Power-of-two sampling in redundancy systems: The impact of assignment constraints

A classical sampling strategy for load balancing policies is power-of-two, where any server pair is sampled with equal probability. This does not cover practical settings with assignment constraints which force non-uniform sampling. While intuition suggests that non-uniform sampling adversely impacts performance, this was only supported through simulations, and rigorous statements have remained elusive. Building on product-form distributions for redundancy systems, we prove the stochastic dominance of uniform sampling for a four-server system as well as arbitrary-size systems in light traffic.     

QbD approached comparison of reaction mechanism in microwave synthesized gold nanoparticles and their superior catalytic role against hazardous nirto‐dye

Microwave irradiation (MI) process characteristically enables extremely rapid “in‐core” heating of dipoles and ions, in comparison to conventional thermal (conductance) process of heat transfer. During the process of nanoparticles synthesis, MI both modulates functionality behaviors as well as dynamic of reaction in favorable direction. So, MI providing a facile, favorable and alternative approach during nanoparticles synthesis nanoparticles with enhanced catalytic performances. Although, conventionally used reducing and capping reagents of synthetic origin, are usually environmentally hazardous and toxic for living organism. But, in absence of suitable capping agent; stability, shelf life and catalytic activity of metallic nanoparticles adversely affected. However, polymeric templates which emerged as suitable choice of agent for both reducing and capping purposes; bearing additional advantages in terms of catalyst free one step green synthesis process with high degree of biosafety and efficiency. Another aspect of current works was to understand role of process variables in growth mechanism and catalytic performances of microwave processed metallic nanoparticles, as well as comparison of these parameters with conventional heating method. However, due to poor prediction ability with previously published architect OFAT (One factor at a time) design with these nanoparticles as well as random selection of process variables with their different levels, such comparison couldn't be possible. Hence, using gum Ghatti (Anogeissus latifolia) as a model bio‐template and under simulated reaction conditions; architect of QbD design systems were integrated in microwave processed nanoparticles to establish mechanistic role these variables. Furthermore, in comparison to conventional heating; we reported well validated mathematical modeling of process variables on characteristic of nanoparticles as well as synthesized gold nanoparticles of desired and identical dimensions, in both thermal and microwave‐based processes. Interestingly, despite of identical dimension, MI processed gold nanoparticles bearing higher efficiency (kinetic rate) against remediation of hazardous nitro dye (4‐nitrophenol), into safer amino (4‐aminophenol) analogues.     

Viscosity solutions to a parabolic inhomogeneous equation associated with infinity Laplacian

We obtain the existence and uniqueness results of viscosity solutions to the initial and boundary value problem for a nonlinear degenerate and singular parabolic inhomogeneous equation of the form ut- ΔN∞u = f,where ΔN∞denotes the so-called normalized infinity Laplacian given by ΔN∞u =1|Du|2 D2 uD u, Du.     

Silicone nanomicelle dyeing method on polyester fibre: Comparative evaluation of chemical properties,fastness properties,and DFT

Disperse Red 177(9a), Disperse Red 343(9b), Disperse Blue 165(9c), Disperse Blue 165.1(9d), Disperse Blue 366(9e), and Disperse Blue 148(9f) were examined in the solvent. During silicon nanomicelle dyeing, we employed 9(a–f) azo disperse dyes on polyester. On polyester fabric, dye 9(a–f) offers equal washing, light, and rubbing fastness in both the conventional and silicone nanomicelle techniques. The dye can now be transported directly into the fibre core without the use of auxiliary dyes owing to the reduction in the particle size of azo dyes, which is made possible by nanoemulsions superior dispersion. The levelling property of the dispersed dye is enhanced by the dyeing process. When both techniques are applied, the lightfastness properties of all dyes are improved. It provides a very good to outstanding protection factor for textile materials. These 9(a–f) azo disperse dyes have moderate to outstanding photostability, net electrophilicity index, and lightfastness.     

