bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of ⟨110⟩ uniaxial strain on n-channel In0.15Ga0.85As high electron mobility transistors
Authors: Xia Ling , del Alamo Jesús A.
Published: December 2009

This letter reports on a study of the impact of ⟨110⟩ uniaxial strain on the characteristics of InGaAs high electron mobility transistors (HEMT) by bending GaAs chips up to a strain level of 0.4%. Systematic changes in the threshold voltage and intrinsic transconductance were observed. These changes can be well predicted by Schrödinger–Poisson simulations of the one-dimensional electrostatics of the device that include the piezoelectric effect, Schottky barrier height change, and sub-band quantization change due to strain. The effect of ⟨110⟩ strain on the device electrostatics emerges as a dominant effect over that of transport in the studied InGaAs HEMTs.
Computing the multifractal spectrum from time series: An algorithmic approach
Authors: Harikrishnan K. P. , Misra R. , Ambika G. , Amritkar R. E.
Published: December 2009

We show that the existing methods for computing the f(α) spectrum from a time series can be improved by using a new algorithmic scheme. The scheme relies on the basic idea that the smooth convex profile of a typical f(α) spectrum can be fitted with an analytic function involving a set of four independent parameters. While the standard existing schemes [P. Grassberger et al., J. Stat. Phys. 51, 135 (1988); A. Chhabra and R. V. Jensen, Phys. Rev. Lett. 62, 1327 (1989)] generally compute only an incomplete f(α) spectrum (usually the top portion), we show that this can be overcome by an algorithmic approach, which is automated to compute the Dq and f(α) spectra from a time series for any embedding dimension. The scheme is first tested with the logistic attractor with known f(α) curve and subsequently applied to higher-dimensional cases. We also show that the scheme can be effectively adapted for analyzing practical time series involving noise, with examples from two widely different real world systems. Moreover, some preliminary results indicating that the set of four independent parameters may be used as diagnostic measures are also included.
CO chemisorption on the surfaces of the golden cages
Authors: Huang Wei , Bulusu Satya , Pal Rhitankar , Zeng Xiao Cheng , Wang Lai-Sheng
Published: December 2009

We report a joint experimental and theoretical study of CO chemisorption on the golden cages. We find that the Au17− cage is highly robust and retains its cage structure in Au17(CO)−. On the other hand, the Au16− cage is transformed to a structure similar to Au17− upon the adsorption of CO. Au18− is known to consist of two nearly degenerate structures, i.e., a cage and a pyramidal isomer, which coexist in the cluster beam. However, upon CO chemisorption only the cage isomer is observed while the pyramidal isomer no longer exists due to its less favorable interaction with CO, compared to the cage isomer. We find that inclusion of the spin-orbit effects is critical in yielding simulated spectra in quantitative agreement with the experimental data and providing unequivocal structural information and molecular insights into the chemical interactions between CO and the golden cages.
Potential theory of the depletion interaction in the colloid-polymer mixtures
Authors: Chervanyov A. I. , Heinrich G.
Published: December 2009

By developing and making use of the potential theory of the polymer-mediated interaction between spherical colloids, we investigate the many-body effects on the depletion interaction among these colloids in the colloid-polymer mixture. As our main results, we obtain analytic expressions for the polymer end density in the presence of the colloids and the many-body depletion potential acting between these colloids in the “protein” limit. We present a comparison of our theoretical findings with the results of recent computer simulations.
Mesoscale hydrodynamic simulation of short polyelectrolytes in electric fields
Authors: Frank Sandra , Winkler Roland G.
Published: December 2009

The dynamical, conformational, and transport properties of short flexible polyelectrolytes are studied in salt-free solution under the influence of an external electric field taking hydrodynamic interactions into account. A coarse-grained polymer model is applied and the multiparticle collision dynamics approach is adopted to account for the solvent. We consider various Coulomb interaction strengths and polymer lengths. The scaling behavior of the diffusion coefficient with respect to polymer length strongly depends on the charge interaction strength due to changes in the polyelectrolyte conformations by counterion condensation. The diffusion coefficients at weak Coulomb interaction strengths can well be described by the expression of rodlike objects, whereas at stronger electrostatic interactions, we observe a Zimm-like behavior. The polyelectrolyte mobilities obey the Nernst–Einstein relation at weak charge interactions. For large interaction strengths and long polymers, the mobilities are independent of molecular weight because of the screening of the intramolecular Coulomb interactions by counterions. Our studies demonstrated that the dynamics of polyelectrolytes in dilute solution and in an external field is governed by an interplay of hydrodynamic interactions and counterion condensation.
A simple nonlocal model for exchange
Authors: Janesko Benjamin G.
Published: December 2009

This work presents a new nonlocal model for the exchange energy density. The model is obtained from the product of the Kohn–Sham one-particle density matrix used to construct exact [Hartree–Fock-like (HF)] exchange, and an approximate density matrix used to construct local spin-density approximation (LSDA) exchange. The proposed exchange energy density has useful formal properties, including correct spin and coordinate scaling and the correct uniform limit. It can readily be evaluated in finite basis sets, with a computational scaling intermediate between HF exchange and semilocal quantities such as the noninteracting kinetic energy density. Applications to representative systems indicate that its properties are typically intermediate between HF and LSDA exchange, and often similar to global hybrids of HF and LSDA exchange. The model is proposed as a novel “Rung 3.5” ingredient for constructing approximate exchange-correlation functionals.
Temperature influence on the crystallization of polyethylene/fullerene nanocomposites: Molecular dynamics simulation
Authors: Yang Hua , Zhao Xiao Jun , Lu Zhong Yuan , Yan Feng Dong
Published: December 2009

