The Minimum-Mass Extrasolar Nebula: In-Situ Formation of Close-In Super-Earths

Close-in super-Earths, with radii R = 2-5 R_Earth and orbital periods P < 100 days, orbit more than half, and perhaps nearly all Sun-like stars in the universe. We use this omnipresent population to construct the minimum-mass extrasolar nebula (MMEN), the circumstellar disk of solar-composition solids and gas from which such planets formed, if they formed near their current locations and did not migrate. In a series of back-of-the-envelope calculations, we demonstrate how in-situ formation in the MMEN is fast, efficient, and can reproduce many of the observed properties of close-in super-Earths, including their gas-to-rock fractions. Testable predictions are discussed.Comment: Accepted to MNRAS 2013 March

Modern CACSD using the Robust-Control Toolbox

The Robust-Control Toolbox is a collection of 40 M-files which extend the capability of PC/PRO-MATLAB to do modern multivariable robust control system design. Included are robust analysis tools like singular values and structured singular values, robust synthesis tools like continuous/discrete H(exp 2)/H infinity synthesis and Linear Quadratic Gaussian Loop Transfer Recovery methods and a variety of robust model reduction tools such as Hankel approximation, balanced truncation and balanced stochastic truncation, etc. The capabilities of the toolbox are described and illustated with examples to show how easily they can be used in practice. Examples include structured singular value analysis, H infinity loop-shaping and large space structure model reduction

Extremal black holes in D=4 Gauss-Bonnet gravity

We show that four-dimensional Einstein-Maxwell-Dilaton-Gauss-Bonnet gravity admits asymptotically flat black hole solutions with a degenerate event horizon of the Reissner-Nordstr\"om type $AdS_2\times S^2$. Such black holes exist for the dilaton coupling constant within the interval $0\leq a^2<a^2_{\rm cr}$. Black holes must be endowed with an electric charge and (possibly) with magnetic charge (dyons) but they can not be purely magnetic. Purely electric solutions are constructed numerically and the critical dilaton coupling is determined $a_{\rm cr}\simeq 0.488219703$. For each value of the dilaton coupling $a$ within this interval and for a fixed value of the Gauss--Bonnet coupling $\alpha$ we have a family of black holes parameterized by their electric charge. Relation between the mass, the electric charge and the dilaton charge at both ends of the allowed interval of $a$ is reminiscent of the BPS condition for dilaton black holes in the Einstein-Maxwell-Dilaton theory. The entropy of the DGB extremal black holes is twice the Bekenstein-Hawking entropy.Comment: New material and references added, errors corrected including higher decimals in a_cr, figures improve

Role of aggressivity on reactivity and craving before and after cue exposure in recently detoxified alcoholics: Results from an experimental study

The role of aggressivity and cue exposure in induction of craving were investigated in a clinical setting. Thirty abstinent alcoholic patients were divided into a low and a high aggressive group based on scores on the physical aggression subscale of the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory and exposed to alcohol cues. Craving was measured by means of the Alcohol Craving Questionnaire (ACQ) and Visual Analogue Scales (VAS). Important findings are: (1) main effects of aggressivity on `emotionality', `purposefulness' and `expectancy' of ACQ were very significant; (2) on `drinking intention' and `craving for alcohol' of VAS, aggressivity and cue exposure showed a significant interaction; (3) the main effect of cue exposure on heart rate also reached a significance level of 0.007. The results were discussed in the context of the Classical, Operant Conditioning Theory, the Cognitive Craving Theory of Tiffany, Gilbert's STAR Model, and the Self-Medication Hypothesis Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel

Effects of irritability on craving before and after cue exposure in abstinent alcoholic inpatients: Experimental data on subjective response and heart rate

