bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
First-principles calculation of the bulk photovoltaic effect in the polar compounds LiAsS2, LiAsSe2, and NaAsSe2
Authors: Brehm John A. , Young Steve M. , Zheng Fan , Rappe Andrew M.
Published: November 2014

We calculate the shift current response, which has been identified as the dominant mechanism for the bulk photovoltaic effect, for the polar compounds LiAsS2, LiAsSe2, and NaAsSe2. We find that the magnitudes of the photovoltaic responses in the visible range for these compounds exceed the maximum response obtained for BiFeO3 by 10–20 times. We correlate the high shift current response with the existence of p states at both the valence and conduction band edges, as well as the dispersion of these bands, while also showing that high polarization is not a requirement. With low experimental band gaps of less than 2 eV and high shift current response, these materials have potential for use as bulk photovoltaics.
Stability conditions for exact-exchange Kohn-Sham methods and their relation to correlation energies from the adiabatic-connection fluctuation-dissipation theorem
Authors: Bleiziffer Patrick , Schmidtel Daniel , Görling Andreas
Published: November 2014

The occurrence of instabilities, in particular singlet-triplet and singlet-singlet instabilities, in the exact-exchange (EXX) Kohn-Sham method is investigated. Hessian matrices of the EXX electronic energy with respect to the expansion coefficients of the EXX effective Kohn-Sham potential in an auxiliary basis set are derived. The eigenvalues of these Hessian matrices determine whether or not instabilities are present. Similar as in the corresponding Hartree-Fock case instabilities in the EXX method are related to symmetry breaking of the Hamiltonian operator for the EXX orbitals. In the EXX methods symmetry breaking can easily be visualized by displaying the local multiplicative exchange potential. Examples (N2, O2, and the polyyne C10H2) for instabilities and symmetry breaking are discussed. The relation of the stability conditions for EXX methods to approaches calculating the Kohn-Sham correlation energy via the adiabatic-connection fluctuation-dissipation (ACFD) theorem is discussed. The existence or nonexistence of singlet-singlet instabilities in an EXX calculation is shown to indicate whether or not the frequency-integration in the evaluation of the correlation energy is singular in the EXX-ACFD method. This method calculates the Kohn-Sham correlation energy through the ACFD theorem theorem employing besides the Coulomb kernel also the full frequency-dependent exchange kernel and yields highly accurate electronic energies. For the case of singular frequency-integrands in the EXX-ACFD method a regularization is suggested. Finally, we present examples of molecular systems for which the self-consistent field procedure of the EXX as well as the Hartree-Fock method can converge to more than one local minimum depending on the initial conditions.
Orbital-optimized MP2.5 and its analytic gradients: Approaching CCSD(T) quality for noncovalent interactions
Authors: Bozkaya Uğur , Sherrill C. David
Published: November 2014

Orbital-optimized MP2.5 [or simply “optimized MP2.5,” OMP2.5, for short] and its analytic energy gradients are presented. The cost of the presented method is as much as that of coupled-cluster singles and doubles (CCSD) [O(N6) scaling] for energy computations. However, for analytic gradient computations the OMP2.5 method is only half as expensive as CCSD because there is no need to solve λ2-amplitude equations for OMP2.5. The performance of the OMP2.5 method is compared with that of the standard second-order Møller–Plesset perturbation theory (MP2), MP2.5, CCSD, and coupled-cluster singles and doubles with perturbative triples (CCSD(T)) methods for equilibrium geometries, hydrogen transfer reactions between radicals, and noncovalent interactions. For bond lengths of both closed and open-shell molecules, the OMP2.5 method improves upon MP2.5 and CCSD by 38%–43% and 31%–28%, respectively, with Dunning's cc-pCVQZ basis set. For complete basis set (CBS) predictions of hydrogen transfer reaction energies, the OMP2.5 method exhibits a substantially better performance than MP2.5, providing a mean absolute error of 1.1 kcal mol−1, which is more than 10 times lower than that of MP2.5 (11.8 kcal mol−1), and comparing to MP2 (14.6 kcal mol−1) there is a more than 12-fold reduction in errors. For noncovalent interaction energies (at CBS limits), the OMP2.5 method maintains the very good performance of MP2.5 for closed-shell systems, and for open-shell systems it significantly outperforms MP2.5 and CCSD, and approaches CCSD(T) quality. The MP2.5 errors decrease by a factor of 5 when the optimized orbitals are used for open-shell noncovalent interactions, and comparing to CCSD there is a more than 3-fold reduction in errors. Overall, the present application results indicate that the OMP2.5 method is very promising for open-shell noncovalent interactions and other chemical systems with difficult electronic structures.
Infrared spectral marker bands characterizing a transient water wire inside a hydrophobic membrane protein
Authors: Wolf Steffen , Freier Erik , Cui Qiang , Gerwert Klaus
Published: November 2014

