Algorithmic analysis of theMAP/PH/1 retrial queue

In this paper the distribution of the maximum number of customers in a retrial orbit for a single server queue with Markovian arrival process and phase type services is studied. Efficient algorithm for computing the probability distribution and some interesting numerical examples are presented.     

Spectrophotometric determination of dopamine in pharmaceutical formulations

A new spectrophotometric method was developed for the estimation of dopamine. The method is based on the bromination of the dopamine with a solution of excess brominating mixture. After bromination, the excess brominating mixture is treated with potassium iodide to produce a yellow solution. The absorbance of yellow solution was measured at 350 nm on a Spectronic 1001 spectrophotometer against distilled water as a blank.From Zhurnal Analiticheskoi Khimii, Vol. 60, No. 3, 2005, pp. 2842285.Original English Text Copyright © 2005 by Rami Reddy, Sreedevi, Prabhavathi, Chakravarthy.This article was submitted by the authors in English.     

A mild and efficient copper-catalyzed N-arylation of unprotected sulfonimidamides using boronic acids

An efficient and low cost copper catalyzed system for N-arylation of sulfonimidamides has been developed. The reaction proceeds at room temperature under base free conditions. Various N-aryl, N-heteroaryl, and N-cyclopropyl sulfonimidamides were obtained in good to excellent yields.     

Integration of quantitative DCE-MRI and ADC mapping to monitor treatment response in human breast cancer: initial results

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to assess changes in the water apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and in pharmacokinetic parameters obtained from the fast-exchange regime (FXR) modeling of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) during neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eleven patients with locally advanced breast cancer underwent MRI examination prior to and after chemotherapy but prior to surgery. A 1.5-T scanner was used to obtain T1, ADC and DCE-MRI data. DCE-MRI data were analyzed by the FXR model returning estimates of K(trans) (volume transfer constant), v(e) (extravascular extracellular volume fraction) and tau(i) (average intracellular water lifetime). Histogram and correlation analyses assessed parameter changes post-treatment. RESULTS: Significant (P < .05) changes or trends towards significance (P < .10) were seen in all parameters except tau(i), although there was qualitative reduction in tau(i) values post-treatment. In particular, there was reduction (P < .035) in voxels with K(trans) values in the range 0.2-0.5 min(-1) and a decrease (P < .05) in voxels with ADC values in the range 0.99 x 10(-3) to 1.35 x 10(-3) mm2/s. ADC and v(e) were negatively correlated (r = -.60, P < .02). Parameters sensitive to water distribution and geometry (T(1), v(e), tau(i) and ADC) correlated with a multivariable linear regression model. CONCLUSION: The analysis presented here is sensitive to longitudinal changes in breast tumor status; K(trans) and ADC are most sensitive to these changes. Relationships between parameters provide information on water distribution and geometry in the tumor environment.     

Numerical investigation on the effect of magnetic field on natural convection heat transfer from a pair of embedded cylinders within a porous enclosure

The present work examines the influence of magnetohydrodynamic field on natural convection phenomena inside a porous square enclosure with a pair of embedded hot circular cylinders. Numerical investigations are performed to understand the effects of interspacing distance between the embedded cylinders, Hartmann number, Rayleigh number and Darcy number on the thermal transport process and the total irreversibility generation. It is observed that the isotherm distribution is strongly affected by the presence of magnetic field although the distribution of streamlines remains independent of the strength of magnetic field. This underlines the fact that magnetic field strongly influences the heat transfer process and entropy generation characteristics. It reveals that the natural convection is suppressed in the presence of a higher magnetic field as evident from the reduction in Nusselt number. It is observed that an increase in the spacing between the cylinders increases the heat transfer rate, and moreover, the effect of the magnetic field on heat transfer is more pronounced at higher interspacing distance between the embedded cylinders. The heat transfer rate increases significantly with the increase in the permeability of the medium. The entropy generation rate is independent of the strength of applied magnetic field. Further, the contribution of the entropy generation owing to friction is found to be negligible in total irreversibility obtained at lower values of Rayleigh number irrespective of Darcy number. However, the contribution of irreversibility owing to heat transfer is found to be minimal at higher values of Rayleigh number.