Objective: Irritability is often linked with problem drinking. The aim of this study is to examine the possible influence of irritability on craving induced by a cue-exposure paradigm. Methods: 30 male abstinent alcoholic inpatients of the Psychiatric Hospital of Munich University, Germany gave answers to a series of personality questionnaires. Results of this study concerning the impact of aggressivity on craving for alcohol has recently been published. In this study, the subjects were subdivided into a low- and a high-irritable group based on their scores on the irritability subscale of the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory and were exposed to alcohol cues. Craving was measured by means of the Alcohol Craving Questionnaire (ACQ) and Visual Analogue Scales (VAS). The heart rate was also assessed throughout the whole process. ANCOVA for repeated measurement was employed to evaluate the data - irritability disposition as the between-subject factor and the experimental manipulation (absence vs. presence of alcohol cues) as the within-subject factor. Results: Major findings are: (1) main effects of irritability on `emotionality', `purposefulness', and `expectancy' of the ACQ as well as on `craving for alcohol' of the VAS were significant; (2) cue exposure also exerted a significant main effect on I craving for alcohol' of the VAS and on the heart rate after the presentation of alcohol cues; (3) on `compulsivity' of the ACQ and `intention to alcohol intake' of the VAS; there was a significant interaction between irritability and cue exposure. The high-irritable alcoholics, compared with their statements in the baseline, tended to report a higher control over alcohol intake and a lower intention to alcohol use after cue exposure. However, after confrontation with alcohol stimuli, their low-irritable counterparts reported a much lower control and a slightly higher intention than they did in the baseline. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that induced craving in hospitalized alcohol addicts probably varies with the magnitude of their irritability; it might make patients more aware of their vulnerability to alcohol, help them develop more differential coping strategies and improve medical therapy against alcohol craving. Copyright (C) 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel

Phase-sensitive quantum effects in Andreev conductance of the SNS system of metals with macroscopic phase breaking length

The dissipative component of electron transport through the doubly connected SNS Andreev interferometer indium (S)-aluminium (N)-indium (S) has been studied. Within helium temperature range, the conductance of the individual sections of the interferometer exhibits phase-sensitive oscillations of quantum-interference nature. In the non-domain (normal) state of indium narrowing adjacent to NS interface, the nonresonance oscillations have been observed, with the period inversely proportional to the area of the interferometer orifice. In the domain intermediate state of the narrowing, the magneto-temperature resistive oscillations appeared, with the period determined by the coherence length in the magnetic field equal to the critical one. The oscillating component of resonance form has been observed in the conductance of the macroscopic N-aluminium part of the system. The phase of the oscillations appears to be shifted by $\pi$ compared to that of nonresonance oscillations. We offer an explanation in terms of the contribution into Josephson current from the coherent quasiparticles with energies of order of the Thouless energy. The behavior of dissipative transport with temperature has been studied in a clean normal metal in the vicinity of a single point NS contact.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures, to be published in Low Temp. Phys., v. 29, No. 12, 200

Crisis communication and image repair from a cultural aspect : a case study of King Car's image repair program in Taiwan

King Car, one of the leading food and beverage companies in Taiwan, suffered from a melamine scandal and conducted a successful image repair program in 2008. Through a case study, this study was trying to figure out: (1) Can a well-established western theory, the image repair model, be useful in an eastern culture, particularly Taiwan? (2) What strategies, if any, worked in the King Car melamine contamination case in responding to this crisis? (3) How did those strategies, employed by King Car, work to diffuse the crisis situation? And (4) What, if any, strategies must be given special attention in image repair in eastern cultures, particularly Taiwan? The content analysis results of 45 local news reports discussing King Car’s image repair program showed seven image repair strategies (corrective action, bolstering, shift the blame, mortification, defeasibility, minimization, and good intentions) were used. These strategies were useful and worked in Taiwan without significant difference from the western culture in corrective action, defeasibility, minimization, and good intentions strategies. However, with the soft appeal, humbleness, and sympathy preferences of Taiwanese culture, mortification is recommended to use unless there is no relationship between the person or the organization and the mistake; bolstering and shift the blame are suggested used in different strength levels for different timings.Department of JournalismThesis (M.A.