A decision support system for order acceptance/rejection in hybrid MTS/MTO production systems

In this paper, we present a novel decision support system for order acceptance/rejection in a hybrid Make-to-Stock/Make-to-Order production environment. The proposed decision support system is comprised of five steps. At the first step, the customers are prioritized based on a fuzzy TOPSIS method. Rough-cut capacity and rough-cut inventory are calculated in the second step and in case of unavailability in capacity and materials, some undesirable orders are rejected. Also, proper decisions are made about non-rejected orders. At the next step, prices and delivery dates of the non-rejected orders are determined by running a mixed-integer mathematical programming model. At the fourth step, a set of guidelines are proposed to help the organization negotiate over price and due date with the customers. In the next step, if the customer accepts the offered price and delivery date, the order is accepted and later considered in the production schedule of the shop floor, otherwise the order is rejected. Finally, numerical experiments are conducted to show the tractability of the applied mathematical programming model.     

Catalyst-free one-pot synthesis of 1,4,5-trisubstituted pyrazoles in 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol

A simple, efficient and three component one-pot synthesis of 1,4,5-trisubstituted pyrazoles by condensation of β-dicarbonyls, N,N-dimethylformamide dimethyl acetal (DMFDMA) and hydrazine derivatives in 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol without using any catalyst and activation, is described.     

Novel method for laser focal point positioning on the cover slip for TPP-based microfabrication and detection of the cured structure under optical microscope

Detection of a single cured structure in two-photon photopolymerization (TPP) based microstructure fabrication requires the laser focal spot to be exactly positioned on the cover slip. This is due to the fact that if the laser focal position is not exactly on the cover slip, the structure may not stick to the cover slip and flow away with the liquid during the washing and developing stages. In this paper, we report a scheme of laser spot positioning for the implementation of TPP process and the detection of a single cured microstructure under an optical microscope. For this, a novel yet very simple approach is devised and an uncomplicated procedure is developed. Experimental results are also included to prove the worthiness of the devised method.     

SYMMETRIES OF THE ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS IN GENERAL RELATIVITY

Using the null tetrad approach of Newman and Penrose, the symmetries of the electro-magnetic fields are investigated. It is found that null electromagnetic fields admit Maxwell collineation, and the existence of Ricci collineation and motion is possible only under certain conditions on the spin-coefficients.     

ΛΛ 6 hypernucleus in α + 2Λ cluster model

The binding energy of the double hypernucleus _ΛΛ ⁶ is calculated in α + 2Λ cluster model using the method of translation invariant basis TIMO. As regards the required interaction potentials we use a density dependent effective ΛN force and a gaussian form for ΛΛ potential. With these interactions a very reasonable value ofB _ΛΛ is obtained if the oscillator states up to the excitation quantum numberN=12 are taken into account in the expansion of wavefunction of the hypernucleus. This value ofN is much smaller than that obtained in an earlier study. This lowering inN value is attributed to a much better choice of ΛN potential used in the present study.     

Spectrophotometric determination of tranexamic acid in pharmaceutical bulk and dosage forms.

In this study, a simple, fast, accurate and sensitive spectrophotometric method has been developed for the determination of tranexamic acid in bulk and pharmaceutical preparations. The method is based on the reaction of ninhydrin with the primary amino group of tranexamic acid in the basic medium at pH 8.0. The reaction produces a bluish-purple color which absorbs maximally at 565 nm. Beer's law was obeyed in the range of 3-40 microg ml(-1) with molar absorptivity of 5.093 x 10(3) L mol(-1) cm(-1). The effects of various factors such as temperature, heating time, concentration of reagent, color stability and interferences were investigated to optimize the procedure. The results have been validated analytically and statistically. The proposed method has been applied for the determination of tranexamic acid in bulk and pharmaceutical preparations with good results.     

TmDOTA-: a sensitive probe for MR thermometry in vivo.

The lanthanide complex, thulium 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (TmDOTA-), has been investigated as an agent for MR thermometry in vivo. The chemical shifts of the TmDOTA- protons were highly sensitive to temperature at a clinically relevant field strength, yet insensitive to pH and the presence of Ca2+. Given the excellent stability of lanthanide-DOTA complexes and high thermal sensitivity, TmDOTA- is expected to be a good candidate for MR thermometry in vivo.     

Investigations of the use of 4-(5-nonyl)pyridine as a liquid anion exchanger for tetrachloroferrate ions in aqueous chloride media

In an attempt to gain an understanding of factors affecting the extraction of iron(III) by 4-(5-nonyl)pyridine, the equilibria between hydrogen chloride and benzene solutions of 4-(5-nonyl)pyridine have been studied. From acid distribution data and visible absorption spectra of the organic phases, it was concluded that FeCl ₄ ⁻ ion, with a tetrahedral sp³ configuration is the principal iron containing species. The pyridine extraction of macro and trace amounts of the metal has indicated the formation of 1∶1 and 2∶1 complexes respectively. The 2∶1 complexes are assumed to result from association of a 1∶1 complex with a molecule of the pyridine hydrochloride. The salting-out effect increases in the order, LiCl<NaCl<MgCl₂<AlCl₃ and these differences in the effect have been attributed to the different degree of hydration of cations of the salts present and to the ionic radii. The effect of various anions including the reducing agents have been described. Separation factors of several metal ions relative to ferric iron, in 6M HCl, are also reported.     

Poly (vinyl chloride) decomposition in solution

Thermal degradation of PVC in various solvents at 180° has been observed to be in the following order: benzonitrite > nitrobenzene > cyclohexanone > dioctyl phthalate > α-bromonaphthalane > decahydronaphthalene. The effect has been explained on the basis of β-eliminations of E₁-type favoured by polar solvents. An inhibition in PVC degradation has been observed in nitrobenzene containing stationary hydrogen chloride gas. The deceleration in degradation by predissolved HCl has been accounted for as a Mass Law effect.