Necessary and sufficient conditions in constrained optimization

Additional conditions are attached to the Kuhn-Tucker conditions giving a set of conditions which are both necessary and sufficient for optimality in constrained optimization, under appropriate constraint qualifications. Necessary and sufficient conditions are also given for optimality of the dual problem. Duality and converse duality are treated accordingly.     

A Characterization of Graphs without Even Factors

In this paper, we first reduce the problem of finding a minimum parity (g,f)-factor of a graph G into the problem of finding a minimum perfect matching in a weighted simple graph G*. Using the structure of G*, a necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of an even factor is derived. This paper was accomplished while the second author was visiting the Center for Combinatorics, Nankai University. The research is supported by NSFC     

Surface morphologies of anthracene single crystals grown from vapor phase

The morphologies and lattice structures of anthracene single crystals grown from the vapor phase were investigated using optical microscopy, phase contrast microscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and X-ray diffraction analysis. Common morphologies with hexagonal large planes were observed irrespective of crystal size. The observation of certain surface morphologies with a phase contrast microscopy revealed that the spiral steps originated from screw dislocations present on the (0 0 1) planes. Moreover, the center and edge of the (0 0 1) planes had large curvatures, similar to hills. Resultantly, quarter-monolayer (ML) steps were observed on the large and flat planes between both hills.     

Navier-Stokes equations in 3D thin domains with Navier friction boundary condition

In this article we study the 3D Navier-Stokes equations with Navier friction boundary condition in thin domains. We prove the global existence of strong solutions to the 3D Navier-Stokes equations when the initial data and external forces are in large sets as the thickness of the domain is small. We generalize the techniques developed to study the 3D Navier-Stokes equations in thin domains, see [G. Raugel, G. Sell, Navier-Stokes equations on thin 3D domains I: Global attractors and global regularity of solutions, J. Amer. Math. Soc. 6 (1993) 503-568; G. Raugel, G. Sell, Navier-Stokes equations on thin 3D domains II: Global regularity of spatially periodic conditions, in: Nonlinear Partial Differential Equations and Their Application, College de France Seminar, vol. XI, Longman, Harlow, 1994, pp. 205-247; R. Temam, M. Ziane, Navier-Stokes equations in three-dimensional thin domains with various boundary conditions, Adv. Differential Equations 1 (1996) 499-546; R. Temam, M. Ziane, Navier-Stokes equations in thin spherical shells, in: Optimization Methods in Partial Differential Equations, in: Contemp. Math., vol. 209, Amer. Math. Soc., Providence, RI, 1996, pp. 281-314], to the Navier friction boundary condition by introducing a new average operator Mε in the thin direction according to the spectral decomposition of the Stokes operator Aε. Our analysis hinges on the refined investigation of the eigenvalue problem corresponding to the Stokes operator Aε with Navier friction boundary condition.     

Singlet versus triplet dynamics of β-carotene studied by quantum control spectroscopy

Biomolecules very often present complex energy deactivation networks with overlapping electronic absorption bands, making their study a difficult task. This can be especially true in transient absorption spectroscopy when signals from bleach, excited state absorption and stimulated emission contribute to the signal. However, quantum control spectroscopy can be used to discriminate specific electronic states of interest by applying specifically designed laser pulses. Recently, we have shown the control of energy flow in bacterial light-harvesting using shaped pump pulses in the visible and the selective population of pathways in carotenoids using an additional depletion pulse in the transient absorption technique. Here, we apply a closed-loop optimization approach to β-carotene using a spatial light modulator to decipher the energy flow network after a multiphoton excitation with a shaped ultrashort pulse in the near-IR. After excitation, two overlapping bands were detected and identified as the S₁ state and the first triplet state T₁. Using the transient absorption signal at a specific probe delay as feedback, the triplet signal could be optimized over the singlet contribution.     

Microwave absorption properties of composite powders with low density

The composites of barium ferrite coated on hollow ceramic microspheres were prepared using sol-gel technique. The crystal structure, morphology and microwave absorption properties of composite powders with different weight ratio of microspheres were studied with XRD, EDS, FESEM and vector network analyzer. The results show that the microwave absorption properties of composite powders are greatly improved. The maximum microwave loss of composite powders reaches 31 dB with an amount of 50 wt.% microspheres, and its density is only about 1.80 g/cm³. The effect of hollow ceramic microspheres on the microwave absorption property is also discussed.     

Estimating Sampling Errors in REA Survey: A Model Approach for the Synthetic Presentation of Results for Main Variables Involved in Economic Analysis

A new sample business survey for agriculture, the REA survey, and a project of integration with the FADN network (RICA in Italy) have significantly changed the production of statistical information nowadays available with reference to the agricultural sector. On the basis of this relevant information, new economic analyses are being developed on farms’ performance, agricultural households’ income and the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). In this paper the authors estimate the relationship between the levels of variables of interest and their sampling errors using models in order to improve the accessibility of the information on estimates accuracy to the final users (agricultural analysts, policy makers). The paper is the result of a joint research of the three authors. Sections 1–3 and 6 by Pizzoli, Sects. 4 and 5 by Rondinelli, Sect. 7 by Filiberti, conclusions joint to the three authors.     

Algorithms for finding connected separators between antipodal points

A set (or a collection of sets) contained in the Euclidean space Rm is symmetric if it is invariant under the antipodal map. Given a symmetric unicoherent polyhedron X (like an n-dimensional cube or a sphere) and an odd real function f defined on vertices of a certain symmetric triangulation of X, we algorithmically construct a connected symmetric separator of X by choosing a subcollection of the triangulation. Each element of the subcollection contains the vertices v and u such that f(v)f(u)?0.     

On the moduli spaces of multipolygonal linkages in the plane

One can form a polygonal linkage by identifying initial and terminal points of two free linkages. Likewise, one can form a multipolygonal linkage by identifying initial and terminal points of three free linkages. The geometric and topological properties of moduli spaces of multipolygonal linkages in the plane are studied. These spaces are compact algebraic varieties. Some conditions under which these spaces are smooth manifolds, cross products or disjoint unions of moduli spaces of polygonal linkages, or connected, are determined. Dimensions in smooth manifold cases and some Euler characteristics are computed. A classification of generic multiquadrilateral linkages is also made.