RR Lyrae stars are old, iron-poor, Helium-burning variable stars. RR Lyraes are extremely useful for tracing phase-space structures and metallicities within the galaxy because they are easy to identify, have consistent luminosities, and are found in large numbers in the galactic disk, bulge, and halo. Here we present a new set of spectroscopic metallicity calibrations that use the equivalent widths of the Ca II K, Hγ, and Hδ lines to calculate metallicity values. Applied to spectroscopic survey data, these calibrations will help shed light on the evolution of the Milky Way and other galaxies.

The original goal of this thesis was to develop process chemistry to yield boron subphthalocyanine (BsubPc) derivatives which were previously difficult to access. Retrospectively, it was found that these compounds show extremely high density crystal packing in comparison to other known BsubPcs, and thus this also became a focus of the thesis. A process to synthesize and purify fluoro-BsubPc was developed. This led to a detailed comparison of the physical and chemical properties of the three halo-BsubPcs in order to answer the question of which halo-BsubPc is appropriate for different purposes. Through this work, the previously unpublished crystal structure of the oxygen bridged dimer, µ-oxo-BsubPc, was found. A process was subsequently developed for the practical synthesis of µ-oxo-BsubPc for use in vacuum deposition and a number of µ-oxo-BsubPc crystal polymorphs were found and analyzed. The properties of this group of compounds are discussed in the context of other known BsubPcs.

The original goal of this thesis was to develop process chemistry to yield boron subphthalocyanine (BsubPc) derivatives which were previously difficult to access. Retrospectively, it was found that these compounds show extremely high density crystal packing in comparison to other known BsubPcs, and thus this also became a focus of the thesis. A process to synthesize and purify fluoro-BsubPc was developed. This led to a detailed comparison of the physical and chemical properties of the three halo-BsubPcs in order to answer the question of which halo-BsubPc is appropriate for different purposes. Through this work, the previously unpublished crystal structure of the oxygen bridged dimer, µ-oxo-BsubPc, was found. A process was subsequently developed for the practical synthesis of µ-oxo-BsubPc for use in vacuum deposition and a number of µ-oxo-BsubPc crystal polymorphs were found and analyzed. The properties of this group of compounds are discussed in the context of other known BsubPcs.

We study the spatial correlations between halo neutrons in 6,8He within the complex-energy Gamow Shell Model (GSM). To this end, we calculate the neutron and proton radii, and two-neutron correlations in a large shell model space consisting of the 0p3/2 resonance and non-resonant p-sd scattering continuum. We use schematic forces and the finite-range Modified Minnesota interaction.The calculated charge radii, corrected for the core polarization and spin-orbit effects, are compared to the values extracted from measured atomic isotope shifts.We find that the charge radius of 6He primarily depends on the two-neutron separation energy and the shell-model occupation of the 0p3/2 orbit.We confirm that the ground-state GSM wave function of 6Heis dominated by the S=0 component representing a di-neutron structure. On the other hand, the correlation density of the 2+ resonance in 6He indicates a very weak di-neutron correlations in this state. We study the effect of pairing correlations on the neutron and charge radii of 6He and we confirm the presence of the Pairing-Anti-Halo effect in this light system.Finally, we calculate the charge radius of 8He in the full GSM space with the help of the Density Matrix Renormalization Group (DMRG) technique. The results of our realistic GSM+DMRG studies presented in this work show promise for extending the reach of the realistic complex-energy shell model to heavier halo systems.

Trust between team members is important: Research has shown that teams with higher levels of trust have a propensity to be higher performers. This study built on contemporary trust theory by examining initial interpersonal trust development between a new team member and a newly formed work-team using experimental rather than correlation-based survey methods. Undergraduate students from a metropolitan Australian university participated in a vignette experiment examining the effect of teams with varying levels of Ability, Benevolence and Integrity on trust development. It was hypothesised that these antecedents of trust do not have similar effect on our Intention to Trust as is currently depicted in Mayer, Davis and Schoorman's (1995) integrative model of organisational trust. Their model is developed by hypothesising that the type and magnitude of the information we receive about a trustee moderates the relationship between our Intention to Trust and its antecedents. Initial examination of the traditional scales identified overlaps that needed clarification. This was completed by informing existing scales and the vignette manipulations with the context specific information that emerged from the thematic analysis of structured interviews. Subsequent analyses of the questionnaire data used ANOVA and Structural Equation Modelling techniques. In testing the hypotheses, Ability was found to be most salient in the development of Intention to Trust. This research contributes methodologically by developing a vignette-based experimental method that improves the reliability of existing trust scales. The study contributes theoretically by further explaining the salience of the trust antecedents and practically by identifying that the judgment and decision-making of new workteam members can be distorted by halo bias wherein they ignore the Benevolence traits of team members of a group that exhibits high levels of Ability.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2005. / Abstract available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center; full text release delayed at author's request until 2006 July 21.

