Corrector-predictor methods for sufficient linear complementarity problems

We present a new corrector-predictor method for solving sufficient linear complementarity problems for which a sufficiently centered feasible starting point is available. In contrast with its predictor-corrector counterpart proposed by Miao, the method does not depend on the handicap κ of the problem. The method has \(O((1+\kappa)\sqrt{n}L)\)-iteration complexity, the same as Miao’s method, but our error estimates are sightly better. The algorithm is quadratically convergent for problems having a strictly complementary solution. We also present a family of infeasible higher order corrector-predictor methods that are superlinearly convergent even in the absence of strict complementarity. The algorithms of this class are globally convergent for general positive starting points. They have \(O((1+\kappa)\sqrt{n}L)\)-iteration complexity for feasible, or “almost feasible”, starting points and O((1+κ)² nL)-iteration complexity for “sufficiently large” infeasible starting points.     

Monitoring the gelation of polyacrylamide–sodium alginate composite by fluorescence technique

Polyacrylamide (PAAm)–sodium alginate (SA) composite was prepared with different amounts of SA varying in the range between 0.06% and 2% (w/v). The PAAm–SA composite was characterized by the steady-state fluorescence technique. Pyranine was added as a fluoroprobe for monitoring the polymerization. It was observed that pyranine molecules bind to AAm and SA chains upon the initiation of the polymerization. Thus, the fluorescence spectra of the bonded pyranines shift to the shorter wavelengths. Fluorescence spectra from the bonded pyranines allowed us to monitor the sol–gel phase transition, and to test the universality of the sol–gel transition as a function of SA contents. Observations around the critical point show that the gel fraction exponent, β, and the weight average degree of polymerization exponent, γ, agreed with the percolation result for (<0.25% (w/v)) SA contents. However, classical results were produced at (<2% (w/v)) SA contents.     

Effect of surface treatment methods on the shear bond strength between resin cement and all-ceramic core materials

This study compared the influence of various surface treatments on the shear bond strength between resin cement and lithium disilicate glass-ceramics. A series of 120 lithium disilicate ceramic samples were prepared to compare the effect of different surface treatments on the shear strength of a luting cement bonded to two all-ceramic systems. IPS Empress 2 and IPS e.max Press ceramic samples were fabricated according to the manufacturer's instructions. The ceramic samples were divided into the following 6 surface treatment groups for each ceramic system: 1—no treatment (C), 2—airborne-particle abrasion (A), 3—acid etching (E), 4—airborne-particle abrasion + acid etching (AE), 5—Nd:YAG laser (L), 6—Nd:YAG laser + acid etching (LE). Resin cement was then bonded to the treated ceramic surfaces and light polymerized. The shear bond strengths of the specimens were measured using a universal testing machine. Two-way ANOVA and Tukey HSD (α = 0.05) test were used to determine differences in shear bond strength between the groups. The ANOVA revealed significant differences between the treatment groups and ceramic types (p < 0.05). The shear bond strengths of IPS Empress 2 were significantly higher than those of IPS e.max Press.     

Experimental and numerical study on laminar natural convection in a cavity heated from bottom due to an inclined fin

Natural convection heat transfer in an inclined fin attached square enclosure is studied both experimentally and numerically. Bottom wall of enclosure has higher temperature than that of top wall while vertical walls are adiabatic. Inclined fin has also adiabatic boundary conditions. Numerical solutions have been done by writing a computer code in Fortran platform and results are compared with Fluent commercial code and experimental method. Governing parameters are Rayleigh numbers (8.10⁵ ≤ Ra ≤ 4 × 10⁶) and inclination angle (30° ≤ and ≤ 120°). The temperature measurements are done by using thermocouples distributed uniformly at the wall of the enclosure. Remarkably good agreement is obtained between the predicted results and experimental data. A correlation is also developed including all effective parameters on heat transfer and fluid flow. It was observed that heat transfer can be controlled by attaching an inclined fin onto wall.     

Analytic solutions of the (2 + 1)-dimensional nonlinear evolution equations using the sine-cosine method

In this paper, we establish exact solutions for (2 + 1)-dimensional nonlinear evolution equations. The sine-cosine method is used to construct exact periodic and soliton solutions of (2 + 1)-dimensional nonlinear evolution equations. Many new families of exact traveling wave solutions of the (2 + 1)-dimensional Boussinesq, breaking soliton and BKP equations are successfully obtained. These solutions may be important of significance for the explanation of some practical physical problems. It is shown that the sine-cosine method provides a powerful mathematical tool for solving a great many nonlinear partial differential equations in mathematical physics.     

