Characterization of quantum well structures using a photocathode electron microscope

Present day integrated circuits pose a challenge to conventional electronic and mechanical test methods. Feature sizes in the submicron and nanometric regime require radical approaches in order to facilitate electrical contact to circuits and devices being tested. In addition, microwave operating frequencies require careful attention to distributed effects when considering the electrical signal paths within and external to the device under test. An alternative testing approach which combines the best of electrical and optical time domain testing is presented, namely photocathode electron microscope quantitative voltage contrast (PEMQVC)

Directional discrepancy in two dimensions

In the present paper, we study the geometric discrepancy with respect to families of rotated rectangles. The well-known extremal cases are the axis-parallel rectangles (logarithmic discrepancy) and rectangles rotated in all possible directions (polynomial discrepancy). We study several intermediate situations: lacunary sequences of directions, lacunary sets of finite order, and sets with small Minkowski dimension. In each of these cases, extensions of a lemma due to Davenport allow us to construct appropriate rotations of the integer lattice which yield small discrepancy

Early Higgs Hints for Non-Minimal Supersymmetry

We discuss the role that Higgs coupling measurements can play in differentiating supersymmetric extensions of the Standard Model. Fitting current LHC data to the Higgs couplings, we find that the likelihood fit shows a preference in the direction of suppressed (enhanced) bottom (top) quark couplings. In the minimal supersymmetric Standard Model, we demonstrate that for tan beta > 1, there is tension in achieving such fermion couplings due to the structure of the Higgs quartic couplings. In anticipation of interpreting supersymmetric models with future data, we determine a single straightforward condition required to access the region of coupling space preferred by current data.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures; v3: updated fits to include post-discovery data, references and discussion modified accordingl

Examining the effectiveness of the Engineering Launch program for first-year engineering students

Motivation and Background: This COMPLETE EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE PAPER examines whether participating in the Engineering Launch program at a large Midwestern land- grant university influences the academic readiness of engineering students before they enter Calculus I course. Many students enrolled in Calculus I are not prepared for it. The remedial program Engineering Launch aims to improve students’ math preparation in Trigonometry, Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II, and bridge the perceived gaps in math preparation to get students ready for Calculus I. Many universities around the country have implemented similar remedial programs. There are two common approaches. One is a workshop-style course which typically requires weekly class time in addition to regular lectures [1]. The other is to offer a bridge course before the semester starts, with duration from one-week long [2] to several weeks [3, 4] These programs have shown positive results by increasing student pass rates in Calculus. The Engineering Launch program takes the second approach by offering a summer bridge course prior to the fall semester. This course is offered as a zero-credit hour course, which consists of a three-week online component and several in-person events the week before classes start. The course combines both synchronous and asynchronous math instruction. All instruction and module content is provided and delivered by a seasoned Calculus I instructor, who has over 15 years of experience teaching courses in calculus sequence. The course also includes one-on-one tutoring from a GTA in the Department of Mathematics. Learning about the usefulness of the Engineering Launch program can inform researchers, instructors, and administrators how to improve the readiness of first year engineering students in Calculus I and make it an effective approach in helping engineering students succeed academically

Propositional Idea Density in written descriptions of health: Potential clinical applications

In order to assess the effect of word finding difficulties for the spontaneous discourse of people with aphasia, a number of different measures of informativeness have been developed for clinical application (Doyle, Goda, & Spencer, 1995; Nicholas & Brookshire, 1993; Oelschlaeger & Thorne, 1999; Wright, Silverman, & Newhoff, 2003). The main challenges for the assessment of discourse (written or spoken) relate to issues of validity and reliability (AUTHOR DELETED). There is a need for valid and authentic sampling which is personally relevant to individuals and additionally, able to be repeated for the same individual on successive occasions, and comparable to other individuals. The use of a consistent elicitation task that could be widely used for adult populations would be beneficial to both allow comparisons of the same individual over time and also across individuals

Rational Linear Spaces on Hypersurfaces over Quasi-Algebraically Closed Fields

Let k = F-q(t) be the rational function fi eld over F-q and f(x) is an element of k[x(1),..., x(s)] be a form of degree d. For l is an element of N, we establish that whenever s \u3e l + Sigma(d)(w=1)w(2)(d - w + l - 1 l - 1), the projective hypersurface f(x) = 0 contains a k-rational linear space of projective dimension l. We also show that if s \u3e 1 + d(d + 1)(2d + 1)/6, then for any k-rational zero a of f(x) there are in fi nitely many s-tuples (pi(1),...,pi(s) ) of monic irreducible polynomials over k, with the pi(i) not all equal, and f(a(1)pi(1),..., a(s)pi(s)) = 0. We establish in fact more general results of the above type for systems of forms over C-i-fields

Options analysis--an innovative tool for manufacturing decision-making

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, 1995, and Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Materials Science & Engineering, 1995.Includes bibliographical references (p. 78-99).by Craig Spencer Belnap.M.S

The Learned Shall Understand: Prophecy, Authority, and the University in the Case of Arnold of Villanova and His Critics

In the year 1300 the Catalan physician Arnold of Villanova caused a controversy at the University of Paris when he presented his predictions about the advent of the Antichrist to the theology faculty. Arnold’s attempt to interpret Scripture and publicly announce his conclusions challenged the scholastic theologians’ conception of their own authority to educate the public in religious matters. However, prophecy proved to be as controversial among theologians as it was between theologians and non-specialists. Arnold’s most prominent critics, the Dominican theologian John of Paris and the secular theologian Henry of Harclay offered significantly different alternatives to Arnold’s prophetic vision. Just as with Arnold’s claims, these views were tied to the public authority of theologians. These differences demonstrate that the authority of the theologian was not only challenged by outsiders such as Arnold of Villanova, but also contested internally between secular and mendicant clergy.Master of Art