The planar hub location problem: a probabilistic clustering approach

Given the demand between each origin-destination pair on a network, the planar hub location problem is to locate the multiple hubs anywhere on the plane and to assign the traffic to them so as to minimize the total travelling cost. The trips between any two points can be nonstop (no hubs used) or started by visiting any of the hubs. The travel cost between hubs is discounted with a factor. It is assumed that each point can be served by multiple hubs. We propose a probabilistic clustering method for the planar hub-location problem which is analogous to the method of Iyigun and Ben-Israel (in Operations Research Letters 38, 207–214, 2010; Computational Optmization and Applications, 2013) for the solution of the multi-facility location problem. The proposed method is an iterative probabilistic approach assuming that all trips can be taken with probabilities that depend on the travel costs based on the hub locations. Each hub location is the convex combination of all data points and other hubs. The probabilities are updated at each iteration together with the hub locations. Computations stop when the hub locations stop moving. Fermat-Weber problem and multi-facility location problem are the special cases of the proposed approach.     

Ultrafast dynamics of a spiropyran in water

The reversible switching of a water-soluble spiropyran compound is recorded over 1 ns by means of femtosecond vis-pump/vis- and IR-probe spectroscopy under aqueous conditions. Our investigations reveal that the photochemical conversion from the closed spiropyran to the open merocyanine takes 1.6 ps whereas the reversed photoreaction is accomplished within 25 ps. The combination of time-resolved and steady-state observations allows us to reveal central parts of the reaction pathway leading to either form. The enhanced water solubility, its fast and efficient switching behavior, and its stability against hydrolysis over a time range of several weeks make this compound an attractive and versatile tool for biological applications.     

An optimization approach for ambulance location and the districting of the response segments on highways

In this paper we present a method to optimize the configuration and operation of emergency medical systems on highways. Different from the approaches studied in the previous papers, the present method can support two combined configuration decisions: the location of ambulance bases along the highway and the districting of the response segments. For example, this method can be used to make decisions regarding the optimal location and coverage areas of ambulances in order to minimize mean user response time or remedy an imbalance in ambulance workloads within the system. The approach is based on embedding a well-known spatially distributed queueing model (hypercube model) into a hybrid genetic algorithm to optimize the decisions involved. To illustrate the application of the proposed method, we utilize two case studies on Brazilian highways and validate the findings via a discrete event simulation model.     

Iron uptake and toxicity in Caco-2 cells

The differences between the in vitro effects of iron attributed to valence, chelation, and complexation are known in terms of markers of oxidative stress. Few studies, however, describe the effects of iron on general markers of toxicity used in the testing of cell cultures. The aim of the present study was to determine the toxicity and uptake of different salts and iron complexes in the human intestinal cell line, Caco-2.Cells were incubated with 1.5 mM of different species of iron [FeCl₃/nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) (1:2), FeCl₃/citric acid (1:2), FeCl₃ and FeSO₄] for 22–24 h. Thereafter, toxicological and uptake experiments were performed.The iron uptake, viability (via MTT assay), and membrane stability (via LDH release) of Caco-2 cells incubated with various iron forms differed significantly from untreated controls which showed no detrimental effects on cells and less iron uptake. The lowest signal for cell viability (MTT assay) was found after the incubation of the cells with FeCl₃/citric acid, being significantly different to treatment with FeCl₃, where the highest MTT signal was detected (p=0.002). No differences between the tested iron species could be found regarding cell proliferation (via serial cell counting) and viability using the trypan blue exclusion test. The lowest membrane damage (via LDH release) was registered in cells treated with FeCl₃/citric acid (1:2), whereas the highest LDH release could be found in cells incubated with FeCl₃/NTA (1:2). The highest intracellular iron concentration (measured via GFAAS) was detected after the treatment of Caco-2 cells with FeCl₃ and FeCl₃/NTA (1:2).This study substantiates the importance of the choice of complexes, as NTA seemed to enhance the toxicity of iron, while citric acid inhibited iron uptake and toxicity.     