Proton conduction along protein-bound “water wires” is an essential feature in membrane proteins. Here, we analyze in detail a transient water wire, which conducts protons via a hydrophobic barrier within a membrane protein to create a proton gradient. It is formed only for a millisecond out of three water molecules distributed at inactive positions in a polar environment in the ground state. The movement into a hydrophobic environment causes characteristic shifts of the water bands reflecting their different chemical properties. These band shifts are identified by time-resolved Fourier Transform Infrared difference spectroscopy and analyzed by biomolecular Quantum Mechanical/Molecular Mechanical simulations. A non-hydrogen bonded (“dangling”) O–H stretching vibration band and a broad continuum absorbance caused by a combined vibration along the water wire are identified as characteristic marker bands of such water wires in a hydrophobic environment. The results provide a basic understanding of water wires in hydrophobic environments.
NMR characterization of hydrocarbon adsorption on calcite surfaces: A first principles study
Authors: Bevilaqua Rochele C. A. , Rigo Vagner A. , Veríssimo-Alves Marcos , Miranda Caetano R.
Published: November 2014

The electronic and coordination environment of minerals surfaces, as calcite, are very difficult to characterize experimentally. This is mainly due to the fact that there are relatively few spectroscopic techniques able to detect Ca2+. Since calcite is a major constituent of sedimentary rocks in oil reservoir, a more detailed characterization of the interaction between hydrocarbon molecules and mineral surfaces is highly desirable. Here we perform a first principles study on the adsorption of hydrocarbon molecules on calcite surface (CaCO3 $( {10\bar 14} )$(101¯4)). The simulations were based on Density Functional Theory with Solid State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (SS-NMR) calculations. The Gauge-Including Projector Augmented Wave method was used to compute mainly SS-NMR parameters for 43Ca, 13C, and 17O in calcite surface. It was possible to assign the peaks in the theoretical NMR spectra for all structures studied. Besides showing different chemical shifts for atoms located on different environments (bulk and surface) for calcite, the results also display changes on the chemical shift, mainly for Ca sites, when the hydrocarbon molecules are present. Even though the interaction of the benzene molecule with the calcite surface is weak, there is a clearly distinguishable displacement of the signal of the Ca sites over which the hydrocarbon molecule is located. A similar effect is also observed for hexane adsorption. Through NMR spectroscopy, we show that aromatic and alkane hydrocarbon molecules adsorbed on carbonate surfaces can be differentiated.
Dynamic frequency-domain interferometer for absolute distance measurements with high resolution
Authors: Weng Jidong , Liu Shenggang , Ma Heli , Tao Tianjiong , Wang Xiang , Liu Cangli , Tan Hua
Published: November 2014

A unique dynamic frequency-domain interferometer for absolute distance measurement has been developed recently. This paper presents the working principle of the new interferometric system, which uses a photonic crystal fiber to transmit the wide-spectrum light beams and a high-speed streak camera or frame camera to record the interference stripes. Preliminary measurements of harmonic vibrations of a speaker, driven by a radio, and the changes in the tip clearance of a rotating gear wheel show that this new type of interferometer has the ability to perform absolute distance measurements both with high time- and distance-resolution.
Graphene optical-to-thermal converter
Authors: Manjavacas Alejandro , Thongrattanasiri Sukosin , Greffet Jean-Jacques , de Abajo F. Javier García
Published: November 2014

Infrared plasmons in doped graphene nanostructures produce large optical absorption that can be used for narrow-band thermal light emission at tunable frequencies that strongly depend on the doping charge. By virtue of Kirchhoff's law, thermal light emission is proportional to the absorption, thus resulting in narrow emission lines associated with the electrically controlled plasmons of heated graphene. Here, we show that realistic designs of graphene plasmonic structures can release over 90% of the emission through individual infrared lines with 1% bandwidth. We examine anisotropic graphene structures in which efficient heating can be produced upon optical pumping tuned to a plasmonic absorption resonance situated in the blue region relative to the thermal emission. An incoherent thermal light converter is thus achieved. Our results open a radically different approach for designing tunable nanoscale infrared light sources.
Less mobility degradation induced by transverse electric-field in junctionless transistors
Authors: Park So Jeong , Jeon Dae-Young , Montes Laurent , Mouis Mireille , Barraud Sylvain , Kim Gyu-Tae , Ghibaudo Gérard
Published: November 2014

The mobility degradation by the relaxed electric-field in junctionless transistor (JLT) has been studied experimentally and theoretically. JLT showed less mobility degradation compared to the inversion-mode transistor in both planar-like and nanowire structures. The unique transconductance shape and the reduced degradation of the mobility in the nanowire JLT showed that it still has bulk neutral conduction portion in its total conduction while the immunity to the mobility degradation of JLT is enhanced with planar-structure. 2-dimensional numerical simulation confirmed the reduced transverse electric-field with bulk neutral conduction in JLT as well as the deviation of transconductance degradation by the channel doping concentration and the channel top width.
Tuning of the hole spin relaxation time in single self-assembled In1−xGaxAs/GaAs quantum dots by electric field
Authors: Wei Hai , Guo Guang-Can , He Lixin
Published: November 2014

