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As long-distance space travel requires propulsion systems with greater operational flexibility and lifetimes, there is a growing interest in electrodeless plasma thrusters that offer the opportunity of improved scalability, larger throttleability, running on different propellants, and limit device erosion. The majority of electrodeless designs rely on a magnetic nozzle (MN) for the acceleration of the plasma, which has the advantage of utilizing the expanding electrons to neutralize the ion beam without the additional installation of a cathode. The plasma expansion in the MN is nearly collisionless, and a fluid description of electrons requires a non-trivial closure relation. Kinetic electron effects, and in particular electron cooling, play a crucial role in various physical phenomena such as energy balance, ion acceleration, and particle detachment. Based on the experimental and theoretical studies conducted in recognition of this importance, the fundamental physics of the electron cooling mechanism revealed in MNs and magnetically expanding plasma are reviewed. Especially, recent approaches from the kinetic point of view are discussed, and our perspective on the future challenges of electron cooling and the relevant physical subject of MN is presented.

We investigate the gravitational form factors of the baryon octet within the framework of the SU(3) chiral quark-soliton model, considering the effects of flavor SU(3) symmetry breaking, and the corresponding energy-momentum tensor distributions. We examine the effects of flavor SU(3) symmetry breaking to the mass, angular momentum, pressure, and shear force distributions of the baryon octet. We first find that a heavier baryon is energetically more compact than a lighter one. For the spin distributions of the baryon octet, they are properly normalized to their spins and are decomposed into the flavor-singlet axial charge and the orbital angular momentum even when the flavor SU(3) symmetry is broken. While the effects of the flavor SU(3) symmetry breaking differently contribute to the angular momentum distributions for the octet baryons, they are found to be rather small. The spin and orbital angular momentum almost equally contribute to the angular momentum distributions for the octet baryons. We also estimate the effects of the flavor SU(3) symmetry breaking to the pressure and shear force distributions. Interestingly, even if we include the effects of the SU(3) flavor symmetry breaking, the shear force distributions are kept to be positive over $r$. It indicates that the Polyakov & Schweitzer local stability condition is kept to be intact with the flavor SU(3) symmetry broken. Lastly, we discuss how much the gravitational form factors vary with the effects of flavor SU(3) symmetry breaking considered., 27 pages, 8 figures

We investigate the quark spin content of the SU(3) baryon octet, decuplet, antitriplet, and sextet in a pion mean-field approach or the chiral quark-soliton model, considering the $1/N_c$ rotational corrections and SU(3) symmetry breaking effects. We compare the present results with those from various theoretical works and lattice QCD., 22 pages, 2 figures

We study how prior operating experience interacts with observational learning to exert paradoxical effects on market entry. When a new market disrupts a firm’s standing routines, greater operating experience with these routines complicates adaptation and increases the firm’s uncertainty about the feasibility of entering, thereby delaying its entry. Yet, this entry uncertainty simultaneously prompts the firm to rely more heavily on learning from the observation of others entering which, in turn, hastens its entry. Patterns are opposite for firms that can leverage their standing routines into the new market. Here, greater operating experience and resultant momentum to extrapolate existing routines reduce a firm’s uncertainty about the feasibility of entry. This directly accelerates their entry but also diminishes the indirect, accelerating influence of observational learning. Because of these opposite dynamics, entry rates between firms with these different types of prior operating experience begin to diminish. Empirical analysis of entry patterns into the deregulation-created electric power trading market supports our theory and calls for modifications to previous expectations of prior operating experience exerting either a purely delaying or accelerating effect on entry, and, further, draws attention to the indirect pathways through which prior experience shapes entry patterns.

While the Lorentz structures of the $N \to \Delta$ transition matrix element of the vector current is well-known, that of the symmetric energy-momentum tensor current is unknown. In this letter, we first reproduce the Lorentz structures of the $\frac{1}{2}^{\pm} \to \frac{1}{2}^{\pm}$, $\frac{1}{2}^{\mp} \to \frac{1}{2}^{\pm}$, and $\frac{1}{2}^{\mp} \to \frac{3}{2}^{\pm}$ transition matrix elements of the vector current. We also repeat the parametrizations of the symmetric energy-momentum tensor current for the $\frac{1}{2}^{\pm} \to \frac{1}{2}^{\pm}$ and $\frac{1}{2}^{\mp} \to \frac{1}{2}^{\pm}$ transitions. We then consider both $\frac{1}{2}^{\pm} \to \frac{3}{2}^{\pm}$ and $\frac{1}{2}^{\mp} \to \frac{3}{2}^{\pm}$ matrix elements of the symmetric energy-momentum tensor current (say, $N \to \Delta$ transition) for the first time. We found that there are five independent conserved and four independent non-conserved energy-momentum tensor form factors., Comment: 5 pages

