Bounds on Codes Derived by Counting Components in Varshamov Graphs

We are interested in improving the Varshamov bound for finite values of length n and minimum distance d. We employ a counting lemma to this end which we find particularly useful in relation to Varshamov graphs. Since a Varshamov graph consists of components corresponding to low weight vectors in the cosets of a code it is a useful tool when trying to improve the estimates involved in the Varshamov bound. We consider how the graph can be iteratively constructed and using our observations are able to achieve a reduction in the over-counting which occurs. This tightens the lower bound for any choice of parameters n, k, d or q and is not dependent on information such as the weight distribution of a code. This work is taken from the author’s thesis [10]     

Local nondeterminism and local times for stable processes

Summary Our main theorem gives sufficient conditions for symmetric stable processes and fields to have a jointly continuous local time. The approach is through the L ^p representation for such processes. We develop a measure of dependence for vectors in a normed linear space and use that to analyze the probabilistic independence of the increments of a stable process. Local nondeterminism is defined for stable processes and shown to be equivalent to locally approximately independent increments. Sufficient conditions for several classes of stable processes to be local nondeterministic are given. These ideas are extended to multidimensional stable random fields and we prove existence of jointly continuous local times. The results extend most Gaussian results to their stable analogs.     

Analytical TEM examinations of CoPt-TiO2 perpendicular magnetic recording media.

For this analytical TEM study, nonmagnetic oxygen-rich boundaries were introduced into Co-Pt-alloy perpendicular recording media by cosputtering Co and Pt with TiO2. Increasing the TiO2 content resulted in changes to the microstructure and elemental distribution within grains and boundaries in these films. EFTEM imaging was used to generate composition maps spanning many tens of grains, thereby giving an overall depiction of the changes in elemental distribution occurring with increasing TiO2 content. Comparing EFTEM with spectrum-imaging maps created by high-resolution STEM with EDXS and EELS enabled both corroboration of EFTEM results and quantification of the chemical composition within individual grain boundary areas. The difficulty of interpreting data from EDXS for these extremely thin films is discussed. Increasing the TiO2 content of the media was found to create more uniformly wide Ti- and O-rich grain boundaries as well as Ti- and O-rich regions within grains.     

Relative Lewis basicities of six AI(ORF)4- superweak anions and the structures of LiA

The relative Lewis basicities of six Al(ORF)4- ions, Al[OC(CH3)(CF3)2]4-, Al(OC(CF3)3]4-, Al(OCPh(CF3)2]4-, Al[OC[4-C6H4(tBu)](CF3)2]4-, Al(OC(Cy)(CF3)2]4-, and Al(OCPh2(CF3)]4-, have been determined by measuring their relative coordinating abilities towards Li+ in dichloromethane. The relative Li- Lewis basicities of the Al(ORF)4- ions are linearly related to the aqueous pKa values of the corresponding parent HORF fluoroalcohols. The Lewis basicity of Al[OCH(CF3)2]4- could not be measured because two of these anions can coordinate to one Li+ cation. The structures of LiAl[OCH(CF3)2]4 and [1-Et-3-Me-1,3-C3H3N2][Li[Al[OCH(CF3)2)4]2] were determined.     

Surface activity of thymol: implications for an eventual pharmacological activity

In the present work, we studied the ability of thymol to affect the organization of model membranes and the activity of an intrinsic membrane protein, the GABA(A) receptor (GABA(A)-R). In this last aspect, we tried to elucidate if the action mechanism of this terpene at the molecular level, involves its binding to the receptor protein, changes in the organization of the receptor molecular environment, or both. The self-aggregation of thymol in water with a critical micellar concentration approximately = 4 microM and its ability to penetrate in monomolecular layers of soybean phosphatidylcholine (sPC) at the air-water interface, even at surface pressures above the equilibrium, lateral pressure of natural bilayers were demonstrated. Thymol affected the self-aggregation of Triton X-100 and the topology of sPC vesicles. It also increased the polarity of the membrane environment sensed by the electrochromic dye merocyanine. A dipolar moment of 1.341 Debye was calculated from its energy-minimized structure. Its effect on the binding of [3H]-flunitrazepam ([3H]-FNZ) to chick brain synaptosomal membranes changed qualitatively from a tendency to the inhibition to a clear activatory regime, up on changing the phase state of the terpene (from a monomeric to a self-aggregated state). Above its CMC, thymol increased the affinity of the binding of [3H]-FNZ (K(d-control)= 2.9, K(d-thymol)= 1.7 nM) without changing the receptor density (B(max-control)= 910, B(max-thymol)= 895 fmol/mg protein). The activatory effect of thymol on the binding of [ [3H]-FNZ was observed even in the presence of the allosteric activator gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) at a concentration of maximal activity, and was blocked by the GABA antagonist bicuculline. Changes in the dipolar arrangement and in the molecular packing of GABA(A)-R environment are discussed as possible mediators of the action mechanism of thymol.     

Measurement of labile Cu in soil using stable isotope dilution and isotope ratio analysis by ICP-MS

Isotope dilution is a useful technique to measure the labile metal pool, which is the amount of metal in soil in rapid equilibrium (<7 days) with the soil solution. This is normally performed by equilibrating soil with a metal isotope, and sampling the labile metal pool by using an extraction (E value), or by growing plants (L value). For Cu, this procedure is problematic for E values, and impossible for L values, due to the short half-life of the ⁶⁴Cu radioisotope (12.4 h), which makes access and handling very difficult. We therefore developed a technique using enriched ⁶⁵Cu stable isotope and measurement of ⁶³Cu/⁶⁵Cu ratios by quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to measure labile pools of Cu in soils using E value techniques. Mass spectral interferences in detection of ⁶³Cu/⁶⁵Cu ratios in soil extracts were found to be minimal. Isotope ratios determined by quadrupole ICP-MS compared well to those determined by high-resolution (magnetic sector) ICP-MS. E values determined using the stable isotope technique compared well to those determined using the radioisotope for both uncontaminated and Cu-contaminated soils.