We investigate the electric field tuning of the phonon-assisted hole spin relaxation in single self-assembled In1−xGaxAs/GaAs quantum dots (QDs), using an atomistic empirical pseudopotential method. We find that the electric field along the growth direction can tune the hole spin relaxation time for more than one order of magnitude. The electric field can prolong or shorten the hole spin lifetime and the tuning shows an asymmetry in terms of the field direction. The asymmetry is more pronounced for the taller dot. The results show that the electric field is an effective way to tune the hole spin-relaxation in self-assembled QDs.
Charge contribution to patch-charged microparticle adhesion
Authors: Vallabh Chaitanya Krishna Prasad , Vahdat Armin Saeedi , Cetinkaya Cetin
Published: November 2014

Microparticle adhesion influenced by electrostatic charge has been a significant research interest for over past three decades or so in a wide spectrum of areas of interest from manufacturing (electrophotography, powder technology, metallurgy, and semi-conductor manufacturing) to natural phenomena (desert sandstorms and northern lights (auroras)). However, over the years, as a result of the strong discrepancies between the experimental adhesion measurements data and theoretical predictions, some key issues regarding the contributors of adhesion forces in charged microparticles and the nature of surface charge distribution still remain unresolved. In the current work, a non-contact ultrasonic approach is presented and employed for understanding the nature of charge distribution on a single microparticle and determining the effect of electrostatic charge on its adhesion in a non-invasive manner. From the vibrational spectra of the charged particle response to the ultrasonic substrate oscillations under various electrostatic loading conditions, three distinct shifting patterns of vibrational (rocking) resonance frequencies are observed for each level of applied substrate surface voltage, implying an un-symmetric force field on the particle, thus depicting non-uniform non-symmetric surface charge distribution on its surface. Also, a simple mathematical model was presented and employed for predicting the equivalent bulk charge on a single microparticle (toner) from resonance frequency shifts. In summary, it is found that the charge levels reported here are consistent with the previously published data, and it is demonstrated that, in a non-invasive manner, non-uniform charge distribution on a single microparticle can be observed and its total charge can be predicted.
Band structure of ABC-trilayer graphene superlattice
Authors: Uddin Salah , Chan K. S.
Published: November 2014

We investigate the effect of one-dimensional periodic potentials on the low energy band structure of ABC trilayer graphene first by assuming that all the three layers have the same potential. Extra Dirac points having the same electron hole crossing energy as that of the original Dirac point are generated by superlattice potentials with equal well and barrier widths. When the potential height is increased, the numbers of extra Dirac points are increased. The dispersions around the Dirac points are not isotropic. It is noted that the dispersion along the ky direction for kx = 0 oscillates between a non-linear dispersion and a linear dispersion when the potential height is increased. When the well and barrier widths are not identical, the symmetry of the conduction and valence bands is broken. The extra Dirac points are shifted either upward or downward depending on the barrier and well widths from the zero energy, while the position of the central Dirac point oscillates with the superlattice potential height. By considering different potentials for different layers, extra Dirac points are generated not from the original Dirac points but from the valleys formed in the energy spectrum. Two extra Dirac points appear from each pair of touched valleys, so four Dirac points appeared in the spectrum at particular barrier height. By increasing the barrier height of superlattice potential two Dirac points merge into the original Dirac point. This emerging and merging of extra Dirac points is different from the equal potential case.
Effects of a nearby Mn delta layer on the optical properties of an InGaAs/GaAs quantum well
Authors: Balanta M. A. G. , Brasil M. J. S. P. , Iikawa F. , Brum J. A. , Mendes Udson C. , Danilov Yu. A. , Dorokhin M. V. , Vikhrova Olga V. , Zvonkov Boris N.
Published: November 2014

We investigated the effects of nearby Mn ions on the confined states of a InGaAs/GaAs quantum well through circularly polarized and magneto-optical measurements. The addition of a Mn delta-doping layer at the barrier close to the well gives rise to surprisingly narrow absorption peaks in the photoluminescence excitation spectra. The peaks become increasingly stronger for decreasing spacer-layer thicknesses between the quantum well and the Mn layer. Most of the peaks were identified based on self-consistent calculations; however, we observed additional peaks that cannot be identified with quantum well transitions, which origin we attribute to an enhanced exciton-phonon coupling. Finally, we discuss possible effects related to the exciton magneto-polaron complex in the reinforcement of the photoluminescence excitation peaks.
Improvement in gate bias stress instability of amorphous indium-gallium-zinc oxide thin-film transistors using microwave irradiation
Authors: Jo Kwang-Won , Cho Won-Ju
Published: November 2014

In this study, we evaluated the effects of microwave irradiation (MWI) post-deposition-annealing (PDA) treatment on the gate bias stress instability of amorphous indium-gallium-zinc oxide thin-film transistors (a-IGZO TFTs) and compared the results with a conventional thermal annealing PDA treatment. The MWI-PDA-treated a-IGZO TFTs exhibited enhanced electrical performance as well as improved long-term stability with increasing microwave power. The positive turn-on voltage shift (ΔVON) as a function of stress time with positive bias and varying temperature was precisely modeled on a stretched-exponential equation, suggesting that charge trapping is a dominant mechanism in the instability of MWI-PDA-treated a-IGZO TFTs. The characteristic trapping time and average effective barrier height for electron transport indicate that the MWI-PDA treatment effectively reduces the defects in a-IGZO TFTs, resulting in a superior resistance against gate bias stress.
A spin beam splitter in graphene through the Goos–Hänchen shift
Authors: Zhang Qingtian , Chan K. S.
Published: November 2014

