The effect of traffic noise on sleep of young adults in their homes

The disturbance of sleep by traffic noise is a major problem area in noise pollution. Extensive laboratory tests using multichannel electroencephalograms (EEG) have been carried out by many workers to determine the general response of people when exposed to noise during sleep. An experimental technique for obtaining results in people's homes has been developed using a simplified one-channel EEG. The responses of six people in the age range 19-24 were measured. A significant correlation was found between sleep disturbance and traffic noise when the noise is expressed in EPNdB. In the home experiments the subjects appeared to be approximately 10 dB less sensitive to noises than laboratory subjects for similar noise exposure. There also appeared to be some adaptation to the noise exposure; however, only one subject was tested for a period of 20 days and was insufficient to give definite results on adaptation.     

Estimation of integrated volatility in stochastic volatility models

In the framework of stochastic volatility models we examine estimators for the integrated volatility based on the pth power variation (i.e. the sum of pth absolute powers of the log‐returns). We derive consistency and distributional results for the estimators given high‐frequency data, especially taking into account what kind of process we may add to our model without affecting the estimate of the integrated volatility. This may on the one hand be interpreted as a possible flexibility in modelling, for example adding jumps or even leaving the framework of semimartingales by adding a fractional Brownian motion, or on the other hand as robustness against model misspecification. We will discuss possible choices of p under different model assumptions and irregularly spaced data. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structure and superconductivity in FexCu1−xBa2YCu2O7+y superconductors synthesized by high pressure

Comprehensive studies of X-ray diffraction, oxygen content, superconductivity and Mössbauer effect have been made on Fe_xCu_1−xBa₂YCu₂O_7+y superconductors (0.00≤x≤0.70) synthesized by ambient (AM) and high pressure (HP). Results indicate that all the HP-samples have tetragonal structure, smaller lattice parameter c and unit-cell volume than the AM-samples. The studies of oxygen content, and Mössbauer spectroscopy indicate that the HP-samples have higher oxygen content, carrier concentration and average valence of Fe than the AM-samples. Moreover, for the HP-samples more Fe atoms located in CuO_x chains have fivefold-oxygen coordination. These are important reasons for the enhancement of T_c in the HP-samples.     

Search for a reliable methodology for PSD determination based on a combined molecular simulation-regularization-experimental approach: The case of PHTS materials

We present here a methodology for searching a robust pore size distribution (PSD) for adsorbent materials. The method is based on a combination of individual adsorption isotherms, obtained from Grand Canonical Monte Carlo simulations, a regularization procedure to invert the adsorption integral equation (Tikhonov regularization solved by singular value decomposition), and the needed experimental adsorption isotherm. The selection of several parameters from the available choices to start the procedure are discussed here: the size of the kernel (number of individual pores and number of experimental adsorption points to be included), the fulfillment of the Discrete Picard condition, and the L-curve criteria, all leading to find a reliable and robust PSD. The procedure is applied to plugged hexagonal templated silicas (PHTS), synthesized, and characterized in our laboratory.     

Beyond the quark model of hadrons from lattice QCD

Lattice QCD can give direct information on OZI-violating contributions to mesons. Here we explore the contributions that split flavour singlet and non-singlet meson masses. I discuss in detail the spectrum and decays for scalar mesons (i.e. including glueball effects). I also review the status of hybrid mesons and their decays.Received: 30 September 2002, Published online: 22 October 2003PACS: 12.38.Gc Lattice QCD calculations - 12.39.Mk Glueball and nonstandard multi-quark/gluon states     

Upper bounds on correlation decay for one-dimensional long-range spin-glass models

Some recent results on one-dimensional spin-glass models with polynomially decreasing interactions are described.     

FT-IR study on solvent effects in building blocks of bioactive compounds. V

3-Hydroxy-4-hydroxymethyl pyrrolidin-2-ones, easily prepared from the Baylis–Hillman adduct 1-ethyl-4-methyl-2-hydroxy-3-methylenebutanedioate, are useful intermediates in the synthesis of bioactive compounds. In order to understand the mechanism involved in this reaction, vibrational and Montecarlo molecular mechanics conformational analysis on 1-ethyl-4-methyl-2-hydroxy-3-methylenebutanedioate were carried out, confirming the existence of a low energy intramolecular H-bonded five-member ring.