Hamiltonian and Variational Linear Distributed Systems

We use the formalism of bilinear- and quadratic differential forms in order to study Hamiltonian and variational linear distributed systems. It was shown in [1] that a system described by ordinary linear constant-coefficient differential equations is Hamiltonian if and only if it is variational. In this paper we extend this result to systems described by linear, constant-coefficient partial differential equations. It is shown that any variational system is Hamiltonian, and that any scalar Hamiltonian system is contained (in general, properly) in a particular variational system.     

Parameterizing correlations: a geometric interpretation

^** Email: francesco.rapisarda{at}ubs.com In this paper, we present a new interpretation of the parameterizationof a correlation matrix proposed earlier by some authors (Jäckel& Rebonato, 1999). This interpretation is based on viewingany correlation matrix as the result of the scalar productsof a suitable set of unit vectors in a multidimensional space,each rotated from all the others by generalized Euler angles.It is possible to exploit the intuitive nature of this approachin order to obtain more efficient optimization schemes whencalibrating a reduced-form model to a desired correlation structure.     

Performance of the low pressure MWPCs for f ission fragments under a high background

Two couples of low pressure multi-wire proportional chambers (MWPC) were located in the target chamber to detect fission fragments in a hypernuclei producing experiment at Thomas Jefferson National Laboratory (Jlab). In the experiment, a continuous wave (CW) electron beam was applied to form hypernuclei by electromagnetic interaction. In the target chamber, the high energy (1.853 GeV) and high intensity (500 nA) primary electron beam caused a high particle background, which influenced the detection of the fission fragments. This report described the design of the MWPCs and studied the fission-fragment detecting performance of them under such a high background. The efficiency of the MWPCs was given with the help of a high resolution kaon spectrometer. At the same time, the background particles were discussed with a Monte Carlo code based on GEANT4.     

Solar and supplemental UV-B radiation effects in lemon peel UV-B-absorbing compound content-seasonal variations

Effects of solar and supplemental UV-B radiation on UV-B-absorbing compounds and malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulations in the peel of lemons collected in summer and winter were analyzed. UV-B-absorbing compounds were higher in flavedo than in albedo tissue in both seasons; however, the highest values were observed in summer. These compounds were also higher in outer than in inner flavedo surface. Lemons were categorized as sun-, semisun- and shaded-lemon according to localization inside the tree canopy. Depending on-tree localization UV-B-absorbing compounds were higher in flavedo of sun-lemon than in semisun- and shaded-lemon. Supplementary UV-B radiation (22 kJ m(-2) day(-1) UV-BBE) induced UV-B-absorbing compound synthesis in on-tree and postharvest lemons. Two minutes of supplemental UV-B irradiation in summer lemons produced a strong increment (300%) of UV-B-absorbing compound content, whereas in winter lemons a slight increase (30%) was observed only after 3 min of irradiation. By contrast, UV-B-absorbing compound accumulation was not observed in albedo. MDA accumulation showed approximately a similar trend of UV-B-absorbing compounds. According to our results, solar UV-B was not required for UV-B-absorbing compound accumulation in lemon peel. Relationships between UV-B-absorbing compounds, MDA, reactive oxygen species and pathogen protection are also discussed.