The ultimate application of this work is constraining the optical properties of cirrus particles, which are poorly understood, by providing an automatic method, using all-sky cameras and an infrared radiometer, to identify the occurrence of the 22° halo formed by cirrus. This is done by interpreting all sky images in terms of a scattering phase function (SPF), from which the halo ratio (HR) is calculated, and by implementing a cirrus detection algorithm to associate HR measures to ice cloud occurrences. Cirrus reflectivity at solar wavelengths is inversely related to the HR which, being an indirect measure of the regularity of the shape of the ice crystals forming the cloud, relates in turn inversely to the asymmetry parameter g. Therefore, the method proposed here to derive statistics of HRs is expected to reduce the uncertainty over the optical and microphysical properties of cirrus. The light intensity measured by the all sky camera is transformed into a scattering phase function, from which the halo formation is identified. This is done by developing image transformations and corrections needed to interpret all sky images quantitatively in terms of scattering phase function, specifically by transforming the original image from the zenith-centred to the light-source-centred system of coordinates and correcting for the air mass and for vignetting. The SPF is then determined by averaging the image brightness over the azimuth angle and the HR by calculating the ratio of brightness at two scattering angles in the vicinity of the 22° halo peak. The instrument transformation and corrections are performed using a series of Matlab scripts. Given that the HR is an ice cloud characteristic and since the method needs additional temperature information if the halo observation is to be associated with cirrus, a cirrus detection algorithm is necessary to screen out non-ice clouds before deriving reliable HR statistics. Cloud detection is determined by quantifying the temporal fluctuations of sky radiance, expressed as brightness temperature (BT), through De-trended Fluctuation Analysis and setting a clear sky fluctuation threshold. Cloud phase discrimination instead is achieved through first constructing an analytic radiative transfer model to obtain an estimate for average molecular absorption cross-section of water vapour within the spectral window of the radiometer. This is done to model the down-welling clear sky radiance, which is in turn used to correct cirrus emissivity and ultimately determine a dynamic BT threshold for the transition from ice to liquid-containing clouds. In addition to the molecular cross section the screen level air temperature and integrated water vapour are used as input parameters to the model. The utilisation of the all sky camera for such quantitative measurement was the particularly novel aspect of this work; this has not been done previously to the best of my knowledge. The cirrus detection method proposed is also innovative in that with respect to previous works it does not rely on the use of additional techniques such as LIDAR or microwave radiometry for discriminating cloud phase. Furthermore, the cirrus threshold proposed is not fixed but accounts for the attenuating properties of the atmosphere below the cloud. Once the cirrus detection algorithm is validated and cirrus occurrences determinable, the HR could be extended to estimating the asymmetry parameter and crystal roughness. These are retrievable, for instance, from in-situ observations of single ice crystal 2D scattering patterns from cloud probes of the SID (Small Ice Detector) type. This would be significant for the constraining of the optical and microphysical properties of cirrus.