     

Magnetic moment distributions and form factors in ferromagnetic nickel-ruthenium alloys

Using polarised neutrons, the full three-dimensional magnetic structure amplitudes in the Ni_1?c Ru _c single crystals forc = 0·027, 0·033 and 0·046 were measured. Moment density maps in various portions of the Wigner-Seitz cell were obtained. It is seen from these maps that unlike Ni-based alloys with 3d impurities, the introduction of Ru to the Ni matrix produces extensive perturbations in the diffuse moment density, giving rise to a netpositive diffuse moment which tends to increase with Ru concentration. The asphericity of the host moment at first increases and then decreases with increasing Ru content. Another significant outcome of the present study is the evidence for the reversal of the sign of the Ru moment, from negative to positive, obtained by comparing the shape of the spherical site form factors of the three-alloy concentrations with the Ni spherical form factor itself. The sign reversal of the impurity moment is confirmed by the form factor analyses. Strong local environmental effects seem to play a major role in this alloy system.     

A polarised neutron study of magnetic moment density in Cu2MnAl

A polarised neutron study of the ferromagnetic Heusler alloy Cu₂Mn_0.863Al_1.057 has been made. It has been concluded that the magnetic moment density is primarily situated on the Mn ions. On assigning the Mn-moment value, the observed magnetic form factor is found to be in good agreement with the Mn²⁺ free ion form factor calculated by Watson and Freeman. A slight asphericity has been observed in the moment density. It is estimated that there are about 3% excess 3d-electrons in the Eg states compared to spherical distribution. There is evidence of a very small positive polarisation of the Cu atoms. No appreciable conduction electron polarisation is found.     

A nonrigid registration algorithm for longitudinal breast MR images and the analysis of breast tumor response

Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) can estimate parameters relating to blood flow and tissue volume fractions and therefore may be used to characterize the response of breast tumors to treatment. To assess treatment response, values of these DCE-MRI parameters are observed at different time points during the course of treatment. We propose a method whereby DCE-MRI data sets obtained in separate imaging sessions can be co-registered to a common image space, thereby retaining spatial information so that serial DCE-MRI parameter maps can be compared on a voxel-by-voxel basis. In performing inter-session breast registration, one must account for patient repositioning and breast deformation, as well as changes in tumor shape and volume relative to other imaging sessions. One challenge is to optimally register the normal tissues while simultaneously preventing tumor distortion. We accomplish this by extending the adaptive bases algorithm through adding a tumor-volume preserving constraint in the cost function. We also propose a novel method to generate the simulated breast magnetic resonance (MR) images, which can be used to evaluate the proposed registration algorithm quantitatively. The proposed nonrigid registration algorithm is applied to both simulated and real longitudinal 3D high resolution MR images and the obtained transformations are then applied to lower resolution physiological parameter maps obtained via DCE-MRI. The registration results demonstrate the proposed algorithm can successfully register breast MR images acquired at different time points and allow for analysis of the registered parameter maps.     

A disaster queue with Markovian arrivals and impatient customers

We consider a single server queueing system in which arrivals occur according to a Markovian arrival process. The system is subject to disastrous failures at which times all customers in the system are lost. Arrivals occurring during the time the system undergoes repair are stored in a buffer of finite capacity. These customers can become impatient after waiting a random amount of time and leave the system. However, these customers do not become impatient once the system becomes operable. When the system is operable, there is no limit on the number of customers who can be admitted. The structure of this queueing model is of GI/M/1-type that has been extensively studied by Neuts and others. The model is analyzed in steady state by exploiting the special nature of this type queueing model. A number of useful performance measures along with some illustrative examples are reported.     

Equipment scheduling problem under disruptions in mail processing and distribution centres

This paper addresses the production and workforce scheduling problem under disruptions in United States Postal Service mail processing facilities. These facilities contain a large variety of equipment and employ a non-homogeneous workforce that work on shifts of various lengths and start times. Disruptions such as demand fluctuation and absenteeism happen and may significantly change demand and the size of workforce. How to adjust production plans and workforce schedules through the use of overtime and flexible employees in the face of these disruptions to meet the service commitment is a challenging problem yet to be solved. This problem is modelled as a large-scale integer program, which contains equipment scheduling, shift scheduling and overtime management, and break assignment modules. Problems of realistic size are solved efficiently through an LP-based decomposition algorithm. Comprehensive experiments have been designed to investigate the effects of the use of overtime, the control of absenteeism, and the importance of integrating equipment and workforce scheduling simultaneously. The model integrates seamlessly with other research studies and provides the necessary and critical tools to manage the resources in a facility on a routine basis.