-parametric procedures. A secondary purpose was to demonstrate that a parametric equivalent to the 1D bootstrap exists in the form of a random field theory (RFT) correction for multiple comparisons. To emphasize these points we analyzed six datasets consisting of force and kinematic trajectories in one-sample, paired, two-sample and regression designs. Results showed, first, that the 1D bootstrap and other 1D non-parametric CIs were qualitatively identical to RFT CIs, and all were very different from 0D CIs. Second, 1D parametric and 1D non-parametric hypothesis testing results were qualitatively identical for all six datasets. Last, we highlight the limitations of 1D CIs by demonstrating that they are complex, design-dependent, and thus non-generalizable. These results suggest that (i) analyses of 1D data based on 0D models of randomness are generally biased unless one explicitly identifies 0D variables before the experiment, and (ii) parametric and non-parametric 1D hypothesis testing provide an unambiguous framework for analysis when one׳s hypothesis explicitly or implicitly pertains to whole 1D trajectories. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Enhanced amplified spontaneous emission using layer-by-layer assembled cowpea mosaic virus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Na; Deng, Zhaoqi; Lin, Yuan; Zhang, Xiaojie; Geng, Yanhou; Ma, Dongge; Su, Zhaohui

2009-01-01

Layer-by-layer assembly technique was used to construct ultrathin film of cowpea mosaic virus (CPMV) by electrostatic interactions, and the film was employed as a precursor on which an OF8T2 film was deposited by spin coating. Amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) was observed and improved for the OF8T2 film. Compared with OF8T2 film on quartz, the introduction of CPMV nanoparticles reduced the threshold and loss, and remarkably increased the net gain. The threshold, loss, and gain reached 0.05 mJ/pulse, 6.9 cm-1, and 82 cm-1, respectively. CPMV nanoparticles may enormously scatter light, resulting in a positive feedback, thus the ASE is easily obtained and improved.

Registration of parametric dynamic F-18-FDG PET/CT breast images with parametric dynamic Gd-DTPA breast images

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Magri, Alphonso; Krol, Andrzej; Lipson, Edward; Mandel, James; McGraw, Wendy; Lee, Wei; Tillapaugh-Fay, Gwen; Feiglin, David

2009-02-01

This study was undertaken to register 3D parametric breast images derived from Gd-DTPA MR and F-18-FDG PET/CT dynamic image series. Nonlinear curve fitting (Levenburg-Marquardt algorithm) based on realistic two-compartment models was performed voxel-by-voxel separately for MR (Brix) and PET (Patlak). PET dynamic series consists of 50 frames of 1-minute duration. Each consecutive PET image was nonrigidly registered to the first frame using a finite element method and fiducial skin markers. The 12 post-contrast MR images were nonrigidly registered to the precontrast frame using a free-form deformation (FFD) method. Parametric MR images were registered to parametric PET images via CT using FFD because the first PET time frame was acquired immediately after the CT image on a PET/CT scanner and is considered registered to the CT image. We conclude that nonrigid registration of PET and MR parametric images using CT data acquired during PET/CT scan and the FFD method resulted in their improved spatial coregistration. The success of this procedure was limited due to relatively large target registration error, TRE = 15.1+/-7.7 mm, as compared to spatial resolution of PET (6-7 mm), and swirling image artifacts created in MR parametric images by the FFD. Further refinement of nonrigid registration of PET and MR parametric images is necessary to enhance visualization and integration of complex diagnostic information provided by both modalities that will lead to improved diagnostic performance.

Parametric and non-parametric species delimitation methods result in the recognition of two new Neotropical woody bamboo species.

PubMed

Ruiz-Sanchez, Eduardo

2015-12-01

The Neotropical woody bamboo genus Otatea is one of five genera in the subtribe Guaduinae. Of the eight described Otatea species, seven are endemic to Mexico and one is also distributed in Central and South America. Otatea acuminata has the widest geographical distribution of the eight species, and two of its recently collected populations do not match the known species morphologically. Parametric and non-parametric methods were used to delimit the species in Otatea using five chloroplast markers, one nuclear marker, and morphological characters. The parametric coalescent method and the non-parametric analysis supported the recognition of two distinct evolutionary lineages. Molecular clock estimates were used to estimate divergence times in Otatea. The results for divergence time in Otatea estimated the origin of the speciation events from the Late Miocene to Late Pleistocene. The species delimitation analyses (parametric and non-parametric) identified that the two populations of O. acuminata from Chiapas and Hidalgo are from two separate evolutionary lineages and these new species have morphological characters that separate them from O. acuminata s.s. The geological activity of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt and the Isthmus of Tehuantepec may have isolated populations and limited the gene flow between Otatea species, driving speciation. Based on the results found here, I describe Otatea rzedowskiorum and Otatea victoriae as two new species, morphologically different from O. acuminata. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A review of parametric approaches specific to aerodynamic design process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Tian-tian; Wang, Zhen-guo; Huang, Wei; Yan, Li

2018-04-01

Parametric modeling of aircrafts plays a crucial role in the aerodynamic design process. Effective parametric approaches have large design space with a few variables. Parametric methods that commonly used nowadays are summarized in this paper, and their principles have been introduced briefly. Two-dimensional parametric methods include B-Spline method, Class/Shape function transformation method, Parametric Section method, Hicks-Henne method and Singular Value Decomposition method, and all of them have wide application in the design of the airfoil. This survey made a comparison among them to find out their abilities in the design of the airfoil, and the results show that the Singular Value Decomposition method has the best parametric accuracy. The development of three-dimensional parametric methods is limited, and the most popular one is the Free-form deformation method. Those methods extended from two-dimensional parametric methods have promising prospect in aircraft modeling. Since different parametric methods differ in their characteristics, real design process needs flexible choice among them to adapt to subsequent optimization procedure.

Spontaneous acute spinal subdural hematoma: spontaneous recovery from severe paraparesis--case report and review.

PubMed

Payer, Michael; Agosti, Reto

2010-11-01

Spontaneous idiopathic acute spinal subdural hematomas are highly exceptional. Neurological symptoms are usually severe, and rapid diagnosis with MRI is mandatory. Surgical evacuation has frequently been used therapeutically; however, spontaneous recovery in mild cases has also been reported. We present a case of spontaneous recovery from severe paraparesis after spontaneous acute SSDH, and review the English-speaking literature.

Suppression of shot noise and spontaneous radiation in electron beams

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Litvinenko,V.

2009-08-23

Shot noise in the electron beam distribution is the main source of noise in high-gain FEL amplifiers, which may affect applications ranging from single- and multi-stage HGHG FELs to an FEL amplifier for coherent electron cooling. This noise also imposes a fundamental limit of about 10{sup 6} on FEL gain, after which SASE FELs saturate. There are several advantages in strongly suppressing this shot noise in the electron beam, and the corresponding spontaneous radiation. For more than a half-century, a traditional passive method has been used successfully in practical low-energy microwave electronic devices to suppress shot noise. Recently, it wasmore » proposed for this purpose in FELs. However, being passive, the method has some significant limitations and is hardly suitable for the highly inhomogeneous beams of modern high-gain FELs. I present a novel active method of suppressing, by many orders-of-magnitude, the shot noise in relativistic electron beams. I give a theoretical description of the process, and detail its fundamental limitation.« less

Parametric Cost Models for Space Telescopes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stahl, H. Philip

2010-01-01

A study is in-process to develop a multivariable parametric cost model for space telescopes. Cost and engineering parametric data has been collected on 30 different space telescopes. Statistical correlations have been developed between 19 variables of 59 variables sampled. Single Variable and Multi-Variable Cost Estimating Relationships have been developed. Results are being published.

Intermodal Parametric Frequency Conversion in Optical Fibers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Demas, Jeffrey D.

Lasers are an essential technology enabling countless fields of optics, however, their operation wavelengths are limited to isolated regions across the optical spectrum due to the need for suitable gain media. Parametric frequency conversion (PFC) is an attractive means to convert existing lasers to new colors using nonlinear optical interactions rather than the material properties of the host medium, allowing for the development of high power laser sources across the entire optical spectrum. PFC in bulk chi(2) crystals has led to the development of the optical parametric oscillator, which is currently the standard source for high power light at non-traditional wavelengths in the laboratory setting. Ideally, however, one could implement PFC in an optical fiber, thus leveraging the crucial benefits of a guided-wave geometry: alignment-free, compact, and robust operation. Four-wave mixing (FWM) is a nonlinear effect in optical fibers that can be used to convert frequencies, the major challenge being conservation of momentum, or phase matching, between the interacting light waves. Phase matching can be satisfied through the interaction of different spatial modes in a multi-mode fiber, however, previous demonstrations have been limited by mode stability and narrow-band FWM gain. Alternatively, phase matching within the fundamental mode can be realized in high-confinement waveguides (such as photonic crystal fibers), but achieving the anomalous waveguide dispersion necessary for phase matching at pump wavelengths near ˜1 mum (where the highest power fiber lasers emit) comes at the cost of reducing the effective area of the mode, thus limiting power-handling. Here, we specifically consider the class of Bessel-like LP0,m modes in step-index fibers. It has been shown that these modes can be selectively excited and guided stably for long lengths of fiber, and mode stability increases with mode order 'm'. The effective area of modes in these fibers can be very large (>6000

Parametric and Non-Parametric Vibration-Based Structural Identification Under Earthquake Excitation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pentaris, Fragkiskos P.; Fouskitakis, George N.

2014-05-01

The problem of modal identification in civil structures is of crucial importance, and thus has been receiving increasing attention in recent years. Vibration-based methods are quite promising as they are capable of identifying the structure's global characteristics, they are relatively easy to implement and they tend to be time effective and less expensive than most alternatives [1]. This paper focuses on the off-line structural/modal identification of civil (concrete) structures subjected to low-level earthquake excitations, under which, they remain within their linear operating regime. Earthquakes and their details are recorded and provided by the seismological network of Crete [2], which 'monitors' the broad region of south Hellenic arc, an active seismic region which functions as a natural laboratory for earthquake engineering of this kind. A sufficient number of seismic events are analyzed in order to reveal the modal characteristics of the structures under study, that consist of the two concrete buildings of the School of Applied Sciences, Technological Education Institute of Crete, located in Chania, Crete, Hellas. Both buildings are equipped with high-sensitivity and accuracy seismographs - providing acceleration measurements - established at the basement (structure's foundation) presently considered as the ground's acceleration (excitation) and at all levels (ground floor, 1st floor, 2nd floor and terrace). Further details regarding the instrumentation setup and data acquisition may be found in [3]. The present study invokes stochastic, both non-parametric (frequency-based) and parametric methods for structural/modal identification (natural frequencies and/or damping ratios). Non-parametric methods include Welch-based spectrum and Frequency response Function (FrF) estimation, while parametric methods, include AutoRegressive (AR), AutoRegressive with eXogeneous input (ARX) and Autoregressive Moving-Average with eXogeneous input (ARMAX) models[4, 5

Parametrically disciplined operation of a vibratory gyroscope

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shcheglov, Kirill V. (Inventor); Challoner, A. Dorian (Inventor); Hayworth, Ken J. (Inventor); Peay, Chris S. (Inventor)

2008-01-01

Parametrically disciplined operation of a symmetric nearly degenerate mode vibratory gyroscope is disclosed. A parametrically-disciplined inertial wave gyroscope having a natural oscillation frequency in the neighborhood of a sub-harmonic of an external stable clock reference is produced by driving an electrostatic bias electrode at approximately twice this sub-harmonic frequency to achieve disciplined frequency and phase operation of the resonator. A nearly symmetric parametrically-disciplined inertial wave gyroscope that can oscillate in any transverse direction and has more than one bias electrostatic electrode that can be independently driven at twice its oscillation frequency at an amplitude and phase that disciplines its damping to zero in any vibration direction. In addition, operation of a parametrically-disciplined inertial wave gyroscope is taught in which the precession rate of the driven vibration pattern is digitally disciplined to a prescribed non-zero reference value.

Conceptual design of sub-exa-watt system by using optical parametric chirped pulse amplification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kawanaka, J.; Tsubakimoto, K.; Yoshida, H.; Fujioka, K.; Fujimoto, Y.; Tokita, S.; Jitsuno, T.; Miyanaga, N.; Gekko-EXA Design Team

2016-03-01

A 50 PW ultrahigh-peak-power laser has been conceptually designed, which is based on optical parametric chirped pulse amplification (OPCPA). A 250 J DPSSL and a flash- lamp-pumped kJ laser are adopted as new repeatable pump source. The existed LFEX-laser with more than ten kilo joules are used in the final amplifier stage and the OPCPA with the 2x2 tiled pump beams in random phase has been proposed with several ten centimeter aperture. A pulse duration of amplified pulses is set at less than 10 fs. A broadband OPCPA with ∼500 nm of the gain spectral width near 1 μm is required. A partially deuterated KDP (p-DKDP) crystal is one of the most promising nonlinear crystals and our numerical calculation ensured such ultra-broad gain width. p-DKDP crystals with several deuteration ratio have been successfully grown.

Parametric FEM for geometric biomembranes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bonito, Andrea; Nochetto, Ricardo H.; Sebastian Pauletti, M.

2010-05-01

We consider geometric biomembranes governed by an L2-gradient flow for bending energy subject to area and volume constraints (Helfrich model). We give a concise derivation of a novel vector formulation, based on shape differential calculus, and corresponding discretization via parametric FEM using quadratic isoparametric elements and a semi-implicit Euler method. We document the performance of the new parametric FEM with a number of simulations leading to dumbbell, red blood cell and toroidal equilibrium shapes while exhibiting large deformations.

Gain-clamped semiconductor optical amplifiers based on compensating light: Theoretical model and performance analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jia, Xin-Hong; Wu, Zheng-Mao; Xia, Guang-Qiong

2006-12-01

It is well known that the gain-clamped semiconductor optical amplifier (GC-SOA) based on lasing effect is subject to transmission rate restriction because of relaxation oscillation. The GC-SOA based on compensating effect between signal light and amplified spontaneous emission by combined SOA and fiber Bragg grating (FBG) can be used to overcome this problem. In this paper, the theoretical model on GC-SOA based on compensating light has been constructed. The numerical simulations demonstrate that good gain and noise figure characteristics can be realized by selecting reasonably the FBG insertion position, the peak reflectivity of FBG and the biasing current of GC-SOA.

Parametric analysis of ATM solar array.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Singh, B. K.; Adkisson, W. B.

1973-01-01

The paper discusses the methods used for the calculation of ATM solar array performance characteristics and provides the parametric analysis of solar panels used in SKYLAB. To predict the solar array performance under conditions other than test conditions, a mathematical model has been developed. Four computer programs have been used to convert the solar simulator test data to the parametric curves. The first performs module summations, the second determines average solar cell characteristics which will cause a mathematical model to generate a curve matching the test data, the third is a polynomial fit program which determines the polynomial equations for the solar cell characteristics versus temperature, and the fourth program uses the polynomial coefficients generated by the polynomial curve fit program to generate the parametric data.

Housing price prediction: parametric versus semi-parametric spatial hedonic models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Montero, José-María; Mínguez, Román; Fernández-Avilés, Gema

2018-01-01

House price prediction is a hot topic in the economic literature. House price prediction has traditionally been approached using a-spatial linear (or intrinsically linear) hedonic models. It has been shown, however, that spatial effects are inherent in house pricing. This article considers parametric and semi-parametric spatial hedonic model variants that account for spatial autocorrelation, spatial heterogeneity and (smooth and nonparametrically specified) nonlinearities using penalized splines methodology. The models are represented as a mixed model that allow for the estimation of the smoothing parameters along with the other parameters of the model. To assess the out-of-sample performance of the models, the paper uses a database containing the price and characteristics of 10,512 homes in Madrid, Spain (Q1 2010). The results obtained suggest that the nonlinear models accounting for spatial heterogeneity and flexible nonlinear relationships between some of the individual or areal characteristics of the houses and their prices are the best strategies for house price prediction.

The Application for a Prediction of the Coal Spontaneous Ignition - Predisam

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moni, Vlastimil; Klouda, Petr; Blata, Jan; Helebrant, František

2017-06-01

The article follows the research of the project number TA01020351 called "The research of possibilities when predicting steam origin and consequent spontaneous ignition of brown coal fuels" which was researched with the support of the Technological Agency in the Czech Republic in 2011-2014 in the connection with a realized technical research. Therefore, it gives a summary information about the evaluation of the risk degree for the origin of spontaneous ignitions of the brown coal. The presented way of evaluation is based on a numeric expression of a value for MHU criteria - the point load of particular indicators is added together with other results gained from this research project. Then, more information is taken from companies running the dumps of brown coal products - both for suppliers (mining companies) and big consumers (power engineering). The complex knowledge about prediction of the origin of the spontaneous ignition enables to make an early response to eliminate a threat of mining fire in open pit mines or on the dumps of coal products. Consequently, it reduces the risk of fire and breakdowns of transportation means DPD, heavy machines and preparation plants. The working injuries are reduced as well - burns by coal in fire or inhalation of gas products from imperfect combustion.

Comparison of thawing and freezing dark energy parametrizations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pantazis, G.; Nesseris, S.; Perivolaropoulos, L.

2016-05-01

Dark energy equation of state w (z ) parametrizations with two parameters and given monotonicity are generically either convex or concave functions. This makes them suitable for fitting either freezing or thawing quintessence models but not both simultaneously. Fitting a data set based on a freezing model with an unsuitable (concave when increasing) w (z ) parametrization [like Chevallier-Polarski-Linder (CPL)] can lead to significant misleading features like crossing of the phantom divide line, incorrect w (z =0 ), incorrect slope, etc., that are not present in the underlying cosmological model. To demonstrate this fact we generate scattered cosmological data at both the level of w (z ) and the luminosity distance DL(z ) based on either thawing or freezing quintessence models and fit them using parametrizations of convex and of concave type. We then compare statistically significant features of the best fit w (z ) with actual features of the underlying model. We thus verify that the use of unsuitable parametrizations can lead to misleading conclusions. In order to avoid these problems it is important to either use both convex and concave parametrizations and select the one with the best χ2 or use principal component analysis thus splitting the redshift range into independent bins. In the latter case, however, significant information about the slope of w (z ) at high redshifts is lost. Finally, we propose a new family of parametrizations w (z )=w0+wa(z/1 +z )n which generalizes the CPL and interpolates between thawing and freezing parametrizations as the parameter n increases to values larger than 1.

Two-stage optical parametric chirped-pulse amplifier using sub-nanosecond pump pulse generated by stimulated Brillouin scattering compression

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ogino, Jumpei; Miyamoto, Sho; Matsuyama, Takahiro; Sueda, Keiichi; Yoshida, Hidetsugu; Tsubakimoto, Koji; Miyanaga, Noriaki

2014-12-01

We demonstrate optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification (OPCPA) based on two-beam pumping, using sub-nanosecond pulses generated by stimulated Brillouin scattering compression. Seed pulse energy, duration, and center wavelength were 5 nJ, 220 ps, and ˜1065 nm, respectively. The 532 nm pulse from a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser was compressed to ˜400 ps in heavy fluorocarbon FC-40 liquid. Stacking of two time-delayed pump pulses reduced the amplifier gain fluctuation. Using a walk-off-compensated two-stage OPCPA at a pump energy of 34 mJ, a total gain of 1.6 × 105 was obtained, yielding an output energy of 0.8 mJ. The amplified chirped pulse was compressed to 97 fs.

Parametric pendulum based wave energy converter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yurchenko, Daniil; Alevras, Panagiotis

2018-01-01

The paper investigates the dynamics of a novel wave energy converter based on the parametrically excited pendulum. The herein developed concept of the parametric pendulum allows reducing the influence of the gravity force thereby significantly improving the device performance at a regular sea state, which could not be achieved in the earlier proposed original point-absorber design. The suggested design of a wave energy converter achieves a dominant rotational motion without any additional mechanisms, like a gearbox, or any active control involvement. Presented numerical results of deterministic and stochastic modeling clearly reflect the advantage of the proposed design. A set of experimental results confirms the numerical findings and validates the new design of a parametric pendulum based wave energy converter. Power harvesting potential of the novel device is also presented.

SPM analysis of parametric (R)-[11C]PK11195 binding images: plasma input versus reference tissue parametric methods.

PubMed

Schuitemaker, Alie; van Berckel, Bart N M; Kropholler, Marc A; Veltman, Dick J; Scheltens, Philip; Jonker, Cees; Lammertsma, Adriaan A; Boellaard, Ronald

2007-05-01

(R)-[11C]PK11195 has been used for quantifying cerebral microglial activation in vivo. In previous studies, both plasma input and reference tissue methods have been used, usually in combination with a region of interest (ROI) approach. Definition of ROIs, however, can be labourious and prone to interobserver variation. In addition, results are only obtained for predefined areas and (unexpected) signals in undefined areas may be missed. On the other hand, standard pharmacokinetic models are too sensitive to noise to calculate (R)-[11C]PK11195 binding on a voxel-by-voxel basis. Linearised versions of both plasma input and reference tissue models have been described, and these are more suitable for parametric imaging. The purpose of this study was to compare the performance of these plasma input and reference tissue parametric methods on the outcome of statistical parametric mapping (SPM) analysis of (R)-[11C]PK11195 binding. Dynamic (R)-[11C]PK11195 PET scans with arterial blood sampling were performed in 7 younger and 11 elderly healthy subjects. Parametric images of volume of distribution (Vd) and binding potential (BP) were generated using linearised versions of plasma input (Logan) and reference tissue (Reference Parametric Mapping) models. Images were compared at the group level using SPM with a two-sample t-test per voxel, both with and without proportional scaling. Parametric BP images without scaling provided the most sensitive framework for determining differences in (R)-[11C]PK11195 binding between younger and elderly subjects. Vd images could only demonstrate differences in (R)-[11C]PK11195 binding when analysed with proportional scaling due to intersubject variation in K1/k2 (blood-brain barrier transport and non-specific binding).

Optical speedup at transparency of the gain recovery in semiconductor optical amplifiers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hessler, T. P.; Dupertuis, M.-A.; Deveaud, B.; Emery, J.-Y.; Dagens, B.

2002-10-01

Experimental demonstration of optical speedup at transparency (OSAT) has been performed on a 1 mm long semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOA). OSAT is a recently proposed scheme that decreases the recovery time of an SOA while maintaining the available gain. It is achieved by externally injecting into the SOA the beam of a separate high power laser at energies around the transparency point. Even though the experimental conditions were not optimal, a beam of 100 mW decreases the recovery time by a third when it is injected in the vicinity of the material transparency point of the device. This acceleration of the device response without detrimental reduction of the gain is found to be effective over a broad wavelength window of about 20 nm around transparency. The injection of the accelerating beam into the gain region is a less efficient solution not only because the gain is then strongly diminished but also because speeding is reduced. This originates from the reduction of the amplified spontaneous emission power in the device, which counterbalances the speeding capabilities of the external laser beam. Another advantage of the OSAT scheme is realized in relatively long SOAs, which suffer from gain overshoot under strong current injection. Simulations show that OSAT decreases the gain overshoot, which should enable us to use OSAT to further speedup the response of long SOAs.

Characterization of a multimode coplanar waveguide parametric amplifier

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Simoen, M., E-mail: simoen@chalmers.se; Krantz, P.; Bylander, Jonas

2015-10-21

We characterize a Josephson parametric amplifier based on a flux-tunable quarter-wavelength resonator. The fundamental resonance frequency is ∼1 GHz, but we use higher modes of the resonator for our measurements. An on-chip tuning line allows for magnetic flux pumping of the amplifier. We investigate and compare degenerate parametric amplification, involving a single mode, and nondegenerate parametric amplification, using a pair of modes. We show that we reach quantum-limited noise performance in both cases.

Photonic Crystals-Inhibited Spontaneous Emission: Optical Antennas-Enhanced Spontaneous Emission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yablonovitch, Eli

Photonic crystals are also part of everyday technological life in opto-electronic telecommunication devices that provide us with internet, cloud storage, and email. But photonic crystals have also been identified in nature, in the coloration of peacocks, parrots, chameleons, butterflies and many other species.In spite of its broad applicability, the original motivation of photonic crystals was to create a ``bandgap'' in which the spontaneous emission of light would be inhibited. Conversely, the opposite is now possible. The ``optical antenna'' can accelerate spontaneous emission. Over 100 years after the radio antenna, we finally have tiny ``optical antennas'' which can act on molecules and quantum dots. Employing optical antennas, spontaneous light emission can become faster than stimulated emission.

A Cartesian parametrization for the numerical analysis of material instability

DOE PAGES

Mota, Alejandro; Chen, Qiushi; Foulk, III, James W.; ...

2016-02-25

We examine four parametrizations of the unit sphere in the context of material stability analysis by means of the singularity of the acoustic tensor. We then propose a Cartesian parametrization for vectors that lie a cube of side length two and use these vectors in lieu of unit normals to test for the loss of the ellipticity condition. This parametrization is then used to construct a tensor akin to the acoustic tensor. It is shown that both of these tensors become singular at the same time and in the same planes in the presence of a material instability. Furthermore, themore » performance of the Cartesian parametrization is compared against the other parametrizations, with the results of these comparisons showing that in general, the Cartesian parametrization is more robust and more numerically efficient than the others.« less

A Cartesian parametrization for the numerical analysis of material instability

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mota, Alejandro; Chen, Qiushi; Foulk, III, James W.

We examine four parametrizations of the unit sphere in the context of material stability analysis by means of the singularity of the acoustic tensor. We then propose a Cartesian parametrization for vectors that lie a cube of side length two and use these vectors in lieu of unit normals to test for the loss of the ellipticity condition. This parametrization is then used to construct a tensor akin to the acoustic tensor. It is shown that both of these tensors become singular at the same time and in the same planes in the presence of a material instability. Furthermore, themore » performance of the Cartesian parametrization is compared against the other parametrizations, with the results of these comparisons showing that in general, the Cartesian parametrization is more robust and more numerically efficient than the others.« less

Disordered drinking in developing spontaneously hypertensive rats.

PubMed

Kraly, F S; Coogan, L A; Specht, S M; Trattner, M S; Zayfert, C; Cohen, A; Goldstein, J A

1985-04-01

Eating and drinking in spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats were measured at 5-17 wk of life. The SHR drank significantly more water in 24 h than WKY as early as wk 9, spilled more dry food than did WKY, and exhibited an inverse relation between 24-h water intake and dry food spilled. When eating a meal of dry food after 12 h food deprivation, SHR drank earlier and drank more in a 1-h test than WKY rats. Moreover, SHR exhibited (as early as wk 7) a striking pattern of interrupting eating to drink. This pattern was not present when SHR ate liquid food, and it was attenuated by infusion of water through a cheek fistula. Adult SHR (22 wk) salivated less than WKY in response to intraperitoneal 3.25 mg/kg pilocarpine nitrate. When developing SHR and WKY were maintained on liquid and solid food, SHR gained disproportionately more weight than WKY during development. When young SHR were permitted to drink no more water than WKY rats, the development of hypertension was retarded, and body weight gain was slowed. Because restricted access to food, which produced an equivalent slowing of body weight gain as did restricted access to water, also retarded development of hypertension, it appears that restricted access to water retards development of hypertension due to delayed growth. These results demonstrate that hyperdipsia, apparently caused by deficient salivary function, is not necessary for the development of hypertension in SHR.

Parametric Methods for Dynamic 11C-Phenytoin PET Studies.

PubMed

Mansor, Syahir; Yaqub, Maqsood; Boellaard, Ronald; Froklage, Femke E; de Vries, Anke; Bakker, Esther D M; Voskuyl, Rob A; Eriksson, Jonas; Schwarte, Lothar A; Verbeek, Joost; Windhorst, Albert D; Lammertsma, Adriaan A

2017-03-01

In this study, the performance of various methods for generating quantitative parametric images of dynamic 11 C-phenytoin PET studies was evaluated. Methods: Double-baseline 60-min dynamic 11 C-phenytoin PET studies, including online arterial sampling, were acquired for 6 healthy subjects. Parametric images were generated using Logan plot analysis, a basis function method, and spectral analysis. Parametric distribution volume (V T ) and influx rate ( K 1 ) were compared with those obtained from nonlinear regression analysis of time-activity curves. In addition, global and regional test-retest (TRT) variability was determined for parametric K 1 and V T values. Results: Biases in V T observed with all parametric methods were less than 5%. For K 1 , spectral analysis showed a negative bias of 16%. The mean TRT variabilities of V T and K 1 were less than 10% for all methods. Shortening the scan duration to 45 min provided similar V T and K 1 with comparable TRT performance compared with 60-min data. Conclusion: Among the various parametric methods tested, the basis function method provided parametric V T and K 1 values with the least bias compared with nonlinear regression data and showed TRT variabilities lower than 5%, also for smaller volume-of-interest sizes (i.e., higher noise levels) and shorter scan duration. © 2017 by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging.

Parametric Modeling for Fluid Systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pizarro, Yaritzmar Rosario; Martinez, Jonathan

2013-01-01

Fluid Systems involves different projects that require parametric modeling, which is a model that maintains consistent relationships between elements as is manipulated. One of these projects is the Neo Liquid Propellant Testbed, which is part of Rocket U. As part of Rocket U (Rocket University), engineers at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida have the opportunity to develop critical flight skills as they design, build and launch high-powered rockets. To build the Neo testbed; hardware from the Space Shuttle Program was repurposed. Modeling for Neo, included: fittings, valves, frames and tubing, between others. These models help in the review process, to make sure regulations are being followed. Another fluid systems project that required modeling is Plant Habitat's TCUI test project. Plant Habitat is a plan to develop a large growth chamber to learn the effects of long-duration microgravity exposure to plants in space. Work for this project included the design and modeling of a duct vent for flow test. Parametric Modeling for these projects was done using Creo Parametric 2.0.

Quantum theory of spontaneous and stimulated emission of surface plasmons

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Archambault, Alexandre; Marquier, Francois; Greffet, Jean-Jacques

2010-07-15

We introduce a quantization scheme that can be applied to surface waves propagating along a plane interface. An important result is the derivation of the energy of the surface wave for dispersive nonlossy media without invoking any specific model for the dielectric constant. Working in Coulomb's gauge, we use a modal representation of the fields. Each mode can be associated with a quantum harmonic oscillator. We have applied the formalism to derive quantum mechanically the spontaneous emission rate of surface plasmon by a two-level system. The result is in very good agreement with Green's tensor approach in the nonlossy case.more » Green's approach allows also to account for losses, so that the limitations of a quantum approach of surface plasmons are clearly defined. Finally, the issue of stimulated versus spontaneous emission has been addressed. Because of the increasing density of states near the asymptote of the dispersion relation, it is quantitatively shown that the stimulated emission probability is too small to obtain gain in this frequency region.« less

A novel "gain chip" concept for high-power lasers (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Min; Li, Mingzhong; Wang, Zhenguo; Yan, Xiongwei; Jiang, Xinying; Zheng, Jiangang; Cui, Xudong; Zhang, Xiaomin

2017-05-01

High-power lasers, including high-peak power lasers (HPPL) and high-average power lasers (HAPL), attract much interest for enormous variety of applications in inertial fusion energy (IFE), materials processing, defense, spectroscopy, and high-field physics research. To meet the requirements of high efficiency and quality, a "gain chip" concept is proposed to properly design the pumping, cooling and lasing fields. The gain chip mainly consists of the laser diode arrays, lens duct, rectangle wave guide and slab-shaped gain media. For the pumping field, the pump light will be compressed and homogenized by the lens duct to high irradiance with total internal reflection, and further coupled into the gain media through its two edge faces. For the cooling field, the coolant travels along the flow channel created by the adjacent slabs in the other two edge-face direction, and cool the lateral faces of the gain media. For the lasing field, the laser beam travels through the lateral faces and experiences minimum thermal wavefront distortions. Thereby, these three fields are in orthogonality offering more spatial freedom to handle them during the construction of the lasers. Transverse gradient doping profiles for HPPL and HAPL have been employed to achieve uniform gain distributions (UGD) within the gain media, respectively. This UGD will improve the management for both amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) and thermal behavior. Since each "gain chip" has its own pump source, power scaling can be easily achieved by placing identical "gain chips" along the laser beam axis without disturbing the gain and thermal distributions. To detail our concept, a 1-kJ pulsed amplifier is designed and optical-to-optical efficiency up to 40% has been obtained. We believe that with proper coolant (gas or liquid) and gain media (Yb:YAG, Nd:glass or Nd:YAG) our "gain chip" concept might provide a general configuration for high-power lasers with high efficiency and quality.

Extended parametric representation of compressor fans and turbines. Volume 2: Part user's manual (parametric turbine)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Coverse, G. L.

1984-01-01

A turbine modeling technique has been developed which will enable the user to obtain consistent and rapid off-design performance from design point input. This technique is applicable to both axial and radial flow turbine with flow sizes ranging from about one pound per second to several hundred pounds per second. The axial flow turbines may or may not include variable geometry in the first stage nozzle. A user-specified option will also permit the calculation of design point cooling flow levels and corresponding changes in efficiency for the axial flow turbines. The modeling technique has been incorporated into a time-sharing program in order to facilitate its use. Because this report contains a description of the input output data, values of typical inputs, and example cases, it is suitable as a user's manual. This report is the second of a three volume set. The titles of the three volumes are as follows: (1) Volume 1 CMGEN USER's Manual (Parametric Compressor Generator); (2) Volume 2 PART USER's Manual (Parametric Turbine); (3) Volume 3 MODFAN USER's Manual (Parametric Modulation Flow Fan).

Marginally specified priors for non-parametric Bayesian estimation

PubMed Central

Kessler, David C.; Hoff, Peter D.; Dunson, David B.

2014-01-01

Summary Prior specification for non-parametric Bayesian inference involves the difficult task of quantifying prior knowledge about a parameter of high, often infinite, dimension. A statistician is unlikely to have informed opinions about all aspects of such a parameter but will have real information about functionals of the parameter, such as the population mean or variance. The paper proposes a new framework for non-parametric Bayes inference in which the prior distribution for a possibly infinite dimensional parameter is decomposed into two parts: an informative prior on a finite set of functionals, and a non-parametric conditional prior for the parameter given the functionals. Such priors can be easily constructed from standard non-parametric prior distributions in common use and inherit the large support of the standard priors on which they are based. Additionally, posterior approximations under these informative priors can generally be made via minor adjustments to existing Markov chain approximation algorithms for standard non-parametric prior distributions. We illustrate the use of such priors in the context of multivariate density estimation using Dirichlet process mixture models, and in the modelling of high dimensional sparse contingency tables. PMID:25663813

Incorporating parametric uncertainty into population viability analysis models

USGS Publications Warehouse

McGowan, Conor P.; Runge, Michael C.; Larson, Michael A.

2011-01-01

Uncertainty in parameter estimates from sampling variation or expert judgment can introduce substantial uncertainty into ecological predictions based on those estimates. However, in standard population viability analyses, one of the most widely used tools for managing plant, fish and wildlife populations, parametric uncertainty is often ignored in or discarded from model projections. We present a method for explicitly incorporating this source of uncertainty into population models to fully account for risk in management and decision contexts. Our method involves a two-step simulation process where parametric uncertainty is incorporated into the replication loop of the model and temporal variance is incorporated into the loop for time steps in the model. Using the piping plover, a federally threatened shorebird in the USA and Canada, as an example, we compare abundance projections and extinction probabilities from simulations that exclude and include parametric uncertainty. Although final abundance was very low for all sets of simulations, estimated extinction risk was much greater for the simulation that incorporated parametric uncertainty in the replication loop. Decisions about species conservation (e.g., listing, delisting, and jeopardy) might differ greatly depending on the treatment of parametric uncertainty in population models.

Printed wide-slot antenna design with bandwidth and gain enhancement on low-cost substrate.

PubMed

Samsuzzaman, M; Islam, M T; Mandeep, J S; Misran, N

2014-01-01

This paper presents a printed wide-slot antenna design and prototyping on available low-cost polymer resin composite material fed by a microstrip line with a rotated square slot for bandwidth enhancement and defected ground structure for gain enhancement. An I-shaped microstrip line is used to excite the square slot. The rotated square slot is embedded in the middle of the ground plane, and its diagonal points are implanted in the middle of the strip line and ground plane. To increase the gain, four L-shaped slots are etched in the ground plane. The measured results show that the proposed structure retains a wide impedance bandwidth of 88.07%, which is 20% better than the reference antenna. The average gain is also increased, which is about 4.17 dBi with a stable radiation pattern in the entire operating band. Moreover, radiation efficiency, input impedance, current distribution, axial ratio, and parametric studies of S11 for different design parameters are also investigated using the finite element method-based simulation software HFSS.

Printed Wide-Slot Antenna Design with Bandwidth and Gain Enhancement on Low-Cost Substrate

PubMed Central

Samsuzzaman, M.; Islam, M. T.; Mandeep, J. S.; Misran, N.

2014-01-01

This paper presents a printed wide-slot antenna design and prototyping on available low-cost polymer resin composite material fed by a microstrip line with a rotated square slot for bandwidth enhancement and defected ground structure for gain enhancement. An I-shaped microstrip line is used to excite the square slot. The rotated square slot is embedded in the middle of the ground plane, and its diagonal points are implanted in the middle of the strip line and ground plane. To increase the gain, four L-shaped slots are etched in the ground plane. The measured results show that the proposed structure retains a wide impedance bandwidth of 88.07%, which is 20% better than the reference antenna. The average gain is also increased, which is about 4.17 dBi with a stable radiation pattern in the entire operating band. Moreover, radiation efficiency, input impedance, current distribution, axial ratio, and parametric studies of S11 for different design parameters are also investigated using the finite element method-based simulation software HFSS. PMID:24696661

Spontaneously broken Yang-Mills-Einstein supergravities as double copies

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chiodaroli, Marco; Günaydin, Murat; Johansson, Henrik

Color/kinematics duality and the double-copy construction have proved to be systematic tools for gaining new insight into gravitational theories. Extending our earlier work, in this article we introduce new double-copy constructions for large classes of spontaneously-broken Yang-Mills-Einstein theories with adjoint Higgs elds. One gaugetheory copy entering the construction is a spontaneously-broken (super-)Yang-Mills theory, while the other copy is a bosonic Yang-Mills-scalar theory with trilinear scalar interactions that display an explicitly-broken global symmetry. We show that the kinematic numerators of these gauge theories can be made to obey color/kinematics duality by exhibiting particular additional Lie-algebraic relations. We discuss in detail explicitmore » examples with N = 2 supersymmetry, focusing on Yang-Mills-Einstein supergravity theories belonging to the generic Jordan family in four and five dimensions, and identify the map between the supergravity and double-copy elds and parameters. We also briefly discuss the application of our results to N = 4 supergravity theories. The constructions are illustrated by explicit examples of tree-level and one-loop scattering amplitudes.« less

Spontaneously broken Yang-Mills-Einstein supergravities as double copies

DOE PAGES

Chiodaroli, Marco; Günaydin, Murat; Johansson, Henrik; ...

