Superadiabatic transitions in quantum molecular dynamics

We study the dynamics of a molecule’s nuclear wave function near an avoided crossing of two electronic energy levels for one nuclear degree of freedom. We derive the general form of the Schrödinger equation in the nth superadiabatic representation for all n є N. Using these results, we obtain closed formulas for the time development of the component of the wave function in an initially unoccupied energy subspace when a wave packet travels through the transition region. In the optimal superadiabatic representation, which we define, this component builds up monotonically. Finally, we give an explicit formula for the transition wave function away from the avoided crossing, which is in excellent agreement with high-precision numerical calculations

Micro-canonical pentaquark production in \ee annihilations

The existence of pentaquarks, namely baryonic states made up of four quarks and one antiquark, became questionable, because the candidates, i.e. the $\Theta^+$ peak, are seen in certain reactions, i.e. p+p collisions, but not in others, i.e. \ee annihilations. In this paper, we estimate the production of $\Theta ^{+}(1540)$ and $\Xi^{--} (1860)$ in \ee annihilations at different energies using Fermi statistical model as originally proposed in its microcanonical form. The results is compared with that from pp collisions at SPS and RHIC energies. We find that, if pentaquark states exist, the production is highly possible in \ee annihilations. For example, at LEP energy $\sqrt{s}$=91.2 GeV, both $\Theta ^{+}(1540)$ and $\Xi^{--} (1860)$ yield more than in pp collisions at SPS and RHIC energy.Comment: 7 pages 2 figure

Design Flexibility of Redox Flow Systems

The characteristics inherent in Redox flow systems permit considerable latitude in designing systems for specific storage applications. The first of these characteristics is the absence of plating/deplating reactions with their attendant morphology changes at the electrodes. This permits a given Redox system to operate over a wide range of depths of discharge and charge/discharge rates. The second characteristic is the separation of power generating components (stacks) from the energy storage components (tanks). This results in cost effective system design, ease of system growth via modularization, and freedom from sizing restraints so that the whole spectrum of applications, from utilities down to single residence can be considered. The final characteristic is the commonality of the reactant fluids which assures that all cells at all times are receiving reactants at the same state of charge. Since no cell can be out of balance with respect to any other cell, it is possible for some cells to be charged while others are discharging, in effect creating a DC to DC transformer. It is also possible for various groups of cells to be connected to separate loads, thus supplying a range of output voltages. Also, trim cells can be used to maintain constant bus voltage as the load is changed or as the depth of discharge increases. The commonality of reactant fluids also permits any corrective measures such as rebalancing to occur at the system level instead of at the single cell level

NASA Redox cell stack shunt current, pumping power, and cell performance tradeoffs

The NASA Redox energy storage system is under active technology development. The hardware undergoing laboratory testing is either 310 sq. cm. or 929 sq. cm. (0.33 sq. ft. or 1.0 sq. ft. per cell active area with up to 40 individual cells connected to make up a modular cell stack. This size of hardware allows rather accurate projections to be made of the shunt power/pump power tradeoffs. The modeling studies that were completed on the system concept are reviewed along with the approach of mapping the performance of Redox cells over a wide range of flow rates and depths of discharge of the Redox solutions. Methods are outlined for estimating the pumping and shunt current losses for any type of cell and stack combination. These methods are applicable to a variety of pumping options that are present with Redox systems. The results show that a fully developed Redox system has acceptable parasitic losses when using a fixed flow rate adequate to meet the worst conditions of current density and depth of discharge. These losses are reduced by about 65 percent if variable flow schedules are used. The exact value of the overall parasitics will depend on the specific system requirements of current density, voltage limits, charge, discharge time, etc

