Full-field feed-forward equalizer with adaptive system optimization

We numerically investigate the combination of full-field detection and feed-forward equalizer (FFE) for adaptive chromatic dispersion compensation up to 2160 km in a 10 Gbit/s on–off keyed optical transmission system. The technique, with respect to earlier reports, incorporates several important implementation modules, including the algorithm for adaptive equalization of the gain imbalance between the two receiver chains, compensation of phase misalignment of the asymmetric Mach–Zehnder interferometer, and simplified implementation of field calculation. We also show that in addition to enabling fast adaptation and simplification of field calculation, full-field FFE exhibits enhanced tolerance to the sampling phase misalignment and reduced sampling rate when compared to the full-field implementation using a dispersive transmission line.     

Slow diffusion of LPG vehicles in China—Lessons from Shanghai,Guangzhou and Hong Kong

Compared with other alternative fuel vehicles (AFV), LPG vehicles (LPGV) have lower economic and technological barriers, leading to its faster growth in some developing countries in recent years. By means of regulation, Shanghai managed to have nearly all taxis converted to LPGV in the early 2000s, and all taxis and 80% of buses in Guangzhou are LPGV. Nevertheless, LPGV diffusion in China (excluding Hong Kong) has been slow and even showing signs of retreating. By 2008, less than 5% of taxis in Shanghai were LPGV. This paper looks into the problem by comparing the LPGV development of Shanghai, Guangzhou versus that of Hong Kong where the LPGV development seems to be running well. The obstacles of LPGV development in China include a lack of policy coherence between the central and local governments; insufficient price advantage of Autogas; not enough fueling stations; and high maintenance costs due to immature technology and poor quality control. Bi-fuel system has further magnified the problems in China. In order to facilitate the use of alternative fuel, efforts should be made to increase the number of AFVs as well as to ensure the availability and price-competitiveness of the alternative fuel concerned.     

Canadian counselling psychology: From defining moments to ways forward.

Counselling psychology in Canada is a distinct and vibrant professional area representing the contributions of many people and events within a unique context. This article elaborates a number of defining moments or actions that reveal the distinct nature of this professional area through a recursive and interactive process with the social context. A number of ways forward are proposed as specific professional developments, as well as the resolution of a number of substantive issues identified within the recently adopted definition of counselling psychology. Moving forward as a discipline and a practice will actualize the potential of counselling psychology as both world and life enhancing. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

给"腰"一个伸展的空间

腰部位于你身体的最中间,它支撑和协调着你身体的所有动作。腰部的疾患常会使你坐立不安,甚至连躺下都很困难。因此,平时的锻炼和呵护必不可少。     

塑料餐具 养眼又新鲜

自从人们体验了一把微波炉饭盒的轻巧方便之后,各式各样的塑料餐具便开始在厨房中大行其道了!你这边有黄色的密封罐,我那里就有绿色的小油壶;你用耐高温的亚克力刀铲炒菜,我就喝塑料保温壶冲的咖啡……转眼间,一向以严肃的生铁和不锈钢为主角的厨房一下子变成了充满小资情调的写意坊。于是,除了炉火的温暖,你还可以尽情享受塑料餐具带给你的剔透与朦胧。     

Therapeutic Reactance as a Predictor of Outcome in the Treatment of Chronic Depression.

This study examined whether reactance would negatively influence treatment outcome in 347 patients diagnosed with chronic forms of depression and treated at 9 sites with either Nefazodone, cognitive-behavioral analysis system of psychotherapy (CBASP), or combination therapy. Contrary to our hypotheses, reactance positively predicted treatment outcome in CBASP on 2 of 4 scales. These effects were independent of the therapeutic alliance, which also positively predicted outcome. Reactance did not predict outcome in the groups receiving medication alone or in combination with CBASP. The findings suggest that reactance may be an asset in psychotherapy among chronically depressed individuals and that reactant patients can benefit from directive psychotherapy when therapists flexibly respond to perturbations in the therapeutic relationship. Results support the importance of Aptitude × Treatment interactions in psychotherapy outcome. The direction and significance of such interactions may vary with different forms of psychopathology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Ultralong and Mesoporous ZnO and γ-Al_2O_3 Oriented Nanowires Obtained by Template-assisted Hydrothermal Approach

Highly mesoporous Zn O and g-Al2O3nanowires（NWs） are both synthesized by a hydrothermal method using commercially available porous anodic aluminium oxide（AAO） as template. AAO membrane acts as template for Zn O NWs and both as template and precursor for g-Al2O3 NWs. The formation of intermediate phases of porous Zn6Al2（OH）16CO3and boehmite（g-Al OOH） were observed, both occurring during the hydrothermal synthesis of porous Zn O and g-Al2O3 NWs, respectively, and disappearing after annealing at 600 C. This novel template-assisted hydrothermal process leads to the formation of porous Zn O and g-Al2O3NWs（specific surface area of 192 m2 g 1and 263 m2 g 1, respectively）, showing pore sizes around 4 nm in diameter. The influence of the reaction parameters on the nanostructure morphology was also investigated. A Zn O seed layer, deposited on the AAO channels prior to the hydrothermal synthesis, leads to more compact Zn O nanowires（99 m2 g-1） protecting the AAO host from the chemical attack of the precursor solution.     

Lung cancer risk in relation to traffic-related nano/ultrafine particle-bound PAHs exposure: a preliminary probabilistic assessment

Exposures to carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been linked to human lung cancer. The purpose of this study was to assess lung cancer risk caused by inhalation exposure to nano/ultrafine particle-bound PAHs at the population level in Taiwan appraised with recent published data. A human respiratory tract model was linked with a physiologically based pharmacokinetic model to estimate deposition fraction and internal organic-specific PAHs doses. A probabilistic risk assessment framework was developed to estimate potential lung cancer risk. We reanalyzed particle size distribution, total-PAHs, particle-bound benzo(a)pyrene (B[a]P) and PM concentrations. A dose-response profile describing the relationships between external B[a]P concentration and lung cancer risk response was constructed based on population attributable fraction (PAF). We found that 90% probability lung cancer risks ranged from 10(-5) to 10(-4) for traffic-related nano and ultrafine particle-bound PAHs, indicating a potential lung cancer risk. The particle size-specific PAF-based excess annual lung cancer incidence rate due to PAHs exposure was estimated to be less than 1 per 100,000 population, indicating a mild risk factor for lung cancer. We concluded that probabilistic risk assessment linked PAF for limiting cumulative PAHs emissions to reduce lung cancer risk plays a prominent role in future government risk assessment program.     

In the Eye of the Storm: Race and Genomics in Research and Practice.

The difficulties of operationalizing race in research and practice for social, behavioral, and genetic researchers and practitioners are neither new nor related to recent genetic knowledge. For geneticists, the bases for understanding groups are clines, observed traits that gradually change in frequency between geographic regions without distinct identifiable population boundaries and population histories that carry information about the distribution of genetic variants. For psychologists, race may not exist or be a social and cultural construct associated with fluid social inferences. Because definitions of populations and race can be socially and biologically incongruent, the authors suggest that geneticists and social and behavioral scientists and clinicians attend to external validity issues by operationalizing population and racial categories and avoiding race proxies for other biological, social, and cultural constructs in research designs, data analyses, and clinical practice. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)