Measurement base change for localization encoded dual rail photonic quantum computing

We study behavior of number states in systems of coupled modes. Using an auxiliary mode and linear transformations, we propose a simple method for measuring on orthogonal bases other than 0 and 1 in the case of dual rail photonic computing which may act as a simple filter too. Using two auxiliary modes it is shown that an equivalent polarizing beam splitter can be realized for dual rail encoding. Simple structures based on coupled waveguides are presented for these purposes.     

Thermokinetic study of Fischer–Tropsch synthesis on Fe2Cu1 and FeCu surfaces with comparison to Fe(110) and Cu(111) catalysts by the UBI-QEP method

The purpose of this study is to predict the activation barriers and enthalpy for elementary steps in the process of Fischer–Tropsch (F-T) on the surfaces of Fe(110), Cu(111) and Fe/Cu alloys catalyst using “Unity Bond Index-Quadratic Exponential Potential” method aimed at predicting the activity and selectivity on the basis of energy criteria. The elementary steps, such as dissociation of CO, hydrogenation of carbidic carbon, C–C chain growth by insertion of CH₂ versus CO into the metal-alkyl bonds, and chain termination, which lead to hydrocarbons (alkanes versus α-olefins) or oxygenates are discussed in detail. The results show that metallic Fe(110) is necessary to produce the carbidic carbon from CO dissociation, but the synthesis of hydrocarbons and oxygenates can effectively proceed on Cu(111) surface. For optimum performance of F-T synthesis catalyst, these conflicting properties must be optimized. In this regard, we studied Fe/Cu alloy catalyst. On all the catalyst surfaces, the energetically preferred path to initiate the alkyl chain growth is via insertion of a CH_2,s group into the carbon–metal bond of a CH_3,s group. On FeCu catalyst surface, the activation barrier for termination of alkyl chain growth by β-elimination of hydrogen is found to be lower than that for α-addition of hydrogen and consequently for this catalyst, olefins are expected to form more readily than paraffins. The results of the model for a single metal surface are in agreement with the experimental data.     

An exact static solution approach for the service parts end-of-life inventory problem

This paper studies the spare parts end-of-life inventory problem that happens after the discontinuation of part production. A final ordering quantity is set such that the service process is sustained until all service obligations expire. Also, the price erosion of substitutable or new generation products over time makes it economically justifiable to consider switching to an alternative service policy for repair such as swapping the old product with a new one. This requires the joint optimization of the final order quantity and the time to switch from repair to an alternative service policy. To the best of our knowledge, the problem has not been optimally solved yet either in its static or dynamic formulation. In the current paper, we solve its static version as a bi-level optimization problem. We investigate the convexity of the objective function and give a computationally efficient algorithm to find an exact optimal solution up to any given numerical error level ??>?0. We illustrate our approach on some numerical examples and compare our results with earlier works on this problem.     

K7[PW11CoO40]: Efficient and Ecofriendly Catalyst for the Enamination of β-Dicarbonyl Compounds

Condensation of a variety of β-dicarbonyl compounds with primary and secondary amines carried out in the presence of catalytic amounts of K₇[PW₁₁CoO₄₀]. From this reaction N-substituted β-enamino esters and ketones were obtained in high yields.     

Three‐component solventless Strecker synthesis of α‐aminonitriles catalysed by a renewable sulfonated nanoporous carbon catalyst (CMK‐5‐SO3H)

The one‐pot three‐component synthesis of a variety of α‐aminonitriles has been studied using a catalytic amount of a sulfonic acid‐functionalized ordered nanoporous carbon catalyst, CMK‐5‐SO₃H, at room temperature under solvent‐free reaction conditions. The heterogeneous catalyst could be readily isolated from the reaction mixture and reused at least ten times without significant loss in activity. A clean, rapid and simple method for the preparation of α‐aminonitriles using the recoverable CMK‐5‐SO3H catalyst is described.     