Use of Benzoylthiourea Immobilized on Silica Gel for Separation and Preconcentration of Uranium(VI)

Benzoylthiourea immobilized on silica gel was prepared by two-step post-synthesis modification. The capacity of the chelating silica gel, which was characterized by FTIR, was 3.21 mmol · g⁻¹. The separation and enrichment of uranium(VI) from solutions was investigated. Effective extraction conditions were optimized in both batch and column methods prior to determination by spectrophotometry using arsenazo(III). The optimum pH range for quantitative adsorption is 4–7. Quantitative recovery of U(VI) was achieved by stripping with 0.1 mol · L⁻¹ HCl. The sorption capacity of modified silica gel was 0.85 mmol · g⁻¹ uranium(VI). Recovery of U(VI) was 99.1 ± 2.3% with a detection limit of 2 μg · L⁻¹. The preconcentration factor was 250, and the relative standard deviation was 1.53% for a 1 μg · L⁻¹ U(VI) solution. The method was used for the determination of uranium in synthetic samples and a soil sample.     

Vibrational Spectra and Magnetic Properties of Eu3[BN2]2 and LiEu4[BN2]3

Eu₃[BN₂]₂ and LiEu₄[BN₂]₃ were synthesized from a stoichiometric mixture of EuN, BN, europium metal and Li₃N, EuN and BN (ratio: 1:4:3) in sealed niobium ampoules at 1475 and 1275 K, respectively. Temperature dependent susceptibility measurements of Eu₃[BN₂]₂ and LiEu₄[BN₂]₃ show Curie‐Weiss behavior with experimental magnetic moments of 8.03(5) and 8.5(1) μ_B/Eu atom, respectively, compatible with divalent europium. Both nitridoborates order ferromagnetically at T_C = 32.0(5) K (Eu₃[BN₂]₂) and 22.0(5) K (LiEu₄[BN₂]₃). The saturation magnetizations of 5.73(5) μ_B/Eu atom at 5 K and 7 T for Eu₃[BN₂]₂ and 4.2 μ_B/Eu atom at 5 K and 2 T for LiEu₄(BN₂)₃ are smaller than the maximum value of 7 μ_B. ¹⁵¹Eu Mössbauer data of Eu₃[BN₂]₂ at 4.2 K show an isomer shift of —11.4(1) mm/s and an experimental line width of 3.1(2) mm/s. Full magnetic hyperfine field splitting with 26.2(3) T at the europium nuclei is detected. Vibrational spectra of Eu₃[BN₂]₂ are interpreted on the basis of discrete [BN₂]^3— units with symmetry D_∞h by taking into account the existence of two crystallographically independent [BN₂]^3— anions and their dynamic coupling in the unit cell (factor group splitting).     

The shift on the inverse limit of a covering projection

A group endomorphismα : G → G is said to beweakly shift equivalent to the group endomorphismβ : H → H if there existsh ∈ H such thatα is shift equivalent to Ad[h] °β. Given covering projectionsa : X → X, b : Y → Y of compact, connected, locally path connected, semilocally simply connected metric spaces with fixed pointsx ₀ ∈X,y ₀ ∈Y respectively, the inverse limits $$\begin{array}{l} \sum\nolimits_a { = \lim } (X,a) = \{ (x_i )_{i \in Z^ + } ax_{i + 1} = x_1 ,i \in Z^ + \} , \\ \sum\nolimits_a { = \lim } (Y,b) = \{ (y_i )_{i \in Z^ + } by_{i + 1} = y_1 ,i \in Z^ + \} , \\ \end{array}$$ and the “shift” mapsσ _a : Σ _a → Σ _a ,σ _b : Σ _b → Σ _b defined byσ _a((x _i)i∈Z ⁺)=(x _i+1)i∈Z ⁺ ∈ Σ _a ,σ _b((y _i)i∈Z ⁺)=(y i + 1)i∈Z ⁺ ∈ Σ _b are considered. It is proven that ifσ _a andσ _b are topologically conjugate thena _# :π ₁(X, x ₀) →π ₁(X, x ₀) is weakly shift equivalent tob _# :π ₁(Y, y ₀) →π ₁(Y, y ₀). Furthermore, ifa : X → X andb : Y → Y are expanding endomorphisms of compact differentiable manifolds, weak shift equivalence is a complete invariant of topological conjugacy. The use of this invariant is demonstrated by giving a complete classification of the shifts of expanding maps on the klein bottle. The reader is referred to Section 4 of this work for a detailed statement of results.     

On the sound absorption performance of a felt sound absorber

In this work, we have developed an analytical model of a multilayer porous material based on the transfer matrix method to predict the absorption behavior at plane wave incidence. The aim of this study is to modify/tune the sound absorption coefficient of a felt to obtain an improved absorbing performance in the mid frequency range without increasing its weight. To achieve this target, the developed model has been used to find the best combination of each layer type and thickness. The analytical results were validated by test results.