Assessment of the European Union’s Educational Efficiency

This paper assesses education sector’s efficiency by comparing 28 European Union states at different levels of education using the mathematic approach of data envelopment analysis. We conducted the study from both the allocative and technical perspectives by considering all education levels separately and then as a whole, every three years, starting with 2006. The input and output variables were adapted to each particular level of education. In this way, we offered a complete image of the education system, creating a ranking for the countries, based on efficiency scores. Efficiency appears to be achieved when education results, such as the Programme for International Student Assessment scores, attainment level or other value-added outcomes, are reached with rather low levels of financial resources. The performance in education lacks sustainability in many countries, mostly belonging to Mediterranean and south-eastern European groups, with old member states recording efficiency scores closer to 1 compared to the new ones. Inefficiency derived from different causes and interactions between these causes (the mixture between public and private resources, the different population composition, gross domestic product per capita or levels of education attainment) and most often imply particular solutions from country to country.

Detrital remanent magnetization of single-crystal silicates with magnetic inclusions: constraints from deposition experiments

SUMMARY Quasi-linear field-dependence of remanence provides the foundation for sedimentary relative palaeointensity studies that have been widely used to understand past geomagnetic field behaviour and to date sedimentary sequences. Flocculation models are often called upon to explain this field dependence and the lower palaeomagnetic recording efficiency of sediments. Several recent studies have demonstrated that magnetic-mineral inclusions embedded within larger non-magnetic host silicates are abundant in sedimentary records, and that they can potentially provide another simple explanation for the quasi-linear field dependence. In order to understand how magnetic inclusion-rich detrital particles acquire sedimentary remanence, we carried out depositional remanent magnetization (DRM) experiments on controlled magnetic inclusion-bearing silicate particles (10–50 μm in size) prepared from gabbro and mid-ocean ridge basalt samples. Deposition experiments confirm that the studied large silicate host particles with magnetic mineral inclusions can acquire a DRM with accurate recording of declination. We observe a silicate size-dependent inclination shallowing, whereby larger silicate grains exhibit less inclination shallowing. The studied sized silicate samples do not have distinct populations of spherical or platy particles, so the observed size-dependence inclination shallowing could be explained by a ‘rolling ball’ model whereby larger silicate particles rotate less after depositional settling. We also observe non-linear field-dependent DRM acquisition in Earth-like magnetic fields with DRM behaviour depending strongly on silicate particle size, which could be explained by variable magnetic moments and silicate sizes. Our results provide direct evidence for a potentially widespread mechanism that could contribute to the observed variable recording efficiency and inclination shallowing of sedimentary remanences.

Measurement and compensation of misalignment in double-sided hard X-ray Fresnel zone plates

Double-sided Fresnel zone plates are diffractive lenses used for high-resolution hard X-ray microscopy. The double-sided structures have significantly higher aspect ratios compared with single-sided components and hence enable more efficient imaging. The zone plates discussed in this paper are fabricated on each side of a thin support membrane, and the alignment of the zone plates with respect to each other is critical. Here, a simple and reliable way of quantifying misalignments by recording efficiency maps and measuring the absolute diffraction efficiency of the zone plates as a function of tilting angle in two directions is presented. The measurements are performed in a setup based on a tungsten-anode microfocus X-ray tube, providing an X-ray energy of 8.4 keV through differential measurements with a Cu and an Ni filter. This study investigates the sources of the misalignments and concludes that they can be avoided by decreasing the structure heights on both sides of the membrane and by pre-programming size differences between the front- and back-side zone plates.

Electric and Magnetic Field Effect Studies on the Hologram Recording in Azobenzene Molecular Films

Various electrooptic and magnetooptic effects enable the electric and magnetic field control of the holographic information recording. They can become significant if the frequency of light irradiation is close enough to the absorption line of a material. In this paper, these effects are theoretically considered, and the influence of applied external electric (up to 17 kV/cm) as well as magnetic field (0.15T) is experimentally studied on the transmission holographic grating recording in azobenzene-based molecular films at 632.8 and 532 nm. Recording beam polarizations were s-s, p-p, L-L and L-R . Self-diffraction efficiency (SDE) exposure time dependences were measured with and without the applied fields, and maximum SDE values as well as recording energies corresponding to 0.017% SDE were determined. No effect of electric field was found within the measurement accuracy (1-5%). Some trend to recording efficiency increase by magnetic field was observed. This result is in the agreement with the theoretical analysis. Unfortunately, these results are within experimental errors (usually 15-24%).

