A broken insulator pin on a high-voltage power line is to blame for an outage in the area of Hammonton-Smartsville Road in Linda on Tuesday night that affected about 2,000 customers and coincided with the start of a fire that severely damaged a house, said Pacific Gas & Electric spokesman Paul Moreno.
A pin holding the high-voltage primary line broke and caused the wire to fall onto the distribution line that provides power for residences and businesses. The touching wires caused a transformer to fail and the resulting outage.
Linda Fire Department Chief Richard Webb said he thinks the fire at the home in the 1700 block of Hammonton-Smartville Road was related to circumstances with PG&E's equipment. The fire appears to have started in or near the 220-voltage outlet for the dryer, and it's possible there was a power surge that traveled down the line.
"Because of the extent of the damage, sometimes it's hard to make a 100 percent determination," he said. "We looked at the evidence that's there ... And we think we can draw a pretty reasonable conclusion."
Fire department investigators also saw that there were holes burned in the metal siding where electricity comes into a trailer in front of the house, indicating significant electrical arcing there, too.
The fire displaced 30-year-old Jeremiah Moler, his wife, Christy Berry, their 6-month-old daughter Allyssa and 8-year-old daughter Cierra, and their two dogs. Nearly all their belongings were destroyed, and two of their cats are still missing.
The American Red Cross of Northeaster California has provided the family with a few nights in a hotel and money for basic immediate necessities.
PG&E's claims staff met with the family Tuesday to explain the process of filing a claim if they are interested. If there was some negligence on the utility provider's part, it would be responsible for the damages, Moreno said.
It is unknown why the pin broke, but PG&E is continuing to investigate, Moreno said. There was lightning, wind and heavy rain in the area at the time.
The outage began just before 6 p.m. and power was restored to all but three customers by 7:11 p.m.
"We are saddened to hear the family's loss of their home," Moreno said. "We reached out to the Red Cross to offer a contribution (to the family)."
2011年6月29日星期三
Concept Group’s New Thermal Insulator Thinner Than Human Hair
Ask an engineer what price he or she has to pay for effective thermal insulation. Their answer will surprise you. They won’t give you a dollar figure. They’ll say that insulation takes up too much space. Or it has to be some standard shape that doesn’t fit. They have to use more ― thicker ― insulation. And they don’t like it.
“But Insulon shaped-vacuum technology does the opposite. It takes material out, leaving a vacuum. Once heat encounters this vacuum, molecule-to-molecule energy transfer cannot occur. Thermal conduction stops.”
Well, there’s good news for thermal engineers. Concept Group’s new Insulon® barrier is a new kind of small-scale insulator. It can be supplied in virtually any shape, down to amazingly small dimensions. For example, Insulon barriers have been manufactured as thin as 0.1mm, the width of a human hair, and the technology can go even thinner. Shape is likewise typically not a limitation. Insulon barriers have been designed into curved-wall devices with just 0.2mm total thickness.
The key to the Insulon barrier’s insulating power is its Hyper-Deep Vacuum™, explained Aarne Reid, President and CEO of Concept Group. “Most insulators use some thickness of material to damp out the conductive transfer of thermal energy, the thicker the better,” said Reid. “But Insulon shaped-vacuum technology does the opposite. It takes material out, leaving a vacuum. Once heat encounters this vacuum, molecule-to-molecule energy transfer cannot occur. Thermal conduction stops.” Reid continued, “That’s why engineers can design an Insulon barrier into such tight spaces, or around such small tubes, or into such small devices. Even the thinnest Insulon barrier stops conduction cold.”
The power of the new insulating technology is being demonstrated in a growing variety of applications. “Thermal engineers are really the ones pushing the Insulon envelope,” said Reid. “The more challenging their application, the better. Odd shapes, small dimensions, extreme temperatures, big temperature differentials. They won’t find a more effective insulator than this Insulon barrier, and we can fit it into or onto whatever shape they’re working with.”
“But Insulon shaped-vacuum technology does the opposite. It takes material out, leaving a vacuum. Once heat encounters this vacuum, molecule-to-molecule energy transfer cannot occur. Thermal conduction stops.”
Well, there’s good news for thermal engineers. Concept Group’s new Insulon® barrier is a new kind of small-scale insulator. It can be supplied in virtually any shape, down to amazingly small dimensions. For example, Insulon barriers have been manufactured as thin as 0.1mm, the width of a human hair, and the technology can go even thinner. Shape is likewise typically not a limitation. Insulon barriers have been designed into curved-wall devices with just 0.2mm total thickness.
The key to the Insulon barrier’s insulating power is its Hyper-Deep Vacuum™, explained Aarne Reid, President and CEO of Concept Group. “Most insulators use some thickness of material to damp out the conductive transfer of thermal energy, the thicker the better,” said Reid. “But Insulon shaped-vacuum technology does the opposite. It takes material out, leaving a vacuum. Once heat encounters this vacuum, molecule-to-molecule energy transfer cannot occur. Thermal conduction stops.” Reid continued, “That’s why engineers can design an Insulon barrier into such tight spaces, or around such small tubes, or into such small devices. Even the thinnest Insulon barrier stops conduction cold.”
The power of the new insulating technology is being demonstrated in a growing variety of applications. “Thermal engineers are really the ones pushing the Insulon envelope,” said Reid. “The more challenging their application, the better. Odd shapes, small dimensions, extreme temperatures, big temperature differentials. They won’t find a more effective insulator than this Insulon barrier, and we can fit it into or onto whatever shape they’re working with.”
2011年6月26日星期日
Gran tells of rescuing Sunnysands caravan blaze toddler from flames
A HERO gran who saved her granddaughter from a burning caravan that killed her husband and son has spoken of how she relives the little girl’s cries “every day and night”.
Speaking for the first time since the blaze exclusively to Wales on Sunday, Denise Taylor, 50, says she can still hear the cries of two-year-old Emmy after she plucked her from the caravan.
Her son Andrew, 26, and husband Robert, 58, died in the blaze at the Sunnysands park in Talybont, near Barmouth, while Emmy remains seriously ill at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, in Liverpool.
Denise, from Flint, in North Wales, said: “I just relive it every night – every day. It’s just something that I’ve got to try to get over.”
Paramedic Denise reached into the smoke-filled caravan and pulled the toddler to safety through a window with the help of two passers-by.
Though left with burns to her arms following the rescue, the gran insists she’s not a hero.
“It didn’t seem brave to me at the time.
“It’s just something I knew I had to do and I just did it.”
The gran said she didn’t feel any pain when she reached in to free little Emmy.
And it was not until she was later treated at Ysbyty Gwynedd, in Bangor, that her arms began to hurt.
She dashed clear of the caravan with Emmy in her arms seconds before it exploded after hearing someone cry “run” because of the gas cylinders.
Emmy’s parents Ian Taylor, 28, and Laura Lynford, 24, who also have a six-month old baby son Kian, have been maintaining a bedside vigil at the hospital since the blaze on June 11.
Denise, who was in bed when she heard shouts from Andrew alerting her to the fire, added: “(I’m reliving) the cries of her. She was crying after I pulled her out.
“It’s just hour by hour we’re getting through it. Spending time up in Alder Hey with my son is a great comfort to him and me. And I’m helping to look after the other little one they’ve got.”
She said “overwhelming” messages of support continue to flood in for the family.
Fresh messages are still being left on a Facebook page to add to the hundreds of tributes already paid to the men.
Poignant messages were left on the site last Sunday – Father’s Day.
Andrew, who has a twin sister Sarah, left a daughter Alexia, aged one, He had gone back into the caravan in an attempt to rescue his niece and dad.
It is thought both were overcome by thick smoke and fumes before the caravan exploded.
Denise added: “We’ve had over 200 cards and bouquets. Strangers have been sending cards to Alder Hey – people I’m not aware of knowing.
“But a lot of it has come from family, friends and neighbours because obviously they were two adorable men.”
Emmy has had lengthy skin graft operations after suffering 65% burns to the right side of her body in the fire.
Last week Denise’s other son Lee, 31, said medics have told scaffolder Ian and dental nurse Laura their daughter’s fight for life is “going to be a long road”.
He has said he believes the blaze was caused by a fan heater in the awning that somehow caught fire.
A service for Robert and loft insulator Andrew will be held at 12.30pm on Tuesday, in the parish church on Flint high street, followed by cremation in Blacon, Chester. Family are asking all those who go to wear football shirts – both men were keen fans of the game – Robert, Liverpool, and Andrew, Manchester United.
North Wales Fire Service say the cause of the blaze is still under investigation.
Speaking for the first time since the blaze exclusively to Wales on Sunday, Denise Taylor, 50, says she can still hear the cries of two-year-old Emmy after she plucked her from the caravan.
Her son Andrew, 26, and husband Robert, 58, died in the blaze at the Sunnysands park in Talybont, near Barmouth, while Emmy remains seriously ill at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, in Liverpool.
Denise, from Flint, in North Wales, said: “I just relive it every night – every day. It’s just something that I’ve got to try to get over.”
Paramedic Denise reached into the smoke-filled caravan and pulled the toddler to safety through a window with the help of two passers-by.
Though left with burns to her arms following the rescue, the gran insists she’s not a hero.
“It didn’t seem brave to me at the time.
“It’s just something I knew I had to do and I just did it.”
The gran said she didn’t feel any pain when she reached in to free little Emmy.
And it was not until she was later treated at Ysbyty Gwynedd, in Bangor, that her arms began to hurt.
She dashed clear of the caravan with Emmy in her arms seconds before it exploded after hearing someone cry “run” because of the gas cylinders.
