The Prospects for Hybrid Electric Vehicles, 2005-2020: Results of a Delphi Study

The introduction of Toyota's hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), the Prius, in Japan has generated considerable interest in HEV technology among US automotive experts. In a follow-up survey to Argonne National Laboratory's two-stage Delphi Study on electric and hybrid electric vehicles (EVs and HEVs) during 1994-1996, Argonne researchers gathered the latest opinions of automotive experts on the future ''top-selling'' HEV attributes and costs. The experts predicted that HEVs would have a spark-ignition gasoline engine as a power plant in 2005 and a fuel cell power plant by 2020. The projected 2020 fuel shares were about equal for gasoline and hydrogen, with methanol a distant third. In 2020, HEVs are predicted to have series-drive, moderate battery-alone range and cost significantly more than conventional vehicles (CVs). The HEV is projected to cost 66% more than a $20,000 CV initially and 33% more by 2020. Survey respondents view batteries as the component that contributes the most to the HEV cost increment. The mean projection for battery-alone range is 49 km in 2005, 70 km in 2010, and 92 km in 2020. Responding to a question relating to their personal vision of the most desirable HEV and its likely characteristics when introduced in the US market in the next decade, the experts predicted their ''vision'' HEV to have attributes very similar to those of the ''top-selling'' HEV. However, the ''vision'' HEV would cost significantly less. The experts projected attributes of three leading batteries for HEVs and projected acceleration times on battery power alone. The resulting battery packs are evaluated, and their initial and replacement costs are analyzed. These and several other opinions are summarized

Organic Farming In Banana And Guava

India is the second largest producer of fruits in the world. With the increasing population, the cultivable land resource is shrinking day to day. Green Revolution in the post- independence era has shown path to developing countries for self- sufficiency in food but sustaining agricultural production against the finite natural resource base demands has shifted from the “resource degrading” chemical agriculture to a “resource protective” biological or organic farming. The major component of organic farming is: manures, green manures, intercropping, mulching, vermiculture biotechnology, bio fertilizers, biodynamic farming, bio control etc. Application of bio-fertilizer was more effective than organic manures in enhancing fruit growth parameters. When bio-fertilizer was grouped together in Red Fleshed guava and banana cv. grand nine, P-solubilizers were found to have more beneficial influence on fruit physico- chemical characteristics than that of N-fixers

QUALITY MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE OF SELECTED FOOD AND BEVERAGE MANUFACTURING FIRMS IN LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA

The performance of Food and Beverages manufacturing firms is important to the development of the economy and this has been considered by researchers. In Nigeria, the decline in the performance of this sector in terms of competitive advantage has been noticed which could be as a result of a lack of quality management practices such as leadership behaviour, strategic quality planning, supplier quality management, process management and customer focus. The study investigated the effect of quality management practices on the competitive advantage of selected Food and Beverages manufacturing firms in Lagos State, Nigeria. The survey research design was adopted. The population of the study was 14, 591 top, middle and low-level management employees of the selected Food and Beverages manufacturing firms in Lagos State, Nigeria. A sample size of 491 was determined using the research advisor table. A simple random sampling technique was used. A validated questionnaire was used to collect data. Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficients for the constructs ranged from 0.866 to 0.954. The response rate was 100%. Data were statistically analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics (multiple and hierarchical regression). Findings revealed that quality management practices had a significant effect on the competitive advantage of Food and Beverages manufacturing firms in Lagos State, (Adj.R2 = 0.117; F (5, 485) = 14.025, p < 0.05). The study concluded that quality management practices affected competitive advantage in Food and Beverages manufacturing firms in Lagos State, Nigeria. The study recommends that Food and Beverages manufacturing firms should encourage the adoption of quality management practices to enhance competitive advantage.  Article visualizations

A non-degenerate optical parametric oscillator as a high-flux source for quantum lithography

We investigate the use of a non-degenerate parametric oscillator (NDPO) as a source for quantum lithography, for which the light can have high-flux and strong non-classical features. This builds on the proposal of Boto, et al. [A. N. Boto, et al., PRL (85), 2733 (2000)], for etching simple patterns on multi-photon absorbing materials with sub-Rayleigh resolution, using special two-mode entangled states of light. An NDPO has two outgoing modes differentiated by polarization or direction of propagation, but sharing the same optical frequency. We derive analytical expressions for the multi-photon absorption rates when the NDPO is operated below, near, and above its threshold. The resulting interference patterns are characterized by an effective wavelength half that for the illuminating modes. We compare our results with those for the case of a high-gain optical amplifier source, and discuss the relative merit of the NDPO

