Hysteresis in the de Haas-van Alphen effect

A hysteresis loop is observed for the first time in the de Haas-van Alphen (dHvA) effect of beryllium at low temperatures and quantizing magnetic field applied parallel to the hexagonal axis of the single crystal. The irreversible behavior of the magnetization occurs at the paramagnetic part of the dHvA period in conditions of Condon domain formation arising by strong enough dHvA amplitude. The resulting extremely nonlinear response to a very small modulation field offers the possibility to find in a simple way the Condon domain phase diagram. From a harmonic analysis, the shape and size of the hysteresis loop is constructed.     

Development of m-plane GaN anisotropic film properties during MOVPE growth on LiAlO2 substrates

The anisotropic film properties of m-plane GaN deposited by metal organic vapour phase epitaxy (MOVPE) on LiAlO₂ substrates are investigated. To study the development of layer properties during epitaxy, the total film thickness is varied between 0.2 and 1.7 μm. A surface roughening is observed caused by the increased size of hillock-like features. Additionally, small steps which are perfectly aligned in (1 1 −2 0) planes appear for samples with a thickness of ∼0.5 μm and above. Simultaneously, the X-ray rocking curve (XRC) full width at half maximum (FWHM) values become strongly dependent on incident X-ray beam direction beyond this critical thickness. Anisotropic in-plane compressive strain is initially present and gradually relaxes mainly in the [1 1 −2 0] direction when growing thicker films. Low-temperature photoluminescence (PL) spectra are dominated by the GaN near-band-edge peak and show only weak signal related to basal plane stacking faults (BSF). The measured background electron concentration is reduced from ∼10²⁰ to ∼10¹⁹ cm⁻³ for film thicknesses of 0.2 μm and ∼1 μm while the electron mobilities rise from ∼20 to ∼130 cm²/V s. The mobilities are significantly higher in [0 0 0 1] direction which we explain by the presence of extended planar defects in the prismatic plane. Such defects are assumed to be also the cause for the observed surface steps and anisotropic XRC broadening.     

A perturbation method for nonlinear vibrations of imperfect structures: Application to cylindrical shell vibrations

A perturbation method is used to analyse the nonlinear vibration behaviour of imperfect general structures under static preloading. The method is based on a perturbation expansion for both the frequency parameter and the dependent variables. The effects on the linearized and nonlinear vibrations caused by geometric imperfections, a static fundamental state, and a nontrivial static state are included in the perturbation procedure.The theory is applied in the nonlinear vibration analysis of anisotropic cylindrical shells. In the analysis the specified boundary conditions at the shell edges can be satisfied accurately. The characteristics of the analysis capability are shown through examples of the vibration behaviour of specific shells. Results for single mode and coupled mode nonlinear vibrations of shells are presented. Parametric studies have been performed for a composite shell.     

Recurrent patterns of daily intimate partner violence and environment

Although predictors of violent relationships have been identified, we are only beginning to understand the day-to-day dynamics of domestic violence. The objective of this study was to identify commonly seen patterns and strings of consecutive days involving verbal or physical abuse, and their preceding and subsequent events. Adult women (n=20) seen in a primary care clinic who experienced violence within the past month were enrolled. Subjects completed a daily telephone assessment of household environment and marital relationship for two months using Interactive Verbal Response (IVR). Results were analyzed using orbital decomposition, an analytic technique based on symbolic dynamics, in which categorical time series data are used to identify recurrent patterns of strings and quantify their complexity. While days without abuse had varied patterns involving arguments, stress levels, daily hassles, husband's alcohol intake, and sense of closeness (27 unique patterns), days involving verbal or physical abuse included a narrower range of patterns (15 patterns for verbal and 16 patterns for physical abuse). Daily patterns appear to cluster in triplets (3 consecutive days) of activity and show nonlinearity with triplets involving verbal abuse and triplets involving physical violence. Triplets involving either verbal or physical abuse were associated with arguments and high stress, but differed in the consistency of association with hassles, alcohol intake, and closeness. Finally, physical and verbal abuse tended to self-propagate. However, days involving verbal abuse did not precede days involving physical violence. In conclusions, while patterns of violence and household environments followed a nonlinear trajectory, only a limited set of patterns were observed. Although violence led to more violence, verbal abuse did not necessarily lead to physical aggression. In fact, verbal abuse and physical violence differed in the consistency of their relationships to hassles, husband's alcohol intake, and closeness.     

