Efficient digital comparison technique for logic circuits

Tolerance compare technique indicates discompare only when numerical difference value exceeds prescribed limit. Algorithm involving binary number properties is defined, in lieu of arithmetic operation which requires relatively complex circuitry. Extension of algorithm may be made to encompass tolerances other than one unit

Transparency requirements and hedge funds.

Regulation of any financial institution or asset class should refl ect the regulatory objectives which are relevant to the institution or asset class. This paper identifies the relevant regulatory objectives in respect of hedge funds as market confidence and financial stability, market integrity and consumer protection. Against these objectives, the paper examines what information should – and should not – be provided by hedge fund managers to: • investors • creditors and counterparties • the general public • regulators It also describes the work carried out by the Financial Services Authority (FSA), in the context of its market confidence and financial stability objective, to survey large dealers’ exposure to hedge funds and the risk-based supervision of UK hedge fund managers carried out by the FSA in the United Kingdom.

Rotational Spectroscopy of PAHs: Acenaphthene, Acenaphthylene and Fluorene

Pure rotational spectra of three polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons - acenaphthene, acenaphthylene and fluorene - have been obtained by Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy of a molecular beam and subsequently by millimeter wave absorption spectroscopy for acenaphthene and fluorene. The data presented here will be useful for deep radio astronomical searches for PAHs employing large radio telecopes.Comment: 2 pages, 1 figure (uses iaus.sty), to appear in IAU Symposium No. 231, Astrochemistry - Recent Successes and Current Challenges, eds. D. C. Lis, G. A. Blake & E. Herbst (Cambridge Univ. Press

Bearing damage characteristics of fibre-reinforced countersunk composite bolted joints subjected to quasi-static shear loading

This paper studies the progression of damage in carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) countersunk composite bolted joints (CBJs) with neat-fit clearance, subjected to quasi-static loading. Damage mechanisms, comprising of fibre buckling and breakage, matrix damage, shear damage and inter-laminar delamination within the CFRP composite parts of the joints have been studied. Load-displacement curves, X-ray and optical microscopic images in single- and three-bolt CBJs were used to investigate damage and deformation characteristics. The observations were then employed to further investigate the type of failure and the extent of damage. The evolution of damage within the composite parts was correlated to the failure characteristics of the joints: It was found that the type and extension of damage is strongly correlated with the ultimate failure load point of the joint in single-bolt CBJs. A combined inter/intra-laminar damage consisting of fibre cluster breakage, extensive fibre buckling, debonding and delamination was observed at the ultimate failure load. This study was then extended to three-bolt CBJ where damage surrounding each bolt and its corresponding failure load was strongly correlated: The final study showed that the ultimate failure point in single-bolt CBJ and the first-bolt-failure point in three-bolt CBJ correspond to the composite plies undergoing intra-laminar damage with the size reaching to the edge of the countersunk head. This damage developed extensively through the thickness of the composite parts underneath the countersink, and in the direction opposite to the loading direction. Outside the countersunk head, debonding and delamination were found to be the dominant damage driving mechanisms. Finally, a new design rule has been proposed to predict the response of multi-bolt joints (damage area and failure load) by using the response in single-bolt CBJ as an initial baseline

Meat consumption: Trends and quality matters

peer-reviewedThis paper uses quality theory to identify opportunities for the meat sector that are consistent with trends in meat consumption. Meat consumption has increased and is likely to continue into the future. Growth is largely driven by white meats, with poultry in particular of increasing importance globally. The influence of factors such as income and price is likely decline over time so that other factors, such as quality, will become more important. Quality is complex and consumers' quality expectations may not align with experienced quality due to misconception of certain intrinsic cues. Establishing relevant and effective cues, based on extrinsic and credence attributes, could offer advantage on the marketplace. The use of extrinsic cues can help convey quality characteristics for eating quality, but also for more abstract attributes that reflect individual consumer concerns e.g. health/nutrition, and collective concerns, e.g. sustainability. However, attributes are not of equal value to all consumers. Thus consumer segmentation and production differentiation is needed.The authors acknowledge the financial support of the Irish Department of Agriculture Food and Marine for funding through their Stimulus Fund for the project entitled “Genetic selection for improved milk and meat product quality in dairy, beef and sheep”: project reference no: 11/SF/311

A study of the ozonolysis of isoprene in a cryogenic buffer gas cell by high resolution microwave spectroscopy

We have developed a method to quantify reaction product ratios using high resolution microwave spectroscopy in a cryogenic buffer gas cell. We demonstrate the power of this method with the study of the ozonolysis of isoprene, CH2=C(CH3)-CH=CH2, the most abundant, non-methane hydrocarbon emitted into the atmosphere by vegetation. Isoprene is an asymmetric diene, and reacts with O3 at the 1,2 position to produce methyl vinyl ketone (MVK), formaldehyde, and a pair of carbonyl oxides: [CH3CO-CH=CH2 + CH2=OO] + [CH2=O + CH3COO-CH=CH2]. Alternatively, O3 could attack at the 3,4 position to produce methacrolein (MACR), formaldehyde, and two carbonyl oxides [CH2=C(CH3)-CHO + CH2=OO] + [CH2=O + CH2=C(CH3)-CHOO]. Purified O3 and isoprene were mixed for approximately 10 seconds under dilute (1.5-4% in argon) continuous flow conditions in an alumina tube held at 298 K and 5 Torr. Products exiting the tube were rapidly slowed and cooled within the buffer gas cell by collisions with cryogenic (4-7 K) He. High resolution chirped pulse microwave detection between 12 and 26 GHz was used to achieve highly sensitive (ppb scale), isomer-specific product quantification. We observed a ratio of MACR to MVK of 2.1 +/- 0.4 under 1:1 ozone to isoprene conditions and 2.1 +/- 0.2 under 2:1 ozone to isoprene conditions, a finding which is consistent with previous experimental results. Additionally, we discuss relative quantities of formic acid (HCOOH), an isomer of CH2=OO, and formaldehyde (CH2=O) under varying experimental conditions, and characterize the spectroscopic parameters of the singly-substituted 13C trans-isoprene and 13C anti-periplanar-methacrolein species. This work has the potential to be extended towards a complete branching ratio analysis, as well towards the ability to isolate, identify, and quantify new reactive intermediates in the ozonolysis of alkenes

Derived environment effects: A representational approach

Derived environment effects involve either overapplication or underapplication of phonological rules in phonological or morphological environments. This paper focuses on underapplication effects in both phonological and morphological environments, which are treated as resulting from representational differences between derived and non-derived environments at the appropriate level. The Government and Dependency Phonology notions of head and dependent are utilised to this end. Thus, phonologically derived environment effects result from melodic structure that differentiates branching from immediate dominance relations between elements, allowing phonological processes to target a segment of one melodic configuration to the exclusion of another. Morphologically derived environment effects, on the other hand, involve representational differences at the constituent structure level, corresponding to the fact that morphological effects are a result of junctural or morpheme-integrity effects. In the latter case, head-dependent relations are defined as holding over domains, thereby differentiating affixal from non-affixal material, while in the former junctural effects the representational difference is defined at the CV tier, with phonological processes being sensitive to the presence of empty V and C positions. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved