On a generalised<Emphasis Type="Italic">ε</Emphasis>-control problem in Banach space

In this paper a linearε-control problem for a general objective function is considered by functional analytic approach. Existence and uniqueness of solutions are shown. The characterization of the solution is given in terms of a hyperplane.     

Studies on CdS nanoparticles dispersed in silica matrix prepared by sol-gel technique

SiO₂/CdS-nanoparticle composite films (SiO₂:CdS=85:15, 80:20, 75:25 and 70:30) were prepared by the sol-gel route. The films were characterized by studying microstructural (XRD and TEM) and optical (transmittance and photoluminescence) properties. Band gaps of these films annealed at different temperatures (373-473 K) for different times (10-120 min) indicated that the signature of nanocrystallinity is retained throughout the range of our experimental conditions. A thermal diffusion process controlled growth in the crystallite size with increasing annealing time and temperature. The average radii of the nanoparticles varied as the cube root of the annealing time but showed exponential dependence on the inverse of annealing temperature. Photoluminescence (PL) studies of the composite films indicated excitonic transitions. Theoretical analysis of the line shapes of the PL peaks recorded at 300 K and 80 K could be accounted for by the combined effects of size distribution and phonon broadening. It was observed that the deformation potential (E _d) effectively controlled the line shapes of the PL measurements. Received 24 May 2002 Published online 27 January 2003 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: msakp@mahendra.iacs.res.in     

Some efficient methods to correct confocal images for easy interpretation

In this paper we have explained some efficient methods to correct artefacts in confocal laser beam scanning microscope (CLSM) images. The main aim is to enhance object features such that they become clearly visible for interactive evaluation and to reduce the overall noise so that the automatic segmentation and feature measurement can be done easily. A simple automatic-thresholding technique, and a straightforward method to restore the light intensity along the depth of the image stack are proposed. Another problem associated with the CLSM is the non-isotropic resolution. We have presented an interpolation technique based on XOR contouring and morphing to virtually insert the image slices in the image stack for improving the axial resolution. This interpolation technique has the merits of both contour- and intensity-based interpolations. Results of application of these methods on CLSM data are shown.     

Conservation of a prey-predator fishery with predator self limitation based on continuous fishing effort

The paper deals with the problem of selective harvesting in a prey-predator model with predator self limitation. Criteria for local stability and global stability for both the exploited and unexploited system are derived. The effort has been considered as a dynamic variable and taxation as a control instrument to protect the fish populations from over exploitation. Finally, the optimal taxation policy is discussed with the help of control theory.     

Production lot sizing with process deterioration and machine breakdown

The paper presents a generalized economic manufacturing quantity model for an unreliable production system in which the production facility may shift from an ‘in-control’ state to an ‘out-of-control’ state at any random time (when it starts producing defective items) and may ultimately break down afterwards. If a machine breakdown occurs during a production run, then corrective repair is done; otherwise, preventive repair is performed at the end of the production run to enhance the system reliability. The proposed model is formulated assuming that the time to machine breakdown, corrective and preventive repair times follow arbitrary probability distributions. However, the criteria for the existence and uniqueness of the optimal production time are derived under general breakdown and uniform repair time (corrective and preventive) distributions. The optimal production run time is determined numerically and the joint effect of process deterioration, machine breakdowns and repairs (corrective and preventive) on the optimal decisions is investigated for a numerical example.     

A deterministic EOQ model with delays in payments and price-discount offers

It is the purpose of this paper to model the retailer’s profit-maximizing strategy when confronted with supplier’s trade offer of credit and price-discount on the purchase of merchandise. Generally, retailers have to face many types of demands for different kinds of goods. In real situation, retailers have to correlate between the selling price and supplier’s trade offer, keeping in mind profit-maximization strategy. In the proposed model, all increasing deterministic demands are discussed analytically, numerically and graphically in the environment of permissible delay in payment and discount offer to the retailer.     

A CRITICAL STUDY ON THE INTERACTIONS OF HESPERITIN WITH HUMAN HEMOGLOBIN: FLUORESCENCE SPECTROSCOPIC AND MOLECULAR MODELING APPROACH

Hesperitin, a ubiquitous bioactive flavonoid abundant in citrus fruits is known to possess antioxidant, anti-carcinogenic, hypolipidemic, vasoprotective and other important therapeutic properties. Here we have explored the interactions of hesperitin with normal human hemoglobin (HbA), using steady state and time resolved fluorescence spectroscopy, far UV circular dicroism (CD) spectroscopy, combined with molecular modeling computations. Specific interaction of the flavonoid with HbA is confirmed from flavonoid-induced static quenching which is evident from steady state fluorescence as well as lifetime data. Both temperature dependent fluorescence measurements and molecular docking studies reveal that apart from hydrogen bonding and van der Waals interactions, electrostatic interactions also play crucial role in hesperitin-HbA interactions. Furthermore, electrostatic surface potential calculations indicate that the hesperitin binding site in HbA is intensely positive due to the presence of several lysine and histidine residues.     

Phase transformation and optical properties of Cu-doped ZnS nanorods

ZnS nanorods doped with 0-15 mol% of Cu have been prepared by simple solvothermal process. With gradual increase in the Cu concentration, phase transformation of the doped ZnS nanorods from wurtzite to cubic was observed. Twins and stacking faults were developed due to atomic rearrangement in the heavily doped ZnS nanorods during phase transformation. UV-vis-NIR absorbance spectroscopy ruled out the presence of any impure Cu-S phase. The doped ZnS nanorods showed luminescence over a wide range from UV to near IR with peaks at 370, 492-498, 565 and 730 nm. The UV region peak is due to the near-band-edge transition, whereas, the green peak can be related to emission from elementary sulfur species on the surfaces of the nanorods. The orange emission at 565 nm may be linked to the recombination of electrons at deep defect levels and the Cu(t₂) states present near the valence band of ZnS. The near IR emission possibly originated from transitions due to deep-level defects.     

Spherical Minimax Location Problem

This paper presents an algorithm for determining a minimax location to service demand points that are equally weighted and distributed over a sphere. The norm under consideration is geodesic. The algorithm presented here is based on enumeration and has a polynomial time complexity.     

Analytical model for the magnetophoretic capture of magnetic microspheres in microfluidic devices

Magnetic microspheres are used as mobile substrates in micro-total-analysis systems (μTAS), since the particles can be selectively functionalized to attach different bioconjugates and can be precisely manipulated using external magnetic field gradients. A large number of MEMS-based bio-analytical devices employ magnetophoretic separation as an important step during their operation. An analytical technique is proposed in this paper that describes the magnetophoretic transport of magnetic microspheres under an imposed magnetic field when there is a pressure-driven or electroosmotic flow through a microchannel. Successful magnetophoretic capture occurs if the strength of the field-inducing magnetic dipole exceeds a critical value, or if the particles are larger than a critical size. The magnetophoretic separator performance is characterized in terms of capture efficiency. The analysis shows that the capture efficiency is a function of two independent non-dimensional parameters, λ and γ that in turn involve all the physical design and operating parameters of the microfluidic separator, e.g., the dipole strength, particle size and susceptibility, fluid viscosity and velocity, channel height, and the separation of the dipole. Parametric plots of capture efficiency as function of λ and γ helps in choosing the right design and operation parameter of a practical microfluidic separator for a target level of performance.