Gibbs free energy and Helmholtz free energy for a three-dimensional Ising-like model

The critical behavior of a 3D Ising-like system is studied at the microscopic level of consideration. The free energy of ordering is calculated analytically as an explicit function of temperature, an external field and the initial parameters of the model. Within a unified approach, both Gibbs and Helmholtz free energies are obtained and the dependencies of them on the external field and the order parameter, respectively, are presented graphically. The regions of stability, metastability, and unstability are established on the order parameter-temperature plane. The way of implementation of the well-known Maxwell construction is proposed at microscopic level.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figure

A non-classical van der Waals loop: Collective variables method

The equation of state is investigated for an Ising-like model in the framework of collective variables method. The peculiar feature of the theory is that a non-classical van der Waals loop is extracted. The results are compared with the ones of a trigonometric parametric model in terms of normalized magnetization, \tilde{M}, and field, \tilde{H}.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figure

Ensuring access to essential services : demand-side housing subsidies

This paper examines the strengths and weaknesses of demand-side subsidy approaches for improving poor households'access to housing services. It begins with a discussion of the rationale for stand-alone housing assistance programs, and a description of the ongoing transition away from traditional supply-side housing assistance to demand-side subsidies. The paper presents model demand-side approaches, but also draws on real world examples to highlight various aspects of program design related to targeting, transparency, price distortion, institutional capacity, administrative complexity, and funding. It also describes how variations in the design of housing-related subsidy programs can appear in response to philosophical, political, and resource considerations. The paperconcludes with a discussion of the appropriateness of different subsidy approaches for various situations.Banks&Banking Reform,Housing&Human Habitats,Public Sector Economics,Municipal Financial Management,Public&Municipal Finance

Międzynarodowa konferencja naukowa „Россия в диалоге культур. Литература. Язык. Фольклор. Идеи”, Toruń 19–20 września 2013

sprawozdani

A novel system for stable, high-level expression from the T7 promoter

BACKGROUND: The most widespread, efficient prokaryotic protein-producing system is one where the T7 phage polymerase recognizes the T7 phage promoter (T7 p/p system). Unfortunately, in this system, target protein expression gradually declines and is often undetectable following 3 to 5 subcultures. Although a number of studies have attempted to stabilize the expression levels of the T7 p/p system, none has resolved the problem adequately and thus precludes the use of this system for the production of recombinant proteins on a large scale. RESULTS: We created an expression cassette enabling stable, high-level expression in the T7p/p system. The cassette was tested with two different vector backbones and two target proteins. In all experiments, the expression system using the new cassette exhibited high and stable protein expression levels when compared to the traditional system. CONCLUSIONS: Herein, we describe a universal expression cassette that enables high-level, stable target protein expression in T7 RNA polymerase-based expression systems. We also present the successful use of this cassette as a novel expression platform and demonstrate its ability to overcome the main deficiency of the T7 p/p system. Thus, we provide a method for using the T7 p/p system on an industrial scale

Determining and producing an optimum photographic print for photomechanical reproduction

This research has explored the possibility of determining the optimum black and white photographic print characteristics for paper surface, image color, and contrast to achieve optimum reproduction from that original for a given set of printing press conditions utilizing single impression offset lithography. A random population of 101 observers evaluated the reproduction of eighteen different photographic prints of the same subject from the identical film negative. The prints varied in contrast grades from grade one to grade three; in image color from warm black to neutral black to cool black; in surface characteristics from glossy to semi-lustre to matte; and surface finishes of smooth and textured. The reproductions studied were produced after a tone reproduction analysis was conducted to determine the printing press characteristics. To reduce variablity the same press, paper, inks, and plates were used for all the press tests. The film negatives were generated by scanning each of the eighteen original photographic prints on the state-of-the-art Crosfield Magnascan 640 utilizing a predetermined program derived from the initial press and tone reproduction data. The observers were asked to choose what they believed to be the best three reproductions and the three most inferior reproductions. To analyze the characteristics which contributed to the findings of certain reproductions being selected superior to others a correlation analysis was performed. With this information, the paper characteristics which yielded the optimum reproduction was determined. These characteristics are: A medium to double weight paper stock A cool black image color A smooth, glossy surface (not ferrotyped) A contrast grade between 1.5 and 2.5 when the negative has a density range between 0.90 and 1.3 A density range of the original greater than 1.4 but less than 1.9 with gradients equal to 12 plus/minus 1 gradient To obtain the appropriate highlight, midtone and shadow densities on the photographic print, a darkroom tool was developed and successfully tested as a three step reference for the photographer to insure proper placement of these predetermined tones for an optimum reproduction. The visual comparator is waterproof and is used when the print is wet; however, examination of the photographic print takes place under standard viewing conditions. Another advantage of the comparator is that it is made of the same photographic material as the photograph itself. This study shows that a systems approach can be applied to the creation of the photographic print to incorporate photography with the reproduction process producing high quality reproductions