MPKin-YSTR: Interpretation of Y chromosome STR haplotypes for missing persons cases

Y chromosome Short Tandem Repeat (STR) haplotypes have been used in assisting forensic investigations primarily for identification and male lineage determination. The current SWGDAM interpretation guidelines for Y-STR typing provide helpful guidance on those purposes but do not address the issue of kinship analysis with Y-STR haplotypes. Because of the high mutation rate of Y-STRs, there are complex missing person cases in which inconsistent Y-STR haplotypes between true paternal lineage relatives will arise and cases with two or more male references in the same lineage and yet differ in their haplotypes. Therefore, more useful methods are needed for interpreting the Y-STR haplotype data. Computational methods and interpretation guidelines have been developed specifically addressing this issue, either using a mismatch-based counting method or a pedigree likelihood ratio method. In this study, a software program, MPKin-YSTR, was developed by implementing those more sophisticated methods. This software should be able to improve the interpretation of complex cases with Y-STR haplotype evidence. Thus, more biological evidence will be interpreted, which in turn will result in more investigation leads to help solve crimes.     

How deeply are core electrons perturbed when valence electrons are spin polarized? The case study of transition metal compounds

The ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic wave functions of the KMnF₃ perovskite have been evaluated quantum-mechanically by using an all electron approach and, for comparison, pseudopotentials on the transition metal and the fluorine ions. It is shown that the different number of α and β electrons in the d shell of Mn perturbs the inner shells, with shifts between the α and β eigenvalues that can be as large as 6 eV for the 3s level, and is far from negligible also for the 2s and 2p states. The valence electrons of F are polarized by the majority spin electrons of Mn, and in turn, spin polarize their 1s electrons. When a pseudopotential is used, such a spin polarization of the core functions of Mn and F can obviously not take place. The importance of such a spin polarization can be appreciated by comparing (i) the spin density at the Mn and F nuclear position, and then the Fermi contact constant, a crucial quantity for the hyperfine coupling, and (ii) the ferromagnetic–antiferromagnetic energy difference, when obtained with an all electron or a pseudopotential scheme, and exploring how the latter varies with pressure. This difference is as large as 50% of the all electron datum, and is mainly due to the rigid treatment of the F ion core. The effect of five different functionals on the core spin polarization is documented.     

Natural and artificial light-harvesting systems utilizing the functions of carotenoids

Carotenoids are essential pigments in natural photosynthesis. They absorb in the blue–green region of the solar spectrum and transfer the absorbed energy to (bacterio-)chlorophylls, and so expand the wavelength range of light that is able to drive photosynthesis. This process is an example of singlet–singlet energy transfer and so carotenoids serve to enhance the overall efficiency of photosynthetic light reactions. Carotenoids also act to protect photosynthetic organisms from the harmful effects of excess exposure to light. In this case, triplet–triplet energy transfer from (bacterio-)chlorophyll to carotenoid plays a key role in this photoprotective reaction. In the light-harvesting pigment–protein complexes from purple photosynthetic bacteria and chlorophytes, carotenoids have an additional role, namely the structural stabilization of those complexes. In this article we review what is currently known about how carotenoids discharge these functions. The molecular architecture of photosynthetic systems will be outlined to provide a basis from which to describe the photochemistry of carotenoids, which underlies most of their important functions in photosynthesis. Then, the possibility to utilize the functions of carotenoids in artificial photosynthetic light-harvesting systems will be discussed. Some examples of the model systems are introduced.     

基于奥苏贝尔学习理论对人教版和鲁科版高中化学教材“化学键”的比较及建议

以奥苏贝尔学习理论为基础,比较人教版与鲁科版化学教材“化学键”内容,对教材的引言、正文编排顺序、正文内容组织、正文栏目、插图、习题等进行分析,并从奥苏贝尔学习理论角度阐述教材编写及教学建议。     

Further study of alternating iterations for rectangular matrices

Theory of matrix splittings is a useful tool in the analysis of iterative methods for solving systems of linear equations. When two splittings are given, it is of interest to compare the spectral radii of the corresponding iteration matrices. This helps to arrive at the conclusion that which splitting should one choose so that one can reach the desired solution of accuracy or the exact solution in a faster way. In the case of many splittings are provided, the comparison of the spectral radii is time-consuming. Such a situation can be overcome by introducing another iteration scheme which converges to the same solution of interest in a much faster way. In this direction, the theory of alternating iterations for real rectangular matrices is recently proposed. In this note, some more results to the theory of alternating iterations are added. A comparison result of two different alternating iteration schemes is then presented which will help us to choose the iteration scheme that will guarantee the faster convergence of the alternating iteration scheme. In addition to these results, a comparison result for proper weak regular splittings is also obtained.