Antimicrobial properties of viscose yarns ring-spun with integrated amino-functionalized nanocellulose

Cellulose - Bio-based, renewable and biodegradable products with multifunctional properties are also becoming basic trends in the textile sector. In this frame, cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) have...     

Ramsey property, ultrametric spaces, finite posets, and universal minimal flows

We introduce the class COU _S of finite ultrametric spaces with distances in the set S and with two additional linear orderings. We also introduce the class EOP of finite posets with two additional linear orderings. In this paper, we prove that COU _S and EOP are Ramsey classes. In addition, we give an application of our results to calculus of universal minimal flows.     

Thermal,morphological, and mechanical properties of ethyl vanillin immobilized in polyvinyl alcohol by electrospinning process

In this study, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibers with ethyl vanillin as an active compound were prepared using electrospinning technique. The final products of electrospinning process were in the form of nanofibers films. PVA/ethyl vanillin nanofibers, having fibers diameters in the range 100–1700 nm, were successfully electrospun from ethanol/water mixture of PVA and ethyl vanillin. The effects of immobilization process on ethyl vanillin thermal properties were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results of DSC showed significant influence of immobilization process on thermal properties of ethyl vanillin. It was noticed that melting point of immobilized ethyl vanillin was lower (~55 °C) compared to free flavor (~77 °C). Our results showed that films based on PVA/ethyl vanillin nanofibers are mechanically stable.     

New higher-order methods for the simultaneous inclusion of polynomial zeros

Higher-order methods for the simultaneous inclusion of complex zeros of algebraic polynomials are presented in parallel (total-step) and serial (single-step) versions. If the multiplicities of each zeros are given in advance, the proposed methods can be extended for multiple zeros using appropriate corrections. These methods are constructed on the basis of the zero-relation of Gargantini’s type, the inclusion isotonicity property and suitable corrections that appear in two-point methods of the fourth order for solving nonlinear equations. It is proved that the order of convergence of the proposed methods is at least six. The computational efficiency of the new methods is very high since the acceleration of convergence order from 3 (basic methods) to 6 (new methods) is attained using only n polynomial evaluations per iteration. Computational efficiency of the considered methods is studied in detail and two numerical examples are given to demonstrate the convergence behavior of the proposed methods.     

A note on the improved derivative free root-solvers

Using a fixed point relation of the square-root type and the basic fourth-order method, improved methods of fifth and sixth order for the simultaneous determination of simple zeros of a polynomial are obtained. An increase in convergence is achieved without additional numerical operations, which points to high computational efficiency of the accelerated methods. The main aim of this work is the convergence analysis of improved simultaneous methods given under computationally verifiable initial conditions in the spirit of Smale’s point estimation theory.     

On the guaranteed convergence of new two-point root-finding methods for polynomial zeros

We presented new two-point methods for the simultaneous approximation of all n simple (real or complex) zeros of a polynomial of degree n. We proved that the R-order of convergence of the total-step version is three. Moreover, computationally verifiable initial conditions that guarantee the convergence of one of the proposed methods are stated. These conditions are stated in the spirit of Smale’s point estimation theory; they depend only on available data, the polynomial coefficients, polynomial degree n and initial approximations \(x_{1}^{(0)},\ldots ,x_{n}^{(0)}\) , which is of practical importance. Using the Gauss-Seidel approach we state the corresponding single-step version and consequently its prove that the lower bound of its R-order of convergence is at least 2 + y _n > 3, where y _n ∈ (1, 2) is the unique positive root of the equation y ⁿ ? y ? 2 = 0. Two numerical examples are given to demonstrate the convergence behavior of the considered methods, including global convergence.     

Classification of small (0, 1) matrices

Denote by A_n the set of square (0, 1) matrices of order n. The set A_n, n ? 8, is partitioned into row/column permutation equivalence classes enabling derivation of various facts by simple counting. For example, the number of regular (0, 1) matrices of order 8 is 10160459763342013440. Let D_n, S_n denote the set of absolute determinant values and Smith normal forms of matrices from A_n. Denote by a_n the smallest integer not in D_n. The sets D₉ and S₉ are obtained; especially, a₉ = 103. The lower bounds for a_n, 10 ? n ? 19 (exceeding the known lower bound a_n ? 2f_n − 1, where f_n is nth Fibonacci number) are obtained. Row/permutation equivalence classes of A_n correspond to bipartite graphs with n black and n white vertices, and so the other applications of the classification are possible.     

A note on generalized averaged Gaussian formulas

We have recently proposed a very simple numerical method for constructing the averaged Gaussian quadrature formulas. These formulas exist in many more cases than the real positive Gauss–Kronrod formulas. In this note we try to answer whether the averaged Gaussian formulas are an adequate alternative to the corresponding Gauss–Kronrod quadrature formulas, to estimate the remainder term of a Gaussian rule.     

Correlated atomic force microscopy and fluorescence lifetime imaging of live bacterial cells

We report on imaging living bacterial cells by using a correlated tapping-mode atomic force microscopy (AFM) and confocal fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM). For optimal imaging of Gram-negative Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 cells, we explored different methods of bacterial sample preparation, such as spreading the cells on poly-L-lysine coated surfaces or agarose gel coated surfaces. We have found that the agarose gel containing 99% ammonium acetate buffer can provide sufficient local aqueous environment for single bacterial cells. Furthermore, the cell surface topography can be characterized by tapping-mode in-air AFM imaging for the single bacterial cells that are partially embedded. Using in-air rather than under-water AFM imaging of the living cells significantly enhanced the contrast and signal-to-noise ratio of the AFM images. Near-field AFM-tip-enhanced fluorescence lifetime imaging (AFM-FLIM) holds high promise on obtaining fluorescence images beyond optical diffraction limited spatial resolution. We have previously demonstrated near-field AFM-FLIM imaging of polymer beads beyond diffraction limited spatial resolution. Here, as the first step of applying AFM-FLIM on imaging bacterial living cells, we demonstrated a correlated and consecutive AFM topographic imaging, fluorescence intensity imaging, and FLIM imaging of living bacterial cells to characterize cell polarity.