Finding Induced Paths of Given Parity in Claw-Free Graphs

The Parity Path problem is to decide if a given graph contains both an induced path of odd length and an induced path of even length between two specified vertices. In the related problems Odd Induced Path and Even Induced Path, the goal is to determine whether an induced path of odd, respectively even, length between two specified vertices exists. Although all three problems are NP-complete in general, we show that they can be solved in $\mathcal{O}(n^{5})$ time for the class of claw-free graphs. Two vertices s and t form an even pair in G if every induced path from s to t in G has even length. Our results imply that the problem of deciding if two specified vertices of a claw-free graph form an even pair, as well as the problem of deciding if a given claw-free graph has an even pair, can be solved in $\mathcal{O}(n^{5})$ time and $\mathcal{O}(n^{7})$ time, respectively. We also show that we can decide in $\mathcal{O}(n^{7})$ time whether a claw-free graph has an induced cycle of given parity through a specified vertex. Finally, we show that a shortest induced path of given parity between two specified vertices of a claw-free perfect graph can be found in $\mathcal {O}(n^{7})$ time.     

Quaternary Ammonium Salts (QAS) Modified Polysiloxane Biocide Supported on Silica Materials

Three types of silica particles modified with vinyl groups were obtained: (i) xerogel formed by hydrolytic polycondensation of the mixture of tetramethoxysilane (TMOS) and 1,1,1,7−tetramethoxy-3,5,7-trimethyl-3,5,7-trivinyltetrasiloxane, (ii) mesoporous silica obtained from the same precursors in the presence of the cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), and (iii) commercial Fluka silica gel 60A with a vinyltriethoxysilane-treated surface. Vinyl groups on these silica materials were transformed into silyl chloride by hydrosilylation with HMe₂SiCl. These groups were used to graft living polysiloxane that was synthesized by anionic ring-opening polymerization of 2,4,6-tri(3-chloropropyl)-2,4,6-trimethylcyclotrisiloxane and initiated by BuLi. Chloropropyl groups on the grafted polymer were used to quaternize N,N-dimethyl-n-octylamine. Silica particles with grafted polysiloxane having quaternary ammonium salt (QAS) groups pendant to polymer chains were obtained. Silica material with QAS groups directly attached to the surface were generated by the action of N,N-dimethyl-n-octylamine on particles obtained by the sol–gel process involving tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) with 3-chloropropyltriethoxysilane. The bacteriocidal properties of all these materials were tested in water suspension against five representative strains for Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Some of the silica–polysiloxane hybrid materials have good antibacterial properties against Gram-positive strains, but not as good as the non-tethered QAS-substituted polysiloxane in water solution. The QAS groups that are directly bonded to the silica material surface are inactive.     

Dielectric properties of BaBi2Nb2O9 ceramics

The crystal structure and dielectric properties as a function of temperature for Ba-based with Bi-layered structure BaBi₂Nb₂O₉ (BBN) ceramics were investigated. The obtained results confirmed the relaxor ferroelectric behavior of the studied ceramics, including a strong frequency dispersion of the permittivity maximum and a visible shift of its temperature with frequency. Analysis of the real and imaginary part of permittivity allowed us to determine the values of Burn’s temperature and of the freezing temperature characterizing the relaxor ferroelectrics. The physical processes, responsible for the relaxor behavior of the studied ceramics are discussed. The additional low frequency dielectric dispersion at high temperatures in the paraelectric phase range was also observed. Correlation between this dispersion and the thermally stimulated depolarization current was ascertained.     

Science and technology in the region: The output of regional science and technology, its strengths and its leading institutions

Summary We operationalize scientific output in a region by means of the number of articles (as in the SciSearch database) per year and technology output by means of the number of patent applications (as in the database of the European Patent Office) per priority year. All informetric analyses were done using the DIALOG online-system. The main research questions are the following: Which scientific and technological fields or topics are most influent within a region and which institutions or companies are mainly publishing articles or holding patents? Do the distributions of regional science and technology fields and of publishing institutions follow the well-known informetric function? Are there - as it is expected - only few fields and few institutions which dominate the region? Is there a connection between the economic power of a region and the regional publication and patent output? Examples studied in detail are seven German regions: Aachen, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Köln (Cologne), Leipzig - Halle - Dessau, München (Munich), and Stuttgart. Three different indicators were used, science and technology attraction of a region (number of scientific articles and patents), science and technology intensity (articles and patents per 1,000 inhabitants), and science and technology density (articles and patents per 1 billion EURO gross value added). Top region concerning both attraction and intensity is Munich, concerning density it is Aachen.     

Analysis of fluid flow and energy transport in Czochralski's process

In this paper the conjugate fluid flow and energy transport problem (involving conduction-convection-radiation heat transfer) resulting from the Czochralski crystal growth process is analysed. The solidifying material is treated as a pure and semitransparent substance with material properties depending neither on temperature nor on the wavelength. The solution of the problem is obtained iteratively using two computer codes: FLUENT, a commercial CFD package, and BEM-based in-house code capable of analysing the radiative heat transfer in the entire computational domain.Obtained results not only show velocity field and temperature distribution within the bodies under consideration but also demonstrate the influence of thermal radiation on these quantities.     

Methods of Image Compression by PHL Transform

In this paper an image data compression scheme based on Periodic Haar Piecewise-Linear (PHL) transform and quantization tables is proposed. Effectiveness of the compression for different classes of images is evaluated. The comparison of the compression quality using PHL and DCT transforms is given.