Unified Model

This paper presents an extended formulation of the Competition Model. The extended model is designed to account for a larger range of phenomena in first and second language acquisition, including bilingualism. As in the classic version of the Competition Model, competition is at the core of a set of non-modular interacting forces. However, now the various inputs to competition are described in terms of six additional subcomponents: arenas, cues, chunking, storage, codes, and resonance. Learning is viewed as a resonant process that relies on storage, chunking, and support to acquire new mappings.

A Spatio-temporal data model for biodiversity is growing importance to the biodiversity data management, forest and environment control. Spatio-temporal data models have received much attention in the database research community because of their practical importance and interesting challenges they pose. This paper is discussed upon the research activities of selecting, designing, implementing the data model. The paper can be divided by two major parts, first: discuss about biodiversity data model and secondly: spatio-temporal conceptual framework design of biodiversity data model for long terms stewardship of biodiversity information. In this paper our main objective to minimize the extension required in SQL language. This paper also focuses on the unified models of space and time using object-relation approach. In particular, we propose a conceptual object-relational spatial temporal data model based on Donna J. Peuquet's pyramid framework. Standard and user management queries are applied to test the model. After extensive testing, the data model performed admirably in managing biodiversity data.

We present a unifying mechanism for photoinhibition based on current obsevations from in vivo studies rather than from in vitro studies with isolated thylakoids or PS II membranes. In vitro studies have limited relevance for in vivo photoinhibition because very high light is used with photon exposures rarely encountered in nature, and most of the multiple, interacting, protective strategies of

This paper describes our developing understanding of low-temperature oxidation kinetics. We have investigated the ignition of the three pentane isomers in a rapid compression machine over a wide range of temperatures and pressures including the negative temperature coefficient temperature range. The pentane isomers are small alkanes, yet have structures that are complex enough to allow for the application of their kinetic and thermochemical rules to larger molecules. Updates to the thermochemistry of the species important in the low-temperature oxidation of hydrocarbons have been made based on a thorough literature review. An evaluation of recent quantum-chemically derived rate coefficients from the literature pertinent to important low-temperature oxidation reaction classes has been performed, and new rate rules are recommended for these classes. Several reaction classes have also been included to investigate their importance with regard to simulation results, and we find that they should be included when developing future chemical kinetic mechanisms. A comparison of the model simulations with pressure-time histories from experiments in a rapid compression machine shows very good agreement for both ignition delay time and pressure rise for both the first-and second-stage ignition events. We show that revisions to both the thermochemistry and the kinetics are required in order to replicate experiments well. The results of this study enhance our understanding of the combustion of straight-and branched-chained alkanes.

Monicelli's suicide has reawakened a political and legal dispute about the medical role in end-of-life decisions, allowing us to discuss medical, ethical, legal, religious and political debate in various paradigmatic conscious and unconscious cases of end-of-life decision. We analyse the uncertainty about the 'a priori' choice between different specific legislative systems, highlighting the need for a unifying model, dictated by the existing trust in the critical relationship between patient and doctor, whose primary mission should be not only 'to cure' but also 'to care'.

We discuss the possibility to implement a viscous cosmological model, attributing to the dark matter component a behaviour described by bulk viscosity. Since bulk viscosity implies negative pressure, this rises the possibility to unify the dark sector. At the same time, the presence of dissipative effects may alleviate the so called small scale problems in the ΛCDM model. While the unified viscous description for the dark sector does not lead to consistent results, the non-linear behaviour indeed improves the situation with respect to the standard cosmological model.

