An S-band Ultrawideband Time Reversal-based RADAR for Imaging in Cluttered Media

This work presents a new RADAR prototype built for the purpose of imaging targets located in a cluttered environment. The system is capable of performing Phase Conjugation experiments in the ultrawideband [2-4] GHz. In addition, applying the D.O.R.T. method to the inter-element matrix allows us to selectively focus onto targets, hence reducing the clutter contribution. The system has been validated by phsyically backpropagating the focusing wave into the medium all over the frequency band and observing the expected focusing properties

Screening of repellent, termiticidal and preventive activities on wood, of Azadirachta indica and Carapa procera (Meliaceae) seeds oils

To avoid environmental pollution and health problems caused by traditional wood preservatives or synthetic pesticides which are becoming more restricted to use, there is an increasing search of naturally occurring toxicants from plants. Extractives of phytobiomass having termiticidal activity can be used as low hazard termite control agents. Meliaceae species are well represented in Africa and cover a size range from magnificent forest trees to small shrubs. They have a wide range of uses in ethno medicine, prompting further investigations for biological activity due to the variety of isolated compounds. In the present article the termiticidal activities of Azadirachta indica and Carapa procera (Meliaceae) seeds oils (AISO and CPSO) are screening by no-choice test and standard test EN 118 (2005). Only AISO shows a promising termiticidal activity and both oils have shown a promising repellent activity. AISO and CPSO have the same preventive activity by standard test EN 118 (3: moderate attacks). Additional work will be undertaken to check whether some seeds extracts (non timber products from sustainable management of native forest) could show even higher termiticidal activity under more adverse conditions (polar solvents, cold temperature extraction under pressure) and could be alternative active natural products to synthetic compounds. (Résumé d'auteur

Managing brand presence through social media: the case of UK football clubs

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to contribute knowledge on the issues and benefits associated with managing brand presence and relationships through social media. UK football clubs are big businesses, with committed communities of fans, so are an ideal context from which to develop an understanding of the issues and challenges facing organisations as they seek to protect and promote their brand online. Design/methodology/approach – Due to the emergent nature of social media, and the criticality of the relationships between clubs and their fans, an exploratory study using a multiple case study approach was used to gather rich insights into the phenomenon. Findings – Clubs agreed that further development of social media strategies had potential to deliver interaction and engagement, community growth and belonging, traffic flow to official web sites and commercial gain. However, in developing their social media strategies they had two key concerns. The first concern was the control of the brand presence and image in social media, and how to respond to the opportunities that social media present to fans to impact on the brand. The second concern was how to strike an appropriate balance between strategies that deliver short-term revenue, and those that build longer term brand loyalty. Originality/value – This research is the first to offer insights into the issues facing organisations when developing their social media strategy

Sensory Communication

Contains table of contents for Section 2, an introduction and reports on twelve research projects.National Institutes of Health Grant 5 R01 DC00117National Institutes of Health Contract 2 P01 DC00361National Institutes of Health Grant 5 R01 DC00126National Institutes of Health Grant R01-DC00270U.S. Air Force - Office of Scientific Research Contract AFOSR-90-0200National Institutes of Health Grant R29-DC00625U.S. Navy - Office of Naval Research Grant N00014-88-K-0604U.S. Navy - Office of Naval Research Grant N00014-91-J-1454U.S. Navy - Office of Naval Research Grant N00014-92-J-1814U.S. Navy - Naval Training Systems Center Contract N61339-93-M-1213U.S. Navy - Naval Training Systems Center Contract N61339-93-C-0055U.S. Navy - Naval Training Systems Center Contract N61339-93-C-0083U.S. Navy - Office of Naval Research Grant N00014-92-J-4005U.S. Navy - Office of Naval Research Grant N00014-93-1-119

Sensory Communication

Contains table of contents for Section 2 and reports on five research projects.National Institutes of Health Contract 2 R01 DC00117National Institutes of Health Contract 1 R01 DC02032National Institutes of Health Contract 2 P01 DC00361National Institutes of Health Contract N01 DC22402National Institutes of Health Grant R01-DC001001National Institutes of Health Grant R01-DC00270National Institutes of Health Grant 5 R01 DC00126National Institutes of Health Grant R29-DC00625U.S. Navy - Office of Naval Research Grant N00014-88-K-0604U.S. Navy - Office of Naval Research Grant N00014-91-J-1454U.S. Navy - Office of Naval Research Grant N00014-92-J-1814U.S. Navy - Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division Contract N61339-94-C-0087U.S. Navy - Naval Air Warfare Center Training System Division Contract N61339-93-C-0055U.S. Navy - Office of Naval Research Grant N00014-93-1-1198National Aeronautics and Space Administration/Ames Research Center Grant NCC 2-77

Sensory Communication

Contains table of contents for Section 2, an introduction and reports on fifteen research projects.National Institutes of Health Grant RO1 DC00117National Institutes of Health Grant RO1 DC02032National Institutes of Health Contract P01-DC00361National Institutes of Health Contract N01-DC22402National Institutes of Health/National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders Grant 2 R01 DC00126National Institutes of Health Grant 2 R01 DC00270National Institutes of Health Contract N01 DC-5-2107National Institutes of Health Grant 2 R01 DC00100U.S. Navy - Office of Naval Research/Naval Air Warfare Center Contract N61339-94-C-0087U.S. Navy - Office of Naval Research/Naval Air Warfare Center Contract N61339-95-K-0014U.S. Navy - Office of Naval Research/Naval Air Warfare Center Grant N00014-93-1-1399U.S. Navy - Office of Naval Research/Naval Air Warfare Center Grant N00014-94-1-1079U.S. Navy - Office of Naval Research Subcontract 40167U.S. Navy - Office of Naval Research Grant N00014-92-J-1814National Institutes of Health Grant R01-NS33778U.S. Navy - Office of Naval Research Grant N00014-88-K-0604National Aeronautics and Space Administration Grant NCC 2-771U.S. Air Force - Office of Scientific Research Grant F49620-94-1-0236U.S. Air Force - Office of Scientific Research Agreement with Brandeis Universit

NIRS measurement at field level to measure rubber and resin content of guayule plants

Natural rubber increasing worldwide demand and the effects of climatic changes emphasize the interest in developing guayule rubber as a commodity such as Hevea rubber from Asian plantations. Guayule (Parthenium argentatum Gray) will contribute to sustainable development in Mediterranean and southern countries where CIRAD operates its research activities. During the European EU-PEARLS project CIRAD has already worked on NIRS (Near infrared spectroscopy) laboratory measurement of guayule powder from dried branches, to measure water, rubber and resin content). The method is working well, but still time consuming. A new research development on NIRS aims at developing an even simpler and quicker method of resins and rubber contents by NIRS measurement on living guayule plants in the field, during their growth. The purpose is enabling (i) to monitor the evolution of biomass chemical composition over the whole cropping period, and (ii) to estimate harvest date. Indeed guayule type of reproduction leads to differing plants. Encouraging preliminary results about this new method developed in the experimental fields in Montpellier (France) are reported. This direct and simple method which is being experimented will provide a tool for a more efficient genetic selection, as a large number of analyses are needed in order to determine best lines. (Texte intégral