bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multiple‐Quantum EPR Transitions of MnII in CaS: MnII Phosphor
Authors: Gourier D. , Simons D. , Vivien D. , Ruelle N. , Thi M. Pham
Published: July 2007

Multiple‐quantum transitions in the electron paramagnetic resonance spectrum of naturally doped (≈ 10 ppm) CaS: MnII powder are reported. Considerable resolution enhancement is achieved because of the lack of strain broadening of the EPR lines, due to the very good crystallinity of the powder. Multiple‐quantum transitions are identified by their linewidth, their saturation behavior, and their magnetic field position. Two‐, three‐, and five‐quantum transitions were identified, but not the four‐quantum transitions. A line at g = 1.983 is assigned to CrIII impurities at low concentration, which also exhibits a two‐quantum transition at high microwave power.
Si‐Related Point Defects in CdTe
Authors: Zielinska‐Purgal R. , Nazarewicz W.
Published: July 2007

Infrared absorption associated with localized vibrational modes is studied in CdTe highly doped with silicon. On the basis of the experimental data obtained it is established that Si can form two kinds of point defects in CdTe: SiCd defects acting as donors and SiTe defects acting as acceptors. No evidence is found of the presence of Sica‐SiTe pairs and other defect complexes which could be formed as a result of electrostatic interaction between electrically active defects.
Optical Measurements in MOVPE‐Grown ZnSe/InP Epilayers
Authors: Coquillat D. , Bouchara D. , Abounadi A. , Ribayrol A. , Lascaray J. P. , Calas J. , Haidoux A. , Tomasini P. , Tédenac J. C. , Maurin M.
Published: July 2007

The X‐ray diffraction pattern of MOVPE‐grown ZnSe/InP epilayers in the thickness range between 0.15 and 2.2 μm shows that the relaxation is obtained for a few monolayers. The splitting between light hole E1h and heavy hole Ehh excitonic transitions is observed at 4.2 K by reflectivity and is explained in terms of thermoelastic strain due to the difference in the thermal expansion coefficients of layer and substrate. In addition photoluminescence is studied and shows neutral‐donor‐bound‐exciton lines I2 and I'2 as well as the neutral‐acceptor‐bound‐exciton line I1.
Band and Localized States in Finite and Infinite Crystals
Authors: Evarestov R. A. , Smirnov V. P.
Published: July 2007

The connection of symmetry groups, their irreducible and band representations for the models of finite and infinite crystals is considered in detail. The relation between localized (electronic and vibrational) states of finite and infinite crystals is studied on models. It is found that the Wannier states of an infinite crystal are reproduced well by Wannier states of cyclic systems with size slightly exceeding the region of their localization.
On the Acoustic and Electroacoustic Properties of Incommensurate {N(CH3)4}2CuBr4 Crystals
Authors: Kityk A. V. , Soprunyuk V. P.
Published: July 2007

The influence of hydrostatic pressure on the temperature dependences of transverse USW velocities is studied in the region of phase transitions and of triple points of {N(CH3)4}2CuBr4 crystals. The pressure‐temperature phase diagram is obtained. The linear electroacoustic effect is detected only in the region of the ferroelectric phase. The anomalies of acoustic and electroacoustic properties are considered within the framework of a phenomenological theory.
Critical Exponents and Randomness in SrTiO3 : Ca
Authors: Maglione M. , Santos M. Lopes Dos , Chaves M. R. , Almeida A.
Published: July 2007

Since its discovery, the SrTiO3: Ca system is known to exhibit a number of features which were thought to arise from an impurity induced disorder. Non‐linear dielectric measurements are used to obtain a more quantitative insight into this disorder. For 0.001 < xCa < 0.05, it is found that the non‐linear susceptibility diverges at low temperatures. This is similar to what was previously reported in the dielectric random system KTaO3: Na. A method is proposed to quantify the contribution of the disorder to the non‐linearities. It is found that the deviation from a true ferroelectric behaviour is not enough to call the low‐temperature phase of SrTiO3: Ca a glass one. The maximum non‐linearity observed for xCa = 0.003 and 0.004 decreases for higher xCa contents. It is shown that a simple model of temperature dependent dipole moment may account for both the linear and non‐linear dielectric behaviour of SrTiO3: Ca.
Effect of the Image Potential on Plasmons in Cylindrical Quantum‐Well Wires
Authors: Wendler L. , Grigoryan V. G.
Published: July 2007

The collective electronic excitations in quasi‐one‐dimensional cylindrical quantum‐well wires are studied theoretically. Using a two‐subband model the dispersion curves of the intra‐ and intersubband plasmons in the random‐phase approximation for the cases of one and two occupied subbands are calculated. The influence of the image forces on the intra‐ and intersubband plasmon is studied in detail. New explicit analytical expressions for the dispersion relations, valid in a wide range of the wave vector are derived. It is shown that the additional intrasubband plasmon, arising if two subbands are occupied, has for small wave vectors a linear dispersion and is independent of the dielectric screening of the quantum‐well wire. The intersubband plasmon is split in two branches, one with a positive and one with a negative dispersion. The electric dipole moment of the collective excitations is calculated and the selection rules for the coupling of light with the plasmons are derived.
Hydrostatic Pressure Effect on Point Defect Electronic States in Narrow‐Gap and Gapless Semiconductors
Authors: Strikha M. V. , Vasko F. T.
Published: July 2007

