Indicators of Inflationary Pressure

This paper examines the statistical properties of a number of leading indicators of inflation, using Australian data over the period 1966 through 1991. We pay particular attention to the much-discussed P*, as well as measures of capacity utilisation, the cyclical rate of unemployment and the growth rate of a monetary aggregate (currency). Our results show that, up until mid 1990, the gap between trend and observed velocity of currency, as well as the growth rate of currency performed well as inflation indicators. Since then, the rapid decline in inflation has been best predicted by variables such as the level of capacity utilisation, the rate of cyclical unemployment, and the gap between output and its trend value.

Morse theory of harmonic forms

We consider the problem of whether it is possible to improve the Novikov inequalities for closed 1-forms, or any other inequalities of a similar nature, if we assume, additionally, that the given 1-form is harmonic with respect to some Riemannian metric. We show that, under suitable assumptions, it is impossible. We use, in an essential way, a theorem of E.Calabi characterizing 1-forms which are harmonic with respect to some metric. We also study some interesting examples illustrating our results.Comment: 16 pages, AMSTex, 12 figure

K-Theoretic Duality for Hyperbolic Dynamical Systems

The K-theoretic analog of Spanier-Whitehead duality for noncommutative C*-algebras is shown to hold for the Ruelle algebras associated to irreducible Smale spaces. This had previously been proved only for shifts of finite type. Implications of this result as well as relations to the Baum-Connes conjecture and other topics are also considered.Comment: 36 page

Quantum vacuum photon-modes and superhydrophobicity

Nanostructures are commonly used for developing superhydrophobic surfaces. However, available wetting theoretical models ignore the effect of vacuum photon-modes alteration on van der Waals forces and thus on hydrophobicity. Using first-principle calculations, we show that superhydrophibicity of nanostructured surfaces is dramatically enhanced by vacuum photon-modes tuning. As a case study, wetting contact angles of a water droplet above a polyethylene nanostructured surface are obtained from the interaction potential energy calculated as function of the droplet-surface separation distance. This new approach could pave the way for the design of novel superhydrophobic coatings.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, final version published in Physical Review Letter

Archeological survey of the middle Clark Fork River Valley| Missoula to Superior, Montana

Summary and survey of the archaeology of the Clark Fork River Valley between Missoula and Superior

Endocyclic Nucleophilic Methyl Transfer

This thesis describes the synthesis of three methyl (omega)-(dimethyl- amino)alkanesulfonates and the experiments used to determine the mechanism of their rearrangements to the corresponding (omega)-(trimethylammonio)alkanesulfonates. Since existence of an intra- molecular pathway would represent the first example of an endo- cyclic methyl transfer, kinetic and double-label crossing experiments were used to determine the molecularity of these rearrangements. Methyl 4-(dimethylamino)butane-1-sulfonate, at concentrations ranging from 0.2 M to 2.0 x 10(\u27-4) M in chloroform, was found to form 4-(trimethylammonio)butane-1-sulfonate exclusively via an inter- molecular pathway and the results are consistent with an effective molarity of less than 3 x 10(\u27-5) M for the endocyclic process. Similarly, the formation of 2-(trimethylammoniomethyl)phenylmethanesulfonate from methyl 2-(dimethylaminiomethyl)phenylmethanesulfonate in benzene with initial ester concentrations ranging from 0.2 M to 5 x 10(\u27-4) M was found to occur via intermolecular methyl transfer and these results imply that the effective molarity for the endocyclic process is less than 2 x 10(\u27-5) M. For the rearrangement of methyl 2- 2-(dimethylaminomethyl)phenyl ethanesulfonate to 2- 2-(trimethylammoniomethyl)phenyl ethanesulfonate in benzene, the crossing experiments provided conclusive proof for the existence of both intramolecular and intermolecular pathways. From the dependence of the intra to intermolecular product ratio on the initial ester concentration, an effective molarity of 2 x 10(\u27-3) M was deduced for the intramolecular process. An example of an endocyclic methyl transfer via a nine-membered cyclic transition state has, therefore, been shown. Collectively, the results imply that concerted nucleo- philic methyl transfer transition states show a marked preference for a linear orientation of the nucleophile, the methyl carbon and the nucleofuge.;Model kinetic studies and an (\u2718)O-labelling experiment which made use of an (\u2718)O isotope effect on (\u2713)C NMR chemical shifts showed that the intermolecular pathway for the rearrangements is a two step process. An intermolecular methyl transfer between two molecules of the amino ester gives an ion pair which then annihilates via N-methylation to give two molecules of the betaine

A survey of the graduating classes of Varina High School (1954-1958) to determine their reactions to certain phases of the school program

The problem of this thesis is to survey a cross section of Varina High School graduates of the past five years (1954-1958) for the purpose of determining the extent to which the school program has proven effective in preparing them for. their respective places in life. The purpose of the study is (1) to evaluate the effectiveness of the total school program in preparing students to live worthwhile and success­ full lives after graduation; (2) to determine the extent to which these graduate students were aided by the guidance facilities of the school and, (3) to utilize this information in effecting changes and additions which will be valuable to future graduates