Probing three-way interactions in moderated multiple regression:Development and application of a slope difference test

Researchers often use 3-way interactions in moderated multiple regression analysis to test the joint effect of 3 independent variables on a dependent variable. However, further probing of significant interaction terms varies considerably and is sometimes error prone. The authors developed a significance test for slope differences in 3-way interactions and illustrate its importance for testing psychological hypotheses. Monte Carlo simulations revealed that sample size, magnitude of the slope difference, and data reliability affected test power. Application of the test to published data yielded detection of some slope differences that were undetected by alternative probing techniques and led to changes of results and conclusions. The authors conclude by discussing the test's applicability for psychological research. Copyright 2006 by the American Psychological Association.

Efficient optimisation of per-channel pre-compensation in WDM 20-Gbit/s RZ-DPSK transmission in non-slope matched submarine links

We propose a computationally efficient method to the per-channel dispersion optimisation applied to 50 GHz-spaced N × 20-Gbit/s wavelength division multiplexing return-to-zero differential phase shift keying transmission in non-zero dispersion-shifted fibre based submarine systems. Crown Copyright © 2010.

Novel complex gratings with third-order group-delay variations for tunable pure dispersion slope compensation

We present a novel tunable dispersion compensator that can provide pure slope compensation. The approach uses two specially designed complex fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) with reversely varied third-order group delay curves to generate the dispersion slope. The slope can be changed by adjusting the relative wavelength positions of the two FBGs. Several design examples of such complex gratings are presented and discussed. Experimentally, we achieve a dispersion slope tuning range of +/-650ps/nm2 with >0.9nm usable bandwidth.

Tuneable compensator of dispersion and slope using non-uniformly strained chirped fibre grating

Summary form only given. A novel method for tuning the second and the third order dispersion using a simple multi-point bending device has been demonstrated. A simple model has been developed that allows to calculate the exact bending profile required for compensation for the given values of dispersion and dispersion slope.

Remote sensing applied to slope stability in mountainous roads in Iran

The Alborz Mountain range separates the northern part of Iran from the southern part. It also isolates a narrow coastal strip to the south of the Caspian Sea from the Central Iran plateau. Communication between the south and north until the 1950's was via two roads and one rail link. In 1963 work was completed on a major access road via the Haraz Valley (the most physically hostile area in the region). From the beginning the road was plagued by accidents resulting from unstable slopes on either side of the valley. Heavy casualties persuaded the government to undertake major engineering works to eliminate ''black spots" and make the road safe. However, despite substantial and prolonged expenditure the problems were not solved and casualties increased steadily due to the increase in traffic using the road. Another road was built to bypass the Haraz road and opened to traffic in 1983. But closure of the Haraz road was still impossible because of the growth of settlements along the route and the need for access to other installations such as the Lar Dam. The aim of this research was to explore the possibility of applying Landsat MSS imagery to locating black spots along the road and the instability problems. Landsat data had not previously been applied to highway engineering problems in the study area. Aerial photographs are better in general than satellite images for detailed mapping, but Landsat images are superior for reconnaissance and adequate for mapping at the 1 :250,000 scale. The broad overview and lack of distortion in the Landsat imagery make the images ideal for structural interpretation. The results of Landsat digital image analysis showed that certain rock types and structural features can be delineated and mapped. The most unstable areas comprising steep slopes, free of vegetation cover can be identified using image processing techniques. Structural lineaments revealed from the image analysis led to improved results (delineation of unstable features). Damavand Quaternary volcanics were found to be the dominant rock type along a 40 km stretch of the road. These rock types are inherently unstable and partly responsible for the difficulties along the road. For more detailed geological and morphological interpretation a sample of small subscenes was selected and analysed. A special developed image analysis package was designed at Aston for use on a non specialized computing system. Using this package a new and unique method for image classification was developed, allowing accurate delineation of the critical features of the study area.

