Extremal point queries with lines and line segments and related problems

We address a number of extremal point query problems when P is a set of n points in , d3 a constant, including the computation of the farthest point from a query line and the computation of the farthest point from each of the lines spanned by the points in P. In , we give a data structure of size O(n¹⁺), that can be constructed in O(n¹⁺) time and can report the farthest point of P from a query line segment in O(n^2/3+) time, where >0 is an arbitrarily small constant. Applications of our results also include: (1) Sub-cubic time algorithms for fitting a polygonal chain through an indexed set of points in , d3 a constant, and (2) A sub-quadratic time and space algorithm that, given P and an anchor point q, computes the minimum (maximum) area triangle defined by q with P{q}.     

Transition events fluctuations in jump markovian dynamics. A general approach to Šolc's problem

We introduce a new formalism for computing the moments of transition events for nonhomogeneous Markov jump processes. Our method is applied directly to the master equation and does not involve the use of diffusion approximation. The general theory is applied to produce exact expressions for means and dispersions. For time homogeneous Markov processes with a finite number of connected states we are able to prove that both means and dispersions asymptotically increase linearly in time.     

Chemical graphs with degenerate topological indices based on information on distances

Recently, four new types of vertex invariants, namelyu, v, x, andy, were defined on the basis of information on graph distances. They were combined to give four highly selective topological indices:U, V, X, andY. The degeneracy, i.e. equal values for nonisomorphic graphs, of the four topological indices is investigated. A structural condition and a graphical method which gives pairs of molecular graphs with identicalU, V, X, andY topological indices are introduced. The smallest pair of 4-trees representing alkanes having degeneratedU, V, X, andY values consists of trees with eighteen vertices.     

Random activation energy model and disordered kinetics, from static to dynamic disorder

We suggest a unified path integral approach for random rate processes with random energy barriers, which includes systems with static and dynamic disorder as particular cases. We assume that the random component of the activation energy barrier can be described by a generalized Zubarev-McLennan nonequilibrum statistical ensemble that can be derived from the maximum information entropy approach by assuming that the time history of the fluctuations of the random components of the energy barrier are known. We show that the average survival function, which is an experimental observable in disorderd kinetics, can be computed exactly in terms of the characteristic functional of this generalized Zubarev-McLennan nonequilibrium statistical ensemble. We investigate different types of disorder described by our approach, ranging from static disorder with infinite memory to random processes with long or short memory, and finally to rapidly fluctuating independent random processes with no memory. We derive expressions of the average survival function for all these types of disorder and discuss their implications in the evaluation of kinetic parameters from experimental data. We illustrate our approach by studying a simple model of dynamic disorder of the renewal type. Finally we discuss briefly the implications of our approach in molecular biology and genetics.     

A video-rate range sensor based on depth from defocus

Recovering the depth information derived from dynamic scenes implies real-time range estimation. This paper addresses the implementation of a bifocal range sensor which estimates the depth by measuring the relative blurring between two images captured with different focal settings. To recover the depth accurately even in cases when the scene is textureless, one possible solution is to project a structured light on the scene. As a consequence, in the scene's spectrum a spatial frequency derived from illumination pattern is evident. The resulting algorithm involves only simple local operations, this assures the possibility of computing the depth at a rate of 10 frames per second. The experimental results indicate that the accuracy of this proposed sensor compares well with that offered by other methods such as stereo and motion parallax, while avoiding the problems caused by occlusion and missing parts.     

q‐pseudoconvex and q‐holomorphically convex domains

In this article we prove a global result in the spirit of Basener's theorem regarding the relation between q‐pseudoconvexity and q‐holomorphic convexity: we prove that any open subset $\mathrm{\Omega }?{\mathbb{C}}^n$ with smooth boundary, strictly q‐pseudoconvex, is $(q+1)$‐holomorphically convex; moreover, assuming that Ω verifies an additional assumption, we prove that it is q‐holomorphically convex. We also prove that any open subset of ${\mathbb{C}}^n$ is n‐holomorphically convex.     

An Efficient Strategy to Drive Nanoparticles into Carbon Nanotubes and the Remarkable Effect of Confinement on Their Catalytic Performance

Are you in? Bimetallic PtRu nanoparticles have been selectively confined inside or deposited outside carbon nanotubes (see picture). The confined nanoparticles display significantly higher selectivity and catalytic activity in hydrogenation reactions.

     

Characterization of Lyapunov pairs in the nonlinear case and applications

The paper presents a characterization of the Lyapunov pairs for a general initial value problem with a possibly multivalued m$m$-accretive operator on an arbitrary Banach space by means of the contingent derivative related to the operator. The proof is based on tangency and flow-invariance arguments combined with a priori estimates and approximation. The abstract results are applied to obtain precise a priori estimates for the mild solutions. They readily lead to the existence of global solutions and various controllability properties. Important Lyapunov pairs are pointed out in connection with specific problems.     

The Poisson equation on complete manifolds with positive spectrum and applications

In this paper we investigate the existence of a solution to the Poisson equation on complete manifolds with positive spectrum and Ricci curvature bounded from below. We show that if a function f has decay f=O(r−1−ε) for some ε>0, where r is the distance function to a fixed point, then the Poisson equation Δu=f has a solution u with at most exponential growth.We apply this result on the Poisson equation to study the existence of harmonic maps between complete manifolds and also existence of Hermitian-Einstein metrics on holomorphic vector bundles over complete manifolds, thus extending some results of Li-Tam and Ni.Assuming moreover that the manifold is simply connected and of Ricci curvature between two negative constants, we can prove that in fact the Poisson equation has a bounded solution and we apply this result to the Ricci flow on complete surfaces.