On splitting-based numerical methods for nonlinear models of European options

We present a large class of nonlinear models of European options as parabolic equations with quasi-linear diffusion and fully nonlinear hyperbolic part. The main idea of the operator splitting method (OSM) is to couple known difference schemes for nonlinear hyperbolic equations with other ones for quasi-linear parabolic equations. We use flux limiter techniques, explicit–implicit difference schemes, Richardson extrapolation, etc. Theoretical analysis for illiquid market model is given. The numerical experiments show second-order accuracy for the numerical solution (the price) and Greeks Delta and Gamma, positivity and monotonicity preserving properties of the approximations.     

The iterative development of a tangible pin-board to symmetrically link physical and digital documents

There is an asymmetry in many tangible interfaces: while physical objects can be used to manipulate digital information, the reverse is often not possible—the digital world cannot push back. We introduce a new push-back tangible technology, a pin-board that physically ejects paper documents. This is realized by extending the Pin&Play technology to support ‘pouts’, addressable pin-like devices that can remove themselves from a board using muscle wire actuators. We describe how this technology has been developed through two iterations of prototyping, application and formative study. An initial study revealed how potential mismatches between the physical and digital characteristics of pouts caused difficulties with users predicting pop-out events and reasoning about the state of pouts. This led us to extend pouts to reveal more of their internal state, an approach verified through a second study. It also raises more general issues for the design of pushback tangible technologies and ubiquitous interfaces.     

Microstructural properties of the bulk matrix and the steel/cement paste interface in reinforced concrete,maintained in conditions of corrosion and cathodic protection

Although rarely considered, especially within the investigation of steel corrosion phenomena or electrochemical protection techniques in reinforced concrete structures, the concrete bulk matrix has a significant contribution in the global performance of the system “reinforced concrete.” This is especially the case when chloride‐induced corrosion or electrical current flow [as within impressed current cathodic protection (CP)] are involved. In the latter cases, the concrete bulk matrix undergoes significant alterations in chemical composition, electrical properties, and microstructures, thus influencing the overall performance of the system. This work reports on the microstructural investigation of the bulk concrete matrix and the steel/cement paste interface in reinforced concrete, previously subjected to corrosion and CP for 460 days. The emphasis hereby is to evaluate the altered structural properties, i.e., porosity, pore size, permeability of the bulk cement matrix, and the steel/cement paste interface (translated to bond strength) as a result of chloride‐induced corrosion and two types of CP (conventional and pulse), compared to control (non‐corroding, non‐protected) conditions. The research revealed a major contribution and close dependence of all microlevel interfaces on the global performance of reinforced concrete. The electrical current flow (as in CP applications) was found to bring about unfavorable modifications to the material structure, both in the bulk matrix (reducing porosity) and at the steel/cement paste interface (enlarging interfacial gaps). The derived microstructural parameters show that the conventional CP leads to a higher level of structural heterogeneity, whereas the pulse CP exerts minimal or no effects, maintaining the material properties close to the reference (control) conditions, the underlying mechanism being a more homogeneous material microstructure.     

Antioxidant activity screening of extracts from Sideritis species (Labiatae) grown in Bulgaria

Plant samples from several species and populations of the genus Sideritis (Labiatae) grown in Bulgaria (S scardica, S syriaca and S montana) were extracted with different solvents. Their antioxidant activities were determined by the β‐carotene bleaching test (BCBT), 2,2′‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH^?) radical scavenging method and static headspace gas chromatography (HS‐GC) and compared with the antioxidant activity of two reference compounds of different polarity, viz butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and rosmarinic acid. The pure reference compounds were applied in a ten‐times lower concentration than the plant extracts. The highest antioxidant activity in the BCBT, close to that of BHT, was observed for the more apolar extracts. The inhibitory effect on β‐carotene bleaching of the polar extracts and rosmarinic acid was much lower than that of BHT. The inhibition of hexanal formation in bulk safflower oil by most of S syriaca and S scardica extracts was as effective as BHT but less so than rosmarinic acid. S montana extracts showed weak antioxidant or even pro‐oxidant properties. Extracts from butanol and from ethyl acetate and the total methanol extracts from all Sideritis plants studied showed a strong radical scavenging activity against DPPH^?, close to that of rosmarinic acid. S montana extracts were, as a whole, slightly weaker radical inhibitors than the extracts from the other two species. The antioxidant activity of Sideritis extracts was attributed to the presence of flavonoid and phenylpropanoid glycosides. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry     

Pulsed laser deposition of Mn-Zn ferrite thin films

Mn-Zn ferrite thin films were deposited on sapphire substrates by pulsed laser deposition from sintered Mn_{1 – x}Zn _x Fe₂O₄ ceramic targets. A full stoichiometric transfer from targets to substrates was achieved. Magnetic inplane measurements in two perpendicular directions were carried out and the macromagnetic properties of films were determined. The hysteresis loops obtained are rectangular and the values of the coercive force, the saturation, and the remanent magnetization are comparable to the same parameters of the bulk Mn-Zn ferrite. The films were characterized using a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).     