A study is made of the influence of hydrostatic pressure on point defect states in narrow‐gap and gapless semiconductors, described by the three‐band Kane model. It is shown that shifts of energy levels of centres of different symmetry with pressure are different. The h‐centre level follows strictly the v‐band top. On the contrary, the l‐c level shift depends on pressure in a more complicated way, and is determined by system parameters. The transition from resonance to localized defect states due to the transition from gapless to narrow‐gap semiconductors caused by hydrostatic pressure is also studied.
On the Geometry of Dipolar Dislocation Structures Formed by Multislip
Authors: Saxlová M.
Published: July 2007

A prediction of dipolar wall geometry is based on the theory of dislocation structure formation. The three‐dimensional model simulates in a simplified linearized form the dislocation cell structure development in a crystal where several slip systems operate. The theoretical framework is formed by the balance law for stored dislocations which are drifted or swept into the forming cell walls. The model explains the multislip wall arrangement observed in a copper single crystal deformed along the [001] tensile axis.
Acoustic Studies of LiKSO4 Crystals in the 290 to 930 K Region
Authors: Borisov B. F. , Charnaya E. V. , Radzhabov A. K.
Published: July 2007

The temperature dependence of velocity and absorption coefficient of longitudinal and transverse acoustic waves are studied for LiKSO4 crystals within the temperature range 290 to 930 K. Anomalies in the velocity and absorption values are detected near 708 and 743 K. The observed considerable hysteresis of velocity for the longitudinal wave propagating along the y‐axis of the hexagonal structure at room temperature, suggests the presence of an intermediate incommensurate phase. A similar hysteresis was also observed for the transverse wave, propagating along the x‐axis and polarized along the y‐axis.
Optical and Acoustic Properties of (NH4)2ZnCl4 Crystals near the Phase Transitions
Authors: Kityk A. V.
Published: July 2007

Optical activity, electrooptical effect, and ultrasound wave velocities are investigated in the vicinity of phase transitions in the incommensurate ferroelectric crystals (NH4)2ZnCl4. The influence of hydrostatic pressure on the acoustic properties and phase transitions are studied as well. The optical activity and electrooptical effects are found only in the ferroelectric phase. It is shown that the normal‐incommensurate phase transition shifts to high temperatures under the action of hydrostatic pressure. At the same time, the temperature region of modulated phase coexisting becomes narrower and disappears finally at the triple point (Pk = 196 MPa, Tk = 249.5 K). The obtained results are considered within the framework of the phenomenological theory.
Birch Equation of State for Alkali Halide Crystals
Authors: Thomas L. M. , Shanker J.
Published: July 2007

The Birch equation of state (BES) derived from the theory of finite strain is used to calculate the pressure versus volume compression data at room temperature for eleven alkali halide crystals, viz. LiF, LiCl, LiBr, LiI, NaF, NaCl, NaBr, NaI, CsCl, CsBr, and CsI. These crystals can be compressed to rather high pressures without appearance of any structural phase transformation. The parameters of BES are determined from the ultrasonically measured experimental values of the bulk modulus and its first pressure derivative and the calculated values of second pressure derivative of bulk modulus derived from interionic potential models. The resulting P‐V data for all the crystals compare well with the corresponding experimental values reported by Vaidya and Kennedy and by Yagi.
Dynamical Transport Theory of Two‐Dimensional Systems
Authors: Farvacque J.‐L.
Published: July 2007

A formulation of a dynamical transport theory based on the dielectric properties of the electronic carriers has recently been proposed for bulk materials. The present paper shows how to apply this approach in the case of two‐dimensional electronic layers. An expression of the effective scattering potential is given, taking into account the actual band structure of the 2D layer, local field effects, and the layer surroundings. It is finally shown that the present approach is fully consistent with the semiclassical approach of the relaxation time solution of the Boltzmann kinetic equation, as soon as standard approximations are made.
Absolute Seebeck Coefficients of Ultrathin Cr Films
Authors: Schröuder K. , Zhang Le , Ger W.‐T.
Published: July 2007

The thermopower of very thin Cr overlayers deposited on Ge films or glass plates is measured near room temperature “in situ” in a high vacuum system. It is found that the absolute Seebeck coefficient Sab of Cr overlayers deposited on Ge films approaches zero for very thin films. Sab reaches a minimum near d = 3 nm, and is 16 μV/K for d = 21 nm, close to bulk data.
Planar Channeling Radiation from Relativistic Electrons and Positrons in Silicon
Authors: Kumar V. Hari , Pathak A. P.
Published: July 2007

The characteristics of the radiation emitted from relativistic positrons and electrons channeled along the (110) plane in silicon single crystals is calculated using a realistic potential which is based on the atomic shell structure of target atoms. The results are compared with experimental results and are found to agree reasonably well.
Pressure Dependence of the Band Gaps and Charge Densities in Si
Authors: Benkabou F. , Badi N. , Dufour J. P. , Kobayasi T. , Nara H. , Khelifa B. , Aourag H.
Published: July 2007