Emmy’s parents Ian Taylor, 28, and Laura Lynford, 24, who also have a six-month old baby son Kian, have been maintaining a bedside vigil at the hospital since the blaze on June 11.
Denise, who was in bed when she heard shouts from Andrew alerting her to the fire, added: “(I’m reliving) the cries of her. She was crying after I pulled her out.
“It’s just hour by hour we’re getting through it. Spending time up in Alder Hey with my son is a great comfort to him and me. And I’m helping to look after the other little one they’ve got.”
She said “overwhelming” messages of support continue to flood in for the family.
Fresh messages are still being left on a Facebook page to add to the hundreds of tributes already paid to the men.
Poignant messages were left on the site last Sunday – Father’s Day.
Andrew, who has a twin sister Sarah, left a daughter Alexia, aged one, He had gone back into the caravan in an attempt to rescue his niece and dad.
It is thought both were overcome by thick smoke and fumes before the caravan exploded.
Denise added: “We’ve had over 200 cards and bouquets. Strangers have been sending cards to Alder Hey – people I’m not aware of knowing.
“But a lot of it has come from family, friends and neighbours because obviously they were two adorable men.”
Emmy has had lengthy skin graft operations after suffering 65% burns to the right side of her body in the fire.
Last week Denise’s other son Lee, 31, said medics have told scaffolder Ian and dental nurse Laura their daughter’s fight for life is “going to be a long road”.
He has said he believes the blaze was caused by a fan heater in the awning that somehow caught fire.
A service for Robert and loft insulator Andrew will be held at 12.30pm on Tuesday, in the parish church on Flint high street, followed by cremation in Blacon, Chester. Family are asking all those who go to wear football shirts – both men were keen fans of the game – Robert, Liverpool, and Andrew, Manchester United.
North Wales Fire Service say the cause of the blaze is still under investigation.
I'm talking about insulators
They helped foster the growth of the western United States, but it seems few people know much about these gizmos steeped in history. Luckily, we can all receive an education from the experts on hand July 8-10 at the 42nd annual National Insulator Association Show and Conference taking place in San Jose. More than 500 collectors from the U.S., Canada, Australia and England are expected to attend.
Any convention has serious work to accomplish, but I have a hunch this event will be more entertaining than most. It's got to be when you've got members known as Colin "California Kid" Jung, Dave "Pa Bell" Elliott, Bill "Mud Man" Rohde and Lou "King Pin" Hall serving as hosts.
First used in the mid-19th century, insulators made it possible to transmit electricity over long distances, which allowed the United States to grow rapidly. Later, the invention of the telegraph and the telephone greatly expanded their use.
While most insulators were made of glass, others were crafted from porcelain. Collectors seek those made in hard-to-find colors or shapes, ones produced by short-lived regional firms and other rarities. Some fetch hundreds of dollars, but most insulators bring far less.
The convention will be held at the Doubletree Hotel, 2050 Gateway Place, San Jose.
Shop for worthy cause
The Happy Dragon, a resale shop in Los Gatos supporting EMQ FamiliesFirst, will have its twice-yearly clean-out sale July 13-15.
Scads of savvy shoppers regularly scour the shelves of this emporium for buys. I've heard about many a fabled find.
On July 13-14, everything -- other than items inside the locked showcases -- will be half-price. On July 15, it's "Bag Day." That's when everything you can fit into a grocery sack is priced at $4.
And for the first time, all books in the vintage and collectible case will be marked 50 percent off.
The shop reopens July 18 with new stock.
The Happy Dragon, staffed by a remarkably cheerful lot of volunteers, is at 245 E. Main St., Los Gatos. Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays. For specifics, call 408-354-4072.
Proceeds go to the nonprofit EMQ FamiliesFirst, which provides mental health care treatment, foster care and social services to children in crisis and their families.
Any convention has serious work to accomplish, but I have a hunch this event will be more entertaining than most. It's got to be when you've got members known as Colin "California Kid" Jung, Dave "Pa Bell" Elliott, Bill "Mud Man" Rohde and Lou "King Pin" Hall serving as hosts.
First used in the mid-19th century, insulators made it possible to transmit electricity over long distances, which allowed the United States to grow rapidly. Later, the invention of the telegraph and the telephone greatly expanded their use.
While most insulators were made of glass, others were crafted from porcelain. Collectors seek those made in hard-to-find colors or shapes, ones produced by short-lived regional firms and other rarities. Some fetch hundreds of dollars, but most insulators bring far less.
The convention will be held at the Doubletree Hotel, 2050 Gateway Place, San Jose.
Shop for worthy cause
The Happy Dragon, a resale shop in Los Gatos supporting EMQ FamiliesFirst, will have its twice-yearly clean-out sale July 13-15.
Scads of savvy shoppers regularly scour the shelves of this emporium for buys. I've heard about many a fabled find.
On July 13-14, everything -- other than items inside the locked showcases -- will be half-price. On July 15, it's "Bag Day." That's when everything you can fit into a grocery sack is priced at $4.
And for the first time, all books in the vintage and collectible case will be marked 50 percent off.
The shop reopens July 18 with new stock.
The Happy Dragon, staffed by a remarkably cheerful lot of volunteers, is at 245 E. Main St., Los Gatos. Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays. For specifics, call 408-354-4072.
Proceeds go to the nonprofit EMQ FamiliesFirst, which provides mental health care treatment, foster care and social services to children in crisis and their families.
2011年6月22日星期三
ORNL researchers win 7 R&D 100 awards
Scientists and engineers at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory have received seven R&D 100 Awards presented by R&D Magazine.
These awards, sometimes referred to as the "Academy Awards of Science," honor the 100 most outstanding advances in technology for the year and are chosen by an expert panel of independent judges and the editors of R&D Magazine.
"I want to congratulate this year's R&D 100 award winners," Energy Secretary Steven Chu said. "The Department of Energy's national laboratories and sites are at the forefront of innovation, and it is gratifying to see their work recognized once again. The cutting-edge research and development done in our national labs and facilities is helping to meet our energy challenges, strengthen our national security and enhance our economic competitiveness."
The seven awards bring the total number of R&D 100 awards won by ORNL researchers over the years to 164.
"Winning seven of these prestigious awards is a testimony to the talent and creativity of a remarkable staff," ORNL Director Thom Mason said. "Our researchers do a tremendous job of delivering our mission of scientific discovery and innovation."
ORNL researchers were recognized for the following technologies:
Multiresolution Adaptive Numerical Environment for Scientific Simulations, submitted and developed by ORNL with a team led by Robert Harrison and George Fann with Judith Hill, Diego Galindo and Jun Jia of the Computer Science and Mathematics Division and Rebecca Hartman-Baker of the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility. Harrison is also the director of the Joint Institute for Computational Sciences.
MADNESS is a free open-source general purpose user-friendly numerical framework and software for the development scientific simulations from laptops to massively parallel supercomputers. MADNESS utilizes the latest parallel computing and solution methodologies to solve many dimensional integral and differential equations accurately and precisely for real-world problems. MADNESS provides a new platform for scientists and engineers to easily create new applications with assurance in the exactness of their results. Funding for this project was provided by the DOE Office of Science, the National Science Foundation Office of Cyber Infrastructure and Division of Chemistry, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's Program in High-Productivity Computer Systems under subcontract from Argonne National Laboratory.
Mesoporous Carbon for Capacitive Deionization Electrodes for Desalination, developed and jointly submitted by ORNL's Sheng Dai and Richard Mayes of the Chemical Sciences Division, David DePaoli and Costas Tsouris of the Energy and Transportation Science Division, James Kiggans Jr. of the Materials Science and Technology Division, Craig Blue, director of the Energy Materials Program, Charles Schaich of the Measurment Science and Systems Engineering Division, former post doctoral researcher Xiquing Wang and Frederic W. Seamon III of Campbell Applied Physics.
This novel technology makes it possible to desalinate large quantities of water more effectively than conventional technologies. Instead of using thermal or membrane separation—which can be costly and consume high amounts of energy—this desalinization tool can absorb salt ions by running brackish water through mesoporous carbon, inexpensively making the water fit for human consumption. This technology could make it possible for large numbers of the world's population to create safe drinking water at a relatively low cost. The DOE's Office of Science and Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy provided funding for this research.
Nano-Optomechanical Hydrogen Safety Sensor Based on Nanostructured Palladium Layers, jointly submitted and developed by Nickolay Lavrik of the ORNL Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Panos Datskos, Scott Hunter and Barton Smith of the ORNL Measurement Science and Systems Engineering Division, and the University of Tennessee's Michael Sepaniak and James Patton.
This technology utilizes nano-sized palladium particles to more efficiently detect hydrogen levels at a lower cost than the competition. Palladium particles react immediately to the presence of hydrogen gas, making the sensor more sensitive when reading levels of hydrogen within any given environment. Other sensors utilize electricity to monitor hydrogen, but an electrical short could prove to be a fire hazard when working with the flammable element. This new technology eliminates that threat and can be used to monitor industrial building activities, rechargeable battery manufacturing and many other hydrogen-sensitive operations. This work was sponsored by DOE's Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Program and conducted in part at the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, which is sponsored at ORNL by the DOE Office of Basic Energy Sciences.
Self-assembled, Ferromagnetic-Insulator Nanocomposites for Ultrahigh-Density Data Storage, developed and submitted by Amit Goyal, Junsoo Shin, Claudia Cantoni and James Thompson of ORNL's Materials Science and Technology Division.
These awards, sometimes referred to as the "Academy Awards of Science," honor the 100 most outstanding advances in technology for the year and are chosen by an expert panel of independent judges and the editors of R&D Magazine.
