Asymmetry In Response Research Articles

Asymmetry of Western U.S. River Basin Sensitivity to Seasonally Varying Climate Warming

AbstractFuture climate warming over the Western U.S. (WUS) is projected to be greater in summer than winter. Previous model‐based studies of large river basins in the WUS showed much different annual streamflow responses to warming in warm versus cool seasons. However, it remains unclear how the annual streamflow relative responses to seasonal warming (asymmetry) and drivers of the response asymmetry vary across the entire WUS at the catchment‐scale, and how the simulated results compare with observations. Here, we investigate the asymmetry of annual streamflow responses to warm versus cool season warming at the HUC‐8 level across the entire WUS using model simulations and observations. We also examine the asymmetries' relationship with land surface and hydroclimate characteristics, and the primary contributor to the response asymmetry for each HUC‐8 basin. The HUC‐8 level results reveal more complexity than do earlier analyses of much larger river basins. Over 25% of WUS area has annual streamflow increases in response to warming in at least one season (mostly cool season). Annual streamflow is most sensitive to warm season warming in cool, inland basins, especially the northern Columbia River basin and most of the Upper Colorado River Basin, and most sensitive to cool season warming in warm, coastal basins. This bi‐directional pattern is enhanced by vegetation coverage but weakened by long‐term snowpack decline. In coldest basins with short snow‐free seasons, net radiation changes dominate the streamflow response asymmetry. For basins with cold‐to‐intermediate temperatures, vapor pressure deficit changes dominate. For warmest basins, surface resistance changes dominate.

English

The objective of this study is to estimate variance-covariance components and genetic parameters for growth traits in Tswana cattle. Genetic analyses for average daily gain (ADGs) and growth traits were conducted using 7223 records of animals which were born between 1996 and 2013 from 1662 dams and 188 sires in 54 contemporary groups. Both univariate and bivariate animal models were used. Heritability estimates for growth traits ranged from 0.12±0.03 for BWT to 0.45±0.03 for EWT while those obtained for ADGs were 0.24±0.03 and 0.31±0.04 for ADG1 and ADG2, respectively. Permanent maternal environmental effects were significant for WWT and ADG1. Substantial maternal genetic effects were observed in BWT, WWT and ADG1. Genetic correlations among growth traits and ADGs ranged from 0.19±0.07 between BWT and ADG1 to 0.99±0.02 between WWT and ADG1. Phenotypic correlations among growth traits and ADGs ranged from 0.19±0.01 between BWT and ADG1 to 0.94±0.01 between WWT and ADG1. The two selected lines significantly improved annual genetic gain for all the growth traits and ADG1. Genetic gain for EWT was optimally enhanced in S2 than in S1. The control line exhibited significant annual genetic gain in WWT which was not anticipated and perhaps attributed to asymmetry of selection response. Substantial genetic variations were observed in all growth traits and ADGs suggesting that growth improvement can be attained through selection for growth rate. High genetic correlations between growth traits and ADGs indicated that selection for one of these traits may result in indirect correlated response on the other traits. Key words: Bivariate analysis, genetic correlations, heritability, indigenous cattle, maternal effects, genetic variation.

Investors' responses to macroeconomic news: the role of mandatory derivatives and hedging activities disclosure