We attempt to find new symmetries in the space-time structure,leading to a modified gravitation at large length scales,which provides the foundations of a quantum gravity at very low energies. This search begins by considering a unified model for electrodynamics and gravitation,so that the influence of the gravitational field on the electrodynamics at very large distances leads to a reformulation of our understanding about space-time through the elimination of the classical idea of rest at quantum level. This leads us to a modification of the relativistic theory by introducing the idea of a universal minimum speed related to Planck minimum length. Such a speed,unattainable by the particles,represents a privileged inertial reference frame associated with a universal background field (a vacuum energy),enabling a fundamental understanding of the quantum uncertainties. The structure of space-time becomes extended due to such a vacuum energy density,which leads to a negative pressure at the cosmological length scales as being an anti-gravity,playing the role of the cosmological constant. The tiny values of the vacuum energy density and the cosmological constant are obtained,being in agreement with current observational results. We estimate the very high value of inflationary energy density of vacuum at Planck length scale. After we find the critical radius of the universe,beyond which the accelerated expansion (cosmological anti-gravity) takes place. We show that such a critical radius is Ruc = rg/2,where rg = 2GM/c 2 ,being rg the Shwarzschild radius of a sphere with a mass M representing the total attractive mass contained in our universe. And finally we obtain the radius Ru0 = 3rg/4(> Ruc) where we find the maximum rate of accelerated expansion. For Ru > Ru0,the rate of acceleration decreases to zero at the infinite, avoiding Big Rip.

We attempt to find new symmetries in the space-time structure, leading to a modified gravitation at large length scales, which provides the foundations of a quantum gravity at very low energies. This search begins by considering a unified model for electrodynamics and gravitation, so that the influence of the gravitational field on the electrodynamics at very large distances leads to a reformulation of our understanding about space-time through the elimination of the classical idea of rest at quantum level. This leads us to a modification of the relativistic theory by introducing the idea of a universal minimum speed related to Planck minimum length. Such a speed, unattainable by the particles, represents a privileged inertial reference frame associated with a universal background field. The structure of space-time becomes extended due to such a vacuum energy density, which leads to a cosmological anti-gravity, playing the role of the cosmological constant. The tiny values of the va...

In this paper we demonstrate the applicability of the unified model and parameter extraction method (UMEM), previously developed by us, to organic thin film transistors, OTFTs. The UMEM, which has been previously used with a-Si:H, polysilicon and nanocrystalline TFTs, provides a much rigorous and accurate determination of main electrical parameters of organic TFTs than previous methods. Device parameters are extracted in a simple and direct way from the experimental measurements, with no need of assigning predetermined values to any other model parameter or using optimization methods. The method can be applied to both experimental and simulated characteristics of organic TFTs, having different geometries and mobility. It provides a very good agreement between transfer, transconductance and output characteristics calculated using parameter values obtained with our extraction procedure and experimental curves. Differences in mobility behavior, as well as other device features that can be analyzed using UMEM are discussed.

Data mining evolved as a collection of applicative problems and efficient solution algorithms relative to rather peculiar problems, all focused on the discovery of relevant information hidden in databases of huge dimensions. In particular, one of the most investigated topics is the discovery of association rules.

Our goal is to develop 'smart indoor environments' that are monitored unobtrusively by biometric capture devices, such as video cameras, microphones, etc. Such environments will keep track of their occupants and be capable of answering queries about the occupants' whereabouts. In order to develop a unified model that is applicable across diverse biometric modalities, we propose an abstract state transition framework in which different recognition steps are abstracted by events, and the reasoning necessary to effect state transitions is abstracted by a transition function. We define the metrics of 'precision' and 'recall' of a smart environment to evaluate how well it tracks its occupants. We show how the overall performance of our smart environment can be improved through the use of spatiotemporal knowledge of the environment. A prototype based upon our proposed abstract framework indicates that integrating recognition and reasoning capabilities substantially improves the overall performance of the environment

The Modified Chaplygin Gas (MCG) model belongs to the class of a unified models of dark energy (DE) and dark matter (DM). It is characterized by an equation of state (EoS) p c = Bρ-A/ρ α , where the case B = 0 corresponds to the Generalized Chaplygin Gas (GCG) model. Using a perturbative analysis and power spectrum observational data we show that the MCG model is not a sucessful candidate for the cosmic medium unless B = 0. In this case, it reduces to the usual GCG model.

This paper describes interprocess communication and process dispatching on the Intel 432. The primary assets of the facility are its generality and its usefulness in a wide range of applications. The conceptual model, supporting mechanisms, available interfaces, current implementations, and absolute and comparative performance are described.

