QPECgen, a MATLAB Generator for Mathematical Programs with Quadratic Objectives and Affine Variational Inequality Constraints

We describe a technique for generating a special class, called QPEC, of mathematical programs with equilibrium constraints, MPEC. A QPEC is a quadratic MPEC, that is an optimization problem whose objective function is quadratic, first-level constraints are linear, and second-level (equilibrium) constraints are given by a parametric affine variational inequality or one of its specialisations. The generator, written in MATLAB, allows the user to control different properties of the QPEC and its solution. Options include the proportion of degenerate constraints in both the first and second level, ill-conditioning, convexity of the objective, monotonicity and symmetry of the second-level problem, and so on. We believe these properties may substantially effect efficiency of existing methods for MPEC, and illustrate this numerically by applying several methods to generator test problems. Documentation and relevant codes can be found by visiting http://www.ms.unimelb.edu.au/danny/qpecgendoc.html.     

分形油藏中非牛顿松弛粘弹性液体广义流动分析

将分形引入渗流力学,建立了分形油藏具有松弛特性的粘弹性液体的不稳定渗流模型;利用双参数（ ｄｆ ,ｄｓ） 刻画分形油藏的分形特性,利用四参数（ｄｆ,ｄｓ ,λｖ ,λｐ） 描述粘弹性液的广义流动特征;提出了广义的正交变换,并利用Ｌａｐｌａｃｅ＿Ｗｅｂｅｒ 变换,拉氏＿正交变换给出了无限大地层和有界地层的精确解和渐近解;通过拉氏数值反演和渐近解分析了分形油藏粘弹性液体流动特征·　探讨了改变分形参数时压力变化规律·     

应用分形理论探讨炸药的撞击感度

 根据分形几何的周长-面积公式及线性回归原理,对TATB等六种炸药样品的落锤试验的分幅图像进行了图像处理和分形维数计算。从中发现,越钝感的炸药样品,分形维数越大。因此,可以认为,用炸药样品的分形维数来鉴别撞击感度是基本可行的。     

AlGaN薄膜的微区Raman散射光谱研究

利用微区Ｒａｍａｎ散射技术,对低压ＭＯＣＶＤ生长的不同Ａｌ组分的ＡｌｘＧａ１－ｘＮ薄膜（ｘ＝０,０．０７,０．１５）进行了背散射Ｚ（Ｘ,Ｘ）Ｚ－几何配制下的测量．Ａ１（ＬＯ）模式的声子频移随Ａｌ组分的变化关系为：ω（ＡｌｘＧａ１－ｘＮ）＝（１＋０．２２０ｘ）ω（ＧａＮ）．观察到了Ａ１（ＬＯ）模式由于空间相关效应引起的展宽．Ｅ２模式随Ａｌ组分的的增大产生的移动很微小,但趋于展宽．这被认为是Ｅ２模式的声子频移随Ａｌ组分的增加而增大与其受到的张应力导致的声子频移随Ａｌ组分的增加而减小共同作用的结果．在多种配置下,观察到了Ａｌ０．０７Ｇａ０．９３Ｎ薄膜的Ａ１（ＴＯ）模式、Ａ１（ＬＯ）模式、Ｅ１（ＴＯ）模式和Ｅ２模式．验证了ＡｌｘＧａ１－ｘＮ薄膜的Ｒａｍａｎ选择定则．表明ＡｌｘＧａ１－ｘＮ薄膜具有单模行为．     

Modification of the resistance of two epoxy resins to accelerated weathering using calcium sulfate as a photostabilizer

Epoxy-timber composites have received increasing attention during the last decades because there are many advantages related to their uses as construction materials in applications such as timber bridges. However, the durability of epoxy-timber composites under outdoor conditions has become a concern for many epoxy resins. This study evaluated the chemical, thermal, and mechanical properties of two cured epoxies, the product of the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A with 2,4-trimethyl-1,6-hexanediamine (DGEBA-TMDA) and the analogous resin prepared with the hydrogenated diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (HDGEBA-TMDA), each mixed with 2?wt. % calcium sulfate (CS). We hypothesized that the use of CS, as an inorganic UV absorber, could decrease undesirable effects arising from exposure to UV light, moisture, and extreme temperatures.

