Backscattering in the vicinity of a mode cutoff

In a recent paper to this journal (Whitman A M et al 2003 Waves Random Media 13 269-86) we derived a set of coupled equations that describe the intermodal scattering of acoustic radiation in a duct whose speed of sound varies randomly in space and time. In the paper we were mainly interested in modes that were not near cutoff. Here we study the solution of these equations in the vicinity of the cutoff. We find that near cutoff almost all the energy is reflected back independent of the other duct parameters. In addition to presenting these results, we analyse the mathematical structure of the equations in these regions in order to elucidate the reason for this behaviour.     

Positions of convex bodies associated to extremal problems and isotropic measures

We show that there are close relations between extremal problems in dual Brunn-Minkowski theory and isotropic-type properties for some Borel measures on the sphere. The methods we use allow us to obtain similar results in the context of Firey-Brunn-Minkowski theory. We also study reverse inequalities for dual mixed volumes which are related with classical positions, such as ?-position or isotropic position.     

Unavoidable Traces Of Set Systems

Sauer, Shelah, Vapnik and Chervonenkis proved that if a set system on n vertices contains many sets, then the set system has full trace on a large set. Although the restriction on the size of the groundset cannot be lifted, Frankl and Pach found a trace structure that is guaranteed to occur in uniform set systems even if we do not bound the size of the groundset. In this note we shall give three sequences of structures such that every set system consisting of sufficiently many sets contains at least one of these structures with many sets.     

Higher Order Peak Algebras

Using the theory of noncommutative symmetric functions, we introduce the higher order peak algebras (Sym(N))_N≥1, a sequence of graded Hopf algebras which contain the descent algebra and the usual peak algebra as initial cases (N=1 and N=2). We compute their Hilbert series, introduce and study several combinatorial bases, and establish various algebraic identities related to the multisection of formal power series with noncommutative coefficients. Received November 19, 2004     

Quantitative Bestimmungen mittels cyclischer Voltammetrie an der Phasengrenze zweier mischbarer Elektrolytl?sungen

Summary This paper presents some applications of cyclic voltammetry at the interface of two immiscible electrolyte solutions by means of an experimental set-up described in a former publication. When using special sample preparation good results are obtained for the determination of iodide and quinine in pharmaceutical products as well as for the determination of quinine in tonic water and dodecylsulfate in a tooth-salt.

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Herrn Prof. Dr. Günther Tölg zum 60. Geburtstag gewidmet     

Effects of sodium salicylate on the febrile response and increased levels of cyclic AMP in cerebrospinal fluid during endogenous pyrogen-induced fever in rabbits

To further evaluate the causality between endogenous pyrogen (EP)-induced fever and cyclic adenosine-3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) level, the effects of sodium salicylate (SS) on the febrile response and increased levels of cyclic AMP in both cerebrospinal fluid (c.s.f.) and plasma during EP-induced fever in rabbits were observed. The results suggest that cyclic AMP is probably involved in the central mediation of EP-induced fever and that increased concentration of cyclic AMP in c.s.f. associated with EP-induced fever is not the result of temperature elevation but appears to be caused by the increased synthesis in the central nervous system. In addition it is confirmed that blood is impossibly a contributory source of increased cyclic AMP in c.s.f. during EP fever, and that SS may act subsequent to the increase in cyclic AMP.     

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.     

Development of a quantitative FI-MS technique for the characterization of high- and nonboiling saturated hydrocarbon mixtures

Summary Using a saturated non-boiling hydrocarbon mixture, the influence of two parameters on the results of field ionization mass spectrometry (FI-MS) measurements was studied: (a) the potential difference between the FI emitter and the counterelectrode; (b) the emitter temperature.Variation of the potential difference had only a minor effect on the average molecular mass measured and had no evident effect on the relative ring number distribution in the sample. In contrast, when the emitter temperature was increased, higher average molecular masses were recorded. Moreover, the average molecular masses shifted to higher ring numbers. In order to control the relationship between the described influences during mixture analysis, measuring instructions have been developed that enable the quantitative analysis of unknown saturated samples. However, average molecular mass of the mixture must be known.

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Entwicklung einer quantitativen FI-MS-Methode zur Charakterisierung von gesättigten hoch- und nichtsiedenden Kohlenwasserstoffgemischen

     

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.