A warehouse-based design model for reverse logistics

In this paper, an MILP formulation is proposed for the design of a reverse logistics network based on a warehouse location–allocation model, which optimizes, simultaneously, the forward and reverse networks. A single product model with unlimited capacity is first defined. Subsequently, the model is extended to a multi-product capacitated recovery network model, where capacity limitations and a multi-product system can be considered. The proposed model is compared to published work in the field, where different model assumptions have been proposed. Two cases are described so as to gain a better insight into the model and allow a comparative analysis.     

Electroactive conducting polymers for corrosion control

There is an intensive effort underway to develop new corrosion control coatings for structural metals. In part, this effort has been motivated by the desire to replace chromium(VI)-containing coatings currently used for corrosion control of iron and aluminum alloys. Cr(VI) has been shown to be hazardous to the environmental and to human health, and its use in many countries will be sharply curtailed in the coming years. Electroactive conducting polymers (ECPs) represent a class of interesting materials currently being explored for use in corrosion control coating systems, possibly as a replacement for Cr(VI)-based coatings. The electroactivity and the electronic conductivity (or semiconductivity) of ECPs set them apart from traditional organic coatings. As with chromate, interesting and potentially beneficial interactions of ECPs with active metal alloys such as steel and aluminum are anticipated, with concomitant alteration of their corrosion behavior. A review of this active research area will be presented in two parts. Here in Part 1, a general introduction to the topic of corrosion control by ECPs will be presented, including an overview of corrosion and its control by traditional methods, an introduction to ECPs and their properties, and a discussion of the processing issues surrounding the use of ECPs as coatings. Part 1 also includes a review of the literature on the use of ECPs as coatings (or components of coatings) on non-ferrous active metals, principally aluminum and aluminum alloys, although some work on zinc, copper, silver, titanium and silicon will also be described. In Part 2 of this review (to be published in the next issue of this journal), the rather extensive literature on the use of ECPs for the corrosion control of ferrous alloys (steels) will be reviewed. Electronic Publication     

Multicriteria decision making under uncertainty

Formalization for problems of multicriteria decision making under uncertainty is constructed in terms of guaranteed and weak estimates. A relevant definition of the vector maximinimax value is given. Parameterization and approximation of maximum, minimax, and maximinimax values based on the inverse logical convolution are suggested. An application for multicommodity networks is considered. Received: December 13, 2000 / Accepted: August 21, 2001?Published online May 8, 2002     

Quadratic data envelopment analysis

Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) offers a piece-wise linear approximation of the production frontier. The approximation tends to be poor if the true frontier is not concave, eg in case of economies of scale or of specialisation. To improve the flexibility of the DEA frontier and to gain in empirical fit, we propose to extend DEA towards a more general piece-wise quadratic approximation, called Quadratic Data Envelopment Analysis (QDEA). We show that QDEA gives statistically consistent estimates for all production frontiers with bounded Hessian eigenvalues. Our Monte-Carlo simulations suggest that QDEA can substantially improve efficiency estimation in finite samples relative to standard DEA models.     

Effective dimensionality approach to the RKKY interaction in multilayer systems

We consider RKKY interaction in a quasi 2D system with nonparabolic dispersion. In our paper we calculate the RKKY range function assuming the in-layer confinement via effective dimensionality approach. We show, that indirect magnetic exchange in our system can be modelled by the effective spectral dimension which equals one.     

Patterns at the onset of electroconvection in freely suspended smectic films

We report the results of experiments on electrically driven convection that occurs in a thin, freely suspended film of smectic A liquid crystal when an electric field is applied in the plane of the film. Convection in a vortex pattern is found above a well-defined critical voltage. The film behaves as a two-dimensional isotropic liquid: neither its thickness nor the director field are modified by the flow. We present measurements of the critical voltage at the onset of convection in two experimental configurations—one which allows the injection of charges into the film from the electrodes, and one which does not. When injection is present, the critical voltage for the onset of flow increases monotonically with increasing frequency of applied field. With no injection, there is no instability at DC and the critical voltage diverges there. The nature of the flow pattern observed at onset changes with frequency. Below a certain frequency the film flows in vortices that extend over the width of the film; above this frequency the flow is confined to two lines of smaller vortices localized along the electrodes. We present a simple discussion of the mechanisms which drive the convection.     

