Use of nonlinear properties of intracavity type II second harmonic generation for image processing

We discuss the use of intracavity type-II second harmonic generation for all-optical processing of images. Injecting an image in a pump beam linearly polarized and a homogeneous field in the orthogonally polarized pump, it is possible to magnify the contrast and to recognize the contour of any part of the image whose intensity is above a tunable reference level. This can be done using ideal planar cavities where all the fields are resonant as well as in the more realistic situation where only the fundamental fields are resonant and using cavities with spherical mirrors. PACS 42.30.-d; 42.65.Ky; 42.65.Pc     

Development of a solid-phase microextraction method for determination of volatile oxidation compounds in fish oil emulsions

Headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) is proposed for isolating and determining the headspace volatiles formed during oxidation of fish-oil-in-water emulsions. Three different fiber coatings were tested and compared for sensitivity and reproducibility. A carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane (CAR-PDMS) fiber coating was found to be the most suitable for the analysis of emulsion volatiles. The main factors affecting the microextraction process on CAR-PDMS were then evaluated by a factorial design: amount of sample, time and temperature of extraction and stirring. The incubation of 0.5 g of emulsion at 60 degrees C during 30 min leads to the most effective extraction of volatiles associated with lipid oxidation of fish oil emulsions. The HS-SPME method coupled with GC-MS allowed the qualitative and quantitative analysis of the volatiles derived from oxidation of real fish oil enriched foods such as milk and mayonnaise. The method here proposed is very fast and simple and yields high sensitivity, with good repeatability for all target compounds.     

Asymptotic properties of conditional quantile estimator for censored dependent observations

In this paper, we establish strong uniform convergence and asymptotic normality of the conditional quantile estimator for the censorship model when the data exhibit some kind of dependence. It is assumed that the observations form a stationary α-mixing sequence. The strong uniform convergence in iid framework has recently been discussed by Ould-Saïd (Stat Probab Lett 76:579–586, 2006). As a by-product, we also obtain a uniform weak convergence rate for the product-limit estimator of the lifetime and censoring distributions under dependence, which is interesting independently.     

Trace metals distribution in surface and deep seawater from the Ría de Arousa estuary (north-western Spain): Study before and after the Prestige oil tanker sinking

Cu, Ni, Pb, Mn, Sn, Fe, Al and Zn in surface and deep seawater samples from Ría de Arousa estuary (Galicia, north-western Spain) collected before and after the Prestige spillage were determined. Data were then used to evaluate the impact of the Prestige accident in the Ría de Arousa by applying principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA). Surface water from Sar River and Ulla River was also analysed for the same elements. Determinations were performed by inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometry (ICP–OES) after solid phase extraction (SPE) of element-8-hydroxyquinoline complexes onto commercial C18 cartridges. The highest concentrations were found in sampling stations along Ulla River, while Al, Fe and Sn offered the highest values in surface and deep seawater from the inner part of the estuary, area where the main villages and sport harbours are located. PCA and CA have shown an independent group formed by surface seawater from the East margin of the mouth of the estuary collected after the Prestige oil spill. However, independent groups were not observed when using deep seawater data, and the effect of the Prestige accident appears to be less evident.     

Selective copper-promoted cross-coupling reaction of anilines and alkylboranes

Extension of the Chan–Lam N-alkylation of anilines by using alkylboranes as organoboron partners is reported. Alkylboranes, synthesized by hydroboration of styrenes, are effectively coupled with anilines, which comprises a facile method for the synthesis of highly functionalized phenethylaniline derivatives. This is the first time that alkylboranes are used in C–N copper-promoted cross-coupling reactions.     

Studying the bandwidth in k-sample smooth tests

In this paper, the problem of bandwidth choice in smooth k-sample tests is considered. Three different bootstrap methods are discussed and implemented. All the methods persecute the bandwidth leading to the maximum power, while preserving the level of the test. The relative performance of the methods is investigated in a simulation study. Illustration through real medical data is provided. The main conclusion is that the bootstrap minimum method provides a good compromise between statistical power and conservativeness. Robustness of the methods with respect to the number of bootstrap resamples and practical limitations are discussed.     

Electromagnetic properties of lithium zinc ferrites doped with aluminum

We present the results of the effect of Al substitution on the magnetic and electrical properties of Li_0.2Zn_0.6Fe_2.2−xAl_xO₄ ferrites (0.0≤x≤0.5) prepared by the standard ceramic technique. The characterization has been performed using XRD, SEM, magnetic and dielectric response in frequency. XRD analysis confirms that the system exhibits polycrystalline single phase cubic spinel structure only for low dopant content. Doping decreases the dielectric loss tangent and the ferrite conductivity in more than two orders of magnitude in the whole analyzed frequency range. Attenuation has a maximum intensity (86 dB) near 90 MHz for x=0.4. The wider bandwidth at 20 dB (94.6 MHz) is for x=0.3.     

Microwave-absorbing characteristics of epoxy resin composites containing nanoparticles of NiZn- and NiCuZn-ferrites

NiZn- and NiCuZn-ferrite nanoparticles (50–70 nm) with the chemical formula Ni_0.5 Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ (NiZn) and Ni_0.35Cu_0.15Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ (NiCuZn) were synthesized by a combustion synthesis method. The nanocrystallite of these materials was characterized by structural and magnetic methods. Saturation magnetization increases from 83 emu/g (NiZn) to 91 emu/g (NiCuZn). Magnetic permeability and dielectric permittivity were measured on sintered samples (pellets and toroids) in the frequency range of 1 MHz–1.8 GHz. Reflection losses (R_L) for both samples were calculated from complex permeability and permittivity. Cu substitution in NiZn-ferrite enhances permeability and R_L.In order to explore microwave-absorbing properties in X-band, magnetic nanoparticles were mixed with an epoxy resin to be converted into a microwave-absorbing composite and microwave behaviors of both materials were studied using a microwave vector network analyzer from 7.5 to 13.5 GHz. Cu substitution diminishes absorption intensity in the range 11.5–12.5 GHz.     

Excess enthalpy,density, and heat capacity for binary systems of alkylimidazolium-based ionic liquids + water

Experimental measurements of excess molar enthalpy, density, and isobaric molar heat capacity are presented for a set of binary systems ionic liquid + water as a function of temperature at atmospheric pressure. The studied ionic liquids are 1-butyl-3-methylpyridinium tetrafluoroborate, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethylsulfate, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium methylsulfate, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate, and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate. Excess molar enthalpy was measured at 303.15 K whereas density and heat capacity were determined within the temperature range (293.15 to 318.15) K. From experimental data, excess molar volume and excess molar isobaric heat capacity were calculated. The analysis of the excess properties reveals important differences between the studied ionic liquids which can be ascribed to their capability to form hydrogen bonds with water molecules.     

An intrinsical description of group codes

A (left) group code of length n is a linear code which is the image of a (left) ideal of a group algebra via an isomorphism which maps G to the standard basis of . Many classical linear codes have been shown to be group codes. In this paper we obtain a criterion to decide when a linear code is a group code in terms of its intrinsical properties in the ambient space , which does not assume an “a priori” group algebra structure on . As an application we provide a family of groups (including metacyclic groups) for which every two-sided group code is an abelian group code. It is well known that Reed–Solomon codes are cyclic and its parity check extensions are elementary abelian group codes. These two classes of codes are included in the class of Cauchy codes. Using our criterion we classify the Cauchy codes of some lengths which are left group codes and the possible group code structures on these codes. Research supported by D.G.I. of Spain and Fundación Séneca of Murcia.