Isolation performance metrics for personal sound zone reproduction systems.

Two isolation performance metrics, inter-zone isolation (IZI) and inter-program isolation (IPI), are introduced for evaluating personal sound zone (PSZ) systems. Compared to the commonly used acoustic contrast metric, IZI and IPI are generalized for multichannel audio and quantify the isolation of sound zones and of audio programs, respectively. The two metrics are shown to be generally non-interchangeable and suitable for different scenarios, such as generating dark zones (IZI) or minimizing audio-on-audio interference (IPI).

Multi-wavelength pyrometry based on robust statistics and cross-validation of emissivity model.

A systematic and automated procedure to calculate the temperature of a surface with unknown emissivity from radiance measurements performed at a large number of wavelengths is presented, and statistical methods are applied to quantify its accuracy and precision. Unlike existing multi-wavelength pyrometric approaches, the proposed cross-validated procedure tests multiple emissivity candidates on multiple, randomly chosen subsets of the radiance measurements. The procedure uses solely an emissivity model to provide an accurate temperature value and retrieves the true emissivity from the ratio of the measured radiance to that of a blackbody calculated from the determined temperature.

Electron Demagnetization in a Magnetically Expanding Plasma.

Electron demagnetization in a magnetically expanding plasma, a fundamental process for plasma flow and detachment in magnetic nozzles, is experimentally investigated using a rf plasma source and magnetic nozzle (MN). Measurements of the plasma potential spatial profile reveal an ion-confining potential surface, indicative of the edge of a magnetized plasma, that extends along the outermost magnetic flux surface. The downstream extent of the potential surface scales inversely with a characteristic electron Larmor radius, which agrees with an existing theory [E.

Long-Distance Spread of Verticillium dahliae Through Rivers and Irrigation Systems.

Verticillium dahliae Kleb. is a soilborne pathogen causing Verticillium wilt disease on several hosts. The pathogen survival structure (i.

Multi-kilowatt-class heaters for large hollow cathodes.

Heater materials and geometry are analyzed to address the requirements of large lanthanum hexaboride hollow cathodes. Larger hollow cathodes are capable of increased discharge currents but require higher heater powers to ignite. Existing cathode heaters suffer from material interactions and increased failure rates at high temperatures and are currently not viable for high-power operation; graphite heaters can provide order-of-magnitude increases in heater power and operational life simultaneously.

Electron Cooling in a Magnetically Expanding Plasma.

Electron cooling in a magnetically expanding plasma, which is a fundamental process for plasma flow and detachment in magnetic nozzles, is experimentally investigated using a radio frequency plasma source and magnetic nozzle (MN). Probe measurements of the plasma density, potential, and electron temperature along the center line of the MN indicate that the expansion follows a polytropic law with exponent γ_{e}=1.15±0.

In situ evaluation of the fruit and oil characteristics of the main Lebanese olive germplasm.

Background: Very little information is available on the characteristics of the Lebanese olive germplasm. Therefore, the aim of this work was to evaluate the fruit and oil characteristics of the main Lebanese olive varieties (Aayrouni, Abou chawkeh, Baladi, Del and Soury) from two successive crop seasons (2010-2011).

Results: All of the genotypes had medium-high oil content in the fruit, indicating their suitability for oil production; Aayrouni had particularly high values.

'Candidatus Phytoplasma phoenicium' associated with almond witches'-broom disease: from draft genome to genetic diversity among strain populations.

Background: Almond witches'-broom (AlmWB), a devastating disease of almond, peach and nectarine in Lebanon, is associated with 'Candidatus Phytoplasma phoenicium'. In the present study, we generated a draft genome sequence of 'Ca. P.

Stochastic threshold for ion heating with beating electrostatic waves.

The stochastic threshold for the heating of ions in a magnetized plasma with two electrostatic waves is experimentally characterized. Two obliquely propagating electrostatic modes are launched in a magnetized plasma with frequencies that differ by the ion cyclotron frequency. The values of the wave amplitudes where a rapid increase in the local ion temperature occurs is then parametrically investigated.

Stochastic ion acceleration by beating electrostatic waves.

A study is presented of the stochasticity in the orbit of a single, magnetized ion produced by the particle's interaction with two beating electrostatic waves whose frequencies differ by the ion cyclotron frequency. A second-order Lie transform perturbation theory is employed in conjunction with a numerical analysis of the maximum Lyapunov exponent to determine the velocity conditions under which stochasticity occurs in this dynamical system. Upper and lower bounds in ion velocity are found for stochastic orbits with the lower bound approximately equal to the phase velocity of the slower wave.

New Insights into Esca of Grapevine: The Development of Foliar Symptoms and Their Association with Xylem Discoloration.

A new study on the development of foliar symptoms of esca was carried out from 2004 to 2006 in five mature vineyards in Aquitaine, France. Symptoms were monitored for severity and changes over time. Initial foliar symptoms were characterized by the presence of drying zones or discolorations (reddening or yellowing), which are symptoms that have also been attributed to Black Dead Arm (BDA).

Variable dual-frequency electrostatic wave launcher for plasma applications.

