The effect of hydrostatic pressure on the ferroelectric phase transition in [NH2(CH3)2]3[Sb2Cl9]

The effect of hydrostatic pressure on the ferroelectric phase transition temperature in [NH₂(CH₃)₂]₃[Sb₂Cl₉] (DMACA) has been studied by electric permittivity measurements at pressures up to 400 MPa. The pressure-temperature phase diagram is given. The phase transition temperature (T_c) increases with increasing pressure up to 150 MPa, passes through a maximum and then decreases with a further increase of pressure. The unexpected nonlinear decrease in T_c with pressure increasing above 150 MPa suggests that the mechanism of ferroelectric phase transition in DMACA is different from hitherto assumed.     

Contractibility of Efficient Frontier of Simply Shaded Sets

In finite dimensional Euclidean space, we prove the contractibility of the efficient frontier of simply shaded sets. This work extends the result of Peleg [7], which confirms the contractibility of the efficient frontier in the convex case.     

Fracture strength of class II slot cavities restored with polymerizable restorative materials

This study compared the fracture strength of Class II slot cavities restored with polymerizable restorative materials. Sixty, caries-free, posterior teeth were divided into five groups of 12 teeth. The Class II slot cavities were prepared. The teeth were restored with two packable composites (Filtek P60, Surefil), a microhybrid composite (Filtek Z250)and two ormocer (Definite, Admira). The restorations were then subjected to fracture resistance tests. The marginal ridges of the restorations were loaded at an angle of 13.5° to the long axis of the tooth in an Universal Testing Machine until failure. Analysis of mean forces indicated that, Filtek P60, Surefil and Filtek Z250 exhibited better performance than Definite and Admira. The tested resin composites differed in their mechanical properties. This study suggested that fracture behavior were highly influenced by the filler system. Overall, Filtek P60, Surefil, Filtek Z250, demonstrated good fracture resistance. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On norms of composition operators acting on Bergman spaces

For arbitrary composition operators acting on a general Bergman space we improve the known lower bound for the norm and also generalize a related recent theorem of D.G. Pokorny and J.E. Shapiro. Next, we obtain a geometric formula for the norms of composition operators with linear fractional symbols, thus extending a result of C. Cowen and P. Hurst and revealing the meaning of their computation. Finally, we obtain a lower bound for essential norm of an arbitrary composition operator related to the well-known criterion of B. MacCluer and J.H. Shapiro. As a corollary, norms and essential norms are obtained for certain univalently induced noncompact composition operators in terms of the minimum of the angular derivative of the symbol.     

R-Matrices for Leibniz Algebras

Leibniz agebras are a generalization of Lie algebras, where no symmetry properties of the bracket are required. In this Letter we introduce a notion of R-matrices for this structure and the related Yang–Baxter equations, and discuss some of their basic properties.     

A study on the applications of the acoustic design sensitivity analysis of vibrating bodies

The determination of the sensitivity of the acoustical characteristics of vibrating systems with respect to the variation of the design parameters predicting these characteristics is a necessary and important step of the acoustic design and optimization process. Acoustic design sensitivity analysis includes the computation and evaluation of the sensitivity information required for this procedure. In this study, a boundary element code performing the sensitivity analysis of the acoustic pressure by using the matrix sensitivities with respect to different design variables has been developed. The effect of the precision of boundary element discretization on the acoustic pressure sensitivity is examined via this code. The formulation is applied to a multi-source system and the dimension sensitivity analysis of near field pressures of two-dilating-spherical source is performed. The last application is devoted to a real sound source: a washing machine sitting on the floor. Sensitivity of the field pressures to the machine’s dimensions (size), surface velocity and frequency is examined on the bases of the boundary element model of the machine and half-space condition. The impacts of these variables are compared; and a limiting speed for the machine responding both the acoustical and operational requirements is determined.     

Simultaneous determination of cloramphenicol, salicylic acid and resorcinol by capillary zone electrophoresis and its application to pharmaceutical dosage forms

This study demonstrates the separation of active ingredients in acne formulations (salicylic acid, cloramphenicol and resorcinol in presence of azulene) by capillary zone electrophoresis. Factors affecting their separations were the buffer pH and concentration, applied voltage, sample preparation, and presence of additives. Optimun results were obtained with a 50 mM sodium tetraborate-50 mM sodium phosphate, pH 9.0. The carrier electrolyte gave baseline separation with good resolution, short migration times (<6 min), great reproducibility and accuracy. Calibration plots were linear over at least three orders of magnitude of analyte concentrations, the lower limits of detection being within the range 0.39-1.25 μg ml⁻¹. The procedure was fast and reliable and commercial pharmaceuticals could be analysed without prior sample clean-up procedure.     

On existence and asymptotic stability of solutions of a nonlinear integral equation

We prove an existence theorem for a nonlinear integral equation being a Volterra counterpart of an integral equation arising in the traffic theory. The method used in the proof allows us to obtain additional characterization in terms of asymptotic stability of solutions of an equation in question.     

Adsorption of cyclic hydrocarbons on Pt and the interaction of the adsorbed species with hydrogen

The adsorption of six-membered hydrocarbon cycles and cyclopentane and the interaction of hydrogen with the adsorbed layer on polycrystalline Pt-foil have been studied. The work function change (Δφ) was followed by a Kelvin probe and the C/Pt peak ratio was determined by Auger electron spectroscopy. Combining these two techniques made it possible to distinguish between chemisorption via σ-bonds and π-complex formation. Benzene and toluene adsorbed first as π-complex while cyclohexane showed initially a partial aromatization and a π-complex-like bonding to the surface. Excess hydrocarbon or addition of hydrogen transformed the π-complex into σ-bonded species. Cyclopentane adsorbed via σ-bonds and showed no significant hydrogen effect.