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate how changes in the firm's information disclosure practices impact the way investors process macroeconomic news. Specifically, the authors examine the role of derivative instruments and hedging activities disclosure, as required by SFAS 133, in shaping invertors response to good and bad interest rate news. In addition, the authors examine whether the effect of SFAS 133 on investors' response to good and bad interest rate news varies between firms with higher and lower earnings volatility.Design/methodology/approach This study uses data on all US public firms over the period from 1990 to 2019. The authors mainly apply multivariate regression and a difference-in-difference approach to test their hypotheses.Findings The results show a significant decrease in the asymmetry of responses to good and bad interest rate news for users of interest rate derivatives following the adoption of SFAS 133. However, in contrast to this finding, the authors also find that the adoption of SFAS 133 has no impact on the asymmetry of responses to good and bad interest rate news for nonusers of interest rate derivatives. Consistent with the ambiguity theory, the finding suggests that SFAS 133 indeed decreases investors’ uncertainty (ambiguity) about the cash flow implications of changes in the interest rate. The authors also find that the decrease in the asymmetry of response to good and bad interest rate news after the adoption of SFAS 133 is greater for users of interest rate derivatives with higher than lower earnings volatility. This implies that derivatives and hedging activities disclosure, as required by SFAS 133, are more important for firms with higher than lower earnings volatility. The finding is consistent with the idea that investors demand more accounting information when underlying earnings volatility is higher. In a set of additional analyses, the authors find that the effect of SFAS 133 on investors' response to good and bad interest rate news varies depending on the level of analyst coverage and interest rate exposure. Specifically, the authors find that the decrease in the asymmetry of response to good and bad interest rate news after the adoption of SFAS 133 is greater for users of interest rate derivatives with higher interest rate exposure and lower analyst coverage.Practical implications The findings of this study help market participants including regulators and standard setters to understand the impact of mandatory disclosure practices on investors' reaction to macroeconomic news. Moreover, the findings of the study help managers to understand the influence firm-specific characteristics (e.g. earnings volatility, analyst coverage and interest rates exposure) on the effectiveness of mandatory derivative instruments and hedging activities disclosure.Originality/value To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first paper to explore how firm-specific information environment affects the way investors process macroeconomic news. This study contributes to the literature by providing the empirical evidence that derivatives instruments and hedging activities, as required by SFAS 133, affect investors' response to good and bad interest rate news. In doing so, the results provide insights about how firm-specific information environment affects the way investors process macroeconomic news. This study shows that the cross-sectional variation in earnings volatility, analysts’ coverage and interest rate exposure affects the impact of SFAS 133 on investors' response to good and bad interest rate news. The findings are not only the notable addition to the existing literature on the topic but also can aid to market participants including policy makers, regulators, standard setters and managers to understand the influence of firm-specific characteristics on the effectiveness of mandatory derivative instruments and hedging activities disclosure. Finally, the findings contribute to the general debate about the effectiveness of SFAS 133 by showing that the adoption of SFAS 133 indeed decreases information ambiguity.

Global evidence on the asymmetric response of gross primary productivity to interannual precipitation changes

Understanding gross primary productivity (GPP) response to precipitation (PPT) changes is essential for predicting land carbon uptake under increasing PPT variability and extremes. Previous studies found that ecosystem GPP may have an asymmetric response to PPT changes, leading to the inconsistency of GPP gains in wet years compared to GPP declines in dry years. However, it is unclear how the asymmetric responses vary among vegetation types and under different PPT variabilities. This study evaluated the global patterns of asymmetries of GPP response to different PPT changes using two state-of-science global GPP datasets. The result shows that under mild PPT changes (|ΔPPT| ≤ 25%), grasslands, savannas, shrublands, and tundra show positive asymmetric responses (i.e., larger GPP gains in wet years than GPP losses in dry years), while other vegetation types show negative asymmetric responses (i.e., larger GPP losses in dry years than GPP gains in wet years). Conversely, all vegetation types show negative GPP asymmetric responses to moderate (25% < |ΔPPT| ≤ 50%) and extreme (|ΔPPT| > 50%) PPT changes. Thus, we propose a new non-linear asymmetric GPP-PPT model that incorporates three modes with regards to vegetation types. Meanwhile, we found that the spatial patterns of asymmetry were mainly driven by PPT amount and variability. Stronger and negative asymmetries were found in areas with smaller PPT amount and variability, while positive asymmetries were found in areas with higher PPT variability. These findings promote our understanding of carbon dynamics under increased PPT variability and extremes and provide new insights for land models to better predict future carbon uptake and its feedback to climate change.

Non-Gaussianity of a random response of a system under both external and parametric non-white Gaussian excitations by using higher-order spectrum

We consider a linear system under additive and parametric Gaussian non-white random excitations and investigate the response asymmetry using bispectrum. The stochastic processes appeared in the additive excitation and parametric excitation are identical, and their power spectrum has bandwidth and dominant frequency parameters. Monte Carlo simulation is carried out in order to obtain stationary probability density function and skewness of the system response. The skewness is the 3rd-order central moment normalized by the standard deviation cubed and is a measure of the asymmetry of the probability density function. It is found that the shape of the stationary probability density function and skewness of the response dramatically changes depending on the bandwidth and dominant frequency parameters of the excitation. Next, we discuss the change of the response skewness based on the bispectrum. A bispectrum is a generalization of a traditional power spectral density and is the distribution of its 3rd-order central moment in the frequency domain. In this study, we use the response bispectrum normalized by the response standard deviation cubed as the distribution of the response skewness in the frequency domain. The normalized bispectrum has some peaks, and it is shown that the positions, height and sign of the peaks change depending on the dominant frequency parameter. Then, the change of the response asymmetry is explained from the vewpoint of the change of the peaks. Finally, we approximately analyze the normalized response bispectrum by perturbation method. The approximate solution well describes the change of the response bispectrum depending on the the dominant frequency parameters of the excitation.

