TEM and EELS characterization of Ni–Fe layered double hydroxide decompositions caused by electron beam irradiation

Electron irradiation of Ni–Fe layered double hydroxides (LDHs) was investigated in the transmission electron microscope (TEM). The initial structure possessed a flat hexagonal morphology made up of crystalline domains with a well-defined hexagonal crystal structure. The Ni–Fe LDHs were susceptible to significant structural decompositions during electron irradiation. The generation of pores and crystallographic breakdown of the LDH routinely occurred. In addition, a compositional change was established by electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS). During 300 kV irradiation, a pre-peak evolution in the oxygen K edge highlighted a transition to metal oxide species. In parallel, nitrogen K edge attenuation demonstrated interlayer mass-losses. It was found that TEM conditions profoundly affected the decomposition behaviours. At lower acceleration voltages, an increased dehydration rate of the LDH cationic layers is observed during irradiaton. Moreover, in situ specimen cooling revealed the retention of interlayer nitrates. An emphasis on the dehydroxylation processes and anionic mass-loss facilitation is discussed.

Estimating growth contributions by structural decomposition of input-output tables

This paper presents a case-study to demonstrate the calculation methods of growth contributions using structural decompositions of input-output tables and their Hungarian applications. Although the required data are available with a considerable time-lag, results show that taking backward linkages through demand for inputs and value chain multipliers into account can significantly alter the picture on the growth effects of industries and final demand categories by the conventional approach based on quarterly GDP calculations. This can be instructive for analysts and policy- and decision-makers not only in Hungary, but also in other countries. The study was performed by using public macroeconomic and sectoral data obtained from the Hungarian Central Statistical Office.

Solving #SAT and MAXSAT by Dynamic Programming

We look at dynamic programming algorithms for propositional model counting, also called #SAT, and MaxSAT. Tools from graph structure theory, in particular treewidth, have been used to successfully identify tractable cases in many subfields of AI, including SAT, Constraint Satisfaction Problems (CSP), Bayesian reasoning, and planning. In this paper we attack #SAT and MaxSAT using similar, but more modern, graph structure tools. The tractable cases will include formulas whose class of incidence graphs have not only unbounded treewidth but also unbounded clique-width. We show that our algorithms extend all previous results for MaxSAT and #SAT achieved by dynamic programming along structural decompositions of the incidence graph of the input formula. We present some limited experimental results, comparing implementations of our algorithms to state-of-the-art #SAT and MaxSAT solvers, as a proof of concept that warrants further research.

NIRS0S: Observations of early-type galaxy secular evolution spanning the Sa/S0/disky-E boundaries

NIRS0S (Near-IR S0 galaxy Survey), is a K-band survey of ~ 200 early-type disk galaxies, mainly S0s, 2-3 mag deeper than the 2Micron All Sky Survey. In depth morphological analysis was done, in which multi-component structural decompositions played an important role. Possible implications to internal dynamical galaxy evolution were discussed. S0s were suggested to be former spirals in which star formation has ceased, forming a parallel sequence with spirals (see Fig. 1). If that evolution is faster among the brighter galaxies, the observed magnitude difference between the barred and non-barred S0s could be understood. Bars are suggested to play a critical role in such evolution. For example, the inner lenses in the bright non-barred S0s can be explained as former barlenses (inner parts of bars), in which the elongated bar component has dissolved. We suggest that the last destructive merger event happened at a fairly large redshift.