2017-06-13

Color/kinematics duality and the double-copy construction have proved to be systematic tools for gaining new insight into gravitational theories. Extending our earlier work, in this article we introduce new double-copy constructions for large classes of spontaneously-broken Yang-Mills-Einstein theories with adjoint Higgs elds. One gaugetheory copy entering the construction is a spontaneously-broken (super-)Yang-Mills theory, while the other copy is a bosonic Yang-Mills-scalar theory with trilinear scalar interactions that display an explicitly-broken global symmetry. We show that the kinematic numerators of these gauge theories can be made to obey color/kinematics duality by exhibiting particular additional Lie-algebraic relations. We discuss in detail explicitmore » examples with N = 2 supersymmetry, focusing on Yang-Mills-Einstein supergravity theories belonging to the generic Jordan family in four and five dimensions, and identify the map between the supergravity and double-copy elds and parameters. We also briefly discuss the application of our results to N = 4 supergravity theories. The constructions are illustrated by explicit examples of tree-level and one-loop scattering amplitudes.« less

Resolved discrepancies between visible spontaneous Raman cross-section and direct near-infrared Raman gain measurements in TeO2-based glasses.

PubMed

Rivero, Clara; Stegeman, Robert; Couzi, Michel; Talaga, David; Cardinal, Thierry; Richardson, Kathleen; Stegeman, George

2005-06-13

Disagreements on the Raman gain response of different tellurite-based glasses, measured at different wavelengths, have been recently reported in the literature. In order to resolve this controversy, a multi-wavelength Raman cross-section experiment was conducted on two different TeO2-based glass samples. The estimated Raman gain response of the material shows good agreement with the directly-measured Raman gain data at 1064 nm, after correction for the dispersion and wavelength-dependence of the Raman gain process.

The effect of transverse crack upon parametric instability of a rotor-bearing system with an asymmetric disk

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, Qinkai; Chu, Fulei

2012-12-01

It is well known that either the asymmetric disk or transverse crack brings parametric inertia (or stiffness) excitation to the rotor-bearing system. When both of them appear in a rotor system, the parametric instability behaviors have not gained sufficient attentions. Thus, the effect of transverse crack upon parametric instability of a rotor-bearing system with an asymmetric disk is studied. First, the finite element equations of motion are established for the asymmetric rotor system. Both the open and breathing transverse cracks are taken into account in the model. Then, the discrete state transition matrix (DSTM) method is introduced for numerically acquiring the instability regions. Based upon these, some computations for a practical asymmetric rotor system with open or breathing transverse crack are conducted, respectively. Variations of the primary and combination instability regions induced by the asymmetric disk with the crack depth are observed, and the effect of the orientation angle between the crack and asymmetric disk on various instability regions are discussed in detail. It is shown that for the asymmetric angle around 0, the existence of transverse (either open or breathing) crack has attenuation effect upon the instability regions. Under certain crack depth, the instability regions could be vanished by the transverse crack. When the asymmetric angle is around π/2, increasing the crack depth would enhance the instability regions.

Spontaneous superior patellar dislocation in young age: case report and reduction technique

PubMed Central

Umar, Muhammad

2017-01-01

Abstract Superior patellar dislocation is a very rare pathology, which happens in middle age. We report a case of spontaneous superior patellar dislocation, which occurred at 30 years of age. Differential diagnosis is patellar tendon rupture, which could be reliably excluded by clinical examination and radiographs. Reduction manoeuvres should be tried with diluted intra-articular local anaesthetic for hydrodilatation to gain mechanical advantage. Splinting the knee in gentle flexion is recommended if general anaesthetic is employed. Recurrent dislocation or osteochondral fractures warrants surgical treatment. PMID:28458846

A New Mouse Model That Spontaneously Develops Chronic Liver Inflammation and Fibrosis

PubMed Central

Fransén-Pettersson, Nina; Duarte, Nadia; Nilsson, Julia; Lundholm, Marie; Mayans, Sofia; Larefalk, Åsa; Hannibal, Tine D.; Hansen, Lisbeth; Schmidt-Christensen, Anja; Ivars, Fredrik; Cardell, Susanna; Palmqvist, Richard; Rozell, Björn

2016-01-01

Here we characterize a new animal model that spontaneously develops chronic inflammation and fibrosis in multiple organs, the non-obese diabetic inflammation and fibrosis (N-IF) mouse. In the liver, the N-IF mouse displays inflammation and fibrosis particularly evident around portal tracts and central veins and accompanied with evidence of abnormal intrahepatic bile ducts. The extensive cellular infiltration consists mainly of macrophages, granulocytes, particularly eosinophils, and mast cells. This inflammatory syndrome is mediated by a transgenic population of natural killer T cells (NKT) induced in an immunodeficient NOD genetic background. The disease is transferrable to immunodeficient recipients, while polyclonal T cells from unaffected syngeneic donors can inhibit the disease phenotype. Because of the fibrotic component, early on-set, spontaneous nature and reproducibility, this novel mouse model provides a unique tool to gain further insight into the underlying mechanisms mediating transformation of chronic inflammation into fibrosis and to evaluate intervention protocols for treating conditions of fibrotic disorders. PMID:27441847

Spontaneous reverse movement of mRNA-bound tRNA through the ribosome.

PubMed

Konevega, Andrey L; Fischer, Niels; Semenkov, Yuri P; Stark, Holger; Wintermeyer, Wolfgang; Rodnina, Marina V

2007-04-01

During the translocation step of protein synthesis, a complex of two transfer RNAs bound to messenger RNA (tRNA-mRNA) moves through the ribosome. The reaction is promoted by an elongation factor, called EF-G in bacteria, which, powered by GTP hydrolysis, induces an open, unlocked conformation of the ribosome that allows for spontaneous tRNA-mRNA movement. Here we show that, in the absence of EF-G, there is spontaneous backward movement, or retrotranslocation, of two tRNAs bound to mRNA. Retrotranslocation is driven by the gain in affinity when a cognate E-site tRNA moves into the P site, which compensates the affinity loss accompanying the movement of peptidyl-tRNA from the P to the A site. These results lend support to the diffusion model of tRNA movement during translocation. In the cell, tRNA movement is biased in the forward direction by EF-G, which acts as a Brownian ratchet and prevents backward movement.

Injection-seeded optical parametric oscillator and system

DOEpatents

Lucht, Robert P.; Kulatilaka, Waruna D.; Anderson, Thomas N.; Bougher, Thomas L.

2007-10-09

Optical parametric oscillators (OPO) and systems are provided. The OPO has a non-linear optical material located between two optical elements where the product of the reflection coefficients of the optical elements are higher at the output wavelength than at either the pump or idler wavelength. The OPO output may be amplified using an additional optical parametric amplifier (OPA) stage.

Strong Photonic-Band-Gap Effect on the Spontaneous Emission in 3D Lead Halide Perovskite Photonic Crystals.

PubMed

Zhou, Xue; Li, Mingzhu; Wang, Kang; Li, Huizeng; Li, Yanan; Li, Chang; Yan, Yongli; Zhao, Yongsheng; Song, Yanlin

2018-03-25

Stimulated emission in perovskite-embedded polymer opal structures is investigated. A polymer opal structure is filled with a perovskite, and perovskite photonic crystals are prepared. The spontaneous emission of the perovskite embedded in the polymer opal structures exhibits clear signatures of amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) via gain modulation. The difference in refractive-index contrast between the perovskite and the polymer opal is large enough for retaining photonic-crystals properties. The photonic band gap has a strong effect on the fluorescence emission intensity and lifetime. The stimulated emission spectrum exhibits a narrow ASE rather than a wide fluorescence peak in the thin film. © 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Immunological Characterization of Intraocular Lymphoid Follicles in a Spontaneous Recurrent Uveitis Model.

PubMed

Kleinwort, Kristina J H; Amann, Barbara; Hauck, Stefanie M; Feederle, Regina; Sekundo, Walter; Deeg, Cornelia A

2016-08-01

Recently, formation of tertiary lymphoid structures was demonstrated and further characterized in the R161H mouse model of spontaneous autoimmune uveitis. In the horse model of spontaneous recurrent uveitis, intraocular lymphoid follicle formation is highly characteristic, and found in all stages and scores of disease, but in depth analyses of immunologic features of these structures are lacking to date. Paraffin-embedded eye sections of cases with equine spontaneous recurrent uveitis (ERU) were characterized with immunohistochemistry to gain insight into the distribution, localization, and signaling of immune cells in intraocular tertiary lymphoid tissues. Ectopic lymphoid tissues were located preferentially in the iris, ciliary body, and retina at the ora serrata of horses with naturally-occurring ERU. The majority of cells in the tertiary lymphoid follicles were T cells with a scattered distribution of B cells and PNA+ cells interspersed. A fraction of T cells was additionally positive for memory cell marker CD45RO. Almost all cells coexpressed CD166, a molecule associated with activation and transmigration of T cells into inflamed tissues. Several transcription factors that govern immune cell responses were detectable in the tertiary lymphoid follicles, among them Zap70, TFIIB, GATA3, and IRF4. A high expression of the phosphorylated signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) proteins 1 and 5 were found at the margin of the structures. Cellular composition and structural organization of these inflammation-associated tertiary lymphoid tissue structures and the expression of markers of matured T and B cells point to highly organized adaptive immune responses in these follicles in spontaneous recurrent uveitis.

Parametric instability induced by X-mode wave heating at EISCAT

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Xiang; Zhou, Chen; Liu, Moran; Honary, Farideh; Ni, Binbin; Zhao, Zhengyu

2016-10-01

In this paper, we present results of parametric instability induced by X-mode wave heating observed by EISCAT (European Incoherent Scatter Scientific Association) radar at Tromsø, Norway. Three typical X-mode ionospheric heating experiments on 22 October 2013, 19 October 2012, and 21 February 2013 are investigated in details. Both parametric decay instability (PDI) and oscillating two-stream instability are observed during the X-mode heating period. We suggest that the full dispersion relationship of the Langmuir wave can be employed to analyze the X-mode parametric instability excitation. A modified kinetic electron distribution is proposed and analyzed, which is able to satisfy the matching condition of parametric instability excitation. Parallel electric field component of X-mode heating wave can also exceed the parametric instability excitation threshold under certain conditions.

Modeling the directivity of parametric loudspeaker

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shi, Chuang; Gan, Woon-Seng

2012-09-01

The emerging applications of the parametric loudspeaker, such as 3D audio, demands accurate directivity control at the audible frequency (i.e. the difference frequency). Though the delay-and-sum beamforming has been proven adequate to adjust the steering angles of the parametric loudspeaker, accurate prediction of the mainlobe and sidelobes remains a challenging problem. It is mainly because of the approximations that are used to derive the directivity of the difference frequency from the directivity of the primary frequency, and the mismatches between the theoretical directivity and the measured directivity caused by system errors incurred at different stages of the implementation. In this paper, we propose a directivity model of the parametric loudspeaker. The directivity model consists of two tuning vectors corresponding to the spacing error and the weight error for the primary frequency. The directivity model adopts a modified form of the product directivity principle for the difference frequency to further improve the modeling accuracy.

Observational Signatures of Parametric Instability at 1AU

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bowen, T. A.; Bale, S. D.; Badman, S.

2017-12-01

Observations and simulations of inertial compressive turbulence in the solar wind are characterized by density structures anti-correlated with magnetic fluctuations parallel to the mean field. This signature has been interpreted as observational evidence for non-propagating pressure balanced structures (PBS), kinetic ion acoustic waves, as well as the MHD slow mode. Recent work, specifically Verscharen et al. (2017), has highlighted the unexpected fluid like nature of the solar wind. Given the high damping rates of parallel propagating compressive fluctuations, their ubiquity in satellite observations is surprising and suggests the presence of a driving process. One possible candidate for the generation of compressive fluctuations in the solar wind is the parametric instability, in which large amplitude Alfvenic fluctuations decay into parallel propagating compressive waves. This work employs 10 years of WIND observations in order to test the parametric decay process as a source of compressive waves in the solar wind through comparing collisionless damping rates of compressive fluctuations with growth rates of the parametric instability. Preliminary results suggest that generation of compressive waves through parametric decay is overdamped at 1 AU. However, the higher parametric decay rates expected in the inner heliosphere likely allow for growth of the slow mode-the remnants of which could explain density fluctuations observed at 1AU.

Partially deuterated potassium dihydrogen phosphate optimized for ultra-broadband optical parametric amplification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fujioka, K.; Fujimoto, Y.; Tsubakimoto, K.; Kawanaka, J.; Shoji, I.; Miyanaga, N.

2015-03-01

The refractive index of a potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP) crystal strongly depends on the deuteration fraction of the crystal. The wavelength dependence of the phase-matching angle in the near-infrared optical parametric process shows convex and concave characteristics for pure KDP and pure deuterated KDP (DKDP), respectively, when pumped by the second harmonic of Nd- or Yb-doped solid state lasers. Using these characteristics, ultra-broadband phase matching can be realized by optimization of the deuteration fraction. The refractive index of DKDP that was grown with a different deuteration fraction (known as partially deuterated KDP or pDKDP) was measured over a wide wavelength range of 0.4-1.5 μm by the minimum deviation method. The wavelength dispersions of the measured refractive indices were fitted using a modified Sellmeier equation, and the deuteration fraction dependence was analyzed using the Lorentz-Lorenz equation. The wavelength-dependent phase-matching angle for an arbitrary deuteration fraction was then calculated for optical parametric amplification with pumping at a wavelength of 526.5 nm. The results revealed that a refractive index database with precision of more than 2 × 10-5 was necessary for exact evaluation of the phase-matching condition. An ultra-broad gain bandwidth of up to 490 nm will be feasible when using the 68% pDKDP crystal.

Amplified spontaneous emission in N2 lasers: Saturation and bandwidth study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hariri, A.; Sarikhani, S.

2014-05-01

A complete ASE analysis in a 3-level laser system based on the model of the geometrically dependent gain coefficient (GDGC) is presented. For the study, the photon density/intensity rate equation in the saturated and unsaturated conditions, along with reported experimental measurements on the ASE output energy and spectral bandwidth for N2-lasers were utilized. It was found that the GDGC model is able to explain the ASE output energy behavior and gain profiles correctly. In addition, the model was used to predict the spontaneous emission bandwidth Δν0 and consequently the stimulated emission cross-section for the C→B transition of nitrogen molecule at 337.1 nm. In this work, for example, Δν0 was found to be 766 GHz (2.9 Å) which is consistent with the earliest experimental observation on the ASE bandwidth reduction in a N2-laser as reported to be ~3. This is the first theoretical result that explains the spontaneous emission bandwidth which is different from the commonly used value of ~1 Å obtained from measurements of N2-lasers output spectra. The method was also applied for a filament N2 laser for the C→B transition produced in atmosphere, and a good consistency between the laboratory and filament lasers was obtained. Details of the calculations for this study are presented. The results obtained from 3-level systems confirm further the potential of applying the GDGC model for the ASE study in different laser systems and is unifying lasers of the same active medium.

The degenerate parametric oscillator and Ince's equation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cordero-Soto, Ricardo; Suslov, Sergei K.

2011-01-01

We construct Green's function for the quantum degenerate parametric oscillator in the coordinate representation in terms of standard solutions of Ince's equation in a framework of a general approach to variable quadratic Hamiltonians. Exact time-dependent wavefunctions and their connections with dynamical invariants and SU(1, 1) group are also discussed. An extension to the degenerate parametric oscillator with time-dependent amplitude and phase is also mentioned.

[Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis].

PubMed

Velkey, Bálint; Vitális, Eszter; Vitális, Zsuzsanna

2017-01-01

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis occurs most commonly in cirrhotic patients with ascites. Pathogens get into the circulation by intestinal translocation and colonize in peritoneal fluid. Diagnosis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis is based on elevated polymorphonuclear leukocyte count in the ascites (>0,25 G/L). Ascites culture is often negative but aids to get information about antibiotic sensitivity in positive cases. Treatment in stable patient can be intravenous then orally administrated ciprofloxacin or amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, while in severe cases intravenous III. generation cephalosporin. Nosocomial spontaneous bacterial peritonitis often caused by Gram-positive bacteria and multi-resistant pathogens can also be expected thus carbapenem should be the choice of the empiric treatment. Antibiotic prophylaxis should be considered. Norfloxacin is used most commonly, but changes are expected due to increase in quinolone resistance. As a primary prophylaxis, a short-term antibiotic treatment is recommended after gastrointestinal bleeding for 5 days, while long-term prophylaxis is for patients with low ascites protein, and advanced disease (400 mg/day). Secondary prophylaxis is recommended for all patients recovered from spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Due to increasing antibiotic use of antibiotics prophylaxis is debated to some degree. Orv. Hetil., 2017, 158(2), 50-57.

Chest Computed Tomographic Image Screening for Cystic Lung Diseases in Patients with Spontaneous Pneumothorax Is Cost Effective.

PubMed

Gupta, Nishant; Langenderfer, Dale; McCormack, Francis X; Schauer, Daniel P; Eckman, Mark H

2017-01-01

Patients without a known history of lung disease presenting with a spontaneous pneumothorax are generally diagnosed as having primary spontaneous pneumothorax. However, occult diffuse cystic lung diseases such as Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome (BHD), lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM), and pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis (PLCH) can also first present with a spontaneous pneumothorax, and their early identification by high-resolution computed tomographic (HRCT) chest imaging has implications for subsequent management. The objective of our study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of HRCT chest imaging to facilitate early diagnosis of LAM, BHD, and PLCH. We constructed a Markov state-transition model to assess the cost-effectiveness of screening HRCT to facilitate early diagnosis of diffuse cystic lung diseases in patients presenting with an apparent primary spontaneous pneumothorax. Baseline data for prevalence of BHD, LAM, and PLCH and rates of recurrent pneumothoraces in each of these diseases were derived from the literature. Costs were extracted from 2014 Medicare data. We compared a strategy of HRCT screening followed by pleurodesis in patients with LAM, BHD, or PLCH versus conventional management with no HRCT screening. In our base case analysis, screening for the presence of BHD, LAM, or PLCH in patients presenting with a spontaneous pneumothorax was cost effective, with a marginal cost-effectiveness ratio of $1,427 per quality-adjusted life-year gained. Sensitivity analysis showed that screening HRCT remained cost effective for diffuse cystic lung diseases prevalence as low as 0.01%. HRCT image screening for BHD, LAM, and PLCH in patients with apparent primary spontaneous pneumothorax is cost effective. Clinicians should consider performing a screening HRCT in patients presenting with apparent primary spontaneous pneumothorax.

Suppression of Spontaneous Gas Oscillations by Acoustic Self-Feedback

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Biwa, Tetsushi; Sawada, Yoshiki; Hyodo, Hiroaki; Kato, Soichiro

2016-10-01

This paper demonstrates a method of acoustical self-feedback to suppress spontaneous gas oscillations such as those observed in combustors of gas-turbine engines. Whereas a conventional feedback system consists of electromechanical devices, the present method achieves acoustical self-feedback with a hollow tube that connects two positions of the oscillation system. A model oscillator of combustion-driven gas oscillations is designed and built to demonstrate the applicability of the self-feedback concept. Stability analysis through measurements of Q values (quality factor) of oscillations shows that the desired delay time and gain are obtained when the tube length is equal to the odd integer times half the wavelength of the anticipated acoustic oscillations.

Time-dependent spatial intensity profiles of near-infrared idler pulses from nanosecond optical parametric oscillators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Olafsen, L. J.; Olafsen, J. S.; Eaves, I. K.

2018-06-01

We report on an experimental investigation of the time-dependent spatial intensity distribution of near-infrared idler pulses from an optical parametric oscillator measured using an infrared (IR) camera, in contrast to beam profiles obtained using traditional knife-edge techniques. Comparisons show the information gained by utilizing the thermal camera provides more detail than the spatially- or time-averaged measurements from a knife-edge profile. Synchronization, averaging, and thresholding techniques are applied to enhance the images acquired. The additional information obtained can improve the process by which semiconductor devices and other IR lasers are characterized for their beam quality and output response and thereby result in IR devices with higher performance.

Stochastic stability of parametrically excited random systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Labou, M.

2004-01-01

Multidegree-of-freedom dynamic systems subjected to parametric excitation are analyzed for stochastic stability. The variation of excitation intensity with time is described by the sum of a harmonic function and a stationary random process. The stability boundaries are determined by the stochastic averaging method. The effect of random parametric excitation on the stability of trivial solutions of systems of differential equations for the moments of phase variables is studied. It is assumed that the frequency of harmonic component falls within the region of combination resonances. Stability conditions for the first and second moments are obtained. It turns out that additional parametric excitation may have a stabilizing or destabilizing effect, depending on the values of certain parameters of random excitation. As an example, the stability of a beam in plane bending is analyzed.

Intracavity KTP optical parametric oscillator driven by a KLM Nd:GGG laser with a single AO modulator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chu, Hongwei; Zhao, Shengzhi; Yang, Kejian; Zhao, Jia; Li, Yufei; Li, Tao; Li, Guiqiu; Li, Dechun; Qiao, Wenchao

2015-05-01

An intracavity KTiOPO4 (KTP) optical parametric oscillator (OPO) pumped by a Kerr lens mode-locking (KLM) Nd:GGG laser near 1062 nm with a single AO modulator was realized for the first time. The mode-locking pulses of the signal wave were obtained with a short duration of subnanosecond and a repetition rate of several kilohertz (kHz). Under a diode pump power of 8.25 W, a maximum output power of 104 mW at signal wavelength near 1569 nm was obtained at a repetition rate of 2 kHz. The highest pulse energy and peak power were estimated to be 80 μJ and 102 kW at a repetition rate of 1 kHz, respectively. The shortest pulse duration was measured to be 749 ps. By considering the Gaussian spatial distribution of the photon density and the Kerr-lens effect in the gain medium, a set of the coupled rate equations for QML intracavity optical parametric oscillator are given and the numerical simulations are basically fitted with the experimental results.

[Primary spontaneous pneumomediastinum].

PubMed

Togashi, K; Hosaka, Y

2007-12-01

We report 5 cases of spontaneous pneumomediastinum. They were 4 men and 1 female with a mean age of 17 (14-25). Four patients developed sport-related pneumomediastinum and 1 patient had a karaoke-related condition. Primary spontaneous pneumomediasinum is a rare condition. In addition, there is no previous report describing karaoke-related spontaneous pneumomediastinum. Each of the patients experienced chest pain and/or neck pain before consulting our hospital. Chest roentgenogram and chest computed tomography showed pneumomediastinum without esophageal or tracheal injury. Four patients did not require hospitalization, but 1 patient was necessary to hospitalize for 7 days because of severe chest and neck pain. None of these 5 patients has had any recurrence for more than 1 year. Differentiating this entity from other diseases involving anterior chest pain is important.

Rayleigh-type parametric chemical oscillation.

PubMed

Ghosh, Shyamolina; Ray, Deb Shankar

2015-09-28

We consider a nonlinear chemical dynamical system of two phase space variables in a stable steady state. When the system is driven by a time-dependent sinusoidal forcing of a suitable scaling parameter at a frequency twice the output frequency and the strength of perturbation exceeds a threshold, the system undergoes sustained Rayleigh-type periodic oscillation, wellknown for parametric oscillation in pipe organs and distinct from the usual forced quasiperiodic oscillation of a damped nonlinear system where the system is oscillatory even in absence of any external forcing. Our theoretical analysis of the parametric chemical oscillation is corroborated by full numerical simulation of two well known models of chemical dynamics, chlorite-iodine-malonic acid and iodine-clock reactions.

Spontaneous evaluative inferences and their relationship to spontaneous trait inferences.

PubMed

Schneid, Erica D; Carlston, Donal E; Skowronski, John J

2015-05-01

Three experiments are reported that explore affectively based spontaneous evaluative impressions (SEIs) of stimulus persons. Experiments 1 and 2 used modified versions of the savings in relearning paradigm (Carlston & Skowronski, 1994) to confirm the occurrence of SEIs, indicating that they are equivalent whether participants are instructed to form trait impressions, evaluative impressions, or neither. These experiments also show that SEIs occur independently of explicit recall for the trait implications of the stimuli. Experiment 3 provides a single dissociation test to distinguish SEIs from spontaneous trait inferences (STIs), showing that disrupting cognitive processing interferes with a trait-based prediction task that presumably reflects STIs, but not with an affectively based social approach task that presumably reflects SEIs. Implications of these findings for the potential independence of spontaneous trait and evaluative inferences, as well as limitations and important steps for future study are discussed. (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved).

Parametric amplification in a resonant sensing array

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yie, Zi; Miller, Nicholas J.; Shaw, Steven W.; Turner, Kimberly L.

2012-03-01

We demonstrate parametric amplification of a multidegree of freedom resonant mass sensing array via an applied base motion containing the appropriate frequency content and phases. Applying parametric forcing in this manner is simple and aligns naturally with the vibrational properties of the sensing structure. Using this technique, we observe an increase in the quality factors of the coupled array resonances, which provides an effective means of improving device sensitivity.

Towards an Empirically Based Parametric Explosion Spectral Model

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ford, S R; Walter, W R; Ruppert, S

2009-08-31

Small underground nuclear explosions need to be confidently detected, identified, and characterized in regions of the world where they have never before been tested. The focus of our work is on the local and regional distances (< 2000 km) and phases (Pn, Pg, Sn, Lg) necessary to see small explosions. We are developing a parametric model of the nuclear explosion seismic source spectrum that is compatible with the earthquake-based geometrical spreading and attenuation models developed using the Magnitude Distance Amplitude Correction (MDAC) techniques (Walter and Taylor, 2002). The explosion parametric model will be particularly important in regions without any priormore » explosion data for calibration. The model is being developed using the available body of seismic data at local and regional distances for past nuclear explosions at foreign and domestic test sites. Parametric modeling is a simple and practical approach for widespread monitoring applications, prior to the capability to carry out fully deterministic modeling. The achievable goal of our parametric model development is to be able to predict observed local and regional distance seismic amplitudes for event identification and yield determination in regions with incomplete or no prior history of underground nuclear testing. The relationship between the parametric equations and the geologic and containment conditions will assist in our physical understanding of the nuclear explosion source.« less

A capacitive ultrasonic transducer based on parametric resonance.

PubMed

Surappa, Sushruta; Satir, Sarp; Levent Degertekin, F

2017-07-24

A capacitive ultrasonic transducer based on a parametric resonator structure is described and experimentally demonstrated. The transducer structure, which we call capacitive parametric ultrasonic transducer (CPUT), uses a parallel plate capacitor with a movable membrane as part of a degenerate parametric series RLC resonator circuit with a resonance frequency of f o . When the capacitor plate is driven with an incident harmonic ultrasonic wave at the pump frequency of 2f o with sufficient amplitude, the RLC circuit becomes unstable and ultrasonic energy can be efficiently converted to an electrical signal at f o frequency in the RLC circuit. An important characteristic of the CPUT is that unlike other electrostatic transducers, it does not require DC bias or permanent charging to be used as a receiver. We describe the operation of the CPUT using an analytical model and numerical simulations, which shows drive amplitude dependent operation regimes including parametric resonance when a certain threshold is exceeded. We verify these predictions by experiments with a micromachined membrane based capacitor structure in immersion where ultrasonic waves incident at 4.28 MHz parametrically drive a signal with significant amplitude in the 2.14 MHz RLC circuit. With its unique features, the CPUT can be particularly advantageous for applications such as wireless power transfer for biomedical implants and acoustic sensing.

Ziprasidone-induced spontaneous orgasm.

PubMed

Boora, K; Chiappone, K; Dubovsky, S; Xu, J

2010-06-01

Neuroleptic treatment in schizophrenic patients has been associated with sexual dysfunction, including impotence and decreased libido. Spontaneous ejaculation without sexual arousal during typical antipsychotic treatment is a rare condition that has been described with zuclopentixol, trifluoperazine, and thiothixene. Here, we are reporting a case of spontaneous orgasm with ziprasidone in a bipolar patient. This patient began to repeatedly experience spontaneous sexual arousal and orgasm, which she had never experienced in the past. Ziprasidone might be causing an increase in sexual orgasm by 5-HT2 receptor antagonism, which preclinical evidence suggests that it facilitates dopamine release in the cortex.

Multipixel frequency-domain imaging of spontaneous canine breast disease using fluorescent contrast agents

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reynolds, Jeffery S.; Thompson, Alan B.; Troy, Tamara L.; Mayer, Ralf H.; Waters, David J.; Sevick-Muraca, Eva M.

1999-07-01

In this paper we demonstrate the ability to detect the frequency-domain fluorescent signal from the contrast agent indocyanine green within the mammary chain of dogs with spontaneous mammary tumors. We use a gain-modulated image intensifier to rapidly capture multi-pixel images of the fluorescent modulation amplitude, modulation phase, and average intensity signals. Excitation is provided by a 100 MHz amplitude-modulated, 780 nm laser diode. Time series images of the uptake and clearance of the contrast agent in the diseased tissue are also presented.

Intracellular calcium dynamics permit a Purkinje neuron model to perform toggle and gain computations upon its inputs

PubMed Central

Forrest, Michael D.

2014-01-01

Without synaptic input, Purkinje neurons can spontaneously fire in a repeating trimodal pattern that consists of tonic spiking, bursting and quiescence. Climbing fiber input (CF) switches Purkinje neurons out of the trimodal firing pattern and toggles them between a tonic firing and a quiescent state, while setting the gain of their response to Parallel Fiber (PF) input. The basis to this transition is unclear. We investigate it using a biophysical Purkinje cell model under conditions of CF and PF input. The model can replicate these toggle and gain functions, dependent upon a novel account of intracellular calcium dynamics that we hypothesize to be applicable in real Purkinje cells. PMID:25191262

Evaluation of model-based versus non-parametric monaural noise-reduction approaches for hearing aids.

PubMed

Harlander, Niklas; Rosenkranz, Tobias; Hohmann, Volker

2012-08-01

Single channel noise reduction has been well investigated and seems to have reached its limits in terms of speech intelligibility improvement, however, the quality of such schemes can still be advanced. This study tests to what extent novel model-based processing schemes might improve performance in particular for non-stationary noise conditions. Two prototype model-based algorithms, a speech-model-based, and a auditory-model-based algorithm were compared to a state-of-the-art non-parametric minimum statistics algorithm. A speech intelligibility test, preference rating, and listening effort scaling were performed. Additionally, three objective quality measures for the signal, background, and overall distortions were applied. For a better comparison of all algorithms, particular attention was given to the usage of the similar Wiener-based gain rule. The perceptual investigation was performed with fourteen hearing-impaired subjects. The results revealed that the non-parametric algorithm and the auditory model-based algorithm did not affect speech intelligibility, whereas the speech-model-based algorithm slightly decreased intelligibility. In terms of subjective quality, both model-based algorithms perform better than the unprocessed condition and the reference in particular for highly non-stationary noise environments. Data support the hypothesis that model-based algorithms are promising for improving performance in non-stationary noise conditions.

Modeling personnel turnover in the parametric organization

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dean, Edwin B.

1991-01-01

A model is developed for simulating the dynamics of a newly formed organization, credible during all phases of organizational development. The model development process is broken down into the activities of determining the tasks required for parametric cost analysis (PCA), determining the skills required for each PCA task, determining the skills available in the applicant marketplace, determining the structure of the model, implementing the model, and testing it. The model, parameterized by the likelihood of job function transition, has demonstrated by the capability to represent the transition of personnel across functional boundaries within a parametric organization using a linear dynamical system, and the ability to predict required staffing profiles to meet functional needs at the desired time. The model can be extended by revisions of the state and transition structure to provide refinements in functional definition for the parametric and extended organization.

Parametric Cost Models for Space Telescopes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stahl, H. Philip; Henrichs, Todd; Dollinger, Courtney

2010-01-01

Multivariable parametric cost models for space telescopes provide several benefits to designers and space system project managers. They identify major architectural cost drivers and allow high-level design trades. They enable cost-benefit analysis for technology development investment. And, they provide a basis for estimating total project cost. A survey of historical models found that there is no definitive space telescope cost model. In fact, published models vary greatly [1]. Thus, there is a need for parametric space telescopes cost models. An effort is underway to develop single variable [2] and multi-variable [3] parametric space telescope cost models based on the latest available data and applying rigorous analytical techniques. Specific cost estimating relationships (CERs) have been developed which show that aperture diameter is the primary cost driver for large space telescopes; technology development as a function of time reduces cost at the rate of 50% per 17 years; it costs less per square meter of collecting aperture to build a large telescope than a small telescope; and increasing mass reduces cost.

Almost output regulation of LFT systems via gain-scheduling control

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yuan, Chengzhi; Duan, Chang; Wu, Fen

2018-05-01

Output regulation of general uncertain systems is a meaningful yet challenging problem. In spite of the rich literature in the field, the problem has not yet been addressed adequately due to the lack of an effective design mechanism. In this paper, we propose a new design framework for almost output regulation of uncertain systems described in the general form of linear fractional transformation (LFT) with time-varying parametric uncertainties and unknown external perturbations. A novel semi-LFT gain-scheduling output regulator structure is proposed, such that the associated control synthesis conditions guaranteeing both output regulation and ? disturbance attenuation performance are formulated as a set of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) plus parameter-dependent linear matrix equations, which can be solved separately. A numerical example has been used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.

Hydrogen-bonded intermediates and transition states during spontaneous and acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of the carcinogen (+)-anti-BPDE.

PubMed

Palenik, Mark C; Rodriguez, Jorge H

2014-07-07

Understanding mechanisms of (+)-anti-BPDE detoxification is crucial for combating its mutagenic and potent carcinogenic action. However, energetic-structural correlations of reaction intermediates and transition states during detoxification via hydrolysis are poorly understood. To gain mechanistic insight we have computationally characterized intermediate and transition species associated with spontaneous and general-acid catalyzed hydrolysis of (+)-anti-BPDE. We studied the role of cacodylic acid as a proton donor in the rate limiting step. The computed activation energy (ΔG‡) is in agreement with the experimental value for hydrolysis in a sodium cacodylate buffer. Both types of, spontaneous and acid catalyzed, BPDE hydrolysis can proceed through low-entropy hydrogen bonded intermediates prior to formation of transition states whose energies determine reaction activation barriers and rates.

The impact of parametrized convection on cloud feedback.

PubMed

Webb, Mark J; Lock, Adrian P; Bretherton, Christopher S; Bony, Sandrine; Cole, Jason N S; Idelkadi, Abderrahmane; Kang, Sarah M; Koshiro, Tsuyoshi; Kawai, Hideaki; Ogura, Tomoo; Roehrig, Romain; Shin, Yechul; Mauritsen, Thorsten; Sherwood, Steven C; Vial, Jessica; Watanabe, Masahiro; Woelfle, Matthew D; Zhao, Ming

2015-11-13

We investigate the sensitivity of cloud feedbacks to the use of convective parametrizations by repeating the CMIP5/CFMIP-2 AMIP/AMIP + 4K uniform sea surface temperature perturbation experiments with 10 climate models which have had their convective parametrizations turned off. Previous studies have suggested that differences between parametrized convection schemes are a leading source of inter-model spread in cloud feedbacks. We find however that 'ConvOff' models with convection switched off have a similar overall range of cloud feedbacks compared with the standard configurations. Furthermore, applying a simple bias correction method to allow for differences in present-day global cloud radiative effects substantially reduces the differences between the cloud feedbacks with and without parametrized convection in the individual models. We conclude that, while parametrized convection influences the strength of the cloud feedbacks substantially in some models, other processes must also contribute substantially to the overall inter-model spread. The positive shortwave cloud feedbacks seen in the models in subtropical regimes associated with shallow clouds are still present in the ConvOff experiments. Inter-model spread in shortwave cloud feedback increases slightly in regimes associated with trade cumulus in the ConvOff experiments but is quite similar in the most stable subtropical regimes associated with stratocumulus clouds. Inter-model spread in longwave cloud feedbacks in strongly precipitating regions of the tropics is substantially reduced in the ConvOff experiments however, indicating a considerable local contribution from differences in the details of convective parametrizations. In both standard and ConvOff experiments, models with less mid-level cloud and less moist static energy near the top of the boundary layer tend to have more positive tropical cloud feedbacks. The role of non-convective processes in contributing to inter-model spread in cloud feedback

Machine learning-based dual-energy CT parametric mapping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Su, Kuan-Hao; Kuo, Jung-Wen; Jordan, David W.; Van Hedent, Steven; Klahr, Paul; Wei, Zhouping; Helo, Rose Al; Liang, Fan; Qian, Pengjiang; Pereira, Gisele C.; Rassouli, Negin; Gilkeson, Robert C.; Traughber, Bryan J.; Cheng, Chee-Wai; Muzic, Raymond F., Jr.

2018-06-01

The aim is to develop and evaluate machine learning methods for generating quantitative parametric maps of effective atomic number (Zeff), relative electron density (ρ e), mean excitation energy (I x ), and relative stopping power (RSP) from clinical dual-energy CT data. The maps could be used for material identification and radiation dose calculation. Machine learning methods of historical centroid (HC), random forest (RF), and artificial neural networks (ANN) were used to learn the relationship between dual-energy CT input data and ideal output parametric maps calculated for phantoms from the known compositions of 13 tissue substitutes. After training and model selection steps, the machine learning predictors were used to generate parametric maps from independent phantom and patient input data. Precision and accuracy were evaluated using the ideal maps. This process was repeated for a range of exposure doses, and performance was compared to that of the clinically-used dual-energy, physics-based method which served as the reference. The machine learning methods generated more accurate and precise parametric maps than those obtained using the reference method. Their performance advantage was particularly evident when using data from the lowest exposure, one-fifth of a typical clinical abdomen CT acquisition. The RF method achieved the greatest accuracy. In comparison, the ANN method was only 1% less accurate but had much better computational efficiency than RF, being able to produce parametric maps in 15 s. Machine learning methods outperformed the reference method in terms of accuracy and noise tolerance when generating parametric maps, encouraging further exploration of the techniques. Among the methods we evaluated, ANN is the most suitable for clinical use due to its combination of accuracy, excellent low-noise performance, and computational efficiency.

Machine learning-based dual-energy CT parametric mapping.

PubMed

Su, Kuan-Hao; Kuo, Jung-Wen; Jordan, David W; Van Hedent, Steven; Klahr, Paul; Wei, Zhouping; Al Helo, Rose; Liang, Fan; Qian, Pengjiang; Pereira, Gisele C; Rassouli, Negin; Gilkeson, Robert C; Traughber, Bryan J; Cheng, Chee-Wai; Muzic, Raymond F

2018-06-08

The aim is to develop and evaluate machine learning methods for generating quantitative parametric maps of effective atomic number (Z eff ), relative electron density (ρ e ), mean excitation energy (I x ), and relative stopping power (RSP) from clinical dual-energy CT data. The maps could be used for material identification and radiation dose calculation. Machine learning methods of historical centroid (HC), random forest (RF), and artificial neural networks (ANN) were used to learn the relationship between dual-energy CT input data and ideal output parametric maps calculated for phantoms from the known compositions of 13 tissue substitutes. After training and model selection steps, the machine learning predictors were used to generate parametric maps from independent phantom and patient input data. Precision and accuracy were evaluated using the ideal maps. This process was repeated for a range of exposure doses, and performance was compared to that of the clinically-used dual-energy, physics-based method which served as the reference. The machine learning methods generated more accurate and precise parametric maps than those obtained using the reference method. Their performance advantage was particularly evident when using data from the lowest exposure, one-fifth of a typical clinical abdomen CT acquisition. The RF method achieved the greatest accuracy. In comparison, the ANN method was only 1% less accurate but had much better computational efficiency than RF, being able to produce parametric maps in 15 s. Machine learning methods outperformed the reference method in terms of accuracy and noise tolerance when generating parametric maps, encouraging further exploration of the techniques. Among the methods we evaluated, ANN is the most suitable for clinical use due to its combination of accuracy, excellent low-noise performance, and computational efficiency.