"I want to congratulate this year's R&D 100 award winners," Energy Secretary Steven Chu said. "The Department of Energy's national laboratories and sites are at the forefront of innovation, and it is gratifying to see their work recognized once again. The cutting-edge research and development done in our national labs and facilities is helping to meet our energy challenges, strengthen our national security and enhance our economic competitiveness."
The seven awards bring the total number of R&D 100 awards won by ORNL researchers over the years to 164.
"Winning seven of these prestigious awards is a testimony to the talent and creativity of a remarkable staff," ORNL Director Thom Mason said. "Our researchers do a tremendous job of delivering our mission of scientific discovery and innovation."
ORNL researchers were recognized for the following technologies:
Multiresolution Adaptive Numerical Environment for Scientific Simulations, submitted and developed by ORNL with a team led by Robert Harrison and George Fann with Judith Hill, Diego Galindo and Jun Jia of the Computer Science and Mathematics Division and Rebecca Hartman-Baker of the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility. Harrison is also the director of the Joint Institute for Computational Sciences.
MADNESS is a free open-source general purpose user-friendly numerical framework and software for the development scientific simulations from laptops to massively parallel supercomputers. MADNESS utilizes the latest parallel computing and solution methodologies to solve many dimensional integral and differential equations accurately and precisely for real-world problems. MADNESS provides a new platform for scientists and engineers to easily create new applications with assurance in the exactness of their results. Funding for this project was provided by the DOE Office of Science, the National Science Foundation Office of Cyber Infrastructure and Division of Chemistry, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's Program in High-Productivity Computer Systems under subcontract from Argonne National Laboratory.
Mesoporous Carbon for Capacitive Deionization Electrodes for Desalination, developed and jointly submitted by ORNL's Sheng Dai and Richard Mayes of the Chemical Sciences Division, David DePaoli and Costas Tsouris of the Energy and Transportation Science Division, James Kiggans Jr. of the Materials Science and Technology Division, Craig Blue, director of the Energy Materials Program, Charles Schaich of the Measurment Science and Systems Engineering Division, former post doctoral researcher Xiquing Wang and Frederic W. Seamon III of Campbell Applied Physics.
This novel technology makes it possible to desalinate large quantities of water more effectively than conventional technologies. Instead of using thermal or membrane separation—which can be costly and consume high amounts of energy—this desalinization tool can absorb salt ions by running brackish water through mesoporous carbon, inexpensively making the water fit for human consumption. This technology could make it possible for large numbers of the world's population to create safe drinking water at a relatively low cost. The DOE's Office of Science and Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy provided funding for this research.
Nano-Optomechanical Hydrogen Safety Sensor Based on Nanostructured Palladium Layers, jointly submitted and developed by Nickolay Lavrik of the ORNL Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Panos Datskos, Scott Hunter and Barton Smith of the ORNL Measurement Science and Systems Engineering Division, and the University of Tennessee's Michael Sepaniak and James Patton.
This technology utilizes nano-sized palladium particles to more efficiently detect hydrogen levels at a lower cost than the competition. Palladium particles react immediately to the presence of hydrogen gas, making the sensor more sensitive when reading levels of hydrogen within any given environment. Other sensors utilize electricity to monitor hydrogen, but an electrical short could prove to be a fire hazard when working with the flammable element. This new technology eliminates that threat and can be used to monitor industrial building activities, rechargeable battery manufacturing and many other hydrogen-sensitive operations. This work was sponsored by DOE's Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Program and conducted in part at the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, which is sponsored at ORNL by the DOE Office of Basic Energy Sciences.
Self-assembled, Ferromagnetic-Insulator Nanocomposites for Ultrahigh-Density Data Storage, developed and submitted by Amit Goyal, Junsoo Shin, Claudia Cantoni and James Thompson of ORNL's Materials Science and Technology Division.
How does rubber act as an electrical insulator?
Many of the usual materials we use are electronic conductors, meaning that the electrical charge carriers, when they conduct, are electrons.
The electrical conductivity of these materials is due to the guided movement of free electrons in their matrix in the influence of an applied electrical potential.
The electrical behavior of many materials as to why some are good conductors, some are semiconductors and some others insulators, is now well explained on the basis of ‘Band Theory'.
It states that substances, in which molecules have only strong covalent (sigma) bonds or molecules with non-overlapping weak (pi) bonds, would have most of their electrons in the so-called, ‘valence band' of lower energy, leaving no electrons for the next higher energy band, ‘ conduction band', and that such materials would serve as electrical insulators.
Rubbers, plastics, glasses, dry wood, oils, etc are insulators on this count.
Rubber has additional advantage of mechanical flexibility and can be drawn into shapes, such as gloves, bags, and other required forms of electrical insulators.
Natural and the routine synthetic rubbers are, essentially polymers of a raw material, isoprene, which is chemically 2-methyl-1,3-butadiene, (with a structure of CH{-2}=(CH{-3})CH-CH=CH{-2}. Presence of single and double-bonds, alternatively in a molecule, like in isoprene, is called, ‘conjugation'.
Conjugated molecules possessing pi bonds at their 1,3,5,...positions or at 2,4,6,...positions exhibit resonance, in which Zwitters (entities with both plus and minus charges coexisting at two locations) form by overlapping of pi bonds.
Thus, isoprene which has overlapping (alternating) pi bonds and would be a good conductor if condensed, as such. However, when made into rubber, half of the pi bonds of isoprene molecules are tailored into intermolecular (polymeric) strong sigma bonds to knit into a mechanically flexible but electrically rigid chains.
Thus, in rubber, the pi bonds are not at alternative positions as 1,3,5,...or as 2,4,6,....but as 2,6,10,....or as 1,5,9.... This kind of conversion of otherwise overlapping pi bonds into sigma bonds and non-overlapping pi bonds, causes a huge energy gap between the valence band and the conduction band and thereby resulting in the filling up of all the bonding electrons in the valence band alone with no free electrons available in the conduction band.
When (ordinary) electrical potentials are applied at the opposite ends of such rubber, the electrons of the valence band are hardly elevated into the conduction band and hence no flow of electrical charge is possible across the rubber matrix. That is how rubber acts as an electrical insulator.
The electrical conductivity of these materials is due to the guided movement of free electrons in their matrix in the influence of an applied electrical potential.
The electrical behavior of many materials as to why some are good conductors, some are semiconductors and some others insulators, is now well explained on the basis of ‘Band Theory'.
It states that substances, in which molecules have only strong covalent (sigma) bonds or molecules with non-overlapping weak (pi) bonds, would have most of their electrons in the so-called, ‘valence band' of lower energy, leaving no electrons for the next higher energy band, ‘ conduction band', and that such materials would serve as electrical insulators.
Rubbers, plastics, glasses, dry wood, oils, etc are insulators on this count.
Rubber has additional advantage of mechanical flexibility and can be drawn into shapes, such as gloves, bags, and other required forms of electrical insulators.
Natural and the routine synthetic rubbers are, essentially polymers of a raw material, isoprene, which is chemically 2-methyl-1,3-butadiene, (with a structure of CH{-2}=(CH{-3})CH-CH=CH{-2}. Presence of single and double-bonds, alternatively in a molecule, like in isoprene, is called, ‘conjugation'.
Conjugated molecules possessing pi bonds at their 1,3,5,...positions or at 2,4,6,...positions exhibit resonance, in which Zwitters (entities with both plus and minus charges coexisting at two locations) form by overlapping of pi bonds.
Thus, isoprene which has overlapping (alternating) pi bonds and would be a good conductor if condensed, as such. However, when made into rubber, half of the pi bonds of isoprene molecules are tailored into intermolecular (polymeric) strong sigma bonds to knit into a mechanically flexible but electrically rigid chains.
Thus, in rubber, the pi bonds are not at alternative positions as 1,3,5,...or as 2,4,6,....but as 2,6,10,....or as 1,5,9.... This kind of conversion of otherwise overlapping pi bonds into sigma bonds and non-overlapping pi bonds, causes a huge energy gap between the valence band and the conduction band and thereby resulting in the filling up of all the bonding electrons in the valence band alone with no free electrons available in the conduction band.
When (ordinary) electrical potentials are applied at the opposite ends of such rubber, the electrons of the valence band are hardly elevated into the conduction band and hence no flow of electrical charge is possible across the rubber matrix. That is how rubber acts as an electrical insulator.
2011年6月20日星期一
Cold, hard cash
During 19th-century Lancaster County winters, farmers could sometimes be found plowing the Susquehanna River.
That's right. Plowing the river.
Ice was the dominant crop in January, when Lancaster County's fertile fields lay fallow and the farmers had idle time.
And, while New England boasted numerous lakes and ponds from which to draw its ice, Lancaster County's primary source was the Susquehanna — a major producer, so much so that it helped Pennsylvania rank third in the nation for ice production, behind Maine and New York.
Local historian Lynne Smoker will offer a free presentation on Lancaster County's ice farming tradition at 8 p.m. Tuesday at Elizabethtown Historical Society, 57 S. Poplar St.
Ice, Smoker said, was big business in the 1800s, and in Lancaster County "it was mostly farmers who did it. It was their off-season, and it gave them some work when things were slow."
It was a cold, laborious job, Smoker said, and a fair share of men and their specially cleated horses ended up in the chilly waters. Rescues, he said, were quick and simple for teams accustomed to working on the ice.
Mid-January was the prime time for ice harvesting, Smoker said. Harvesting season often lasted only two or three weeks.
Unlike Maine, Lancaster County didn't have the luxury of waiting for floes to thicken to 10 or 12 inches, he said. Here, the winter deep freeze was short and uncertain.
