CHALLENGES TO AUTHORITY, BURDENS OF LEGITIMIZATION: THE PRINTING PRESS AND THE INTERNET

The Internet is often regarded as a challenge to the nation-state\u27s ability to regulate flows of finance, information, and symbols. Rather than examining whether it is possible to enforce regulation on such a media, this paper addresses two additional fundamental questions: (1) what do regulatory discourses and attempts to regulate reveal about the nation-state\u27s political authority under globalization, and (2) how does this authority vary across social, political, and cultural contexts? In order to address these challenging queries we follow a unique path, both empirically and theoretically. Theoretically, we argue that political authority is a pivotal common denominator that undergirds diverse understandings of globalization. We then critically examine different conceptions of political authority and construct a typology that orients our study. Empirically, we follow our typology by comparing two historical phenomena: attempts by the Catholic Church to regulate the printing press during the 15th and 16th centuries, and attempts by China, Malaysia and the United States to regulate the Internet. Despite certain important commonalities, we posit that each of these cases illustrates a different model of the legitimization processes and transformations in political authority that occur under globalization

Laboratory Electronic Spectra of Carbon Chains and Rings

Carriers of the diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs) cannot be definitively identified without laboratory spectra. Several techniques, including matrix isolation, cavity ringdown spectroscopy, resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization, and ion trapping, have been used to measure the electronic spectra of carbon chains and their derivatives. The gas-phase laboratory spectra could then be compared to the astronomical data of known DIBs. The choice of molecules studied in the gas phase depends on the presence of strong electronic transitions at optical wavelengths, the lifetimes of excited electronic states, and chemical feasibility in diffuse astrophysical environments. Collisional-radiative rate models have also be used in conjunction with laboratory spectra to predict absorption profiles under interstellar condition

Model for quantitative tip-enhanced spectroscopy and the extraction of nanoscale-resolved optical constants

Near-field infrared spectroscopy by elastic scattering of light from a probe tip resolves optical contrasts in materials at dramatically sub-wavelength scales across a broad energy range, with the demonstrated capacity for chemical identification at the nanoscale. However, current models of probe-sample near-field interactions still cannot provide a sufficiently quantitatively interpretation of measured near-field contrasts, especially in the case of materials supporting strong surface phonons. We present a model of near-field spectroscopy derived from basic principles and verified by finite-element simulations, demonstrating superb predictive agreement both with tunable quantum cascade laser near-field spectroscopy of SiO$_2$ thin films and with newly presented nanoscale Fourier transform infrared (nanoFTIR) spectroscopy of crystalline SiC. We discuss the role of probe geometry, field retardation, and surface mode dispersion in shaping the measured near-field response. This treatment enables a route to quantitatively determine nano-resolved optical constants, as we demonstrate by inverting newly presented nanoFTIR spectra of an SiO$_2$ thin film into the frequency dependent dielectric function of its mid-infrared optical phonon. Our formalism further enables tip-enhanced spectroscopy as a potent diagnostic tool for quantitative nano-scale spectroscopy.Comment: 19 pages, 9 figure

HYPERFINE RESOLVED PURE ROTATIONAL SPECTROSCOPY OF ScN, YN, AND BaNH (X1_+): INSIGHT INTO METAL-NITROGEN BONDING

Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy coupled with a discharge-assisted laser ablation source (DALAS) has been used to record the J,=,1,$rightarrow$,0 pure rotational transitions of Sc$^{14}$N, Sc$^{15}$N, Y$^{14}$N, Y$^{15}$N, and Ba$^{14}$NH (X$^{1}Sigma^{+}$). Each species was synthesized by the reaction of the ablated metal with either NH$_{3}$ or $^{15}$NH$_{3}$ in the presence of a DC discharge. For each species hyperfine structure was resolved. In the case of ScN and YN hyperfine parameters (quadrupole and nuclear spin-rotation) for the metal and nitrogen were determined and for BaNH the nitrogen quadrupole coupling constant was measured. These hyperfine constants are interpreted to gain insight into the metal-nitrogen bonding in each species. In addition, DFT calculations were performed to assist with the assignment of each spectrum and the characterization of the metal-nitrogen bond

The Loss of Deontology on the Road to Apathy: Examples of Homelessness and IVF Now, with Disaster to Follow

Vulnerable groups, from contemporary homeless people to IVF embryos may fall between the cracks of otherwise good social values, such as government welfare programs and individual autonomy. These present and slow disasters are in principle no different from more immediate catastrophes resulting from natural events or wars that harm civilians. The failure to respond with indignation and demands for change constitutes apathy, which is also an absence of deontology. We begin with concrete examples of social apathy, in Part 1. Our examples are homelessness and IVF, neither of which are usually considered disasters but both of which are in fact ongoing disasters within normal society. Part 2. is a discussion of theoretical and practical deontology that is lacking in these examples

The Kondo Dynamics of YbIn(1-x)AgxCu4

We present an infrared/optical study of the dynamics of the strongly correlated electron system YbIn(1-x)AgxCu4 as a function of doping and temperature for x ranging from 0 to 1, and T between 20 and 300 K. This study reveals information about the unusual phase transition as well as the phases themselves. Scaling relations emerge from the data and are investigated in detail using a periodic Anderson model based calculation. We also provide a picture in which to view both the low and high-energy x-dependent features of the infrared data, including identification of high energy, temperature dependent features.Comment: 12 pages, 11 figures, submitted Phys. Rev.

Safeguards and security considerations for a modular treatment system for plutonium residue stabilization

Five sites in the Department of Energy (DOE) nuclear complex have significant amounts of plutonium residues. The DOE has begun programs for stabilization of these materials, but the existing facilities, infrastructure, and technical capacity are inadequate for the task. Additionally, sufficient funding is not available to enable all the facilities to meet current standards that are required for the facilities to be able to treat the residues. At the request of the DOE Office of Environmental Management, a team was assembled to study the feasibility of using modular systems to stabilize plutonium-bearing residues. This feasibility team prepared a basis document using typical residue profiles and fact sheets that documented treatment activities and operational programs that were required. From this basis document, a design team prepared a preconceptual design and a cost and schedule estimate for a stand-alone modular system to treat the residues. The modular treatment system was designed to be broken into functional units (modules) that are individually packaged and portable. These modules were designed to consider all operational phases including safeguards and security. This discussion will present the safeguards and security considerations and techniques that were identified for the modular treatment system