The backscattering factor for the Au N67VV Auger transition

The Au N₆₇VV Auger transition may take place after direct ionization of the N₆₇ subshells or after ionization of the N₄₅ subshells followed by the Coster-Kronig transitions N₄₅N₆₇V. The subshells N₆₇ and N₄₅ have much different ionization energies, by a factor of four, and this creates a problem in quantification of the N₆₇VV signal. Calculations of the backscattering factor from the analytical expressions require knowledge of a single value of the ionization energy. Furthermore, a single value of the ionization energy is needed in calculations of the ionizations cross section. An attempt is made here to decide which ionization energy should be used in calculations by comparison of the experimental energy and emission angle dependence of the AES signal intensity with this dependence determined from theory using different ionization energies. It has been found that the N₆₇VV signal intensity is strongly dominated by ionizations of the N₅ subshell. Furthermore, the ionization cross section for the N₅ subshell is well described by the Casnati et al. formula.     

IMPROVEMENT OF THE SEMI-ANALYTICAL METHOD, FOR DETERMINING THE GEOMETRICALLY NON-LINEAR RESPONSE OF THIN STRAIGHT STRUCTURES: PART II—FIRST AND SECOND NON-LINEAR MODE SHAPES OF FULLY CLAMPED RECTANGULAR PLATES

In a previous series of papers, a semi-analytical model based on Hamilton's principle and spectral analysis has been developed for geometrically non-linear free vibrations occurring at large displacement amplitudes of clamped-clamped beams and fully clamped rectangular homogeneous and composite plates. In Part I of this series of papers, concerned with geometrically non-linear free and forced vibrations of various beams, a practical simple “multi-mode theory”, based on the linearization of the non-linear algebraic equations, written in the modal basis, in the neighbourhood of each resonance has been developed. Simple explicit formulae, ready and easy to use for analytical or engineering purposes have been derived, which allows direct calculation of the basic function contributions to the first three non-linear mode shapes of the beams considered. Also, various possible truncations of the series expansion defining the first non-linear mode shape have been considered and compared with the complete solution, which showed that an increasing number of basic functions has to be used, corresponding to increasingly sized intervals of vibration amplitudes; starting from use of only one function, i.e., the first linear mode shape, corresponding to very small amplitudes, for which the linear theory is still valid, and ending by the complete series, involving six functions, corresponding to maximum vibration amplitudes at the beam middle point up to once the beam thickness. For higher amplitudes, a complementary second formulation has been developed, leading to reproduction of the known results via the solution of reduced linear systems of five equations and five unknowns. The purpose of this paper is to extend and adapt the approach described above to the geometrically non-linear free vibration of fully clamped rectangular plates in order to allow direct and easy calculation of the first, second and higher non-linear fully clamped rectangular plate mode shapes, with their associated non-linear frequencies and non-linear bending stress patterns. Also, numerical results corresponding to the first and second non-linear modes shapes of fully clamped rectangular plates with an aspect ratio α=0·6 are presented. Data concerning the higher non-linear modes, the aspect ratio effect, and the forced vibration case will be presented later.     

Moduli of Einstein and non-Einstein nilradicals

A nilpotent Lie algebra is called an Einstein nilradical if the corresponding Lie group admits a left-invariant Ricci soliton metric. While these metrics are of independent interest, their existence is intimately related to the existence of Einstein metrics on solvable Lie groups. In this note we are concerned with the following question: How are the Einstein and non-Einstein nilradicals distributed among nilpotent Lie algebras? A full answer to this question is not known and we restrict to the class of 2-step nilpotent Lie groups. Within this class, it is known that a generic group admits a Ricci soliton metric. Using techniques from Geometric Invariant Theory, we study the set of non-generic algebras to learn more about the distribution of non-Einstein nilradicals. Many new (continuous) families of non-isomorphic, non-Einstein nilradicals are constructed. Moreover, the dimension of these families can be arbitrarily large (depending on the dimension of the underlying Lie group). To show such large classes of Lie groups are pairwise non-isomorphic, a new technique is developed to distinguish between Lie algebras.     

On the Spectrum of a Class of Strongly Coupled p-Laplacian Systems

Consider the nonlinear coupled elliptic system     

The absorption spectrum of 12C2H2 IV. The regions 7600–9200 cm−1 and 10600–11500 cm−1

The absorption spectrum of ¹²C₂H₂ has been recorded by intracavity laser absorption spectroscopy (ICLAS) in the 10600–11 500 cm^?1 spectral region, where no absorption bands were previously reported. Fifteen bands starting from the vibrational ground state are observed and rotationally analysed. All corresponding excited vibrational levels were assigned using the polyad model, the so-called cluster model (El Idrissi, M.I., Liévin, J., Campargue, A., and Herman, M., 1999, J. chem. Phys., 110, 2074) which allows vibrational energies, rotational B_v constants and, to some respect, relative band intensities to be predicted. Additional data and constants are also provided in the range 7600–9200cm^?1, whenever improving the literature results, from spectra recorded previously at ULB using Fourier transform spectroscopy. The assignment procedure in the range recorded by ICLAS is detailed, leading to a deeper understanding of vibration-rotation and intensity features of the absorption bands within the frame of the cluster model.     

