Decomposability of free Tarski algebras

In this paper we study the direct decomposability of free Tarski algebras. We show that infinite freely generated Tarski algebras are directly indecomposable, whereas finite freely generated Tarski algebras can only be decomposed into a direct product of two factors, one of which is the two-element Tarski algebra.     

New Method for Catalyst Powder Manufacturing Based on Solvent Combustion

A new method for the synthesis of fine catalyst powders is presented. Catalyst precursors are dissolved in an ethanol-water mixture which is burned through a nozzle-type burner. As a result, catalyst powders are formed and removed from flue gases through a filter. LaMnO₃ catalysts for the catalytic combustion of methane have been prepared, characterised (TEM, XRD) and compared with a reference manfacturing method (the citrates one) showing promising, though improvable, results. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

An FDTD approach to the simulation of quantum-well infrared photodetectors

A Finite Difference Time Domain approach is used to design and to optimize quantum-well based infrared photodetectors. Results showing the influence of some parameters on the performance of these devices are presented and discussed.     

Neuroprotection from NMDA excitotoxic lesion by Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase gene delivery to the postnatal rat brain by a modular protein vector

Background  

Superoxide mediated oxidative stress is a key neuropathologic mechanism in acute central nervous system injuries. We have analyzed the neuroprotective efficacy of the transient overexpression of antioxidant enzyme Cu/Zn Superoxide dismutase (SOD) after excitotoxic injury to the immature rat brain by using a recently constructed modular protein vector for non-viral gene delivery termed NLSCt. For this purpose, animals were injected with the NLSCt vector carrying the Cu/Zn SOD or the control GFP transgenes 2 hours after intracortical N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) administration, and daily functional evaluation was performed. Moreover, 3 days after, lesion volume, neuronal degeneration and nitrotyrosine immunoreactivity were evaluated.     

Rheology and structure formation in diluted mixed particle-surfactant systems

In the present work, we focus on the bulk rheology of mixtures consisting of surfactant modified silica nanoparticles in water. Depending on the ratio of surfactant and nanoparticle concentrations, significant modifications in the measured rheology are evidenced. A domain where the dispersions behave like viscoelastic media is observed. Outside this domain, the dispersions exhibit viscous properties. The changes in the bulk rheology characteristics are discussed in terms of interaction effects between the surfactant and the particles. The results obtained are seen in the context of diluted emulsions' properties and characteristics.     

Deformable two-dimensional photonic crystal slab for cavity optomechanics

We have designed photonic crystal suspended membranes with optimized optical and mechanical properties for cavity optomechanics. Such resonators sustain vibration modes in the megahertz range with quality factors of a few thousand. Thanks to a two-dimensional square lattice of holes, their reflectivity at normal incidence at 1064?nm reaches values as high as 95%. These two features, combined with the very low mass of the membrane, open the way to the use of such periodic structures as deformable end mirrors in Fabry-Perot cavities for the investigation of cavity optomechanical effects.     

Representation of Gaussian isotropic spin random fields

We develop a technique for the construction of random fields on algebraic structures. We deal with two general situations: random fields on homogeneous spaces of a compact group and in the spin line bundles of the 2$2$-sphere. In particular, every complex Gaussian isotropic spin random field can be represented in this way. Our construction extends P. Lévy’s original idea for the spherical Brownian motion.     

KAM for quasi-linear and fully nonlinear forced perturbations of Airy equation

We prove the existence of small amplitude quasi-periodic solutions for quasi-linear and fully nonlinear forced perturbations of the linear Airy equation. For Hamiltonian or reversible nonlinearities we also prove their linear stability. The key analysis concerns the reducibility of the linearized operator at an approximate solution, which provides a sharp asymptotic expansion of its eigenvalues. For quasi-linear perturbations this cannot be directly obtained by a KAM iteration. Hence we first perform a regularization procedure, which conjugates the linearized operator to an operator with constant coefficients plus a bounded remainder. These transformations are obtained by changes of variables induced by diffeomorphisms of the torus and pseudo-differential operators. At this point we implement a Nash–Moser iteration (with second order Melnikov non-resonance conditions) which completes the reduction to constant coefficients.     

Bounded BCK‐algebras and their generated variety

In this paper we prove that the equational class generated by bounded BCK‐algebras is the variety generated by the class of finite simple bounded BCK‐algebras. To obtain these results we prove that every simple algebra in the equational class generated by bounded BCK‐algebras is also a relatively simple bounded BCK‐algebra. Moreover, we show that every simple bounded BCK‐algebra can be embedded into a simple integral commutative bounded residuated lattice. We extend our main results to some richer subreducts of the class of integral commutative bounded residuated lattices and to the involutive case. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)