Comparison of semiclassical and Wigner function methods in pair production in rotating fields

We present a comparison of two methods to compute the momentum spectrum and the Schwinger pair creation rate for pulsed rotating electric fields: one based upon the real-time Dirac--Heisenberg--Wigner (DHW) formalism and a semiclassical approximation based on a scattering ansatz. For the semiclassical method we propose to either perform numerical calculations or an additional approximation based on an analytical solution for the constant rotating field. We find that both numerical methods are complementary with respect to computation time as well as accuracy. The approximate method shows the same qualitative features while being computationally much faster. We additionally find that the unequal production of pairs in different spin states reported for constant rotating fields with the scattering method is in agreement with the Wigner function method.Comment: 15 pages, 7 Figure

Measuring the Willingness to Pay to Avoid Guilt: Estimation Using Equilibrium and Stated Belief Models

We estimate structural models of guilt aversion to measure the population level of willingness to pay (WTP) to avoid feeling guilt by letting down another player. We compare estimates of WTP under the assumption that higher-order beliefs are in equilibrium (i.e. consistent with the choice distribution) with models estimated using stated beliefs which relax the equilibrium requirement. We estimate WTP in the later case by allowing stated beliefs to be correlated with guilt aversion, thus controlling for a possible source of a consensus effect. All models are estimated using data from an experiment of proposal and response conducted with a large and representative sample of the Dutch population. Our range of estimates suggests that responders are willing to pay between 0.40 and 0.80 Euro to avoid letting down proposers by 1 Euro. Furthermore, we find that WTP estimated using stated beliefs is substantially overestimated (by a factor of two) when correlation between preferences and beliefs is not controlled for. Finally, we find no evidence that WTP is significantly related to the observable socio-economic characteristics of players.guilt aversion, willingness to pay, equilibrium and stated beliefs models

Measuring the Willingness to Pay to Avoid Guilt: Estimation using Equilibrium and Stated Belief Models

We estimate structural models of guilt aversion to measure the population level of willingness to pay (WTP) to avoid feeling guilt by letting down another player. We compare estimates of WTP under the assumption that higher-order beliefs are in equilibrium (i.e. consistent with the choice distribution) with models estimated using stated beliefs which relax the equilibrium requirement. We estimate WTP in the later case by allowing stated beliefs to be correlated with guilt aversion, thus controlling for a possible source of a consensus effect. All models are estimated using data from an experiment of proposal and response conducted with a large and representative sample of the Dutch population. Our range of estimates suggests that responders are willing to pay between 0.40 and 0.80 Euro to avoid letting down proposers by 1 Euro. Furthermore, we find that WTP estimated using stated beliefs is substantially overestimated (by a factor of two) when correlation between preferences and beliefs is not controlled for. Finally, we find no evidence that WTP is significantly related to the observable socio-economic characteristics of players.guilt aversion; willingness to pay; equilibrium and stated beliefs models

Neuroticism explains unwanted variance in Implicit Association Tests of personality: possible evidence for an affective valence confound

Meta-analytic data highlight the value of the Implicit Association Test (IAT) as an indirect measure of personality. Based on evidence suggesting that confounding factors such as cognitive abilities contribute to the IAT effect, this study provides a first investigation of whether basic personality traits explain unwanted variance in the IAT. In a gender-balanced sample of 204 volunteers, the Big-Five dimensions were assessed via self-report, peer-report, and IAT. By means of structural equation modeling (SEM), latent Big-Five personality factors (based on self- and peer-report) were estimated and their predictive value for unwanted variance in the IAT was examined. In a first analysis, unwanted variance was defined in the sense of method-specific variance which may result from differences in task demands between the two IAT block conditions and which can be mirrored by the absolute size of the IAT effects. In a second analysis, unwanted variance was examined in a broader sense defined as those systematic variance components in the raw IAT scores that are not explained by the latent implicit personality factors. In contrast to the absolute IAT scores, this also considers biases associated with the direction of IAT effects (i.e., whether they are positive or negative in sign), biases that might result, for example, from the IAT's stimulus or category features. None of the explicit Big-Five factors was predictive for method-specific variance in the IATs (first analysis). However, when considering unwanted variance that goes beyond pure method-specific variance (second analysis), a substantial effect of neuroticism occurred that may have been driven by the affective valence of IAT attribute categories and the facilitated processing of negative stimuli, typically associated with neuroticism. The findings thus point to the necessity of using attribute category labels and stimuli of similar affective valence in personality IATs to avoid confounding due to recoding

Barriers to the Development of Data-Driven Services: An ISM Approach for SMEs

Data is nowadays considered as a key resource and represents the most valuable asset of our technology-driven world. However, the ability to use this resource in a value-adding way requires a holistic perspective. Small- and medium-sized enterprises in particular face major challenges in the innovation and development process. Despite preliminary research in the area of data-driven services (DDS), there is a lack of methodological analysis of the key barriers for SMEs in the context of DDS development. To address this shortcoming, we have developed an interpretive structural model based on a two-stage mixed-method approach by combining a structured literature review with practice-oriented focus group interviews to identify key barriers and their interdependencies and interactions. Our paper strengthens the knowledge of DDS development through a methodological barrier analysis and provides a guide for practitioners to eliminate the most relevant barriers to DSS development

Biodegradable inkjet-printed electrochromic display for sustainable short-lifecycle electronics

