Trees,grids, and MSO decidability: From graphs to matroids

Monadic second order (MSO) logic has proved to be a useful tool in many areas of application, reaching from decidability and complexity to picture processing, correctness of programs and parallel processes. To characterize the structural borderline between decidability and undecidability is a classical research problem here. This problem is related to questions in computational complexity, especially to the model checking problem, for which many tools developed in the area of decidability have proved to be useful. For more than two decades it was conjectured in [D. Seese, The structure of the models of decidable monadic theories of graphs, Ann. Pure Appl. Logic 53 (1991) 169–195] that decidability of monadic theories of countable structures implies that the theory can be reduced via interpretability to a theory of trees.     

Influence of Annealing on the Properties of Explosively Welded Titanium Grade 1—AW7075 Aluminum Alloy Bimetals

Explosive welding of titanium Grade 1 to AW7075 aluminum alloy arranged in parallel setup was performed. The annealing of produced bimetals at the temperatures of 450, 500 and 550 °C for times ranging from 20 to 100 h was carried out after explosive welding. The produced bimetal was characteristic by its wavy interface typical for that bonding process. Increase in the microhardness at the interface was recorded due to work hardening. Delamination of titanium Grade 1 flyer sheet was firstly observed when annealing temperature of 500 °C for 40 h was carried out. Annealing at 550 °C also resulted in delamination of upper sheet. The intermetallic compound (IMC) layer was observed at the interface after annealing of bimetals. The higher the annealing temperature and time, the higher the thickness of continuous IMC layer. The maximum measured thickness of IMC layer averaged 13 µm. Energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and x-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses revealed that the interface layer is consisted of Al₁₈Ti₂Mg₃ IMC. Microhardness at the interface increased dramatically up to 439 HV0.1 after annealing of bimetal due to the presence of above-mentioned IMC.     

Determination of compounding formulation of cured rubber by reverse engineering

The present work deals with reverse engineering on four rubber formulations. Information about the material composition of the compounding formulations was obtained by using techniques such as acetone extract, thermogravimetric analysis, energy dispersive X‐ray fluorescence studies, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy in attenuated total reflection mode. The reverse engineered formulations were compared on a qualitative and quantitative basis with the initial formulations. The aim was to ascertain the validity of the methodology, which may be used as reverse engineering of rubber compounds to quantitatively analyze unknown ground tire rubber in future. The state of the art was based on a fractional mass transfer from acetone extract to the rubbers detected in TGA. Through this new approach, the formulations calculated were very consistent with the formulations employed, thus establishing the validity of the methodology used. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 55:1450–1458, 2015. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Influence of water and magnesium ion on the optical properties in various plasticized poly(vinyl butyral) sheets

The study is focused on influences of optical properties change of poly(vinyl butyral) (PVB) sheets determined for safety glass preparing. Optic measurements were evaluated itself and after, the laminated glass was observed. The study deals with a cognizance of causation of the optical properties change in different PVB sheets in dependence on adsorbed water content into the polymer matrix. Results of this work describe the influence of ? OH group content on PVB chain and type and amount of additives adjusting adhesion of PVB towards glass. However, the most important discovery of this work is evaluation of critical water content that leads to haze generation. The evaluation of various types of sheets was performed. At the same time the artificial addition of Mg²⁺ salts of organic acids (with various polarity of the molecule) was evaluated to assess their influence on haze generation. It was found that haze caused by Mg²⁺ salt is possible to eliminate when there is certain water content in PVB. Obtained values and comparisons are very important for PVB sheets industry and for industry dealing with lamination of PVB between glasses. Influence of these factors and comparison of haze generation for various PVB sheets has not been published yet. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Modification of the fat composition of the Iberian pig using Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus subtilis

The aim of this work was to study the influence of a diet with probiotic bacteria on the lipid composition of different tissues from Iberian pigs. Cholesterol and fatty acid profiles were measured in liver, subcutaneous fat, and Serratus ventralis muscle samples. Feeding Iberian pigs a mixture of probiotic microorganisms for 45 days prior to slaughter affected the tissue composition. The feeds of the control and probiotic groups were identical except for the added Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus subtilis (1.28 × 10⁹ cfu/kg feed) in the feed of the probiotic group. The diet with probiotics significantly affected the fatty acid profile of liver, subcutaneous fat and Serratus ventralis muscle samples, but no significant differences were found for the cholesterol content. The livers of the probiotic group contained lower levels of n‐6 fatty acids and higher levels of n‐3 fatty acids. The subcutaneous fat contained lower levels of n‐6 fatty acids. Serratus ventralis muscles from the probiotic group contained a significantly higher percentage of oleic acid than those of the control group. Practical applications: This study deals with the effect of the addition of probiotic bacteria to the diet of pigs on both the cholesterol and fatty acid content. B. subtilis and B. licheniformis can be used in pig feed (Regulation EC no. 2148/2004), but there are no studies about their effects on fresh meat or other tissues, particularly regarding the fat composition. Thus, it is interesting to study how feeding these microorganisms affects the different tissues. Including these microorganisms in the basic diet could serve as a strategy to modify the fat composition and to obtain healthier products from pigs.     

