A note on substitutions in representable cylindric algebras

We show that it is impossible to define a substitution operator for arbitrary representable cylindric algebras that agrees in its basic properties with the notion of substitutions introduced for dimension complemented algebras (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

An improved automated ultrasonic NDE system by wavelet and neuron networks

Despite of the widespread and increasing use of digitized signals, the ultrasonic testing community has not realized yet the full potential of the electronic processing. The performance of an ultrasonic flaw detection method is evaluated by the success of distinguishing the flaw echoes from those scattered by microstructures. So, de-noising of ultrasonic signals is extremely important as to correctly identify smaller defects, because the probability of detection usually decreases as the defect size decreases, while the probability of false call does increase. In this paper, the wavelet transform has been successfully experimented to suppress noise and to enhance flaw location from ultrasonic signal, with a good defect localization. The obtained result is then directed to an automatic Artificial Neuronal Networks classification and learning algorithm of defects from A-scan data. Since there is some uncertainty connected with the testing technique, the system needs a numerical modelling. So, knowing the technical characteristics of the transducer, we can preview which are the defects that experimental inspection should find. Indeed, the system performs simulation of the ultrasonic wave propagation in the material, and gives a very helpful tool to get information and physical phenomena understanding, which can help to a suitable prediction of the service life of the component.     

A novel, mild, and facile method to prepare 6-methylidene penem derivatives

A novel and mild method was established to synthesize 6-methylidene penem compounds. This method entails a MgBr(2)/Et(3)N-promoted aldol-type condensation on 6-bromopenem 12 with an appropriately substituted aldehyde to yield the intermediate acetylated bromohydrin, which was smoothly converted to the final product with simultaneous deprotection of C3 carboxylic acid ester using activated zinc dust and phosphate buffer at pH 6.5. This process provides a useful variation of C-C bond formation method for penem derivatives and also serves as a practical synthetic method to prepare 6-exomethylenepenem derivatives without racemization at the C5 position.     

On pricing and reserving with-profits life insurance contracts

As a first approximation, asset and liability management issues faced by life insurance companies originate from the sale of with-profits contracts. These contracts are bond-type products with several rate guarantees and other interestsensitive embedded options. Benefits paid out to policyholders mostly depend on the investment performance of a given asset portfolio in which premiums are invested. Thus, guarantees and options granted to policyholders may become effective when the investment performance of the asset portfolio is poor. Issuing a with-profits contract is therefore not equivalent to issuing plain-vanilla debt. The purpose of this paper is to value with-profits liabilities in a consistent option-pricing framework and to develop efficient asset or liability strategies to manage profitability and variability of shareholder value.     

Crosslinked polyamide based on main‐chain type polybenzoxazines derived from a primary amine‐functionalized benzoxazine monomer

Two types of main‐chain type polybenzoxazines with amide and benzoxazine groups as repeating units in the main chain, termed as poly(amide‐benzoxazine), have been synthesized. They have been prepared by polycondensation reaction of primary amine‐bifunctional benzoxazine with adipoyl and isophthaloyl dichloride using dimethylacetamide as solvent. Additionally, a model reaction is designed from the reaction of 3,3′‐(4,4′‐methylenebis(4,1‐phenylene))bis(3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐benzo[e][1,3]oxazin‐6‐amine) with benzoyl chloride. The structures of model compound and polyamides are confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) spectroscopies. Differential scanning calorimetry and FTIR are also used to study crosslinking behavior of both the model compound and polymers. Thermal properties of the crosslinked polymers are also studied by thermogravimetric analysis. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011