Fully stable numerical calculations for finite onedimensional structures: mapping the Transfer Matrix method

We design a fully stable numerical solution of the Maxwell´s equations with the Transfer Matrix Method (TMM) to understand the interaction between an electromagnetic field and a finite, one-dimensional, nonperiodic structure. Such an exact solution can be tailored from a conventional solution by choosing an adequate transformation between its reference systems, which induces a mapping between its associated TMMs. The paper demonstrates theoretically the numerical stability of the TMM for the exact solution within the framework of Maxwell´s equations, but the same formalism can efficiently be applied to resolve other classical or quantum linear wave-propagation interaction in one, two, and three dimensions. This is because the formalism is exclusively built up for an in depth analysis of the TMM´s symmetriesPeer reviewe

Dealing with Interval Scale Data in Data Envelopment Analysis

This papaer considers the problem of interval scale data in the most widely used models of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), the CCR, and the BCC models. Radial models require inputs and outputs measured on the ratio scale. Our focus is on how to deal with interval scale variables especially when the interval scale variable is a difference of two ratio scale variables like profit or the decrease/increase in bank accounts. Using these ratio scale variables as variables in the DEA model we suggest radial models. An approach to how to deal with interval scale variables when we relax the radiality assumption is also discussed

Value Efficiency Analysis for Incorporating Preference Information in Data Envelopment Analysis

We develop a procedure and the requisite theory for incorporating preference information in a novel way in the efficiency analysis of Decision Making Units. The efficiency of Decision Making Units is defined in the spirit of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), complemented with Decision Maker's preference information concerning the desirable structure of inputs and outputs. Our procedure begins by aiding the Decision Maker in searching for the most preferred combination of inputs and outputs of Decision Making Units (for short, Most Preferred Solution) which are efficient in DEA. Then, assuming that the Decision Maker's Most Preferred Solution maximizes his/her underlying (unknown) value function at the moment when the search is terminated, we approximate the indifference contour of the value function at this point with its possible tangent hyperplanes. Value Efficiency scores are then calculated for each Decision Making Unit comparing the inefficient units to units having the same value as the Most Preferred Solution. The resulting Value Efficiency scores are optimistic approximations of the true scores. The procedure and the resulting efficiency scores are immediately applicable to solving practical problems

Many ways to Rome: Exogenous and endogenous pathways to environmental and social performance

It is often taken for granted that corporate social responsibility (CSR) will bring about social benefits and environmental improvements. Yet there is little empirical evidence of outcomes of CSR initiatives for the natural environment or the wider society as studies have focused on the influence of CSR on financial performance rather than its societal outcomes. This study begins addressing this gap in the literature by empirically studying the environmental and social performance of CSR in 19 European companies. We analyse which configurations of institutional constraints and organizational CSR practices influence environmental and social performance. Based on this analysis, we identify two pathways that can lead to high environmental and social performance and we scrutinize configurations that lead to low performance. The exogenous pathway is characterized by the use of externally certified management tools and certificates and a high importance of external rating schemes. This pathway seems typical for large publicly listed firms. The endogenous pathway, in turn, includes firms that are characterized by internally developed means of conducting CSR

Symmetry analysis of the numerical instabilities in the transfer matrix method

This paper discusses the numerical exponential instability of the transfer matrix method (TMM) in the framework of the symmetry formalism. This numerical weakness is attributed to a series of increasingly extreme exponentials that appear in the TMM when it is applied to geometries involving total internal reflection (TIR) or very high absorption. We design a TMM formalism that identifies the internal symmetries of the multilayer geometry. These symmetries suggest particular transformations of a reference system in the TMM that improve its ill-conditioned exponentials. To illustrate the numerical improvements, we present examples with calculations of electric fields.Nordic Innovation Center 09053Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad MAT2011-23593, CSD2007-00007Junta de Andalucía FQM- 3579, FQM-524

Photoelectrochemical properties of mesoporous NiOx deposited on technical FTO via nanopowder sintering in conventional and plasma atmospheres

