The exterior magnetic field for the multilayer ellipsoidal model of the brain

The magnetic induction field in the exterior of an ellipsoidallyinhomogeneous, four-conducting-layer model of the human headis obtained analytically up to its quadrupole approximation.The interior ellipsoidal core represents the homogeneous brainwhile each one of the shells represents the cerebrospinal fluid,the skull and the scalp, all characterized by different conductivities.The inhomogeneities of these four domains, together with theanisotropy imposed by the use of the ellipsoidal geometry, providethe most realistic physical and geometrical model of the brainfor which an analytic solution of the biomagnetic forward problemis possible. It is shown that in contrast to the spherical model,where shells of different conductivity are magnetically invisible,the magnetic induction field in ellipsoidal geometry is stronglydependent on the conductivity supports. The fact that sphericalshells of different conductivity are invisible has enhancedthe common belief that the biomagnetic forward solution doesnot depend on the conductivity profiles. As we demonstrate inthe present work, this is not true. Hence, the proposed multilayeredellipsoidal model provides a qualitative improvement of therealistic interpretation of magnetoencephalography (MEG) measurements.We show that the presence of the shells of different conductivitycan be incorporated in the form of the dipole vector for thehomogeneous model. Numerical investigations show that the effectsof shell inhomogeneities are almost as sound as the level ofMEG measurements themselves. The degenerate cases, where eitherthe differences of the conductivities within the shells disappear,or the ellipsoidal geometry is reduced to the spherical one,are also considered.     

New methods for proving the existence and stability of periodic solutions in singularly perturbed delay systems

We carry out a detailed analysis of the existence, asymptotics, and stability problems for periodic solutions that bifurcate from the zero equilibrium state in systems with large delay. The account is based on a specific meaningful example given by a certain scalar nonlinear second-order differential-difference equation that is a mathematical model of a single-circuit RCL oscillator with delay in a feedback loop. Original Russian Text ? A.Yu. Kolesov, E.F. Mishchenko, N.Kh. Rozov, 2007, published in Trudy Matematicheskogo Instituta imeni V.A. Steklova, 2007, Vol. 259, pp. 106–133.     

Terminal control in flat systems

The article considers the application of dynamical feedback control to a special class of nonlinear dynamical systems — so-called flat systems. Flat system, linearizing output, and Lie-Backlund isomorphism are among the concepts reviewed. A man-machine algorithm is proposed for solving the terminal control problem for an arbitrary flat system with known linearizing outputs. __________ Translated from Nelineinaya Dinamika i Upravlenie, No. 3, pp. 191–200, 2003.     

Structure and properties of the Ti-Si-N nanocrystalline coatings synthesized in vacuum by the electroarc method

Phase composition, defect substructure, and mechanical properties of the Ti-Si-N coating deposited on metal and ceramic-metal substrates by electroarc sputtering of the Ti-Si composite cathode in an ionized nitrogen atmosphere are investigated by the methods of modern materials science. It is established that coatings so formed with a thickness of ∼1–3 μm are superhard (H_v ∼ 50 GPa), and have the nanocrystalline structure (with crystalline sizes D = 7 nm) based on titanium nitride δ-TiN. __________ Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 2, pp. 46–51, February, 2007.     

Electrodynamic properties of nanoporous silicon in the range from terahertz to infrared frequencies

The dielectric response (conductivity and permittivity) spectra of a series of nanoporous silicon samples prepared by anodization of low-resistivity single-crystal silicon are measured, for the first time, using terahertz and IR spectroscopy in the frequency range 7–4000 cm^?1 at room temperature. The spectra obtained are analyzed in terms of the effective medium theory with a size-dependent dielectric response function of nanoinclusions and averaged dielectric characteristics of the surrounding medium. The geometric and dielectric characteristics of silicon nanoinclusions are determined. The dielectric properties of inclusions are found to be affected by nanosize effects, namely, carrier scattering at crystallite boundaries and a broadening of the band gap due to quantum confinement. The spectra of the samples prepared by adding iodine to the electrolyte exhibit a resonance at frequencies of 150–300 cm^?1. The nature of the resonance can be associated with the presence of chemisorbed iodine on the surface of porous silicon. Possible mechanisms responsible for the changes in broadband conductivity and permittivity spectra of single-crystal silicon upon transformation into a nanoporous structure are discussed.     

Change in the magnetic state of a surface upon formation of hydrogen bonds during adsorption

It is established that reversible adsorption of water and methyl alcohol molecules, occurring via formation of hydrogen bonds, changes the dynamic properties of domain walls in the surface region of soft ferromagnets, as well as their initial static magnetic susceptibility. A mechanism is proposed for the effects revealed.     

A model for the interaction of near-infrared laser pulses with metal powders in selective laser sintering

A thermal model of the interaction of pulsed near-infrared laser radiation from a Nd:YAG laser was made, taking the measured powder properties such as reflectance, optical penetration depth and thermal conductivity into account. It allows an estimation of the evolution of two different temperatures: the average temperature of the powder (taken over the grains in a volume given by the laser beam diameter and the optical penetration depth) and the temperature distinction within a single grain. It showed that in pulsed mode consolidation can be achieved at much lower average power as the surface of the powder particles are molten but their cores remain at nearly room temperature. This leads to a much lower average temperature and therefore a dramatic decrease in residual thermal stresses in the finished piece. The results of the model were experimentally tested and confirmed. Received: 26 July 2001 / Accepted: 23 November 2001 / Published online: 23 January 2002     

Geometrically qualified ESPI vibration analysis of an engine

This paper presents an application in the automotive industry where a combination of electronic speckle-pattern interferometry and laser doppler velocimetry were used at a critical stage in the design process of an internal combustion engine. Combined deformation and surface relief measurements were used to study the phase and amplitude of deformation of a vibrating engine. The relief data was combined with the interferometer geometry and used to geometrically correct the deformation data, in an effort to improve accuracy. The measurements allowed rapid identification and quantification of design weaknesses, particularly those causing undesirable resonances. This led to a significant reduction in the design time and lowering of costs, when compared with existing design optimisation methods.     

Corrected mirror systems with double reflection

We propose objectives consisting of two mirrors with central holes for passage of a light beam. The optical layout ensures multiple reflection of rays from both mirrors. We consider several approaches to calculating the design parameters for which three and four aberrations do not occur. The objectives can be used in optical devices operating in the UV and IR regions of the spectrum. __________ Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 74, No. 2, pp. 267–270, March–April, 2007.