Singularity spectrum of fractal signals from wavelet analysis: Exact results

The multifractal formalism for singular measures is revisited using the wavelet transform. For Bernoulli invariant measures of some expanding Markov maps, the generalized fractal dimensions are proved to be transition points for the scaling exponents of some partition functions defined from the wavelet transform modulus maxima. The generalization of this formalism to fractal signals is established for the class of distribution functions of these singular invariant measures. It is demonstrated that the Hausdorff dimensionD(h) of the set of singularities of Hölder exponenth can be directly determined from the wavelet transform modulus maxima. The singularity spectrum so obtained is shown to be not disturbed by the presence, in the signal, of a superimposed polynomial behavior of ordern, provided one uses an analyzing wavelet that possesses at leastN>n vanishing moments. However, it is shown that aC behavior generally induces a phase transition in theD(h) singularity spectrum that somewhat masks the weakest singularities. This phase transition actually depends on the numberN of vanishing moments of the analyzing wavelet; its observation is emphasized as a reliable experimental test for the existence of nonsingular behavior in the considered signal. These theoretical results are illustrated with numerical examples. They are likely to be valid for a large class of fractal functions as suggested by recent applications to fractional Brownian motions and turbulent velocity signals.     

Cellular automata approach to site percolation on ℤ2. A numerical study

We present a cellular automata model as a new approach to Bernoulli site percolation on the square lattice. A new macroscopic quantity is defined and numerically computed at each level step of the automata dynamics. Its limit manifests a critical behavior at a value of the site occupancy probability quite close to those obtained for site percolation on ² with the best-known numerical methods.     

RECENT PROGRESS OF NANO-MECHANICAL MAPPING

 Nano-mechanical mapping by atomic force microscopy has been developed as an useful application to measure mechanical properties of soft materials at nanometer scale. To date, the Hertzian theory was used for analyzing force-distance curves as the simplest model among several contact mechanics between elastic bodies. However, the preexisting methods based on this theory do not consider the adhesive interaction in principle, which cannot be neglected in the ambient condition. A new analytical method was introduced to estimate the elasticity and the adhesive energy simultaneously by means of the JKR theory, describing adhesive contact between elastic materials. Poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) and isobutylene-co-isoprene rubber (IIR) were analyzed to verify the applicable limit of the JKR analysis. For elastic samples such as PDMS, the force-deformation plots obtained experimentally were consistent with JKR theoretical curves. Meanwhile, for viscoelastic samples, especially for IIR, the experimental plots revealed large deviations from JKR curves depending on scanning velocity and maximum loading force. Some nano-rheological arguments were employed based on the difference between these specimens.     

THE COMPARISON OF LANZHOU LOESS PROFILE WITH VOSTOK ICE CORE IN ANTARCTICA OVER THE LAST GLACIATION CYCLE

Loess near Lanzhou in the late Pleistocene is very sensitive to climatic fluctuations. The Beiyuan terrace profile in Linxia City, of which the curve of susceptibility tallies with the trend of isotopic curves of Vostok 2083 m ice core in Antarctica, is 35m thick. There are five layers of paleosols under Malan loess(L_1). Upper three layers (S_(1-a),S(1-b)and S_(1-c) correspond to three warm stages in last interglaciation, Interstadial of Last Glacial (C stage in Antarctic ice core)was clearly recorded in the Beiyuan profile, in which three layers of paleosols and two of loess were formed. The lowest section of the profile belongs to penultimate glaciation, in which fossils of cold-drought-resistant mammal and mollusc have been discovered.     

Approximation of titration curves and other sigmoidal functions by proportionally spaced cubic B-splines

Proportionally spaced cubicB-splines are an appropriate function system for the approximation of titration curves and other sigmoidal functions. They give a smooth weighted leastsquares fit without instability problems. The degree of smoothing depends only on the number of spline function which can be chosen by the user. The equivalence points of titration curves can be estimated with high accuracy from the zeros of the second derivative.The method gives good approximation curves even in the case of empty data regions, i. e. there are no artefacts in subranges where no data points exist. The routine has been tested successfully with large series of simulated and experimental data.     