As aplicações envolvendo confinamento e aceleração de feixes de partículas carregadas em canais lineares são inúmeras em diversas áreas do conhecimento. A evolução da engenharia dos aceleradores lineares de partículas de próxima geração está fortemente condicionada ao melhor entendimento de fenômenos não-lineares como a formação de halo, inerentes aos atualmente cada vez mais perscrutados regimes de alta densidade de carga e energia. O presente trabalho visa investigar e caracterizar os aspectos dinâmicos e de equilíbrio envolvidos na transição de um feixe ultra-intenso de partículas com mesma carga de um estado inicial não-estacionário para um final estacionário. A alta densidade de partículas implica que as forças repulsivas naturais neste tipo de sistema sejam imprescindíveis para a sua correta descrição. O feixe em questão evolui em um canal linear encapsulado por um duto circular condutor e é focalizado por um campo magnético constante axial de origem solenoidal. Tal feixe inicialmente encontra-se perfeitamente alinhado com o eixo de simetria do sistema de confinamento magnético, sendo, portanto, as oscilações de sua centróide inexistentes. Por simplicidade, foi imposto também ao feixe o vínculo de simetria azimutal. Como condição inicial, considerou-se o estado não-estacionário do feixe descrito por uma densidade homogênea e outra não-homogênea. No primeiro caso, o descasamento e, no segundo, a magnitude da não-homogeneidade são os fatores precursores da instabilidade inicial que conduz o feixe ao estado de equilíbrio. Para ambos os casos, modelos foram desenvolvidos para determinar quantidades dinâmicas, relacionadas à escala de tempo característica da instabilidade inicial, e de equilíbrio, tais como a emitância e o envelope, grandezas estatísticas estas usualmente de interesse em Física de Feixes. Os resultados obtidos foram comparados com simulações numéricas autoconsistentes e o acordo foi satisfatório. Os modelos demonstraram-se eficientes não somente em prever tais quantidades de interesse como também em elucidar aspectos físicos fundamentais intrínsecos ao comportamento observado nas simulações numéricas autoconsistentes e experimentos. / Applications involving confinement and acceleration of charged particle beams in linear channels are innumerous in many fields of the knowledge. The engineering evolution of next-generation particle linear accelerators is strongly conditioned to the better understanding of nonlinear phenomena like halo formation, inherent to the more and more currently explored regimes of high charge density and energy. The present work aims at investigating and characterizing dynamical and equilibrium aspects involved in the transition of a high-intensity beam of charged particles from an initial non-stationary state to a final stationary state. High particle densities mean that the repulsive forces naturally present in these kinds of systems are essential to their adequate description. The beam under analysis evolves inside a linear channel encapsulated by a circular conductor pipe, and is focalized by a constant axial magnetic field generated by solenoids. Such beam is initially perfectly aligned to the symmetry axis of the magnetic confinement system, being in this way its centroid oscillations non-existent. For simplicity, it has been imposed to the beam the constraint of azimuthal symmetry. As initial condition, the beam non-stationary state has been described by a homogeneous and an inhomogeneous particle density. In the first case, the mismatch and, in the second one, the magnitude of inhomogeneity, are the factors forerunner of the initial instability, which leads the beam to evolve to the equilibrium state. For both cases, models have been developed to determine dynamical quantities, related to the characteristic time scale of the initial instability, and equilibrium quantities, such as the emittance and envelope, usually of interest in Beam Physics. The obtained results have been compared with full self-consistent N-particle beam numerical simulations and the agreement has been reasonable. The models have shown to be efficient not only to predict beam quantities of interest as well as to elucidate fundamental physical aspects intrinsic to the behavior observed in the self-consistent numerical simulations and experiments.