The crystallization of polyethylene/fullerene (PE/C60) nanocomposites with different fullerene content was investigated at different temperatures by means of molecular dynamics simulation. It is found that there is a critical temperature for PE/C60 nanocomposite crystallization. The high C60 content makes the low critical temperature. Crystallinity of the equilibrium conformations of PE/5C60 gradually decreases with increasing temperature. Distributions of the dihedral angle along the PE chain, the radius of gyration, and its three Cartesian components are used to characterize changes in the shape and structure of PE chain as temperature increases.
Design guidelines of periodic Si nanowire arrays for solar cell application
Authors: Li Junshuai , Yu HongYu , Wong She Mein , Li Xiaocheng , Zhang Gang , Lo Patrick Guo-Qiang , Kwong Dim-Lee
Published: December 2009

In this letter, optimum periodic Si nanowire (SiNW) arrays are designed via simulation for solar cell application, in terms of the structural parameters, e.g., the array periodicity (P) and SiNW diameter (D). It is found that the more efficient light absorption compared to that of the Si thin film with the same thickness could be realized when P is between 250 and 1200 nm. Further, the ratio of D to P should be >0.5 (or more specifically ∼0.8) for the optimized solar energy harvesting. The underlying physics is also discussed in this work.
Isotope shift in the electron affinity of lithium
Authors: Bubin Sergiy , Komasa Jacek , Stanke Monika , Adamowicz Ludwik
Published: December 2009

Very accurate electron affinity (EA) calculations of L6i and L7i (and L∞i) have been performed using explicitly correlated Gaussian functions and a variational approach that explicitly includes the nuclear motion in the calculations (i.e., the approach that does not assume the Born–Oppenheimer approximation). The leading relativistic and quantum electrodynamics corrections to the electron affinities were also calculated. The results are the most accurate theoretical values obtained for the studied systems to date. Our best estimates of the L7i and L6i EAs are 4984.9842(30) and 4984.9015(30) cm−1, respectively, and of the L7i/L6i EA isotope shift is 0.0827 cm−1.
Coherent electronic grating cavity modes in corrugated ultrathin metal films
Authors: Liu Y. , Miller T. , Chiang T.-C.
Published: December 2009

Stepped semiconductor substrates can serve as a template for growing metal films with a corrugated structure at the nanoscale. The corrugation modulates the electron motion and thus modifies the electronic properties of the system. This work is a study of corrugated films of Ag and Pb using angle-resolved photoemission. Our measurements show that the valence electrons form coherent grating cavity modes defined by the corrugation geometry and the photoemission patterns are governed by quantum interference.
Whispering gallery-mode lasing in ZnO microrods at room temperature
Authors: Dai J. , XU C. X. , Zheng K. , Lv C. G. , Cui Y. P.
Published: December 2009

An individual hexagonal ZnO microrod was employed as a whispering-gallery mode (WGM) microcavity to obtain ultraviolet lasing at room temperature. The WGM lasing shows a low threshold, a high quality factor, and distinct mode structure. A typical stimulated emission from the ZnO microrod with diagonal of 6.67 μm exhibits a low lasing threshold of 255 kW/cm2. The observed discrete lasing modes match with the simulated positions very well. The spatial distribution of the lasing intensity demonstrates the lasing output direction and provides the direct evidence of the WGM resonant mechanism. We systematically investigated the lasing performance for different sized microrods.
Falling jets of particles in viscous fluids
Authors: Pignatel Florent , Nicolas Maxime , Guazzelli Élisabeth , Saintillan David
Published: December 2009

We have investigated the time evolution of a jet of non-Brownian particles falling under the action of gravity in a viscous liquid at low Reynolds number. Different regimes have been observed depending on volume fraction and particle-to-jet diameter ratio. In particular, the jet has been found to be unstable and to develop varicose modulation of its diameter at low volume fractions. The dominant wavelength and saturated amplitude have been measured and are observed to decrease with increasing volume fraction. A simple numerical simulation using point particles is able to capture the major features of the instability.
‘Disreputable Life’: Race, Sex, and Intimacy
Authors: Olund Eric
Published: December 2009

Recent genealogies of the self-governing liberal subject have placed a renewed emphasis on the sphere of intimacy for its production. A critical narrative has emerged whereby liberal constructions of ‘appropriate’ intimacy as an autonomous sphere serves to actively disavow the racialisation and sexualisation of the liberal subject as white and heterosexual. At the same time, its constitutive outside, the nonwhite and the nonheternormative, positively require explanation to shore up its boundaries. Yet these widespread complementary assumptions miss places and times, such as the Progressive-era US, in which mainstream discourse has interrogated the liberal subject and has explicitly examined its heterosexual whiteness, while it has also strategically underexplained its others. Writings of Progressive figures such as Jane Addams and Louise de Koven Bowen on the productive regulation of intimacy, particularly marriage and prostitution, are put in conversation with current accounts of these issues. In doing so, the assumption of the liberal subject's invisibility to itself is problematised on an empirical basis, and the reification of distinctions between race and sexuality—even as their contingent production is being explained—is problematised at a theoretical level.
Is 'vegetation thickening' occurring in Queensland's mulga lands? A 50-year aerial photographic analysis
Authors: Witt G. Bradd , Harrington Rebecca A. , Page Manda J.
Published: December 2009

