Congruence criteria for finite subsets of complex projective and complex hyperbolic spaces

We investigate congruence classes and direct congruence classes of m-tuples in the complex projective space ℂP ⁿ . For direct congruence one allows only isometries which are induced by linear (instead of semilinear) mappings. We establish a canonical bijection between the set of direct congruence classes of m-tuples of points in ℂP ⁿ and the set of equivalence classes of positive semidefinite Hermitean m×m-matrices of rank at most n+1 with 1's on the diagonal. As a corollary we get that the direct congruence class of an m-tuple is uniquely determined by the direct congruence classes of all of its triangles, provided that no pair of points of the m-tuple has distance π/2. Examples show that the situation changes drastically if one replaces direct congruence classes by congruence classes or if distances π/2 are allowed. Finally we do the same kind of investigation also for the complex hyperbolic space ℂH ⁿ . Most of the results are completely analogous, however, there are also some interesting differences. Received: 15 January 1996     

Stability testing in an integrated scheme

ISO Guide 35 deals with RM stability issues and scrutinizes the evaluation of stability testing results under the assumption that either there is no trend at all (a rather rare situation), or any observed deterministic change is insignificant and thus can be neglected. However, market demands for reliable reference materials are obviously not limited to stable or at least seemingly stable materials. In many analytical applications, analytes and measurands under consideration are known, or at least suspected, to be unstable on time scales that may vary widely from measurand to measurand. The Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) has developed (and successfully uses) an integrated approach in its certification practice. The approach is based on an initial stability study and subsequent post-certification monitoring. Data evaluation is model-based and takes advantage of all information collected in the stability testing scheme(s). It thus allows one to deal with any kind of instability observed, to assess limiting time intervals at any stress condition in the range tested, to estimate a final expiry date for materials with detected instabilities or the maximum admissible re-testing interval for seemingly stable materials, and to assess maximum admissible stress loads during delivery of the material to the customer. The article describes (and exemplifies) typical study layout, the model selection, and the integrated data assessment.     

Characterization of low molecular weight hydrocarbon oligomers by laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry using a solvent-free sample preparation method.

A new solvent-free sample preparation method using silver trifluoroacetate (AgTFA) was developed for the analysis of low molecular weight paraffins and microcrystalline waxes by laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LDI-TOFMS). Experiments show that spectral quality can be enhanced by dispersing AgTFA directly in liquid paraffins without the use of additional solvents. This preparation mixture is applied directly to the MALDI probe. Solid waxes could be examined by melting prior to analysis. The method also provides sufficiently reproducible spectra that peak area ratios between mono- and bicyclic alkane peaks indicated variations in the cycloalkane content of paraffin samples. Dehydrogenation of hydrocarbons observed during the desorption/ionization process was studied by analysis of alkane standards.     

Conformal fields,restriction properties,degenerate representations and SLEChamps conformes,propriété de restriction,représentations dégénérées et SLE

We relate the Schramm–Loewner Evolution processes (SLE) to highest-weight representations of the Virasoro Algebra. The restriction properties of SLE that have been recently derived in [19] play a crucial role. In this setup, various considerations from conformal field theory can be interpreted and reformulated via SLE. This enables one to make a concrete link between the two-dimensional discrete critical systems from statistical physics and conformal field theory. To cite this article: R. Friedrich, W. Werner, C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 335 (2002) 947–952.     

Implementation of an integrated glucose POCT system

In response to a change of the Belgian National Directives whereby hospital laboratories became responsible for all point-of-care testing (POCT) performed within hospital walls a standardized and automated POC glucose-testing system was implemented in our hospital. The system consists of 50 AccuCheck Inform instruments (Roche Diagnostics, Vilvoorde, Belgium), 50 docking stations, a DataCare Server, and connections to the medical laboratory information system (MOLIS, Sysmex, Barchon, Belgium) and to the hospital information system. Implementation involved many parties and extensive preparation and communication. Key issues were bar-coded patient and user identification, training, and responsibilities. One year after the hospital wide implementation of this system the quality of POC glucose testing has significantly increased, thereby improving patient safety. This study describes a stepwise change over involving the medical laboratory and with a focus on hands-on quality.Presented at the ninth conference on Quality in the Spotlight, 18–19 March 2004, Antwerp, Belgium.