Spatially averaged model of complex-plasma discharge with self-consistent electron energy distribution

A global, or averaged, model for complex low-pressure argon discharge plasmas containing dust grains is presented. The model consists of particle and power balance equations taking into account power loss on the dust grains and the discharge wall. The electron energy distribution is determined by a Boltzmann equation. The effects of the dust and the external conditions, such as the input power and neutral gas pressure, on the electron energy distribution, the electron temperature, the electron and ion number densities, and the dust charge are investigated. It is found that the dust subsystem can strongly affect the stationary state of the discharge by dynamically modifying the electron energy distribution, the electron temperature, the creation and loss of the plasma particles, as well as the power deposition. In particular, the power loss to the dust grains can take up a significant portion of the input power, often even exceeding the loss to the wall.

Cortical organization of environmental sounds by attribute

Semantic knowledge is supported by a widely distributed neuronal network, with differential patterns of activation depending upon experimental stimulus or task demands. Despite a wide body of knowledge on semantic object processing from the visual modality, the response of this semantic network to environmental sounds remains relatively unknown. Here, we used fMRI to investigate how access to different conceptual attributes from environmental sound input modulates this semantic network. Using a range of living and manmade sounds, we scanned participants whilst they carried out an object attribute verification task. Specifically, we tested visual perceptual, encyclopedic, and categorical attributes about living and manmade objects relative to a high-level auditory perceptual baseline to investigate the differential patterns of response to these contrasting types of object-related attributes, whilst keeping stimulus input constant across conditions. Within the bilateral distributed network engaged for processing environmental sounds across all conditions, we report here a highly significant dissociation within the left hemisphere between the processing of visual perceptual and encyclopedic attributes of objects.

Self-interaction of surface polaritons at the narrow-gap n-type semiconductor metal interface

The non-linear self-interaction of the potential surface polaritons (SP) which is due to the free carriers dispersion law where nonparabolicity is studied. The SP propagate at the interface between n-type semiconductor and a metal. The self interaction of the SP is shown to be different in semiconductors with normal and inverse zone structures. The results of the SP field envelope evolution are given. The obtained nonlinear frequency shift has been compared with shifts which are due to another self-interaction mechanisms. This comparison shows that the nonlinear self-interaction mechanism, which is due to free carriers spectrum nonparabolicity, is especially significant in narrow-gap semiconductor materials.

Self-interaction of magnetoplasma surface waves at a plasma-metal boundary

We investigate nonlinear self-interacting magnetoplasma surface waves (SW) propagating perpendicular to an external magnetic field at a plasma-metal boundary. We obtain the nonlinear dispersion equation and nonlinear Schroedinger equation for the envelope field of the SW. The solution to this equation is studied with regard to stability relative to longitudinal and transverse perturbations.

Self-action of high-frequency surface waves in a magnetoactive planar plasma waveguide

The self-modulation process of a high-frequency surface wave (SW) in a wave-guiding structure - a semibounded magnetoactive plasma and perfectly conducting metal wall - is considered for the weak nonlinearity approximation. Estimates are given for the contributions to the nonlinear frequency shift of the SW from the two principal self-action channels: via the generation of a signal of the doubled frequency and of static surface perturbations, arising as the result of the action of a ponderomotive force. Solutions for the field envelope of the nonlinear wave are examined with regard to their stability with respect to longitudinal and transverse perturbations.

Self-assembly of uniform carbon nanotip structures in chemically active inductively coupled plasmas

Self-assembly of carbon nanotip (CNTP) structures on Ni-based catalyst in chemically active inductively coupled plasmas of CH 4 + H 2 + Ar gas mixtures is reported. By varying the process conditions, it appears possible to control the shape, size, and density of CNTPs, content of the nanocrystalline phase in the films, as well as to achieve excellent crystallinity, graphitization, uniformity and vertical alignment of the resulting nanostructures at substrate temperatures 300-500°C and low gas pressures (below 13.2 Pa). This study provides a simple and efficient plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) technique for the fabrication of vertically aligned CNTP arrays for electron field emitters.

Self-modulation of surface waves at a plasma-metal interface

The ponderomotive force effects on surface waves at a plasma-metal interface are studied. The waves propagate across an external magnetic field parallel to the interface. It is shown that the account of the ponderomotive force can lead to the appearance of solitons, which are not possible when the second-harmonic and magnetic nonlinearities are concerned. © 1998 American Institute of Physics.

Self-interaction of high-frequency surface waves in magnetoactive plasma planar waveguide

The nonlinear effect of hf surface waves self-interaction in a magnetoactive planar plasma waveguide is studies. The waveguide structure under consideration can be formed by gaseous or semiconducting homogeneous plasma, which is limited by a perfectly conducting metal surface. The surface (localized near the surface) wave perturbations propagating on the plasma-metal boundary perpendicular to the constant external magnetic field, are investigated. The nonlinear frequency shift connected with interaction of the second harmonic and static surface perturbations with the main frequency wave, is determined using the approximation of weak nonlinearity. It is shown that the process of double-frequency signal generation is the dissipative one as a result of bulk wave excitation on the surface wave second harmonic.

