On the extreme points of the polytope of symmetric matrices with given row sums

The extreme points of the convex polytope of nonnegative symmetric matrices of order n with prescribed row sums are fully characterized by their respective graphs. For infinite matrices such a characterization is shown to be impossible. However, after imposing some additional conditions on the positive entries of the matrices, a considerable subfamily of infinite matrices is characterized by its graphs.     

Perturbative and non-perturbative two component model of deep inelastic scattering

We propose a two-component model for describing deep inelastic scattering, based on nonperturbative and perturbative mechanisms. The nonperturbative dynamics obey the usualS-matrix constraints, as realized by the Dual Topological Unitarization Scheme, whereas the perturbative component stems from the underlying field theory. However, these two components arenot independent.     

On maximal circuits in directed graphs

An exact bound is obtained for the number of edges in a directed graph which ensures the existence of a circuit exceeding a prescribed length.Another proof of an analogous result of Erdös and Gallai for undirected graphs is supplied in the Appendix.     

On the role of production mechanisms in rising cross sections

The interplay among the various mechanisms in generating a rise in cross sections is discussed in the framework of the recently proposed s-channel absorption equation. Our approach simultaneously controls the energy behaviour of the diffractive and non-diffractive components.     

Spectroscopy of C

The ¹⁴C(t, p)¹⁶C reaction locates five new states in ¹⁶C, at excitation energies of 3120 ± 15, 3983 ± 10, 4136 ± 10 and 6109 ± 15 keV, in addition to the g.s. and 1.76 MeV states. The 3.02 and 3.98 MeV states appear to be the second 0⁺ and 2⁺ 2p-2h states, respectively. The 4.14 MeV state has J^π = 4⁺ and the 6.11 MeV state has J^π = 2⁺, 3⁻, or 4⁺.     

Drop impact on surfactant films and solutions

Drops impacting on horizontal aqueous surfactant films have been analyzed using a high-speed camera. Drops of either water or aqueous surfactant solutions had a diameter of 2.4?±?0.4 mm and impacted with a velocity of 0.1 to 1.3 m/s. As surfactants, anionic sodium dodecyl sulfate and cationic cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide were used. Pure water drops impacting on freestanding surfactant films showed coalescence, bouncing, partial bouncing, passing, and partial passing. For bouncing, the concentration of surfactant in the surfactant film must exceed the critical micelle concentration. When surfactant was added to the drop, coalescence and partial passing were suppressed. We attribute the different behavior to different hydrodynamic boundary conditions at the surface of pure water and surfactant solution, leading to different repulsive hydrodynamic forces arising when the air has to flow out of the closing gap between the two liquid surfaces. The boundary condition changes as a function of surfactant concentration from a slip to no-slip, leading to stronger hydrodynamic repulsion. In addition, estimates of the characteristic velocities show that diffusion of air into the water is slow and can only account for the very last thinning of the air gap before coalescence.     

Distinction of Fusarium oxysporum fungal isolates (strains) using FTIR-ATR spectroscopy and advanced statistical methods

Fusarium is a large fungi genus of a large variety of species and strains which inhabits soil and vegetation. It is distributed worldwide and affiliated to both warm and cold weather. Fusarium oxysporum species, for instance, cause the Fusarium wilt disease of plants, which appears as a leaf wilting, yellowing and eventually plant death. Early detection and identification of these pathogens are very important and might be critical for their control. Previously, we have managed to differentiate among different fungi genera (Rhizoctonia, Colletotrichum, Verticillium and Fusarium) using FTIR-ATR spectroscopy methods and cluster analysis. In this study, we used Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) attenuated total reflection (ATR) spectroscopy to discriminate and differentiate between different strains of F. oxysporum. The result obtained was of spectral patterns distinct to each of the various examined strains, which belong to the same species. These differences were not as significant as those found between the different genera species. We applied advanced statistical techniques: principal component analysis (PCA) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) on the FTIR-ATR spectra in order to examine the feasibility of distinction between these fungi strains. The results are encouraging and indicate that the FTIR-ATR methodology can differentiate between the different examined strains of F. oxysporum with a high success rate. Based on our PCA and LDA calculations performed in the regions [900-1775 cm(-1), 2800-2990 cm(-1), with 9 PCs], we were able to classify the different strains with high success rates: Foxy1 90%, Foxy2 100%, Foxy3 100%, Foxy4 92.3%, Foxy5 83.3% and Foxy6 100%.