Fuzzy Representation of Principal’s Preferences in Inspire Negotiation Support System

We consider the negotiation problem, in which an agent negotiates on behalf of a principal. Our considerations are focused on the Inspire negotiation support system in which the principal’s preferences are visualised by circles. In this way, the principal describes the importance of each negotiation issue and the relative utility of each considered option. The paper proposes how this preference information may be implemented by the agent for determining a scoring function used to support decisions throughout the negotiation process. The starting point of our considerations is a discussion regarding the visualisation of the principal’s preferences. We assume here that the importance of each issue and the utility of each option increases with the size of the circle representing them. The imprecise meaning of the notion of “circle size” implies that in a considered case, the utility of an option should be evaluated by a fuzzy number. The proposed utility fuzzification is justified by a simple analysis of results obtained from the empirical prenegotiation experiment. A novel method is proposed to determine trapezoidal fuzzy numbers, which evaluates an option’s utility using a series of answers given by the participants of the experiment. The utilities obtained this way are applied to determine the fuzzy scoring function for an agent. By determining such a common generalised fuzzy scoring system, our approach helps agents handle the differences in human cognitive processes associated with understanding the principal’s preferences. This work is the first approach to fuzzification of the preferences in the Inspire negotiation support system.     

Synthesis and Absorption Properties of Long Acenoacenes

Acenes, polyaromatic hydrocarbons composed of linearly fused benzene rings have received immense attention due to their performance as semiconductors in organic optoelectronic applications. Their appealing physicochemical properties, such as extended delocalization, high charge carrier mobilities, narrow HOMO-LOMO gaps and partially radical character in the ground state make them very attractive targets for many potential applications. However, the intrinsic synthetic challenges of unsubstituted members such as high reactivity and poor solubility are still limiting factors for their wider exploitation. Herein, we report a simple general synthesis of a new family of angularly fused acenoacenes with improved stability compared to their isoelectronic linear counterparts. The synthesis and comprehensive characterization of pentacenopentacene, pentacenohexacene and hexacenohexacene, with lengths between decacene and dodecacene, are disclosed.     

Chromogenic macrocyclic derivatives of azoles—synthesis and properties

The synthesis of macrocyclic chromogenic derivatives of pyrrole and imidazole is described. The complexing properties of these compounds with metal cations were investigated spectrophotometrically in acetonitrile. The synthesized crown ethers were also tested as ion carriers in ion-selective membrane electrodes. The X-ray structure of one isomer of 18-membered pyrrole crown ether is reported.     

Densitometric and Videodensitometric TLC Determination of Timolol and Betaxolol in Ophthalmic Solutions

JPC – Journal of Planar Chromatography – Modern TLC - A new, accurate, rapid TLC method has been established for determination of timolol maleate (Timohexal 0.1%, Timoptic 0.25%) and...     

Modern Modelling Methods in Drying

Several modern modelling techniques are presented as tools for drying science and technology, namely pore networks, discrete element method and population balances. After first presenting results from their own research, the authors indicate what future contributions to a better understanding of the drying process at different levels—single porous particles, agitated and fluidised beds—may be expected.     

An ion-imprinted thiocyanato-functionalized mesoporous silica for preconcentration of gold(III) prior to its quantitation by slurry sampling graphite furnace AAS

A gold(III)-imprinted thiocyanato-functionalized silica network of type SBA-15 was prepared by co-condensation of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) with thiocyanatopropyltriethoxysilane (TCTES) in the presence of Pluronic123 and Au(III) ions. Compared to the non-imprinted material, the imprint has a higher selectivity and adsorption capacity for Au(III). The maximum static adsorption capacity for Au(III) is 475 mg·g^?1 for the ion-imprinted, and 62 mg·g^?1 for the non-imprinted sorbent. The imprint was applied to the sorption of Au(III) from digested geological samples prior to its determination by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Adsorption is fast and does not substantially prolong the analytical procedure. Under optimum conditions, the detection limit for Au(III) is 2 ng·g^?1. The method was validated by analyzing certified reference materials, and results were in good agreement with certified values. The procedure was successfully applied to the separation and determination of gold in complex geological samples.

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Graphical abstract Schematic presentation of the preparation of ion-imprinted thiocyanato-functionalized mesoporous silica and its application for the preconcentration of gold from digested soils before its determination by slurry sampling graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GF AAS).

     

Spectroscopy and crystal structure of anabasine salts

The anabasinium hydrochloride, hydriodide and perchlorate were characterized by IR and NMR spectroscopy as well as by X-ray diffraction. Anabasinium hydrochloride crystallizes with three independent ionic pairs in the asymmetric part of the orthorhombic unit cell, while anabasinium hydriodide and perchlorate crystals, being isostructural, are hexagonal and contain only one symmetry independent ionic pair. Despite these differences in the crystal data, both types of crystals display very similar helical solid-state patterns. The reported results combined with the CSD searches indicate an inherent tendency of anabasinium salts to crystallize with multiple asymmetric units, and to form folded arrangements in crystals. In the solid state the anabasinium cations predominantly adopt either synperiplanar or antiperiplanar conformations with respect to the mutual orientation of C^*–H and pyridine C–C(N) bonds, with deformations towards, respectively, (+) synclinal or (+) anticlinal rotamers.     

Effect of the Composition of Two-Component Mobile Phases on the Separation of Selected Porphyrins by Partition Thin-Layer Chromatography

JPC – Journal of Planar Chromatography – Modern TLC - The effects of two-component mobile phases (CCl4-MeOH, CHCl3-MeOH, CH2Cl2-MeOH, and C6H5Cl-MeOH) on the separation of porphyrins by...     

Switch-On Diketopyrrolopyrrole-Based Chemosensors for Cations Possessing Lewis Acid Character

For the first time diketopyrrolopyrroles (DPPs) have been synthesized directly from nitriles possessing (aza)crown ethers leading to macrocycle-dye hybrids. Depending on the nature of the linkage between DPP and macrocyclic ring, various coordination effects are found. The strong interaction of the cations possessing Lewis acid character such as Li⁺, Mg²⁺ and Zn²⁺ with 2-aminopyridin-4-yl-DPPs, leading to a bathochromic shift of both emission and absorption, as well as to strong enhancement of fluorescence was rationalized in terms of strong binding of these cations to the N=C−NR₂ functionality. The same effect has been observed for protonation. Depending on the size and the structure of the macrocyclic ring the complexation of cations by aza-crown ethers plays an important but secondary role. The interaction of Na⁺ and K⁺ with 2-aminopyridin-4-yl-DPPs leads to moderate enhancement of fluorescence due to the aza-crown ethers binding. The very weak fluorescence of DPP bearing 2-dialkylamino-pyridine-4-yl substituents is due to the closely lying T₂ state and the resulting intersystem crossing.