Investigation of electron beam melting and refining of titanium and tantalum scrap

In this paper obtained experimental and theoretical data for Ti and Ta electron beam melting regeneration from waste products are presented. Different technological regimes and methods are realized and the obtained results are discussed. Element analyses of the impurities’ concentration of the materials before electron beam melting and refining (EBMR) and of the ingots after EBMR are compared. Statistical approach is applied for optimization of process parameters for Ti. Material losses less than 1% and oxygen concentration less than 400 ppm after EBMR of Ti scrap are achieved at 11.5–12 kW beam power and 0.09–0.14 mm/s casting velocity. The optimal process conditions and purification data for Ti refining by minimization of all impurities’ concentrations and the material losses at the same time are obtained at 11.25 kW electron beam power and 0.0835 mm/s casting velocity. For the performed experiments the best purification of Ta (99.985) is obtained at 24 kW beam power and 0.029 mm/s casting velocity, the residence times on the front side of the feeding block and in the liquid metal pool are 2 min and 5 min, respectively.     

Polyploid fragile strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae--a novel source of proteins for nutritional purposes

A series of prototrophic fragile strains of different ploidy (2n, 3n and 4n) has been genetically constructed on the basis of haploid srb1 containing segregants of the fragile Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutant VY 1160. The strains have been characterized by several criteria. In regard to generation time, biomass yield, and nucleic acids content of the cells, the tetraploid srb1 homozygous hybrid is indistinguishable from an industrial strain of S. cerevisiae. However, it is characterized by a higher protein content. Unlike any other laboratory or industrial strains, the original mutant and these hybrids possess an ability for lysis upon suspension in hypotonic solutions. The dependence of the percentage of lysed cells on the growth phase and concentration of osmotic stabilizer in the medium has been investigated. The quantity of proteins in the soluble and insoluble fractions obtained after lysis of these strains by osmotic shock has been determined. These hybrids can be considered as a potential industrial source of proteins for nutritional purposes.     

Mechanochemical Synthesis and Characterization of Nanocrystalline Copper-Cobalt Ferrites

Nanocrystalline copper-cobalt ferrites with composition Cu_(1-x)Co_xFe_2O_4,where x = 0.2 and 0.8,were synthesized by mechanochemical treatment of co-precipitated precursors.The ferrite powders were characterized by XRD and Mossbauer spectroscopy.Results proved obtaining of spinel ferrites with crystallite size smaller than 10 nm.Increasing of crystallite size of samples with increasing of mechanochemical treatment duration was established,too.Catalytic properties of obtained ferrites were tested in reactions of oxidation of CO,methanol and dimethyl ether.High catalytic activity of nanocrystalline copper-cobalt ferrites toward CO and CH_3OH(about 100% conversions of CO and CH_3OH at 160 ℃)and moderate activity toward(CH_3)_2O oxidation were established.The results obtained revealed that the Co/Cu atomic ratio is an important factor determinant the behavior of catalysts toward methanol and DME oxidation.     

Multilayered Distributed Routing for Power Efficient MANET Performance

In this paper a new power efficient routing algorithm for MANETs with self-organizing and self-routing features is described and its performance analyzed in different simulation scenarios. The algorithm has the logic of a non-cooperative routing algorithm based on the evaluation of a weight parameter, the latter being a function of properties of the MANET nodes related to the nominal available power and the transmission range. A self-estimation of this weight parameter for each node is introduced in the routing process based on the status and functional history of the node. The routing is based on network layering, formation of service areas in each layer and choice of nodes from these areas to have the functionality of default gateways. The proposed algorithm, named service zone gateway prediction (SZGP), is a hybrid type of routing mechanism, incorporating pre-computed multipath hop-by-hop distributed routing, with a periodically updated hierarchical multilayered structure. The results from the simulation experiments show that the performance of the proposed SZGP algorithm in relation to the basic performance parameters such as packet delivery ratio, delay and throughput are similar to those of the well-known AODV algorithm, but in relation to power efficiency the proposed algorithm outperforms AODV significantly. This is due to the fact that such an approach reduces the overall number of broadcasts in the network and ensures a reliable and energy efficient connection by balancing the load among the nodes.     

A simple chemical method for deposition of electrochromic potassium manganese oxide hydrate thin films

A new chemical method for fast deposition of electrochromically active thin films of birnessite-type potassium manganese oxide (K_0.27MnO₂·xH₂O) has been developed. The chemical deposition has been performed at room temperature by a reaction of aqueous solutions of potassium permanganate and manganese(II) chloride. The prepared thin films have thickness from 50 to 250 nm depending on the number of the deposition cycles. The composition and the structure of the K-birnessite films are studied by XRD, IR spectroscopy and TG/DTA analyses. Electrochemical studies using four different electrolytes such as aqueous K₂SO₄, Li₂SO₄, KNO₃, and LiClO₄ in PC have been performed. The electrochromic activity has been explored by cyclic voltammetry and VIS spectrometry. The best electrochromic properties are obtained using aqueous KNO₃, where the difference in the transmittance at 400 nm between the bleached and colored state is 40% for both as-deposited and annealed films. The obtained data allow the prepared K-birnessite thin films in aqueous KNO₃ electrolyte to be proposed as a promising system for electrochromic applications.