An accelerated aging chamber simulated natural weathering for 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6?months. Chemical changes in cured epoxy systems over time in the presence and absence of CS fillers were determined using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Thermal degradation profiles before and after exposure to accelerated weathering were followed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The glass transition temperatures (T_g) before and after accelerated weathering were measured, and the effect of accelerated weathering on the surface morphology of the epoxy systems was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In the presence of CS, after 6?months accelerated weathering the tensile strength of DGEBA-TMDA reduced by 23.8?±?2.4%, compared to 46.5?±?5.5% in its absence, while the corresponding values for HDGEBA-TMDA were 21.4?±?2.1% and 28.7?±?1.8%.     

Benzocoumarins from the rhizomes of Juncus acutus

Investigation of the ethyl acetate extract of Juncus acutus rhizomes revealed seven benzocoumarins, probably derived from oxidation of phenanthrenes already isolated from the plant. The structures were determined by means of spectroscopic methods. The anti-algal activity of the isolated compounds tested on the green alga Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata are reported here.     

Synthesis of Diethyl Oxalate by a Coupling-Regeneration Reaction of Carbon Monoxide

This article describes a process for the synthesis of diethyl oxalate by a coupling reaction of carbon monoxide, catalyzed by palladium in the presence of ethyl nitrite. The kinetics and mechanism of the coupling and regeneration reaction are also discussed. This paper presents the results of a scale-up test of the catalyst and the process based on an a priori computer simulation.     

Evaluation of a proficiency test on cadmium and lead in herbal material using assigned reference values

This paper presents an international proficiency testing program (APLAC T065) on two trace elements, cadmium and lead, in an herbal sample, Herba Desmodii Styracifolii. The program was registered with a total of 109 laboratories from 42 countries. The assigned reference values of the analytes for performance assessment were provided by the organizers using an accurate gravimetric isotope dilution inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry technique. z-Score was used as the numerical indicator to interpret participants' competence. The between-laboratory variations for cadmium and lead were respectively 18.7% and 19.8% and the consensus values were found to be consistent with the assigned reference values. Twenty-two participants gave at least one unsatisfactory z-score, but the performance of the majority of participants on the analysis of cadmium and lead in herbal matrix was generally good when compared with the assigned reference values.     

Spectrophotometric flow-injection determination of zinc in plant digests based on a spot test

A spot test was implemented in a flow-injection system for the spectrophotometric determination of zinc in digests of plant materials. It is based on the influence of Zn²⁺ on the oxidation rate of 1-naphthylethylenediamine (NED) by hexacyanoferrate(III) under acidic conditions. In order to control the precipitate formation and to maintain the resulting suspension, a micellar medium was established by adding Triton X-100. The proposed system handles about 65 samples per hour, meaning 72 μg NED and 9.0 mg K₃[Fe(CN)₆] per determination. Baseline drift is usually <0.01 absorbance per hour and the analytical signals for 0.5-2.5 mg l⁻¹ Zn range within ca. 0.07-0.45 absorbance. Linearity of the analytical curve is fair (r>0.999, n=6) and detection limit was estimated as 0.2 mg l⁻¹ Zn. Results are precise (R.S.D.<1%, n=10) and in agreement with flame atomic absorption spectrometry and with certified values of standard reference materials.     

Micro construction of poly(epsilon-caprolactone)/poly(L-lactic acid) blend film by solution casting under microwave irradiation

The micro construction of poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) and poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) blend films fabricated by solution casting under microwave irradiation was investigated by selective enzymatic degradation and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results were totally different from the blends obtained by conventional methods. The blend was more homogeneous and the PCL continuous phase more compact as no spherulites and tiny zone separation were observed from the film surface and no PCL network was observed inside the film, and the degradation of a PCL plank by Pseudomonas lipase was significantly retarded. The distributed PLLA micro spheres were enlarged and amorphous. The thermal behavior of the blend by microwave heating revealed that PCL and PLLA underwent a melting process, which induced the variations of the PCL phase and PLLA spheres. The weight loss caused by degradation of the PCL/PLLA blend obtained by conventional methods (B50c) is greater than that of the blend obtained by microwave methods (B50m), which reflects the change in morphology from a loose PCL network (B50c) to a dense PCL plank (B50m).