Two novel FMCDM methods for alternative-fuel buses selection

In this paper, we consider the problem of alternative-fuel buses selection using two novel fuzzy multiple criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods. Several types of fuels are considered as fuel modes, i.e., electricity, fuel cell (hydrogen), and methanol. For the purpose of determining appropriate fuel buses, many factors including quantitative and qualitative ones such as efficiency, price, and capability must be taken into account. In the first proposed method, linguistic variables are used to assess the ratings and weights for factors. These linguistic ratings can be expressed in trapezoidal or triangular fuzzy numbers. Then, a hierarchical MCDM method based on fuzzy-sets theory is proposed to deal with the fuel buses selection problem. To simultaneously determine the ranking order of all alternatives based on the concept of the TOPSIS by calculating the distances to the both fuzzy positive-ideal solution (FPIS) and fuzzy negative-ideal solution (FNIS), a closeness coefficient is defined. In the second presented method we extend preference selection index (PSI) method for fuzzy environment. In this method performance ratings of criteria evaluate by linguistic variable which can be expressed in trapezoidal fuzzy numbers. Finally, an example is shown to highlight the procedure of the proposed methods and compare the results of these methods with each other.     

Polyaniline‐tailored electromechanical responses of the silver/epoxy conductive adhesive composites

In this article, the electromechanical properties of silver‐in‐epoxy conductive adhesives with the polyaniline (PANI) micron particles as cofillers have been investigated. PANI is a conductive polymer and has a moderate conductivity in between those of silver and epoxy. It was found that PANI can be used to tailor both the adhesive's electrical contact resistance and its relaxation behavior; however, the effects of adding PANI were complex. The addition of small amount of PANI (2 wt %) dramatically increased the contact resistance; it might block the electrical contacts among silver flakes and was not able to form a continuous path among themselves. The addition of more PANI showed a moderate increase in contact resistance, which increased with the weight fraction of PANI from 6 to 15 wt %. Interdependent behavior of compressive strain and relaxation in electrical contact resistance is characterized to evaluate the origin of this relaxation. The addition of PANI made the relaxation in electrical contact resistance more sensitive to the compressive strain and the electromechanical coupling to deviate from the linear relationship. These research findings provide insights into the way to use PANI to tailor the electromechanical properties of the adhesive bonds or joints in the development of advanced functional devices. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2013, 51, 1448–1455     

A new effective on chip electromembrane extraction coupled with high performance liquid chromatography for enhancement of extraction efficiency

In the present research, an effective on chip electromembrane extraction (CEME) coupled with high performance liquid chromatography was presented for analysis of nortriptyline (NOR) and amitriptyline (AMI) as basic model analytes from urine samples. The chip consists of two polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) parts with two craved microfluidic channels in each part. These channels were used as flow path for the sample solution and a thin compartment for the acceptor phase. A porous polypropylene sheet membrane impregnated with an organic solvent was placed between two parts of chip device to separate the channels. Two platinum electrodes were mounted at the bottom of these channels that were connected to a power supply providing the electrical driving force for migration of ionized analytes from sample solution through the porous sheet membrane into the acceptor phase. This new setup provides effective and reproducible extractions with low volume of sample solution. Efficient parameters on CEME of the model analytes were optimized using one variable at a time method. Under the optimized conditions, the calibration curve was linear in the range of 10.0–500 μg L⁻¹ with coefficient of determination (r²) more than 0.9902. The relative standard deviations (RSDs %) for extraction and determination of the analytes were less than 6.8% based on six replicate measurements. LODs less than 4.0 μg L⁻¹ were obtained for both of the model analytes. The preconcentration factors higher than 17.0-fold were obtained. The results demonstrated that CEME would be used efficiently for extraction and determination of AMI and NOR from urine samples.     

Strength of interactions between immobilized dye molecules and sol-gel matrices

In this paper we present a new theory to re-examine the immobilization technique of dye doped sol-gel films, define the strength and types of possible bonds between the immobilized molecule and sol-gel glass, and show that the immobilized molecule is not free inside the pores as was previously thought. Immobilizing three different pH sensitive dyes with different size and functional groups inside the same sol-gel films revealed important information about the nature of the interaction between the doped molecule and the sol-gel matrix. The samples were characterized by means of ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer (UV-VIS), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), mercury porosimetry (MP), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((29)Si NMR) and field-emission environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM-FEG). It was found that the doped molecule itself has a great effect on the strength and types of the bonds. A number of factors were identified, such as number and types of the functional groups, overall charge, size, pK(a) and number of the silanol groups which surround the immobilized molecule. These results were confirmed by the successful immobilization of bromocresol green (BCG) after a completely polymerized sol-gel was made. The sol-gel consisted of 50% tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and 50% methyltriethoxysilane (MTEOS) (w/w). Moreover, the effect of the immobilized molecule on the structure of the sol-gel was studied by means of a leaky waveguide (LW) mode for doped films made before and after polymerization of the sol-gel.     