Fine structure of the dipole excitations of the even-even 160Gd nucleus in the spectroscopic region

In this study, the result of calculations using rotational, translational and Galilean invariant quasiparticle random-phase approximation is presented for the low-lying dipole excitations in the even-even ¹⁶⁰Gd nucleus. Calculations are carried out for both ΔK=1 and ΔK=0 branches. The analysis shows that the main part of spin-1 states, observed at energy 2.4–4 MeV in ¹⁶⁰Gd, have M1 character and are interpreted as main fragments of the scissors mode. The calculations indicate the presence of a few prominent negativeparity dipole ΔK=1 states in the investigated energy region, in agreement with experiment.      

Nucleic Acid Integrated Technologies for Electrochemical Point-of-Care Diagnostics: A Comprehensive Review

The need for routine and immediate healthcare monitoring has inspired “near-patient testing” or in other words “point-of-care testing (POCT)”. Therefore, POCT can be defined as laboratory tests that are performed at the patient's bedside or in the immediate vicinity of the incident. Among many POCTs, nucleic acid-based testing has attracted enormous attention for the diagnosis of important genetic, inherited and infectious diseases such as cancer and coronavirus. In this review, we outline the integration of nucleic acids into the remarkable electrochemical point-of-care diagnostics including microfluidic, paper and smartphone-based approaches, CRISPR/Cas and liquid biopsy related systems and DNA damage monitoring.     

Synthesis of chalcone‐containing methacrylate‐based hydrogen bonded side chain liquid crystalline polymer and its dielectric properties

In this work, a new methacrylate‐based hydrogen bonded side chain liquid crystalline polymer having chalcone moieties (HBCP) was prepared from poly(4‐(3‐(pyridin‐4‐yl)acryloyl) phenyl methacrylate) and 11‐(4‐cyanobiphenyl‐4(‐oxy) undekan‐1‐ol (LC11)) by molecular self‐assembly processes via hydrogen bond formation between nitrogen of the HBCP and hydroxyl group of the LC11. The formation of H bond was confirmed by using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The phase transition temperatures and liquid crystalline phases of the HBCP were examined by DSC and POM measurements. The dielectric properties of HBCP have been determined by impedance analyzer within the frequency interval of 100 Hz–15 MHz. According to Cole–Cole plot, the equivalent circuit of the LC system has been found as a capacitor in parallel with a resistor. The resonance frequency, f_r, of the R–C circuit has also been calculated as 1.59 MHz by phase angle versus frequency curve. The dielectric relaxation type of HBCP has been determined as nearly‐Debye type because the absorption coefficient, α, equals to 0.01655. From the conductivity point of view, HBCP displays dc conductivity at the low and high frequency regions that correspond to 100 Hz–12 kHz and 3.3 MHz–15 MHz, respectively. On the other hand, it has been revealed that the ac conductivity of the LC system investigated obeys Super Linear Power Law (SLPL) at the intermediate frequency domain. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Aldehyde separation by polymer-supported oligo(ethyleneimines)

Chlorosulfonated styrene (10%) divinylbenzene resin beads reacted with an excess of ethylenediamine (EDA), diethylenetriamine (DETA), and triethylenetetramine (TETA) to give the corresponding sulfonamides with pendant oligo(ethyleneimines). The resulting modified resins are useful in the separation of aldehydes from hydrocarbon mixtures. Sorption of aldehydes occurs through formation of both Schiff base and five-membered (imidazoline) rings. Sorbed aldehydes can readily be stripped from the resins by treating with dilute acid solutions. Since the sulfamide bond has a reasonable stability toward acid-base hydrolysis, the loaded resins can be regenerated and recycled by simple acid-base washings, without losing their activity. In the present study, sorption and desorption kinetics of acetaldehyde, benzaldehyde, and salicylaldehyde have been investigated under different conditions. The aldehyde sorption obeys second-order kinetics. The method presented is applicable for all aromatic aldehydes. However, in the case of aliphatic aldehydes carrying an α-hydrogen, aldol condensation products form in solution. So aliphatic aldehydes and their aldol products are sorbed together by the resins. This limits the recovery of aliphatic aldehydes. Consequently, the resins described are cost effective sorbents for the removal and recovery of aromatic aldehydes from various mixtures. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35 : 2857–2864, 1997