A comparative study of a new heuristic based on adaptive memory programming and simulated annealing: The case of job shop scheduling

In this study, a general framework is proposed that combines the distinctive features of three well-known approaches: the adaptive memory programming, the simulated annealing, and the tabu search methods. Four variants of a heuristic based on this framework are developed and presented. The performance of the proposed methods is evaluated and compared with a conventional simulated annealing approach using benchmark problems for job shop scheduling. The unique feature of the proposed framework is the use of two short-term memories. The first memory temporarily prevents further changes in the configuration of a provisional solution by maintaining the presence of good elements of such solutions. The purpose of the second memory is to keep track of good solutions found during an iteration, so that the best of these can be used as the starting point in a subsequent iteration. Our computational results for the job shop scheduling problem clearly indicate that the proposed methods significantly outperform the conventional simulated annealing.     

Nanosized silver–palm pollen nanocomposite,green synthesis,characterization and antimicrobial activity

Palm pollen (PP) has been widely used in nutrition, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. In the present study, we explored the potential of PP in the synthesis of a silver nanoparticle (Ag NP). PP was used as both reducing and stabilizing agent. The Ag/PP nanocomposite was examined by field emission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, ultraviolet spectroscopy and zeta potential measurement. The biosynthesized NPs showed surface plasmon resonance centered at 425 nm with an average particle size measured to be 23 nm and a zeta potential of ?30.9 mV. Prominent FT-IR signals were obtained and ascribed to phenolic and carbohydrate compounds involved in the formation of the Ag NPs, and proteins which participated in stabilization of the Ag NPs. The biologically synthesized Ag NPs were found to be extremely effective against E. coli (13.8 ± 0.25 mm) with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 20 µg/mL. Thus, such biosynthesized Ag NPs can be used in medicinal applications.     

用于电催化氧化甲醛的新型Ni(OH)2-X/CPE负载电极的制备

采用一种简易的方法制备了新型Ni(OH)2-X/CPE电极,并将其用于电催化氧化甲醛反应.采用扫描电镜和能量散射谱对所制Ni(OH)2-X/CPE电极进行了表征,并运用循环伏安法、电化学阻抗谱和计时电流法考察了该电极的电化学性能.结果表明,该Ni(OH)2-X/CPE电极对甲醛氧化表现出高电催化活性,这归功于X具有纳米孔结构和大的比表面积.电子传递系数和催化反应速率常数分别为0.7和6.1×104 cm3/(mol·s).该电极对甲醛氧化具有高而稳定的电催化活性,且制备重复性高,有望应用于燃料电池中.     

Determination of Epinephrine in Pharmaceutical Formulation by an Optimized Novel Luminescence Method Using CdS Quantum Dots as Sensitizer

In this article, a novel chemiluminescence method using water-soluble CdS quantum dots (QDs) as sensitizers is proposed for the chemiluminometric determination of epinephrine. The method is based on the quenching effect of epinephrine on the chemiluminescence emission generated by the mixing of CdS quantum dots (QDs) with hydrogen carbonate (HCO₃ ^-) in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in an alkaline medium. The optimization of variables influencing the chemiluminescence response of the method has been carried out by using experimental design. Under the optimal conditions, there is good linear relationship between the relative chemiluminescence intensity and the concentration of epinephrine over the range of 5?×?10^?9–1?×?10^?6?molL^?1 with a 3σ detection limit of 5?×?10^?11?molL^?1. The method has been successfully applied to the determination of epinephrine in pharmaceutical formulation and the recovery test was done in human urine.     

Facile synthesis of highly fluorescent Boranil complexes

Complexation of a large variety of Anils (aniline-imines) with boron(III) precursors provides stable Boranils, some of which have been structurally characterized. Analysis of their optical properties reveals that the fluorescence stems from an intraligand charge transfer (ILCT) state with the best quantum yields reaching 90%. Chemistry on the Boranils allows grafting of photoactive modules acting as energy antennae for borondipyrromethene (Bodipy) and subphtalocyanine (SubPc) fluorophores.     

Eco‐friendly and Efficient Synthesis of 2,3‐Dihydroquinazolin‐4(1H)‐ones

A simple and facile method for the synthesis of 2,3‐dihydroquinazolin‐4(1H)‐ones through the direct cyclocondensation of one‐pot three‐component cyclocondensation of isatoic anhydride, ammonium acetate (or primary amines) and aldehydes; and anthranilamide and aldehydes using silica supported ferric chloride (SiO₂‐FeCl₃) as catalyst under solvent‐free conditions is described.     

An efficient synthesis of dithiocarbamates under ultrasound irradiation in water

Abstract  

Multicomponent reactions with ultrasonic activation have been used as a simple, rapid, atom economic, and green method for the synthesis of dithiocarbamate derivatives in water. The one-pot, three-component condensation of primary and secondary amines with carbon disulfide and unsaturated carbonyl compounds or alkyl halides under ultrasonic irradiation was developed as a green and fast protocol for the rapid high-yielding preparation of dithiocarbamates in water.     

Wormhole Geometries in f(R,T) Gravity

We study wormhole solutions in the framework of f(R,T) gravity where R is the scalar curvature, and T is the trace of the stress-energy tensor of the matter. We have obtained the shape function of the wormhole by specifying an equation of state for the matter field and imposing the flaring out condition at the throat. We show that in this modified gravity scenario, the matter threading the wormhole may satisfy the energy conditions, so it is the effective stress-energy that is responsible for violation of the null energy condition.     

Deep eutectic solvent promoted highly efficient synthesis of N,N’-diarylamidines and formamides

A deep eutectic solvent was used as a dual catalyst and reaction medium for the efficient N-formylation of aromatic amines without hazardous organic solvent and catalyst. Treatment of aromatic amines with trimethyl orthoformate and formic acid in deep eutectic solvent at 70 °C gives the corresponding N-formyl derivatives in good to excellent yields. This simple ammonium deep eutectic solvent, easily synthesized from choline chloride and SnCl₂, with 100% atom economy and making it applicable to industry and laboratory. Furthermore, heating the trimethyl orthoformate and aromatic primary amines in the deep eutectic solvent results in formation of the corresponding N,N’-diarylamidines in high yields.     

Study of charge transport in P3HT:SiNW-based photovoltaic devices

Hybrid devices based on silicon nanowires (SiNWs) dispersed in a conjugated polymer poly(3-hexylthiophene) P3HT thin films have been realized. The carrier transport mechanism in inorganic/organic hybrid nancocomposites consisting of SiNW dispersed in P3HT layer was investigated by using I?CV characteristics and impedance spectroscopy measurements. The conduction mechanism in these hybrid nanocomposites has been identified to be thermionic emission at the interfaces. The electrical parameters of the structure have been investigated by modelization of the I?CV characteristics using an electrical equivalent circuit and have been extracted for the different SiNW volume ratios. The barrier height, the series resistance and the shunt resistance values of the diodes have been calculated as about 0.9 eV, several k?? and several M??, respectively. The diode behaves as non-ideal one because of the series resistance and the Donor/Acceptor interface layer. The impedance spectroscopy study, in the frequency range 100 Hz?C100 kHz, shows a typical behavior of disordered materials and indicative of a hopping transport in the investigated temperature range. The dc conductivity follows the Arrhenius law with an activation energy transition from 8.4 to 55.8?meV at about 294 K.