Gauge invariance and charge conservation in non-Abelian gauge theories

It is shown that for gauge-tensor field theories which have their field equations derivable from a variational principle, the assumptions of gauge invariance and charge conservation are equivalent.     

Some aspects of the optical techniques for strain determination

In a general view, a comparison is made of different optical methods where either photoelastic models, opaque bodies with transparent coatings or noncontacted objects are examinèd with coherent light. Further, it is tried to show that some common features are contained by the three groups. These aspects concern the separation, by controlled determination, of displacement, rotation and strain (or of certain of their components), the multiplication of the optical effects in the detection and the elimination of secondary influences. In particular, the noncontacting method of wavefront reconstruction with double-exposure holograms is discussed and the role of the localization condition for the fringes in space is analyzed. On the other hand, it is illustrated that, besides the generally known birefringence and diffraction. use could be made of nonorthodox effects like rotation of the plane of polarization, second-harmonic generation in nonlinear optics, etc. This may, for instance, contribute to the optical instrumentation when transparent models and bodies with photoelastic coatings are investigated under the above aspects.     

On the Discretization of Distributed-Parameter Systems with Quadratic and Cubic Nonlinearities

Approximate methods for analyzing the vibrations of an Euler--Bernoulli beam resting on a nonlinear elastic foundation are discussed. The cases of primary resonance ( _n ) and subharmonic resonance of order one-half ( 2 _n ), where is the excitation frequency and _n is the natural frequency of the nth mode of the beam, are investigated. Approximate solutions based on discretization via the Galerkin method are contrasted with direct application of the method of multiple scales to the governing partial-differential equation and boundary conditions. The amplitude and phase modulation equations show that single-mode discretization leads to erroneous qualitative as well as quantitative predictions. Regions of softening (hardening) behavior of the system, the spatial dependence of the response drift, and frequency-response curves are numerically evaluated and compared using both approaches.     

Dependence of the zero shear-rate viscosity and the viscosity function of linear high-density polyethylenes on the mass-average molar mass and polydispersity

Linear high-density polyethylenes with molar masses M _w between 240 and 1,000,000 g/mol, obtained by metallocene catalysts, were characterized in shear using oscillatory and creep tests. The polydispersities of the molar mass distributions (MMDs) lay between 1 and 16. The resulting zero shear-rate viscosities η₀ covered a range from 2.5×10⁻³ to around 10⁸ Pas. Above a critical molar mass of M _c≈2,900 g/mol, the experimental results can be described by the relation η₀ ∼ M _w^3.6, independently of the MMD. The oscillatory data were fitted with a Carreau–Yasuda equation. The resulting parameters were correlated to molecular structure. The parameter a, being a quantity for the width of the transition between the Newtonian and the non-Newtonian regime, showed a dependence on the molar mass M _w but not on M _w/M _n. The parameter λ of the Carreau-Yasuda equation was found to be the reciprocal crossover frequency for all samples with a log-Gaussian MMD. λ depends on the molar mass M _w and also on M _w/M _n.

Actinide Organometallic Complexes with π-Ligands

Recent developments and results from the organometallic chemistry of the actinides are reviewed. In the last one and a half years the structural data of about 15 organometallic complexes of transuranium actinides (Np or Pu) have been published, all involving π-ligands in the coordination sphere of the metal ion. On the basis of these data, a comparison of these molecules is presented. Depending on the steric demands of the ligands, effects like the actinide contraction seem to be stronger or weaker in the structural features. This indicates that the interplay between the actinide ion and the π-ligand is rather flexible, enabling the formation of stable bonds over a broad range of actinide ion oxidation states.     

Strategic analysis of the dairy transportation problem

The dairy transportation problem (DTP) consists of determining the best routes to be performed for collecting milk from farms and delivering it to processing plants. We study the particular case of the province of Quebec, where the Fédération des producteurs de lait du Québec is responsible for negotiating the transportation costs on behalf of producers. Several issues are highlighted in the actual process of designing contracts such as using historical data. We propose an approach based on scenario analysis that consists of revising both the steps and the information used to construct the routes. We develop a generalized tabu search algorithm that integrates the different characteristics of the DTP.