The existence of equilibria in certain games,separation for families of convex functions and a theorem of Borsuk-Ulam type

The existence of a Nash equilibrium in the undiscounted repeated two-person game of incomplete information on one side is established. The proof depends on a new topological result resembling in some respect the Borsuk-Ulam theorem.     

A Hilbert Space Approach to Bounded Analytic Interpolation

We generalize several results on bounded analytic interpolation of Fitzgerald and Horn, which work by majorization by positive definite kernels, to the cases of several complex variables and operator-valued interpolation. Using a lemma of Kolmogorov, we complement a simplification due to Szafraniec in the proofs of the theorems. Received: November 21, 2006. Accepted: August 03, 2007.     

Discrete global descent method for discrete global optimization and nonlinear integer programming

A novel method, entitled the discrete global descent method, is developed in this paper to solve discrete global optimization problems and nonlinear integer programming problems. This method moves from one discrete minimizer of the objective function f to another better one at each iteration with the help of an auxiliary function, entitled the discrete global descent function. The discrete global descent function guarantees that its discrete minimizers coincide with the better discrete minimizers of f under some standard assumptions. This property also ensures that a better discrete minimizer of f can be found by some classical local search methods. Numerical experiments on several test problems with up to 100 integer variables and up to 1.38 × 10¹⁰⁴ feasible points have demonstrated the applicability and efficiency of the proposed method.     

Size of the interpolated cation and hole carrier density: two key parameters for the optimisation of colossal magnetoresistive properties of Pr-based manganites

The exploration of the magnetic and transport properties of four series of manganese perovskites, Pr_0.7Ca_0.34−xA_xMnO_3−δ (A=Sr, Ba), Pr_0.7−xLa_xCa_0.3 MnO_3−δ and Pr_0.66Ca_0.34−x Sr_xMnO_3−δ has allowed four phases with colossal magnetoresistive (CMR) properties to be isolated: Pr_0.7Ca_0.25Sr_0.025MnO_3−δ and Pr_0.66Ca_0.26Sr_0.08MnO_3−δ that exhibit a variation of resistance of 2.5. 10⁷% and 10⁹% at μ₀ H=5 T for T=88 K and 50 K respectively, Pr_0.58La_0.12Ca_0.3 MnO_3−δ that exhibits a variation of 6.10⁶% for μ₀ H=5 T at T=80 K and Pr_0.7Ba_0.025Ca_0.275MnO_3−δ for which a resistance variation of 5.10⁹%, at T=50 K, for μ₀ H=5 T is evidenced. for each compound of this series except the barium phase, one observes that the temperature T_max, which corresponds to the resistance maximum on the R(T) curves in zero magnetic field, increases dramatically as the mean size of the interpolated cations increases, and that the CMR effect correlatively decreases dramatically. The comparison of the two series Pr_0.7Ca_0.3−xSr_xMnO_3−δ and Pr_0.66Ca_0.34−xSr_xMnO_3−δ shows also the crucial role of the hole carrier density: for a same mean ionic radius of the interpolated cation T_max is decreased of about 50 K by introducing 0.034 hole per Mn mole.     

Some aerodynamic and acoustic characteristicsof acute laryngitis

The purpose of the present study was to describe the effects ofacute laryngitis on some aerodynamic, acoustic, and perceptual measures. Eleven subjects with diagnosed acute laryngitis due to upper respiratory infection were recorded during a laryngitic episode and 1 week to 10 days after amelioration of the laryngitic condition. Fundamental frequency values, collapsed across the five vowels, were significantly reduced in the laryngitic compared with the normal speaking condition. The decrease in fundamental frequency associated with acute laryngitis suggests an increase in the mass of the vocal folds. In addition, aerodynamic values differed significantly for the laryngitic condition compared with the normal speaking condition, suggesting the presence of laryngeal hypofunction. Perceptual data indicated that speakers in the laryngitic condition were judged to have a hoarse voice when compared with the normal speaking condition.     

Groupwise density and the cofinality of the infinite symmetric group

We study the relationship between the cofinality of the infinite symmetric group and the cardinal invariants and . In particular, we prove the following two results. Theorem 0.1 It is consistent with ZFC that there exists a simple $P_{\omega_{1}}$ -point and that $c(Sym(\omega)) = \omega_{2} = 2^{\omega}$ . Theorem 0.2 If there exist both a simple $P_{\omega_{1}}$ -point and a $P_{\omega_{2}}$ -point, then $c(Sym(\omega)) = \omega_{1}$ . Received: 7 March 1996     

Investigation on hexamethyldisilazane vapor treatment of plasma-damaged nanoporous organosilicate films

Hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) vapor treatment of plasma-damaged nanoporous organosilicate thin films has been studied as a function of treatment temperature in this work. Although, the HMDS vapor treatment facilitated incorporation of methyl (CH₃) groups subsequent to the removal of free hydroxyl (OH) groups in the damaged films at treatment temperature as low as 55 °C, the bonded OH groups were not removed. More significantly, detailed analysis of the results reveals that HMDS vapor modified only the surface of the plasma-damaged samples and not the entire film as expected. This is attributed to the formation of a thin solid layer on the surface, which effectively prevents penetration of HMDS vapors into the bulk. The Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) absorption and dielectric constant measurements confirm that the vapor treatment assists only partial curing of the plasma-damaged films. Alternative processes of curing the films with HMDS dissolved in supercritical carbon dioxide (SCCO₂) as a medium of reaction in static and pulsed modes were also attempted and the results are presented in this paper.     

Correlation of Plasma Sprayed Coating Deposition Efficiency with Volume Flux Measurements by Phase Doppler Anemometry (PDA)

The use of phase-Doppler anemometry (PDA) to characterize the detail in-flight plasma sprayed particle behavior has been demonstrated previously [Ma et al. Plasma Chem Plasma Process 24(1):85; 25(1):56] The present articles shows further that a direct relationship may exist between the PDA measured particle volume flux and the coating microstructure and deposition efficiency (DE). In the situation when the precise particle temperature information is not available, the PDA measured particle volume flux may provide an alternative to predict quantitatively the variation of the coating microstructure and the DE. By monitoring the in-flight particle volume flux variations, instead of the particle velocity, size and temperature individually and simultaneously, the optimal settings of the plasma spraying parameters may also be determined conveniently. However, it is noted that the effective applications of such approach depend largely on the particle surface morphology and the pre-determination of the particle size range.