The slope of the psychometric function and non-stationarity of thresholds in spatiotemporal contrast vision

The slope of the two-interval, forced-choice psychometric function (e.g. the Weibull parameter, ß) provides valuable information about the relationship between contrast sensitivity and signal strength. However, little is known about how or whether ß varies with stimulus parameters such as spatiotemporal frequency and stimulus size and shape. A second unresolved issue concerns the best way to estimate the slope of the psychometric function. For example, if an observer is non-stationary (e.g. their threshold drifts between experimental sessions), ß will be underestimated if curve fitting is performed after collapsing the data across experimental sessions. We measured psychometric functions for 2 experienced observers for 14 different spatiotemporal configurations of pulsed or flickering grating patches and bars on each of 8 days. We found ß ˜ 3 to be fairly constant across almost all conditions, consistent with a fixed nonlinear contrast transducer and/or a constant level of intrinsic stimulus uncertainty (e.g. a square law transducer and a low level of intrinsic uncertainty). Our analysis showed that estimating a single ß from results averaged over several experimental sessions was slightly more accurate than averaging multiple estimates from several experimental sessions. However, the small levels of non-stationarity (SD ˜ 0.8 dB) meant that the difference between the estimates was, in practice, negligible.

Performance analysis of 20 Gbit/s RZ-DPSK non-slope matched transoceanic submarine links

This paper studies the performance of a typical non-slope matched transoceanic submarine link using 20Gb/s channel rate and RZ-DPSK modulation with different duty cycles. Through comparison with direct error counting, we have also demonstrated the limitations of the available numerical approaches to the BER estimation for return-to-zero differential phase-shift keying (RZ-DPSK). The numerical results have been confirmed by experiments, and indicate that 20 Gb/s RZ-DPSK transmission is a feasible technique for the upgrade of existing submarine links.

An examination of the Prandtl mechanism in large dimension slope failures

An alternative explanation for the modes of failure of large scale failures of open pit walls to those of classical slope stability theory is proposed that makes use of the concept of a transition zone, which is described by a modified Prandtls prism.

Bit-error rate performance of 20 Gbit/s WDM RZ-DPSK non-slope matched submarine transmission systems

Applying direct error counting, we assess the performance of 20 Gbit/s wavelength-division multiplexing return-to-zero differential phase-shift keying (RZ-DPSK) transmission at 0.4 bit/(s Hz) spectral efficiency for application on installed non-zero dispersion-shifted fibre based transoceanic submarine systems. The impact of the pulse duty cycle on the system performance is investigated and the reliability of the existing theoretical approaches to the BER estimation for the RZ-DPSK format is discussed.

Performance analysis of 20 Gb/s RZ-DPSK non-slope matched transoceanic submarine links

Direct computation of the bit-error rate (BER) and laboratory experiments are used to assess the performance of a non-slope matched transoceanic submarine transmission link operating at 20Gb/s channel rate and employing return-to-zero differential-phase shift keying (RZ-DPSK) signal modulation. Using this system as an example, we compare the accuracies of the existing theoretical approaches to the BER estimation for the RZ-DPSK format.

Tuneable compensator of dispersion and slope using non-uniformly strained chirped fibre grating

Summary form only given. A novel method for tuning the second and the third order dispersion using a simple multi-point bending device has been demonstrated. A simple model has been developed that allows to calculate the exact bending profile required for compensation for the given values of dispersion and dispersion slope.

Performance analysis of 20 Gbit/s RZ-DPSK non-slope matched transoceanic submarine links

This paper studies the performance of a typical non-slope matched transoceanic submarine link using 20Gb/s channel rate and RZ-DPSK modulation with different duty cycles. Through comparison with direct error counting, we have also demonstrated the limitations of the available numerical approaches to the BER estimation for return-to-zero differential phase-shift keying (RZ-DPSK). The numerical results have been confirmed by experiments, and indicate that 20 Gb/s RZ-DPSK transmission is a feasible technique for the upgrade of existing submarine links.

Efficient optimisation of per-channel pre-compensation in WDM 20-Gbit/s RZ-DPSK transmission in non-slope matched submarine links

We propose a computationally efficient method to the per-channel dispersion optimisation applied to 50 GHz-spaced N × 20-Gbit/s wavelength division multiplexing return-to-zero differential phase shift keying transmission in non-zero dispersion-shifted fibre based submarine systems. Crown Copyright © 2010.

Tunable pure dispersion slope compensators realized with novel complex gratings

We present a novel tunable dispersion compensator that can provide pure slope compensation. In experiments, we achieve dispersion slope tuning range of +/-650ps/nm2with >0.9nm usable bandwidth.

Tunable dispersion slope compensator using novel tailored Gires-Tournois etalons

We present a novel concept of tailored GTE structure and show that such devices are very useful for the realization of DSC with almost arbitrary dispersion profile and also with tunability in dispersion slope.