Statistical simulation of the structure of amorphous alloys

Summary The total and partial distribution functions of a metalloid/transition-metal amorphous alloy (Fe₈B₁₅) have been calculated by means of a ?nonstandard? hard-sphere dense-random-packing model. Based on these results, a comparison with the ?canonical? dense-random-packing model is discussed.

---

Riassunto Si presenta un calcolo delle funzioni di distribuzione radiale parziali e totali di una lega metallo-metalloide amorfa (lega Fe-B) generate mediante simulazione numerica. La struttura viene realizzata tramite un modello ad impaccamento di sfere rigide basato su criteri di crescita probabilistici. I risultati sono confrontati con il modello ad impaccamento denso e casuale (dense random packing) ?canonico? di Bennet.

---

Резюме Вьічисляются полньіе и парциональньіе функции распределения для аморфного сплава ?металлоид-переходной металл? (Fe₈B₁₅), используя ?нестандартную⎴ модель плотной случайной упаковки твердых сфер. Полученные результаты сравниваются с результатами ?канонической? модели плотной случайной упаковки.

     

Su alcune formule in termini finiti per la risoluzione numerica dell’equazione di Poisson

Sommario Sono presentate diverse formule, di ordine elevato, che approssimano l'operatore di Laplace e che sono particolarmente vantaggiose quando vengono impiegate per la soluzione numerica della equazione di Poisson in due dimensioni.

---

In this paper some high-order difference approximations to Poisson's equation in two dimensions are given It is shown that many formulas are available for practical calculations; their appropriate use associated with the process of repeating the solution on a finer mesh is a faster and more accurate method of improving the numerical solution.

---

---

Lavoro eseguito nell'ambito del Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricetche.     

One-step synthesis of highly water-soluble magnetite colloidal nanocrystals

A high-temperature solution-phase hydrolysis approach has been developed for the synthesis of colloidal magnetite nanocrystals with well-controlled size and size distribution, high crystallinity, and high water solubility. The synthesis was accomplished by the hydrolysis and reduction of iron(III) cations in diethylene glycol with a rapidly injected solution of sodium hydroxide at an elevated temperature. The high reaction temperature allows for control over size and size distribution and yields highly crystalline products. The superior water solubility is achieved by using a polyelectrolyte, that is, poly(acrylic acid) as the capping agent, the carboxylate groups of which partially bind to the nanocrystal surface and partially extend into the surrounding water. The direct synthesis of water-soluble nanocrystals eliminates the need for additional surface modification steps which are usually required for treating hydrophobic nanocrystals produced in nonpolar solvents through the widely recognized pyrolysis route. The abundant carboxylate groups on the nanocrystal surface allow further modifications, such as bioconjugation, as demonstrated by linking cysteamine to the particle surface. The monodisperse, highly water-soluble, superparamagnetic, and biocompatible magnetite nanocrystals should find immediate important biomedical applications.     

The Fermi surface of [Formula: see text

The heavy-fermion compound [Formula: see text] has been studied using the fully relativistic spin-polarized mean muffin-tin orbital method within the local density approximation. Two separate calculations, one where the f electron is treated as a valence electron and the other where it is treated as part of the core, have been performed and the Fermi surface is obtained. The angular-dependent de Haas - van Alphen (dHvA) frequencies are calculated in both cases and they are compared with the experimental dHvA frequencies. We also calculated the electron momentum densities and compared them with the electron - positron momentum densities measured from the two-dimensional angular correlation of electron - positron annihilation radiation. The spin polarization of the Fermi surface is analysed and we present a new interpretation of the experimental data of Harrison et al.     

Implementazione di tests probabilistici di primalità

Sunto In questo lavoro si considerano due tests probabilistici di primalità per interi disparim di forma qualsiasi. Gli algoritmi sono tali che sem è dichiarato composto allora lo è certamente, mentre sem è dichiarato primo il risultato ha un certo margine di errore, che può essere reso arbitrariamente piccolo. Un programma scritto e compilato in linguaggio FORTRAN, applicabile ad interi fino a 10²⁰⁰⁰ ed adatto anche a personal computer, permette un confronto dei due tests sulla base del tipo dei risultati e del tempo di elaborazione, fornendo diverse opzioni ed una stima del limite superiore per l’eventuale errore in una dichiarazione di probabile primalità.

---

Summary In this paper we consider two probabilistic tests for determining the primality of any odd integerm. Both algorithms have the property that ifm is declared to be composite than it is guaranteed to be so. On the other hand, ifm is declared to be prime than it is sure to be prime only within a certain margin of error which can be made arbitrarily small. A program, written and compiled in the computer language FORTRAN enable this tests to be applied to integers up to 10²⁰⁰⁰, allowing a comparison between the two tests with respect to their running time and with an esplicit bound for the maximum possible error whenm is declared prime. The program is sufficiently compact to be implemented on a personal computer such as an IBM PS/2 with an arithmetic co-processor

     

Image of electron densities from line and plane projections

We compare Fourier transforms with orthogonal polynomials techniques applied in reconstructing three-dimensional electron–positron momentum densities from two-dimensional angular correlation of annihilation radiation (2D-ACAR) spectra and electron momentum densities from one-dimensional Compton profiles (1D-CP). In the case of Fourier transforms, we show results for two different algorithms: filtered back projection and Fourier–Bessel method. These techniques are presented for 2D-ACAR spectra in Y, ErGa₃ and model profiles. PACS 78.70.Bj; 87.59.Fm; 71.18.+y     

Kinetic comparison of tissue non-specific and placental human alkaline phosphatases expressed in baculovirus infected cells: application to screening for Down's syndrome

Background  

In humans, there are four alkaline phosphatases, and each form exibits a characteristic pattern of tissue distribution. The availability of an easy method to reveal their activity has resulted in large amount of data reporting correlations between variations in activity and illnesses. For example, alkaline phosphatase from neutrophils of mothers pregnent with a trisomy 21 fetus (Down's syndrome) displays significant differences both in its biochemical and immunological properties, and in its affinity for some specific inhibitors.     

Implementation of a quality management system in a public research centre

In recent decades, it has become increasingly important for public research centres to attract external clients, including government, private and public bodies and companies. They do this by demonstrating their research excellence. A research centre??s ability to provide professional research services can be assessed by competent technical bodies which verify that the research centre??s laboratories operate according to certain predetermined criteria or standards. Although there is no set of generally accepted standards, some regional accreditation bodies already offer accreditation assessment for the R&D laboratories which are in their territory. This article analyses the successful application of a quality management system in a public research centre employing 57 people including researchers, technicians and administrative staff. This system is based on the scheme of regional accreditation of industrial research laboratories which was inspired by ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 17025:2005 and set up by the regional authority. The overall aim of the management system is to monitor all of the industrial research and services which the centre offers to external users, such as government, private and public bodies and companies, and to guarantee that final products, usually technical reports and prototypes, respond to their needs. The accreditation applies to all of the activity of the research centre except for basic research. In this article, the critical factors influencing the success of the implementation of the management system are outlined together with benefits and opportunities. Weak points and problems are analysed, and the actions which were undertaken in order to prevent and manage problems are described.