BF3-doped polyaniline: A novel conducting polymer

We review the unusual structural, transport and magnetic properties of highly conducting polyaniline, doped with boron trifluoride. Our studies establish the unique conducting state of this system, which is in distinct contrast with the conventional proton-doped polyaniline samples.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Comment on</Emphasis>¶Low temperature specific heat of blue bronze K <Emphasis Type="Bold">0.30</Emphasis>MoO <Emphasis Type="Bold">3</Emphasis>, by J. Odin,J.C. Lasjaunias,K. Biljaković, K. Hasselbach,and P. Monceau

Eur. Phys. J. B 24, 315 (2001) Here we comment on a recently published paper on the presence of a phason contribution in the low temperature heat capacity data of the charge-density-wave compounds K_0.3MoO₃ and (TaSe₄)₂I. We have shown that the anomaly in the C _P / T ³ data reported by Odin et al. is straightforwardly interpreted in terms of low energy phonon modes resulting from the peculiar topology of these compounds. Received 21 February 2002 Published online 19 July 2002     

A Relaxation Scheme for Solving the Boltzmann Equation Based on the Chapman-Enskog Expansion

Abstract In [16] a visco-elastic relaxation system, called the relaxed Burnett system, was proposed by Jinand Slemrod as a moment approximation to the Boltzmann equation. The relaxed Burnett system is weaklyparabolic, has a linearly hyperbolic convection part, and is endowed with a generalized eotropy inequality. Itagrees with the solution of the Boltzmann equation up to the Burnett order via the Chapman-Enskog expansion. We develop a one-dimensional non-oscillatory numerical scheme based on the relaxed Burnett system forthe Boltzmann equation. We compare numerical results for stationary shocks based on this relaxation scheme,and those obtained by the DSMC (Direct Simulation Monte Carlo), by the Navier-Stokes equations and bythe extended thermodynamics with thirteen moments (the Grad equations). Our numerical experiments showthat the relaxed Burnett gives more accurate approximations to the shock profiles of the Boltzmann equationobtained by the DSMC, for a range of Mach numbers for hypersonic flows, th     

Allocating unfunded liability in pension valuation under uncertainty

This paper studied the cost allocation for the unfunded liability in a defined benefit pension scheme incorporating the stochastic phenomenon of its returns. In the recent literature represented by Cairns and Parker [Insurance: Mathematics and Economics 21 (1997) 43], Haberman [Insurance: Mathematics and Economics 11 (1992) 179; Insurance: Mathematics and Economics 13 (1993) 45; Insurance: Mathematics and Economics 14 (1994) 219; Insurance: Mathematics and Economics 14 (1997) 127], Owadally and Haberman [North American Actuarial Journal 3 (1999) 105], the fund level is modeled based on the plan dynamics and the returns are generated through several stochastic processes to reflect the current realistic economic perspective to see how the contribution changed as the cost allocation period increased. In this study, we generalize the previous constant value assumption in cost amortization by modeling the returns and valuation rates simultaneously. Taylor series expansion is employed to approximate the unconditional and conditional moments of the plan contribution and fund level. Hence the stability of the plan contribution and the fund size under different allocation periods could be estimated, which provide valuable information adding to the previous works.     

Viscometric properties of dilute polystyrene/dioctyl phthalate solutions

We report viscometric data collected in a Couette rheometry on dilute, single‐solvent polystyrene (PS)/dioctyl phthalate (DOP) solutions over a variety of polymer molecular weights (5.5 × 10⁵ ≤ M_w ≤ 3.0 × 10⁶ Da) and system temperatures (288 K ≤ T ≤ 318 K). In view of the essential viscometric features, the current data may be classified into three categories: The first concerns all the investigated solutions at low shear rates, where the solution properties are found to agree excellently with the Zimm model predictions. The second includes all sample solutions, except for high‐molecular‐weight PS samples (M_w ≥ 2.0 × 10⁶ Da), where excellent time–temperature superposition is observed for the steady‐state polymer viscosity at constant polymer molecular weights. No similar superposition applies at a constant temperature but varied polymer molecular weights, however. The third appears to be characteristic of dilute high‐molecular‐weight polymer solutions, for which the effects of temperature on the viscosity curve are further complicated at high shear rates. The implications concerning the relative importance of hydrodynamic interactions, segmental interactions, and chain extensibility with increasing polymer molecular weight, system temperature, and shear rate are discussed. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 787–794, 2006     

有Edgeworth展式的分布的随机加权逼近的重对数律

本文研究了未知分布的逼近问题，利用随机加权法，给出了有Edgeworth展式的一类（未知）分布的模拟分布，证明了在一定条件下，模拟分布与未知分布的逼近精度达到O(n^-1√lnlnn），称之为随机加权逼近的重对数律。     

Elastic and Thermophysical Properties of Poly(Vinyl Chloride) and Chlorinated Polyethylene Blends

The results of experimental and theoretical investigations of elastic and thermophysical properties of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) and chlorinated polyethylene (CPE) blends are presented. Eight types of specimens with different ratios of weight contents of PVC and CPE (PVC/CPE = 100/0, 90/10, 80/20, 60/40, 40/60, 20/80, 10/90, and 0/100) were tested. The effect of blend composition on the elastic constants (tensile and shear modulus) is discussed. The data on the thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, and heat capacity of the blends investigated are also presented.     

An expansion in the exponent for compound binomial approximations

The purpose of this paper is two-fold. First, we introduce a new asymptotic expansion in the exponent for the compound binomial approximation of the generalized Poisson binomial distribution. The dependence of its accuracy on the symmetry and shifting of distributions is investigated. Second, for compound binomial and compound Poisson distributions, we present new smoothness estimates, some of which contain explicit constants. Finally, the ideas used in this paper enable us to prove new precise bounds in the compound Poisson approximation. Published in Lietuvos Matematikos Rinkinys, Vol. 46, No. 1, pp. 67–110, January–March, 2006.     

Assessment of thermal expansion coefficient of methylsilsesquioxane thin film

For the methylsilsesquioxane film whose optical birefringence is almost zero, it was recently reported that its vertical thermal expansion coefficient (CTE) was approximately one order of magnitude larger than the lateral CTE. Though the birefringence is not an absolute predictor of anisotropic behavior, the discrepancy in both the CTEs was so remarkable that it was essential to investigate whether the anisotropy was intrinsic property or not. If the effect of Poisson's ratio is considered in the calculation of the vertical CTE and when elastic modulus measured by surface acoustic wave spectroscopy is used in the assessment of the lateral CTE, both the CTEs are coincident with each other. Therefore, it can be concluded that the discrepancy in the CTEs can be attributed to a higher in‐plane polymer chain orientation but it can also arise from the misleadingly assumed modulus and Poisson's ratio. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 3109–3120, 2006     

四阶半线性椭圆型积分微分方程的奇摄动

本文研究了一个四阶椭圆型积分微分方程的奇摄动问题。证明了相应的比较定理并得到了解的一致有效的渐近展开式。