Analysis of Qualitative Variables

A variety of qualitative dependent variable models are surveyed with attention focused on the computational aspects of their analysis. The models covered include single equation dichotomous models; single equation polychotomous models with unordered, ordered, and sequential variables; and simultaneous equation models. Care is taken to illucidate the nature of the suggested "full information" and "limited information" approaches to the simultaneous equation models and the formulation of recursive and causal chain models.

Specification Errors in Limited Dependent Variable Models

A preliminary investigation of two specification error problems in truncated dependent variable models is reported. It is shown that heteroscedasticity in a tobit model results in biased estimates when the model is misspecified. This differs from the OLS model where estimates are still consistent though inefficient. The second problem examined is aggregation. An appropriate nonlinear least squares regression model is derived for situations when the micro-level model fits a tobit framework but only aggregate data are available.

ELECTROSTATIC BODY-MOTION REGISTRATION AND THE HUMAN ANTENNA-RECEIVER EFFECT: A NEW METHOD FOR INVESTIGATING INTERPERSONAL DYNAMICAL ENERGY SYSTEM INTERACTIONS

This paper documents that it is possible to measure electromagnetic fields created by physical movements of the human body-termed electrostatic body-motion effects-using readily available EEG amplifiers, and that it possible to measure the human body's capability to serve as an antenna and/or receiver for these electrostatic movements-termed the human antenna-receiver effect. Following the observation by Green et al (1991)1 that small body-motions could be detected by electrometers attached to copper walls, three experiments were conducted measuring the effects of hand-motions and foot-motions using DC amplifiers (the Synamps System by Neuroscan). Clear hand-motion and foot-motion effects could be recorded using a standard electrode box as an antenna. The electrostatic motion effect was attenuated as a function of distance of the motions from the electrode box, and by placing a wire mesh shield over the electrode box. The human body was discovered to funcrion as a strong antenna and/or receiver for electrostatic body-motions. The findings indicate that electrostatic body-motions and the human antenna-receiver effect are easily measurable, and may serve as a new method for investigating interpersonal dynamic energy system interactions in psychology, medicine and healing

Columnar defects and vortex fluctuations in layered superconductors

We investigate fluctuations of Josephson-coupled pancake vortices in layered superconductors in the presence of columnar defects. We study the thermodynamics of a single pancake stack pinned by columnar defects and obtain the temperature dependence of localization length, pinning energy and critical current. We study the creep regime and compute the crossover current between line-like creep and pancake-like creep motion. We find that columnar defects effectively increase interlayer Josephson coupling by suppressing thermal fluctuations of pancakes. This leads to an upward shift in the decoupling line most pronounced around the matching field.Comment: 5 pages, REVTeX, no figure

Universality classes in nonequilibrium lattice systems

This work is designed to overview our present knowledge about universality classes occurring in nonequilibrium systems defined on regular lattices. In the first section I summarize the most important critical exponents, relations and the field theoretical formalism used in the text. In the second section I briefly address the question of scaling behavior at first order phase transitions. In section three I review dynamical extensions of basic static classes, show the effect of mixing dynamics and the percolation behavior. The main body of this work is given in section four where genuine, dynamical universality classes specific to nonequilibrium systems are introduced. In section five I continue overviewing such nonequilibrium classes but in coupled, multi-component systems. Most of the known nonequilibrium transition classes are explored in low dimensions between active and absorbing states of reaction-diffusion type of systems. However by mapping they can be related to universal behavior of interface growth models, which I overview in section six. Finally in section seven I summarize families of absorbing state system classes, mean-field classes and give an outlook for further directions of research.Comment: Updated comprehensive review, 62 pages (two column), 29 figs included. Scheduled for publication in Reviews of Modern Physics in April 200