The meaning of structural breaks for risk management: new evidence, mechanisms, and innovative views for the post-COVID-19 era

&lt;abstract&gt; &lt;p&gt;This paper quantitatively reveals the meaning of structural breaks for risk management by analyzing US and major European banking sector stocks. Applying newly extended Glosten-Jagannathan-Runkle generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity models, we supply the following new evidence. First, we find that incorporating structural breaks is always effective in estimating banking stock volatilities. Second, we clarify that structural breaks partially explain the tail fatness of banking stock returns. Third, we find that when incorporating structural breaks, the estimated volatilities more accurately capture their downside risk, proving that structural breaks matter for risk management. Fourth, our news impact curve and model parameter analyses also uncover that when incorporating structural breaks, the asymmetry in volatility responses to return shocks is more accurately captured. This proves why the estimated volatilities by incorporating structural breaks better explain downside risk. In addition, we further reveal that the estimated volatilities obtained through incorporating structural breaks increase sharply during momentous events such as the Lehman crisis, the European debt crisis, Brexit, and the recent COVID-19 crisis. Moreover, we also clarify that the volatility spreads between models with and without structural breaks rise during the Lehman and COVID-19 crises. Finally, based on our findings, we derive many significant and beneficial interpretations, implications, and innovative views for risk management using artificial intelligence in the post-COVID-19 era.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/abstract&gt;

Hemispheric asymmetry in chronic stress-induced microglial responses

Hemispheric asymmetry in chronic stress-induced microglial responses

Asymmetry of EPR signal response in nuclear magnetic resonance gyroscope

The spin relaxation time of alkali atoms in nuclear magnetic resonance gyroscope is usually on the order of 10&lt;sup&gt;–5&lt;/sup&gt; s, which is much less than that in atomic magnetometers. The response of electron paramagnetic resonance signals of atoms with short relaxation time is asymmetric in different directions under oscillating magnetic fields, which makes the measurement results of atomic transverse relaxation time and Larmor frequency different. In this work this phenomenon is analyzed based on Bloch equation theory and the theoretical correction is given. The shorter the relaxation time, the greater the differences of the response intensity and resonance frequency of the electron paramagnetic resonance signal under different magnetic field directions will be. Using this property, the transmission delay time of the system can be measured accurately. In this paper proposed is a method of measuring transverse relaxation time based on the difference between signal phases in &lt;i&gt;X&lt;/i&gt;-axis direction and &lt;i&gt;Y&lt;/i&gt;&lt;italic/&gt;-axis direction, which can accurately and quickly measure very short transverse relaxation time. The difference between the half-width fitting method and the phase measurement method is compared by measuring the transverse relaxation times of &lt;sup&gt;87&lt;/sup&gt;Rb atoms under different magnetic field intensities. The half-width fitting method is greatly affected by the transmission delay time and has its measurement limit. The phase measurement method is greatly affected by the angle of the probe light, but the measurement range is wider and the anti-magnetic interference ability is stronger.

Growth asymmetry precedes differential auxin response during apical hook initiation in Arabidopsis.

The development of a hook-like structure at the apical part of the soil-emerging organs has fascinated botanists for centuries, but how it is initiated remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate with high-throughput infrared imaging and 2-D clinostat treatment that, when gravity-induced root bending is absent, apical hook formation still takes place. In such scenarios, hook formation begins with a de novo growth asymmetry at the apical part of a straightly elongating hypocotyl. Remarkably, such de novo asymmetric growth, but not the following hook enlargement, precedes the establishment of a detectable auxin response asymmetry, and is largely independent of auxin biosynthesis, transport and signaling. Moreover, we found that functional cortical microtubule array is essential for the following enlargement of hook curvature. When microtubule array was disrupted by oryzalin, the polar localization of PIN proteins and the formation of an auxin maximum became impaired at the to-be-hook region. Taken together, we propose a more comprehensive model for apical hook initiation, in which the microtubule-dependent polar localization of PINs may mediate the instruction of growth asymmetry that is either stochastically taking place, induced by gravitropic response, or both, to generate a significant auxin gradient that drives the full development of the apical hook.

