Measurement and interpretation of the 1-0 band of 14N16O at 1900 cm−1

The wavenumbers of the vibration rotation band lines of ¹⁴N¹⁶O are reported for the ${}^2\text{Π}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{-}{}^2\text{Π}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$, ${}^2\text{Π}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{-}{}^2\text{Π}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ and ${}^2\text{Π}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{-}{}^2\text{Π}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ subbands of the 1-0 transition in the infrared. The full set of spectroscopic constants for this band has been determined by direct approach using the analysis of Zare, Schmeltekopf, Harrop, and Albritton. In addition to the band origin ν₀ and the B, D, H constants for the lower and upper vibrational levels, the following spin-orbit coupling constants have been derived: $\text{A}\text{?}{}_0\text{= 123.02772 ± 0.00011}$ and $\text{A}\text{?}{}_1\text{= 122.78248 ± 0.00011}$ (in cm^?1). Apparent centrifugal corrections to these constants have been determined and the values obtained for them are $\text{A}\text{?}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>D</mtext><mtext>0</mtext>}}\text{= (0.347573 ± 0.00051) × 10}{}^{\mathrm{?3}}$ and $\text{A}\text{?}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>D</mtext><mtext>1</mtext>}}\text{= (0.337135 ± 0.00050) × 10}{}^{\mathrm{?3}}\text{cm}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}$. Λ-Type doubling constants evaluated by using both grating and tunable laser data are also reported.     

Recurrence and transience for random walks with stationary increments

Summary Let S _n = ₁+...+ _n , n1, be the partial sums of stationary, dependent random variables in ^m . The probability space can be partitioned into I _t I _r , where I _t = {S _n} and I _r ={each S _n is limit point of (S _n)_n1}. This result follows from the inclusion{S _n > for n>0}I _t a.s., which is obtained by using Kac's inequality.     

Transition quadrupole moments of superdeformed states in194Pb

Lifetimes of superdeformed states in¹⁹⁴Pb were measured by the Doppler-shift attenuation method. Quadrupole moments around 20 eb, that are constant over the observed frequency range, are derived. The results rule out large centrifugal stretching effects.     

Limitation of Auger electron spectroscopy in the determination of the metal-on-oxide growth mode: Pd on MgO(100)

A discussion on the use of Auger electron spectroscopy as a quantitative tool to determine the growth mode of metals on single crystal oxide surfaces is presented. In the case of Pd grown epitaxially on MgO(100), the three-dimensional character of the growth is easily seen at coverage above one monolayer. However, in the submonolayer regime, and mainly at low substrate temperatures, the AES results are ambiguous. The combination of AES with the more sensitive helium-atom diffraction method allows us to demonstrate that the growth is three-dimensional from the early stages, the particles becoming flatter when the substrate temperature decreases. We compare our results with other growth studies on different metal/oxide systems. At low temperature, the ideal growth modes are not always observed, the final morphology of the films being determined mainly by kinetic effects. Thus a pseudo-Stranski-Krastanov growth mode is often obtained with formation of 2D islands followed by 3D clustering from a critical submonolayer coverage.     

Isotope effects in water as investigated by neutron diffraction and path integral molecular dynamics

The structures of heavy and light water at 300?K were investigated by using a joint approach in which the method of neutron diffraction with oxygen isotope substitution was complemented by path integral molecular dynamics simulations. The diffraction results, which give intra-molecular O-D and O-H bond distances of 0.985(5) and 0.990(5)??, were found to be in best agreement with those obtained by using the flexible anharmonic TTM3-F water model. Both techniques show a difference of ??0.5% between the O-D and O-H intra-molecular bond lengths, and the results support a competing quantum effects model for water in which its structural and dynamical properties are governed by an offset between intra-molecular and inter-molecular quantum contributions. Further consideration of the O-O correlations is needed in order to improve agreement with experiment.     

Experimental evidence and consequences of rare events in quantum tunneling

Tiny spatial fluctuations of tunnel barrier parameters are shown to have dramatic consequences on the statistical properties of quantum tunneling. A direct experimental evidence is provided that the tunnel current through metal-oxide junctions, imaged at a nanometric scale, exhibits broad statistical distributions extending over more than 4 orders of magnitude. Striking effects of broad current distributions are shown: the total tunnel transmission is dominated by few highly transmitting sites and the typical current density varies strongly with the size of the junction. Moreover, self-averaging of the tunnel current fluctuations occurs only for unexpectedly large junction areas. Received 1 April 1999     

Spasmodic dysphonia and vocal fold paralysis:Outcomes of voice problems on work-related functioning

Patients at a university voice disorder clinic diagnosed with spasmodicdysphonia (SD, n = 68) or vocal fold paralysis (VFP, n = 57) reported vocal symptoms and adverse work outcomes in contrast to a nondisordered group (ND, n = 68). Patients with SD most frequently cited symptoms of effortfulness (57%) and weakness (54%), VFP cited hoarseness (70%) and weakness (60%), while the nondisordered reported hoarseness (28%). SD and VFP produced greater (p<.05) adverse work outcomes than the nondisordered in the past (SD: 65%, VFP: 41%, ND: 3%), potential future (SD: 78%, VFP: 65%, ND: 19%), and current job performance (SD: 64%, VFP: 46%, ND: 2%). These disorders significantly disrupt socioeconomic outcomes and research is needed to improve functional ability and quality of life.     

Synthesis and Raman spectroscopic study of Mg/Al,Fe hydrotalcites with variable cationic ratios

Hydrotalcites of formula Mg₆(Al,Fe)₂(OH)₁₆(CO₃)·4H₂O formed by intercalation with the carbonate anion as a function of divalent/trivalent cationic ratio have been successfully synthesised. The XRD patterns show variation in the d‐spacing attributed to the size of the cation. Raman and infrared bands in the OH stretching region are assigned to (1) brucite layer OH stretching vibrations, (2) water stretching bands and (3) water strongly hydrogen bonded to the carbonate anion. Multiple (CO₃)²⁻ symmetric stretching bands suggest that different types of (CO₃)²⁻ exist in the hydrotalcite interlayer. Increasing the cation ratio (Mg/Al,Fe) resulted in an increase in the combined intensity of the two Raman bands at around 3600 cm⁻¹, attributed to Mg OH stretching modes, and a shift of the overall band profile to higher wavenumbers. These observations are believed to be a result of the increase in magnesium in the structure. Raman spectroscopy shows a reduction in the symmetry of the carbonate, leading to the conclusion that the anions are bonded to the brucite‐like hydroxyl surface and to the water in the interlayer. Water bending modes are identified in the infrared spectra at positions greater than 1630 cm⁻¹, indicating that water is strongly hydrogen bonded to both interlayer anions and the brucite‐like surface. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.