Algorithms for ham-sandwich cuts

Given disjoint setsP ₁,P ₂, ...,P _d inR ^d withn points in total, ahamsandwich cut is a hyperplane that simultaneously bisects theP _i . We present algorithms for finding ham-sandwich cuts in every dimensiond>1. Whend=2, the algorithm is optimal, having complexityO(n). For dimensiond>2, the bound on the running time is proportional to the worst-case time needed for constructing a level in an arrangement ofn hyperplanes in dimensiond−1. This, in turn, is related to the number ofk-sets inR ^d−1 . With the current estimates, we get complexity close toO(n ^3/2 ) ford=3, roughlyO(n ^8/3 ) ford=4, andO(n ^d−1−a(d) ) for somea(d)>0 (going to zero asd increases) for largerd. We also give a linear-time algorithm for ham-sandwich cuts inR ³ when the three sets are suitably separated. A preliminary version of the results of this paper appeared in [16] and [17]. Part of this research by J. Matoušek was done while he was visiting the School of Mathematics, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, and part of his work on this paper was supported by a Humboldt Research Fellowship. W. Steiger expresses gratitude to the NSF DIMACS Center at Rutgers, and his research was supported in part by NSF Grants CCR-8902522 and CCR-9111491.     

Multibody dynamics of aircraft occupants seated behind interior walls

To improve aircraft crash safety, conditions critical to occupants survival during a crash must be known. In view of the importance of this problem, studies of post-crash dynamic behavior of victims are necessary in order to reduce severe injuries. In this study, crash dynamics program SOM-LA/TA, incorporating a dynamic model of the human body with a finite element model of the seat structure was used. Modifications were performed in the program for reconstruction of an occupant's head impact with the interior walls or bulkhead. A viscoelastic-type contact force model was used to represent the compliance characteristics of the bulkhead. Correlated studies of analytical simulations with impact sled test results were accomplished. A parametric study of the coefficients in the contact force model was then performed in order to obtain the correlations between the coefficients and the Head Injury Criteria. A measure of optimal values for the bulkhead compliance and displacement requirements was thus achieved in order to keep the possibility of a head injury as little as possible. This information could in turn be used in the selection of suitable materials for the bulkhead, instrument panel, or interior walls of an aircraft.     

Inferring mixed-culture growth from total biomass data in a wavelet approach

It is shown that the presence of mixed-culture growth in batch fermentation processes can be very accurately inferred from total biomass data by means of the wavelet analysis for singularity detection. This is accomplished by considering simple phenomenological models for the mixed growth and the more complicated case of mixed growth on a mixture of substrates. The main quantity provided by the wavelet analysis is the Hölder exponent of the singularity that we determine for our illustrative examples. The numerical results point to the possibility that Hölder exponents can be used to characterize the nature of the mixed-culture growth in batch fermentation processes with potential industrial applications. Moreover, the analysis of the same data affected by the common additive Gaussian noise still lead to the wavelet detection of the singularities although the Hölder exponent is no longer a useful parameter.     

On Genuine Bernstein–Durrmeyer Operators

We continue the studies on the so–called genuine Bernstein–Durrmeyer operators U _n by establishing a recurrence formula for the moments and by investigating the semigroup T(t) approximated by U _n . Moreover, for sufficiently smooth functions the degree of this convergence is estimated. We also determine the eigenstructure of U _n , compute the moments of T(t) and establish asymptotic formulas. Received: January 26, 2007.     

Structural characterization and ferromagnetic behavior of Fe-doped TiO2 powder by high-energy ball milling

Fe-doped TiO₂ powder was prepared by high-energy ball milling, using TiO₂ Degussa P-25 and α-Fe powders as the starting materials. The structure and magnetic properties of the Fe-doped TiO₂ powder were studied by X-ray diffraction, ⁵⁷Fe Mossbauer spectroscopy and vibrating sample magnetometer. The Reitveld refinement of XRD revealed that ball milling not only triggered incorporation of Fe in TiO₂ lattice but also induced the phase transformation from anatase to rutile in TiO₂ and consequently the milled Fe-doped TiO₂ powder contained only rutile.⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer effect measure showed that Fe atoms existed in Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ state, which were assigned to the solid solution Fe_xTi_1−xO₂. The magnetization measurements indicated that the milled Fe-doped TiO₂ powder was ferromagnetic above room temperature. The ferromagnetism in our milled Fe-doped TiO₂ powder seemingly does not come from Fe and iron oxides particles/clusters but from the Fe-doped TiO₂ powder matrices.     

新超导体MgCNi3的虚晶掺杂研究

用全势线性缀加平面波方法,考虑局域自旋密度近似研究虚晶掺杂MgCNi3的超导电性和磁性.计算了自旋极化能带结构、体弹性模量和它对压力的导数、原子磁矩 m 及其变化率.计算结果表明,对于电子掺杂的Mg1-xAlxCNi3(0≤x≤0.5), 超导电性和磁涨落随掺杂量的增加逐渐减小.空穴掺杂的Mg1-xNaxCNi3,在x＝0.12处出现铁磁相变,超导电性消失.在MgCNi3少量空穴掺杂区域(0≤x<0.12),表现为超导与磁涨落共存的不稳定状态.     

Study to improve the quality of a Mexican straight run gasoil over NiMo/γ-Al2O3 catalysts

Four NiMo catalyst supported on Al₂O₃ with different textural properties have been studied in the hydrodesulfurization (HDS), hydrodenitrogenation (HDN) and hydrodearomatization (HDA) of a Mexican straight run gasoil (SRGO). All reactions were carried out at three different temperatures 613, 633, and 653 K. Alumina supports were analysed by pyridine FTIR-TPD and nitrogen physisorption in order to determine their surface acidity and textural properties, respectively. TPR studies of the NiMo catalysts were analysed to correlate their hydrogenating properties. Metallic particles were characterized (after sulfidation) using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Catalytic activities are discussed in relation to the physicochemical properties of NiMo catalysts. The importance of textural properties on coke deposition has been emphasized. The results of catalytic activity of these materials varied depending on dispersed MoS particles and pore distribution in final catalysts. The optimum pore diameter was found around 80 Å for HDS and HDN.