A Graded Quadrivalent Logic for Ordinal Preference Modelling: Loyola–Like Approach

We extend a quadrivalent logic of Belnap to graded truth values in order to handle graded relevance of positive and negative arguments provided in preferential information concerning ranking of a finite set of alternatives. This logic is used to design the preference modelling and exploitation phases of decision aiding with respect to the ranking problem. The graded arguments are presented on an ordinal scale and their aggregation leads to preference model in form of four graded outranking relations (true, false, unknown and contradictory). The exploitation procedure combines the min-scoring procedure with the leximin rule. Aggregation of positive and negative arguments as well as exploitation of the resulting outranking relations is concordant with an advice given by St. Ignatius of Loyola (1548) how to make a good choice.     

Quantum Spheres and Projective Spaces as Graph Algebras

 The C ^* -algebras of continuous functions on quantum spheres, quantum real projective spaces, and quantum complex projective spaces are realized as Cuntz-Krieger algebras corresponding to suitable directed graphs. Structural results about these quantum spaces, especially about their ideals and K-theory, are then derived from the general theory of graph algebras. It is shown that the quantum even and odd dimensional spheres are produced by repeated application of a quantum double suspension to two points and the circle, respectively. Received: 31 January 2001 / Accepted: 29 July 2002 Published online: 7 November 2002 RID="*" ID="*" Supported by grant No. R04–2001–000–00117–0 from the Korea Science & Engineering Foundation. RID="**" ID="**" Partially supported by the Research Management Committee of the University of Newcastle.     

General difference calculus and its application to functional equations of the second order

One investigates a generalization of difference calculus and applies it to solve the functional equations of second order. Presented at the 11th Colloquium “Quantum Groups and Integrable Systems”, Prague, 20–22 June 2002. This work is supported in part by KBN grant 2 PO3 A 012 19.     

Thermal Analysis of the Ferromagnetic Materials in the Region of Curie Temperature by Temperature-Modulated DTA

Thermal analysis has been employed to measure changes of the heat capacity of ferromagnetic materials such as alloys in the region of the Curie temperature. Thermal response for these materials is usually small in this region. The necessary increase in sensitivity was achieved by applying temperature modulation. Results obtained by this technique including temperature-modulated differential thermal analysis simultaneously with A.C. thermomagnetometry are presented.     

Effect of GMR and Magnetization Reversal on Microwave Absorption

Low-field microwave absorption has been measured as a function of magnetic field in a series of thin film structures exhibiting or not exhibiting the giant magnetoresistance effect (GMR). Although a close correlation has been found between the microwave absorption and GMR, an additional absorption due to magnetization reversal is shown to have substantial effect on the overall microwave response.     

Quantized Conductance in Heteronanocontacts Between Iron Tip and Perovskite Electrode Under High-Bias Voltages

We studied the conductance of a point contact between a mechanically sharpened iron tip and a surface of the La_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃ perovskite electrode. The tip is fixed to a piezoelectric element and the conductance is measured as a function of the piezo voltage, which controls the tip pressing on the electrode. The height of steps between conductance plateaus is a multiple of the integer quantum e ²/h, characteristic for ferromagnetic materials in which the spin degeneracy is lifted.     

Magnetic and Transport Properties of Tm2Co7B3 Compound

Magnetic and transport properties of Tm₂Co₇B₃ compound have been studied. This compound crystallizes in the hexagonal Ce₂Co₇B₃ type structure. The coercivity (H _c) of the compound was determined from hysteresis measurements in fields up to 4 T. The temperature dependence of coercivity has been explained by a thermally activated process of domain wall motion. The resistivity at low temperatures shows a T ² dependence. At higher temperatures the resistivity is not a linear function of temperature, which indicates an electron-phonon interaction in the presence of a small s-d scattering.     

Mechanistic molecular model of liquid-solid chromatography retention-eluent composition relationships

The development of a simple molecular model of liquid-solid chromatography leading to linear logarithmic relationships between retention factor and eluent composition is discussed. Further evolution of the model and its practical applications in method development are reviewed.     

Apparent Molar Volumes of Multicharged Cations in Dimethyl Sulfoxide Solutions at 25°C

Densities for DMSO solutions of iron(III), aluminium(III), beryllium(II) and magnesium(II) perchlorates and silver nitrate are reported. Densities for DMSO solutions of tetraethylammonium perchlorate and nitrate and tetrabutylammonium perchlorate and tetraphenylborate are also presented. The partial molar volumes of the DMSO-solvated cations are derived and discussed in terms of variation with the charge number.     

Investigation of ion-pair precipitates of selected alkoxylates and complex salts of specific metal cations by liquid secondary ion mass spectrometry

Liquid secondary ion (LSI) mass spectra of ion-pair precipitates obtained for Triton X-100 with strontium, lead, cadmium and mercury tetraphenylborates and for selected butoxylene-ethoxylene monoalkyl ethers with barium tetraiodobismuthate(III) are discussed. On the basis of LSI mass spectra, recorded in both positive and negative modes, the formulae of the ion-pair precipitates were determined. On the basis of B/E mass spectra, the fragmentation routes of [M - H + Ba](+) ions for butoxylene-ethoxylene monoalkyl ether complexes of barium and [M - H + Cd](+) ions for the Triton X-100 complex of cadmium are proposed.