Pinpointing The Extent Of Electronic Delocalization In The Re(i)-to-tetrazine Charge-separated Excited State Using Time-resolved Infrared Spectroscopy

Femtosecond mid-IR transient absorption spectroscopy (TRIR) and time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations on Re(CO)(3)Cl(Me(2)BPTZ) [Me(2)BPTZ = 3,6-bis(5-methyl-2-pyridine)-1,2,4,5-tetrazine] are used to demonstrate that the lowest excited state of the complex is a triplet metal-to-ligand charge-transfer ((3)MLCT) state with a lifetime of 225 ps. The short excited-state lifetime is explained by the energy-gap taw. Vibrational cooling of the (3)MLCT state shows up as early-time dynamics (3.6 ps). The structural changes in the excited state are deduced from the frequency shifts in the TRIR vibrational bands. The vibrational frequencies of the CO groups increase upon excitation as a result of decreased back-bonding between the CO ligands and the oxidized Re center in the (3)MLCT state. The vibrational frequencies of the central tetrazine ring of Me(2)BPTZ decrease because of the decrease in the bond order upon reduction of the Me(2)BPTZ ligand in the (3)MLCT state. Interestingly, the TRIR signals from the pyridine moieties of Me2BPTZ were not detected. These results can be explained by localization of the electronic charge on the central tetrazine ring in the (3)MLCT state of Re(CO)(3)Cl(Me(2)BPTZ), as supported by TD-DFT calculations

Random matrix ensemble with random two-body interactions in presence of a mean-field for spin one boson systems

For $m$ number of bosons, carrying spin ($S$=1) degree of freedom, in $\Omega$ number of single particle orbitals, each triply degenerate, we introduce and analyze embedded Gaussian orthogonal ensemble of random matrices generated by random two-body interactions that are spin (S) scalar [BEGOE(2)-$S1$]. The embedding algebra is $U(3) \supset G \supset G1 \otimes SO(3)$ with SO(3) generating spin $S$. A method for constructing the ensembles in fixed-($m$, $S$) space has been developed. Numerical calculations show that the form of the fixed-($m$, $S$) density of states is close to Gaussian and level fluctuations follow GOE. Propagation formulas for the fixed-($m$, $S$) space energy centroids and spectral variances are derived for a general one plus two-body Hamiltonian preserving spin. In addition to these, we also introduce two different pairing symmetry algebras in the space defined by BEGOE(2)-$S1$ and the structure of ground states is studied for each paring symmetry.Comment: 22 pages, 6 figure

Higher order antibunching is not a rare phenomenon

Since the introduction of higher order nonclassical effects, higher order squeezing has been reported in a number of different physical systems but higher order antibunching is predicted only in three particular cases. In the present work, we have shown that the higher order antibunching is not a rare phenomenon rather it can be seen in many simple optical processes. To establish our claim, we have shown it in six wave mixing process, four wave mixing process and in second harmonic generation process.Comment: 6 pages, no figure, Latex 2

Electric and hybrid electric vehicles: A technology assessment based on a two-stage Delphi study

To address the uncertainty regarding future costs and operating attributes of electric and hybrid electric vehicles, a two stage, worldwide Delphi study was conducted. Expert opinions on vehicle attributes, current state of the technology, possible advancements, costs, and market penetration potential were sought for the years 2000, 2010, and 2020. Opinions related to such critical components as batteries, electric drive systems, and hybrid vehicle engines, as well as their respective technical and economic viabilities, were also obtained. This report contains descriptions of the survey methodology, analytical approach, and results of the analysis of survey data, together with a summary of other factors that will influence the degree of market success of electric and hybrid electric vehicle technologies. Responses by industry participants, the largest fraction among all the participating groups, are compared with the overall responses. An evaluation of changes between the two Delphi stages is also summarized. An analysis of battery replacement costs for various types is summarized, and variable operating costs for electric and hybrid vehicles are compared with those of conventional vehicles. A market penetration analysis is summarized, in which projected market shares from the survey are compared with predictions of shares on the basis of two market share projection models that use the cost and physical attributes provided by the survey. Finally, projections of market shares beyond the year 2020 are developed by use of constrained logit models of market shares, statistically fitted to the survey data

Driving the atom by atomic fluorescence: analytic results for the power and noise spectra

We study how the spectral properties of resonance fluorescence propagate through a two-atom system. Within the weak-driving-field approximation we find that, as we go from one atom to the next, the power spectrum exhibits both sub-natural linewidth narrowing and large asymmetries while the spectrum of squeezing narrows but remains otherwise unchanged. Analytical results for the observed spectral features of the fluorescence are provided and their origin is thoroughly discussed.Comment: 13 pages, 5 figures; to be published in Phys. Rev. A Changed title and conten