Nanoscale deformation of a liquid surface

We study the interaction between a solid particle and a liquid interface. A semianalytical solution of the nonlinear equation that describes the interface deformation points out the existence of a bifurcation behavior for the apex deformation as a function of the distance. We show that the apex curvature obeys a simple power-law dependency on the deformation. Relationships between physical parameters disclose the threshold distance at which the particle can approach the liquid before capillarity provokes a "jump to contact." A prediction of the interface original position before deformation takes place, as well as the attraction force measured by an approaching probe, are produced. The results of our analysis agree with the force curves obtained from atomic force microscopy experiments over a liquid puddle.     

Eigenfunction expansions for infinite dimensional Ornstein-Uhlenbeck processes

Summary We give a general construction of infinite dimensional Ornstein-Uhlenbeck processes. We present expansions of these processes based on the expansion of the covariance operators in generalized eigenfunctions, and we answer positively some question left open by J.B. Walsh on properties of the hitting times of these processes.Partially supported by NSF-Grant MCS 8202045     

QUOPLAN: A System for Optimizing Sales Quota-Bonus Plans

This paper describes an IBM-PC menu-driven and user-friendly procedure which can help sales management in setting up optimal quota-bonus plans. For a given sales force, the resulting quotabonus plan maximizes the firm's current profits subject to (1) keeping every individual sales-force member at least at his/her current level of satisfaction (or eventually, increasing this level), and (2) being consistent and harmonious across sales representatives. The QUOPLAN system is composed of two submodels. The first submodel is used by salespersons for eliciting their own utility functions, and is essentially based upon the principles of conjoint analysis. The second submodel is used by management for reconciling all the individuals' judgements and the company's objectives into a consistent quota-bonus plan.     

Strange particle production at the intersection of soft and hard processes at RHIC

Nuclear suppression factor and u ₂ measurements as a function of transverse momentum for neutral strange particles are shown and compared to particle identified spectra from PHENIX and WA98 and to models that attempt to describe the suppression of particles at moderate pt in central RHIC Au?Au collisions. It is shown that identified spectra carry additional information to the published charged particle spectra. In particular, dependencies of the R _AA and u ₂ values on the measured particle species will be discussed in the context of several models.     

Direct EPR detection of transient and continuous wave signals at 2.5 GHz

Direct detection of free induction decays and electron spin echoes, and the recording of echo-detected EPR spectra and electron spin echo envelope modulation patterns at a microwave frequency of 2.5 GHz is demonstrated. This corresponds to the measurement of the transverse magnetization in the laboratory frame, rather than in the rotating frame as usually done by down-converting the signal (homodyne detection). An oscilloscope with a 6-GHz analog bandwidth, a sampling rate of 20 GigaSamples per second, and a trigger frequency of 5 GHz for the edge trigger and 750 MHz for the advanced trigger, is used in these experiments. For signal averaging a 3-GHz microwave clock divider has been developed to synchronize the oscilloscope with the frequency of the EPR signal. Moreover, direct detection of continuous wave EPR signals at 2.5 GHz is described.     

19.4%‐efficient large‐area fully screen‐printed silicon solar cells

We demonstrate industrially feasible large‐area solar cells with passivated homogeneous emitter and rear achieving energy conversion efficiencies of up to 19.4% on 125 × 125 mm² p‐type 2–3 Ω cm boron‐doped Czochralski silicon wafers. Front and rear metal contacts are fabricated by screen‐printing of silver and aluminum paste and firing in a conventional belt furnace. We implement two different dielectric rear surface passivation stacks: (i) a thermally grown silicon dioxide/silicon nitride stack and (ii) an atomic‐layer‐deposited aluminum oxide/silicon nitride stack. The dielectrics at the rear result in a decreased surface recombination velocity of S_rear = 70 cm/s and 80 cm/s, and an increased internal IR reflectance of up to 91% corresponding to an improved J_sc of up to 38.9 mA/cm² and V_oc of up to 664 mV. We observe an increase in cell efficiency of 0.8% absolute for the cells compared to 18.6% efficient reference solar cells featuring a full‐area aluminum back surface field. To our knowledge, the energy conversion efficiency of 19.4% is the best value reported so far for large area screen‐printed solar cells. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Competition between Liquid-liquid De-mixing,Crystallization, and Glass Transition in Solutions of PLA of Different Stereochemistry and DEET

Liquid-liquid(L-L)de-mixing and vitrification of solutions of either crystallizable poly(L-lactic acid)(PLLA)or non-crystallizable poly(D/L-lactic acid)(PDLLA)with 50 m%N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide(DEET)were analyzed by calorimetry and cloud-point measurements,which allows drawing conclusions about the effect of polymer stereochemistry on the phase behavior.Regardless of the PLA stereochemistry,vitrification of the solutions on fast cooling,hindering crystallization of PLLA,occurred below-20℃ and suppressed prior L-L de-mixing.The experimental results prove that crystallization in samples containing crystallizable PLLA,observed at around 55℃ on slow cooling,is not preceded by L-L de-mixing.     

Diazoacetonitrile (N2CHCN): A Long Forgotten but Valuable Reagent for Organic Synthesis

Diazoacetonitrile (N₂CHCN) is a small reactive diazoalkane. It has been synthesized for the first time already in 1898 by Theodor Curtius, however, did not gain much recognition in organic synthesis until recently. Only in 2015, after introduction of in situ and flow protocols for the safe generation of diazoacetonitrile, it started gaining popularity. In this minireview, the synthetic properties and applications of this valuable reagent are discussed.