Horn rewritability vs PTime query evaluation for description logic TBoxes

We study the following question: if τ is a TBox that is formulated in an expressive DL L and all CQs can be evaluated in PTime w.r.t. τ, can τ be replaced by a TBox τ' that is formulated in the Horn-fragment of L and such that for all CQs and ABoxes, the answers w.r.t. τ and τ' coincide? Our main results are that this is indeed the case when L is the set of ALCHI or ALCIF TBoxes of quantifier depth 1 (which covers the majority of such TBoxes), but not for ALCHIF and ALCQ TBoxes of depth 1

High efficiency fluorinated oligo(Ethylenesuccinamide) coating for stone

The protection of stone cultural assets is related to the transformation of the surface characteristic from hydrophilic to hydrophobic/superhydrophobic through the application of a coating. The suitability of a coating depends not only on its capability to dramatically change the surface wettability, but also on other parameters such as the modification of kinetics of water absorption, the permanence of vapor diffusivity, the resistance of the coating to aging and the low volatile organic compound emissions during its application. In this work, an oligo(ethylensuccinamide) containing low molecular pendant perfluoropolyether segments (SC2-PFPE) and soluble in environmentally friendly solvents was tested as a protective agent for historic stone artifacts. Magnetic resonance imaging and relaxometry were employed to evaluate the effects of the surface wettability change, to follow the water diffusion inside the rock and to study the porous structure evolution after the application of SC2-PFPE. A sun-like irradiation test was used to investigate the photo-stability of the product. The results demonstrate that the highly photo-stable SC2-PFPE minimizes the surface wettability of the stone by modifying the water sorptivity without significantly affecting its porous structure and vapor diffusivity. The improved performance of SC2-PFPE in comparison to other traditional coatings makes it a potential candidate as an advanced coating for stone cultural heritage protection

MLFC: From 10 to 50 Planners in the Multi-Agent Programming Contest

In this paper, we describe the strategies used by our team, MLFC, that led us to achieve the 2nd place in the 15th edition of the Multi-Agent Programming Contest. The scenario used in the contest is an extension of the previous edition (14th ) “Agents Assemble” wherein two teams of agents move around a 2D grid and compete to assemble complex block structures. We discuss the languages and tools used during the development of our team. Then, we summarise the main strategies that were carried over from our previous participation in the 14th edition and list the limitations (if any) of using these strategies in the latest contest edition. We also developed new strategies that were made specifically for the extended scenario: cartography (determining the size of the map); formal verification of the map merging protocol (to provide assurances that it works when increasing the number of agents); plan cache (efficiently scaling the number of planners); task achievement (forming groups of agents to achieve tasks); and bullies (agents that focus on stopping agents from the opposing team). Finally, we give a brief overview of our performance in the contest and discuss what we believe were our shortcomings

Hydroxyapatite-Based Electrodes for Metal Detection in Wastewater

Hydroxyapatite (HAp) is a biocompatible versatile material of formula Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2, insoluble in water within a wide pH range, chemically stable, relatively cheap and largely available. This mineral calcium phosphate has caught attention of scientists working in different fields of applied science, from medical engineering, to catalysis and pollution remediation. For environmental application, the absorbent nature of HAp is, probably, the most valuable feature. In particular, heavy metal retention ability is attributed to ion-exchange (Ca2+/ metal ion), surface adsorption/complexation, dissolution-precipitation mechanism, with single or combined action depending on the metal nature. Combining intrinsic affinities of HAp for metals with ductility of electrochemistry is a valuable route to develop monitoring systems and/or pollution remediation protocols. In doing so, the main obstacle for the exploitation of HAp as electrode materials is its electrical insulation nature. To overcome this limitation combination with conductive substrate is necessary, preparing either blends or composite materials. In this context, a series of carbon-containing hydroxyapatite composites (C-HAp) have been prepared by co-precipitation synthesis, by varying the conductive carbon source. The prepared materials have been characterized by various physical-chemical techniques (FT-IR spectroscopy, XRPD, TEM-EDX, N2-adsorption/desorption analyses) and the electrical conductivity has been determined as a function of the carbon source. The most promising C-HAp composites have been used as electrode substrates to quantify some of the common heavy metals found in waste water from urban and/or industrial sites (e.g., Pb2+, Cd2+, Cu2+, Zn2+) using cyclic and differential voltammetry techniques. The sensitivity of C-HAp electrodes was compared with that of glassy carbon ones, chosen as reference material. Different electrode geometries have been taken into consideration (C-HAp powder pressed into a cavity electrode, or free-standing C-HAp one). The work is still in progress and among possible alternative routes we are going to prepare directly HAp-based electrodes by in situ electrodeposition of calcium phosphate on low cost electron collectors such as steel. The final aim is to employ the HAp-based electrode as cathode in microbial fuel cells that could act as sensors for the on-line detection of metal traces in the treated wastes

Survival of atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) sealants and restorations: a meta-analysis

The purpose of this study is to perform a systematic investigation plus meta-analysis into survival of atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) sealants and restorations using high-viscosity glass ionomers and to compare the results with those from the 2005 ART meta-analysis. Until February 2010, four databases were searched. Two hundred four publications were found, and 66 reported on ART restorations or sealant survival. Based on five exclusion criteria, two independent reviewers selected the 29 publications that accounted for the meta-analysis. Confidence intervals (CI) and or standard errors were calculated and the heterogeneity variance of the survival rates was estimated. Location (school/clinic) was an independent variable. The survival rates of single-surface and multiple-surface ART restorations in primary teeth over the first 2 years were 93% (CI, 91–94%) and 62% (CI, 51–73%), respectively; for single-surface ART restorations in permanent teeth over the first 3 and 5 years it was 85% (CI, 77–91%) and 80% (CI, 76–83%), respectively and for multiple-surface ART restorations in permanent teeth over 1 year it was 86% (CI, 59–98%). The mean annual dentine lesion incidence rate, in pits and fissures previously sealed using ART, over the first 3 years was 1%. No location effect and no differences between the 2005 and 2010 survival rates of ART restorations and sealants were observed. The short-term survival rates of single-surface ART restorations in primary and permanent teeth, and the caries-preventive effect of ART sealants were high. Clinical relevance: ART can safely be used in single-surface cavities in both primary and permanent teeth. ART sealants have a high caries preventive effect

Computing Minimal Models Modulo Subset-Simulation for Modal Logics

In this paper we propose a novel minimality criterion for models of modal logics based on a variation of the notion of simulation, called subset-simulation. We present a minimal model sound and complete tableau calculus for the generation of this new kind of minimal models for the multi-modal logic K (m), and we discuss extensions to cover more expressive logics. The generation of minimal models is performed incrementally by using a minimality test to close branches representing non-minimal models, or to update the set of minimal models. Subset-simulation minimal models have the advantage that they are semantically more natural than models obtained by using syntactic minimality criteria