A variable tuning system is presented for launching two electrostatic waves concurrently in a magnetized plasma. The purpose of this system is to satisfy the wave launching requirements for plasma applications where maximal power must be coupled into two carefully tuned electrostatic waves while minimizing erosion to the launching antenna. Two parallel LC traps with fixed inductors and variable capacitors are used to provide an impedance match between a two-wave source and a loop antenna placed outside the plasma.

Effects of smoking, mother's age, body mass index, and parity number on lipid, protein, and secretory immunoglobulin A concentrations of human milk.

Aim: This study investigated the effect of smoking, mother's age, body mass index (BMI), and parity number on density, lipids, proteins, and secreted immunoglobulin A (SIgA) of human milk.

Methods: Transitional and mature milk samples were collected from 23 nursing smoker mothers and 43 nursing nonsmoker mothers. Proteins, lipids, and SIgA concentrations were determined as well as the milk density and the general protein profile.

Ion heating with beating electrostatic waves.

The nonlinear interaction of a magnetized ion with two beating electrostatic waves (BEW) whose frequencies differ by a cyclotron harmonic can lead, under some conditions [Phys. Rev. E 69, 046402 (2004)], to vigorous acceleration for an ion with arbitrarily low initial velocity.

Low genetic variability in the coat and movement proteins of American plum line pattern virus isolates from different geographic origins.

Until very recently isolates of American plum line pattern virus (APLPV) had not been reported from outside North America. The nucleotide sequences corresponding to the movement (MP) and coat (CP) proteins of eight APLPV isolates from five Mediterranean countries were determined. Sequence analysis showed that both MP and CP genes are highly conserved irrespective of geographic origin.

Occurrence of Grapevine Declines and First Report of Black Dead Arm Associated with Botryosphaeria obtusa in Lebanon.

Grapevine, cultivated mostly in the Bekaa Plain, is one of the most important fruit crops in Lebanon. During July 2004, a survey was made in 11 vineyards of local table or wine grapes to evaluate the sanitary status of the grapevine industry as far as wood declines are concerned. The most common grapevine decline was esca.

First Report of a 16SrII Group Phytoplasma Associated with Shoot Proliferation of a Cactus (Opuntia monacantha) in Lebanon.

In October 2003, during a survey to evaluate the incidence of phytoplasma diseases in Lebanon, symptoms suggestive of phytoplasma infection in Opuntia monacantha (Haworth) were observed in Saghbine, Bekaa Valley. Symptoms were excessive stem and shoot proliferation. Three symptomatic and as well as symptomless plants were collected and analyzed for the presence of phytoplasmas.

A survey of propulsion options for cargo and piloted missions to Mars.

In this paper, high-power electric propulsion options are surveyed in the context of cargo and piloted missions to Mars. A low-thrust trajectory optimization program (raptor) is utilized to analyze this mission. Candidate thrusters are chosen based upon demonstrated performance in the laboratory.

Ion acceleration by beating electrostatic waves: domain of allowed acceleration.

The conditions under which a magnetized ion can be accelerated through a nonlinear interaction with a pair of beating electrostatic waves are explored. It has been shown [Benisti et al., Phys.

'Candidatus phytoplasma phoenicium' sp. nov., a novel phytoplasma associated with an emerging lethal disease of almond trees in Lebanon and Iran.

Almonds (Prunus amygdalus) represent an important crop in most Mediterranean countries. A new and devastating disease of almond trees in Lebanon was recently reported, characterized by the development of severe witches'-brooms on which no flowers or fruits developed, and leading to tree death within a few years. A phytoplasma was detected in diseased trees by PCR amplification of rRNA operon sequences, and RFLP patterns of amplified DNA indicated that the phytoplasma belonged to the pigeon pea witches'-broom (PPWB) group.

First Report of Grapevine "Bois Noir" Disease and a New Phytoplasma Infecting Solanaceous Plants in Lebanon.

During a 2001 survey to evaluate the incidence of phytoplasma diseases in Lebanon, samples were collected from plants showing symptoms suggestive of phytoplasmal infections. Samples were also collected from symptomless plants. Sampled hosts from the Bekaa Valley included: 3 samples of tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum), 4 samples of pepper (Capsicum annuum), 10 samples of grapevine (Vitis vinifera) cvs.

Instability of a current-carrying finite-beta collisional plasma.

The microinstability of a cross-field current-carrying plasma in which the electron collisions are important on the time scale of the oscillations and can be modeled with a Bhatnagar-Gross-Krook operator is studied using linearized kinetic theory under conditions of finite electron beta. The finiteness of beta allows for coupling between electrostatic and electromagnetic modes and necessitates dealing with the entire dispersion tensor. Fundamental features of the resulting instability are identified and contrasted with those found in previous studies of the lower hybrid current-driven instability in which either collisions or finite-beta effects were neglected.

First Report of a Phytoplasma Disease of Almond (Prunus amygdalus) in Lebanon.

During a survey conducted in October 1999 to establish the sanitary status of stone fruits in Lebanon, almond trees with symptoms of leaf yellowing, shoot proliferation, and dieback were observed in the Bekaa region. Because such symptoms are often associated with phytoplasma infections, samples were collected for analysis by PCR using universal primers for amplification of phytoplasma ribosomal RNA genes (2). DNA was extracted from the leaf midveins and/or bark phloem tissue from nine symptomatic trees and one symptomless tree in four different orchards as well as from healthy almond trees collected in France.