The Quantum Ultimatum Game

A quantum version of the ultimatum game is studied. Both a restricted version with classical moves and the unitary version are considered. With entangled initial states, Nash equilibria in quantum games are in general different from those of classical games. Quantum versions might therefore be useful as a framework for modeling deviations from classical Nash equilibrium in experimental games.PACS:02.50.Le; 03.67.-a     

Towards good ecological status of surface waters in Europe--interpretation and harmonisation of the concept.

The Water Framework Directive (WFD) is a new legislative framework to manage, use, protect, and restore surface water and groundwater resources and coastal waters in the European Union (EU). The aim is to ensure sustainable water management and to reach good water quality by 2015. The assessment of the ecological status and setting of the practical management goals require several steps. The process has started with the characterisation of the river basins including identification of surface water bodies and types, and identification of significant anthropogenic pressures and impacts. The water bodies will be classified in five quality classes (high, good, moderate, poor, bad) based on the Ecological Quality Ratio, which is a ratio between reference conditions and measured status of the biological quality elements. The normative criteria for high, good and moderate ecological status described in the WFD need to be made operational because those will be used to set the practical quality targets for surface water management. National ecological assessment systems and classifications will be harmonised through the WFD intercalibration exercise in order to ensure an equal level of ambition in achieving good surface waters status all over Europe.     

Hepatic hemangioma. Analysis of 103 cases. Clinical considerations and imaging methods

Hemangiomas are the most common benign vascular tumor found in the liver. In this study, 103 cases of hepatic hemangiomas were analysed in a retrospective manner. Image aspects such as those seen in ultrassonography, computed tomography, nuclear magnetic resonance and arteriography are discussed. The incidence was higher amongst the female sex, between individuals from 40 to 60 years old, which presented predominantly without symptoms (66%) and localized mainly in the right hepatic lobe (74%). The meaning of those aspects, when adopted, permits the clinicians to differentiate benign from malignant nodular lesions in the liver.     

Photoinduced birefringence in blends of a polyurethane bearing azobenzene moieties and a poly(amide–imide)

A polyurethane (MDI‐DR19Cl) bearing azobenzene moieties was prepared by condensation of 4,4′‐diphenylmethylenediisocyanate and an azobenzene compound, 2‐chloro‐4‐nitro‐4′‐[bis‐(2‐hydroxyethyl)]amine‐azobenzene (DR19Cl). Blends of MDI‐DR19Cl and a poly(amide‐imide) were prepared and characterized by UV‐visible and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and by DSC. The purpose of using the blends was to overcome the lack of stability of cast films of pure MDI‐DR19Cl, which tend to crack on storage under ambient conditions. This was successfully achieved and, depending on blend proportions, flexible self‐standing films could be prepared after thermal treatment. Optical storage experiments performed with the blends and pure MDI‐DR19Cl cast films showed a decrease in the remnant values of photoinduced birefringence in the blends (60 % for the blend with 5 wt% MDI‐DR19Cl) compared to pure MDI‐DR19Cl (75%), but, taking into account the low content of MDI‐DR19Cl used, the results obtained are probably sufficient to show the viability of these blends in optical storage applications. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry     

Thin film transmission matrix approach to fourier transform infrared analysis of HgCdTe multilayer heterostructures

The ability to achieve high-yield focal plane arrays from Hg_1−xCd_xTe molecular beam epitaxy material depends strongly on postgrowth wafer analysis. Nondestructive analysis that can determine layer thicknesses as well as alloy compositions is critical in providing run-to-run consistency. In this paper, we incorporate the use of a thin film transmission matrix model to analyze Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) transmission spectra. Our model uses a genetic algorithm along with a multidimensional, nonlinear minimization Nelder-Mead algorithm to determine the composition and thickness of each layer in the measured epitaxial structure. Once a solution has been found, the software is able to predict detector performance such as quantum efficiency and spectral response. We have verified our model by comparing detector spectral data to our predicted spectral data derived from the room-temperature FTIR transmission data. Furthermore, the model can be used to generate design curves for detectors with varying absorber thicknesses and/or different operating temperatures. The consequence of this are reduced cycle times and reduced design variations.     

Synthesis and flocculation properties of N‐oxide polymers

N‐oxide polymers possess strong zwitterionic character, high solubility in water, and high chelating properties with various cations. In this work, N‐oxide polymers were synthesized following various routes and their solution properties were determined. Molecular properties of the polymers (molecular weight, square root of the mean‐squared radius, and virial coefficients) were related to their chain expansion in solution by determining the intrinsic viscosity as a function of pH. Viscosity results were correlated with the flocculation ability of the polymers for suspending solids removal. These polymers exhibit dramatic conformation changes as the solution pH is varied, especially at low pH values. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 86: 2693–2700, 2002     

Spatial Quality Evaluation of Pedestrian Streets

This paper presents an assessment of the spatial quality of a pedestrian street located in downtown Bauru, S~o Paulo State, Brazil, from the application of some urban sustainability indicators. Multi-method was used to evaluate the thermal comfort quality of users, urban accessibility and preservation of architectural heritage. The results show that the sustainability indicators, apart from being effective tools in identifying problems, can assist local managers in decision making, planning and monitoring of pedestrian public space. These indicators contribute to a broad diagnosis of the pedestrian street and also the formulation of programs, projects and municipal policies, aimed at providing a better life quality for pedestrians.     

Evaluation of the performance of two LiF:Mg,Ti and LiF:Mg,Cu,P dosemeters for extremity monitoring

In this paper, the results aimed at assessing the performance of two varieties of LiF detectors (LiF:Mg,Ti and LiF:Mg,Cu,P) in photon fields relatively to reproducibility, detection threshold and angular dependence as defined in the ISO 12794 standard are presented. The fading properties and the limit of detection were also investigated for both materials. The results suggest that both LiF varieties are well suited for extremity monitoring. However, better fading properties of LiF:Mg,Cu,P when compared with LiF:Mg,Ti, combined with previous results relatively to energy dependence suggests that LiF:Mg,Cu,P dosemeters are better suited for extremity monitoring.     

Modeling of sporicidal effect of hydrogen peroxide in the sterilization of low density polyethylene film inoculated with Bacillus subtilis spores

The sporicidal effect of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in the sterilization of low density polyethylene film (LDPE) was evaluated using a Central Composite Design (CCD). The effects of contact time (5-19s), bath temperature (23–70 °C) and concentration of H₂O₂ (0–35%) in an immersion bath were investigated. A 16 cm² film surface was evenly inoculated with 100 μL of the test microorganism Bacillus subtilis var. globigii ATCC9372 spores. The effective H₂O₂ sporicidal activity was demonstrated at concentrations from 18 to 35% and in a temperature range from 46 to 70 °C, resulting in 2–7 decimal reductions of B. subtilis spores. A quadratic mathematical model representative of the action of H₂O₂ on the B. subtilis spores was developed as a function of concentration, time and temperature. Test specimens sanitized with 28% H₂O₂ at 60 °C for 8 s showed 4 decimal reductions. In the same sterilization procedure, but extending the time to 16 s, this value increased to 7 decimal reductions, demonstrating the efficiency of H₂O₂ as a function of contact time. The sterilization system tested showed satisfactory performance in the sterilization of LDPE films, being capable of reaching up to 7 decimal reductions of the bacterial spore population.