Variable metric bundle methods: From conceptual to implementable forms

To minimize a convex function, we combine Moreau-Yosida regularizations, quasi-Newton matrices and bundling mechanisms. First we develop conceptual forms using “reversal” quasi-Newton formulae and we state their global and local convergence. Then, to produce implementable versions, we incorporate a bundle strategy together with a “curve-search”. No convergence results are given for the implementable versions; however some numerical illustrations show their good behaviour even for large-scale problems.     

{C \ell{^\ast_3}} Invariance of the Dirac Equation and Electromagnetism

In order to obtain a form invariance of the Dirac wave, the relativistic quantum theory uses ${{\rm SL}(2, \mathbb{C})}$ , a subset of the Clifford algebra C? ₃ of the 3-dimensional physical space. In Dirac theory and electromagnetism, we study a replacement of this invariance group by the full group ${C \ell{^\ast_3}}$ consisting of all invertible elements in C? ₃. We extend this invariance to systems of identical particles. We explain how geometry linked to the Dirac wave implies existence of a second space-time variety, and we review its consequences to particle physics.     

On DRC‐covering of Kn by cycles

This paper considers the cycle covering of complete graphs motivated by the design of survivable WDM networks, where the requests are routed on INF‐networks which are protected independently from each other. The problem can be stated as follows: for a given graph G, find a cycle covering of the edge set of K_n, where V(K_n) = V(G), such that each cycle in the covering satisfies the disjoint routing constraint (DRC7rpar;, relatively to G, which can be stated as follows: to each edge of K_n we associate in G a path and all the paths associated to the edges of a cycle of the covering must be vertex disjoint. Here we consider the case where G = C_n, a ring of size n and we want to minimize the number of cycles in the covering. We give optimal solutions for the problem as well as for variations of the problem, namely, its directed version and the case when the cycle length is fixed to 4. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Combin Designs 11: 100–112, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/jcd.10040     

Tri-polarized MIMO systems in real-world channels: Channel investigation and performance analysis

Polarized multi-antenna systems are an effective solution for reducing inter-antenna spacing while still maintaining low inter-antenna correlation. Traditionally, only dual-polarized antenna systems are used for polarized transceivers. In this paper, tri-polarized antenna systems are investigated. Starting from the polarization mechanisms in the wireless propagation channel, it is shown that dual-polarized MIMO systems show high sensitivity to the transmitter and receiver orientation, which may be very critical in practical applications. Tri-polarized MIMO systems are introduced as a solution to obtain a robust MIMO performances, which are independent of the transmitter and receiver orientation. The performances of dual- and tri-polarized MIMO systems are evaluated on real-world measured channels, and the limits of each of these systems is highlighted.     

A boundary-value problem for the stationary vlasov-poisson equations: The plane diode

The stationary Vlasov-Poisson boundary value problem in a spatially one-dimensional domain is studied. The equations describe the flow of electrons in a plane diode. Existence is proved when the boundary condition (the cathode emission distribution) is a bounded function which decays super-linearly or a Dirac mass. Uniqueness is proved for (physically realistic) boundary conditions which are decreasing functions of the velocity variable. It is shown that uniqueness does not always hold for the Dirac mass boundary conditions.     

Proton transfers in aromatic and antiaromatic systems. How aromatic or antiaromatic is the transition state? An ab initio study

An ab initio study of six carbon-to-carbon identity proton transfers is reported. They refer to the benzenium ion/benzene (C6H7(+)/C6H6), the 2,4-cyclopentadiene/cyclopentadienyl anion (C5H6/C5H5(-)), and the cyclobutenyl cation/cyclobutadiene (C4H5(+)/C4H4) systems and their respective noncyclic reference systems, that is, [structure: see text], [structure: see text] and [structure: see text]. For the aromatic C6H7(+)/C6H6 and C5H6/C5H5(-) systems, geometric parameters and aromaticity indices indicate that the transition states are highly aromatic. The proton-transfer barriers in these systems are quite low, which is consistent with a disproportionately high degree of transition-state aromaticity. For the antiaromatic C4H5(+)/C4H4 system, the geometric parameters and aromaticity indices indicate a rather small degree of antiaromaticity of the transition state. However, the proton-transfer barrier is higher than expected for a transition state with a low antiaromaticity. This implies that another factor contributes to the barrier; it is suggested that this factor is angle and torsional strain in the transition state. The question whether charge delocalization at the transition state might correlate with the development of aromaticity was also examined. No such correlation was found, that is, charge delocalization lags behind proton transfer as is commonly observed in nonaromatic systems involving pi-acceptor groups.     

Enzyme biosensors based on ion-selective field-effect transistors

The key theoretical principles of the work on ion-selective field-effect transistor connected with their application in bioanalytical practice, some specifics of modern microtechnologies for their creation, and measurement schemes with set-ups are discussed. The achievements in the creation of enzyme biosensors based on ion-selective field-effect transistors and prospects for their application are described in detail.     

The effect of harvest periods on the chemical compositions of essential oils of sage (Salvia aucheri L.) leaves

The essential oils of sage leaves (Salvia aucheri Bentham var. canescens Boiss. & Heldr.), growing wild in South Anatolia, were extracted by hydrodistillation and analysed by GC and GC-MS. The percentage yields of the essential oils from sage leaves harvested at different years were 1.0%, 1.3%, 1.3%, 1.0%, 1.4%, 1.5% and 1.2%, respectively. In this study, 1,8-cineole, camphre, camphene α-pinene and β-pinene were identified as the major components of sage leaves collected at different periods. The main constituents of sage oil collected over the years were 1,8-cineole (35.01-48.06%), camphre (13.58-23.92%), camphene (6.77-8.82%), α-pinene (5.79-8.54%) and β-pinene (4.32-6.28%).     

Electronic structure of Li-intercalated oligopyridines: a comparative study by photoelectron spectroscopy

The role of nitrogen in the charge transfer and storage capacity of lithium-intercalated heterocyclic oligophenylenes was investigated using photoelectron spectroscopy. The development of new occupied states at low binding energies in the valence band region, as well as core level chemical shifts at both carbon and nitrogen sites, demonstrates partial charge transfer from lithium atoms to the organic component during formation of the intercalated compound. In small compounds, i.e., biphenyl and bipyridine derivatives, the position of the nitrogen heteroatom significantly affects the spacing between gap states in the Li-intercalated film; yet it has minimal effects on the charge storage capacity. In larger, branched systems, the presence of nitrogen in the aromatic system significantly enhances the charge storage capacity while the Li-N bond strength at high intercalation levels is significantly weakened relative to the nitrogen-free derivative. These observations have strong implications towards improved deintercalation processes in organic electrodes in lithium-ion batteries.