Circumstellar masers in the Magellanic Clouds

We have searched for 22 GHz H2O and 43/86/129 GHz SiO masers in bright IRAS point sources in the SMC and LMC, to test whether the kinematics of the mass loss from these stars depends on metallicity. H2O masers were detected in the red supergiants IRAS04553-6825 and IRAS05280-6910, and tentatively in the luminous IR object IRAS05216-6753 and the AGB star IRAS05329-6708. SiO masers were detected in IRAS04553-6825. The outflow velocity increases between the H2O masing zone near the dust-formation region and the more distant OH masing zone from 18 to 26 km/s for IRAS04553-6825 and from 6 to 17 km/s for IRAS05280-6910. The total sample of LMC targets is analysed in comparison with circumstellar masers in the Galactic Centre. The photon fluxes of circumstellar masers in the LMC are very similar to those in the Galactic Centre. The expansion velocities in the LMC appear to be 20% lower than for similarly bright OH masers in the Galactic Centre, but the data are consistent with no difference in expansion velocity. OH/IR stars in the LMC appear to have slower accelerating envelopes than OH/IR stars in the Galactic Centre. Masers in the LMC have blue-asymmetric emission profiles. This may be due to the amplification of stellar and/or free-free radiation, rather than the amplification of dust emission, and may be more pronounced in low metallicity envelopes. SiO maser strength increases with the photometric amplitude at 2.2 micron but is independent of the photometric amplitude at 10 micron. This suggests a strong connection between shocks in the dust-free SiO masing zone and the dust formation process. Appendices describe H2O maser emission from R Dor in the Milky Way, optical echelle spectroscopy of IRAS04553-6825, and the properties of masers in the Galactic Centre (Abridged).Comment: 19 pages, 17 figures. Accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics Main Journa

Using Vapnik-Chervonenkis Dimension to Analyze the Testing Complexity of Program Segments

We examine the complexity of testing di erent program constructs. We do this by de ning a measure of testing complexity known as VCP-dimension, which is similar to the Vapnik-Chervonenkis dimension, and applying it to classes of programs, where all programs in a class share the same syntactic structure. VCP-dimension gives bounds on the number of test points needed to determine that a program is approximately correct, so by studying it for a class of programs we gain insight into the di culty of testing the program construct represented by the class. We investigate the VCP-dimension of straight line code, if-then- else statements, and for loops. We also compare the VCP-dimension of nested and sequential if-then-else statements as well as that of two types of for loops with embedded if-then-else statements. Finally, we perform an empirical study to estimate the expected complexity of straight line code

Wariantywność (orto)graficzna pożyczek angielskich w świetle normatywistyki języka rosyjskiego

The article focuses on the problem of orthographic and graphic variants of English loanwords in modern Russian. The empirical material was excerpted from normative dictionaries and Russian glossy magazines. The main purpose of the studies was to define the reasons for different notation of anglicisms, to illustrate the types of orthographic and graphic variants, and also to indicate the most important issues of loanword codification in normative practice. Variation in writing is a dynamic phenomenon in Russian (ortho) graphy that requires lexicographical description as there are no separate rules of notation for loanwords