On Series of Ordinals and Combinatorics

This paper deals mainly with generalizations of results in finitary combinatorics to infinite ordinals. It is well-known that for finite ordinals ∑_bT<αβ is the number of 2-element subsets of an α-element set. It is shown here that for any well-ordered set of arbitrary infinite order type α, ∑_bT<αβ is the ordinal of the set M of 2-element subsets, where M is ordered in some natural way. The result is then extended to evaluating the ordinal of the set of all n-element subsets for each natural number n ≥ 2. Moreover, series ∑_β<αf(β) are investigated and evaluated, where α is a limit ordinal and the function f belongs to a certain class of functions containing polynomials with natural number coefficients. The tools developed for this result can be extended to cover all infinite α, but the case of finite α appears to be quite problematic.     

Barotropic Instability of the Bickley Jet at High Reynolds Numbers

We investigate the linear stability of the Bickley jet in the framework of the beta-plane approximation. Because singular inviscid neutral modes exist in the retrograde case     , it is necessary to add viscosity to interpret them. One of these modes was found in closed form by Howard and Drazin [1] . However, its critical point is at the center of the jet and it was therefore not possible for these authors to ascertain the relationship of this mode to the stability problem or to discuss how to continue the eigenfunction across the singularity.
The viscous critical layer problem associated with this singularity is considerably more difficult than the usual one (which leads to integrals of the Airy function) because     and, consequently, a second-order turning point is involved. Our analysis shows that the Howard–Drazin mode is degenerate in the domain where it is valid as a limit of the viscous problem (wavenumber  α²≤ 9/2  ), that is, it corresponds to both an odd and an even mode. This conclusion is confirmed by direct numerical solution of the Orr–Sommerfeld equation which shows, in addition, that viscosity is destabilizing along portions of the stability boundary. For a retrograde jet, instability is found to occur beyond the inviscid critical value of β, that is, in the region where the flow would be stable according to the Rayleigh–Kuo condition.     

Kolmogorov Width of Classes of Smooth Functions on the Sphere

Let ^d−1{(x₁,…,x_d) ^d:x²₁+···+x²_d=1} be the unit sphere of the d-dimensional Euclidean space ^d. For r>0, we denote by B^r_p (1p∞) the class of functions f on ^d−1 representable in the formwhere dσ(y) denotes the usual Lebesgue measure on ^d−1, and P^λ_k(t) is the ultraspherical polynomial.For 1p,q∞, the Kolmogorov N-width of B^r_p in L^q( ^d−1) is given bythe left-most infimum being taken over all N-dimensional subspaces X_N of L^q( ^d−1).The main result in this paper is that for r2(d−1)²,where A_NB_N means that there exists a positive constant C, independent of N, such that C⁻¹A_NB_NCA_N.This extends the well-known Kashin theorem on the asymptotic order of the Kolmogorov widths of the Sobolev class of the periodic functions.     

Equilibrium point damage prognosis models for structural health monitoring

Most structural dynamic systems are of high order; however, they often exhibit phenomena that can be dealt with effectively using low order models. This paper presents a method for describing certain kinds of damage evolution in mechanical systems. The method relies on a simple principle that as damage evolves in a structural dynamic system, the damage indicator (i.e., diagnostic feature) behaves like a stable quasi-stationary equilibrium point in a subsidiary non-linear bifurcating system within the so-called damage center manifold. It is shown that just as linear normal modes govern the behavior of linear structures with idealized damping, so too do non-linear normal forms govern the evolution of damage within structures in many instances. The method is justified with citations from the literature on certain types of mechanical failure and then applied in an experimental case involving reversible damage in a bolted fastener. Off-line experiments on a rotorcraft fuselage show that the evolution of damage is sensitive to both temporal and spatial bifurcation parameters. A diagnostic sensing strategy whereby output-only transmissibility features are used to decrease the order of high order structural dynamic measurements is also described.     

Generating Quadratic Pseudo-Anosov Homeomorphisms of Closed Surfaces

In this note, we show that given a closed, orientable genus-g surface S _g , any hyperbolic toral automorphism has a positive power which induces a quadratic, orientable pseudo-Anosov homeomorphism on S _g . To show this, we lift Anosov toral automorphisms through a ramified topological covering and present the lifted homeomorphism via a standard set of Lickorish twists. This construction provides a general method of producing pseudo-Anosov maps of closed surfaces with predetermined orientable foliations and quadratic dilatation. Since these lifted automorphisms have orientable foliations, this construction is a sort of converse to that of Franks and Rykken [Trans. Amer. Math. Soc. 1999], who established that one can associate to a quadratic pseudo-Anosov homeomorphism with oriented unstable foliation a hyperbolic toral automorphism.     

A versatile protocol for the preparation of substituted 1- and 2-naphthyl piperazines from aminonaphthols

Aminonaphthols are easily transformed into a variety of 1- and 2-naphthyl piperazines using a sequence of diazotization, iodide substitution and Pd(0) catalyzed coupling reactions.     

Synthesis of BEDT-TTF derivatives with carboxylic ester and amide functionalities

Synthetic routes to BEDT-TTF derivatives bearing side chain carboxylic ester and amide groups are reported. Methyl ET-ethanoate was prepared in five steps from vinylacetic acid; amide groups were installed early in the synthesis by mixed anhydride methods before the final coupling reaction.