New Results on Bs Mixing from LEP

The phenomenology of B_s^0 oscillations is reviewed along with the experimental strategy for observing them. Results of studies from ALEPH, DELPHI, and OPAL experiments are summarized with an emphasis on recent new results from ALEPH.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures, submitted to Proceedings of Flavour Physics and CP Violation 200

Projection-based image registration in the presence of fixed-pattern noise

A computationally efficient method for image registration is investigated that can achieve an improved performance over the traditional two-dimensional (2-D) cross-correlation-based techniques in the presence of both fixed-pattern and temporal noise. The method relies on transforming each image in the sequence of frames into two vector projections formed by accumulating pixel values along the rows and columns of the image. The vector projections corresponding to successive frames are in turn used to estimate the individual horizontal and vertical components of the shift by means of a one-dimensional (1-D) cross-correlation-based estimator. While gradient-based shift estimation techniques are computationally efficient, they often exhibit degraded performance under noisy conditions in comparison to cross-correlators due to the fact that the gradient operation amplifies noise. The projection-based estimator, on the other hand, significantly reduces the computational complexity associated with the 2-D operations involved in traditional correlation-based shift estimators while improving the performance in the presence of temporal and spatial noise. To show the noise rejection capability of the projection-based shift estimator relative to the 2-D cross correlator, a figure-of-merit is developed and computed reflecting the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) associated with each estimator. The two methods are also compared by means of computer simulation and tests using real image sequences

Strengthening the Campus Leadership Team through Effective Principal and Counselor Relationships: Implications for Training

Campuses with successful leadership teams have a better opportunity to meet the ever-increasing and complex needs of the students they serve (Crowther, Kaagan, Ferguson, & Hann, 2002). These successful campuses are strengthened when they include strong principals and counseling teams with shared mutual trust and understanding that permeates the school climate (DeVoss & Andrews, 2006). A review of the literature revealed a paucity of studies examining the nature of successful principal-counselor relations and the impact of this relationship on student success, effective campus leadership teams, and an effective school climate that promotes learning. Meaningful dialogue and discussion of this critical professional relationship also were found lacking in the major counseling and educational leadership professional journals

Electroproduction of the S(11)meson(1535) resonance at high momentum transfer

The amplitude of the S\sb{11}(1535) resonance at values of four-momentum transfer Q\sp2 \u3e 0 is not explained by the nonrelativistic constituent quark model, and is currently a topic of theoretical interest; in addition, the large branching fraction of this resonance to the proton-$\eta$ decay channel is not well understood. There is also controversy concerning the Q\sp2 regime in which perturbative QCD becomes important in describing nucleon resonances such as the S\sb{11}. The p(e, e\sp\prime p)\eta reaction is an excellent system in which to study this resonance and address the issue of possible perturbative effects: the $p\eta$ channel is not accessible to the $\Delta$ (isospin-$3\over2$) resonances and couples only weakly to N* (isospin-$1\over2$) resonances other than the S\sb{11}(1535). The differential cross section for the process p(e, e\sp\prime p)\eta was measured in Hall C of the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (TJNAF) in experiment E94-14 in December 1996. The angular distribution at center-of-momentum energies near the S\sb{11}(1535) was measured for Q\sp2\approx 2.4 and 3.6 GeV\sp2/c\sp2 (the latter being the highest-Q\sp2 exclusive measurement of this process to date). The Short Orbit Spectrometer (SOS) was used to detect recoil electrons and the High Momentum Spectrometer (HMS) was used to detect outgoing protons, with the $\eta$ identified via missing mass. Results of fits to the differential cross section and an extraction of the helicity amplitude A\sbsp{1/2}{p} are presented. The cross section obtained from these new data is about 30% lower than that of the only other high-Q\sp2 exclusive measurement of this process. Comparison with a recent analysis of inclusive (e, e\sp\prime) data provides a lower bound on the S\sb{11}(1535)\to p\eta branching fraction of b\sb{\eta} = 0.45