The empirical local and nonlocal pseudopotentials of Si which can describe the electronic energy structure over a wide energy range of more than 20 eV from the bottom of the valence band is determined for different pressures. The nonlocality of the potential is described by the Gaussian model. The predictions for the linear and quadratic pressure coefficients are consistent with the experiment. The valence charge densities of Si under high pressure are studied. The forbidden X‐ray factor F(222) is very stable under pressure and changes by less than 3% under volume changes of the order of 5%.
Anomalous Variation of the Recoil‐Free Fraction of 151Eu Nucleus in Euba2Cu3O7−x around the Superconducting Transition Temperature
Authors: Jia Y. Q. , Jin M. Z. , Liu X. W.
Published: July 2007

Mössbauer spectra of the superconductor EuBa2Cu3O7−x are measured at various temperatures (83 to 120 K) and the effective absorber thickness is calculated from the experimental spectra. The temperature variation of the recoil‐free fraction of the 151Eu nucleus in Euba2Cu3O7−x is obtained. An anomaly in the temperature dependence of the recoil‐free fraction of the 151Eu nucleus in the superconductor EuBa2Cu3O7−x is found around the superconducting transition temperature. This may provide evidence of softening of lattice vibrations about the Eu atom in the crystal in the normal state‐superconducting state transition process of the EuBaCuO system.
Analysis of the Debye Temperature for ANB8–N Type Ionic and Partially Covalent Crystals
Authors: Narain Sarvesh
Published: July 2007

A simple method for calculating the Debye temperature for 64 binary crystals of ANB8−N type with NaCl, CsCl, and ZnS structures is developed. First the short‐range force constants are calculated by establishing an empirical relationship between isothermal bulk modulus and lattice parameter. These force constants are then used to estimate the values of Debye temperatures. The results are compared with the corresponding values reported in literature. The importance of the present calculations has been emphasized in view of recently discovered high‐temperature superconductors.
A Cluster Study of the Stabilities of Adsorption Sites and Charge Transfers at the Na/Si (100) Surface
Authors: Hira A. S. , Lin P.‐C. , Ray A. K.
Published: July 2007

The adsorption properties of sodium adatom on silicon (Si) surfaces are investigated using ab initio molecular orbital theory. Twenty‐three bare silicon clusters are studied at the unrestricted Hartree‐Fock (UHF) many‐body perturbation theory (MP4) levels. Twenty‐seven alkali atom‐silicon (AM‐Sin) adsorbate systems are studied with adsorption sites classified as on‐top, open, and bridge sites. Adsorption distances are found by optimizing the distance between the alkali atom and Sin clusters at the UHF level and then chemisorption energies are calculated at the Mp4 level. Electron correlation is found to have significant effects on cluster stability and chemisorption energy. The chemisorption energies are smaller at the Mp4 level than at the SCF level for most systems, and usually increase with increasing number of atoms in the cluster. Am‐Si bonds appear to be of mixed type.
Soliton Energy in the F.C.C. Antiferromagnet Ceas
Authors: Liu Wu‐Ming , Zhang Xin‐Ming , Zhang Dan , Li Shi‐Hong , Zhou Ben‐Lian
Published: July 2007

Employing the Dyson‐Maleev transformation and the coherent state ansatz, two partial differential equations of motion from the Hamiltonian of the f.c.c. antiferromagnet CeAs are obtained. By using the multiple scalar method and the long‐wavelength approximation, these equations are reduced to a nonlinear Schrödinger equation. The single soliton solution is obtained by using the inverse scattering transformation. For the single soliton bound state, the energy and the spatial configurations of the spin are given.
Nonlinear Excitations in an Order‐Parameter‐Preserving Antiferromagnet
Authors: Liu Wu‐Ming , Wang Heng , Bai Feng‐Xiang , Zhou Ben‐Lian
Published: July 2007

Introducing the Dyson‐Maleev transformation and the coherent state ansatz, soliton‐type nonlinear excitations in an order‐parameter‐preserving antiferromagnet (OPP‐AFM) are investigated with help of the method of multiple scales combined with the long‐wavelength approximation. The soliton frequencies enter into the frequency gap of the linear dispersion curve and denote the nonlinear localized modes of this system. These modes which produce the nonlinearity can be viewed as a two‐magnon bound state.
Line groups and modulated systems. Translational invariance in modulated systems
Authors: Mészáros Cs. , Bánkuti J.
Published: July 2007

The line groups are established as the symmetry groups of modulated crystals. The formula of the structure factor in the Fourier‐Bessel synthesis for polymers is extended to modulated crystals. The existence of translational invariance according to line groups is shown for the crystals K2SeO4and MnAu2.
Confined acoustic phonons in a free‐standing quantum well and their interaction with electrons
Authors: Bannov N. , Mitin V. , Stroscio M.
Published: July 2007

The Lagrangian of an isotropic continuous medium and Lagrangian formalism are used to consistently derive acoustic eigenmodes, to normalize them, and to determine the acoustic phonons (confined acoustic phonons) in a free‐standing quantum well. These phonons may be classified as shear, dilatational, and flexural phonons in accordance with the acoustic terminology for eigenmodes. The Hamiltonians describing interactions of the confined acoustic phonons with electrons in the approximations of the deformation potential and the piezoelectric scattering potential are obtained and analyzed.
Study of structural relaxation processes of nonequilibrium states in quench‐condensed indium films with hydrogen impurities below 5 K
Authors: Belevtsev B. I. , Komnik Yu. F. , Vatsuk L. A.
Published: July 2007