This paper describes interprocess communication and process dispatching on the Intel 432. The primary assets of the facility are its generality and its usefulness in a wide range of applications. The conceptual model, supporting mechanisms, available interfaces, current implementations, and absolute and comparative performance are described. The Intel 432 is an object-based multiprocessor. There are two processor types: General Data Processors (GDPs) and Interface Processors (IPs). These processors provide several operating system functions in hardware by defining and using a number of processor-recognized objects and high-level instructions. In particular, they use several types of processor-recognized objects to provide a unified structure for both interprocess communication and process dispatching. One of the prime motivations for providing this level of hardware support is to improve efficiency of these facilities over similar facilities implemented in software. With greater eff...

In this workshop, we will continue to reflect on a models and modeling perspective to understand how students and teachers learn and reason about real life situations encountered in a mathematics and science classroom. We will discuss the idea of a model as a conceptual system that is expressed by using external representational media, and that is used to construct, describe, or explain the behaviors of other systems. We will consider the types of models that students and teachers develop (explicitly) to construct, describe, or explain mathematically significant systems that they encounter in their everyday experiences, as these models are elicited through the use of model-eliciting activities (Lesh, Hoover, Hole, Kelly, & . During the workshop we will continue to explore these aspects of learning, teaching, and research by continuing our work in smaller groups focusing in: Student Development, Teacher Development, Assessment, Curriculum Development, Problem Solving, and an emphasis on Research Design. (Author)

The neutron electric dipole moment is investigated in a supersymmetric electroweak model admitting SU(2) W singlet and Q = -1/3, say D-type, quarks. Significant CP violating phases appear in the coupling between the singlet D-type quarks and the ordinary d-type quarks. Then, through the d-D mixing effects on the squark mass terms the gluino one-loop diagrams provide naturally the contributions ∼ 10 -26 e cm comparable to the current experimental bound on the neutron electric dipole moment. The CP violation in the d-D coupling would also be relevant for the electroweak baryogenesis.

We reconsider the unified model of gravitation and Yang-Mills interactions proposed by Chakraborty and Peldán, in the light of recent formal developments in loop quantum gravity. In particular, we show that one can promote the Hamiltonian constraint of the unified model to a well defined anomaly-free quantum operator using the techniques introduced by Thiemann, at least for the Euclidean theory. The Lorentzian version of the model can be consistently constructed, but at the moment appears to yield a correct weak field theory only under restrictive assumptions, and its quantization appears problematic.

Development involves changes in social, economic and institutional structures. Quantifying development requires a large array of variables with different characteristics often highly correlated. A factor analysis approach using inferential decisions based on computed standard errors is proposed. The significant factors are used to construct sub-indexes of structural characteristics and a new development index (DI). The properties of DI are analysed and contrasted with more traditional measures, real per capita income (RIPC) and the Human Development Index (HDI). The methodology is applied to data on 45 variables for 97 countries for 1995-2004. DI is found to have stronger discriminating power.

The article discusses the concept and principles of building unified information space and presents a scheme for its formation. The article considers formation of unified information space using a specialized information computer system, which is actually a hardware and software basis for supporting unified information space. The stages of information object identification in unified information space are considered. The article suggests a method for finding missing features of an incoming object by implementing the information objects interaction with each other within unified information space.

In this paper we present a new workflow allowing the creation of 3D characters in an automated way that does not require the expertise of an animator. This workflow is based of the acquisition of real human data captured by 3D body scanners, which is them processed to generate firstly animatable body meshes, secondly skinned body meshes and finally textured 3D garments.