Asymmetric and transient properties of reciprocal activity of antagonists during the paw-shake response in the cat.

Mutually inhibitory populations of neurons, half-center oscillators (HCOs), are commonly involved in the dynamics of the central pattern generators (CPGs) driving various rhythmic movements. Previously, we developed a multifunctional, multistable symmetric HCO model which produced slow locomotor-like and fast paw-shake-like activity patterns. Here, we describe asymmetric features of paw-shake responses in a symmetric HCO model and test these predictions experimentally. We considered bursting properties of the two model half-centers during transient paw-shake-like responses to short perturbations during locomotor-like activity. We found that when a current pulse was applied during the spiking phase of one half-center, let’s call it #1, the consecutive burst durations (BDs) of that half-center increased throughout the paw-shake response, while BDs of the other half-center, let’s call it #2, only changed slightly. In contrast, the consecutive interburst intervals (IBIs) of half-center #1 changed little, while IBIs of half-center #2 increased. We demonstrated that this asymmetry between the half-centers depends on the phase of the locomotor-like rhythm at which the perturbation was applied. We suggest that the fast transient response reflects functional asymmetries of slow processes that underly the locomotor-like pattern; e.g., asymmetric levels of inactivation across the two half-centers for a slowly inactivating inward current. We compared model results with those of in-vivo paw-shake responses evoked in locomoting cats and found similar asymmetries. Electromyographic (EMG) BDs of anterior hindlimb muscles with flexor-related activity increased in consecutive paw-shake cycles, while BD of posterior muscles with extensor-related activity did not change, and vice versa for IBIs of anterior flexors and posterior extensors. We conclude that EMG activity patterns during paw-shaking are consistent with the proposed mechanism producing transient paw-shake-like bursting patterns found in our multistable HCO model. We suggest that the described asymmetry of paw-shaking responses could implicate a multifunctional CPG controlling both locomotion and paw-shaking.

Activity standardization by means of liquid scintillation counting and determination of the half-life of 89Zr

A89Zr solution was measured by means of liquid scintillation counting techniques in order to determine the activity concentration. Two methods were used: the CIEMAT/NIST efficiency tracing method with 3H as a tracer, and the triple-to-double coincidence ratio method. The counting efficiencies were computed with a stochastic model. The very detailed investigation showed that a few corrections are particularly important: Asymmetries in the photodetector responses as well as the backscattering of high-energy gamma rays must be taken into account. Corresponding corrections have therefore been applied. In addition, a detailed uncertainty analysis was carried out and the uncertainties compared with those determined by other research groups.The activity concentrations obtained from the two methods agree well and a combined result was used to establish calibration factors for ionization chambers, which are important secondary standardization instruments. The ionization chambers were combined with a new high-precision current measurement device to provide outstanding linearity. Measurement data from one chamber were used to determine the half-life, which was found to be T1/2=(78.373 ± 0.023) h.

Enhancing the dark side: asymmetric gain of cone photoreceptors underpins their discrimination of visual scenes based on skewness.

Psychophysical data indicate that humans can discriminate visual scenes based on their skewness, i.e. the ratio of dark and bright patches within a visual scene. It has also been shown that at a phenomenological level this skew discrimination is described by the so‐called blackshot mechanism, which accentuates strong negative contrasts within a scene. Here, we present a set of observations suggesting that the underlying computation might start as early as the cone phototransduction cascade, whose gain is higher for strong negative contrasts than for strong positive contrasts. We recorded from goldfish cone photoreceptors and found that the asymmetry in the phototransduction gain leads to responses with larger amplitudes when using negatively rather than positively skewed light stimuli. This asymmetry in amplitude was present in the cone photocurrent, voltage response and synaptic output. Given that the properties of the phototransduction cascade are universal across vertebrates, it is possible that the mechanism shown here gives rise to a general ability to discriminate between scenes based only on their skewness, which psychophysical studies have shown humans can do. Thus, our data suggest the importance of non‐linearity of the early photoreceptor for perception. Additionally, we found that stimulus skewness leads to a subtle change in photoreceptor kinetics. For negatively skewed stimuli, the impulse response functions of the cone peak later than for positively skewed stimuli. However, stimulus skewness does not affect the overall integration time of the cone.Key points Humans can discriminate visual scenes based on skewness, i.e. the relative prevalence of bright and dark patches within a scene.Here, we show that negatively skewed time‐series stimuli induce larger responses in goldfish cone photoreceptors than comparable positively skewed stimuli.This response asymmetry originates from within the phototransduction cascade, where gain is higher for strong negative contrasts (dark patches) than for strong positive contrasts (bright patches).Unlike the implicit assumption often contained within models of downstream visual neurons, our data show that cone photoreceptors do not simply relay linearly filtered versions of visual stimuli to downstream circuitry, but that they also emphasize specific stimulus features.Given that the phototransduction cascade properties among vertebrate retinas are mostly universal, our data imply that the skew discrimination by human subjects reported in psychophysical studies might stem from the asymmetric gain function of the phototransduction cascade.

