Activity interference and noise annoyance

Debate continues over differences in the dose-response functions used to predict the annoyance at different sources of transportation noise. This debate reflects the lack of an accepted model of noise annoyance in residential communities. In this paper a model is proposed which is focussed on activity interference as a central component mediating the relationship between noise exposure and annoyance. This model represents a departure from earlier models in two important respects. First, single event noise levels (e.g., maximum levels, sound exposure level) constitute the noise exposure variables in place of long-term energy equivalent measures (e.g., 24-hour L_eq or L_dn). Second, the relationships within the model are expressed as probabilistic rather than deterministic equations. The model has been tested by using acoustical and social survey data collected at 57 sites in the Toronto region exposed to aircraft, road traffic or train noise. Logit analysis was used to estimate two sets of equations. The first predicts the probability of activity interference as a function of event noise level. Four types of interference are included: indoor speech, outdoor speech, difficulty getting to sleep and awakening. The second set predicts the probability of annoyance as a function of the combination of activity interferences. From the first set of equations, it was possible to estimate a function for indoor speech interference only. In this case, the maximum event level was the strongest predictor. The lack of significant results for the other types of interference is explained by the limitations of the data. The same function predicts indoor speech interference for all three sources—road, rail and aircraft noise. The results for the second set of equations show strong relationships between activity interference and the probability of annoyance. Again, the parameters of the logit equations are similar for the three sources. A trial application of the model predicts a higher probability of annoyance for aircraft than for road traffic situations with the same 24-hour L_eq. This result suggests that the model may account for previously reported source differences in annoyance.     

Polaron cyclotron resonance in n-CdTe and n-InP

The interaction of electrons and polar-optical phonons is investigated for CdTe and InP in cylotron resonance (CR) emission and absorption experiments. Under hot electron conditions three different Landau level transitions are observed. From the positions of the fundamental transition and the CR line splittings the nonparabolicity and the polaron contribution to the effective mass are analysed using a variational approach for the polaron shifts. The bare band edge masses and the polaron coupling constants are determined to be $\text{m}{}^1{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>0</mtext>}}\text{=}\text{0.0900±0.0005}$, α=0.35+-0.03 for CdTe and $\text{m}{}^1{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>0</mtext>}}\text{=}\text{0.0765±0.0005}$, α=0.15±0.01 for InP.     

A simple tool for speckle-shearing interferometry

A common glass plate has been shown to be an adaptable and effective tool for use in speckle-shearing interferometry. Analyses of both the imaging system and the optical-filtering arrangement have been developed. Experiments were performed successfully. The results of these experiments have shown that visible speckle correlation fringes related to the derivatives of surface displacement are obtained when a common glass plate is used as a shearing component.     

Total axle load effects on soil compaction

Theoretical and applied research has shown that the pressure at a point in the subsurface soil is a function of both the surface unit pressure and the extent of the area over which it is applied (total load). Thirty years ago, most of the soil compaction from vehicle traffic was in the plow layer and was removed by normal cultural practices. As equipment has increased in size and mass, machine designers have increased tire sizes to keep the soil surface unit pressure relatively constant. However, the increase in total axle loads is believed to have caused an increase in compaction at any given depth in the soil profile, resulting in significant compaction in the subsoil.Two tires of different sizes, a standard agricultural tire and a flotation tire were used to support equal loads. Soil pressures were measured at three depths in the soil profile directly beneath each of the tires. Two soils were used and each was prepared first in a uniform density profile, and then they were prepared with a simulated traffic pan (layer of higher density) at a depth of approximately 30 cm.Results showed that the presence of a traffic pan in the soil profile caused higher soil pressures above the pan and lower pressures below it than was the case for a uniform soil profile. The soil contact surface of the flotation tire was approximately 22% greater than the agricultural tire. The greater contact surface did reduce soil pressures at the soil surface, of course, but the total axle load was still the dominant factor in the 18–50 cm-depth range used in this study.     

Solitons as infinite-constituent bound states

We construct soliton states as quantum corrections to the coherent states constructed from classical solutions of nonlinear field equations. The corresponding field operator applied to the vacuum state allows us to discuss physical features of the (one soliton plus various mesons) states.     

Jets from heavy quarks ine + e − annihilation

The quark mass effects in the jet structure ine ⁺ e ^? annihilation into hadrons are studied in the lowest nontrivial O(α _s ) order of QCD perturbation theory.     

The Use of Soft Systems Methodology in Practice

This paper reports the results of a survey intended to discover the extent to which Checkland's Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) is used in practice. Some 300 questionnaires were sent to people who had had some exposure to SSM and, surprisingly, nearly half were returned. The majority described in detail their uses of SSM and most felt that it had been successful. This paper describes the overall quantitative results from the survey as well as presenting a qualitative analysis of the experiences of using SSM.     

Local radial Phragmén-Lindelöf estimates for plurisubharmonic functions on analytic varieties

We give a sufficient condition for a local radial Phragmén-Lindelöf principle on analytic varieties. This condition is expressed in terms of existence of hyperbolic directions.

     

TDPAC study in ZnTiF6·6H2O between room temperature and 1273 K

Using the time differential perturbed angular correlation technique, the hyperfine interactions as titanium sites in ZnTiF6·6H₂O and its decomposition products were determined between room temperature (300 K) and 1273 K. The different steps in the decomposition pattern were identified and a simple model is given for it.