A friend to go between them : Interpreters among the Iroquois, 1664-1775

In recent years, interest in early American Indian history and an emphasis on ethnohistorical methods have led to new approaches to the study of cultural contact in colonial America. Several scholars have used cross-cultural groups such as missionaries and white Indian captives as vehicles for analysis. Another group that moved relatively freely back and forth across the cultural divide was that of interpreters. From their intermediate position between European and Iroquois cultures, these men and women interpreted more than languages. Although linguistic skills were essential, successful mediation between Indians and Europeans also required a knowledge of the culture and customs of both groups. They performed a vital role as cultural brokers during all types of intercultural exchange and helped to mediate cultural differences during contact. This study focuses on interpreters among the Iroquois under the English administration of New York, 1664-1775.;Interpreters were most visible during Anglo-Iroquois treaty conferences, and a significant part of this study deals with the development of the interpreters\u27 formal and informal roles at such councils. Interpreters participated in all phases of the conference proceedings, acting as messengers, negotiators, speakers, and translators during both public and private council sessions. In addition, they frequently performed essential services for both the Indian and European participants by acting as advisors on council protocol. In fact, they were primary agents behind the development of a standardized protocol of forest diplomacy during the first half of the eighteenth century.;Interpreters were also active in informal day-to-day exchanges between the British and the Iroquois. They aided missionaries, traders, and military men. They also became the husbands, lovers, fathers, and friends of individuals on both sides of the cultural divide. These less public, less formal exchanges, while difficult to illuminate fully, allow glimpses of the many levels at which mediation and cultural brokerage occurred and indicate how profoundly interpreters and others like them shaped cultural contact in early America. They not only assumed identities and played roles on the stage that spanned the cultural divide--they helped to construct it

WISH4Campus: Evaluating College Food Insecurity and Promoting Solutions for Student Wellbeing

Introduction: Interest in college food insecurity has increased in previous years, however, little research focuses on the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States resulting in limited understanding of food insecurity’s impact on college students in these regions. Additionally, resources to help food insecure students are often sparse with universities lacking evidence-based programming to implement for student benefit. Aims: This dissertation aims to (1) investigate the correlates and behavioral consequences of food insecurity on college students at an Appalachian university, (2) expand college food insecurity research to a regional investigation in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions, and (3) develop and evaluate a toolkit of food insecurity initiatives that can assist higher education institutions in providing adequate resources for food insecure students. Methods: A 56 item, cross sectional survey was utilized for aims 1 and 2. Surveys were distributed to students attending 10 public universities in the Appalachian and Southeastern Regions between Spring 2016 and Spring 2018. Food security status was measured using the United States Department of Agriculture Adult Food Security Screener (USDA AFSS). This survey also included demographic, behavioral, health, and economic independent variables. Forward selection logistic regression was used to determine variables that increased the likelihood of being food insecure. Aim 3 used online survey data collection to capture feedback on the WISH4Campus (Wellbeing Increased by Security from Hunger) toolkit. Experts (n=126) from land-grant universities were sent a 27-question survey to determine perceptions of food insecurity and evaluation of specific toolkit components. Descriptive statistics and frequency analyses were performed on quantitative data and thematic analysis was used to analyze qualitative data. Results: Students at an Appalachian university (n=692) reported food insecurity prevalence at 36.6%. Results of the forward selection logistic regression showed money expenditure (MES), coping strategies (CSS), health, and academic year were significant predictors of food insecurity in college students. When expanded to a regional investigation of 13,642 college students, prevalence of food insecurity at the universities ranged from 22.4-51.8% with an average prevalence of 30.5%. From the forward selection logistic regression model, MES, CSS, academic performance (APS), grade point average (GPA), academic year, perceived health status, race/ethnicity, financial aid, cooking frequency, and health insurance were significant predictors of food security status. For aim 3, thirty experts completed the toolkit evaluation survey. Evaluation feedback covered four main topics: layout, overall content, initiatives, and application. Eight themes emerged from the coding and categorization of responses: visual appeal, organization, value, provoking, comprehensive, barriers, collaboration, and efficiency. Conclusion: Limited research has focused on college food insecurity in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions. Findings from these studies suggest food insecurity is a public health problem among college students in this region, and that continuing efforts are needed to assist affected students in getting greater access to safe, nutritious food. The developed toolkit is suggested to be a potential tool to help university personnel provide resources to students. Future research should aim to implement and evaluate food insecurity initiatives

Strangeness, Equilibration, Hadronization

In these remarks I explain the motivation which leads us to consider chemical nonequilibrium processes in flavor equilibration and in statistical hadroniziation of quark--gluon plasma (QGP). Statistical hadronization allowing for chemical non-equilibrium is introduced. The reesults of fits to RHIC-130 results, including multistrange hadrons, are shown to agree only with the model of an exploding QGP fireball.Comment: 8 pages including one figure, discussion contribution at Strange Quark Matter 2001, Frankfurt, submitted to J. Phys.

