Rulers and slaves in a random social group

LetD(n, d) be a digraph chosen at random from a family of alld-out-regular digraphs onn points. LetK(n, p) be a simple graph onn points in which each edge appears independently with probabilityp. A relationship between the properties of extreme in-degrees ofD(n,d) and extreme degrees ofK(n, p) in the case whend = (n – 1)p = o(n) is presented. A sociological interpretation is also provided.     

Thermal decomposition of Cd(CH3COO)2·2H2O studied by a coupled TG-DTA-MS method

The thermal decomposition of cadmium acetate dihydrate in helium and in air atmosphere has been investigated by means of a coupled TG-DTA-MS method combined with X-ray diffraction analysis. Dehydration of Cd(CH₃COO)₂·2H₂O is a two-stage process with Cd(CH₃COO)₂·H₂O as intermediate. The way of Cd(CH₃COO)₂ decomposition strongly depends on the surrounding gas atmosphere and the rate of heating. CdO, acetone and CO₂ are the primary products of decomposition in air. In helium decomposition goes by two parallel and consecutive reactions in which intermediates, Cd and CdCO₃, are formed. Metallic cadmium oxidizes and cadmium carbonate decomposes giving CdO. Some of the metallic cadmium, depending on the heating rate and the concentration of oxygen, evaporates. Acetone is partially oxidized in secondary reactions with oxygen. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Domain-wall energy in sintered Nd15Fe77B8 permanent magnet

From measurements of the magnetic domain widthsD versus grain thicknessL, we have determined the domain wall energy in the demagnetized state for a sintered Nd₁₅Fe₇₇B₈ magnet: = 56 erg/cm². Using this wall energy and the published magnetocry-stalline constantK ₁=4.9×10⁷ erg/cm³, we have calculated the exchange constantA=4.0×10^–6 erg/cm, domain wall thickness _B=89 Å, and the critical diameter for single domain particlesD _c=0.67 m.     

Intramolecular hydrogen bonds and hydrogen-bonded systems in di-Schiff bases of 4-methyl-isophthalaldehyde with 4-substituted anilines

Three di-Schiff bases of 2-hydroxy-5-methyl-isophthalaldehyde with 4-R-anilines (R=H, CH₃, OCH₃) and their 1:1 complexes with HClO₄ were studied by FT-IR, ¹H, and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy in acetonitrile and [²H₃]acetonitrile solutions, respectively. In di-Schiff bases intramolecular OH…N hydrogen bonds have been detected; however, they show no proton polarizability. Hydrogen-bonded systems with fast proton fluctuation and large proton polarizability have been found in the 1:1 complexes of di-Schiff bases with HClO₄.     

Synthesis and characterization of metal polycarboxylates constructed from lanthanides(iii) and 1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarboxylic acid

The complexes of yttrium(III) and lanthanides(III) with 1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarboxylic acid were prepared as crystalline solids of the general formula Ln₄(C₁₀H₂O₈)₃⋅14H₂O. They are insoluble in water. On heating in air or inert gas atmosphere all compounds lose water molecules; next anhydrous compounds decompose to oxides. The yttrium complex and heavy lanthanide (from Ho to Lu) ones crystallize in monoclinic crystal system. The dehydration does not change the crystal structure of the compounds.     

Effect of the fibre-forming material structure and silica nanoparticles

The paper discusses the thermal properties of alginate fibres made from alginic acid or sodium alginate and from alginates substituted with divalent metal ions during the fibre-forming stage. Alginate fibres with an addition of silica nanoparticles have also been examined. The selection of fibre-forming parameters was intended to obtain the best either sorption or strength properties depending on the specific fibre application. Thermal curves of the fibres under investigations obtained by under air atmosphere and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) under neutral gas atmosphere have been interpreted from the view of physical and chemical changes in the fibre-forming material. Based on thermogravimetric curves, the fibre thermal stability indices have been determined. It has been found that the addition of silica nanoparticles exerts a positive influence on the thermal properties of the examined fibres.     