Magnetic vortex-like excitations on a sphere

We study magnetic vortex-like solutions lying on the spherical surface. The simplest cylindrically symmetric vortex presents two cores (instead of one, like in open surfaces) with same charge, so repealing each other. However, the net vorticity is computed to vanish in accordance with Gauss theorem. We also address the problem of a flat plane in which a conical, a pseudospherical and a hemispherical segments were incorporated. In this case, if we allow the vortex to move without appreciable deformation in this support, then it is attracted by the conical apex and by the pseudosphere as well, while it is repealed by the hemisphere. This suggests that such surfaces could be viewed as pinning and depinning geometries for those excitations. Spherical harmonics coreless solutions are discussed within some details.Comment: 15 pages, 8 .eps figures, typed in tex. Version accepted in Physics Letters A (2007), please see DOI

A Current Mode Detector Array for Gamma-Ray Asymmetry Measurements

We have built a CsI(Tl) gamma-ray detector array for the NPDGamma experiment to search for a small parity-violating directional asymmetry in the angular distribution of 2.2 MeV gamma-rays from the capture of polarized cold neutrons by protons with a sensitivity of several ppb. The weak pion-nucleon coupling constant can be determined from this asymmetry. The small size of the asymmetry requires a high cold neutron flux, control of systematic errors at the ppb level, and the use of current mode gamma-ray detection with vacuum photo diodes and low-noise solid-state preamplifiers. The average detector photoelectron yield was determined to be 1300 photoelectrons per MeV. The RMS width seen in the measurement is therefore dominated by the fluctuations in the number of gamma rays absorbed in the detector (counting statistics) rather than the intrinsic detector noise. The detectors were tested for noise performance, sensitivity to magnetic fields, pedestal stability and cosmic background. False asymmetries due to gain changes and electronic pickup in the detector system were measured to be consistent with zero to an accuracy of $10^{-9}$ in a few hours. We report on the design, operating criteria, and the results of measurements performed to test the detector array.Comment: 33 pages, 20 figures, 2 table

Decoherence control in microwave cavities

We present a scheme able to protect the quantum states of a cavity mode against the decohering effects of photon loss. The scheme preserves quantum states with a definite parity, and improves previous proposals for decoherence control in cavities. It is implemented by sending single atoms, one by one, through the cavity. The atomic state gets first correlated to the photon number parity. The wrong parity results in an atom in the upper state. The atom in this state is then used to inject a photon in the mode via adiabatic transfer, correcting the field parity. By solving numerically the exact master equation of the system, we show that the protection of simple quantum states could be experimentally demonstrated using presently available experimental apparatus.Comment: 13 pages, RevTeX, 8 figure

Are the magnetic fields of millisecond pulsars ~ 10^8 G?

It is generally assumed that the magnetic fields of millisecond pulsars (MSPs) are $\sim 10^{8}$G. We argue that this may not be true and the fields may be appreciably greater. We present six evidences for this: (1) The $\sim 10^{8}$ G field estimate is based on magnetic dipole emission losses which is shown to be questionable; (2) The MSPs in low mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) are claimed to have $< 10^{11}$ G on the basis of a Rayleygh-Taylor instability accretion argument. We show that the accretion argument is questionable and the upper limit $10^{11}$ G may be much higher; (3) Low magnetic field neutron stars have difficulty being produced in LMXBs; (4) MSPs may still be accreting indicating a much higher magnetic field; (5) The data that predict $\sim 10^{8}$ G for MSPs also predict ages on the order of, and greater than, ten billion years, which is much greater than normal pulsars. If the predicted ages are wrong, most likely the predicted $\sim 10^{8}$ G fields of MSPs are wrong; (6) When magnetic fields are measured directly with cyclotron lines in X-ray binaries, fields $\gg 10^{8}$ G are indicated. Other scenarios should be investigated. One such scenario is the following. Over 85% of MSPs are confirmed members of a binary. It is possible that all MSPs are in large separation binaries having magnetic fields $> 10^{8}$ G with their magnetic dipole emission being balanced by low level accretion from their companions.Comment: 16 pages, accept for publication in Astrophysics and Space Scienc