Wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry study of the crystallization of poly(ethylene naphthalate), poly(butylene naphthalate), and their copolymers

The crystallization behavior of a series of poly(ethylene‐co‐butylene naphthalate) (PEBN) random copolymers was studied. Wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD) patterns showed that the crystallization of these copolymers could occur over the entire range of compositions. This resulted in the formation of poly(ethylene naphthalate) or poly(butylene naphthalate) crystals, depending on the composition of the copolymers. Sharp diffraction peaks were observed, except for 50/50 PEBN. Eutectic behavior was also observed. This showed isodimorphic cocrystallization of the PEBN copolymers. The variation of the enthalpy of fusion of the copolymers with the composition was estimated. The isothermal and nonisothermal crystallization kinetics were studied. The crystallization rates were found to decrease as the comonomer unit content increased. The tensile properties were also measured and were found to decrease as the butylene naphthalate content of the copolymers increased. For initially amorphous specimens, orientation was proved by WAXD patterns after drawing, but no crystalline reflections were observed. However, the fast crystallization of drawn specimens occurred when they were heated above the glass‐transition temperature. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 843–860, 2004     

Membrane introduction mass spectrometry

An overview of membrane introduction mass spectrometry (MIMS) is presented and comparisons are made with other direct sample introduction techniques. Special attention is given to the unique advantages and the limitations of newer variants on the MIMS technique, including affinity MIMS, reverse-phase and trap MIMS. The salient features of the interfaces used in MIMS are summarized and the various membrane materials commonly used are delineated. The applicability of MIMS is illustrated via discussion of

1. (i) bioreactor monitoring (represented by yeast fermentation),

2. (ii) environmental monitoring (illustrated by analysis of contaminated ground water samples) and

3. (iii) on-line chemical reaction monitoring (exemplified by the photolysis of aryl esters).

The applicability of MIMS to the analysis of environmental samples, including complex mixtures in water, air and soil, is noted.     

Asymptotic expansion of the logistic midrange

Using the symbolic computation program MAPLE, we compute several terms of an asymptotic expansion for the distribution function of the logistic midrange.     

Sensitivity of depolarized lidar signals to cloud and aerosol particle properties

Measurements from depolarized lidars provide a promising method to retrieve both cloud and aerosol properties and a versatile complement to passive satellite-based sensors. For lidar observations of clouds and aerosols, multiple scattering plays an important role in the scattering process. Monte Carlo simulations are carried out to investigate the sensitivity of lidar backscattering depolarization to cloud and aerosol properties. Lidar parameters are chosen to be similar to those of the upcoming space-based CALIPSO lidar. Cases are considered that consist of a single cloud or aerosol layer, as well as a case in which cirrus clouds overlay different types of aerosols. It is demonstrated that besides thermodynamic cloud phase, the depolarized lidar signal may provide additional information on ice or aerosol particle shapes. However, our results show little sensitivity to ice or aerosol particle sizes. Additionally, for the case of multiple but overlapping layers involving both clouds and aerosols, the depolarized lidar contains information that can help identify the particle properties of each layer.     

Detecting and Diagnostic Checking Multivariate Conditional Heteroscedastic Time Series Models

Two tests for multivariate conditional heteroscedastic models are proposed. One is based on the cross-correlations of standardized squared residuals and the other is a score (Lagrange multiplier) test. The cross-correlations test can be used to detect the presence of multivariate conditional heteroscedasticity whereas the other test can be used for diagnostic checking. Simulation studies on the size and power of the test statistics are reported. The application of the tests is illustrated by an example using the S & P 500 and Sydney All Ordinary Indexes.     

High-energy electron pair production on oxygen

Electron-positron pair production cross sections are calculated for 50-MeV electrons incident on an oxygen nucleus. The symmetric coplanar cross sections are emphasized. Neglecting exchange, the spectra of forward-scattered projectile electrons is numerically calculated. In the extreme relativistic and nonrelativistic limits for the produced pair kinetic energies, calculated cross sections are similar to those of Bhabha.     

A common generalization for MV-algebras and Łukasiewicz–Moisil algebras

We introduce the notion of n-nuanced MV-algebra by performing a Łukasiewicz–Moisil nuancing construction on top of MV-algebras. These structures extend both MV-algebras and Łukasiewicz–Moisil algebras, thus unifying two important types of structures in the algebra of logic. On a logical level, n-nuanced MV-algebras amalgamate two distinct approaches to many valuedness: that of the infinitely valued Łukasiewicz logic, more related in spirit to the fuzzy approach, and that of Moisil n-nuanced logic, which is more concerned with nuances of truth rather than truth degree. We study n-nuanced MV-algebras mainly from the algebraic and categorical points of view, and also consider some basic model-theoretic aspects. The relationship with a suitable notion of n-nuanced ordered group via an extension of the Γ construction is also analyzed.     

Reducing structural changes in van Emde Boas' data structure to the lower bound for the dynamic predecessor problem

We consider the problem of maintaining a dynamic ordered set of n integers in a universe U under the operations of insertion, deletion and predecessor queries. The computation model used is a unit-cost RAM, with a word length of w bits, and the universe size is |U|=2^w. We present a data structure that uses O(|U|/log|U|+n) space, performs all the operations in O(loglog|U|) time and needs O(loglog|U|/logloglog|U|) structural changes per update operation. The data structure is a simplified version of the van Emde Boas' tree introducing, in its construction and functioning, new concepts, which help to keep the important information for searching along the path of the tree, in a more compact and organized way.