An interval arithmetic method for the solution of nonlinear systems of equations on a vector computer

We describe a vectorized algorithm for an interval arithmetic Newton-like method for a class of systems of nonlinear equations arising from discretizations of nonlinear elliptic PDE. This method converges to a solution under relatively weak conditions. It is founded on a combination of a Newton-like interval method and interval arithmetic ‘fast’ direct solver. In the present paper we focus our attention on aspects of the vectorization, in particular that of a simulation of an interval arithmetic and that of the direct solver.     

Internal and external algorithms for the points-in-regions problem—the inside join of geo-relational algebra

We consider the problem of collectively locating a set of points within a set of disjoint polygonal regions when neither for points nor for regions preprocessing is allowed. This problem arises in geometric database systems. More specifically it is equivalent to computing theinside join of geo-relational algebra, a conceptual model for geo-data management. We describe efficient algorithms for solving this problem based on plane-sweep and divide-and-conquer, requiringO(n(logn) +t) andO(n(log² n) +t) time, respectively, andO(n) space, wheren is the total number of points and edges, and (is the number of reported (point, region) pairs. Since the algorithms are meant to be practically useful we consider as well as the internal versions-running completely in main memory-versions that run internally but use much less than linear space and versions that run externally, that is, require only a constant amount of internal memory regardless of the amount of data to be processed. Comparing plane-sweep and divide-and-conquer, it turns out that divide-and-conquer can be expected to perform much better in the external case even though it has a higher internal asymptotic worst-case complexity. An interesting theoretical by-product is a new general technique for handling arbitrarily large sets of objects clustered on a singlex-coordinate within a planar divide-and-conquer algorithm and a proof that the resulting “unbalanced” dividing does not lead to a more than logarithmic height of the tree of recursive calls.     

Auf dem Weg zu idealen Programmierwerkzeugen – Bestandsaufnahme und Ausblick

Zusammenfassung  Angeregt durch Robert W. Floyds Turing-Award-Lecture ,,The Paradigms of Programming“ von 1979 [6] und motiviert durch die Unzufriedenheit des Praktikers mit dem Stand der Softwaretechnik aus vielen Industrieprojekten, versucht dieser Beitrag eine Bestandsaufnahme der Programmiertechnik und identifiziert die Defizite aus Sicht der Grundprinzipien des Konstruktionsprozesses. Mit der Objektorientierung sind, besonders in den letzten Jahren, viele neue Programmiersprachen entstanden, die sowohl Wert auf schnelle Entwicklungszyklen als auch auf Erweiterbarkeit legen. Die heute haupts?chlich verwendeten Sprachen und Umgebungen sind von diesen Zielen weit entfernt. Das Entwickeln von Software ist zum einen zu kompliziert und zum anderen schmerzt die ,,semantische Lücke“ zwischen den ausdrückbaren und den erforderlichen Konzepten. Neue, viel versprechende Programmiersprachen, die sich durchweg auf Metaprogrammierung stützen, um die erforderliche semantische Erweiterbarkeit der Sprachen zu erreichen, deuten die Richtung zukünftiger Entwicklungen an.     

Ziele und Methoden der elektrochemischen Verfahrens- und Reaktionstechnik

Objectives and methods of electrochemical process and reaction engineering . Electrolysis processes are distinguished from ?normal”? chemical processes in several respects: (1) The electrical energy consumed is expensive and assumed the role of an expensive raw material. (2) Mass transfer in electrolytes is sluggish and limits space time yield to relative low values. (3) The rate of reaction is dictated by the applied electrode potential and this determines the cell voltage and energy efficiency of electrolysis processes. Effective electrocatalysts diminish energy consumption per unit mass of product. (4) The relatively poor electrical conductivity of electrolytes leads to construction of special closely spaced cells with narrow cell gaps. It is important to select the operation conditions of, e. g. organo-electrosyntheses to minimise the efforts involved in isolation and purification of the product.     