We propose a method of realizing an effective electron spin beam splitter in graphene through the Goos-Hänchen effect. The device consists of a layer of monolayer graphene on which two ferromagnetic stripes are deposited with parallel or antiparallel magnetization configuration. It is shown that the transmitted spin-up and spin-down electron beams are found at different longitudinal positions and their spatial separation can be enhanced by the number of transmission resonances formed between the two ferromagnetic stripes. The spatial separation between the spin-up and spin-down electron beams can reach values up to hundreds of wavelengths, which can be observed experimentally.
Semipolar and nonpolar GaN epi-films grown on m-sapphire by plasma assisted molecular beam epitaxy
Authors: Mukundan Shruti , Mohan Lokesh , Chandan Greeshma , Roul Basanta , Krupanidhi S. B.
Published: November 2014

We hereby report the development of non-polar epi-GaN films of usable quality, on an m-plane sapphire. Generally, it is difficult to obtain high-quality nonpolar material due to the planar anisotropic nature of the growth mode. However, we could achieve good quality epi-GaN films by involving controlled steps of nitridation. GaN epilayers were grown on m-plane (10-10) sapphire substrates using plasma assisted molecular beam epitaxy. The films grown on the nitridated surface resulted in a nonpolar (10-10) orientation while without nitridation caused a semipolar (11-22) orientation. Room temperature photoluminescence study showed that nonpolar GaN films have higher value of compressive strain as compared to semipolar GaN films, which was further confirmed by room temperature Raman spectroscopy. The room temperature UV photodetection of both films was investigated by measuring the I-V characteristics under UV light illumination. UV photodetectors fabricated on nonpolar GaN showed better characteristics, including higher external quantum efficiency, compared to photodetectors fabricated on semipolar GaN. X-ray rocking curves confirmed better crystallinity of semipolar as compared to nonpolar GaN which resulted in faster transit response of the device.
Strain solitary waves in a thin-walled waveguide
Authors: Dreiden G. V. , Samsonov A. M. , Semenova I. V. , Shvartz A. G.
Published: November 2014

A mathematical model is proposed to describe bulk longitudinal waves in a nonlinearly elastic thin-walled cylindrical shell. The equation of motion for the longitudinal displacement is derived. In case of the homogeneous shell, this equation is reduced to the doubly dispersive equation for the linear longitudinal strain component and provides a solitary wave solution. Results of the first experimental observation of the bulk strain soliton in a duct-like shell are presented, and both the wave amplitude and velocity are estimated.
On the chaotic behavior of the primal–dual affine–scaling algorithm for linear optimization
Authors: Bruin H. , Fokkink R. , Gu G. , Roos C.
Published: November 2014

We study a one-parameter family of quadratic maps, which serves as a template for interior point methods. It is known that such methods can exhibit chaotic behavior, but this has been verified only for particular linear optimization problems. Our results indicate that this chaotic behavior is generic.
Vortex jump behavior in coupled nanomagnetic heterostructures
Authors: Zhang S. , Petford-Long A. K. , Heinonen O. , Phatak C.
Published: November 2014

The spin configuration and magnetic behavior in patterned nanostructures can be controlled by manipulating the interplay between the competing energy terms. This in turn requires fundamental knowledge of the magnetic interactions at the local nanometer scale. Here, we report on the spin structure and magnetization behavior of patterned discs containing exchange coupled ferromagnetic layers with additional exchange bias to an antiferromagnetic layer. The magnetization reversal was explored by direct local visualization of the domain behavior using in-situ Lorentz transmission electron microscopy, from which quantitative magnetic induction maps were reconstructed. The roles of the main competing energy terms were elucidated and the reversal mechanism was identified as a coupled phenomenon of incoherent rotation in the exchange-biased layer and localized vortex nucleation and discontinuous propagation in the free layer, including an anomalous jump in the trajectory. The observations were supported by micromagnetic simulations and modeled phase shift simulations. The work presented here provides fundamental insights into opportunities for macroscopic control of the energy landscape of magnetic heterostructures for functional applications.
A new time-frequency method to reveal quantum dynamics of atomic hydrogen in intense laser pulses: Synchrosqueezing transform
Authors: Sheu Yae-lin , Hsu Liang-Yan , Wu Hau-tieng , Li Peng-Cheng , Chu Shih-I
Published: November 2014

This study introduces a new adaptive time-frequency (TF) analysis technique, the synchrosqueezing transform (SST), to explore the dynamics of a laser-driven hydrogen atom at an ab initio level, upon which we have demonstrated its versatility as a new viable venue for further exploring quantum dynamics. For a signal composed of oscillatory components which can be characterized by instantaneous frequency, the SST enables rendering the decomposed signal based on the phase information inherited in the linear TF representation with mathematical support. Compared with the classical type of TF methods, the SST clearly depicts several intrinsic quantum dynamical processes such as selection rules, AC Stark effects, and high harmonic generation.
Addition of passive acoustic telemetry mitigates lost data from satellite-tracked manatees
Authors: Aven Allen M. , Carmichael Ruth H. , Ajemian Matthew J. , Powers Sean P.
Published: November 2014