The energy-momentum tensor (EMT) for a spin-3/2 baryon is related to \emph{seven} mechanical quantities. In this work, we provide the general form of the gravitational form factors (GFFs) for a spin-3/2 baryon by using the multipole expansion and interesting relations between the EMT densities and the GFFs. To verify those general relations, we study the nucleon and the $\Delta$ GFFs within the SU(2) Skyrme model based on the large $N_{c}$ limit., Comment: 20 pages, 7 figures

The suppression of the gradient-drift driven instability and the transition to the high-magnetic-confinement mode are experimentally observed in a cylindrical partially magnetized E×B plasma using an additional biasable electrode installed at the radial edge. When a positive voltage is applied to the electrode, an electron-loss channel forms in its direction, breaking the spatially symmetric nonambipolar flow. Finally, in the steady state, the plasma density tends to peak in the plasma core, approaching plasma densities that are four times larger than those observed in the case where the instability is the strongest. A high-magnetic-confinement mode with a reduced edge-to-center density ratio of 0.16 is observed, which demonstrates that the saturation of magnetic confinement due to the gradient-drift driven instability can be prevented by an asymmetric nonambipolar flow.

We investigate the mechanical structure of a spin-1 particle. Introducing three different frameworks, i.e., the three-dimensional (3D) Breit frame, the two-dimensional (2D) Breit frame, and the 2D infinite momentum frame (equivalently the two-dimensional Drell-Yan frame), we scrutinize the 2D and 3D energy-momentum tensor (EMT) distributions in these frames. We first derive the EMT distributions in the 2D Breit frame by performing the Abel transformation. The mass distribution in the 2D Breit frame contains an additional monopole contribution induced geometrically. The pressure distribution in the 2D Breit frame also gets an induced monopole structure. When the Lorentz boost is carried out, the mass distribution in the 2D infinite-momentum frame acquires the induced dipole term. Similarly, we also have the induced dipole contributions to the pressure and shear-force densities. We visualize the 2D mass distributions when the spin-1 particle is polarized along the $x$- and $z$-axes. We observe that the 2D mass distribution in the infinite momentum frame exhibit clearly the induced dipole structure when the spin-1 particle is polarized along the $x$-axis. We also discuss the strong force fields inside a polarized spin-1 particle., Comment: 28 pages and 9 figures

We investigate the three-dimensional~(3D) and two-dimensional~(2D) charge distributions of a spin-one particle in terms of the multipole expansion. On account of the geometrical difference between 2D and 3D spaces, projecting the 3D electric distribution to the 2D one in the Breit frame brings about the influence of the quadrupole distribution upon the monopole one. Thus, the 2D charge distribution becomes spin-dependent. This effect should be sorted out from the relativistic effects arising from the Lorentz boost. We first provide the connections between the 2D and 3D distributions in the Breit frame in terms of the angle-dependent Abel transformation. We then provide the differential equations that enable us to map 2D distributions in the Breit frame to those in the infinite momentum frame., Comment: 14 pages, 6 figures

We investigate the two-dimensional energy-momentum-tensor (EMT) distributions of the nucleon on the light front, using the Abel transforms of the three-dimensional EMT ones. We explicitly show that the main features of all EMT distributions are kept intact in the course of the Abel transform. We also examine the equivalence between the global and local conditions for the nucleon stability in the three-dimensional Breit frame and in the two-dimensional transverse plane on the light front. We also discuss the two-dimensional force fields inside a nucleon on the light front., 10 pages and 5 figures

We investigate the electromagnetic form factors of the baryon decuplet within the framework of the $\mathrm{SU(3)}$ self-consistent chiral quark-soliton model, taking into account the $1/N_c$ rotational corrections and the effects of flavor $\mathrm{SU(3)}$ symmetry breaking. We first examine the valence- and sea-quark contributions to each electromagnetic form factor of the baryon decuplet and then the effects of the flavor SU(3) symmetry breaking. The present results are in good agreement with the recent lattice data. We also compute the charge radii, the magnetic radii, the magnetic dipole moments and the electric quadrupole moments, comparing their results with those from other theoretical works. We also make a chiral extrapolation to compare the present results with the lattice data in a more quantitative manner. The results show in general similar tendency to the lattice results. In particular, the results of the $M1$ and $E2$ form factors are in good agreement with those of lattice QCD., 29 pages, 15 figures. Comparison with the lattice data was elaborated

