nvolutorial Płonka sums

The construction of the sum of a direct (semilattice ordered) system of algebras introduced by J. Plonka – later known as the Plonka sum – is one of the most important methods of composition in universal algebra, having a number of applications in different algebraic theories, such as semigroup theory, semiring theory, etc. In this paper we present a more general way for constructing algebras with involution, that is, algebraic systems equipped with a unary involutorial operation which is at the same time an antiautomorphism of the underlying algebra. It is the sum – involutorial Plonka sum, as we call it – of an involution semilattice ordered system of algebras. We investigate its basic properties, as well as the problem of its subdirect decomposition.     

Femtosecond optical vortices in air

We examine the robustness of ultrashort optical vortices propagating freely in the atmosphere. We first approximate the stability regions of femtosecond spinning pulses as a function of their topological charge. Next, we numerically demonstrate that atmospheric optical vortices are capable of conveying high power levels in air over hundreds of meters before they break up into filaments.     

Controls over spatial and seasonal variations on isotopic composition of the precipitation along the central and eastern portion of Brazil

Based on Global Network Isotopes in Precipitation (GNIP) isotopic data set, a review of the spatial and temporal variability of δ¹⁸O and δ²H in precipitation was conducted throughout central and eastern Brazil, indicating that dynamic interactions between Intertropical and South Atlantic Convergence Zones, Amazon rainforest, and Atlantic Ocean determine the variations on the isotopic composition of precipitation over this area. Despite the seasonality and latitude effects observed, a fair correlation with precipitation amount was found. In addition, Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) air mass back trajectories were used to quantify the factors controlling daily variability in stable isotopes in precipitation. Through a linear multiple regression analysis, it was observed that temporal variations were consistent with the meteorological parameters derived from HYSPLIT, particularly precipitation amount along the trajectory and mix depth, but are not dependent on vapour residence time in the atmosphere. These findings also indicate the importance of convective systems to control the isotopic composition of precipitation in tropical and subtropical regions.     

A liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole–time-of-flight–mass spectrometry (LC–QTOF–MS) method for identification analysis of saponins from Quillaja saponaria bark extracts in foot-and-mouth disease vaccines: Development,validation and applicability

Saponins from Quillaja saponaria have been commonly used as immunomodulatory adjuvants in foot-and-mouth disease vaccines (FMDVs). However, due to the lack of consensus over the possible exacerbation of local inflammatory responses in cattle and its economic impacts, their use has been discouraged by Brazilian authorities. A qualitative method intended to determine the presence of saponins from Q. saponaria bark extracts in FMDVs was developed and validated. Instrumental analysis was performed using an liquid chromatography (LC) coupled to a quadrupole–time-of-flight–mass spectrometry (TOF-MS) system. The method was validated according to the International Conference on Harmonization Harmonized Tripartite Guideline Q2 (R1) and Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply Analytical Quality Assurance Guidelines. Validation parameters were determined and considered suitable to the established criteria. The validated method has been applied in routine analysis in the National Agricultural Laboratory at Rio Grande do Sul (LANAGRO-RS). All results obtained were in agreement with the vaccine's composition described by the manufacturer. The method is easy and adequate for analysis in routine laboratories. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of a method which intends to investigate the presence of saponins from Q. saponaria bark extracts in veterinary vaccines.     

Persistence stability for geometric complexes

In this paper we study the properties of the homology of different geometric filtered complexes (such as Vietoris–Rips, ?ech and witness complexes) built on top of totally bounded metric spaces. Using recent developments in the theory of topological persistence, we provide simple and natural proofs of the stability of the persistent homology of such complexes with respect to the Gromov–Hausdorff distance. We also exhibit a few noteworthy properties of the homology of the Rips and ?ech complexes built on top of compact spaces.     

Low-temperature liquid extraction as a method of the pretreatment of phenol samples for reversed-phase HPLS

A new procedure was developed for the liquid—liquid extraction of phenols from aqueous solutions With acetonitrile. It is based on the ability of aqueous acetonitrile systems to form immiscible phases in the temperature range 271—269 K. The resulting duration of analysis is 40–45 min, the partition coefficient is 45–140, and the recovery is 97.8–99.2%. The procedure was proved applicable for sample pretreatment followed by determination by reversed-phase HPLC.     

Sustainable self-assembly strategies for emerging nanomaterials

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On the efficiency of evolutionary fuzzy clustering

This paper tackles the problem of showing that evolutionary algorithms for fuzzy clustering can be more efficient than systematic (i.e. repetitive) approaches when the number of clusters in a data set is unknown. To do so, a fuzzy version of an Evolutionary Algorithm for Clustering (EAC) is introduced. A fuzzy cluster validity criterion and a fuzzy local search algorithm are used instead of their hard counterparts employed by EAC. Theoretical complexity analyses for both the systematic and evolutionary algorithms under interest are provided. Examples with computational experiments and statistical analyses are also presented.     

Absorption edge of ultraheavily doped Si

The absorption edges of P- and As-ion implanted, laser-annealed thin SOS films have been measured between 1.5 and 3.5 eV. The strong increase in absorption reported by Jellison et al. for As-doped samples has been shown to be spurious. It has nevertheless been found that these edges shift towards the red by ～0.3 eV for either P or As doping of concentration N_i ? 2×10²¹ cm^?3. These shifts are discussed in terms of the perturbation produced by the impurities on the band structure.     

Microwave hydrothermal synthesis,characterisation, and catalytic performance of Zn1−x Mn x O in cellulose conversion

Wurtzite-type Zn_1?x Mn _x O (x = 0, 0.03, 0.05, 0.07) nanostructures were successfully synthesised using a simple microwave-assisted hydrothermal route and their catalytic properties were investigated in the cellulose conversion. The morphology of the nanocatalysts is dopant-dependent. Pure ZnO presented multi-plate morphology with a flower-like shape of nanometric sizes, while the Zn_0.97Mn_0.03O sample is formed by nanoplates with the presence of spherical nanoparticles; the Zn_0.95Mn_0.05O and Zn_0.93Mn_0.07O samples are mainly formed by nanorods with the presence of a small quantity of spherical nanoparticles. The catalyst without Mn did not show any catalytic activity in the cellulose conversion. The Mn doping promoted an increase in the density of weak acid sites which, according to the catalytic results, favoured promotion of the reaction.