"When ice reached a thickness of about 6 inches, they started to harvest," he said. "It's like making hay while the sun shines, because you never know — in a week, it could be down to nothing."
Farmers would use surveying tools to lay out a square or a rectangle on the ice, he said. They removed snow from the surface with a horse-drawn wooden plow, then criss-crossed the ice field, making a checkerboard pattern with an ice scorer.
"Then they'd plow over those lines, back and forth, back and forth, until they were down to within 2 or 3 inches of the bottom," Smoker said. "They'd use an ice saw to finish the job."
Some farmers cut small blocks, while others cut large sheets to be chopped down later. Either way, he said, they'd float the ice down the river, guiding the mini-bergs with special pikes to an icehouse for storage.
"There were a lot of icehouses at the time," Smoker said. "In Columbia alone, there were at least three. They dotted the river shores. ... Most of your communities up and down the river had an icehouse."
Icehouses preserved ice by packing blocks in sawdust, a natural insulator, he said. Well-insulated ice could last through the next November.
In good years, the ice would be exported south — or even overseas. In the 19th century, Smoker said, ice was the nation's second-biggest export, behind cotton.
"But some seasons were very grim," he said. "Sometimes, the ice didn't come at all. Other years, there was 3 or 4 inches and that was it."
That meant residents had to rely on suppliers from upriver, he said — which doubled, or sometimes tripled, the cost.
Ice, Smoker said, wasn't used much in those days to keep one's iced tea properly chilled.
"It was for keeping meats cold, for transporting beverages like beer and milk. It was spread out in market houses to keep the produce fresh," he said. "It was mostly for food preservation."
River ice, Smoker said, is naturally cloudy, and it was anyone's guess what contaminants might have come downriver with the flow.
"People didn't even think about it," he said.
At least, not until technology advanced to the point that allowed for pristine artificial ice, he said. "Crystal-clear ice was a big selling point."
The industry collapsed in the 1920s, when artificially made ice was on the upswing and in-house refrigerators were finally affordable, Smoker said.
That's right. Plowing the river.
Ice was the dominant crop in January, when Lancaster County's fertile fields lay fallow and the farmers had idle time.
And, while New England boasted numerous lakes and ponds from which to draw its ice, Lancaster County's primary source was the Susquehanna — a major producer, so much so that it helped Pennsylvania rank third in the nation for ice production, behind Maine and New York.
Local historian Lynne Smoker will offer a free presentation on Lancaster County's ice farming tradition at 8 p.m. Tuesday at Elizabethtown Historical Society, 57 S. Poplar St.
Ice, Smoker said, was big business in the 1800s, and in Lancaster County "it was mostly farmers who did it. It was their off-season, and it gave them some work when things were slow."
It was a cold, laborious job, Smoker said, and a fair share of men and their specially cleated horses ended up in the chilly waters. Rescues, he said, were quick and simple for teams accustomed to working on the ice.
Mid-January was the prime time for ice harvesting, Smoker said. Harvesting season often lasted only two or three weeks.
Unlike Maine, Lancaster County didn't have the luxury of waiting for floes to thicken to 10 or 12 inches, he said. Here, the winter deep freeze was short and uncertain.
"When ice reached a thickness of about 6 inches, they started to harvest," he said. "It's like making hay while the sun shines, because you never know — in a week, it could be down to nothing."
Farmers would use surveying tools to lay out a square or a rectangle on the ice, he said. They removed snow from the surface with a horse-drawn wooden plow, then criss-crossed the ice field, making a checkerboard pattern with an ice scorer.
"Then they'd plow over those lines, back and forth, back and forth, until they were down to within 2 or 3 inches of the bottom," Smoker said. "They'd use an ice saw to finish the job."
Some farmers cut small blocks, while others cut large sheets to be chopped down later. Either way, he said, they'd float the ice down the river, guiding the mini-bergs with special pikes to an icehouse for storage.
"There were a lot of icehouses at the time," Smoker said. "In Columbia alone, there were at least three. They dotted the river shores. ... Most of your communities up and down the river had an icehouse."
Icehouses preserved ice by packing blocks in sawdust, a natural insulator, he said. Well-insulated ice could last through the next November.
In good years, the ice would be exported south — or even overseas. In the 19th century, Smoker said, ice was the nation's second-biggest export, behind cotton.
"But some seasons were very grim," he said. "Sometimes, the ice didn't come at all. Other years, there was 3 or 4 inches and that was it."
That meant residents had to rely on suppliers from upriver, he said — which doubled, or sometimes tripled, the cost.
Ice, Smoker said, wasn't used much in those days to keep one's iced tea properly chilled.
"It was for keeping meats cold, for transporting beverages like beer and milk. It was spread out in market houses to keep the produce fresh," he said. "It was mostly for food preservation."
River ice, Smoker said, is naturally cloudy, and it was anyone's guess what contaminants might have come downriver with the flow.
"People didn't even think about it," he said.
At least, not until technology advanced to the point that allowed for pristine artificial ice, he said. "Crystal-clear ice was a big selling point."
The industry collapsed in the 1920s, when artificially made ice was on the upswing and in-house refrigerators were finally affordable, Smoker said.
Drink drivers' list
Fifty-eight people appeared in the Palmerston North District Court last month on drink-driving charges.
The information was supplied by the police under the Official Information Act.
The breath alcohol limit for drivers aged 20 and over is 400 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath. For those under 20 the limit is 150. The blood alcohol limit is 80 milligrams per millilitre of blood for people 20 and over and 30 milligrams for those under 20.
William Olaf Anderson, 28, unknown occupation, Terrace End, Excess Breath Alcohol (EBA) 3rd or subsequent 640/400, indefinite disqualification (DQ), 4 months community detention (CD), 125 hours community work (CW), 12 months DQ, intensive supervision.
Jade Albert, 29, storeman, Feilding, EBA 532/400, 6 months DQ, $800 fine.
Ishara Bakmeedeniya, 19, student, Fitzherbert, EBA under 20 400/150, 5 months DQ, $375 fine.
Ben Rata-Viliama Barker, 18, unknown, EBA 595/400, 6 months DQ, $595 fine.
Christopher Reece Belton, 25, unknown, Terrace End, EBA 664/400, 6 months DQ, $480 fine.
Robert John Blair, 43, driver, Terrace End, Excess Blood Alcohol 130/80, 7 months DQ, $800 fine.
Gerard Bredenkamp, 62, fitter and turner, Ashhurst, EBA 462/400, 6 months DQ, $400 fine.
Nar Budathoki, 27, unknown, Hokowhitu, EBA 901/400, 8 months DQ, $700 fine.
Lila May Cresswell, 26, administrator, Kelvin Grove, EBA 810/400, 6 months DQ, 120 hours CW.
Joshua Roy Davis, 19, manager, Terrace End, EBA under 20 376/150, 4 months DQ, $400 fine.
Nicholas Edgarton, 25, storeman, Otaki Beach, EBA 642/400, 6 months DQ, 100 hours CW.
Semisi Fakava, 26, unknown, Awapuni, EBA 446/400, 6 months DQ, 6 weeks imprisonment.
Thomas William Field, 21, unknown, Bulls, Excess Blood Alcohol 174/80, 9 months DQ, $500 fine.
Robert James Frank, 40, engineer, Woodville, EBA 608/400, 12 months DQ, 80 hours CW, 9 months supervision.
Vivien Lee Free, 40, farmer, Opiki, EBA 891/400, 12 months DQ, $1000 fine.
Jared Robert Groom, 18, unknown, Hokowhitu, EBA under 20 400/150, 3 months DQ, $200 fine.
Rebekah Ariana Hadfield, 18, unknown, Upper Hutt, EBA under 20 299/150, 3 months DQ, $375 fine.
Johnathan Mark Harrison, 50, manager, Feilding, EBA 530/400, 6 months DQ, $400 fine.
Emma Elizabeth Helleur, 21, sales rep, Hokowhitu, EBA 465/400, 9 months DQ, 100 hours CW, 3 months CD, 9 months supervision.
Kelly Rochelle Hunter, 32, unknown, Kairanga, EBA 850/400, 8 months DQ, $620 fine.
Anthony William Johnston, 48, unknown, Kairanga, EBA 3rd or subsequent 923/400, 12 months DQ, 4 months CD, 250 hours CW, 6 months supervision.
The information was supplied by the police under the Official Information Act.
The breath alcohol limit for drivers aged 20 and over is 400 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath. For those under 20 the limit is 150. The blood alcohol limit is 80 milligrams per millilitre of blood for people 20 and over and 30 milligrams for those under 20.
William Olaf Anderson, 28, unknown occupation, Terrace End, Excess Breath Alcohol (EBA) 3rd or subsequent 640/400, indefinite disqualification (DQ), 4 months community detention (CD), 125 hours community work (CW), 12 months DQ, intensive supervision.
Jade Albert, 29, storeman, Feilding, EBA 532/400, 6 months DQ, $800 fine.
Ishara Bakmeedeniya, 19, student, Fitzherbert, EBA under 20 400/150, 5 months DQ, $375 fine.
Ben Rata-Viliama Barker, 18, unknown, EBA 595/400, 6 months DQ, $595 fine.
Christopher Reece Belton, 25, unknown, Terrace End, EBA 664/400, 6 months DQ, $480 fine.
Robert John Blair, 43, driver, Terrace End, Excess Blood Alcohol 130/80, 7 months DQ, $800 fine.
Gerard Bredenkamp, 62, fitter and turner, Ashhurst, EBA 462/400, 6 months DQ, $400 fine.
Nar Budathoki, 27, unknown, Hokowhitu, EBA 901/400, 8 months DQ, $700 fine.