Satellite-tracked manatees routinely lose satellite tags or tag functionality, resulting in the loss of valuable data on migration and habitat use patterns. Fortunately, some movement data from these animals remain salvageable because manatees typically retain a peduncle belt containing an acoustic transmitter that can be detected with a submersible hydrophone. We deployed an array of moored datalogging hydrophones at key locations in our study area to detect manatee belt-embedded acoustic transmitters, a technique not typically used to track manatees. Our array was successful in detecting five tagged manatees, and concurrently detected compatible acoustic tags of other estuarine fauna (e.g. Bull Sharks) tagged by local researchers. Moored datalogging hydrophones, therefore, provided a method to mitigate the loss of satellite tags from estuarine megafauna, and enhanced collaborative opportunities with researchers who tagged other species using compatible equipment.
Hare et l’universalisation des jugements moraux
Authors: Panaccio Claude
Published: November 2014

Admettons comme hypothèse de travail pour les besoins de la discussion qui va suivre que les jugements moraux ne sont pas fondés sur des valeurs objectives, sur des propriétés naturelles des choses, des actes ou des hommes, ni sur les volontés d'un Etre supréme quelconque; admettons qu'ils relevènt ultimement de decisions individuelles, que chaque homme est sur le plan logique (mais pas nécessairement au plan des faits) libre de décider des principes en vertu desquels il entend guider sa vie. La question qui se pose est la suivante: ces jugements concernant ma propre vie sont-ils logiquement universalisables? Le sont-ils nécessairement? Le sont-ils parfois et à quelles conditions? En d'autres termes, le fait qu'au plan moral je valorise tel type d'action doit-il m'amener à poser que les autres “devraient” également valoriser le même type d'action? La logique du discours moral me permet-elle de poser des valeurs uniquement pour moi-méme?Ou au contraire le jugement (moral): “je devrais agir de telle façon” entraîne-t-il le locuteur à adhérer à cet autre jugement: “X (ou toute personne), dans des circonstances semblables, devrait (moralement) agir de la même façon”?
“None in Particular”
Authors: Woods John
Published: November 2014

Knowing what one wants. Is there any truth to the story that if you don't know what it is, then you can't want it? Well, I see, off to the right, in half-light, something that may or may not be an F: I can't really tell, and I don't much care. Perhaps my appetite for the unknown is not entirely normal, but I find that, whatever it is, I want it. Even if it turns out to be a particularly nasty or revolting or un-recherché thing, a G say, it will still be true that I wanted it, though it is neither something that I now want nor what I would have wanted it to be; and though I won't want it any longer and regret it's turning out to be a G, it is still, even to my discomfort, something that I once wanted.
An Incoherence in the Tractatus
Authors: Ginet Carl
Published: November 2014

After he had rejected much of the Tractatus, Wittgenstein, upon at least one occasion, still “thought that in the Tractatus he had provided a perfected account of a view that is the only alternative to the viewpoint of his later work”—a perfected account: that is to say (at least) a well-knit, coherent one. It seems to me that this merit must be denied the whole account presented in the Tractatus and I would like to explain why.

The Tractatus holds that every true or false proposition is analyzable as a truth-functional compound of elementary propositions. It further holds that elementary propositions are completely independent of one another. “The simplest kind of proposition, an elementary proposition, asserts the existence of a state of affairs” (4.21).
Le Mal dans Ia Philosophie Religieuse et Politique de Kant
Authors: Reboul O.
Published: November 2014

A Ia suite de ses trois grandes Critiques, Kant a publié, en 1793, La religion dans les limites de Ia simple raison. Ce livre commence par l'affirmation d'un principe mauvais au plus profond de l'homme, d'un “mal radical” qui est le fait de notre moi intelligible lui-même et qui permet à l'auteur d'accuser l'humanitē tout entière. Le péché originel dans une philosophie rationaliste, voilà qui ne va pas de soi. Goethe écrivait déjà: “Kant, après avoir consacré une longue vie d'homme à nettoyer son manteau philosophique de bien des préjugés malpropres, l'a ignominieusement souillé avec Ia tache infamante du mal radical pour engager les chrétiens aussi à en baiser l'ourlet”. Sans chercher des mobiles aussi bas, on peut s'étonner en effet que l'homme de Kant, l'homme sujet transcendantal et volonté autonome, soit aussi l'homme coupable, le pauvre pécheur de Ia théologie chrétienne.
Practice and Some Muddles about the Methodology of Historical Materialism
Authors: Cunningham Frank
Published: November 2014

