ℓ-group homomorphisms between reduced archimedean f-rings

Let A and B be reduced archimedean f-rings, A with identity e; let $A\,\mathop \to \limits^\gamma\,BLet A and B be reduced archimedean f-rings, A with identity e; let A \mathop ? ^g BA\,\mathop \to \limits^\gamma\,B be an ℓ-group homomorphism, and set w = γ (e). We show (with some vagaries of phrasing here) (1) γ = w·ρ for a canonical ℓ-ring homomorphism A \mathop ? ^r B (w)A\,\mathop \to \limits^\rho\,B (w), where B (w) is an extension of B in which w is a von Neumann regular element, and (2) for X _A ,X _B canonical representation spaces for A, B, γ is realized via composition with a unique partially defined continuous function from X _B to X _A .     

On the Brown–Shields conjecture for cyclicity in the Dirichlet space

Let be the Dirichlet space, namely the space of holomorphic functions on the unit disk whose derivative is square-integrable. We establish a new sufficient condition for a function to be cyclic, i.e. for to be dense in . This allows us to prove a special case of the conjecture of Brown and Shields that a function is cyclic in iff it is outer and its zero set (defined appropriately) is of capacity zero.     

Time-frequency analysis of the bistatic acoustic scattering from a spherical elastic shell

The development of low-frequency sonar systems, using, for instance, a network of autonomous systems in unmanned vehicles, provides a practical means for bistatic measurements (i.e., when the source and receiver are widely separated) allowing for multiple viewpoints of the target of interest. Time-frequency analysis, in particular, Wigner-Ville analysis, takes advantage of the evolution time dependent aspect of the echo spectrum to differentiate a man-made target, such as an elastic spherical shell, from a natural object of the similar shape. A key energetic feature of fluid-loaded and thin spherical shell is the coincidence pattern, also referred to as the mid-frequency enhancement (MFE), that results from antisymmetric Lamb-waves propagating around the circumference of the shell. This article investigates numerically the bistatic variations of the MFE with respect to the monostatic configuration using the Wigner-Ville analysis. The observed time-frequency shifts of the MFE are modeled using a previously derived quantitative ray theory by Zhang et al. [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 91, 1862-1874 (1993)] for spherical shell's scattering. Additionally, the advantage of an optimal array beamformer, based on joint time delays and frequency shifts is illustrated for enhancing the detection of the MFE recorded across a bistatic receiver array when compared to a conventional time-delay beamformer.     

Four-wave mixing from Fe3+ spins in sapphire

Fe(3+) ions in sapphire exhibit an electron spin resonance which interacts strongly with high-Q whispering gallery modes at microwave frequencies. We report the first observation of a third-order paramagnetic nonlinear susceptibility in such a resonator at cryogenic temperatures and the first demonstration of four-wave mixing using this parametric nonlinearity. This observation of an all-microwave nonlinearity is an enabling step towards a host of quantum measurement and control applications which utilize spins in solids.     

Enhanced growth of lactobacilli and bioconversion of isoflavones in biotin-supplemented soymilk upon ultrasound-treatment

This study aimed at utilizing ultrasound treatment to further enhance the growth of lactobacilli and their isoflavone bioconversion activities in biotin-supplemented soymilk. Strains of lactobacilli (Lactobacillus acidophilus BT 1088, L. fermentum BT 8219, L. acidophilus FTDC 8633, L. gasseri FTDC 8131) were treated with ultrasound (30 kHz, 100 W) at different amplitudes (20%, 60% and 100%) for 60, 120 and 180 s prior to inoculation and fermentation in biotin-soymilk. The treatment affected the fatty acids chain of the cellular membrane lipid bilayer, as shown by an increased lipid peroxidation (P < 0.05). This led to increased membrane fluidity and subsequently, membrane permeability (P < 0.05). The permeabilized cellular membranes had facilitated nutrient internalization and subsequent growth enhancement (P < 0.05). Higher amplitudes and longer durations of the treatment promoted growth of lactobacilli in soymilk, with viable counts exceeding 9 log CFU/mL. The intracellular and extracellular β-glucosidase specific activities of lactobacilli were also enhanced (P < 0.05) upon ultrasound treatment, leading to increased bioconversion of isoflavones in soymilk, particularly genistin and malonyl genistin to genistein. Results from this study show that ultrasound treatment on lactobacilli cells promotes (P < 0.05) the β-glucosidase activity of cells for the benefit of enhanced (P < 0.05) isoflavone glucosides bioconversion to bioactive aglycones in soymilk.     

