Validity of the linear coupling approximation in heavy-ion fusion reactions at sub barrier energies

The role of higher order coupling of surface vibrations to the relative motion in heavy-ion fusion reactions at near-barrier energies is investigated. The coupled channels equations are solved to all orders, and also in the linear and the quadratic coupling approximations. Taking $^{64}$Ni + $^{92,96}$Zr reactions as examples, it is shown that all order couplings lead to considerably improved agreement with the experimentally measured fusion cross sections and average angular momenta of the compound nucleus for such heavy nearly symmetric systems. The importance of higher order coupling is also examined for asymmetric systems like $^{16}$O + $^{112}$Cd, $^{144}$Sm, for which previous calculations of the fusion cross section seemed to indicate that the linear coupling approximation was adequate. It is shown that the shape of the barrier distributions and the energy dependence of the average angular momentum can change significantly when the higher order couplings are included, even for systems where measured fusion cross sections may seem to be well reproduced by the linear coupling approximation.Comment: Latex file, 15 pages, 6 figure

The Effects of E. Coli 0157:H7, FMD and BSE on Japanese Retail Beef Prices: A Historical Decomposition

This study examines the time-varying Japanese price reactions to the 2001 Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) discovery, the 2000 outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD), and the 1996 E. coli food po isoning events. Historical decomposition of retail-level price-series aids in explaining the behavior of beef prices in a neighborhood (period-by-period time interval) of the three events. This is based on an application of directed acyclic graphs, constructing orthogonal innovations to determine causal patterns behind contemporaneous innovations. The results show the beef safety events had different negative impacts on Japanese retail beef prices, suggesting that consumers understood and differentiated among the health risks. The results provide incentives for beef producers and retailers to proactively inform consumers about ongoing beef safety measures. Understanding consumer reaction to BSE, FMD and E. coli helps the beef industry restore consumer confidence after future food safety crises, and provides policy makers a basis for countermeasures and compensations.Japan, beef prices, BSE, FMD, E. coli, historical decomposition., Demand and Price Analysis, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Livestock Production/Industries, Q11, Q13,

Do Job, Age, and Place of Residence Matter for Gaming Activity? A Study of the Mid-Colorado River Communities

A household survey in the mid-Colorado River communities of Laughlin, Nevada and Bullhead City, Arizona examined local residents\u27 gaming activities. A censored regression analysis distinguished between factors affecting gaming participation versus expenditures. Results suggest that gaming behavior can often be predicted with knowledge of individuals\u27 residence, workplace, and other household demographic characteristics. Both local government agencies and casino managers can use the results to make better-informed decisions

Importance of Non-Linear Couplings in Fusion Barrier Distributions and Mean Angular Momenta

The effects of higher order coupling of surface vibrations to the relative motion on heavy-ion fusion reactions at near-barrier energies are investigated. The coupled channels equations are solved to all orders, and also in the linear and the quadratic coupling approximations. It is shown that the shape of fusion barrier distributions and the energy dependence of the average angular momentum of the compound nucleus can significantly change when the higher order couplings are included. The role of octupole vibrational excitation of ^{16}O in the ^{16}O + ^{144}Sm fusion reaction is also discussed using the all order coupled-channels equations.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures, To be published in the Proceedings of the FUSION 97 Conference, South Durras, Australia, March 1997 (J. Phys. G

Challenges of Multi-State Series and Framework for Judicial Analysis

A variation of the common limited liability company (LLC) represents the newest form of entity enterprise on the business scene today. This is the Series Limited Liability Company (Series LLC). Under a Series LLC, the single LLC may establish and contain within itself separate series or cells. These cells or series are referred to by the Drafting Committee for the Limited Liability Company Protected Series Act of the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws (NCCUSL) as “Protected Series.” Each such separate Protected Series is treated as an enterprise separate from each other and from the Series LLC itself. Each Protected Series has associated with it specified members, assets, and obligations, and — due to what have been called “internal liability shields” — per the enacting statutes, if the statutory requirements are met, the obligations of one Protected Series are neither the obligations of any other Protected Series nor of the Series LLC itself. The internal liability shield and the ability to have different associated Members among the various Protected Series are the principal unique distinguishing characteristics of the Series LLC. Although cells have existed in trusts for many years, and the concept is found in the Statutory Trust Entity Act, the internal liability protection and potentially separate owners or beneficiaries within a business entity are unique concepts for American jurisprudence and widely used forms of business entities. The result is a single legal entity with owners associated with each Protected Series, assets associated with each Protected Series, and each Protected Series functioning in a manner analogous to a separate legal entity within the Series LLC

