Deformability and load-carrying capacity of netted composite rod assemblies with metal fittings

A technology is proposed for making netted rod assemblies with metal joints 3–5 times lighter than existing comparable structures. A procedure was developed for winding assemblies out of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (UKN-5000 and binder EKhD-MK). Results are presented from a study of the strain characteristics and load-carrying capacity of assemblies with different reinforcement schemes for different conditions of static damage. It is shown that the design of netted rod assembly proposed here is significantly superior to all known analogs with respect to specific stiffness characteristics and provides great dimensional stability in the case of unilateral heating of the product. The method is most effective if used to develop framework-type structures for use in space — platforms, telescope and antenna supports, and masts.Paper to be presented at the Ninth International Conference on the Mechanics of Composite Materials (Riga, October 1995).Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 31, No. 3, pp. 387–392, May–June, 1995.     

On the distributions of boundary values of Cauchy integrals

We use new methods to give short proofs to some known results on the distributions of boundary values of Cauchy integrals. We also indicate some further generalizations.

     

Evaluation of portable XRF instrumentation for assessing potential environmental exposure to toxic elements

Portable instruments based on X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry (XRF) have the potential to assist in field-based studies, provided that the data produced are reliable. In this study, we evaluate the performance of two different types of XRF instrument (XOS prototype and Thermo Niton XL3t). These two XRF analysers were evaluated in a laboratory setting, and data were reported for 17 elements (As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, Sn, Sr, Ti, V, and Zn). Samples analysed (n = 38) included ethnic herbal medicine products (HMPs), ethnic spices (ES), and cosmetic products (CPs). Comparison analyses were carried out using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). In general, results reported for Cd, Cu, and Pb by the XOS prototype analyser, using the non-metal mode, were negatively biased (5–95%) as compared to ICP-OES. In contrast, results reported for Pb, As, Cd, Cu and Zn by the Niton, using the soil mode, were positively biased, in some instances (Cd) by up to four orders of magnitude. While the sensitivity of both instruments was insufficient for reliably ‘quantifying’ toxic elements below 15 mg/kg, XRF was still capable of positively ‘detecting’ many elements at the low single-digit mg/kg levels. For semi-quantification estimates of contaminants at higher levels, and with limited sample preparation, both XRF instruments were deemed fit for the purpose. This study demonstrates that modern XRF instrumentation is valuable for characterising the elemental content of food, cosmetic, and medicinal products. The technology is particularly useful for rapidly screening large numbers of products (100’s per day) in the field, and quickly identifying those that may contain potentially hazardous levels of toxic elements. Toxic elements can be confirmed by examining the raw spectrum, and the limitations of factory-based calibration are generally manageable for field-based studies.     

The Quantum Superalgebra {\mathfrak{osp}_{q}(1|2)} and a q-Generalization of the Bannai–Ito Polynomials

The Racah problem for the quantum superalgebra \({\mathfrak{osp}_{q}(1|2)}\) is considered. The intermediate Casimir operators are shown to realize a q-deformation of the Bannai–Ito algebra. The Racah coefficients of \({\mathfrak{osp}_q(1|2)}\) are calculated explicitly in terms of basic orthogonal polynomials that q-generalize the Bannai–Ito polynomials. The relation between these q-deformed Bannai–Ito polynomials and the q-Racah/Askey–Wilson polynomials is discussed.     

Temperature‐dependent EXAFS study of the local structure and lattice dynamics in cubic Y2O3

The local structure and lattice dynamics in cubic Y₂O₃ were studied at the Y K‐edge by X‐ray absorption spectroscopy in the temperature range from 300 to 1273 K. The temperature dependence of the extended X‐ray absorption fine structure was successfully interpreted using classical molecular dynamics and a novel reverse Monte Carlo method, coupled with the evolutionary algorithm. The obtained results allowed the temperature dependence of the yttria atomic structure to be followed up to ～6 Å and to validate two force‐field models.     

Growth and properties of self‐catalyzed (In,Mn)As nanowires

Mn‐assisted molecular beam epitaxy is used for the growth of (In,Mn)As nanowires (NWs) on GaAs(111)B. The transmission electron microscopy measurements revealed that despite the relatively high growth temperature regime this technique can be used to obtain (In,Mn)As NWs with high crystalline quality without any crystal defects, such as dislocations, stacking faults or precipitates inside the investigated NWs or on their side‐walls, although the growth processes of NWs were accompanied by the formation of MnAs precipitates between the NWs at the interface of the wetting layer. The results obtained are of importance for the realization of new spintronic nanostructured materials. (© 2016 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Anomalous diffusion in fast cellular flows at intermediate time scales

It is well known that on long time scales the behaviour of tracer particles diffusing in a cellular flow is effectively that of a Brownian motion. This paper studies the behaviour on “intermediate” time scales before diffusion sets in. Various heuristics suggest that an anomalous diffusive behaviour should be observed. We prove that the variance on intermediate time scales grows like \(O(\sqrt{t})\). Hence, on these time scales the effective behaviour can not be purely diffusive, and is consistent with an anomalous diffusive behaviour.     

On bound states in two-body systems

The application of the Σ-separation method to the calculation of multicenter two-electron molecular integrals with Slater-type basis functions is reported. The approach is based on the approximation of a scalar component of the two-center atomic density by a two-center expansion over Slater-type functions. A least-squares fit was used to determine the coefficients of the expansion. The angular multipliers of the atomic density were treated exactly. It is shown that this approach can serve as a sufficiently accurate and fast algorithm for the calculation of multicenter two-electron molecular integrals with Slater-type basis functions. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.