Tagging of the Magnetization with the Transition Zones of 360° Rotations Generated by a Tandem of Two Adiabatic DANTE Inversion Sequences

A new technique is presented for generating myocardial tagging using the signal intensity minima of the transition zones between the bands of 0° and 360° rotations, induced by a tandem of two adiabatic delays alternating with nutations for tailored excitation (DANTE) inversion sequences. With this approach, the underlying matrix corresponds to magnetization that has experienced 0° or 360° rotations. The DANTE sequences were implemented from adiabatic parent pulses for insensitivity of the underlying matrix to B₁ inhomogeneity. The performance of the proposed tagging technique is demonstrated theoretically with computer simulations and experimentally on phantom and on the canine heart, using a surface coil for both RF transmission and signal reception. The simulations and the experimental data demonstrated uniform grid contrast and sharp tagging profiles over a twofold variation of the B₁ field magnitude.     

Scattering relations for point‐source excitation in chiral media

A spherical electromagnetic wave propagating in a chiral medium is scattered by a bounded chiral obstacle which can have any of the usual properties. Reciprocity and general scattering theorems, relating the scattered fields due to scattering of waves from a point source put in any two different locations are established. Applying the general scattering theorem for appropriate locations and polarizations of the point source we prove an associated forward scattering theorem. Mixed scattering relations, relating the scattered fields due to a plane wave and the far‐field patterns due to a spherical wave, are also established. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Second Order Nonlinear Evolution Inclusions Ⅰ： Existence and Relaxation Results

This is the first part of a work on second order nonlinear, nonmonotone evolution inclusions defined in the framework of an evolution triple of spaces and with a multivalued nonlinearity depending on both x（t） and x（t）. In this first part we prove existence and relaxation theorems. We consider the case of an usc, convex valued nonlinearity and we show that for this problem the solution set is nonempty and compact in C^1 （T, H）. Also we examine the Isc, nonconvex case and again we prove the existence of solutions. In addition we establish the existence of extremal solutions and by strengthening our hypotheses, we show that the extremal solutions are dense in C^1 （T, H） to the solutions of the original convex problem （strong relaxation）. An example of a nonlinear hyperbolic optimal control problem is also discussed.     

Complexation thermodynamics of free and graft oligomers with complementary polymers

The dilute solution complexation equilibrium between linear macromolecules and smaller complementary oligomers is considered when: (1) the oligomers are free in solution; and (2) the oligomers are covalently attached at one end to the polymer. A general statistical mechanical framework is developed and is illustrated using a simple random walk model for polymer conformation. The statistical mechanical partition functions are formulated using a generating function technique, allowing thermodynamic averages in the complexed state to be calculated. Loops, trains, and tails of all possible length are allowed in the conformation of a complexed oligomer. Simulation results for the free oligomer case are compared with those obtained for oligomers covalently attached to the polymeric molecular. The model provides a theoretical explanation for the experimentally observed enhancement of complexation of oligomers grafted to the complementary polymers.     

Nontrivial Solutions for Resonant Hemivariational Inequalities

We study a resonant semilinear elliptic hemivariational inequality. Under some assumptions of strong resonance on the Clarke subdifferential of the superpotential, and using nonsmooth critical point theory, the existence of a nontrivial solution of the problem is shown. This paper has been partially supported by the State Committee for Scientific Research of Poland (KBN) under research grants no. 2 P03A 003 25 and no. 4 T07A 027 26.     

A Finite Algorithm for Global Minimization of Separable Concave Programs

Researchers first examined the problem of separable concave programming more than thirty years ago, making it one of the earliest branches of nonlinear programming to be explored. This paper proposes a new algorithm that finds the exact global minimum of this problem in a finite number of iterations. In addition to proving that our algorithm terminates finitely, the paper extends a guarantee of finiteness to all branch-and-bound algorithms for concave programming that (1) partition exhaustively using rectangular subdivisions and (2) branch on the incumbent solution when possible. The algorithm uses domain reduction techniques to accelerate convergence; it solves problems with as many as 100 nonlinear variables, 400 linear variables and 50 constraints in about five minutes on an IBM RS/6000 Power PC. An industrial application with 152 nonlinear variables, 593 linear variables, and 417 constraints is also solved in about ten minutes.     

Multiple nontrivial solutions for nonlinear periodic problems with the p-Laplacian

We consider a nonlinear periodic problem driven by the scalar p-Laplacian with a nonsmooth potential (hemivariational inequality). Using the degree theory for multivalued perturbations of (S)₊-operators and the spectrum of a class of weighted eigenvalue problems for the scalar p-Laplacian, we prove the existence of at least three distinct nontrivial solutions, two of which have constant sign.     

Design considerations and an example of application of an in-house made TG-MS interface

The design, the abilities and a characteristic application of an in-house made interface for combining thermogravimetry (TG) with mass spectrometry (MS) are presented. The TG-MS interface consists mainly of three co-axial tubes. The position of the intermediate tube was determined after calculation of the temperature profile at the TG furnace exit tube. The inner tube position was determined taking into consideration its protection against condensation of heavy molecules and the time delay for the transfer of the evolved gases. This interface allows either continuous sampling and transferring of the evolved gases from the TG to the MS or repetitive introduction of short sampling pulses of TG evolved gases to MS. The interface is capable of coupling various commercial instruments. In the present work two configurations of this interface are demonstrated. Finally an example of application of this interface on forest fuel pyrolysis is presented. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.