Along with the rest of hisCritique de Ia Raison Dialectique,which it introduces, the “Question de Méthode” (widely read by English-speaking students of Marx asSearch foraMethod)takes an important place in the development of Jean-Paul Sartre's philosophical and political thought. However, theSearchis also a challenge to Marxists either to defend or abandon certain of their views, and as such I think it raises some crucial issues. It is the purpose of this essay not to produce a systematic critique of Sartre's influential work, but rather to explore and sharpen some principles of the methodology of historical materialism by critically examining a selection of interrelated misconceptions about Marxism exhibited in theSearchand shared by many friends as well as foes of the historical materialist approach to the study of human society.
On Quine's Relativity of Ontology
Authors: Teller Paul R.
Published: November 2014

Quine's essay, “Ontological Relativity” [2] has brought about not a little confusion and disagreement. What is Quine's doctrine, and what are his arguments for it? The following paragraphs search for an answer. First a word about my aims. I will avoid adding to the already extensive discussion of Quine's older thesis of the indeterminacy of translation. Instead, where connections between the old and new doctrines become apparent, I will focus on the connections themselves and their repercussions for ontological relativity.
Anthropological Science Fiction and Logical Necessity
Authors: Canfield John V.
Published: November 2014

What is the source of the hardness of the logical must? What does the necessity of mathematical and logical inference consist in? If I am plotting the curve y = x2 and assume that x = 2 I must conclude that y = 4; no other consequence can be drawn. What is the nature of this ‘must'?

Understanding Wittgenstein's answer to this question is essential to understanding his later philosophy. The question of the nature of logical or mathematical necessity is as fundamental for the Investigations as it obviously was for the Tractatus. Barry Stroud's article “Wittgenstein and Logical Necessity” certainly is still one of the most illuminating and important of the papers dealing with this question.
Reply to Smook
Authors: Flew Antony
Published: November 2014

I feel most flattered by the careful attention which Dr. Roger Smook has devoted to my paper “Is There a Case for Disembodied Survival?” and I am duly grateful to him.

We certainly agree that the most important thing in his reply is his response to my challenge “to show: (a) that there can be a coherent notion of an incorporeal personal being, and (b) that a being of this sort could significantly be said to be the same person as he was when he was a creature of flesh and blood” (p. 139). Smook's response runs: “By a conscious being (henceforth abbreviated ‘CB’) I understand any entity which has an ongoing conscious life of however rudimentary a sort …. I begin by assuming 1.
Picturing, Seeing and the Time-Lag Argument
Authors: Aldrich Virgil C.
Published: November 2014

Picture-theories of visual perception usually maintain that, when something is simply seen, then (1) the seer “has” a picture of the thing, (2) the thing is the primary cause of the picture, (3) the thing in itself is not the primary object of sight, and (4) it is the picture itself that is the primary object of visual (not thoughtful) awareness.

I shall argue in this essay that there are not only proper, but required, senses in which the first three of these propositions are true, but that the fourth is always false or that one never simply sees (even imagines or senses) the picture. Rather, what is thus seen is always in the picture, never the picture itself. The grounds on which I make this complex point will also undo the time-lag argument, at least in the standard interpretation of it associated with the false fourth proposition above.
Utilitarianism, For and Against
Authors: Dryer D. P.
Published: November 2014

Utilitarianism, For and Against contains in a single volume a slightly revised version of An Outline of a System of Utilitarian Ethics which J. J. C. Smart published in 1961, together with a critique of it by Bernard Williams. Stuart Hampshire gives another critique in Morality and Pessimism.* After touching on Hampshire I shall outline what seems distinctive of Smart's utilitarianism then consider Williams’ objections.

If I remember rightly, Bentham wrote an ‘analysis of the effects of Christianity on the temporal happiness of mankind’. In his Leslie Stephen Lecture, Hampshire gives utilitarianism a similar examination. We all know that for its fathers, utilitarianism was not simply a moral theory. They set out to do good in the world. Hampshire acknowledges that for long utilitarianism did much good.
Kantian Derivations
Authors: Swoyer Chris
Published: November 2014

Although Kant's attempts in the Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals to derive statements of specific duties from the categorical imperative have received much attention, there is still disagreement over the strategies of particular derivations, the status of the auxiliary assumptions employed therein, and the principles at work in the derivations generally. Yet an understanding of these matters is indispensable for a proper understanding of the Groundwork and bears on a much wider class of ethical theories as well. My aim here is to provide an account of the derivations and their auxiliary premises that explains both the strategy behind the derivations generally and the details of Kant's specific examples. In particular, I shall argue that the widespread view that the premises of the derivations are empirical is mistaken and that their conclusions are thus more general than is often supposed.
Three Trivial Truth Theories
Authors: Lepore Ernest , Loewer Barry
Published: November 2014

According to Tarski, a theory of truth for a language L is a theory which logically implies for each sentence S of L a sentence of the form:

S is true-in-L if and only if p,

where rS1 is replaced by a canonical description of a sentence of L and rp1 is replaced by that sentence if L is contained in the metalanguage or by a translation of S if it is not so contained. Tarski constructed consistent and finitely axiomatized theories of truth for various formal languages and showed how to explicitly define ‘is true in L’ within these theories. We all agree that Tarski's theories of truth have enormous philosophical significance, but there is much less agreement on precisely what that significance consists in.
Utility and the Basis of Moral Rights: A Reply to Professor Brandt
Authors: Card Claudia
Published: November 2014