Aggregate and sectoral comovement are central features of business cycles, so the ability to generate comovement is a natural litmus test for macroeconomic models. But it is a test that most models fail. We propose a unified model that generates aggregate and sectoral comovement in response to contemporaneous and news shocks about fundamentals. The fundamentals that we consider are aggregate and sectoral total factor productivity shocks as well as investment-specific technical change. The model has three key elements: variable capital utilization, adjustment costs to investment, and preferences that allow us to parameterize the strength of short-run wealth effects on the labor supply. (JEL E13, E20, E32)

We present the first preliminary estimate of the evolution of type 1 AGNs at 15 µm. A new sample of sources selected from the ELAIS-S1 survey has been used together with the RMS sample. The ELAIS-S1 survey covers an effective area of 2.2 deg 2 (total: 4 deg 2) down to 1.2 mJy at 15 µm. Spectroscopic identifications have been carried out in the range 17.2<R<20.0 at the 3.6m/ESO, NTT/ESO and 2dF/AAT. The luminosity function is steeper at bright luminosities in comparison to the previous estimates of Rush, Malkan & Spinoglio (1993). The evolution is compatible with a Pure Luminosity Evolution model with L(z) ∝ L(0)(1 + z) 3.4 .

We present the 15-mm luminosity function of type 1 active galactic nuclei (AGN1; quasistellar object þ Seyfert 1). Our sample of 21 high-redshift sources is selected from the Preliminary Analysis catalogue in the S1 field of the European Large Area ISO Survey (ELAIS). To study the cosmological evolution of the AGN1 luminosity function, our sample has been combined with a local sample of 41 sources observed by IRAS. We find that the luminosity function of AGN1 at 15 mm is fairly well represented by a double-power-lawfunction. There is evidence for significant cosmological evolution consistent with a pure luminosity evolution (PLE) model LðzÞ / ð1 þ zÞ k L , with k L ¼ 3:0-3:3. The value of k L depends on the existence or non-existence of an evolution cutoff at redshift , 2, and on the adopted cosmology. From the luminosity function and its evolution we estimate a contribution of AGN1 to the cosmic infrared background (CIRB) of nI n , 6 £ 10 211 W m 22 sr 21 at 15 mm. This corresponds to , 2-3 per cent of the total observed CIRB at this wavelength. Under the usual assumptions of unified models for AGN, the expected contribution of the whole AGN population to the CIRB at 15 mm is 10-15 per cent.

We present a unified model of photonic-band-gap impurities and optical microcavities by using a onedimensional distributed Bragg reAector. A variable-width center layer creates impurity photon states within the photonic band gap. We show that the best optical features (light localization, electric-field strength, linewidth, and laser threshold gain) are obtained when the layer thickness is half-wave (or a multiple), in which case the photon impurity state is located at the middle of the photonic band gap and the structure is a A, /2 (or higher-order) Fabry-Perot microcavity.

We present a unified model of photonic-band-gap impurities and optical microcavities by using a onedimensional distributed Bragg reAector. A variable-width center layer creates impurity photon states within the photonic band gap. We show that the best optical features (light localization, electric-field strength, linewidth, and laser threshold gain) are obtained when the layer thickness is half-wave (or a multiple), in which case the photon impurity state is located at the middle of the photonic band gap and the structure is a A, /2 (or higher-order) Fabry-Perot microcavity.

We consider a semiconductor microcavity driven by a coherent and stationary holding beam, in two distinct configurations. In the first, no carriers are injected in the multiple-quantum-well structure and the optical nonlinearity is governed by an excitonic resonance. The second corresponds to that of a vertical-cavity surfaceemitting laser kept slightly below threshold. We describe both configurations using a unified model that includes both field diffraction and carrier diffusion. We calculate numerically both the time evolution and the stationary profile of the solitonic solutions, using a generalization of the radial integration technique introduced by Firth and Scroggie ͓Phys. Rev. Lett. 76, 1623 ͑1996͔͒. We analyze the instability that forms spatial patterns and especially cavity spatial solitons. We predict the existence of these solitons in various parametric domains for both configurations. We demonstrate that these results are independent of the periodic boundary conditions used in the simulations. We show that, introducing a simple phase modulation in the holding beam, one can eliminate the motions of solitons that arise from noise and from amplitude gradients. The solitons are robust with respect to parametric variations, to carrier diffusion, and even to some amount of self-defocusing. This picture points to the possibility of realizing arrays of solitonic pixels using semiconductor microresonators.