Series LLCs Part 2 - Current Status, Multi-State Issues and Potential Uniform Limited Liability Company Protected Series Act

Part two of a two part article discussing the existing impediments to greater use of Series LLCs including taxation, bankruptcy, the Uniform Commercial Code and issues concerning multi-state activities and how these matters are being addressed by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws (NCCUSL)

Series LLCs Part 1 — Current Status, Multi-State Issues and Potential Uniform Limited Liability Company Protected Series Act

The Series Limited Liability Company (“Series LLC”), a variation of the traditional limited liability company (LLC), is the newest entity enterprise on the business scene today. Within this legal entity, separate “series” or “cells” can be created and established under the umbrella of a single LLC. Despite being under one “umbrella,” each of these cells has characteristics that make it both separate from one another as well as from the Series LLC itself. There is not yet a common term for these distinct units although the term series or cell is often used. The Drafting Committee for the Limited Liability Company Protected Series Act of the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws (“NCCUSL”) (“NCCUSL Drafting Committee”) refers to them as “Protected Series” and that term will be used herein. Each Protected Series has associated with it specified members and assets, and statutorily — due to what have been called “internal liability shields” — if the statutory specified requirements are met, the debts and obligations of one Protected Series are neither the debts or obligations of any other Protected Series nor of the Series LLC itself. The defining features that set Series LLCs apart from other entities are the internal liability shields and the ability to have different associated members and/or different ownership interests of members among the various Protected Series. Although cells have existed in trusts for many years, and the concept is found in the Statutory Trust Entity Act, the internal liability protection and potentially separate owners or beneficiaries within a business entity are unique concepts for American jurisprudence and widely used forms of business entities. The result is a single legal entity with owners associated with each Protected Series, assets associated with each Protected Series and each Protected Series functioning in a manner analogous to a separate legal entity within the Series LLC. Part I of this article describes the characteristics of Series LLCs, the current applicable current state law developments, the current popularity of Series LLCs and the current internal liability shield requirements for Series LLCs. Part II will explore the existing impediments to greater use of Series LLCs including taxation, bankruptcy and Uniform Commercial Code matters, issues concerning multi-state activities and how these matters are addressed by the NCCUSL Drafting Committee’s efforts in drafting The Limited Liability Company Protected Series Act

Absolute Electron Scattering Cross Sections for the CF2 Radical

Using a crossed electron-molecular beam experiment, featuring a skimmed nozzle beam with pyrolytic radical production, absolute elastic cross sections for electron scattering from the CF2 molecule have been measured. A new technique for placing measured cross sections on an absolute scale is used for molecular beams produced as skimmed supersonic jets. Absolute differential cross sections for CF2 are reported for incident electron energies of 30–50 eV and over an angular range of 20–135 deg. Integral cross sections are subsequently derived from those data. The present data are compared to new theoretical predictions for the differential and integral scattering cross sections, as calculated with the Schwinger multichannel variational method using the static-exchange and static-exchange plus polarization approximations

Characteristics of the 14 April 1999 Sydney hailstorm based on ground observations, weather radar, insurance data and emergency calls

International audienceHailstorms occur frequently in metropolitan Sydney, in the eastern Australian State of New South Wales, which is especially vulnerable due to its building exposure and geographical location. Hailstorms challenge disaster response agencies and pose a great risk for insurance companies. This study focuses on the Sydney hailstorm of 14 April 1999 ? Australia's most expensive insured natural disaster, with supporting information from two other storms. Comparisons are drawn between observed hailstone sizes, radar-derived reflectivity and damage data in the form of insurance claims and emergency calls. The "emergency response intensity" (defined by the number of emergency calls as a proportion of the total number of dwellings in a Census Collection District) is a useful new measure of the storm intensity or severity experienced. The area defined by a radar reflectivity ?55 dBZ appears to be a good approximation of the damage swath on ground. A preferred area for hail damage is located to the left side of storm paths and corresponds well with larger hailstone sizes. Merging hail cells appear to cause a substantially higher emergency response intensity, which also corresponds well to maximum hailstone sizes. A damage threshold could be identified for hailstone sizes around 2.5 cm (1 cm), based on the emergency response intensity (insurance claims). Emergency response intensity and claims costs both correlate positively with hailstone sizes. Higher claim costs also occurred in areas that experienced higher emergency response intensities