Optical and conductive properties of AlSi-alloy/SiCp composites: application in modelling CO2 laser processing of composites

The optical properties—reflectivity, real part of the refractive index, absorption coefficient as well as the thermal and electrical conductivity of AlSi-alloy/SiC_p composite were measured. The optical parameters and both conductivities decreased with the increase of SiC_p particles volume in AlSi-alloy matrix. This decrease was almost linear for the volume fraction of SiC_p particle up to 10 vol% of the total mass of the composite. For the 15 vol% of SiC_p particles, the departure from linearity is connected with the presence of additional phases in AlSi-alloy/SiC_p composite materials. The measured temperature dependencies of optical reflectivity and electrical conductivity for AlSi-alloy/SiC_p 15 vol% are of metallic character. Modelling of the interaction of the CO₂ laser radiation with AlSi-alloy/SiC_p 15 vol% composite should allow to estimate the initiation time at which the surface composite reaches melting temperature.     

An interesting property of the isotropic and homogeneous cosmological models

It is shown by using covariant expressions that in the framework of the isotropic and homogeneous cosmology the gravitational energy and matter energy, the gravitational and matter linear and angular momentum, cancel each other out locally, resulting in the corresponding global quantities being zero.     

Speciation of functional groups formed on the surface of ammoxidised carbonaceous materials by XPS method

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) has been used to investigate the fate of nitrogen functional groups present in carbonaceous materials obtained from European plum (Prunus domestica) stones and modified by ammonia-air mixture at 250 or 300 °C. Peaks have been found in the XPS patterns, corresponding to different nitrogen functional forms i.e. pyrrolic, pyridinic, pyridone, amine and chemisorbed nitrogen oxides. It has been found that the distribution of nitrogen functional forms changes as a result of the modification processes.     

Identifying Particle Correlations in Quantum Hall Regime

We introduce a method that allows the disclosure of correlations between particle positions in an arbitrary many‐body system. The method is based on a well‐known simulated annealing algorithm and the proposed artificial distribution technique. Additionally, we investigate correlations in quantum Hall liquids (we consider many‐body wave functions that have been recently determined via the cyclotron subgroup model) and present three‐dimensional plots of configuration probability distributions that have been established from numerical simulations. We demonstrate that the preferred simultaneous positions of particles (configurations of positions, which correspond to large values of a system's probability distribution, ) tend to form complicated geometric structures, which are equivalent to classical Wigner crystals only for Laughlin states. Furthermore, we claim that quantum Hall liquids attributed to non‐Laughlin fillings are correlated on subdomains rather than on a whole particle domain (due to a quantizing magnetic field, which modifies the topology of a system's dynamics). Finally, we characterize Hall‐like internal orders in terms of statistical correlations (one‐dimensional unitary representations of cyclotron subgroups). Our conclusions concerning the stability of many‐body states agree with transport measurements and various numerical studies.     

Interpreting non-random signatures in biomedical signals with Lempel-Ziv complexity

Lempel-Ziv complexity (LZ) [J. Ziv, A. Lempel, On the complexity of finite sequences, IEEE Trans. Inform. Theory 22 (1976) 75-81] and its variants have been used widely to identify non-random patterns in biomedical signals obtained across distinct physiological states. Non-random signatures of the complexity measure can occur under nonlinear deterministic as well as non-deterministic settings. Surrogate data testing have also been encouraged in the past in conjunction with complexity estimates to make a finer distinction between various classes of processes. In this brief letter, we make two important observations (1) Non-Gaussian noise at the dynamical level can elude existing surrogate algorithms namely: Phase-randomized surrogates (FT) amplitude-adjusted Fourier transform (AAFT) and iterated amplitude-adjusted Fourier transform (IAAFT). Thus any inference nonlinear determinism as an explanation for the non-randomness is incomplete (2) Decrease in complexity can be observed even across two linear processes with identical auto-correlation functions. The results are illustrated with a second-order auto-regressive process with Gaussian and non-Gaussian innovations. AR(2) processes have been used widely to model several physiological phenomena, hence their choice. The results presented encourage cautious interpretation of non-random signatures in experimental signals using complexity measures.     

Entropy correlation distance method. The Euro introduction effect on the Consumer Price Index

The idea of entropy was introduced in thermodynamics, but it can be used in time series analysis. There are various ways to define and measure the entropy of a system. Here the so called Theil index, which is often used in economy and finance, is applied as it were an entropy measure. In this study the time series are remapped through the Theil index. Then the linear correlation coefficient between the remapped time series is evaluated as a function of time and time window size and the corresponding statistical distance is defined. The results are compared with the the usual correlation distance measure for the time series themselves. As an example this entropy correlation distance method (ECDM) is applied to several series, as those of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in order to test some so called globalisation processes. Distance matrices are calculated in order to construct two network structures which are next analysed. The role of two different time scales introduced by the Theil index and a correlation coefficient is also discussed. The evolution of the mean distance between the most developed countries is presented and the globalisation periods of the prices discussed. It is finally shown that the evolution of mean distance between the most developed countries on several networks follows the process of introducing the European currency — the Euro. It is contrasted to the GDP based analysis. It is stressed that the entropy correlation distance measure is more suitable in detecting significant changes, like a globalisation process than the usual statistical (correlation based) measure.     

Sulphur isotope compositions of components of coal and S-isotope fractionation during its combustion and flue gas desulphurization

Sulphur isotope compositions were determined in two different Polish coals (hard coal and lignite) and by-products originating from their combustion. The desulphurization process was also investigated. It was demonstrated that desulphurization changes the isotopic composition of sulphur emitted in the form of SO(2) to the atmosphere even if the process is conducted in a different way (wet lime technology and electron beam method). This fact has to be considered in the studies regarding anthropogenic sulphur genesis and its fate in the environment.     

Long-Term Cultured Hairy Roots of Chicory—A Rich Source of Hydroxycinnamates and 8-Deoxylactucin Glucoside

Foam fractionation is a promising method for separation and concentration of biochemicals. It is simple, easily scalable, inexpensive, and environment friendly. Foam fractionation thus represents an alternative to the traditional methods used for immunoglobulin enrichment. However, little, if any, literature exists documenting the utilization of foam fractionation in the enrichment of immunoglobulins. Milk were utilized as an immunoglobulin source to serve as examples of a real system in this study. The investigation examined the effects of varying five different process parameters: the initial pH value, the initial concentration of immunoglobulin, the nitrogen flow rate, the column height, and the foaming time. Experimental results demonstrated that immunoglobulin could effectively be enriched from milk by foam fractionation. The maximum enrichment ratio with pretreatment (using pH 4.6 precipitation) was 6.30 along with a more than 92 % recovery for IgG and an enrichment ratio of 5.1 with 85 % recovery for IgM.