Regularization procedures of mixed finite element approximations of the stokes problem

We propose a theoretical framework for the study of regularization of the Stokes problem. This enables us to perform a general error analysis and to apply it to known schemes as well as to a new one pertaining to the use of the P1-P1 element. Finally we show that in the P1-case the theory can also be used to get convergence results for elements obtained by addition of bubble functions, without using the usual mixed finite element machinery.     

Polygermoxanes suitable for biochemical purposes. Part I. Digermoxanes (low-viscosity oils)

In order to replace silicones in some of their biomedical applications, e.g. syringe lubrication, implants ets., a series of digermoxanes (R¹R²R³Ge)₂O (R = n–alkyl, aryl) were synthesized. These compounds are thermally stable oils; their viscosities, depending on the nature of substituents, lie in the range 1–72 cPo (mPa s) at 20°C.     

LA RECONSTRUCTION DES TOURNOIS SANS DIAMANT

We prove that if T is a tournament of order n > 6 in which any 4-sub-tournament is hamiltonian or transitive, then T is reconstructible in the sense of Ulam.     

Kondo lattice and heavy fermions in Heusler phases: CeInAg2−xCux

Magnetic properties, electrical resistivity, specific heat and magnetic excitations have been investigated in Heusler phases CeInAg_2–xCu_x. The hybridization continuously increases from CeInAg₂ (antiferromagnetic Kondo lattice) to CeInCu₂ (heavy fermion compound). The specific heat coefficient for this last compound is found to reach 1.2 J/mole. K² at 1.4 K, the Kondo temperature is 6 K and the Wilson ratio is close to 2.     

111In–L–LDL and 153Gd–L–LDL as radiotracers for detection of AR4‐2J rat pancreatic tumors

Pancreatic cancer has an extremely poor prognosis, due, in part, to lack of methods for early diagnosis. The present study was designed to evaluate the potential of labeling low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) with a radionuclide using a lipid chelating agent, bis(stearylamide) of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (L), to detect pancreatic tumors by gamma‐scintigraphy. Previous studies indicated that the difficulty of visualization of pancreatic tumors was due to their poor vascularization. This study compares the ability of two radiotracers, ¹¹¹In–L–LDL and ¹⁵³Gd–L–LDL to target highly vascularized rat pancreatic tumors (AR4‐2J) implanted in nude mice. Biodistribution studies showed that the tumor uptake of ¹¹¹In–L–LDL and ¹⁵³Gd–L–LDL tracers was twofold and fivefold higher respectively than with the controls (¹¹¹In citrate and ¹⁵³Gd citrate respectively). These tracers would thus be suitable for scintigraphic imaging. We show here that LDL could be employed as a delivery system for tracers such as ¹¹¹In or ¹⁵³Gd when these two radionuclides are complexed by a lipid‐chelating anchor, and that ¹¹¹In–L–LDL and ¹⁵³Gd–L–LDL enabled better visualization of the pancreatic tumor tissues, with a better result with ¹⁵³Gd–L–LDL. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Thermodynamic non-additivity in disordered systems with extended phase space

Non-additivity effects in coupled dynamic-stochastic systems are investigated. It is shown that there is a mapping of the replica approach to disordered systems with finite replica indexn on Tsallis non-extensive statistics, if the average thermodynamic entropy of the dynamic subsystem differs from the information entropy for the probability distribution in the stochastic subsystem. The entropic indexq is determined by the entropy difference ΔS. In the case of incomplete information, the entropic indexq=1−n is shown to be related to the degree of lost information.     

Uniform random number generation

In typical stochastic simulations, randomness is produced by generating a sequence of independent uniform variates (usually real-valued between 0 and 1, or integer-valued in some interval) and transforming them in an appropriate way. In this paper, we examine practical ways of generating (deterministic approximations to) such uniform variates on a computer. We compare them in terms of ease of implementation, efficiency, theoretical support, and statistical robustness. We look in particular at several classes of generators, such as linear congruential, multiple recursive, digital multistep, Tausworthe, lagged-Fibonacci, generalized feedback shift register, matrix, linear congruential over fields of formal series, and combined generators, and show how all of them can be analyzed in terms of their lattice structure. We also mention other classes of generators, like non-linear generators, discuss other kinds of theoretical and empirical statistical tests, and give a bibliographic survey of recent papers on the subject.     

Range reliability in random walks

This paper introduces a definition of reliability based on a process range. Thus, process failure is defined when the range of a process first reaches a given and unacceptable level. The Mean Time To Failure (MTTF) which is denned as the mean of the first time for a range to attain a given amplitude is then calculated for an asymmetric random walk process. The probability distribution of the range is then given and the process reliability over long periods of system operations are then calculated. Applications such as the control of wings movements, stock price and exchange rates volatility (defined in terms of reliability) are also used to motivate the usefulness of range processes in reliability studies. Finally, we point out that there is necessarily a relationship between the range reliability and the propensity of a series to become chaotic.     

Encapsulation of ZnS:Mn2+ nanocrystals with diblock copolymers

The encapsulation of the nanocrystalline manganese‐doped zinc sulfide (ZnS:Mn) in poly(styrene‐b‐2vinylpyridine) (PS‐PVP) diblock copolymers is reported. Below the critical micelle concentration in the absence of nanocrystals (NCs), inverse micelles of PS‐PVP were induced by adding ZnS:Mn NCs, the presence of which was confirmed by scanning force microscope and dynamic light scattering. In toluene, a PS‐selective solvent, the less‐soluble PVP blocks preferentially surround the ligand‐coated ZnS:Mn NCs. For PS‐PVP encapsulated ZnS:Mn NCs, the ratio of blue emission to orange emission of ZnS:Mn NCs is dependent on both the concentration of PS‐PVP and the solvent quality. The pyridine of PVP blocks form complexes with the Zn atoms via the nitrogen lone pair and thus the sulfur vacancies are passivated. As a result, the defect‐related blue emission is selectively quenched even when the micelles are not formed. As the concentration of PS‐PVP encapsulating the ZnS:Mn NCs increases, the intensity of blue emission decreases. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 3227–3233, 2006     

Convergent Star Product Algebras on ‘ax+b’

We define nontempered (exponential growth) function spaces on the Lie group ax+b which are stable under some left-invariant (convergent) star product. The techniques used to achieved the latter come from symmetric spaces geometry and star representation theory.