Joining ceramics to metals using metallic foam

A general method for brazing ceramics to metals using a compliant metallic foam as a buffer layer has been developed. Using stainless steel foams, bonds between alumina and 316 stainless steel with shear strengths up to 33 MPa have been achieved. The resultant ductility enhances the resistance of the joint to thermal cycling; AlN-Inconel 600 bonds exhibited good thermal shock resistance. Alumina - stainless steel bonds withstood more that 60 thermal cycles between 200 and 800°C in air

Classical-mechanical models without observable trajectories and the Dirac electron

We construct a non-Grassmann spinning-particle model which, by analogy with quantum mechanics, does not admit the notion of a trajectory within the position space. The pseudo-classical character of the model allows us to avoid the inconsistencies arising in the quantum-mechanical interpretation of a one-particle sector of the Dirac equation.Comment: 6 pages, published versio

Spinning-particle model for the Dirac equation and the relativistic Zitterbewegung

We construct the relativistic particle model without Grassmann variables which meets the following requirements. A) Canonical quantization of the model implies the Dirac equation. B) The variable which experiences {\it Zitterbewegung}, represents a gauge non-invariant variable in our model. Hence our particle does not experiences the undesirable {\it Zitterbewegung}. C) In the nonrelativistic limit spin is described by three-vector, as it could be expected.Comment: 6 pages, misprints correcte

Semiclassical Description of Relativistic Spin without use of Grassmann variables and the Dirac equation

We propose a relativistic particle model without Grassmann variables which, being canonically quantized, leads to the Dirac equation. Both $\Gamma$\,-matrices and the relativistic spin tensor are produced through the canonical quantization of the classical variables which parametrize the properly constructed relativistic spin surface. Although there is no mass-shell constraint in our model, our particle's speed cannot exceed the speed of light. The classical dynamics of the model is in correspondence with the dynamics of mean values of the corresponding operators in the Dirac theory. In particular, the position variable experiences {\it Zitterbewegung} in noninteracting theory. The classical equations for the spin tensor are the same as those of the Barut-Zanghi model of a spinning particle.Comment: 16 pages, misprints correcte

Systematic study of Oxygen vacancy tunable transport properties of few-layer MoO3- x enabled by vapor-based synthesis

Bulk and nanoscale molybdenum trioxide (MoO3) has shown impressive technologically relevant properties, but deeper investigation into 2D MoO3 has been prevented by the lack of reliable vapor-based synthesis and doping techniques. Herein, the successful synthesis of high-quality, few-layer MoO3 down to bilayer thickness via physical vapor deposition is reported. The electronic structure of MoO3 can be strongly modified by introducing oxygen substoichiometry (MoO3- x), which introduces gap states and increases conductivity. A dose-controlled electron irradiation technique to introduce oxygen vacancies into the few-layer MoO3 structure is presented, thereby adding n-type doping. By combining in situ transport with core-loss and monochromated low-loss scanning transmission electron microscopy–electron energy-loss spectroscopy studies, a detailed structure–property relationship is developed between Mo-oxidation state and resistance. Transport properties are reported for MoO3- x down to three layers thick, the most 2D-like MoO3- x transport hitherto reported. Combining these results with density functional theory calculations, a radiolysis-based mechanism for the irradiation-induced oxygen vacancy introduction is developed, including insights into favorable configurations of oxygen defects. These systematic studies represent an important step forward in bringing few-layer MoO3 and MoO3- x into the 2D family, as well as highlight the promise of MoO3- x as a functional, tunable electronic material

Estimation of loan portfolio risk on the basis of Markov chain model

A change of shares of credits portfolio is described by Markov chain with discrete time. A credit state is determined on as an accessory to some group of credits depending on presence of indebtedness and its terms. We use a model with discrete time and fix the system state through identical time intervals - once a month. It is obvious that the matrix of transitive probabilities is known incompletely. Various approaches to the matrix estimation are studied and methods of forecast the portfolio risk are proposed. The portfolio risk is set as a share of problematic loans. We propose a method to calculate necessary reserves on the base of the considered model. © 2013 IFIP International Federation for Information Processing.German Sci. Found. (DFG) Eur. Sci. Found. (ESF);Natl. Inst. Res. Comput. Sci. Control France (INRIA);DFG Research Center MATHEON;Weierstrass Institute for Applied Analysis and Stochastics (WIAS);European Patent Offic

Proposal for the numerical solution of planar QCD

Using quenched reduction, we propose a method for the numerical calculation of meson correlation functions in the planar limit of QCD. General features of the approach are outlined, and an example is given in the context of two-dimensional QCD.Comment: 31 pages, 10 figures, uses axodraw.sty, To appear in Physical Review

Joint modeling of longitudinal outcomes and survival using latent growth modeling approach in a mesothelioma trial

Joint modeling of longitudinal and survival data can provide more efficient and less biased estimates of treatment effects through accounting for the associations between these two data types. Sponsors of oncology clinical trials routinely and increasingly include patient-reported outcome (PRO) instruments to evaluate the effect of treatment on symptoms, functioning, and quality of life. Known publications of these trials typically do not include jointly modeled analyses and results. We formulated several joint models based on a latent growth model for longitudinal PRO data and a Cox proportional hazards model for survival data. The longitudinal and survival components were linked through either a latent growth trajectory or shared random effects. We applied these models to data from a randomized phase III oncology clinical trial in mesothelioma. We compared the results derived under different model specifications and showed that the use of joint modeling may result in improved estimates of the overall treatment effect

On the covariant quantization of tensionless bosonic strings in AdS spacetime

The covariant quantization of the tensionless free bosonic (open and closed) strings in AdS spaces is obtained. This is done by representing the AdS space as an hyperboloid in a flat auxiliary space and by studying the resulting string constrained hamiltonian system in the tensionless limit. It turns out that the constraint algebra simplifies in the tensionless case in such a way that the closed BRST quantization can be formulated and the theory admits then an explicit covariant quantization scheme. This holds for any value of the dimension of the AdS space.Comment: 1+16 pages; v4 two clarifications adde

Tune in to your emotions: a robust personalized affective music player

The emotional power of music is exploited in a personalized affective music player (AMP) that selects music for mood enhancement. A biosignal approach is used to measure listeners’ personal emotional reactions to their own music as input for affective user models. Regression and kernel density estimation are applied to model the physiological changes the music elicits. Using these models, personalized music selections based on an affective goal state can be made. The AMP was validated in real-world trials over the course of several weeks. Results show that our models can cope with noisy situations and handle large inter-individual differences in the music domain. The AMP augments music listening where its techniques enable automated affect guidance. Our approach provides valuable insights for affective computing and user modeling, for which the AMP is a suitable carrier application