The impact of parametrized convection on cloud feedback

PubMed Central

Webb, Mark J.; Lock, Adrian P.; Bretherton, Christopher S.; Bony, Sandrine; Cole, Jason N. S.; Idelkadi, Abderrahmane; Kang, Sarah M.; Koshiro, Tsuyoshi; Kawai, Hideaki; Ogura, Tomoo; Roehrig, Romain; Shin, Yechul; Mauritsen, Thorsten; Sherwood, Steven C.; Vial, Jessica; Watanabe, Masahiro; Woelfle, Matthew D.; Zhao, Ming

2015-01-01

We investigate the sensitivity of cloud feedbacks to the use of convective parametrizations by repeating the CMIP5/CFMIP-2 AMIP/AMIP + 4K uniform sea surface temperature perturbation experiments with 10 climate models which have had their convective parametrizations turned off. Previous studies have suggested that differences between parametrized convection schemes are a leading source of inter-model spread in cloud feedbacks. We find however that ‘ConvOff’ models with convection switched off have a similar overall range of cloud feedbacks compared with the standard configurations. Furthermore, applying a simple bias correction method to allow for differences in present-day global cloud radiative effects substantially reduces the differences between the cloud feedbacks with and without parametrized convection in the individual models. We conclude that, while parametrized convection influences the strength of the cloud feedbacks substantially in some models, other processes must also contribute substantially to the overall inter-model spread. The positive shortwave cloud feedbacks seen in the models in subtropical regimes associated with shallow clouds are still present in the ConvOff experiments. Inter-model spread in shortwave cloud feedback increases slightly in regimes associated with trade cumulus in the ConvOff experiments but is quite similar in the most stable subtropical regimes associated with stratocumulus clouds. Inter-model spread in longwave cloud feedbacks in strongly precipitating regions of the tropics is substantially reduced in the ConvOff experiments however, indicating a considerable local contribution from differences in the details of convective parametrizations. In both standard and ConvOff experiments, models with less mid-level cloud and less moist static energy near the top of the boundary layer tend to have more positive tropical cloud feedbacks. The role of non-convective processes in contributing to inter-model spread in cloud

Performance of Stratified and Subgrouped Disproportionality Analyses in Spontaneous Databases.

PubMed

Seabroke, Suzie; Candore, Gianmario; Juhlin, Kristina; Quarcoo, Naashika; Wisniewski, Antoni; Arani, Ramin; Painter, Jeffery; Tregunno, Philip; Norén, G Niklas; Slattery, Jim

2016-04-01

Disproportionality analyses are used in many organisations to identify adverse drug reactions (ADRs) from spontaneous report data. Reporting patterns vary over time, with patient demographics, and between different geographical regions, and therefore subgroup analyses or adjustment by stratification may be beneficial. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of subgroup and stratified disproportionality analyses for a number of key covariates within spontaneous report databases of differing sizes and characteristics. Using a reference set of established ADRs, signal detection performance (sensitivity and precision) was compared for stratified, subgroup and crude (unadjusted) analyses within five spontaneous report databases (two company, one national and two international databases). Analyses were repeated for a range of covariates: age, sex, country/region of origin, calendar time period, event seriousness, vaccine/non-vaccine, reporter qualification and report source. Subgroup analyses consistently performed better than stratified analyses in all databases. Subgroup analyses also showed benefits in both sensitivity and precision over crude analyses for the larger international databases, whilst for the smaller databases a gain in precision tended to result in some loss of sensitivity. Additionally, stratified analyses did not increase sensitivity or precision beyond that associated with analytical artefacts of the analysis. The most promising subgroup covariates were age and region/country of origin, although this varied between databases. Subgroup analyses perform better than stratified analyses and should be considered over the latter in routine first-pass signal detection. Subgroup analyses are also clearly beneficial over crude analyses for larger databases, but further validation is required for smaller databases.

Implementing quantum optics with parametrically driven superconducting circuits

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aumentado, Jose

Parametric coupling has received much attention, in part because it forms the core of many low-noise amplifiers in superconducting quantum information experiments. However, parametric coupling in superconducting circuits is, as a general rule, simple to generate and forms the basis of a methodology for interacting microwave fields at different frequencies. In the quantum regime, this has important consequences, allowing relative novices to do experiments in superconducting circuits today that were previously heroic efforts in quantum optics and cavity-QED. In this talk, I'll give an overview of some of our work demonstrating parametric coupling within the context of circuit-QED as well as some of the possibilities this concept creates in our field.

Parametric instabilities of rotor-support systems with application to industrial ventilators

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Parszewski, Z.; Krodkiemski, T.; Marynowski, K.

1980-01-01

Rotor support systems interaction with parametric excitation is considered for both unequal principal shaft stiffness (generators) and offset disc rotors (ventilators). Instability regions and types of instability are computed in the first case, and parametric resonances in the second case. Computed and experimental results are compared for laboratory machine models. A field case study of parametric vibrations in industrial ventilators is reported. Computed parametric resonances are confirmed in field measurements, and some industrial failures are explained. Also the dynamic influence and gyroscopic effect of supporting structures are shown and computed.

Determining the average path length of amplified spontaneous emission in a four-level laser near the 1/3 mode-degeneracy cavity configurations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Ching-Hsu; Lu, Ming-Lun; Tai, Po-Tse

2015-08-01

We determine the average path length ls of amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) by comparing the numerical slope of a straight line with the experimental slope in the graph of the square of relaxation oscillation frequency versus normalized pump ratio. The simple method is applied in an end-pumped Nd:YVO4 laser with the 1/3 mode-degeneracy cavity having the transverse mode spacing equal to 1/3 of the longitudinal mode spacing. We find that ls is larger at the degeneracy than that far from the degeneracy. This result indicates the existence of stronger ASE at the degeneracy, which is confirmed below the threshold. This is because many spontaneous emission photons can undergo amplification not only before escaping from the gain medium but also after leaving the gain medium, owing to cavity reflection. Our method can be applied in the situations where the Auger upconversion effect is absent, weak, or well-known.

Chest Computed Tomographic Image Screening for Cystic Lung Diseases in Patients with Spontaneous Pneumothorax Is Cost Effective

PubMed Central

Langenderfer, Dale; McCormack, Francis X.; Schauer, Daniel P.; Eckman, Mark H.

2017-01-01

Rationale: Patients without a known history of lung disease presenting with a spontaneous pneumothorax are generally diagnosed as having primary spontaneous pneumothorax. However, occult diffuse cystic lung diseases such as Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome (BHD), lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM), and pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis (PLCH) can also first present with a spontaneous pneumothorax, and their early identification by high-resolution computed tomographic (HRCT) chest imaging has implications for subsequent management. Objectives: The objective of our study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of HRCT chest imaging to facilitate early diagnosis of LAM, BHD, and PLCH. Methods: We constructed a Markov state-transition model to assess the cost-effectiveness of screening HRCT to facilitate early diagnosis of diffuse cystic lung diseases in patients presenting with an apparent primary spontaneous pneumothorax. Baseline data for prevalence of BHD, LAM, and PLCH and rates of recurrent pneumothoraces in each of these diseases were derived from the literature. Costs were extracted from 2014 Medicare data. We compared a strategy of HRCT screening followed by pleurodesis in patients with LAM, BHD, or PLCH versus conventional management with no HRCT screening. Measurements and Main Results: In our base case analysis, screening for the presence of BHD, LAM, or PLCH in patients presenting with a spontaneous pneumothorax was cost effective, with a marginal cost-effectiveness ratio of $1,427 per quality-adjusted life-year gained. Sensitivity analysis showed that screening HRCT remained cost effective for diffuse cystic lung diseases prevalence as low as 0.01%. Conclusions: HRCT image screening for BHD, LAM, and PLCH in patients with apparent primary spontaneous pneumothorax is cost effective. Clinicians should consider performing a screening HRCT in patients presenting with apparent primary spontaneous pneumothorax. PMID:27737563

Problems of the design of low-noise input devices. [parametric amplifiers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Manokhin, V. M.; Nemlikher, Y. A.; Strukov, I. A.; Sharfov, Y. A.

1974-01-01

An analysis is given of the requirements placed on the elements of parametric centimeter waveband amplifiers for achievement of minimal noise temperatures. A low-noise semiconductor parametric amplifier using germanium parametric diodes for a receiver operating in the 4 GHz band was developed and tested confirming the possibility of satisfying all requirements.

Noise-enhanced Parametric Resonance in Perturbed Galaxies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sideris, Ioannis V.; Kandrup, Henry E.

2004-02-01

This paper describes how parametric resonances associated with a galactic potential subjected to relatively low-amplitude, strictly periodic time-dependent perturbations can be impacted by pseudo-random variations in the pulsation frequency, modeled as colored noise. One aim thereby is to allow for the effects of a changing oscillation frequency as the density distribution associated with a galaxy evolves during violent relaxation. Another is to mimic the possible effects of internal substructures, satellite galaxies, and/or a high-density environment. The principal conclusions are that allowing for a variable frequency does not vitiate the effects of parametric resonance, and that, in at least some cases, such variations can increase the overall importance of parametric resonance associated with systematic pulsations. In memory of Professor H. E. Kandrup, a brilliant scientist, excellent teacher, and good friend. His genius and sense of humor will be greatly missed.

Sympathetic baroreflex gain in normotensive pregnant women

PubMed Central

Usselman, Charlotte W.; Skow, Rachel J.; Matenchuk, Brittany A.; Chari, Radha S.; Julian, Colleen G.; Stickland, Michael K.; Davenport, Margie H.

2015-01-01

Muscle sympathetic nerve activity is increased during normotensive pregnancy while mean arterial pressure is maintained or reduced, suggesting baroreflex resetting. We hypothesized spontaneous sympathetic baroreflex gain would be reduced in normotensive pregnant women relative to nonpregnant matched controls. Integrated muscle sympathetic burst incidence and total sympathetic activity (microneurography), blood pressure (Finometer), and R-R interval (ECG) were assessed at rest in 11 pregnant women (33 ± 1 wk gestation, 31 ± 1 yr, prepregnancy BMI: 23.5 ± 0.9 kg/m2) and 11 nonpregnant controls (29 ± 1 yr; BMI: 25.2 ± 1.7 kg/m2). Pregnant women had elevated baseline sympathetic burst incidence (43 ± 2 vs. 33 ± 2 bursts/100 heart beats, P = 0.01) and total sympathetic activity (1,811 ± 148 vs. 1,140 ± 55 au, P < 0.01) relative to controls. Both mean (88 ± 3 vs. 91 ± 2 mmHg, P = 0.4) and diastolic (DBP) (72 ± 3 vs. 73 ± 2 mmHg, P = 0.7) pressures were similar between pregnant and nonpregnant women, respectively, indicating an upward resetting of the baroreflex set point with pregnancy. Baroreflex gain, calculated as the linear relationship between sympathetic burst incidence and DBP, was reduced in pregnant women relative to controls (−3.7 ± 0.5 vs. −5.4 ± 0.5 bursts·100 heart beats−1·mmHg−1, P = 0.03), as was baroreflex gain calculated with total sympathetic activity (−294 ± 24 vs. −210 ± 24 au·100 heart beats−1·mmHg−1; P = 0.03). Cardiovagal baroreflex gain (sequence method) was not different between nonpregnant controls and pregnant women (49 ± 8 vs. 36 ± 8 ms/mmHg; P = 0.2). However, sympathetic (burst incidence) and cardiovagal gains were negatively correlated in pregnant women (R = −0.7; P = 0.02). Together, these data indicate that the influence of the sympathetic nervous system over arterial blood pressure is reduced in normotensive pregnancy, in terms of both long-term and beat-to-beat regulation of arterial pressure

Human Papillomavirus Infection as a Possible Cause of Spontaneous Abortion and Spontaneous Preterm Delivery

PubMed Central

Ambühl, Lea Maria Margareta; Baandrup, Ulrik; Dybkær, Karen; Blaakær, Jan; Uldbjerg, Niels; Sørensen, Suzette

2016-01-01

Based on the current literature, we aimed to provide an overview on Human Papillomavirus prevalence in normal pregnancies and pregnancies with adverse outcome. We conducted a systematic literature search in PubMed and Embase. Data extracted from the articles and used for analysis included HPV prevalence, pregnancy outcome, geographical location, investigated tissue types, and HPV detection methods. The overall HPV prevalence in normal full-term pregnancies was found to be 17.5% (95% CI; 17.3–17.7) for cervix, 8.3% (95% CI; 7.6–9.1) for placental tissue, 5.7% (95% CI; 5.1–6.3) for amniotic fluid, and 10.9% (95% CI; 10.1–11.7) for umbilical cord blood. Summary estimates for HPV prevalence of spontaneous abortions and spontaneous preterm deliveries, in cervix (spontaneous abortions: 24.5%, and preterm deliveries: 47%, resp.) and placenta (spontaneous abortions: 24.9%, and preterm deliveries: 50%, resp.), were identified to be higher compared to normal full-term pregnancies (P < 0.05 and P < 0.0001). Great variation in HPV prevalence was observed between study populations of different geographical locations. This review demonstrates an association between spontaneous abortion, spontaneous preterm delivery, and the presence of HPV in both the cervix and the placenta. However, a reliable conclusion is difficult to draw due to the limited number of studies conducted on material from pregnancies with adverse outcome and the risk of residual confounding. PMID:27110088

Quantization of simple parametrized systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ruffini, G.

2005-11-01

I study the canonical formulation and quantization of some simple parametrized systems, including the non-relativistic parametrized particle and the relativistic parametrized particle. Using Dirac's formalism I construct for each case the classical reduced phase space and study the dependence on the gauge fixing used. Two separate features of these systems can make this construction difficult: the actions are not invariant at the boundaries, and the constraints may have disconnected solution spaces. The relativistic particle is affected by both, while the non-relativistic particle displays only by the first. Analyzing the role of canonical transformations in the reduced phase space, I show that a change of gauge fixing is equivalent to a canonical transformation. In the relativistic case, quantization of one branch of the constraint at the time is applied and I analyze the electromagenetic backgrounds in which it is possible to quantize simultaneously both branches and still obtain a covariant unitary quantum theory. To preserve unitarity and space-time covariance, second quantization is needed unless there is no electric field. I motivate a definition of the inner product in all these cases and derive the Klein-Gordon inner product for the relativistic case. I construct phase space path integral representations for amplitudes for the BFV and the Faddeev path integrals, from which the path integrals in coordinate space (Faddeev-Popov and geometric path integrals) are derived.

Acceleration of the direct reconstruction of linear parametric images using nested algorithms.

PubMed

Wang, Guobao; Qi, Jinyi

2010-03-07

Parametric imaging using dynamic positron emission tomography (PET) provides important information for biological research and clinical diagnosis. Indirect and direct methods have been developed for reconstructing linear parametric images from dynamic PET data. Indirect methods are relatively simple and easy to implement because the image reconstruction and kinetic modeling are performed in two separate steps. Direct methods estimate parametric images directly from raw PET data and are statistically more efficient. However, the convergence rate of direct algorithms can be slow due to the coupling between the reconstruction and kinetic modeling. Here we present two fast gradient-type algorithms for direct reconstruction of linear parametric images. The new algorithms decouple the reconstruction and linear parametric modeling at each iteration by employing the principle of optimization transfer. Convergence speed is accelerated by running more sub-iterations of linear parametric estimation because the computation cost of the linear parametric modeling is much less than that of the image reconstruction. Computer simulation studies demonstrated that the new algorithms converge much faster than the traditional expectation maximization (EM) and the preconditioned conjugate gradient algorithms for dynamic PET.

Molecular fingerprint-region spectroscopy from 5 to 12  μm using an orientation-patterned gallium phosphide optical parametric oscillator.

PubMed

Maidment, Luke; Schunemann, Peter G; Reid, Derryck T

2016-09-15

We report a femtosecond optical parametric oscillator (OPO) based on the new semiconductor gain material orientation-patterned gallium phosphide (OP-GaP), which enables the production of high-repetition-rate femtosecond pulses spanning 5-12 μm with average powers in the few to tens of milliwatts range. This is the first example of a broadband OPO operating across the molecular fingerprint region, and we demonstrate its potential by conducting broadband Fourier-transform spectroscopy using water vapor and a polystyrene reference standard.

Spontaneous rib fractures.

PubMed

Katrancioglu, Ozgur; Akkas, Yucel; Arslan, Sulhattin; Sahin, Ekber

2015-07-01

Other than trauma, rib fracture can occur spontaneously due to a severe cough or sneeze. In this study, patients with spontaneous rib fractures were analyzed according to age, sex, underlying pathology, treatment, and complications. Twelve patients who presented between February 2009 and February 2011 with spontaneous rib fracture were reviewed retrospectively. The patients' data were evaluated according to anamnesis, physical examination, and chest radiographs. The ages of the patients ranged from 34 to 77 years (mean 55.91 ± 12.20 years), and 7 (58.4%) were male. All patients had severe cough and chest pain. The fractures were most frequently between 4th and 9th ribs; multiple rib fractures were detected in 5 (41.7%) patients. Eight (66.7%) patients had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 2 (16.7%) had bronchial asthma, and 2 (16.7%) had osteoporosis. Bone densitometry revealed a high risk of bone fracture in all patients. Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or bronchial asthma had been treated with high-dose steroids for over a year. Spontaneous rib fracture due to severe cough may occur in patients with osteoporosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or bronchial asthma, receiving long-term steroid therapy. If these patients have severe chest pain, chest radiography should be performed to check for bone lesions. © The Author(s) 2015.

Precise measurement of single-mode fiber lengths using a gain-switched distributed feedback laser with delayed optical feedback.

PubMed

Wada, Kenji; Matsukura, Satoru; Tanaka, Amaka; Matsuyama, Tetsuya; Horinaka, Hiromichi

2015-09-07

A simple method to measure single-mode optical fiber lengths is proposed and demonstrated using a gain-switched 1.55-μm distributed feedback laser without a fast photodetector or an optical interferometer. From the variation in the amplified spontaneous emission noise intensity with respect to the modulation frequency of the gain switching, the optical length of a 1-km single-mode fiber immersed in water is found to be 1471.043915 m ± 33 μm, corresponding to a relative standard deviation of 2.2 × 10(-8). This optical length is an average value over a measurement time of one minute under ordinary laboratory conditions.

Parametric number covariance in quantum chaotic spectra.

PubMed

Vinayak; Kumar, Sandeep; Pandey, Akhilesh

2016-03-01

We study spectral parametric correlations in quantum chaotic systems and introduce the number covariance as a measure of such correlations. We derive analytic results for the classical random matrix ensembles using the binary correlation method and obtain compact expressions for the covariance. We illustrate the universality of this measure by presenting the spectral analysis of the quantum kicked rotors for the time-reversal invariant and time-reversal noninvariant cases. A local version of the parametric number variance introduced earlier is also investigated.

Parametric Amplification For Detecting Weak Optical Signals

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hemmati, Hamid; Chen, Chien; Chakravarthi, Prakash

1996-01-01

Optical-communication receivers of proposed type implement high-sensitivity scheme of optical parametric amplification followed by direct detection for reception of extremely weak signals. Incorporates both optical parametric amplification and direct detection into optimized design enhancing effective signal-to-noise ratios during reception in photon-starved (photon-counting) regime. Eliminates need for complexity of heterodyne detection scheme and partly overcomes limitations imposed on older direct-detection schemes by noise generated in receivers and by limits on quantum efficiencies of photodetectors.

Amplified spontaneous emission of Rhodamine 6G embedded in pure deoxyribonucleic acid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rau, Ileana; Szukalski, Adam; Sznitko, Lech; Miniewicz, Andrzej; Bartkiewicz, Stanislaw; Kajzar, Francois; Sahraoui, Bouchta; Mysliwiec, Jaroslaw

2012-10-01

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is commonly viewed as a genetic information carrier. However, now it is recognized as a nanomaterial, rather than as a biological material, in the research field of nanotechnology. Here, we show that using pure DNA, doped with rhodamine 6G, we are able to observe amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) phenomenon. Moderate ASE threshold, photodegradation, and reasonable gain coefficient observed in this natural host gives some perspectives for practical applications of this system in biophotonics. Obtained results open the way and will be leading to construction of truly bio-lasers using nature made luminophores, such as anthocyanins.

Sub-250nm room temperature optical gain from AlGaN materials with strong compositional fluctuations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pecora, Emanuele; Zhang, Wei; Sun, Haiding; Nikiforov, A.; Yin, Jian; Paiella, Roberto; Moustakas, Theodore; Dal Negro, Luca

2013-03-01

Compact and portable deep-UV LEDs and laser sources are needed for a number of engineering applications including optical communications, gas sensing, biochemical agent detection, disinfection, biotechnology and medical diagnostics. We investigate the deep-UV optical emission and gain properties of AlxGa1-xN/AlyGa1-yN multiple quantum wells structure. These structures were grown by molecular-beam epitaxy on 6H-SiC substrates resulting in either homogeneous wells or various degrees of band-structure compositional fluctuations in the form of cluster-like features within the wells. We measured the TE-polarized amplified spontaneous emission in the sample with cluster-like features and quantified the optical absorption/gain coefficients and gain spectra by the Variable Stripe Length (VSL) technique under ultrafast optical pumping. We report blue-shift and narrowing of the emission, VSL traces, gain spectra, polarization studies, and the validity of the Schalow-Townes relation to demonstrate a maximum net modal gain of 120 cm-1 at 250 nm in the sample with strong compositional fluctuations. Moreover, we measure a very low gain threshold (15 μJ/cm2) . On the other hand, we found that samples with homogeneous quantum wells lead to absorption only. In addition, we report gain measurements in graded-index-separate-confined heterostructure (GRINSCH) designed to increase the device optical confinement factor.

Terahertz parametric sources and imaging applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kawase, Kodo; Ogawa, Yuichi; Minamide, Hiroaki; Ito, Hiromasa

2005-07-01

We have studied the generation of terahertz (THz) waves by optical parametric processes based on laser light scattering from the polariton mode of nonlinear crystals. Using parametric oscillation of LiNbO3 or MgO-doped LiNbO3 crystal pumped by a nano-second Q-switched Nd:YAG laser, we have realized a widely tunable coherent THz-wave source with a simple configuration. We report the detailed characteristics of the oscillation and the radiation including tunability, spatial and temporal coherency, uni-directivity, and efficiency. A Fourier transform limited THz-wave spectrum narrowing was achieved by introducing the injection seeding method. Further, we have developed a spectroscopic THz imaging system using a THz-wave parametric oscillator, which allows detection and identification of drugs concealed in envelopes, by introducing the component spatial pattern analysis. Several images of the envelope are recorded at different THz frequencies and then processed. The final result is an image that reveals what substances are present in the envelope, in what quantity, and how they are distributed across the envelope area. The example presented here shows the identification of three drugs, two of which are illegal, while one is an over-the-counter drug.

THz-wave parametric sources and imaging applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kawase, Kodo

2004-12-01

We have studied the generation of terahertz (THz) waves by optical parametric processes based on laser light scattering from the polariton mode of nonlinear crystals. Using parametric oscillation of MgO-doped LiNbO3 crystal pumped by a nano-second Q-switched Nd:YAG laser, we have realized a widely tunable coherent THz-wave sources with a simple configuration. We have also developed a novel basic technology for THz imaging, which allows detection and identification of chemicals by introducing the component spatial pattern analysis. The spatial distributions of the chemicals were obtained from terahertz multispectral trasillumination images, using absorption spectra previously measured with a widely tunable THz-wave parametric oscillator. Further we have applied this technique to the detection and identification of illicit drugs concealed in envelopes. The samples we used were methamphetamine and MDMA, two of the most widely consumed illegal drugs in Japan, and aspirin as a reference.

Leveraging prognostic baseline variables to gain precision in randomized trials

PubMed Central

Colantuoni, Elizabeth; Rosenblum, Michael

2015-01-01

We focus on estimating the average treatment effect in a randomized trial. If baseline variables are correlated with the outcome, then appropriately adjusting for these variables can improve precision. An example is the analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) estimator, which applies when the outcome is continuous, the quantity of interest is the difference in mean outcomes comparing treatment versus control, and a linear model with only main effects is used. ANCOVA is guaranteed to be at least as precise as the standard unadjusted estimator, asymptotically, under no parametric model assumptions and also is locally semiparametric efficient. Recently, several estimators have been developed that extend these desirable properties to more general settings that allow any real-valued outcome (e.g., binary or count), contrasts other than the difference in mean outcomes (such as the relative risk), and estimators based on a large class of generalized linear models (including logistic regression). To the best of our knowledge, we give the first simulation study in the context of randomized trials that compares these estimators. Furthermore, our simulations are not based on parametric models; instead, our simulations are based on resampling data from completed randomized trials in stroke and HIV in order to assess estimator performance in realistic scenarios. We provide practical guidance on when these estimators are likely to provide substantial precision gains and describe a quick assessment method that allows clinical investigators to determine whether these estimators could be useful in their specific trial contexts. PMID:25872751

Temperature dependence of spontaneous emission in GaAs-AlGaAs quantum well lasers

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Blood, P.; Kucharska, A.I.; Foxon, C.T.

1989-09-18

Using quantum well laser devices with a window in the {ital p}-type contact, we have measured the relative change of spontaneous emission intensity at threshold with temperature for 58-A-wide GaAs wells. Over the range 250--340 K the data are in good agreement with the linear relation obtained from a gain-current calculation which includes transition broadening. This linear behavior contrasts with the stronger temperature dependence of the total measured threshold current of the same devices which includes nonradiative barrier recombination processes.

Self-Induced Faraday Instability Laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Perego, A. M.; Smirnov, S. V.; Staliunas, K.; Churkin, D. V.; Wabnitz, S.

2018-05-01

We predict the onset of self-induced parametric or Faraday instabilities in a laser, spontaneously caused by the presence of pump depletion, which leads to a periodic gain landscape for light propagating in the cavity. As a result of the instability, continuous wave oscillation becomes unstable even in the normal dispersion regime of the cavity, and a periodic train of pulses with ultrahigh repetition rate is generated. Application to the case of Raman fiber lasers is described, in good quantitative agreement between our conceptual analysis and numerical modeling.

Self-Induced Faraday Instability Laser.

PubMed

Perego, A M; Smirnov, S V; Staliunas, K; Churkin, D V; Wabnitz, S

2018-05-25

We predict the onset of self-induced parametric or Faraday instabilities in a laser, spontaneously caused by the presence of pump depletion, which leads to a periodic gain landscape for light propagating in the cavity. As a result of the instability, continuous wave oscillation becomes unstable even in the normal dispersion regime of the cavity, and a periodic train of pulses with ultrahigh repetition rate is generated. Application to the case of Raman fiber lasers is described, in good quantitative agreement between our conceptual analysis and numerical modeling.

Spontaneous Cognition and Epistemic Agency in the Cognitive Niche.

PubMed

Fabry, Regina E

2018-01-01

According to Thomas Metzinger, many human cognitive processes in the waking state are spontaneous and are deprived of the experience of epistemic agency. He considers mind wandering as a paradigm example of our recurring loss of epistemic agency. I will enrich this view by extending the scope of the concept of epistemic agency to include cases of depressive rumination and creative cognition, which are additional types of spontaneous cognition. Like mind wandering, they are characterized by unique phenomenal and functional properties that give rise to varying degrees of epistemic agency. The main claim of this paper will be that the experience of being an epistemic agent within a certain time frame is a relational phenomenon that emerges from the organism's capacity to interact with its cognitive niche. To explore this relation, I develop a new framework that integrates phenomenological considerations on epistemic agency with a functional account of the reciprocal coupling of the embodied organism with its cognitive niche. This account rests upon dynamical accounts of strong embodied and embedded cognition and recent work on cognitive niche construction. Importantly, epistemic agency and organism-niche coupling are gradual phenomena ranging from weak to strong realizations. The emerging framework will be employed to analyze mind wandering, depressive rumination, and creative cognition as well as their commonalities and differences. Mind wandering and depressive rumination are cases of weak epistemic agency and organism-niche coupling. However, there are also important phenomenological, functional, and neuronal differences. In contrast, creative cognition is a case of strong epistemic agency and organism-niche coupling. By providing a phenomenological and functional analysis of these distinct types of spontaneous cognition, we can gain a better understanding of the importance of organism-niche interaction for the realization of epistemic agency.

Spontaneous Cognition and Epistemic Agency in the Cognitive Niche

PubMed Central

Fabry, Regina E.

2018-01-01

According to Thomas Metzinger, many human cognitive processes in the waking state are spontaneous and are deprived of the experience of epistemic agency. He considers mind wandering as a paradigm example of our recurring loss of epistemic agency. I will enrich this view by extending the scope of the concept of epistemic agency to include cases of depressive rumination and creative cognition, which are additional types of spontaneous cognition. Like mind wandering, they are characterized by unique phenomenal and functional properties that give rise to varying degrees of epistemic agency. The main claim of this paper will be that the experience of being an epistemic agent within a certain time frame is a relational phenomenon that emerges from the organism’s capacity to interact with its cognitive niche. To explore this relation, I develop a new framework that integrates phenomenological considerations on epistemic agency with a functional account of the reciprocal coupling of the embodied organism with its cognitive niche. This account rests upon dynamical accounts of strong embodied and embedded cognition and recent work on cognitive niche construction. Importantly, epistemic agency and organism-niche coupling are gradual phenomena ranging from weak to strong realizations. The emerging framework will be employed to analyze mind wandering, depressive rumination, and creative cognition as well as their commonalities and differences. Mind wandering and depressive rumination are cases of weak epistemic agency and organism-niche coupling. However, there are also important phenomenological, functional, and neuronal differences. In contrast, creative cognition is a case of strong epistemic agency and organism-niche coupling. By providing a phenomenological and functional analysis of these distinct types of spontaneous cognition, we can gain a better understanding of the importance of organism-niche interaction for the realization of epistemic agency. PMID:29937749

Spontaneous tension haemopneumothorax.

PubMed

Patterson, Benjamin Oliver; Itam, Sarah; Probst, Fey

2008-10-31

We present a patient with sudden onset progressive shortness of breath and no history of trauma, who rapidly became haemodynamically compromised with a pneumothorax and pleural effusion seen on chest radiograph. He was treated for spontaneous tension pneumothorax but this was soon revealed to be a tension haemopneumothorax. He underwent urgent thoracotomy after persistent bleeding to explore an apical vascular abnormality seen on CT scanning. To our knowledge this is the first such case reported.Aetiology and current approach to spontaneous haemothorax are discussed briefly.

Parametric Modelling of As-Built Beam Framed Structure in Bim Environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, X.; Koehl, M.; Grussenmeyer, P.

2017-02-01

A complete documentation and conservation of a historic timber roof requires the integration of geometry modelling, attributional and dynamic information management and results of structural analysis. Recently developed as-built Building Information Modelling (BIM) technique has the potential to provide a uniform platform, which provides possibility to integrate the traditional geometry modelling, parametric elements management and structural analysis together. The main objective of the project presented in this paper is to develop a parametric modelling tool for a timber roof structure whose elements are leaning and crossing beam frame. Since Autodesk Revit, as the typical BIM software, provides the platform for parametric modelling and information management, an API plugin, able to automatically create the parametric beam elements and link them together with strict relationship, was developed. The plugin under development is introduced in the paper, which can obtain the parametric beam model via Autodesk Revit API from total station points and terrestrial laser scanning data. The results show the potential of automatizing the parametric modelling by interactive API development in BIM environment. It also integrates the separate data processing and different platforms into the uniform Revit software.

Multi-parametric centrality method for graph network models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ivanov, Sergei Evgenievich; Gorlushkina, Natalia Nikolaevna; Ivanova, Lubov Nikolaevna

2018-04-01

The graph model networks are investigated to determine centrality, weights and the significance of vertices. For centrality analysis appliesa typical method that includesany one of the properties of graph vertices. In graph theory, methods of analyzing centrality are used: in terms by degree, closeness, betweenness, radiality, eccentricity, page-rank, status, Katz and eigenvector. We have proposed a new method of multi-parametric centrality, which includes a number of basic properties of the network member. The mathematical model of multi-parametric centrality method is developed. Comparison of results for the presented method with the centrality methods is carried out. For evaluate the results for the multi-parametric centrality methodthe graph model with hundreds of vertices is analyzed. The comparative analysis showed the accuracy of presented method, includes simultaneously a number of basic properties of vertices.

Respiration in vitro: I. Spontaneous activity.

PubMed

Hamada, O; Garcia-Rill, E; Skinner, R D

1992-01-01

The present report describes respiratory-like activity recorded from intercostal muscles in the neonatal rat in vitro brain stem-spinal cord, rib-attached preparation. In this preparation from 1- to 4-day-old rats, spontaneous rhythmic and synchronized upward movements of the rib cage coincided with the recorded muscle activity. Spontaneous respiratory-like activity showed a frequency in the range of 0.05-0.2 Hz, with single-, double-, and mixed-burst patterns. Spontaneous activity declined over time, but increased in frequency as temperature increased. Multilevel recordings showed a cephalocaudal order of bursting of intercostal muscles. Brain stem transections at the prepontine level did not affect spontaneous frequency, whereas premedullary transections resulted in an increase in spontaneous respiratory frequency. High spinal transections eliminated spontaneous respiratory-like activity. These results suggest that there is a well-organized pontomedullary pattern generator for respiratory-like activity in this preparation, which can be modulated by temperature. The characteristics of these electromyographic (EMG) recordings allow comparison with previous in vitro studies of respiratory-like activity using nerve activity and in vivo studies using EMG activity. These results provide basic information on the spontaneous activity of this preparation as a prelude to the study of the effects of electrical stimulation of the spinal cord to induce respiratory-like activity, as described in the companion article.

High contrast research in the Nd:glass laser system based on optical parametric amplification temporal cleaning device

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, Xiaoming; Leng, Yuxin; Sui, Zhan; Li, Yanyan; Zhang, Zongxin; Xu, Yi; Guo, Xiaoyang; Liu, Yanqi; Li, Ruxin; Xu, Zhizhan

2014-02-01

We demonstrate high amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) contrast pulses in a Nd:glass laser system based on the hybrid double chirped pulse amplification (double CPA) scheme. By an OPA temporal cleaning device, ~100 uJ/46 fs/ 1011 clean pulses are generated and amplified in the next Nd:glass laser. After compressor, >150 mJ/~0.5 ps/1 Hz pulses can be obtained. The ASE temporal contrast of amplified pulses is ~1011 with energy gain ~2.5×104 in the Nd:glass amplifiers.

Numerical investigation into the injection-locking phenomena of gain switched lasers for optical frequency comb generation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ó Dúill, Sean P., E-mail: sean.oduill@dcu.ie; Anandarajah, Prince M.; Zhou, Rui

2015-05-25

We present detailed numerical simulations of the laser dynamics that describe optical frequency comb formation by injection-locking a gain-switched laser. The typical rate equations for semiconductor lasers including stochastic carrier recombination and spontaneous emission suffice to show the injection-locking behavior of gain switched lasers, and we show how the optical frequency comb evolves starting from the free-running state, right through the final injection-locked state. Unlike the locking of continuous wave lasers, we show that the locking range for gain switched lasers is considerably greater because injection locking can be achieved by injecting at frequencies close to one of the combmore » lines. The quality of the comb lines is formally assessed by calculating the frequency modulation (FM)-noise spectral density and we show that under injection-locking conditions the FM-noise spectral density of the comb lines tend to that of the maser laser.« less

Perioperative spontaneous bilateral suprachoroidal hemorrhage

PubMed Central

Haridas, Anjana; Litwin, Andre S.; Coker, Timothy

2011-01-01

Summary Suprachoroidal hemorrhage is a rare condition, occurring most commonly in the perioperative period, although cases of unilateral spontaneous hemorrhages have been reported. We report a case of bilateral spontaneous suprachoroidal hemorrhage and discuss the potential causative factors. PMID:23362387

Parametrically excited helicopter ground resonance dynamics with high blade asymmetries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sanches, L.; Michon, G.; Berlioz, A.; Alazard, D.

2012-07-01

The present work is aimed at verifying the influence of high asymmetries in the variation of in-plane lead-lag stiffness of one blade on the ground resonance phenomenon in helicopters. The periodical equations of motions are analyzed by using Floquet's Theory (FM) and the boundaries of instabilities predicted. The stability chart obtained as a function of asymmetry parameters and rotor speed reveals a complex evolution of critical zones and the existence of bifurcation points at low rotor speed values. Additionally, it is known that when treated as parametric excitations; periodic terms may cause parametric resonances in dynamic systems, some of which can become unstable. Therefore, the helicopter is later considered as a parametrically excited system and the equations are treated analytically by applying the Method of Multiple Scales (MMS). A stability analysis is used to verify the existence of unstable parametric resonances with first and second-order sets of equations. The results are compared and validated with those obtained by Floquet's Theory. Moreover, an explanation is given for the presence of unstable motion at low rotor speeds due to parametric instabilities of the second order.

Parametric modelling of cost data in medical studies.

PubMed

Nixon, R M; Thompson, S G

2004-04-30

The cost of medical resources used is often recorded for each patient in clinical studies in order to inform decision-making. Although cost data are generally skewed to the right, interest is in making inferences about the population mean cost. Common methods for non-normal data, such as data transformation, assuming asymptotic normality of the sample mean or non-parametric bootstrapping, are not ideal. This paper describes possible parametric models for analysing cost data. Four example data sets are considered, which have different sample sizes and degrees of skewness. Normal, gamma, log-normal, and log-logistic distributions are fitted, together with three-parameter versions of the latter three distributions. Maximum likelihood estimates of the population mean are found; confidence intervals are derived by a parametric BC(a) bootstrap and checked by MCMC methods. Differences between model fits and inferences are explored.Skewed parametric distributions fit cost data better than the normal distribution, and should in principle be preferred for estimating the population mean cost. However for some data sets, we find that models that fit badly can give similar inferences to those that fit well. Conversely, particularly when sample sizes are not large, different parametric models that fit the data equally well can lead to substantially different inferences. We conclude that inferences are sensitive to choice of statistical model, which itself can remain uncertain unless there is enough data to model the tail of the distribution accurately. Investigating the sensitivity of conclusions to choice of model should thus be an essential component of analysing cost data in practice. Copyright 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

First-Order Parametric Model of Reflectance Spectra for Dyed Fabrics

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-02-19

Unclassified Unlimited 31 Daniel Aiken (202) 279-5293 Parametric modeling Inverse /direct analysis This report describes a first-order parametric model of...Appendix: Dielectric Response Functions for Dyes Obtained by Inverse Analysis ……………………………...…………………………………………………….19 1 First-Order Parametric...which provides for both their inverse and direct modeling1. The dyes considered contain spectral features that are of interest to the U.S. Navy for

Ghost imaging via optical parametric amplification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Hong-Guo; Zhang, De-Jian; Xu, De-Qin; Zhao, Qiu-Li; Wang, Sen; Wang, Hai-Bo; Xiong, Jun; Wang, Kaige

2015-10-01

We investigate theoretically and experimentally thermal light ghost imaging where the light transmitted through the object as the seed light is amplified by an optical parametric amplifier (OPA). In conventional lens imaging systems with OPA, the spectral bandwidth of OPA dominates the image resolution. Theoretically, we prove that in ghost imaging via optical parametric amplification (GIOPA) the bandwidth of OPA will not affect the image resolution. The experimental results show that for weak seed light the image quality in GIOPA is better than that of conventional ghost imaging. Our work may be valuable in remote sensing with ghost imaging technique, where the light passed through the object is weak after a long-distance propagation.