Institutionelle Erfolgsfaktoren einer Ausdehnung des Ökologischen Landbaus – Analyse anhand von Regionen mit einem besonders hohen Anteil an ökologisch bewirtschafteter Fläche

Ziel dieser Untersuchung war die Gewinnung von Informationen darüber, inwieweit die Ausdehnung des Ökologischen Landbaus in Regionen mit einem auffallend hohen Anteil an ökologisch bewirtschafteter Fläche auf den Einfluss institutioneller Faktoren zurückzuführen ist, welcher Art diese institutionellen Erfolgsfaktoren sind und ob sie politisch gestärkt werden können. Forschungsleitend war die Arbeitshypothese, dass auch bei ansonsten günstigen Bedingungen das Fehlen oder der ungenügende Entwicklungsstand institutioneller Voraussetzungen für die Ausdehnung des Ökologischen Landbaus einen entscheidenden Engpass bilden kann. In einem ersten Arbeitsschritt wurde zunächst ein umfassendes Verständnis des Ökologischen Landbaus aus einer institutionellen Sichtweise entwickelt. Ausgehend von einer problemorientierten sowie von einer historisch-kulturalistischen Sicht werden Erfolgsfaktoren (gesellschaftliche Einbettung, Organisation des Wissens, staatliche Förderung, regionale Nachfrage) ausgewählt, die die regionale Ausdehnung des Ökologischen Landbaus theoretisch beeinflussen können, und Erfolgskriterien (Flächenausdehnung, Einkommen, Qualität, Stabilität, Breite gesellschaftlicher Aktivitäten, Akzeptanz und Legitimation) benannt, die der empirischen Beurteilung einer nachhaltigen Entwicklung des Ökologischen Landbaus dienen. Den Kern der Studie bilden vier regionale Fallstudien in Regionen mit einem verhältnismäßig hohem Anteil an ökologisch bewirtschafteter Fläche (Südbaden, Region Bonn, Südthüringen, Uckermark). Aufbauend auf eine Beschreibung wird die Bedeutung der Erfolgsfaktoren für die Ausweitung des Ökologischen Landbaus sowie ihre Wirkung auf die o.g. einzelnen Erfolgskriterien analysiert. Hierbei wird erkennbar, dass die Bedingungen, die zu einer Flächenausdehnung des Ökologischen Landbaus beitragen, lokal sehr spezifisch sein können und sich heterogene Wirkungen der untersuchten Erfolgsfaktoren abzeichnen. Einzig die verbesserte finanzielle staatliche Förderung begünstigt in allen Regionen eine Ausweitung, allerdings bevorzugt auf den extensiv bewirtschafteten Grünlandstandorten. In den Fallstudien wird ein grundlegender Wandel des gesellschaftlichen Systems Ökologischer Landbau deutlich. Spezifische Stärken des alten, endogen gewachsenen Ökologischen Landbaus drohen verloren zu gehen, ohne dass gegenwärtig adäquate funktional äquivalente Strukturen entwickelt worden sind. Diese Beobachtungen legen insgesamt den Schluss nahe, dass die politisch unterstützte Ausdehnung des Ökologischen Landbaus einen riskanten Wachstumspfad darstellt. Vor diesem Hintergrund wird davor plädiert, sowohl den Fokus als auch die Art der politischen Intervention zu verändern, wofür Vorschläge gemacht werden

Equilibrium Relativistic Mass Distribution

The relativistic Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution for the system of $N$ events with motion in space-time parametrized by an invariant ``historical time'' $\tau$ is considered without the simplifying approximation $m^2\cong M^2$, where $M$ is a given intrinsic property of the events. The relativistic mass distribution is obtained and the average values of $m$ and $m^2$ are calculated. The average value of the energy in nonrelativistic limit gives a correction of the order of 10\% to the Dulong-Petit law. Expressions for the pressure and the density of events are obtained and the ideal gas law is recovered.Comment: TAUP-2048-9

Crossover transition in bag-like models

We formulate a simple model for a gas of extended hadrons at zero chemical potential by taking inspiration from the compressible bag model. We show that a crossover transition qualitatively similar to lattice QCD can be reproduced by such a system by including some appropriate additional dynamics. Under certain conditions, at high temperature, the system consist of a finite number of infinitely extended bags, which occupy the entire space. In this situation the system behaves as an ideal gas of quarks and gluons.Comment: Corresponds to the published version. Added few references and changed the titl