Development of a hysteretic model for steel members under cyclic axial loading

Steel members present complex nonlinear behaviors due to the asymmetry of the seismic responses of steel members in tension and compression. This research proposed a hysteretic model for predicting the nonlinear behaviors of hot-rolled steel members under cyclic axial loading. The proposed hysteretic model overcomes the notable limitations of the existing hysteretic model and presents considerable advantages. There are a set of linear segments involved in the proposed hysteretic model and each segment is explicitly defined. The recommended values for the empirical parameters included in the proposed hysteretic model are determined through an optimization analysis based on the genetic algorithm. Compared with the available results of the steel members tested previously by other investigators, the proposed hysteretic model is found to be able to accurately predict the hysteretic curves, peak axial resistances and hysteretic energy dissipations of the steel members. The result comparisons indicate that the proposed hysteretic model realistically presents the complex physical behaviors of members including buckling effects in compression, pinching effects in tension reloading excursion, degradation of post-buckling strength, and degradations of subsequent buckling strength. It is also found that the proposed hysteretic model with the parameters properly selected can successfully replicate the hysteretic responses of the steel members tested previously in spite of their differences in cross-sectional shapes, slenderness ratios and end boundary conditions. Moreover, the genetic algorithm enables to identify the approximate parameters included in the mathematical expressions of the proposed hysteretic model with little computational effort.

Spatial frequency-dependent pulse-heightspectrum and method for analyzing detector DQE(f) from ensembles of single X-rayimages.

Scintillators and photoconductors used in energy integrating detectors (EIDs) have inherent variations in their imaging response to single-detected X-rays due to variations in X-ray energy deposition and secondary quanta generation and transport, which degrades DQE(f). The imaging response of X-ray scintillators to single X-rays may be recorded and studied using single X-ray imaging (SXI) experiments; however, no method currently exists for relating SXI experimental results to EID DQE(f). This work proposes a general analytical framework for computing and analyzing the DQE(f) performance of EIDs from single X-ray image ensembles using a spatial frequency-dependent pulse-height spectrum. A spatial frequency (f)-dependent gain, , is defined as the Fourier transform of the imaging response of an EID to a single-detected X-ray. A f-dependent pulse-height spectrum, , is defined as the 2D probability density function of over the complex plane. is used to define a f-dependent Swank factor, AS (f), which fully characterizes the DQE(f) degradation due to single X-ray noise. AS (f) is analyzed in terms of its degradation due to Swank noise, variations in the frequency-dependent attenuation of , and noise in which occurs due to variations in the asymmetry in each single X-ray's imaging response. Three example imaging systems are simulated to demonstrate the impact of depth-dependent variation in , remote energy deposition, and a finite number of secondary quanta, on , AS (f), MTF(f), and NPS(f)/NPS(0), which are computed from ensembles of single X-ray images. The same is also demonstrated by simulating a realistic imaging system; that is, a Gd2 O2 S-based EID. Using the latter imaging system, the convergence of AS (f) estimates is investigated as a function of the number of detected X-rays per ensemble. Depth-dependent variation resulted in AS (f) degradation exclusively due to depth-dependent optical Swank noise and the Lubberts effect. Conversely, the majority of AS (f) degradation caused by remote energy deposition and finite secondary quanta occurred due to variations in . When using input X-ray energies below the K-edge of Gd, variations in the frequency-dependent attenuation of accounted for the majority of AS (f) degradation in the GOS-based EID, and very little Swank noise and variations in were observed. Above the K-edge, however, AS (f) degradation due to Swank noise and variations in greatly increased. The convergence of AS (f) was limited by variation in ; imaging systems with more variation in required more detected X-rays per ensemble. An analytical framework is proposed that generalizes the pulse-height spectrum and Swank factor to arbitrary f. The impact of single X-ray noise sources, such as the Lubberts effect, remote energy deposition, and finite secondary quanta on detector performance, may be represented using , and quantified using AS (f). The approach may be used to compute MTF(f), NPS(f), and DQE(f) from ensembles of single X-ray images and provides an additional tool to analyze proposed EID designs.

