A comparison of Spillover Effects before, during and after the 2008 Financial Crisis

This paper applies graphical modelling to the S&P 500, Nikkei 225 and FTSE 100 stock market indices to trace the spillover of returns and volatility between these three major world stock market indices before, during and after the 2008 financial crisis. We find that the depth of market integration changed significantly between the pre-crisis period and the crisis and post- crisis period. Graphical models of both return and volatility spillovers are presented for each period. We conclude that graphical models are a useful tool in the analysis of multivariate time series where tracing the flow of causality is important.Volatility spillover; graphical modelling; financial crisis; causality

The Phase Diagram of Scalar Field Theory on the Fuzzy Disc

Using a recently developed bootstrapping method, we compute the phase diagram of scalar field theory on the fuzzy disc with quartic even potential. We find three distinct phases with second and third order phase transitions between them. In particular, we find that the second order phase transition happens approximately at a fixed ratio of the two coupling constants defining the potential. We compute this ratio analytically in the limit of large coupling constants. Our results qualitatively agree with previously obtained numerical results.Comment: 1+17 pages, v2: typos fixed, published versio

LSSA large area silicon sheet task continuous Czochralski process development

A Czochralski crystal growing furnace was converted to a continuous growth facility by installation of a premelter to provide molten silicon flow into the primary crucible. The basic furnace is operational and several trial crystals were grown in the batch mode. Numerous premelter configurations were tested both in laboratory-scale equipment as well as in the actual furnace. The best arrangement tested to date is a vertical, cylindrical graphite heater containing small fused silicon test tube liner in which the incoming silicon is melted and flows into the primary crucible. Economic modeling of the continuous Czochralski process indicates that for 10 cm diameter crystal, 100 kg furnace runs of four or five crystals each are near-optimal. Costs tend to asymptote at the 100 kg level so little additional cost improvement occurs at larger runs. For these conditions, crystal cost in equivalent wafer area of around $20/sq m exclusive of polysilicon and slicing was obtained

Optimizing In-Place Density of Asphalt Pavements During Cold Weather Paving in Nebraska

Late season paving is common and often performed in colder temperatures, which is the most challenging environment for attaining optimal in-place density/compaction The in-place density of asphalt pavement greatly affects the lifespan of the pavement. It is also a key factor in preventing major pavement distresses, such as rutting, cracking, stripping (due to water damage) and aging. This research project aims to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of different compaction, delivery, and mix design characteristics to ensure the optimization of in-place asphalt pavement density. To this end, various laydown methods (i.e., Standard Pick-up Machine (SPM) and Material Transfer Vehicle (MTV)) and compaction equipment (i.e., double drum steel rollers, pneumatic rollers, and combination rollers with both steel and pneumatic tires), using both static and vibratory modes were employed. In addition, the effect of different aggregate blend combinations (i.e., using less coarse ledge rock) and asphalt binders (i.e., PG 58V-34, PG 40-40, and PG 52-40) on in-place density were studied. Four test sections were constructed over four separate days of paving, during cold weather conditions. The in- place density was measured using four methods: 1) Conventional/traditional cut roadway cores, 2) Combination of Infrared Continuous Thermal Scanning (ICTS) with conventional/traditional cut roadway cores, 3) Pavement Quality Indicator (PQI), and 4) Rolling Density Meter (RDM) utilizing Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR). The obtained results were compared and contrasted to the current testing, acceptance and construction methods system at Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) and recommendations for future construction specifications and best practices were presented