The structural state of quench‐condensed polycrystalline indium films with hydrogen impurities is studied by the electron diffraction method. The films (3 to 14 nm thick) are deposited with rates of 0.3 to 2nm/s in hydrogen atmosphere (pH ≈ 1.6 × 10−2 Pa) onto substrates cooled by liquid helium to 2.5 K. The films exhibit high nonequilibrium hydrogen concentration (up to ≈ 15 at%) and their state is labile. During the transition to a more stable state (at constant temperatures or with heating in the range 2.5 K ⪅ T ⪅ 5 K) hydrogen in films is highly mobile. The attendant structural relaxation consists in alternating increase and decrease of the lattice parameters in microcrystallites. Simultaneously crystallites undergo inhomogeneous strains. The behaviour of the relaxation process shows some symptoms of spinodal decomposition. There are, however, essential distinctions from the features of spinodal decomposition, which are known for bulk metal‐hydrogen systems. Results obtained are discussed taking into account the influence of the two‐dimensionality of the films and their inhomogeneous (granular) structure on nonequilibrium state decomposition.
Luminescence and optical absorption in nominally pure and Cr‐doped PLZT ceramics
Authors: Trepakov V. , Dimza V. , Jastrabik L. , Savinov A. , Bryknar Z.
Published: July 2007

This is the first presentation of optical absorption and luminescence emission and excitation spectra of transparent Plzt 10/65/35 (Pb0.9La0.1Zr0.65Ti0.35O3) and Plzt 8/65/35 (Pb0.92La0.08Zr0.65Ti0.35O3) ferroelectric ceramics, both undoped and doped with Cr2O3. Undoped samples exhibit a band gap absorption at 77 K near 365 nm and broad‐band luminescence peaked at 610 nm, which is attributed to self‐trapped exciton emission of Ti3+ Ox oxygen deficient complexes. The newly arising absorption, excitation and emission spectra of Cr2O3‐doped PLZT are ascribed to transitions of Cr3+ and Cr5+ in octahedral positions. The temperature dependence of the inhomogeneously broadened R line luminescence of Cr3+ (2Eg → 4A2g), peaked at ≈ 13610 cm−1 at 77 K in Plzt 8/65/35, reveals a line split in the vicinity of 183 K. This is tentatively attributed to an unknown low‐temperature lattice reconstruction or to a phase transition.
Structural Studies of Bulk Amorphous GaSb under High Pressures
Authors: Sapelkin A. V. , Bayliss S. C. , Lyapin A. G. , Brazhkin V. V. , Iitié J. P. , Polian A. , Clark S. M. , Dent A. J.
Published: July 2007

In‐situ high pressure (up to 20 GPa) energy‐dispersive EXAFS as well as energy‐ and angle‐dispersive powder diffraction have been used to study phase transformations in bulk amorphous GaSb and (GaSb)1−x(Ge2)x. Complex transitional behavior was observed. The amorphous‐tehigh pressure crystalline GaSb II phase transition starts at a pressure of ≈︁4 GPa, whereas the analogous transition in crystalline GaSb takes place at around 7 GPa. The abnormally large Debye Waller factor for Ga nearest neighbors in the high pressure phase is interpreted in terms of the existence of an orthorhombic structure. In the solid solutions of GaSb with Ge the transition pressure shifts to higher values with increasing Ge concentration x.
Ethical decision making styles in the workplace: Underlying dimensions and their implications
Authors: Snow Roberta M. , Bloom Arvid J.
Published: July 2007

Managerial decisions involving complex tradeoffs were examined using a scenariobased survey instrument, developed from the Kinston's work on ethical choice. Respondents indicated the extent to which each of seven ethical considerations would effect their decisions. Four considerations were end‐oriented (teleo‐logical): rationalist, experientialist, systemicist, transcendentalist, and three means‐oriented (deontological): conventionalist, individualist, and legitimist The data suggest that three strong bi‐polar factors with opposing teleological with deontological considerations underlie ethical decision styles. Extensions from the research are also discussed.
The architectural relevance of cybernetics
Authors: Frazer John H.
Published: July 2007

Abstract — This title is taken from an article by Gordon Pask in Architectural Design September 1969. It raises a number of questions which this article attempts to answer. How did Gordon come to be writing for an architectural publication? What was his contribution to architecture? How does he now come to be on the faculty of a school of architecture? And what indeed is the architectural relevance of cybernetics?
Dialogue and conversation machine aspects and aspects going beyond the machine. An essay in honour of gordon pask
Authors: Locker Alfred
Published: July 2007

Abstract — The problem of cognition and of a system's description in general must be considered as a monologue when the observer abstains from admitting the object a rank equal to himself exerting, instead, a dominating attitude which only leads to models deliberately removed from the object. The way to a dialogue is opened up when two partners acknowledge each other and are ready to discuss a problem (or theme) by means of exchanging ideas. Conversation may be placed under the heading of dialogue when it can be shown that only the former, but not the latter, is executable by a machine, i.e. can be objectified. Dialogue exceeds, in principle, the possibilities of the machine in that (1) the subject is unrestrictedly involved and (2) language appears in such a way that it has to be accepted as gift (and cannot be handled as an instrument serving man's purpose). Thus, an inaccessible reality manifests itself, deserving to be named, properly, the word1
Pask as dramaturg
Authors: Pangaro Paul
Published: July 2007

Abstract ‐ “Drama” derives its meaning from the Greek “dran” [delta‐roe‐alpha‐nu], “to act, to do” and, in so many ways, Pask has always been about acting and the “dramatic”[1].

