Geometry of an Accelerated Rotating Disk

We analyze the geometry of a rotating disk with a tangential acceleration in the framework of the theory of Special Relativity, using the kinematic linear differential system that verifies the relative position vector of time-like curves in a Fermi reference. A numerical integration of these equations for a generic initial value problem is made up and the results are compared with those obtained in other works.     

Synthesis of Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Particles by Sol-Gel Chemistry

The synthesis of ORganically MOdified SILica (ORMOSIL) particles has been carried out using both the hydrolytic and non-hydrolytic sol-gel routes. The hybrid (nano)composites are organically modified with an alkyl or aryl group covalently bonded to silicon. Hybrids have been synthesised in an aqueous sol-gel process by a modified Stöber route, producing spherical nanoparticles with diameters in the range 50–300 nm. The size of the particles can be controlled by control of certain reaction parameters. Smaller ormosil nanoparticles can be synthesised by a base-catalysed emulsion polymerisation route, by varying the type and concentration of surfactant and precursor feed rate. In this case, particles in the size range 3.5–10 nm can be obtained. Hybrids have been synthesised from hyperbranched polyesters by encapsulation in a silica matrix using the hydrolytic sol-gel route. Optimisation of the reaction conditions allows the hybrids to be produced as isolated sub-micron spherical particles. Ormosil particles have also been synthesised using the non-hydrolytic sol-gel route, which may lead to products of different morphologies because of the different polarity of the reaction medium. Different reaction conditions were studied in order to optimise the size and shape of the particles, including choice of solvent, use of surfactants and addition of polystyrene. Dimethylsulfoxide acts as a novel oxygen donor for the catalyst-free formation of colourless silsesquioxanes.     

Predicting automobile claims bodily injury severity with sequential ordered logit models

Despite the large cost of bodily injury (BI) claims in motor insurance, relatively little research has been done in this area. Many companies estimate (and therefore reserve) bodily injury compensation directly from initial medical reports. This practice may underestimate the final cost, because the severity is often assessed during the recovery period. Since the evaluation of this severity is often only qualitative, in this paper we apply an ordered multiple choice model at different moments in the life of a claim reported to an insurance company. We assume that the information available to the insurer does not flow continuously, because it is obtained at different stages. Using a real data set, we show that the application of sequential ordered logit models leads to a significant improvement in the prediction of the BI severity level, compared to the subjective classification that is used in practice. We also show that these results could improve the insurer’s reserves notably.     

TFRC friendliness and the case of ECN

The TFRC protocol has been proposed as a TCP‐friendly protocol to transport streaming media over the Internet. However, its deployment is still questionable because it has not been compared to other important protocols, analysed in the presence of important mechanisms, such as the explicit congestion notification (ECN), and studied under more realistic network conditions. In this paper, we address these three aspects, including other congestion control protocols not considered before in the same investigation, such as TCP Tahoe, Reno, Newreno, Vegas, Sack, GAIMD, and the Binomial algorithms, the effect of using ECN in the friendliness of the protocols, and the fairness of the protocols under static and dynamic network conditions. We found that TFRC can be safely deployed in the Internet if competing with TCP Tahoe, New Reno and SACK since fairness is achieved under all scenarios considered. We also found that ECN actually helps in achieving better fairness. However, fairness problems arise when TFRC competes with TCP Reno, GAIMD, SQRT or IIAD in static or dynamic conditions, or both. We used normalized throughput, fairness index, and convergence time as the main performance metrics for comparison. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Left, right, and inner socles of associative systems

We investigate the basic properties of the different socles that can be considered in not necessarily semiprime associative systems. Among other things, we show that the socle defined as the sum of minimal (or minimal and trivial) inner ideals is always an ideal. When trivial inner ideals are included, this inner socle contains the socles defined in terms of minimal left or right ideals. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Highly polarized dithiafulvenes: synthesis and nonlinear optical properties

Push-pull dithiafulvenes with reduced bond length alternation (BLA) and high optical nonlinearities have been prepared. The interplay between the proaromaticity of the donor and the structural and optical properties of these merocyanines is discussed. The donor ability of dithiafulvenes can reach that of ferrocene or dialkylaminophenyl groups.     

Aberrations theory of a time dependent magnetic field lens

We analyze new forms of aberrations affecting a time dependent magnetic field lens recently proposed. The lens consist of an axially symmetric ellipsoidal solenoid producing a spatially uniform but time pulsating homogeneous field. The dynamics of electrons emitted by some object and injected into this coil shows that this system is capable of focusing a parallel beam or produce images free of geometrical aberrations. The cardinal elements of this lens change periodically in positions and therefore to obtain a stationary image it is necessary to employ a chopped electron beam. Two forms of aberrations originate from the finite duration of the electron pulse and the energy dispersion of the incoming beam (chromatic aberration). Their image degradation effects are quite similar and result from recording different axially displaced images at some fixed stationary plane. We show how, by adjusting the parameters characterizing the magnetic pulse and introducing small apertures that increase the depth of focus, their effects can be reduced or in some cases eliminated. Other forms of instrumental aberrations characteristic of this time dependent magnetic field lens are briefly discussed.