Polyadic codes of prime power length

Polyadic codes constitute a special class of cyclic codes and are generalizations of quadratic residue codes, duadic codes, triadic codes, m-adic residue codes and split group codes, which have good error-correcting properties. In this paper, we give necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of polyadic codes of prime power length. Examples of some good codes arising from the family of polyadic codes of prime power length are also given.     

Solving large-scale semidefinite programs in parallel

We describe an approach to the parallel and distributed solution of large-scale, block structured semidefinite programs using the spectral bundle method. Various elements of this approach (such as data distribution, an implicitly restarted Lanczos method tailored to handle block diagonal structure, a mixed polyhedral-semidefinite subdifferential model, and other aspects related to parallelism) are combined in an implementation called LAMBDA, which delivers faster solution times than previously possible, and acceptable parallel scalability on sufficiently large problems. This work was supported in part by NSF grants DMS-0215373 and DMS-0238008.     

Robust locally testable codes and products of codes

We continue the investigation of locally testable codes, i.e., error‐correcting codes for which membership of a given word in the code can be tested probabilistically by examining it in very few locations. We give two general results on local testability: First, motivated by the recently proposed notion of robust probabilistically checkable proofs, we introduce the notion of robust local testability of codes. We relate this notion to a product of codes introduced by Tanner and show a very simple composition lemma for this notion. Next, we show that codes built by tensor products can be tested robustly and somewhat locally by applying a variant of a test and proof technique introduced by Raz and Safra in the context of testing low‐degree multivariate polynomials (which are a special case of tensor codes). Combining these two results gives us a generic construction of codes of inverse polynomial rate that are testable with poly‐logarithmically many queries. We note that these locally testable tensor codes can be obtained from any linear error correcting code with good distance. Previous results on local testability, albeit much stronger quantitatively, rely heavily on algebraic properties of the underlying codes. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 2006     

Laser induced air breakdown using 0.355, 0.532, and 1.06 µm radiation

Studies of breakdown threshold intensity for air at various pressures in the range of 24–760 torr using 0.355, 0.532 and 1.06 μm radiation are reported. We observep ^−0.8 scaling ofI _th at 1.06 μm and a weak scaling ofp ^−0.4 at 0.532 and 0.355 μm radiation. Strong dependence of breakdown spot size on laser power but weak dependence on air pressure is observed.     

Stereospecific approach to α,β-disubstituted nitroalkenes via coupling of α-bromonitroalkenes with boronic acids and terminal acetylenes

(Z)-α-Bromo-β-substituted nitroethylenes undergo facile Suzuki coupling with aryl, heteroaryl, and vinylboronic acids in the presence of Pd(PPh₃)₄ as catalyst to afford (E)-α,β-disubstituted nitroethylenes in high yield (up to 95%) and complete specificity. Similar coupling of α-bromonitroethylenes with terminal acetylenes (Sonogashira coupling) provides a novel route to (E)-nitroenynes. These Pd-catalyzed coupling methods offer a convenient and stereospecific entry into a diverse array of synthetically and biologically useful α,β-disubstituted nitroethylenes.     

Dielectric studies of binary mixtures of n -propyl alcohol and ethylenediamine

Dielectric constant (ε’) and dielectric loss (ε") of n-propyl alcohol (PA), ethylenediamine (EDA) and their binary mixtures, for different mole fractions of ethylenediamine have been experimentally measured at 11.15 GHz microwave frequency. Values of density (ρ), viscosity (η) and square refractive index (n _D ² ) of binary mixtures as well as those of pure liquids are reported. Excess square refractive index, viscosity and activation energy of viscous flow have also been estimated. These parameters have been used to explain the formation of complexes in the system.     

Pressure induced phase transitions in hydroquinone

High pressure behavior of alpha-hydroquinone (1,4-dihydroxybenzene) has been studied using Raman spectroscopy up to pressures of 19 GPa. Evolution of Raman spectra suggests two transitions around 3.3 and 12.0 GPa. The first transition appears to be associated with the lowering of crystal symmetry. Above 12.0 GPa, Raman bands in the internal modes region exhibit continuous broadening suggesting that the system is progressively evolving into a disordered state. This disorder is understood as arising due to distortion of the hydrogen-bonded cage across the second transition around 12 GPa.     

Thermal decomposition study on nickel(ii) complexes of 1,2-(diimino-4’-antipyrinyl)ethane with varying counter ions

The phenomenological, kinetic and mechanistic aspects of the nitrate, chloride, bromide and iodide complexes of nickel(II) with1,2-(diimino-4’-antipyrinyl)ethane (GA) have been studied by TG and DTG techniques. The kinetic parameters like activation energy, pre-exponential factor and entropy of activation were computed. The rate controlling process in all stages of decomposition is random nucleation with one nucleus on each particle (Mampel model).     

Novel solid-phase extraction and preconcentration technique coupled with ICP-AES for the determination of Cr(III), Ni(II), and Zn(II) in various water samples

Newly synthesized 2-propylpiperidine-1-carbodithioate (2-PPC) was used for the extraction of Cr(III), Ni(II), and Zn(II) from various water samples. In the present investigation, the use of a syringe loaded with sorbent for the separation and enrichment of Cr(III), Ni(II), and Zn(II) prior to their determination by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) was proposed to substitute the batch and column techniques. The described method was compared with the column technique with respect to fastness, simplicity, recovery, and risk of contamination. The syringe was loaded with 1.0 g of sorbent in order to retain the analyte elements. Next, 7.0 mL of sample solution (pH 5.0 ± 0.2) was drawn into the syringe in 15 s and discharged over 15 s. Then, an eluent (3.0 M HCl) was drawn into the syringe and ejected back to desorb the analyte elements. At the optimum conditions, the percentage recoveries of Cr(III), Ni(II), and Zn(II) were in the range of 94.50 to 99.62% with a standard deviation (S.D.) of 0.03%. The elements could be concentrated by drawing and discharging several portions of sample successively and eluting only one time. The detailed study of various interferences proved the method to be highly selective. The risk of contamination is less than that with the column technique. The method was successfully applied to the determination of Cr(III), Ni(II), and Zn(II) in spiked and natural water samples. The results obtained are in good agreement with those obtained by the reported methods at the 95% confidence level. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Mechanism of ruthenium tetroxide-catalysed oxidation of aldoses by alkalineN-bromoacetamide

The kinetics of oxidation of three aldoses (glucose, mannose and galactose) byN-bromoacetamide (NBA) in the presence of an alkaline solution of RuO₄ as catalyst and Hg(OAc)₂ as co-catalyst and as a scavenger for bromide have been investigated. The main products of the oxidation are the corresponding aldonic acids. The reaction is zero order with respect to aldose and OH⁻. First order dependence of the reaction on both NBA and RuO₄ at low concentrations shifts to zero order at higher concentrations. Addition of acetamide decreases the reaction rate, while addition of Hg(OAc)₂ has the opposite effect. No significant effect of ionic strength was observed. OBr⁻ is postulated as the reactive oxidising species and a mechanism involving co-catalysis by RuO₄ and Hg^II is proposed. TMC 2588