GPR full waveform sensitivity and resolution analysis using an FDTD adjoint method

Information Content (IC) analysis can be used before an instrument is built to estimate its retrieval uncertainties and analyse their sensitivity to several factors. It is a very useful method to define/optimize satellite instruments. IC has shown its potential to compare instrument concepts in the infrared or the microwave. IC is based on some hypotheses such as the the Gaussian character of the radiative transfer (RT) and instrument errors, the first‐guess errors (Gaussian character, std and correlation structure), or the linearization of the RT around a first guess. These hypotheses are easier to define for simple atmospheric situations. However, even in the clear‐sky case, their complexity has never ceased to increase towards more realism, to optimize the assimilation of satellite measurements in numerical weather prediction (NWP) systems. In the cloudy/precipitating case, these hypotheses are even more difficult to define in a realistic way as many factors are still very difficult to quantify. In this study, several tools are introduced to specify more realistic IC hypotheses than the current practice. We focus on microwave observations as they are more pertinent for clouds and precipitation. Although not perfect, the proposed solutions are a new step towards more realistic IC assumptions of cloudy/precipitating scenes. A state‐dependence of the RT errors is introduced, the first‐guess errors have a more complex vertical structure, the IC is performed simultaneously on all the hydrometeors to take into account the contamination effect of the RT input uncertainties, and the IC is performed on a diversified set of cloudy/precipitating scenes with well‐defined hydrometeor assumptions. The method presented in this study is illustrated using the HYperspectral Microwave Sensor (HYMS) instrument concept with channels between 6.9 and 874 GHz (millimetre and sub‐millimetre regions). HYMS is considered as a potential next generation microwave sounder.

We present a new algorithm to analyse information content in images acquired using automated fluorescence microscopy. The algorithm belongs to the group of autofocusing methods, but differs from its predecessors in that it can handle thick specimens and operate also in confocal mode. It measures the information content in images using a 'content function', which is essentially the same concept as a focus function. Unlike previously presented algorithms, this algorithm tries to find all significant axial positions in cases where the content function applied to real data is not unimodal, which is often the case. This requirement precludes using algorithms that rely on unimodality. Moreover, choosing a content function requires careful consideration, because some functions suppress local maxima. First, we test 19 content functions and evaluate their ability to show local maxima clearly. The results show that only six content functions succeed. To save time, the acquisition procedure needs to vary the step size adaptively, because a wide range of possible axial positions has to be passed so as not to miss a local maximum. The algorithm therefore has to assess the steepness of the content function online so that it can decide to use a bigger or smaller step size to acquire the next image. Therefore, the algorithm needs to know about typical behaviour of content functions. We show that for normalized variance, one of the most promising content functions, this knowledge can be obtained after normalizing with respect to the theoretical maximum of this function, and using hierarchical clustering. The resulting algorithm is more reliable and efficient than a simple procedure with constant steps.

Print and television advertisements for a variety of American products appearing in the U.S., Germany and Japan are analyzed to explore differences in the informational content of standardized vs. specialized approaches to multinational advertising. Overall, highly standardized messages were found to contain significantly fewer consumer information cues than highly specialized messages. This trend was found to hold true, regardless of product category. The more standardized the message being transferred, whether for a high or low involvement purchase item, the lower the level of consumer information contained within the commercial message.

Etude des possibilites de caracterisation des huiles lubrifiantes usagees dans un moteur diesel a l'aide d'indicateurs calculables a partir de mesures telles que la variation de viscosite par exemple. L'utilisation des ces indicateurs permettrait de remplacer l'huile moteur en fonction de son degre de degradation reel ce qui induirait des reductions de consommation de carburant.

