Minimum-uncertaity states and pseudoclassical dynamics. II

The set of initial conditions for which the pseudoclassical evolution algorithm (and minimality conservation) is verified for Hamiltonians of degrees N (N>2) is explicitly determined through a class of restrictions for the corresponding classical trajectories, and it is proved to be at most denumerable. Thus these algorithms are verified if and only if the system is quadratic except for a set of measure zero. The possibility of time-dependent a-equivalence classes is studied and its physical interpretation is presented. The implied equivalence of the pseudoclassical and Ehrenfest algorithms and their relationship with minimality conservation is discussed in detail. Also, the explicit derivation of the general unitary operator which linearly transforms minimum-uncertainty states leads to the derivation, among others, of operators with a general geometrical interpretation in phase space, such as rotations (parity, Fourier).

Emergency Management and Wildland-Urban Interface Fires in the United States of America

FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a Nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

Emergency Management in the United States of America

Core capabilities are under the above mission areas as outlined in the National Preparedness Goal. Planning, Public Information and Warning, and Operational Coordination cut across all five mission areas. Without these three cross-cutting capabilities, the other capabilities might not be achieved or could be weakened. Other core capabilities are aligned under a specific mission area, based on where it had the most relevance. Core capabilities alignment: Prevention capabilities focus on things related to preventing an imminent terrorist attack; by imminent, we mean an attack that is about to happen ; Protection capabilities focus on security— making sure things, systems, and people are protected ; Mitigation capabilities focus on risk, resilience and building a culture of preparedness; Response capabilities focus on meeting a community’s immediate needs when disaster strikes and finally, recovery capabilities focus on getting communities back on their feet.

Electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol by the [Ru3O(OAc)6(py)2(CH3OH)]3+cluster: improving the metal-ligand electron transfer by accessing the higher oxidation states of a multicentered system

The [Ru3O(Ac)6(py)2(CH3OH)]+ cluster provides an effective electrocatalytic species for the oxidation of methanol under mild conditions. This complex exhibits characteristic electrochemical waves at -1.02, 0.15 and 1.18 V, associated with the Ru3III,II,II/Ru3III,III,II/Ru 3III,III,III /Ru3IV,III,III successive redox couples, respectively. Above 1.7 V, formation of two RuIV centers enhances the 2-electron oxidation of the methanol ligand yielding formaldehyde, in agreement with the theoretical evolution of the HOMO levels as a function of the oxidation states. This work illustrates an important strategy to improve the efficiency of the oxidation catalysis, by using a multicentered redox catalyst and accessing its multiple higher oxidation states.

Occurrence of agrochemicals in surface waters of shallow soils and steep slopes cropped to tobacco

Tobacco cultivation in shallow soils and steep landscape under intense use of agrochemicals contributes to environment degradation. In this study, we assessed the concentration of agrochemicals in draw wells used for human consumption and a creek in a small catchment predominantly cropped to tobacco. Chlorpyrifos, flumetralin, and iprodione were determined by gas chromatography with electron capture detection, while imidalcloprid, atrazine, simazine, and clomazone were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection. Considering all sampling sites, all agrochemicals were detected at least once, except for flumetralin. The occurrence of agrochemicals in tobacco crops is a consequence of their fast transfer to surface water.

Identification of Phaeoisariopsis griseola pathotypes from five States in Brazil

Due to the increased importance of angular leaf spot of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) in Brazil, monitoring the pathogenic variability of its causal agent (Phaeoisariopsis griseola) is the best strategy for a breeding program aimed at developing resistant genotypes. Fifty one isolates of P. griseola collected in five Brazilian States were tested on a set of 12 international differential cultivars in the greenhouse. When inoculated plants showed symptoms but no sporulation was observed, they were transferred to a moist chamber for approximately 20-24 h. After this period of time, if no sporulation was observed, the plants were considered resistant; otherwise, they were considered susceptible. From the fifty-one tested isolates, seven different pathotypes were identified. No Andean pathotypes were identified; consequently, all isolates were classified as Middle American pathotypes. Pathotype 63-31 was the most widespread. Pathotype 63-63 overcame resistance genes present in all differential cultivars and also the resistance gene(s) present in the cultivar AND 277. This fact has important implications for breeding angular leaf spot resistance in beans, and suggests that searching for new resistance genes to angular leaf spot must be pursued.

Galvanomagnetic properties of CdSb

Main aim of this work was preparation of a computer program for investigation of galvanomagnetic effects in solid state materials. These effects were investigated in magnetic field up to 6 T at temperatures 4.6 and 80.5 K. Two CdSb samples with Ni shallow impurities (concentration of impurity was 5% by mass) and one undoped CdSb single crystal were studied. Obtained results were compared with previous experimental results for these samples, and showed their identity.

Effects of interband and intraband impurity scattering on coherence length in the pnictide superconductors

After discovery of cuprates, a search for new high temperature superconducting families began and it led to the discovery of layered pnictide compounds with critical temperatures limited up to ∼56 K. Pnictides consist elements from Group V of Periodic Table (nitrogen, phosphorus, arsenic, antimony and bismuth). In this work coherence length h in mixed state of pnictide superconductors is calculated numerically. In calculation is taken into account interband and intraband impurity scattering in framework of quasiclassical Eilenberger theory for s± pairing symmetry. Differences between Ginzburg-Landau and Eilenberger theories is shown and the comparison with existing models is done.