There is a need to develop a contemporary and internationally accepted conceptual description of physical and rehabilitation medicine (PRM). The process of evolving such a definition can now rely on the unifying conceptual model and taxonomy of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) and an ICFbased conceptual description of rehabilitation understood as a health strategy. The PRM section of the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS) has endorsed the application of the ICF as a unifying conceptual model for PRM and supports the process of moving towards an "ICF-based conceptual description and according definitions of PRM". With this goal in mind, the authors have developed a first tentative conceptual description in co-operation with the professional practice committee of the UEMS-PRM-section. A respective brief definition describes PRM as the medical specialty that, based on the assessment of functioning and including the diagnosis and treatment of health conditions, performs, applies and co-ordinates biomedical and engineering and a wide range of other interventions with the goal of optimizing functioning of people experiencing or likely to experience disability. Readers of the Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine are invited to contribute to the process of achieving an internationally accepted ICF-based conceptual description of PRM by submitting commentaries to the Editor of this journal.

The neural crest is a unique cell population induced at the lateral border of the neural plate. Neural crest is not produced at the anterior border of the neural plate, which is fated to become forebrain. Here, the roles of BMPs, FGFs, Wnts, and retinoic acid signaling in neural crest induction were analyzed by using an assay developed for investigating the posteriorization of the neural plate. Using specific markers for the anterior neural plate border and the neural crest, the posterior end of early neurula embryos was shown to be able to transform the anterior neural plate border into neural crest cells. In addition, tissue expressing anterior neural plate markers, induced by an intermediate level of BMP activity, was transformed into neural crest by posteriorizing signals. This transformation was mimicked by bFGF, Wnt-8, or retinoic acid treatment and was also inhibited by expression of the dominant negative forms of the FGF receptor, the retinoic acid receptor, and Wnt signaling molecules. The transformation of the anterior neural plate border into neural crest cells was also achieved in whole embryos, by retinoic acid treatment or by use of a constitutively active form of the retinoic acid receptor. By analyzing the expression of mesodermal markers and various graft experiments, the expression of the mutant retinoic acid receptor was shown to directly affect the ectoderm. We thereby propose a two-step model for neural crest induction. Initially, BMP levels intermediate to those required for neural plate and epidermal specification induce neural folds with an anterior character along the entire neural plate border. Subsequently, the most posterior region of this anterior neural plate border is transformed into the neural crest by the posteriorizing activity of FGFs, Wnts, and retinoic acid signals. We discuss a unifying model where lateralizing and posteriorizing signals are presented as two stages of the same inductive process required for neural crest induction.

Monicelli's suicide has reawakened a political and legal dispute about the medical role in end-of-life decisions, allowing us to discuss medical, ethical, legal, religious and political debate in various paradigmatic conscious and unconscious cases of end-of-life decision. We analyse the uncertainty about the 'a priori' choice between different specific legislative systems, highlighting the need for a unifying model, dictated by the existing trust in the critical relationship between patient and doctor, whose primary mission should be not only 'to cure' but also 'to care'.

This paper grew out of a suggestion from Anthony M. Santomero, who would have been a collaborator and co-author had he not received and graciously heeded a call to public service. His comments on the paper have been most helpful. I also have received valuable comments from Douglas Pearce and John Lapp.

We analyze the 2−10 keV X-ray emission of complete samples of AGN and galaxies selected at 12µm and recently compiled by Rush, Malkan & Spinoglio (1993). The content in active galaxies of the 12µm sample is indeed much larger and less biased against low luminosity and 'hidden' active nuclei than for samples selected at other wavelengths. As a necessary complement we also study the IR emissivity of the largest sample of hard X-ray selected AGN (Grossan 1992). Our purposes are to probe the unified scheme of active nuclei and to evaluate the local X-ray volume emissivity of low luminosity and 'hidden' AGN. Two methods are used in our analysis to search for X-ray emission in the HEAO-1 A2 all-sky maps from the extragalactic sources contained in the extended 12µm sample: an X-ray Intensity Distribution Analysis (IDA) around the known positions of the sources and

