A general approach to fuzzy concepts

The paper proposes a flexible way to build concepts within fuzzy logic and set theory. The framework is general enough to capture some important particular cases, with their own independent interpretations, like “antitone” or “isotone” concepts constructed from fuzzy binary relations, but also to allow the two universes (of objects and attributes) to be equipped each with its own truth structure. Perhaps the most important feature of our approach is that we do not commit ourselves to any kind of logical connector, covering thus the case of a possibly non‐commutative conjunction too. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Abkühlungskurven von Natriumstearatlösungen in Gegenwart von Elektrolyten

Ohne Zusammenfassung Ins Deutsche übersetzt von E. Lottermoser (Leipzig).     

Lowlying levels of the odd69As nucleus in the particle quadrupol-phonon coupling model (PTQM)

The low excited states of the⁶⁹As nucleus have been described in the framework of theSU(6) particle-quadrupole-phonon coupling model (PTQM).     

X-ray generation in inverse capillary discharges forpumping

An inexpensive, tunable, filamentary X-ray generator, based on the bremsstrahlung of a pulsed, high-power-density electron beam cruising along a dielectric fiber is presented. At small scale, it encodes some of the features of an X-ray machine for triggering the energy stored in the long-lived ¹⁷⁸Hf^m2 nuclear isomer, in particular an optimum coupling to the active medium This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Finite filtrations of modules and shellable multicomplexes

We introduce pretty clean modules, extending the notion of clean modules by Dress, and show that pretty clean modules are sequentially Cohen–Macaulay. We also extend a theorem of Dress on shellable simplicial complexes to multicomplexes.     

Sodium‐Naphthalenide‐Driven Synthesis of Base‐Metal Nanoparticles and Follow‐up Reactions

Mo⁰, W⁰, Fe⁰, Ru⁰, Re⁰, and Zn⁰ nanoparticles—essentially base metals—are prepared as a general strategy by a sodium naphthalenide ([NaNaph])‐driven reduction of simple metal chlorides in ethers (1,2‐dimethoxyethane (DME), tetrahydrofuran (THF)). All the nanoparticles have diameters ≤10 nm, and they can be obtained either as powder samples or long‐term stable suspensions. Direct follow‐up reactions (e.g., Mo⁰+S₈, FeCl₃+AsCl₃, ReCl₅+MoCl₅), moreover, allow the preparation of MoS₂, FeAs₂, or Re₄Mo nanoparticles of similar size as the pristine metals (≤10 nm).     

Deteriorated Geometrical Stiffness for Higher Order Finite Elements with Application to Panel Flutter

Higher order elements were first design for linear problems where, in certain situations, they present advantages over the lower order elements. A method to efficiently extend their use to geometrical nonlinear problems as panel flutter and postbuckling behavior is presented. The chaotic and limit-cycle oscillations of an isotropic plate are obtained based on direct integration of the discretized equation of motion. The plate is modeled using the von Karman theory and the geometrical nonlinearities are separated in a nonlinear term of the first kind which manifests especially in the prebuckling and buckling regimes, and a nonlinear term of the second kind which is responsible for the postbuckling behavior. A fifth order, fully compatible element has been used to model thin plates while the inplane loads where introduced through a membrane element. The aerodynamics was modeled using the first order 'piston theory. The method introduces the concept of a deteriorated form of the second geometric matrix which is equivalent to neglecting higher order terms in the strain energy of the plate. This allows for a drastic reduction in the computational effort with no observable loss of accuracy. Well established results in the literature are used to validate the method.     

Green light radiation effects on free radicals inhibition in cellular and chemical systems

Free radicals generation is inhibited through green light (GL) irradiation in cellular systems and in chemical reactions. Standard melanocyte cultures were UV-irradiated and the induced cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) were quantified by the fluorescence technique. The same cell cultures, previously protected by a 24h GL exposure, displayed a significantly lower ROS production. A simple chemical reaction is subsequently chosen, in which the production of free radicals is well defined. Paraffin wax and mineral oil were GL irradiated during thermal degradation and the oxidation products checked by chemiluminescence [CL] and Fourier transform infrared spectra [FT-IR]. The same clear inhibition of the radical oxidation of alkanes is recorded. A quantum chemistry modeling of these results is performed and a mechanism involving a new type of Rydberg macromolecular systems with implications for biology and medicine is suggested.     

A new class of contractive mappings

We introduce a new class of Picard operators which includes the class of enriched contractions, enriched Kannan mappings, enriched Chatterjea mappings, and prove some fixed point theorems for these mappings. Some examples will illustrate the generality of our results.

     

Glyconectin Cell Adhesion Epitope, β-d-GlcpNAc3S-(1→3)-α-l-Fucp,Is Involved in Blastulation of Lytechinus pictus Sea Urchin Embryos

Glycans, as the most peripheral cell surface components, are the primary candidates to mediate the initial steps of cell recognition and adhesion via glycan–glycan binding. This molecular mechanism was quantitatively demonstrated by biochemical and biophysical measurements at the cellular and molecular level for the glyconectin 1 β-d-GlcpNAc3S-(1→3)-α-l-Fucp glycan structure (GN1). The use of adhesion blocking monoclonal antibody Block 2 that specifically recognize this epitope showed that, besides Porifera, human colon carcinoma also express this structure in the apical glycocalyx. Here we report that Block 2 selectively immune-precipitate a Mr 580 × 10³ (g580) acidic non-glycosaminoglycan glycan from the total protein-free glycans of Lytechinus pictus sea urchin hatched blastula embryos. Immuno-fluorescence confocal light microscopy and immunogold electron microscopy localized the GN1 structure in the apical lamina glycocalyx attachments of ectodermal cells microvilli, and in the Golgi complex. Biochemical and immune-chemical analyses showed that the g580 glycan is carrying about 200 copies of the GN1 epitope. This highly polyvalent g580 glycan is one of the major components of the glycocalyx structure, maximally expressed at hatched blastula and gastrula. The involvement of g580 GN1 epitope in hatched blastula cell adhesion was demonstrated by: (1) enhancement of cell aggregation by g580 and sponge g200 glycans, (2) inhibition of cell reaggregation by Block 2, (3) dissociation of microvilli from the apical lamina matrix by the loss of its gel-like structure resulting in a change of the blastula embryonal form and consequent inhibition of gastrulation at saturating concentration of Block 2, and (4) aggregation of beads coated with the immune-purified g580 protein-free glycan. These results, together with the previous atomic force microscopy measurements of GN1 binding strength, indicated that this highly polyvalent and calcium ion dependent glycan–glycan binding can provide the force of 40 nanonewtons per single ectodermal cell association of microvilli with the apical lamina, and conservation of glycocalyx gel-like structure. This force can hold the weight of 160,000 cells in sea water, thus it is sufficient to establish, maintain and preserve blastula form after hatching, and prior to the complete formation of further stabilizing basal lamina.