Functions for relative maximization

We introduce functions for relative maximization in a general context: the beta and alpha applications. After a systematic study of different kinds of regularities, we investigate how to approximate certain values of these functions using periodic orbits. We also show that the differential of an alpha application determines the asymptotic behavior of the optimal trajectories.     

Interaction of optical radiation with GaAs nanowhisker arrays

We have studied the reflectivity spectra of doped GaAs nanowhiskers (NWs) with various morphologies, which were grown by molecular-beam epitaxy. It is established that the character of the reflectivity spectra of NWs is determined by the shape of nanocrystals. NWs with droplike and pointlike vertices differently interact with electromagnetic radiation. Laser radiation produces a spectraly selective action on the NW array, which leads to a change in the NW height and induces “caking” of their vertices, thus modifying the reflectivity of the sample. This phenomenon can be used for the creation of local microstructures with preset characteristics in large NW arrays.     

Towards Testing Product Line Architectures

A product line architecture is a single specification capturing the overall architecture of a series of closely related products. Its structure consists of a set of mandatory elements and a set of variation points. Whereas mandatory elements are part of the architecture of every product in the product line architecture, variation points precisely define the dimensions along which the architectures of individual products differ from each other.The increased use of product line architectures in today's software development projects poses several challenges for existing testing techniques. In this paper we discuss those challenges and discuss what we believe are opportunities for addressing them.     

Interlaboratory ring test of time-resolved fluoroimmunoassays for zeranol and alpha-zearalenol and comparison with zeranol test kits.

Many zeranol immunoassay test kits cross-react with toxins formed by naturally occurring Fusarium spp. fungi, leading to false-positive screening results. This paper describes the evaluation and application of recently published, dry reagent time-resolved fluoroimmunoassays (TR-FIA) for zeranol and the toxin alpha-zearalenol. A ring test of bovine urine fortified with zeranol and/or alpha-zearalenol in four European Union National Reference Laboratories demonstrated that the TR-FIA tests were accurate and robust. The alpha-zearalenol TR-FIA satisfactorily quantified alpha-zearalenol in urine fortified at 10-30 ng ml(-1). The specificity-enhanced zeranol TR-FIA accurately quantified zeranol in the range 2-5 ng ml(-1) and gave no false-positive results in blank urine, even in the presence of 30 ng ml(-1) alpha-zearalenol. Zeranol TR-FIA specificity was demonstrated further by analysing incurred zeranol-free urine samples containing natural Fusarium spp. toxins. The TR-FIA yielded no false-positive results in the presence of up to 22 ng ml(-1) toxins. The performance of four commercially available zeranol immunoassay test kits was more variable. Three kits produced many false-positive results. One kit produced only one potential false-positive using a protocol that was longer than that of the TR-FIA. These TR-FIAs will be valuable tools to develop inspection criteria to distinguish illegal zeranol abuse from contamination arising from in vivo metabolism of Fusarium spp. toxins.     

Thin-film nickel coatings on fiber materials

Vacuum deposition of thin films onto fiber materials is a promising method of obtaining electromagnetic screens. We have studied the structure and the electromagnetic properties of machine-knitted fabric coated with nickel by means of magnetron sputtering. When the fabric is irradiated from the metal-coated side, the reflection coefficient is higher by a factor of 1.4 as compared to the case when the same source of electromagnetic radiation is situated on the opposite side (facing the uncoated surface), while the absorption coefficient in both cases is the same.     

Assessing Human Impact of Organizational Crises: Reliability and Validity of the Triage Assessment Scale for Organizations (TAS:O)

The present study evaluated the reliability and validity of the Triage Assessment Survey: Organizations (TAS:O), a 27-item, 5-point, Likert summated rating scale. One hundred and seventeen participants responded to the TAS:O after reading mild, moderate, marked and severe organizational crisis scenarios. The overall Cronbach's alpha and split-half reliability were both .93. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed three factors, supporting the hypothesis that the TAS:O is comprised of three distinct factors (i.e., Affect, Behavior, and Cognition). An analysis of variance provided evidence that the TAS:O has the capacity to distinguish among mild, moderate, marked, and severe crises. Because this research is the first to evaluate the TAS:O, further studies are needed to strengthen confidence in the psychometric properties of this scale.     

Application of holographic interferometry for determining the solubility of gases in liquids

The effect of a gas dissolved in a liquid on the variation of the refractive index of the compressed mixture was studied. The compression process was monitored with the aid of a holographic interferometer. The sensitivity of this method allows the compressibility of water and the solubility of helium and nitrogen to be studied at pressures below 4 atm. A procedure for obtaining qualitative and quantitative data on the solubility of gases in liquids is proposed.     

Nanostructural crack arrest

The problem of brittle crack development in a nanocrystalline material has been theoretically studied. Expressions describing the conditions of crack stability are obtained.     

The optimum characteristics of a halogen lamp pumped by transverse RF discharge

We report on the optimized characteristics of a small-size bactericidal lamp pumped by transverse RF (f=1.76 MHz) discharge, operating on a system of the molecular emission bands of chlorine in a wavelength range of 195–310 nm. The spectral characteristics of the plasma emission were measured and the intensity of chlorine emission bands were studied as functions of the total pressure and partial composition of a helium-chlorine mixture. Oscillograms of the pumping current and output radiation intensity were measured and the total output radiation power was determined. It is established that the lamp radiates predominantly in a bactericidal wavelength interval on an electron-vibrational transition at 200 nm in Cl₂** molecules. The optimum partial pressures of helium and chlorine are 100–300 and 90–120 Pa, respectively. The maximum output power of UV emission from the side cylindrical surface of the lamp reached 10 W. The lamp can be used in photochemistry, ecology, genetics, and medicine.