A splitting method for stochastic programs

This paper derives a new splitting-based decomposition algorithm for convex stochastic programs. It combines certain attractive features of the progressive hedging algorithm of Rockafellar and Wets, the dynamic splitting algorithm of Salinger and Rockafellar and an algorithm of Korf. We give two derivations of our algorithm. The first one is very simple, and the second one yields a preconditioner that resulted in a considerable speed-up in our numerical tests. The first author was supported by the Finnish Foundation for Economic Education under grants 20728 and 21599, and by Jenny ja Antti Wihuri Foundation.     

On Connected Transversals to Subgroups Whose Order is a Product of Two Primes

We consider finite groups which have connected transversals to subgroups whose order is a product of two primespandq. We investigate those values ofpandqfor which the group is soluble. We can show that the solubility of the group follows ifq = 2 andp ≤ 61,q = 3 andp ≤ 31,q = 5 andp ≤ 11. We then apply our results on loop theory and we show that if the inner mapping group of a finite loop has orderpqwherepandqare as above then the loop is soluble.     

A Thermoanalytical Study of Copper(I) Thiocarbamide Compounds

Hydrated isostructural 1:3 complexes of copper(I) chloride and bromide with thiourea were synthesised and their thermal decomposition studied by simultaneous TG/DTA complemented by ex situ FTIR and XRD studies. The decomposition of Cu(tu)₃Cl·H₂O is initiated by dehydration around 100°C, followed by a total multi-step degradation of the structure in the temperature range of 200–600°C. The counter ion has some influence on the temperatures and composition of the solid residue. The results were compared with those obtained with the 1:1 complex Cu(tu)Cl·1/2H₂O. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Isomerization and Decomposition of a Criegee Intermediate in the Ozonolysis of Alkenes: Dynamics Using a Multireference Potential

The isomerization and decomposition dynamics of the simplest Criegee intermediate CH₂OO have been studied by classical trajectory simulations using the multireference ab initio MR‐PT2 potential on the fly. A new, accelerated algorithm for dynamics with MR‐PT2 was used. For an initial temperature of 300 K, starting from the transition state from CH₂OO→CH₂O₂ , the system reaches the dioxirane structure in around 50 fs, then isomerizes to formic acid (in ca. 2800 fs), and decomposes into CO+H₂O at around 2900 fs. The contributions of different configurations to the multiconfigurational total electronic wave function vary dramatically along the trajectory, with diradical contributions being important for transition states corresponding to H‐atom transfers, while being only moderately significant for CH₂OO. The implications for reactions of Criegee intermediates are discussed.     

Practical Method for 2‐Hydroxyphenylketimine Synthesis

A series of hydroxyphenylketimines, of which 15 are new, was synthesized in methanol at high temperature (200°C) using a sealed steel reactor. This reaction setup especially enhances the synthesis of 2‐hydroxyphenylketimines, with yields up to six times higher than those obtained with the conventional acid‐catalyzed method under refluxing conditions. In fact, some imines were achievable only by the autoclave method.     

Thin Film Deposition Methods for CuInSe 2 Solar Cells

CuInSe₂ and its alloys with Ga and/or S are among the most promising absorber materials for thin film solar cells. CuInSe₂-based solar cells have shown long-term stability and the highest conversion efficiencies of all thin film solar cells, above 19%. Solar cells based on these materials are also very stable, thus allowing long operational lifetimes. The preparation of a thin film solar cell is a multistage process where every step affects the resulting cell performance and the production cost. CuInSe₂ and other Cu chalcopyrites can be prepared by a variety of methods, ranging from physical vapor deposition methods such as evaporation and sputtering to low-temperature liquid phase methods such as electrodeposition. The present review discusses first the concept and operation principle of thin film solar cells, as well as the most important thin film solar cell materials. Next, the properties of CuInSe₂ and related compounds, as well as features of solar cells made thereof are reviewed. The last part of the text deals with deposition methods used for the preparation of CuInSe₂ and Cu(In,Ga)Se₂ thin film absorbers and solar cells. Although the emphasis here is on absorber preparation methods, buffer and conducting oxide preparation are discussed as well.     

Computation of AC losses in high-temperature superconductors

A formulation for the computation of AC losses in technical HTS conductors by using commercial FEM packages developed for two-dimensional computation of electromagnetic problems is presented. The formulation takes into account the real current density–electric field characteristic of a conductor and the spatial dependence of the current density. Having presented the formulation, example runs comparing transport current loss behaviour between HTS and LTS conductors are given.     

Experimental and computational study of crystalline formic acid composed of the higher-energy conformer

Crystalline formic acid (FA) is studied experimentally and by first-principles simulations in order to identify a bulk solid structure composed of the higher-energy (cis) conformer. In the experiments, deuterated FA (HCOOD) was deposited in a Ne matrix and transformed to the cis conformer by vibrational excitation of the ground state (trans) form. Evaporation of the Ne host above 13 K prepared FA in a bulk solid state mainly composed of cis-FA. Infrared absorption spectroscopy at 4.3 K shows that the obtained solid differs from that composed of trans-FA molecules and that the state persists up to the annealing temperature of at least 110 K. The first-principles simulations reveal various energetically stable periodic chain structures containing cis-FA conformers. These chain structures contain either purely cis or both cis and trans forms. The vibrational frequencies of the calculated structures were compared to the experiment and a tentative assignment is given for a novel solid composed of cis-FA.     

Dimensions of students’ views of themselves as learners of mathematics

Students’ views of themselves as learners of mathematics are a decisive parameter for their engagement and success in school. We are interested in students’ experiences with mathematics encompassing cognitive, emotional and motivational aspects. In particular, we focus on capturing the structural properties of affect related to mathematics. Participants in our study were 1,436 randomized chosen students of secondary schools from overall Finland. In the Finnish upper secondary school, there are two different syllabi for mathematics: the general and the advanced one. Schools were invited to organize the survey by one of their year 2 general syllabus courses and one of their year 2 advanced syllabus courses in grade 11. By means of factor analysis, we obtained seven dimensions in which students’ hold beliefs and emotions about mathematics partly intertwined with their motivational orientations. These dimensions are described by reliable scales, which allow outlining an average image of Finnish students’ views of themselves as learners of mathematics. Moreover, we analyzed relations between the seven dimensions and what kind of structure they generate. Thereby, a core of three high correlating dimensions could be identified, yielding different accentuations with regard to course choice.     

Experimental observation of strongly bound dimers of sulfuric acid: application to nucleation in the atmosphere

Sulfuric acid is a key compound in atmospheric nucleation. Here we report on the observation of a close-to-collision-limited sulfuric acid dimer formation in atmospherically relevant laboratory conditions in the absence of measurable quantities of ammonia or organics. The observed dimer formation rate was clearly higher than the measured new particle formation rate at ～1.5 nm suggesting that the rate limiting step for the nucleation takes place after the dimerization step. The quantum chemical calculations suggested that even in the ultraclean conditions there exist (a) stabilizing compound(s) with (a) concentration(s) high enough to prevent the dimer evaporation. Such a stabilizing compound should be abundant enough in any natural environment and would therefore not limit the formation of sulfuric acid dimers in the atmosphere.