Resolution of composite fuzzy relation equations based on Archimedean triangular norms

Lately, the sup-t-norm composition of fuzzy relations has been used instead of the well-known max–min. Thus, there is a need for methods of studying and solving sup-t-norm fuzzy relation equations (t is any t-norm). In this paper, the solution existence problem is first studied and solvability criteria for composite fuzzy relation equations of any t-norm are given. Then, a methodology for solving fuzzy relation equations based on sup-t composition, where t is an Archimedean t-norm, is proposed. This resolution method is simpler and faster than those proposed for covering all the continuous t-norms. The result is important, since, as is shown in the paper, the only continuous t-norm that is not Archimedean is the “minimum”.     

Cooperative oligopoly games with boundedly rational firms

We analyze cooperative Cournot games with boundedly rational firms. Due to cognitive constraints, the members of a coalition cannot accurately predict the coalitional structure of the non-members. Thus, they compute their value using simple heuristics. In particular, they assign various non-equilibrium probability distributions over the outsiders’ set of partitions. We construct the characteristic function of a coalition in such an environment and we analyze the core of the corresponding games. We show that the core is non-empty provided the number of firms in the market is sufficiently large. Moreover, we show that if two distributions over the set of partitions are related via first-order dominance, then the core of the game under the dominated distribution is a subset of the core under the dominant distribution.     

Development and validation of a gas chromatography-mass spectrometric method for the determination of sildenafil and desmethyl-sildenafil in whole blood

Sildenafil (SDL) is a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor and it is approved for the treatment of erectile dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension. SDL is extensively metabolized to its pharmacologically active metabolite, desmethyl‐sildenafil (DSDL). A sensitive and specific GC/MS method for the determination of SDL and DSDL in whole blood was developed and validated to support therapeutic drug monitoring of SDL patients. The combination of solid‐phase extraction with derivatization using BSTFA with 1% TMCS in acetonitrile efficiently reduced matrix effect and improved sensitivity of the method. In this assay, protriptyline was used as internal standard for both analytes. The LODs were 1.50 and 5.00 ng/mL for SDL and DSDL, respectively, whereas the respective LOQs were 5.00 and 15.0 ng/mL. The calibration curves were linear up to 500.0 ng/mL (SDL: R² 0.992, DSDL: R² 0.990). Absolute recovery values for both analytes ranged from 83.1 to 93.2%. Within‐ and between‐batch accuracy was less than 11.8 and 10.2%, respectively, whereas within‐ and between‐batch precision was less than 8.1 and 10.8%, correspondingly. The developed method is suitable for the determination of SDL and DSDL concentrations in blood samples obtained from patients under Viagra^® treatment, for pharmacokinetic studies or for the investigation of related forensic cases.     

Voltametric behaviour of solutions of γ-irradiated KCl

We have studied the voltametric behaviour of solutions of γ-irradiated alkali halides. We identify the existence of hydrated electrons and we believe we have observed the phenomenon of aquoluminescence.     

Poly{dl-lactide-b-[oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether (meth)acrylate)]} block copolymers. Synthesis,characterization, micellization behavior in aqueous solutions and encapsulation of model hydrophobic compounds

A series of well-defined poly{dl -lactide-b-[oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether (meth)acrylate)]} (PDLLA-b-POEG[M]A) functional amphiphilic diblock copolymers was synthesized by employing a multistep procedure involving: (a) ring-opening polymerization of dl -lactide using n-decanol and stannous octoate as the initiating system, (b) esterification reaction of the PDLLA hydroxyl end groups with 2-bromoisobutyryl bromide, (c) atom transfer radical polymerization of OEG(M)A with the newly created bromoisobutyryl initiating site, and (d) incorporation of biotin or folic acid at the POEGA chain ends using click chemistry. The products were characterized by NMR spectroscopy and SEC analysis. The aggregation behavior of the synthesized block copolymers was investigated by dynamic light scattering at 25°C in aqueous solutions. The hydrophobic model compounds Nile red and pyrene were efficiently incorporated into the copolymer aggregates in aqueous solutions. High partition coefficient values were determined by fluorescence spectroscopy.     

Finite element simulations of window Josephson junctions

This paper deals with the numerical simulation of the steady state two dimensional window Josephson junctions by finite element method. The model is represented by a sine-Gordon type composite PDE problem. Convergence and error analysis of the finite element approximation for this semilinear problem are presented. An efficient and reliable Newton-preconditioned conjugate gradient algorithm is proposed to solve the resulting nonlinear discrete system. Regular solution branches are computed using a simple continuation scheme. Numerical results associated with interesting physical phenomena are reported. Interface relaxation methods, which by taking advantage of special properties of the composite PDE, can further reduce the overall computational cost are proposed. The implementation and the associated numerical experiments of a particular interface relaxation scheme are also presented and discussed.     

Effect of Various Colors of Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) on the Biomass Composition of Arthrospira platensis Cultivated in Semi-continuous Mode

In the present study, semi-continuous cultivation of Arthrospira platensis using various colors of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as artificial lighting was performed in order to study their effects on the biomass composition of A. platensis. The lowest biomass productivity was obtained with blue LED (4.68 mg l^?1 day^?1), while the highest was obtained with pink and red LEDs (30.89 and 30.69 mg l^?1 day^?1, respectively). All biomass compound contents were affected by the different colors studied, except that of total carotenoids. The lowest phycocyanin content was observed in pink LED (8.2 %) while the maximum in blue LED (17.6?±?2.4 %). Chlorophyll content was lowest in red LED (1.04 %) and highest in blue LED (1.42 %). The highest protein content was obtained with white and green LEDs (50.1 and 49.8 %, respectively), while the lowest was obtained with blue LED (42.1 %). Carbohydrate content was contrarily affected as that of proteins. The highest carbohydrate content was obtained in blue LED (11.3 %) and the lowest under white and pink LEDs (8.8 and 8.8 %, respectively). Lipid content seems to follow the same trend as that of carbohydrates; the highest lipid content was obtained in blue LED (6.0 %), and the lowest was obtained under pink LED (3.8 %).     

Synthesis and characterization of model diblock copolymers of poly(dimethylsiloxane) with poly(1,4‐butadiene) or poly(ethylene)

Model diblock copolymers of poly(1,4‐butadiene) (PB) and poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS), PB‐b‐PDMS, were synthesized by the sequential anionic polymerization (high vacuum techniques) of butadiene and hexamethylciclotrisiloxane (D₃) in the presence of sec‐BuLi. By homogeneous hydrogenation of PB‐b‐PDMS, the corresponding poly(ethylene) and poly(dimethylsiloxane) block copolymers, PE‐b‐PDMS, were obtained. The synthesized block copolymers were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H and ¹³C NMR), size‐exclusion chromatography (SEC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and rheology. SEC combined with ¹H NMR analysis indicates that the polydispersity index of the samples (M_w/M_n) is low, and that the chemical composition of the copolymers varies from low to medium PDMS content. According to DSC and TGA experiments, the thermal stability of these block copolymers depends on the PDMS content, whereas TEM analysis reveals ordered arrangements of the microphases. The morphologies observed vary from spherical and cylindrical to lamellar domains. This ordered state (even at high temperatures) was further confirmed by small‐amplitude oscillatory shear flow tests. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 1579–1590, 2006