Changes in the density of woody vegetation in arid and semiarid rangelands have the potential to dramatically reduce productivity as well as adversely affect ‘natural’ ecosystem processes. Many parts of Australia are believed to have experienced thickening of woody vegetation since European occupation and the associated changes to fire and grazing regimes that followed. Unfortunately there is little empirical evidence to support a widely held perception of thickening. This study analyses the available historical aerial photographic coverage for the mulga lands bioregion of south-western Queensland, Australia; a record spanning the second half of the twentieth century. Changes in woody vegetation canopy cover were assessed for 190 sites. More than half of the sites had no evidence of mechanical disturbance and thus reflected general, or background trends in woody vegetation cover. The region-wide average extent of change on these undisturbed sites was estimated to be approximately a 3.6% increase in canopy cover over the study period. Thus, a trend toward vegetation thickening was detected. However, large variation was observed depending on the land systems and rainfall zone where sites were located. The results are discussed in the context of century scale climate variability and perceptions of vegetation change and a tentative explanatory model is presented to account for the observed data.
Potential for using Vasconcellea parviflora as a bridging species in intergeneric hybridisation between V. pubescens and Carica papaya
Authors: O'Brien C. M. , Drew R. A.
Published: December 2009

There have been numerous attempts to transfer Papaya ringspot virus type P (PRSV-P) resistance from wild Vasconcellea relatives to Carica papaya L. Success has been limited by the high degree of genetic divergence and thus incompatibility between Vasconcellea spp. and C. papaya. In the present work, intergeneric hybrid populations of C. papaya × V. pubescens Lenne et Koch, C. papaya × V. parviflora A. DC. and interspecific populations of V. pubescens × V. parviflora were produced and evaluated for morphological characteristics and PRSV-P resistance. F2 and F3 populations were produced from the V. pubescens × V. parviflora F1 and PRSV-P resistant individuals with homozygous genotypes (RR) were selected with the aid of a co-dominant CAPS marker and backcrossed to V. parviflora or outcrossed to C. papaya. Leaf vein number (seven) from V. pubescens, flower colour (pink) from V. parviflora and petiole colour (red–green) and plant size from C. papaya were transferred as dominant traits in interspecific and intergeneric crosses. Other traits, e.g. flower shape and fruit size, were intermediate in hybrids. When the wild species or their hybrids were outcrossed to C. papaya, inheritance patterns did not always follow Mendelian ratios, suggesting abnormal pairing of chromosomes or preferential elimination of the Vasconcellea genes. For example, in crosses between C. papaya × V. pubescens, all flowers were female and in crosses between C. papaya × V. parviflora, the cream flower colour of C. papaya was dominant over the pink colour of V. parviflora. However, the PRSV-P resistance gene from V. pubescens was successfully backcrossed into V. parviflora from F2 hybrids, and in the F1 hybrids between C. papaya and V. parviflora, 45% pollen fertility was obtained thus V. parviflora is proposed as a potential bridging species between C. papaya and V. pubescens.
Historical forest survey data from Eucalyptus - Callitris forests: a valuable resource for long-term vegetation studies
Authors: Whipp Robyn K. , Lunt Ian D. , Deane Andrew , Spooner Peter G.
Published: December 2009

Quantitative information about historical changes in natural ecosystems is important for guiding management interventions. However, few accurate data sources are available for documenting long-term vegetation changes. In this paper, we describe a neglected source of quantitative information on historical forest structure: forest inventory strip surveys, which were widely used in eastern Australia from 1915 to the 1940s. Strip surveys provide quantitative information on the species composition, stem density, basal area, stem form and size class distributions of dominant tree species. Such information is not available from other widespread data sources. Strip surveys usually surveyed 10% of the total forest area. In this paper, we describe the original survey methods, demonstrate how to decode data-book entries, and analyse a sample dataset from the Pilliga State Forests in northern New South Wales to illustrate the information that can be obtained from this material. Strip survey data-books are poorly archived. Many books exist for Eucalyptus–Callitris forests in northern and central NSW, and additional books may exist for many other forest types in eastern Australia. Strip surveys provide a valuable data source for studying long-term vegetation changes in forest ecosystems. We urge forest managers to search for and preserve this precious archival material.
The moral intellectualism of Plato’s Socrates
Authors: Balaban Oded
Published: December 2009

Commentators do not take Socrates’ theses in the Hippias Minor seriously. They believe it is an aporetic dialogue and even that Socrates does not mean what he says. Hence they are unable to understand the presuppositions behind Socrates’ two interconnected theses: that those who do wrong and lie voluntarily are better than those who do wrong unintentionally, and that no one does wrong and lies voluntarily. Arguing that liars are better than the unenlightened, Socrates concludes that there are no liars. Instead, there are only those who know and those who don’t. The unenlightened cannot lie, and alien volitions, desires, or emotions are unlikely to mislead and deceive those who know, i. e., the wise. Why, then, is a thinker like Socrates ready to defy the experience and moral convictions of his contemporaries and even our own to such an extent?
Das Lachen der thrakischen Magd
Authors: Schües Christina
Published: December 2009