Contrary to classical thermodynamics, which deals with systems in thermal equilibrium, partially ionized gases generally do not reach thermal equilibrium. Nonextensive statistical mechanics has helped extend classical thermodynamics to nonequilibrium ionized gas. However, the fundamental question on whether the statistics of non-Maxwellian electrons satisfy the laws of thermodynamics has not been resolved. Here, we verify the thermodynamic laws of reversible and adiabatic processes for a magnetically expanding ionized gas. Together with the experimental evidence of the non-Maxwellian electron distribution, the \ensuremath{\kappa} distribution, which measures the thermal equilibrium states, shows the Tsallis entropy to be nearly constant and the polytropic index to be close to adiabatic values along a divergent magnetic field. These results verify that the collisionless magnetic expansion of a nonequilibrium plasma is reversible and adiabatic, and an isentropic process is the origin of the high-energy tail of the energy distribution far downstream.

We investigate the two-dimensional transverse charge distributions of the transversely polarized nucleon. As the longitudinal momentum ($P_z$) of the nucleon increases, the electric dipole moment is induced, which causes the displacement of the transverse charge and magnetization distributions of the nucleon. The induced dipole moment of the proton reaches its maximum value at around $P_z \approx 3.2$ GeV due to the kinematical reason. We also investigate how the Abel transformations map the three-dimensional charge and magnetization distributions in the Breit frame on to the transverse charge and magnetization ones in the infinite momentum frame., 13 pages, 7 figures

Local helicity injection (LHI) is a non-inductive startup and current drive method via Taylor relaxation for the spherical torus. In achieving Taylor relaxation, it has been suggested that kink instability in 3D helical flux ropes plays an important role. However, the role and occurrence of kink instability during LHI have yet to be validated. Experimentally, determining the kink mode in a flux rope relies on measuring internal information using a probe. However, for LHI, the 3D geometry complicates this measurement process. Here, we propose a new approach for determining the kink modes of 3D helical flux ropes without any internal probe measurements. It is confirmed by this approach that flux ropes exhibit two different kink modes. With increasing plasma current in the flux ropes, a transition from the coherent internal kink mode to the external kink mode is observed. Kink mode properties such as rotating frequency calculated from the kink theory agree well with the magnetic signature driven by the kink mode. During the LHI experiment in the versatile experiment spherical torus, three distinguishable phases are confirmed by the approach, consistent with NIMROD simulation. Before driving the toroidal plasma current, the external kink mode is observed for 3D helical flux ropes. As the toroidal plasma current increases, the external kink mode disappears while generating broadband internal modes instead of coherent internal kink of flux ropes. Decoupling between the toroidal plasma and flux rope results in both decay of toroidal plasma current and re-appearance of the external kink mode in the flux ropes.

Precise control of the particle motion in externally applied electric and magnetic fields is of great significance in the development of the E × B source to generate high-density plasma and deliver a stable ion beam current. Especially, in the E × B Penning discharge source, the heating and energy relaxation of the beam electrons is concentrated in the plasma column along the magnetic field line. Plasma researchers have thus far focused on the relevant physical phenomena of the partially magnetized plasma that arises from the gradient of the plasma properties in the E × B Penning source. Here, we point out that current methods of radially centered electron confinement do not guarantee efficient ion beam extraction, and newly introduce the improvement of the efficiency of a cylindrical E × B Penning source targeting radial extraction of ion beam. We concentrate on the method to enhance the cross-field transport of electrons toward the extraction region. The generation of a spatially asymmetric sheath structure allows the beam and energetic electrons to be transported to the extraction region via the E × B drift of the electrons. The transported electrons contribute to expansion of the electron heating and ionization regions to the extraction region by breaking of axial symmetry of the sheath, thereby increasing the temperature and density of the electrons in the extraction region as the magnetic field strength increases. The enhanced discharge efficiency defined as the ratio of the electron density to the discharge current is noticeable, recording approximately twice the improved efficiency compared to the conventional mode with symmetric sheath structure.

