Decidable and undecidable logics with a binary modality

We give an overview of decidability results for modal logics having a binary modality. We put an emphasis on the demonstration of proof-techniques, and hope that this will also help in finding the borderlines between decidable and undecidable fragments of usual first-order logic.Research supported by the Hungarian National Foundation for Scientific Research grants no. T16448, F17452, T7255. Research of the first author is also supported by a grant of Logic Graduate School of Eötvös Loránd University Budapest     

Preparation and characterization of hydroxyapatite from eggshell

Hydroxyapatite (HAp) was successfully produced by using recycled eggshell. The observed phases of the synthesised materials were dependent on the mechanochemical activation method (ball milling and attrition milling). The structures of the HAp were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and infrared spectroscopy. Attrition milling proved to be more efficient than ball milling, as resulted nanosize, homogenous HAp even after milling.     

Comprehensive support for nuclear decommissioning based on 3D simulation and advanced user interface technologies

There is an increasing international focus on the need to optimise decommissioning strategies, driven by the anticipation of high costs and major effort for the decommissioning of nuclear facilities in the coming decades. The goals are to control and mitigate costs and negative impacts on workers, the general public, and the environment. The methods presently employed for many decommissioning tasks do not apply the latest advancements of science and technology. Therefore, there is growing interest in research and development into the adoption of novel techniques for improving safety, reducing costs, and increasing transparency.

This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the authors’ results from investigating how current and emerging technologies can be applied to enhance the international decommissioning strategy, focussing in particular on three-dimensional simulation, virtual reality, advanced user interfaces, mobile and wearable devices, and geographical information systems. Our results demonstrate that emerging technologies have great potential for supporting adoption of new instrumentation, improving data and knowledge management, optimising project plans, briefing and training field operators, and for communication, surveillance, and education in general.     

The role of the carbonaceous overlayer in the competitive hydrogenation of cyclopropanes and olefins

In the competitive hydrogenation of olefin-cyclopropane mixtures (2-Me-2-butene + 1,1-diMe-cyclopropane and 2,4-diMe-2-pentene + 1,1,2,2-tetraMe-cyclopropane) over silica supported Pt, Pd and Rh catalysts at 318 K and 373 K, only the olefin is hydrogenated. The other component does not react even after the complete hydrogenation of the olefin. The olefin creates a hydrogen-rich carbonaceous overlayer which is the active phase for its hydrogenation but it is a permanent poison for the hydrogenative ring opening of the cyclopropane ring. On Ni/SiO₂ at 473 K, however, such an overlayer does not form and both reactants transform in parallel in a complex way.     

Improving accessibility of CMS-based websites using automated methods

Universal Access in the Information Society - New methods of identifying and fixing accessibility issues on websites are presented in this article. The websites taken into consideration by the...     

Mild and neutral deprotections catalyzed by cerium(IV) ammonium nitrate

The development of a novel, chemoselective, and catalytic deprotection methodology that proceeds under mild and neutral conditions is described, and its mechanism of action is analyzed in some detail. The scope, limitations, and advantages of this protocol are discussed. Selected applications in synthesis are also highlighted.     

Hydrogen pressure dependence in the ring-opening reactions of propylcyclobutane over Pd/SiO2 catalyst

Temperature dependence and the effects of hydrogen pressure on the rate and regioselectivity were studied in the ring opening of propylcyclobutane over a low-dispersion Pd/SiO₂ catalyst. At a certain composition (1.33 kPa of propylcyclobutane and 20 kPa of H₂) the reaction rate versus temperature curve was found to pass through a maximum. At each temperature the ring opened selectively (or exclusively at 423 K) in the sterically more hindered direction over the clean surface as well as over the steady-state catalyst, yieldingn-heptane as the major product. The hydrogen pressure versus turnover frequency curves were of saturation type for both products over the initial surface at 523 K. Over the steady-state surface, however, the reaction mechanism changed: ring-opening rate versus hydrogen pressure curve passed through a maximum forn-heptane, while it remained of saturation type for 3-methylhexane. For rationalizing the high regioselectivity towardn-heptane formation, the anchoring effect of the propyl side-chain was suggested.     

Factors influencing lake recovery from eutrophication--the case of basin 1 of Lake Balaton

Lake Balaton is a large, shallow, and calcareous lake that was subject to a rapid eutrophication during the 1970s. Management measures taken from the mid-1980s decreased the phosphorus load to the lake from 0.5 to 0.3 g P m-2 yr-1. Using long-term load and water quality data, we analyse the response of the formerly hypertrophic Basin 1 of the lake by the means of simple empirical models. Several factors that are commonly neglected during studies of lake recovery modified the apparent settling velocity of total P and consequently, the biomass of the phytoplankton. These factors included the loads of calcium and suspended solids, the loading ratio of the dissolved to particulate phosphorus, and blooming of the dominant cyanobacterium, Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii. Due to the rapid immobilisation of the mobile phosphorus in the surface sediments, moderate reduction (45-50%) in the external load resulted in a surprisingly fast and significant improvement of the water quality in the hypertrophic southwestern basins of the lake.     

Effects of microelements on soil nematode assemblages seven years after contaminating an agricultural field

Long-term effects of Cd, Cr, Cu, Se and Zn were studied 7 years after artificially contaminating plots of an agricultural field on a calcareous chernozem soil. Effects of three to four different contamination levels (originally 10, 30, 90 and 270 mg kg⁻¹) were studied. Nematode density was significantly reduced by 90 and 270 mg kg⁻¹ Se as well as by 270 mg kg⁻¹ Cr, while 90 and 270 mg kg⁻¹ Se also reduced nematode generic richness. Maturity Index values (calculated for c-p 2–5 nematodes) consistently decreased with increasing Cr and Se concentration and to a lesser extent in Zn plots as well. Structure Index showed decreasing trends in increasing Cr, Se and (to a lesser extent) in Zn treatments, while in Cd it shows a moderate increase. Distribution of c-p groups was negatively affected by the increasing Cr and Se concentration, while in Zn plots, this decrease was not significant. Response of feeding groups to pollutions was similar to other parameters: Cr and Se caused significant changes toward the loss of variability. The proportion of the most sensitive omnivorous and predatory nematodes decreased clearly as a consequence of Cr and Se treatments. Zn pollution also resulted in a slight decrease in this group, while Cd caused an increase. Nematode diversity profiles showed a significant decrease in the plots of increased Cr and Se concentrations, while increased concentrations of Cu and Zn resulted in ambiguous effects. Besides providing evidence on the harmful effects of Cr and Se on a soil nematode assemblage, our results suggest that simultaneous analysis of Maturity Index, Structure Index and diversity profiles provide a promising tool in nematological indication of soil pollution.