Material parameter determination from scattering measurements

The electrical, macroscopic performance of isotropic material can generally be described through their constitutive scalar parameters, permittivity and permeability which are symbolically represented by epsilon and mu, respectively. These parameters relate the electric and magnetic flux densities to the electric and magnetic fields through the following relationships: (1) D=epsilonE; and (2) B=muH. It is through these parameters that the interaction of electromagnetic waves with material can be quantized in terms of reflection and transmission coefficients, and propagation and attenuation factors

A RETAIL EVALUATION OF PROMOTIONAL TACTICS IN THE FOOD INDUSTRY

In an effort to ease communication between packaged goods manufacturers and retailers, this study investigates food retailers'Â’ preferences concerning the various promotional programs used in their stores. Through the use of a mail survey, retail executives from supermarket companies shared their perceptions of 22 specific promotional programs regarding each program'Â’s use, effectiveness, and attractiveness for future support. According to retailers, clear and consistent promotional performers include targeted direct mail, shipper displays, in-store coupons, in-ad coupons, and in-store demos and sampling. It is noted, however, that the use and perceived effectiveness of these programs may not always seem consistent. For example, retailers felt that promotions tied to local charities are relatively ineffective for increasing product movement or overall store sales, and yet this promotional tool is used by 92 percent of surveyed retailers. On the other hand, frequent shopper programs received favorable marks regarding program effectiveness, and yet they are not commonly used by retailers in this survey. Ultimately, the value that a retailer places on any given promotion is a function of that promotion'Â’s ability to meet stated retail objectives, which may extend beyond any hard sales statistics.Marketing,

Microstructure and properties of single crystal BaTiO3 thin films synthesized by ion implantation-induced layer transfer

Single crystal BaTiO3 thin films have been transferred onto Pt-coated and Si3N4-coated substrates by the ion implantation-induced layer transfer method using H+ and He+ ion coimplantation and subsequent annealing. The transferred BaTiO3 films are single crystalline with root mean square roughness of 17 nm. Polarized optical and piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) indicate that the BaTiO3 film domain structure closely resembles that of bulk tetragonal BaTiO3 and atomic force microscopy shows a 90degrees a-c domain structure with a tetragonal angle of 0.5degrees-0.6degrees. Micro-Raman spectroscopy indicates that the local mode intensity is degraded in implanted BaTiO3 but recovers during anneals above the Curie temperature. The piezoelectric coefficient, d(33), is estimated from PFM to be 80-100 pm/V and the coercive electric field (E-c) is 12-20 kV/cm, comparable to those in single crystal BaTiO3

Scaling in the crossover from random to correlated growth

In systems where deposition rates are high compared to diffusion, desorption and other mechanisms that generate correlations, a crossover from random to correlated growth of surface roughness is expected at a characteristic time t_0. This crossover is analyzed in lattice models via scaling arguments, with support from simulation results presented here and in other authors works. We argue that the amplitudes of the saturation roughness and of the saturation time scale as {t_0}^{1/2} and t_0, respectively. For models with lateral aggregation, which typically are in the Kardar-Parisi-Zhang (KPZ) class, we show that t_0 ~ 1/p, where p is the probability of the correlated aggregation mechanism to take place. However, t_0 ~ 1/p^2 is obtained in solid-on-solid models with single particle deposition attempts. This group includes models in various universality classes, with numerical examples being provided in the Edwards-Wilkinson (EW), KPZ and Villain-Lai-Das Sarma (nonlinear molecular-beam epitaxy) classes. Most applications are for two-component models in which random deposition, with probability 1-p, competes with a correlated aggregation process with probability p. However, our approach can be extended to other systems with the same crossover, such as the generalized restricted solid-on-solid model with maximum height difference S, for large S. Moreover, the scaling approach applies to all dimensions. In the particular case of one-dimensional KPZ processes with this crossover, we show that t_0 ~ nu^{-1} and nu ~ lambda^{2/3}, where nu and lambda are the coefficients of the linear and nonlinear terms of the associated KPZ equations. The applicability of previous results on models in the EW and KPZ classes is discussed.Comment: 14 pages + 5 figures, minor changes, version accepted in Phys. Rev.

Survey of fish protective facilities at water withdrawal sites on the Snake and Columbia Rivers

Proliferation of water withdrawals and new pump intake and screen designs has occurred with the growth of irrigated agriculture along the Columbia and Snake Rivers. Concern for the protection of anadromous and resident fish populations resulted in formulation of a survey of the water withdrawal systems. The survey included distribution studies of juvenile fish near pump sites and field inspection of those sites to determine adequacy of screening for protection of fish. A total of 225 sites were inspected in 1979 and 1980, with a follow-up inspection of 95 sites in 1982. Results indicated a definite trend toward lack of concern for the condition of fish protective facilities. Only 4 out of 22 sites not meeting criteria in 1979 had been upgraded to acceptable conditions. Of more concern, 13 of the sites meeting criteria in 1979 were below criteria when reinspected in 1982. Some of the discrepancies included lack of protective screens, poorly maintained screens, and screens permitting excessive velocity that could result in impingement of larvae or small fish. A conclusion from these surveys is that if adequate protection for fish is to exist, screens for water withdrawals need to be properly installed, inspected, and maintained. (PDF file contains 40 pages.

