A Constant Bound for Geometric Permutations of Disjoint Unit Balls

   Abstract. We prove that a set of n disjoint unit balls in R ^d admits at most four distinct geometric permutations, or line transversals, thus settling a long-standing conjecture in combinatorial geometry. The constant bound significantly improves upon the Θ (n ^d-1 ) bound for disjoint balls of unrestricted radii.     

The treatment of nonhomogeneous Dirichlet boundary conditions by thep-version of the finite element method

Summary The paper addresses the problem of the implementation of nonhomogeneous essential Dirichlet type boundary conditions in thep-version of the finite element method.Partially supported by the Office of Naval Research under Grant N-00014-85-K-0169Research partially supported by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Air Force Systems Command, USAF, under Grant Number AFOSR 85-0322     

Vapour and plasma ignition thresholds for visible pulsed-laser ablation of metallic targets

The coupling of visible nanosecond laser pulses to metallic targets irradiated in vacuum is studied. The expressions of the vapour and plasma ignition times are obtained. Two cases for vapour breakdown in the plasma ignition process are considered. The first case is that 40 generations of new electrons are born in vapour generation time before plasma formation as assumed in the literature. The second case is that 10 generations of new electrons are born in vapour generation time. Molybdenum (Mo), niobium (Nb) and aluminium (Al) targets are considered for illustrations of our results. The expression of the plasma ignition time for the Al target is substantially different from that reported in the literature. The vapour and plasma ignition threshold laser intensities are calculated and compared with those reported in the literature. Reasons for disagreement are discussed. The plasma ignition threshold estimated in the second case is noted to be in good agreement with the reported experimental result.     

Analysis of numerical integration in p-version finite element eigenvalue approximation

We study the effect of numerical integration when the p-version of the finite element method is used to approximate the eigenpairs of elliptic partial differential operators. We obtain optimal orders of convergence for approximate eigenvalues and eigenvectors under a certain set of requirements on the quadrature rules employed. This is the same set of conditions that has been shown (in an earlier work) to be sufficient for the optimal approximation of the solutions of the corresponding source problems.     

Synthesis of orthogonal end functionalized oligoethylene glycols of defined lengths

The synthesis of oligoethylene glycols of defined lengths possessing different end functionalities is described. The utility of these molecules towards the development of a generic membrane anchor is demonstrated.     

Mössbauer, X-ray diffraction and magnetization studies of Fe–Mn–Al–Nb alloys prepared by high energy ball milling

Fe₆₀Mn₁₀Al₂₀Nb₁₀, (Fe₆₀Mn₁₀Al₃₀)₉₅Nb₅ and (Fe₆₀Mn₁₀Al₃₀)₉₀Nb₁₀ ball milled powdered alloys were investigated using X-ray diffraction, Mössbauer spectrometry, thermomagnetic (TGM) and magnetization measurements. We studied the influence of Nb content and of different milling times on the structural and magnetic properties. Two main features can be concluded: (1) the FeAlMn induces a BCC phase whatever the Nb content is, and (2) as both increasing Nb content and milling time give rise to an highly disordered state in conjunction with a decrease of the ferromagnetic behavior.     

Sample-path optimization of convex stochastic performance functions

In this paper we propose a method for optimizing convex performance functions in stochastic systems. These functions can include expected performance in static systems and steady-state performance in discrete-event dynamic systems; they may be nonsmooth. The method is closely related to retrospective simulation optimization; it appears to overcome some limitations of stochastic approximation, which is often applied to such problems. We explain the method and give computational results for two classes of problems: tandem production lines with up to 50 machines, and stochastic PERT (Program Evaluation and Review Technique) problems with up to 70 nodes and 110 arcs. Sponsored by the National Science Foundation under grant number CCR-9109345, by the Air Force Systems Command, USAF, under grant numbers F49620-93-1-0068 and F49620-95-1-0222, by the U.S. Army Research Office under grant number DAAL03-92-G-0408, and by the U.S. Army Space and Strategic Defense Command under contract number DASG60-91-C-0144. The U.S. Government has certain rights in this material, and is authorized to reproduce and distribute reprints for Governmental purposes notwithstanding any copyright notation thereon. Sponsored by a Wisconsin/Hilldale Research Award, by the U.S. Army Space and Strategic Defense Command under contract number DASG60-91-C-0144, and the Air Force Systems Command, USAF, under grant number F49620-93-1-0068. Sponsored by the National Science Foundation under grant number DDM-9201813.     

Numerical methods for reaction-diffusion problems with non-differentiable kinetics

Summary We consider a class of steady-state semilinear reaction-diffusion problems with non-differentiable kinetics. The analytical properties of these problems have received considerable attention in the literature. We take a first step in analyzing their numerical approximation. We present a finite element method and establish error bounds which are optimal for some of the problems. In addition, we also discuss a finite difference approach. Numerical experiments for one- and two-dimensional problems are reported.Dedicated to Ivo Babuka on his sixtieth birthdayResearch partially supported by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Air Force Systems Command, USAF under Grant Number AFOSR 85-0322     

Synthesis and spectral studies of 2-mercaptobenzimidazole derivatives. I

The syntheses of some 2-mercaptobenzimidazole (I) derivatives have been described. While preparing such compounds it has been observed that I reacts predominantly as the thione under anhydrous reaction conditions, and as the thiol in the presence of an alkali. Strutures of all of the nine compounds have been established with the help of spectral methods including ¹³C nmr spectroscopy of the two compounds (II and III).