Directivity pattern of neurosurgical endoscopic ultrasonic probes

The objective of this paper is to present recent investigations in characteristics of the sound field generated by neurosurgical endoscopic ultrasonic probes (NEUPs) for minimally invasive surgery. The importance of this information has been investigated and discussed taking into account following facts: 1. According to the International Standard IEC 61847:1998 basic acoustical output characteristics of ultrasonic surgical equipment is declared for and measured in an acoustical free field. The standard generally treats the ultrasonic probe as an omnidirectional point source of the zero order (monopole source). 2. In real conditions, operations with NEUPs are performed within the acoustical near field. Having in mind that the cavitational and hydrodynamic effects are dominant, two theoretical boundary conditions can be present. The first one takes place when operations are performed near the "soft" acoustical boundary (tissue/air), and the second one is near the "rigid" acoustical boundary (tissue/bone). Reflections of sound waves from boundaries have influence on the characteristics of the ultrasonic probe (transducer) and on the sound field. In such cases spherical waves of the first and second order are generated. Directivity of sound sources takes shape in the far field and is easier to measure there. On the basis of measured directivity patterns, the influence of different operational conditions (immersion depth of the probe tip, boundary type, acoustical impedance of the medium etc.) on the radiated sound power and spatial distribution of the sound pressure can be estimated.     

Two-dimensional nutation exchange NQR spectroscopy: direct determination of rotational angles

A new method for the direct determination of rotational angles based on 2-dimensional nutation exchange NQR spectroscopy is proposed. The method involves the detection of exchange processes through NQR nutation spectra recorded after the mixing interval. The response is analysed of a system of spins I = 3/2 in zero applied field, experiencing electric quadrupole couplings, to the three-pulse sequence with incrementing pulse widths. The systems investigated here were hexachloroethane and tetrachloroethylene, which show threefold and twofold reorientational jumps about the carbon-carbon axis, respectively. It is shown that the 2D nutation exchange NQR spectrum exhibits characteristic ridges, which reveal the motional mechanism in a model-independent fashion. The angles through which the molecule rotates can be read directly from elliptical ridges in the 2D spectrum, which are also sensitive to the value of asymmetry parameter of the electric field gradient tensor.     

Lattice dynamics and phase diagrams for hydrogen bonded systems

Abstract

A variational correlated ground state wave-function theory is applied to investigate the high-pressure deformation of hydrogen-bond potential described by a double Morse potential functions. The evolution of the hydrogen bond potential with increasing pressure and the effects of deuterium isotope substitution on the quantum-fluctuation-driven phenomena are discussed. The theory was employed for predicting and interpreting the pressure dependence of the phase transition temperatue for KDP-like ferroelectrics and NQR-frequency coefficients for several deuterated and undeuterated crystals.     

A semiclassical model of the interior of Uranus

Abstract

Using the mass and radius of Uranus, as determined by Voyager, and a particular semiclassical theory of dense matter, a model of its interior has been developed. Details of the model, the underlying theory and possible sources of discrepancies with recent work on this topic are briefly presented.     

Radiation hardness of gas discharge tubes and avalanche diodes used for transient voltage suppression

The widespread use of gas discharge tubes (GDTs) and avalanche diodes for transient voltage suppression (TVS) in many cases results in their exposure to ionizing radiation. The aim of this paper is to investigate the influence of irradiation on these TVS devices’ characteristics, by exposing them to a combined neutron/gamma radiation field. Experimental results show that irradiation of TVS diodes causes a lasting degradation of their protective characteristics. On the other hand, GDTs exhibit a temporary change of performance. The observed effects are presented with the accompanying theoretical interpretations, based on the interaction of radiation with materials constituting the investigated devices.     

Weakly compactly generated Banach spaces and the strong law of large numbers

IfB is a weakly compactly generated Banach space andf: (S,S, ) satisfies the strong law of large numbers, thenf=f ₁+f ₂, wheref ₁ is Bochner -integrable andf ₂ is Pettis -integrable with Pettis norm 0. The decomposition is unique.     

Two Hadamard matrices of order 956 of Goethals-Seidel type

No Hadamard matrices of order 956 appear in the literature. In this note we construct two such matrices. They are both of Goethals-Seidel type. As a consequence of this and of a result of Seberry and Yamada, we conclude that there exist 4-Williamson type matrices of order 1913.This work was supported by NSERC of Canada Grants A-5285 and EQP0107539.     

On a problem connected with zeros of ζ(s) on the critical line

The existence of zeros ofZ ^(k)(t) in short intervals of the type [T, T+H] is established, whereHT ^a(k)logT, . Hitherto the sharpest bounds for the constanta(k) are obtained by employing a certain exponential averaging technique and the estimation of the relevant exponential sums. Bounds for are also derived, under the assumption that orZ(t) does not vanish in certain short intervals.     

Difference equations in statistical mechanics. I. Cluster statistics models

A review and some new results are presented for several cluster statistics models, solutions of which can be reduced to difference equations. Mathematical techniques suitable for solving these equations are surveyed.