Composition and quality attributes of conventionally and organically farmed Pangasius fillets (Pangasius hypophthalmus) on the German market

A range of conventionally and organically farmed Pangasius or sutchi catfish fillets available on the German market were analysed to compare both composition and quality. Differentiation of Pangasius hypophthalmus from Pangasius bocourti was achieved by RFLP-SSCP analysis. The protein content of conventionally farmed fillets ranged between 13.3 and 15.7%, whereas organically produced fillets had significantly higher protein contents of between 17.0 and 17.4%. No difference in the fat content between farming methods was observed, which varied between 1.4 and 3.2%. Polyunsaturated fatty acids represented about 24% of the total fatty acids with a high level of linoleic acid. The comparison of the proximate composition indicated that water was added to most of the conventionally farmed products, in different amounts, as well as water-binding capacity enhancing additives. Differential scanning calorimetry was used to demonstrate the presence of polyphosphate on muscle proteins. Differences in texture, water-binding capacity and colour are discussed.     

Electrophoretic techniques for species identification of fishery products

Summary At the present time species identification of fishery products is mainly performed by electrophoresis; in most cases isoelectric focusing (IEF) is given preference over other electrophoretic techniques. In this review the possibilities of application of IEF and other electrophoretic methods for analysis of raw, dried, salted, smoked, ripened, cooked or canned fish are discussed. It is shown that the protein patterns may be influenced by the type of muscle (light or dark), the freshness of fish or fillet, and by the conditions of frozen storage. Reference samples must often be used to obtain unequivocal results. A protein dry powder is introduced, which has been prepared from the sarcoplasmic fraction of many fish species yielding species-specific protein patterns. The powder is stable at room temperature and can be shipped without cooling.

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Elektrophoretische Methoden zur Bestimmung der Tierart in Fischereiprodukten

Zusammenfassung Zur Zeit erfolgt die Bestimmung der Tierart in Fischereiprodukten nahezu ausschließlich mit elektrophoretischen Methoden, vorzugsweise durch die isoelektrische Focussierung (IEF). In der vorliegenden Übersichtsarbeit werden die Anwendungsmöglichkeiten der IEF und anderer Elektrophoreseverfahren zur Analyse roher, getrockneter, gesalzener, geräucherter, gereifter, gegarter oder sterilisierter Fischereiprodukte diskutiert. Es wird aufgezeigt, in welchem Ausmaß die Proteinmuster durch die Art der Muskulatur (hell oder dunkel), den Frischegrad der Fische bzw. Filets und durch die Gefrierlagerbedingungen der Produkte beeinflußt werden. In vielen Fällen kann auf Referenzproben nicht verzichtet werden; es wird ein Proteinpräparat vorgestellt, das aus der sarkoplasmatischen Fraktion zahlreicher Fischarten isoliert wurde und Spezies-spezifische Proteinmuster lieferte. Das Präparat ist bei Raumtemperatur stabil und kann daher ohne Aufwand verschickt werden.

     

Synthesis and X-ray crystal structure of a bis-cyclometalated phosphorescent red-emitting iridium(III) complex

The synthesis of the bis-cyclometalated complex [{Ir(μ-Cl)(ccpz)₂}₂] (1, cppz = 1-chloro-4-(4-chlorophenyl)-phthalazine) from hydrated iridium(III) chloride and the ligand ccpz in refluxing ethoxyethanol is described. Compound 1 was characterized by spectroscopic means and the crystal structure was determined by X-ray crystallography. The absorption and emission spectra exhibit the new compound as a red-emitting phosphorescent complex.     

On-line optical process control in steelmaking

Recent work shows that modern optical techniques, in conjunction with atomic and molecular spectroscopy, are valuable tools for on-line control of the Creusot-Loire-Uddeholm converter for alloy steelmaking. The optical technique has been closely investigated in relation to the reduction step of the process, and the resultant observations point towards a variety of applications in several steelmaking processes.