The fabrication of electronics on the basis of biofriendly materials aims to counterbalance the negative trends conveyed by the short life-cycle of electronics. Furthermore, these materials open the possibility to develop optoelectronic technologies which will be in contact with the human body. In this work, we present an electrochromic display fabricated by resource- and energy-efficient digital printing techniques. The biodegradation of the device is certified under the ISO 14855 standard. The display comprises of a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) electrochromic layer, a gelatin-based electrolyte and Au electrodes deposited on a cellulose di-acetate substrate. We investigate the impact of various naturally sourced ionic species on the ionic conductivity of the electrolyte and the figures of merit of the display. The printed devices show an electrochromic contrast of 32 ± 4% and switching times of 3.0 ± 1.4 s, comparable to the spincoated reference devices. The utilization of inkjet printing enables the fabrication of different device designs with individually addressable pixels. The display can be worn innocuously on the skin without loss of performance thanks to the self-adhesion properties of the gelatin hydrogel. The present work highlights the use of industrial relevant technology for the fabrication of truly ecofriendly optoelectronic systems

2-Hydrazonyl-Propandihydrazide - A Versatile Precursor for High-Energy Materials

In this work, 2-hydrazonyl-propandihydrazide (2), a new precursor for energetic materials based on diethyl 2,2-diazidomalonate (1) was investigated. Therefore, its versatility was shown by various secondary reactions, including formation of energetic salts (3-5), the synthesis of a nitrogen-rich bistriazole (10) and a highly instable diazido derivative (6). In addition, a Curtius degradation could be observed in detail. When possible, the compounds were analyzed by low temperature X-ray diffraction. All measurable compounds were analyzed by H-1 and C-13 NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, differential thermal analysis (DTA) and regarding their sensitivity towards impact and friction according to BAM standard techniques. All promising compounds were evaluated regarding their energetic behavior using the EXPLO5 code (V6.05) and compared to RDX and CL-20. In addition, compound 2 was investigated towards its aquatic toxicity, using the bioluminescent bacteria vibrio fischeri

Inverse-Tunable Red Luminescence and Electronic Properties of Nitridoberylloaluminates Sr2-xBax[BeAl3N5]:Eu2+ (x=0-2)

The nitridoberylloaluminate Ba-2[BeAl3N5]:Eu2+ and solid solutions Sr2-xBax[BeAl3N5]:Eu2+ (x=0.5, 1.0, 1.5) were synthesized in a hot isostatic press (HIP) under 50 MPa N-2 atmosphere at 1200 degrees C. Ba-2[BeAl3N5]:Eu2+ crystallizes in tri-clinic space group P (1) over bar (no. 2) (Z=2, a=6.1869(10), b= 7.1736(13), c= 8.0391(14) angstrom, alpha = 102.754(8), beta = 112.032(6), gamma = 104.765(7)degrees), which was determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. The lattice parameters of the solid solution series have been obtained from Rietveld refinements and show a nearly linear dependence on the atomic ratio Sr:Ba. The electronic properties and the band gaps of M-2[BeAl3N5](M=Sr, Ba) have been investigated by a combination of soft X-ray spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Upon irradiation with blue light (440-450 nm), the nitridoberylloaluminates exhibit intense orange to red luminescence, which can be tuned between 610 and 656 nm (fwhm =1922-2025 cm(-1) (72-87 nm)). In contrast to the usual trend, the substitution of the smaller Sr2+= by larger Ba leads to an inverse-tunable luminescence to higher wavelengths. Low-temperature luminescence measurements have been performed to exclude anomalous emission

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (Val66Met) and Serotonin Transporter (5-HTTLPR) Polymorphisms Modulate Plasticity in Inhibitory Control Performance Over Time but Independent of Inhibitory Control Training

Several studies reported training-induced improvements in executive function tasks and also observed transfer to untrained tasks. However, the results are mixed and there is large interindividual variability within and across studies. Given that training-related performance changes would require modification, growth or differentiation at the cellular and synaptic level in the brain, research on critical moderators of brain plasticity potentially explaining such changes is needed. In the present study, a pre-post-follow-up design (N=122) and a three-weeks training of two response inhibition tasks (Go/NoGo and Stop-Signal) was employed and genetic variation (Val66Met) in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) promoting differentiation and activity-dependent synaptic plasticity was examined. Because Serotonin (5-HT) signaling and the interplay of BDNF and 5-HT are known to critically mediate brain plasticity, genetic variation in the 5-HT transporter (5-HTTLPR) was also addressed. The overall results show that the kind of training (i.e., adaptive vs. non-adaptive) did not evoke genotype-dependent differences. However, in the Go/NoGo task, better inhibition performance (lower commission errors) were observed for BDNF Val/Val genotype carriers compared to Met-allele ones supporting similar findings from other cognitive tasks. Additionally, a gene-gene interaction suggests a more impulsive response pattern (faster responses accompanied by higher commission error rates) in homozygous l-allele carriers relative to those with the s-allele of 5-HTTLPR. This, however, is true only in the presence of the Met-allele of BDNF, while the Val/Val genotype seems to compensate for such non-adaptive responding. Intriguingly, similar results were obtained for the Stop-Signal task. Here, differences emerged at post-testing, while no differences were observed at T1. In sum, although no genotype-dependent differences between the relevant training groups emerged suggesting no changes in the trained inhibition function, the observed genotype-dependent performance changes from pre- to post measurement may reflect rapid learning or memory effects linked to BDNF and 5-HTTLPR. In line with ample evidence on BDNF and BDNF-5-HT system interactions to induce (rapid) plasticity especially in hippocampal regions and in response to environmental demands, the findings may reflect genotype-dependent differences in the acquisition and consolidation of task-relevant information, thereby facilitating a more adaptive responding to task-specific requirements