This paper presents the Pixel Super Resolution with Axial Scanning (PSR-AS) technique to enhance the resolution of Lensless Digital In-line Holographic Microscopy (LDHM). By utilizing multiple holograms captured at different axial distances, PSR allows for the recovery of high-resolution information, improving the image clarity and information content. Experimental results demonstrate a twofold lateral resolution enhancement, achieving the resolution of 1.23 μm in amplitude imaging and significantly augmenting phase reconstruction quality. The integration of PSR-AS into LDHM systems leads to notable reductions in noise and artifacts, offering a promising approach for high-resolution imaging in applications such as biomedical diagnostics and environmental monitoring. Full Text: PDF References Y. Park, C. Depeursinge, and G. Popescu, "Quantitative phase imaging in biomedicine," Nature Photon, 12(10), 578 (2018). CrossRef D. Gabor, "A New Microscopic Principle," Nature, 161(4098), 777 (1948). CrossRef K. Matsushima and T. Shimobaba, "Band-Limited Angular Spectrum Method for Numerical Simulation of Free-Space Propagation in Far and Near Fields," Opt. Express, 17(22), 19662 (2009). CrossRef Y. Wu and A. Ozcan, "Lensless digital holographic microscopy and its applications in biomedicine and environmental monitoring," Methods, 136, 4 (2018). CrossRef J. Zhang, J. Sun, Q. Chen, and C. Zuo, "Resolution Analysis in a Lens-Free On-Chip Digital Holographic Microscope," IEEE Transactions on Computational Imaging, 6, 697 (2020). CrossRef Gerchberg, R. W.. “A practical algorithm for the determination of phase from image and diffraction plane pictures.” Optik 35, 237 (1972). CrossRef H. Lee, J. Kim, J. Kim, P. Jeon, S. A. Lee, and D. Kim, "Noniterative sub-pixel shifting super-resolution lensless digital holography," Opt. Express,29(19), 29996 (2021). CrossRef A. Greenbaum and A. Ozcan, "Maskless imaging of dense samples using pixel super-resolution based multi-height lensfree on-chip microscopy," Opt. Express, 20(3), 3129 (2012). CrossRef J. Zhang, J. Sun, Q. Chen, J. Li, and C. Zuo, "Adaptive pixel-super-resolved lensfree in-line digital holography for wide-field on-chip microscopy," Sci Rep, 7(1), 11777 (2017). CrossRef L. I. Rudin, S. Osher, and E. Fatemi, "Nonlinear total variation based noise removal algorithms," Physica D: Nonlinear Phenomena, 60(1), 259 (1992). CrossRef

This paper provides a fundamental analysis of the maximum possible information content and reading range of chipless time-domain reflectometry (TDR) radio frequency identification (RFID). Bits encoded on a tag as well as bits that can be decoded by the reader need to be considered to estimate the information content on a tag. This needs an approach that deals with the entire RFID system. Factors such as insertion loss, reader signal, reading range, and channel properties impact the number of bits that can be decoded by the reader. Taking these parameters into account on their own, we can model the signal properties at the decoder by equations from radar theory such as the Cramer-Rao lower bound. The overall performance of these systems cannot be satisfactorily described by the radar theory, as today’s chipless RFID systems use different modulation schemes to increase the information content. Modulation theory can provide a detailed analysis of the modulation schemes depending on the channel and signal properties. This theory influences the tag design and the demodulation algorithms on the decoder, but is not suited to describe the RFID systems as a whole. This paper provides an approach that combines the radar and modulation theories to provide an exhaustive description of chipless TDR RFID communication. The maximum information content obtainable in practice can be estimated with this analysis. The introduced methodology is applied to surface-acoustic wave and ultra-wideband delay-line-based TDR tags. We present the simulations and measurements taken with different tags to show the practical importance of the theoretical findings.

The aim of our paper is to understand the foreign delisting phenomenon using a multi-method approach based on both information content analysis and event study analysis of foreign companies withdrawing their stocks from the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Our objective is to measure the impact of the delisting decision on the domestic stock price by observing the link between the pure value impact and the reasons for delisting. Our results show that, contrary to previous results, firms delisting from Tokyo can gain value depending on the reaction of the market operators to the content of the information provided in the delisting announcements. i.e. delisting can be presented either as the result of the not fulfilment of the benefits of cross-listing or as a part of a more general strategy of the company. Highlighting significant clusters, content analysis provides a valuable addition to traditional event study and useful guidance in understanding the delisting phenomena.

