Blocking of coupling to the 0<Subscript>2</Subscript><Superscript>+</Superscript> excitation in <Superscript>154</Superscript>Gd by the [505]11/2<Superscript>-</Superscript> neutron in <Superscript>155</Superscript>Gd

The concept that the first excited 0⁺ states in N = 90 nuclei are not a b \beta -vibration but a second vacuum formed by the combination of the quadrupole pairing force and the low density of oblate orbitals near the Fermi surface is supported by the blocking of this collective mode in ¹⁵⁴Gd from coupling to the [505]11/2^- single-particle quasi-neutron orbital in ¹⁵⁵Gd . The coupling of this orbital to the 2⁺ g \gamma -vibration in ¹⁵⁴Gd is observed since this coupling is not Pauli-blocked.     

Representations of set-valued risk measures defined on the l-tensor product of Banach lattices

We obtain a representation for set-valued risk measures which are defined on the completed \(l\) -tensor product \(E\widetilde{\otimes }_l G\) of Banach lattices \(E\) and \(G\) . This representation extends known representations for set-valued risk measures defined on Bochner spaces \(L^p(\mathbb {P}, \mathbb {R}^d)\) of \(p\) -integrable functions with values in \(\mathbb {R}^d\) .     

Shear flows of a new class of power-law fluids

We consider the flow of a class of incompressible fluids which are constitutively defined by the symmetric part of the velocity gradient being a function, which can be non-monotone, of the deviator of the stress tensor. These models are generalizations of the stress power-law models introduced and studied by J. Málek, V. Pr??a, K.R. Rajagopal: Generalizations of the Navier-Stokes fluid from a new perspective. Int. J. Eng. Sci. 48 (2010), 1907–1924. We discuss a potential application of the new models and then consider some simple boundary-value problems, namely steady planar Couette and Poiseuille flows with no-slip and slip boundary conditions. We show that these problems can have more than one solution and that the multiplicity of the solutions depends on the values of the model parameters as well as the choice of boundary conditions.     

Measuring stress intensity factors with a camera: Integrated digital image correlation (I-DIC)Mesure de facteurs d'intensité des contraintes avec une caméra : corrélation d'images numériques intégrée (CINI)

A novel ‘integrated’ approach coupling image correlation and elastic displacement field identification provides a powerful and accurate tool to evaluate mode I and II stress intensity factors. This technique is applied to silicon carbide subjected to a sandwiched three-point bend test, using digital pictures obtained in optical microscopy where the pixel physical scale is about 2 μm. A crack whose maximum opening is 500 nm can be detected and its geometry identified. The toughness is determined well within a 10%uncertainty. To cite this article: F. Hild, S. Roux, C. R. Mecanique 334 (2006).     

Measurement of the tau lepton mass and an upper limit on the mass difference between tau+ and tau-

The mass of the tau lepton has been measured in the decay mode tau-->3pinutau using a pseudomass technique. The result obtained from 414 fb-1 of data collected with the Belle detector is Mtau=[1776.61+/-0.13(stat)+/-0.35(sys)] MeV/c2. The upper limit on the relative mass difference between positive and negative tau leptons is |Mtau+-Mtau-|/Mtau<2.8 x 10-4 at 90% confidence level.     

Real-Space Renormalization Estimates for Two-Phase Flow in Porous Media

We present a spatial renormalization group algorithm to handle immiscibletwo-phase flow in heterogeneous porous media. We call this algorithmFRACTAM-R, where FRACTAM is an acronym for Fast Renormalization Algorithmfor Correlated Transport in Anisotropic Media, and the R stands for relativepermeability. Originally, FRACTAM was an approximate iterative process thatreplaces the L × L lattice of grid blocks, representing the reservoir,by a (L/2) × (L/2) one. In fact, FRACTAM replaces the original L× L lattice by a hierarchical (fractal) lattice, in such a way thatfinding the solution of the two-phase flow equations becomes trivial. Thistriviality translates in practice into computer efficiency. For N=L ×L grid blocks we find that the computer time necessary to calculatefractional flow F(t) and pressure P(t) as a function of time scales as N^1.7 for FRACTAM-R. This should be contrasted with thecomputational time of a conventional grid simulator N^2.3. The solution we find in this way is an accurateapproximation to the direct solution of the original problem.     

Design of robust binary film onto carbon surface using diazonium electrochemistry

The electroreduction of functionalized aryldiazonium salts combined with a protection-deprotection method was evaluated for the fabrication of organized mixed layers covalently bound onto carbon substrates. The first modification consists of the grafting of a protected 4-((triisopropylsilyl)ethynyl)benzene layer onto the carbon surface on which the introduction of a second functional group is possible without altering the first grafted functional group. After deprotection, we obtained an ultrathin robust layer presenting high densities of both active ethynylbenzene groups (available for "click" chemistry) and the second functional group. The strategy was successfully demonstrated using azidomethylferrocene to react with ethynyl moieties in the binary film by "click" chemistry, and NO(2)-phenyl as the second functional group. Two possible modification pathways with different orderings of the various steps were considered to show the influence and importance of the protection-deprotection process on the final surface obtained. Using mild conditions for the grafting of the second layer maintains a concentration of active ethynyl groups similar to that obtained for a one-component monolayer while achieving a high surface concentration of the second modifier. Considering the wide range of functional aryldiazonium salts that could be electrodeposited onto carbon surfaces and the versatility and specificity of the "click" chemistry, this approach appears very promising for the preparation of mixed layers in well-controlled conditions without altering the reactivity of either functional group.     

How to design cell-based biosensors using the sol–gel process

Inorganic gels formed using the sol–gel process are promising hosts for the encapsulation of living organisms and the design of cell-based biosensors. However, the possibility to use the biological activity of entrapped cells as a biological signal requires a good understanding and careful control of the chemical and physical conditions in which the organisms are placed before, during, and after gel formation, and their impact on cell viability. Moreover, it is important to examine the possible transduction methods that are compatible with sol–gel encapsulated cells. Through an updated presentation of the current knowledge in this field and based on selected examples, this review shows how it has been possible to convert a chemical technology initially developed for the glass industry into a biotechnological tool, with current limitations and promising specificities.