In this work, we examine critically the relation between orbital magnetic dipole (scissors mode) strength and quadrupole deformation properties. Assuming a simple K = 0 ground state band in an even-even nucleus, the quantities Q(2 + 1) (i.e., the static quadrupole moment) and B(E2) 0 1 →2 1 both are described by a single parameter-the intrinsic quadrupole moment Q 0. In the shell model, we can operationally define Q 0 (Static) and Q 0 (BE2) and see if they are the same. Following a brief excursion to the sd shell, we perform calculations in the f p shell. The nuclei we consider (44,46,48 Ti and 48,50 Cr) are far from being perfect rotors, but we find that the calculated ratio Q 0 (Static)/Q 0 (BE2) is in many cases surprisingly close to one. We also discuss the quadrupole collectivity of orbital magnetic dipole transitions. We find that the large orbital B(M 1) strength in 44 Ti relative to 46 Ti and 48 Ti cannot be explained by simple deformation arguments.

Using the interaction $Q \cdot Q ~+~ xV_{S.O.}$ where $V_{S.O.}$ is a two-body spin-orbit interaction, we study the effects of varying x on the static electric quadrupole and magnetic dipole moments of the $2^+_1$ and $2^+_2$ states of $^{10}Be$. This is done both in the valence space $s^4p^6$ and in a larger space in which 2 $\hbar \omega$ excitations are allowed. In the former case, for x=0, we have the Wigner Supermultiplet limit in which the $2^+_1$ and $2^+_2$ states are degenerate and correspond to K=0 and K=2 rotational states, with equal and opposite static quadrupole moments. Turning on the spin-orbit interaction with sufficient strength in the valence space gives an energy splitting to the two $2^+$ states in accord with experiment. When higher shell admixtures are allowed, we get quite a different behaviour as a function of x than in the valence space. Of particular interest is a value of x for which $Q(2^+_1)$ and $Q(2^+_2)$ both nearly vanish, and so does (somewhat coin...

This paper examines the Bernoulli admission control policy for the two phase bulk arrival retrial queueing system wherein the customers has the option either to take second phase of service or to leave the system after completing first essential phase of service. In addition, the arrival rate of the customers depends upon the server status. After the service completion of each individual customer, the server takes vacation according to Bernoulli schedule at any phase of service. The vacation times and service times of both first essential and second optional services are assumed to be general distributed while the retrial times are exponential distributed. By using embedded markov chain technique, we have derived the distribution of the number of customers in the retrial group and in the queue. Some other system characteristics such as average orbit size, average queue size, etc. have been derived. The effects of different parameters on various performance measures are explored via ...

High-spin rotational levels in tTSTa are populated in the tTSLu(~, 4n)tT~Ta reaction and the de-excitation),-ray cascades are studied with the y-~ coincidence technique. The rotational hands, which are built on the ~+ [404], 3 + [402], ]-[514] and ½-[541 ] intrinsic states, are identified up to high spin values. The experimental location of the band heads is compared with calculations within a single-particle model, using a diffuse Woods-Saxon potential. The moment-of-inertia parameters are discussed within the framework of the unified model with pairing and Coriolis interactions included. The gyromagnetic ratio of the core OR is determined from the experimental values of gK-g~, and the values of g~ predicted by the single-particle model. The analysis of the time distribution of the emitted y-radiation shows, for some transitions within the ~-[514] rotational band, a delayed component. It is deduced from the 7,-7, coincidence measurements that these delayed components originate from an isomeric level at 1569 keV. The half-life of the isomer is determined as 200 =t=70 ns. This state is interpreted as a three-quasiparticle state with a probable spin of-~. NUCLEAR REACTIONS 175Lu(c¢, 4n)175Ta, Ec¢ = 39-50 MeV; measured E. e, I v, E (r(Ea, E~,, 07), ~v-delay, yT-coinc. 17STa deduced levels, I, ~t, y-branching, T~r, Coriolis calculations, gK-ga, ga. Natural target.