When I say acting I do not want only to refer to Pask's performances ‐ lecturer, researcher, client‐dazzler, theatrical impresario or human being, all of which are intertwined and usually indistinguishable. When I say dramatic I do not want only to suggest an effective and memorable personality ‐ no one forgets Pask, though most profess (often disingenuously) that they “didn't understand him.” To remember him is to understand him, in so many important ways.

No, standing before you I could convince you that the very core of his approach to human learning and performance is that of Dramaturg, the Maker of Drama. Here, in prose, I can only outline what in life is the indescribable experience of The Pask's work.
“Against reference”. “How I write the geometry of speaking in the archeology of an it”
Authors: Pedretti Annetta
Published: July 2007

Abstract ‐ While cybernetic discussion has been much concerned to include the observer, it has done little to include this ‘observer’ as a writer and presenter of his theories. Since as writers we need at least to be conscious to be able to write, I take Gordon Pask's condition for observing, conversing and being conscious with an other in conversation, to consider how we are involved as writers, in writing with others. ‐ In writing “Against Reference”, I write with Gordon's ‘being conscious with’, Susan Sontag's ‘Against Interpretation’, Paul Feyerabend's ‘Against Method’ and Gordon Pask's “Against Conferences”.

As writers we are involved in exchanges in the geometry of speaking in which you read and can potentially write with what I wrote. As such we are actively involved in the making of what we write. ‐ In writing “the making of what we write” I write with Gertrude Stein's ‘The Making of Americans’ and with the making (poiesis) in Maturana's ‘autopoiesis’. Similarly, in writing science we are inevitably involved in the making of science. ‐ If you read ‘the making of science’ as writing with Kuhn of a history of shifting paradigms, I can say that with everything we write, we actively write or re‐write a paradigm.

Instead, the conventions for writing in scientific discourse “tacitly taken for granted by all participants in that discourse” maintain a paradigm' which relies on and endorses our writing in the passive voice. ‐ Grammar teaches that the passive inverts the object and the subject of an active sentence and introduces an ‘it’ and an ‘is’. What grammar, describing language from within the same paradigm as an ‘it’, cannot teach, is that writing in the passive voice we invert the geometry of speaking such that as writers we represent ourselves as though we were readers ('observers') of a text ('objects', ‘reality’) already written by some higher authority and to be treated as given. I call this paradigm for refering to the deeds of a higher authority, the paradigm of reference.

I discuss particular consequences which hampered and brought to a virtual standstill the cybernetic discussions I care about (enough to spend most of my time developing formats which allow for writing with), and general consequences which amount to the undoing of science as a responsible pursuit, both in its own terms and in its contribution to our cultures at large.
Working with gordon developing and applying conversation theory (1968‐1978)
Authors: Scott Bernard
Published: July 2007

Abstract — Conversation Theory was conceived and developed by Gordon Pask in the days when he was Research Director of System Research Ltd, a non‐profit research organisation, founded in the 1950's. I worked with Gordon at System Research Ltd. between 1968 and 1978. Here, I give a personalised account of the development of Conversation Theory and its applications as I observed and participated in them during those years.

Conversation Theory is reflexive: it explains the observer to himself. Being party to its development was a journey of self‐discovery and self‐invention in which Gordon was my guide and mentor. I have ordered my account chronologically; I have also tried to show how Conversation Theory evolved in a “boot‐strapping” manner as a tool and as an explanation of its own significance. Gordon, par excellence, knows how to foster creative conversation and “moments of excellence”.
Black holes, time bandits and the gentleman's code
Authors: Choudhury Ranjit Raja
Published: July 2007

“As people grow older, the world they like to think of as dream, in contrast to the world they would like to think of as tangible reality, becomes dominant. As one fades, the other becomes more brightly illuminated. Quite unobtrusively one merges into the other, just as the smell of oranges, perceptible in the pantomime gallery, permeating the dress circle and penetrating even to the stalls bar, is apt to do so in the really‐real‐world of pantomime”.

(Professor Gordon Pask from the “Adventures with Professor Flaxman‐Low”, 1992)
Adaptability theory as a guide for interfacing‐computers and human society
Authors: Conrad Michael
Published: July 2007

Hierarchical adaptability theory provides a tool for analyzing the mechanisms and processes that living systems use to survive in uncertain or unknown environments. Adaptability is based on the use of information about the environment to select from a repertoire of possible behaviors. The principle of biological compensation states that restrictions on one part of this repertoire (e.g. on genetic plasticity) must be compensated by expansions of other parts (e.g. neurobehavioral plasticity), by an increase in computing power, or by a decrease in niche space. The tradeoflprinciple asserts that programmability is incompatible with high evolutionary plasticity and efficient use of computational resources. Together these two principles imply that the increasing use of programmable computing power in modern societies can have an adaptability decreasing effect that would put humans in the position of disturbance‐absorbing homeostats for computers. Computers can benefit society, but whether they do so in any particular case depends on a sensitive respect for the tradeoffs elucidated by adaptability theory.
The non‐random nature of communication in psychotherapy
Authors: Badalamenti Anthony F. , Langs Robert J. , Cramer Gail
Published: July 2007

