Solving a multi-objective multi-skilled manpower scheduling model by a fuzzy goal programming approach

Manpower scheduling is an intricate problem in production and service environments with the purpose of generating fair schedules that consider employers’ objectives and employees’ preferences as much as possible. However, sometimes, vagueness of information related to employers’ objectives and employees’ preferences leads to the fuzzy nature of the problem. This paper presents a multi-objective manpower scheduling model regarding the lack of clarity on the target values of employers’ objectives and employees’ preferences. Hence, a fuzzy goal programming model is developed for the presented model. Afterwards, two fuzzy solution approaches are used to convert the fuzzy goal programming model to two single-objective models. Finally, the results obtained by both single-objective models are compared with each other to select the solution that has the greatest degree of the satisfaction level of employers’ objectives and employees’ preferences.     

Identification problems for degenerate parabolic equations

This paper deals with multivalued identification problems for parabolic equations. The problem consists of recovering a source term from the knowledge of an additional observation of the solution by exploiting some accessible measurements. Semigroup approach and perturbation theory for linear operators are used to treat the solvability in the strong sense of the problem. As an important application we derive the corresponding existence, uniqueness, and continuous dependence results for different degenerate identification problems. Applications to identification problems for the Stokes system, Poisson-heat equation, and Maxwell system are given to illustrate the theory.     

S-Noetherian Rings of the Forms 𝒜[X] and 𝒜[[X]]

Let 𝒜 = (A _n ) _n≥0 be an ascending chain of commutative rings with identity, S ? A ₀ a multiplicative set of A ₀, and let 𝒜[X] (respectively, 𝒜[[X]]) be the ring of polynomials (respectively, power series) with coefficient of degree i in A _i for each i ∈ ?. In this paper, we give necessary and sufficient conditions for the rings 𝒜[X] and 𝒜[[X]] to be S ? Noetherian.     

Ratio Design of Docetaxel/Quercetin Co-Loading-to-Nanocarrier: Synthesis of PCL–PEG–PCL Copolymer,Study of Drug Release Kinetic and Growth Inhibition of Human Breast Cancer (MCF-7) Cell Line

Russian Journal of Applied Chemistry - The present study aimed to design PCL–PEG–PCL copolymer as novel nanocarrier for co-loading of docetaxel (DTX) and quercetin (Qu) drugs and...     

Optimum kinetic performance of open-tubular separations in microfluidic devices

A survey is made of the different factors contributing to the kinetic performance of open-tubular separation channels. Being representative for most of the channels used in microfluidic devices, the main focus is on channels with a rectangular format. Kinetic plots of t(0)/N(2 )versus N are established to allow for a visual selection of the ideal channel format and dimensions. These plots for example show that in the pressure-driven mode a channel with a flat-rectangular crosssection (top and bottom wall covered by a retentive layer) can always yield slightly faster (some 15%) separations than a cylindrical capillary, provided the channel depth is optimized. If the channel depth is fixed, the optimal w/d-ratio depends on the required plate number. In electrically driven flows, the situation is reversed and rectangular channels with a small width are to be preferred, and the cylindrical capillary format becomes the best format.     

Plastic deformation modes in perforated sheets and their relation to yield and limit surfaces

Construction of mechanism-based plasticity theories for the homogenized response of heterogeneous materials requires identification of plastic deformation modes as a function of loading direction relative to the microstructural details. Herein, we employ an efficient homogenization theory to identify for the first time such deformation modes in plates under plane stress with hexagonal arrays of circular holes at small and intermmediate pore volume fractions, and establish their relation to the branches of initial and subsequent yield and limit surfaces. Newly introduced maps of the intrinsic geometric features of point-wise yield surfaces provide full-field picture of the investigated microstructures’ propensity for plastic strain initiation and localization. The identified characteristic plastic modes provide a rational explanation for the evolving geometric features of subsequent yield and limit surfaces whose branches represent different plastic flow mechanisms, as well as a basis for the construction of a mechanism-based homogenized plasticity theory for use in structural analysis algorithms. The results suggest the need for composite yield surfaces comprised of multiple branches in the construction of mechanism-based homogenized plasticity theory for the investigated class of porous materials.     

A highly ordered titania nanotube array as a supercapacitor electrode

We report the synthesis of self-organized titania nanotubes and nanocrystalline titania powders employing an alternative and novel approach. Integrating these nanostructures in a binder-free working electrode improved the capacitance up to 911 μF cm(-2), which is around one to two orders of magnitude higher than the conventional electric double layer capacitors.     

Novel Synthesis of Some Phthalazinone Derivatives

Dimethyl homophthalate condensed with isatin to give the unexpected five membered lactone 3 rather than the half ester 1 and the δ‐lactone 2 . Treatment of compound 3 with excess hydrazine hydrate afforded phthalazinone carbohydrazide 4 which represents a novel method for the synthesis of phthalazinone derivatives. The carbohydrazide 4 upon treatment with carbon disulphide afforded 1,3,4‐oxadiazole derivative 5 , which reacted with ethylchloroacetate to give the S‐alkylated product 6 . The structure of compound 3 compared with 2 was discussed using hyperchem professional (7) AM₁ calculations, X‐ray single crystal structure and complete spectral data.     

Pt nanoworms: creation of a bumpy surface on one-dimensional (1D) Pt nanowires with the assistance of surfactants embedded in mesochannels

A new type of platinum nanowire with a bumpy surface "Pt nanoworm" is electrochemically synthesized in mesochannels of mesoporous silica films with the assistance of a nonionic surfactant (C(16)EO(8)).