The effect of ASE reinjection configuration through FBGs on the gain and noise figure performance of L-Band EDFA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Durak, Fırat Ertaç; Altuncu, Ahmet

2017-03-01

In this study, we present the gain and noise figure performance improvement in L-band erbium-doped fiber amplifier (L-EDFA) provided by amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) reinjection through different configurations of 1533 nm band FBGs. The experimental results are compared with a single-stage bidirectionally pumped conventional L-EDFA design. It is shown that when the forward and/or the backward ASE noise is partly reinjected to L-EDFA using a double/single 1533 nm fiber Bragg gratings (FBG), the gain and noise figure performance of L-EDFA increases depending on the FBG configuration. The best gain and NF performance in our L-EDFA was achieved by reinjection of forward and backward ASE through FBG1 and FBG2 leading to an 4.5 dB increase in gain and 1 dB decrease in NF at 1585 nm and -30 dBm input signal power. The results show that both FBGs must be used at the same time to improve gain and NF performance in L-band EDFAs.

New graph polynomials in parametric QED Feynman integrals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Golz, Marcel

2017-10-01

In recent years enormous progress has been made in perturbative quantum field theory by applying methods of algebraic geometry to parametric Feynman integrals for scalar theories. The transition to gauge theories is complicated not only by the fact that their parametric integrand is much larger and more involved. It is, moreover, only implicitly given as the result of certain differential operators applied to the scalar integrand exp(-ΦΓ /ΨΓ) , where ΨΓ and ΦΓ are the Kirchhoff and Symanzik polynomials of the Feynman graph Γ. In the case of quantum electrodynamics we find that the full parametric integrand inherits a rich combinatorial structure from ΨΓ and ΦΓ. In the end, it can be expressed explicitly as a sum over products of new types of graph polynomials which have a combinatoric interpretation via simple cycle subgraphs of Γ.

Parametrically driven scalar field in an expanding background

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yanez-Pagans, Sergio; Urzagasti, Deterlino; Oporto, Zui

2017-10-01

We study the existence and dynamic behavior of localized and extended structures in a massive scalar inflaton field ϕ in 1 +1 dimensions in the framework of an expanding universe with constant Hubble parameter. We introduce a parametric forcing, produced by another quantum scalar field ψ , over the effective mass squared around the minimum of the inflaton potential. For this purpose, we study the system in the context of the cubic quintic complex Ginzburg-Landau equation and find the associated amplitude equation to the cosmological scalar field equation, which near the parametric resonance allows us to find the field amplitude. We find homogeneous null solutions, flat-top expanding solitons, and dark soliton patterns. No persistent non-null solutions are found in the absence of parametric forcing, and divergent solutions are obtained when the forcing amplitude is greater than 4 /3 .

A unified framework for weighted parametric multiple test procedures.

PubMed

Xi, Dong; Glimm, Ekkehard; Maurer, Willi; Bretz, Frank

2017-09-01

We describe a general framework for weighted parametric multiple test procedures based on the closure principle. We utilize general weighting strategies that can reflect complex study objectives and include many procedures in the literature as special cases. The proposed weighted parametric tests bridge the gap between rejection rules using either adjusted significance levels or adjusted p-values. This connection is made by allowing intersection hypotheses of the underlying closed test procedure to be tested at level smaller than α. This may be also necessary to take certain study situations into account. For such cases we introduce a subclass of exact α-level parametric tests that satisfy the consonance property. When the correlation is known only for certain subsets of the test statistics, a new procedure is proposed to fully utilize this knowledge within each subset. We illustrate the proposed weighted parametric tests using a clinical trial example and conduct a simulation study to investigate its operating characteristics. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Fitting C 2 Continuous Parametric Surfaces to Frontiers Delimiting Physiologic Structures

PubMed Central

Bayer, Jason D.

2014-01-01

We present a technique to fit C 2 continuous parametric surfaces to scattered geometric data points forming frontiers delimiting physiologic structures in segmented images. Such mathematical representation is interesting because it facilitates a large number of operations in modeling. While the fitting of C 2 continuous parametric curves to scattered geometric data points is quite trivial, the fitting of C 2 continuous parametric surfaces is not. The difficulty comes from the fact that each scattered data point should be assigned a unique parametric coordinate, and the fit is quite sensitive to their distribution on the parametric plane. We present a new approach where a polygonal (quadrilateral or triangular) surface is extracted from the segmented image. This surface is subsequently projected onto a parametric plane in a manner to ensure a one-to-one mapping. The resulting polygonal mesh is then regularized for area and edge length. Finally, from this point, surface fitting is relatively trivial. The novelty of our approach lies in the regularization of the polygonal mesh. Process performance is assessed with the reconstruction of a geometric model of mouse heart ventricles from a computerized tomography scan. Our results show an excellent reproduction of the geometric data with surfaces that are C 2 continuous. PMID:24782911

Free response approach in a parametric system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Dishan; Zhang, Yueyue; Shao, Hexi

2017-07-01

In this study, a new approach to predict the free response in a parametric system is investigated. It is proposed in the special form of a trigonometric series with an exponentially decaying function of time, based on the concept of frequency splitting. By applying harmonic balance, the parametric vibration equation is transformed into an infinite set of homogeneous linear equations, from which the principal oscillation frequency can be computed, and all coefficients of harmonic components can be obtained. With initial conditions, arbitrary constants in a general solution can be determined. To analyze the computational accuracy and consistency, an approach error function is defined, which is used to assess the computational error in the proposed approach and in the standard numerical approach based on the Runge-Kutta algorithm. Furthermore, an example of a dynamic model of airplane wing flutter on a turbine engine is given to illustrate the applicability of the proposed approach. Numerical solutions show that the proposed approach exhibits high accuracy in mathematical expression, and it is valuable for theoretical research and engineering applications of parametric systems.

Optical antenna enhanced spontaneous emission

PubMed Central

Eggleston, Michael S.; Messer, Kevin; Zhang, Liming; Yablonovitch, Eli; Wu, Ming C.

2015-01-01

Atoms and molecules are too small to act as efficient antennas for their own emission wavelengths. By providing an external optical antenna, the balance can be shifted; spontaneous emission could become faster than stimulated emission, which is handicapped by practically achievable pump intensities. In our experiments, InGaAsP nanorods emitting at ∼200 THz optical frequency show a spontaneous emission intensity enhancement of 35× corresponding to a spontaneous emission rate speedup ∼115×, for antenna gap spacing, d = 40 nm. Classical antenna theory predicts ∼2,500× spontaneous emission speedup at d ∼ 10 nm, proportional to 1/d2. Unfortunately, at d < 10 nm, antenna efficiency drops below 50%, owing to optical spreading resistance, exacerbated by the anomalous skin effect (electron surface collisions). Quantum dipole oscillations in the emitter excited state produce an optical ac equivalent circuit current, Io = qω|xo|/d, feeding the antenna-enhanced spontaneous emission, where q|xo| is the dipole matrix element. Despite the quantum-mechanical origin of the drive current, antenna theory makes no reference to the Purcell effect nor to local density of states models. Moreover, plasmonic effects are minor at 200 THz, producing only a small shift of antenna resonance frequency. PMID:25624503

Optical antenna enhanced spontaneous emission

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Eggleston, Michael S.; Messer, Kevin; Zhang, Liming

Atoms and molecules are too small to act as efficient antennas for their own emission wavelengths. By providing an external optical antenna, the balance can be shifted; spontaneous emission could become faster than stimulated emission, which is handicapped by practically achievable pump intensities. In our experiments, InGaAsP nanorods emitting at ~200 THz optical frequency show a spontaneous emission intensity enhancement of 35 × corresponding to a spontaneous emission rate speedup ~115 ×, for antenna gap spacing, d = 40 nm. Classical antenna theory predicts ~2,500 × spontaneous emission speedup at d ~10 nm, proportional to 1/d 2. Unfortunately, at dmore » < 10 nm, antenna efficiency drops below 50%, owing to optical spreading resistance, exacerbated by the anomalous skin effect (electron surface collisions). Quantum dipole oscillations in the emitter excited state produce an optical ac equivalent circuit current, I(o) = qω|x(o)|/d, feeding the antenna-enhanced spontaneous emission, where q|x(o)| is the dipole matrix element. Despite the quantum-mechanical origin of the drive current, antenna theory makes no reference to the Purcell effect nor to local density of states models. Additionally, plasmonic effects are minor at 200 THz, producing only a small shift of antenna resonance frequency.« less

Optical antenna enhanced spontaneous emission.

PubMed

Eggleston, Michael S; Messer, Kevin; Zhang, Liming; Yablonovitch, Eli; Wu, Ming C

2015-02-10

Atoms and molecules are too small to act as efficient antennas for their own emission wavelengths. By providing an external optical antenna, the balance can be shifted; spontaneous emission could become faster than stimulated emission, which is handicapped by practically achievable pump intensities. In our experiments, InGaAsP nanorods emitting at ∼ 200 THz optical frequency show a spontaneous emission intensity enhancement of 35 × corresponding to a spontaneous emission rate speedup ∼ 115 ×, for antenna gap spacing, d = 40 nm. Classical antenna theory predicts ∼ 2,500 × spontaneous emission speedup at d ∼ 10 nm, proportional to 1/d(2). Unfortunately, at d < 10 nm, antenna efficiency drops below 50%, owing to optical spreading resistance, exacerbated by the anomalous skin effect (electron surface collisions). Quantum dipole oscillations in the emitter excited state produce an optical ac equivalent circuit current, I(o) = qω|x(o)|/d, feeding the antenna-enhanced spontaneous emission, where q|x(o)| is the dipole matrix element. Despite the quantum-mechanical origin of the drive current, antenna theory makes no reference to the Purcell effect nor to local density of states models. Moreover, plasmonic effects are minor at 200 THz, producing only a small shift of antenna resonance frequency.

Optical antenna enhanced spontaneous emission

DOE PAGES

Eggleston, Michael S.; Messer, Kevin; Zhang, Liming; ...

2015-01-26

Atoms and molecules are too small to act as efficient antennas for their own emission wavelengths. By providing an external optical antenna, the balance can be shifted; spontaneous emission could become faster than stimulated emission, which is handicapped by practically achievable pump intensities. In our experiments, InGaAsP nanorods emitting at ~200 THz optical frequency show a spontaneous emission intensity enhancement of 35 × corresponding to a spontaneous emission rate speedup ~115 ×, for antenna gap spacing, d = 40 nm. Classical antenna theory predicts ~2,500 × spontaneous emission speedup at d ~10 nm, proportional to 1/d 2. Unfortunately, at dmore » < 10 nm, antenna efficiency drops below 50%, owing to optical spreading resistance, exacerbated by the anomalous skin effect (electron surface collisions). Quantum dipole oscillations in the emitter excited state produce an optical ac equivalent circuit current, I(o) = qω|x(o)|/d, feeding the antenna-enhanced spontaneous emission, where q|x(o)| is the dipole matrix element. Despite the quantum-mechanical origin of the drive current, antenna theory makes no reference to the Purcell effect nor to local density of states models. Additionally, plasmonic effects are minor at 200 THz, producing only a small shift of antenna resonance frequency.« less

Spontaneous combustion of hydrogen

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nusselt, Wilhelm; Pothmann, PH

1923-01-01

It is shown by the author's experiments that hydrogen which escapes to the atmosphere through openings in the system may burn spontaneously if it contains dust. Purely thermal reasoning can not account for the combustion. It seems to be rather an electrical ignition. In order to determine whether the cause of the spontaneous ignition was thermo-chemical, thermo-mechanical, or thermo-electrical, the experiments in this paper were performed.

Comparison of parametric and bootstrap method in bioequivalence test.

PubMed

Ahn, Byung-Jin; Yim, Dong-Seok

2009-10-01

The estimation of 90% parametric confidence intervals (CIs) of mean AUC and Cmax ratios in bioequivalence (BE) tests are based upon the assumption that formulation effects in log-transformed data are normally distributed. To compare the parametric CIs with those obtained from nonparametric methods we performed repeated estimation of bootstrap-resampled datasets. The AUC and Cmax values from 3 archived datasets were used. BE tests on 1,000 resampled datasets from each archived dataset were performed using SAS (Enterprise Guide Ver.3). Bootstrap nonparametric 90% CIs of formulation effects were then compared with the parametric 90% CIs of the original datasets. The 90% CIs of formulation effects estimated from the 3 archived datasets were slightly different from nonparametric 90% CIs obtained from BE tests on resampled datasets. Histograms and density curves of formulation effects obtained from resampled datasets were similar to those of normal distribution. However, in 2 of 3 resampled log (AUC) datasets, the estimates of formulation effects did not follow the Gaussian distribution. Bias-corrected and accelerated (BCa) CIs, one of the nonparametric CIs of formulation effects, shifted outside the parametric 90% CIs of the archived datasets in these 2 non-normally distributed resampled log (AUC) datasets. Currently, the 80~125% rule based upon the parametric 90% CIs is widely accepted under the assumption of normally distributed formulation effects in log-transformed data. However, nonparametric CIs may be a better choice when data do not follow this assumption.

Comparison of Parametric and Bootstrap Method in Bioequivalence Test

PubMed Central

Ahn, Byung-Jin

2009-01-01

The estimation of 90% parametric confidence intervals (CIs) of mean AUC and Cmax ratios in bioequivalence (BE) tests are based upon the assumption that formulation effects in log-transformed data are normally distributed. To compare the parametric CIs with those obtained from nonparametric methods we performed repeated estimation of bootstrap-resampled datasets. The AUC and Cmax values from 3 archived datasets were used. BE tests on 1,000 resampled datasets from each archived dataset were performed using SAS (Enterprise Guide Ver.3). Bootstrap nonparametric 90% CIs of formulation effects were then compared with the parametric 90% CIs of the original datasets. The 90% CIs of formulation effects estimated from the 3 archived datasets were slightly different from nonparametric 90% CIs obtained from BE tests on resampled datasets. Histograms and density curves of formulation effects obtained from resampled datasets were similar to those of normal distribution. However, in 2 of 3 resampled log (AUC) datasets, the estimates of formulation effects did not follow the Gaussian distribution. Bias-corrected and accelerated (BCa) CIs, one of the nonparametric CIs of formulation effects, shifted outside the parametric 90% CIs of the archived datasets in these 2 non-normally distributed resampled log (AUC) datasets. Currently, the 80~125% rule based upon the parametric 90% CIs is widely accepted under the assumption of normally distributed formulation effects in log-transformed data. However, nonparametric CIs may be a better choice when data do not follow this assumption. PMID:19915699

Parametrization study of the land multiparameter VTI elastic waveform inversion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

He, W.; Plessix, R.-É.; Singh, S.

2018-06-01

Multiparameter inversion of seismic data remains challenging due to the trade-off between the different elastic parameters and the non-uniqueness of the solution. The sensitivity of the seismic data to a given subsurface elastic parameter depends on the source and receiver ray/wave path orientations at the subsurface point. In a high-frequency approximation, this is commonly analysed through the study of the radiation patterns that indicate the sensitivity of each parameter versus the incoming (from the source) and outgoing (to the receiver) angles. In practice, this means that the inversion result becomes sensitive to the choice of parametrization, notably because the null-space of the inversion depends on this choice. We can use a least-overlapping parametrization that minimizes the overlaps between the radiation patterns, in this case each parameter is only sensitive in a restricted angle domain, or an overlapping parametrization that contains a parameter sensitive to all angles, in this case overlaps between the radiation parameters occur. Considering a multiparameter inversion in an elastic vertically transverse isotropic medium and a complex land geological setting, we show that the inversion with the least-overlapping parametrization gives less satisfactory results than with the overlapping parametrization. The difficulties come from the complex wave paths that make difficult to predict the areas of sensitivity of each parameter. This shows that the parametrization choice should not only be based on the radiation pattern analysis but also on the angular coverage at each subsurface point that depends on geology and the acquisition layout.

Tailoring the spatiotemporal structure of biphoton entanglement in type-I parametric down-conversion

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Caspani, L.; Brambilla, E.; Gatti, A.

2010-03-15

We investigate the spatiotemporal structure of the biphoton entangled state produced by parametric down-conversion (PDC) at the output face of the nonlinear crystal. We analyze the geometry of biphoton correlation for different gain regimes (from ultralow to high), different crystal lengths, and different tuning angles of the crystal. While for collinear or quasicollinear phase matching a X-shaped geometry, nonfactorizable in space and time, dominates, in the highly noncollinear conditions we observe a remarkable transition to a factorizable geometry. We show that the geometry of spatiotemporal correlation is a consequence of the angle-frequency relationship imposed by phase matching and that themore » fully spatiotemporal analysis provides a key to control the spatiotemporal properties of the PDC entangled state and in particular to access a biphoton localization in time and space in the femtosecond and micrometer range, respectively.« less

Experimental implementation of a nonlinear beamsplitter based on a phase-sensitive parametric amplifier

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fang, Yami; Feng, Jingliang; Cao, Leiming

2016-03-28

Beamsplitters have played an important role in quantum optics experiments. They are often used to split and combine two beams, especially in the construct of an interferometer. In this letter, we experimentally implement a nonlinear beamsplitter using a phase-sensitive parametric amplifier, which is based on four-wave mixing in hot rubidium vapor. Here we show that, despite the different frequencies of the two input beams, the output ports of the nonlinear beamsplitter exhibit interference phenomena. We make measurements of the interference fringe visibility and study how various parameters, such as the intensity gain of the amplifier, the intensity ratio of themore » two input beams, and the one and two photon detunings, affect the behavior of the nonlinear beamsplitter. It may find potential applications in quantum metrology and quantum information processing.« less

Aircraft conceptual design - an adaptable parametric sizing methodology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Coleman, Gary John, Jr.

Aerospace is a maturing industry with successful and refined baselines which work well for traditional baseline missions, markets and technologies. However, when new markets (space tourism) or new constrains (environmental) or new technologies (composite, natural laminar flow) emerge, the conventional solution is not necessarily best for the new situation. Which begs the question "how does a design team quickly screen and compare novel solutions to conventional solutions for new aerospace challenges?" The answer is rapid and flexible conceptual design Parametric Sizing. In the product design life-cycle, parametric sizing is the first step in screening the total vehicle in terms of mission, configuration and technology to quickly assess first order design and mission sensitivities. During this phase, various missions and technologies are assessed. During this phase, the designer is identifying design solutions of concepts and configurations to meet combinations of mission and technology. This research undertaking contributes the state-of-the-art in aircraft parametric sizing through (1) development of a dedicated conceptual design process and disciplinary methods library, (2) development of a novel and robust parametric sizing process based on 'best-practice' approaches found in the process and disciplinary methods library, and (3) application of the parametric sizing process to a variety of design missions (transonic, supersonic and hypersonic transports), different configurations (tail-aft, blended wing body, strut-braced wing, hypersonic blended bodies, etc.), and different technologies (composite, natural laminar flow, thrust vectored control, etc.), in order to demonstrate the robustness of the methodology and unearth first-order design sensitivities to current and future aerospace design problems. This research undertaking demonstrates the importance of this early design step in selecting the correct combination of mission, technologies and configuration to

Relationship of body weight parameters with the incidence of common spontaneous tumors in Tg.rasH2 mice.

PubMed

Paranjpe, Madhav G; Denton, Melissa D; Vidmar, Tom J; Elbekai, Reem H

2014-10-01

The mechanistic relationship between increased food consumption, increased body weights, and increased incidence of tumors has been well established in 2-year rodent models. Body weight parameters such as initial body weights, terminal body weights, food consumption, and the body weight gains in grams and percentages were analyzed to determine whether such relationship exists between these parameters with the incidence of common spontaneous tumors in Tg.rasH2 mice. None of these body weight parameters had any statistically significant relationship with the incidence of common spontaneous tumors in Tg.rasH2 males, namely lung tumors, splenic hemangiosarcomas, nonsplenic hemangiosarcomas, combined incidence of all hemangiosarcomas, and Harderian gland tumors. These parameters also did not have any statistically significant relationship with the incidence of lung and Harderian gland tumors in females. However, in females, increased initial body weights did have a statistically significant relationship with the nonsplenic hemangiosarcomas, and increased terminal body weights did have a statistically significant relationship with the incidence of splenic hemangiosarcomas, nonsplenic hemangiosarcomas, and the combined incidence of all hemangiosarcomas. In addition, increased body weight gains in grams and percentages had a statistically significant relationship with the combined incidence of all hemangiosarcomas in females, but not separately with splenic and nonsplenic hemangiosarcomas. © 2013 by The Author(s).

Trend analysis of body weight parameters, mortality, and incidence of spontaneous tumors in Tg.rasH2 mice.

PubMed

Paranjpe, Madhav G; Denton, Melissa D; Vidmar, Tom; Elbekai, Reem H

2014-01-01

Carcinogenicity studies have been performed in conventional 2-year rodent studies for at least 3 decades, whereas the short-term carcinogenicity studies in transgenic mice, such as Tg.rasH2, have only been performed over the last decade. In the 2-year conventional rodent studies, interlinked problems, such as increasing trends in the initial body weights, increased body weight gains, high incidence of spontaneous tumors, and low survival, that complicate the interpretation of findings have been well established. However, these end points have not been evaluated in the short-term carcinogenicity studies involving the Tg.rasH2 mice. In this article, we present retrospective analysis of data obtained from control groups in 26-week carcinogenicity studies conducted in Tg.rasH2 mice since 2004. Our analysis showed statistically significant decreasing trends in initial body weights of both sexes. Although the terminal body weights did not show any significant trends, there was a statistically significant increasing trend toward body weight gains, more so in males than in females, which correlated with increasing trends in the food consumption. There were no statistically significant alterations in mortality trends. In addition, the incidence of all common spontaneous tumors remained fairly constant with no statistically significant differences in trends. © The Author(s) 2014.

Increasing power and amplified spontaneous emission suppression for weak signal amplification in pulsed fiber amplifier

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luo, Yi; Zhang, Hanwei; Wang, Xiaolin; Su, Rongtao; Ma, Pengfei; Zhou, Pu; Jiang, Zongfu

2017-10-01

In the pulsed fiber amplifiers with repetition frequency of several tens kHz, amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) is easy to build up because of the low repetition frequency and weak pulse signal. The ASE rises the difficulty to amplify the weak pulse signal effectively. We have demonstrated an all-fiber preamplifier stage structure to amplify a 40 kHz, 10 ns bandwidth (FWHM) weak pulse signal (299 μW) with center wavelength of 1062 nm. Compared synchronous pulse pump with continuous wave(CW) pump, the results indicate that synchronous pulse pump shows the better capability of increasing the output power than CW pump. In the condition of the same pump power, the output power of synchronous pulse pump is twice as high as CW pump. In order to suppress ASE, a longer gain fiber is utilized to reabsorb the ASE in which the wavelength is shorter than 1062nm. We amplified weak pulse signal via 0.8 m and 2.1 m gain fiber in synchronous pulse pump experiments respectively, and more ASE in the output spectra are observed in the 0.8 m gain fiber system. Due to the weaker ASE and consequent capability of higher pump power, the 2.1 m gain fiber is capable to achieve higher output power than shorter fiber. The output power of 2.1 m gain fiber case is limited by pump power.

Spontaneous network activity and synaptic development

PubMed Central

Kerschensteiner, Daniel

2014-01-01

Throughout development, the nervous system produces patterned spontaneous activity. Research over the last two decades has revealed a core group of mechanisms that mediate spontaneous activity in diverse circuits. Many circuits engage several of these mechanisms sequentially to accommodate developmental changes in connectivity. In addition to shared mechanisms, activity propagates through developing circuits and neuronal pathways (i.e. linked circuits in different brain areas) in stereotypic patterns. Increasing evidence suggests that spontaneous network activity shapes synaptic development in vivo. Variations in activity-dependent plasticity may explain how similar mechanisms and patterns of activity can be employed to establish diverse circuits. Here, I will review common mechanisms and patterns of spontaneous activity in emerging neural networks and discuss recent insights into their contribution to synaptic development. PMID:24280071

Free-form geometric modeling by integrating parametric and implicit PDEs.

PubMed

Du, Haixia; Qin, Hong

2007-01-01

Parametric PDE techniques, which use partial differential equations (PDEs) defined over a 2D or 3D parametric domain to model graphical objects and processes, can unify geometric attributes and functional constraints of the models. PDEs can also model implicit shapes defined by level sets of scalar intensity fields. In this paper, we present an approach that integrates parametric and implicit trivariate PDEs to define geometric solid models containing both geometric information and intensity distribution subject to flexible boundary conditions. The integrated formulation of second-order or fourth-order elliptic PDEs permits designers to manipulate PDE objects of complex geometry and/or arbitrary topology through direct sculpting and free-form modeling. We developed a PDE-based geometric modeling system for shape design and manipulation of PDE objects. The integration of implicit PDEs with parametric geometry offers more general and arbitrary shape blending and free-form modeling for objects with intensity attributes than pure geometric models.

HASEonGPU-An adaptive, load-balanced MPI/GPU-code for calculating the amplified spontaneous emission in high power laser media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eckert, C. H. J.; Zenker, E.; Bussmann, M.; Albach, D.

2016-10-01

We present an adaptive Monte Carlo algorithm for computing the amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) flux in laser gain media pumped by pulsed lasers. With the design of high power lasers in mind, which require large size gain media, we have developed the open source code HASEonGPU that is capable of utilizing multiple graphic processing units (GPUs). With HASEonGPU, time to solution is reduced to minutes on a medium size GPU cluster of 64 NVIDIA Tesla K20m GPUs and excellent speedup is achieved when scaling to multiple GPUs. Comparison of simulation results to measurements of ASE in Y b 3 + : Y AG ceramics show perfect agreement.

Parametric-Studies and Data-Plotting Modules for the SOAP

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2008-01-01

"Parametric Studies" and "Data Table Plot View" are the names of software modules in the Satellite Orbit Analysis Program (SOAP). Parametric Studies enables parameterization of as many as three satellite or ground-station attributes across a range of values and computes the average, minimum, and maximum of a specified metric, the revisit time, or 21 other functions at each point in the parameter space. This computation produces a one-, two-, or three-dimensional table of data representing statistical results across the parameter space. Inasmuch as the output of a parametric study in three dimensions can be a very large data set, visualization is a paramount means of discovering trends in the data (see figure). Data Table Plot View enables visualization of the data table created by Parametric Studies or by another data source: this module quickly generates a display of the data in the form of a rotatable three-dimensional-appearing plot, making it unnecessary to load the SOAP output data into a separate plotting program. The rotatable three-dimensionalappearing plot makes it easy to determine which points in the parameter space are most desirable. Both modules provide intuitive user interfaces for ease of use.

Spontaneous pneumothorax in diffuse cystic lung diseases.

PubMed

Cooley, Joseph; Lee, Yun Chor Gary; Gupta, Nishant

2017-07-01

Diffuse cystic lung diseases (DCLDs) are a heterogeneous group of disorders with varying pathophysiologic mechanisms that are characterized by the presence of air-filled lung cysts. These cysts are prone to rupture, leading to the development of recurrent spontaneous pneumothoraces. In this article, we review the epidemiology, clinical features, and management DCLD-associated spontaneous pneumothorax, with a focus on lymphangioleiomyomatosis, Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome, and pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis. DCLDs are responsible for approximately 10% of apparent primary spontaneous pneumothoraces. Computed tomography screening for DCLDs (Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome, lymphangioleiomyomatosis, and pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis) following the first spontaneous pneumothorax has recently been shown to be cost-effective and can help facilitate early diagnosis of the underlying disorders. Patients with DCLD-associated spontaneous pneumothorax have a very high rate of recurrence, and thus pleurodesis should be considered following the first episode of spontaneous pneumothorax in these patients, rather than waiting for a recurrent episode. Prior pleurodesis is not a contraindication to future lung transplant. Although DCLDs are uncommon, spontaneous pneumothorax is often the sentinel event that provides an opportunity for diagnosis. By understanding the burden and implications of pneumothoraces in DCLDs, clinicians can facilitate early diagnosis and appropriate management of the underlying disorders.

Parametric Equations: Push 'Em Back, Push 'Em Back, Way Back!

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cieply, Joseph F.

1993-01-01

Stresses using the features of graphing calculators to teach parametric equations much earlier in the curriculum than is presently done. Examples using parametric equations to teach slopes and lines in beginning algebra, inverse functions in advanced algebra, the wrapping function, and simulations of physical phenomena are presented. (MAZ)

Parametric Architecture in the Urban Space

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Januszkiewicz, Krystyna; Kowalski, Karol G.

2017-10-01

The paper deals with the parametric architecture which is trying to introduce a new spatial language in the context for urban tissue that correspond to the artistic consciousness and the attitude of information and digital technologies era. The first part of the paper defines the main features of parametric architecture (such as: folding, continuity and curvilinearity) which are are characteristic of the new style of named the “parametricism”. This architecture is a strong emphasis on geometry, materiality, feasibility and sustainability, what emerges is an explicit agenda promoting material ornamentation, spatial spectacle and formal theatricality. The second part presents result of case study, especially parametric public use buildings, within the tissue of city. The analyzed objects are: The Sage Gateshead (1998-2004) in Gateshead, Kunsthaus in Graz (2000-2003), the Weltstadthaus (2003-2005) in Cologne, The Golden Terraces in Warsaw (2000-2007), the Metropol Parasol in Seville (2005-2011) the King Cross Station (2005-2012) in London, the headquarters of the Pathé Foundation (2006-2014) in Paris. Each of the enumerated examples shows a diverse approach to designing in the urban space, which reflect the age of digital technologies and the information society. In conclusion emphasizes, that new concept of the spatialization of architecture is the equivalent of the democratization of the political system, the liberalization of the economy, among other examples.

Distributed parametric amplifier for RZ-DPSK signal transmission system.

PubMed

Xu, Xing; Zhang, Chi; Yuk, T I; Wong, Kenneth K Y

2012-08-13

We have experimentally demonstrated a single pump distributed parametric amplification (DPA) system for differential phase shift keying (DPSK) signal in a spool of dispersion-shifted fiber (DSF). The gain spectrum of single pump DPA is thoroughly investigated by both simulation and experiment, and a possible reference for optimal input pump power and fiber length relationship is provided to DPA based applications. Furthermore, DPSK format is compared with on-off keying (OOK) within DPA scheme. Eight WDM signal channels at 10-Gb/s are utilized, and approximately 0.5-dB power penalties at the bit-error rate (BER) of 10(-9) are achieved for return-to-zero DPSK (RZ-DPSK), comparing to larger than 1.5-dB with OOK format. In order to improve the system power efficiency, at the receiver, the pump is recycled by a photovoltaic cell and the converted energy can be used by potential low-power-consuming devices, i.e sensors or small-scale electronic circuits. Additionally, with suitable components, the whole DPA concept could be directly applied to the 1.3-μm telecommunication window along the most commonly used single-mode fiber (SMF).

Epicyclic helical channels for parametric resonance ionization cooling

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Johson, Rolland Paul; Derbenev, Yaroslav

Proposed next-generation muon colliders will require major technical advances to achieve rapid muon beam cooling requirements. Parametric-resonance Ionization Cooling (PIC) is proposed as the final 6D cooling stage of a high-luminosity muon collider. In PIC, a half-integer parametric resonance causes strong focusing of a muon beam at appropriately placed energy absorbers while ionization cooling limits the beam’s angular spread. Combining muon ionization cooling with parametric resonant dynamics in this way should then allow much smaller final transverse muon beam sizes than conventional ionization cooling alone. One of the PIC challenges is compensation of beam aberrations over a sufficiently wide parametermore » range while maintaining the dynamical stability with correlated behavior of the horizontal and vertical betatron motion and dispersion. We explore use of a coupling resonance to reduce the dimensionality of the problem and to shift the dynamics away from non-linear resonances. PIC simulations are presented.« less

Phorbol ester and spontaneous activity in SHR aorta

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Moisey, D.M.; Cox, R.H.

1986-03-01

Thoracic aortas (TA) were excised from 6-week old SHR and WKY. 2mm rings were mounted isometrically at optimum preload. Spontaneous rhythmical activity developed in TA from SHR and had a frequency of 3-4/min with varying periods of quiescence between bursts of activity. The spontaneous activity often produced an increase in tension development which was associated with increased frequency of oscillations. Verapamil (10/sup -7/ M) or Ca/sup + +/-free solution added during the contractile phase resulted in an immediate loss of tension and spontaneous activity. Addition of ouabain (10/sup -4/ M) during the contractile phase of spontaneous activity, increased the frequencymore » of oscillations which appeared to fuse into a tetanus. Spontaneous rhythmical activity was infrequently observed in TA from WKY. However, addition of phorbol 12-myristate-13 acetate (TPA), frequently induced spontaneous rhythmic oscillations associated with tension development in TA from WKY. TPA contracted the SHR TA and increased the frequency of oscillations. SHR TA were more sensitive to TPA than WKY. This study demonstrates (1) spontaneous rhythmical activity, independent of agonist stimulation in TA from 6-week old SHR and (2) TPA induced spontaneous oscillatory activity. The mechanism underlying the spontaneous oscillatory activity may involve membrane coupling events and Na-pump difference between SHR and WKY.« less

Harmonic generation and parametric decay in the ion cyclotron frequency range

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Skiff, F.N.; Wong, K.L.; Ono, M.

1984-06-01

Harmonic generation and parametric decay are examined in a toroidal ACT-I plasma using electrostatic plate antennas. The harmonic generation, which is consistent with sheath rectification, is sufficiently strong that the nonlinearly generated harmonic modes themselves decay parametrically. Resonant and nonresonant parametric decay of the second harmonic are observed and compared with uniform pump theory. Resonant decay of lower hybrid waves into lower hybrid waves and slow ion cyclotron waves is seen for the first time. Surprisingly, the decay processes are nonlinearly saturated, indicating absolute instability.

Gated frequency-resolved optical imaging with an optical parametric amplifier

DOEpatents

Cameron, Stewart M.; Bliss, David E.; Kimmel, Mark W.; Neal, Daniel R.

1999-01-01

A system for detecting objects in a turbid media utilizes an optical parametric amplifier as an amplifying gate for received light from the media. An optical gating pulse from a second parametric amplifier permits the system to respond to and amplify only ballistic photons from the object in the media.

Raman-Suppressing Coupling for Optical Parametric Oscillator

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Savchenkov, Anatoliy; Maleki, Lute; Matsko, Andrey; Rubiola, Enrico

2007-01-01

A Raman-scattering-suppressing input/ output coupling scheme has been devised for a whispering-gallery-mode optical resonator that is used as a four-wave-mixing device to effect an all-optical parametric oscillator. Raman scattering is undesired in such a device because (1) it is a nonlinear process that competes with the desired nonlinear four-wave conversion process involved in optical parametric oscillation and (2) as such, it reduces the power of the desired oscillation and contributes to output noise. The essence of the present input/output coupling scheme is to reduce output loading of the desired resonator modes while increasing output loading of the undesired ones.

Spontaneous splenic rupture in infectious mononucleosis.

PubMed

Rothwell, S; McAuley, D

2001-09-01

Spontaneous splenic rupture is a rare but life-threatening complication of infectious mononucleosis. Abdominal pain and tachycardia are unusual in uncomplicated infectious mononucleosis and should alert a doctor to the possibility of spontaneous splenic rupture.

Parametric models of reflectance spectra for dyed fabrics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aiken, Daniel C.; Ramsey, Scott; Mayo, Troy; Lambrakos, Samuel G.; Peak, Joseph

2016-05-01

This study examines parametric modeling of NIR reflectivity spectra for dyed fabrics, which provides for both their inverse and direct modeling. The dye considered for prototype analysis is triarylamine dye. The fabrics considered are camouflage textiles characterized by color variations. The results of this study provide validation of the constructed parametric models, within reasonable error tolerances for practical applications, including NIR spectral characteristics in camouflage textiles, for purposes of simulating NIR spectra corresponding to various dye concentrations in host fabrics, and potentially to mixtures of dyes.

Dispersion-Engineered Traveling Wave Kinetic Inductance Parametric Amplifier

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zmuidzinas, Jonas (Inventor); Day, Peter K. (Inventor)

2014-01-01

A traveling wave kinetic inductance parametric amplifier comprises a superconducting transmission line and a dispersion control element. The transmission line can include periodic variations of its dimension along its length. The superconducting material can include a high normal state resistivity material. In some instances the high normal state resistivity material includes nitrogen and a metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, niobium and vanadium. The traveling wave kinetic inductance parametric amplifier is expected to exhibit a noise temperature below 100 mK/GHz.

Analysis of astigmatism of gain guided laser with a tapered-stripe geometry

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mamine, T.; Oda, T.; Yoneyama, O.

1984-12-01

The astigmatism of the tapered-stripe (TAPS) laser has been analyzed. Calculating the near-field spot size and the radius of curvature in the tapered-stripe region, the astigmatism is determined by using the expression of D = R/sub e/ (1+(lambdaR/sub e// ..pi..w/sup 2//sub e/)/sup 2/)/sup -1/. In our formalism we assume that the gain profile is parabola and the near-field spot size at the facet is determined by the diffusion length of injected carriers. So far as these assumptions are valid, it is concluded that the amount of astigmatism is reduced with the length of tapered stripe, using the refractive index changemore » due to the band-edge absorption of -10/sup -2/. The fundamental characteristics of the gain guided laser with TAPS structure such as the astigmatism, far-field radiation pattern, and the spontaneous emission factor are shown to be controlled by properly designing the stripe geometry and the thickness of the active layer.« less

Efficient model reduction of parametrized systems by matrix discrete empirical interpolation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Negri, Federico; Manzoni, Andrea; Amsallem, David

2015-12-01

In this work, we apply a Matrix version of the so-called Discrete Empirical Interpolation (MDEIM) for the efficient reduction of nonaffine parametrized systems arising from the discretization of linear partial differential equations. Dealing with affinely parametrized operators is crucial in order to enhance the online solution of reduced-order models (ROMs). However, in many cases such an affine decomposition is not readily available, and must be recovered through (often) intrusive procedures, such as the empirical interpolation method (EIM) and its discrete variant DEIM. In this paper we show that MDEIM represents a very efficient approach to deal with complex physical and geometrical parametrizations in a non-intrusive, efficient and purely algebraic way. We propose different strategies to combine MDEIM with a state approximation resulting either from a reduced basis greedy approach or Proper Orthogonal Decomposition. A posteriori error estimates accounting for the MDEIM error are also developed in the case of parametrized elliptic and parabolic equations. Finally, the capability of MDEIM to generate accurate and efficient ROMs is demonstrated on the solution of two computationally-intensive classes of problems occurring in engineering contexts, namely PDE-constrained shape optimization and parametrized coupled problems.

Gated frequency-resolved optical imaging with an optical parametric amplifier

DOEpatents

Cameron, S.M.; Bliss, D.E.; Kimmel, M.W.; Neal, D.R.

1999-08-10

A system for detecting objects in a turbid media utilizes an optical parametric amplifier as an amplifying gate for received light from the media. An optical gating pulse from a second parametric amplifier permits the system to respond to and amplify only ballistic photons from the object in the media. 13 figs.

Visually Evoked Spiking Evolves While Spontaneous Ongoing Dynamics Persist

PubMed Central

Huys, Raoul; Jirsa, Viktor K.; Darokhan, Ziauddin; Valentiniene, Sonata; Roland, Per E.

2016-01-01

Neurons in the primary visual cortex spontaneously spike even when there are no visual stimuli. It is unknown whether the spiking evoked by visual stimuli is just a modification of the spontaneous ongoing cortical spiking dynamics or whether the spontaneous spiking state disappears and is replaced by evoked spiking. This study of laminar recordings of spontaneous spiking and visually evoked spiking of neurons in the ferret primary visual cortex shows that the spiking dynamics does not change: the spontaneous spiking as well as evoked spiking is controlled by a stable and persisting fixed point attractor. Its existence guarantees that evoked spiking return to the spontaneous state. However, the spontaneous ongoing spiking state and the visual evoked spiking states are qualitatively different and are separated by a threshold (separatrix). The functional advantage of this organization is that it avoids the need for a system reorganization following visual stimulation, and impedes the transition of spontaneous spiking to evoked spiking and the propagation of spontaneous spiking from layer 4 to layers 2–3. PMID:26778982

Least Squares Approximation By G1 Piecewise Parametric Cubes

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-12-01

ADDRESS(ES) 10.SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY REPORT NUMBER 11. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES The views expressed in this thesis are those of the author and do not...CODE Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. 13. ABSTRACT (maximum 200 words) Parametric piecewise cubic polynomials are used throughout...piecewise parametric cubic polynomial to a sequence of ordered points in the plane. Cubic Bdzier curves are used as a basis. The parameterization, the

Sensitivity enhancement in swept-source optical coherence tomography by parametric balanced detector and amplifier

PubMed Central

Kang, Jiqiang; Wei, Xiaoming; Li, Bowen; Wang, Xie; Yu, Luoqin; Tan, Sisi; Jinata, Chandra; Wong, Kenneth K. Y.

2016-01-01

We proposed a sensitivity enhancement method of the interference-based signal detection approach and applied it on a swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) system through all-fiber optical parametric amplifier (FOPA) and parametric balanced detector (BD). The parametric BD was realized by combining the signal and phase conjugated idler band that was newly-generated through FOPA, and specifically by superimposing these two bands at a photodetector. The sensitivity enhancement by FOPA and parametric BD in SS-OCT were demonstrated experimentally. The results show that SS-OCT with FOPA and SS-OCT with parametric BD can provide more than 9 dB and 12 dB sensitivity improvement, respectively, when compared with the conventional SS-OCT in a spectral bandwidth spanning over 76 nm. To further verify and elaborate their sensitivity enhancement, a bio-sample imaging experiment was conducted on loach eyes by conventional SS-OCT setup, SS-OCT with FOPA and parametric BD at different illumination power levels. All these results proved that using FOPA and parametric BD could improve the sensitivity significantly in SS-OCT systems. PMID:27446655

Research on simplified parametric finite element model of automobile frontal crash

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Linan; Zhang, Xin; Yang, Changhai

2018-05-01

The modeling method and key technologies of the automobile frontal crash simplified parametric finite element model is studied in this paper. By establishing the auto body topological structure, extracting and parameterizing the stiffness properties of substructures, choosing appropriate material models for substructures, the simplified parametric FE model of M6 car is built. The comparison of the results indicates that the simplified parametric FE model can accurately calculate the automobile crash responses and the deformation of the key substructures, and the simulation time is reduced from 6 hours to 2 minutes.

Peritonitis - spontaneous bacterial

MedlinePlus

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP); Ascites - peritonitis; Cirrhosis - peritonitis ... who are on peritoneal dialysis for kidney failure. Peritonitis may have other causes . These include infection from ...

Small-window parametric imaging based on information entropy for ultrasound tissue characterization

PubMed Central

Tsui, Po-Hsiang; Chen, Chin-Kuo; Kuo, Wen-Hung; Chang, King-Jen; Fang, Jui; Ma, Hsiang-Yang; Chou, Dean

2017-01-01

Constructing ultrasound statistical parametric images by using a sliding window is a widely adopted strategy for characterizing tissues. Deficiency in spatial resolution, the appearance of boundary artifacts, and the prerequisite data distribution limit the practicability of statistical parametric imaging. In this study, small-window entropy parametric imaging was proposed to overcome the above problems. Simulations and measurements of phantoms were executed to acquire backscattered radiofrequency (RF) signals, which were processed to explore the feasibility of small-window entropy imaging in detecting scatterer properties. To validate the ability of entropy imaging in tissue characterization, measurements of benign and malignant breast tumors were conducted (n = 63) to compare performances of conventional statistical parametric (based on Nakagami distribution) and entropy imaging by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The simulation and phantom results revealed that entropy images constructed using a small sliding window (side length = 1 pulse length) adequately describe changes in scatterer properties. The area under the ROC for using small-window entropy imaging to classify tumors was 0.89, which was higher than 0.79 obtained using statistical parametric imaging. In particular, boundary artifacts were largely suppressed in the proposed imaging technique. Entropy enables using a small window for implementing ultrasound parametric imaging. PMID:28106118

Small-window parametric imaging based on information entropy for ultrasound tissue characterization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsui, Po-Hsiang; Chen, Chin-Kuo; Kuo, Wen-Hung; Chang, King-Jen; Fang, Jui; Ma, Hsiang-Yang; Chou, Dean

2017-01-01

Constructing ultrasound statistical parametric images by using a sliding window is a widely adopted strategy for characterizing tissues. Deficiency in spatial resolution, the appearance of boundary artifacts, and the prerequisite data distribution limit the practicability of statistical parametric imaging. In this study, small-window entropy parametric imaging was proposed to overcome the above problems. Simulations and measurements of phantoms were executed to acquire backscattered radiofrequency (RF) signals, which were processed to explore the feasibility of small-window entropy imaging in detecting scatterer properties. To validate the ability of entropy imaging in tissue characterization, measurements of benign and malignant breast tumors were conducted (n = 63) to compare performances of conventional statistical parametric (based on Nakagami distribution) and entropy imaging by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The simulation and phantom results revealed that entropy images constructed using a small sliding window (side length = 1 pulse length) adequately describe changes in scatterer properties. The area under the ROC for using small-window entropy imaging to classify tumors was 0.89, which was higher than 0.79 obtained using statistical parametric imaging. In particular, boundary artifacts were largely suppressed in the proposed imaging technique. Entropy enables using a small window for implementing ultrasound parametric imaging.

Dorsomedial prefontal cortex supports spontaneous thinking per se.

PubMed

Raij, T T; Riekki, T J J

2017-06-01

Spontaneous thinking, an action to produce, consider, integrate, and reason through mental representations, is central to our daily experience and has been suggested to serve crucial adaptive purposes. Such thinking occurs among other experiences during mind wandering that is associated with activation of the default mode network among other brain circuitries. Whether and how such brain activation is linked to the experience of spontaneous thinking per se remains poorly known. We studied 51 healthy subjects using a comprehensive experience-sampling paradigm during 3T functional magnetic resonance imaging. In comparison with fixation, the experiences of spontaneous thinking and spontaneous perception were related to activation of wide-spread brain circuitries, including the cortical midline structures, the anterior cingulate cortex and the visual cortex. In direct comparison of the spontaneous thinking versus spontaneous perception, activation was observed in the anterior dorsomedial prefrontal cortex. Modality congruence of spontaneous-experience-related brain activation was suggested by several findings, including association of the lingual gyrus with visual in comparison with non-verbal-non-visual thinking. In the context of current literature, these findings suggest that the cortical midline structures are involved in the integrative core substrate of spontaneous thinking that is coupled with other brain systems depending on the characteristics of thinking. Furthermore, involvement of the anterior dorsomedial prefrontal cortex suggests the control of high-order abstract functions to characterize spontaneous thinking per se. Hum Brain Mapp 38:3277-3288, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Sparse-grid, reduced-basis Bayesian inversion: Nonaffine-parametric nonlinear equations

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chen, Peng, E-mail: peng@ices.utexas.edu; Schwab, Christoph, E-mail: christoph.schwab@sam.math.ethz.ch

2016-07-01

We extend the reduced basis (RB) accelerated Bayesian inversion methods for affine-parametric, linear operator equations which are considered in [16,17] to non-affine, nonlinear parametric operator equations. We generalize the analysis of sparsity of parametric forward solution maps in [20] and of Bayesian inversion in [48,49] to the fully discrete setting, including Petrov–Galerkin high-fidelity (“HiFi”) discretization of the forward maps. We develop adaptive, stochastic collocation based reduction methods for the efficient computation of reduced bases on the parametric solution manifold. The nonaffinity and nonlinearity with respect to (w.r.t.) the distributed, uncertain parameters and the unknown solution is collocated; specifically, by themore » so-called Empirical Interpolation Method (EIM). For the corresponding Bayesian inversion problems, computational efficiency is enhanced in two ways: first, expectations w.r.t. the posterior are computed by adaptive quadratures with dimension-independent convergence rates proposed in [49]; the present work generalizes [49] to account for the impact of the PG discretization in the forward maps on the convergence rates of the Quantities of Interest (QoI for short). Second, we propose to perform the Bayesian estimation only w.r.t. a parsimonious, RB approximation of the posterior density. Based on the approximation results in [49], the infinite-dimensional parametric, deterministic forward map and operator admit N-term RB and EIM approximations which converge at rates which depend only on the sparsity of the parametric forward map. In several numerical experiments, the proposed algorithms exhibit dimension-independent convergence rates which equal, at least, the currently known rate estimates for N-term approximation. We propose to accelerate Bayesian estimation by first offline construction of reduced basis surrogates of the Bayesian posterior density. The parsimonious surrogates can then be employed for online

High power tunable mid-infrared optical parametric oscillator enabled by random fiber laser.

PubMed

Wu, Hanshuo; Wang, Peng; Song, Jiaxin; Ye, Jun; Xu, Jiangming; Li, Xiao; Zhou, Pu

2018-03-05

Random fiber laser, as a kind of novel fiber laser that utilizes random distributed feedback as well as Raman gain, has become a research focus owing to its advantages of wavelength flexibility, modeless property and output stability. Herein, a tunable optical parametric oscillator (OPO) enabled by a random fiber laser is reported for the first time. By exploiting a tunable random fiber laser to pump the OPO, the central wavelength of idler light can be continuously tuned from 3977.34 to 4059.65 nm with stable temporal average output power. The maximal output power achieved is 2.07 W. So far as we know, this is the first demonstration of a continuous-wave tunable OPO pumped by a tunable random fiber laser, which could not only provide a new approach for achieving tunable mid-infrared (MIR) emission, but also extend the application scenarios of random fiber lasers.

Parametric Trace Slicing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rosu, Grigore (Inventor); Chen, Feng (Inventor); Chen, Guo-fang; Wu, Yamei; Meredith, Patrick O. (Inventor)

2014-01-01

A program trace is obtained and events of the program trace are traversed. For each event identified in traversing the program trace, a trace slice of which the identified event is a part is identified based on the parameter instance of the identified event. For each trace slice of which the identified event is a part, the identified event is added to an end of a record of the trace slice. These parametric trace slices can be used in a variety of different manners, such as for monitoring, mining, and predicting.

Parametric estimation for reinforced concrete relief shelter for Aceh cases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Atthaillah; Saputra, Eri; Iqbal, Muhammad

2018-05-01

This paper was a work in progress (WIP) to discover a rapid parametric framework for post-disaster permanent shelter’s materials estimation. The intended shelters were reinforced concrete construction with bricks as its wall. Inevitably, in post-disaster cases, design variations were needed to help suited victims condition. It seemed impossible to satisfy a beneficiary with a satisfactory design utilizing the conventional method. This study offered a parametric framework to overcome slow construction-materials estimation issue against design variations. Further, this work integrated parametric tool, which was Grasshopper to establish algorithms that simultaneously model, visualize, calculate and write the calculated data to a spreadsheet in a real-time. Some customized Grasshopper components were created using GHPython scripting for a more optimized algorithm. The result from this study was a partial framework that successfully performed modeling, visualization, calculation and writing the calculated data simultaneously. It meant design alterations did not escalate time needed for modeling, visualization, and material estimation. Further, the future development of the parametric framework will be made open source.

Bounded Parametric Model Checking for Elementary Net Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Knapik, Michał; Szreter, Maciej; Penczek, Wojciech

Bounded Model Checking (BMC) is an efficient verification method for reactive systems. BMC has been applied so far to verification of properties expressed in (timed) modal logics, but never to their parametric extensions. In this paper we show, for the first time that BMC can be extended to PRTECTL - a parametric extension of the existential version of CTL. To this aim we define a bounded semantics and a translation from PRTECTL to SAT. The implementation of the algorithm for Elementary Net Systems is presented, together with some experimental results.

Nanophotonic Devices; Spontaneous Emission Faster than Stimulated Emission

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-02-02

optically pumped spontaneous emission, and electrically pumped spontaneous emission. We have observed a speedup of >300x, and we project a speedup of 2500x...The project has succeeded, both for optically pumped spontaneous emission, and electrically pumped spontaneous emission. We have observed a speedup...Fabricated Plasmonic Optical Transformer”, (with H. Choo, S. Cabrini, P.J. Schuck, X. Liang,) U.S. Patent No. 9,052,450 (Jun. 9, 2015). 2. “ Probes

Parametric resonance in the early Universe—a fitting analysis

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Figueroa, Daniel G.; Torrentí, Francisco, E-mail: daniel.figueroa@cern.ch, E-mail: f.torrenti@csic.es

Particle production via parametric resonance in the early Universe, is a non-perturbative, non-linear and out-of-equilibrium phenomenon. Although it is a well studied topic, whenever a new scenario exhibits parametric resonance, a full re-analysis is normally required. To avoid this tedious task, many works present often only a simplified linear treatment of the problem. In order to surpass this circumstance in the future, we provide a fitting analysis of parametric resonance through all its relevant stages: initial linear growth, non-linear evolution, and relaxation towards equilibrium. Using lattice simulations in an expanding grid in 3+1 dimensions, we parametrize the dynamics' outcome scanningmore » over the relevant ingredients: role of the oscillatory field, particle coupling strength, initial conditions, and background expansion rate. We emphasize the inaccuracy of the linear calculation of the decay time of the oscillatory field, and propose a more appropriate definition of this scale based on the subsequent non-linear dynamics. We provide simple fits to the relevant time scales and particle energy fractions at each stage. Our fits can be applied to post-inflationary preheating scenarios, where the oscillatory field is the inflaton, or to spectator-field scenarios, where the oscillatory field can be e.g. a curvaton, or the Standard Model Higgs.« less

flexsurv: A Platform for Parametric Survival Modeling in R

PubMed Central

Jackson, Christopher H.

2018-01-01

flexsurv is an R package for fully-parametric modeling of survival data. Any parametric time-to-event distribution may be fitted if the user supplies a probability density or hazard function, and ideally also their cumulative versions. Standard survival distributions are built in, including the three and four-parameter generalized gamma and F distributions. Any parameter of any distribution can be modeled as a linear or log-linear function of covariates. The package also includes the spline model of Royston and Parmar (2002), in which both baseline survival and covariate effects can be arbitrarily flexible parametric functions of time. The main model-fitting function, flexsurvreg, uses the familiar syntax of survreg from the standard survival package (Therneau 2016). Censoring or left-truncation are specified in ‘Surv’ objects. The models are fitted by maximizing the full log-likelihood, and estimates and confidence intervals for any function of the model parameters can be printed or plotted. flexsurv also provides functions for fitting and predicting from fully-parametric multi-state models, and connects with the mstate package (de Wreede, Fiocco, and Putter 2011). This article explains the methods and design principles of the package, giving several worked examples of its use. PMID:29593450

Coupled parametric design of flow control and duct shape

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Florea, Razvan (Inventor); Bertuccioli, Luca (Inventor)

2009-01-01

A method for designing gas turbine engine components using a coupled parametric analysis of part geometry and flow control is disclosed. Included are the steps of parametrically defining the geometry of the duct wall shape, parametrically defining one or more flow control actuators in the duct wall, measuring a plurality of performance parameters or metrics (e.g., flow characteristics) of the duct and comparing the results of the measurement with desired or target parameters, and selecting the optimal duct geometry and flow control for at least a portion of the duct, the selection process including evaluating the plurality of performance metrics in a pareto analysis. The use of this method in the design of inter-turbine transition ducts, serpentine ducts, inlets, diffusers, and similar components provides a design which reduces pressure losses and flow profile distortions.

Parametric sensitivity analysis of an agro-economic model of management of irrigation water

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

El Ouadi, Ihssan; Ouazar, Driss; El Menyari, Younesse

2015-04-01

The current work aims to build an analysis and decision support tool for policy options concerning the optimal allocation of water resources, while allowing a better reflection on the issue of valuation of water by the agricultural sector in particular. Thus, a model disaggregated by farm type was developed for the rural town of Ait Ben Yacoub located in the east Morocco. This model integrates economic, agronomic and hydraulic data and simulates agricultural gross margin across in this area taking into consideration changes in public policy and climatic conditions, taking into account the competition for collective resources. To identify the model input parameters that influence over the results of the model, a parametric sensitivity analysis is performed by the "One-Factor-At-A-Time" approach within the "Screening Designs" method. Preliminary results of this analysis show that among the 10 parameters analyzed, 6 parameters affect significantly the objective function of the model, it is in order of influence: i) Coefficient of crop yield response to water, ii) Average daily gain in weight of livestock, iii) Exchange of livestock reproduction, iv) maximum yield of crops, v) Supply of irrigation water and vi) precipitation. These 6 parameters register sensitivity indexes ranging between 0.22 and 1.28. Those results show high uncertainties on these parameters that can dramatically skew the results of the model or the need to pay particular attention to their estimates. Keywords: water, agriculture, modeling, optimal allocation, parametric sensitivity analysis, Screening Designs, One-Factor-At-A-Time, agricultural policy, climate change.

Supercritical nonlinear parametric dynamics of Timoshenko microbeams

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Farokhi, Hamed; Ghayesh, Mergen H.

2018-06-01

The nonlinear supercritical parametric dynamics of a Timoshenko microbeam subject to an axial harmonic excitation force is examined theoretically, by means of different numerical techniques, and employing a high-dimensional analysis. The time-variant axial load is assumed to consist of a mean value along with harmonic fluctuations. In terms of modelling, a continuous expression for the elastic potential energy of the system is developed based on the modified couple stress theory, taking into account small-size effects; the kinetic energy of the system is also modelled as a continuous function of the displacement field. Hamilton's principle is employed to balance the energies and to obtain the continuous model of the system. Employing the Galerkin scheme along with an assumed-mode technique, the energy terms are reduced, yielding a second-order reduced-order model with finite number of degrees of freedom. A transformation is carried out to convert the second-order reduced-order model into a double-dimensional first order one. A bifurcation analysis is performed for the system in the absence of the axial load fluctuations. Moreover, a mean value for the axial load is selected in the supercritical range, and the principal parametric resonant response, due to the time-variant component of the axial load, is obtained - as opposed to transversely excited systems, for parametrically excited system (such as our problem here), the nonlinear resonance occurs in the vicinity of twice any natural frequency of the linear system; this is accomplished via use of the pseudo-arclength continuation technique, a direct time integration, an eigenvalue analysis, and the Floquet theory for stability. The natural frequencies of the system prior to and beyond buckling are also determined. Moreover, the effect of different system parameters on the nonlinear supercritical parametric dynamics of the system is analysed, with special consideration to the effect of the length-scale parameter.

Formation of parametric images using mixed-effects models: a feasibility study.

PubMed

Huang, Husan-Ming; Shih, Yi-Yu; Lin, Chieh

2016-03-01

Mixed-effects models have been widely used in the analysis of longitudinal data. By presenting the parameters as a combination of fixed effects and random effects, mixed-effects models incorporating both within- and between-subject variations are capable of improving parameter estimation. In this work, we demonstrate the feasibility of using a non-linear mixed-effects (NLME) approach for generating parametric images from medical imaging data of a single study. By assuming that all voxels in the image are independent, we used simulation and animal data to evaluate whether NLME can improve the voxel-wise parameter estimation. For testing purposes, intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) diffusion parameters including perfusion fraction, pseudo-diffusion coefficient and true diffusion coefficient were estimated using diffusion-weighted MR images and NLME through fitting the IVIM model. The conventional method of non-linear least squares (NLLS) was used as the standard approach for comparison of the resulted parametric images. In the simulated data, NLME provides more accurate and precise estimates of diffusion parameters compared with NLLS. Similarly, we found that NLME has the ability to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of parametric images obtained from rat brain data. These data have shown that it is feasible to apply NLME in parametric image generation, and the parametric image quality can be accordingly improved with the use of NLME. With the flexibility to be adapted to other models or modalities, NLME may become a useful tool to improve the parametric image quality in the future. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Do positive spontaneous thoughts function as incentive salience?

PubMed

Rice, Elise L; Fredrickson, Barbara L

2017-08-01

The present work explores the theoretical relationship between positive spontaneous thoughts and incentive salience-a psychological property thought to energize wanting and approach motivation by rendering cues that are associated with enjoyment more likely to stand out to the individual when subsequently encountered in the environment (Berridge, 2007). We reasoned that positive spontaneous thoughts may at least be concomitants of incentive salience, and as such, they might likewise mediate the effect of liking on wanting. In Study 1, 103 adults recruited via Amazon's Mechanical Turk reported on key aspects of 10 everyday activities. As predicted, positive spontaneous thoughts mediated the relationship between liking an activity in the past and wanting to engage in it in the future. In Study 2, 99 undergraduate students viewed amusing and humorless cartoons and completed a thought-listing task, providing experimental evidence for the causal effect of liking on positive spontaneous thoughts. In Study 3, we tested whether positive spontaneous thoughts play an active role in energizing wanting rather than merely co-occurring with (inferred) incentive salience. In that experiment involving 80 undergraduates, participants who were led to believe that their spontaneous thoughts about a target activity were especially positive planned to devote more time to that activity over the coming week than participants who received no such information about their spontaneous thoughts. Collectively, these findings suggest that positive spontaneous thoughts may play an important role in shaping approach motivation. Broader implications and future directions in the study of positive spontaneous thoughts are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved).

The Evaluation of a Risk Degree for the Process of a Brown Coal Spontaneous Ignition on Dumps with Using of Modern Numeric Methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Klouda, Petr; Moni, Vlastimil; Řehoř, Michal; Blata, Jan; Helebrant, František

2018-06-01

The article is a summary of information about evaluation of a risk degree for a brown coal spontaneous ignition which is realized on the base of a database analysis of information about the development of stative quantities and desorbated gases in the stored bodies of the brown coal. The data were gained from the long term complex measurements which were realized at chosen companies during the coal mining in the previous parts of the project. In the last part of the project, we examined results of temperature models from thermographs with results of gasses and coal samples from the mines. Then, the influence of atmospheric conditions (insolation, water downfall, changes of barometric pressure etc.), the influence of coal mass degradation, the influence of physical and chemical factors, and the influence of other defective factors on the process of the coal spontaneous ignition. The gasmetry was assess with gas in-situ samples and laboratory gas models of indicative gasses for the spontaneous ignition, which were taken from the method of the thermic oxidation with the aim of the correlation finding for an epicentre of temperature within the spontaneous ignition.

Ince-Strutt stability charts for ship parametric roll resonance in irregular waves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Xiao; Yang, He-zhen; Xiao, Fei; Xu, Pei-ji

2017-08-01

Ince-Strutt stability chart of ship parametric roll resonance in irregular waves is conducted and utilized for the exploration of the parametric roll resonance in irregular waves. Ship parametric roll resonance will lead to large amplitude roll motion and even wreck. Firstly, the equation describing the parametric roll resonance in irregular waves is derived according to Grim's effective theory and the corresponding Ince-Strutt stability charts are obtained. Secondly, the differences of stability charts for the parametric roll resonance in irregular and regular waves are compared. Thirdly, wave phases and peak periods are taken into consideration to obtain a more realistic sea condition. The influence of random wave phases should be taken into consideration when the analyzed points are located near the instability boundary. Stability charts for different wave peak periods are various. Stability charts are helpful for the parameter determination in design stage to better adapt to sailing condition. Last, ship variables are analyzed according to stability charts by a statistical approach. The increase of the metacentric height will help improve ship stability.

Temperature Dependence of Parametric Phenomenon in Airborne Ultrasound for Temperature Measurement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kon, Akihiko; Wakatsuki, Naoto; Mizutani, Koichi

2008-08-01

The temperature dependence of parametric phenomenon in air was experimentally studied. It was confirmed from experimental data that the amplitude of upper sideband sound with a frequency of 36.175 kHz, which is caused by parametric phenomenon between high-power ultrasound with a frequency of 20.175 kHz and another normal sound with a frequency of 16.0 kHz, is proportional to -0.88×10-4×(T+273.15). This temperature dependence of the amplitude of upper sideband sound caused by the parametric phenomenon suggests a simple and effective method of temperature measurement.

Sgr A* Emission Parametrizations from GRMHD Simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anantua, Richard; Ressler, Sean; Quataert, Eliot

2018-06-01

Galactic Center emission near the vicinity of the central black hole, Sagittarius (Sgr) A*, is modeled using parametrizations involving the electron temperature, which is found from general relativistic magnetohydrodynamic (GRMHD) simulations to be highest in the disk-outflow corona. Jet-motivated prescriptions generalizing equipartition of particle and magnetic energies, e.g., by scaling relativistic electron energy density to powers of the magnetic field strength, are also introduced. GRMHD jet (or outflow)/accretion disk/black hole (JAB) simulation postprocessing codes IBOTHROS and GRMONTY are employed in the calculation of images and spectra. Various parametric models reproduce spectral and morphological features, such as the sub-mm spectral bump in electron temperature models and asymmetric photon rings in equipartition-based models. The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) will provide unprecedentedly high-resolution 230+ GHz observations of the "shadow" around Sgr A*'s supermassive black hole, which the synthetic models presented here will reverse-engineer. Both electron temperature and equipartition-based models can be constructed to be compatible with EHT size constraints for the emitting region of Sgr A*. This program sets the groundwork for devising a unified emission parametrization flexible enough to model disk, corona and outflow/jet regions with a small set of parameters including electron heating fraction and plasma beta.

Trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine and spontaneous abortion.

PubMed

Irving, Stephanie A; Kieke, Burney A; Donahue, James G; Mascola, Maria A; Baggs, James; DeStefano, Frank; Cheetham, T Craig; Jackson, Lisa A; Naleway, Allison L; Glanz, Jason M; Nordin, James D; Belongia, Edward A

2013-01-01

To estimate the association between spontaneous abortion and influenza vaccine receipt with a case-control study utilizing data from six health care organizations in the Vaccine Safety Datalink. Women aged 18-44 years with spontaneous abortion during the autumn of 2005 or 2006 were identified using International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification codes. Cases of spontaneous abortion at 5-16 weeks of gestation were confirmed by medical record review; date of fetal demise was based on ultrasound information when available. Control group individuals with a live birth were individually matched to case group individuals by health care organization and date of last menstrual period (LMP). The primary exposure of interest was influenza vaccination during the 28 days preceding the date of spontaneous abortion of the matched pair. Conditional logistic regression models adjusted for maternal age, health care utilization, maternal diabetes, and parity. Our final analysis included 243 women with spontaneous abortion and 243 matched control group women; 82% of women with spontaneous abortion had ultrasound confirmation of fetal demise. Using clinical diagnosis and ultrasound data, the mean gestational age at fetal demise was 7.8 weeks. Mean ages at LMP of case group women and control group women were 31.7 and 29.3 years, respectively (P<.001). Sixteen women with spontaneous abortion (7%) and 15 (6%) matched control group women received influenza vaccine within the 28-day exposure window. There was no association between spontaneous abortion and influenza vaccination in the 28-day exposure window (adjusted matched odds ratio 1.23, 95% confidence interval 0.53-2.89; P=.63). There was no statistically significant increase in the risk of pregnancy loss in the 4 weeks after seasonal inactivated influenza vaccination. II.

Depressive disorder and grief following spontaneous abortion.

PubMed

Kulathilaka, Susil; Hanwella, Raveen; de Silva, Varuni A

2016-04-12

Abortion is associated with moderate to high risk of psychological problems such as depression, use of alcohol or marijuana, anxiety, depression and suicidal behaviours. The increased risk of depression after spontaneous abortion in Asian populations has not been clearly established. Only a few studies have explored the relationship between grief and depression after abortion. A study was conducted to assess the prevalence and risk factors of depressive disorder and complicated grief among women 6-10 weeks after spontaneous abortion and compare the risk of depression with pregnant women attending an antenatal clinic. Spontaneous abortion group consisted of women diagnosed with spontaneous abortion by a Consultant Obstetrician. Women with confirmed or suspected induced abortion were excluded. The comparison group consisted of randomly selected pregnant, females attending the antenatal clinics of the two hospitals. Diagnosis of depressive disorder was made according to ICD-10 clinical criteria based on a structured clinical interview. This assessment was conducted in both groups. The severity of depressive symptoms were assessed using the Patients Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Grief was assessed using the Perinatal Grief Scale which was administered to the women who had experienced spontaneous abortion. The sample consisted of 137 women in each group. The spontaneous abortion group (mean age 30.39 years (SD = 6.38) were significantly older than the comparison group (mean age 28.79 years (SD = 6.26)). There were more females with ≥10 years of education in the spontaneous abortion group (n = 54; SD = 39.4) compared to the comparison group (n = 37; SD = 27.0). The prevalence of depression in the spontaneous abortion group was 18.6 % (95 CI, 11.51-25.77). The prevalence of depression in the comparison group was 9.5 % (95 CI, 4.52-14.46). Of the 64 women fulfilling criteria for grief, 17 (26.6 %) also fulfilled criteria for a depressive episode. The relative risk of

Etiology of spontaneous abortion before and after the demonstration of embryonic cardiac activity in women with recurrent spontaneous abortion.

PubMed

Liu, Yukun; Liu, Yinglin; Zhang, Shuning; Chen, Hui; Liu, Meilan; Zhang, Jianping

2015-05-01

To analyze the etiologic factors of spontaneous abortion in the first trimester among women with recurrent spontaneous abortion, specifically before and after the demonstration of embryonic cardiac activity. A retrospective analysis included women with recurrent spontaneous abortion admitted to a center in Guangzhou, China, for dilation and curettage after a spontaneous abortion in the first trimester between January 2008 and December 2012. The etiologic factors of spontaneous abortion occurring before versus after the demonstration of cardiac activity were compared. A total of 232 women were included. Among 146 women with demonstrated cardiac activity before spontaneous abortion, 78 (53.4%) had an embryonic karyotype abnormality, 55 (37.7%) had traditional etiologic factors, and 34 (23.3%) had an unidentified cause. Among 86 women without cardiac activity, 41 (47.7%) had an embryonic karyotype abnormality, 28 (32.6%) had traditional etiologic factors, and 26 (30.2%) had an unidentified cause. After exclusion of abortions involving embryonic karyotype abnormalities, there was a higher incidence of APA positivity in the group with embryonic cardiac activity than in the other group (13/68 [19.1%] vs 1/45 [2.2%]; P=0.008) and a lower incidence of subclinical hypothyroidism (8/68 [11.8%] vs 12/45 [26.7%]; P=0.042). The distribution of etiologic factors in spontaneous abortion differs according to whether embryonic cardiac activity is recorded. Copyright © 2015 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Finding Rational Parametric Curves of Relative Degree One or Two

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Boyles, Dave

2010-01-01

A plane algebraic curve, the complete set of solutions to a polynomial equation: f(x, y) = 0, can in many cases be drawn using parametric equations: x = x(t), y = y(t). Using algebra, attempting to parametrize by means of rational functions of t, one discovers quickly that it is not the degree of f but the "relative degree," that describes how…

Multi-parametric variational data assimilation for hydrological forecasting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alvarado-Montero, R.; Schwanenberg, D.; Krahe, P.; Helmke, P.; Klein, B.

2017-12-01

Ensemble forecasting is increasingly applied in flow forecasting systems to provide users with a better understanding of forecast uncertainty and consequently to take better-informed decisions. A common practice in probabilistic streamflow forecasting is to force deterministic hydrological model with an ensemble of numerical weather predictions. This approach aims at the representation of meteorological uncertainty but neglects uncertainty of the hydrological model as well as its initial conditions. Complementary approaches use probabilistic data assimilation techniques to receive a variety of initial states or represent model uncertainty by model pools instead of single deterministic models. This paper introduces a novel approach that extends a variational data assimilation based on Moving Horizon Estimation to enable the assimilation of observations into multi-parametric model pools. It results in a probabilistic estimate of initial model states that takes into account the parametric model uncertainty in the data assimilation. The assimilation technique is applied to the uppermost area of River Main in Germany. We use different parametric pools, each of them with five parameter sets, to assimilate streamflow data, as well as remotely sensed data from the H-SAF project. We assess the impact of the assimilation in the lead time performance of perfect forecasts (i.e. observed data as forcing variables) as well as deterministic and probabilistic forecasts from ECMWF. The multi-parametric assimilation shows an improvement of up to 23% for CRPS performance and approximately 20% in Brier Skill Scores with respect to the deterministic approach. It also improves the skill of the forecast in terms of rank histogram and produces a narrower ensemble spread.

A micromachined device describing over a hundred orders of parametric resonance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jia, Yu; Du, Sijun; Arroyo, Emmanuelle; Seshia, Ashwin A.

2018-04-01

Parametric resonance in mechanical oscillators can onset from the periodic modulation of at least one of the system parameters, and the behaviour of the principal (1st order) parametric resonance has long been well established. However, the theoretically predicted higher orders of parametric resonance, in excess of the first few orders, have mostly been experimentally elusive due to the fast diminishing instability intervals. A recent paper experimentally reported up to 28 orders in a micromachined membrane oscillator. This paper reports the design and characterisation of a micromachined membrane oscillator with a segmented proof mass topology, in an attempt to amplify the inherent nonlinearities within the membrane layer. The resultant oscillator device exhibited up to over a hundred orders of parametric resonance, thus experimentally validating these ultra-high orders as well as overlapping instability transitions between these higher orders. This research introduces design possibilities for the transducer and dynamic communities, by exploiting the behaviour of these previously elusive higher order resonant regimes.

Spontaneous Imbibition in Low Permeability Medium, SUPRI TR-114

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kovscek, Anthony R.; Schembre, Josephina

1999-08-09

A systematic experimental investigation of capillary pressure characteristics and fluid flow in diatomite was begun. Using an X-ray CT scanner and a specially constructed imbibition cell, we study spontaneous water imbibition processes in diatomite and, for reference, Berea sandstone and chalk. The mass of water imbibed as a function of time is also measured. Imbibition is restricted to concurrent flow. Despite a marked difference in rock properties such as permeability and porosity, we find similar trends in saturation profiles and weight gain versus time functions. Imbibition in diatomote is relatively rapid when initial water saturation is low due to largemore » capillary forces. Using a non-linear regression analysis together with the experimental data, the capillary pressure and water relative permeability curves are determined for the diatomite in the water-air system. The results given for displacement profiles by numerical simulation match the experimental results.« less

Three-wave interaction solitons in optical parametric amplification.

PubMed

Ibragimov, E; Struthers, A A; Kaup, D J; Khaydarov, J D; Singer, K D

1999-05-01

This paper applies three-wave interaction (TWI)-soliton theory to optical parametric amplification when the signal, idler, and pump wave can all contain TWI solitons. We use an analogy between two different velocity regimes to compare the theory with output from an experimental synchronously pumped optical parametric amplifier. The theory explains the observed inability to compress the intermediate group-velocity wave and 20-fold pulse compression in this experiment. The theory and supporting numerics show that one can effectively control the shape and energy of the optical pulses by shifting the TWI solitons in the pulses.

Ranking Forestry Investments With Parametric Linear Programming

Treesearch

Paul A. Murphy

1976-01-01

Parametric linear programming is introduced as a technique for ranking forestry investments under multiple constraints; it combines the advantages of simple tanking and linear programming as capital budgeting tools.

A Parametric Analysis of HELSTAR

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-12-01

AFIT/GSO/OS/83D-7 S....A PARAMETRIC ANALYSIS OF HELSTAR THESIS James Miklasevich Captain, USAF AFIT/CSO/OS/83D-7 ’- 3 - Reproduced From J𔄁 04. • ’ S...1 Statement of Problem. ...... ................ ......... 3 Objectives of the Research. .... ............ . . . 3 ...Launch Scenarios ................. 39 Launch Sequencel................... 39 Launch Sequence 2 . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . 1 Launch Sequence 3

Further Empirical Results on Parametric Versus Non-Parametric IRT Modeling of Likert-Type Personality Data

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Maydeu-Olivares, Albert

2005-01-01

Chernyshenko, Stark, Chan, Drasgow, and Williams (2001) investigated the fit of Samejima's logistic graded model and Levine's non-parametric MFS model to the scales of two personality questionnaires and found that the graded model did not fit well. We attribute the poor fit of the graded model to small amounts of multidimensionality present in…

Spontaneous Resolution of Massive Spontaneous Tubercular Pneumothorax

PubMed Central

Kant, Surya; Saheer, S.; Hassan, G.; Parengal, Jabeed

2011-01-01

A 29-year-old female presented with complaints of fever and productive cough of three weeks duration. Pulmonary tuberculosis was diagnosed bacteriologically and she was prescribed antituberculosis drugs. During follow-up she developed massive pneumothorax, for which patient refused surgical management and was managed conservatively. After six months there was complete spontaneous resolution of pneumothorax. The unusual presentation and unexpected outcome prompted us to report this case. PMID:22937428

Spontaneous Trait Inferences on Social Media.

PubMed

Levordashka, Ana; Utz, Sonja

2017-01-01

The present research investigates whether spontaneous trait inferences occur under conditions characteristic of social media and networking sites: nonextreme, ostensibly self-generated content, simultaneous presentation of multiple cues, and self-paced browsing. We used an established measure of trait inferences (false recognition paradigm) and a direct assessment of impressions. Without being asked to do so, participants spontaneously formed impressions of people whose status updates they saw. Our results suggest that trait inferences occurred from nonextreme self-generated content, which is commonly found in social media updates (Experiment 1) and when nine status updates from different people were presented in parallel (Experiment 2). Although inferences did occur during free browsing, the results suggest that participants did not necessarily associate the traits with the corresponding status update authors (Experiment 3). Overall, the findings suggest that spontaneous trait inferences occur on social media. We discuss implications for online communication and research on spontaneous trait inferences.

