Dual approach to multiple authorship in the study of collaboration/scientific output relationship

This paper presents an empirical study of the relations between scientific output and collaboration performed on two scales: (1) an individual scale, for members of a study model, and (2) a group scale, for three samples varying in the level of productivity. The rank approach was applied in the preparation of the study model resulting in the selection of a set of the most prolific authors. In the course of that process, multiple authorship problem was solved by a dual approach, consisting of normal count and modified straight count procedures. As shown by the analysis of collaborative patterns, either on individual or on group scales, scientific output is highly dependent on the frequency of collaboration among the same authors. Expressed as the collaboration measure, it might serve as an indicator in comparative analyses of scientific productivity in a given field of science.     

Qualitative analysis of motion properties of semistate models of large-scale systems

This paper studies the behavior of motions of large-scale (LS) semistate systems (SSS) governed byP _i (t)x _i =M _i (t,x _i )x _i +f _i (t)+h _i (t, x), i=1,2,...,s, =(x ₁ ^T x ₂ ^T x _s ^T )^T, where matricesP _i (t) are singular. Using Lyapunov's approach and the tools for LS system analysis, a variant of attractivity and ultimate boundedness of appropriate time-variable sets are investigated. The results are based on a specific choice of the aggregate functions. It is assumed that the reduction of equations to a normal form of lower order is inconvenient. The aggregation-decomposition approach used in this paper reduces the dimensionality of an aggregate matrix of the system to the number of its systems. Motion properties of LS systems are deduced from the properties of its isolated subsystems, the character of interconnections, and the conditions imposed on the system aggregate matrix. Sufficient algebraic conditions for the above-mentioned motion properties are developed.     

Magnetic pinning in inhomogeneous type II superconductors

The magnetic structure of a vortex in the presence of an anisotropic inhomogeneity distribution is calculated within the London model. The anisotropic supercurrent pattern consists of closed current loops, superimposed on a backflow pattern. The nonvanishing current density at the vortex core gives rise to an intrinsic Lorentz force identical with the pinning force resulting from the spatial variation of the vortex self-energy.     

Functionalized oligopolysiloxanes by heterogeneously catalyzed equilibration polymerization reactions

Summary A new general procedure for preparation of functionalized oligopolysiloxanes of predetermined molecular weight is described. It utilizes heterogeneously catalyzed siloxane equilibration polymerization reactions which do not require troublesome and sometimes difficult post-preparative work-up procedures usually encountered with the well known homogeneously catalyzed corresponding reactions. The method is described using as example the preparation of , -telechelic vinyldimethylsiloxy-oligopolydimethylsiloxanes from octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane and 1,3-divinyltetramethyldisiloxane, but reference to the preparations of trimethylsiloxy-, dimethylsiloxy-and carboxypropyldimethylsiloxyoligopolydimethylsiloxanes, oligopolymethylhydridosiloxanes or their copolymers is also made.     

An e-Learning tool considering similarity measures for manufacturing cell formation

Manufacturing cell formation is the first step in the design of cellular manufacturing system. The primary objective of this step is to cluster machines into machine cells and parts into part families so that the minimum of intercell trips will be achieved. This paper will be focused on the configuration of machine cells considering three types of initial machine-part matrix: binary (zero-one) matrix, production volume matrix, and operation time matrix. The similarity measure uses only information from these types of matrix. A pure combinatorial programming formulation will be developed to maximize the sum of similarity coefficients between machine/part pairs. An e-Learning tool/application to help industrial students and engineers for enhancing their cell formation capability is proposed. This tool is designed to include a novel similarity coefficient-based heuristic algorithm for solving the cell formation problem. To determine the performance of the proposed tool, comparison is made with a well-known tool along a case study.     

Solid-state NMR study of N labelled polyaniline upon reaction with DPPH

The quantitative investigation of the radical scavenging properties of polyaniline (PANI) upon reaction with excess of the stable DPPH radical (a 4:1 ratio of DPPH to aniline units in the polymer) was carried out using ¹⁵N and ¹³C solid state NMR spectroscopy. During the process the polyaniline was oxidised so that the imine content increased from 45 to 65%. The extent of oxidation measured by NMR was confirmed by N1s XPS analysis. However, within a 30 min reaction time, about 85% of the DPPH radicals were scavenged as monitored by the decay in its EPR signal. This is about 20 times greater than the fraction of DPPH required to oxidize PANI from an imine content of 45-65%. An identification of further redox processes is required to explain the high degree of radical scavenging. At the same time, there was no evidence of significant chemical binding or trapping of DPPH in the PANI structure.     

Support vector regression methodology for prediction of input displacement of adaptive compliant robotic gripper

The prerequisite for new versatile grippers is the capability to locate and perceive protests in their surroundings. It is realized that automated controllers are profoundly nonlinear frameworks, and a faultless numerical model is hard to get, in this way making it troublesome to control utilizing tried and true procedure. Here, a design of an adaptive compliant gripper is presented. This design of the gripper has embedded sensors as part of its structure. The use of embedded sensors in a robot gripper gives the control system the ability to control input displacement of the gripper and to recognize specific shapes of the grasping objects. Since the conventional control strategy is a very challenging task, soft computing based controllers are considered as potential candidates for such an application. In this study, the polynomial and radial basis function (RBF) are applied as the kernel function of Support Vector Regression (SVR) to estimate and predict optimal inputs displacement of the gripper according to experimental tests and shapes of grasping objects. Instead of minimizing the observed training error, SVR _poly and SVR _rbf attempt to minimize the generalization error bound so as to achieve generalized performance. The experimental results show that an improvement in predictive accuracy and capability of generalization can be achieved by the SVR approach compared to other soft computing methodology.     

Electrochemical study of the chromium electrode behaviour in borate buffer solution

The electrochemical behaviour of the chromium electrode in borate buffer solution (pH 9.3) was studied by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Chromium passivity was observed over a broad potential region, from –1.0 to 0.5 V vs SCE. The passivation process took place in two steps: formation of a chromium oxide monolayer and transition of chromium to a higher valence state. The anodic film exhibited the properties of a p-type semiconductor. Transpassive dissolution of chromium occurred at 0.5 V vs SCE, with two reaction intermediates present, Cr_Cr ^III and Cr_ad ⁴⁺.     

Polyesterification and isomerization of maleic anhydride and 1,6-hexane diol as studied by 1H and 13C n.m.r.

The polyesterification and isomerization reaction of 1,6-hexane diol and maleic anydride in a melt without catalyst was studied by ¹³C and ¹H n.m.r. spectroscopy. The structure and concentration of oligoester species during the polyesterification and isomerization were determined depending on the reaction temperature and time. According to the number and configuration of repeating units determined from ¹H n.m.r. spectra kinetics of both reactions were also considered. The degree of isomerization is continuously increasing in the investigated reaction range.