The laughter of the Thracian handmaid. About the ›unworldliness‹ of philosophy. Interpreting Plato’s story of the Thracian handmaid, this essay focuses on questions concerning the supposition of an opposition between common sense and philosophical thinking. Taking the laughter of the maid seriously the author discusses the role of laughter for Plato’s approach. By reevaluating the function of laughter she argues for its strength in revealing ideological thinking or an undisclosed hypothesis, and in enabling philosophical thinking. Thus, the author argues that the alliance of laughter and thinking unsettles the state of being enclosed in ideology, everydayness or thoughtlessness, and both distances and unsettles human beings. And hence, it may free us to pose again the question as to how we are thinking what.
Zur Einheit der modalen Syllogistik des Aristoteles
Authors: Schmidt Klaus J.
Published: December 2009

On the unity of modal syllogistics in Aristotle. The goal of this paper is an interpretation of Aristotle’s modal syllogistics closely oriented on the text using the resources of modern modal predicate logic. Modern predicate logic was successfully able to interpret Aristotle’s assertoric syllogistics uniformly, that is, with one formula for universal premises. A corresponding uniform interpretation of modal syllogistics by means of modal predicate logic is not possible. This thesis does not imply that a uniform view is abandoned. However, it replaces the simple unity of the assertoric by the complex unity of the modal. The complexity results from the fact that though one formula for universal premises is used as the basis, it must be moderated if the text requires.Aristotle introduces his modal syllogistics by expanding his assertoric syllogistics with an axiom that links two apodictic premises to yield a single apodictic sentence. He thus defines a regular modern modal logic. By means of the regular modal logic that is thus defined, he is able to reduce the purely apodictic syllogistics to assertoric syllogistics. However, he goes beyond this simple structure when he looks at complicated inferences.In order to be able to link not only premises of the same modality, but also premises with different modalities, he introduces a second axiom, the T-axiom, which infers from necessity to reality or – equivalently – from reality to possibility. Together, the two axioms, the axiom of regularity and the T-axiom, define a regular T-logic. It plays an important role in modern logic. In order to be able to account for modal syllogistics adequately as a whole, another modern axiom is also required, the so-called B-axiom. It is very difficult to decide whether Aristotle had the B-axiom. Each of the two last named axioms is sufficient to achieve the required contextual moderation of the basic formula for universal propositions.
Der glückliche Tod des Stoikers
Authors: Hahmann Andree
Published: December 2009

The happy death of the Stoic. Wisdom and finitude in Stoic philosophy. This paper attempts to furnish a Stoic reply to an accusation addressing the Stoics’ ideal of the wise man according to which it is impossible to realize their ideal and therefore their whole system has to face a paradox: How is wisdom possible when all people are fools and it is impossible for them to become good? In addition to this question there is another important problem connected with the ideal of wisdom. The Stoic philosophers deny transcendental ideas. Instead they are well known for their thorough-going materialism. Therefore, even their idea of the wise man must be based on experience. How would it otherwise be possible to form the idea of wisdom by a method of analogy if experience did not provide any example of truthful virtue to us? A possible answer to this problem can be found in the writings of Seneca, a Stoic of the first century A.D. Seneca emphasizes the close relation between wisdom and human mortality owing to which it is at least possible for the philosopher who has made sufficiently progress in his efforts to gain wisdom to find lasting happiness in death.
Der Begriff der inneren Erfahrung bei Petrus Johannis Olivi
Authors: Rode Christian
Published: December 2009

The concept of inner experience in Peter John Olivi. This article discusses the notion of inner experience and self-knowledge in Peter John Olivi. According to Olivi, each act of cognition is accompanied by some sort of self-awareness or self-experience. Therefore, the problem of an infinite regress of acts of self-awareness arises. Olivi tries to solve this problem by drawing on a theory of reflection which bears a striking resemblance to modern self-representational or dispositional accounts of (self)consciousness. Thus, in order to be said to be »known« or »certain« it is not necessary for each single act of intellect to be followed by a higher-order act; Olivi argues that in many cases a simple first-order cognitive act suffices.
A long-term study of children with autism playing with a robotic pet
Authors: François Dorothée , Powell Stuart , Dautenhahn Kerstin
Published: December 2009

This paper presents a novel methodological approach of how to design, conduct and analyse robot-assisted play. This approach is inspired by nondirective play therapy. The experimenter participates in the experiments, but the child remains the main leader for play. Besides, beyond inspiration from non-directive play therapy, this approach enables the experimenter to regulate the interaction under specific conditions in order to guide the child or ask her questions about reasoning or affect related to the robot. This approach has been tested in a long-term study with six children with autism in a school setting. An autonomous robot with zoomorphic, dog-like appearance was used in the studies. The children’s progress was analyzed according to three dimensions, namely, Play, Reasoning and Affect. Results from the case-study evaluations have shown the capability of the method to meet each child’s needs and abilities. Children who mainly played solitarily progressively experienced basic imitation games with the experimenter. Children who proactively played socially progressively experienced higher levels of play and constructed more reasoning related to the robot. They also expressed some interest in the robot, including, on occasion, affect. Keywords: Human–Robot Interaction, Robot-Mediated Therapy, Robot-Assisted Play, Non-Directive Play Therapy, Assistive Technology, Autism, Children
RoboCup@Home
Authors: Wisspeintner Thomas , Zant Tijn van der , Iocchi Luca , Schiffer Stefan
Published: December 2009

