Elasticity of demand for gasoline in the South Coast Air Basin

An analysis of California gasoline sales was made, using Box and Jenkins' linear time series methods, in an attempt to detect the change due to a 17% change in price. There was no detectable change within the 2% noise limit of the method. Thus, either the elasticity is less than 2 parts in 17, and/or the tools must be further refined to detect it

Growth of Sr1-xCaxRuO3 thin films by metalorganic aerosol deposition

We report the growth of thin films of Sr1-xCaxRuO3 on SrTiO3 and MgO substrates by metalorganic aerosol deposition. The structure and microstructure is characterized by X-ray diffraction and room-temperature scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM), respectively. STM indicates in-plane epitaxy and a small surface roughness for films on SrTiO3. The high-quality of the films is supported by large residual resistivity ratios up to 29.Comment: 4 Pages, 2 Figures, submitted to Proceedings of ICM 2009 (Karlsruhe

Snakes and ladders: localized solutions of plane Couette flow

We demonstrate the existence of a large number of exact solutions of plane Couette flow, which share the topology of known periodic solutions but are localized in space. Solutions of different size are organized in a snakes-and-ladders structure strikingly similar to that observed for simpler pattern-forming PDE systems. These new solutions are a step towards extending the dynamical systems view of transitional turbulence to spatially extended flows.Comment: submitted to Physics Review Letter

Implications of the isotope effects on the magnetization, magnetic torque and susceptibility

We analyze the magnetization, magnetic torque and susceptibility data of La2-xSrxCu(16,18)O4 and YBa2(63,65)CuO7-x near Tc in terms of the universal 3D-XY scaling relations. It is shown that the isotope effect on Tc mirrors that on the anisotropy. Invoking the generic behavior of the anisotropy the doping dependence of the isotope effects on the critical properties, including Tc, correlation lengths and magnetic penetration depths are traced back to a change of the mobile carrier concentration.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Magnetic Field Induced Phase Transitions in YBa2Cu4O8

The $c$-axis resistivity measurements in YBa_2Cu_4O_8 from Hussey et al. for magnetic field orientations along the c-axis as well as within the ab-plane are analyzed and interpreted using the scaling theory for static and dynamic classical critical phenomena. We identify a superconductor to normal conductor transition for both field orientations as well as a normal conductor to insulator transition at a critical field H_c||a with dynamical critical exponent z=1, leading to a multicritical point where superconducting, normal conducting and insulating phases coexist

Brain homeostasis : VEGF receptor 1 and 2 ; two unequal brothers in mind

Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs), initially thought to act specifically on the vascular system, exert trophic effects on neural cells during development and adulthood. Therefore, the VEGF system serves as a promising therapeutic target for brain pathologies, but its simultaneous action on vascular cells paves the way for harmful side effects. To circumvent these deleterious effects, many studies have aimed to clarify whether VEGFs directly affect neural cells or if the effects are mediated secondarily via other cell types, like vascular cells. A great number of reports have shown the expression and function of VEGF receptors (VEGFRs), mainly VEGFR-1 and -2, in neural cells, where VEGFR-2 has been described as the major mediator of VEGF-A signals. This review aims to summarize and compare the divergent roles of VEGFR-1 and -2 during CNS development and homeostasis

An intelligent position-specific training system for mission operations

Marshall Space Flight Center's (MSFC's) payload ground controller training program provides very good generic training; however, ground controller position-specific training can be improved by including position-specific training systems in the training program. This report explains why MSFC needs to improve payload ground controller position-specific training. The report describes a generic syllabus for position-specific training systems, a range of system designs for position-specific training systems, and a generic development process for developing position-specific training systems. The report also describes a position-specific training system prototype that was developed for the crew interface coordinator payload operations control center ground controller position. The report concludes that MSFC can improve the payload ground controller training program by incorporating position-specific training systems for each ground controller position; however, MSFC should not develop position-specific training systems unless payload ground controller position experts will be available to participate in the development process