Prepositioning emergency supplies under uncertainty: a parametric optimization method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bai, Xuejie; Gao, Jinwu; Liu, Yankui

2018-07-01

Prepositioning of emergency supplies is an effective method for increasing preparedness for disasters and has received much attention in recent years. In this article, the prepositioning problem is studied by a robust parametric optimization method. The transportation cost, supply, demand and capacity are unknown prior to the extraordinary event, which are represented as fuzzy parameters with variable possibility distributions. The variable possibility distributions are obtained through the credibility critical value reduction method for type-2 fuzzy variables. The prepositioning problem is formulated as a fuzzy value-at-risk model to achieve a minimum total cost incurred in the whole process. The key difficulty in solving the proposed optimization model is to evaluate the quantile of the fuzzy function in the objective and the credibility in the constraints. The objective function and constraints can be turned into their equivalent parametric forms through chance constrained programming under the different confidence levels. Taking advantage of the structural characteristics of the equivalent optimization model, a parameter-based domain decomposition method is developed to divide the original optimization problem into six mixed-integer parametric submodels, which can be solved by standard optimization solvers. Finally, to explore the viability of the developed model and the solution approach, some computational experiments are performed on realistic scale case problems. The computational results reported in the numerical example show the credibility and superiority of the proposed parametric optimization method.

Revisiting Parametric Types and Virtual Classes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Madsen, Anders Bach; Ernst, Erik

This paper presents a conceptually oriented updated view on the relationship between parametric types and virtual classes. The traditional view is that parametric types excel at structurally oriented composition and decomposition, and virtual classes excel at specifying mutually recursive families of classes whose relationships are preserved in derived families. Conversely, while class families can be specified using a large number of F-bounded type parameters, this approach is complex and fragile; and it is difficult to use traditional virtual classes to specify object composition in a structural manner, because virtual classes are closely tied to nominal typing. This paper adds new insight about the dichotomy between these two approaches; it illustrates how virtual constraints and type refinements, as recently introduced in gbeta and Scala, enable structural treatment of virtual types; finally, it shows how a novel kind of dynamic type check can detect compatibility among entire families of classes.

Parametric Model of an Aerospike Rocket Engine

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Korte, J. J.

2000-01-01

A suite of computer codes was assembled to simulate the performance of an aerospike engine and to generate the engine input for the Program to Optimize Simulated Trajectories. First an engine simulator module was developed that predicts the aerospike engine performance for a given mixture ratio, power level, thrust vectoring level, and altitude. This module was then used to rapidly generate the aerospike engine performance tables for axial thrust, normal thrust, pitching moment, and specific thrust. Parametric engine geometry was defined for use with the engine simulator module. The parametric model was also integrated into the iSIGHTI multidisciplinary framework so that alternate designs could be determined. The computer codes were used to support in-house conceptual studies of reusable launch vehicle designs.

Parametric Model of an Aerospike Rocket Engine

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Korte, J. J.

2000-01-01

A suite of computer codes was assembled to simulate the performance of an aerospike engine and to generate the engine input for the Program to Optimize Simulated Trajectories. First an engine simulator module was developed that predicts the aerospike engine performance for a given mixture ratio, power level, thrust vectoring level, and altitude. This module was then used to rapidly generate the aerospike engine performance tables for axial thrust, normal thrust, pitching moment, and specific thrust. Parametric engine geometry was defined for use with the engine simulator module. The parametric model was also integrated into the iSIGHT multidisciplinary framework so that alternate designs could be determined. The computer codes were used to support in-house conceptual studies of reusable launch vehicle designs.

Occupational exposures among nurses and risk of spontaneous abortion

PubMed Central

LAWSON, Christina C; ROCHELEAU, Carissa M.; WHELAN, Elizabeth A; LIVIDOTI HIBERT, Eileen N.; GRAJEWSKI, Barbara; SPIEGELMAN, Donna; RICH-EDWARDS, Janet W.

2015-01-01

Objective We investigated self-reported occupational exposure to antineoplastic drugs, anesthetic gases, antiviral drugs, sterilizing agents (disinfectants), and X-rays and the risk of spontaneous abortion in U.S. nurses. Study Design Pregnancy outcome and occupational exposures were collected retrospectively from 8,461 participants of the Nurses’ Health Study II. Of these, 7,482 were eligible for analysis using logistic regression. Results Participants reported 6,707 live births, and 775 (10%) spontaneous abortions (<20 weeks). After adjusting for age, parity, shift work, and hours worked, antineoplastic drug exposure was associated with a 2-fold increased risk of spontaneous abortion, particularly with early spontaneous abortion before the 12th week, and 3.5-fold increased risk among nulliparous women. Exposure to sterilizing agents was associated with a 2-fold increased risk of late spontaneous abortion (12–20 weeks), but not with early spontaneous abortion. Conclusion This study suggests that certain occupational exposures common to nurses are related to risks of spontaneous abortion. PMID:22304790

Occupational exposures among nurses and risk of spontaneous abortion.

PubMed

Lawson, Christina C; Rocheleau, Carissa M; Whelan, Elizabeth A; Lividoti Hibert, Eileen N; Grajewski, Barbara; Spiegelman, Donna; Rich-Edwards, Janet W

2012-04-01

We investigated self-reported occupational exposure to antineoplastic drugs, anesthetic gases, antiviral drugs, sterilizing agents (disinfectants), and X-rays and the risk of spontaneous abortion in US nurses. Pregnancy outcome and occupational exposures were collected retrospectively from 8461 participants of the Nurses' Health Study II. Of these, 7482 were eligible for analysis using logistic regression. Participants reported 6707 live births, and 775 (10%) spontaneous abortions (<20 weeks). After adjusting for age, parity, shift work, and hours worked, antineoplastic drug exposure was associated with a 2-fold increased risk of spontaneous abortion, particularly with early spontaneous abortion before the 12th week, and 3.5-fold increased risk among nulliparous women. Exposure to sterilizing agents was associated with a 2-fold increased risk of late spontaneous abortion (12-20 weeks), but not with early spontaneous abortion. This study suggests that certain occupational exposures common to nurses are related to risks of spontaneous abortion. Published by Mosby, Inc.

Chemical pleurodesis for spontaneous pneumothorax.

PubMed

How, Cheng-Hung; Hsu, Hsao-Hsun; Chen, Jin-Shing

2013-12-01

Pneumothorax is defined as the presence of air in the pleural cavity. Spontaneous pneumothorax, occurring without antecedent traumatic or iatrogenic cause, is sub-divided into primary and secondary. The severity of pneumothorax could be varied from asymptomatic to hemodynamically compromised. Optimal management of this benign disease has been a matter of debate. In addition to evacuating air from the pleural space by simple aspiration or chest tube drainage, the management of spontaneous pneumothorax also focused on ceasing air leakage and preventing recurrences by surgical intervention or chemical pleurodesis. Chemical pleurodesis is a procedure to achieve symphysis between the two layers of pleura by sclerosing agents. In the current practice guidelines, chemical pleurodesis is reserved for patients unable or unwilling to receive surgery. Recent researches have found that chemical pleurodesis is also safe and effective in preventing pneumothorax recurrence in patients with the first episode of spontaneous pneumothorax or after thoracoscopic surgery and treating persistent air leakage after thoracoscopic surgery. In this article we aimed at exploring the role of chemical pleurodesis for spontaneous pneumothorax, including ceasing air leakage and preventing recurrence. The indications, choice of sclerosants, safety, effects, and possible side effects or complications of chemical pleurodesis are also reviewed here. Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Multicast Parametric Synchronous Sampling

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-09-01

enhancement in a parametric mixer device. Fig. 4 shows the principle of generating uniform, high quality replicas extending over previously un-attainable...critical part of the MPASS architecture and is responsible for the direct and continuous acquisition of data across all of the multicast signal copies...ii) ability to copy THz signals with impunity to tens of replicas ; (iii) all-optical delays > 1.9 us; (iv) 10’s of THz-fast all-optical sampling of

A Semi-parametric Transformation Frailty Model for Semi-competing Risks Survival Data

PubMed Central

Jiang, Fei; Haneuse, Sebastien

2016-01-01

In the analysis of semi-competing risks data interest lies in estimation and inference with respect to a so-called non-terminal event, the observation of which is subject to a terminal event. Multi-state models are commonly used to analyse such data, with covariate effects on the transition/intensity functions typically specified via the Cox model and dependence between the non-terminal and terminal events specified, in part, by a unit-specific shared frailty term. To ensure identifiability, the frailties are typically assumed to arise from a parametric distribution, specifically a Gamma distribution with mean 1.0 and variance, say, σ2. When the frailty distribution is misspecified, however, the resulting estimator is not guaranteed to be consistent, with the extent of asymptotic bias depending on the discrepancy between the assumed and true frailty distributions. In this paper, we propose a novel class of transformation models for semi-competing risks analysis that permit the non-parametric specification of the frailty distribution. To ensure identifiability, the class restricts to parametric specifications of the transformation and the error distribution; the latter are flexible, however, and cover a broad range of possible specifications. We also derive the semi-parametric efficient score under the complete data setting and propose a non-parametric score imputation method to handle right censoring; consistency and asymptotic normality of the resulting estimators is derived and small-sample operating characteristics evaluated via simulation. Although the proposed semi-parametric transformation model and non-parametric score imputation method are motivated by the analysis of semi-competing risks data, they are broadly applicable to any analysis of multivariate time-to-event outcomes in which a unit-specific shared frailty is used to account for correlation. Finally, the proposed model and estimation procedures are applied to a study of hospital readmission among

Parametrization of Drag and Turbulence for Urban Neighbourhoods with Trees

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krayenhoff, E. S.; Santiago, J.-L.; Martilli, A.; Christen, A.; Oke, T. R.

2015-08-01

Urban canopy parametrizations designed to be coupled with mesoscale models must predict the integrated effect of urban obstacles on the flow at each height in the canopy. To assess these neighbourhood-scale effects, results of microscale simulations may be horizontally-averaged. Obstacle-resolving computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations of neutrally-stratified flow through canopies of blocks (buildings) with varying distributions and densities of porous media (tree foliage) are conducted, and the spatially-averaged impacts on the flow of these building-tree combinations are assessed. The accuracy with which a one-dimensional (column) model with a one-equation (-) turbulence scheme represents spatially-averaged CFD results is evaluated. Individual physical mechanisms by which trees and buildings affect flow in the column model are evaluated in terms of relative importance. For the treed urban configurations considered, effects of buildings and trees may be considered independently. Building drag coefficients and length scale effects need not be altered due to the presence of tree foliage; therefore, parametrization of spatially-averaged flow through urban neighbourhoods with trees is greatly simplified. The new parametrization includes only source and sink terms significant for the prediction of spatially-averaged flow profiles: momentum drag due to buildings and trees (and the associated wake production of turbulent kinetic energy), modification of length scales by buildings, and enhanced dissipation of turbulent kinetic energy due to the small scale of tree foliage elements. Coefficients for the Santiago and Martilli (Boundary-Layer Meteorol 137: 417-439, 2010) parametrization of building drag coefficients and length scales are revised. Inclusion of foliage terms from the new parametrization in addition to the Santiago and Martilli building terms reduces root-mean-square difference (RMSD) of the column model streamwise velocity component and turbulent

Parametric versus Cox's model: an illustrative analysis of divorce in Canada.

PubMed

Balakrishnan, T R; Rao, K V; Krotki, K J; Lapierre-adamcyk, E

1988-06-01

Recent demographic literature clearly recognizes the importance of survival modes in the analysis of cross-sectional event histories. Of the various survival models, Cox's (1972) partial parametric model has been very popular due to its simplicity, and readily available computer software for estimation, sometimes at the cost of precision and parsimony of the model. This paper focuses on parametric failure time models for event history analysis such as Weibell, lognormal, loglogistic, and exponential models. The authors also test the goodness of fit of these parametric models versus the Cox's proportional hazards model taking Kaplan-Meier estimate as base. As an illustration, the authors reanalyze the Canadian Fertility Survey data on 1st marriage dissolution with parametric models. Though these parametric model estimates were not very different from each other, there seemed to be a slightly better fit with loglogistic. When 8 covariates were used in the analysis, it was found that the coefficients were similar in the models, and the overall conclusions about the relative risks would not have been different. The findings reveal that in marriage dissolution, the differences according to demographic and socioeconomic characteristics may be far more important than is generally found in many studies. Therefore, one should not treat the population as homogeneous in analyzing survival probabilities of marriages, other than for cursory analysis of overall trends.

Convergence optimization of parametric MLEM reconstruction for estimation of Patlak plot parameters.

PubMed

Angelis, Georgios I; Thielemans, Kris; Tziortzi, Andri C; Turkheimer, Federico E; Tsoumpas, Charalampos

2011-07-01

In dynamic positron emission tomography data many researchers have attempted to exploit kinetic models within reconstruction such that parametric images are estimated directly from measurements. This work studies a direct parametric maximum likelihood expectation maximization algorithm applied to [(18)F]DOPA data using reference-tissue input function. We use a modified version for direct reconstruction with a gradually descending scheme of subsets (i.e. 18-6-1) initialized with the FBP parametric image for faster convergence and higher accuracy. The results compared with analytic reconstructions show quantitative robustness (i.e. minimal bias) and clinical reproducibility within six human acquisitions in the region of clinical interest. Bland-Altman plots for all the studies showed sufficient quantitative agreement between the direct reconstructed parametric maps and the indirect FBP (--0.035x+0.48E--5). Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Sequence information gain based motif analysis.

PubMed

Maynou, Joan; Pairó, Erola; Marco, Santiago; Perera, Alexandre

2015-11-09

The detection of regulatory regions in candidate sequences is essential for the understanding of the regulation of a particular gene and the mechanisms involved. This paper proposes a novel methodology based on information theoretic metrics for finding regulatory sequences in promoter regions. This methodology (SIGMA) has been tested on genomic sequence data for Homo sapiens and Mus musculus. SIGMA has been compared with different publicly available alternatives for motif detection, such as MEME/MAST, Biostrings (Bioconductor package), MotifRegressor, and previous work such Qresiduals projections or information theoretic based detectors. Comparative results, in the form of Receiver Operating Characteristic curves, show how, in 70% of the studied Transcription Factor Binding Sites, the SIGMA detector has a better performance and behaves more robustly than the methods compared, while having a similar computational time. The performance of SIGMA can be explained by its parametric simplicity in the modelling of the non-linear co-variability in the binding motif positions. Sequence Information Gain based Motif Analysis is a generalisation of a non-linear model of the cis-regulatory sequences detection based on Information Theory. This generalisation allows us to detect transcription factor binding sites with maximum performance disregarding the covariability observed in the positions of the training set of sequences. SIGMA is freely available to the public at http://b2slab.upc.edu.

An optical parametric chirped-pulse amplifier for seeding high repetition rate free-electron lasers

DOE PAGES

Höppner, H.; Hage, A.; Tanikawa, T.; ...

2015-05-15

High repetition rate free-electron lasers (FEL), producing highly intense extreme ultraviolet and x-ray pulses, require new high power tunable femtosecond lasers for FEL seeding and FEL pump-probe experiments. A tunable, 112 W (burst mode) optical parametric chirped-pulse amplifier (OPCPA) is demonstrated with center frequencies ranging from 720–900 nm, pulse energies up to 1.12 mJ and a pulse duration of 30 fs at a repetition rate of 100 kHz. Since the power scalability of this OPCPA is limited by the OPCPA-pump amplifier, we also demonstrate a 6.7–13.7 kW (burst mode) thin-disk OPCPA-pump amplifier, increasing the possible OPCPA output power to manymore » hundreds of watts. Furthermore, third and fourth harmonic generation experiments are performed and the results are used to simulate a seeded FEL with high-gain harmonic generation.« less

Studies on pressure-gain combustion engines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matsutomi, Yu

Various aspects of the pressure-gain combustion engine are investigated analytically and experimentally in the current study. A lumped parameter model is developed to characterize the operation of a valveless pulse detonation engine. The model identified the function of flame quenching process through gas dynamic process. By adjusting fuel manifold pressure and geometries, the duration of the air buffer can be effectively varied. The parametric study with the lumped parameter model has shown that engine frequency of up to approximately 15 Hz is attainable. However, requirements for upstream air pressure increases significantly with higher engine frequency. The higher pressure requirement indicates pressure loss in the system and lower overall engine performance. The loss of performance due to the pressure loss is a critical issue for the integrated pressure-gain combustors. Two types of transitional methods are examined using entropy-based models. An accumulator based transition has obvious loss due to sudden area expansion, but it can be minimized by utilizing the gas dynamics in the combustion tube. An ejector type transition has potential to achieve performance beyond the limit specified by a single flow path Humphrey cycle. The performance of an ejector was discussed in terms of apparent entropy and mixed flow entropy. Through an ideal ejector, the apparent part of entropy increases due to the reduction in flow unsteadiness, but entropy of the mixed flow remains constant. The method is applied to a CFD simulation with a simple manifold for qualitative evaluation. The operation of the wave rotor constant volume combustion rig is experimentally examined. The rig has shown versatility of operation for wide range of conditions. Large pressure rise in the rotor channel and in a section of the exhaust duct are observed even with relatively large leakage gaps on the rotor. The simplified analysis indicated that inconsistent combustion is likely due to insufficient

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum after bench press training.

PubMed

Nishino, Tomoya

2017-04-01

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is often associated with asthma and mainly affects adolescent males with a tall, thin body habitus. A 17-year-old man complained of chest and pharyngeal pain after bench press training and spontaneous pneumomediastinum was diagnosed. It should be considered in the differential diagnosis of chest pain of uncertain cause.

Spontaneous Pneumomediastinum After Electronic Cigarette Use.

PubMed

Marasco, Rita Daniela; Loizzi, Domenico; Ardò, Nicoletta Pia; Fatone, Fabio Nicola; Sollitto, Francesco

2018-06-01

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is an uncommon condition typically occurring in young men presenting with pleuritic pain, dyspnea, and subcutaneous emphysema. We report an exceptional case of spontaneous pneumomediastinum after electronic cigarette use in an otherwise healthy young man. Copyright © 2018 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Parametric Instability Rates in Periodically Driven Band Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lellouch, S.; Bukov, M.; Demler, E.; Goldman, N.

2017-04-01

In this work, we analyze the dynamical properties of periodically driven band models. Focusing on the case of Bose-Einstein condensates, and using a mean-field approach to treat interparticle collisions, we identify the origin of dynamical instabilities arising from the interplay between the external drive and interactions. We present a widely applicable generic numerical method to extract instability rates and link parametric instabilities to uncontrolled energy absorption at short times. Based on the existence of parametric resonances, we then develop an analytical approach within Bogoliubov theory, which quantitatively captures the instability rates of the system and provides an intuitive picture of the relevant physical processes, including an understanding of how transverse modes affect the formation of parametric instabilities. Importantly, our calculations demonstrate an agreement between the instability rates determined from numerical simulations and those predicted by theory. To determine the validity regime of the mean-field analysis, we compare the latter to the weakly coupled conserving approximation. The tools developed and the results obtained in this work are directly relevant to present-day ultracold-atom experiments based on shaken optical lattices and are expected to provide an insightful guidance in the quest for Floquet engineering.

Parametric vs. non-parametric daily weather generator: validation and comparison

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dubrovsky, Martin

2016-04-01

As the climate models (GCMs and RCMs) fail to satisfactorily reproduce the real-world surface weather regime, various statistical methods are applied to downscale GCM/RCM outputs into site-specific weather series. The stochastic weather generators are among the most favourite downscaling methods capable to produce realistic (observed like) meteorological inputs for agrological, hydrological and other impact models used in assessing sensitivity of various ecosystems to climate change/variability. To name their advantages, the generators may (i) produce arbitrarily long multi-variate synthetic weather series representing both present and changed climates (in the latter case, the generators are commonly modified by GCM/RCM-based climate change scenarios), (ii) be run in various time steps and for multiple weather variables (the generators reproduce the correlations among variables), (iii) be interpolated (and run also for sites where no weather data are available to calibrate the generator). This contribution will compare two stochastic daily weather generators in terms of their ability to reproduce various features of the daily weather series. M&Rfi is a parametric generator: Markov chain model is used to model precipitation occurrence, precipitation amount is modelled by the Gamma distribution, and the 1st order autoregressive model is used to generate non-precipitation surface weather variables. The non-parametric GoMeZ generator is based on the nearest neighbours resampling technique making no assumption on the distribution of the variables being generated. Various settings of both weather generators will be assumed in the present validation tests. The generators will be validated in terms of (a) extreme temperature and precipitation characteristics (annual and 30 years extremes and maxima of duration of hot/cold/dry/wet spells); (b) selected validation statistics developed within the frame of VALUE project. The tests will be based on observational weather series

Spontaneous Self-Assembly of Polymeric Nanoparticles in Aqueous Media: New Insights From Microfluidics, In Situ Size Measurements, and Individual Particle Tracking.

PubMed

Li, Xue; Salzano, Giuseppina; Zhang, Jiwen; Gref, Ruxandra

2017-01-01

Supramolecular cyclodextrin-based nanoparticles (CD-NPs) mediated by host-guest interactions have gained increased popularity because of their "green" and simple preparation procedure, as well as their versatility in terms of inclusion of active molecules. Herein, we showed that original CD-NPs of around 100 nm are spontaneously formed in water, by mixing 2 aqueous solutions of (1) a CD polymer and (2) dextran grafted with benzophenone moieties. For the first time, CD-NPs were instantaneously produced in a microfluidic interaction chamber by mixing 2 aqueous solutions of neutral polymers, in the absence of organic solvents. Whatever the mixing conditions, CD-NPs with narrow size distributions were immediately formed upon contact of the 2 polymeric solutions. In situ size measurements showed that the CD-NPs were spontaneously formed. Nanoparticle tracking analysis was used to individually follow the CD-NPs in their Brownian motions, to gain insights on their size distribution, concentration, and stability on extreme dilution. Nanoparticle tracking analysis allowed to establish that despite their non-covalent nature, and the CD-NPs were remarkably stable in terms of concentration and size distribution, even on extreme dilution (concentrations as low as 100 ng/mL). Copyright © 2016 American Pharmacists Association®. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Algorithm for parametric community detection in networks.

PubMed

Bettinelli, Andrea; Hansen, Pierre; Liberti, Leo

2012-07-01

Modularity maximization is extensively used to detect communities in complex networks. It has been shown, however, that this method suffers from a resolution limit: Small communities may be undetectable in the presence of larger ones even if they are very dense. To alleviate this defect, various modifications of the modularity function have been proposed as well as multiresolution methods. In this paper we systematically study a simple model (proposed by Pons and Latapy [Theor. Comput. Sci. 412, 892 (2011)] and similar to the parametric model of Reichardt and Bornholdt [Phys. Rev. E 74, 016110 (2006)]) with a single parameter α that balances the fraction of within community edges and the expected fraction of edges according to the configuration model. An exact algorithm is proposed to find optimal solutions for all values of α as well as the corresponding successive intervals of α values for which they are optimal. This algorithm relies upon a routine for exact modularity maximization and is limited to moderate size instances. An agglomerative hierarchical heuristic is therefore proposed to address parametric modularity detection in large networks. At each iteration the smallest value of α for which it is worthwhile to merge two communities of the current partition is found. Then merging is performed and the data are updated accordingly. An implementation is proposed with the same time and space complexity as the well-known Clauset-Newman-Moore (CNM) heuristic [Phys. Rev. E 70, 066111 (2004)]. Experimental results on artificial and real world problems show that (i) communities are detected by both exact and heuristic methods for all values of the parameter α; (ii) the dendrogram summarizing the results of the heuristic method provides a useful tool for substantive analysis, as illustrated particularly on a Les Misérables data set; (iii) the difference between the parametric modularity values given by the exact method and those given by the heuristic is

Mapping the Chevallier-Polarski-Linder parametrization onto physical dark energy Models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scherrer, Robert J.

2015-08-01

We examine the Chevallier-Polarski-Linder (CPL) parametrization, in the context of quintessence and barotropic dark energy models, to determine the subset of such models to which it can provide a good fit. The CPL parametrization gives the equation of state parameter w for the dark energy as a linear function of the scale factor a , namely w =w0+wa(1 -a ). In the case of quintessence models, we find that over most of the w0, wa parameter space the CPL parametrization maps onto a fairly narrow form of behavior for the potential V (ϕ ), while a one-dimensional subset of parameter space, for which wa=κ (1 +w0) , with κ constant, corresponds to a wide range of functional forms for V (ϕ ). For barotropic models, we show that the functional dependence of the pressure on the density, up to a multiplicative constant, depends only on wi=wa+w0 and not on w0 and wa separately. Our results suggest that the CPL parametrization may not be optimal for testing either type of model.

Development of an acoustic filter for parametric loudspeaker using phononic crystals.

PubMed

Ji, Peifeng; Hu, Wenlin; Yang, Jun

2016-04-01

The spurious signal generated as a result of nonlinearity at the receiving system affects the measurement of the difference-frequency sound in the parametric loudspeaker, especially in the nearfield or near the beam axis. In this paper, an acoustic filter is designed using phononic crystals and its theoretical simulations are carried out by quasi-one- and two-dimensional models with Comsol Multiphysics. According to the simulated transmission loss (TL), an acoustic filter is prototyped consisting of 5×7 aluminum alloy cylinders and its performance is verified experimentally. There is good agreement with the simulation result for TL. After applying our proposed filter in the axial measurement of the parametric loudspeaker, a clear frequency dependence from parametric array effect is detected, which exhibits a good match with the well-known theory described by the Gaussian-beam expansion technique. During the directivity measurement for the parametric loudspeaker, the proposed filter has also proved to be effective and is only needed for small angles. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A micro-machined source transducer for a parametric array in air.

PubMed

Lee, Haksue; Kang, Daesil; Moon, Wonkyu

2009-04-01

Parametric array applications in air, such as highly directional parametric loudspeaker systems, usually rely on large radiators to generate the high-intensity primary beams required for nonlinear interactions. However, a conventional transducer, as a primary wave projector, requires a great deal of electrical power because its electroacoustic efficiency is very low due to the large characteristic mechanical impedance in air. The feasibility of a micro-machined ultrasonic transducer as an efficient finite-amplitude wave projector was studied. A piezoelectric micro-machined ultrasonic transducer array consisting of lead zirconate titanate uni-morph elements was designed and fabricated for this purpose. Theoretical and experimental evaluations showed that a micro-machined ultrasonic transducer array can be used as an efficient source transducer for a parametric array in air. The beam patterns and propagation curves of the difference frequency wave and the primary wave generated by the micro-machined ultrasonic transducer array were measured. Although the theoretical results were based on ideal parametric array models, the theoretical data explained the experimental results reasonably well. These experiments demonstrated the potential of micro-machined primary wave projector.

A multimode electromechanical parametric resonator array

PubMed Central

Mahboob, I.; Mounaix, M.; Nishiguchi, K.; Fujiwara, A.; Yamaguchi, H.

2014-01-01

Electromechanical resonators have emerged as a versatile platform in which detectors with unprecedented sensitivities and quantum mechanics in a macroscopic context can be developed. These schemes invariably utilise a single resonator but increasingly the concept of an array of electromechanical resonators is promising a wealth of new possibilities. In spite of this, experimental realisations of such arrays have remained scarce due to the formidable challenges involved in their fabrication. In a variation to this approach, we identify 75 harmonic vibration modes in a single electromechanical resonator of which 7 can also be parametrically excited. The parametrically resonating modes exhibit vibrations with only 2 oscillation phases which are used to build a binary information array. We exploit this array to execute a mechanical byte memory, a shift-register and a controlled-NOT gate thus vividly illustrating the availability and functionality of an electromechanical resonator array by simply utilising higher order vibration modes. PMID:24658349

[Effects of reversing the feeding cycle and the light period on the spontaneous activity of the rat (author's transl)].

PubMed

Ticca, M

1976-01-01

The amount and the circadian distribution of spontaneous activity in the rat are influenced by a number of factors, whose importance and interrelationships are still deeply discussed. In order to check the reliability of previous studies about the effects of meal-eating on the spontaneous activity (wheel running) of rats of our Sprague-Dawley strain, the adjustment to the modifications of the normal day-night cycle and of the normal nocturnal feeding rhythm have been controlled. Reversing the normal light and dark periods caused the rats, after a 24 hours period, to lower and to irregularly distribute their spontaneous activity. Rats shifted their pattern of maximal activity by 12 hours in the new period of darkness in about five days, and showed to have completely fixed the new reversed running habit. Also feeding habits changed in a similar way, but more slowly. The levels of mean daily activity did not change. In a second experiment, rats, received food during light hours, and were deprived during dark hours. Their activity increased considerably and irregularly during dark hours, while a very slight rise of wheel running was shown during light hours. Body weight gain and food consumption were similar to those of the control group. These results slightly differ from those obtained using other rat strains, and are an interesting example of reinforcement of a spontaneous behavior resulting more from the light-dark cycle than from cues provided by food deprivation.

Parametric Imaging Of Digital Subtraction Angiography Studies For Renal Transplant Evaluation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gallagher, Joe H.; Meaney, Thomas F.; Flechner, Stuart M.; Novick, Andrew C.; Buonocore, Edward

1981-11-01

A noninvasive method for diagnosing acute tubular necrosis and rejection would be an important tool for the management of renal transplant patients. From a sequence of digital subtraction angiographic images acquired after an intravenous injection of radiographic contrast material, the parametric images of the maximum contrast, the time when the maximum contrast is reached, and two times the time at which one half of the maximum contrast is reached are computed. The parametric images of the time when the maximum is reached clearly distinguish normal from abnormal renal function. However, it is the parametric image of two times the time when one half of the maximum is reached which provides some assistance in differentiating acute tubular necrosis from rejection.

Spontaneous action potentials and neural coding in unmyelinated axons.

PubMed

O'Donnell, Cian; van Rossum, Mark C W

2015-04-01

The voltage-gated Na and K channels in neurons are responsible for action potential generation. Because ion channels open and close in a stochastic fashion, spontaneous (ectopic) action potentials can result even in the absence of stimulation. While spontaneous action potentials have been studied in detail in single-compartment models, studies on spatially extended processes have been limited. The simulations and analysis presented here show that spontaneous rate in unmyelinated axon depends nonmonotonically on the length of the axon, that the spontaneous activity has sub-Poisson statistics, and that neural coding can be hampered by the spontaneous spikes by reducing the probability of transmitting the first spike in a train.

A probabilistic strategy for parametric catastrophe insurance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Figueiredo, Rui; Martina, Mario; Stephenson, David; Youngman, Benjamin

2017-04-01

Economic losses due to natural hazards have shown an upward trend since 1980, which is expected to continue. Recent years have seen a growing worldwide commitment towards the reduction of disaster losses. This requires effective management of disaster risk at all levels, a part of which involves reducing financial vulnerability to disasters ex-ante, ensuring that necessary resources will be available following such events. One way to achieve this is through risk transfer instruments. These can be based on different types of triggers, which determine the conditions under which payouts are made after an event. This study focuses on parametric triggers, where payouts are determined by the occurrence of an event exceeding specified physical parameters at a given location, or at multiple locations, or over a region. This type of product offers a number of important advantages, and its adoption is increasing. The main drawback of parametric triggers is their susceptibility to basis risk, which arises when there is a mismatch between triggered payouts and the occurrence of loss events. This is unavoidable in said programmes, as their calibration is based on models containing a number of different sources of uncertainty. Thus, a deterministic definition of the loss event triggering parameters appears flawed. However, often for simplicity, this is the way in which most parametric models tend to be developed. This study therefore presents an innovative probabilistic strategy for parametric catastrophe insurance. It is advantageous as it recognizes uncertainties and minimizes basis risk while maintaining a simple and transparent procedure. A logistic regression model is constructed here to represent the occurrence of loss events based on certain loss index variables, obtained through the transformation of input environmental variables. Flood-related losses due to rainfall are studied. The resulting model is able, for any given day, to issue probabilities of occurrence of loss

Enhanced response of non-Hermitian photonic systems near exceptional points

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sunada, Satoshi

2018-04-01

This paper theoretically and numerically studies the response characteristics of non-Hermitian resonant photonic systems operating near an exceptional point (EP), where two resonant eigenmodes coalesce. It is shown that a system near an EP can exhibit a non-Lorentzian frequency response, whose line shape and intensity strongly depend on the modal decay rate and coupling parameters for the input waves, unlike a normal Lorentzian response around a single resonance. In particular, it is shown that the peak intensity of the frequency response is inversely proportional to the fourth power of the modal decay rate and can be significantly enhanced with the aid of optical gain. The theoretical results are numerically verified by a full wave simulation of a microring cavity with gain. In addition, the effects of the nonlinear gain saturation and spontaneous emission are discussed. The response enhancement and its parametric dependence may be useful for designing and controlling the excitation of eigenmodes by external fields.

Parametric amplification of a superconducting plasma wave

DOE PAGES

Rajasekaran, S.; Casandruc, E.; Laplace, Y.; ...

2016-07-11

Many applications in photonics require all-optical manipulation of plasma waves, which can concentrate electromagnetic energy on sub-wavelength length scales. This is difficult in metallic plasmas because of their small optical nonlinearities. Some layered superconductors support Josephson plasma waves, involving oscillatory tunnelling of the superfluid between capacitively coupled planes. Josephson plasma waves are also highly nonlinear, and exhibit striking phenomena such as cooperative emission of coherent terahertz radiation, superconductor–metal oscillations and soliton formation. In this paper, we show that terahertz Josephson plasma waves can be parametrically amplified through the cubic tunnelling nonlinearity in a cuprate superconductor. Finally, parametric amplification is sensitivemore » to the relative phase between pump and seed waves, and may be optimized to achieve squeezing of the order-parameter phase fluctuations or terahertz single-photon devices.« less

Parametric spatiotemporal oscillation in reaction-diffusion systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghosh, Shyamolina; Ray, Deb Shankar

2016-03-01

We consider a reaction-diffusion system in a homogeneous stable steady state. On perturbation by a time-dependent sinusoidal forcing of a suitable scaling parameter the system exhibits parametric spatiotemporal instability beyond a critical threshold frequency. We have formulated a general scheme to calculate the threshold condition for oscillation and the range of unstable spatial modes lying within a V-shaped region reminiscent of Arnold's tongue. Full numerical simulations show that depending on the specificity of nonlinearity of the models, the instability may result in time-periodic stationary patterns in the form of standing clusters or spatially localized breathing patterns with characteristic wavelengths. Our theoretical analysis of the parametric oscillation in reaction-diffusion system is corroborated by full numerical simulation of two well-known chemical dynamical models: chlorite-iodine-malonic acid and Briggs-Rauscher reactions.

Parametric spatiotemporal oscillation in reaction-diffusion systems.

PubMed

Ghosh, Shyamolina; Ray, Deb Shankar

2016-03-01

We consider a reaction-diffusion system in a homogeneous stable steady state. On perturbation by a time-dependent sinusoidal forcing of a suitable scaling parameter the system exhibits parametric spatiotemporal instability beyond a critical threshold frequency. We have formulated a general scheme to calculate the threshold condition for oscillation and the range of unstable spatial modes lying within a V-shaped region reminiscent of Arnold's tongue. Full numerical simulations show that depending on the specificity of nonlinearity of the models, the instability may result in time-periodic stationary patterns in the form of standing clusters or spatially localized breathing patterns with characteristic wavelengths. Our theoretical analysis of the parametric oscillation in reaction-diffusion system is corroborated by full numerical simulation of two well-known chemical dynamical models: chlorite-iodine-malonic acid and Briggs-Rauscher reactions.

Software for Managing Parametric Studies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yarrow, Maurice; McCann, Karen M.; DeVivo, Adrian

2003-01-01

The Information Power Grid Virtual Laboratory (ILab) is a Practical Extraction and Reporting Language (PERL) graphical-user-interface computer program that generates shell scripts to facilitate parametric studies performed on the Grid. (The Grid denotes a worldwide network of supercomputers used for scientific and engineering computations involving data sets too large to fit on desktop computers.) Heretofore, parametric studies on the Grid have been impeded by the need to create control language scripts and edit input data files painstaking tasks that are necessary for managing multiple jobs on multiple computers. ILab reflects an object-oriented approach to automation of these tasks: All data and operations are organized into packages in order to accelerate development and debugging. A container or document object in ILab, called an experiment, contains all the information (data and file paths) necessary to define a complex series of repeated, sequenced, and/or branching processes. For convenience and to enable reuse, this object is serialized to and from disk storage. At run time, the current ILab experiment is used to generate required input files and shell scripts, create directories, copy data files, and then both initiate and monitor the execution of all computational processes.

A Parametric Approach to Numerical Modeling of TKR Contact Forces

PubMed Central

Lundberg, Hannah J.; Foucher, Kharma C.; Wimmer, Markus A.

2009-01-01

In vivo knee contact forces are difficult to determine using numerical methods because there are more unknown forces than equilibrium equations available. We developed parametric methods for computing contact forces across the knee joint during the stance phase of level walking. Three-dimensional contact forces were calculated at two points of contact between the tibia and the femur, one on the lateral aspect of the tibial plateau, and one on the medial side. Muscle activations were parametrically varied over their physiologic range resulting in a solution space of contact forces. The obtained solution space was reasonably small and the resulting force pattern compared well to a previous model from the literature for kinematics and external kinetics from the same patient. Peak forces of the parametric model and the previous model were similar for the first half of the stance phase, but differed for the second half. The previous model did not take into account the transverse external moment about the knee and could not calculate muscle activation levels. Ultimately, the parametric model will result in more accurate contact force inputs for total knee simulators, as current inputs are not generally based on kinematics and kinetics inputs from TKR patients. PMID:19155015

Spontaneity and Equilibrium II: Multireaction Systems

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Raff, Lionel M.

2014-01-01

The thermodynamic criteria for spontaneity and equilibrium in multireaction systems are developed and discussed. When N reactions are occurring simultaneously, it is shown that G and A will depend upon N independent reaction coordinates, ?a (a = 1,2, ..., N), in addition to T and p for G or T and V for A. The general criteria for spontaneity and…

An analog neural hardware implementation using charge-injection multipliers and neutron-specific gain control.

PubMed

Massengill, L W; Mundie, D B

1992-01-01

A neural network IC based on a dynamic charge injection is described. The hardware design is space and power efficient, and achieves massive parallelism of analog inner products via charge-based multipliers and spatially distributed summing buses. Basic synaptic cells are constructed of exponential pulse-decay modulation (EPDM) dynamic injection multipliers operating sequentially on propagating signal vectors and locally stored analog weights. Individually adjustable gain controls on each neutron reduce the effects of limited weight dynamic range. A hardware simulator/trainer has been developed which incorporates the physical (nonideal) characteristics of actual circuit components into the training process, thus absorbing nonlinearities and parametric deviations into the macroscopic performance of the network. Results show that charge-based techniques may achieve a high degree of neural density and throughput using standard CMOS processes.

Acute suppression of spontaneous neurotransmission drives synaptic potentiation.

PubMed

Nosyreva, Elena; Szabla, Kristen; Autry, Anita E; Ryazanov, Alexey G; Monteggia, Lisa M; Kavalali, Ege T

2013-04-17

The impact of spontaneous neurotransmission on neuronal plasticity remains poorly understood. Here, we show that acute suppression of spontaneous NMDA receptor-mediated (NMDAR-mediated) neurotransmission potentiates synaptic responses in the CA1 regions of rat and mouse hippocampus. This potentiation requires protein synthesis, brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression, eukaryotic elongation factor-2 kinase function, and increased surface expression of AMPA receptors. Our behavioral studies link this same synaptic signaling pathway to the fast-acting antidepressant responses elicited by ketamine. We also show that selective neurotransmitter depletion from spontaneously recycling vesicles triggers synaptic potentiation via the same pathway as NMDAR blockade, demonstrating that presynaptic impairment of spontaneous release, without manipulation of evoked neurotransmission, is sufficient to elicit postsynaptic plasticity. These findings uncover an unexpectedly dynamic impact of spontaneous glutamate release on synaptic efficacy and provide new insight into a key synaptic substrate for rapid antidepressant action.

