General constructions of biquandles and their symmetries

Biquandles are algebraic objects with two binary operations whose axioms encode the generalized Reidemeister moves for virtual knots and links. These objects also provide set theoretic solutions of the well-known Yang-Baxter equation. The first half of this paper proposes some natural constructions of biquandles from groups and from their simpler counterparts, namely, quandles. We completely determine all words in the free group on two generators that give rise to (bi)quandle structures on all groups. We give some novel constructions of biquandles on unions and products of quandles, including what we refer as the holomorph biquandle of a quandle. These constructions give a wealth of solutions of the Yang-Baxter equation. We also show that for nice quandle coverings a biquandle structure on the base can be lifted to a biquandle structure on the covering. In the second half of the paper, we determine automorphism groups of these biquandles in terms of associated quandles showing elegant relationships between the symmetries of the underlying structures.     

Generalized solutions of a stochastic partial differential equation

We discuss the Cauchy problem of a certain stochastic parabolic partial differential equation arising in the nonlinear filtering theory, where the initial data and the nonhomogeneous noise term of the equation are given by Schwartz distributions. The generalized (distributional) solution is represented by a partial (conditional) generalized expectation ofT(t)° _0,t ^–1 , whereT(t) is a stochastic process with values in distributions and _s,t is a stochastic flow generated by a certain stochastic differential equation. The representation is used for getting estimates of the solution with respect to Sobolev norms.Further, by applying the partial Malliavin calculus of Kusuoka-Stroock, we show that any generalized solution is aC -function under a condition similar to Hörmander's hypoellipticity condition.     

Approximate minimum-cost multicommodity flows in\tilde O(ɛ −2 KNM) timetime

We show that an ε-approximate solution of the cost-constrainedK-commodity flow problem on anN-nodeM-arc network,G can be computed by sequentially solving O(K(? ^?2+logGK) logGM log (G? ^?1 GK)) single-commodity minimum-cost flow problems on the same network. In particular, an approximate minimum-cost multicommodity flow can be computed in $\tilde O$ (G? ^?2 GKNM) running time, where the notation Õ(·) means “up to logarithmic factors”. This result improves the time bound mentioned by Grigoriadis and Khachiyan [4] by a factor ofM/N and that developed more recently by Karger and Plotkin [8] by a factor of? ^?1. We also provide a simple $\tilde O$ (NM)-time algorithm for single-commodity budget-constrained minimum-cost flows which is $\tilde O$ (? ^?3) times faster than the algorithm developed in the latter paper.     

Network theory of the nonlinear behaviour of polymer melts. Simple shear flow

Summary The network model developed in a previous paper is applied to the simple shear flow of polymer melts. The constitutive equation obtained consists of two terms. One of them describes the stress due to the network strands which exist at the onset of the deformation, dissociate during the deformation and result in a single integral constitutive equation with a strain dependent damping function. The formulation of the damping function in invariant form seems to be almost impossible.The second normal stress differenceN ₂ of the model is not zero,but has negative values. According to our model this is a consequence of the deformation dependence of the disentanglement process. The theory is compared with experimental data for a LDPE melt. It is found that the model explains the main features of the shear flow behaviour of the LDPE melt investigated preciously.

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Zusammenfassung Das Netzwerk-Modell, das in einer vorangegangenen Arbeit entwickelt wurde, wird für die einfache Scherströmung von Polymerschelzen angewendet. Die abgeleitete rheologische Zustandsgleichung besteht aus zwei Gliedern. Das erste beschreibt die Spannung-Dehnung-Beziehung der Kettensegmente, die zu Beginn der Deformation existieren und während der Deformation aufgelöst werden. Es hat die Form der einfachen Integralbeziehung mit einer Gedächtnisfunktion. Es ist kaum möglich, die dabei erhaltene Gedächtnisfunktion als Funktion der Invarianten der der Tensoren darzustellen. Die zweite Normal-SpannungsdifferenzN ₂ des Modells ist nicht Null und hat einen negativen Wert. Dies ist nach unserem Modell eine Folge der Deformationsabhängigkeit des Entschlaufungsprozesses. Die Theorie wird mit dem experimentellen Daten für eine LDPE-Schmelze verglichen, wobei sich zeigt, daß das Modell die wesentlichen Merkmale des Scherverhaltens der LDPE-Schmelze gut erklärt.