Electron-stimulated desorption from ionic crystal surfaces

Inelastic interactions of electrons with surfaces of ionic crystals result in emission of various particles such as ions, atoms and molecules. We will review such electron-stimulated desorption processes for the particular class of ionic crystals, namely for alkali halides. In this case, a dominant fraction of the emission is in the form of halogen and alkali atoms characterized by a thermal (Maxwellian) spectrum of translational energies. For several alkali halides (potassium and rubidium chlorides, bromides, and iodides), however, a significant part of the halogen atoms is ejected with nonthermal energies, i.e. energies of the order of 0.1 eV. The results of recent systematic studies of angular-resolved kinetic energy distributions of the emitted particles will be reported and current views on the electronic mechanisms of desorption will be described. In particular, it will be shown that the ESD mechanism can be understood in terms of the model involving a surface localisation of the so called “hot-holes” created by electron bombardment of alkali halides. A role of hot holes in ESD processes will further be discussed in relation to very recent experimental results obtained for the KBr crystals doped with In impurities which act as efficient hole traps.     

Photogeneration and quenching of reactive oxygen species by urocanic acid

Urocanic acid, UCA, is characterized by two electronic transitions in the UV-B (280-320 nm) which comprise its broad absorption spectrum and give rise to wavelength-dependent isomerization quantum yields. The absorption spectrum of UCA extends into the UV-A (320-400 nm). Given the UV-A component of sunlight is significantly greater than the UV-B component it is hypothesized even weak UV-A photochemistry of UCA could be important for in vivo responses to UV radiation. Degenerate pump-probe experiments performed on t-UCA at several wavelengths in the UV-A reveal an excited-state absorption that undergoes a rapid, approximately 1 ps decay. Photoacoustic experiments performed on both the cis and trans isomers reveal the formation of a long-lived intermediate following UV-A excitation. The efficiency and action spectra for this latter photoactive process are presented and are similar for both isomers of UCA. Cholesterol hydroperoxide assays designed to investigate the nature of the UV-A photoreactivity of t-UCA confirm the production of reactive oxygen species. The bimolecular rate constant for the quenching of singlet oxygen by t-UCA is determined to be 3.5 x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1). Taking into consideration recent theoretical calculations and jet expansion studies of the electronic structure of gas-phase t-UCA, a model is proposed to explain the isomerization and photoreactivity of t-UCA in solution over the UV-A region.     

The polymorphic transformations of cobalt molybdate

Polymorphic transformations of CoMoO₄ were studied by means of high temperature X-ray measurements within the temperature range 25–1200°C. On heating phase a obtained from low temperature modification b a new modification a′ was discovered. Phase a obtained by thermal decomposition of solvated α-CoMoO₄ shows different behaviour. At 700–930°C depending on the conditions of preparation it transforms irreversibly into still another modification a″. On cooling, a mixture of phases a + a″ is obtained, the presence of a″ being responsible for the explosionwise transition into b, observed around the room temperature.     

Prediction of adsorption of organic component and water vapour mixture onto activated carbon

A simple isotherm equation is derived for the adsorption of an organic component onto activated carbon in presence of water vapour. The theoretical results are compared with experimental data for toluene-water vapour-activated carbon, which were published byRipperger andGermerdonk [10].

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Vorhersage der Adsorption einer organischen Komponente und Wasserdampf an Aktivkohle

Zusammenfassung Es wird eine einfache Adsorptionsisotherme abgeleitet, welche die gleichzeitige Adsorption eines organischen Stoffes und Wasser an Aktivkohle beschreibt. Die theoretischen Ergebnisse werden mit experimentellen Resultaten vonRipperger undGermerdonk [10] für Toluol-Wasser-Aktivkohle verglichen.

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Symbols a _i adsorbate concentration in adsorbent, kg/kg of carbon - a _0i monolayer capacity, kg/kg of carbon - b _i kinetic parameter of theLangmuir equation - E _j adsorption energy in thej-th layer - i i-th component (1 — water vapour, 2 — organic compound) - j j-th layer - m number of layers - n number of adsorbed components - p partial pressure, Pa - p* saturation partial pressure, Pa - p _C water vapour partial pressure at begining of capillary condensation, Pa - surface coverage