On images of locally finite derivations and E-derivations

Some cases of the LFED Conjecture, proposed by the second author [15], for certain integral domains are proved. In particular, the LFED Conjecture is completely established for the field of fractions $k(x)$ of the polynomial algebra $k[x]$, the formal power series algebra $k[[x]]$ and the Laurent formal power series algebra $k[[x]][x^{?1}]$, where $x=(x_1,x_2,\dots ,x_n)$ denotes n commutative free variables and k a field of characteristic zero. Furthermore, the relation between the LFED Conjecture and the Duistermaat–van der Kallen Theorem [3] is also discussed and emphasized.     

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Raman microscopy of a ferroan platinum crystal from the Kondyor Massif,Russian Far East

X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy was used to study a ferroan platinum crystal from the Kondyor Massif, Russian Far East. Prior to the X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopic analyses, the nature of the crystal was confirmed by X-ray diffraction. The survey scan showed mainly the presence of Pt and Fe, with smaller amounts of O and Si. The high resolutions spectra of the Pt 4f and Fe 2p showed 18.3 atom% Fe in the crystal, which puts the composition on the lower boundary for ferroan platinum and confirms earlier analyses using other methods such as Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis/microprobe. The binding energy of the Pt 4f5/2 was 74.0?eV and Pt 4f7/2 70.5?eV, while the Fe 2p3/2 for metallic Fe was observed at 707.2?eV. The Fe 2p3/2 for metallic Fe was significantly sharper than that of Fe 2p3/2 at 710.7?eV associated with surface material. The Raman spectrum was dominated by the Pt–Pt stretching mode at 253?cm^?1. Changed orientation resulted in the observation of two bands at 127 and 139?cm^?1, interpreted as being due to stretching modes of two Pt–Pt bonds with the third bond to Fe and Pt fixed. The presence of Ca-Fe-Al-Mg-Si-O on the surface was probably associated with the presence of a clinopyroxene. These minerals can be expected since the crystal came originally from a clinopyroxenite-dunite matrix. The spectra showed a variety of interferences, e.g. Al 2p with Pt 4f, Mg 2p with Fe 3p, and Ca 2p1/2 with Mg Auger, making exact determinations of the ratios of these elements difficult.     

Intrinsic relaxation rates of polarized Cs vapor in miniaturized cells

The intrinsic relaxation rates of the vector magnetization of cesium vapor enclosed in microfabricated atomic magnetometer cells are investigated. Two methods—the optically detected magnetic resonance and the ground-state Hanle effect—are used to carry out automated measurements in dependence on cell temperature and nitrogen buffer gas pressure. The experimental results are compared with expected contributions of the different relaxation processes and in this way allow the discrimination between them to help further optimization of cell design. The methods are compared in terms of basic features, data quality, and practical applicability.     

Power Measures and Solutions for Games Under Precedence Constraints

Games under precedence constraints model situations, where players in a cooperative transferable utility game belong to some hierarchical structure, which is represented by an acyclic digraph (partial order). In this paper, we introduce the class of precedence power solutions for games under precedence constraints. These solutions are obtained by allocating the dividends in the game proportional to some power measure for acyclic digraphs. We show that all these solutions satisfy the desirable axiom of irrelevant player independence, which establishes that the payoffs assigned to relevant players are not affected by the presence of irrelevant players. We axiomatize these precedence power solutions using irrelevant player independence and an axiom that uses a digraph power measure. We give special attention to the hierarchical solution, which applies the hierarchical measure. We argue how this solution is related to the known precedence Shapley value, which does not satisfy irrelevant player independence, and thus is not a precedence power solution. We also axiomatize the hierarchical measure as a digraph power measure.     

Optimization Implementation and Characterization of the Equal Allocation of Nonseparable Costs Value

This paper devotes to the study of the equal allocation of nonseparable costs value for cooperative games. On the one hand, we show that the equal allocation of nonseparable costs value is the unique optimal solution that minimizes the total complaints for individual players over the pre-imputation set. On the other hand, analogously to the way of determining the Nucleolus, we obtain the equal allocation of nonseparable costs value by applying the lexicographic order over the individual complaints. Moreover, we offer alternative characterizations of the equal allocation of nonseparable costs value by proposing several new properties such as dual nullifying player property, dual dummifying player property and grand marginal contribution monotonicity.     

Robust optimization of uncertain multistage inventory systems with inexact data in decision rules

In production-inventory problems customer demand is often subject to uncertainty. Therefore, it is challenging to design production plans that satisfy both demand and a set of constraints on e.g. production capacity and required inventory levels. Adjustable robust optimization (ARO) is a technique to solve these dynamic (multistage) production-inventory problems. In ARO, the decision in each stage is a function of the data on the realizations of the uncertain demand gathered from the previous periods. These data, however, are often inaccurate; there is much evidence in the information management literature that data quality in inventory systems is often poor. Reliance on data “as is” may then lead to poor performance of “data-driven” methods such as ARO. In this paper, we remedy this weakness of ARO by introducing a model that treats past data itself as an uncertain model parameter. We show that computational tractability of the robust counterparts associated with this extension of ARO is still maintained. The benefits of the new model are demonstrated by a numerical test case of a well-studied production-inventory problem. Our approach is also applicable to other ARO models outside the realm of production-inventory planning.     

Light-Responsive Elastin-Like Peptide-Based Targeted Nanoparticles for Enhanced Spheroid Penetration

We describe here a near infrared light-responsive elastin-like peptide (ELP)-based targeted nanoparticle (NP) that can rapidly switch its size from 120 to 25 nm upon photo-irradiation. Interestingly, the targeting function, which is crucial for effective cargo delivery, is preserved after transformation. The NPs are assembled from (targeted) diblock ELP micelles encapsulating photosensitizer TT1-monoblock ELP conjugates. Methionine residues in this monoblock are photo-oxidized by singlet oxygen generated from TT1, turning the ELPs hydrophilic and thus trigger NP dissociation. Phenylalanine residues from the diblocks then interact with TT1 via π-π stacking, inducing the re-formation of smaller NPs. Due to their small size and targeting function, the NPs penetrate deeper in spheroids and kill cancer cells more efficiently compared to the larger ones. This work could contribute to the design of “smart” nanomedicines with deeper penetration capacity for effective anticancer therapies.