Polynomial Reproduction in Subdivision

We study conditions on the matrix mask of a vector subdivision scheme ensuring that certain polynomial input vectors yield polynomial output again. The conditions are in terms of a recurrence formula for the vectors which determine the structure of polynomial input with this property. From this recurrence, we obtain an algorithm to determine polynomial input of maximal degree. The algorithm can be used in the design of masks to achieve a high order of polynomial reproduction.     

Polarized Lidar Reflectance Measurements of Vegetation at Near-Infrared and Green Wavelengths

There is growing interest in the use of lidar for remote sensing of vegetation owing to the emergence of reliable and rugged lasers and highly sensitive detectors. Lidar remote sensing has a distinct advantage over conventional techniques in vegetation remote sensing due to its capability for three-dimensional characterization of vegetative targets. The Multiwavelength Airborne Polarimetric Lidar (MAPL) system was developed primarily for vegetation remote sensing applications from an airborne platform of up to 1,000 -m altitude. The lidar system has full waveform capture and polarimetric measurement capability at two wavelengths in the near-infrared (1064 nm) and the green (532 nm) spectral regions. This study presents preliminary ground-based lidar reflectance measurements on a variety of deciduous and coniferous trees under fully foliated conditions with a view towards tree species discrimination. Variations in the reflectance characteristics of selected deciduous trees under unfoliated and fully foliated conditions were also investigated. Our study reveals distinct differences in the reflectance characteristics of various trees.     

The g-values of defects in hydrogenated microcrystalline silicon

The anisotropic g-values of defects in hydrogenated microcrystalline silicon prepared by hot-wire chemical vapour deposition have been measured as a function of crystalline volume fraction at room temperature. The defect has been identified as a silicon-dangling bond existing on the surface of crystalline grain. Their anisotropic g-values are discussed in the light of theoretical calculations by Ishii et al. and Ishii and Shimizu. The defect density is also discussed as a function of crystalline volume fraction.     

Electrohydrodynamic instability in some nematic cyanobiphenyls in an a.c. electric field

Electrohydrodynamic instability in homeotropically oriented nematic samples of 4'-n-octyl-4-cyano-biphenyl and 4'n-alkyloxy-4-cyanobiphenyl, (n = 8.9) have been studied in an a.c. electric field. The domain patterns during the instability in these compounds in a very low frequency a.c. field are very similar to those in a d.c. field. The domain patterns observed at higher frequencies have been identified as 'maltese crosses' or 'crossed isogyres'. The electro-convective 'isotropic' flows near the electrode play an important role in the observed instability.     

Calculation of Normal Vibrations of Chlorin by the Method of Density Functionals

Using the DFT/B3LYP method with a 6-31G(d) basis set, the structure, normal vibration frequencies, and the absolute band intensities in the IR spectra of the chlorin molecule and its four symmetric isotopomers have been calculated. Scaling of the force field by the Pulay method in independent and natural coordinates has been carried out. A method for obtaining effective force fields without using experimental data on the fundamental vibration frequencies is proposed. By comparing the vibration modes and constructing special matrices, complete assignment of the fundamental frequencies of porphin and chlorin has been carried out. It has been shown that the majority of porphin macroring vibrations upon pyrrolenine ring hydrogenation are frequency-characteristic and only 12 vibrations change considerably. A frequency correlation with regard for the mode transition between chlorin and all its isotopomers under consideration has been established. Comparative analysis of the force fields of porphin and chlorin in dependent natural coordinates has revealed the unique nonlocal character of the change in force constants of the macroring upon hydrogenation of one pyrrolenine ring. Modeling of the IR spectra of chlorin and its isotopomers has been performed. Assignment and interpretation of the normal vibrations of the molecules under consideration have been carried out.     

Synthesis of molecular imprinted organic-inorganic hybrid polymer binding caffeine

Random copolymers of poly{(methacrylamide)-co-(vinyl trimethoxysilane)} and poly{(methacrylic acid)-co-(vinyl trimethoxysilane)} were synthesized via a free radical polymerization reaction. Acid catalyzed sol-gel process of tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) with aforementioned polymers in the presence of methyl xanthine class of alkaloid like caffeine resulted in the formation of highly transparent monoliths. Solvent extraction of the template leaves behind the recognition sites intact with high selectivity towards the print molecule. The ionic and non-specific adsorptions, which are considered to be the main disadvantages of the molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP), are prevented to a considerable extent by the end capping of surface silanol groups. The template binding efficiencies of MIP were determined by HPLC analysis.     

Role of Bulk Vaporization in the Dynamics of Laser-Induced Erosion Plumes of Metals

In different regimes of exposure of metals to pulsed laser radiation, we show the role played by the liquid-drop phase formed from the target material in a laser-induced erosion plume due to bulk vaporization, in the dynamics of this plume. For some metals, the ranges of power densities of the acting laser radiation, at which the condensed-phase particles influence the passage of laser radiation to the target surface, have been determined experimentally. The mechanism of realization of a low-threshold breakdown has been revealed.     

Effect of Conditions of Electric-Spark Dispersion of Zinc on the Quality of the Product Obtained

Influence exerted by additives introduced into the working solution, by iron or copper formedin electric-spark dispersion of these metals and zinc, on the quality of the products obtained in electric erosionwas studied.     

Banana-shaped mesogens: a new homologous series of compounds exhibiting the B7 mesophase

The synthesis and characterization of a new homologous series of compounds, the 2-cyano-1,3-phenylene bis[4-(4-n-alkoxyphenyliminomethyl)benzoates] derived from 2-cyanoresorcinol is reported. All the compounds are enantiotropic mesogens and exhibit the fascinating B₇ mesophase. The characterization of the mesophase was performed using polarizing optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction and electro-optical studies.     

Equisingular Deformations of Sandwiched Singularities

We relate the equisingular deformation theory of plane curve singularities and sandwiched surface singularities. We show the existence of a smooth map between the two corresponding deformation functors and study the kernel of this map. In particular we show that the map is an isomorphism when a certain invariant is large enough.