The second‐by‐second behavior of the scores for patients and therapists on five quantified measures/dimensions of emotional communication used to characterize communicative vehicles was analyzed and compared to both theoretically random and simulated random data. Four criteria for randomness were developed, one distributional, two parametric and one entropic. Simulation was used to match the number of patient and therapist selections of combinations of the five variables across an entire session for parity in comparing simulated random data with actual psychotherapy data. In all cases, the significant statistical finding was that simulated random data meet the four criteria for randomness, while the actual patient and therapist psychotherapy data do not. We conclude that the vicissitudes of the items chosen for observation show non‐random configurations and that patient and therapist variations of their communicative vehicles reflect inherent properties of emotional expression. These results support the view that human behavior is innately structured and patterned, and may be scientifically studied for non‐random meanings and functions.
Quality Aspects of System Development Paradigms
Authors: Chroust Gerhard
Published: July 2007

Abstract ‐ Complex systems (e.g. software systems) can only be developed by a stepwise process. A major contributor to a product's quality is the quality of the process by which it is developed. Quality cannot be added to a product after it has been developed. Therefore quality assurance process is dependent on the development process and must be intimately intertwined with it. Furthermore the paradigms used for development will have a strong influence on the quality of the final product. In this paper we investigate how different development paradigms (from waterfall to object‐orientation) impact some key quality criteria: need satisfaction, error detection time, future orientation, and re‐usability.
Can system dynamics be theoretically improved, and if so, does it matter practically?
Authors: de Greene Kenyon B.
Published: July 2007

System dynamics can be considered to be one of the great inventions in the study of societal systems. System dynamics represents a major break with the customary and still dominant approach to such study. Nevertheless, there are a number of important realworld behaviors of complex living systems that classical system dynamics cannot completely explain. System dynamics should be integrated with dissipative‐structure theory, synergetics, catastrophe theory, field theory, and chaos theory in order better to explain and to predict evolution, the different kinds of stability and instability, structural change and structural constancy, the different kinds of equilibrium situations, bifurcation, the emergence of collective behavior, and the qualitative meaning of information. Approaches toward the integration of theory are discussed. Model purpose is considered to be the primary factor in determining the required degree of theoretical precision in applied situations.
Expanding the horizon of information systems design
Authors: De Raadt J. D. R.
Published: July 2007

The introduction of information technology in society during the last 30 years has brought mixed results. There is evidence that the benefits to society may not outweigh the detrimental effects that have followed this technology. This is partly because its inclusion in the affairs of humanity has been guided by a mechanical and utilitarian world view that considers humanity as a mean of production and subject to industrial goals. This paper reverses this subjection and presents a framework that integrates information systems design with an overall system design approach and which makes machines the servant of humanity. The design approach is based on a combination of Dooyeweerd's theory of modalities and general systems theory.
I as in academy: Learning to be systemic
Authors: Bawden Richard
Published: July 2007

With kind permission of the International Society for the Systems Sciences, we are able to publish Professor Richard Bawden's ‘Von Bertalanffy Lecture’, presented in July 1993, at the 37th Annual Meeting of the Society at the University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury, Australia.
The synaptic Wnt signaling hypothesis
Authors: Tang Shao‐Jun
Published: July 2007

The role of Wnt signaling in the formation of neural circuits has been well established. Here, I wish to propose a Wnt signaling cascade at the mature central synapse. The synaptic Wnt signaling may have important implications in regulation of brain functions. Synapse 61:866–868, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Ultra‐high frequency tribometer for reciprocating sliding motion
Authors: Spaltmann D. , Hartelt M. , Woydt M.
Published: July 2007

A novel tribometer has been designed using commercially available components for sliding motion at 40kHz with amplitude between 2.5 and 5µm. The tribometer is equipped with means to measure amplitude, frequency, power required to keep the sample in motion and load applied. The effective motion between the two contacting bodies is monitored. These data are used to evaluate the coefficient of friction. The wear rate was determined after the tests. The set‐up was tested using novel, non‐commercial substrates such as AlFeCrTi‐alloys and tungsten carbide‐based coatings as well as Magnéli‐type coatings (Tin−2Cr2O2n−1 and TinO2n−1). This paper presents the principle of the ultra‐high frequency tribometer and first tribological quantities of materials and coatings tested. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ranking Doctoral Programs by Placement: A New
Method
Authors: Schmidt Benjamin M. , Chingos Matthew M.
Published: July 2007

While many bemoan the increasingly large role rankings play in
American higher education, their prominence and importance are
indisputable. Such rankings have many different audiences, ranging
from prospective undergraduates or graduate students, to foundations
and government funders, to university administrators identifying
strengths and weaknesses of their school. This diverse audience
necessarily has varying hopes for what “quality” is measured in
school rankings, and different uses for the rankings themselves. But
although there are currently a wide variety of ways to assess
graduate school quality, most existing surveys have recognized
failings that compromise their usefulness to at least one of these
different constituencies. The authors
extend their thanks to William Bowen, Derek Bruff, Jonathan
Cole, Philip Katz, Gary King, Robert Townsend, Harriet
Zuckerman, and two anonymous PS reviewers for
their valuable comments on and criticisms of earlier drafts of
this paper.
Fostering Theoretical Thinking in Undergraduate
Classes
Authors: Souva Mark
Published: July 2007

