Fluorescence spectroscopy applied to orange trees

In this work, we have applied laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy to investigate biological processes in orange trees (Citrus aurantium L.). We have chosen to investigate water stress and Citrus Canker, which is a disease caused by the Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri bacteria. The fluorescence spectroscopy was investigated by using as an excitation source a 442-nm 15-mW HeCd gas multimode discharge laser and a 532-nm 10-mW Nd³⁺:YAG laser. The stress manifestation was detected by the variation of fluorescence ratios of the leaves at different wavelengths. The fluorescence ratios present a significant variation, showing the possibility to observe water stress by fluorescence spectrum. The Citrus Canker’s contaminated leaves were discriminated from the healthy leaves using a more complex analysis of the fluorescence spectra. However, we were unable to discriminate it from another disease, and new fluorescence experiments are planned for the future.     

Author index to volume 11 (1984)

An isoparametric problem related to a direct current motor is studied. The solution candidate is tested for possible conjugate points by means of the theory of Weierstrass. Contrary to some previous conclusions, no conjugate points seem to exist.     

The 5f localization/delocalization in square and hexagonal americium monolayers: a FP-LAPW electronic structure study

The electronic and geometrical properties of bulk americium and square and hexagonal americium monolayers have been studied with the full-potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method. The effects of several common approximations are examined: (1) non-spin polarization (NSP) vs. spin polarization (SP); (2) scalar-relativity (no spin-orbit coupling (NSO)) vs. full-relativity (i.e., with spin-orbit (SO) coupling included); (3) local-density approximation (LDA) vs. generalized-gradient approximation (GGA). Our results indicate that both spin polarization and spin orbit coupling play important roles in determining the geometrical and electronic properties of americium bulk and monolayers. A compression of both americium square and hexagonal monolayers compared to the americium bulk is also observed. In general, the LDA is found to underestimate the equilibrium lattice constant and give a larger total energy compared to the GGA calculations. While spin orbit coupling shows a similar effect on both square and hexagonal monolayer calculations regardless of the model, GGA versus LDA, an unusual spin polarization effect on both square and hexagonal monolayers is found in the LDA results as compared with the GGA results. The 5f delocalization transition of americium is employed to explain our observed unusual spin polarization effect. In addition, our results at the LDA level of theory indicate a possible 5f delocalization could happen in the americium surface within the same Am II (fcc crystal structure) phase, unlike the usually reported americium 5f delocalization which is associated with crystal structure change. The similarities and dissimilarities between the properties of an Am monolayer and a Pu monolayer are discussed in detail.     

Tailoring the microwave permittivity and permeability of composite materials

The microwave permittivity (ɛ_r) and permeability (μ_r) of composite materials are tailored by adding various loading agents to a host plastic and are subsequently modeled using the Maxwell Garnett theory and second order polynomials. With the addition of manganese zinc ferrite, strontium ferrite, nickel zinc ferrite, barium tetratitanate and graphite powders, materials with values of ɛ′, e″, μ′, μ″ as high as 22, 5, 2.5 and 1.7 have been obtained. Permittivity and permeability data are calculated at 2.0245 GHz from reflection and transmission measurements performed in a 7 mm coaxial test line. The Maxwell Garnett (MG) theory successfully models ɛ_r if the filling factor is less than 0.30 and ratio |ɛ₁| (host)/ |ɛ₂| (powder) is greater than 0.04. As this ratio decreases, the MG theory is shown to be independent of ɛ₂ and second order polynomials are used to effectively model the dielectric constant. Polynomials are also used for the ferrite composites because it was determined that the MG theory was unable to model μ_r. This deficiency is attributed to the difference of domain structures that exist in powdered and sintered ferrites.     

13C NMR determination of the microstructure of polypropylene obtained with the DADNi(NCS)2/methylaluminoxane catalyst system

A complete ¹³C NMR characterization of a polymer synthesized with a new Ni‐diimine complex [DADNi(NCS)₂, where DAD = 2,6‐iPr? C₆H₃? N?C(Me)? C(Me)? N? 2,6‐iPr? C₆H₃] activated by methylaluminoxane by homopolymerization of propylene is presented. The amorphous material was made up mainly of blocks of syndiotactic polypropylene and ethylene–propylene copolymer. Some degree of propylene inversion (<1.2 mol %) and of long isobutyl and 2‐methyl hexyl branching (<1 mol %) were assigned and quantified. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 2171–2178, 2004     

Stochastic design optimization of asynchronous flexible assembly systems

This paper presents the application of the stochastic quasigradient method (SQG) of Ermoliev and Gaivaronski to the performance optimization of asynchronous flexible assembly systems (AFAS). These systems are subject to blocking and starvation effects that make complete analytic performance modeling difficult. A hybrid algorithm is presented in this paper which uses a queueing network model to set the number of pallets in the system and then an SQG algorithm is used to set the buffer spacings to obtain optimal system throughput. Different forms of the SQG algorithm are examined and the specification of optimal buffer sizes and pallet numbers for a variety of assembly systems with ten stations are discussed. The combined Network-SQG method appears to perform well in obtaining a near optimal solution in this discrete optimization example, even though the SQG method was primarily designed for application to differentiable performance functionals. While a number of both theoretical and practical problems remain to be resolved, a heuristic version of the SQG method appears to be a reasonable technique for analyzing optimization problems for certain complex manufacturing systems.     

Nonlinear finite element analysis of functionally graded plates integrated with patches of piezoelectric fiber reinforced composite

In this paper, a nonlinear static finite element analysis of simply supported smart functionally graded (FG) plates in the presence/absence of the thermal environment has been presented. The substrate FG plate is integrated with the patches of piezoelectric fiber reinforced composite (PFRC) material which act as the distributed actuators of the plate. The material properties of the FG substrate plate are assumed to be temperature dependent and graded along the thickness direction according to a simple power-law distribution in terms of the volume fractions of the constituents. The derivation of this nonlinear thermo-electro-mechanical coupled finite element model is based on the first order shear deformation theory and the Von Karman type geometric nonlinearity. The numerical solutions of the nonlinear equations of the finite element model are obtained by employing the direct iteration method. The numerical illustrations suggest the potential use of the distributed actuator made of the PFRC material for active control of nonlinear deformations of smart FG structures. The effects of volume fraction index of the FG material of the substrate plates and the locations of the PFRC patches on the control authority of the patches are investigated. Emphasis has also been placed on investigating the effect of variation of piezoelectric fiber orientation angle in the PFRC patches on their actuation capability for counteracting the large deflections of FG plates.     

Solutions of Doubly and Higher Order Iterated Equations

Michael Fisher once studied the solution of the equation f(f(x))=x ²–2. We offer solutions to the general equation f(f(x))=h(x) in the form f(x)=g(ag ^–1(x)) where a is in general a complex number. This leads to solving duplication formulas for g(x). For the case h(x)=x ²–2, the solution is readily found, while the h(x)=x ²+2 case is challenging. The solution to these types of equations can be related to differential equations.