The recent provision of direct-to-consumer (DTC) Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) testing in several countries has been contentious, particularly due to concerns about judicious testing and informed consent. To describe and analyze information on websites that sell DTC AMH tests. Qualitative study including content analysis of text information from websites in multiple countries that sell AMH tests DTC. The top 50 search results from 4 different internet search strings were captured and reviewed for eligibility. Data were extracted in March 2022 and analyzed from April 2022 to July 2023. Themes and categories were derived from the website content using a conventional inductive approach, with a particular focus on information content, quality and accuracy, as well as the tone and language used. Twenty-seven websites across 7 different countries formed the sample for analysis. Information varied considerably across websites and was organized into 6 overarching categories: (1) whether a test description was included (25 websites [93%]); (2) statements about what the test can do, which included indicating ovarian reserve (26 websites [96%]) and indicating likelihood of conceiving (20 websites [74%]); (3) statements about the usefulness of the test result, which included enabling women to adjust their reproductive timeline (11 websites [41%]) and determining whether egg freezing was a viable option (8 websites [30%]); (4) blood collection method (ie, through a laboratory or an at-home sample); (5) promotion tactics, such as stating the convenience of testing (24 websites [89%]) and using language promoting empowerment and control (7 websites [26%]); and (6) statements about limitations of the test, which included polycystic ovary syndrome falsely inflating AMH levels (13 websites [48%]) and that it cannot accurately predict chances of conceiving (9 websites [33%]). In this qualitative study including content analysis, most websites selling DTC AMH tests included false and misleading claims which might lead consumers to purchase an AMH test in the belief that it can reliably predict fertility potential and age of menopause. Depending on the test result, this may in turn lead to misplaced anxiety or reassurance about one's fertility and modifications to subsequent conception or contraceptive plans and behavior.

Optimal estimation for imaging spectrometer atmospheric correction

Abstract. Various retrieval algorithms have been developed for retrieving temperature and water vapor profiles from Atmospheric Emitted Radiance Interferometer (AERI) observations. The physical retrieval algorithm, named AERI Optimal Estimation (AERIoe), outperforms other retrieval algorithms in many aspects except the retrieval time, which is significantly increased due to the complex radiative transfer process. The calculation of the Jacobian matrix is the most computationally intensive step of the physical retrieval algorithm. Interestingly, an analysis of the change in AERI observations' information content with respect to Jacobians revealed that the AERIoe algorithm's performance presents negligible dependence on these metrics. Thus, the Jacobian matrix could remain unchanged when the variation in the atmospheric state is small in the retrieval process to reduce the most time-consuming computation. On the basis of the above findings, a fast physical–iterative retrieval algorithm was proposed by adaptively recalculating Jacobians in keeping with the changes in the atmospheric state. Experiments with synthetic observations demonstrate that the proposed method experiences an average reduction in retrieval time by an impressive 59 % compared to the original AERIoe algorithm while achieving maximum root-mean-square errors of less than 0.95 K and 0.22 log(ppmv) for heights below 3 km for the temperature and water vapor profile, respectively. Further analyses revealed that the fast-retrieval algorithm reached an acceptable convergence rate of 98.7 %, marginally lower than AERIoe's 99.9 % convergence rate for the 826 cases used in this study.

It is well known that stop codons play a critical role in the process of protein synthesis. However, little effort has been made to investigate whether stop codon usage exhibits biases, such as widely seen for synonymous codon usage. Here we systematically investigate stop codon usage bias in various eukaryotes as well as its relationships with its context, GC3 content, gene expression level, and secondary structure. The results show that there is a strong bias for stop codon usage in different eukaryotes, i.e., UAA is overrepresented in the lower eukaryotes, UGA is overrepresented in the higher eukaryotes, and UAG is least used in all eukaryotes. Different conserved patterns for each stop codon in different eukaryotic classes are found based on information content and logo analysis. GC3 contents increase with increasing complexity of organisms. Secondary structure prediction revealed that UAA is generally associated with loop structures, whereas UGA is more uniformly present in loop and stem structures, i.e., UGA is less biased toward having a particular structure. The stop codon usage bias, however, shows no significant relationship with GC3 content and gene expression level in individual eukaryotes. The results indicate that genomic complexity and GC3 content might contribute to stop codon usage bias in different eukaryotes. Our results indicate that stop codons, like synonymous codons, exhibit biases in usage. Additional work will be needed to understand the causes of these biases and their relationship to the mechanism of protein termination.