Lila May Cresswell, 26, administrator, Kelvin Grove, EBA 810/400, 6 months DQ, 120 hours CW.
Joshua Roy Davis, 19, manager, Terrace End, EBA under 20 376/150, 4 months DQ, $400 fine.
Nicholas Edgarton, 25, storeman, Otaki Beach, EBA 642/400, 6 months DQ, 100 hours CW.
Semisi Fakava, 26, unknown, Awapuni, EBA 446/400, 6 months DQ, 6 weeks imprisonment.
Thomas William Field, 21, unknown, Bulls, Excess Blood Alcohol 174/80, 9 months DQ, $500 fine.
Robert James Frank, 40, engineer, Woodville, EBA 608/400, 12 months DQ, 80 hours CW, 9 months supervision.
Vivien Lee Free, 40, farmer, Opiki, EBA 891/400, 12 months DQ, $1000 fine.
Jared Robert Groom, 18, unknown, Hokowhitu, EBA under 20 400/150, 3 months DQ, $200 fine.
Rebekah Ariana Hadfield, 18, unknown, Upper Hutt, EBA under 20 299/150, 3 months DQ, $375 fine.
Johnathan Mark Harrison, 50, manager, Feilding, EBA 530/400, 6 months DQ, $400 fine.
Emma Elizabeth Helleur, 21, sales rep, Hokowhitu, EBA 465/400, 9 months DQ, 100 hours CW, 3 months CD, 9 months supervision.
Kelly Rochelle Hunter, 32, unknown, Kairanga, EBA 850/400, 8 months DQ, $620 fine.
Anthony William Johnston, 48, unknown, Kairanga, EBA 3rd or subsequent 923/400, 12 months DQ, 4 months CD, 250 hours CW, 6 months supervision.
2011年6月14日星期二
AMD Officially Launches A-Series Llano Accelerated Processing Units
Advanced Micro Devices on Tuesday finally formally introduced its code-named Llano A-series accelerated processing units (APUs) that feature the company's current-generation processor cores as well as desktop-class DirectX 11-compatible graphics processing unit (GPU). The new chips will enable never-before-seen multimedia experience on inexpensive solutions. Besides, the new APUs are AMD's first 32nm solutions.
“The AMD A-Series APU represents an inflection point for AMD and is perhaps the industry’s biggest architectural change since the invention of the microprocessor,” said Rick Bergman, senior vice president and general manager of AMD products group.
AMD A-series desktop APUs have either four K10.5+/Husky x86 cores (1.40GHz – 1.90GHz clock-speed for mobile chips) as well as Radeon HD 6000-class "BeaverCreek" (320 or 400 stream processors) graphics core or two x86 cores (at 1.9GHz – 2.10GHz for mobile chips) and "WinterPark" (160 stream processors) integrated graphics engine. The chips support dual-channel DDR3 memory controllers, up to 4MB of cache, select processors also feature AMD Turbo Core dynamic acceleration technology as well as a special multi-GPU graphics support.
Given the fact that Llano APUs sport code-named K10.5+ x86 CPU cores, it is unlikely that they will offer leading-edge performance in applications that rely on performance of microprocessors. Clearly, the A-series APUs are not about enthusiast-class of performance, but are tailored to offer maximum possible multimedia - gaming and video - experience at a moderate cost today. Once AMD's Fusion initiative, which is designed to popularize acceleration of consumer application using GPUs, AMD's A-series as well as previously introduced Ontario/Zambezi (Brazos) will get a speed bump in programs that take advantage of massively parallel graphics cores. Therefore, the new chips are somewhat future-proof. AMD claims that built-in Radeon HD 6000-series graphics cores with up to 400 stream processors provide up to 400GFLOPS peak performance for notebook, and up to 500GFLOPS for desktops. More than 50 applications now are accelerated by the family of AMD Fusion APUs, according to AMD.
The code-named Llano family of APUs will help AMD to maintain its share on the market of desktops or will even expand its share in the segment where performance of integrated graphics matters. But what AMD definitely hopes to do is to increase its share inside growing segment of laptop computers since thanks to high integration and new technologies to reduce power consumption the A-series should be more competitive than Intel's Core i-series "Sandy Bridge" when it comes to mainstream consumer notebooks. According to AMD, notebooks powered by the A-series APU will deliver up to 10.5 hours of battery life.
“The battery life of the AMD A-Series APU is a huge leap forward and will surprise many consumers and commercial customers. And the supercomputer-like performance will give people some revolutionary capabilities, like real-time image stabilization –taking out all the shakes and jitters in those hand-held videos on the fly, while you’re watching,” said Chris Cloran, vice president and general manager of client division at AMD.
“The AMD A-Series APU represents an inflection point for AMD and is perhaps the industry’s biggest architectural change since the invention of the microprocessor,” said Rick Bergman, senior vice president and general manager of AMD products group.
AMD A-series desktop APUs have either four K10.5+/Husky x86 cores (1.40GHz – 1.90GHz clock-speed for mobile chips) as well as Radeon HD 6000-class "BeaverCreek" (320 or 400 stream processors) graphics core or two x86 cores (at 1.9GHz – 2.10GHz for mobile chips) and "WinterPark" (160 stream processors) integrated graphics engine. The chips support dual-channel DDR3 memory controllers, up to 4MB of cache, select processors also feature AMD Turbo Core dynamic acceleration technology as well as a special multi-GPU graphics support.
Given the fact that Llano APUs sport code-named K10.5+ x86 CPU cores, it is unlikely that they will offer leading-edge performance in applications that rely on performance of microprocessors. Clearly, the A-series APUs are not about enthusiast-class of performance, but are tailored to offer maximum possible multimedia - gaming and video - experience at a moderate cost today. Once AMD's Fusion initiative, which is designed to popularize acceleration of consumer application using GPUs, AMD's A-series as well as previously introduced Ontario/Zambezi (Brazos) will get a speed bump in programs that take advantage of massively parallel graphics cores. Therefore, the new chips are somewhat future-proof. AMD claims that built-in Radeon HD 6000-series graphics cores with up to 400 stream processors provide up to 400GFLOPS peak performance for notebook, and up to 500GFLOPS for desktops. More than 50 applications now are accelerated by the family of AMD Fusion APUs, according to AMD.
The code-named Llano family of APUs will help AMD to maintain its share on the market of desktops or will even expand its share in the segment where performance of integrated graphics matters. But what AMD definitely hopes to do is to increase its share inside growing segment of laptop computers since thanks to high integration and new technologies to reduce power consumption the A-series should be more competitive than Intel's Core i-series "Sandy Bridge" when it comes to mainstream consumer notebooks. According to AMD, notebooks powered by the A-series APU will deliver up to 10.5 hours of battery life.
“The battery life of the AMD A-Series APU is a huge leap forward and will surprise many consumers and commercial customers. And the supercomputer-like performance will give people some revolutionary capabilities, like real-time image stabilization –taking out all the shakes and jitters in those hand-held videos on the fly, while you’re watching,” said Chris Cloran, vice president and general manager of client division at AMD.
ITT's New APD 4-Way High Voltage Series Connector Conducts Ten-Times More VDC Than Standard APD Interconnects
Robust IP67/IP69k-rated connector suits automotive & industrial applications, including electric vehicles...
ITT's new APD 4-way High Voltage Series connector conducts ten-times more VDC than standard APD interconnects
SANTA ANA, CA - ITT Interconnect Solutions, a leading global manufacturer and supplier of connectors, interconnects, and cable assemblies, has developed a high voltage connector series, which can conduct ten times more VDC (Vehicle Dynamic Control) than standard APD interconnects in the same form factor. The new APD High Voltage Series connector can handle operating voltages of up to 500VDC and operating current of up to 34A. The cost effective and highly reliable APD 4-way High Voltage Series connector suits automotive applications such as power distribution boxes, controls and junction boxes as well as electric and hybrid vehicles.
Smaller and lighter than other similar interconnects currently on the market, ITT's APD 4-way High Voltage Series has identical dimensions and layout compared to a standard APD 4-way connector.
The increased performance and high-voltage throughput is achieved with no weight or size increase to the end product. The increased voltage capacity is accomplished by adjusting the design of the insulator body and by improving the air and creepage distance. Impulse voltage is rated at 3.5kV and operating current up to 34A for wire size 4.0mm2. The APD 4-way High Voltage Series connector is bayonet mated and rated to IP67, increasing to IP69k when using individual wire sealing. Other product features include 3.5kV rated impulse voltage. ITT's APD 4-way High Voltage Series is fully VDE certified.
ITT's new APD 4-way High Voltage Series connector conducts ten-times more VDC than standard APD interconnects
SANTA ANA, CA - ITT Interconnect Solutions, a leading global manufacturer and supplier of connectors, interconnects, and cable assemblies, has developed a high voltage connector series, which can conduct ten times more VDC (Vehicle Dynamic Control) than standard APD interconnects in the same form factor. The new APD High Voltage Series connector can handle operating voltages of up to 500VDC and operating current of up to 34A. The cost effective and highly reliable APD 4-way High Voltage Series connector suits automotive applications such as power distribution boxes, controls and junction boxes as well as electric and hybrid vehicles.
Smaller and lighter than other similar interconnects currently on the market, ITT's APD 4-way High Voltage Series has identical dimensions and layout compared to a standard APD 4-way connector.
The increased performance and high-voltage throughput is achieved with no weight or size increase to the end product. The increased voltage capacity is accomplished by adjusting the design of the insulator body and by improving the air and creepage distance. Impulse voltage is rated at 3.5kV and operating current up to 34A for wire size 4.0mm2. The APD 4-way High Voltage Series connector is bayonet mated and rated to IP67, increasing to IP69k when using individual wire sealing. Other product features include 3.5kV rated impulse voltage. ITT's APD 4-way High Voltage Series is fully VDE certified.