Effects of interband and intraband impurity scattering on coherence length in the pnictide superconductors

After discovery of cuprates, a search for new high temperature superconducting families began and it led to the discovery of layered pnictide compounds with critical temperatures limited up to ~56 K. Pnictides consist elements from Group V of Periodic Table (nitrogen, phosphorus, arsenic, antimony and bismuth). In this work coherence length ξh in mixed state of pnictide superconductors is calculated numerically. In calculation is taken into account interband and intraband impurity scattering in framework of quasiclassical Eilenberger theory for s± pairing symmetry. Differences between Ginzburg-Landau and Eilenberger theories is shown and the comparison with existing models is done.

Magnetic Resonance Experiments with Atomic Hydrogen

In this thesis three experiments with atomic hydrogen (H) at low temperatures T<1 K are presented. Experiments were carried out with two- (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) H gas, and with H atoms trapped in solid H2 matrix. The main focus of this work is on interatomic interactions, which have certain specific features in these three systems considered. A common feature is the very high density of atomic hydrogen, the systems are close to quantum degeneracy. Short range interactions in collisions between atoms are important in gaseous H. The system of H in H₂ differ dramatically because atoms remain fixed in the H₂ lattice and properties are governed by long-range interactions with the solid matrix and with H atoms. The main tools in our studies were the methods of magnetic resonance, with electron spin resonance (ESR) at 128 GHz being used as the principal detection method. For the first time in experiments with H in high magnetic fields and at low temperatures we combined ESR and NMR to perform electron-nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) as well as coherent two-photon spectroscopy. This allowed to distinguish between different types of interactions in the magnetic resonance spectra. Experiments with 2D H gas utilized the thermal compression method in homogeneous magnetic field, developed in our laboratory. In this work methods were developed for direct studies of 3D H at high density, and for creating high density samples of H in H₂. We measured magnetic resonance line shifts due to collisions in the 2D and 3D H gases. First we observed that the cold collision shift in 2D H gas composed of atoms in a single hyperfine state is much smaller than predicted by the mean-field theory. This motivated us to carry out similar experiments with 3D H. In 3D H the cold collision shift was found to be an order of magnitude smaller for atoms in a single hyperfine state than that for a mixture of atoms in two different hyperfine states. The collisional shifts were found to be in fair agreement with the theory, which takes into account symmetrization of the wave functions of the colliding atoms. The origin of the small shift in the 2D H composed of single hyperfine state atoms is not yet understood. The measurement of the shift in 3D H provides experimental determination for the difference of the scattering lengths of ground state atoms. The experiment with H atoms captured in H2 matrix at temperatures below 1 K originated from our work with H gas. We found out that samples of H in H2 were formed during recombination of gas phase H, enabling sample preparation at temperatures below 0.5 K. Alternatively, we created the samples by electron impact dissociation of H₂ molecules in situ in the solid. By the latter method we reached highest densities of H atoms reported so far, 3.5(5)x10¹⁹ cm^-3. The H atoms were found to be stable for weeks at temperatures below 0.5 K. The observation of dipolar interaction effects provides a verification for the density measurement. Our results point to two different sites for H atoms in H2 lattice. The steady-state nuclear polarizations of the atoms were found to be non-thermal. The possibility for further increase of the impurity H density is considered. At higher densities and lower temperatures it might be possible to observe phenomena related to quantum degeneracy in solid.

Mössbauer spectra of iron oxides in the bulk and nanocrystalline states

Magnetic nanoparticles are very important in modern industry. These particles are used in many different spheres of life. Nanoparticles have unusual physical and chemical properties connected both with quantum dimensional effects and with the increased role of the surface atoms. Most clearly the difference between the properties of bulk materials and nanoparticles can be seen in the magnetic properties of these materials. The most typical magnetic properties of nanomaterials are superparamagnetism with the size of the cluster from 1 to 10 nm; single-domain magnetic state of nanoclusters and nanostructures up to 20 nm; magnetization processes connected with magnetic cluster ordering and with its forms and sizes; quantum magnetic tunneling effects when magnetization changes by jumps and giant magnetoresistance effects. For research of the magnetic properties of iron-containing nanostructures, it is convenient to apply Mӧssbauer spectroscopy. In this work a number of nano-sized samples of iron oxides were examined by Mössbauer spectroscopy. The Mössbauer spectra of nanoparticles with various sizes were obtained. Mössbauer spectra of iron oxide nanoparticles were compared with the spectra of bulk samples. It was shown how the spectra of iron oxide nanoparticles change depending on the particle sizes.

Hybrid warfare – just a twist of compound warfare? : views on warfare from the United States Armed Forces perspective

The wars the Western armies are involved with today are different from those that were fought in the end of 20th century. To explain this change, the Western military thinkers have come up with various different types of definitions of warfare over the last 30 years, each describing the tendencies involved in the conflicts of the time. The changing nature of conflicts surfaced a new term – hybrid warfare. The term was to describe and explain the multi-modality and complexity of modern day conflict. This thesis seeks the answer for the question: what is the development of thought behind hybrid warfare? In this thesis the Vietnam War (1965-1975) is used as an example of compound warfare focusing on the American involvement in the war. The Second Lebanon War (2006) serves as an example of hybrid warfare. Both case studies include an irregular opposing force, namely National Liberation Front in Vietnam War and Hezbollah in the Second Lebanon War. These two case studies are compared with the term full spectrum operations introduced in the current U.S. Department of Army Field Manual No. 3-0 Operations to see the differences and similarities of each term. The perspective of this thesis is the American point of view. This thesis concludes that hybrid warfare, compound warfare and full spectrum operations are very similar. The first two terms are included in the last one. Although hybrid warfare is not officially defined, it will most likely remain to be used in the discussion in the future, since hybrid wars and hybrid threats are officially accepted terms.