We present an open source python based ray tracing tool that offers several useful features in graphical presentation, material properties, advanced calculations of synchrotron sources, implementation of diffractive and refractive elements, complex (also closed) surfaces and multiprocessing. The package has many usage examples which are supplied together with the code and visualized on its web pag

Context-aware computing is an exciting paradigm in which applications perceive and react to changing environments in an unattended manner. To enable behavioral adaptation, a context-aware application must dynamically acquire context data from different operating spaces in the real world, such as homes, shops and persons. Motivated by the sheer number and diversity of operating spaces, we propose a

We show that high-resolution laser spectroscopy can probe surface interactions of gas confined in nanocavities of porous materials. We report on strong line broadening and unfamiliar line shapes due to tight confinement, as well as signal enhancement due to multiple photon scattering. This new domain of laser spectroscopy constitute a challenge for the theory of collisions and spectroscopic line s

Abstract in Portuguese Paracrias strii Schauff, 1985 e P. ceratophaga Palmieri & Hansson sp. nov. são registradas pela primeira vez para o Brasil, sendo associadas a larvas de Ceratopus Schoenherr (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) obtidas de sicônios maduros de duas espécies de figueiras. As espécies registradas foram ilustradas. Os machos de P. ceratophaga sp. nov. foram descritos. A associação do Paracrias strii Schauff, 1985 and P. ceratophaga Palmieri & Hansson sp. nov. are first record in Brazil and both are associated with Ceratopus Schoenherr larvae (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) reared from syconia of two species of fig-trees. Both Paracrias species are diagnosed and illustrated. Males of P. ceratophaga sp. nov. are described. The association of Paracrias with weevil larvae is brief

In this study a modified mid-ranging strategy is proposed where the controller for the secondary manipulated variable uses its own output as its setpoint, possibly with an offset and/or re-scaling. This modification allows the manipulated variables to increase in unison so that the mid-ranging advantage of utilizing the fast dynamics of the primary controller to regulate the process can be achieve

P>Many ecological, physical and geographical processes affected by climate in the natural environment are scale-dependent: determining surface-air-temperature distribution at a scale of tens to hundreds of metres can facilitate such research, which is currently hampered by the relative dearth of meteorological stations and complex surface temperature characteristics, particularly in mountain areas

To examine the association between the relaxation time (T1Gd) of delayed gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of cartilage (dGEMRIC) and grade of tibiofemoral joint space narrowing (JSN) and osteophytosis 11 years later, in a cohort of meniscectomized patients.

Reflector edges, sharp acceptance angles and by-pass diodes introduce large variations in the electrical performance of asymmetrical concentrating photovoltaic/thermal modules over a short incidence angle interval. It is therefore important to quantify these impacts precisely. The impact on the electrical performance of the optical properties of an asymmetrical photovoltaic/thermal CPC-collector w

The aim of this paper is to investigate the prevalence and character of ‘empowerment’ as an approach used by women’s shelters, crime victim support groups and municipal crisis centres that provide support for battered women in Sweden. The study was based on a mail survey distributed among representatives of local crime victim support groups and women’s shelters run by non-governmental organisation

Organ culture is an in vitro method for investigating cellular mechanisms involved in upregulation of vasocontractile G-protein coupled receptors. We hypothesize that mitogen-activated-protein kinase (MEK) and/or extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) specific inhibitors will attenuate the G-protein coupled receptor expression following organ culture. Rat cerebral arteries were incubated 48 h

Vehicles in the future are anticipated to have the ability to communicate and exchange useful information in order to avoid collisions. However, for this cooperation to be possible, all vehicles will have to be equipped with compatible wireless modules, based on, e.g. IEEE 802.11p (used in ITS-G5 or WAVE), which implements intelligent transport systems operating in the 5 GHz frequency band. During

Mixing of two biopolymers can results in phase separation due to their thermodynamically incompatibility under certain conditions. This phenomenon was first reported when the solution was allowed to equilibrate, but it has later been observed also as a consequence of drying. The challenges of this study were to observe phase segregation by confocal Raman microscopy and LV-SEM on dried film, indivi

A 128-channel neural signal processor for implantable neural recording microsystems is presented. The processor compresses the neural information of 128 simultaneous recording channels using discrete cosine transform, achieving a compression factor of 69 at the expense of a 5.6% root mean square error. The proposed processor is implemented on register transfer level and synthesized in a 65-nm comp

We analyzed 192 strains of the pathogenic yeast Candida glabrata from patients, mainly suffering from systemic infection, at Danish hospitals during 1985-1999. Our analysis showed that these strains were closely related but exhibited large karyotype polymorphism. Nine strains contained small chromosomes, which were smaller than 0.5 Mb. Regarding the year, patient and hospital, these C. glabrata st

Accurate and precise chronologies are needed to evaluate the existence and effect of a post-depositional remanent magnetization lock-in process on sedimentary palaeomagnetic records. Here we present lock-in modelling results of two palaeomagnetic records from varved lake sediments (lakes Kalksjon and Gyltigesjon) in Sweden by using model predictions based on archaeomagnetic data. We used the C-14

Protection of the endothelium is provided by circulating sphingosine-1-phosphate(S1P), which maintains vascular integrity. We show that HDL-associated S1P is bound specifically to both human and murine apolipoprotein M (apoM). Thus, isolated human ApoM(+) HDL contained S1P, whereas ApoM(-) HDL did not. Moreover, HDL in Apom(-/-) mice contains no S1P, whereas HDL in transgenic mice overexpressing h

Elaidic acid is the main unnatural trans fatty acid isomer occurring during partial hydrogenation of vegetable oils used as ingredients for the formulation of processed foods. The main objective is to assess associations between processed food intakes and plasma phospholipid elaidic acid concentrations within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition study. A cross-sectional

Technological advancements in mobile computing and wireless networks open up to new applications and new user-groups in the mobile workforce However, a considerable part of the mobile workforce, such as e g drivers or healthcare staff, is chiefly performing other tasks than interacting with their computers As a result. they are not able to pay attention to computer interaction, making them mainly