Meet-irreducible congruence lattices

The system of all congruences of an algebra (A, F) forms a lattice, denoted \({{\mathrm{Con}}}(A, F)\). Further, the system of all congruence lattices of all algebras with the base set A forms a lattice \(\mathcal {E}_A\). We deal with meet-irreducibility in \(\mathcal {E}_A\) for a given finite set A. All meet-irreducible elements of \(\mathcal {E}_A\) are congruence lattices of monounary algebras. Some types of meet-irreducible congruence lattices were described in Jakubíková-Studenovská et al. (2017). In this paper, we prove necessary and sufficient conditions under which \({{\mathrm{Con}}}(A, f)\) is meet-irreducible in the case when (A, f) is an algebra with short tails (i.e., f(x) is cyclic for each \(x \in A\)) and in the case when (A, f) is an algebra with small cycles (every cycle contains at most two elements).     

An Introduction to Entropically-driven Ring-opening Polymerizations

Summary: This mini-review outlines the principles of entropically-driven ring-opening polymerizations (ED-ROPs), a relatively new approach to the synthesis of condensation polymers. The various features of ED-ROPs are noted and examples of applications to polymer synthesis, polymer processing and polymer recycling are discussed.     

Influence of deposition conditions for bottom cell on micromorph tandem device performance

We have realized micromorph tandem solar cells on Asahi U-type TCO-covered glass substrates. The intrinsic layers of both amorphous top cell and microcrystalline bottom cell are grown by very high frequency plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (VHF-PECVD) at 100 MHz at low substrate temperature (150 °C). For the bottom cell different growth regimes have been explored by changing both chamber pressure and plasma power. The effect of the structural composition of the microcrystalline absorber layer on the electrical parameters of the device has been investigated. High short circuit current density and constant FF in a wide silane concentration range are obtained when using large power to pressure ratio (0.5 W/Pa). However, low open circuit voltage is generally found in this regime. The largest V_OC values are found at 67 Pa and power to pressure ratio of 0.3 W/Pa, where the highest efficiency (11.1%) is reached. An evaluation of device stability has been done by exposing the tandem solar cells to white light (AM 1.5-like spectrum) for 200 h.     

Spectroscopic investigation of modern pigments on purportedly medieval miniatures by the ‘Spanish Forger’

Five miniatures by the so‐called ‘Spanish Forger’ were acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum in 2008. Believed to be authentic medieval miniatures until the mid‐twentieth century, they are now considered to have been painted around the end of the nineteenth and the beginning of the twentieth century. To investigate this attribution and to gather detailed knowledge about the materials used by the artist, a comprehensive pigment analysis by Raman microscopy and X‐ray fluorescence was carried out. Although traditional materials such as vermilion, carbon black, red lead, lead white and indigo were identified, many others (chrome yellow, Scheele's green, emerald green and ultramarine blue) are modern and synthetic pigments, a result which provides a firm scientific basis for stating that the miniatures are forgeries. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The MAST FV/FE scheme for the simulation of two-dimensional thermohaline processes in variable-density saturated porous media

A novel methodology for the simulation of 2D thermohaline double diffusive processes, driven by heterogeneous temperature and concentration fields in variable-density saturated porous media, is presented. The stream function is used to describe the flow field and it is defined in terms of mass flux. The partial differential equations governing system is given by the mass conservation equation of the fluid phase written in terms of the mass-based stream function, as well as by the advection–diffusion transport equations of the contaminant concentration and of the heat. The unknown variables are the stream function, the contaminant concentration and the temperature. The governing equations system is solved using a fractional time step procedure, splitting the convective components from the diffusive ones. In the case of existing scalar potential of the flow field, the convective components are solved using a finite volume marching in space and time (MAST) procedure; this solves a sequence of small systems of ordinary differential equations, one for each computational cell, according to the decreasing value of the scalar potential. In the case of variable-density groundwater transport problem, where a scalar potential of the flow field does not exist, a second MAST procedure has to be applied to solve again the ODEs according to the increasing value of a new function, called approximated potential. The diffusive components are solved using a standard Galerkin finite element method. The numerical scheme is validated using literature tests.     

Precise measurement of Γ(K→e ν(γ))/Γ(K→μ ν(γ)) and study of K→e ν γ

We present a precise measurement of the ratio R _K =Γ(K→e ν(γ))/Γ(K→μ ν(γ)) and a study of the radiative process K→e ν γ, performed with the KLOE detector. The results are based on data collected at the Frascati e ⁺ e ^? collider DAΦNE for an integrated luminosity of 2.2 fb^?1. We find R _K =(2.493±0.025_stat±0.019_syst)×10^?5, in agreement with the Standard Model expectation. This result is used to improve constraints on parameters of the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model with lepton flavor violation. We also measured the differential decay rate dΓ(K→e ν γ)/dE _γ for photon energies 10<E _γ < 250 MeV. Results are compared with predictions from theory.     

Total chemical synthesis by native chemical ligation of the all-D immunoglobulin-like domain 2 of Axl

Axl is a tyrosine kinases receptor playing crucial role in several cellular responses. The deregulation of Axl signaling has been associated to many high impact diseases ranging from cancer to multiple sclerosis. We report the successful procedure for the chemical synthesis of the Ig2 domain of Axl, one of the key extracellular regions of the receptor involved in ligand binding. The protein was synthesized in its d-enantiomeric form (D-Axl-2), opening the way to the selection of D-peptides selectively targeting Axl receptor through the mirror-image phage display peptide library screening approach.     

Spectroscopy of the Hubbard dimer: the spectral potential

The spectral potential is the dynamical generalization of the Kohn–Sham potential. It targets, in principle exactly, the spectral function in addition to the electronic density. Here we examine the spectral potential in one of the simplest solvable models exhibiting a non-trivial interplay between electron-electron interaction and inhomogeneity, namely the asymmetric Hubbard dimer. We discuss a general strategy to introduce approximations, which consists in calculating the spectral potential in the homogeneous limit (here represented by the symmetric Hubbard dimer) and importing it in the real inhomogeneous system through a suitable “connector”. The comparison of different levels of approximation to the spectral potential with the exact solution of the asymmetric Hubbard dimer gives insights about the advantages and the difficulties of this connector strategy for applications in real materials.     

A Study of the Swelling Properties of Polymer Nanocomposites through Electrical and Optical Characterization

In the present study, polymer nanocomposite layers for sensing applications are characterized by means of an optical method based on white light interferometry. The study focuses on poly (hydroxy ethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) and on nanocomposite Carbon black (CB)/PHEMA layers commonly used in chemical sensor technology for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) detection. The interferometric spectra of these two different materials, recorded during analyte exposure, are analyzed in terms of film expansion. Comparison between PHEMA and PHEMA/CB layer shows that the nanocomposite undergoes a more pronounced swelling process. In order to achieve a better comprehension of the sensing mechanism and to improve the sensor performances, the variations of the electrical signal of a nanocomposite-based chemiresistor in presence of VOCs are examined and compared to the optical behaviour.     

2D MXenes as Perspective Immobilization Platforms for Design of Electrochemical Nanobiosensors

MXenes are a new group of 2D nanomaterials with fascinating properties including high electrical conductivity, hydrophilic nature, easily tunable structure and high surface area. This is why MXene modified interfaces are extremely promising for the preparation of sensitive electrochemical biosensors. While there are numerous reports on MXene‐based enzymatic biosensors for detection of a wide range of analytes, application of MXene for construction of affinity biosensors is in its infancy. The review article summarizes current state‐of the‐art in the field with a focus on MXene modifications needed for construction of robust and high performance MXene electrochemical biosensors.