1,1,3-Trimethyl-3-phenylindan as a Luminescent Additive to a Plastic Scintillator Based on Poly(methyl Methacrylate)

The luminescence and scintillation properties of poly(methyl methacrylate) containing 1,1,3-trimethyl-3-phenylindan were studied.     

Multilayer optics for XUV spectral region: technology fabrication and applications

We present research investigations in the field of multilayer optics in X-ray and extreme ultra-violet ranges (XUV), aimed at the development of optical elements for applications in experiments in physics and in scientific instrumentation. We discuss normal incidence multilayer optics in the spectral region of “water window”, multilayer optics for collimation and focusing of hard X-ray, multilayer dispersing elements for X-ray spectroscopy of high-temperature plasma, multilayer dispersing elements for analysis of low Z-elements. Our research pays special attention to optimization of multilayer optics for projection EUV-lithography (ψ-13nm) and short period multilayer optics.     

Precision of a dual energy X-ray absorptiometry device

The standard method to diagnose and follow-up osteoporosis is the measurement of bone mineral density (BMD) using dual X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Manufacturers' manuals of DEXA devices state the intrascanner coefficient of variance is less than 0.01 g/cm². The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vivo coefficient of variance of a Lunar DPX scanner in male and female healthy adult subjects. Average BMD for females and males were 1.170±0.091 g/cm² and 1.272±0.115 g/cm², respectively. Monthly phantom measurements provided and controlled by the manufacturer were 1.243±0.008 g/cm² (range 1.222 to 1.257) and the coefficient of variance was 0.006. It is concluded that the in vivo coefficient of variance of DEXA devices can slightly be higher than that proposed by the manufacturer. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Sinc-Galerkin method for solving linear sixth-order boundary-value problems

There are few techniques available to numerically solve sixth-order boundary-value problems with two-point boundary conditions. In this paper we show that the Sinc-Galerkin method is a very effective tool in numerically solving such problems. The method is then tested on examples with homogeneous and nonhomogeneous boundary conditions and a comparison with the modified decomposition method is made. It is shown that the Sinc-Galerkin method yields better results.

     

The analysis of volatile trace compounds in landfill gases,compost heaps and forest air

Landfill gas, cryotrapped on a loop fashioned from a length of a capillary gas chromatography (GC) column, was examined for volatile organometallic compounds (VOMCs) and for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by using GC–mass spectrometry (MS). A large number of organic components were present and many were identified, but the only VOMCs present in high enough concentrations to be detected were trimethylstibine and tetramethyltin. The use of inductively coupled plasma (ICP)‐MS as an element‐specific detector allowed the identification of a number of other organometallic species in the landfill gas, including trimethylarsine and trimethylbismuth, and, for the first time, butyltrimethyltin and dibutyldimethyltin. The presence of molybdenum hexacarbonyl was confirmed. Gas from a large‐scale compost heap and from compost incubated in the laboratory contained iodomethane but no common VOMCs (GC–ICP‐MS). Only VOCs were present in forest air (GC–MS). Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Development of a parallel storm surge model

A new parallel storm surge model, the Parallel Environmental Model (PEM), is developed and tested by comparisons with analytic solutions. The PEM is a 2‐D vertically averaged, wetting and drying numerical model and can be operated in explicit, semi‐implicit and fully implicit modes. In the implicit mode, the propagation, Coriolis and bottom friction terms can all be treated implicitly. The advection and diffusion terms are solved with a parallel Eulerian–Lagrangian scheme developed for this study. The model is developed specifically for use on parallel computer systems and will function accordingly in either explicit of implicit modes. Storm boundary conditions are based on a simple exponential decay of pressure from the centre of a storm. The simulated flooding caused by a major Category 5 hurricane making landfall in the Indian River Lagoon, Florida is then presented as an example application of the PEM. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An Average-Stretch Full-Network Model for Rubber Elasticity

Two constitutive models that are based on the classical non-Gaussian, Kuhn-Grün probability distribution function are reviewed. It is shown that all chains of a network cell structure comprised of a finite number of identical chains in an affine deformation referred to principal axes may have the same invariant stretch, if and only if the chains are oriented initially along any of eight directions forming the diagonals of a unit cube. The 4-chain tetrahedral and the 8-chain cubic cell structures are familiar admissible models having this property. An easy derivation of the constitutive equation for the Wu and van der Giessen full-network model of initially identical chains arbitrarily oriented in the undeformed state is presented. The constitutive equations for the neo-Hookean model, the 3 -chain model, and the equivalent 4- and 8-chain models are then derived from the Wu and van der Giessen equation. The squared chain stretch of an arbitrarily directed chain averaged over a unit sphere surrounding all chains radiating from a cross-link junction as its center is determined. An average-stretch, full-network constitutive equation is then derived by approximation of the Wu and van der Giessen equation. This result, though more general in that no special chain cell morphology is introduced, is the same as the constitutive equation for the 4- and 8-chain models. Some concluding remarks on extensions to amended models are presented.