A unified model with a single set of kinetic parameters has been proposed for modeling the autoignition delay times of a wide range of alkanes using detailed kinetic mechanisms automatically generated by software EXGAS. The validations were based on recent data of the literature obtained in shock tubes and in rapid compression machines. The compounds studied were n-butane, n-pentane, iso-pentane, neo-pentane, 2-methylpentane, n-heptane, iso-octane, n-decane, and mixtures of n-heptane and iso-octane. Investigated conditions are the following: temperatures range from 600 to 1200 K, including the negative temperature coefficient (NTC) region, pressures range from 1 to 50 bar, and equivalence ratios range from 0.5 to 2. Tests were also performed for results obtained in a jet-stirred reactor and a sensitivity analysis was performed in the case of n-heptane. Simulations using generated mechanisms for the nine isomers of heptane were performed and showed that the variations of autoignition delay times follows globally well that of octane numbers at 650 K in a rapid compression machine at 4 bar. The influence of pressure (from 3 to 200 bar) was theoretically investigated.

To evaluate the impact of emission change in East Asia on the surface ozone concentration and crop yield loss especially for wheat and rice, we developed a one-way nested global-regional chemical transport model, and conducted 1-year calculations with emission inventories for 2000 and 2020. The model consisted of global and regional CTMs. The global CTM was based on the chemical atmospheric general circulation model for study of atmospheric environment and radiative forcing (CHASER) model, while the regional part is based on the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) /Chem model. We have been also implemented a model which estimates stomatal ozone flux into agricultural crops following to EMEP (European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme) Unified Model, to evaluate exceedance of flux-based critical levels for ozone. The anthropogenic emissions in East Asia were taken from the Regional Emission inventory in ASia (REAS). Phenological data for spring wheat, single rice, and double rice in China, Korea, and Japan are taken from statistical data for each country. Comparison of the modeled surface ozone with ground-based observations in China in 2007 and 2008 showed that the model generally reproduced the seasonal and diurnal variations of ozone at the canopy height. For the horizontal distribution of surface ozone concentration, comparison between 2000 and 2020 revealed an ozone increase of 5-20 ppbv in the North China Plain, where the increase of ozone precursors was most remarkable. Remarkable increase of accumulated ozone flux into wheat during its growing season can be seen in the southern part of China. The maximum increase of AFst6 (accumulated stomatal flux of ozone above threshold of 6 nmol m −2 PLA s −1) was 2.4 mmol/m 2 in Kanton Province. Crop yield loss caused by high ozone concentration was also estimated by using AFst6 and AOT40 (accumulated ozone concentration over threshold of 40 ppbv). Both estimates showed that crop yield loss might increase from 7% to 15% in East Asia.

Multicolor infrared ultrafast spectroscopy is applied to investigate the vibrational relaxation dynamics in liquid water at room temperature. In a sequence of experiments, both the stretching and the bending mode are photoexcited and probed. A unified model, capable of the reproduction of as much as 150 transients, yielded cross-sections and relaxation times for the stretching and bending modes. It is further demonstrated, that the energy from the initially excited stretching vibration is partitioned to the bending modes of approximately two water molecules.

SOA is a Buzzword today and much is said about it, the actual goal of SOA is to help align IT capabilities with business goals .Another important goal of SOA is to provide an agile technical infrastructure that can be quickly and easily reconfigured as business requirement change. Until the emergence of SOA based IT systems, business and government organizations were faced off with difficult trade off between the expanses of custom solution and the convenience of packaged applications. In this paper we have argued that how service based information systems are different from component based systems. Further we have identified the line of division between two approaches and pointed out the issues of SOA adoption in an organization.

In this paper, two examples of formulating the targeted impedance of fingers of a mechanical hand are presented. A unified model of targeted impedance, based on the "physical equivalence postulate" of the closed-loop dynamics behavior of fingers, is used. Based on this postulate, the parameters of the targeted impedance can be selected such that the dynamic behavior of the closed-loop system satisfies specific task requirements. The first example is a formulation of the targeted impedance based on the object desired grasp stiffness properties at the port of interaction with the environment. The second example is a formulation of the targeted impedance for the case where the grasped object has some oscillatory motion, such that the oscillation of the object is minimized about some nominal equilibrium point. A method of obtaining the finger configuration based on the static relationship of the targeted impedance is also presented .