COMPUTER VISION PHOTOGRAMMETRY FOR UNDERWATER ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE RECORDING IN A LOW-VISIBILITY ENVIRONMENT

Computer Vision Photogrammetry allows archaeologists to accurately record underwater sites in three dimensions using simple twodimensional picture or video sequences, automatically processed in dedicated software. In this article, I share my experience in working with one such software package, namely PhotoScan, to record a Dutch shipwreck site. In order to demonstrate the method’s reliability and flexibility, the site in question is reconstructed from simple GoPro footage, captured in low-visibility conditions. Based on the results of this case study, Computer Vision Photogrammetry compares very favourably to manual recording methods both in recording efficiency, and in the quality of the final results. In a final section, the significance of Computer Vision Photogrammetry is then assessed from a historical perspective, by placing the current research in the wider context of about half a century of successful use of Analytical and later Digital photogrammetry in the field of underwater archaeology. I conclude that while photogrammetry has been used in our discipline for several decades now, for various reasons the method was only ever used by a relatively small percentage of projects. This is likely to change in the near future since, compared to the ‘traditional’ photogrammetry approaches employed in the past, today Computer Vision Photogrammetry is easier to use, more reliable and more affordable than ever before, while at the same time producing more accurate and more detailed three-dimensional results.

Maximising safety and environmental performance during onshore seismic acquisition using cable-less technology

Recent advances in the acquisition of onshore seismic data without cables have greatly reduced impacts on environmental and heritage values and increased recording efficiency. Onshore oil and gas exploration has expanded significantly across Australia. As a result, the need to gather quality data while reducing the environmental, social, and safety impacts of the activities has driven innovation in exploration technologies. In WA, exploration permits are granted for areas that include privately held farm land, pastoral leases or unallocated crown land. This can result in tensions between exploration companies, their contractors, and land holders. Cable-less seismic data acquisition systems provide significant opportunities to reduce the environmental, community, and safety impacts. Cable-less systems typically require significantly fewer trips along the acquisition line, considerably reducing the likelihood of negative impacts on plants, animals, and soils in the area. Other benefits include reducing fuel consumption, vehicle and traffic movement and the risk of injury to the seismic crew associated with the deployment of cables. This extended abstract reviews the recent use of a cable-less system for Fleet Resources’ seismic acquisition conducted by Terrex Seismic in the Carnarvon Basin, WA, demonstrating the environmental, social, and safety benefits compared with traditional cabled systems for both 3D and 2D seismic programs. This extended abstract also draws on the experiences of Terrex’s use of the technology on behalf of UIL Energy and it explores the opportunities for capturing these benefits during the preparation of environmental and safety plans for regulatory approval.

Effect of light polarization on holographic recording in glassy azocompounds and chalcogenides

Light polarization effects on a holographic grating recording in a glassy chalcogenide a-As40S15Se45 film has been experimentally studied and compared with previously studied glassy molecular azobenzene film 8a at 633, using s − s,p − p, CE-1 and CE-2 circular-elliptic recording-beam polarizations (differing by light electric field rotation directions). The azocompound exhibited much higher self-diffraction efficiency (SDE) and diffraction efficiency whereas chalcogenide was more sensitive. Their recording efficiency polarization dependences also were different. SDE up to 45% was achieved in 8a with p − p and up to 2.6% in a-As40S15Se45 with CE-2 polarized recording beams. The polarization changes in the diffraction process were studied as well in these and other materials (11, 16, 19 and a-As2S3 film, LiTaO3:Fe crystal). It was found that light polarization changes in the process of diffraction from gratings recorded vectorially by s−p polarizations depended on chemical composition, wavelength, and exposure time. Vector gratings with SDE up to 25% were recorded in 8a, rotating a linear polarization by 90°. No light polarization changes were found in azobenzene 19 and chalcogenide films and in LiTaO3:Fe crystal, thus showing a vector recording of scalar holograms. The recording mechanisms in azocompounds and chalcogenides are discussed and compared.