First-order Nilpotent minimum logics: first steps

Inspired by the work done by Baaz et al. (Ann Pure Appl Log 147(1–2): 23–47, 2007; Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 4790/2007, pp 77–91, 2007) for first-order Gödel logics, we investigate Nilpotent Minimum logic NM. We study decidability and reciprocal inclusion of various sets of first-order tautologies of some subalgebras of the standard Nilpotent Minimum algebra, establishing also a connection between the validity in an NM-chain of certain first-order formulas and its order type. Furthermore, we analyze axiomatizability, undecidability and the monadic fragments.     

Cu(HF2)(pyz)2]BF4 (pyz = pyrazine): long-range magnetic ordering in a pseudo-cubic coordination polymer comprised of bridging HF2- and pyrazine ligands

[Cu(HF2)(pyz)2]BF4 consists of rare mu(1,3) bridging HF2- anions and micro-pyrazine ligands leading to a 3D pseudo-cubic framework that antiferromagnetically orders below 1.54(1) K.     

Basicity and coordination properties of a new phenanthroline-based bis-macrocyclic receptor

The synthesis and characterisation of the new macrocyclic ligand 6-methyl-2,6,10-triaza-[11]-12,25-phenathrolinophane (L1), which contains a triamine aliphatic chain linking the 2,9 positions of 1,10-phenanthroline and of its derivative L2, composed by two L1 moieties connected by an ethylenic bridge, are reported. Their basicity and coordination properties toward Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), Pb(II) and Hg(II) have been studied by means of potentiometric and spectroscopic (UV-Vis, fluorescence emission) measurements in aqueous solutions. L1 forms 1:1 metal complexes in aqueous solutions, while L2 can give both mono- and dinuclear complexes. In the mononuclear L2 complexes the metal is sandwiched between the two cyclic moieties. The metal complexes with L1 and L2 do not display fluorescence emission, due to the presence of amine groups not involved in metal coordination. These amine groups can quench the excited fluorophore through an electron transfer process. The ability of the Zn(II) complexes with L1 and L2 to cleave the phosphate ester bond in the presence has been investigated by using bis(p-nitrophenyl)phosphate (BNPP) as substrate. The dinuclear complex with L2 shows a remarkable hydrolytic activity, due to the simultaneous presence within this complex of two metals and two hydrophobic units. In fact, the two Zn(II) act cooperatively in substrate binding, probably through a bridging interaction of the phosphate ester; the interaction is further reinforced by pi-stacking pairing and hydrophobic interactions between the phenanthroline unit(s) and the p-nitrophenyl groups of BNPP.     

Development and validation of a solid phase micro-extraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method for the determination of furan in baby-food

An efficient and simple method for the determination of furan in baby-food (vegetables and fruits) by solid phase micro-extraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME-GC-MS) was developed and validated. Experimental design was used to investigate the effects of temperature and time of extraction. The calculated regression model was used to find the experimental conditions providing the optimal SPME extraction yield. Validation was carried out in terms of limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantitation (LOQ), linearity, precision and trueness. LOD and LOQ values in the low ngkg(-1) were achieved, whereas linearity was established over two order of magnitude. Good precision was obtained both in terms of intra-day repeatability and between-day precision on two concentration levels (RSD% lower than 3.6%). Recovery values of 91.5+/-6.2% and of 96.1+/-1.3% (n=3) were calculated at 75 ngkg(-1) and 75 microgkg(-1) level. Finally, the applicability of the method to the determination of furan in a number of commercial and home-made baby-food samples was demonstrated.     

Predicting patchy particle crystals: variable box shape simulations and evolutionary algorithms

We consider several patchy particle models that have been proposed in literature and we investigate their candidate crystal structures in a systematic way. We compare two different algorithms for predicting crystal structures: (i) an approach based on Monte Carlo simulations in the isobaric-isothermal ensemble and (ii) an optimization technique based on ideas of evolutionary algorithms. We show that the two methods are equally successful and provide consistent results on crystalline phases of patchy particle systems.     

Study of luminescence and optical resonances in Sb2O3 micro- and nanotriangles

Bimetallic clusters display new characteristics that could not be obtained by varying either the size of pure metallic systems or the composition of bulk bimetals alone. Coating of pre-deposited clusters by vapour deposition is a typical synthesis process of bimetallic clusters. Here, we have demonstrated that hierarchical, gold cluster-decorated copper clusters as well as both heterogeneous and homogeneous Cu?CAu bimetallic clusters (4.6 to 10.7?nm) can be prepared by coating pre-deposited, size-selected Cu₅₀₀₀ (4.6?±?0.2?nm) with Au evaporation at various temperatures. These bimetallic clusters were analyzed by aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy and associated electron energy loss spectroscopy. The results indicate that the growth of bimetallic clusters is controlled by a competition between nucleation and diffusion of the coating Au atoms.     

Graphene oxide based Pt-TiO2 photocatalyst: ultrasound assisted synthesis, characterization and catalytic efficiency

An ultrasound-assisted method was used for synthesizing nanosized Pt-graphene oxide (GO)-TiO₂ photocatalyst. The Pt-GO-TiO₂ nanoparticles were characterized by diffused reflectance spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, N₂ BET adsorption-desorption measurements, atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The photocatalytic and sonophotocatalytic degradation of a commonly used anionic surfactant, dodecylbenzenesulfonate (DBS), in aqueous solution was carried out using Pt-GO-TiO₂ nanoparticles in order to evaluate the photocatalytic efficiency. For comparison purpose, sonolytic degradation of DBS was carried out. The Pt-GO-TiO₂ catalyst degraded DBS at a higher rate than P-25 (TiO₂), prepared TiO₂ or GO-TiO₂ photocatalysts. The mineralization of DBS was enhanced by a factor of 3 using Pt-GO-TiO₂ compared to the P-25 (TiO₂). In the presence of GO, an enhanced rate of DBS oxidation was observed and, when doped with platinum, mineralization of DBS was further enhanced. The Pt-GO-TiO₂ catalyst also showed a considerable amount of degradation of DBS under visible light irradiation. The initial solution pH had an effect on the rate of photocatalytic oxidation of DBS, whereas no such effect of initial pH was observed in the sonochemical or sonophotocatalytic oxidation of DBS. The intermediate products formed during the degradation of DBS were monitored using electrospray mass spectrometry. The ability of GO to serve as a solid support to anchor platinum particles on GO-TiO₂ is useful in developing new photocatalysts.     

Limit vector variational inequality problems via scalarization

This paper presents a global optimization approach for solving signomial geometric programming (SGP) problems. We employ an accelerated extended cutting plane (ECP) approach integrated with piecewise linear (PWL) approximations to solve the global optimization of SGP problems. In this approach, we separate the feasible regions determined by the constraints into convex and nonconvex ones in the logarithmic domain. In the nonconvex feasible regions, the corresponding constraint functions are converted into mixed integer linear constraints using PWL approximations, while the other constraints with convex feasible regions are handled by the ECP method. We also use pre-processed initial cuts and batched cuts to accelerate the proposed algorithm. Numerical results show that the proposed approach can solve the global optimization of SGP problems efficiently and effectively.