Present scholarship targets to examine the robustness of EVA in Pakistan and information content while controlling prior research ignored firm-specific factors towards excess stock returns. The design of this research used panel data analysis whereby relevant, incremental information content and event analysis of EVA and conventional accounting performance measure via share prices is done by employing nested panel data analysis for 70 non-financial PSX listed companies from 13 industries for a study period of 2006-2015. Against prior research, EVA doesn’t add to the incremental information content of the model. Moreover asymmetric results were revealed using nested and separate regression analysis. This study is aimed to benefit stakeholders in the context of prudent investment choice. This study identifies ROA as the most important financial performance metric for local investor’s decision making. However firm-specific characteristics like financial leverage, liquidity, and firm size also play a pivotal role.

What do Chocks, Pizza Hut, Trident Sugarless Gum, and the U.S. Poison Center have in common?

The present study uses the terms disaster, crisis, and emergency, these situations cause threats to life, health, and property. Disasters, crisis, and crisis phenomena, trauma, PTSD are briefly characterised in the study. It also studies vulnerability of intervening rescuers, emphasising post-traumatic care, and crisis intervention as an effective psychosocial support tool for the victims and IRS professionals after the disaster. Based on the content and comparative analysis of relevant information, regulations, available literature, and other sources, the present comprehensive study is prepared for scientific research; other research methods are also used in the study.
 The goal of the study was to map the trends in disaster occurrence, analyse the most common form of the disaster, and disaster management techniques relevant to Slovak Republic. In addition, the study presents selected crisis intervention techniques used by rescue professionals during a disaster.
 The study mapped the disasters in Presov region in the Slovak Republic in 2020. It was found that the number of floods during the period increased from 147 to 389 compared to 2019. The Presov region in the territory of Slovakia is a disaster-prone area, frequently hit by disasters. The most common disaster affecting the region is the flood. In further studies, the authors are interested in analysing the occupational hazards of firefighters and police officers. The "Guidelines: psychosocial support for uniformed workers," the first European directive for providing effective psychosocial support to the rescuing paramedics after disasters, terrorism, and other emergencies, are considered important for the study. Psychologists from the Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic actively provide crisis intervention, "post-traumatic intervention teams" have been established in the Slovak Republic using CISM (Critical Incident Stress Management) baseline methodology.

Purpose This study aims to analyse the reporting practices of a sample of companies listed in Italy and Spain that prepare a Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) report. The main purpose is to analyse the reporting’s compliance with the TCFD framework and the extent of climate-related information disclosed. Design/methodology/approach This study performs a content and comparative analysis of climate-related information disclosed by Italian and Spanish companies listed on the FTSE MIB and IBEX-35, following the consolidated narrative interrogation (CONI) model. The analysis is carried out on 31 TCFD reports published in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, using NVivo software for content analysis and information coding. Findings Overall, the study shows that Italian and Spanish companies comply with the TCFD framework. However, some topics, such as governance-related aspects and risk management, are disclosed differently and may merit more in-depth reporting. Practical implications The findings of this study are valuable for companies and their stakeholders, in particular investors. The increasing focus on mandatory climate reporting and the adoption of new climate standards are increasing the pressure on companies to manage these issues, and the results of this work already indicate which aspects of the reporting process need to be improved to meet the new information requirement. Originality/value This study strengthens the theoretical and empirical literature on climate change information by conducting a cross-country content analysis of TCFD reports. The results provide a basis for future analysis of climate disclosure according to the latest developments in standards and frameworks.