Parallel processing of remotely sensed data: Application to the ATSR-2 instrument

Massively parallel computational paradigms can mitigate many issues associated with the analysis of large and complex remotely sensed data sets. Recently, the Beowulf cluster has emerged as the most attractive, massively parallel architecture due to its low cost and high performance. Whereas most Beowulf designs have emphasized numerical modeling applications, the Parallel Image Processing Environment (PIPE) specifically addresses the unique requirements of remote sensing applications. Automated, parallelization of user-defined analyses is fully supported. A neural network application, applied to Along Track Scanning Radiometer-2 (ATSR-2) data shows the advantages and performance characteristics of PIPE.     

Characterization of Kovar-to-Kovar laser welded joints and its mechanical strength

For the packaging of a pump laser in butterfly package, the most crucial assembly step is the fiber-to-laser diode coupling and attachment. The use of laser welding as the joining method offers several advantages if compared with the adhesive joints: strong joining strength, short process time and less contamination. This paper reports on laser welding process characteristics; weld strength and its fracture mode. The penetration depth and melt area of laser spot welds were found to be complicated functions of laser pulse energy, intensity, and beam diameter. Effects of pulse width, input power and size of the focal spot on the rate of energy input to the workpieces and consequently, the weld strength were reported. The weld strength was found to be dependent on the overlapping area between the two joining materials. Surface roughness, R_a, has influence on the fraction of energy absorbed, A, and therefore, affecting the penetration depth. Thermal analysis was carried out on the laser-welded joints and its heat-affected zone (HAZ) induced by various power densities was examined. These data are important in order to optimize and utilize the laser welding process as an effective manufacturing tool for fabrication of reliable pump laser.     

Parallel synthesis of natural product-like polyhydroxylated pyrrolidine and piperidine alkaloids

The preparation of natural product-like polyhydroxylated pyrrolidine and piperidine alkaloids using a combination of solid– and solution-phase organic synthesis is described. The key intermediates, enantiopure five- or six-membered tri-O-benzyl cyclic nitrones, were efficiently prepared on solid support from accessible chiral furanosides and pyranosides, respectively. The substituent diversity was achieved by a diastereoselective addition of a variety of Grignard reagents to the cyclic nitrones in solution-phase synthesis. All reaction steps and work-up procedures were modified to allow the use of automated equipment. A 36-membered demonstration library with three diversity elements (core, configuration, and substituent) was prepared in good yield and purity.     

Point-splitting regularization for gauge theories: Quantum electrodynamics

As a method of regularization, point splitting has played an essential role in the recent theoretical determination of the masses of the Higgs boson and the top quark. It is the purpose of this paper to put this pointsplitting regularization on a firm basis. The result turns out to be extremely simple: replace the usual vertex factor-ieγ ^µ in quantum electrodynamics by $$ - ie(\gamma _\mu - \frac{{\not p}}{{p \cdot \delta }}\delta _\mu ),$$ wherep is the momentum of the photon line, andδ ^µ is the distance for point splitting. No additional vertices are needed.     

Fabrication of three-dimensional crystalline microstructures by selective ion implantation and chemical etching

We present a new fabrication technique to produce three-dimensional (3D) microstructures on crystalline substrate using selective ion implantation and chemical etching. Localized lattice-damage layers at the specified depth beneath the substrate surface are formed by selective ion implantation. After etching out the partial surface regions and the buried lattice-damage layers by chemical etching, the 3D crystalline microstructures are produced. This technique is demonstrated on LiNbO₃ crystal to produce undercutting and free-standing microstructures, including microwire, microring, and microdisk. The measurement results of micro-Raman spectra show that the used fabrication process does not affect the original crystalline structure. The features of this technique include smooth structure surface, large undercutting range, and auto-etching stop. By using multiple implantations or repeating the proposed process several times, versatile 3D crystalline microstructures can be produced.     

Remarks on the exoticU-meson

In expectation of imminent result from the new hyperon beam experiment at CERN concerning the exoticU-meson at 3.1 GeV, we propose a detailed program of experimental tests to check the suggestion thatU is a \(qq\bar q\bar q\) “M-diquonium” state. Apart from some very characteristic decay modes, theU is expected to occur together with several analogous states with various quantum numbers to which it is intimately related.     

Simultaneous determination of ampicillin, cefoperazone, and sulbactam in pharmaceutical formulations by HPLC with beta-cyclodextrin stationary phase

An accurate and reproducible method for the simultaneous determination of ampicillin (AMP), sulbactam (SUL), and cefoperazone (CFP) in pharmaceutical formulations by using HPLC with beta-CD stationary phase was developed. It involved the use of the added tetraethylammonium acetate (TEAA) reagent, pH, and methanol as the significant parameters to find the optimum separation condition. A high resolution and selectivity of analytes was obtained by running the mobile phase in methanol-5 mM TEAA buffer = 35:65 (v/v, pH 4.5) at 280 nm. The mean recoveries ranged from 96.6 to 103.3% for AMP in the synthetic mixture, 97.6 to 103.0% for SUL, and 97.0 to 104.0% for CFP. The low LOD (<1.8 microg/mL) and low CV (<0.9%) assured that this method was sensitive and reproducible. The assay of analytes in commercial products exhibited that it was convenient and reproducible for routine analyses of these components in sterilized H(2)O, saline, or 5% dextrose injection solutions.     

Antimony‐Functionalized Phosphine‐Based Photopolymer Networks

The synthesis of phosphane‐ene photopolymer networks, where the networks are composed of crosslinked tertiary alkyl phosphines are reported. Taking advantage of the rich coordination chemistry of alkyl phosphines, stibino‐phosphonium and stibino‐bis(phosphonium) functionalized polymer networks could be generated. Small‐molecule stibino‐phosphonium and stibino‐bis(phosphonium) compounds have been well characterized previously and were used as models for spectroscopic comparison to the macromolecular analogues by NMR and XANES spectroscopy. This work reveals that the physical and electronic properties of the materials can be tuned depending on the type of coordination environment. These materials can be used as ceramic precursors, where the Sb‐functionalized polymers influence the composition of the resulting ceramic.     

Structure and dynamics of carbon black‐filled elastomers

The linear and nonlinear melt viscoelastic properties for a series of carbon black‐filled polymer composites were studied. Complementary tapping‐mode atomic force microscopy (AFM) studies were used to examine the dispersion and structural correlations of the filler particles in these composites. The low‐frequency dependence of the linear viscoelastic moduli gradually changes from liquidlike behavior for the unfilled polymer to pseudosolid character for composites with more than 9 vol % carbon black filler. The plateau modulus, inferred from the linear viscoelastic response, exhibits a somewhat discontinuous change at about 9 vol % filler. On the basis of the linear viscoelastic response, we postulate that the carbon black filler forms a continuous percolated network structure beyond 9 vol % filler, considerably lower than that expected from theoretical calculations for overlapping spheres and ellipsoids. We suggest that the lower threshold for percolation is due to the polymer mediation of the filler structure, resulting from the low functionality of the polymer and, consequently, few strong polymer–filler interactions, allowing for long loops and tails that can either bridge filler particles or entangle with one another. Furthermore, the strain amplitude for the transition from linear behavior to nonlinear behavior of the modulus for the composites with greater than 9 vol % filler is independent of frequency, and this critical strain amplitude decreases with increasing filler concentration. Complementary AFM measurements suggest a well‐dispersed carbon black structure with the nearest neighbor distance showing a discontinuous decrease at about 9 vol % filler, again consistent with the formation of a filler network structure beyond 9 vol % carbon black. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 39: 256–275, 2001