The elimination of severe slugging-experiments and modeling

Severe slugging can occur in a pipeline-riser system operating at low liquid and gas rates. The flow of gas into the riser can be blocked by liquid accumulation at the base of the riser. This can cause formation of liquid slugs of a length equal to or longer than the height of the riser. A cyclic process results in which a period of no liquid production into the separator occurs, followed by a period of very high liquid production. This study is an experimental and theoretical investigation of two methods for eliminating this undesirable phenomenon, using choking and gas lift. Choking was found to effectively eliminate or reduce the severity of the slugging. However, the system pressure might increase to some extent. Gas lift can also eliminate severe slugging. While choking reduces the velocities in the riser, gas lift increases the velocities, approaching annular flow. It was found that a relatively large amount of gas was needed before gas injection would completely stabilize the flow through the riser. However, gas injection reduces the slug length and cycle time, causing a more continuous production and a lower system pressure. Theoretical models for the elimination of severe slugging by gas lift and choking have been developed. The models enable the prediction of the flow behavior in the riser. One model is capable of predicting the unstable flow conditions for severe slugging based on a static force balance. The second method is a simplified transient model based on the assumption of a quasi-equilibrium force balance. This model can be used to estimate the characteristics of the flow, such as slug length and cycle time. The models were tested against new severe slugging data acquired in this study. An excellent agreement between the experimental data and the theoretical models was found.     

Dynamic buckling analysis of composite cylindrical shells using a finite element based perturbation method

In this paper a finite element formulation of a reduction method for dynamic buckling analysis of imperfection-sensitive shell structures is presented. The reduction method makes use of a perturbation approach, initially developed for static buckling and later extended to dynamic buckling analysis. The implementation of a single-mode dynamic buckling analysis in a general purpose finite element code is described. The effectiveness of the approach is illustrated by application to the dynamic buckling of composite cylindrical shells under axial and radial step loads. Results of the reduction method are compared with results available in the literature. The results are also compared with full model finite element explicit dynamic analysis, and a reasonable agreement is obtained.     

A stabilized finite element method for the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations using a hierarchical basis

Stabilized finite element methods have been shown to yield robust, accurate numerical solutions to both the compressible and incompressible Navier–Stokes equations for laminar and turbulent flows. The present work focuses on the application of higher‐order, hierarchical basis functions to the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations using a stabilized finite element method. It is shown on a variety of problems that the most cost‐effective simulations (in terms of CPU time, memory, and disk storage) can be obtained using higher‐order basis functions when compared with the traditional linear basis. In addition, algorithms will be presented for the efficient implementation of these methods within the traditional finite element data structures. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The European way to go: Virtual Central Laboratory

In clinical pharmaceutical trials often one central laboratory is used for the analysis of routine parameters, the so-called safety parameters. In many countries the heads of laboratory departments question the quality of such analysis in terms of quality of samples after transport, continuity of patient related medical laboratory information before, during and after the trial; turn around time; alerting procedures and consultancy to requesting physicians. On the other hand, the pharmaceutical industry prefers to work with central laboratories since they can claim certification or accreditation. Also the use of one set of reference values is an important issue, as well as electronic data transfer to the trial organizer's database. The concept of a Virtual Central Laboratory (VCL), initiated in the Netherlands, tries to solve this conflicting situation. In the concept, local hospital laboratories receive computer-assisted aid in the identification of patients, trials, visits and requests. The laboratory data are transformed using calibrator sets to produce a homogeneous data set across laboratories, resulting in one set of reference values. The data are electronically transferred to a central computer from which they are send in any desired format to the trial organizer's database. Participating laboratories are obliged to work towards accreditation. The VCL acts as a central counterpart for both the pharmaceutical industry and local laboratories. The concept offers advantages to the pharmaceutical industry, the investigator and local laboratories.     

Rhodium-Catalyzed Amination of Aromatic Olefins [1]

Summary.  The oxidative amination of styrene with secondary amines in the presence of cationic rhodium catalysts yields regiospecifically the corresponding anti-Markovnikov enamines. Styrene as the hydrogen acceptor gave concomitantly ethylbenzene. In the presence of 1,5-cyclooctadiene (cod) preferential reduction to cyclooctene takes place. The addition of cod reduces the rate of the reaction, but also the amount of ethylbenzene produced. Here, for the first time the ratio of enamine: ethylbenzene is > 1, which is favourable in case of more expensive styrene derivatives. A screening of various ligands for oxidative amination reveals that hemilabile 2-(ω-phosphino-n-alkyl)-pyridines are superior ligands for this reaction compared to simple alkyl and aryl phosphines. Received May 30, 2000. Accepted July 11, 2000