Local existence for the one‐dimensional Vlasov–Poisson system with infinite mass

A collisionless plasma is modelled by the Vlasov–Poisson system in one dimension. We consider the situation in which mobile negative ions balance a fixed background of positive charge, which is independent of space and time, as ∣x∣ → ∞. Thus, the total positive charge and the total negative charge are both infinite. Smooth solutions with appropriate asymptotic behaviour are shown to exist locally in time, and criteria for the continuation of these solutions are established. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Solid phase extraction for analysis of biogenic carbonates by electrothermal vaporization inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ETV-ICP-MS): an investigation of rare earth element signatures in otolith microchemistry

Uptake of trace elements into fish otoliths is governed by several factors such as life histories and environment in addition to stock and species differences. In an attempt to elucidate the elemental signatures of rare earth elements (REEs) in otoliths, a solid phase extraction (SPE) protocol was used in combination with electrothermal vaporization (ETV) as a sample introduction procedure for the determinations by inductively coupled plasma quadrupole mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Effects of various parameters, such as carrier gas flow rate, atomization temperature and chemical modification, were examined for optimization of the conditions by ETV-ICP-MS. Atomization was achieved at 2800 °C. Lower temperatures (i.e. 2600 °C) resulted in severe memory problems due to incomplete atomization. Palladium was used as a chemical modifier. It was found that an increase in Pd concentration up to 0.5 μg in the injection volume (70 μl) led up to four-fold enhancement in the integrated signals. This phenomenon is attributed to the carrier effect of Pd rather than the stabilization since no significant losses were observed for high temperature drying around 700 °C even in the absence of Pd. Preconcentration was performed on-line at pH 5 by using a mini-column of Toyopearl AF-Chelate 650M chelating resin, which also eliminated the calcium matrix of otolith solutions. After preconcentration of 6.4 ml of solution, the concentrate was collected in 0.65 ml of 0.5% (v/v) HNO₃ in autosampler cups, and then analyzed by ETV-ICP-MS. The method was validated with the analysis of a fish otolith certified reference material (CRM) of emperor snapper, and then applied to samples. Results obtained from otoliths of fish captured in the same habitat indicated that otolith rare earth element concentrations are more dependent on environmental conditions of the habitat than on species differences.     

Mass‐lumping or not mass‐lumping for eigenvalue problems

In this article we analyze the effect of mass‐lumping in the linear triangular finite element approximation of second‐order elliptic eigenvalue problems. We prove that the eigenvalue obtained by using mass‐lumping is always below the one obtained with exact integration. For singular eigenfunctions, as those arising in non convex polygons, we prove that the eigenvalue obtained with mass‐lumping is above the exact eigenvalue when the mesh size is small enough. So, we conclude that the use of mass‐lumping is convenient in the singular case. When the eigenfunction is smooth several numerical experiments suggest that the eigenvalue computed with mass‐lumping is below the exact one if the mesh is not too coarse. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 19: 653–664, 2003     

Heuristic Algorithms and Scatter Search for the Cardinality Constrained P||Cmax Problem

We consider the generalization of the classical P||C_max problem (assign n jobs to m identical parallel processors by minimizing the makespan) arising when the number of jobs that can be assigned to each processor cannot exceed a given integer k. The problem is strongly NP-hard for any fixed k > 2. We briefly survey lower and upper bounds from the literature. We introduce greedy heuristics, local search and a scatter search approach. The effectiveness of these approaches is evaluated through extensive computational comparison with a depth-first branch-and-bound algorithm that includes new lower bounds and dominance criteria.     

Combining Swaps and Node Weights in an Adaptive Greedy Approach for the Maximum Clique Problem

In this work, the NP-hard maximum clique problem on graphs is considered. Starting from basic greedy heuristics, modifications and improvements are proposed and combined in a two-phase heuristic procedure. In the first phase an improved greedy procedure is applied starting from each node of the graph; on the basis of the results of this phase a reduced subset of nodes is selected and an adaptive greedy algorithm is repeatedly started to build cliques around such nodes. In each restart the selection of nodes is biased by the maximal clique generated in the previous execution. Computational results are reported on the DIMACS benchmarks suite. Remarkably, the two-phase procedure successfully solves the difficult Brockington-Culberson instances, and is generally competitive with state-of-the-art much more complex heuristics.     

