A Hypergeometric Inequality

A sequence of coefficients that appeared in the evaluation of a rational integral has been shown to be unimodal. The original proof is based on a inequality for hypergeometric functions. A generalization is presented.     

High throughput synthesis of ester library utilizing selective molecular reactivity and recognition technology

This paper reports a new solid support reagent that showed high degrees of selective molecular reactivity and molecular recognition in homo-functional reactions (reactions having similar reactive functionality in reactants and products).     

Arrays of magnetic nanoparticles capped with alkylamines

Magnetic metal and metal oxide nanoparticles capped with alkylamines have been synthesized and characterized by transmission electron microscopy. X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray analysis and magnetization measurements. Core-shell Pd-Ni particles with composition, Pd₅₆₁Ni₃₀₀₀, (diameter ∼3.3 nm) are superparamagnetic at 5 K and organize themselves into two-dimensional crystalline arrays. Similar arrays are obtained with Pd₅₆₁Ni₃₀₀₀Pd₁₅₀₀ nanoparticles containing an additional Pd shell. Magnetic spinel particles of γ-Fe₂O₃, Fe₃O₄ and CoFe₂O₄ of average diameters in the 4–6 nm range coated with octylamine are all supermagnetic at room temperature and yield close-packed disordered arrays. Relatively regular arrays are formed by dodecylaminecapped Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles (∼8.6 nm diameter) while well-ordered hexagonal arrays were obtained with octylamine-covered Co₃O₄ nanoparticles (∼4.2 nm diameter).     

Imaging the neural circuitry and chemical control of aggressive motivation

Background  

With the advent of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in awake animals it is possible to resolve patterns of neuronal activity across the entire brain with high spatial and temporal resolution. Synchronized changes in neuronal activity across multiple brain areas can be viewed as functional neuroanatomical circuits coordinating the thoughts, memories and emotions for particular behaviors. To this end, fMRI in conscious rats combined with 3D computational analysis was used to identifying the putative distributed neural circuit involved in aggressive motivation and how this circuit is affected by drugs that block aggressive behavior.     

Obtaining functional form for chaotic time series evolution using genetic algorithm

A genetic algorithm (GA) based strategy is presented for deducing an exact or near-exact functional form from a time series. The GA formalism proposed here utilizes (i) the "postfix" representation with a view to reduce the procedural complexities and (ii) the "elitist mating" scheme to produce fitter offspring strings. The GA procedure is exemplified by considering chaotic time series of the well-known logistic, Henon and universal maps. The GA correctly recovers the underlying functional forms for the respective time series. Measurements from a number of finite-dimensional physical, biological, and other systems often give rise to complex time series and the presented methodology should prove useful in obtaining functional forms describing accurately the evolution of the time series. (c) 1999 American Institute of Physics.     

A fluctuation theory for Markov chains

A fluctuation theory for Markov chains on an ordered countable state space is developed, using ladder processes. These are shown to be Markov renewal processes. Results are given for the joint distribution of the extremum (maximum or minimum) and the first time the extremum is achieved. Also a new classification of the states of a Markov chain is suggested. Two examples are given.     

Tracks of 18·56 MeV/u 40Ar ions in Lexan polycarbonate detector

Latent damage tracks of energetic⁴⁰Ar ions (18·56 MeV/u) have been recorded in Lexan polycarbonate detector. Bulk and track-etch parameters are evaluated under successive chemical etching. Our results show a linear correlation between the measured track-etch rate along the track and the corresponding total energy-loss rate and predict a threshold value of 5·0 MeV mg⁻¹ cm² for track registration. Maximum etchable track lengths of⁴⁰Ar ions as a function of energies have also been measured and compared with three different sets of theoretical ranges.     

Photoluminescence of SrS: Cu phosphors

Results of the investigation on the spectral characteristics of PL of SrS:Cu phosphors are presented. Probable emitters for the three observed bands, viz. 4710 Å, 5200 Å and 5480 Å, have been suggested.     

Integer programming formulations of vehicle routing problems

Various mathematical formulations are available for situations represented by vehicle routing problems. The assignment-based integer programming formulations of these problems are more common and easy to understand. Such formulations are discussed in this paper and a much simpler formulation for the vechicle routing problem is presented for the case, when all the vehicles have the same load capacity and maximum allowable cost per route.     

Tests of a “free-volume” model of gas permeation through polymer membranes. I. Pure CO2, CH4, C2H4, and C3H8 in polyethylene

Permeability coefficients have been measured for CO₂, CH₄, C₂H₄, and C₃H₈ in polyethylene membranes at temperatures of 5, 20, and 35°C and at applied gas pressures of up to 30 atm. The temperature and pressure dependence of the permeability coefficients was represented satisfactorily by an extension of Fujita's free-volume model of diffusion of small molecules in polymers. The results of the present steady-state permeability measurements provide further support for the conclusion reached from previous unsteady-state diffusivity measurements that Fujita's model is applicable to the transport of small molecules, such as CO₂, CH₄, C₂H₄, and C₃H₈, in polyethylene. It was previously thought that this model is applicable only to the transport of larger molecules, such as of organic vapors, in polymers.