We investigate the electromagnetic transitions of the singly charmed baryons with spin 3/2, based on a pion mean-field approach, also known as the chiral quark-soliton model, taking into account the rotational $1/N_c$ corrections and the effects of flavor SU(3) symmetry breaking. We examine the valence- and sea-quark contributions to the electromagnetic transition form factors and find that the quadrupole form factors of the sea-quark contributions dominate over those of the valence-quark ones in the smaller $Q^2$ region, whereas the sea quarks only provide marginal contributions to the magnetic dipole transition form factors of the baryon sextet with spin 3/2. The effects of the flavor SU(3) symmetry breaking are in general very small except for the forbidden transition $\Xi_c^0\gamma\to \Xi_c^{*0}$ by $U$-spin symmetry. We also discuss the widths of the radiative decays for the baryon sextet with spin 3/2, comparing the present results with those from other works., Comment: 22 pages. 9 figures

We investigate the light-cone wave functions and leading-twist distribution amplitudes for the nucleon and $\Delta$ baryon within the framework of the chiral quark-soliton model. The baryon wave function consists of the valence quark and vacuum wave functions. The vacuum wave functions generate all possible higher Fock states by expanding them. We find that it is essential to consider the five-quark component and relativistic corrections to evaluate the distribution amplitudes of the nucleon and $\Delta$ isobar. Having taken into account them, we derive the distribution amplitudes. The results are in good agreement with the lattice data., Comment: 34 pages, 8 figures. Final version to be published in JHEP

We investigate the electromagnetic transition form factors of the baryon decuplet to the baryon octet, based on the self-consistent SU(3) chiral quark-soliton model, taking into account the effects of explicit breaking of flavor SU(3) symmetry. We emphasize the $Q^2$ dependence of the electromagnetic $N\to \Delta$ transition form factors and the ratios of $E2/M1$ and $C2/M1$ in comparison with the experimental and empirical data. In order to compare the present results of the electromagnetic transition form factors of the $N\to \Delta$ with those from lattice QCD, we evaluate the form factors with the pion mass deviated from its physical value. The results of the $E2/M1$ and $C2/M1$ ratios are in good agreement with the lattice data. We also present the results of the electromagnetic transition form factors for the decuplet to the octet transitions., Comment: 25 pages and 11 figures. The text has been reorganized

We study the electromagnetic form factors of the lowest-lying singly heavy baryons in a pion mean-field approach, which is also known as the SU(3) chiral quark-soliton model. In the limit of the heavy-quark mass, the dynamics inside a singly heavy baryon is governed by the $N_c-1$ valence quarks, while the heavy quark remains as a mere static color source. In this framework, a singly heavy baryon is described by combining the colored soliton with the singly heavy quark. In the infinitely heavy-quark mass limit, we can compute the electric quadrupole form factors of the baryon sextet with spin 3/2 with the rotational $1/N_c$ and linear corrections of the explicit flavor SU(3) symmetry breaking taken into account. We find that the sea-quark contributions or the Dirac-sea level contributions dominate over the valence-quark contributions in lower $Q^2$ region. We examined the effects of explicit flavor SU(3) symmetry breaking in detail. The numerical results are also compared with the recent data from the lattice calculation with the unphysical value of the pion mass considered, which was used in the lattice calculation., 12 pages, 4 figures. Typos were removed

We investigate the strong force fields and stabilities of the nucleon and the singly heavy baryon $\Sigma_c$ within the framework of the chiral quark-soliton model. Having constructed the pion mean fields in the presence of the $N_c-1$ level quarks self-consistently, we are able to examine the gravitational form factors of $\Sigma_c$. We mainly focus in the present work on the stability conditions for both the nucleon and $\Sigma_c$ and discuss the strong force fields and their physical implications. We also present the results for the gravitational form factors and relevant observables, emphasising the difference between the nucleon and $\Sigma_c$., Comment: 23 pages, 13 figures

Ionization gas sensors are ubiquitous tools that can monitor desired gases or detect abnormalities in real time to protect the environment of living organisms or to maintain clean and/or safe environment in industries. The sensors’ working principle is based on the fingerprinting of the breakdown voltage of one or more target gases using nanostructured materials. Fundamentally, nanomaterial-based ionization-gas sensors operate within a large framework of gas breakdown physics; signifying that an overall understanding of the gas breakdown mechanism is a crucial factor in the technological development of ionization gas sensors. Moreover, many studies have revealed that physical properties of nanomaterials play decisive roles in the gas breakdown physics and the performance of plasma-based gas sensors. Based on this insight, this review provides a comprehensive description of the foundation of both the gas breakdown physics and the nanomaterial-based ionization-gas-sensor technology, as well as introduces research trends on nanomaterial-based ionization gas sensors. The gas breakdown is reviewed, including the classical Townsend discharge theory and modified Paschen curves; and nanomaterial-based-electrodes proposed to improve the performance of ionization gas sensors are introduced. The secondary electron emission at the electrode surface is the key plasma–surface process that affects the performance of ionization gas sensors. Finally, we present our perspectives on possible future directions.