Nanoporous nickel oxide (NiO x ) has been deposited with two different procedures of sintering (CS and RDS). Both samples display solid state oxidation at about 3.1 V vs Li+/Li. Upon sensitization of CS/RDS NiO x with erythrosine b (ERY), nickel oxide oxidation occurs at the same potential. Impedance spectroscopy revealed a higher charge transfer resistance for ERY-sensitized RDS NiO x with respect to sensitized CS NiO x . This was due to the chemisorption of a larger amount of ERY on RDS with respect to CS NiO x . Upon illumination the photoinduced charge transfer between ERY layer and NiO x could be observed only with oxidized CS. Photoelectrochemical effects of sensitized RDS NiO x were evidenced upon oxide reduction. With the addition of iodine RDS NiOx electrodes could give the reduction iodine → iodide in addition to the reduction of RDS NiO x . p-type dye sensitized solar cells were assembled with RDS NiO x photocathodes sensitized either by ERY or Fast Green. Resulting overall efficiencies ranged between 0.02 and 0.04 % upon irradiation with solar spectrum simulator (Iin : 0.1 W cm −2 )

Hepatitis C virus infection upregulates CD55 expression on the hepatocyte surface and promotes association with virus particles

CD55 limits excessive complement activation on the host cell surface by accelerating the decay of C3 convertases. In this study, we observed that hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection of hepatocytes or HCV core protein expression in transfected hepatocytes upregulated CD55 expression at the mRNA and protein levels. Further analysis suggested that the HCV core protein or full-length (FL) genome enhanced CD55 promoter activity in a luciferase-based assay, which was further augmented in the presence of interleukin-6. Mutation of the CREB or SP-1 binding site on the CD55 promoter impaired HCV core protein-mediated upregulation of CD55. HCV-infected or core protein-transfected Huh7.5 cells displayed greater viability in the presence of CD81 and CD55 antibodies and complement. Biochemical analysis revealed that CD55 was associated with cell culture-grown HCV after purification by sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation. Consistent with this, a polyclonal antibody to CD55 captured cell culture-grown HCV. Blocking antibodies against CD55 or virus envelope glycoproteins in the presence of normal human serum as a source of complement inhibited HCV infection. The inhibition was enhanced in the presence of both the antibodies and serum complement. Collectively, these results suggest that HCV induces and associates with a negative regulator of the complement pathway, a likely mechanism for immune evasion

Klf15 Is Critical for the Development and Differentiation of Drosophila Nephrocytes

Insect nephrocytes are highly endocytic scavenger cells that represent the only invertebrate model for the study of human kidney podocytes. Despite their importance, nephrocyte development is largely uncharacterised. This work tested whether the insect ortholog of mammalian Kidney Krüppel-Like Factor (Klf15), a transcription factor required for mammalian podocyte differentiation, was required for insect nephrocyte development. It was found that expression of Drosophila Klf15 (dKlf15, previously known as Bteb2) was restricted to the only two nephrocyte populations in Drosophila, the garland cells and pericardial nephrocytes. Loss of dKlf15 function led to attrition of both nephrocyte populations and sensitised larvae to the xenotoxin silver nitrate. Although pericardial nephrocytes in dKlf15 loss of function mutants were specified during embryogenesis, they failed to express the slit diaphragm gene sticks and stones and did not form slit diaphragms. Conditional silencing of dKlf15 in adults led to reduced surface expression of the endocytic receptor Amnionless and loss of in vivo scavenger function. Over-expression of dKlf15 increased nephrocyte numbers and rescued age-dependent decline in nephrocyte function. The data place dKlf15 upstream of sns and Amnionless in a nephrocyte-restricted differentiation pathway and suggest dKlf15 expression is both necessary and sufficient to sustain nephrocyte differentiation. These findings explain the physiological relevance of dKlf15 in Drosophila and imply that the role of KLF15 in human podocytes is evolutionarily conserve