2011年6月12日星期日
IBM confirms processor technology in 'Watson' will power Wii U
IBM has confirmed this week that it will be providing the microprocessors for the upcoming Nintendo Wii U console, and that the technology will be the same used in the "Watson" supercomputer.
Earlier this year, "Watson" defeated the top earners of all-time on Jeopardy (Ken Jennings and Bruce Rutter), handily.
Watson is able to calculate thousands of algorithms at the same time, while searching its massive database for the right answer. The behemoth computer runs on ninety 32-core IBM Power 750 Express servers and has 16TB of memory and was over 20 feet high.
Notes IBM:
The all-new, Power-based microprocessor will pack some of IBM's most advanced technology into an energy-saving silicon package that will power Nintendo's brand new entertainment experience for consumers worldwide. IBM's unique embedded DRAM, for example, is capable of feeding the multi-core processor large chunks of data to make for a smooth entertainment experience.
IBM plans to produce millions of chips for Nintendo featuring IBM Silicon on Insulator (SOI) technology at 45 nanometers (45 billionths of a meter). The custom-designed chips will be made at IBM's state-of-the-art 300mm semiconductor development and manufacturing facility in East Fishkill, N.Y.
Nintendo and IBM have a relationship that started over a decade ago with the GameCube console and has continued since.
Earlier this year, "Watson" defeated the top earners of all-time on Jeopardy (Ken Jennings and Bruce Rutter), handily.
Watson is able to calculate thousands of algorithms at the same time, while searching its massive database for the right answer. The behemoth computer runs on ninety 32-core IBM Power 750 Express servers and has 16TB of memory and was over 20 feet high.
Notes IBM:
The all-new, Power-based microprocessor will pack some of IBM's most advanced technology into an energy-saving silicon package that will power Nintendo's brand new entertainment experience for consumers worldwide. IBM's unique embedded DRAM, for example, is capable of feeding the multi-core processor large chunks of data to make for a smooth entertainment experience.
IBM plans to produce millions of chips for Nintendo featuring IBM Silicon on Insulator (SOI) technology at 45 nanometers (45 billionths of a meter). The custom-designed chips will be made at IBM's state-of-the-art 300mm semiconductor development and manufacturing facility in East Fishkill, N.Y.
Nintendo and IBM have a relationship that started over a decade ago with the GameCube console and has continued since.
Govt swings into action in flamingos death case
BHAVNAGAR: The officials who had ignored complaints by nature lovers about hundreds of flamingos being electrocuted daily as they flew into high tension wires swung into action after TOI reported the incident.
Officials of Gujarat Energy Transmission Corporation Limited (GETCO) visited the 300-hectare marsh on the outskirts of Bhavnagar on Sunday and camped there throughout the day. ''We have visited the site and carried out video recordings of the incident to ascertain the cause of
the birds' death. We are also getting a post-mortem done to ascertain whether they died of electrocution or some other cause,'' said
N P Maheshwari, superintending engineer, Amreli circle, GETCO.
''It seems that there may be reasons other than electrocution as our sub-stations have not reported as to when the birds hit the wires,'' Maheshwari said. However, members of the Dharmakumarsinhji Nature Conservation Society, which had reported the incident, said the bodies of the flamingoes were found mostly below the wires. They also said the flamingos could be seen falling after hitting the wires.
''If the wires are the reason behind the deaths of the birds, we will find a solution immediately,'' Maheswari said.
The solutions involve coating the wires with an insulator, diverting the line or taking it underground.
According to locals, the situation is made worse by stray dogs who attack these birds, causing the flock to take off in panic and hit the 66KV high tension cables.
''To minimise the casualty, the forest department should at least catch the stray dogs,'' said Harshil Shah, a member of Black Buck Nature Club, Bhavnagar. ''We tried to carry out
a rescue operation but
are unable to save their lives as they are injured badly,'' he said.
Officials of Gujarat Energy Transmission Corporation Limited (GETCO) visited the 300-hectare marsh on the outskirts of Bhavnagar on Sunday and camped there throughout the day. ''We have visited the site and carried out video recordings of the incident to ascertain the cause of
the birds' death. We are also getting a post-mortem done to ascertain whether they died of electrocution or some other cause,'' said
N P Maheshwari, superintending engineer, Amreli circle, GETCO.
''It seems that there may be reasons other than electrocution as our sub-stations have not reported as to when the birds hit the wires,'' Maheshwari said. However, members of the Dharmakumarsinhji Nature Conservation Society, which had reported the incident, said the bodies of the flamingoes were found mostly below the wires. They also said the flamingos could be seen falling after hitting the wires.
''If the wires are the reason behind the deaths of the birds, we will find a solution immediately,'' Maheswari said.
The solutions involve coating the wires with an insulator, diverting the line or taking it underground.
According to locals, the situation is made worse by stray dogs who attack these birds, causing the flock to take off in panic and hit the 66KV high tension cables.
''To minimise the casualty, the forest department should at least catch the stray dogs,'' said Harshil Shah, a member of Black Buck Nature Club, Bhavnagar. ''We tried to carry out
a rescue operation but
are unable to save their lives as they are injured badly,'' he said.
2011年6月8日星期三
California moves to close lid on polystyrene containers
The Californian Senate has passed a landmark bill that could see the use of polystyrene packaging banned across the entire state.
The legislation builds on tens of district ordinances already prohibiting the use of the material, and could affect a wide range of different packaging techniques.
Bill SB 568, sponsored by Long Beach Democratic Senator Allen Lowenthal, calls for a ban on food vendors' use of polystyrene by 1 January 2014, and a ban on school districts using the material a year later.
Polystyrene does not biodegrade for hundreds of years, making it a flagship environmental issue for many conservation groups. The material can also float on water and has been widely blamed for harming marine wildlife.
However, polystyrene is recyclable and the bill makes a provision for school districts to continue to use the material where they have access to suitable recycling facilities.
A number of senators spoke out against the ban. District 14 Senator Tom Berryhill argued that the legislation would cost jobs, while restaurant owners maintained that polystyrene is an inexpensive insulator for food.
However, supporters of the bill insist that manufacturers of polystyrene could easily retool their factories to produce biodegradable alternatives.
In addition to being banned in tens of Californian municipalities, polystyrene has also been prohibited in Portland, Seattle and San Francisco.
The bill was passed 21-15 by senators this week, but still has to get through the Assembly before becoming law.
The legislation builds on tens of district ordinances already prohibiting the use of the material, and could affect a wide range of different packaging techniques.
Bill SB 568, sponsored by Long Beach Democratic Senator Allen Lowenthal, calls for a ban on food vendors' use of polystyrene by 1 January 2014, and a ban on school districts using the material a year later.
Polystyrene does not biodegrade for hundreds of years, making it a flagship environmental issue for many conservation groups. The material can also float on water and has been widely blamed for harming marine wildlife.
However, polystyrene is recyclable and the bill makes a provision for school districts to continue to use the material where they have access to suitable recycling facilities.
A number of senators spoke out against the ban. District 14 Senator Tom Berryhill argued that the legislation would cost jobs, while restaurant owners maintained that polystyrene is an inexpensive insulator for food.
However, supporters of the bill insist that manufacturers of polystyrene could easily retool their factories to produce biodegradable alternatives.
In addition to being banned in tens of Californian municipalities, polystyrene has also been prohibited in Portland, Seattle and San Francisco.
The bill was passed 21-15 by senators this week, but still has to get through the Assembly before becoming law.
Wii U Will Have AMD Radeon HD, IBM Power Microprocessors, And 25 GB Discs
Along with its 6.2" touchscreen controller, the Wii U will feature a custom HD graphics processor from AMD, Power-based microprocessors from IBM, and 25 GB game discs.
Wii U's discs, which are a proprietary format and not Blu-Ray as was rumored prior to yesterday's system reveal, is significantly larger than the original Wii's 4.7/8.54 GB discs, according to Nintendo designer Katsuya Eguchi in an interview with Kotaku.
IBM says its will produce millions of its microprocessors for Wii U. The custom-designed chips feature its IBM Silicon on Insulator technology at 45 nanometer and are based on the company's open, scalable Power Architecture base.
The firm claims the microprocessors pack "[its] most advanced technology into an energy-saving silicon package," and include embedded DRAM "capable of feeding the multi-core processor large chunks of data to make for a smooth entertainment experience."
Nintendo also partnered with AMD to use the company's custom AMD Radeon HD GPU in Wii U, bringing high definition graphics to a Nintendo console for the first time -- something gamers have been clamoring for from the platform holder for some time.
AMD says the GPU reflects the best characteristics of its graphics technology solutions, offering "high-definition graphics support; rich multimedia acceleration and playback; and multiple display support".
"AMD shares Nintendo’s excitement for the new HD entertainment experience planned for the Wii U console,” says AMD's Silicon Enginerring corporate vice president David Wang.
"He adds, We’re proud to provide our leading-edge HD multimedia graphics engine to power the new entertainment features of the console. Nintendo is a highly-valued customer and we look forward to the launch in 2012."
Wii U's discs, which are a proprietary format and not Blu-Ray as was rumored prior to yesterday's system reveal, is significantly larger than the original Wii's 4.7/8.54 GB discs, according to Nintendo designer Katsuya Eguchi in an interview with Kotaku.
IBM says its will produce millions of its microprocessors for Wii U. The custom-designed chips feature its IBM Silicon on Insulator technology at 45 nanometer and are based on the company's open, scalable Power Architecture base.