Boronization procedure for Versatile Experiment Spherical Torus (VEST) is developed in order to reduce the oxygen impurity during the Ohmic plasma discharge. Carborane (C2B10H12) powder has been chosen for a safe operation. During the helium glow discharge, the sublimated carborane is diffused into the vacuum vessel, which results in thin boron-containing coatings on the vacuum vessel wall. After the boronization, qualitative changes in visible light intensities of oxygen and boron lines are observed indicating that the water concentration is reduced globally. The quality of discharges is greatly improved: a discharge with less radiative loss is achieved, which leads to a record shot of 0.1 MA plasma current and a nearly doubled pulse length.

컴퓨터 보안에서 기술적 대책은 필수적이지만 충분조건은 아니다. 따라서 사용자의 보안행동에 대한 인적 측면에서의 접근 또한 필수적이다. 인적 측면의 하나라고 볼 수 있는 성격은 각 개인의 특징을 나타내는 행동적 특성으로 특정 상황에서 개인이 어떻게 행동할 것인가를 예측하게 해 준다. 본 연구는 보호동기이론의 선행요인으로 성격을 고려하여, 성격특성에 따라서 형성된 보호동기가 PC보안태도에 어떻게 영향을 미치는지 논의해 보고자 한다. 이를 위해 학생 및 직장인 175명을 대상으로 설문조사를 실시하였다. 가설 검증 결과, 성격특성 일부가 보호동기이론의 위협 및 대처평가에 영향을 미쳤고 PC보안태도는 PC보안의도에 영향을 미치는 것으로 확인되었다. 본 연구의 결과가 성격특성에 따른 PC보안의도를 예측하는 데 도움을 줄 수 있다는 점에서, 조직에서는 이를 활용해 교육이나 인사배치 등에 참고할 수 있을 것이라 기대할 수 있다.

Discharge characteristics and dynamic behaviors of a current-carrying line-tied (screw pinch) plasma have been experimentally studied. Besides its compactness, the novelty of this design is to utilize a single plasma source for both arc discharge and beam extraction, providing a plasma current of up to 2 kA with an injection voltage of 1.2 kV. The electron density and temperature of the screw pinch plasma were measured to be ∼1020 m−3 and ∼6 eV, respectively, depending on the operating parameters and magnetic field topology. The estimated Kruskal–Shafranov instability current limit of 1.58 kA was confirmed by high-speed camera measurement. The initial experimental results showed that the strength and topology of the magnetic field played a crucial role in the discharge characteristics and dynamic behaviors of the current-carrying line-tied plasma.

Ability to control the electric potential inside the plasma is promising for various applications of E × B plasma because the trajectory of particles, which meets the desired purpose, is mainly determined by the drift motions in the external electric and magnetic fields. In the E × B source, it is well known that the equilibrium states and plasma density and temperature gradient can be sources of plasma instability, which, in turn, affects global plasma parameters. However, the effect of instability on the electric potential has not been verified so far. In this work, correlation of the plasma potential and instability is investigated through simplified-circuit modeling. The consideration of the transverse conductivity of electrons across the magnetic field reflecting the turbulence collision frequency well explains the plasma potential closer to the anode potential despite the presence of negatively biased cathodes. Eventually, this result indicates that the instability can restrict the variation of plasma potential in partially magnetized plasma.

In this presentation, we summarize selectively recent results of the electromagnetic form factors of singly heavy baryons with spin 1/2 and related quantities, which were derived within a framework of the self-consistent chiral quark-soliton model. The results are compared with those from the lattice QCD and their physical implications are discussed.

A singly heavy baryon can be viewed as $N_c-1$ ($N_c$ as the number of colors) light valence quarks bound by the pion mean fields that are created by the presence of the $N_c-1$ valence quarks self-consistently, while the heavy quark inside a singly heavy baryon is regarded as a static color source. We investigate how the pion mean fields are created by the presence of $N_c$, $N_c-1$, and $N_c-2$ light valence quarks, which correspond to the systems of light baryons, singly heavy baryons, and doubly heavy baryons. As the number of color decreases from $N_c$ to $N_c-1$, the pion mean fields undergo changes. As a result, the valence-quark contributions to the moments of inertia of the soliton become larger than the case of the $N_c$ valence quarks, whereas the sea-quark contributions decrease systematically. On the other hand, the presence of the $N_c-2$ valence quarks is not enough to produce the strong pion mean fields, which leads to the fact that the classical soliton can not be formed. It indicates that the pion mean-field approach is not suitable to describe doubly heavy baryons. We show that the mass spectra of the singly heavy baryons are better described by the improved pion mean fields, compared with the previous work in which the pion mean fields are assumed to be intact with $N_c$ varied., 18 pages, 4 figures. The final version for publication in PTEP

Determination of the polytropic index of plasma in a magnetic field provides description of plasma physics ranging from laboratory plasma in the Earth to black hole in the Universe. Accordingly, a lot of efforts have been devoted to revealing the dependence of polytropic index of plasma on magnetic field. A recent experiment performed in a magnetic nozzle reported the dependency of the polytropic index on the magnetic field strength in that the polytropic index changes from 5/3 to unity with decreasing the magnetic field strength. In this letter, we show that the polytropic index of plasma does not depend on magnetic field if the radial electric field is sustained. The polytropic index is measured to be close to 2, higher than the previously reported value, regardless of the change in the strength and configuration of magnetic field.