Being part of the RoboCup initiative, the RoboCup@Home league targets the development and deployment of autonomous service and assistive robot technology being essential for future personal domestic applications. The domain of domestic service and assistive robotics implicates a wide range of possible problems. The primary reasons for this include the large amount of uncertainty in the dynamic and non-standardized environments of the real world, and the related human interaction. Furthermore, the application orientation requires a large effort towards high level integration combined with a demand for general robustness of the systems. This article details the need for interdisciplinary community effort to iteratively identify related problems, to define benchmarks, to test and, finally, to solve the problems. The concepts and the implementation of the RoboCup@Home initiative as a combination of scientific exchange and competition is presented as an effi cient method to accelerate and focus technological and scientific progress in the domain of domestic service robots. Finally, the progress in terms of performance increase in the benchmarks and technological advancements is evaluated and discussed. Keywords: Domestic Service Robotics, Application, Uncertainty, Benchmark, Competition, Human–Robot Interaction, RoboCup@Home
Interpersonal motor coordination
Authors: Marin Ludovic , Issartel Johann , Chaminade Thierry
Published: December 2009

Here, we propose that bidirectionality in implicit motor coordination between humanoid robots and humans could enhance the social competence of human–robot interactions. We first detail some questions pertaining to human–robot interactions, introducing the Uncanny Valley hypothesis. After introducing a framework pertinent for the understanding of natural social interactions, motor resonance, we examine two behaviors derived from this framework: motor coordination, investigated in and informative about human–human interaction, and motor interference, which demonstrate the relevance of the motor resonance framework to describe human perception of humanoid robots. These two lines of investigation are then put together to “close the loop” by proposing to implement a key feature of motor coordination, bidirectionality, in robots’ behavior. Finally, we discuss the feasibility of implementing motor coordination between humanoid robots and humans, and the consequences of this implementation in enhancing the social competence of robots interacting with humans. Keywords: interpersonal interaction, motor resonance, motor coordination, motor interference, social robotics, anthropomorphism
Gesundheit! Patrick Holt smothers allergies and asthma
Authors: Maxmen Amy
Published: December 2009

Drop the mop and play with Fido is Patrick Holt's recommendation for raising an allergy-free child. Although a tangled web of factors underlies allergies and asthma, Holt believes that preventing lifelong affliction could be simple.
Evaluation of Ultraviolet C for Disinfection of Endocavitary Ultrasound Transducers Persistently Contaminated despite Probe Covers
Authors: Kac Guillaume , Podglajen Isabelle , Si-Mohamed Ali , Rodi Aurelia , Grataloup Christine , Meyer Guy
Published: December 2009

Objective.

To determine the rate of bacterial and viral contamination of endocavitary ultrasound probes after endorectal or endovaginal examination with the use of probe covers and to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of a disinfection procedure consisting of cleaning with a disinfectant-impregnated towel followed by disinfection with ultraviolet C (UVC) light.

Methods.

Endovaginal or endorectal ultrasound examinations were performed for 440 patients in 3 institutions. All probes were covered by a condom or sheath during the examination. For bacterial analysis, 1 swab was applied lengthwise across one-half the surface of the probe just after removal of the probe cover. The second swab was similarly applied over the probe immediately after the end of a 2-step process consisting of cleaning with a towel impregnated with a disinfectant spray and a 5-minute UVC disinfection cycle. Swabs were applied onto plates and incubated for 48 hours. The number of colony-forming units was counted, and organisms were identified. A similar protocol was used for viral detection of Epstein-Barr virus, human cytomegalovirus, and human papillomavirus, except that an additional swab was applied along the entire external surface of the probe cover before its removal. Viruses were detected by means of a polymerase chain reaction-based protocol.

Results.

After removal of probe covers, contamination by pathogenic bacteria was found for 15 (3.4% [95% confidence interval, 2.0%-5.6%]) of 440 probes, and viral genome was detected on 5 (1.5% [95% confidence interval, 0.5%-3.5%]) of 336 probes. After cleaning with a towel impregnated with a disinfectant spray and disinfecting with UVC light, neither bacterial pathogenic flora nor viral genome was recovered from the probe.

Conclusions.

Endocavitary ultrasound probes may carry pathogens after removal of covers under routine conditions. A disinfection procedure consisting of cleaning with a disinfectant-impregnated towel followed by disinfection with UVC may provide a useful method for disinfecting endocavitary ultrasound probes.
Blood Culture Contamination Rates after Skin Antisepsis with Chlorhexidine Gluconate versus Povidone-Iodine in a Pediatric Emergency Department
Authors: Marlowe Lauren , Mistry Rakesh D. , Coffin Susan , Leckerman Kateri H. , McGowan Karin L. , Dai Dingwei , Bell Louis M. , Zaoutis Theoklis
Published: December 2009

Objective.

To determine blood culture contamination rates after skin antisepsis with Chlorhexidine, compared with povidone-iodine.

Design.

Retrospective, quasi-experimental study.

