Diffusive clustering in an infinite system of hierarchically interacting diffusions

Summary We study a countable system of interacting diffusions on the interval [0,1], indexed by a hierarchical group. A particular choice of the interaction guaranties, we are in the diffusive clustering regime. This means clusters of components with values either close to 0 or close to 1 grow on various different scales. However, single components oscillate infinitely often between values close to 0 and close to 1 in such a way that they spend fraction one of their time together and close to the boundary. The processes in the whole class considered and starting with a shift-ergodic initial law have the same qualitative properties (universality).     

Incomplete data problems in X-ray computerized tomography

Summary In the present paper we study truncated projections for the fanbeam geometry in computerized tomography. First we derive consistency conditions for the divergent beam transform. Then we study a singular value decomposition for the case where only the interior rays in the fan are provided, as for example in region-of-interest tomography. We show that the high angular frequency components of the searched-for densities are well determined and we present reconstructions from real data where the missing information is approximated based on the singular value decomposition.The work of the authors was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft under grant Lo 310/2-4     

Optimization of the synthesis of non-symmetrical alkyl dimethyl sulfonium halides

This work is aimed at the optimization of the yield and purity of non-symmetrical trialkyl sulfonium halide salts. The effects of parameters such as solvent, temperature and concentration were studied. The products were carefully analyzed and the crystal structure of [{n-CH₃(CH₂)₁₅}(CH₃)₂S]Br determined. The overall aim of the present study is future syntheses of low-dimensional magnetic materials.     

Crystal dissolution kinetics and Gibbs free energy

The dependence of dissolution rates on the difference of Gibbs free energy is of critical importance for our understanding of crystal dissolution, reactive flow models and their applications to a variety of environmentally related problems. Here, we review experimental data generated with mineral powders and single crystals to develop a better understanding of apparent inconsistencies between otherwise internally consistent data sets. Additional information from direct surface observations and measurements with vertical scanning interferometry (VSI) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) of albite dissolution at 25, 150 and 185 °C may shed new light on this old but unsolved question. Our discussion is based on the importance of etch pit development, its ΔG dependence, and the pits’ role as a source for steps and step movement in the dissolution process. Results indicate that reaction history may be of critical importance in determining the overall reaction mechanism and its rate. Different rates are observed for systems having otherwise identical ΔG_r acquired from increasing versus decreasing disequilibrium positions.

In this context, we finally discuss the validity of the common application of transition state theory (TST) to elementary and overall reactions governing the dissolution process. In this discussion of crystal dissolution, we contrast TST applications with a stochastic, many-body treatment that has led to the development of a stepwave model. This discussion also focuses on the controversy caused by the rivalry between surface adsorption models and a probabilistic model that seeks to incorporate the full three-dimensional crystal structure.     

Approximating schedules for dynamic process graphs efficiently

A model for parallel and distributed programs, the dynamic process graph (DPG), is investigated under graph-theoretic and complexity aspects. Such graphs embed constructors for parallel programs, synchronization mechanisms as well as conditional branches. They are capable of representing all possible executions of a parallel or distributed program in a very compact way. The size of this representation can be as small as logarithmic with respect to the size of any execution of the program.

In a preceding paper [A. Jakoby, et al., Scheduling dynamic graphs, in: Proc. 16th Symposium on Theoretical Aspects in Computer Science STACS'99, LNCS, vol. 1563, Springer, 1999, pp. 383–392] we have analysed the expressive power of the general model and various variants of it. We have considered the scheduling problem for DPGs given enough parallelism taking into account communication delays between processors when exchanging data. Given a DPG the question arises whether it can be executed (that means whether the corresponding parallel program has been specified correctly), and what is its minimum schedule length.

In this paper we study a subclass of dynamic process graphs called -output DPGs, which are appropriate in many situations, and investigate their expressive power. In a previous paper we have shown that the problem to determine the minimum schedule length is still intractable for this subclass, namely this problem is -complete as is the general case. Here we will investigate structural properties of the executions of such graphs. A natural graph-theoretic conjecture that executions must always split into components that are isomorphic to subgraphs turns out to be wrong. We are able to prove a weaker property. This implies a quadratic upper bound on the schedule length that may be necessary in the worst case, in contrast to the general case, where the optimal schedule length may be exponential with respect to the size of the representing DPG. Making this bound constructive, we obtain an approximation to a -complete problem. Computing such a schedule and then executing the program can be done on a parallel machine in polynomial time in a highly distributive fashion.     

Methodological reflections on a three-step-design combining observation,stimulated recall and interview

In this paper a tripartite qualitative design combining abservation, stimulated recall and interview is presented and discussed. This three-step-design makes it possible to get insight into the interaction of internal and external processes when solving mathematical tasks. The data analysis depends on the research question and the methodological approach. In the light of two research projects in mathematics education two different methods of data analysis are presented and methodologically reflected.     

catena‐Poly[tetra­kis(3‐phenyl­propyl­ammonium) [iodo­plumbate(II)‐tri‐μ‐iodo‐plumbate(II)‐tri‐μ‐iodo‐iodo­plumbate(II)‐di‐μ‐iodo]]

The title compound, {(C₉H₁₄N)₄[Pb₃I₁₀]}_n, crystallizes as an organic–inorganic hybrid. As such, the structure consists of a two‐dimensional inorganic layer of [Pb₃I₁₀]_n⁴ⁿ⁻ ions extending along [100]. The asymmetric unit contains two independent Pb atoms, viz. one in a general position and the other on an inversion centre. Each Pb atom is octa­hedrally coordinated by six iodide ions and exhibits both face‐ and corner‐sharing with adjacent atoms in the inorganic layer. These anionic layers alternate with 3‐phenyl­propyl­ammonium cations, which hydrogen bond to the iodides. Simple face‐to‐edge σ–π stacking inter­actions are observed between the aromatic rings that stabilize the overall three‐dimensional structure. This net structure has only been observed five times previously.     

Analytic continuation and identities involving heat,Poisson, wave and Bessel kernels

In this article we use classical formulas involving the K–Bessel function in two variables to express the Poisson kernel on a Riemannian manifold in terms of the heat kernel. We then use the small time asymptotics of the heat kernel on certain Riemannian manifolds to obtain a meromorphic continuation of the associated Poisson kernel to all values of complex time with identifiable singularities. This result reproves in a different setting by different means a well–known theorem due to Duistermaat and Guillemin [DG 75]. Also, we develop analytic expressions for the heat kernel beyond asymptotic expansions. (© 2003 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

A p-version finite element method for nonlinear elliptic variational inequalities in 2D

This article introduces and analyzes a p-version FEM for variational inequalities resulting from obstacle problems for some quasi-linear elliptic partial differential operators. We approximate the solution by controlling the obstacle condition in images of the Gauss–Lobatto points. We show existence and uniqueness for the discrete solution u _p from the p-version for the obstacle problem. We prove the convergence of u _p towards the solution with respect to the energy norm, and assuming some additional regularity for the solution we derive an a priori error estimate. In numerical experiments the p-version turns out to be superior to the h-version concerning the convergence rate and the number of unknowns needed to achieve a certain exactness of the approximation.