Horn fragments of the Halpern-Shoham Interval Temporal Logic

We investigate the satisfiability problem for Horn fragments of the Halpern-Shoham interval temporal logic depending on the type (box or diamond) of the interval modal operators, the type of the underlying linear order (discrete or dense), and the type of semantics for the interval relations (reflexive or irreflexive). For example, we show that satisfiability of Horn formulas with diamonds is undecidable for any type of linear orders and semantics. On the contrary, satisfiability of Horn formulas with boxes is tractable over both discrete and dense orders under the reflexive semantics and over dense orders under the irreflexive semantics but becomes undecidable over discrete orders under the irreflexive semantics. Satisfiability of binary Horn formulas with both boxes and diamonds is always undecidable under the irreflexive semantics

Periodical evaluation of photovoltaic modules and diode parameter extraction method using multiple linear regression models

The stability and performance of photovoltaic modules can be assessed by outdoor testing where external conditions such as illumination and module temperature are measured at regular time intervals together with the jV curve of the module. However, the fluctuation and seasonal variation of external conditions can make it difficult to trace changes such as degradation in PV module properties at e.g. STC . This contribution demonstrates the use of multiple linear regressions MLR to overcome these difficulties. The data gathered over large periods are condensed into a set of few predictors, which reproduce the jV parameters at infrequently encountered conditions that are required for comparison. Furthermore, the parameters of a physical device model are calculated directly from MLR predictors, validating our procedure two fold, by applying the MLR method to simulated data, replicating the original input parameters, and by comparing monthly parameter averages between the MLR method and a known parameter extraction metho

Contrasting patterns of genetic and phenotypic differentiation in two invasive salmonids in the southern hemisphere

Peer reviewe

Prevalence and distribution of intestinal parasites in stray dogs in the northwest area of Mexico

Zoonotic parasitic infections are a major global public and veterinary health problem and widespread among stray dogs. The objective of this study was to establish the prevalence of intestinal parasites in stray dogs in the urban, rural and coastal areas of Mexicali County in northwest Mexico. In 2014, from January to December, 380 stray dogs were captured. The entire small intestine, cecum and faeces samples were collected and examined by using simple zinc sulfate flotation and Lugol’s solution staining. Data were statistically analysed. Overall, about 21.5% of examined dogs were found positive for intestinal parasites. Toxocara canis was the most frequent detected parasite, with a prevalence of 7.1%, followed by Toxascaris leonina (5.5%), Cystoisospora spp. (5.0%), Taenia spp. (3.9%) and Dipylidium caninum (2.8%). Dogs were more frequently found to be infected with a single genus of intestinal parasite (18.7%) than co-infected (2.8%). Intestinal parasites were more prevalent in samples from the coastal area (25%) than in those from the rural (24.4%) and urban (20.6%) areas, however, only statistical association was found between capture area and specific intestinal parasitic infection. There were significant differences in the prevalence of taeniasis among two age groups (P<0.01). A seasonal peak of prevalence for intestinal parasitic infections was found during spring (P<0.05), corresponding with a seasonal peak of prevalence of T. canis (P<0.05). The wide range of isolated parasites indicated that people residing in this area are at risk of exposure to these potentially hazardous zoonotic pathogens

Laser based series interconnection of chalcopyrite und perovskite solar cells Analysis of material modifications and implications for achieving small dead area widths

Both nanosecond pulses and picosecond laser pulses are used for P2 patterning of chalcopyrite Cu In,Ga Se2, CIGSe and metal halide perovskite solar cell absorber layers. For CIGSe, the range of the modified material visualized by photoluminescence imaging is significantly wider than the actual physical linewidth, since energy input by the laser pulses leads to material modification in the vicinity of the scribed lines. This effect does not occur with the perovskite absorber layers, where there is no apparent influence on the edge regions. From numerical calculations of the temperature depth profiles and the surface temperature distributions it is concluded that this effect is due to the significantly lower perovskite absorber layer thickness compared to CIGSe and the nevertheless significantly higher laser fluence required for perovskite ablation. The unaffected edge regions around the P2 line in the perovskite enabled a reduction of the dead area width in the fabrication of 3 segmented mini modules, which could be significantly reduced from 430 to 230 m, while increasing the aperture area power conversion efficiency and also the geometric fill factor, which could be increased up to 94.

Mechanosynthesis of MFe 2

Adsorption of Pb(II) from aqueous solution using MFe2O4 nanoferrites (M = Co, Ni, and Zn) was studied. Nanoferrite samples were prepared via the mechanochemical method and were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), micro-Raman, and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). XRD analysis confirms the formation of pure single phases of cubic ferrites with average crystallite sizes of 23.8, 19.4, and 19.2 nm for CoFe2O4, NiFe2O4, and ZnFe2O4, respectively. Only NiFe2O4 and ZnFe2O4 samples show superparamagnetic behavior at room temperature, whereas CoFe2O4 is ferromagnetic. Kinetics and isotherm adsorption studies for adsorption of Pb(II) were carried out. A pseudo-second-order kinetic describes the sorption behavior. The experimental data of the isotherms were well fitted to the Langmuir isotherm model. The maximum adsorption capacity of Pb(II) on the nanoferrites was found to be 20.58, 17.76, and 9.34 mg·g−1 for M = Co, Ni, and Zn, respectively

Investigación sensible. Metodologías para el estudio de imaginarios y representaciones sociales

Este libro nace desde la necesidad de muchos investigadores interesados en poder conocer metodologías que se hayan aplicado al campo de los imaginarios y representaciones, las cuales pueden servir como orientación para sus proyectos o para inspirar ideas o “modos de hacer”. Más que un manual, Investigación sensible. Metodologías para el estudio de imaginarios y representaciones sociales lleva implícito un trasfondo epistemológico sobre una de las corrientes de pensamiento que ha venido formando escuela en Iberoamérica y cimentando un acercamiento responsable al conocimiento, desde el investigador que busca conocer y sentir la realidad como parte de sí mismo, una investigación sensible, en la que si debe existir sesgo este será por adentrarse y decir lo que se ve sin una supuesta neutralidad axiológica, sino con un compromiso por el bienestar y la dignidad de las personas. En el panorama amplio de esta obra se presentan una serie de métodos y esquemas analíticos, tales como la hermenéutica, la semiótica, el análisis de discurso y de contenido, la teoría fundamentada, los métodos mixtos, la etnografía y netnografía, las técnicas grupales y la entrevista. Los que se entrecruzan con diferentes campos de investigación o diferentes aplicaciones, por ejemplo: los estudios urbanos, el arte, el ámbito educativo, las imágenes, la mitología, el curso de vida y la memoria

Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density

Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals <1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data