Group decision making based on novel fuzzy modified TOPSIS method

The aim of this paper is to present a novel fuzzy modified technique of order preference by a similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) method by a group of experts, which can select the best alternative by considering both conflicting quantitative and qualitative evaluation criteria in real-life applications. The proposed method satisfies the condition of being the closest to the fuzzy positive ideal solution and also being the farthest from the fuzzy negative ideal solution with multi-judges and multi-criteria. The performance rating values of alternatives versus conflicting criteria as well as the weights of criteria are described by linguistic variables and are transformed into triangular fuzzy numbers. Then a new collective index is introduced to discriminate among alternatives in the evaluation process with respect to subjective judgment and objective information. This paper shows that the proposed fuzzy modified TOPSIS method is a suitable decision making tool for the manufacturing decisions with two examples for the robot selection and rapid prototyping process selection.     

A microfluidic device for self-synchronised production of droplets

The primary requirement for a mixing operation in droplet-based microfluidic devices is an accurate pairing of droplets of reaction fluids over an extended period of time. In this paper, a novel device for self-synchronous production of droplets has been demonstrated. The device uses a change in impedance across a pair of electrodes introduced due to the passage of a pre-formed droplet to generate a second droplet at a second pair of electrodes. The device was characterised using image analysis. Droplets with a volume of ~23.5 ± 3.1 nl (i.e.~93% of the volume of pre-formed droplets) were produced on applying a voltage of 500 V. The synchronisation efficiency of the device was 83%. As the device enables self-synchronised production of droplets, it has a potential to increase the reliability and robustness of mixing operations in droplet-based microfluidic devices.     

A four-component Fock-space coupled cluster investigation of the HM(CO)5, (M = Mn,Re) photoelectron spectra

In this work, we readdress the photoelectron spectra of the HM(CO)₅, (M=Mn, Re) carbonyl complexes by applying four-component Fock-space coupled cluster (FSCC) methods for their calculation in order to extend earlier studies based on less demanding approaches. The final-state characterisation was based on group theoretical considerations of the contributing orbitals and allowed for an unambiguous assignment. Energy level diagrams show the effect of spin–orbit (SO) coupling starting from scalar relativistic results and for the heavy representative HRe(CO)₅ nonadditivity effects of SO and electron correlation can be observed requiring a consistent treatment of both contributions.     

Spaces of analytic functions represented by Dirichlet series of two complex variables

We consider the space X of all analytic functionsf(s1 ,s2) = ∞∑aminexp(s1λm+s2μtn)of two complex variables s1 and s2, equipping it with the natural locally convex topology and using thegrowth parmeter, the order of f as defined recently by the authors. Under this topology X becomes aFrechet space. Apart from finding the characterization of continuous linear functiors, linear transforma-tion on X, we have obtained the necesary and sufficient conditions for a double sequence in X to be a properbases.     

A stochastic recirculation system with random access

A model for a stochastic recirculation system with randomly accessed multiple heterogeneous servers, no waiting rooms, and exponentially-distributed service times is provided. In this system the units are assigned to one of the servers upon arrival by random mechanism. Units which find all servers busy recirculate and combine with the incoming arrivals and join those already in the system to initiate the next cycle. The equilibrium behavior of the internal and external stochastic processes of the system is analyzed using a two parameter approximation. A simulation model is also developed and its behavior is compared against the analytical model at the steady state. The model with randomly-accessed servers is compared to a single server model already established in the literature. The performance of the model is then examined for a wide range of parameter values to obtain conclusions about its optimal performances.     

Dual-Mode Sorption of Inorganic Acids in Polybenzimidazole (PBI) Membrane

The sorption behaviors of sulfuric, perchloric, and phosphoric acids in polybenzimidazole membranes have been investigated. The results of sorption isotherms are consistent with the general form of a dual-mode sorption isotherm. The dual-mode sorption parameters were found using a least-squares program by fitting experimental data to a dual-mode equation. Results indicate a correlation between permeant properties like acidity, size, and the affinity constant in Langmuir-mode sorption species. Moreover, the results show that the size of the permeants has the dominant effect on Henry's constant. The obtained results for , site saturation constant, in Langmuir-mode sorption in the case of perchloric and phosphoric acids, reveals that the two acid molecules interact with two N?H basic groups in the polybenzimidazole repeat units. But in the case of sulfuric acid, it is shown that sulfuric acid neutralizes some of the basic groups in the polymer by its strong second hydrogen and the obtained value for was 1.25.