Differences in the electrorheological response of a particle suspension under direct current and alternating current electric fields

We have observed an unusual reduction of shear stress with increasing shear rate under direct current electric fields, for an electrorheological fluid composed of sulfonated poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) particles dispersed in silicone oil. At all shear rates, the shear stress under the electric field is larger than that in the absence of the field, indicating that there is still some field-induced agglomeration of the particles. In contrast, the behavior under alternating current electric fields is the Bingham-fluid-type response commonly observed with electrorheological fluids. It is suggested that the conventional dipole–dipole interaction approach based on simplified microstructural models would be unable to explain these phenomena. Received: 27 November 2000 Accepted: 22 May 2001     

Multiparticle fractal aggregation

Kinetic fractal aggregation in a particle bath where a fractionf of the sites are initially occupied is studied withd=2 computer simulations. Independent particles diffusing to a fixed cluster produce an aggregate with fractal dimensionD 1.7 up to a correlation length(f). At larger lengthsD2.(f) asf 0. When the particles remain fixed but the cluster undergoes a rigid random walkD appears constant at larger scales but varies withf. D 1.95 at largef andD 1.7 asf 0. In both cases, the aggregate sizeN(t) grows with timet ^(f) . Aggregation on a surface by independently diffusing particles produces shapes reminiscent of electrochemical dendritic growth. The dependence of growth rate and geometry is studied as a function of particle concentration and sticking probability.     

倒数示波计时电位滴定新技术

倒数交流示波极谱具有抑制充电电流、突出电解电流的优点,利用(dE/dt)~(-1)-E曲线上去极剂峰的突然消失或出现指示滴定终点的方法称作倒数示波计时电位滴定法.由运算放大器组装的模拟电子线路可以对(dE/dt)~(-1)-E曲线进行反馈、反对数及微分处理,从而获得各种类型的倒数示波计时电位曲线(图1),以进一步提高滴定的灵敏度。     

Thermodynamics of phenylated polyphenylene between 0 and 340 K

In an adiabatic vacuum calorimeter, the temperature dependence of the heat capacity C _p of phenylated polyphenylene and initial comonomer 1,4-bis(2,4,5-triphenylcyclopentadienone-3-yl)benzene was studied between 6 and 340 K with an uncertainty of about 0.2%. In a calorimeter with a static bomb and an isothermal shield their energies of combustion DUcomb were measured. From the experimental data, the thermodynamic functions C _p ⁰ (T), H ⁰(T)-H ⁰(0), S ⁰(T)-S⁰(0), G ⁰(T)-H ⁰(0) were calculated from 0 to 340 K, and standard enthalpies of combustion ΔH _comb ⁰ and thermodynamic parameters of formation-enthalpies ΔH _f ⁰, entropies ΔH _f ⁰, Gibbs functions ΔG _f ⁰ - of the substances studied were estimated at T=298.15 K at standard pressure. The results were used to calculate the thermodynamic characteristics (ΔH _f ⁰ ,ΔS _f ⁰, ΔG _f ⁰) of phenylated polyphenylene synthesis in the range from 0 to 340 K. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Determination of total heterogeneity and fractal dimensions of high-temperature superconductors

Using thermo-analytical and sorptometric methods physicochemical properties and especially surface heterogeneity of HgBa₂Ca₂Cu₃O₈₊, (Hg-1223) was investigated. The desorption energy distribution was derived from mass loss Q-TG and differential mass loss Q-DTG curves of thermodesorption in quasi-isothermal conditions of pre-adsorbed n-octane and water vapour. It is shown that the superconducting Hg-1223 phase is highly sensitive to water vapours. The mechanism of water adsorption depends largely on the activation time. By water vapour saturation in a period of 90 min, physisorption takes place. Prolonged periods result in a chemical decomposition. From nitrogen ad- and desorption isotherms the fractal dimension of superconductors were calculated. A new approach is proposed to calculate fractal dimension from Q-TG curves.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.