Preparation and properties of new ortho-linked polyamide-imides bearing ether, sulfur, and trifluoromethyl linkages

A CF₃-containing diamine, 2,2′-thiobis-[4-methyl(2-trifluoromethyl)4-aminophenoxy) phenyl ether] (DA), was successfully synthesized from 2-2′-sulfide-bis-(4-methyl phenol) and 2-chloro-5-nitrobenzotrifluoride. The sulfur containing diimide-diacid (DIDA) was prepared by condensation reaction of diamine DA and trimellitic anhydride. A series of novel organic-soluble polyamide-imides (PAIs) bearing flexible ether and sulfide links, electron-withdrawing trifluoromethyl groups and ortho-phenylene units were synthesized from DIDA, by direct polycondensation with various aromatic diamines in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone using triphenyl phosphite and pyridine as a condensing agent in the presence of dehydrating agent (LiCl). The polyamide-imides were obtained in high yields and possessed inherent viscosities in the range of 0.42-0.95 dL g⁻¹. All of the polymers were amorphous in nature, showed outstanding solubility and could be easily dissolved in amide-type polar aprotic solvents (e.g., N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, N,N-dimethylacetamide, and N,N-dimethylformamide) and even dissolved in less polar solvents (e.g., pyridine and tetrahydrofuran). They showed good thermal stability with glass transition temperatures between 195-245 °C, 10% weight loss temperatures in excess of 485 °C, and char yields more than 50% at 700 °C in nitrogen atmosphere. Moreover, these PAIs possessed low refractive indexes (n = 1.57-1.59) and low birefringence (Δ ≈ 0.02) due to the trifluoromethyl pendent groups and thioether bridged ortho-catenated aromatic rings that interrupt chain packing and increase free volume.     

Numerical Modeling of Hydraulic Hysteresis in Unsaturated Soils

This article presents the implementation of the constitutive model of Wheeler (Geotechnique 53(1):41–54, 2003) for coupling of hydraulic hysteresis and mechanical behavior of unsaturated soils in a fully coupled transient hydro-mechanical finite element (FE) model (computer code UNSATEX) developed by the authors. The constitutive model considers the effects of irreversible changes of degree of saturation on stress–strain behavior and the influence of plastic volumetric strains on the water retention behavior. The mathematical framework and the numerical implementation of the constitutive model are presented and discussed. The FE model is verified and validated against analytical predictions [obtained using the model of Wheeler (Geotechnique 53(1):41–54, 2003] as well as experimental results from the literature involving unsaturated soils undergoing various combinations of drying, wetting, loading, unloading, and reloading paths. Comparison of the results shows that the developed FE model can be used to predict various aspects of the behavior of unsaturated soils under drying and wetting as well as loading and unloading paths. The merits and limitations of the FE model are highlighted.     

Predicting the creep lives of thin-walled cylindrical polymeric pipe linings subject to external pressure

Installation of a close-fitting polymeric thin-walled lining is now standard practice for the rehabilitation of deteriorating gravity pipes. Design of these linings focuses primarily on their ability to resist an external head of groundwater pressure whilst experiencing long-term creep deformations. Existing structural design guidelines are crude and do not provide consistent safety factors. In this paper an existing simple analysis for linear elastic (geometrically non-linear) buckling loads is developed into a time stepping procedure for calculation of the creep lives of time dependent non-linearly elastic systems subject to long-term constant pressure. The results so obtained using different simulations of the creep data obtained for a particular material are then compared with those derived from a set of corresponding physical tests and alternative numerical modelling, and appropriate conclusions are drawn.     

Studies of the rate of water evaporation through adsorption layers using drop shape analysis tensiometry

With modified measuring procedure and measuring cell design in the drop profile tensiometer PAT, it became possible to study the rate of water evaporation through adsorbed or spread surface layers. This method was employed to measure the rate of water evaporation from drops covered by adsorbed layers of some proteins and surfactants, in particular n-dodecanol. It was shown that the formation of dense (double or condensed) adsorbed layers of protein and the formation of 2D-condensed n-dodecanol layer decrease the water evaporation rate by 20-25% as compared with pure water. At the same time, the adsorbed layers of ordinary surfactants (sodium dodecyl sulfate and nonionic ethoxylated surfactant C(14)EO(8)) do not affect the water evaporation rate remarkably.