On a semi-smooth Newton method and its globalization

This paper addresses the globalization of the semi-smooth Newton method for non-smooth equations F(x)  =  0 in with applications to complementarity and discretized ℓ¹-regularization problems. Assuming semi-smoothness it is shown that super-linearly convergent Newton methods can be globalized, if appropriate descent directions are used for the merit function |F(x)|². Special attention is paid to directions obtained from the primal-dual active set strategy. K. Ito’s research was partially supported by the Army Research Office under DAAD19-02-1-039.     

The Sensitivity Analysis for the Flow Past Obstacles Problem with Respect to the Reynolds Number

In this paper, numerical sensitivity analysis with respect to the Reynolds number for the flow past obstacle problem is presented. To carry out such analysis, at each time step, we need to solve the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations on irregular domains twice, one for the primary variables; the other is for the sensitivity variables with homogeneous boundary conditions. The Navier-Stokes solver is the augmented immersed interface method for Navier-Stokes equations on irregular domains. One of the most important contributions of this paper is that our analysis can predict the critical Reynolds number at which the vortex shading begins to develop in the wake of the obstacle. Some interesting experiments are shown to illustrate how the critical Reynolds number varies with different geometric settings.     

MTV-G experiment: Probing non-standard strong gravitational field at nuclear scale using geodetic precession

A new experiment named MTV-G, probing a large electron spin-precession due to a possible strong gravitational field, which predicted by large extra dimension model, is started at TRIUMF from 2011. In an electron-nuclear scattering experiment, a strong gravitational field is tested as a large spin precession effect caused by geodetic precession predicted by general relativity theory as a result of a warped space-time around nuclei. Experimental design using spin polarized electron source and Mott-spin analyzer, commissioning experiment and the preliminary results are described.     

Relative contributions of porosity and mineralized matrix properties to the bulk axial ultrasonic wave velocity in human cortical bone

Velocity of ultrasound waves has proved to be a useful indicator of bone biomechanical competence. A detailed understanding of the dependence of ultrasound parameters such as velocity on bone characteristics is a key to the development of bone quantitative ultrasound (QUS). The objective of this study is to investigate the relative contributions of porosity and mineralized matrix properties to the bulk compressional wave velocity (BCV) along the long bone axis. Cross-sectional slabs from the diaphysis of four human femurs were included in the study. Seven regions of interest (ROIs) were selected in each slab. BCV was measured in through-transmission at 5 MHz. Impedance of the mineralized matrix (Z_m) and porosity (Por) were obtained from 50 MHz scanning acoustic microscopy. Por and Z_m had comparable effects on BCV along the bone axis (R = −0.57 and R = 0.72, respectively).     

Color change (yellow \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$\rightleftharpoons$\end{document} orange) of 4,6,7-tri(alkoxy-substituted aryl)-1,2,5-thiadiazolo[3,4-c]pyridines in the solid phase

Reversible color change of 4,6,7-tri(alkoxy-substituted phenyl)-1,2,5-thiadiazolo[3,4-c]pyridines 5 in the solid state was observed: on grinding, yellow crystals of 5 became an orange amorphous solid which, on heating or washing with an appropriate solvent, gave the original yellow crystals.     

Performance characteristics of narrow linewidth fiber laser pumped mid-IR difference frequency mixing light source for methane detection.

A high-power, narrow-linewidth Yb fiber laser with a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) pumped difference frequency generation (DFG) in a periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) crystal was investigated in detail. A mid-IR power of approximately 2.3 microW at 3.3 micrometers with a slope efficiency of 0.85 mW/W2 was achieved. A Doppler-broadened absorption spectrum of CH4 at 3038.497 cm-1 (3.2911 micrometers) was obtained with a 0.1-m long-gas cell at a pressure of 133 Pa. The linewidth of the DFG source was evaluated to be less than 96 MHz from the observed spectral linewidth. Real-time monitoring of CH4 (approximately 1.78 ppm) in ambient air in a multipass cell which has an optical path length of 10 m was also demonstrated.     

On the stationary semiconductor equations arising in modeling an LBIC technique

In this paper by using anL estimate for elliptic equations, we study the well-posedness of the stationary semiconductor equations arising from modeling a nondestructive testing technique LBIC. It is shown that when the extra source term is small, the system has a unique weak solution, and the solution is continuously dependent on this source term. The validity of an approximate model derived for the study of the inverse problem is established. The existence result is then extended to the case of constant mobilities without the assumption on the size of the source term.Parts of this work were completed while the authors were members of the Center for Applied Mathematical Sciences at the University of Southern California, and was supported by Air Force Office of Scientific Research Grant AFOSR-90-0091.     

Simultaneous determination of residual antiparasitic lactones in bovine muscle and liver by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

Abamectin, doramectin, eprinomectin, ivermectin, milbemectin, and moxidectin in bovine muscle and liver were extracted with acetonitrile. The extracts were partitioned with n-hexane and then evaporated to dryness. The residue was cleaned up on Bond Elute NH2 cartridge, and the drugs were eluted from the cartridge with methanol-ethyl acetate (3 + 7). The eluate was evaporated to dryness, and residues were derivatized with N,N-dimethylformamide-acetic anhyride-1-methylimidazole. The derivatives were determined by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. Recoveries of the 6 drugs were 79.6-63.8% in muscle and 71.6-60.6% in liver at 0.01 ppm levels. The quantitation limits were 5 ppb for each drug.     

Parviflorenes B-F, novel cytotoxic unsymmetrical sesquiterpene-dimers with three backbone skeletons from Curcuma parviflora

Five novel natural products classified as dimeric sesquiterpenes, named parviflorenes B-F (2-6), possessing three types of novel backbone frameworks, have been isolated from Curcuma parviflora (Zingiberaceae). The structures of 2-6 were elucidated by means of spectroscopic studies, and the structure of 2 was further unambiguously established by X-ray crystallographic analysis. Compounds 2, 4, and 6 have an unsymmetrical bis-cadinane skeleton, while compound 3 is a dimer of cadinane and iso-cadinane, and compound 5 possesses another novel carbon framework consisting of two cadinanes with different bond-connection. These new compounds with novel carbon skeletons showed cytotoxicity against tumor cell lines.