Reactions of metal iodides as a simple route to heterometallics: synthesis, structural transformations, thermal and luminescent properties of novel hybrid iodoargentate derivatives templated by [YL8]3+ or [YL7]3+ cations (L = DMF or DMSO)

A 1 : 3 molar reaction of YI3 and AgI in dimethylformamide (DMF) in the presence of NH4I afforded [Y(DMF)8][Ag3(mu3-I)(mu-I)3I2] (1) with good yield, whereas the similar reaction in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) gave complexes [Y(DMSO)8][Ag2(mu-I)3I2] (2) and/or [Y(DMSO)8]2[Ag4(mu3-I)2(mu-I)4I2][I]2 (3), depending on the reaction and crystallization conditions. These discrete heterometallic hybrid compounds 1-3 undergo solid- and solution-state transformations via condensation of iodoargentate anions. So in the confined and solvent-free environment of paratone, crystals of 1 transformed into a 1D zig-zag structure [Y(DMF)8]3+[Ag6(mu4-I)2(mu3-I)2(mu-I)5]1infinity(3-) (4), whereas those of 2 were first converted into 3 and finally into [Y(DMSO)7]4[Ag4(mu3-I)4I4]3 (5). In solution phase, re-crystalization of 1 or 2 from DMSO-toluene gave 3 as an exclusive species, whereas reaction of 1 with 3 equiv of AgI in DMF afforded 4 with good yield. Alternatively, 4 could also be synthesized with excellent yield from a 1 : 6 molar reaction of YI3 and AgI. The above transformations suggest that, for a given metal-organic cation, an iodometallate cluster with higher nuclearity is thermodynamically more stable. Single crystal X-ray structures are reported for all the compounds and a mechanism for the structural transformation of 2 to 3 is proposed. In addition, spectroscopic, thermo-gravimetric and luminescent properties of the complexes 1, 3 and 4, which were obtained exclusively and in pure form, are also described.     

Weak quantization of Poisson structures

In this paper we prove that any Poisson structure on a sheaf of Lie algebroids admits a weak deformation quantization, and give a sufficient condition for such a Poisson structure to admit an actual deformation quantization. We also answer the corresponding classification problems. In the complex symplectic case, we recover in particular some results of Nest-Tsygan and Polesello-Schapira.     

Doppler velocimetry using self-mixing effect in a short Er–Yb-doped phosphate glass fiber laser

Accurate and highly sensitive speed measurements have been successfully demonstrated by the optical feedback velocimetry technique using the self-mixing modulation effect in a double-clad Er–Yb-doped fiber laser. The sensitivity to back-scattered light has been investigated regarding the Doppler frequency shift or the target distance, and it has been shown that the velocimeter is still sensitive to a target located at 20 m and for speeds as high as 13 m s^–1.     

An experimental evaluation of two effective medium theories for ultrasonic wave propagation in concrete

This study compares ultrasonic wave propagation modeling and experimental data in concrete. As a consequence of its composition and manufacturing process, this material has a high elastic scattering (sand and aggregates) and air (microcracks and porosities) content. The behavior of the "Waterman-Truell" and "Generalized Self Consistent Method" dynamic homogenization models are analyzed in the context of an application for strong heterogeneous solid materials, in which the scatterers are of various concentrations and types. The experimental validations of results predicted by the models are carried out by making use of the phase velocity and the attenuation of longitudinal waves, as measured by an immersed transmission setup. The test specimen material has a cement-like matrix containing spherical inclusions of air or glass, with radius close to the ultrasonic wavelength. The models are adapted to the case of materials presenting several types of scattering particle, and allow the propagation of longitudinal waves to be described at the scale of materials such as concrete. The validity limits for frequency and for particle volume ratio can be approached through a comparison with experimental data. The potential of these homogenization models for the prediction of phase velocity and attenuation in strongly heterogeneous solids is demonstrated.     

Reliable reduced-order models for time-dependent linearized Euler equations

Development of optimal reduced-order models for linearized Euler equations is investigated. Recent methods based on proper orthogonal decomposition (POD), applicable for high-order systems, are presented and compared. Particular attention is paid to the link between the choice of the projection and the efficiency of the reduced model. A stabilizing projection is introduced to induce a stable reduced-order model at finite time even if the energy of the physical model is growing. The proposed method is particularly well adapted for time-dependent hyperbolic systems and intrinsically skew-symmetric models. This paper also provides a common methodology to reliably reduce very large nonsymmetric physical problems.     

