Formulas and Asymptotics for the Asymmetric Simple Exclusion Process

This is an expanded version of a series of lectures delivered by the second author in June, 2009. It describes the results of three of the authors’ papers on the asymmetric simple exclusion process, from the derivation of exact formulas for configuration probabilities, through Fredholm determinant representation, to asymptotics with step initial condition establishing KPZ universality. Although complete proofs are in general not given, at least the main elements of them are.     

Quantum size effect driven structure modifications of Bi films on Ni(111)

The quantum-size effect (QSE) driven growth of Bi film structures on Ni(111) was studied in situ using low energy electron microscopy and selective area low energy electron diffraction (μLEED). Domains with a (3×3), [(3)(1)(-1)(2)], and (7×7) film structure are found with a height of 3, 5, and 7 atomic layers, respectively. A comparison of I/V-μLEED curves with tensor LEED calculations shows perfectly accommodated Fermi wavelengths, indicative that not only the quantized height, but also the film structure is driven by QSE.     

Induced-charge errors in charge-transfer measurement: Calculations for sparks and additional brush-discharge geometries

We recently reported calculations of the influence of induced-charge errors on brush discharge charge-transfer measurement for electrostatic hazard assessment. We concluded, tentatively, that, provided concave charged systems were avoided, the use of a correction factor of ×2 to ×2.5 when interpreting charge-transfer measurements made with fast, unshielded probes would avoid the underestimation of hazards at a 60 nC threshold level. However, our calculations applied directly only to brush discharges with a restricted range of geometries and consequently, it was not certain that the factors were necessarily sufficient in all circumstances. This paper presents numerical calculations that extend our results to a wider variety of geometries and include sparks as well as brush discharges. For brush discharges, the results reinforce the conclusions of the original work. For sparks they suggest that a similar worst-case correction factor (×2.2) is applicable.     

Statistical energy analysis by finite elements for middle frequency vibration

Statistical energy analysis (SEA) is commonly used in industry to predict high-frequency vibrational response of structures. Since only local modes are used in SEA, only high-frequency responses can be predicted. This study extends SEA to the middle-frequency region by additionally using global modes. Methods using impedance matrices that can be found by NASTRAN are developed. Then the results are post processed to determine coupling loss factors.     

Reduced basis set for the gold atom in cluster complexes

To extend the metal cluster size used in interfacing between bulk metals and molecules in ab initio studies of molecular electronics and chemisorption, a reduced size atomic orbital basis set for the gold atom has been generated. Based on the SKBJ relativistic effective core potential set, the three component 5d Gaussian orbital basis set is completely contracted. Comparisons between the full and reduced basis set in Au atom clusters and cluster complexes for geometry, bond distances, dipole moments, atomic charges, spin, bond dissociation energies, lowest energy harmonic frequencies, electron affinities, ionization energies, and density of states distributions show the contracted set to be a viable replacement for the full basis set. This result is obtained using both the B3LYP and BPW91 exchange-correlation potentials in density functional theory.     

Determination of zearalenone in cereal grains, animal feed, and feed ingredients using immunoaffinity column chromatography and liquid chromatography: interlaboratory study

A method using immunoaffinity column chromatography (IAC) and liquid chromatography (LC) for determination of zearalenone in cereal grains, animal feed, and feed ingredients was collaboratively studied. The test portion is extracted by shaking with acetonitrile-water (90 + 10, v/v) and sodium chloride. The extract is diluted and applied to an immunoaffinity column, the column is washed with water or phosphate-buffered saline or methanol-water (30 + 70, v/v), and zearalenone is eluted with methanol. The eluate is evaporated, the residue is dissolved in mobile phase and analyzed by reversed-phase LC with fluorescence detection. The presence of zearalenone can be confirmed using an alternate excitation wavelength or diode array detection. Twenty samples were sent to 13 collaborators (8 in Europe, 2 in the United States, one in Japan, one in Uruguay, and one in Canada). Eighteen samples of naturally contaminated corn, barley, wheat, dried distillers grains, swine feed, and dairy feed were analyzed as blind duplicates, along with blank corn and wheat samples. The analyses were done in 2 sample sets with inclusion of a spiked wheat control sample (0.1 mg/kg) in each set. Spiked samples recoveries were 89-116%, and for the 18 naturally contaminated samples, RSDr values (within-laboratory repeatability) ranged from 6.67 to 12.1%, RSDR values (among-laboratory reproducibility) ranged from 12.5 to 19.7%, and HorRat values ranged from 0.61 to 0.90.