Counting and enumeration complexity with application to multicriteria scheduling

In this paper we tackle an important point of combinatorial optimisation: that of complexity theory when dealing with the counting or enumeration of optimal solutions. Complexity theory has been initially designed for decision problems and evolved over the years, for instance, to tackle particular features in optimisation problems. It has also evolved, more or less recently, towards the complexity of counting and enumeration problems and several complexity classes, which we review in this paper, have emerged in the literature. This kind of problems makes sense, notably, in the case of multicriteria optimisation where the aim is often to enumerate the set of the so-called Pareto optima. In the second part of this paper we review the complexity of multicriteria scheduling problems in the light of the previous complexity results.Received: November 2004 / Received version: March 2005MSC classification: 90B40, 90C29, 68Q15     

Acid promoted enantioselective oxygen-atom transfer from N-alkyl binaphthyl-derived oxaziridines onto sulfides

Acid-promoted asymmetric sulfoxidations of prochiral sulfides using binaphthyl-derived oxaziridines have been studied. The reactions of dialkyl or aryl-alkyl sulfides gave good yields of the corresponding sulfoxides with enantiopurities ranging from 20% to 80%. The influence of temperature and strength of the acid catalyst on enantioselectivity was studied. The absolute configuration of the resulting major enantiomer varied with the structure of the sulfide.     

Multiple Unbounded Positive Solutions for Three-Point BVPs with Sign-Changing Nonlinearities on the Positive Half-Line

This work is concerned with the existence of unbounded positive solutions for a second-order nonlinear three-point boundary value problem on the positive half-line. The interesting points of the results are that the nonlinearity depends on the solution and its derivative and may change sign. Moreover, it satisfies general polynomial growth conditions. New existence results of nontrivial single and multiple positive solutions are proved using recent fixed point theorems on cones in a special Banach space.     

Price competition and store competition: Store brands vs. national brand

This paper studies pricing strategies in a market channel composed of one national brand manufacturer and two retailers who, each, carry their own store brand and a national brand products. The model accounts for product competition between store brands and the national brand products, as well as for store competition between retailers.     

A microwave-assisted and heteropolyacids-catalysed cyclocondensation reaction for the synthesis of 4(3H)-quinazolinones

We have investigated a microwave-assisted synthesis of 4(3H)-quinazolinones by condensation of anthranilic acid, orthoesters (or formic acid) and substituted anilines,using Keggin-type heteropolyacids (H(3)PW(12)O(40).13H(2)O, H(4)SiW(12)O(40).13H(2)O,H(4)SiMo(12)O(40).13H(2)O or H(3)PMo(12)O(40).13H(2)O) as catalysts. We found that the the use of H(3)PW(12)O(40).13H(2)O acid coupled to microwave irradiation allows a solvent-free, rapid (approximately 13min) and high-yielding reaction.     

On uniqueness and existence of entropy solutions for a nonlinear parabolic problem with absorption

The aim of this paper is to study, for L ¹-data, the absorption problem of parabolic type : with Dirichlet boundary conditions and initial conditions. Here a satisfies the classical Leray-Lions hypotheses and β(x, ·) is the subdifferential ∂j(x, ·), where j is a convex function such that j(·, 0) = 0. Existence and uniqueness of an entropy solution is established.      

Microwave‐Assisted Synthesis of Arylazoaminopyrazoles as Disperse Dyes for Textile Printing

The synthesis of heterocyclic azo‐dyes via conventional heating and microwave (MW) heating was investigated. From a sequence of reactions starting from cyanoacetic acid, 4‐arylazo‐2H‐pyrazol‐3‐ylamines and 4‐arylazo‐2‐phenyl‐2H‐pyrazol‐3‐ylamines were obtained. The structures these compounds were obtained by inspection of spectroscopic and analytical techniques including ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. The fastness properties and UV/Vis absorption spectroscopic data of these disperse dyes in printing polyester fabrics were investigated.     

Living with influenza: Impacts of government imposed and voluntarily selected interventions

Focusing on mitigation strategies for global pandemic influenza, we use elementary mathematical models to evaluate the implementation and timing of non-pharmaceutical intervention strategies such as travel restrictions, social distancing and improved hygiene. A spreadsheet model of infection spread between several linked heterogeneous communities is based on analytical calculations and Monte Carlo simulations. Since human behavior will likely change during the course of a pandemic, thereby altering the dynamics of the disease, we incorporate a feedback parameter into our model to reflect altered behavior. Our results indicate that while a flu pandemic could be devastating; there are coping methods that when implemented quickly and correctly can significantly mitigate the severity of a global outbreak.     

Pickering emulsion polymerization of polyaniline/LiCoO2 nanoparticles used as cathode materials for lithium batteries

The oil in water (o/w) emulsions were prepared using aniline dissolved in toluene and LiCoO₂ particles as stabilizers (Pickering emulsions). Pickering emulsions are stabilized by adsorbed solid particles instead of emulsifier molecules. The mean droplet diameter of emulsions was controlled by the mass ratio M (oil)/M (solid particles). The emulsions showed great stability during 3 days. The composite materials containing LiCoO₂ and the conductive polymer polyaniline (PANI) have been prepared by means of polymerization of aniline emulsion stabilized by LiCoO₂ particles. The composite materials were characterized by nanosphere and nanofiber-like structures. The nanofiber-like morphology of the powdered material was distinctly different of the morphologies of the parent materials. The electrochemical reactivity of PANI/LiCoO₂ composites as positive electrode in a lithium battery was examined during lithium ion deinsertion and insertion by galvanostatic charge–discharge testing; PANI/LiCoO₂ (1:4) composite materials exhibited the best electrochemical performance by increasing the reaction reversibility and capacity compared to that of the pristine LiCoO₂ cathode. The first discharge capacity of PANI/LiCoO₂ (1:4) was 167 mAh/g, while that of LiCoO₂ was136 mAh/g.