Inventory management in manufacturing plants

Thesis (M.B.A.)--Boston Universit

Nonholonomic Feedback Control Among Moving Obstacles

A feedback controller is developed for navigating a nonholonomic vehicle in an area with multiple stationary and possibly moving obstacles. Among other applications the developed algorithms can be used for automatic parking of a passenger car in a parking lot with complex configuration or a ground robot in cluttered environment. Several approaches are explored which combine nonholonomic systems control based on sliding modes and potential field methods

An analysis of early marital adjustment: The role of narcissism, cognitive, and family systems variables

The purpose of this study was to explore the relevance of both intrapsychic and family systems variables for the early marital adjustment of 71 couples in their twenties at the time of marriage, who were married in two central Virginia localities. The intrapsychic variables included subjects\u27 marital locus of control and both subjects\u27 and subjects\u27 spouses\u27 levels of narcissism. The family systems variables included six factors which have been found to be correlated with early marital adjustment. Three of these six factors were: (1) whether the couple married within a year of a significant loss; (2) whether either spouse reported less than a good relationship with his/her parents at the present time; and (3) whether either spouse reported that his/her childhood was less than happy. These nine variables were used in relation to four marital outcome instruments measuring overall marital satisfaction and quality.;Three out of six hypotheses received some degree of support. First, no pattern was found between spouses\u27 levels of narcissism in terms of couple combinations for that variable. Second, there was a moderate relationship between external locus of control and marital difficulties as measured by the four outcome measures. and last, the final hypothesis called for a multiple regression analysis, including subjects\u27 marital locus of control, both subjects\u27 and subjects\u27 spouses\u27 narcissism scores, and the six family systems variables as the predictor variables, and the four marital outcome measures as the dependent variables. It was found that marital locus of control was the strongest predictor variable, and when combined with significant loss, childhood unhappiness, current relationship with parents, and subjects/subjects\u27 spouses\u27 narcissism, yielded moderately strong correlations with the outcome measures.;As such, these findings gave support to the object relations family systems perspective of James Framo, which theoretically framed this study. Further study was recommended to evaluate the causal relationship between marital locus of control and marital outcome, and to explore the possible impact of higher levels of narcissism upon marital adjustment over time, as the expected relationship between high levels of narcissism and impaired marital quality was not found in this study

Investigation of ZnSe and ZnSxSe1-x for application in thin film solar cells

Abstract Successful deposition of ZnSe and ZnS„Sei_x layers has been performed with close-spaced thermal evaporation (CSTE). ZnSe (Eg = 2.67eV) and ZnS,Sei, (Eg to 3.6eV) have the potential to replace CdS (Eg = 2.42 eV) as a buffer layer in solar cell applications, giving a two-fold benefit: (i) increased blue response of the cell, potentially allowing more light to reach the pn junction and contribute to photogeneration and (ii) reduce the toxic Cd element of the buffer layer. CSTE has produced films in which the deposition parameters can be controlled to alter the morphology of the as-deposited coatings. SEM and AFM investigations have shown that pinhole free ZnSe and ZnS„Sei_x films can be produced with this deposition process. In addition, the ZnSxSei, layers show a linear shift in lattice constant and a systematic shift in energy bandgap with alloy composition. XRD data and the steep absorption edges in the transmittance data confirm the good crystallinity of the layers. To partner the ZnSe and ZnS,,Sei_x buffer layers in a thin film heterojunction, CdTe absorber layers were grown in the superstrate configuration. These CdTe layers were deposited in the same deposition chamber, without breaking vacuum, to reduce the risk of interfacial contamination. ZnSe and ZnSxSei_x / CdTe solar cells were fabricated with the best cell producing PV characteristics of: short circuit current 17mAcm-2, open circuit voltage 460mV and efficiency approaching 3%. The spectral response of all ZnSe and ZnSxSei_x / CdTe devices demonstrated a systematic shift to shorter wavelengths with increasing alloy composition, therefore showing the potential of these materials to increase solar cell efficiency. This low cost deposition process has shown excellent potential to be scaled up for commercial applications