Setting.

Emergency department of a tertiary care children's hospital.

Patients.

Children aged 2-36 months with peripheral blood culture results from February 2004 to June 2008. Control patients were children younger than 2 months with peripheral blood culture results.

Methods.

Blood culture contamination rates were compared using segmented regression analysis of time-series data among 3 patient groups: (1) patients aged 2-36 months during the 26-month preintervention period, in which 10% povidone-iodine was used for skin antisepsis before blood culture; (2) patients aged 2-36 months during the 26-month postintervention period, in which 3% Chlorhexidine gluconate was used; and (3) patients younger than 2 months not exposed to the Chlorhexidine intervention (ie, the control group).

Results.

Results from 11,595 eligible blood cultures were reviewed (4,942 from the preintervention group, 4,274 from the postintervention group, and 2,379 from the control group). For children aged 2-36 months, the blood culture contamination rate decreased from 24.81 to 17.19 contaminated cultures per 1,000 cultures (P< .05) after implementation of Chlorhexidine. This decrease of 7.62 contaminated cultures per 1,000 cultures (95% confidence interval, —0.781 to —15.16) represented a 30% relative decrease from the preintervention period and was sustained over the entire postintervention period. No change in contamination rate was observed in the control group (P= .337).

Conclusion.

Skin antisepsis with Chlorhexidine significantly reduces the blood culture contamination rate among young children, as compared with povidone-iodine.
Characterizations of the solvable radical
Authors: Flavell Paul , Guest Simon , Guralnick Robert
Published: December 2009

We prove that there exists a constant

k
k

with the property: if

C

\mathcal {C}

is a conjugacy class of a finite group

G
G

such that every

k
k

elements of

C

\mathcal {C}

generate a solvable subgroup, then

C

\mathcal {C}

generates a solvable subgroup. In particular, using the Classification of Finite Simple Groups, we show that we can take

k
=
4

k=4

. We also present proofs that do not use the Classification Theorem. The most direct proof gives a value of

k
=
10

k=10

. By lengthening one of our arguments slightly, we obtain a value of

k
=
7

k=7

.
An endpoint estimate for the cone multiplier
Authors: Heo Yaryong , Hong Sunggeum , Yang Chan
Published: December 2009

In this paper we consider an endpoint estimate for high-dimensional cone multipliers.
Galois groups over function fields of positive characteristic
Authors: Conway John , McKay John , Trojan Allan
Published: December 2009

We prove examples motivated by work of Serre and Abhyankar.
Discrete Painlevé equations for recurrence coefficients of semiclassical Laguerre polynomials
Authors: Boelen Lies , Van Assche Walter
Published: December 2009

We consider two semiclassical extensions of the Laguerre weight and their associated sets of orthogonal polynomials. These polynomials satisfy a three-term recurrence relation. We show that the coefficients appearing in this relation satisfy discrete Painlevé equations.
Extreme and exposed points of spaces of integral polynomials
Authors: Boyd Christopher , Lassalle Silvia
Published: December 2009

We show that if

E
E

is a real Banach space such that

E
′

E’

has the approximation property and such that

ℓ
1

↪̸

⨂
^

n
,
s
,
ϵ

E

\ell _1\not \hookrightarrow {\widehat \bigotimes _{n,s,\epsilon }} E

, then the set of extreme points of the unit ball of

P

I

(
n

E
)

\mathcal {P}_I(^nE)

is equal to

{
±

ϕ
n

:
ϕ
∈

E
′

,
‖
ϕ
‖
=
1
}

\{\pm \phi ^n\colon \phi \in E’,\|\phi \|=1\}

. Under the additional assumption that

E
′

E’

has a countable norming set, we see that the set of exposed points of the unit ball of

P

I

(
n

E
)

\mathcal {P}_I(^nE)

is also equal to

{
±

ϕ
n

:
ϕ
∈

E
′

,
‖
ϕ
‖
=
1
}

\{\pm \phi ^n\colon \phi \in E’,\|\phi \|=1\}

.
The ergodicity of weak Hilbert spaces
Authors: Anisca Razvan
Published: December 2009

This paper complements a recent result of Dilworth, Ferenczi, Kutzarova and Odell regarding the ergodicity of strongly asymptotic

ℓ
p

\ell _p

spaces. We state this result in a more general form, involving domination relations, and we show that every asymptotically Hilbertian space which is not isomorphic to

ℓ
2

\ell _2

is ergodic. In particular, every weak Hilbert space which is not isomorphic to

ℓ
2

\ell _2

must be ergodic. Throughout the paper we construct explicitly the maps which establish the fact that the relation

E
0

E_0

is Borel reducible to isomorphism between subspaces of the Banach spaces involved.
Fixed points in indecomposable 𝑘-junctioned tree-like continua
Authors: Hagopian Charles
Published: December 2009

LetMMbe an indecomposablekk-junctioned tree-like continuum. Letffbe a map ofMMthat sends each composant ofMMinto itself. Using an argument of O. H. Hamilton, we prove thatffhas a fixed point.
A nuclear Fréchet space consisting of 𝐶^{∞}-functions and failing the bounded approximation property
Authors: Vogt Dietmar
Published: December 2009