How should educators teach students to make better theoretical
arguments, that is, an argument that is logical and fruitful?
Logical thinking is about making valid deductions from a set of
premises and avoiding fallacies. Fruitful thinking involves making
an argument that fits reality. Theoretical thinking, then,
emphasizes building a sound argument with relevant
and interesting empirical implications. In this way, theoretical
thinking complements the more common educational mantra of teaching
students to think critically, which tends to focus on the detection
of fallacies or other flaws in an argument. Emphasizing detection
instead of construction, however, limits the development of
analytical and independent thinking. To better teach the range of
thinking skills most educators want their students to acquire calls
for a focus on the understanding and construction of theoretical
arguments, and this calls for greater emphasis on learning at least
a basic system of logic. I thank Eric
Hoffmann, Bob Jackson, Will Moore, Jeff Staton, and the
reviewers for many helpful comments on earlier drafts. All
remaining errors are my responsibility.
Students in Uniform: ROTC, the Citizen-Soldier, and the Civil-Military Gap
Authors: Leal David L.
Published: July 2007

On many campuses, the sight of a student in a military uniform is common. On other campuses, the military is a distant institution with few visible affiliations. Why are some students in uniform, what are they doing, what are the costs and benefits to the individual, and what are the implications for the nation? This article will discuss these questions, along with a brief history of the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) program and its relationship to the often-discussed civil-military gap.
Michael Baruch Grossman
Authors: Kumar Martha Joynt
Published: July 2007

Michael Baruch Grossman, 70, a political science professor whose
specialty was the relationship between the president and the news
media, died May 14, 2007, in Oakland, California, from complications
arising from pancreatic cancer.
Psychometrische Technologie
Authors: Arendasy Martin E. , Sommer Markus , Hergovich Andreas
Published: July 2007

Zusammenfassung. Die Zukunft der Testkonstruktion könnte - zumindest für gut formalisierbare Dimensionen - auf dem Gebiet der computergestützten, automatischen Generierung psychologischer Testaufgaben liegen. Bislang wurde jedoch noch nicht versucht, eine IRT-basierte psychometrische Qualitätskontrolle in den Prozess automatisierter Itemgenerierung einzubinden. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde diese Möglichkeit anhand eines Itemgenerators für den Fähigkeitsbereich “Numerische Flexibilität“ der Intelligenzdimension “Quantitatives Denken“ untersucht. In Studie I wurde die Qualitätssicherungskomponente des Itemgenerators überprüft. In den Studien II und III wurde die Konstruktvalidität der Itemgeneratorprodukte mit Hilfe des linearen logistischen Testmodells sowie mittels einer hierarchischen, konfirmatorischen Faktorenanalyse untersucht. Abschließende Überlegungen über Beiträge einer automatisierten Itemgenerierung zu Themen wie Testsicherheit, Wirtschaftlichkeit oder Entwicklung der psychometrischen Technologie runden die Arbeit ab.
Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire
Authors: Hilbert Anja , Tuschen-Caffier Brunna , Karwautz Andreas , Niederhofer Helmut , Munsch Simone
Published: July 2007

Zusammenfassung. Der Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire von Fairburn und Beglin (EDE-Q; 1994) ist die Fragebogenversion des strukturierten Essstörungsinterviews Eating Disorder Examination (EDE). Der EDE-Q erfasst die spezifische Essstörungspsychopathologie mithilfe von vier Subskalen zum gezügelten Essverhalten, zu Sorgen über das Essen, Gewicht und Figur. Die in diesem Beitrag vorgestellte deutschsprachige Übersetzung des EDE-Q wurde in Stichproben mit Anorexia nervosa, Bulimia nervosa und atypischen Essstörungen, sowie nicht-klinischen, subklinischen und psychiatrischen Vergleichsgruppen teststatistisch untersucht (N = 706). Der EDE-Q erwies sich als intern konsistent und stabil. Seine faktorielle Struktur wurde teilweise reproduziert. Die Kennwerte des EDE-Q waren signifikant mit denen des EDE korreliert, fielen erwartungsgemäß jedoch teilweise höher aus. Weitere Hinweise für die konvergente Validität ergaben sich durch Korrelationen mit konzeptverwandten Fragebögen. Der EDE-Q zeigte eine gute diskriminative Validität und war sensitiv in der Erfolgsmessung therapeutischer und präventiver Maßnahmen.
The Content of Suicide Notes from Attempters and Completers
Authors: Handelman Lori D. , Lester David
Published: July 2007

Abstract. A study of the content of suicide notes from attempted suicides and completed suicides was conducted using the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) text analysis program. Notes from completed suicides had fewer metaphysical references, more future tense verbs, more social references (to others) and more positive emotions than did the notes from attempted suicides. The implications of these results were discussed.
The Economic Cost of Suicide in Ireland
Authors: Kennelly Brendan
Published: July 2007