Fiscal Illusion and Asymmetric Response of Regional Financial Performance

Purpose of this research is to prove whether there is a fiscal illusion in the regional financial performance of districts/cities in West Papua and to capture asymmetric response of regional spending. Period in this research from 2010-2019 in West Papua Province which consists of nine districts/cities considering the availability of data, data sources from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) and the Ministry of Finance (KEMENKEU) Dependent variable is regional financial performance as measured by regional spending and independent variable consists of general allocation funds, special autonomy funds, regional gross domestic product, population, local taxes, local retribution and dummy variables. Analysis methods is panel data regression fixed effect approach, fiscal illusion detection refers to the model developed by Borcherding and Deacon, and response asymmetry refers to the Gennari and Messina model. Findings/Originality: Proving the existence of fiscal illusions and asymmetry responses in a panel data model, results show that there are fiscal illusions in the regional financial performance of districts/cities in West Papua Province as seen from the negative and significant correlation of regional spending with local taxes. There is an asymmetrical response to regional spending in increasing the balancing fund, seen from the negative and significant dummy variable value in the model.

Understanding the Basin Asymmetry in Surface Response to Sudden Stratospheric Warmings from an Ocean–Atmosphere Coupled Perspective

AbstractThe canonical tropospheric response to a weakening of the stratospheric vortex—an equatorward shift of the eddy-driven jet—is mostly limited to the North Atlantic following sudden stratospheric warmings (SSWs). A coherent change in the Pacific eddy-driven jet is notably absent. Why is this so? Using daily reanalysis data, we show that air–sea interactions over the North Pacific are responsible for the basin-asymmetric response to SSWs. Prior to the onset of some SSWs, their tropospheric precursors produce a dipolar SST pattern in the North Pacific, which then persists as the stratospheric polar vortex breaks down following the onset of the SSW. By reinforcing the lower-tropospheric baroclinicity, the dipolar SST pattern helps sustain the generation of baroclinic eddies, strengthening the near-surface Pacific eddy-driven jet and maintaining its near-climatological-mean state. This prevents the jet from being perturbed by the downward influence of the stratospheric anomalies. As a result, these SSWs exhibit a highly basin-asymmetric surface response with only the Atlantic eddy-driven jet shifted equatorward. For SSWs occurring without the atmospheric precursors in the North Pacific troposphere, the dipolar SST pattern is absent due to the lack of the atmospheric forcing. In the absence of the dipolar SST pattern and the resultant eddy–mean flow feedbacks, these SSWs exhibit a basin-symmetric surface response with both the Atlantic and the Pacific eddy-driven jets shifted equatorward. Our results provide an ocean–atmosphere coupled perspective on stratosphere–troposphere interaction following SSW events and have potential for improving subseasonal to seasonal forecasts for surface weather and climate.

How Industries Use Direct-to-Public Persuasion in Policy Conflicts: Asymmetries in Public Voting Responses

Industries use persuasion strategies to gain public support when challenged by activist groups on consumer-relevant issues. This marketing practice, termed “direct-to-public persuasion,” has received limited attention in the field, and thus we have little understanding of when such campaigns fail or succeed. This research introduces a theoretically derived and empirically supported framework that draws from multiple areas, including marketing persuasion, political campaign strategy, sociopolitical legitimacy, and perceptual fit, to identify important differences in the effectiveness of these persuasion strategies on attitudes and voting behavior. The multimethod approach includes a field study of ballot measure voting during a national U.S. election and three experimental studies. The findings contribute new knowledge of asymmetries in public response to industry and activist arguments. Stronger arguments from both sides lead to more favorable outcomes, but activist groups benefit most. Suspicion of activist arguments weakens the impact on attitudes and voting; industry argument suspicion has limited impact, though it does increase the likelihood of voter switching. A financial argumentation strategy works best for the industry side, while societal argumentation is more effective for the activist side. The insights offer guidance for industries and activist groups as argument strategy success is contingent on the side that uses it.

