High-temperature expansions to fifteenth order

High-temperature series expansions of the susceptibility and second moment to 15th order are calculated for zero external field on the linear chain (LC), plane square (PSQ), simple cubic (SC), and body-centered cubic (BCC) lattices. Checks for specific models against pertinent work in the literature are detailed.     

Isolation and On‐Line LC/CD Analysis of 3,8″‐Linked Biflavonoids from Gnidia involucrata

Investigation of the methanol extract of the roots of Gnidia involucrata (Thymelaeaceae) led to the isolation and characterization of two new 3,8″‐biflavonoid diastereoisomers, named GB‐4 ( 6a ) and GB‐4a ( 6b ). Their absolute configurations were determined in mixture by on‐line LC/CD measurements, which also allowed the revision of absolute configurations of the biflavanoids GB‐1 and GB‐2, and the configurational assignment of GB‐3.     

Fractional Brownian Heavy Traffic Approximations of Multiclass Feedforward Queueing Networks

We consider multiclass feedforward queueing networks under first in first out and priority service disciplines driven by long-range dependent arrival and service time processes. We show that in critical loading the normalized workload, queue length and sojourn time processes can converge to a multi-dimensional reflected fractional Brownian motion. This weak heavy traffic approximation is deduced from a deterministic pathwise approximation of the network behavior close to constant critical load in terms of the solution of a Skorokhod problem. Since we model the doubly infinite time interval, our results directly cover the stationary case.AMS subject classification: primary 90B15, secondary 60K25, 68M20     

Structural reliability and stochastic structural optimization

Mathematical Methods of Operations Research -     

Volumetric path following algorithms for linear programming

We consider the construction of small step path following algorithms using volumetric, and mixed volumetric-logarithmic, barriers. We establish quadratic convergence of a volumetric centering measure using pure Newton steps, enabling us to use relatively standard proof techniques for several subsequently needed results. Using a mixed volumetric-logarithmic barrier we obtain an O(n ^1/4 m ^1/4 L) iteration algorithm for linear programs withn variables andm inequality constraints, providing an alternative derivation for results first obtained by Vaidya and Atkinson. In addition, we show that the same iteration complexity can be attained while holding the work per iteration to O(n ² m), as opposed to O(nm ²), operations, by avoiding use of the true Hessian of the volumetric barrier. Our analysis also provides a simplified proof of self-concordancy of the volumetric and mixed volumetric-logarithmic barriers, originally due to Nesterov and Nemirovskii. This paper was first presented at the 1994 Faculty Research Seminar “Optimization in Theory and Practice”, at the University of Iowa Center for Advanced Studies.     

The Interaction of Shocks with Dispersive Waves II. Incompressible-Integrable Limit

This is the second in a two-part series of articles in which we analyze a system similar in structure to the well-known Zakharov equations from weak plasma turbulence theory, but with a nonlinear conservation equation allowing finite time shock formation. In this article we analyze the incompressible limit in which the shock speed is large compared to the underlying group velocity of the dispersive wave (a situation typically encountered in applications). After presenting some exact solutions of the full system, a multiscale perturbation method is used to resolve several basic wave interactions. The analysis breaks down into two categories: the nonlinear limit and the linear limit, corresponding to the form of the equations when the group velocity to shock speed ratio, denoted by ε, is zero. The former case is an integrable limit in which the model reduces to the cubic nonlinear Schrödinger equation governing the dispersive wave envelope. We focus on the interaction of a “fast” shock wave and a single hump soliton. In the latter case, the ε=0 problem reduces to the linear Schrödinger equation, and the focus is on a fast shock interacting with a dispersive wave whose amplitude is cusped and exponentially decaying. To motivate the time scales and structure of the shock-dispersive wave interactions at lowest orders, we first analyze a simpler system of ordinary differential equations structurally similar to the original system. Then we return to the fully coupled partial differential equations and develop a multiscale asymptotic method to derive the effective leading-order shock equations and the leading-order modulation equations governing the phase and amplitude of the dispersive wave envelope. The leading-order interaction equations admit a fairly complete analysis based on characteristic methods. Conditions are derived in which: (a) the shock passes through the soliton, (b) the shock is completely blocked by the soliton, or (c) the shock reverses direction. In the linear limit, a phenomenon is described in which the dispersive wave induces the formation of a second, transient shock front in the rapidly moving hyperbolic wave. In all cases, we can characterize the long-time dynamics of the shock. The influence of the shock on the dispersive wave is manifested, to leading order, in the generalized frequency of the dispersive wave: the fast-time part of the frequency is the shock wave itself. Hence, the frequency undergoes a sudden jump across the shock layer.In the last section, a sequence of numerical experiments depicting some of the interesting interactions predicted by the analysis is performed on the leading-order shock equations.     

Echo planar imaging of perfluorocarbons

Emulsions of perfluorotributylamine (FTBA) and perflubron were evaluated for their utility in ¹⁹F echo planar imaging. Fluorine images of the emulsions were obtained in a phantom and two mice that had been predosed. Both agents, but particularly perflubron, show potential for fluorine echo planar studies because of the long spin-spin relaxation times of the CF₃ resonances. High resolution thin slice images obtained in as little as 26.6 ms are presented.     

Book Reviews

Unsigned book reviews are by the Book Review Editor.     

Anionic polymerization of star-shaped nylon 6 with a trifunctional initiator

The anionic polymerization of ?-caprolactam (CLM) has been shown to proceed at high reaction rate when catalyzed by metallic lactamates and initiated by acyllactams. The role of initiator and catalyst concentration on the process of ?-caprolactam anionic polymerization has been explored, with the aim of selecting the most suitable experimental conditions for reaction injection molding (RIM). The overall polymerization rates and physical properties for reaction injection molding of star-shaped nylon 6 homopolymer have been studied by the quasi-adiabatic process. In order to model the actual rapid molding conditions, time vs. temperature reaction profiles were measured, and the relative rates of polymerization subsequently determined from these data.