Minimizing the cycle time of multiple-product processing networks with a fixed operation sequence,setups, and time-window constraints

We solve a special case of the single-robot cyclic scheduling problem with a fixed robot operation sequence and time window constraints on processing times. It generalizes the known single-part fixed-sequence problems into the one to cover a processing network with multiple part types and setup time requirements between the processing steps for different parts at the shared stations. The objective is to minimize the cycle time. We prove that this problem is equivalent to the parametric critical path problem, and propose a strongly polynomial time solution algorithm which uses a new labeling procedure to identify all feasible parameter values. The proposed algorithm is based on an extension to the known Bellman–Ford algorithm.     

Size-selected Ni catalyst islands for single-walled carbon nanotube arrays

Many properties of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) arrays are determined by the size and surface coverage of the metal catalyst islands from which they are nucleated. Methods using thermal fragmentation of continuous metal films frequently fail to produce size-uniform islands. Hybrid numerical simulations are used to propose a new approach to controlled self-assembly of Ni islands of the required size and surface coverage using tailored gas-phase generated nanocluster fluxes and adjusted surface temperatures. It is shown that a maximum surface coverage of 0.359 by 0.96–1.02 nm Ni catalyst islands can be achieved at a low surface temperature of 500 K. Optimized growth of Ni catalyst islands can lead to fabrication of size-uniform SWCNT arrays, suitable for numerous nanoelectronic applications. This approach is deterministic and is applicable to a range of nanoassemblies where high surface coverage and island size uniformity are required.

     

Efficient one-pot synthesis of substituted 2-amino-1,3,4-oxadiazoles

A convenient one-pot method for the preparation of substituted 2-amino-1,3,4-oxadiazoles has been developed. The method is a significant improvement over previously reported syntheses. Reaction of carboxylic acids with thiosemicarbazides afforded the corresponding oxadiazoles in moderate to good yields. In general, the products precipitated from the reaction mixture, and were collected by filtration. In most of the cases, no chromatographic separations were required. To explore the scope and limitations of this reaction, various aliphatic, aromatic, and heteroaromatic carboxylic acids were reacted with different substituted thiosemicarbazides. The influence of R¹ and R² substituents on the reaction yield and additional results demonstrating the versatility of this method are presented.     

Quantitative Determination of Olaquindox in Animal Feed

JPC – Journal of Planar Chromatography – Modern TLC - A quantitative thin layer chromatographic (TLC) method on silica gel, with ethyl acetate–acetone–alcohol, 62 + 40 + 3...     

An intelligent decomposition of pairwise comparison matrices for large-scale decisions

A Pairwise Comparison Matrix (PCM) has been used to compute for relative priorities of elements and are integral components in widely applied decision making tools: the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and its generalized form, the Analytic Network Process (ANP). However, PCMs suffer from several issues limiting their applications to large-scale decision problems. These limitations can be attributed to the curse of dimensionality, that is, a large number of pairwise comparisons need to be elicited from a decision maker. This issue results to inconsistent preferences due to the limited cognitive powers of decision makers. To address these limitations, this research proposes a PCM decomposition methodology that reduces the elicited pairwise comparisons. A binary integer program is proposed to intelligently decompose a PCM into several smaller subsets using interdependence scores among elements. Since the subsets are disjoint, the most independent pivot element is identified to connect all subsets to derive the global weights of the elements from the original PCM. As a result, the number of pairwise comparison is reduced and consistency is of the comparisons is improved. The proposed decomposition methodology is applied to both AHP and ANP to demonstrate its advantages.     

Phase diagram and equations of state of BaSO4

Abstract

The phase diagram and equations of state of BaSO₄, were determined up to 29 GPa and 1000 K in a resistance-heating type diamond anvil cell. At room temperature, barite is the stable form of BaSO₄ which undergoes a reversible phase transition at 10 GPa. The high-pressure form is tentatively determined to be triclinic. At high temperature, a similar phase transition takes place in BaSO₄, but at a pressure higher than that at room temperature. Our results indicate that the phase boundary of the two polymorphs in BasO₄ has a positive slope (dT/dP) of 90 K/GPa. The equations of state for both barite and its high-pressure phase are reported.     

Shallow Donors and Deep-Level Color Centers in Bulk AlN Crystals: EPR, ENDOR, ODMR and Optical Studies

The results of studies of shallow donors and deep-level color centers in bulk AlN crystals are presented. Two shallow donors (presumably oxygen located on the nitrogen site and carbon located on the aluminum site) are suggested to exhibit the DX-relaxation. Third shallow donor (presumably silicon on the Al site) shows the shallow donor behavior up to the room temperature and can be observed without light excitation at temperatures above 200 K. The values of the Bohr radius of the shallow donors are estimated. The structure of deep-level color centers (neutral nitrogen vacancy V _N) in bulk AlN crystals is determined and analyzed by electron paramagnetic resonance, electron-nuclear double resonance, optical absorption and thermoluminescence induced by X-ray irradiation. Spin-dependent recombination processes in AlN crystals are studied by means of optically detected magnetic resonance.     

Melting of microinclusions close packed in an elastic matrix

A novel representation is proposed of the liquid state in a microcavity, the collective nature of that state being taken into account. In this case a microinclusion undergoing melting is described as a single two-level system. The phase transition of melting in a close-packed system of such inclusions embedded in an elastic medium is described rigorously within the framework of the self-consistent approach. When an additional intermediate premelting state is taken into account, the curve of the steady-state phase transition with a critical point that happens on the phase diagram can be transformed in different ways, depending on the values of the specific parameters. In the simplest case shortening of the straight line takes place; bending is also possible. There is a region of the parameters where the critical line is split. In the latter case the existence of the triple point is also possible. The results obtained are in agreement with the experimental data.     

Correlated randomness: Some examples of exotic statistical physics

One challenge of biology, medicine, and economics is that the systems treated by these sciences have no perfect metronome in time and no perfect spatial architecture-crystalline or otherwise. Nonetheless, as if by magic, out of nothing but randomness one finds remarkably fine-tuned processes in time and remarkably fine-tuned structures in space. To understand this ‘miracle’, one might consider placing aside the human tendency to see the universe as a machine. Instead, one might address the challenge of uncovering how, through randomness (albeit, as we shall see, strongly correlated randomness), one can arrive at many spatial and temporal patterns in biology, medicine, and economics. Inspired by principles developed by statistical physics over the past 50 years-scale invariance and universality-we review some recent applications of correlated randomness to fields that might startle Boltzmann if he were alive today.