Determination of nickel in standard rocks and glasses by photon activation analysis with 30-MeV bremsstrahlung

The determination of nickel in various silicate rocks and glasses by photon activation analysis with a linear electron accelerator is described. Simultaneous irradiation of the sample and comparative standards produces the ⁵⁸Ni(γ, n)⁵⁷Ni reaction, and a post-irradiation chemical separation is used in conjunction with Ge(Li) γ-spectrometry. Nickel abundances for ten standard silicate rocks and two elementally doped glasses are presented and compared with the data previously published. The method is quite simple and gives good reproducible results for nickel down to sub-p.p.m. levels.     

Evaluation of the use of consensus values in proficiency testing programmes

Proficiency testing (PT) is an essential tool used by laboratory accreditation bodies to assess the competency of laboratories. Because of limited resources of PT providers or for other reasons, the assigned reference value used in the calculation of z-score values has usually been derived from some sort of consensus value obtained by central tendency estimators such as the arithmetic mean or robust mean. However, if the assigned reference value deviates significantly from the ‘true value’ of the analyte in the test material, laboratories’ performance will be evaluated incorrectly. This paper evaluates the use of consensus values in proficiency testing programmes using the Monte Carlo simulation technique. The results indicated that the deviation of the assigned value from the true value could be as large as 40%, depending on the parameters of the proficiency testing programmes under investigation such as sample homogeneity, number of participant laboratories, concentration level, method precision and laboratory bias. To study how these parameters affect the degree of discrepancy between the consensus value and the true value, a fractional factorial design was also applied. The findings indicate that the number of participating laboratories and the distribution of laboratory bias were the prime two factors affecting the deviation of the consensus value from the true value.     

Homogeneous crystallization of the Lennard-Jones liquid. Structural analysis based on Delaunay simplices method

The crystallization process of a simple liquid upon slow cooling has been modeled by the Monte-Carlo method. The model contains 10,000 Lennard-Jones atoms in the model box with periodic boundary conditions. The model structure is investigated at different stages of crystallization using Delaunay simplices. The simplex belonging to one or another particular crystal structure was determined by the shape of the given simplex taking into account the shape of its neighboring simplices. Simplices typical of the fcc and hcp crystal structures, as well as of polytetrahedral aggregates, not typical of crystals, were studied. The analysis has shown that the “precursors” of a hcp structure are strongly dominating over the “precursors” of a fcc structure in liquid phase before the beginning of crystallization. When crystallization starts, small embryos of the fcc structure are observed; the simplices peculiar to hcp are present at that in great amount, but they are distributed over the sample more uniformly. As crystallization proceeds, the portion of the fcc phase grows faster than hcp. However, no unified crystal appears in our case of slow cooling of the model. A complex polycrystalline structure containing crystalline regions with multiple twinning, pentagonal prisms and elements of icosahedral structures arises instead.     

CertainC*-algebras with real rank zero and their corona and multiplier algebras: II

We first determine the homotopy classes of nontrivial projections in a purely infinite simpleC*-algebraA, in the associated multiplier algebraM(A) and the corona algebraM A/A in terms ofK _*(A). Then we describe the generalized Fredholm indices as the group of homotopy classes of non-trivial projections ofA; consequently, we determine theK _*-groups of all hereditaryC*-subalgebras of certain corona algebras. Secondly, we consider a group structure of *-isomorphism classes of hereditaryC*-subalgebras of purely infinite simpleC*-algebras. In addition, we prove that ifA is aC*-algebra of real rank zero, then each unitary ofA, in caseA it unital, each unitary ofM(A) and ofM(A)/A, in caseA is nonunital but -unital, can be factored into a product of a unitary homotopic to the identity and a unitary matrix whose entries are all partial isometries (with respect to a decomposition of the identity).Partially supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation.     

K-theory for finite covariant systems

LetA be a real or complex Banach algebra and assume that is an action of a finite groupG onA by means of continuous automorphisms. To such a finite covariant system (A, G, ), we associate an Abelian groupK(A, G, ). We obtain some classical exact sequences for an algebraA and a closed invariant idealI. We also compute the group in a few important special cases. Doing so, we relate our new invariant to the classicalK ₀ andK ₁ of a Banach algebra and to theK-theory of ₂-graded Banach algebras. Finally, we obtain a result that gives a close relationship of our groupK(A, G, ) with theK-theory of the crossed productA G. In particular, we prove a six-term exact sequence involving our groupK(A, G, ) and theK-groups ofA G. In this way, we hope to contribute to the well-known problem of finding theK-theory of the crossed productA G in the case of an action of a finite group.     

Ruthenium(II) complexes with mono and ditertiary arsines and phosphines and their reaction with small molecules

Dichlorotetrakis(dimethylsulphoxide)ruthenium(II) reacts with AsPh₃ AsMePh₂, AsMe₂Ph and SbPh₃ in ethanolic hydrochloric acid solution to yield the complexes RuCl₂(DMSO)₂(AsPh₃)₂, RuCl₂(DMSO) L₂ (L = AsMePh₂, AsMe₂Ph, SbPh₃) respectively. The treatment of ruthenium(II) blue solution with AsMePh₂, AsMe₂Ph and SbPh₃ in alcohol resulted in the formation of the complexes; RuCl₂L₃ (L = AsMePh₂, AsMe₂Ph and SbPh₂), respectively. The reaction of RuCl₂(DMSO)₄ with the bidentate ligands 1,2 bis (diphenylarsino)methane (DPAM), 1,2 bis(diphenylarsino)ethane (DPAE) and 1,2 bis (diphenylphosphino)methane (DPPM). 1,2 bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (DPPE), in ethanol gave the complexes RuCl₂(DPAM)₂, RuCl₂(DPAE)₂, RuCl₂ (DPPM)₂ RuCl₂(DPPE)₂, respectively. The complexes thus obtained undergo reaction with carbon monoxide, hydrogen, molecular nitrogen and nitric oxide to yield a variety of mixed ligand complexes.     

On statistical properties of the lyapunov exponent of the generalized skew tent map

The statistical properties of the Lyapunov exponent of the chaotic generalized skew tent map is studied. Expressions of the mean and the variance of this Lyapunov exponent at each discrete time index are obtained. A sufficient condition for weakly mixing of the chaotic generalized skew tent map is derived, and the asymptotic distribution of its Lyapunov exponent is provided.     

On the simplicity of some kac-moody groups

Recently, Marcuson extended the classical construction of Tits systems in Steinberg groups to include the Kac-Moody Steinberg groups associated with the infinite dimensional versions of the great Lie algebras. If these Lie algebras and their Kac-Moody groups are viewed as limits of their finite dimensional counterparts, more direct methods may be employed. In fact, the Kac-Moody Chevalley groups of these Lie algebras are seen to be simple.