Variations of the Catalan numbers from some nonassociative binary operations

We investigate certain nonassociative binary operations that satisfy a four-parameter generalization of the associative law. From this we obtain variations of the ubiquitous Catalan numbers and connections to many interesting combinatorial objects such as binary trees, plane trees, lattice paths, and permutations.     

New organoruthenium metallates containing ferrocenecarboxalidine thiosemicarbazones and their nucleic acid/albumin binding and in vitro cytotoxicity

A string of four new hetero binuclear Ru(III) complexes of ferrocenecarboxaldehyde-4(N)-substituted thiosemicarbazones were synthesized and characterized by various spectral (infrared, ultraviolet–visible, Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) and High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HR-MS) techniques. The binding abilities of the ligands/complexes with nucleic acid (calf thymus DNA, CT-DNA) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) were analyzed by absorption and emission titration methods. The complexes exhibited better DNA binding affinity than their parent ligands. The interaction with CT-DNA was found to be intercalative and with BSA static quenching mechanism was observed. All the synthesized Ru(III) complexes were subjected to study their in vitro cytotoxicity against MCF-7 (human breast cancer) and HT-29 (human colon cancer) cell lines. Among the four complexes, complex 3 [RuCp (FF-etsc)PPh₃]Cl exhibited the highest cytotoxicity in MCF-7 cells and complex 4 [RuCp (FF-ptsc)PPh₃]Cl was the most active on HT-29 cells.     

Optomechanical-organized multipulse dynamics in ultrafast fiber laser

A novel organized multipulse pattern and its birth dynamics under strong optomechanical effect in microfiber-assisted ultrafast fiber laser are investigated in this work. The background pulses are observed to obviously exhibit selectively amplifying self-organized process of evolving into quasi-stable equidistant clusters. The radio frequency spectrum of the multipulse pattern displays a harmonic mode-locking-like behavior with a repetition rate of 2.0138 GHz, corresponding to the frequency of torsional-radial (TR_2m) acoustic mode in microfiber. The results show the evidence of optomechanical effect in dominating the birth dynamics and pattern of multipulse.     

A novel chaotic image encryption scheme using DNA sequence operations

In this paper, we propose a novel image encryption scheme based on DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) sequence operations and chaotic system. Firstly, we perform bitwise exclusive OR operation on the pixels of the plain image using the pseudorandom sequences produced by the spatiotemporal chaos system, i.e., CML (coupled map lattice). Secondly, a DNA matrix is obtained by encoding the confused image using a kind of DNA encoding rule. Then we generate the new initial conditions of the CML according to this DNA matrix and the previous initial conditions, which can make the encryption result closely depend on every pixel of the plain image. Thirdly, the rows and columns of the DNA matrix are permuted. Then, the permuted DNA matrix is confused once again. At last, after decoding the confused DNA matrix using a kind of DNA decoding rule, we obtain the ciphered image. Experimental results and theoretical analysis show that the scheme is able to resist various attacks, so it has extraordinarily high security.     

The impact of a conceptual model-based mathematics computer tutor on multiplicative reasoning and problem-solving of students with learning disabilities

The study explored the impact of Please Go Bring Me-COnceptual Model-based Problem Solving (PGBM-COMPS) computer tutoring system on multiplicative reasoning and problem solving of students with learning disabilities. The PGBM-COMPS program focused on enhancing the multiplicative reasoning and problem solving through nurturing fundamental mathematical ideas and moving students above and beyond the concrete level of operation. This is achieved by taking advantages of the constructivist approach from mathematics education and explicit conceptual model-based problem solving approach from special education. Participants were three elementary students with learning disabilities (LD). A mixed method design was employed to investigate the effect of the PGBM-COMPS program on enhancing students’ multiplicative reasoning and problem solving. It was found that the PGBM-COMPS program significantly improved participating students’ problem solving performance not only on researcher developed criterion tests but also on a norm-referenced standardized test. Qualitative and quantities data from this study indicate that, in addition to nurturing fundamental concept of composite units, it is necessary to help students to understand underlying problem structures and move toward mathematical model-based problem representation and solving for generalized problem solving skills.     