激光溅射Ni等离子体与气相CH3OH团簇的反应

用激光溅射 分子束技术研究了气相中Ni的等离子体与甲醇分子团簇的反应 .观察到Ni+ (CH3 OH) n、NiO+ (CH3 OH) n、H+ (CH3 OH) n、H3 O+ (CH3 OH) n 四个种类的团簇正离子和CH3 O-(CH3 OH) n(n≤ 2 5 )一种团簇负离子 .详细考察了激光烧蚀等离子体作用于脉冲分子束的不同位置时 ,对团簇产物种类和团簇尺寸大小的影响 .发现NiO+ (CH3 OH) n 是由Ni+ (CH3 OH) n 团簇内的脱甲烷反应生成的 ,而H+ (CH3 OH) n、H3 O+ (CH3 OH) n主要是激光等离子体中的电子与甲醇团簇碰撞电离产生的     

Synthesis and characterization of isotopically enriched methylmercury (CH3201Hg+)

A simple procedure for the synthesis of an important standard, isotopically enriched methylmercury, which is not commercially available, has been established successfully. The isotopically enriched standard synthesized is utilized in conventional isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS), as well as in speciated IDMS (SIDMS), for determination of the true concentration of methylmercury in environmental samples. The CH₃²⁰¹Hg⁺ standard has been synthesized from commercially available ²⁰¹HgO and tetramethyltin. The synthesis time required is 1 h at 60°C. The product is highly pure, yielding more than 90% as ²⁰¹Hg in CH₃²⁰¹Hg⁺. Hazardous dimethylmercury does not occur during this synthesis procedure. The product synthesized was analyzed using high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS) and ICP‐MS alone in order to determine its concentration, isotopic composition and purity. The stability of the product was also evaluated for over 6 months and found to be stable at 4°C in the dark. The isotopically enriched methylmercury synthesized can be used in SIDMS and IDMS analyses as a standard. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Thermal degradation of two liquid fuels and detonation tests for pulse detonation engine studies

The use of liquid fuels such as kerosene is of interest for the pulse detonation engine (PDE). Within this context, the aim of this work, which is a preliminary study, was to show the feasibility to initiate a detonation in air with liquid-fuel pyrolysis products, using energies and dimensions of test facility similars to those of PDEs. Therefore, two liquids fuels have been compared, JP10, which is a synthesis fuel generally used in the field of missile applications, and decane, which is one of the major components of standard kerosenes (F-34, Jet A1, ...). The thermal degradation of these fuels was studied with two pyrolysis processes, a batch reactor and a flow reactor. The temperatures varied from 600°C to 1,000°C and residence times for the batch reactor and the flow reactor were, respectively, between 10–30 s and 0.1–2 s. Subsequently, the detonability of synthetic gaseous mixtures, which was a schematisation of the decomposition state after the pyrolysis process, has been studied. The detonability study, regarding nitrogen dilution and equivalence ratio, was investigated in a 50 mm-diameter, 2.5 m-long detonation tube. These dimensions are compatible with applications in the aircraft industry and, more particularly, in PDEs. Therefore, JP10 and decane were compared to choose the best candidate for liquid-fuel PDE studies. This paper was based on work that was presented at the 20th International Colloquium on the Dynamics of Explosions and Reactive Systems, Montreal, Canada, July 31 – August 5, 2005.     

Characterization of Metallo Bis(terpyridine) Diblock Polymers by Nonaqueous Capillary Zone Electrophoresis

A method of nonaqueous capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) has been developed to characterize block (co)polymers of poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(styrene) containing metallo bis(terpyridine) complexes as bridging units. Specific CZE separation conditions had to be applied, with barium perchlorate dissolved in N-methylformamide (NMF) as background electrolyte and OV-1701-OH deactivated capillaries. For detection UV absorption was measured at a wavelength of 316 nm. Metallo diblock polymers with molecular weights up to 30,000 Da could be analyzed by the proposed nonaqueous CZE method. Experiments performed with polymeric compounds containing Fe, Ni or Ru as central metal ions showed that their electrophoretic mobilities were independent of the type of metal ion. Therefore, the data on the size of the polymeric compounds could be obtained using just one set of calibration standards. Polydispersities of the samples calculated from the experimental results were in correlation with the polydispersities of the polymers used in the synthesis of the metallo diblock polymers. Several polymeric samples contained metallo mono(terpyridine) complexes as impurities. These by-products could be separated from the main product. With symmetrical diblock polymers only one by-product was detected, while with an asymmetric diblock polymer two types of mono-complexes were found. The amount of the mono-complexes present as impurities was dependent on the type of central metal ion (Ni > Fe >> Ru).     

A simple expression for the ADM mass

We show by an almost elementary calculation that the ADM mass of an asymptotically flat space can be computed as a limit involving a rate of change of area of a closed 2-surface. The result is essentially the same as that given by David Brown and York (Phys. Rev. D 55, 1977–1984 1997; Phys. Rev. D 47, 1407–1419 1993). We will prove this result in two ways, first by direct calculation from the original formula as given by Arnowitt, Deser and Misner and second as a corollary of an earlier result by Brewin for the case of simplicial spaces.