Computed tomographic imaging characteristics of the normal canine lacrimal glands.

BackgroundThe canine lacrimal gland (LG) and accessory lacrimal gland of the third eyelid (TEG) are responsible for production of the aqueous portion of the precorneal tear film. Immune-mediated, toxic, neoplastic, or infectious processes can affect the glands directly or can involve adjacent tissues, with secondary gland involvement. Disease affecting these glands can cause keratoconjunctivitis sicca, corneal ulcers, and loss of vision. Due to their location in the orbit, these small structures are difficult to evaluate and measure, making cross-sectional imaging an important diagnostic tool. The detailed cross-sectional imaging appearance of the LG and TEG in dogs using computed tomography (CT) has not been reported to date.ResultsForty-two dogs were imaged, and the length, width, and height were measured and the volume calculated for the LGs & TEGs. The glands were best visualized in contrast-enhanced CT images. The mean volume of the LG was 0.14 cm3 and the TEG was 0.1 cm3. The mean height, width, and length of the LG were, 9.36 mm, 4.29 mm, and 9.35 mm, respectively; the corresponding values for the TEG was 2.02 mm, 9.34 mm, and 7.90 mm. LG and TEG volume were positively correlated with body weight (p < 0.05).ConclusionsContrast-enhanced CT is a valuable tool for noninvasive assessment of canine lacrimal glands

Protein transduction: A novel tool for tissue regeneration

Tissue regeneration in humans is limited and excludes vitals organs like heart and brain. Transformation experiments with oncogenes like T antigen have shown that retrodifferentiation of the respective cells is possible but hard to control. To bypass the risk of cancer formation a protein therapy approach has been developed. The transient delivery of proteins rather than genes could still induce terminallydifferentiated cells to reenter the cell cycle. This approach takes advantage of proteintransducing domains that mediate the transfer of cargo proteins into cells. The goal of this brief review is to outline the basics of protein transduction and to discuss potential applications for tissue regeneration

Andreev Reflection in Heavy-Fermion Superconductors and Order Parameter Symmetry in CeCoIn_5

Differential conductance spectra are obtained from nanoscale junctions on the heavy-fermion superconductor CeCoIn$_5$ along three major crystallographic orientations. Consistency and reproducibility of characteristic features among the junctions ensure their spectroscopic nature. All junctions show a similar conductance asymmetry and Andreev reflection-like conductance with reduced signal (~ 10%-13%), both commonly observed in heavy-fermion superconductor junctions. Analysis using the extended Blonder-Tinkham-Klapwijk model indicates that our data provide the first spectroscopic evidence for $d_{x^2-y^2}$ symmetry. To quantify our conductance spectra, we propose a model by considering the general phenomenology in heavy fermions, the two-fluid behavior, and an energy-dependent density of states. Our model fits to the experimental data remarkably well and should invigorate further investigations.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures; Phys. Rev. Lett., published versio

Finite element solution of low bond number sloshing

The dynamics of liquid propellant in a low Bond number environment which are critical to the design of spacecraft systems with respect to orbital propellant transfer and attitude control system were investigated. Digital computer programs were developed for the determination of liquid free surface equilibrium shape, lateral slosh natural vibration mode shapes, and frequencies for a liquid in a container of arbitrary axisymmetric shape with surface tension forces the same order of magnitude as acceleration forces. A finite volume element representation of the liquid was used for the vibration analysis. The liquid free surface equilibrium shapes were computed for several tanks at various contact angles and ullage volumes. A configuration was selected for vibration analysis and lateral slosh mode shapes and natural frequencies were obtained. Results are documented

Academic Support at Leeds Metropolitan Library

Leeds Metropolitan’s Library Academic Support Stream is made up of Academic Librarians and Information Services Librarians who provide academic support to the university’s six faculties. The team use innovative methods of working together to engage students and enhance their experience. The team only formed a year ago so this is a good time to reflect on our success so far. The library service at Leeds Met is continually developing and offers new challenges and opportunities for staff providing library academic support. Innovation has even become part of our new name – ‘Libraries and Learning Innovation’. We still offer all the traditions types of library academic support, but there is an increasing emphasis on finding innovative ways of supporting students and publicising what we can offer. This year the Library Academic Support Stream won a University Attitude Character and Talents Award for Future Focus