Multiobjective expected value model for portfolio selection in fuzzy environment

In this paper, we propose a credibilistic framework for portfolio selection problem using an expected value multiobjective model with fuzzy parameters. We consider short term return, long term return, risk and liquidity as key financial criteria. A solution procedure comprising fuzzy goal programming and fuzzy simulation based real-coded genetic algorithm is developed to solve the model. The proposed solution approach is considered advantageous particularly for the cases where the fuzzy parameters of the problem may assume any general functional form. An empirical study is included to illustrate the usefulness of the proposed model and solution approach in real-world applications of portfolio selection.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Some BODIPY‐based Substituted Salicylaldimine Schiff Bases

Salicylaldimine Schiff bases represent an important class of hetero‐polydentate ligands capable of forming mononuclear, binuclear, and polynuclear complexes with transition and non‐transition metals. In this report, we developed an easy synthesis of BODIPY‐based salicylaldimine Schiff bases and synthesized five new derivatives. These were characterized by elemental analysis, infrared, UV‐Vis, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and X‐ray crystallography. Finally, one of the Schiff bases was reacted with BF₃·OEt₂ to synthesize corresponding bis‐BF₂ boron complex. The photophysical and electrochemical properties of the Schiff bases and the boron complex were evaluated and rationalized by theoretical calculations. The bis‐BF₂ boron complex showed excited state charge redistribution, thus could be useful as sensitizers for designing new dye‐sensitized solar cells.     

One-pot facile synthesis,crystal structure and antifungal activity of 1,2,3-triazoles bridged with amine-amide functionalities

A library of twenty five 1,2,3-triazoles bridged with amine-amide functionalities have been synthesized from reaction of N-substituted(prop-2-yn-1-yl)amines (2a–2e), 2-bromo-N-arylacetamides (4a–4e) and sodium azide through copper(I)-catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloaddition. The synthesized compounds were characterized by using FTIR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and HRMS techniques. The structures of synthesized 5a (CCDC 1569245) and 5h (CCDC 1569249) were also confirmed by X-ray crystallography. Antifungal evaluation of newly synthesized triazoles was carried out against – Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger. Biological screening of synthesized 1,2,3-triazoles revealed moderate to good antifungal activity against tested strains.     

Design of Coaxial Couplers for High Efficiency Helix TWT

The main objective of the paper is to make an efficient design of the input and output coaxial coupler for a helix TWTs. An approach has been developed for the efficient design and analysis of the coaxial couplers in the practical situation. Normally multi-section impedance transformer approach is used for any wide band coupler. For a space helix TWT, coupler should be wide bandwidth and small size. In this case coupler is matched with helix slow wave structure and the standard 50-ohm connectors. The simulated return loss (dB) profile for different type of couplers is obtained by using Ansoft HFSS, CST microwave studio and compares those with experimental results. The tip loss design at sever ends for the input and the output section has been also optimized.     

Fabrication of hollow titania microspheres with tailored shell thickness

Submicron hollow spheres are an interesting class of materials that receive significant attention nowadays. Closed and mechanically robust homogeneous hollow titania microspheres with as much shell thickness as 130 nm were fabricated by coating polystyrene beads with titania nanoparticles using sol–gel chemistry and subsequently removing the core either via heating or a chemical dissolution process. The thickness of the titania shell deposited on polystyrene core was finely tuned between 100 and 130 nm by varying the concentration of titania precursor, i.e., Ti(OEt)₄ salt from 0.5 to 2 mM during the coating process. The obtained hybrid core–shell particles and hollow microspheres were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and thermo-gravimetric analysis. The approach employed is well suited to the preparation of titania-coated polystyrene hybrid particles and hollow titania spheres, which can find their applications as novel building blocks with unique optical properties for fabrication of advanced materials, catalyst, and drug delivery system.     

Spectral and biocidal studies of palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes with monobasic bidentate Schiff bases

The monobasic bidentate Schiff base complexes of palladium(II) and platinum(II) derived from 1H-indol-2,3-dione thiosemicarbazone (L¹H) and 1H-indol-2,3-dione semicarbazone (L²H) have been characterized on the basis of elemental analysis, molecular weight determinations, i.r., ¹H n.m.r. and u.v. spectral studies. Based on these studies a square planar environment around the metal atoms has been proposed. Antimicrobial effects of both the ligands and their complexes on different species of pathogenic fungi and bacteria have been recorded and these are found to possess significant fungicidal and bactericidal properties.     

Synthesis of novel tantalum oxide sub-micrometer hollow spheres with tailored shell thickness

Sub-micrometer-sized hollow tantalum oxide (Ta2O5) spheres with tunable shell thickness and void size have been fabricated exploiting beta-diketone-functionalized polystyrene (PS) beads as sacrificial templates in a sol-gel process. First, a controlled precipitation of Ta2O5 nanoparticles was carried out on the template surface by hydrolyzing tantalum ethoxide (Ta(OEt)5) at room temperature, and subsequently, the polymer core was removed either via chemical treatment with toluene or calcination at 650 degrees C. The thickness of the tantala shell precipitated on the PS core during the coating process was tuned between 100 and 142 nm by varying the concentration of tantala precursor in the reaction media. The obtained Ta2O5-coated PS particles and hollow microspheres were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis. Due to the unique optical and dielectric properties, these nanostructured materials are envisaged to be used in applications such as novel building blocks for the fabrication of advanced materials, surface coatings, catalysts, and drug delivery systems.     

Analysis of some numerical methods on layer adapted meshes for singularly perturbed quasilinear systems

We consider a coupled system of first-order singularly perturbed quasilinear differential equations with given initial conditions. The leading term of each equation is multiplied by a distinct small positive parameter, which induces overlapping layers. The quasilinear system is discretized by using first and second order accurate finite difference schemes for which we derive general error estimates in the discrete maximum norm. As consequences of these error estimates we establish nodal convergence of O((N ^?1 lnN) ^p ),p=1,2, on the Shishkin mesh and O(N ^?p ),p=1,2, on the Bakhvalov mesh, where N is the number of mesh intervals and the convergence is robust in all of the parameters. Numerical computations are included which confirm the theoretical results.