富锌条件下生长氮掺杂氧化锌薄膜的光学和电学性质

报道了采用等离子体辅助分子束外延方法(P-MBE),利用NO作为N源和O源,在c-面蓝宝石(c-Al₂O₃)衬底上外延生长了N掺杂ZnO薄膜。X射线衍射谱(XRD)和吸收谱中都出现了不同于未掺杂样品的特性,X射线光电子谱(XPS)中也发现了N的受主信号。但是在霍尔效应(Hall-effect)测量中,发现该样品并没有出现预期的p型导电特性,而是出现载流子浓度很高(2.15×10²⁰cm^-3)的n型导电特性。结合XPS结果和理论分析,认为在富Zn条件下生长会导致过量的填隙Zn原子,补偿了全部的受主后,又促使其出现了从半导体-金属的Mott转变。     

Molecular mobility in hydrogels based on poly(acrylic acid) and macrodiisocyanates

Partially water-swellable polymer networks were synthesized on the basis of poly(acrylic acid) and various macrodiisocyanates. Hydrophilic and hydrophobic local regions were revealed in swollen networks (hydrogels) by means of the spin probe technique. The local mobility in hydrophobic regions depends on the macrodiisocyanate structure; however, it is substantially lower than that in hydrophilic regions for all gels. It was assumed that the presence of hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions and the difference in their local dynamics must have a substantial effect on the pharmacokinetics of release of drugs immobilized in these hydrogels.     

Effects of annealing conditions on the electrical properties of Bi4-xNdxTi3O12 (x = 0.46) thin films processed at low temperature

Neodymium-substituted Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ (BNdT) thin films were prepared by a chemical solution deposition technique on platinum- coated silicon substrates. All of the samples were annealed at the relatively low temperature of 600 °C by a rapid thermal annealing process in different atmospheres, such as O₂, air, and nitrogen, and vacuum. Irrespective of different annealing atmospheres, all of the BNdT thin films exhibit good ferroelectric properties, such as a saturated hysteresis loop, good fatigue endurance, and low leakage current density. A large remanent polarization (P_r) of ∼48 μC/cm² with an electric field of 240 kV/cm was observed from the BNdT thin film annealed in O₂ atmosphere. The BNdT thin films annealed in nitrogen and vacuum, at reduced oxygen partial pressures, exhibit smaller P_r than that annealed in oxygen. The difference of P_r of the BNdT thin films annealed in different atmospheres may originate from differences in the grain sizes and the number of oxygen vacancies. PACS 77.55.+f; 77.80.-e; 77.80.Fm; 81.15.-z     

Solid-phase epitaxy of CaSi2 on Si(1 1 1) and the Schottky-barrier height of CaSi2/Si(1 1 1)

Thin Ca films were evaporated on Si(1 1 1) under UHV conditions and subsequently annealed in the temperature range 200–650 °C. The interdiffusion of Ca and Si was examined by ex situ Auger depth profiling. In situ monitoring of the Si 2p core-level shift by X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) was employed to study the silicide formation process. The formation temperature of CaSi₂ films on Si(1 1 1) was found to be about 350 °C. Epitaxial growth takes place at T≥400 °C. The morphology of the films, measured by atomic force microscopy (AFM), was correlated with their crystallinity as analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). According to measurements of temperature-dependent I–V characteristics and internal photoemission the Schottky-barrier height of CaSi₂ on Si(1 1 1) amounts to qΦ_Bn=0.25 eV on n-type and to qΦ_Bp=0.82 eV on p-type silicon.