We study the electromagnetic form factors of the lowest-lying singly heavy baryons with spin 1/2 within the framework of the chiral quark-soliton model, focusing on the comparison with recent lattice data. To compare the present results quantitatively with the lattice data, it is essential to treat the pion mass as a variable parameter, i.e., to employ the unphysical values of the pion mass, which are used in lattice calculations. While the results with the physical value of the pion mass fall off faster than those from the lattice calculations as the momentum transfer increases, the extrapolated results with larger pion masses get closer to the lattice data., Comment: 7 figures, 13 pages. The manuscript has been further revised

The self-consistent chiral quark-soliton model is a relativistic pion mean-field approach in the large $N_c$ limit, which describes both light and heavy baryons on an equal footing. In the limit of the infinitely heavy mass of the heavy quark, a heavy baryon can be regarded as $N_c-1$ valence quarks bound by the pion mean fields, leaving the heavy quark as a color static source. The structure of the heavy baryon in this scheme is mainly governed by the light-quark degrees of freedom. Based on this framework, we evaluate the electromagnetic form factors of the lowest-lying heavy baryons. The rotational $1/N_c$ and strange current quark mass corrections in linear order are considered. We discuss the electric charge and magnetic densities of heavy baryons in comparison with those of the nucleons. The results of the electric charge radii of the positive-charged heavy baryons show explicitly that the heavy baryon is a compact object. The electric form factors are presented. The form factor of $\Sigma_c^{++}$ is compared with that from a lattice QCD. We also discuss the results of the magnetic form factors. The magnetic moments of the baryon sextet with spin 1/2 and the magnetic radii are compared with other works and the lattice data., Comment: 21 pages, 13 figures. The version which will appear in Physical Review D

Congenital craniocervical segmentation anomaly associated with malalignment of the odontoid process causes progressive spinal cord compression with myelopathy. Recent literatures have reported that ventral decompression could be achieved with posterior craniocervical realignment through posterior instrumented reduction. The purpose of the present study is to show the efficacy of intraoperative electrophysiological monitoring during craniocervical realignment through screws and rod system for congenital craniocervical segmentation anomaly. Consecutive ten patients with a congenital craniocervical segmentation anomaly and myelopathy due to a malaligned odontoid process, who underwent posterior craniocervical realignment, were included. Klippel–Feil syndrome (KFS) was combined in four patients. Gait disturbance and motor weakness were the main presentation. Craniocervical realignment was achieved by intraoperative distraction through a rod and screw system. Intraoperative neuromonitoring was performed with transcranial motor-evoked potential (TcMEP) and somatosensory-evoked potential (SSEP). Significant change in TcMEP occurred in two patients with KFS during surgery, but the change was reversed with release of distraction. All patients were awakened without neurological deficit. Motor weakness and gait disturbance were normalized within 6 months in all patients. Postoperative computed tomography scan and/or magnetic resonance imaging showed that the reduction was complete in all patients. Craniocervical realignment through screws and rod system may be safe and efficacious surgical technique for the treatment of congenital craniocervical anomaly with the help of intraoperative neuromonitoring. However, distraction should be cautiously monitored, especially when Klippel–Feil syndrome is combined.

We investigate the mass spectra of the lowest-lying singly heavy baryons, based on the self-consistent chiral quark-soliton model. We take into account the rotational $1/N_c$ and strange current quark mass ($m_{\mathrm{s}}$) corrections. Regarding $m_{\mathrm{s}}$ as a small perturbation, we expand the effective chiral action to the second order with respect to $m_{s}$. The mass spectra of heavy baryons are computed and compared with the experimental data. Fitting the classical masses of the heavy baryon to the center mass of each representation, we determine the masses of all the lowest-lying singly heavy baryons. We predict the mass of the $\Omega_b^*$ baryon to be 6081.9 MeV, when the second-order $m_{\mathrm{s}}$ corrections are included., Comment: 15 pages. 1 figure

