Calculating Fractional-Parentage Coefficients for Six Body System in Translational Invariant Basis

In this paper we present an independent scheme for constructing fractional parentage coefficients using symmetry group apparatus in translationally invariantmodel space, suitable for the six-particle system composed of three-particle bi-clusters, where the presented subsystems have their own intrinsic clusterization. Simple expressions for corresponding antisymmetrization procedure are presented as well as computational results.

     

On the rate of convergence in the global central limit theorem for random sums of uniformly strong mixing random variables

Lithuanian Mathematical Journal - We present upper bounds of the integral $$ {\int}_{-\infty}^{\infty }{\left|x\right|}^l\left|\mathrm{P}\left\{{Z}_N0\left({S}_N{X}_1+\dots +{X}_N\right) $$ of...     

Evaluation of diffraction errors in precise pulse-echo measurements of ultrasound velocity in chambers with waveguide

Ultrasound velocity measurements in medicine and biology usually are performed using relatively small measurement chambers. When the pulse-echo method is used, the presence of the reflector close to the transducer can cause essential diffraction errors. These errors may be reduced using an additional buffer rod as a waveguide between the transducer and the measurement chamber. The objective of the presented work was analysis of diffraction errors in measurement chambers with a buffer rod. The work was performed in two steps. In the first stage propagation of transient ultrasonic waves in a buffer rod was analysed using an axisymmetric finite element model. This approach enables all dimensions of the measurement chamber and the waveguide to be taken into account, but is less accurate in the time domain. In the second step the absolute values of diffraction errors were evaluated using a mixed analytic-numeric disk shaped transducer diffraction model. In this case only the dimensions of the waveguide and measurement chamber along the wave propagation direction were taken into account. Diffraction errors were calculated by simulating small changes of ultrasound velocity in the liquid under investigation. The simulation performed allowed optimisation of the dimensions of the measurement chamber and a buffer rod thus minimising measurement errors.     

Ultrasonic fields radiated through matching layers with nonparallel boundaries

In the case of ultrasonic measurements in aggressive media piezoelectric elements of ultrasonic transducers are separated from a medium by thick protective layers, which may posses nonparallel front and back surfaces. This enables to reduce significantly the amplitude of multiple reflections, but the structure of the ultrasonic field radiated through a layer with nonparallel boundaries becomes complicated. The main objective of this paper is to present a method suitable for simulation of ultrasonic fields radiated through a layer with nonparallel boundaries in a transient mode. The proposed simulation method is based on the transformation of a multilayered medium into a virtual one without internal boundaries, equivalent to the actual medium from the point of a view of the relative times of arrival of direct and edge waves. The simulated ultrasonic fields in water are compared with the measurement results and a good correspondence between calculated and measured fields is obtained.     

L 1 bounds for asymptotic normality of random sums of independent random variables

We present upper bounds of L ₁ norms in the central limit theorem for random sums of independent random variables X ₁ , X ₂ , . . . , where the number of summands N is a nonnegative integer-valued random variable, independent of the summands X ₁ , X ₂ , . . . .     

Sports drug testing--an analyst's perspective

Sport plays a major role in the lives of many people, both for active participation and as entertainment. Sport is now a huge nationally and internationally based industry. The desire to win has led some athletes to resort to the use of performance enhancing drugs. With huge financial rewards now available in some sports the pressure to excel has grown. Some have argued that drug use should be given free rein, however most people are of the view that it is athletic prowess that should be applauded not the efficacy of various performance enhancing drugs. Apart from the obvious aspects of equality and fair play, the use of drugs is associated with significant health risks. In the 1960's the use of stimulants in sports such as cycling led to the death of at least one cyclist. Since 1968 the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has required all Olympic Games' host cities to provide laboratory facilities for the analysis and detection of performance enhancing drugs. There are now 29 IOC accredited laboratories throughout the world that routinely test samples from athletes for the presence of such drugs. The purpose of this tutorial review is to give an overview of drug testing procedures, including those that were used at the last summer Olympic Games in Sydney 2000, and the incorporation of the latest developments in analytical chemistry technology in the drug testing process. More recently, developments in biotechnology mean that the use of whole new classes of drugs are banned in sport, often requiring new methodologies and techniques for their analysis. The contest between those who wish to cheat and those who wish to maintain fair play in sport is an ongoing one.     

Air-coupled ultrasonic investigation of multi-layered composite materials

Air-coupled ultrasonics is fine alternative for the immersion testing technique. Usually a through transmission and a pitch-catch arrangement of ultrasonic transducers are used. The pitch-catch arrangement is very attractive for non-destructive testing and evaluation of materials, because it allows one-side access to the object. However, this technique has several disadvantages. It is sensitive to specularly reflected and edge waves. A spatial resolution depends on a distance between the transducers. A new method for detection and visualisation of inhomogeneities in composite materials using one-side access air-coupled ultrasonic measurement technique is described. Numerical predictions of Lamb wave interaction with a defect in a composite material are carried out and the interaction mechanism is explained. Experimental measurements are carried out with different arrangements of the transducers. The proposed method enables detect delamination and impact type defects in honeycomb materials.     

Methodologies for detection of hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers

Blood substitutes based on hemoglobin or hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers (HBOCs) are oxygen-carrying therapeutic agents developed for use in operations and emergencies in place of donated blood. Increased oxygen-carrying capacity through the use of blood substitutes could help elite athletes to lengthen endurance capacity and improve their performance. As blood substitutes become more readily available, it is essential that a qualitative detection method for their abuse in sport is available. Ideally, such a method would be simple and inexpensive. This study investigates methods that could be used as screening procedures to easily detect HBOCs in plasma and develops tests that can unequivocally confirm their presence. The investigation into the screening method indicates that the direct visual screening of plasma discoloration is the most appropriate with detection limits of less than 1% HBOC in plasma. Two methods are shown to confirm the presence of exogenous hemoglobin in plasma samples, size-exclusion chromatography with photodiode array detection and high-performance liquid chromatography analysis of enzymatic digests with detection by electrospray mass spectrometry. This work emphasizes the need for cooperation between drug developers and sports testing laboratories to ensure that methods for the detection of putative doping agents are available prior to product release.     

Determination of spatial position of multiple targets by ultrasonic binaural method

The binaural technique used in ultrasonic sonars has a higher performance speed in comparison with a mechanically scanned ultrasonic beam, however, in presence of multiple targets meets a very serious ambiguity problem. In this case the number of targets detected exceeds the actual number of targets, e.g., there are additional non-existing targets found. Objective of this research was development of a simulation tool enabling to model multi-channel sonar in the environment with multiple targets of arbitrary geometry and development of robust signal processing procedures, suitable for detection of multiple targets from the data collected using the binaural method. The developed software enables to simulate operation of multi-channel sonar in an environment with multiple reflectors and predict a time history of the reflected signals. The novel algorithm for separation of real targets from the virtual ones in presence of multiple targets has been developed. Performance of the proposed algorithm was investigated both in the simulated and a real environment. The results obtained indicate a significant improvement of the sonar performance.