On the tree-transformation power of XSLT

XSLT is a standard rule-based programming language for expressing transformations of XML data. The language is currently in transition from version 1.0 to 2.0. In order to understand the computational consequences of this transition, we restrict XSLT to its pure tree-transformation capabilities. Under this focus, we observe that XSLT 1.0 was not yet a computationally complete tree-transformation language: every 1.0 program can be implemented in exponential time, using a DAG representation of trees. A crucial new feature of version 2.0, however, which allows node sets over temporary trees, yields completeness. We provide a formal operational semantics for XSLT programs, and establish confluence for this semantics.Wim Janssen is a research assistant of the Fund for Scientific Research, Flanders. Alexandr Korlyukov sadly passed away shortly after we agreed to write a joint paper.     

Cesium uptake by pentacyanoferrate(II) complexes with O-containing derivatives of chitosan

Here we report on synthesis of new organic-inorganic materials based on products of interaction between sodium aminoprusside and polymer ligands. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and UV-visible spectroscopy and thermogravimetry were used to investigate the structure and stability of the complexes. It was found that ion and ligand exchange were the main reactions of the interaction of sodium aminoprusside with water-soluble polymer salts. All other composites in the Co(II) form were characterized in terms of sorption capacities and distribution coefficients (K_d) for cesium ions. The highest values of distribution coefficients were obtained for polyampholyte chitosan derivatives.     

Contents of α-O-4 and β-O-4 Bonds in Native Lignin and Isolated Lignin Preparations

An analytical calculation method for the estimation of the contents of alkyl aryl ether bonds (α-O-4 and β-O-4) in lignin was developed. In the framework of the method, Alkyl–O–Aryl type bonds are described as coupled phenolic hydroxyls (OH_phen). The method is based on the balance equation including the free and coupled OH_phen contents in dissolved and residual lignins, on the one hand, and their respective contents in native lignin, on the other. The free OH_phen content is calculated on the basis of the OH_phen contents of dissolved and residual lignin, determined by the aminolysis method in the course of kraft cooking of softwood. The calculation results for soluble lignin preparations are in good agreement with the 13C NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) spectral data for the solutions. The content of Alkyl–O–Aryl bonds in native softwood (pine, spruce) lignin was estimated at 79/100 PPU (phenylpropane unit). In isolated lignin preparations, the contents of these bonds decrease in the sequence: Freudenberg lignin (71/100 PPU)> Bjorkman lignin (61/100 PPU)> Pepper lignin (44/100 PPU). Dissolved alkaline lignin still contains small amounts of Alkyl–O–Aryl bonds (36/100 PPU in soda lignin and an average of 23/100 PPU in soda-AQ lignin, kraft lignin, and kraft-AQ lignin). Residual lignin which represents the fraction of native lignin with inter-unit bonds resistant to kraft pulping contains 66/100 PPU of such bonds. A relatively high content of Alkyl–O–Aryl bonds (61/100 PPU) is preserved in technical hydrolysis lignins.     

Chemical substitution of Cd ions by Hg in CdSe nanorods and nanodots: Spectroscopic and structural examination

The chemical substitution of cadmium by mercury in colloidal CdSe quantum dots (QDs) and nanorods has been examined by absorption, photoluminescence and Raman spectroscopy. The crystalline structure of original CdSe QDs used for Cd/Hg substitution (zinc blende versus wurtzite) shows a strong impact on the optical and structural properties of resultant Cd_xHg_1−xSe nanocrystals. Substitution of Cd by Hg in isostructural zinc blende CdSe QDs converts them to ternary Cd_xHg_1−xSe zinc blende nanocrystals with significant NIR emission. Whereas, the wurtzite CdSe QDs transformed first to ternary nanocrystals with almost no emission followed by slow structural reorganization to a NIR-emitting zinc blende Cd_xHg_1−xSe QDs. CdSe nanorods with intrinsic wurtzite structure show unexpectedly intense NIR emission even at early Cd/Hg substitution stage with PL active zinc blende Cd_xHg_1−xSe regions.     

Graphene bilayer structures with superfluid magnetoexcitons

In this article, we study superfluid behavior of a gas of spatially indirect magnetoexcitons with reference to a system of two graphene layers embedded in a multilayer dielectric structure. The system is considered as an alternative of a double quantum well in a GaAs heterostructure. We determine a range of parameters (interlayer distance, dielectric constant, magnetic field, and gate voltage) where magnetoexciton superfluidity can be achieved. Temperature of superfluid transition is computed. A reduction of critical parameters caused by impurities is evaluated and critical impurity concentration is determined.     

Fluctuation analysis and faradaic impedance at micro liquid/liquid interface—I

Fluctuation analysis and faradaic impedance measurements were used to study tetraethylammonium ion transfer across the water/nitrobenzene micro-interface at equilibrium potential. Lithium chloride and tetrabutylammonium tetraphenylborate were used as supporting electrolytes in a symmetrical electrochemical cell with zero cell potential difference. A remarkable difference in the data obtained by these two techniques in the low frequency range (<50 Hz) indicates the presence of another process connected with the charge transfer reaction. This process was not detected by conventional electrochemical methods using any type of perturbation signal. An attempt is made to attribute this effect to local conventions at the interface.     

The neutral detector at VEPP-2M

The design and characteristics of the neutral detector based on NaI(Tl) crystals with a total weight of 2.6 t for experiments at the electron-positron storage ring VEPP-2M are described. The solid angle of the detector is 65% of 4π sr. The energy resolution for photons in the energy range 50–1000 MeV is from 20% to 10% (fwhm). For events with the detection of all final particles a further improvement of the detector resolution by means of the kinematic reconstruction method is possible. For the decay ? → ηγ → 3γ an effective mass resolution of 10% is obtained for the η-meson mass. By the energy deposition in NaI(Tl) layers an electron/pion separation of 0.001 is achived at an energy of 500 MeV.     

Matrix product state applications for the ALPS project

The density-matrix renormalization group method has become a standard computational approach to the low-energy physics as well as dynamics of low-dimensional quantum systems. In this paper, we present a new set of applications, available as part of the ALPS package, that provide an efficient and flexible implementation of these methods based on a matrix product state (MPS) representation. Our applications implement, within the same framework, algorithms to variationally find the ground state and low-lying excited states as well as simulate the time evolution of arbitrary one-dimensional and two-dimensional models. Implementing the conservation of quantum numbers for generic Abelian symmetries, we achieve performance competitive with the best codes in the community. Example results are provided for (i) a model of itinerant fermions in one dimension and (ii) a model of quantum magnetism.     

Transparent Magnetic Glass-Ceramics

Transparent magnetic glass-ceramics were produced by infiltrating nano-porous glass with nitrate salts and firing. The resultant glass-ceramics contained spinel ferrite nanocrystals that exhibited ferromagnetic and superparamagnetic behavior depending on composition and firing temperature. Transparency in the near infrared was obtained when oxidizing conditions were used to prevent Fe²⁺ formation, while the porous matrix ensured nano-sized crystallites to limit scattering losses. MnFe₂O₄ glass-ceramics treated at 1000°C offered the best combination of magnetic and optical properties with a saturation magnetization of 5.6 emu/g, a Verdet constant of 16.5°/cm, and losses below 3 dB/mm at 1550 nm.