Abstract. Objective: To calculate the costs of suicide in Ireland. Method: The paper identifies all episodes of suicide in Ireland in 2001 and 2002, and projects the economic costs arising from these episodes over subsequent years. All prices have been converted to 2001 euros. Both direct and indirect costs were calculated. Indirect costs included both the cost of lost output and human costs. Results: The total cost of suicide is estimated at over Euro 906 million in 2001, and over Euro 835 million in 2002 (in 2001 prices). This is equivalent to a little under 1% of the gross national product in Ireland for those years. Conclusions: The results show that investment in health education and health promotion can be justified on the basis of the costs associated with suicide in Ireland. These costs fall on individuals, families, and society. The huge human cost of suffering associated with suicide can also be prevented through appropriate intervention to prevent death occurring. It is important that any suicide prevention strategy should include an evaluative framework to ensure that investment occurs in the areas most likely to generate the highest returns in term of suicides prevented and lives saved.
Effectiveness of the Vienna Social Competence Training on Explicit and Implicit Aggression
Authors: Gollwitzer Mario , Banse Rainer , Eisenbach Katrin , Naumann Amrei
Published: July 2007

Abstract. A three-wave longitudinal study investigated the effects of the Vienna Social Competence Training (ViSC), a 13-week school class-based social competence training for adolescents, on explicit and implicit aggressiveness. Explicit aggressiveness was assessed via self-reported behavior in conflict situations; implicit aggressiveness was assessed via an Implicit Association Test (IAT). Furthermore, observer ratings regarding aggressive behavior were obtained from teachers and classmates. The ViSC was implemented in seven school classes; four classes served as controls. Data were taken prior to the training, directly after the training, and 4 months after the training was finished. Between pre- and posttest, no differences between training and control classes were found, whereas between posttest and follow-up an increase in aggressiveness was observed among control, but not among training classes. The psychometric properties of the Aggressiveness-IAT for evaluating training effects are discussed.
Structure and evolution of internal gravity waves and traveling ionospheric disturbances in regions with sharp gradients of the ionospheric parameters
Authors: Belashova Elena S. , Belashov Vasily Y. , Vladimirov Sergey V.
Published: July 2007

The dynamics of the solitary nonlinear internal gravity waves (IGW), as well as traveling ionospheric disturbances (TID) of the electron density excited by IGW at the heights of the ionosphere's F region, for conditions close to those of the F layer assuming that the source of initial perturbation has the pulse character are studied. In particular, the cases when the solitary IGW and TID propagate in the regions with sharp gradients of the ionospheric parameters, such as electron density, temperature, scale heights for the ions and neutral particles, etc., are considered.
A simple and efficient FDTD/PBC algorithm for scattering analysis of periodic structures
Authors: Yang Fan , Chen Ji , Qiang Rui , Elsherbeni Atef
Published: July 2007

An efficient finite difference time domain (FDTD) algorithm with a simple periodic boundary condition (PBC) is developed to analyze reflection and transmission properties of general periodic structures with arbitrary incident angles. In this new approach, the FDTD simulation is performed by setting a constant horizontal wave number instead of a specific incident angle. The principle of the FDTD/PBC algorithm is discussed and two important implementation issues are addressed, namely, the excitation of plane wave and the suppression of horizontal resonance. The validity of the approach is demonstrated through several numerical examples on dielectric slabs and frequency selective surfaces.
Multi‐scale structure of the electron diffusion region
Authors: Karimabadi H. , Daughton W. , Scudder J.
Published: July 2007

Kinetic simulations of magnetic reconnection indicate that the electron diffusion region (EDR) can elongate into a highly stretched current layer with a width on the electron scale and a length that exceeds tens of ion inertial lengths. The resulting structure has no fluid analogue and consists of two regions in the exhaust direction. The inner region is characterized by the locale where electrons reach a peak outflow speed near the electron Alfvén velocity. Ions also approach ∼80% of their peak velocity in this inner region but remain sub‐Alfvénic. There exists a large electrostatic potential that can temporarily trap electrons within this inner region. The electron frozen‐in condition is violated over a wider outer region characterized by highly collimated electron jets that are gradually decelerated and thermalized. Reconnection proceeds continuously but the rate is modulated in time as the EDR elongates into an extended layer. The elongation of the EDR is controlled by the competition between the outward convection of magnetic flux and the non‐ideal term involving the divergence of the electron pressure tensor. The occasional balance between these two terms leads to periods of quasi‐steady reconnection. However, over longer time scales, a natural feature of the reconnection process appears to be frequent formation of plasmoids due to the instability of the elongated EDR which leads to larger variations in the reconnection rate. These new findings provide testable predictions and indicate the need to reconsider the diagnostics for identification of the diffusion region and interpretation of observational data.
Algebraic structure of the Feynman propagator and a new correspondence for canonical transformations
Authors: Ogura Akihiro , Sekiguchi Motoo
Published: July 2007

We investigate the algebraic structure of the Feynman propagator with a general time-dependent quadratic Hamiltonian system. Using the Lie-algebraic technique, we obtain a normal-ordered form of the time-evolution operator, and then the propagator is easily derived by a simple “integration within ordered product” technique. It is found that this propagator contains a classical generating function, which demonstrates a new correspondence between classical and quantum mechanics.