Infrared emission and defect centres in Er and Yb codoped Y3Al5O12 phosphors

YAG phosphor powders doped/codoped with Er³⁺/(Er³⁺ + Yb³⁺) have been synthesised by using the solution combustion method. The effect of direct pumping into the ⁴I_11/2 level under 980 nm excitation of doped/codoped Er³⁺/Yb³⁺−Er³⁺ in Y₃Al₅O₁₂ (YAG) phosphor responsible for an infrared (IR) emission peaking at ∼1.53 μm corresponding to the ⁴I_13/2→⁴I_15/2 transition has been studied. YAG exhibits three thermally-stimulated luminescence (TSL) peaks at around 140°C, 210°C and 445°C. Electron spin resonance (ESR) studies were carried out to identify the centres responsible for the TSL peaks. The room temperature ESR spectrum of irradiated phosphor appears to be a superposition of two distinct centres. One of the centres (centre I) with principal g-value 2.0176 is identified as O⁻ ion, while centre II with an isotropic g-factor 2.0020 is assigned to an F⁺ centre (singly ionised oxygen vacancy). An additional defect centre is observed during thermal-annealing experiments and this centre (assigned to F⁺ centre) seems to originate from an F-centre (oxygen vacancy with two electrons) and these two centres appear to correlate with the observed high-temperature TSL peak in YAG phosphor.     

Optimal piezoelectric actuator and sensor location for active vibration control, using genetic algorithm

This paper deals with the optimization of piezoelectric actuators and sensors locations for active vibration control. Two modified optimization criteria are used, ensuring good observability or controllability of the structure, and considering residual modes to limit the spillover effect. Two optimization variables are considered for each piezoelectric device: the location of its center and its orientation. Genetic algorithms are used to find the optimal configurations. Several simulations are presented for a simply supported plate.     

A synthetic entry to furo[2,3-b]pyridin-4(1H)-ones and related furoquinolinones via iodocyclization

[reaction: see text] N-Methyl-4-alkoxy-3-alkynylpyridin-2(1H)-ones readily undergo iodine-promoted 5-endo-heteroannulation under mild conditions to 3-iodofuropyridinium triiodide salts in moderate to good yields. The latter may be dealkylated in situ upon exposure to an iodide anion to provide the corresponding 3-iodofuro[2,3-b]pyridin-4(1H)-ones. The same strategy applies to the formation of furo[2,3-b]quinolin-4(9H)-ones.     

A profile decomposition approach to the L^\infty _t(L^{3}_x) Navier–Stokes regularity criterion

In this paper we continue to develop an alternative viewpoint on recent studies of Navier–Stokes regularity in critical spaces, a program which was started in the recent work by Kenig and Koch (Ann Inst H Poincaré Anal Non Linéaire 28(2):159–187, 2011). Specifically, we prove that strong solutions which remain bounded in the space ${L^3(\mathbb R ^3)}$ do not become singular in finite time, a known result established by Escauriaza et al. (Uspekhi Mat Nauk 58(2(350)):3–44, 2003) in the context of suitable weak solutions. Here, we use the method of “critical elements” which was recently developed by Kenig and Merle to treat critical dispersive equations. Our main tool is a “profile decomposition” for the Navier–Stokes equations in critical Besov spaces which we develop here. As a byproduct of this tool, assuming a singularity-producing initial datum for Navier–Stokes exists in a critical Lebesgue or Besov space, we show there is one with minimal norm, generalizing a result of Rusin and Sverak (J Funct Anal 260(3):879–891, 2011).     

Pricing stock and bond derivatives with a multi-factor Gaussian model

The martingale approach to pricing contingent claims can be applied in a multiple state variable model. The idea is used to derive the prices of derivative securities (futures on stock and bond futures, options on stocks, bonds and futures) given a continuous time Gaussian multi-factor model of the returns of stocks and bonds. The bond market is similar to Langetieg's multi-factor model, which has closed-form solutions. This model is a generalization of Vasicek's model, where the term structure depends on state variables following correlated mean reverting processes. The stock market is affected by systematic and unsystematic risk.     

A continuous/discrete fractional Noether’s theorem

We prove a fractional Noether’s theorem for fractional Lagrangian systems invariant under a symmetry group both in the continuous and discrete cases. This provides an explicit conservation law (first integral) given by a closed formula which can be algorithmically implemented. In the discrete case, the conservation law is moreover computable in a finite number of steps.     

Phase correction-based singularity function analysis for partial k-space reconstruction

Partial k-space acquisition is a conventional method in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for reducing imaging time while maintaining image quality. In this field, image reconstruction from partial k-space is a key issue. This paper proposes an approach fundamentally different from traditional techniques for reconstructing magnetic resonance (MR) images from partial k-space. It uses a so-called singularity function analysis (SFA) model based on phase correction. With such a reconstruction approach, some nonacquired negative spatial frequencies are first recovered by means of phase correction and Hermitian symmetry property, and then the other nonacquired negative and/or positive spatial frequencies are estimated using the mathematical SFA model. The method is particularly suitable for asymmetrical partial k-space acquisition owing to its ability of overcoming reconstruction limitations due to k-space truncations. The performance of this approach is evaluated using both simulated and real MR brain images, and compared with existing techniques. The results demonstrate that the proposed SFA based on phase correction achieves higher image quality than the initial SFA or the projection-onto-convex sets (POCS) method.