Transition of thermodynamic behavior for the electrons in a magnetically expanding collisionless plasma is experimentally observed by local measurement using an axially movable cylindrical Langmuir probe. The polytropic indexes which are deduced from the correlations among the plasma potential, effective electron temperature, and electron density seem to have a quite different value of $3 \pm 0.2$ and $1.17 \pm 0.03$ near the nozzle throat and far from the nozzle, respectively. The transition of polytropic index can be explained by a theoretical calculation of effective polytropic index depending on the double-adiabatic laws and the thermal energies for magnetized anisotropic plasmas1. The results show that the significant electron cooling near the nozzle throat is caused by nearly one-dimensional adiabatic expansion along almost parallel strong magnetic field. With increasing the distance from the nozzle throat, the magnetic field strength decreases and the electron cooling rate is also decreased. The present study demonstrates that a sufficiently high and nearly longitudinal magnetic field configuration can enhance the electron cooling near the nozzle throat significantly. It also means that the ion acceleration can be enhanced through high potential drop generated by high electron cooling rate. Ion demagnetization is correlated with the change in the thermodynamic property of electrons along the distance from the magnetic nozzle.

A deep understanding of the kinetic properties of the electrons in a magnetic nozzle (MN), which is attracting attention as an acceleration stage for thrusters, is of great significance as it directly contributes to the development of the MN performance. In the sense that a conversion of the electron momentum to the ion kinetic energy determines the characteristics of the MN, fundamental research on the kinetic feature of a magnetically expanding plasma has focused on the spatial distribution of the electron properties and proposed directions to the desired application. Unlike the common perception of this importance, various research groups have proposed contradictory arguments based on their theoretical approaches regarding the ion beam acceleration from the viewpoint of heat flow of electrons. We point out that the main reason for the absence of a theoretical consensus for the nozzle efficiency improvements arises from the lack of the clear interpretation of the plasma properties by focusing only on the final state of the electrons. In this Letter, time-resolved measurement of the electron energy distributions has been performed to grasp a detailed series of expansion processes. It has been revealed that the effective potential well gradually formed by the self-generated electric field acts as a limiting factor in the motion of electrons; this effect attributes to the changes of the electron energy distribution represented as the accumulation of the trapped electrons. The accumulation over the entire region diminishes the degree of the cooling rate of a system and decreases the electric field in the downstream region initially generated by the adiabatic expansion. The present study emphasizes that the kinetic features of an MN are strongly affected by the non-stationary motion of the trapped electrons; thus, the temporal behavior of the trapped electrons must be considered for prediction and analysis of nozzle performances.

The effects of various nozzle configurations on infrared signature are investigated for the purpose of analysing the infrared signature level of aircraft propulsion system. A virtual subsonic aircraft is selected and then a circular convergent nozzle, which meets the mission requirements, is designed. Convergent nozzles of different configurations are designed with different geometric profiles. Using a compressible Navier-Stokes-Fourier CFD code, an analysis of thermal flow field and nozzle surface temperature distribution is conducted. From the information of plume flow field and nozzle surface temperature distribution, IR signature of plume and nozzle surface is calculated through the narrow-band model and the RadThermIR code. Finally, qualitative information for IR signature reduction is obtained through the analysis of the effects of various nozzle configurations on IR signature.

Transverse magnetic filter field as well as operating pressure is considered to be an important control knob to enhance negative hydrogen ion production via plasma parameter optimization in volume-produced negative hydrogen ion sources. Stronger filter field to reduce electron temperature sufficiently in the extraction region is favorable, but generally known to be limited by electron density drop near the extraction region. In this study, unexpected electron density increase instead of density drop is observed in front of the extraction region when the applied transverse filter field increases monotonically toward the extraction aperture. Measurements of plasma parameters with a movable Langmuir probe indicate that the increased electron density may be caused by low energy electron accumulation in the filter region decreasing perpendicular diffusion coefficients across the increasing filter field. Negative hydrogen ion populations are estimated from the measured profiles of electron temperatures and densities and confirmed to be consistent with laser photo-detachment measurements of the H(-) populations for various filter field strengths and pressures. Enhanced H(-) population near the extraction region due to the increased low energy electrons in the filter region may be utilized to increase negative hydrogen beam currents by moving the extraction position accordingly. This new finding can be used to design efficient H(-) sources with an optimal filtering system by maximizing high energy electron filtering while keeping low energy electrons available in the extraction region.

