Mössbauer and infrared spectroscopic studies of novel mixed valence states in cobaltous ferrocyanides and ferricyanides

Novel mixed valence states have been obtained by the treatment of cobaltous ferrocyanides (Co⁺²Fe^II) and ferricyanides (Co⁺²Fe^III) in an ozone flow. The CN stretching bands occur at 2085 cm^–1 for Co⁺²Fe^II and at 2160 cm^–1 for Co⁺²Fe^III. After the ozonization process of Co⁺²Fe^II, an intense band approximately at 2125 cm^–1 is detected. This intermediate band must correspond to a mixed valence state of the type: Fe^II–CN–Co²⁺–NC–Fe^III Mössbauer spectra recorded in situ during the ozonization of Co⁺²Fe^II show the presence of two components: a doublet with isomer shift and quadrupole splitting values close to the cobalti ferricyanide and a very broad line for the mixed valence state. From the Mössbauer and infrared spectra of the aged samples of the Co⁺²Fe^II after ozonization, a relaxation process to the initial state of the samples is observed but the mixed valence state is stable.     

Scheduling Parts in a Combined Production-transportation Work Cell

This paper is concerned with a combined production-transportation scheduling problem. The problem comprises a simple, two-machine, automated manufacturing cell, which either stands alone or is a subunit of a complete flexible manufacturing system. The cell consists of two machines in series with a dedicated part-handling device such as a crane or robotic arm for transferring parts from the first machine to the second. The loading of a new piece on the first machine and the ejection of a finished piece from the second machine are performed by dedicated automated mechanisms. The introduction of parts into the system is done n at a time, whereby the parts are reshuffled into a sequence that minimizes completion time. All processing and transfer times are considered deterministic—a reasonable assumption for a cell comprising a robotic transfer device and two CNC machining units. What complicates the problem is the assumption of a non-negligible time for the transfer device to return (empty) from the second machine to the first. The operation is a generalization of a two-machine flowshop problem, and is formulated as a specially structured, asymmetric travelling salesman problem. An approximate polynomial time 0(n log n) algorithm is proffered. The procedure incorporates a lower bound using the Gilmore–Gomory algorithm for the no-wait, two-machine flowshop problem.     

Crystal structure of m-nitrobenzoic anhydride

The title compound (C₁₄H₈N₂O₇,M _r =306.2) crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pbca witha=6.962(1).b=24.688(1), andc=15.890(1)Å,V=2731.0 ų,D _x =1.489 g·cm^–3 forZ=8,=0.98 mm^–1,F(000)=1296,T=293 K. FinalR=0.053 for 1873 observed reflections. The structure was solved by direct methods. Approximately planar molecules lie perpendicular to the [100] direction and show partial stacking. The structure is the first example of a symmetric anhydride which does not retain the symmetry in the crystal state. The two independent nitro groups twist out of the ring planes by 10.5 and 14.8°, respectively.     

On the infimum of the local time of a Wiener process

Let {W(t), t0} be a standard Wiener process, and let L(x, t) be its jointly continuous local time. Define

Finite sphere packing and sphere covering

A basic problem of finite packing and covering is to determine, for a given number ofk unit balls in Euclideand-spaceE ^d , (1) the minimal volume of all convex bodies into which thek balls can be packed and (2) the maximal volume of all convex bodies which can be covered by thek balls. In the sausage conjectures by L. Fejes Tóth and J. M. Wills it is conjectured that, for alld5, linear arrangements of thek balls are best possible. In the paper several partial results are given to support both conjectures. Furthermore, some relations between finite and infinite (space) packing and covering are investigated.This paper was written while the first named author was visiting the Forschungsinstitut für Geistes- und Sozialwissenschaften at the University of Siegen.