Revisiting the European sovereign bonds with a permutation-information-theory approach

In this paper we study the evolution of the informational efficiency in its weak form for seventeen European sovereign bonds time series. We aim to assess the impact of two specific economic situations in the hypothetical random behavior of these time series: the establishment of a common currency and a wide and deep financial crisis. In order to evaluate the informational efficiency we use permutation quantifiers derived from information theory. Specifically, time series are ranked according to two metrics that measure the intrinsic structure of their correlations: permutation entropy and permutation statistical complexity. These measures provide the rectangular coordinates of the complexity-entropy causality plane; the planar location of the time series in this representation space reveals the degree of informational efficiency. According to our results, the currency union contributed to homogenize the stochastic characteristics of the time series and produced synchronization in the random behavior of them. Additionally, the 2008 financial crisis uncovered differences within the apparently homogeneous European sovereign markets and revealed country-specific characteristics that were partially hidden during the monetary union heyday.     

High-resolution infrared spectroscopy of H12C13CD and H13C12CD in the 470–5200 cm−1 spectral region

The fundamental ro-vibrational bands and the 2ν₄?←?GS, 2ν₅?←?GS, 2ν₃?←?GS, ν₄?+?ν₅?←?GS, ν₃?+?ν₄?←?GS, ν₃?+?ν₄?←?ν?₄, ν₃?+?ν₅?←?ν₅, overtone, combination and hot bands of the two rare isotopologues of acetylene H¹²C¹³CD and H¹³C¹²CD have been detected by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The analysis of the data has provided very accurate rotational and vibrational parameters for the ground and for the vibrationally excited states.     

Simultaneous Determination of Major,Minor, and Trace Elements in Agricultural and Biological Samples by Inductively Coupled Argon Plasma Spectrometry

Three techniques for biological and agricultural sample preparation are compared. Commercially available inductively coupled argon plasma (ICAP) direct-reading spectrometers have been used to determine 29 major, minor, and trace elements in biological or agricultural samples following a nitric-perchloric acid digestion. At levels below the detection limit of the instrument, 21 other elements were found. The hydride generation-ICAP technique was employed for the determination of As, Bi, Sb, and Se in the same sample types.     

Analyzing and modeling real-world phenomena with complex networks: a survey of applications

The success of new scientific areas can be assessed by their potential in contributing to new theoretical approaches and in applications to real-world problems. Complex networks have fared extremely well in both of these aspects, with their sound theoretical basis being developed over the years and with a variety of applications. In this survey, we analyze the applications of complex networks to real-world problems and data, with emphasis in representation, analysis and modeling. A diversity of phenomena are surveyed, which may be classified into no less than 11 areas, providing a clear indication of the impact of the field of complex networks.     

Spectral and informational analysis of seismicity: An application to the 1996–2012 seismicity of the Northern Caucasus–Azerbaijan part of the greater Caucasus–Kopet Dag region

The time series analysis of seismic sequences needs proper methodologies that allow us to capture the main features of the time dynamics of earthquakes. Among these features, the identification of periodicities along with the quantification of their intensity represents an important task, concerning the detection of regular dynamical behaviours, with clear implications for earthquake prediction. In the present study, we applied three different methods to investigate the time dynamics of the seismic activity of the Northern Caucasus–Azerbaijan part of the Greater Caucasus–Kopet Dag region. We analysed the monthly number of earthquakes which occurred between 1996 and 2012 by means of: (i) the robust estimation of the periodogram, (ii) the singular spectrum analysis (SSA), and (iii) the Fisher–Shannon method. Two main significant periodicities are detected: 102 months and 20 months. The first corresponds actually to the long-term variation of the monthly seismic activity of the area, while the second represents the more intense cyclic component. Periodicities of 7 and 30 months are also identified, but with a lower intensity than the 20-month periodicity. The Fisher–Shannon method has revealed that the long-term variation of the series is also characterized by higher organization and lower degree of disorder. The present study shows how the application of methods from statistical mechanics could contribute to unveil dynamical features in seismicity.     

Weak topology and infinite matrix games

This paper approaches infinite matrix games through the weak topology on the players' sets of strategies. A new class of semi-infinite and infinite matrix games is defined, and it is proved that these games always have a value and optimal strategies for each player. Using these games it is proved that some other important classes of infinite matrix game also have values. Received April 1996/Revised version June 1997/Final version September 1997     

A Global Glance on Categories in Logic

We explore the possibility and some potential payoffs of using the theory of accessible categories in the study of categories of logics. We illustrate this by two case studies focusing on the category of finitary structural logics and its subcategory of algebraizable logics. Mathematics Subject Classification (2000): Primary 03B22; Secondary 18C35.     

A comprehensive ESPI based system for combined measurement of shape and deformation of electronic components

This paper describes a very simple and reliable procedure for measuring shape and deformation of electronic components with a single experimental set-up. The procedure is based on two electronic speckle pattern interferometry (ESPI) techniques referred to as conventional ESPI and phase shifting ESPI (PS-ESPI). The present research is motivated by the fact that mismatch in thermal expansion coefficients of the different materials included in electronic packaging (EP) may cause mechanical failures since thermal stresses will change sharply through subsequent loading cycles. ESPI is particularly suitable for measurements on EP since it allows us to perform non–contact testing of non-planar heterogeneous surfaces. It is apparent that gathering detailed topographic information will certainly help us to measure accurately surface deformations of EP along with modeling correctly numerical analysis.As is known, the accuracy of results obtained with ESPI may be significantly improved by phase shifting techniques (PST). Therefore, this paper compares the relative merits of different phase-stepping strategies in order to find which strategy will perform the best for the optical set-up utilized in the experiments. Preliminary investigations on a standard specimen under three-point-bending served to choose properly the optical set-up and phase-stepping procedure which yield the best fringe visibility. Four-phases achieved the best fringe visibility and the minimum number of invalid pixels.These information have been utilized in the experimental campaign on standard and surface mounted technology (SMT) electronic components. ESPI and PS-ESPI have been used for analyzing the transient state and the steady state of devices, respectively. From the experimental results obtained here, it appears possible to measure strains induced by thermal loading cycles. The experimental set-up, based on the Lendeertz's interferometer, proved itself also able to contour specimen surface at a good level of detail. Remarkably, by using the same set-up for deformation and shape measurements we can preserve the pixel by pixel relationship between displacements and surface depth which will hold true if correlation between different exposures is not destroyed.The results obtained in this research justify using PS-ESPI in order to understand better failure mechanisms of electronic components. This fact along with the exact knowledge of object shape may be particularly useful in the different design stages (including FEM modeling and analysis) of electronics for special applications.     

Simple access to 2-methylalk-2-enoates and insect pheromones by zinc-promoted reduction of Baylis-Hillman-derived allylic bromides

(E)-2-Methylacrylates are prepared in good yield and high stereoselectivity by zinc-promoted reduction of 2-(bromomethyl)alkenoates derived from Baylis-Hillman adducts. Synthesis of the male ant pheromone (E)-2,4-dimethyl-2-hexenoic acid was performed using this simple methodology.