The firm claims the microprocessors pack "[its] most advanced technology into an energy-saving silicon package," and include embedded DRAM "capable of feeding the multi-core processor large chunks of data to make for a smooth entertainment experience."
Nintendo also partnered with AMD to use the company's custom AMD Radeon HD GPU in Wii U, bringing high definition graphics to a Nintendo console for the first time -- something gamers have been clamoring for from the platform holder for some time.
AMD says the GPU reflects the best characteristics of its graphics technology solutions, offering "high-definition graphics support; rich multimedia acceleration and playback; and multiple display support".
"AMD shares Nintendo’s excitement for the new HD entertainment experience planned for the Wii U console,” says AMD's Silicon Enginerring corporate vice president David Wang.
"He adds, We’re proud to provide our leading-edge HD multimedia graphics engine to power the new entertainment features of the console. Nintendo is a highly-valued customer and we look forward to the launch in 2012."
2011年6月6日星期一
Couple exchanges vows among sandbags, flood waters
While many families in western Iowa are busy trying to protect their homes from rising flood waters one couple refused to let anything, even a natural disaster, get in the way of their wedding day.
Cacie and Travis Krampers started planning their big day months ago. The ongoing flooding was not part of the plan.
They took a light-hearted approach to the piles and piles of sandbags outside of the Hilton Garden Inn where the ceremony was held and went ahead with their exchange vows.
This is perhaps a good place to note that on a lattice the distinction between having a net magnetic field and not having it at all is not as sharp as it may seem. Essentially, it is always possible to stick a full flux quantum through some subset of loops on the lattice to shift the average magnetic field without affecting the actual physics. From this perspective, the physics in these flat-band models has a family resemblance to earlier studies of lattice versions of the FQHE [7, 8] with uniform magnetic fields. In this earlier work, the authors studied a fixed filling factor while varying the flux per plaquette from small values and large unit cells, where the standard Landau level description holds, to somewhat larger flux values and smaller unit cells, where that description broke down. As they were able to change this parameter without any evidence of encountering a phase transition, the latter limit constituted an observation of the FQHE in the presence of strong lattice effects. Needless to say, a more analytic approach can be expected to clarify this possible equivalence between this earlier “Hofstadter” and the current “Haldane” versions of the FQHE.
The present work also leaves open several other interesting questions: Can analytic expressions for the wave functions for the ground states and elementary excitations of the FQHE in the lattice models be found, and can they be related to those for the continuum FQHE? Can these FQHE states be realized in materials via this route at high temperatures, as speculated by Tang et al. [1]? Further afield, while an experimental example of a Chern insulator (an insulator with filled bands with a nonzero net Chern number, such as the Haldane model) has yet to be found, at least one example of the related two-dimensional topological insulators with time-reversal symmetry has been found. The band structures in such topological insulators also have nontrivial topology and can even be understood in terms of Chern numbers in certain cases. This raises the possibility that a time-reversal-symmetric version of the FQHE may arise in such models when interactions are added, and may be more readily observable. More ambitiously, it invites the conjecture that three-dimensional “strong” topological insulators, whose band topology is now qualitatively different from that denoted by the Chern numbers that are the focus of attention in this current work, might also give rise to fractional analogs by the same mechanism of including interactions in flattened bands with nontrivial topology.
Cacie and Travis Krampers started planning their big day months ago. The ongoing flooding was not part of the plan.
They took a light-hearted approach to the piles and piles of sandbags outside of the Hilton Garden Inn where the ceremony was held and went ahead with their exchange vows.
This is perhaps a good place to note that on a lattice the distinction between having a net magnetic field and not having it at all is not as sharp as it may seem. Essentially, it is always possible to stick a full flux quantum through some subset of loops on the lattice to shift the average magnetic field without affecting the actual physics. From this perspective, the physics in these flat-band models has a family resemblance to earlier studies of lattice versions of the FQHE [7, 8] with uniform magnetic fields. In this earlier work, the authors studied a fixed filling factor while varying the flux per plaquette from small values and large unit cells, where the standard Landau level description holds, to somewhat larger flux values and smaller unit cells, where that description broke down. As they were able to change this parameter without any evidence of encountering a phase transition, the latter limit constituted an observation of the FQHE in the presence of strong lattice effects. Needless to say, a more analytic approach can be expected to clarify this possible equivalence between this earlier “Hofstadter” and the current “Haldane” versions of the FQHE.
The present work also leaves open several other interesting questions: Can analytic expressions for the wave functions for the ground states and elementary excitations of the FQHE in the lattice models be found, and can they be related to those for the continuum FQHE? Can these FQHE states be realized in materials via this route at high temperatures, as speculated by Tang et al. [1]? Further afield, while an experimental example of a Chern insulator (an insulator with filled bands with a nonzero net Chern number, such as the Haldane model) has yet to be found, at least one example of the related two-dimensional topological insulators with time-reversal symmetry has been found. The band structures in such topological insulators also have nontrivial topology and can even be understood in terms of Chern numbers in certain cases. This raises the possibility that a time-reversal-symmetric version of the FQHE may arise in such models when interactions are added, and may be more readily observable. More ambitiously, it invites the conjecture that three-dimensional “strong” topological insulators, whose band topology is now qualitatively different from that denoted by the Chern numbers that are the focus of attention in this current work, might also give rise to fractional analogs by the same mechanism of including interactions in flattened bands with nontrivial topology.
A colored Hofstadter butterfly
A colored Hofstadter butterfly: This figure represents the phase diagram of Bloch electrons in a uniform magnetic field. The horizontal axis indicates the chemical potential and the vertical axis the flux through the system. Each color corresponds to a distinct topological phase with a particular quantized value of the Hall conductance.Credit: Yosi Avron
Figure 1: A colored Hofstadter butterfly: This figure represents the phase diagram of Bloch electrons in a uniform magnetic field. The horizontal axis indicates the chemical potential and the vertical axis the flux through the system. Each color corresponds to a distinct topological phase with a particular quantized value of the Hall conductance.
The quantum Hall effect (QHE) is the remarkable observation of quantized transport in two dimensional electron gases placed in a transverse magnetic field: the longitudinal resistance vanishes while the Hall resistance is quantized to a rational multiple of h/e2. The theory of the QHE is built largely around the special properties of single-particle free-electron states in a magnetic field—the celebrated Landau levels. This is particularly true of the F(ractional)QHE, where the construction of model wave functions with built-in analyticity forced by a restriction to the lowest Landau level has played an extremely important role in the theoretical development. Now, in three papers published back-to-back in Physical Review Letters [1, 2, 3], three research groups develop lattice models lacking this Landau level structure whose realizations could, in principle, exhibit a FQHE in the absence of an external magnetic field.
While the simplicity of the setting in which the QHE was first discovered was extremely helpful in unraveling its explanation, condensed matter physicists have periodically returned to the challenge of generalizing the reach of the phenomenon itself. There are two specific questions that have focused their attention. First, in the standard electron gases exhibiting the QHE, the surrounding solid has a fairly modest effect on their properties, which can be captured by a change in the (effective) mass of the electrons away from its value in free space. Does the QHE survive when the solid affects electronic motion more seriously and one needs to take the formation of energy bands into account? Second, a uniform magnetic field does two things: it breaks time reversal symmetry, but it also affects electron dynamics at long wavelengths in a specific fashion, as captured in the formation of Landau levels. Are both essential for the QHE?
The answer to both questions is known for the I(nteger)QHE, which is mostly a single-particle phenomenon. In a landmark paper in 1982, Thouless, Kohmoto, Nightingale, and den Nijs [4] analyzed the uniform-field Hall effect in a strong periodic potential that was known to lead to an intricate spectrum, the so-called Hofstadter butterfly (see Fig. 1); they showed that it gives rise to an integer QHE under certain conditions, i.e., whenever the chemical potential lies in a gap. Indeed, the Hall conductance was shown to map to a topological invariant associated with filled bands—the (first) Chern number. Six years later, in another striking development, Haldane [5] answered the second question, showing by an explicit construction of a tight-binding model on a honeycomb lattice that a quantized Hall conductance can arise from a fully filled band even in the absence of a net magnetic field. In his model, time-reversal symmetry is broken by a spatially inhomogeneous magnetic field with zero average, and the Hall conductance again equals the Chern number of the band.
The three recent papers [1, 2, 3] take up this development and address the next logical question: Can the FQHE, canonically a property of interacting electrons in a fractionally filled Landau level, also be separated from the weak lattice and uniform magnetic field limit? More precisely, they ask the following: If it is true for independent electrons that a filled Chern band is equivalent to a filled Landau level, then is it also true for interacting electrons that a fractionally filled Chern band is equivalent to a fractionally filled Landau level?
A Landau level involves a set of exactly degenerate single-particle states and thus, at a fractional filling, the kinetic energy alone does not select a ground state, but instead, it falls to the interactions to force the issue. By contrast, a Chern band typically will have a significant dispersion that will select a unique kinetic-energy-dominated ground state at reasonable interaction strengths, as it does in all metals. Recognizing this, all three papers devote considerable effort to constructing lattice models with nearly flat (degenerate) Chern bands. Neupert et al. [2] construct a flattened version of Haldane’s model on a square lattice. They note that while a fully flattened model requires the inclusion of electron hopping over arbitrarily large distances, the hopping amplitudes decrease exponentially, which allows a relatively flat band to be constructed by keeping a small set of hopping amplitudes. The relevant flatness parameter, which should be large for the effects of interactions to be important, is the ratio of the band gap (which sets a bound on the strength of the interactions one can safely include) to the bandwidth and they show how to get this number up to seven with just second-neighbor interactions. Similarly, Tang et al. [1], and Sun et al. [3] construct models on the kagome and checker-board lattices, which also exhibit large values of the flatness parameter.