As aplicações envolvendo confinamento e aceleração de feixes de partículas carregadas em canais lineares são inúmeras em diversas áreas do conhecimento. A evolução da engenharia dos aceleradores lineares de partículas de próxima geração está fortemente condicionada ao melhor entendimento de fenômenos não-lineares como a formação de halo, inerentes aos atualmente cada vez mais perscrutados regimes de alta densidade de carga e energia. O presente trabalho visa investigar e caracterizar os aspectos dinâmicos e de equilíbrio envolvidos na transição de um feixe ultra-intenso de partículas com mesma carga de um estado inicial não-estacionário para um final estacionário. A alta densidade de partículas implica que as forças repulsivas naturais neste tipo de sistema sejam imprescindíveis para a sua correta descrição. O feixe em questão evolui em um canal linear encapsulado por um duto circular condutor e é focalizado por um campo magnético constante axial de origem solenoidal. Tal feixe inicialmente encontra-se perfeitamente alinhado com o eixo de simetria do sistema de confinamento magnético, sendo, portanto, as oscilações de sua centróide inexistentes. Por simplicidade, foi imposto também ao feixe o vínculo de simetria azimutal. Como condição inicial, considerou-se o estado não-estacionário do feixe descrito por uma densidade homogênea e outra não-homogênea. No primeiro caso, o descasamento e, no segundo, a magnitude da não-homogeneidade são os fatores precursores da instabilidade inicial que conduz o feixe ao estado de equilíbrio. Para ambos os casos, modelos foram desenvolvidos para determinar quantidades dinâmicas, relacionadas à escala de tempo característica da instabilidade inicial, e de equilíbrio, tais como a emitância e o envelope, grandezas estatísticas estas usualmente de interesse em Física de Feixes. Os resultados obtidos foram comparados com simulações numéricas autoconsistentes e o acordo foi satisfatório. Os modelos demonstraram-se eficientes não somente em prever tais quantidades de interesse como também em elucidar aspectos físicos fundamentais intrínsecos ao comportamento observado nas simulações numéricas autoconsistentes e experimentos. / Applications involving confinement and acceleration of charged particle beams in linear channels are innumerous in many fields of the knowledge. The engineering evolution of next-generation particle linear accelerators is strongly conditioned to the better understanding of nonlinear phenomena like halo formation, inherent to the more and more currently explored regimes of high charge density and energy. The present work aims at investigating and characterizing dynamical and equilibrium aspects involved in the transition of a high-intensity beam of charged particles from an initial non-stationary state to a final stationary state. High particle densities mean that the repulsive forces naturally present in these kinds of systems are essential to their adequate description. The beam under analysis evolves inside a linear channel encapsulated by a circular conductor pipe, and is focalized by a constant axial magnetic field generated by solenoids. Such beam is initially perfectly aligned to the symmetry axis of the magnetic confinement system, being in this way its centroid oscillations non-existent. For simplicity, it has been imposed to the beam the constraint of azimuthal symmetry. As initial condition, the beam non-stationary state has been described by a homogeneous and an inhomogeneous particle density. In the first case, the mismatch and, in the second one, the magnitude of inhomogeneity, are the factors forerunner of the initial instability, which leads the beam to evolve to the equilibrium state. For both cases, models have been developed to determine dynamical quantities, related to the characteristic time scale of the initial instability, and equilibrium quantities, such as the emittance and envelope, usually of interest in Beam Physics. The obtained results have been compared with full self-consistent N-particle beam numerical simulations and the agreement has been reasonable. The models have shown to be efficient not only to predict beam quantities of interest as well as to elucidate fundamental physical aspects intrinsic to the behavior observed in the self-consistent numerical simulations and experiments.

The C-5 modified pyrimidine analogues are well-known anticancer and antiviral drugs which underscore further development of novel probes to study their physical, chemical, and biological properties. In my dissertation the syntheses and properties of (β-halo)vinyl sulfone and/or (β-keto)sulfone analogues of C-5 modified pyrimidine have been discussed. In the first part of the dissertion, the synthesis of 5-(β-halo)vinyl sulfones either by transition metal-catalyzed or iodine-mediated halosulfonylation reaction of 5-acetylene pyrimidine nucleosides have been explored. The novel (β-chloro/bromo/iodo)vinyl sulfones efficiently undergo addition-elimination reaction with different nucleophiles such as thiols, amines, amino acid, peptides to provide (β-substituted)vinyl sulfone analogues. The rate of these substitution reactions depends on the nature of halogen atom presents at the β-position and increases with the order of I ≥ Br > Cl. (β-chloro/bromo/iodo)vinyl sulfones possess exclusively E stereochemistry while their β-substitued analogues possess either E (for β–thio analogues) or Z (for β–amino analogue) stereochemistry. It has been observed that the vinylic proton of (β-chloro) or (β-amino)sulfone analogue undergoes exchanges with deuterium in polar protic deutorated solvents. The antiproliferative activities of those analogues have been explored and was found that protected 5-(E)-(1-chloro-2-tosylvinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine inhibited the growth of L1210, CEM and HeLa cells in lower micromolar range. In the second part of the dissertation the syntheses and reactivities of 5-(β-keto) sulfone of pyrimidine nucleosides were investigated. Thus, 5-(β-halovinyl)sulfone of uracil and cytosine nucleosides have been efficiently converted into corresponding 5-(β-keto) sulfone analogues by displacement of halogen with ammonia followed by acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of the resulting (β-amino)sulfone analogues. A number of electrophiles were trapped at the acidic α-carbon of the 5-(β-keto)sulfones by treatment with electrophiles such as methyl, benzyl, or allyl halide in the presence of base. The 5-(α-iodo-β-keto)sulfone analogues of uracil nucleosides have been tested as an alternative substrates to probe the incorporation of nucleophiles at α-carbon. In the third part of the dissertation, the synthesis of 5'-phosphates of 5-(β-chloro) and 5-(β-keto) sulfones of 2'-deoxyuridine and their polymerase-catalyzed incorporation into DNA were evaluated. Thus, 5'-O-phosphorylated analogues have been efficiently incorporated into the DNA by human DNA repair polymerase (pol β) or bacterial polymerase (pol I).