21,816 research outputs found
Sampling design for compliance monitoring of surface water quality: A case study in a Polder area
International agreements such as the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) ask for efficient sampling methods for monitoring natural resources. In this paper a general methodology for designing efficient, statistically sound monitoring schemes is described. An important decision is the choice between a design-based and a model-based method, implying the choice between probability (random) sampling and purposive sampling. For mapping purposes, model-based methods are more appropriate, whereas to obtain valid results for the universe as a whole, such as in testing water quality standards against legal standards, we generally prefer a design-based method. Four basic sampling patterns in space-time universe are described: static, synchronous, static-synchronous, and rotational. A case study is carried out for monitoring the quality of surface water at two farms in western Netherlands, wherein a synchronous sampling design is applied, with stratified simple random sampling in both space and time. To reduce laboratory costs the aliquots taken at the locations of a given sampling round are bulked to form a composite. To test the spatiotemporal mean N-total concentration during the summer half-year against the MAR standard with a power of 80% at a concentration 15% below the MAR standard and with a confidence of 95%, six to nine sampling rounds are needed with 50 to 75 locations per sampling round. For P-total the required number of sampling rounds differs strongly between the two farms, but is for both farms much larger than for N-total
Underpricing, underperformance and overreaction in initial public offerings : evidence from investor attention using online searches
Online activity of Internet users has proven very useful in modeling various phenomena across a wide range of scientific disciplines. In our study, we focus on two stylized facts or puzzles surrounding the initial public offerings (IPOs) - the underpricing and the long-term underperformance. Using the Internet searches on Google, we proxy the investor attention before and during the day of the offering to show that the high attention IPOs have different characteristics than the low attention ones. After controlling for various effects, we show that investor attention still remains a strong component of the high initial returns (the underpricing), primarily for the high sentiment periods. Moreover, we demonstrate that the investor attention partially explains the overoptimistic market reaction and thus also a part of the long-term underperformance
The potential of Antheraea pernyi silk for spinal cord repair
This work was supported by the Institute of Medical Sciences of the University of Aberdeen, Scottish Rugby Union and RS McDonald Charitable Trust. We are grateful to Mr Nicholas Hawkins from Oxford University and Ms Annette Raffan from the University of Aberdeen for assistance with tensile testing. We thank Ms Michelle Gniβ for her help with the microglial response experiments. We also thank Mr Gianluca Limodio for assisting with the MATLAB script for automation of tensile testing’s data analysis.Peer reviewedPublisher PD
The adsorption structure of furan on Pd(1 1 1)
The structure of molecular furan, C4H4O, on Pd(1 1 1) has been investigated by O K-edge near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) and C 1s scanned-energy mode photoelectron diffraction (PhD). NEXAFS shows the molecule to be adsorbed with the molecular plane close to parallel to the surface, a conclusion confirmed by the PhD analysis. Chemical-state specific C 1s PhD data were obtained for the two inequivalent C atoms in the furan, the α-C atoms adjacent to the O atom, and the β-C atoms bonded only to C atoms, but only the PhD modulations for the α-C emitters were of sufficiently large amplitude for detailed evaluation using multiple scattering calculations. This analysis shows the α-C atoms to be located approximately 0.6 Å off-atop surface Pd atoms with an associated C–Pd bondlength of 2.13 ± 0.03 Å. Two alternative local geometries consistent with the data place the O atom in off-atop or near-hollow locations, and for each of these local structures there are two equally-possible registries relative to the fcc and hcp hollow sites. The results are in good agreement with earlier density functional theory calculations which indicate that the fcc and hcp registries are equally probable, but the PhD results fail to distinguish the two distinct local bonding geometries
Improved large-mode area endlessly single-mode photonic crystal fibers
We numerically study the possibilities for improved large-mode area endlessly
single mode photonic crystal fibers for use in high-power delivery
applications. By carefully choosing the optimal hole diameter we find that a
triangular core formed by three missing neighboring air holes considerably
improves the mode area and loss properties compared to the case with a core
formed by one missing air hole. In a realized fiber we demonstrate an
enhancement of the mode area by ~30 % without a corresponding increase in the
attenuation.Comment: 3 pages including 3 eps-figures. Accepted for Optics Letter
Analyzing Farmer Participation Intentions and Enrollment Rates for the Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) Program
The 2008 Farm Bill created the Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) program as a new commodity support program. Using a multinomial logit model to analyze a mail survey administered before the ACRE sign-up deadline, we identify factors driving farmer intentions regarding ACRE participation. Using a two-limit Tobit model to analyze actual county-level ACRE enrollment rates, we assess the effect of similar factors on actual farmer decisions. Results suggest that primary crops, risk perceptions, risk aversion, and program complexity were important factors. Farmer beliefs and attitudes also played key roles and were evolving during the months before the ACRE deadline.
A structural study of a C3H3 species coadsorbed with CO on Pd(1 1 1)
The combination of chemical-state-specific C 1s scanned-energy mode photoelectron diffraction (PhD) and O K-edge near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) has been used to determine the local adsorption geometry of the coadsorbed C3H3 and CO species formed on Pd(1 1 1) by dissociation of molecular furan. CO is found to adopt the same geometry as in the Pd(1 1 1)c(4 × 2)-CO phase, occupying the two inequivalent three-fold coordinated hollow sites with the C–O axis perpendicular to the surface. C3H3 is found to lie with its molecular plane almost parallel to the surface, most probably with the two ‘outer’ C atoms in equivalent off-atop sites, although the PhD analysis formally fails to distinguish between two distinct local adsorption sites
Fast light, slow light, and phase singularities: a connection to generalized weak values
We demonstrate that Aharonov-Albert-Vaidman (AAV) weak values have a direct
relationship with the response function of a system, and have a much wider
range of applicability in both the classical and quantum domains than
previously thought. Using this idea, we have built an optical system, based on
a birefringent photonic crystal, with an infinite number of weak values. In
this system, the propagation speed of a polarized light pulse displays both
superluminal and slow light behavior with a sharp transition between the two
regimes. We show that this system's response possesses two-dimensional,
vortex-antivortex phase singularities. Important consequences for optical
signal processing are discussed.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures, accepted in Physical Review Letters (2003
Coastal Oil & Gas Corp. v. FERC: Does the Contract or the Natural Gas Act Control Dedication Pursuant to Contract
High energy green nanosecond and picosecond pulse delivery through a negative curvature fiber for precision micro-machining
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