Improvement of amplified spontaneous emission performance by doping tris(8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminum (Alq3) in dye-doped polymer thin films.

PubMed

Lu, Wu; You, Han; Fang, Junfeng; Ma, Dongge

2007-04-20

A well-known red fluorescent dye 4-(dicy-anomethylene)-2-t-butyl-6(1,1,7,7-tetramethyljulolidyl-9-enyl)-4H-pyran (DCJTB) was codoped with an electron transport organic molecule tris(8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminum (Alq(3)) in a host matrix of polystyrene (PS), and the amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) was studied by optically pumping. It was found that the ASE performance was significantly improved by the introduction of Alq(3). The Alq(3):DCJTB:PS blending thin films showed a low threshold (2.4 microJ/pulse) and a high net gain coefficient (109.95 cm(-1)) compared with the pure DCJTB:PS system (threshold of 15.2 microJ/pulse and gain of 35.94 cm(-1)). The improvement of the ASE performance was considered to be attributable to the effective Föster energy transfer from Alq(3) to DCJTB. Our results demonstrate that the Alq(3):DCJTB could be a promising candidate as gain medium for red organic diode lasers.

Range compensation for backscattering measurements in the difference-frequency nearfield of a parametric sonar.

PubMed

Foote, Kenneth G

2012-05-01

Measurement of acoustic backscattering properties of targets requires removal of the range dependence of echoes. This process is called range compensation. For conventional sonars making measurements in the transducer farfield, the compensation removes effects of geometrical spreading and absorption. For parametric sonars consisting of a parametric acoustic transmitter and a conventional-sonar receiver, two additional range dependences require compensation when making measurements in the nonlinearly generated difference-frequency nearfield: an apparently increasing source level and a changing beamwidth. General expressions are derived for range compensation functions in the difference-frequency nearfield of parametric sonars. These are evaluated numerically for a parametric sonar whose difference-frequency band, effectively 1-6 kHz, is being used to observe Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) in situ. Range compensation functions for this sonar are compared with corresponding functions for conventional sonars for the cases of single and multiple scatterers. Dependences of these range compensation functions on the parametric sonar transducer shape, size, acoustic power density, and hydrography are investigated. Parametric range compensation functions, when applied with calibration data, will enable difference-frequency echoes to be expressed in physical units of volume backscattering, and backscattering spectra, including fish-swimbladder-resonances, to be analyzed.

Studying brain organization via spontaneous fMRI signal

PubMed Central

Power, Jonathan D; Schlaggar, Bradley L; Petersen, Steven E

2014-01-01

In recent years, some substantial advances in understanding human (and non-human) brain organization have emerged from a relatively unusual approach: the observation of spontaneous activity, and correlated patterns in spontaneous activity, in the “resting” brain. Most commonly, spontaneous neural activity is measured indirectly via fMRI signal in subjects who are lying quietly in the scanner, the so-called “resting state”. This Primer introduces the fMRI-based study of spontaneous brain activity, some of the methodological issues active in the field, and some ways in which resting state fMRI has been used to delineate aspects of area-level and supra-areal brain organization. PMID:25459408

Parametrically Guided Generalized Additive Models with Application to Mergers and Acquisitions Data.

PubMed

Fan, Jianqing; Maity, Arnab; Wang, Yihui; Wu, Yichao

2013-01-01

Generalized nonparametric additive models present a flexible way to evaluate the effects of several covariates on a general outcome of interest via a link function. In this modeling framework, one assumes that the effect of each of the covariates is nonparametric and additive. However, in practice, often there is prior information available about the shape of the regression functions, possibly from pilot studies or exploratory analysis. In this paper, we consider such situations and propose an estimation procedure where the prior information is used as a parametric guide to fit the additive model. Specifically, we first posit a parametric family for each of the regression functions using the prior information (parametric guides). After removing these parametric trends, we then estimate the remainder of the nonparametric functions using a nonparametric generalized additive model, and form the final estimates by adding back the parametric trend. We investigate the asymptotic properties of the estimates and show that when a good guide is chosen, the asymptotic variance of the estimates can be reduced significantly while keeping the asymptotic variance same as the unguided estimator. We observe the performance of our method via a simulation study and demonstrate our method by applying to a real data set on mergers and acquisitions.

Parametrically Guided Generalized Additive Models with Application to Mergers and Acquisitions Data

PubMed Central

Fan, Jianqing; Maity, Arnab; Wang, Yihui; Wu, Yichao

2012-01-01

Generalized nonparametric additive models present a flexible way to evaluate the effects of several covariates on a general outcome of interest via a link function. In this modeling framework, one assumes that the effect of each of the covariates is nonparametric and additive. However, in practice, often there is prior information available about the shape of the regression functions, possibly from pilot studies or exploratory analysis. In this paper, we consider such situations and propose an estimation procedure where the prior information is used as a parametric guide to fit the additive model. Specifically, we first posit a parametric family for each of the regression functions using the prior information (parametric guides). After removing these parametric trends, we then estimate the remainder of the nonparametric functions using a nonparametric generalized additive model, and form the final estimates by adding back the parametric trend. We investigate the asymptotic properties of the estimates and show that when a good guide is chosen, the asymptotic variance of the estimates can be reduced significantly while keeping the asymptotic variance same as the unguided estimator. We observe the performance of our method via a simulation study and demonstrate our method by applying to a real data set on mergers and acquisitions. PMID:23645976

Prestimulus neural oscillations inhibit visual perception via modulation of response gain.

PubMed

Chaumon, Maximilien; Busch, Niko A

2014-11-01

The ongoing state of the brain radically affects how it processes sensory information. How does this ongoing brain activity interact with the processing of external stimuli? Spontaneous oscillations in the alpha range are thought to inhibit sensory processing, but little is known about the psychophysical mechanisms of this inhibition. We recorded ongoing brain activity with EEG while human observers performed a visual detection task with stimuli of different contrast intensities. To move beyond qualitative description, we formally compared psychometric functions obtained under different levels of ongoing alpha power and evaluated the inhibitory effect of ongoing alpha oscillations in terms of contrast or response gain models. This procedure opens the way to understanding the actual functional mechanisms by which ongoing brain activity affects visual performance. We found that strong prestimulus occipital alpha oscillations-but not more anterior mu oscillations-reduce performance most strongly for stimuli of the highest intensities tested. This inhibitory effect is best explained by a divisive reduction of response gain. Ongoing occipital alpha oscillations thus reflect changes in the visual system's input/output transformation that are independent of the sensory input to the system. They selectively scale the system's response, rather than change its sensitivity to sensory information.

A generalized parametric response mapping method for analysis of multi-parametric imaging: A feasibility study with application to glioblastoma.

PubMed

Lausch, Anthony; Yeung, Timothy Pok-Chi; Chen, Jeff; Law, Elton; Wang, Yong; Urbini, Benedetta; Donelli, Filippo; Manco, Luigi; Fainardi, Enrico; Lee, Ting-Yim; Wong, Eugene

2017-11-01

Parametric response map (PRM) analysis of functional imaging has been shown to be an effective tool for early prediction of cancer treatment outcomes and may also be well-suited toward guiding personalized adaptive radiotherapy (RT) strategies such as sub-volume boosting. However, the PRM method was primarily designed for analysis of longitudinally acquired pairs of single-parameter image data. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility of a generalized parametric response map analysis framework, which enables analysis of multi-parametric data while maintaining the key advantages of the original PRM method. MRI-derived apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) maps acquired at 1 and 3-months post-RT for 19 patients with high-grade glioma were used to demonstrate the algorithm. Images were first co-registered and then standardized using normal tissue image intensity values. Tumor voxels were then plotted in a four-dimensional Cartesian space with coordinate values equal to a voxel's image intensity in each of the image volumes and an origin defined as the multi-parametric mean of normal tissue image intensity values. Voxel positions were orthogonally projected onto a line defined by the origin and a pre-determined response vector. The voxels are subsequently classified as positive, negative or nil, according to whether projected positions along the response vector exceeded a threshold distance from the origin. The response vector was selected by identifying the direction in which the standard deviation of tumor image intensity values was maximally different between responding and non-responding patients within a training dataset. Voxel classifications were visualized via familiar three-class response maps and then the fraction of tumor voxels associated with each of the classes was investigated for predictive utility analogous to the original PRM method. Independent PRM and MPRM analyses of the contrast

Speaker-sensitive emotion recognition via ranking: Studies on acted and spontaneous speech☆

PubMed Central

Cao, Houwei; Verma, Ragini; Nenkova, Ani

2014-01-01

We introduce a ranking approach for emotion recognition which naturally incorporates information about the general expressivity of speakers. We demonstrate that our approach leads to substantial gains in accuracy compared to conventional approaches. We train ranking SVMs for individual emotions, treating the data from each speaker as a separate query, and combine the predictions from all rankers to perform multi-class prediction. The ranking method provides two natural benefits. It captures speaker specific information even in speaker-independent training/testing conditions. It also incorporates the intuition that each utterance can express a mix of possible emotion and that considering the degree to which each emotion is expressed can be productively exploited to identify the dominant emotion. We compare the performance of the rankers and their combination to standard SVM classification approaches on two publicly available datasets of acted emotional speech, Berlin and LDC, as well as on spontaneous emotional data from the FAU Aibo dataset. On acted data, ranking approaches exhibit significantly better performance compared to SVM classification both in distinguishing a specific emotion from all others and in multi-class prediction. On the spontaneous data, which contains mostly neutral utterances with a relatively small portion of less intense emotional utterances, ranking-based classifiers again achieve much higher precision in identifying emotional utterances than conventional SVM classifiers. In addition, we discuss the complementarity of conventional SVM and ranking-based classifiers. On all three datasets we find dramatically higher accuracy for the test items on whose prediction the two methods agree compared to the accuracy of individual methods. Furthermore on the spontaneous data the ranking and standard classification are complementary and we obtain marked improvement when we combine the two classifiers by late-stage fusion. PMID:25422534

Speaker-sensitive emotion recognition via ranking: Studies on acted and spontaneous speech☆

PubMed

Cao, Houwei; Verma, Ragini; Nenkova, Ani

2015-01-01

We introduce a ranking approach for emotion recognition which naturally incorporates information about the general expressivity of speakers. We demonstrate that our approach leads to substantial gains in accuracy compared to conventional approaches. We train ranking SVMs for individual emotions, treating the data from each speaker as a separate query, and combine the predictions from all rankers to perform multi-class prediction. The ranking method provides two natural benefits. It captures speaker specific information even in speaker-independent training/testing conditions. It also incorporates the intuition that each utterance can express a mix of possible emotion and that considering the degree to which each emotion is expressed can be productively exploited to identify the dominant emotion. We compare the performance of the rankers and their combination to standard SVM classification approaches on two publicly available datasets of acted emotional speech, Berlin and LDC, as well as on spontaneous emotional data from the FAU Aibo dataset. On acted data, ranking approaches exhibit significantly better performance compared to SVM classification both in distinguishing a specific emotion from all others and in multi-class prediction. On the spontaneous data, which contains mostly neutral utterances with a relatively small portion of less intense emotional utterances, ranking-based classifiers again achieve much higher precision in identifying emotional utterances than conventional SVM classifiers. In addition, we discuss the complementarity of conventional SVM and ranking-based classifiers. On all three datasets we find dramatically higher accuracy for the test items on whose prediction the two methods agree compared to the accuracy of individual methods. Furthermore on the spontaneous data the ranking and standard classification are complementary and we obtain marked improvement when we combine the two classifiers by late-stage fusion.

Parametric adaptive filtering and data validation in the bar GW detector AURIGA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ortolan, A.; Baggio, L.; Cerdonio, M.; Prodi, G. A.; Vedovato, G.; Vitale, S.

2002-04-01

We report on our experience gained in the signal processing of the resonant GW detector AURIGA. Signal amplitude and arrival time are estimated by means of a matched-adaptive Wiener filter. The detector noise, entering in the filter set-up, is modelled as a parametric ARMA process; to account for slow non-stationarity of the noise, the ARMA parameters are estimated on an hourly basis. A requirement of the set-up of an unbiased Wiener filter is the separation of time spans with 'almost Gaussian' noise from non-Gaussian and/or strongly non-stationary time spans. The separation algorithm consists basically of a variance estimate with the Chauvenet convergence method and a threshold on the Curtosis index. The subsequent validation of data is strictly connected with the separation procedure: in fact, by injecting a large number of artificial GW signals into the 'almost Gaussian' part of the AURIGA data stream, we have demonstrated that the effective probability distributions of the signal-to-noise ratio χ2 and the time of arrival are those that are expected.

Spontaneous Scalarization: Dead or Alive?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Berti, Emanuele; Crispino, Luis; Gerosa, Davide; Gualtieri, Leonardo; Horbatsch, Michael; Macedo, Caio; Okada da Silva, Hector; Pani, Paolo; Sotani, Hajime; Sperhake, Ulrich

2015-04-01

In 1993, Damour and Esposito-Farese showed that a wide class of scalar-tensor theories can pass weak-field gravitational tests and exhibit nonperturbative strong-field deviations away from General Relativity in systems involving neutron stars. These deviations are possible in the presence of ``spontaneous scalarization,'' a phase transition similar in nature to spontaneous magnetization in ferromagnets. More than twenty years after the original proposal, binary pulsar experiments have severely constrained the possibility of spontaneous scalarization occurring in nature. I will show that these experimental constraints have important implications for the torsional oscillation frequencies of neutron stars and for the so-called ``I-Love-Q'' relations in scalar-tensor theories. I will also argue that there is still hope to observe strong scalarization effects, despite the strong experimental bounds on the original mechanism. In particular, I will discuss two mechanisms that could produce strong scalarization in neutron stars: anisotropy and multiscalarization. This work was supported by NSF CAREER Award PHY-1055103.

Detection of target phonemes in spontaneous and read speech.

PubMed

Mehta, G; Cutler, A

1988-01-01

Although spontaneous speech occurs more frequently in most listeners' experience than read speech, laboratory studies of human speech recognition typically use carefully controlled materials read from a script. The phonological and prosodic characteristics of spontaneous and read speech differ considerably, however, which suggests that laboratory results may not generalise to the recognition of spontaneous speech. In the present study listeners were presented with both spontaneous and read speech materials, and their response time to detect word-initial target phonemes was measured. Responses were, overall, equally fast in each speech mode. However, analysis of effects previously reported in phoneme detection studies revealed significant differences between speech modes. In read speech but not in spontaneous speech, later targets were detected more rapidly than targets preceded by short words. In contrast, in spontaneous speech but not in read speech, targets were detected more rapidly in accented than in unaccented words and in strong than in weak syllables. An explanation for this pattern is offered in terms of characteristic prosodic differences between spontaneous and read speech. The results support claims from previous work that listeners pay great attention to prosodic information in the process of recognising speech.

Spontaneously Combustible Solids -- A Literature Search

DTIC Science & Technology

1975-05-01

Wasahizeon, D.* C. It. K(EY WORDS (Continue on reviers side It necesary and Identify by block number) Pyrophoric Materials Hazardous Materials...and Identify by block number) Existing information on spontaneously combustible solids including pyrophoric - air hazardous materials and water... pyrophoric -air hazardous and water reactive materials. All available hazard classification systems and test methods releting to spontaneous combustion have

Spontaneous closure of traumatic macular hole

PubMed Central

Sanjay, Srinivasan; Yeo, Tun Kuan; Au Eong, Kah-Guan

2012-01-01

Macular hole formation is a well-known complication following ocular trauma. Less commonly recognised is the spontaneous closure of such holes. A 27-year-old man presented with a history of blunt trauma to his left eye. Eye evaluation showed conjunctival laceration, diffuse retinal oedema and multiple retinal haemorrhages in that eye. A month later, he developed a full thickness macular hole. Two months later, there was spontaneous complete closure of the full-thickness macular hole in the left eye as confirmed on optical coherence tomography. Spontaneous closure of hole is not uncommon. Observation for a period of up to 12 months is a reasonable management option. Macular hole surgery for traumatic macular holes may be delayed in such cases. PMID:23961017

Spontaneous closure of traumatic macular hole.

PubMed

Sanjay, Srinivasan; Yeo, Tun Kuan; Au Eong, Kah-Guan

2012-07-01

Macular hole formation is a well-known complication following ocular trauma. Less commonly recognised is the spontaneous closure of such holes. A 27-year-old man presented with a history of blunt trauma to his left eye. Eye evaluation showed conjunctival laceration, diffuse retinal oedema and multiple retinal haemorrhages in that eye. A month later, he developed a full thickness macular hole. Two months later, there was spontaneous complete closure of the full-thickness macular hole in the left eye as confirmed on optical coherence tomography. Spontaneous closure of hole is not uncommon. Observation for a period of up to 12 months is a reasonable management option. Macular hole surgery for traumatic macular holes may be delayed in such cases.

Changing space and sound: Parametric design and variable acoustics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Norton, Christopher William

This thesis examines the potential for parametric design software to create performance based design using acoustic metrics as the design criteria. A former soundstage at the University of Southern California used by the Thornton School of Music is used as a case study for a multiuse space for orchestral, percussion, master class and recital use. The criteria used for each programmatic use include reverberation time, bass ratio, and the early energy ratios of the clarity index and objective support. Using a panelized ceiling as a design element to vary the parameters of volume, panel orientation and type of absorptive material, the relationships between these parameters and the design criteria are explored. These relationships and subsequently derived equations are applied to Grasshopper parametric modeling software for Rhino 3D (a NURBS modeling software). Using the target reverberation time and bass ratio for each programmatic use as input for the parametric model, the genomic optimization function of Grasshopper - Galapagos - is run to identify the optimum ceiling geometry and material distribution.

Definition of NASTRAN sets by use of parametric geometry

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Baughn, Terry V.; Tiv, Mehran

1989-01-01

Many finite element preprocessors describe finite element model geometry with points, lines, surfaces and volumes. One method for describing these basic geometric entities is by use of parametric cubics which are useful for representing complex shapes. The lines, surfaces and volumes may be discretized for follow on finite element analysis. The ability to limit or selectively recover results from the finite element model is extremely important to the analyst. Equally important is the ability to easily apply boundary conditions. Although graphical preprocessors have made these tasks easier, model complexity may not lend itself to easily identify a group of grid points desired for data recovery or application of constraints. A methodology is presented which makes use of the assignment of grid point locations in parametric coordinates. The parametric coordinates provide a convenient ordering of the grid point locations and a method for retrieving the grid point ID's from the parent geometry. The selected grid points may then be used for the generation of the appropriate set and constraint cards.

Spontaneous generation in medieval Jewish philosophy and theology.

PubMed

Gaziel, Ahuva

2012-01-01

The concept of life forms emerging from inanimate matter--spontaneous generation--was widely accepted until the nineteenth century. Several medieval Jewish scholars acknowledged this scientific theory in their philosophical and religious contemplations. Quite interestingly, it served to reinforce diverse, or even opposite, theological conclusions. One approach excluded spontaneously-generated living beings form the biblical account of creation or the story of the Deluge. Underlying this view is an understanding that organisms that generate spontaneously evolve continuously in nature and, therefore, do not require divine intervention in their formation or survival during disastrous events. This naturalistic position reduces the miraculous dimension of reality. Others were of the opinion that spontaneous generation is one of the extraordinary marvels exhibited in this world and, accordingly, this interpretation served to accentuate the divine aspect of nature. References to spontaneous generation also appear in legal writings, influencing practical applications such as dietary laws and actions forbidden on the Sabbath.

Individual differences in physiological flexibility predict spontaneous avoidance.

PubMed

Aldao, Amelia; Dixon-Gordon, Katherine L; De Los Reyes, Andres

2016-08-01

People often regulate their emotions by resorting to avoidance, a putatively maladaptive strategy. Prior work suggests that increased psychopathology symptoms predict greater spontaneous utilisation of this strategy. Extending this work, we examined whether heightened resting cardiac vagal tone (which reflects a general ability to regulate emotions in line with contextual demands) predicts decreased spontaneous avoidance. In Study 1, greater resting vagal tone was associated with reduced spontaneous avoidance in response to disgust-eliciting pictures, beyond anxiety and depression symptoms and emotional reactivity. In Study 2, resting vagal tone interacted with anxiety and depression symptoms to predict spontaneous avoidance in response to disgust-eliciting film clips. The positive association between symptoms and spontaneous avoidance was more pronounced among participants with reduced resting vagal tone. Thus, increased resting vagal tone might protect against the use of avoidance. Our findings highlight the importance of assessing both subjective and biological processes when studying individual differences in emotion regulation.

Association study of estrogen receptor alpha gene polymorphisms with spontaneous abortion: is this a possible reason for unexplained spontaneous abortion?

PubMed

Anousha, Negin; Hossein-Nezhad, Arash; Biramijamal, Firouzeh; Rahmani, Ali; Maghbooli, Zhila; Aghababaei, Elahe; Nemati, Shahram

2013-01-01

Estrogen plays a crucial role in fetal and placental development through estrogen receptors. Association of estrogen receptor alpha gene (ESR1) polymorphisms with spontaneous abortion has been shown in some studies. Our main goal was to study the potential association of spontaneous abortion with the ESR1 gene variations (PvuII and XbaI) in fetal tissue. Totally, 161 samples were recruited including 80 samples of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded fetal tissue from spontaneous abortion and 81 samples of normal term placental tissue. The restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method was performed for genotyping the rs2234693 (A/G XbaI) and rs9340799 (T/C PvuII) single nucleotide polymorphisms located in intron 1 of ESR1. The results have been confirmed by DNA sequencing analysis. The different genotypes distribution was detected in two study groups. Haplotype analysis indicated that ppxx is protective genotype against spontaneous abortion (P = 0.01). In conclusion, the potential role of ESR1 genetic variation in spontaneous abortion might be valuable in high-risk subjects, and that needs to be confirmed with future studies.

Association Study of Estrogen Receptor Alpha Gene Polymorphisms with Spontaneous Abortion: Is This a Possible Reason for Unexplained Spontaneous Abortion?

PubMed Central

Anousha, Negin; Hossein-Nezhad, Arash; Biramijamal, Firouzeh; Rahmani, Ali; Maghbooli, Zhila; Aghababaei, Elahe; Nemati, Shahram

2013-01-01

Estrogen plays a crucial role in fetal and placental development through estrogen receptors. Association of estrogen receptor alpha gene (ESR1) polymorphisms with spontaneous abortion has been shown in some studies. Our main goal was to study the potential association of spontaneous abortion with the ESR1 gene variations (PvuII and XbaI) in fetal tissue. Totally, 161 samples were recruited including 80 samples of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded fetal tissue from spontaneous abortion and 81 samples of normal term placental tissue. The restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method was performed for genotyping the rs2234693 (A/G XbaI) and rs9340799 (T/C PvuII) single nucleotide polymorphisms located in intron 1 of ESR1. The results have been confirmed by DNA sequencing analysis. The different genotypes distribution was detected in two study groups. Haplotype analysis indicated that ppxx is protective genotype against spontaneous abortion (P = 0.01). In conclusion, the potential role of ESR1 genetic variation in spontaneous abortion might be valuable in high-risk subjects, and that needs to be confirmed with future studies. PMID:24228243

Parametric excitation and squeezing in a many-body spinor condensate

PubMed Central

Hoang, T. M.; Anquez, M.; Robbins, B. A.; Yang, X. Y.; Land, B. J.; Hamley, C. D.; Chapman, M. S.

2016-01-01

Atomic spins are usually manipulated using radio frequency or microwave fields to excite Rabi oscillations between different spin states. These are single-particle quantum control techniques that perform ideally with individual particles or non-interacting ensembles. In many-body systems, inter-particle interactions are unavoidable; however, interactions can be used to realize new control schemes unique to interacting systems. Here we demonstrate a many-body control scheme to coherently excite and control the quantum spin states of an atomic Bose gas that realizes parametric excitation of many-body collective spin states by time varying the relative strength of the Zeeman and spin-dependent collisional interaction energies at multiples of the natural frequency of the system. Although parametric excitation of a classical system is ineffective from the ground state, we show that in our experiment, parametric excitation from the quantum ground state leads to the generation of quantum squeezed states. PMID:27044675

Parametric excitation and squeezing in a many-body spinor condensate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hoang, T. M.; Anquez, M.; Robbins, B. A.; Yang, X. Y.; Land, B. J.; Hamley, C. D.; Chapman, M. S.

2016-04-01

Atomic spins are usually manipulated using radio frequency or microwave fields to excite Rabi oscillations between different spin states. These are single-particle quantum control techniques that perform ideally with individual particles or non-interacting ensembles. In many-body systems, inter-particle interactions are unavoidable; however, interactions can be used to realize new control schemes unique to interacting systems. Here we demonstrate a many-body control scheme to coherently excite and control the quantum spin states of an atomic Bose gas that realizes parametric excitation of many-body collective spin states by time varying the relative strength of the Zeeman and spin-dependent collisional interaction energies at multiples of the natural frequency of the system. Although parametric excitation of a classical system is ineffective from the ground state, we show that in our experiment, parametric excitation from the quantum ground state leads to the generation of quantum squeezed states.

Realization of an omnidirectional source of sound using parametric loudspeakers.

PubMed

Sayin, Umut; Artís, Pere; Guasch, Oriol

2013-09-01

Parametric loudspeakers are often used in beam forming applications where a high directivity is required. Withal, in this paper it is proposed to use such devices to build an omnidirectional source of sound. An initial prototype, the omnidirectional parametric loudspeaker (OPL), consisting of a sphere with hundreds of ultrasonic transducers placed on it has been constructed. The OPL emits audible sound thanks to the parametric acoustic array phenomenon, and the close proximity and the large number of transducers results in the generation of a highly omnidirectional sound field. Comparisons with conventional dodecahedron loudspeakers have been made in terms of directivity, frequency response, and in applications such as the generation of diffuse acoustic fields in reverberant chambers. The OPL prototype has performed better than the conventional loudspeaker especially for frequencies higher than 500 Hz, its main drawback being the difficulty to generate intense pressure levels at low frequencies.

Studying brain organization via spontaneous fMRI signal.

PubMed

Power, Jonathan D; Schlaggar, Bradley L; Petersen, Steven E

2014-11-19

In recent years, some substantial advances in understanding human (and nonhuman) brain organization have emerged from a relatively unusual approach: the observation of spontaneous activity, and correlated patterns in spontaneous activity, in the "resting" brain. Most commonly, spontaneous neural activity is measured indirectly via fMRI signal in subjects who are lying quietly in the scanner, the so-called "resting state." This Primer introduces the fMRI-based study of spontaneous brain activity, some of the methodological issues active in the field, and some ways in which resting-state fMRI has been used to delineate aspects of area-level and supra-areal brain organization. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

An information-theoretic approach to assess practical identifiability of parametric dynamical systems.

PubMed

Pant, Sanjay; Lombardi, Damiano

2015-10-01

A new approach for assessing parameter identifiability of dynamical systems in a Bayesian setting is presented. The concept of Shannon entropy is employed to measure the inherent uncertainty in the parameters. The expected reduction in this uncertainty is seen as the amount of information one expects to gain about the parameters due to the availability of noisy measurements of the dynamical system. Such expected information gain is interpreted in terms of the variance of a hypothetical measurement device that can measure the parameters directly, and is related to practical identifiability of the parameters. If the individual parameters are unidentifiable, correlation between parameter combinations is assessed through conditional mutual information to determine which sets of parameters can be identified together. The information theoretic quantities of entropy and information are evaluated numerically through a combination of Monte Carlo and k-nearest neighbour methods in a non-parametric fashion. Unlike many methods to evaluate identifiability proposed in the literature, the proposed approach takes the measurement-noise into account and is not restricted to any particular noise-structure. Whilst computationally intensive for large dynamical systems, it is easily parallelisable and is non-intrusive as it does not necessitate re-writing of the numerical solvers of the dynamical system. The application of such an approach is presented for a variety of dynamical systems--ranging from systems governed by ordinary differential equations to partial differential equations--and, where possible, validated against results previously published in the literature. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Bim and Gis: when Parametric Modeling Meets Geospatial Data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barazzetti, L.; Banfi, F.

2017-12-01

Geospatial data have a crucial role in several projects related to infrastructures and land management. GIS software are able to perform advanced geospatial analyses, but they lack several instruments and tools for parametric modelling typically available in BIM. At the same time, BIM software designed for buildings have limited tools to handle geospatial data. As things stand at the moment, BIM and GIS could appear as complementary solutions, notwithstanding research work is currently under development to ensure a better level of interoperability, especially at the scale of the building. On the other hand, the transition from the local (building) scale to the infrastructure (where geospatial data cannot be neglected) has already demonstrated that parametric modelling integrated with geoinformation is a powerful tool to simplify and speed up some phases of the design workflow. This paper reviews such mixed approaches with both simulated and real examples, demonstrating that integration is already a reality at specific scales, which are not dominated by "pure" GIS or BIM. The paper will also demonstrate that some traditional operations carried out with GIS software are also available in parametric modelling software for BIM, such as transformation between reference systems, DEM generation, feature extraction, and geospatial queries. A real case study is illustrated and discussed to show the advantage of a combined use of both technologies. BIM and GIS integration can generate greater usage of geospatial data in the AECOO (Architecture, Engineering, Construction, Owner and Operator) industry, as well as new solutions for parametric modelling with additional geoinformation.

A numerical study on piezoelectric energy harvesting by combining transverse galloping and parametric instability phenomena

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Franzini, Guilherme Rosa; Santos, Rebeca Caramêz Saraiva; Pesce, Celso Pupo

2017-12-01

This paper aims to numerically investigate the effects of parametric instability on piezoelectric energy harvesting from the transverse galloping of a square prism. A two degrees-of-freedom reduced-order model for this problem is proposed and numerically integrated. A usual quasi-steady galloping model is applied, where the transverse force coefficient is adopted as a cubic polynomial function with respect to the angle of attack. Time-histories of nondimensional prism displacement, electric voltage and power dissipated at both the dashpot and the electrical resistance are obtained as functions of the reduced velocity. Both, oscillation amplitude and electric voltage, increased with the reduced velocity for all parametric excitation conditions tested. For low values of reduced velocity, 2:1 parametric excitation enhances the electric voltage. On the other hand, for higher reduced velocities, a 1:1 parametric excitation (i.e., the same as the natural frequency) enhances both oscillation amplitude and electric voltage. It has been also found that, depending on the parametric excitation frequency, the harvested electrical power can be amplified in 70% when compared to the case under no parametric excitation.

Spontaneous-Desorption Ionizer for a TOF-MS

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schultz, J. Albert

2006-01-01

A time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOF-MS) like the one mentioned in the immediately preceding article has been retrofitted with an ionizer based on a surface spontaneous-desorption process. This ionizer includes an electron multiplier in the form of a microchannel plate (MCP). Relative to an ionizer based on a hot-filament electron source, this ionizer offers advantages of less power consumption and greater mechanical ruggedness. The current density and stability characteristics of the electron emission of this ionizer are similar to those of a filament-based ionizer. In tests of various versions of this ionizer in the TOF-MS, electron currents up to 100 nA were registered. Currents of microamperes or more - great enough to satisfy requirements in most TOFMS applications - could be obtained by use of MCPs different from those used in the tests, albeit at the cost of greater bulk. One drawback of this ionizer is that the gain of the MCP decreases as a function of the charge extracted thus far; the total charge that can be extracted over the operational lifetime is about 1 coulomb. An MCP in the ion-detector portion of the TOF-MS is subject to the same limitation.

Multi-Watt femtosecond optical parametric master oscillator power amplifier at 43 MHz.

PubMed

Mörz, Florian; Steinle, Tobias; Steinmann, Andy; Giessen, Harald

2015-09-07

We present a high repetition rate mid-infrared optical parametric master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) scheme, which is tunable from 1370 to 4120nm. Up to 4.3W average output power are generated at 1370nm, corresponding to a photon conversion efficiency of 78%. Bandwidths of 6 to 12nm with pulse durations between 250 and 400fs have been measured. Strong conversion saturation over the whole signal range is observed, resulting in excellent power stability. The system consists of a fiber-feedback optical parametric oscillator that seeds an optical parametric power amplifier. Both systems are pumped by the same Yb:KGW femtosecond oscillator.

Parametric binary dissection

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bokhari, Shahid H.; Crockett, Thomas W.; Nicol, David M.

1993-01-01

Binary dissection is widely used to partition non-uniform domains over parallel computers. This algorithm does not consider the perimeter, surface area, or aspect ratio of the regions being generated and can yield decompositions that have poor communication to computation ratio. Parametric Binary Dissection (PBD) is a new algorithm in which each cut is chosen to minimize load + lambda x(shape). In a 2 (or 3) dimensional problem, load is the amount of computation to be performed in a subregion and shape could refer to the perimeter (respectively surface) of that subregion. Shape is a measure of communication overhead and the parameter permits us to trade off load imbalance against communication overhead. When A is zero, the algorithm reduces to plain binary dissection. This algorithm can be used to partition graphs embedded in 2 or 3-d. Load is the number of nodes in a subregion, shape the number of edges that leave that subregion, and lambda the ratio of time to communicate over an edge to the time to compute at a node. An algorithm is presented that finds the depth d parametric dissection of an embedded graph with n vertices and e edges in O(max(n log n, de)) time, which is an improvement over the O(dn log n) time of plain binary dissection. Parallel versions of this algorithm are also presented; the best of these requires O((n/p) log(sup 3)p) time on a p processor hypercube, assuming graphs of bounded degree. How PBD is applied to 3-d unstructured meshes and yields partitions that are better than those obtained by plain dissection is described. Its application to the color image quantization problem is also discussed, in which samples in a high-resolution color space are mapped onto a lower resolution space in a way that minimizes the color error.

Shared risk aversion in spontaneous and induced abortion.

PubMed

Catalano, Ralph; Bruckner, Tim A; Karasek, Deborah; Adler, Nancy E; Mortensen, Laust H

2016-05-01

Does the incidence of spontaneous abortion correlate positively over conception cohorts with the incidence of non-clinically indicated induced abortion as predicted by shared risk aversion? We find that the number of spontaneous and non-clinically indicated induced abortions correlates in conception cohorts, suggesting that risk aversion affects both the conscious and non-conscious mechanisms that control parturition. Much literature speculates that natural selection conserved risk aversion because the trait enhanced Darwinian fitness. Risk aversion, moreover, supposedly influences all decisions including those that individuals can and cannot report making. We argue that these circumstances, if real, would manifest in conscious and non-conscious decisions to invest in prospective offspring, and therefore affect incidence of induced and spontaneous abortion over time. Using data from Denmark, we test the hypothesis that monthly conception cohorts yielding unexpectedly many non-clinically indicated induced abortions also yield unexpectedly many spontaneous abortions. The 180 month test period (January 1995 through December 2009), yielded 1 351 800 gestations including 156 780 spontaneous as well as 233 280 induced abortions 9100 of which were clinically indicated. We use Box-Jenkins transfer functions to adjust the incidence of spontaneous and non-clinically indicated induced abortions for autocorrelation (including seasonality), cohort size, and fetal as well as gestational anomalies over the 180-month test period. We use cross-correlation to test our hypothesized association. We find a positive association between spontaneous and non-clinically indicated induced abortions. This suggests, consistent with our theory, that mothers of conception cohorts that yielded more spontaneous abortions than expected opted more frequently than expected for non-clinically indicated induced abortion. Limitations of our work include that even the world's best registration system

Cursed lamp: the problem of spontaneous abortion.

PubMed

Simkulet, William

2017-08-09

Many people believe human fetuses have the same moral status as adult human persons, that it is wrong to allow harm to befall things with this moral status, and thus voluntary, induced abortion is seriously morally wrong. Recently, many prochoice theorists have argued that this antiabortion stance is inconsistent; approximately 60% of human fetuses die from spontaneous abortion, far more than die from induced abortion, so if antiabortion theorists really believe that human fetuses have significant moral status, they have strong moral obligations to oppose spontaneous abortion. Yet, few antiabortion theorists devote any effort to doing so. Many prochoice theorists argue that to resolve this inconsistency, antiabortion theorists should abandon their opposition to induced abortion. Here, I argue that those who do not abandon their opposition to induced abortion but continue to neglect spontaneous abortion act immorally. Aristotle argues that moral responsibility requires both control and awareness; I argue that once an antiabortion theorist becomes aware of the frequency of spontaneous abortion, they have a strong moral obligation to redirect their efforts towards combating spontaneous abortion; failure to do so is morally monstrous. © Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2017. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.

Establishment of Biological Reference Intervals and Reference Curve for Urea by Exploratory Parametric and Non-Parametric Quantile Regression Models.

PubMed

Sarkar, Rajarshi

2013-07-01

The validity of the entire renal function tests as a diagnostic tool depends substantially on the Biological Reference Interval (BRI) of urea. Establishment of BRI of urea is difficult partly because exclusion criteria for selection of reference data are quite rigid and partly due to the compartmentalization considerations regarding age and sex of the reference individuals. Moreover, construction of Biological Reference Curve (BRC) of urea is imperative to highlight the partitioning requirements. This a priori study examines the data collected by measuring serum urea of 3202 age and sex matched individuals, aged between 1 and 80 years, by a kinetic UV Urease/GLDH method on a Roche Cobas 6000 auto-analyzer. Mann-Whitney U test of the reference data confirmed the partitioning requirement by both age and sex. Further statistical analysis revealed the incompatibility of the data for a proposed parametric model. Hence the data was non-parametrically analysed. BRI was found to be identical for both sexes till the 2(nd) decade, and the BRI for males increased progressively 6(th) decade onwards. Four non-parametric models were postulated for construction of BRC: Gaussian kernel, double kernel, local mean and local constant, of which the last one generated the best-fitting curves. Clinical decision making should become easier and diagnostic implications of renal function tests should become more meaningful if this BRI is followed and the BRC is used as a desktop tool in conjunction with similar data for serum creatinine.

Spontaneous sensorimotor coupling with multipart music.

PubMed

Hurley, Brian K; Martens, Peter A; Janata, Petr

2014-08-01

Music often evokes spontaneous movements in listeners that are synchronized with the music, a phenomenon that has been characterized as being in "the groove." However, the musical factors that contribute to listeners' initiation of stimulus-coupled action remain unclear. Evidence suggests that newly appearing objects in auditory scenes orient listeners' attention, and that in multipart music, newly appearing instrument or voice parts can engage listeners' attention and elicit arousal. We posit that attentional engagement with music can influence listeners' spontaneous stimulus-coupled movement. Here, 2 experiments-involving participants with and without musical training-tested the effect of staggering instrument entrances across time and varying the number of concurrent instrument parts within novel multipart music on listeners' engagement with the music, as assessed by spontaneous sensorimotor behavior and self-reports. Experiment 1 assessed listeners' moment-to-moment ratings of perceived groove, and Experiment 2 examined their spontaneous tapping and head movements. We found that, for both musically trained and untrained participants, music with more instruments led to higher ratings of perceived groove, and that music with staggered instrument entrances elicited both increased sensorimotor coupling and increased reports of perceived groove. Although untrained participants were more likely to rate music as higher in groove, trained participants showed greater propensity for tapping along, and they did so more accurately. The quality of synchronization of head movements with the music, however, did not differ as a function of training. Our results shed new light on the relationship between complex musical scenes, attention, and spontaneous sensorimotor behavior.