Simple Models and Insights for Warehouse Sizing

This study is concerned with minimizing the total discounted cost of operating an inventory system and providing the warehouse space necessary to accommodate the replenishment lots, under the assumption of constant product demand. The use of an approximation objective function for the single-item case allows the optimal warehouse size as well as the ratio of relevant investment costs to relevant inventory costs to be written in closed-form. Based upon the value of this ratio, circumstances are identified under which an integrated approach is justified, and others under which the inventory policy and storage capacity can be determined sequentially. The multi-item version of the problem under study is solved by the Lagrangian multiplier method, given that no coordination takes place between the items. Finding the optimal Lagrange multiplier can be accomplished efficiently by the Newton–Raphson method.     

Measurement of ultrasonic scattering attenuation in austenitic stainless steel welds: Realistic input data for NDT numerical modeling

Multipass welds made of 316L stainless steel are specific welds of the primary circuit of pressurized water reactors in nuclear power plants. Because of their strong heterogeneous and anisotropic nature due to grain growth during solidification, ultrasonic waves may be greatly deviated, split and attenuated. Thus, ultrasonic assessment of the structural integrity of such welds is quite complicated. Numerical codes exist that simulate ultrasonic propagation through such structures, but they require precise and realistic input data, as attenuation coefficients. This paper presents rigorous measurements of attenuation in austenitic weld as a function of grain orientation. In fact attenuation is here mainly caused by grain scattering. Measurements are based on the decomposition of experimental beams into plane-wave angular spectra and on the modeling of the ultrasonic propagation through the material. For this, the transmission coefficients are calculated for any incident plane wave on an anisotropic plate. Two different hypotheses on the welded material are tested: first it is considered as monoclinic, and then as triclinic. Results are analyzed, and validated through comparison to theoretical predictions of related literature. They underline the great importance of well-describing the anisotropic structure of austenitic welds for UT modeling issues.     

Approximate radiative solutions of the Einstein equations

In this paper the external field of a bounded source emitting gravitational radiation has been considered. A successive approximation method has been used to integrate the Einstein equations in Bondi's coordinates. A method of separation of angular variables has been worked out and the approximate Einstein equations have been reduced to the key equations (3.8)–(3.10). The losses of mass, momentum, and angular momentum due to gravitational multipole radiation have been found. It has been demonstrated that in the case of proper treatment a real mass occurs instead of a mass aspect in a solution of the Einstein equations. In Appendix C Bondi's news function has been given in terms of sources.     

Inférence fondée sur la vraisemblance pour des modèles de records

In a time series $\{X_t,t\ge 1\}$, $X_j$ is said to be an upper record if $X_j>\max ?\{X_1,\dots ,X_{j?1}\}$. Some popular models for records are the Yang–Nevzorov and the Linear Drift models. In this note, we introduce for these models the joint likelihood of the record sequence and the indicators of their occurrence. This likelihood can then be used to obtain estimators of the unknown parameters in the models. It can also be used to derive inferential procedures associated with the selection of a proper model for such data.     

Raman microspectroscopic evidence that dry‐fixing preserves the temporal pattern of non‐specific differentiation in live human embryonic stem cells

Raman microspectroscopy allows the classification of populations of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) in different stages of differentiation based on the relative intensities of certain amino acid and nucleic acid bands. Here, we report the results of a comparative study of the Raman spectra of live cells versus cells killed and fixed by rapid desiccation, focusing on the ratio of intensities at 757 cm⁻¹ (tryptophan) and 784 cm⁻¹ (DNA and RNA). We observe that the same temporal pattern emerges over a 3‐week time course in both sample types. This suggests that prolonged observations of dry‐fixed cells can yield high signal‐to‐noise chemical images that cannot be obtained from colonies of living cells where the time scale of significant biological changes are comparable to the time scale of the measurement. This permits, for example, comparison of the spatial distributions of cells at different stages of differentiation within the same colonies. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.