Recent developments in the stereological analysis of particles

Recent developments in the stereological analysis of particles are reviewed. The trend has been towards methods which are applicable without specific assumptions about particle shape. Geometric samples of a local 3-d character are used. Stereological estimators of particle intensity, particle size distribution and particle interaction are presented and discussed.An earlier version of this article was presented at the Symposium on the Analysis of Statistical Information held in the Institute of Statistical Mathematics, Tokyo during December 5–8, 1989.     

Conic Set-Valued Maps in Vector Optimization

The paper deals with the properties of a conic set-valued function defined on the set of all ideal points of vector programming problems. The results here about the continuity and derivability of this conic set-valued map, can be used to get information about the sensitivity of the problem and the stability of the order associated to every ideal point. Furthermore, it is proved that certain contingent cones are determined by the ideal conic set-valued map.      

Ideals and Filters in D-Posets

Ideals and filters in D-posets are defined. Therole of idempotent elements and atoms in the theory ofideals and filters is studied.     

Crystallization and crystal structure of poly(ester amide)s derived from L‐tartaric acid

The crystal structure and crystallization behavior of a series of poly(ester amide)s derived from L ‐tartaric acid, 1,6‐hexanediamine, and 6‐amino‐1‐hexanol were examined. The study included aregic polymers containing 5, 10, and 20% of ester groups in addition to the syndioregic polymer containing equal amounts of amide and ester groups. X‐ray diffraction data revealed that all the aregic poly(ester amide)s adopt the same crystal structure as the parent polyamide made of L ‐tartaric acid, and 1,6‐hexanediamine. In this structure, chains are slightly compressed and arranged as in the α‐form of nylon 66. Solid‐state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) revealed that ester groups are excluded from the crystal phase except for the case of the syndioregic polymer. Isothermal crystallization kinetics was analyzed according to the Avrami theory. Crystallization rates were found to decrease regularly with increasing contents in ester groups and with increasing crystallization temperature. Avrami exponent values close to 2 were found whereas spherulitic morphologies were observed by optical microscopy. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 116–125, 2007     

An experimental investigation of how accurate,simply supported boundary conditions can be achieved in compression testing of panels

How accurate, simply supported boundary conditions can be obtained experimentally in the testing of rectangular panels subjected to uniaxial compression has been investigated. Experimental buckling loads are obtained using the Southwell method and are compared with theoretical predictions. Several support arrangements are examined and compared to the idealized support conditions.     

Fonctions rationnelles et problème de Gleason associés à l'opérateur de Dirac

We define developments in terms of homogeneous polynomials for regular functions (that is, in the kernel of the Dirac operator) and obtain new developments for hyperholomorphic functions (that is, in the kernel of the Cauchy–Fueter operator). Rational functions associated to the Dirac operator are also studied. To cite this article: D. Alpay et al., C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 343 (2006).     

An experimental investigation of the influence of stiffener torsional rigidity on buckling of compression panels

The influence of torsional ridigity of the stiffeners on the buckling of reinforced aluminum-alloy panels has been investigated. Experimental results reveal that stiffener torsional rigidity must be introduced in the analysis of compressed panels, for, if the stiffener has a closed cross section, the stiffener shape may change the buckling mode shape essentially and increase the critical load considerably.José María Mínguez was Postgraduate Student in Engineering, Metallic Structures Group, University of Bath, United Kingdom