Zeroth and second laws of thermodynamics simultaneously questioned in the quantum microworld

A new and rather trivial model is suggested with mechanism that implies simultaneous violation of the zeroth and the second laws of thermodynamics. Mathematically rigorous quantum theory reduces to a trivial application of the Golden rule formula. It yields exciton on-energy-shell diffusion caused by bath-nonassisted excitation hopping between tails of different exciton site levels ε₁ < ε₂ broadened by bath-assisted finite life-time effects. The elastic character of the hopping implies 1 ↔ 2-symmetric transfer rate W. Thus the net diffusion exciton flow W(P ₁ - P ₂) and also, as argued, the net energy flow are possible due to different near-to-equilibrium exciton populations P ₁ > P ₂. As the sites are provided with two different baths, the population imbalance and the flows survive even for slightly different local bath temperatures T ₁ < T ₂ < T ₁ε₂/ε₁. Thus spontaneous exciton and also energy flows against temperature step become possible, in contradiction with the Clausius form of the second law. Violations of both the laws disappear in the high-temperature, i.e. classical limit Received 16 May 2001 and Received in final form 20 September 2001     

Comprehensive study on the formation of polyelectrolyte complexes from (quaternized) poly[2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate] and poly(2‐acrylamido‐2‐methylpropane sodium sulfonate)

Polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) have been prepared from well‐defined (quaternized) poly[2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate] (PDMAEMA) and high molecular weight poly(2‐acrylamido‐2‐methylpropane sodium sulfonate) (PAMPSNa) after a thorough study of their viscometric properties. The effect of pH and quaternization degree of PDMAEMA on PECs stoichiometry has been examined. PEC‐based materials have been characterized in terms of thermal stability, equilibrium swelling degree, and free/bound water composition. The stoichiometry and swellability of the physically crosslinked hydrogels obtained from fully quaternized PDMAEMA/PAMPSNa complexes do not depend on pH. In contrast, PECs made of non quaternized PDMAEMA and PAMPSNa are highly affected by pH, and could reversibly disintegrate at pH ≥ 9. Partially quaternized PDMAEMA/PAMPSNa PECs exhibit intermediate properties and form stable loose structures in the whole investigated pH range. Finally, stable dispersions of PECs nanoparticles have been successfully produced from dilute solutions of the complementary polyelectrolytes. The nanoparticle average diameter as determined by dynamic light scattering proved to depend on the molar fraction of DMAEMA‐based subunits and on the initial polyelectrolyte concentration. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 5468–5479, 2006     

Non-gravitating scalars and spacetime compactification

We discuss role of partially gravitating scalar fields, scalar fields whose energy–momentum tensors vanish for a subset of dimensions, in dynamical compactification of a given set of dimensions. We show that the resulting spacetime exhibits a factorizable geometry consisting of usual four-dimensional spacetime with full Poincaré invariance times a manifold of extra dimensions whose size and shape are determined by the scalar field dynamics. Depending on the strength of its coupling to the curvature scalar, the vacuum expectation value (VEV) of the scalar field may or may not vanish. When its VEV is zero the higher-dimensional spacetime is completely flat and there is no compactification effect at all. On the other hand, when its VEV is nonzero the extra dimensions get spontaneously compactified. The compactification process is such that a bulk cosmological constant is utilized for curving the extra dimensions.     

Influence of chemistry and hot rolling conditions on high permeability non-grain oriented silicon steel

This paper discusses the influence of chemical composition on the final electromagnetic properties in higher permeability material. Furthermore, the effect of the hot rolling practice and the end of austenite transformation temperature range on the hot band microstructure is described. The magnetic polarization J₅₀₀₀ better than 1.7 T, using hot rolling conditions 40 mm transfer bar thickness, finish mill entry temperature 1000 °C, and finishing temperature 800–840 °C and after decarburization heat treatment and grain growth treatment, was obtained.     

非扩张映象的重合点与不动点

本文在凸度量空间中讨论了集什扩张映象对的重合和非扩张映象列的公共不动点的存在性，所得结论是单值非扩张映象数情形的推广和发展。．     

Transition metal complexes with Girard reagent-based ligands

The ligand, salicylaldehyde Girard-T hydrazonium chloride, [H₂SalGT]Cl (1), and two complexes [Cu(HSalGT)X₂]·H₂O (X = Br(2); Cl(3)) were synthesized and their crystal structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray analysis. In the two isostructural complexes, the Cu(II) is located in a square-pyramidal environment, with the chelating ligand and one halogen atom in the basal plane and the second halogen in the apical position. The most apparent structural difference between the 1 and its complexes 2 and 3 is the orientation of the N(CH₃)₃ group: in 1, it is practically coplanar to the rest of the molecule, while in 2 and 3 it is oriented to the side of the axially bonded halogen, which can be explained by the C–H…X intramolecular interactions. The compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, molar conductivity, magnetic susceptibility and electronic absorption spectra.     

Accreditation of reference material producers: the example of IRMM's Reference Materials Unit

The potential approaches for third-party assessment of reference material producers are revisited and the activities of the Reference Materials (RM) Unit of the Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM) to obtain accreditation to ISO Guide 34 and ISO 17025 are described. Accreditation was related to the Unit as all matrix RM activities of the institute are concentrated there. A management system was established that allows sufficient flexibility to be applicable to a wide range of RMs while being precise enough to ensure compliance with ISO Guides 30, 31 and especially 34 and 35. Accreditation was achieved in 2004 with independent scopes for testing and RM production and was confirmed and extended in 2005. The key aspects of the RM Unit's management system for RM production are presented. Presented at BERM-10, April 2006, Charleston, SC, USA