With a flat Chern band in hand, Neupert et al. introduce interactions and study the system at a fractional filling of 1/3 through numerical computation on a modestly sized system. They find two of the classic signatures of the 1/3 FQHE state: a fractional quantum Hall conductance that was close to the filling fraction, and a nontrivial ground-state degeneracy with periodic boundary conditions. As a test, they vary the band structure continuously to a topologically trivial band and find that these features go away. In a related piece of unpublished work, another group finds similar results at fillings of 1/3 and 1/5 [6]. Altogether, this work offers strong evidence that fractionally filled Chern bands do indeed exhibit the FQHE.
Figure 1: A colored Hofstadter butterfly: This figure represents the phase diagram of Bloch electrons in a uniform magnetic field. The horizontal axis indicates the chemical potential and the vertical axis the flux through the system. Each color corresponds to a distinct topological phase with a particular quantized value of the Hall conductance.
The quantum Hall effect (QHE) is the remarkable observation of quantized transport in two dimensional electron gases placed in a transverse magnetic field: the longitudinal resistance vanishes while the Hall resistance is quantized to a rational multiple of h/e2. The theory of the QHE is built largely around the special properties of single-particle free-electron states in a magnetic field—the celebrated Landau levels. This is particularly true of the F(ractional)QHE, where the construction of model wave functions with built-in analyticity forced by a restriction to the lowest Landau level has played an extremely important role in the theoretical development. Now, in three papers published back-to-back in Physical Review Letters [1, 2, 3], three research groups develop lattice models lacking this Landau level structure whose realizations could, in principle, exhibit a FQHE in the absence of an external magnetic field.
While the simplicity of the setting in which the QHE was first discovered was extremely helpful in unraveling its explanation, condensed matter physicists have periodically returned to the challenge of generalizing the reach of the phenomenon itself. There are two specific questions that have focused their attention. First, in the standard electron gases exhibiting the QHE, the surrounding solid has a fairly modest effect on their properties, which can be captured by a change in the (effective) mass of the electrons away from its value in free space. Does the QHE survive when the solid affects electronic motion more seriously and one needs to take the formation of energy bands into account? Second, a uniform magnetic field does two things: it breaks time reversal symmetry, but it also affects electron dynamics at long wavelengths in a specific fashion, as captured in the formation of Landau levels. Are both essential for the QHE?
The answer to both questions is known for the I(nteger)QHE, which is mostly a single-particle phenomenon. In a landmark paper in 1982, Thouless, Kohmoto, Nightingale, and den Nijs [4] analyzed the uniform-field Hall effect in a strong periodic potential that was known to lead to an intricate spectrum, the so-called Hofstadter butterfly (see Fig. 1); they showed that it gives rise to an integer QHE under certain conditions, i.e., whenever the chemical potential lies in a gap. Indeed, the Hall conductance was shown to map to a topological invariant associated with filled bands—the (first) Chern number. Six years later, in another striking development, Haldane [5] answered the second question, showing by an explicit construction of a tight-binding model on a honeycomb lattice that a quantized Hall conductance can arise from a fully filled band even in the absence of a net magnetic field. In his model, time-reversal symmetry is broken by a spatially inhomogeneous magnetic field with zero average, and the Hall conductance again equals the Chern number of the band.
The three recent papers [1, 2, 3] take up this development and address the next logical question: Can the FQHE, canonically a property of interacting electrons in a fractionally filled Landau level, also be separated from the weak lattice and uniform magnetic field limit? More precisely, they ask the following: If it is true for independent electrons that a filled Chern band is equivalent to a filled Landau level, then is it also true for interacting electrons that a fractionally filled Chern band is equivalent to a fractionally filled Landau level?
A Landau level involves a set of exactly degenerate single-particle states and thus, at a fractional filling, the kinetic energy alone does not select a ground state, but instead, it falls to the interactions to force the issue. By contrast, a Chern band typically will have a significant dispersion that will select a unique kinetic-energy-dominated ground state at reasonable interaction strengths, as it does in all metals. Recognizing this, all three papers devote considerable effort to constructing lattice models with nearly flat (degenerate) Chern bands. Neupert et al. [2] construct a flattened version of Haldane’s model on a square lattice. They note that while a fully flattened model requires the inclusion of electron hopping over arbitrarily large distances, the hopping amplitudes decrease exponentially, which allows a relatively flat band to be constructed by keeping a small set of hopping amplitudes. The relevant flatness parameter, which should be large for the effects of interactions to be important, is the ratio of the band gap (which sets a bound on the strength of the interactions one can safely include) to the bandwidth and they show how to get this number up to seven with just second-neighbor interactions. Similarly, Tang et al. [1], and Sun et al. [3] construct models on the kagome and checker-board lattices, which also exhibit large values of the flatness parameter.
With a flat Chern band in hand, Neupert et al. introduce interactions and study the system at a fractional filling of 1/3 through numerical computation on a modestly sized system. They find two of the classic signatures of the 1/3 FQHE state: a fractional quantum Hall conductance that was close to the filling fraction, and a nontrivial ground-state degeneracy with periodic boundary conditions. As a test, they vary the band structure continuously to a topologically trivial band and find that these features go away. In a related piece of unpublished work, another group finds similar results at fillings of 1/3 and 1/5 [6]. Altogether, this work offers strong evidence that fractionally filled Chern bands do indeed exhibit the FQHE.
2011年6月1日星期三
Power outage affects 3,000
A power outage on May 26 disrupted service to 3,000 BC Hydro customers for two hours.
BC Hydro representative Dave Mosure says a power-line insulator failed and caused a pole-top fire.
The pole was located on a private property on Horse Lake Road directly across from Perrey Road. The fire took out the entire power circuit from 2:13 to 4:16 p.m.
The areas impacted by the outages included all of those east of 100 Mile House from the Pinkney Complex along Horse Lake and Fawn Creek roads, as well as communities at Horse, Mahood, Deka, Lac des Roche, Hathaway, Eagan, Sharpe, Bridge, Sheridan, Hathaway, Crystal, Roe and Machete lakes, and points in between.
Equipment repairs were made, but the pole was also damaged and will need to be replaced.
BC Hydro representative Dave Mosure says a power-line insulator failed and caused a pole-top fire.
The pole was located on a private property on Horse Lake Road directly across from Perrey Road. The fire took out the entire power circuit from 2:13 to 4:16 p.m.
The areas impacted by the outages included all of those east of 100 Mile House from the Pinkney Complex along Horse Lake and Fawn Creek roads, as well as communities at Horse, Mahood, Deka, Lac des Roche, Hathaway, Eagan, Sharpe, Bridge, Sheridan, Hathaway, Crystal, Roe and Machete lakes, and points in between.
Equipment repairs were made, but the pole was also damaged and will need to be replaced.
Mason Stevens launches Aust equities structured product
Investment manager Mason Stevens in conjunction with UBS AG has launched a capital-protected managed fund offering investors geared exposure to the top 20 shares listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX).
The Equity Insulator Instalment allows individuals to use a gearing level of 110 per cent of the investment value of the shares in the portfolio via an instalment warrant structure.
The investment term is three years and the portfolio remains capital protected for the duration of this period.
"Structured products continue to play an important role in investor portfolios. The key is choosing products that are transparent and which offer fair terms," Mason Stevens managing director Thomas Bignill said.
"The Mason Stevens Equity Insulator Instalment delivers this. It provides access to 20 leading Australian shares at a fraction of the price of the underlying security. Investors can walk away at any time without further cash outlay. The underlying structure is liquid and visible and there are no margin calls or cash locks."
To avoid margin calls the customer pays for their protection premium and the first year of their interest expense upfront, allowing them to claim a tax deduction for the prepaid interest component.
As a result of the protection facility, investors will get to keep the capital gain from the shares in the portfolio that have increased in value above the loan amount and hand back the shares that have dropped below the loan value without realising the loss.
In addition, investors will get to enjoy the benefits of the dividends and franking credits generated by the 20 equities in the portfolio.
The instalment warrants also offer daily liquidity as they are listed on the ASX.
The Equity Insulator Instalment is open to investors until 29 June and can be accessed via most of the leading platforms or through Mason Stevens' administration service.
UBS AG is the issuer of the product, while Mason Stevens is the arranger.
The Equity Insulator Instalment allows individuals to use a gearing level of 110 per cent of the investment value of the shares in the portfolio via an instalment warrant structure.
The investment term is three years and the portfolio remains capital protected for the duration of this period.
"Structured products continue to play an important role in investor portfolios. The key is choosing products that are transparent and which offer fair terms," Mason Stevens managing director Thomas Bignill said.
"The Mason Stevens Equity Insulator Instalment delivers this. It provides access to 20 leading Australian shares at a fraction of the price of the underlying security. Investors can walk away at any time without further cash outlay. The underlying structure is liquid and visible and there are no margin calls or cash locks."
To avoid margin calls the customer pays for their protection premium and the first year of their interest expense upfront, allowing them to claim a tax deduction for the prepaid interest component.
As a result of the protection facility, investors will get to keep the capital gain from the shares in the portfolio that have increased in value above the loan amount and hand back the shares that have dropped below the loan value without realising the loss.
In addition, investors will get to enjoy the benefits of the dividends and franking credits generated by the 20 equities in the portfolio.
The instalment warrants also offer daily liquidity as they are listed on the ASX.
The Equity Insulator Instalment is open to investors until 29 June and can be accessed via most of the leading platforms or through Mason Stevens' administration service.
UBS AG is the issuer of the product, while Mason Stevens is the arranger.
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