Study of an identity

We solve the word problem of the identity x(yz) = (xy)(yz) by investigating a certain group describing the geometry of that identity. We also construct a concrete realization of the one-generated free algebra relative to the above identity. Received March 23, 2001; accepted in final form July 6, 2002.     

Simultaneous Packing and Covering in the Euclidean Plane

 In this article we study the simultaneous packing and covering constants of two-dimensional centrally symmetric convex domains. Besides an identity result between translative case and lattice case and a general upper bound, exact values for some special domains are determined. Similar to Mahler and Reinhardt’s result about packing densities, we show that the simultaneous packing and covering constant of an octagon is larger than that of a circle. (Received 17 January 2001; in revised form 13 July 2001)     

Long-wavelength light emission from InAs quantum dots covered by GaAsSb grown on GaAs substrates

We fabricated InAs quantum dots (QDs) with a GaAsSb strain-reducing layer (SRL) on a GaAs(0 0 1) substrate. The wavelength of emission from InAs QD is shown to be controllable by changing the composition and thickness of the SRL. An increase in photoluminescence intensity with increasing compositions of Sb and thickness of the GaAsSb SRL is also seen. The efficiency of radiative recombination was improved under both conditions because the InAs/GaAsSb/GaAs hetero-interface band structure more effectively suppressed carrier escape from the InAs QDs.     

Electron–hole complexes in self-assembled quantum dots in strong magnetic fields

We present results of calculations and experiments on electron–hole complexes in InGaAs/GaAs self-assembled quantum dots in high magnetic field (B). Due to hidden symmetries, the chemical potential of an N-exciton system at special B fields becomes insensitive to the exciton number as well as the magnetic field. This results in plateau regions of high intensity in measured magneto-PL spectrum. Theoretical calculations using exact diagonalization techniques successfully explain the measured magneto-photoluminescence spectrum with B fields up to 28 T.     

Cochran's statistical theorem for outer inverses of matrices and matrix quadratic forms

We extend the matrix version of Cochran's statistical theorem to outer inverses of a matrix. As applications, we investigate the Wishartness and independence of matrix quadratic forms for Kronecker product covariance structures.     

X-Ray Mapping and Interpretation of Scatter Diagrams

Electron beam induced quantitative X-ray mapping has become a very useful characterisation tool for determining the elemental distribution in materials, whether using energy dispersive spectroscopy or wavelength dispersive spectroscopy. The X-ray intensity distributions of the elements from an X-ray map allow us to generate two dimensional and ternary scatter diagrams thus converting spatial information into concentration dimensions, which is an important tool for displaying the spatial relationships of elements or correlated elements (phases) in materials. To best understand how to use this tool, we need to understand the production and features of the scatter diagram. The type of clustering observed in the scatter diagram, whether oval, linear or spherical, can give the major and trace element distributions within phases as well as qualitative and quantitative phase information. This paper demonstrates the generation of scatter diagrams, properties of scatter diagrams, interpretation of scatter diagrams and the advantages of scatter diagrams through the use of examples.     

Admissible slopes for monotone and convex interpolation

Summary In many applications, interpolation of experimental data exhibiting some geometric property such as nonnegativity, monotonicity or convexity is unacceptable unless the interpolant reflects these characteristics. This paper identifies admissible slopes at data points of variousC ¹ interpolants which ensure a desirable shape. We discuss this question, in turn for the following function classes commonly used for shape preserving interpolations: monotone polynomials,C ¹ monotone piecewise polynomials, convex polynomials, parametric cubic curves and rational functions.     

Structure and electrochemical behaviour of 4,7-diazaheptyl-trimethoxy-silane and vinyl-trialkoxy-silane adsorbed at silver surface

Novel self-assembled monolayers were obtained on silver using 4,7-diazaheptyl-trimethoxy-silane (SiN) and vinyl-trialkoxy-silane (SiVA, where the alkyl group is 3,6,9,12,15,18,21,24,27,30,33,36,39,42,45,48,51,54,57,60-eicozaoxa- hexaheptaconan). It was shown that thus modified metal surface was protected against electrooxidation. A densely packed monolayer remained stable and did not desorb from the Ag electrode on the potential cycling. The structure of SiN and SiVA as well as their complexes with Li⁺ cations were calculated and visualised by the AM1d and PM5 semi-empirical methods.     

Hydrothermal Synthesis and Structure of [Mn(C_8H_5NO_4)·H_2O]_n·2nH_2O

1 INTRODUCTION The self-assembly of organic-inorganic hybrid ma- terials is an intriguing area, which is yielding new generations of supramolecular architectures[1, 2]. Coor- dination by transition metals with multifunctional ligands is one of the main design principles. As a rigid multi-dentate ligand, 5-aminoisophthalic acid (AIP) has received considerable attention owing to the variety of bridging abilities[3~8]. It can engage in three types of intermolecular interactions: (1) M-L b…     

Polyaniline/12-phosphotungstic acid/V<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>5</Subscript> nanocomposite and its platinum analog as oxygen reduction electrocatalysts

A guest-host nanocomposite based on electroconducting polyaniline doped with 12-phosphotungstic acid and V₂O₅ as well as its bifunctional analog containing not more than 5 mass% nanosized platinum were obtained. A study was carried out on the structure of these nanocomposites, their redox characteristics, and electrocatalytic activity in the reduction of oxygen. These nanocomposites were found to display catalytic properties in the electrochemical reduction of oxygen, while the presence of even a slight amount of nanosized platinum in the bifunctional composite leads to a significant increase in its electrocatalytic activity. __________ Translated from Teoreticheskaya i éksperimental’naya Khimiya, Vol. 43, No. 5, pp. 307–314, September–October, 2007.