Cholesterol blocks spontaneous insertion of membrane proteins into liposomes of phosphatidylcholine.

PubMed

Nakamura, Shota; Suzuki, Sonomi; Saito, Hiroaki; Nishiyama, Ken-Ichi

2018-04-01

Spontaneous insertion of membrane proteins into liposomes formed from Escherichia coli polar phospholipids is blocked by diacylglycerol (DAG) at a physiological level. We found that cholesterol also blocks this spontaneous insertion, although a much larger amount is necessary for sufficient blockage. Reversely, sphingomyelin enhanced the spontaneous insertion. DAG at a physiological level was found not to block spontaneous insertion into liposomes formed from phosphatidylcholine (PC), while non-physiologically high concentrations of DAG reduced it. On the other hand, cholesterol blocked the spontaneous insertion into PC liposomes at a physiological level, explaining that both PC and cholesterol are absent in E. coli. While sphingomyelin did not enhance spontaneous insertion into PC liposomes, the effect of cholesterol on blockage of spontaneous insertion was dominant over that of sphingomyelin, suggesting that cholesterol functions as a blocker of disordered spontaneous insertion in eukaryotic cells. Lower amount of cholesterol was necessary to block spontaneous insertion into ER-mimic liposomes, explaining that ER membranes contain less amount of cholesterol. These results also explain that cholesterol, but not DAG, is involved in blockage of spontaneous insertion in eukaryotic cells, since DAG plays an important role as a second messenger in signal transduction.

Temporal-contrast measurements of a white-light-seeded noncollinear optical parametric amplifier

DOE PAGES

Bromage, J.; Dorrer, C.; Zuegel, J. D.

2015-09-01

Ultra-intense optical parametric chirped-pulse systems require front ends with broad bandwidth and high temporal contrast. Temporal cross-correlation measurements of a white-light–seeded noncollinear optical parametric amplifier (NOPA) show that its prepulse contrast exceeds the 120 dB dynamic range of the broadband NOPA-based cross-correlator.

Tunable, continuous-wave, ultraviolet source based on intracavity sum-frequency-generation in an optical parametric oscillator using BiB₃O₆.

PubMed

Devi, Kavita; Kumar, S Chaitanya; Ebrahim-Zadeh, M

2013-10-21

We report a continuous-wave (cw) source of tunable radiation across 333-345 nm in the ultraviolet (UV) using bismuth triborate, BiB₃O₆ (BIBO) as the nonlinear gain material. The source is based on internal sum-frequency-generation (SFG) in a cw singly-resonant optical parametric oscillator (OPO) pumped at 532 nm. The compact tunable source employs a 30-mm-long MgO:sPPLT crystal as the OPO gain medium and a 5-mm-long BIBO crystal for intracavity SFG of the signal and pump, providing up to 21.6 mW of UV power at 339.7 nm, with >15 mW over 64% of the SFG tuning range. The cw OPO is also tunable across 1158-1312 nm in the idler, delivering as much as 1.7 W at 1247 nm, with >1W over 65% of the tuning range. The UV output at maximum power exhibits passive power stability better than 3.4% rms and frequency stability of 193 GHz over more than one minute.

Creating Efficient Instrumentation Networks to Support Parametric Risk Transfer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rockett, P.

2009-04-01

The development and institutionalisation of Catastrophe modelling during the 1990s opened the way for Catastrophe risk securitization transactions in which catastrophe risk held by insurers is transferred to the capital markets in the form of a bond. Cat Bonds have been one of the few areas of the capital markets in which the risk modelling has remained secure and the returns on the bonds have held up well through the 2008 Credit Crunch. There are three ways of structuring the loss triggers on bonds: ‘indemnity triggers' - reflecting the actual losses to the issuers; ‘index triggers' reflecting the losses to some index such as reported insurance industry loss and ‘parametric triggers' reflecting the parameters of the underlying catastrophe event itself. Indemnity triggers require that the investors trust that the insurer is reporting all their underlying exposures, while both indemnity and index losses may take 1-2 years to settle before all the claims are reported and resolved. Therefore parametric structures have many advantages, in particular in that the bond can be settled rapidly after an event. The challenge is to create parametric indices that closely reflect the actual losses to the insurer - ie that minimise ‘basis risk'. First generation parametric indices had high basis risk as they were crudely based on the magnitude of an earthquake occurring within some defined geographical box, or the intensity of a hurricane relative to the distance of the storm from some location. Second generation triggers involve taking measurements of ground motion or windspeed or flood depths at many locations and weighting each value so that the overall index closely mimics insurance loss. Cat bonds with second generation parametric triggers have been successfully issued for European Windstorm, UK Flood and California and Japan Earthquake. However the spread of second generation parametric structures is limited by the availability of suitable networks of

Spontaneous polyploidization in cucumber.

PubMed

Ramírez-Madera, Axel O; Miller, Nathan D; Spalding, Edgar P; Weng, Yiqun; Havey, Michael J

2017-07-01

This is the first quantitative estimation of spontaneous polyploidy in cucumber and we detected 2.2% polyploids in a greenhouse study. We provide evidence that polyploidization is consistent with endoreduplication and is an on-going process during plant growth. Cucumber occasionally produces polyploid plants, which are problematic for growers because these plants produce misshaped fruits with non-viable seeds. In this study, we undertook the first quantitative study to estimate the relative frequency of spontaneous polyploids in cucumber. Seeds of recombinant inbred lines were produced in different environments, plants were grown in the field and greenhouse, and flow cytometry was used to establish ploidies. From 1422 greenhouse-grown plants, the overall relative frequency of spontaneous polyploidy was 2.2%. Plants possessed nuclei of different ploidies in the same leaves (mosaic) and on different parts of the same plant (chimeric). Our results provide evidence of endoreduplication and polysomaty in cucumber, and that it is an on-going and dynamic process. There was a significant effect (p = 0.018) of seed production environment on the occurrence of polyploid plants. Seed and seedling traits were not accurate predictors of eventual polyploids, and we recommend that cucumber producers rogue plants based on stature and leaf serration to remove potential polyploids.

[Spontaneous hemothorax revealing Wegener's vasculitis in a pregnant woman].

PubMed

Serhane, Hind; Yassine, Msougar; Amro, Lamyae

2016-01-01

Spontaneous hemothorax is a rare condition. Its causes are multiple but sometimes they remain unknown. In some patients, thoracotomy may be the only means to determine hemothorax origin. Vasculitis have not been reported as a common cause of spontaneous hemothorax. Pregnancy does not appear to have causal or aggravating effect on spontaneous hemothorax or on vasculitis. We here report the peculiar case of a young patient presenting during pregnancy with spontaneous hemothorax secondary to Wegener's vasculitis. The latter was diagnosed by pleural biopsy performed during exploratory thoracotomy and confirmed by ANCA assays.

Outcome of temporal lobe epilepsy surgery predicted by statistical parametric PET imaging.

PubMed

Wong, C Y; Geller, E B; Chen, E Q; MacIntyre, W J; Morris, H H; Raja, S; Saha, G B; Lüders, H O; Cook, S A; Go, R T

1996-07-01

PET is useful in the presurgical evaluation of temporal lobe epilepsy. The purpose of this retrospective study is to assess the clinical use of statistical parametric imaging in predicting surgical outcome. Interictal 18FDG-PET scans in 17 patients with surgically-treated temporal lobe epilepsy (Group A-13 seizure-free, group B = 4 not seizure-free at 6 mo) were transformed into statistical parametric imaging, with each pixel representing a z-score value by using the mean and s.d. of count distribution in each individual patient, for both visual and quantitative analysis. Mean z-scores were significantly more negative in anterolateral (AL) and mesial (M) regions on the operated side than the nonoperated side in group A (AL: p < 0.00005, M: p = 0.0097), but not in group B (AL: p = 0.46, M: p = 0.08). Statistical parametric imaging correctly lateralized 16 out of 17 patients. Only the AL region, however, was significant in predicting surgical outcome (F = 29.03, p < 0.00005). Using a cut-off z-score value of -1.5, statistical parametric imaging correctly classified 92% of temporal lobes from group A and 88% of those from Group B. The preliminary results indicate that statistical parametric imaging provides both clinically useful information for lateralization in temporal lobe epilepsy and a reliable predictive indicator of clinical outcome following surgical treatment.

Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking in Nonrelativistic Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Watanabe, Haruki

The subject of condensed matter physics is very rich --- there are an infinite number of parameters producing a diversity of exciting phenomena. As a theorist, my goal is to distill general principles out of this complexity --- to construct theories that can coherently explain many known examples altogether. This thesis is composed of several attempts to develop such theories in topics related to spontaneously symmetry breaking. A remarkable feature of many-body interacting systems is that although they are described by equations respecting various symmetries, they may spontaneously organize into a state that explicitly breaks symmetries. Examples are numerous: various types of crystalline and magnetic orders, Bose-Einstein condensates of cold atoms, superfluids of liquid helium, chiral symmetry in QCD, neutron stars, and cosmic inflation. These systems with spontaneously broken continuous symmetries have gapless excitations, so called Nambu-Goldstone bosons (NGBs). Although the properties of NGBs are well understood in Lorentz-invariant systems, surprisingly, some basic properties of NGBs such as their number and dispersion in nonrelativistic systems have not been discussed from a general perspective. In the first part of this thesis, we solve this issue by developing and analyzing an effective Lagrangian that coherently captures the low-energy, long-distance physics of many different symmetry-breaking states all at once. Next, we examine whether these NGBs originating from spontaneous symmetry breaking remain to be well-defined excitations inside a metal, where low-energy electrons near Fermi surface can collide with them. Our result is a one equation criterion that specifies whether the interactions between electrons and NGBs can be ignored, or whether it completely changes their character. In the latter case, unusual phases of matter such as non-Fermi liquids may arise; in that case, NGBs are overdamped and cannot form particle-like excitations in spite of the

NSAIDs and spontaneous abortions – true effect or an indication bias?

PubMed Central

Daniel, Sharon; Koren, Gideon; Lunenfeld, Eitan; Levy, Amalia

2015-01-01

Aim The aim of the study was to characterize the extent of indication bias resulting from the excessive use of NSAIDs on the days preceding a spontaneous abortion to relieve pain. Methods We used data from a retrospective cohort study assessing the risk for spontaneous abortions following exposure to NSAIDs. Three definitions of exposure for cases of spontaneous abortions were compared, from the first day of pregnancy until the day of spontaneous abortion and until 3 and 2 days before a spontaneous abortion. Statistical analysis was performed using multivariate time programmed Cox regression. Results A sharp increase was observed in the dispensation of indomethacin, diclofenac and naproxen, and a milder increase was found in the use of ibuprofen during the week before a spontaneous abortion. Non- selective COX inhibitors in general and specifically diclofenac and indomethacin were found to be associated with spontaneous abortions when the exposure period was defined until the day of spontaneous abortion (hazard ratio (HR) 1.15, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04, 1.28; HR 1.31, 95% CI 1.08, 1.59 and HR 3.33, 95% CI 2.09, 5.29, respectively). The effect disappears by excluding exposures occurring on the day before the spontaneous abortion for non-selective COX inhibitors and on the last week before the spontaneous abortion for indomethacin. In general, decreasing HRs were found with the exclusion of exposures occurring on the days immediately before the spontaneous abortion. Conclusions The increased use of NSAIDs during the last few days that preceded a spontaneous abortion to relieve pain associated with the miscarriage could bias studies assessing the association between exposure to NSAIDs and spontaneous abortions. PMID:25858169

Measurement of IR optics with linear coupling's action-angle parametrization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luo, Y.; Bai, M.; Pilat, F.; Satogata, T.; Trbojevic, D.

2005-08-01

Linear coupling’s action-angle parametrization is convenient for interpretation of turn-by-turn beam position monitor (BPM) data. We demonstrate how to apply this parametrization to extract Twiss and coupling parameters in interaction regions (IRs), using BPMs on each side of a long IR drift region. Example data were acquired at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider, using an ac dipole to excite a single transverse eigenmode. We have measured the waist of the β function and its Twiss and coupling parameters.

Children's Spontaneous Vocalisations during Play: Aesthetic Dimensions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Countryman, June; Gabriel, Martha; Thompson, Katherine

2016-01-01

This paper explores the phenomenon of spontaneous vocalisations in the self-chosen, unstructured outdoor play of children aged 3-12. Spontaneous vocalisations encompass the whole range of children's unprompted, natural, expressive vocal soundings beyond spoken language. Non-participant observations at childcare centres and on elementary school…

Lunar Cycle Influences Spontaneous Delivery in Cows

PubMed Central

Yonezawa, Tomohiro; Uchida, Mona; Tomioka, Michiko; Matsuki, Naoaki

2016-01-01

There is a popular belief that the lunar cycle influences spontaneous delivery in both humans and cattle. To assess this relationship, we investigated the synodic distribution of spontaneous deliveries in domestic Holstein cows. We used retrospective data from 428 spontaneous, full-term deliveries within a three-year period derived from the calving records of a private farm in Hokkaido, Japan. Spontaneous birth frequency increased uniformly from the new moon to the full moon phase and decreased until the waning crescent phase. There was a statistically significant peak between the waxing gibbous and full moon phases compared with those between the last quarter and the waning crescent. These changes were clearly observed in deliveries among multiparous cows, whereas they were not evident in deliveries among nulliparous cows. These data suggest the utility of dairy cows as models for bio-meteorological studies, and indicate that monitoring lunar phases may facilitate comprehensive understanding of parturition. PMID:27580019

Leaky synapses: Regulation of spontaneous neurotransmission in central synapses

PubMed Central

Wasser, Catherine R.; Kavalali, Ege T.

2009-01-01

The mechanisms underlying spontaneous neurotransmitter release are not well understood. Under physiological as well as pathophysiological circumstances, spontaneous fusion events can set the concentration of ambient levels of neurotransmitter within the synaptic cleft and in the extracellular milieu. In the brain, unregulated release of excitatory neurotransmitters, exacerbated during pathological conditions such as stroke, can lead to neuronal damage and death. In addition, recent findings suggest that under physiological circumstances spontaneous release events can trigger postsynaptic signaling events independent of evoked neurotransmitter release. Therefore, elucidation of mechanisms underlying spontaneous neurotransmission may help us better understand the functional significance of this form of release and provide tools for its selective manipulation. For instance, our recent investigations indicate that the level of cholesterol in the synapse plays a critical role in limiting spontaneous synaptic vesicle fusion. Therefore, alterations in synaptic cholesterol metabolism can be a critical determinant of glutamatergic neurotransmission at rest. This article aims to provide a closer look into our current understanding of the mechanisms underlying spontaneous neurotransmission and the signaling triggered by these unitary release events. PMID:18434032

Parametric Covariance Model for Horizon-Based Optical Navigation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hikes, Jacob; Liounis, Andrew J.; Christian, John A.

2016-01-01

This Note presents an entirely parametric version of the covariance for horizon-based optical navigation measurements. The covariance can be written as a function of only the spacecraft position, two sensor design parameters, the illumination direction, the size of the observed planet, the size of the lit arc to be used, and the total number of observed horizon points. As a result, one may now more clearly understand the sensitivity of horizon-based optical navigation performance as a function of these key design parameters, which is insight that was obscured in previous (and nonparametric) versions of the covariance. Finally, the new parametric covariance is shown to agree with both the nonparametric analytic covariance and results from a Monte Carlo analysis.

A permutation-based non-parametric analysis of CRISPR screen data.

PubMed

Jia, Gaoxiang; Wang, Xinlei; Xiao, Guanghua

2017-07-19

Clustered regularly-interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) screens are usually implemented in cultured cells to identify genes with critical functions. Although several methods have been developed or adapted to analyze CRISPR screening data, no single specific algorithm has gained popularity. Thus, rigorous procedures are needed to overcome the shortcomings of existing algorithms. We developed a Permutation-Based Non-Parametric Analysis (PBNPA) algorithm, which computes p-values at the gene level by permuting sgRNA labels, and thus it avoids restrictive distributional assumptions. Although PBNPA is designed to analyze CRISPR data, it can also be applied to analyze genetic screens implemented with siRNAs or shRNAs and drug screens. We compared the performance of PBNPA with competing methods on simulated data as well as on real data. PBNPA outperformed recent methods designed for CRISPR screen analysis, as well as methods used for analyzing other functional genomics screens, in terms of Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curves and False Discovery Rate (FDR) control for simulated data under various settings. Remarkably, the PBNPA algorithm showed better consistency and FDR control on published real data as well. PBNPA yields more consistent and reliable results than its competitors, especially when the data quality is low. R package of PBNPA is available at: https://cran.r-project.org/web/packages/PBNPA/ .

Four-wave parametric oscillation in sodium vapor by electromagnetically induced diffraction.

PubMed

Harada, Ken-ichi; Ogata, Minoru; Mitsunaga, Masaharu

2007-05-01

We have observed a novel type of parametric oscillation in sodium atomic vapor where four off-axis signal waves simultaneously build up under resonant and counterpropagating pump beams with elliptical beam profiles. The four waves, two of them Stokes shifted and the other two anti-Stokes shifted, have similar output powers of up to 10 mW with a conversion efficiency of 30% and are parametrically coupled by electromagnetically induced diffraction.

Latent component-based gear tooth fault detection filter using advanced parametric modeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ettefagh, M. M.; Sadeghi, M. H.; Rezaee, M.; Chitsaz, S.

2009-10-01

In this paper, a new parametric model-based filter is proposed for gear tooth fault detection. The designing of the filter consists of identifying the most proper latent component (LC) of the undamaged gearbox signal by analyzing the instant modules (IMs) and instant frequencies (IFs) and then using the component with lowest IM as the proposed filter output for detecting fault of the gearbox. The filter parameters are estimated by using the LC theory in which an advanced parametric modeling method has been implemented. The proposed method is applied on the signals, extracted from simulated gearbox for detection of the simulated gear faults. In addition, the method is used for quality inspection of the produced Nissan-Junior vehicle gearbox by gear profile error detection in an industrial test bed. For evaluation purpose, the proposed method is compared with the previous parametric TAR/AR-based filters in which the parametric model residual is considered as the filter output and also Yule-Walker and Kalman filter are implemented for estimating the parameters. The results confirm the high performance of the new proposed fault detection method.

Direct 4D reconstruction of parametric images incorporating anato-functional joint entropy.

PubMed

Tang, Jing; Kuwabara, Hiroto; Wong, Dean F; Rahmim, Arman

2010-08-07

We developed an anatomy-guided 4D closed-form algorithm to directly reconstruct parametric images from projection data for (nearly) irreversible tracers. Conventional methods consist of individually reconstructing 2D/3D PET data, followed by graphical analysis on the sequence of reconstructed image frames. The proposed direct reconstruction approach maintains the simplicity and accuracy of the expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm by extending the system matrix to include the relation between the parametric images and the measured data. A closed-form solution was achieved using a different hidden complete-data formulation within the EM framework. Furthermore, the proposed method was extended to maximum a posterior reconstruction via incorporation of MR image information, taking the joint entropy between MR and parametric PET features as the prior. Using realistic simulated noisy [(11)C]-naltrindole PET and MR brain images/data, the quantitative performance of the proposed methods was investigated. Significant improvements in terms of noise versus bias performance were demonstrated when performing direct parametric reconstruction, and additionally upon extending the algorithm to its Bayesian counterpart using the MR-PET joint entropy measure.

Gain-assisted broadband ring cavity enhanced spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Selim, Mahmoud A.; Adib, George A.; Sabry, Yasser M.; Khalil, Diaa

2017-02-01

Incoherent broadband cavity enhanced spectroscopy can significantly increase the effective path length of light-matter interaction to detect weak absorption lines over broad spectral range, for instance to detect gases in confined environments. Broadband cavity enhancement can be based on the decay time or the intensity drop technique. Decay time measurement is based on using tunable laser source that is expensive and suffers from long scan time. Intensity dependent measurement is usually reported based on broadband source using Fabry-Perot cavity, enabling short measurement time but suffers from the alignment tolerance of the cavity and the cavity insertion loss. In this work we overcome these challenges by using an alignment-free ring cavity made of an optical fiber loop and a directional coupler, while having a gain medium pumped below the lasing threshold to improve the finesse and reduce the insertion loss. Acetylene (C2H2) gas absorption is measured around 1535 nm wavelength using a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) gain medium. The system is analyzed for different ring resonator forward coupling coefficient and loses, including the 3-cm long gas cell insertion loss and fiber connector losses used in the experimental verification. The experimental results are obtained for a coupler ratio of 90/10 and a fiber length of 4 m. The broadband source is the amplified spontaneous emission of another SOA and the output is measured using a 70pm-resolution optical spectrum analyzer. The absorption depth and the effective interaction length are improved about an order of magnitude compared to the direct absorption of the gas cell. The presented technique provides an engineering method to improve the finesse and, consequently the effective length, while relaxing the technological constraints on the high reflectivity mirrors and free-space cavity alignment.

Development of suspended core soft glass fibers for far-detuned parametric conversion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rampur, Anupamaa; Ciąćka, Piotr; Cimek, Jarosław; Kasztelanic, Rafał; Buczyński, Ryszard; Klimczak, Mariusz

2018-04-01

Light sources utilizing χ (2) parametric conversion combine high brightness with attractive operation wavelengths in the near and mid-infrared. In optical fibers, it is possible to use χ (3) degenerate four-wave mixing in order to obtain signal-to-idler frequency detuning of over 100 THz. We report on a test series of nonlinear soft glass suspended core fibers intended for parametric conversion of 1000-1100 nm signal wavelengths available from an array of mature lasers into the near-to-mid-infrared range of 2700-3500 nm under pumping with an erbium sub-picosecond laser system. The presented discussion includes modelling of the fiber properties, details of their physical development and characterization, and experimental tests of parametric conversion.

Parametric Mass Modeling for Mars Entry, Descent and Landing System Analysis Study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Samareh, Jamshid A.; Komar, D. R.

2011-01-01

This paper provides an overview of the parametric mass models used for the Entry, Descent, and Landing Systems Analysis study conducted by NASA in FY2009-2010. The study examined eight unique exploration class architectures that included elements such as a rigid mid-L/D aeroshell, a lifting hypersonic inflatable decelerator, a drag supersonic inflatable decelerator, a lifting supersonic inflatable decelerator implemented with a skirt, and subsonic/supersonic retro-propulsion. Parametric models used in this study relate the component mass to vehicle dimensions and mission key environmental parameters such as maximum deceleration and total heat load. The use of a parametric mass model allows the simultaneous optimization of trajectory and mass sizing parameters.

Validation of two (parametric vs non-parametric) daily weather generators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dubrovsky, M.; Skalak, P.

2015-12-01

As the climate models (GCMs and RCMs) fail to satisfactorily reproduce the real-world surface weather regime, various statistical methods are applied to downscale GCM/RCM outputs into site-specific weather series. The stochastic weather generators are among the most favourite downscaling methods capable to produce realistic (observed-like) meteorological inputs for agrological, hydrological and other impact models used in assessing sensitivity of various ecosystems to climate change/variability. To name their advantages, the generators may (i) produce arbitrarily long multi-variate synthetic weather series representing both present and changed climates (in the latter case, the generators are commonly modified by GCM/RCM-based climate change scenarios), (ii) be run in various time steps and for multiple weather variables (the generators reproduce the correlations among variables), (iii) be interpolated (and run also for sites where no weather data are available to calibrate the generator). This contribution will compare two stochastic daily weather generators in terms of their ability to reproduce various features of the daily weather series. M&Rfi is a parametric generator: Markov chain model is used to model precipitation occurrence, precipitation amount is modelled by the Gamma distribution, and the 1st order autoregressive model is used to generate non-precipitation surface weather variables. The non-parametric GoMeZ generator is based on the nearest neighbours resampling technique making no assumption on the distribution of the variables being generated. Various settings of both weather generators will be assumed in the present validation tests. The generators will be validated in terms of (a) extreme temperature and precipitation characteristics (annual and 30-years extremes and maxima of duration of hot/cold/dry/wet spells); (b) selected validation statistics developed within the frame of VALUE project. The tests will be based on observational weather series

Density Fluctuations in the Solar Wind Driven by Alfvén Wave Parametric Decay

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bowen, Trevor A.; Badman, Samuel; Hellinger, Petr; Bale, Stuart D.

2018-02-01

Measurements and simulations of inertial compressive turbulence in the solar wind are characterized by anti-correlated magnetic fluctuations parallel to the mean field and density structures. This signature has been interpreted as observational evidence for non-propagating pressure balanced structures, kinetic ion-acoustic waves, as well as the MHD slow-mode. Given the high damping rates of parallel propagating compressive fluctuations, their ubiquity in satellite observations is surprising and suggestive of a local driving process. One possible candidate for the generation of compressive fluctuations in the solar wind is the Alfvén wave parametric instability. Here, we test the parametric decay process as a source of compressive waves in the solar wind by comparing the collisionless damping rates of compressive fluctuations with growth rates of the parametric decay instability daughter waves. Our results suggest that generation of compressive waves through parametric decay is overdamped at 1 au, but that the presence of slow-mode-like density fluctuations is correlated with the parametric decay of Alfvén waves.

Familial spontaneous pneumothorax in three generations and its HLA.

PubMed

Yamada, Akitoshi; Takeda, Yoshitaka; Hayashi, Satoru; Shimizu, Kazuta

2003-09-01

We experienced a case of familial spontaneous pneumothorax in three generations. Six of 13 family members had episodes of spontaneous pneumothorax. It is well established that there are some diseases associated with human leukocyte antigen (HLA). We performed HLA phenotyping for HLA of A, B and C. In our study, we detected the HLA haplotype A2, B61 in three of 4 who had episodes of spontaneous pneumothorax. The HLA haplotype A2, B70 were also detected in three of 4 who had episodes. This suggests that familial spontaneous pneumothorax might have hereditary factors.

Individual differences in spontaneous analogical transfer.

PubMed

Kubricht, James R; Lu, Hongjing; Holyoak, Keith J

2017-05-01

Research on analogical problem solving has shown that people often fail to spontaneously notice the relevance of a semantically remote source analog when solving a target problem, although they are able to form mappings and derive inferences when given a hint to recall the source. Relatively little work has investigated possible individual differences that predict spontaneous transfer, or how such differences may interact with interventions that facilitate transfer. In this study, fluid intelligence was measured for participants in an analogical problem-solving task, using an abridged version of the Raven's Progressive Matrices (RPM) test. In two experiments, we systematically compared the effect of augmenting verbal descriptions of the source with animations or static diagrams. Solution rates to Duncker's radiation problem were measured across varying source presentation conditions, and participants' understanding of the relevant source material was assessed. The pattern of transfer was best fit by a moderated mediation model: the positive impact of fluid intelligence on spontaneous transfer was mediated by its influence on source comprehension; however, this path was in turn modulated by provision of a supplemental animation via its influence on comprehension of the source. Animated source depictions were most beneficial in facilitating spontaneous transfer for those participants with low scores on the fluid intelligence measure.

Model Adaptation in Parametric Space for POD-Galerkin Models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Haotian; Wei, Mingjun

2017-11-01

The development of low-order POD-Galerkin models is largely motivated by the expectation to use the model developed with a set of parameters at their native values to predict the dynamic behaviors of the same system under different parametric values, in other words, a successful model adaptation in parametric space. However, most of time, even small deviation of parameters from their original value may lead to large deviation or unstable results. It has been shown that adding more information (e.g. a steady state, mean value of a different unsteady state, or an entire different set of POD modes) may improve the prediction of flow with other parametric states. For a simple case of the flow passing a fixed cylinder, an orthogonal mean mode at a different Reynolds number may stabilize the POD-Galerkin model when Reynolds number is changed. For a more complicated case of the flow passing an oscillatory cylinder, a global POD-Galerkin model is first applied to handle the moving boundaries, then more information (e.g. more POD modes) is required to predicate the flow under different oscillatory frequencies. Supported by ARL.

Probing the dynamics of dark energy with divergence-free parametrizations: A global fit study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Hong; Zhang, Xin

2011-09-01

The CPL parametrization is very important for investigating the property of dark energy with observational data. However, the CPL parametrization only respects the past evolution of dark energy but does not care about the future evolution of dark energy, since w ( z ) diverges in the distant future. In a recent paper [J.Z. Ma, X. Zhang, Phys. Lett. B 699 (2011) 233], a robust, novel parametrization for dark energy, w ( z ) = w + w ( l n ( 2 + z ) 1 + z - l n 2 ) , has been proposed, successfully avoiding the future divergence problem in the CPL parametrization. On the other hand, an oscillating parametrization (motivated by an oscillating quintom model) can also avoid the future divergence problem. In this Letter, we use the two divergence-free parametrizations to probe the dynamics of dark energy in the whole evolutionary history. In light of the data from 7-year WMAP temperature and polarization power spectra, matter power spectrum of SDSS DR7, and SN Ia Union2 sample, we perform a full Markov Chain Monte Carlo exploration for the two dynamical dark energy models. We find that the best-fit dark energy model is a quintom model with the EOS across -1 during the evolution. However, though the quintom model is more favored, we find that the cosmological constant still cannot be excluded.

Spontaneous Remission of Nephrotic Syndrome in Idiopathic Membranous Nephropathy

PubMed Central

Polanco, Natalia; Gutiérrez, Elena; Covarsí, Adelardo; Ariza, Francisco; Carreño, Agustín; Vigil, Ana; Baltar, José; Fernández-Fresnedo, Gema; Martín, Carmen; Pons, Salvador; Lorenzo, Dolores; Bernis, Carmen; Arrizabalaga, Pilar; Fernández-Juárez, Gema; Barrio, Vicente; Sierra, Milagros; Castellanos, Ines; Espinosa, Mario; Rivera, Francisco; Oliet, Aniana; Fernández-Vega, Francisco

2010-01-01

Spontaneous remission is a well known characteristic of idiopathic membranous nephropathy, but contemporary studies describing predictors of remission and long-term outcomes are lacking. We conducted a retrospective, multicenter cohort study of 328 patients with nephrotic syndrome resulting from idiopathic membranous nephropathy that initially received conservative therapy. Spontaneous remission occurred in 104 (32%) patients: proteinuria progressively declined after diagnosis until remission of disease at 14.7 ± 11.4 months. Although spontaneous remission was more frequent with lower levels of baseline proteinuria, it also frequently occurred in patients with massive proteinuria: 26% among those with baseline proteinuria 8 to 12 g/24 h and 22% among those with proteinuria >12 g/24 h. Baseline serum creatinine and proteinuria, treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor antagonists, and a >50% decline of proteinuria from baseline during the first year of follow-up were significant independent predictors for spontaneous remission. Only six patients (5.7%) experienced a relapse of nephrotic syndrome. The incidence of death and ESRD were significantly lower among patients with spontaneous remission. In conclusion, spontaneous remission is common among patients with nephrotic syndrome resulting from membranous nephropathy and carries a favorable long-term outcome with a low incidence of relapse. A decrease in proteinuria >50% from baseline during the first year predicts spontaneous remission. PMID:20110379

Quantifying parametric uncertainty in the Rothermel model

Treesearch

S. Goodrick

2008-01-01

The purpose of the present work is to quantify parametric uncertainty in the Rothermel wildland fire spreadmodel (implemented in software such as fire spread models in the United States. This model consists of a non-linear system of equations that relates environmentalvariables (input parameter groups...

Nearly noiseless amplification of microwave signals with a Josephson parametric amplifier

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Castellanos-Beltran, Manuel

2009-03-01

A degenerate parametric amplifier transforms an incident coherent state by amplifying one of its quadrature components while deamplifying the other. This transformation, when performed by an ideal parametric amplifier, is completely deterministic and reversible; therefore the amplifier in principle can be noiseless. We attempt to realize a noiseless amplifier of this type at microwave frequencies with a Josephson parametric amplifier (JPA). To this end, we have built a superconducting microwave cavity containing many dc-SQUIDs. This arrangement creates a non-linear medium in a cavity and it is closely analogous to an optical parametric amplifier. In my talk, I will describe the current performance of this circuit, where I show I can amplify signals with less added noise than a quantum-limited amplifier that amplifies both quadratures. In addition, the JPA also squeezes the electromagnetic vacuum fluctuations by 10 dB. Finally, I will discuss our effort to put two such amplifiers in series in order to undo the first stage of squeezing with a second stage of amplification, demonstrating that the amplification process is truly reversible.[4pt] M. A. Castellanos-Beltran, K. D. Irwin, G. C. Hilton, L. R. Vale and K. W. Lehnert, Nature Physics, published on line, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nphys1090 (2008).

Josephson Parametric Amplifer Based on a Cavity-Embedded Cooper Pair Transistor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Juliang; Rimberg, A. J.

In this experiment a cavity-embedded Cooper-pair transistor (cCPT) is used as a Josephson parametric amplifier. The cCPT consists of a Cooper pair transistor placed at the voltage antinode of a 5.7 GHz shorted quarter-wave resonator so that the CPT provides a galvanic connection between the cavity's central conductor and ground plane, which forms a SQUID loop. Both the flux threading the loop as well as the gate charge can be modulated, and each can provide the parametric pumping. The reflected signal from the cCPT is further amplified by both SLUG and HEMT amplifiers for characterizing the parametric amplification. A first application of the parametric amplification is to improve the charge sensitivity of a single electron charge detector. This can be done either by pumping on a side band or by shifting the charge state of the cCPT near a bifurcation point. Stimulated emission has been also observed when the cCPT is pumped at twice the resonant frequency in the absence of an input signal. This could allow investigation of the dynamic Casimir effect as well as generation of non-classical photon states. Supported by Grants ARO W911NF-13-10377 and NSF DMR 1507400.

Heating and thermal squeezing in parametrically driven oscillators with added noise.

PubMed

Batista, Adriano A

2012-11-01

In this paper we report a theoretical model based on Green's functions, Floquet theory, and averaging techniques up to second order that describes the dynamics of parametrically driven oscillators with added thermal noise. Quantitative estimates for heating and quadrature thermal noise squeezing near and below the transition line of the first parametric instability zone of the oscillator are given. Furthermore, we give an intuitive explanation as to why heating and thermal squeezing occur. For small amplitudes of the parametric pump the Floquet multipliers are complex conjugate of each other with a constant magnitude. As the pump amplitude is increased past a threshold value in the stable zone near the first parametric instability, the two Floquet multipliers become real and have different magnitudes. This creates two different effective dissipation rates (one smaller and the other larger than the real dissipation rate) along the stable manifolds of the first-return Poincaré map. We also show that the statistical average of the input power due to thermal noise is constant and independent of the pump amplitude and frequency. The combination of these effects causes most of heating and thermal squeezing. Very good agreement between analytical and numerical estimates of the thermal fluctuations is achieved.

Fuel cell on-site integrated energy system parametric analysis of a residential complex

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Simons, S. N.

1977-01-01

A parametric energy-use analysis was performed for a large apartment complex served by a fuel cell on-site integrated energy system (OS/IES). The variables parameterized include operating characteristics for four phosphoric acid fuel cells, eight OS/IES energy recovery systems, and four climatic locations. The annual fuel consumption for selected parametric combinations are presented and a breakeven economic analysis is presented for one parametric combination. The results show fuel cell electrical efficiency and system component choice have the greatest effect on annual fuel consumption; fuel cell thermal efficiency and geographic location have less of an effect.

A Qualitative Analysis of the Spontaneous Volunteer Response to the 2013 Sudan Floods: Changing the Paradigm.

PubMed

Albahari, Amin; Schultz, Carl H

2017-06-01

Introduction While the concept of community resilience is gaining traction, the role of spontaneous volunteers during the initial response to disasters remains controversial. In an attempt to resolve some of the debate, investigators examined the activities of a spontaneous volunteer group called Nafeer after the Sudan floods around the city of Khartoum in August of 2013. Hypothesis Can spontaneous volunteers successfully initiate, coordinate, and deliver sustained assistance immediately after a disaster? This retrospective, descriptive case study involved: (1) interviews with Nafeer members that participated in the disaster response to the Khartoum floods; (2) examination of documents generated during the event; and (3) subsequent benchmarking of their efforts with the Sphere Handbook. Members who agreed to participate were requested to provide all documents in their possession relating to Nafeer. The response by Nafeer was then benchmarked to the Sphere Handbook's six core standards, as well as the 11 minimum standards in essential health services. A total of 11 individuals were interviewed (six from leadership and five from active members). Nafeer's activities included: food provision; delivery of basic health care; environmental sanitation campaigns; efforts to raise awareness; and construction and strengthening of flood barricades. Its use of electronic platforms and social media to collect data and coordinate the organization's response was effective. Nafeer adopted a flat-management structure, dividing itself into 14 committees. A Coordination Committee was in charge of liaising between all committees. The Health and Sanitation Committee supervised two health days which included mobile medical and dentistry clinics supported by a mobile laboratory and pharmacy. The Engineering Committee managed to construct and maintain flood barricades. Nafeer used crowd-sourcing to fund its activities, receiving donations locally and internationally using supporters

Spontaneous Grammar Explanations.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tjoo, Hong Sing; Lewis, Marilyn

1998-01-01

Describes one New Zealand university language teacher's reflection on her own grammar explanations to university-level students of Bahasa Indonesian. Examines form-focused instruction through the teacher's spontaneous answers to students' questions about the form of the language they are studying. The teacher's experiences show that it takes time…

Spontaneous obliteration of spontaneous vertebral arteriovenous fistula associated with fibromuscular dysplasia after partial surgery: A case report.

PubMed

Iampreechakul, Prasert; Siriwimonmas, Somkiet

2016-12-01

We describe a patient with spontaneous obliteration of spontaneous vertebral arteriovenous fistula (VAVF) associated with fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) after partial surgery. A 52-year-old hypertensive female woke up one morning with left shoulder pain and weakness of the left upper extremity. A few days later, she developed left-sided audible bruit. She was treated for left frozen shoulder and supportive treatment for audible bruit for four years. She was referred from her general physician to a neurosurgeon because of left arm weakness. Physical examination showed signs of cervical radiculomyelopathy. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed an extradural mass on the left side of the cervical spinal canal from level C2 to C6. Provisional diagnosis was epidural vascular tumour. Laminectomy and partial removal of the mass was performed at level C5 to C6. Pathological report revealed suspected vascular malformation. Postoperative MRI showed thrombosed epidural vascular structure. Angiography showed dysplastic changes of both vertebral arteries representing FMD with VAVF of the left vertebral artery at level C1-C2. Two years after surgery, follow-up MRI demonstrated complete spontaneous resolution of the large thrombosed epidural vein. Disappearance of her audible bruit immediately after surgery and gradual improvement of her cervical radiculomyelopathy were observed after two years of clinical follow-up. From the literature, we found another 11 patients with 12 VAVFs who had spontaneous obliteration or cure of their fistulas. In the present case, spontaneous obliteration of the fistula seems to correlate with surgery inducing closure of the epidural venous exit leading to thrombosis of the enlarged epidural draining vein. © The Author(s) 2016.

Cholinergic Interneurons Underlie Spontaneous Dopamine Release in Nucleus Accumbens