The influence of magnetic filter field on plasma properties in the heating region has been investigated in a planar-type inductively coupled radio-frequency (RF) H(-) ion source. Besides filtering high energy electrons near the extraction region, the magnetic filter field is clearly observed to increase the electron temperature in the heating region at low pressure discharge. With increasing the operating pressure, enhancement of electron temperature in the heating region is reduced. The possibility of electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) heating in the heating region due to stray magnetic field generated by a filter magnet located at the extraction region is examined. It is found that ECR heating by RF wave field in the discharge region, where the strength of an axial magnetic field is approximately ∼4.8 G, can effectively heat low energy electrons. Depletion of low energy electrons in the electron energy distribution function measured at the heating region supports the occurrence of ECR heating. The present study suggests that addition of axial magnetic field as small as several G by an external electromagnet or permanent magnets can greatly increase the generation of highly ro-vibrationally excited hydrogen molecules in the heating region, thus improving the performance of H(-) ion generation in volume-produced negative hydrogen ion sources.

Purpose: Gastric cancer surgery is a common operation in East Asia, such as Korea and Japan, and there has been a significant increase in the need for this procedure due to the aging population. As a result, surgery for the treatment of gastric cancer for elderly patients is expected to increase. This study examined the effect of old age on gastric cancer surgery, and analyzed the operative risk factors for elderly patients. Materials and Methods: From November 2008 to August 2010, 590 patients, who underwent a curative resection for gastric cancers, were enrolled. Patients who underwent palliative or emergency surgery were excluded. A retrospective analysis of the correlation between surgical outcomes and age was performed. The elderly were defined as patients who were over the age of 65 years. Results: The mean age of all patients was 58.3 years, and complications occurred in 87 cases (14.7%). The most common complication was wound infection and severe complications requiring surgical, endoscopic, or radiologic intervention developed in 52 cases (8.8%). The rate of complications increased with increasing age of the patients. Univariate analysis revealed age, comorbidity, extent of resection, operation time, and combined resection to be associated with surgical complications. In particular, age over 75 years old, operation time, and comorbidity were predictive factors in multivariate analysis. In the elderly, only comorbidity was associated with surgical complications Conclusions: The patients’ age is the most important factor for predicting surgical complications. Surgeons should pay an attention to the performance of gastric cancer surgery on elderly patients. In particular, it must be performed carefully for elderly patients with a comorbidity.

This paper argues that two different types of a firm's own extreme performance experiences—success and recovery—and their interactions can generate survival-enhancing learning. Although these types of experience often represent valuable sources of useful learning, several important learning challenges arise when a firm has extremely limited prior experience of the same type. Thus, we theorize that a certain threshold of a given type of experience is required before each type of experience becomes valuable, with low levels of experience harming the organization. Furthermore, we propose that success and recovery experience will interact to enhance each other's value. These conditions can help overcome learning challenges such as superstitious learning or learning from small samples. We investigate our ideas using a sample of the U.S. commercial banks founded between 1984 and 1998. Our results indicate that both success and recovery experience of a firm generate survival-enhancing learning, but only after a certain level of experience is reached. Furthermore, success and recovery experience enhance each other's learning value, consistent with the theories that emphasize the importance of richer and contrasting experience in providing useful knowledge. Our framework advances organizational learning theory by presenting a contingent model of the impact of success and recovery experience and their interaction.

How do firms use analogy to adapt to disruptive environmental changes? Building on the analogy literature, we propose plausible theories of organizational decision-making for novel strategic proble...

This study addresses an unresolved question in the organizational learning and innovation literature: How do adaptive organizations generate novelty? To address this question, the study posits that analogical reasoning is consistent with many important behavioral features from the behavioral theory of the firm (BTOF) and that analogy is a core mechanism through which bounded-rational decision makers generate novel ideas in an organizational setting. Next, the study developes a notion of organizational analogy. Finally, the study offers a process model of how organizational analogy generates innovation. As a whole, the paper will advance the literature on learning and innovation and open a promising avenue for future research on organizational analogy.

The physical limitation of NAND flash memory is covered by management of Flash Translation Layer (FTL) between logical space of Operating System and physical space of NAND flash memory. However, the FTL management makes unintentional illusion that logically obsolete data is physically valid, in many cases, which causes unnecessary flash-internal operations. The logical invalidation can be immediately applied to physical invalidation using TRIM command. In Operating System, there are lots of logical invalidation region, however, these are not deleted physically if flash memory is used as storage devices. Physical invalidation for logically invalidated data gives higher flash utilization. In this paper, we identify data invalidation within Operating System as two parts; explicit data invalidation and implicit data invalidation. These identified data invalidation can be invalidated immediately by calling TRIM command, which can increase utilization of NAND flash memory-based storage systems, and thus increase bandwidth of storage systems.