An easy and transparent example is given of a nuclear Fréchet space failing the bounded approximation property and consisting ofC∞C^\infty-functions on a subset ofR3\mathbb {R}^3.
An example of an almost greedy basis in 𝐿¹(0,1)
Authors: Gogyan Smbat
Published: December 2009

We give an explicit construction of an almost greedy basis of

L
1

(
0
,
1
)

L^1(0,1)

, complementing the results on existence of such a basis. The basis is described in terms of the Haar basis. We construct a quasi-greedy basis in a Banach space which is isomorphic to

L
1

(
0
,
1
)

L ^1(0,1)

, and then we calculate an isomorphic image of a quasi-greedy basis.
A formula on scattering length of positive smooth measures
Authors: Takeda Masayoshi
Published: December 2009

M. Kac studied the scattering length probabilistically and conjectured that its semi-classical limit equals the capacity of the support of the potential. This conjecture has been proved independently by Taylor, Takahashi, and Tamura. In this paper we give another simple proof by the random time-change argument for Dirichlet forms and extend the previous results to positive measure potentials.
A classification of 𝐻-primes of quantum partial flag varieties
Authors: Yakimov Milen
Published: December 2009

We classify the invariant prime ideals of a quantum partial flag variety under the action of the related maximal torus. As a result we construct a bijection between them and the torus orbits of symplectic leaves of the standard Poisson structure on the corresponding flag variety. It was previously shown by K. Goodearl and the author that the latter are precisely the Lusztig strata of the partial flag variety.
Note on beta elements in homotopy, and an application to the prime three case
Authors: Shimomura Katsumi
Published: December 2009

Let

S

(
p
)

0

S^0_{(p)}

denote the sphere spectrum localized at an odd prime

p
p

. Then we have the first beta element

β
1

∈

π

2

p
2

−
2
p
−
2

(

S

(
p
)

0

)

\beta _1\in \pi _{2p^2-2p-2}(S^0_{(p)})

, whose cofiber we denote by

W
W

. We also consider a generalized Smith-Toda spectrum

V
r

V_r

characterized by

B

P
∗

(

V
r

)
=
B

P
∗

/

(
p
,

v
1
r

)

BP_*(V_r)=BP_*/(p,v_1^r)

. In this note, we show that an element of

π
∗

(

V
r

∧
W
)

\pi _*(V_r\wedge W)

gives rise to a beta element of homotopy groups of spheres. As an application, we show the existence of

β

9
t
+
3

\beta _{9t+3}

at the prime three to complete a conjecture of Ravenel’s:

β

s

∈

π

16
s
−
6

(

S

(
3
)

0

)

\beta _{s}\in \pi _{16s-6}(S^0_{(3)})

exists if and only if

s
s

is not congruent to

4
4

,

7
7

or

8
8

mod

9
9

.
Beurling’s phenomenon on analytic Hilbert spaces over the complex plane
Authors: Wei Shuyun
Published: December 2009

In this paper, we show that Beurling’s theorem on analytic Hilbert spaces over the complex plane analogous to the Hardy space or the Bergman space does not hold, but for finite co-dimensional quasi-invariant subspaces, they are generated by their wandering subspace if and only if they are generated by

z
n

z^n

provided that the order of the reproducing kernels

K
λ

(
z
)

K_\lambda (z)

is less than 2 but not equal to 1.
Regularity of a fractional partial differential equation driven by space-time white noise
Authors: Niu Min , Xie Bin
Published: December 2009

We will deal with one dimensional stochastic fractional order partial differential equation driven by space-time white noise. The existence and uniqueness of the solution and especially some regularities of the solution are investigated. The regularities of the solution in its time and space variables depend on the relation of the fractional order of its operator and coefficients.
Morphisms of closed Riemann surfaces and Lefschetz trace formula
Authors: Tanabe Masaharu
Published: December 2009

We study the number of coincidences of two distinct morphisms

f
i

:
X
→
Y

(
i
=
1
,
2
)

f_i :X\to Y \, (i=1,2)

between closed Riemann surfaces of genera greater than zero. We give a necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of a coincidence in terms of the inner product defined on the free abelian group of homomorphisms between the Jacobian varieties J

(
X
)

(X)

and J

(
Y
)

(Y)

. We use the Hodge decomposition and the holomorphic Lefschetz number to study the number of coincidences in detail.
A noncommutative version of the Fejér-Riesz theorem
Authors: Savchuk Yuriĭ , Schmüdgen Konrad
Published: December 2009

Let

X

\mathcal {X}

be the unital

∗
*

-algebra generated by the unilateral shift operator. It is shown that for any nonnegative operator

X
∈

X

X\in \mathcal {X}

there is an element

Y
∈

X

Y\in \mathcal {X}

such that

X
=

Y
∗

Y

X=Y^*Y

.
On noncontractible compacta with trivial homology and homotopy groups
Authors: Karimov Umed , Repovš Dušan
Published: December 2009

We construct an example of a Peano continuum

X
X

such that: (i)

X
X

is a one-point compactification of a polyhedron; (ii)

X
X

is weakly homotopy equivalent to a point (i.e.

π
n

(
X
)

\pi _n(X)

is trivial for all

n
≥
0

n \geq 0

); (iii)

X
X

is noncontractible; and (iv)

X
X

is homologically and cohomologically locally connected (i.e.