Heating self-interaction mechanism of surface magnetoplasma waves in plasma-like medium bounded by metal

The influence of electron heating in the high-frequency surface magnetoplasma wave(SM) field on dispersion properties of the considered SM is investigated. High frequency SM propagate at the interface between a plasma like medium with a finite electrons pressure and a metal. The nonlinear dispersion relation for the SM is derived and investigated.

Evaluating the competitiveness of the tourism industry in Cambodia : self-assessment from professionals

The annual tourism growth rate in Cambodia is among the highest in the world; however, tourist industry impact on Cambodian's economy is quite low. The purpose of our study is to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of the Cambodian tourism market so that a framework can be established to help the country's policy-makers formulate strategies to use its resources effectively to create sustainable tourism competitiveness. This study used the perspective of tourism experts in the industry and Ministry of Tourism in Cambodia, and academia in the tourism field to evaluate Cambodian tourism competitiveness relative to its major competitors in ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) based on nine categories: endowed resources, created resources, supporting factors, destination management, situational conditions, demand condition, technology, openness and market performance indicators benchmarked from previous research. The results showed that Cambodia has a lot of endowed resources, but lacks supporting resources and factors to achieve tourism competitiveness.

The complete mitochondrial genome of the yellow coaster, Acraea issoria (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Heliconiinae: Acraeini): sequence, gene organization and a unique tRNA translocation event

In this paper, the complete mitochondrial genome of Acraea issoria (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Heliconiinae: Acraeini) is reported; a circular molecule of 15,245 bp in size. For A. issoria, genes are arranged in the same order and orientation as the complete sequenced mitochondrial genomes of the other lepidopteran species, except for the presence of an extra copy of tRNAIle(AUR)b in the control region. All protein-coding genes of A. issoria mitogenome start with a typical ATN codon and terminate in the common stop codon TAA, except that COI gene uses TTG as its initial codon and terminates in a single T residue. All tRNA genes possess the typical clover leaf secondary structure except for tRNASer(AGN), which has a simple loop with the absence of the DHU stem. The sequence, organization and other features including nucleotide composition and codon usage of this mitochondrial genome were also reported and compared with those of other sequenced lepidopterans mitochondrial genomes. There are some short microsatellite-like repeat regions (e.g., (TA)9, polyA and polyT) scattered in the control region, however, the conspicuous macro-repeats units commonly found in other insect species are absent.

Development and evaluation of the Ontrack Diabetes Program : an automated, web-based type 2 diabetes self-management and dysphoria intervention

This research was conducted in the area of Clinical and Health Psychology. The study involved the development and evaluation of a novel, web-based program aimed to improve Type 2 diabetes self-management and mood. The program was developed as an original technological intervention aimed to improve access to support for rural and remote communities, and is currently being trialled across Australia with a larger sample size. The researcher aims to continue research into the field of clinical psychology, and in particular is interested in working on further interventions to support those with comorbid physical and mental health conditions.

Self-organized ZnO nanodot arrays : effective control using SiNx interlayers and low-temperature plasmas

An advanced inductively coupled plasma (ICP)-assisted rf magnetron sputtering deposition method is developed to synthesize regular arrays of pear-shaped ZnO nanodots on a thin SiNx buffer layer pre-deposited onto a silicon substrate. It is shown that the growth of ZnO nanodots obey the cubic root-law behavior. It is also shown that the synthesized ZnO nanodots are highly-uniform, controllable by the experimental parameters, and also feature good structural and photoluminescent properties. These results suggest that this custom-designed ICP-based technique is very effective and highly-promising for the synthesis of property- and size-controllable highly-uniform ZnO nanodots suitable for next-generation light emitting diodes, energy storage, UV nanolasers, and other applications.

Performance government : activating and regulating the self-governing capacities of teachers and school leaders

This article analyses ‘performance government’ as an emergent form of rule in advanced liberal democracies. It discloses how teachers and school leaders in Australia are being governed by the practices of performance government which centre on the recently established Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) and are given direction by two major strategies implicit within the exercise of this form of power: activation and regulation. Through an ‘analytics of government’ of these practices, the article unravels the new configurations of corporatized expert and academic knowledge—and their attendant methods of application—by which the self-governing capacities of teachers and school leaders are being activated and regulated in ways that seek to optimize the performance of these professionals. The article concludes by outlining some of the dangers of performance government for the professional freedom of educators and school leaders.

Field-effect transistors based on self-organized molecular nanostripes

Charge transport properties in organic semiconductors depend strongly on molecular order. Here we demonstrate field-effect transistors where drain current flows through a precisely defined array of nanostripes made of crystalline and highly ordered molecules. The molecular stripes are fabricated across the channel of the transistor by a stamp-assisted deposition of the molecular semiconductors from a solution. As the solvent evaporates, the capillary forces drive the solution to form menisci under the stamp protrusions. The solute precipitates only in the regions where the solution is confined by the menisci once the critical concentration is reached and self-organizes into molecularly ordered stripes 100-200 nm wide and a few monolayers high. The charge mobility measured along the stripes is 2 orders of magnitude larger than the values measured for spin-coated thin films.