A power-law distribution for tenure lengths of sports managers

We show that the tenure lengths for managers of sport teams follow a power law distribution with an exponent between 2 and 3. We develop a simple theoretical model which replicates this result. The model demonstrates that the empirical phenomenon can be understood as the macroscopic outcome of pairwise interactions among managers in a league, threshold effects in managerial performance evaluation, competitive market forces, and luck at the microscopic level.     

Helium cosmic ray flux measurements at Mars

The helium energy spectrum in Martian orbit has been observed by the MARIE charged particle spectrometer aboard the 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft. The orbital data were taken from March 13, 2002 to October 28, 2003, at which time a very intense Solar Particle Event caused a loss of communication between the instrument and the spacecraft. The silicon detector stack in MARIE is optimized for the detection of protons and helium in the energy range below , which typically includes almost all of the flux during SPEs. This also makes MARIE an efficient detector for GCR helium in the energy range of 50–. We will present the first fully normalized flux results from MARIE, using helium ions in this energy range.     

An experimental and modeling study of the autoignition of 3-methylheptane

An experimental and kinetic modeling study of the autoignition of 3-methylheptane, a compound representative of the high molecular weight lightly branched alkanes found in large quantities in conventional and synthetic aviation kerosene and diesel fuels, is reported. Shock tube and rapid compression machine ignition delay time measurements are reported over a wide range of conditions of relevance to combustion engine applications: temperatures from 678 to 1356 K; pressures of 6.5, 10, 20, and 50 atm; and equivalence ratios of 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0. The wide range of temperatures examined provides observation of autoignition in three reactivity regimes, including the negative temperature coefficient (NTC) regime characteristic of paraffinic fuels. Comparisons made between the current ignition delay measurements for 3-methylheptane and previous results for n-octane and 2-methylheptane quantifies the influence of a single methyl substitution and its location on the reactivity of alkanes. It is found that the three C₈ alkane isomers have indistinguishable high-temperature ignition delay but their ignition delay times deviate in the NTC and low-temperature regimes in correlation with their research octane numbers. The experimental results are compared with the predictions of a proposed kinetic model that includes both high- and low-temperature oxidation chemistry. The model mechanistically explains the differences in reactivity for n-octane, 2-methylheptane, and 3-methylheptane in the NTC through the influence of the methyl substitution on the rates of isomerization reactions in the low-temperature chain branching pathway, that ultimately leads to ketohydroperoxide species, and the competition between low-temperature chain branching and the formation of cyclic ethers, in a chain propagating pathway.     

NMR AND DFT STUDY OF Co-C BOND ACTIVATION MECHANISM IN VITAMIN B_(12) COMPOUNDS

This report focuses on a theoretical study of the cobalt-cabon bond activation mechanism in Vitamin B12, its co enzyme complexes, and model compounds such as cobalamins (Cbl), cobaloximes and cobalt porphyrins. In particular, emphasis is placed on the nucleotide loop and its role in the base on and base off mechanism.     

Noise in miniature microphones

The internal noise spectrum in miniature electret microphones of the type used in the manufacture of hearing aids is measured. An analogous circuit model of the microphone is empirically fit to the measured data and used to determine the important sources of noise within the microphone. The dominant noise source is found to depend on the frequency. Below 40 Hz and above 9 kHz, the dominant source is electrical noise from the amplifier circuit needed to buffer the electrical signal from the microphone diaphragm. Between approximately 40 Hz and 1 kHz, the dominant source is thermal noise originating in the acoustic flow resistance of the small hole pierced in the diaphragm to equalize barometric pressure. Between approximately 1 kHz and 9 kHz, the noise originates in the acoustic flow resistances of sound entering the microphone and propagating to the diaphragm. To further reduce the microphone internal noise in the audio band requires attacking these sources. A prototype microphone having reduced acoustical noise is measured and discussed.     

Preparation and measurement in quantum physics

To honor Henry Margenau on the occasion of his 90th birthday, we attempt in this essay to integrate certain aspects of the physics, philosophy, and pedagogy of quantum mechanics in a manner very much inspired by Margenau's idealist scientific epistemology. Over half a century ago, Margenau was perhaps the first philosopher of science to recognize and elaborate upon the essential distinction between thepreparation of a quantum state and themeasurement of an observable associated with a system in that state; yet in contemporary quantum texts that distinction rarely receives adequate emphasis even though, as we demonstrate, it may be explicated through a series of simple illustrations.     

Fabrication of quantum dots on the InSb (110) surface

Using a scanning tunneling microscope, quantum dots with diameters of order 25 Å have been fabricated on the cleaved InSb (110) surface in UHV. Both In and Sb atoms were clearly resolved on the cleaved surface.     

Reactivity of tetrahydrochromeno[2,3‐b]indoles: chromic indicators of cyanide

The synthesis and reactivity of a tetrahydrochromeno[2,3‐b]indoles are reported. Evidence for reversible ring‐opening is based on H/D exchange and trapping experiments. These compounds readily undergo reaction with tetra‐n‐butylammonium cyanide. The cyanide reaction is 10–100× faster when the solution is irradiated with 350 nm light. Reaction with trimethylsilyl cyanide occurs only with UV irradiation demonstrating photoreactivity. The rate of tetrahydrochromeno[2,3‐b]indole ring‐opening is greater for (i) Me substitution at the hemiaminal carbon (compared to Ph), and (ii) substitution of fluorine at the 9‐position of the indole. Under acidic conditions, the ring‐opened indolium ion is observed. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Force-torque correlations

The equilibrium force-torque correlation ?Nf? is studied, first for a general fluid in which the intermolecular potential is expanded in generalized spherical harmonics, and then for the specific case of homonuclear diatomic molecules. If coordinate axes are taken with z axis parallel to the 12 intermolecular vector, it is shown that two (and only two) elements of the tensor are non-zero : ?n_x (12)f_y (12)? = -?n_y (12)f_x (12)?. For the linear molecule, these elements are evaluated in the limit of zero density for the atom-atom model of the potential. Example calculations are done, numerically for finite L (where L is the length of the diatomic molecule) and analytically in the limit of small L.     

On the validity and properties of the atom-atom potential as a function of intermolecular separation,configuration, and partial wave order

The intermolecular partial wave expansion of the atom-atom potential U is reviewed briefly and developed, by using results due to Sack, so that the radial components of the expansion can be evaluated to arbitrary accuracy for all relevant partial wave orders and values of the intermolecular distance r. These results are used to study the convergence of the partial wave expansion of U as a function of partial wave order, r, intermolecular orientation, and the anisotropy of the interacting molecules. In marked contrast to previous work it is found that many of the higher order partial wave components of U are important relative to the isotropic term even for the interaction of relatively spherical molecules and that the results obtained from a truncated partial wave expansion depend significantly upon the method of summation due to the generally poor convergence of the expansion. The validity of the atom-atom potential as a representation of the correct attractive intermolecular potential is also discussed in some detail. There are basic problems associated with the representations furnished by both the isotropic and the anisotropic parts of the atom-atom potential at intermediate and large r. The different convergence properties of the r ^-1 expansions of the partial wave expansions of U and of the correct potential for these values of r is illustrated by using model interactions. While it appears that it may be possible to obtain a qualitatively reasonable representation of the attractive part of an intermolecular potential over a useful range of r from atom-atom results, this apparently cannot be achieved for wider ranges of r or for the purely anisotropic part of the potential.