Interactive procedure for multiobjective dynamic programming with the mixed ordered structure

The paper presents a multiobjective dynamic programming problem with the values of the criteria function in ordered structures. The first problem is a model with deterministic values; the second, one with triangular fuzzy numbers; and the third, one with discrete random variables with the k-th absolute moment finite. The fourth model is a product of the three models listed above. The aim of the paper is to present an interactive procedure which uses trade-offs and which allows to determine the final solution in the mixed ordered structure. The ordered structures and the proposed procedure are illustrated by numerical examples

EPD and Characterization of Graphite Oxide/Hydroxyapatite/Sodium Alginate Coatings Incorporated with Si3N4 or CuO Nanoparticles on Titanium Biomaterials

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Non-noble metal oxide catalysts for methane catalytic combustion : sonochemical synthesis and characterisation

The aim of this study was to obtain nanocrystalline mixed metal-oxide–ZrO2 catalysts via a sonochemically-induced preparation method. The effect of a stabiliser’s addition on the catalyst parameters was investigated by several characterisation methods including X-ray Diffraction (XRD), nitrogen adsorption, X-ray fluorescence (XRF), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and µRaman. The sonochemical preparation method allowed us to manufacture the catalysts with uniformly dispersed metal-oxide nanoparticles at the support surface. The catalytic activity was tested in a methane combustion reaction. The activity of the catalysts prepared by the sonochemical method was higher than that of the reference catalysts prepared by the incipient wetness method without ultrasonic irradiation. The cobalt and chromium mixed zirconia catalysts revealed their high activities, which are comparable with those presented in the literature

Optical characterization of nano- and microcrystals of EuPO4 created by one-step synthesis of antimony-germanate-silicate glass modified by P2O5

Technology of active glass-ceramics (GC) is an important part of luminescent materials engineering. The classic method to obtain GC is based on annealing of parent glass in proper temperature and different time periods. Generally, only the bulk materials are investigated as a starting host for further applications. However, the effect of an additional heat-treatment process on emission and structural properties during GC processing is omitted. Here, we focus on the possibility of obtaining transparent glass-ceramic doped with europium ions directly with a melt-quenching method. The influence of phosphate concentration (up to 10 mol %) on the inversion symmetry of local environment of Eu3+ ions in antimony-germanate-silicate (SGS) glass has been investigated. The Stark splitting of luminescence spectra and the local asymmetry ratio estimated by relation of (5D0→7F2)/(5D0→7F1) transitions in fabricated glass confirms higher local symmetry around Eu3+ ions. Based on XRD and SEM/EDX measurements, the EuPO4 nano- and microcrystals with monoclinic geometry were determined. Therefore, in our experiment, we confirmed possibility of one-step approach to fabricate crystalline structures (glass-ceramic) in Eu-doped SGS glass without additional annealing process

Iron inactivation by Sporobolomyces ruberrimus and its potential role in plant metal stress protection : an in vitro study

The endophytic Basidiomycete Sporobolomyces ruberrimus protects its host Arabidopsis arenosa against metal toxicity. Plants inoculated with the fungus yielded more biomass and exhibited significantly fewer stress symptoms in medium mimicking mine dump conditions (medium supplemented with excess of Fe, Zn and Cd). Aside from fine-tuning plant metal homeostasis, the fungus was capable of precipitating Fe in the medium, most likely limiting host exposure to metal toxicity. The precipitated residue was identified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and electron microscopy (SEM/TEM) with energy dispersive X-Ray analysis (EDX/SAED) techniques. The performed analyses revealed that the fungus transforms iron into amorphous (oxy)hydroxides and phosphates and immobilizes them in the form of a precipitate changing Fe behaviour in the MSR medium. Moreover, the complexation of free Fe ions by fungi could be obtained by biomolecules such as lipids, proteins, or biosynthesized redox-active molecules