Is it true that utilitarianism can accommodate the modern belief that human beings have certain moral rights against everybody ‘just in virtue of their human nature?’ I should have thought the most a utilitarian could grant was that we had rights just in virtue of the utility of respecting such rights, not just in virtue of our human nature. In fact, that is more like the view Professor Brandt actually supports. What he argues is that there is not the a priori difficulty with the idea of utilitarian moral rights that some philosophers have thought there was. However, I think the possibility of utilitarian moral rights is not the same as the view that we all have human rights against everybody just in virtue of our human nature. As I hear it, ‘just in virtue of our human nature’ is an alternative to a utilitarian basis for rights. I'll return to that.
Some Reflections on the Concept of Poverty
Authors: Goldman Michael
Published: November 2014

It is a remarkable fact that in the past ten years the Philosophical Index shows a mere handful of entries under the heading ‘poverty.’ This is remarkable because of the widespread interest found in the population in general and among philosophers in particular in the identification, analysis, and solution of moral and social problems, and the cultural consensus that poverty is just such a problem. Perhaps the lack of philosophical attention reflects the assumption that there is no conceptual problem with ‘poverty': we all know pretty much what it is, we simply disagree about the principles which can legitmately be implemented to eliminate it. There is some evidence for this in the fact that literature on distributive justice abounds even where the literature on poverty is scarce, and discussions of related issues, such as famine, population ethics, etc., take for granted that the concept of poverty is not problematic.
Predicting Initiation of Smoking Cessation Treatment and Outcome among Adolescents Using Stressful Life Events and Coping Style
Authors: Schepis Ty S. , Cavallo Dana A. , Kong Grace , Liss Thomas , Liss Amanda , Krishnan-Sarin Suchitra
Published: November 2014

Background

Adolescent smoking is a major public health concern, and current treatments are only somewhat effective in promoting abstinence. One way to improve treatments is to identify psychosocial characteristics that impede cessation, allowing development of targeted treatments. This study examined the influence of 2 such characteristics, life event stressors and coping, on initiation of cessation treatment and end-of-treatment abstinence status.

Methods

One hundred five adolescent smokers were eligible to participate in a validated contingency management (CM) and cognitive-behavioral (CBT) cessation treatment; of those, 72 completed at least 1 treatment session. Data included sociodemographic characteristics, questionnaires assessing past-year life events and coping behavior use, and abstinence status at the end of the 4-week treatment. Logistic regression was used to predict treatment initiation and abstinence status, with life event stressor number, coping, or their interaction as predictors.

Results

Higher levels of cognitive and peer support coping predicted treatment initiation, whereas life events were unrelated. End-of-treatment abstinence was predicted by higher numbers of life events and greater use of avoidant coping. The interaction of helpless coping and life events also predicted abstinence, with greater increases in helpless coping as total life events rose in abstinent but not nonabstinent participants. Finally, greater use of behavioral coping predicted abstinence in participants exposed to only CM treatment, whereas lesser use of behavioral coping predicted abstinence in participants receiving combined CM/CBT treatment.

Conclusions

Exposure to life event stressors may promote cessation by forcing use of self-control resources prior to the quit attempt, which may strengthen such resources. Techniques that improve self-control resources may improve cessation outcome, and prevention programs may want to emphasize behavioral coping to improve rates of treatment initiation.
Associations of Endothelial System Genes With Blood Pressure Changes and Hypertension Incidence: The GenSalt Study
Authors: Liu Fangchao , He Jiang , Gu Dongfeng , Rao Dabeeru C. , Huang Jianfeng , Hixson James E. , Jaquish Cashell E. , Chen Jichun , Li Changwei , Yang Xueli , Li Jianxin , Rice Treva K. , Shimmin Lawrence C. , Kelly Tanika N.
Published: November 2014

BACKGROUD

We used single-marker and novel gene-based methods to examine the associations of endothelial system genes with blood pressure (BP) changes and hypertension in a longitudinal family study.

METHODS

The Genetic Epidemiology Network of Salt Sensitivity follow-up study was conducted among 1,768 Chinese participants from 633 families. Nine BP measurements were obtained at baseline and at 2 follow-up visits using a random-zero sphygmomanometer. Mixed-effect models were used to assess the additive associations of 206 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 15 endothelial system genes with longitudinal BP changes and hypertension incidence. Gene-based analyses were conducted using the truncated product method. The Bonferroni method was used to adjust for multiple testing in all analyses.

RESULTS

Among those free from hypertension at baseline, 512 (32.1%) developed hypertension during the average 7.2 years of follow-up. In single-marker analyses, each copy of the minor alleles of correlated SELE markers rs4656704, rs6427212, and rs5368 were associated with increased risk of developing hypertension (Pfor trend = 1.48×10−4, 6.69×10−5, and 7.64×10−5, respectively). In addition, the minor allele of SELE marker rs3917436 was associated with smaller diastolic BP (DBP) increases over time. Results of gene-based analyses confirmed associations of the SELE gene with the longitudinal BP phenotypes (P values < 1.00×10−6 for DBP change and hypertension incidence). Furthermore, the DDAH1 and COL18A1 genes were associated with systolic BP change (P < 1.00×10−6 and P = 4.00×10−6, respectively), while EDNRA was associated with hypertension incidence (P = 2.39×10−4).

