Transformation of (0002)-oriented Ti film into (111)TiN through nitrogen implantation

Nitrogen implantation into a (0002)-oriented Ti film has resulted in a systematic deformation of the hcp host with implantation dose. Grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction study shows an increase in interplanar spacing of the (0002) and the (10[`1]\bar{1}]]3) planes as a function of nitrogen concentration. The diffractograms indicate a smooth change of (0002) plane of the host into (111) of the '-TiN. Strain in the hcp cell was found to be proportional to the nitrogen concentration. The results provide evidence for a strain-driven 'martensite-like restacking' formation of TiN compound.     

A new model and solution method for product line design with pricing

Existing customer preference based product design models do not consider product prices and consumer budgets. These models assume that a purchase is based only on the satisfaction obtained from the product, irrespective of the product price and customer budget. However, when products are expensive relative to buyers' budgets, the effect of prices and budgets must be considered in addition to customer satisfaction. Most current models, moreover, assume that a low preference for one product characteristic is compensated by high preference for another, which may not hold for unacceptable levels of characteristics. For such products, we incorporate prices, budget constraints, and minimum acceptable thresholds in our model. To solve the model we develop a highly accurate, robust and efficient Beam Search (BS) based heuristic that identifies optimal or near optimal product lines. The heuristic is tested on 300 simulated problems and an application. It is also compared to a Genetic Algorithms (GA) based heuristic. We found that our heuristic worked better than the GA heuristic in identifying optimal and near optimal solutions quickly. We also give detailed examples that illustrate the heuristic and demonstrate a pricing analysis application of the model.     

Directed Markov Point Processes as Limits of Partially Ordered Markov Models

In this paper, we consider spatial point processes and investigate members of a subclass of the Markov point processes, termed the directed Markov point processes (DMPPs), whose joint distribution can be written in closed form and, as a consequence, its parameters can be estimated directly. Furthermore, we show how the DMPPs can be simulated rapidly using a one-pass algorithm. A subclass of Markov random fields on a finite lattice, called partially ordered Markov models (POMMs), has analogous structure to that of DMPPs. In this paper, we show that DMPPs are the limits of auto-Poisson and auto-logistic POMMs. These and other results reveal a close link between inference and simulation for DMPPs and POMMs.     

Ratio dynamic programs

This paper considers a finite serial multistage system where the measure of effectiveness of the system is a ratio of two return functions. The numerator of the ratio is an additive return function whereas the denominator is a multiplicative one. Because of the difference in the nature of the separability of the two factors, standard parametric approaches do not generate returns which are separable. Hence, the resulting formulation cannot be solved by dynamic programming. We consider an associated two-criteria dynamic program and show that the optimal solution is a nondominated solution of the two criteria program. An efficient search algorithm through the nondominated solutions is presented to solve this class of serial multistage decision systems. Computational results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach.     

Iodobenzene dicchloride as a new oxidimetric titrant in non-aqueous media

Iodobenzene dichloride in anhydrous acetic acid is proposed as a new oxidimetric titrant in non-aqueous media.     

Thermal decomposition of γ-irradiated lead nitrate

The thermal decomposition of unirradiated and -irradiated lead nitrate was studied by the gas evolution method. The decomposition proceeds through initial gas evolution, a short induction period, an acceleratory stage and a decay stage. The acceleratory and decay stages follow the Avrami-Erofeyev equation. Irradiation enhances the decomposition but does not affect the shape of the decomposition curve.     

A facile three-component reaction of dicarbomethoxycarbene, aldehydes and o-quinones: synthesis of novel spiro-dioxolanes

Successful trapping of the carbonyl ylides generated from dicarbomethoxycarbene and aldehydes with 1,2-diones is described.     

Electrophilic substitution reactions of trisheteroarylmethanes: an efficient strategy to develop novel synthons for organic synthesis

Trisheteroarylmethanes are interesting molecules for the construction of three dimensionally complex systems. From this vantage point, we studied electrophilic substitution reactions on tris-2-thienylmethane and tris-2-furylmethane. During the bromination reaction, we have isolated the tris-bromosubstituted tris-2-thienylmethane in the former case and brominated furanones in the latter case, which may be of synthetic and biological importance.     

A double-wavelength nitrogen-laser-pumped dye laser

A narrow-band tunable double-wavelength dye laser with a bandwidth of 0.1 cm⁻¹ is described. The output at one of the wavelengths is found to be completely linearly polarized in the plane of incidence.