Estimating Prices for R&D Investment in the 2007 R&D Satellite Account

This paper is part of a series that provides the details behind the Bureau of Economic Analysis's (BEA) satellite account on research and development (R&D) activity. In the current work, the focus is on the theoretical underpinnings and empirical implementation of the R&D price index used to construct real R&D output. We examine four alternative price indexes. For each, we lay out the theoretical assumptions needed for the approach to be valid and examine how well the approach works in practice. We then compare these four alternative price indexes and explain the choice of our preferred price index.

Geometrical CP violation in multi-Higgs models

We introduce several methods to obtain calculable phases with geometrical values that are independent of arbitrary parameters in the scalar potential. These phases depend on the number of scalars and on the order of the discrete non-Abelian group considered. Using these methods we present new geometrical CP violation candidates with vacuum expectation values that must violate CP (the transformation that would make them CP conserving is not a symmetry of the potential). We also extend to non-renormalisable potentials the proof that more than two scalars are needed to obtain these geometrical CP violation candidates.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures. v2: table added, accepted by JHE

Methodology for the Industry Estimates in the 2007 R&D Satellite Account

This paper is part of a series that provides the details behind the Bureau of Economic Analysis's (BEA) satellite account on research and development (R&D) activity. It describes the data and experimental methodology used to create the GDP-by-Industry component of the satellite account for thirteen R&D-intensive industries and an aggregation of all other for-profit industries.

Relatório de viagem a Minas Gerais, Bahia, Sergipe e Alagoas para detalhar aspectos do seguimento de pesquisa e experimentação do POLONORDESTE.

Observou-se que os experimentos programados para o PDRI são voltados quase que exclusivamente para produtos e não apresentam o enfoque sistêmico desejado.bitstream/item/136295/1/32449-1.pd

A Planetary Mass Companion to the K0 Giant HD 17092

We report the discovery of a substellar-mass companion to the K0-giant HD 17092 with the Hobby-Eberly Telescope. In the absence of any correlation of the observed 360-day periodicity with the standard indicators of stellar activity, the observed radial velocity variations are most plausibly explained in terms of a Keplerian motion of a planetary-mass body around the star. With the estimated stellar mass of 2.3Msun, the minimum mass of the planet is 4.6MJ. The planet's orbit is characterized by a mild eccentricity of e=0.17 and a semi-major axis of 1.3 AU. This is the tenth published detection of a planetary companion around a red giant star. Such discoveries add to our understanding of planet formation around intermediate-mass stars and they provide dynamical information on the evolution of planetary systems around post-main sequence stars.Comment: 13 pages, 3 figures, 2 tables. Submitted to Ap

New high-sensitivity, milliarcsecond resolution results from routine observations of lunar occultations at the ESO VLT

(Abridged) Lunar occultations (LO) are a very efficient and powerful technique, that achieves the best combination of high angular resolution and sensitivity possible today at near-infrared wavelengths. Given that the events are fixed in time, that the sources are occulted randomly, and that the telescope use is minimal, the technique is very well suited for service mode observations. We have established a program of routine LO observations at the VLT observatory, especially designed to take advantage of short breaks available in-between other programs. We have used the ISAAC instrument in burst mode, capable of producing continuous read-outs at millisecond rates on a suitable subwindow. Given the random nature of the source selection, our aim has been primarily the investigation of a large number of stellar sources at the highest angular resolution in order to detect new binaries. Serendipitous results such as resolved sources and detection of circumstellar components were also anticipated. We have recorded the signal from background stars for a few seconds, around the predicted time of occultation by the Moon's dark limb. At millisecond time resolution, a characteristic diffraction pattern can be observed. Patterns for two or more sources superimpose linearly, and this property is used for the detection of binary stars. The detailed analysis of the diffraction fringes can be used to measure specific properties such as the stellar angular size and the presence of extended light sources such as a circumstellar shell. We present a list of 191 stars for which LO data could be recorded and analyzed. Results include the detection of 16 binary and 2 triple stars, all but one of which were previously unknown. The projected angular separations are as small as 4 milliarcseconds and magnitude differences as high as ?K=5.8 mag...Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures, to be published in A&

Shell structure and electron-electron interaction in self-assembled InAs quantum dots

Using far-infrared spectroscopy, we investigate the excitations of self-organized InAs quantum dots as a function of the electron number per dot, 1<n<6, which is monitored in situ by capacitance spectroscopy. Whereas the well-known two-mode spectrum is observed when the lowest s - states are filled, we find a rich excitation spectrum for n=3, which reflects the importance of electron-electron interaction in the present, strongly non-parabolic confining potential. From capacitance spectroscopy we find that the electronic shell structure in our dots gives rise to a distinct pattern in the charging energies which strongly deviates from the monotonic behavior of the Coulomb blockade found in mesoscopic or metallic structures.Comment: 4 pages, 3 PostScript figure

Risk factors associated with Toxoplasma gondii infection in dairy cattle, State of Rio de Janeiro.

Toxoplasmosis is one of the most common parasitic zoonoses throughout the world. Infection in man and animals varies in different geographical areas influenced by many environmental conditions. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in cattle in Brazil ranges from 1.03 to 71%. A cross-sectional survey was carried out in 58 out of 453 farms in the South Fluminense Paraiba Valley, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Over 3-year-old cattle (n=589) from dairy herds were selected for blood collection and detection of anti-T. gondii antibodies by indirect immunofluorescence reaction (IFA) with initial titration of 1:16; titers ? 64 were considered positive. Univariate analysis of risk factors showed that cats in contact with cattle, cats in contact with drinking water, and number of cats were associated with T. gondii seroprevalence. Logistic regression revealed a two-fold increased risk for infection of cattle (p=0.0138) through larger number of cats (>3) compared with low numbers of cats (1-2) on the farm. In contrast, the presence of chickens was considered a protective factor (p=0.025). Toxoplasmose é uma das mais comuns zoonoses parasitárias do mundo. Infecções em seres humanos e em animais variam nas diferentes áreas geográficas influenciadas pelas condições ambientais. A soroprevalência da infecção por Toxoplasma gondii em bovinos no Brasil varia de 1,03 a 71,0%. O estudo transversal foi realizado em 58 de um total de 453 propriedades na região Sul Fluminense do estado do Rio de Janeiro. Vacas leiteiras acima de 3 anos de idade (n=589) foram selecionadas para coleta de sangue e a detecção de anticorpos anti-T. gondii foi feita pelo teste de imunofluorescência indireta (IFI) com titulação inicial de 1:16 e títulos ? 64 foram considerados positivos. Após análise univariada dos fatores de risco, gatos em contato com bovinos, em contato com a água de beber dos animais e o número de gatos foram associados com a soroprevalência de T. gondii. A regressão logística demonstrou que o número maior de gatos (>3) teve um risco duas vezes maior (p=0,0138) que propriedades que tinham um número menor de gatos (1-2). Em contraste, a presença de galinhas foi considerada um fator de proteção (p=0,025)