CONCLUSIONS

The current study provides strong evidence of a role of endothelial system genes in BP progression and hypertension incidence.
A helical zinc(II) coordination polymer assembled from 1,3-bis[(pyridin-3-yl)methoxy]benzene and benzene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid
Authors: Yu Cai-Xia , Ma Feng-Ji , Liu Lei-Lei , Liu Cong
Published: November 2014

Incatena-poly[[aqua[1,3-bis(pyridine-3-ylmethoxy)benzene-κN]zinc(II)]-μ2-benzene-1,4-dicarboxylato-κ2O1:O4], [Zn(C8H4O4)(C18H16N2O2)(H2O)]n, each ZnIIcentre is tetrahedrally coordinated by two O atoms of bridging carboxylate groups from two benzene-1,4-dicarboxylate anions (denotedL2−), one O atom from a water molecule and one N atom from a 1,3-bis[(pyridin-3-yl)methoxy]benzene ligand (denoted bpmb). (Aqua)O—H...N hydrogen-bonding interactions induce the formation of one-dimensional helical [Zn(L)(bpmb)(H2O)]nchains which are interlinked through (aqua)O—H...O hydrogen-bonding interactions, producing two-dimensional corrugated sheets.
The enigma of the Chinese diamond industry
Authors: Berger Ron
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the evolution of Chinese business ethics over time and how it impacts business. While much research attention has been directed toward China and its various industries, the Chinese diamond industry has been largely neglected. This industry is the second in size and fastest growing globally. It is interesting to examine its evolution over time and how external factors affect the firms’ business ethics behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

– Exploratory field work involving the interview of major players was undertaken, complemented by extensive desk work, was used to create a base for future in-depth research of the secretive Chinese diamond industry.

Findings

– A paradox was identified in the Chinese diamond industry, namely, that while Chinese businesses tend to follow a relational governance model, China’s diamond industry tends to use rational mechanisms of governance and exchange, a paradox that is explained by mitigating factors.

Research limitations/implications

– Future studies should use a quantitative questionnaire with a larger set of Chinese diamond firms to further examine the paradox found. Future studies could also examine whether the transformation from a system based on social networks to a system based on market forces as found in the Chinese diamond industry is an indicator of an ethical and business evolution of the whole Chinese industry. This may illustrate the rationalization of the Chinese economy and its progression toward Western models of exchange as it further opens up to the West.

Originality/value

– This paper is a pioneering work on the business ethics and strategy implemented by firms in the Chinese diamond industry.
Integration challenges at Trident Chemicals Limited
Authors: Vohra Veena , Bahadur Animesh , Lele Vishwanath
Published: November 2014

Subject area

Human Resource Management/Change Management.

Study level/applicability

MBA 1st Year students or in Executive Programs on managing change.

Case overview

This case describes the dynamics of managing employees and productivity in a difficult scenario of low demand and a global recession. Soon after Trident Chemicals acquires Noble Chemicals, restructuring is undertaken to align production as per the market requirements. This gives rise to a whole gamut of issues ranging from a potential problem with the union to how employees would be incentivized in the changed scenario. A change in the working styles and organizational culture only adds to the complexity for the management. The issues seek an early and sustainable resolution as the company is losing money every day. The management has to pay attention to the employee needs as also meet the business challenges embedded in the context.

Expected learning outcomes

To help participants to look into the factors that impact complex change processes; to highlight factors responsible for inducing changes in strategy and culture; and to introduce to participants employee reactions towards complex change efforts in organizations.

Supplementary materials

Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.
The love-smitten director: workplace romance or sexual harassment?
Authors: Poon June M.L.
Published: November 2014

Subject area

Human resource management

Study level/applicability

This case is suitable for use for advanced-level undergraduate students (e.g. in their third or fourth year of study) and graduate-level students enrolled in human resource management, industrial relations, organizational behavior and legal courses (e.g. business law and ethics, employment law). It can be used also in training courses and sexual harassment workshops for employees, particularly those with supervisory responsibilities or who are involved in personnel, training, or industrial relations activities. The case has been class tested with MBA students enrolled in a course on organizational behavior.

Case overview

In March 2014, William Wong, the CEO of Zejaya Corporation faced a dilemma. He had just been told some disturbing news about Larry Pang, his executive director, which may or may not have legal implications for the company in relation to sexual harassment. Two of his managers had confided in him that Linda Tan, one of his managers who had recently resigned, had asked them to tell him about Pang's repeated attempts to court her in the past several months. He was undecided on how he should handle the problem.

Expected learning outcomes

This case was developed for class discussion rather than to illustrate either effective or ineffective handling of a management situation. The case provides students the opportunity to learn about the potential ethical and legal issues surrounding workplace romance and sexual harassment at work.

Supplementary materials

Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.