Dark cure studies of cationic photopolymerizations of epoxides: Characterization of kinetic rate constants at high conversions

The effective propagation rate constant (k_p; averaged over all the propagating active centers) was characterized for solvent‐free cationic photopolymerizations of phenyl glycidyl ether over the entire range of conversions, including the high conversion regime in which mass transfer limitations become important. The profile for the k_p as a function of conversion was found to exhibit a constant plateau value at low to intermediate conversions, followed by a monotonic increase above a threshold value of conversion. To explain this trend, it is proposed that at high conversion the diffusional mobility of the photoinitiator counterion is reduced whereas the mobility of the cationic active center remains high because of reactive diffusion. Therefore, with increasing conversion, the average distance between the active centers and counterions may increase, resulting in an increase in the propagation rate constant. The profiles for the k_p values were investigated as a function of the temperature, photoinitiator anion, and photoinitiator concentration. As the photoinitiator concentration was increased, the plateau value of the effective propagation rate constant decreased whereas the threshold conversion increased. All of the experimental trends are consistent with the proposed increase in ion separation at high conversions. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 4409–4416, 2004     

Noise Path Synthesis with Nonlinear Joints

An efficient synthesis approach is developed which permits thecalculation of the steady-state frequency response of an assembly whichis comprised of linear components and nonlinear joints. Receptancematrices are used to characterize the linear components, which permitscondensation of the system to just the joint degrees-of-freedom.Furthermore, the calculated nonlinear joint forces are then used tostudy the power flow in the assembly, as well as detailed dynamicbehavior within the components. Integrated into the technique is acontinuation scheme which permits efficient parametric studies.     

The many facets of linear programming

We examine the history of linear programming from computational, geometric, and complexity points of view, looking at simplex, ellipsoid, interior-point, and other methods. Received: June 22, 2000 / Accepted: April 4, 2001?Published online October 2, 2001     

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.     

Local algorithms in exterior tomography

Exterior tomographic data are taken over lines outside a central region, and such data occur in the industrial nondestructive evaluation of large objects such as rockets. We explain, using microlocal analysis, which singularities are well reconstructed from exterior data, and we explain how this phenomenon is reflected in the singular value decomposition for the exterior transform [E.T. Quinto, Singular value decompositions and inversion methods for the exterior Radon transform and a spherical transform, J. Math. Anal. Appl. 95 (1983) 437–448]. We extend Lambda Tomography to exterior data and to limited angle exterior data. The algorithm is tested on industrial data from Perceptics, Inc.     

Xor on one‐defect systems

We present a network experiment that investigates the computational power of cellular automata on the simplest irregular lattice. One cellular automaton whose apparent complexity increased is Rule 60, the left neighbor Xor operator. It went from being nested to complex. That makes Xor a candidate for universal computational power. We present the evidence in terms of the size of cycle lengths, transients, and size of boolean expressions. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity 12: 13–29, 2006     

Positive periodic solution of two-species ratio-dependent predator–prey system with time delay in two-patch environment

In this paper, we are concerned with the existence of positive periodic solution to a class of two-species ratio-dependent predator–prey diffusion model with time delay. By using the continuation theorem of coincidence degree theory, we transform this problem into a problem of calculating the topological degree of a continuous mapping, and then some sufficient conditions of the existence of positive periodic solution is established for the system.     

Crutch or Catalyst: Teachers' Beliefs and Practices Regarding Calculator use in Mathematics Instruction

This study investigated K‐12 teachers' beliefs and reported teaching practices regarding calculator use in their mathematics instruction. A survey was administered to more than 800 elementary, middle and high school teachers in a large metropolitan area to address the following questions: (a) what are the beliefs and practices of mathematics teachers regarding calculator use? and (b) how do these beliefs and practices differ among teachers in three grade bands? Factor analysis of 20 Likert scale items revealed four factors that accounted for 54% of the variance in the ratings. These factors were named Catalyst Beliefs, Teacher Knowledge, Crutch Beliefs, and Teacher Practices. Compared to elementary teachers, high school teachers were significantly higher in their perception of calculator use as a catalyst in mathematics instruction. However, the higher the grade level of the teacher, the higher the mean score on the perception that calculator use may be a way of getting answers without understanding mathematical processes. The mean scores for teachers in all three grade bands indicated agreement that students can learn mathematics through calculator use and using calculators in instruction will lead to better student understanding and make mathematics more interesting. The survey results shed light on teachers' self reported beliefs, knowledge, and practices in regard to consistency with elements of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Principles and Standards for School Mathematics (2000) technology principle and the NCTM use of technology position paper (2003). This study extended previous research on teachers' beliefs regarding calculator use in classrooms by examining and comparing the results of teacher surveys across three grade bands.     

The Weierstrass mean

Theorem.Let the sequences {e _i ⁽ⁿ⁾ },i=1, 2, 3,n=0, 1, 2, ...be defined by where the e ⁽⁰⁾ s satisfy and where all square roots are taken positive. Then where the convergence is quadratic and monotone and where The discussions of convergence are entirely elementary. However, although the determination of the limits can be made in an elementary way, an acquaintance with elliptic objects is desirable for real understanding.