A class of loss functions of catenary form

The catenary form of loss function is considered in the framework of Bayesian decision theory. The mathematical tractability of this form seems to be unrecognized; it contains quadratic loss as a limiting case. For various probability distributions expressions are given for posterior analysis, and limiting properties are investigated.     

The integral mean diffusivity for particle-gas mass transfer calculations under thermal plasma conditions

Plasma Chemistry and Plasma Processing - A new integral mean diffusivity is proposed for the calculation of the mass transfer rate around a small particle immersed in a thermal plasma gas....     

Mass extrapolation of quarks and leptons to higher generations

An empirical mass formula is tested for the basic fermion sequences of charged quarks and leptons. This relation is a generalization of Barut’s mass formula for the lepton sequence (e, μ, τ......). It is found that successful mass extrapolation to the third and possibly to other higher generations (N>2) can be obtained with the first and second generation masses as inputs, which predicts the top quark massm _t to be around 20 GeV. This also leads to the mass ratios between members of two different sequences (i) and (i′) corresponding to the same higher generations (N>2).     

Aqueous flat-cells perpendicular to the electric field for use in electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, II: design

This paper builds on the work of Mett and Hyde [J. Magn. Reson. 165 (2003) 137]. Various aqueous flat-cell geometries in the perpendicular orientation have been studied using Ansoft High Frequency Structure Simulator (version 9.0, Pittsburgh, PA) and Computer Simulation Technology Microwave Studio (version 5.0, Wellesley Hills, MA). The analytic theory of Mett and Hyde has been refined to predict optimum dimensions of multiple sample cell structures including the effect of the sample holder dielectric properties and the interaction of the cells with each other on EPR signal strength. From these calculations and simulations we propose a practical multiple cell sample structure for use in commercial rectangular TE102 cavities that yields 2.0-2.3 times higher sensitivity relative to a single flat-cell in the nodal orientation. We also describe a modified TE102 resonator design with square rather than cylindrical sample-access stacks that is predicted to give a factor of 2.2-2.7 enhancement in EPR signal strength of a single flat-cell in the nodal orientation. These signal enhancements are predicted with sample holders fabricated from polytetrafluoroethylene. Additional improvement in EPR signal of up to 75% can be achieved by using sample holder materials with lower dielectric constants.     

Quark Masses in Terms of Gauge Constants and Cabibbo Angle

Fritzsch type of mass matrices for the 2×2 case and appropriate Lagrangians enable the choice of Yukawa constants of the Lagrangians in terms of the gauge constants. The mass matrices for the four quarks are shown to be proportional to V_L. The Cabibbo angle is computed to be 13^∘36′.     

Mechanism of mass spectral fragmentation of dinuclear copper(ii) complexes with heterocyclic dithiocarbamates and octaazamacrocyclic ligand

The mass spectral fragmentation of five dinuclear Cu(II) complexes of the general formula [Cu₂(Rdtc)tpmc] (ClO₄)₃, where tpmc and Rdtc refer to N, N, N, N-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane and piperidine- (Pipdtc), 4-morpholine- (Morphdtc), 4-thiomorpholine- (Timdtc), piperazine- (Pzdtc), or N-methylpiperazine- (N-Mepzdtc) dithiocarbamates, respectively, has been investigated. The results were shown to be of mechanistic significance, clarifying the major products of their fragmentation. A possible mechanism entails a multi-step decomposition process that can be separated into individual steps depending on their molecular structures. Every step is determined to some extent by the nature of the intermediates.__________Published in Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 72, No. 1, pp. 38–42, January–February, 2005.     

Synthesis of (Ca,Ce,Ce)2Ti2O7: a pyrochlore with mixed-valence cerium

Pyrochlore with mixed-valence Ce was synthesized by firing and annealing Ce(NO₃)₄, TiO₂, and Ca(OH)₂ with a stoichiometry of CaCeTi₂O₇ at 1300 °C. The product contains Ce-pyrochlore, Ce-rich perovskite, CeO₂ (cerianite), and minor CaO. Electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) revealed both Ce⁴⁺ and Ce³⁺ in the Ce-pyrochlore with a Ce⁴⁺ to total Ce (Ce⁴⁺/ΣCe) of 0.80 giving . Cerium in the perovskite and cerianite is dominated by Ce³⁺ and Ce⁴⁺, respectively. High-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) images show that the boundary between Ce-pyrochlore and Ce-rich perovskite is semi-coherently bonded. The orientational relationship between the neighboring Ce-pyrochlore and Ce-rich perovskite is not random. Ce-pyrochlore (CaCeTi₂O₇) is a chemical analogue for CaPuTi₂O₇, which is a proposed ceramic waste form for deposition of excess weapons-usable Pu in geological repositories. It is postulated, based on the presence of Ce³⁺ in the Ce-pyrochlore, that neutron poisons such as Gd can be incorporated into the CaPuTi₂O₇ phase.     

Spin Effects in Two Quark System and Mixed States

Based on the numeric solution of a system of coupled channels for vector mesons (S-and D-waves mixing)and for tensor mesons (P- and F- waves mixing) mass spectrum and wave functions of a family of vector mesons q in triplet states a e obtained. The calculations are performed using a well-known Cornell potential with a mixed Lorentz- structure of the confinement term. The spin-dependent part of the potential is taken from the Breit-Fermi approach.The effect of irregular terms of the potential is considered within the framework of the perturbation theory and/or of the configuration interaction approach, modified for a system of coupled equations. It is shown that even a small integral contribution of the D-wave to the total wave function of q system is very impotant for the calculation of certain characteristics of the meson states.     

Thermal characterization of hair using TG-MS combined thermoanalytical technique

Four amino acids and four different hair samples were studied in order to get information about the decomposition of human hair, using combined (TG-MS) and DSC techniques. The thermal stability of the investigated amino acid samples was different. Since they contain identical functional groups (-NH₂, -COOH) some common mass/charge units were identified. However, due to their different chemical composition remarkable differences have also been obtained. The results of the investigation of the amino acids were helpful to study the thermal fragmentation of the hair samples. In our experiments, the effect of the heating rates was also studied. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.