An adsorptive transfer technique coupled with brdicka reaction to reveal the importance of metallothionein in chemotherapy with platinum based cytostatics

The drugs based on platinum metals represent one of the oldest, but also one of the most effective groups of chemotherapeutic agents. Thanks to many clinical studies it is known that resistance of tumor cells to drugs is a frequent cause of chemotherapy failure. With regard to platinum based drugs, multidrug resistance can also be connected with increased expression of low-molecular weight protein metallothionein (MT). This study aimed at investigating the interactions of MT with cisplatin or carboplatin, using the adsorptive transfer technique coupled with differential pulse voltammetry Brdicka reaction (AdTS DPV Brdicka reaction), and a comparison of in vitro results with results obtained in vivo. The results obtained from the in vitro study show a strong affinity between platinum based drugs and MT. Further, we analyzed extracts of neuroblastoma cell lines treated with cisplatin or carboplatin. It is clear that neuroblastoma UKF-NB-4 cisplatin-resistant and cisplatin-sensitive cell lines unlikely respond to the presence of the platinum-based cytostatics cisplatin and carboplatin. Finally, we determined the level of MT in samples from rabbits treated with carboplatin and patients with retinoblastoma treated with the same drug.     

Mineralogy of air-pollution-control residues from a secondary lead smelter: environmental implications

The mineralogy and solubility of air-pollution-control (APC) residues from a secondary lead (Pb) smelter have been studied on samples from the Príbram smelter, Czech Republic, recycling car batteries, with the emphasis on their potential environmental effect. The presence of dominant anglesite (PbSO4) and laurionite (Pb(OH)Cl) was observed in a sintered residue from after-burning chambers (800-1000 degrees C). In contrast, low-temperature Pb-bearing phases, such as KCl x 2PbCl2 and caracolite (Na3Pb2(SO4)3Cl), were detected in the major APC residue from bag-type fabric filters. Metallic elements, zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), and tin (Sn) were found homogeneously distributed within this residue. The formation of anglesite, cotunnite (PbCl2), (Zn,Cd)2SnO4, and (Sb,As)2O3 was observed during the sintering of this APC residue at 500 degrees C in a rotary furnace. The 168 h leaching test on filter residue, representing the fraction that may escape the flue gas treatment system, indicated rapid release of Pb and other contaminants. Caracolite and KCl x 2PbCl2 are significantly dissolved, and anglesite and cotunnite form the alteration products, as was confirmed by mineralogical analysis and PHREEQC-2 modeling. The observed Pb-bearing chlorides have significantly higher solubility than anglesite and, following emission from the smelter stack, can readily dissolve, transferring Pb into the environmental milieu (soils, water, inhabited areas).     

Furanocoumarins in vegetables: influence of farming system and other factors on levels of toxicants

Furanocoumarins are toxic chemicals that occur naturally in edible food plants such as celery, parsnip, carrot, etc. belonging to the Apiaceae family. Lower levels of these phytochemicals are also found in citrus fruits and other crops representing the Rutaceae family. Since their presence in the human diet represents a food safety issue of concern, more knowledge is needed to reduce consumer exposure. This paper provides an overview of various factors influencing the levels of furanocoumarins in vegetables and processed commodities. Special attention is paid to the comparison of crops from organic and conventional farming systems with regard to levels of furanocoumarins and their changes during storage and processing. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

Comparison of photon transport efficiency in simple scintillation electron detector configurations for scanning electron microscope

The purpose of this paper is to find some general rules for the design of robust scintillation electron detectors for a scanning electron microscope (SEM) that possesses an efficient light-guiding (LG) system. The paper offers some general instructions on how to avoid the improper design of highly inefficient LG configurations of the detectors. Attention was paid to the relevant optical properties of the scintillator, light guide, and other components used in the LG part of the scintillation detector. Utilizing the optical properties of the detector components, 3D Monte Carlo (MC) simulations of photon transport efficiency in the simple scintillation detector configurations were performed using the computer application called SCIUNI to assess shapes and dimensions of the LG part of the detector. The results of the simulation of both base-guided signal (BGS) configurations for SE detection and edge-guided signal (EGS) configurations for BSE detection are presented. It is demonstrated that the BGS configuration with a matted disc scintillator exit side connected to the cylindrical light guide without optical cement is almost always a sufficiently efficient system with a mean LG efficiency of about 20%. It is simulated that poorly designed EGS strip configurations have an extremely low mean LG efficiency of only 0.01%, which can significantly reduce detector performance. On the other hand, no simple nonoptimized EGS configuration with a light guide widening to a circular or square profile, with a polished cemented scintillator and with an indispensable hole in it has a mean LG efficiency lower than 6.5%.