A lower bound for systems with double characteristics

We give necessary and sufficient conditions for a lower bound with a gain of 3/2 derivatives (the so-called Weak-Hörmander inequality) for a class of systems with double characteristics.     

Intriguing sets in partial quadrangles

The point‐line geometry known as a partial quadrangle (introduced by Cameron in 1975) has the property that for every point/line non‐incident pair (P, ?), there is at most one line through P concurrent with ?. So in particular, the well‐studied objects known as generalized quadrangles are each partial quadrangles. An intriguing set of a generalized quadrangle is a set of points which induces an equitable partition of size two of the underlying strongly regular graph. We extend the theory of intriguing sets of generalized quadrangles by Bamberg, Law and Penttila to partial quadrangles, which gives insight into the structure of hemisystems and other intriguing sets of generalized quadrangles. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Combin Designs 19:217‐245, 2011     

On the transfer matrix of a MIMO system

We develop a deterministic ab initio model for the input–output relationship of a multiple‐input multiple‐output (MIMO) wireless channel, starting from the Maxwell equations combined with Ohm's law. The main technical tools are scattering and geometric perturbation theories. The derived relationship can lead us to a deep understanding of how the propagation conditions and the coupling effects between the elements of multiple‐element arrays affect the properties of an MIMO channel, e.g. its capacity and its number of degrees of freedom. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Probing the Conformational Stability of Two Different Copper Proteins: A Dynamic Fluorescence Study on Azurin and Ascorbate Oxidase

Tryptophan fluorescence is extremely useful to monitor structural conformational transitions in proteins. Denaturant-induced unfolding of azurin and ascorbate oxidase has been studied by dynamic fluorescence measurements in the frequency domain and the results have been interpreted in terms of continuous distribution of lifetimes. The data add new information on the unfolding mechanism that was previously analyzed by steady-state emission spectroscopy. In particular, the existence of multiple, parallel unfolding pathways may be envisaged and correlated, in both cases, to the two protein structures. The effect of metal depletion has been also characterized by fluorescence lifetime measurements. In the case of azurin, a monomeric protein, the data demonstrate that copper removal yields a totally different unfolding pathways with respect to the holo protein, indicating that metal ion plays a fundamental structural role in the wild type, native protein. In the case of ascorbate oxidase a dimer of 140 kDa, only minor effects have been detected by copper removal. However, the analysis of the fluorescence decay in presence of different amounts of guanidinium hydrochloride gives new important insights on the unfolding intermediates. In particular the data support the hypothesis of a partial exposure of an outer layer of dimer at intermediate denaturant concentration. This ability of dynamic fluorescence to pinpoint the presence of structural micro-heterogeneity in the unfolding pathways of proteins demonstrates the greater power of this technique compared to the most commonly used steady-state measurements.     

On circular–linear one-factorizations of the complete graph

In Korchmáros et al. (2018)one-factorizations of the complete graph $K_n$ are constructed for $n=q+1$ with any odd prime power $q$ such that either $q\equiv 1(mod4)$ or $q=2^h?1$. The arithmetic restriction $n=q+1$ is due to the fact that the vertices of $K_n$ in the construction are the points of a conic $\Omega$ in the finite plane of order $q$. Here we work on the Euclidean plane and describe an analogous construction where the role of $\Omega$ is taken by a regular $n$-gon. This allows us to remove the above constraints and construct one-factorizations of $K_n$ for every even $n\ge 6$.     

A scale value for the balance inside a historical opera house

In the framework of opera house acoustics, the term "balance" refers to the acoustical competition between the singer on the stage and the orchestra in the pit. The mechanism allowing the operatic singers to be heard over the orchestra has to do with their skill in enhancing the vocal emission by a peculiar use of the formant frequencies. This vital factor is sensed by the listeners and, apart from the obvious sound power ratio of the stage and the pit sources, is the main cue that helps to formulate a subjective impression of the balance. To achieve its objective qualification, two calibrated sound sources can be placed on the stage and in the pit, respectively, and their sound level difference is measured at the listeners' seats. The scope of this work is to investigate the relationship between the subjective impression and the objective indicator of the balance and to develop a scale value for the parameter in the case of a historical opera house. For this scope a set of acoustical data from the Teatro Comunale in Ferrara will be used to create synthetic sound fields with controlled conditions of the balance between the stage and the pit. This methodology employs an anechoic piece for soprano (with piano accompaniment) and is implemented in a dead room equipped with an acoustical rendering system. The sound fields are used to investigate the appropriate balance values by means of listening tests. The results of the scaling exercise show that a suitable range of values can be extracted and that the sound from the stage and the pit is perceived as balanced when the loudness difference between the two is comprised within -2.0 dBA and +2.3 dBA.     

On unitals in PG(2,q^2) stabilized by a homology group

The linear collineation group of a classical unital of $\mathrm{PG}(2,q^2)$ contains a group of homologies of order $q+1$ . In this paper we prove that if $\mathcal{U }$ is a unital of PG $(2,q^2)$ stabilized by a homology group of order $q+1$ and $q$ is a prime number, then $\mathcal{U }$ is classical.     

Rembrandt's Old Woman Praying, 1629/30: A look below the surface using X-ray fluorescence mapping

Rembrandt's painting Old Woman Praying, 1629/30, is the most valuable and exceptional work of art of the Residenzgalerie Salzburg (RGS). It is painted on a gilded copper plate with dimensions of only approximately 15 × 12 cm. The painting probably belongs to a series of three small-scale tronies, all executed on gilded copper plates. This particular picture preparation, which represents a special feature in Rembrandt's work, is quite unusual in the history of art. Previous investigations on the comparable paintings The Laughing Man, 1629/30, in the Mauritshuis, The Hague and the Self Portrait, 1630, in the National Museum, Stockholm showed that the gilding of the copper plate was applied over a lead white ground. To characterize the painting in the RGS, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) mapping was performed in a collaboration between the Research Office Residenzgalerie, Land Salzburg, the XGLab S.R.L, Milan, and the Conservation Science Department of the Kunsthistorische Museum Vienna (KHM). The results indicate a different structure for this painting than that used for The Laughing Man and the Self Portrait. The gilding was applied directly onto the copper plate, but with three areas with the gilding missing. It seems likely that in these sections, the gold was purposely removed to provide a different darker effect. XRF mapping yielded valuable insights into the structure of the painting and its technique as well as the principal pigments used for its composition.     

Synthesis and photoreactions of polyesters containing triazene and cinnamylidene malonyl units

The synthesis and photoreactions of polyesters containing the photolabile triazene group (Ph NN NR₂) as well as photocrosslinkable units based on substituted cinnamylidene malonyl moieties are reported. The polyesters were obtained by reacting a triazene containing difunctional alcohol with different substituted cinnamylidene malonic acid dichlorides. Irradiation at λ > 395 nm enables selective photocrosslinking of the cinnamylidene malonyl ester units via [2+2]π‐cycloaddition without affecting the triazene units. The photocrosslinking reaction of the triazene containing polyesters as well as triazene‐free reference polyesters were investigated by UV and IR spectroscopy. After selective photocrosslinking the irradiated polymers became insoluble and no longer exhibited a T_g below decomposition temperature. The crosslinked triazene containing polyesters show strong absorption at λ = 308 nm and are therefore interesting candidates for applications using XeCl excimer laser ablation. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 1903–1910, 2000