The effect of traffic noise on sleep of young adults in their homes

The disturbance of sleep by traffic noise is a major problem area in noise pollution. Extensive laboratory tests using multichannel electroencephalograms (EEG) have been carried out by many workers to determine the general response of people when exposed to noise during sleep. An experimental technique for obtaining results in people's homes has been developed using a simplified one-channel EEG. The responses of six people in the age range 19-24 were measured. A significant correlation was found between sleep disturbance and traffic noise when the noise is expressed in EPNdB. In the home experiments the subjects appeared to be approximately 10 dB less sensitive to noises than laboratory subjects for similar noise exposure. There also appeared to be some adaptation to the noise exposure; however, only one subject was tested for a period of 20 days and was insufficient to give definite results on adaptation.     

Network survivability analysis

Advances in fiber optic and local area network (LAN) technologies are providing system designers with many new options for interconnecting computer equipment. A recurring problem for military system designers, who are end-users of a LAN standard, is implementing LANs so that the survivability, reliability, maintainability, and availability (SRMA) of a system is maximized. LAN standards working groups are currently making design decisions about topologies, components, and protocols that directly affect the SRMA of the end-user's system. This article focuses on a new analytic technique, called “network survivability analysis,” that provides the mathematical tools needed to compare the survivability of arbitrary network topologies. For background, several network metrics are described and their limitations for LAN standards development identified. Network survivability is defined, and several token-passing ring case examples are analyzed. The primary strength of network survivability analysis is that it can be used to provide a quantitative comparison among LAN topologies without knowledge of the end-user's equipment, systems, or environments.     

A classical no-interaction theorem for bosonic strings and its quantum significance

We show that, in dimensions equal or greater than three, classical strings do not join or split. This is part of a no-interaction theorem that is also proved. The quantum theory is considered.     

The Variational Approach to the Scalar Field Theory in Curved Einstein Space

The variational approach based on the covariant quantization method for the curved Einstein space is applied.     

Investigation of multicomponent fluoride optical materials in the UV spectral region: I. Single crystals of Ca1−x R xF2+x (R = Sc, Y, La, Yb, Lu) solid solutions

Crystalline materials that are transparent in the vacuum UV spectral region and currently used have been reviewed. Transmission of crystals of solid solutions with the fluorite structure Ca_1?x R _xF_2+x (R = Sc, Y, La, Yb, Lu) in the UV and vacuum UV spectral regions has been investigated. It is shown that application of different methods of purification of fluorides from some impurities can significantly improve the optical quality of fluoride multicomponent crystals in the short-wavelength spectral region.     

The semi‐iterative method applied to the hyper‐power iteration

The semi‐iterative method (SIM) is applied to the hyper‐power (HP) iteration, and necessary and sufficient conditions are given for the convergence of the semi‐iterative–hyper‐power (SIM–HP) iteration. The root convergence rate is computed for both the HP and SIM–HP methods, and the quotient convergence rate is given for the HP iteration. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Inverse Problem for a Mathematical Model of Adsorption Dynamics

A mixed problem is considered for a system of partial differential equations modeling the process of adsorption dynamics. An existence and uniqueness theorem is proved for this problem, and the solution properties are investigated. The inverse problem is posed, involving the determination of the system coefficient given additional information about the solution. A uniqueness theorem is proved for the solution of the inverse problem.__________Translated from Prikladnaya Matematika i Informatika, No. 16, pp. 5 – 14, 2004.     

Localization and the integer-quantized Hall effect: Diffusion constant for high Landau levels and white noise potential

The diffusion constant and the diagonal conductivity for non-interacting electrons in a two-dimensional, disordered system are studied. A homogeneous magnetic field perpendicular to the electron system is assumed. For weak short-range random potentials and high fields the Landau quantum numbern can be used as expansion parameter. In the limit of high Landau levels the system shows metallic behaviour. Corrections for finiten decrease the conductivity and indicate localized states in the whole energy band. A breakdown of the expansion and stronger localization are observed only for the lowest Landau levels if the typical experimental length scale of the quantized Hall effect is used.