An elementary proof of the uniqueness of invariant product measures for some infinite dimensional processesUne preuve élémentaire de l'unicité des mesures invariantes produits pour certains processus en dimension infinie

Consider an infinite dimensional diffusion process with state space , where T is the circle, and defined by an infinitesimal generator L which acts on local functions f as . Suppose that the coefficients a_i and b_i are smooth, bounded, of finite range, have uniformly bounded second order partial derivatives, that a_i are uniformly bounded from below by some strictly positive constant, and that a_i is a function only of η_i. Suppose that there is a product measure ν which is invariant. Then if ν is the Lebesgue measure or if d=1,2, it is the unique invariant measure. Furthermore, if ν is translation invariant, it is the unique invariant, translation invariant measure. The proofs are elementary. Similar results can be proved in the context of an interacting particle system with state space , with uniformly positive bounded flip rates which are finite range. To cite this article: A.F. Ram??rez, C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 334 (2002) 139–144     

Continuous peeling extrusion of SEBS block copolymers

During continuous peeling, a central polymer rod free of visible defects was continuously extruded while being peeled at the die exit. Continuous peeling can occur at flow rates orders of magnitude higher than those at which initial surface cracking is observed. Thus, if continuous peeling can be controlled it may have potential industrial applications. The aim of this work was to study how different extrusion parameters (temperature, flow rate, die length and diameter) affect the presence of continuous peeling. The melt exiting the die has been filmed to link physical measurements and observations and to determine whether or not continuous peeling is present. Different criteria have been considered to represent the extrusion conditions under which continuous peeling may occur. Surface tension criteria can be used to try to predict the appearance and disappearance of continuous peeling. A correlation formula is also proposed for the rod diameter in terms of surface tension. Our results show that the ratio of the rod diameter to the die diameter is approximately 25% greater in the case of short-orifice dies (L/D ≈ 0) than for long capillaries (L/D ≈ 10). The correlations obtained allow analysis and discussion of flow regimes for possible applications.     

Chemometric approaches in environmental problems concerning PCDD and PCDF. Data interpretation and source correlation. Mechanisms of formation and destruction in MSW combustion process

Summary The role of multivariate analysis methods in evaluating, rationalizing, and working out complex environmental problems is discussed. The discussion is organized in two sections; a literature analysis of the application of chemometric methods to PCDD/PCDF data interpretation and source correlation and a review of the role of chemometric methods in analysing the results obtained by the Authors studying PCDD/PCDF formation and destruction mechanisms in MSW combustion processes.     

A Characterization of Cosmological Time Functions

A characterization of time functions on a spacetime is made by using theMöbius equation. It is shown that a time function characterized in this wayyields past timelike geodesic incompleteness and local Lorentzian warpedproduct decomposition of spacetime, provided that the stress-energy tensoris a fluid. Also, by imposing additional assumptions on the stress-energytensor and global analytic structure of the spacetime, more restrictivedecompositions closer to Robertson–Walker spacetimes are obtained.     

Limonene concentration in lemon (Citrus volkameriana) peel oil as a function of ripeness

The dependence of the limonene content of lemon (Citrus volkameriana) peel oil on the degree of ripeness of the fruit has been studied by using steam distillation and cold pressing to extract the oils from lemon fruit peel at different stages of maturation (green, greenish-yellow, and yellow-orange peel coloration). Samples of essential oils were analyzed by high resolution GC and GC-MS, using tetradecane as internal standard for quantitation. Forty components were detected; thirty eight were positively identified by comparison of their mass spectra (El, 70 eV) and Kováts retention indexes (determined using a non-logarithmic scale on capillary columns coated with both polar (DB-Wax) and non-polar (DB-1) stationary phases) with those of standards and with data reported in the literature. The limonene concentration reached a maximum level of 79.4% when the fruit was in the intermediate maturation stage characterized by greenish-yellow coloration.     

Resolution of binary mixtures of cephalothin and clavulanic acid by using first derivative spectrophotometry

First-derivative spectrophotometric method with a “zero-crossing” technique of measurement has been used for the quantification of two-components mixtures of cephalothin and clavulanic acid. As the absorption bands of these drugs overlap, both direct and derivative spectrophotometric methods have been investigated and evaluated by a rigorous statistical analysis of the experimental data. The first-derivative spectrophotometric method was found to be more accurate, direct and reproducible. Beer's law was valid over the concentration range 2.0–28.0 mg/l for both compounds. The detection limits of cephalothin and clavulanic acid, at a 0.05 level of significance, were calculated to be 0.13 and 0.15 mg/l. The method was applied for determining these antibiotics in mixtures, some of them containing inject-able dosage forms of cephalothin, and so to determine both compounds in saline and glucosed physiological sera.     

Multicommuted fluorometric multiparameter sensor for simultaneous determination of naproxen and salicylic acid in biological fluids.

A combined approach based on solid-phase optosensing and multicommutation principles has been applied to develop a method for the simultaneous analysis of two pharmaceuticals (naproxen and salicylic acid) in biological fluids. The multicommuted flow-through optosensor was based on direct native fluorescence measurements of both analgesics using a non-polar sorbent (C18 silica gel) as a solid sensing zone. The flow system was controlled by Java-written home-made software and designed using three-way solenoid valves for an independent automated manipulation of sample and carrier solutions. Using an optimized sampling time, the method was calibrated in the range of 1 - 25 and 5 - 200 ng mL(-1). The obtained detection limits were 0.3 and 1.3 ng mL(-1) for naproxen and salicylic acid, respectively, with RSD (%) values of better than 2% for both analytes. The proposed methodology was successfully applied to urine, serum and pharmaceutical preparations. Recovery percentages ranging from 96.1 to 104% were obtained for both analytes.     

Dynamic mechanical analysis

Using dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) we have studied thermal degradation for a system containing a diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) and 1,3-bisaminomethylcylohexane (1,3-BAC). The changes of dynamic mechanical properties during thermal degradation indicated a shift of the glass transition temperature (T _g) to higher temperatures and a decrease in the peak value of the dynamic loss factor (tan δ) with an increasing of aging time. The value of dynamic storage modulus (E′) at the rubbery state showed an increase with aging time, whiteE′ at the glassy state only underwent a moderate change with increased thermal degradation. From these results it can be argued that thermal degradation during the stage prior to the onset of the severe degradation involves structural changes in the epoxy system, as further crosslinking and loss of dangling chains in the crosslinked network.