Ultrasound treatment enhances cholesterol removal ability of lactobacilli

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of ultrasound treatment on the cholesterol removing ability of lactobacilli. Viability of lactobacilli cells was significantly increased (P < 0.05) immediately after treatment, but higher intensity of 100 W and longer duration of 3 min was detrimental on cellular viability (P < 0.05). This was attributed to the disruption of membrane lipid bilayer, cell lysis and membrane lipid peroxidation upon ultrasound treatment at higher intensity and duration. Nevertheless, the effect of ultrasound on membrane properties was reversible, as the viability of ultrasound-treated lactobacilli was increased (P < 0.05) after fermentation at 37 °C for 20 h. The removal of cholesterol by ultrasound-treated lactobacilli via assimilation and incorporation of cholesterol into the cellular membrane also increased significantly (P < 0.05) upon treatment, as observed from the increased ratio of membrane C:P. Results from fluorescence anisotropies showed that most of the incorporated cholesterol was saturated in the regions of phospholipids tails, upper phospholipids, and polar heads of the membrane bilayer.     

Combinatorial Mapping of Surface Energy Effects on Diblock Copolymer Thin Film Ordering

Combinatorial gradient techniques are used to map the morphology dependence of thin symmetric diblock copolymer films on film thickness and substrate surface energy. An inversion from symmetric to anti‐symmetric lamellar morphology occurs with a progressive change in surface energy. An intermediate neutral region is found between these limiting types of ordering. The width ω of this transitional energy range scales as a power of copolymer mass M, ω ∝ M^1.9.

Optical photograph of a combinatorial map of the thin‐film block‐copolymer morphology on a film thickness and surface energy gradient. Island and holes on the surface scatter light causing the film to appear cloudy (lighter in color) in the areas where they exist. The darker areas do not have surface features and do not scatter light.     

Overview on structural characterization of chitosan molecules in relation with their behavior in solution.

This paper concerns the new results obtained on the characterization of chitins and chitosans. Large series of samples was analyzed covering a wide range of water soluble and insoluble materials. The water soluble polymers were obtained by heterogeneous deacetylation and by homogeneous reacetylation. The calibration of IR spectrum was proposed and shown to be valid in all the range of DA. Application of ¹⁵N and ¹³C solid state NMR was developed to be able to determine DA even in situ on insoluble natural materials. All the methods proposed give a very coherent set of results. The molecular weight distribution was established by GPC using cationic porous supports and the good solvent earlier proposed 0.3M AcOH/0.2M AcONa. The role of the distribution of acetyl groups along the chain is also discussed and analyzed by NMR; it is demonstrated clearly the difference between homogeneously acetylated samples and heterogeneous samples coming from different routes of preparation. The dependence of Mark‐Houwink parameters allowing to relate the intrinsic viscosity with the molecular weight is also briefly reported. In good concordance with experimental data, molecular modeling helps in understanding the role of the N‐acetyl group content and distribution on the stiffness of the chains.     

XPS studies of Ni deposition on polymethyl methacrylate and poly(styrene‐co‐acrylonitrile)

Thin Ni layers were deposited onto clean polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and poly(styrene‐co‐acrylonitrile) (SAN) surfaces by a high vacuum thermal evaporation process. The resulting interfaces were studied by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The Ni deposition on PMMA changes the relative intensity of the C1s spectra associated with the O CO and C O carbon species, and modifies the shape of the O1s peak, while the Ni evaporation on SAN alters the C1s band intensity assigned to the CN moiety and gives a second N1s band at low binding energies. These observations suggest the formation of new chemical species at the interface between Ni and the PMMA ester group, and between Ni and the SAN nitrile group, which are the most reactive sites on these two polymers. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.