     

Enthalpies of mixing of binary and ternary mixtures containing diisopropylether,benzene and cyclohexane at 303.15 K

Enthalpies of mixing H have been measured for liquid binary mixtures of diisopropylether (DIPE)+benzene or cyclohexane and for liquid ternary mixtures diisopropylether+benzene+cyclohexane at 303.15 K and constant pressure using a C80 calorimeter. A Redlich-Kister type equation was used to correlate experimental results.     

Viscosity of aqueous solutions of polysaccharides and hydrophobically modified polysaccharides: Application of Fedors equation

Amphiphilic polysaccharides have been obtained by hydrophobic modification of a neutral bacterial polysaccharide, dextran. Various amounts and types of aliphatic hydrocarbon groups have been attached to dextran.The solution behaviour of unmodified dextran samples and amphiphilic dextran derivatives is characterized by viscometric measurements. The overall viscosity behaviour of unmodified polysaccharides is described up to C × [η] = 3, using the equation of Fedors [Fedors RF. Polymer 1979;20:225] which involves only a concentration parameter. The latter is shown to depend on the hydrodynamic volume of the macromolecules in solution.The equation of Fedors is shown to conveniently estimate the viscosity behaviour of amphiphilic dextran derivatives up to C × [η] = 1. The interdependence between Fedors parameter and other viscometric characteristics (intrinsic viscosity, Huggins coefficient) is evidenced. These results are extended to the data of other authors.     

Monolayer adsorption isotherms and a disordered medium model

A model of disordered medium is proposed to describe the monolayer adsorption isotherm on heterogeneous surfaces. The model is based on the premise that adsorption medium consists of separate regions in each of which there is a permanent local equilibrium constant, the character of the changes of which is determined by the disorder parameter of the medium. __________ Translated from Teoreticheskaya i éksperimental’naya Khimiya, Vol. 42, No. 3, pp. 189–193, May–June, 2006.     

Preparation and Characteristics of Porous Silica Films by a Modified Base-Catalyzed Sol-Gel Process Containing PVA: II. Film Preparation

Porous SiO₂ films were successfully deposited on silicon substrates by a modified base-catalyzed Sol-Gel process (MBCP) containing polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The process conditions, such as the gelation time, the synthesis temperature, the stabilizing agent of the precursor solution and the spin coating speed, the heat-treatment, the annealing temperature of the film on the microstructure and porosity of porous SiO₂ films were systematically investigated by SEM, XRD and ellipsometry techniques. This study provides a novel preparation technique for the porous SiO₂ film. Using this process, the resultant film can reach a thickness of 3.6 m for one layer, a porosity of 25–50%, a low thermal conductivity of 0.11 W/m·K. This film will be used as a low dielectric layer, an thermal-insulating layer and a low refractive index layer.     

Application of coset representations to the construction of symmetry adapted functions

Summary A coset representation (G(/G _i )), which is defined algebraically by a coset decomposition of a finite groupG by its subgroupG _i , is shown to be a method for the decomposition of a regular body into its point group orbits. This proof also shows that each member of theG(/G _i ) orbit belongs to theG _i site-symmetry. In addition, a general equation concerning the multiplicities of such coset representations is derived and shown to involve Brester's equations and thek-value equations of framework groups as special cases. The relationship of the coset representation and the site-symmetry affords a general procedure for obtaining symmetry adapted functions.     

Experimental study of the induced flow birefringence of a suspension of rigid particles at the transition from Couette flow to Taylor vortex flow

The flow birefringence induced in solutions of rigid particles is studied experimentally in the region of the axisymmetrical Taylor vortex flow which arises once the velocity gradient G in the annular gap of a conventional Couette cell reaches a critical value G _c .The measurements are performed for several values of G > G _c and for 10 radial observation points in the annular gap. Solutions of two types of rigid particles are investigated: the first is a suspension of flattened clay particles like bentonite, while the second contains rod-like particles of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). The variations of the birefringence intensity n and of the extinction angle measured in the domain of the axisymmetrical flow show a different behavior according to the shape of the particle in solution. This fact is confirmed theoretically with a good agreement for the measurements performed with solutions of flat particles.