Software Transactional Memory is a concurrency control technique gaining increasing popularity, as it provides high-level concurrency control constructs and eases the development of highly multi-threaded applications. But this easiness comes at the expense of restricting the operations that can be executed within a memory transaction, and operations such as terminal and file I/O are either not allowed or incur in serious performance penalties. Database I/O is another example of operations that usually are not allowed within a memory transaction. This paper proposes to combine memory and database transactions in a single unified model, benefiting from the ACID properties of the database transactions and from the speed of main memory data processing. The new unified model covers, without differentiating, both memory and database operations. Thus, the users are allowed to freely intertwine memory and database accesses within the same transaction, knowing that the memory and database contents will always remain consistent and that the transaction will atomically abort or commit the operations in both memory and database. This approach allows to increase the granularity of the in-memory atomic actions and hence, simplifies the reasoning about them.

The sensitivity of the equatorial stratospheric climate to variations in the gravity wave parameterization is examined in the Unified Model. Particular emphasis is placed on the response of the annual cycle and quasi‐biennial oscillation of zonal winds. Two classes of variations are considered. The first consists of variations in the source strength of the classic deterministic formulation of a Doppler‐spread Doppler‐shifted gravity wave scheme. The second consists of variations in the probability density function of the source strength parameter in a stochastic formulation of the same scheme. The effects on stratospheric climate of variations in the source strength of a deterministic scheme can be predicted from theory. In such a scheme, when choosing the best possible value for the source strength, a trade‐off between a proper representation of the quasi‐biennial oscillation and the annual cycle is inevitable. Implementation of a stochastic source strength in the resident gravity ...

This paper elaborates key economic considerations essential to sustainable growth and development. Part one reviews key findings from the literature on sustainability and economic growth. Part two presents a dynamic optimization model that explicitly incorporates sustainability and biodiversity dimensions. Part three reviews recent growth and environmental trends in Africa. Part four presents an index of sustainable growth based on a sample of countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Part five draws conclusions on the necessity of appropriate property rights regimes and the development of economic incentives that can achieve sustainable rates of growth in stocks of natural and environmental capital.

In this study we explore the molecular basis of combining photodynamic therapy (PDT), a light-triggered targeted anticancer therapy, with the traditional chemotherapeutic properties of the well-known cytotoxic agent gemcitabine. A photosensitizer prerequisite is significant absorption of biocompatible light in the visible/near IR range, ideally between 600 and 1000 nm. We use highly accurate multiconfigurational CASSCF/MS-CASPT2/MM and TD-DFT methodologies to determine the absorption properties of a series of gemcitabine derivatives with the goal of red-shifting the UV absorption band toward the visible region and facilitating triplet state population. The choice of the substitutions and thus the rational design is based on important biochemical criteria and on derivatives whose synthesis is reported in the literature. The modifications tackled in this work consist of: i) substitution of the oxygen atom at O2 position with heavier atoms (O→S and O→Se) to red-shift the absorption band and increase the spin-orbit coupling, ii) addition of a lipophilic chain at the N7 position to enhance transport into cancer cells and slow down gemcitabine metabolism, and iii) attachment of aromatic systems at C5 position to further enhance redshift. Results indicate that the combination of these three chemical modifications markedly shifts the absorption spectrum towards the 500 nm region and beyond and drastically increases spin-orbit coupling values, two key PDT requirements. The obtained theoretical predictions encourage biological studies to further develop this anticancer approach.

The recent widening of the wage gap between skilled and unskilled workers has been attributed either to skill-biased technical progress or to trade liberalization. In this paper both effects are studied in a unified model. Technical progress is modeled as innovations which replace unskilled by skilled workers and trade liberalization is modeled as an increase in the set of tradable goods. We derive two main results. The first is that technical progress increases the wage gap in developed and in less developed countries, while trade liberalization increases the wage gap in developed countries but reduces it in less developed countries. The second result is that while trade liberalization increases trade in all countries, technical progress does not increase trade everywhere. These two results indicate that the recent increase in wage inequality is a combined result of both technical progress and trade liberalization, and cannot be attributed to one factor only.