Stability-Indicating Spectrofluorimetric Method for Determination of Itopride Hydrochloride in Raw Material and Pharmaceutical Formulations

A simple, sensitive and rapid spectrofluorimetric method for determination of itopride hydrochloride in raw material and tablets has been developed. The proposed method is based on the measurement of the native fluorescence of the drug in water at 363 nm after excitation at 255 nm. The relative fluorescence intensity-concentration plot was rectilinear over the range of 0.1–2 μg/mL (2.5?×?10^?7–5.06?×?10^?6 mole/L), with good correlation (r?=?0.9999), limit of detection of 0.015 μg/mL and a lower limit of quantification of 0.045 μg/mL. The described method was successfully applied for the determination of itopride hydrochloride in its commercial tablets with average percentage recovery of 100.11?±?0.32 without interference from common excipients. Additionally, the proposed method can be applied for determination of itopride in combined tablets with rabeprazole or pantoprazole without prior separation. The method was extended to stability study of itopride. The drug was exposed to acidic, alkaline, oxidative and photolytic degradation according to ICH guidelines. Moreover, the method was utilized to investigate the kinetics of the alkaline, acidic and oxidative degradation of the drug. A proposal for the degradation pathways was postulated.     

First-principles lattice dynamics,thermodynamics, and elasticity of Cr2O3

We present the calculation of the lattice dynamics of chromia (Cr₂O₃), a typical Mott–Hubbard insulator, employing the first-principles density functional theory plus U approach. We first report the phonon dispersions at the theoretical equilibrium volume. Then the phonon density-of-states is calculated as a function of volume. Finally, the atomic volume, heat capacity, linear thermal expansion coefficient, bulk modulus, Grüneisen constant, and elastic constants are calculated as functions of temperature.     

Optical investigations on the existence of phase transition in ZnO:Li thin films prepared by DC sputtering method

We investigated the effect of temperature on the absorption spectra of Zn_0.8Li_0.2O thin films (ZnO:Li), deposited at 573 K, in the wavelength range 190‐800 nm. The films were deposited on sapphire, MgO or quartz substrates by DC sputtering method. The results show a shift of the optical energy gap (E_g), with direct allowed transition type near the fundamental edge, to lower wavelengths as the temperature increases. The temperature rate of E_g changes considerably showing an anomaly around 320 K depending on type of substrate. The founded results indicated that replacement of Zn ions with Li ions induces a ferroelectric phase in the ZnO wurtzite‐type semiconductor. The exponential dependence of the absorption coefficient on the incident photon energy suggests the validity of the Urbach rule. (© 2007 WILEY ‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Relationships between characteristics of interfacial water and human bone tissues

Water bound in human bone tissues healthy (sample S1) and affected by osteoporosis (sample S2) was investigated by using (1)H NMR spectroscopy with layer-by-layer freezing-out of bulk and interfacial waters at T<273K. The (1)H NMR spectra of the bound water include two signals which can be assigned to strongly associated typical water (chemical shift of the proton resonance at delta(H) approximately 5ppm) and weakly associated water at delta(H) approximately 1.4ppm. Approximately, half of the bound water is in the weakly associated state in S1. A fraction of similar water in S2 is smaller because of the structural difference of the studied samples. The pore size distribution of S2 (in aqueous medium) calculated using the cryoporometry method is characterized by much larger intensity of mesopores and macropores in comparison with that of S1. The total porosity and the surface area of the biostructures (accessible for water molecules and estimated on the basis of the cryoporometry data using a model of cylindrical pores) are larger for S2. Weakly polar chloroform-d has a significant influence on the organization of water in a spongy component of bone tissue. This effect depends on the porosity of the bone matrix and the amounts of CDCl(3).     

Preconcentration methods for the determination of trace elements in water by x-ray fluorescence spectrometry: Part 2. Interference studies

Seven methods for the preconcentration of fifteen elements for their subsequent measurement by x-ray fluorescence spectrometry have been evaluated for their susceptibility to interferences. A two-level factorial experimental design has been used, enabling an economical and meaningful comparison of the seven methods to be made. A scheme for rating the methods on the basis of the effect of several interfering species is proposed. Use of such a scheme has enabled an objective comparison of the methods considered to yield their relative ranks. It is also shown that spectral and chemical interferences can be discerned to some extent. Combination of the response rating proposed earlier and the interference rating schemes reported here gives rise to an overall comparison and rank for the methods, allowing an objective choice of the optimal method(s) to be made.