Light-Driven Extremely Nonlinear Bulk Photogalvanic Currents

We predict the generation of bulk photocurrents in materials driven by bichromatic fields that are circularly polarized and corotating. The nonlinear photocurrents have a fully controllable directionality and amplitude without requiring carrier-envelope-phase stabilization or few-cycle pulses, and can be generated with photon energies much smaller than the band gap (reducing heating in the photoconversion process). We demonstrate with abinitio calculations that the photocurrent generation mechanism is universal and arises in gaped materials (Si, diamond, MgO, hBN), in semimetals (graphene), and in two- and three-dimensional systems. Photocurrents are shown to rely on sub-laser-cycle asymmetries in the nonlinear response that build-up coherently from cycle to cycle as the conduction band is populated. Importantly, the photocurrents are always transverse to the major axis of the co-circular lasers regardless of the material's structure and orientation (analogously to a Hall current), which we find originates from a generalized time-reversal symmetry in the driven system. At high laser powers (∼10^{13} W/cm^{2}) this symmetry can be spontaneously broken by vast electronic excitations, which is accompanied by an onset of carrier-envelope-phase sensitivity and ultrafast many-body effects. Our results are directly applicable for efficient light-driven control of electronics, and for enhancing sub-band-gap bulk photogalvanic effects.

Quantum Tunneling Induced Optical Rectification and Plasmon-Enhanced Photocurrent in Nanocavity Molecular Junctions.

Molecular junctions offer the opportunity for downscaling optoelectronic devices. Separating two electrodes with a single layer of molecules accesses the quantum-tunneling regime at low voltages (<1 V), where tunneling currents become highly sensitive to local nanometer-scale geometric features of the electrodes. These features generate asymmetries in the electrical response of the junction which combine with the incident oscillating optical fields to produce optical rectification and photocurrents. Maximizing photocurrents requires accurate control of the overall junction geometry and a large confined optical field in the optimal location. Plasmonic nanostructures such as metallic nanoparticles are prime candidates for this application, because their size and shape dictate a consistent junction geometry while strongly enhancing the optical field from incident light. Here we demonstrate a robust lithography-free molecular optoelectronic device geometry, where a metallic nanoparticle on a self-assembled molecular monolayer is sandwiched between planar bottom and semitransparent top electrodes, to create molecular junctions with reproducible morphology and electrical response. The well-defined geometry enables predictable and intense plasmonic localization, which we show creates optical-frequency voltages ∼ 30 mV in the molecular junction from 100 μW incident light, generating photocurrent by optical rectification (>10 μA/W) from only a few hundred molecules. Quantitative agreement is thus obtained between DC- and optical-frequency quantum-tunneling currents, predicted by a simple analytic equation. By measuring the degree of junction asymmetry for different molecular monolayers, we find that molecules with a large DC rectification ratio also boost zero-bias electrical asymmetry, making them good candidates for sensing and energy harvesting applications in combination with plasmonic nanomaterials.

Free Layer Thickness Dependence of the Stability in Co2(Mn0.6Fe0.4)Ge Heusler Based CPP-GMR Read Sensor for Areal Density of 1 Tb/in2.

Current-perpendicular-to-the-plane giant magnetoresistance (CPP-GMR) read sensors based on Heusler alloys are promising candidates for ultrahigh areal densities of magnetic data storage technology. In particular, the thickness of reader structures is one of the key factors for the development of practical CPP-GMR sensors. In this research, we studied the dependence of the free layer thickness on the stability of the Co2(Mn0.6Fe0.4)Ge Heusler-based CPP-GMR read head for an areal density of 1 Tb/in2, aiming to determine the appropriate layer thickness. The evaluations were done through simulations based on micromagnetic modelling. The reader stability indicators, including the magnetoresistance (MR) ratio, readback signal, dibit response asymmetry parameter, and power spectral density profile, were characterized and discussed. Our analysis demonstrates that the reader with a free layer thickness of 3 nm indicates the best stability performance for this particular head. A reasonably large MR ratio of 26% was obtained by the reader having this suitable layer thickness. The findings can be utilized to improve the design of the CPP-GMR reader for use in ultrahigh magnetic recording densities.