热源塔热泵系统夏季工况优化运行实验研究

由于热源塔在冬夏季工况下的换热能力存在较大差异,按冬季工况设计的热源塔热泵系统,在夏季工况下运行时存在换热能力过剩的问题,影响系统性能。为解决上述问题,本文构建了热源塔热泵系统,实验研究了其冬夏季工况的性能差异。在此基础上,对夏季工况下的优化运行进行了实验研究,结果表明,通过调节空气和溶液流量,将热源塔的逼近度和冷幅分别控制在3.5℃和4.3℃,可使得系统性能系数由3.6提升至3.9,并对其节能机理进行了分析。     

Static droplet array for the synthesis of nonspherical microparticles

We reported a manually operated static droplet array (SDA)-based device for the synthesis of nonspherical microparticles with different shapes. The improved SDA structure and reversible bonding between poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) were used in the device for the large-scale synthesis and rapid extraction of nonspherical microparticles. To understand the device physics, the effects of flow rate, SDA well size, and shape on droplet generation performances were explored. The results indicated that droplet generation in SDA structures was insensitive to the flow rate, and monodisperse droplets were generated by the SDA-based device through manually pushing the syringe. Finally, we integrated four kinds of SDA structures in one device and successfully realized the synthesis and extraction of nonspherical microparticles with different shapes and materials. Our SDA-based device offers numerous advantages, such as simple manual operation, low equipment cost, controllable microparticle shapes and sizes, and large-scale production. Thus, it holds the potential to be used as a flexible tool for the production of nonspherical microparticles.     

基于多目标影响图效果作战模型

针对目前基于效果作战评估中没有涉及多目标以及决策者的偏好的情况,将多目标影响图引入到基于效果作战模型.首先分析了基于效果作战中各主要要素之间关系,其次提出了基于效果作战模型构造过程,然后将其与多目标决策理论结合建立了多目标基于效果作战模型,用多目标影响图对其进行建模,并给出了求解方法,最后将基于多目标影响图效果作战模型应用于空战任务分配中.仿真结果表明该模型的有效性.     

Facile Surfactant-, Reductant-, and Ag Salt-free Growth of Ag Nanoparticles with Controllable Size from 35 to 660 nm on Bulk Ag Materials

Morphologically and dimensionally controlled growth of Ag nanocrystals has long been plagued by surfactants or capping agents that complicate downstream applications, unstable Ag salts that impaired the reproducibility, and multistep seed injection that is troublesome and time-consuming. Here, we report a one-pot electro-chemical method to fast (∼2 min) produce Ag nanoparticles from commercial bulk Ag materials in a nitric acid solution, eliminating any need for surfactants or capping agents. Their size can be easily manipulated in an unprecedentedly wide range from 35 to 660 nm. Furthermore, the Ag nanoparticles are directly grown on the Ag substrate, highly desirable for promising applications such as catalysis and plasmonics. The mechanistic studies reveal that the concentration of Ag⁺ in the diffusion layer nearby the surface, controlled by the magnitude and duration of voltage, is critical in governing the nanoparticle formation (<1.3 mM) and its dimensional adjustability.     

Cr(VI) and Cu(II) removal from aqueous solution in fixed bed column using rice bran; experimental,statistical and GA modelling

Rice bran, a green and low-cost adsorbent, is used for Chromium (VI) and Copper (II) remotion from its aqueous solution. The influence of different process parameters in a fixed-bed on the removing efficiency has been investigated. The results show that the removal efficiency is higher at a minimum flow rate, low metal ion concentration, and higher bed height. The adsorption studies show that the rice bran has a better affinity to Chromium (VI) than Copper (II). Different kinetic models are used for the prediction of the column performance. This study shows that rice bran could be a potential and eco-friendly adsorbent for chromium (VI) and copper (II) removal and is suitable for developing countries like India. Multiple linear regression and ANN-based genetic algorithm modelling have been applied successfully to predict both metal ions' percentage removal separately.