X
X

is an HLC and

c
l
c

clc

space). We also prove that all classical homology groups (singular, Čech, and Borel-Moore), all classical cohomology groups (singular and Čech), and all finite-dimensional Hawaiian groups of

X
X

are trivial.
Operator biprojectivity of compact quantum groups
Authors: Daws Matthew
Published: December 2009

Given a (reduced) locally compact quantum group

A
A

, we can consider the convolution algebra

L
1

(
A
)

L^1(A)

(which can be identified as the predual of the von Neumann algebra form of

A
A

). It is conjectured that

L
1

(
A
)

L^1(A)

is operator biprojective if and only if

A
A

is compact. The “only if” part always holds, and the “if” part holds for Kac algebras. We show that if the splitting morphism associated with

L
1

(
A
)

L^1(A)

being biprojective can be chosen to be completely positive, or just contractive, then we already have a Kac algebra. We give another proof of the converse, indicating how modular properties of the Haar state seem to be important.
Decision-making during gambling: an integration of cognitive and psychobiological approaches
Authors: Clark Luke
Published: December 2009

Gambling is a widespread form of entertainment that may afford unique insights into the interaction between cognition and emotion in human decision-making. It is also a behaviour that can become harmful, and potentially addictive, in a minority of individuals. This article considers the status of two dominant approaches to gambling behaviour. The cognitive approach has identified a number of erroneous beliefs held by gamblers, which cause them to over-estimate their chances of winning. The psychobiological approach has examined case-control differences between groups of pathological gamblers and healthy controls, and has identified dysregulation of brain areas linked to reward and emotion, including the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) and striatum, as well as alterations in dopamine neurotransmission. In integrating these two approaches, recent data are discussed that reveal anomalous recruitment of the brain reward system (including the vmPFC and ventral striatum) during two common cognitive distortions in gambling games: the near-miss effect and the effect of personal control. In games of chance, near-misses and the presence of control have no objective influence on the likelihood of winning. These manipulations appear to harness a reward system that evolved to learn skill-oriented behaviours, and by modulating activity in this system, these cognitive distortions may promote continued, and potentially excessive, gambling.
Counterfactual thinking and emotions: regret and envy learning
Authors: Coricelli Giorgio , Rustichini Aldo
Published: December 2009

Emotions like regret and envy share a common origin: they are motivated by the counterfactual thinking of what would have happened had we made a different choice. When we contemplate the outcome of a choice we made, we may use the information on the outcome of a choice we did not make. Regret is the purely private comparison between two choices that we could have taken, envy adds to this the information on outcome of choices of others. However, envy has a distinct social component, in that it adds the change in the social ranking that follows a difference in the outcomes. We study the theoretical foundation and the experimental test of this view.
Herding, social influence and economic decision-making: socio-psychological and neuroscientific analyses
Authors: Baddeley Michelle
Published: December 2009

Typically, modern economics has steered away from the analysis of sociological and psychological factors and has focused on narrow behavioural assumptions in which expectations are formed on the basis of mathematical algorithms. Blending together ideas from the social and behavioural sciences, this paper argues that the behavioural approach adopted in most economic analysis, in its neglect of sociological and psychological forces and its simplistically dichotomous categorization of behaviour as either rational or not rational, is too narrow and stark. Behaviour may reflect an interaction of cognitive and emotional factors and this can be captured more effectively using an approach that focuses on the interplay of different decision-making systems. In understanding the mechanisms affecting economic and financial decision-making, an interdisciplinary approach is needed which incorporates ideas from a range of disciplines including sociology, economic psychology, evolutionary biology and neuroeconomics.
Rational choice, neuroeconomy and mixed emotions
Authors: Livet Pierre
Published: December 2009

Experimental psychology has shown differences between predictions of theory of decision and human choices. Emotions like regret can partly explain these differences. Neuroimagery used in combination with behavioural economics (neuroeconomics) has been used in order to try to disentangle the different emotional and rational factors (regret, rejoicing, reward, costs, uncertainty, trade-off between positive and negative aspects of different options). Emotions then appear as much more complex and mixed affective states than usually assumed. Not only might we feel a positive affect in punishing unfair partners, but mixed emotions can, for example, combine transmutation of previous anxiety into relief and elation by comparison with another less exciting option (elating relief). At the level of complexity of these mixed emotions—which we formally represent by comparisons between ‘unexpected utilities’ and expected ones—the main biases that Kahnemann and Tversky have shown can be explained. In spite of the complexity of these mixed emotions, some of these hypotheses might be partially tested by brain imagery.
Selfish or selfless? The role of empathy in economics
Authors: Kirman Alan , Teschl Miriam
Published: December 2009

Empathy is a longstanding issue in economics, especially for welfare economics, but one which has faded from the scene in recent years. However, with the rise of neuroeconomics, there is now a renewed interest in this subject. Some economists have even gone so far as to suggest that neuroscientific experiments reveal heterogeneous empathy levels across individuals. If this were the case, this would be in line with economists' usual assumption of stable and given preferences and would greatly facilitate the study of prosocial behaviour with which empathy is often associated. After reviewing some neuroscientific psychological and neuroeconomic evidence on empathy, we will, however, criticize the notion of a given empathy distribution in the population by referring to recent experiments on a public goods game that suggest that, on the contrary, the degree of empathy that individuals exhibit is very much dependent on context and social interaction.