X-Ray Mapping and Interpretation of Scatter Diagrams

Electron beam induced quantitative X-ray mapping has become a very useful characterisation tool for determining the elemental distribution in materials, whether using energy dispersive spectroscopy or wavelength dispersive spectroscopy. The X-ray intensity distributions of the elements from an X-ray map allow us to generate two dimensional and ternary scatter diagrams thus converting spatial information into concentration dimensions, which is an important tool for displaying the spatial relationships of elements or correlated elements (phases) in materials. To best understand how to use this tool, we need to understand the production and features of the scatter diagram. The type of clustering observed in the scatter diagram, whether oval, linear or spherical, can give the major and trace element distributions within phases as well as qualitative and quantitative phase information. This paper demonstrates the generation of scatter diagrams, properties of scatter diagrams, interpretation of scatter diagrams and the advantages of scatter diagrams through the use of examples.     

Admissible slopes for monotone and convex interpolation

Summary In many applications, interpolation of experimental data exhibiting some geometric property such as nonnegativity, monotonicity or convexity is unacceptable unless the interpolant reflects these characteristics. This paper identifies admissible slopes at data points of variousC ¹ interpolants which ensure a desirable shape. We discuss this question, in turn for the following function classes commonly used for shape preserving interpolations: monotone polynomials,C ¹ monotone piecewise polynomials, convex polynomials, parametric cubic curves and rational functions.     

Estimation of integrated volatility in stochastic volatility models

In the framework of stochastic volatility models we examine estimators for the integrated volatility based on the pth power variation (i.e. the sum of pth absolute powers of the log‐returns). We derive consistency and distributional results for the estimators given high‐frequency data, especially taking into account what kind of process we may add to our model without affecting the estimate of the integrated volatility. This may on the one hand be interpreted as a possible flexibility in modelling, for example adding jumps or even leaving the framework of semimartingales by adding a fractional Brownian motion, or on the other hand as robustness against model misspecification. We will discuss possible choices of p under different model assumptions and irregularly spaced data. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The mesa problem for Neumann boundary value problem

In this paper, we study the singular limit of the Porous Medium equation u_t=Δu^m+g(x,u), as m→∞, in a bounded domain with Neumann boundary condition.     

Förster energy transfer from poly(arylene–ethynylene)s to an erbium–porphyrin complex

We study the infrared emission at 1.54 μm of an organolanthanide complex, Er(III)-tetraphenylporphyrin [Er(TPP)acac], both as a result of direct optical excitation and via energy transfer from host π-conjugate polymers of type poly(arylene–ethynylene) [PAE]. In the first case, the emission of the neat complex is characterized in inert transparent materials and a value of the quantum yield at 1.54 μm φ_IR=4×10⁻⁴ is measured. Then, fluorescence resonance transfer is investigated in blends of Er(TPP)acac with PAEs by monitoring the quenching of the polymer fluorescence along with the enhancement of both the visible emission of the ligand and the near-infrared band of Er³⁺. These different procedures allow a detailed analysis of the transfer efficiency within a specific implementation of the Förster model for polymeric donors. The experimental values of the critical radius R₀, ranging from 1.3 to 2.5 nm for the different blends, are in good agreement with theory for a wide interval of the physical and spectroscopic parameters. This suggests that other mechanisms for excitation transfer do not play a significant role in these materials.     

Tribute to Endre Csáki and Pál Révész

Summary This article provides a glimpse of some of the highlights of the joint work of Endre Csáki and Pál Révész since 1979. The topics of this short exploration of the rich stochastic milieu of this inspiring collaboration revolve around Brownian motion, random walks and their long excursions, local times and additive functionals, iterated processes, almost sure local and global central limit theorems, integral functionals of geometric stochastic processes, favourite sites--favourite values and jump sizes for random walk and Brownian motion, random walking in a random scenery, and large void zones and occupation times for coalescing random walks.     

Volumetric and infrared measurements on amorphous ice structure

We have simultaneously used adsorption isotherm volumetry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in order to take the investigations on amorphous ice structure a step further, especially concerning porosity and annealing-induced modifications. We have studied surface reorganization during annealing and found that the number of surface sites decreases before crystallization, their relative ratios being different for amorphous and crystalline ice. We also present results confirming that ice can have a large specific surface area and nevertheless be non-microporous.     

ASYMPTOTIC NORMALITY OF KERNEL ESTIMATES OF A DENSITY FUNCTION UNDER ASSOCIATION DEPENDENCE

Let {X_n, n≥1} be a strictly stationary sequence of random variables, whichare either associated or negatively associated, f(·) be their common density. In this paper,the author shows a central limit theorem for a kernel estimate of f(·) under certain regularconditions.     

Spectrofluorimetric Method for the Determination of Aluminum with Alizarin Red PS

 A simple and direct spectrofluorimetric method has been developed for the determination of aluminum using alizarin red PS (1,2,4-trihydroxy 9,10-anthraquinone-3-sulfonic acid). The method is based on the strong fluorescence (480/564 nm) of Al³⁺ and alizarin red. Experimental parameters such as pH, concentration of the ligand, ionic strength of the solution, reaction time and temperature were optimized in order to maximize the analytical signal. Interferences of several ions (anions and cations) were studied and evaluated. The linear range of the method extends from 3 to 100 μg L⁻¹. Limit of detection (3s_b) was 0.9 μg L⁻¹. The method was tested with a silicate certified reference material. Interferences were eliminated by a liquid extraction with cupferron. Author for correspondence. E-mail: aucelior@rdc.puc-rio.br Received September 10, 2002; accepted January 15, 2003 Published online May 5, 2003     

Small and high-density GeSiC dots stacked on buried Ge hut-clusters in Si

Self-assembled GeSiC dots stacked on a Ge hut-cluster layer buried in Si have been investigated. The critical thickness for formation of GeSiC dots is reduced owing to the strain fields from the buried hut-clusters. By utilizing the stacked structure, the dot size is decreased and the uniformity is improved. The highest density of the GeSiC dots with stacked structures is 7.4×10¹⁰ cm⁻², which is six times larger than that of single GeSiC dots. The formation of the self-assembled GeSiC dots is strongly influenced by being stacked with buried Ge dots as well as C incorporation.