Efficient contraflow algorithms for quickest evacuation planning

The optimization models and algorithms with their implementations on flow over time problems have been an emerging field of research because of largely increasing human-created and natural disasters worldwide. For an optimal use of transportation network to shift affected people and normalize the disastrous situation as quickly and Efficiently as possible, contraflow configuration is one of the highly applicable operations research (OR) models. It increases the outbound road capacities by reversing the direction of arcs towards the safe destinations that not only minimize the congestion and increase the flow but also decrease the evacuation time significantly. In this paper, we sketch the state of quickest flow solutions and solve the quickest contraflow problem with constant transit times on arcs proving that the problem can be solved in strongly polynomial time O(nm²(log n)²), where n and m are number of nodes and number of arcs, respectively in the network. This contraflow solution has the same computational time bound as that of the best min-cost flow solution. Moreover, we also introduce the contraflow approach with load dependent transit times on arcs and present an Efficient algorithm to solve the quickest contraflow problem approximately. Supporting the claim, our computational experiments on Kathmandu road network and on randomly generated instances perform very well matching the theoretical results. For sufficiently large number of evacuees, about double flow can be shifted with the same evacuation time and about half time is sufficient to push the given flow value with contraflow reconfiguration.     

Synthesis of two-dimensional metallic silver using sodium beta-alumina crystal channels

Sodium beta-alumina (β-NaAl₁₁0₁₇) crystals were grown within a gel containing Na₂O and Al₂O₃. The glass–crystal composite was put through a Na⁺ ? Ag⁺ ion-exchange reaction. The ion-exchanged glass–crystal was then subjected to an electrodeposition process. Nanosheets of metallic silver were found to have grown within the β-NaAl₁₁0₁₇ channels which usually contain the mobile sodium ions. The DC electrical resistance of the composites was caused due to charge transport in the two-dimensional crystal planes. The average silver layer thickness was ～0.6 nm and the interlayer separation ～1.13 nm.     

Design, fabrication and demonstration of a magnetophoresis chamber with 25 output fractions

Our goal is to develop an instrument for parallel and multiplexed bioassay using magnetic labels. Toward this end we are developing a multi-outlet magnetophoresis instrument incorporating a fluidic flow chamber placed inside a magnetic field gradient. Magnetic microparticles are sorted by their magnetic moment for eventual use as biological labels based on magnetic signature. In this paper, we concentrate on developments in our flow chamber fabrication methods that have allowed us to scale the number of sorting channels from 8 to 25. We present data for instrument performance and reproducibility of sorting.     

Effect of frequency on acoustic parameters in a binary mixture of polar liquids

The densities (α) and ultrasonic velocities (C) of binary mixtures of a polar liquid like acetone and toluene have been measured at different frequencies (lMHz, 3MHz and 5MHz) over the entire range of mole fraction of acetone at temperature 303.16k. The intermolecular free length (L _f ), isentropic compressibility (β), acoustic impedance (Z), excess values of isentropic compressibility (β ^E ) and acoustic impedance (Z ^E ) have been computed using values of ultrasonic velocity (C) and density (α). The ultrasonic velocity (C), intermolecular free length (L _f ) and excess values of isentropic compressibility are positive whereas excess values of acoustic impedance is negative for the entire composition range which indicates the specific interaction between unlike molecules. The results are discussed in the light of intermolecular interactions occurring in the solutions.     

Spherically Symmetric Vacuum Brane and Wormhole Solutions

In this letter, we have obtained static, spherically symmetric solutions of the effective vacuum Einstein field equations on a brane embedded in a five dimensional space time. The effective stress tensor is induced by the interaction with the bulk gravitational field and is given by the electric part of the five dimensional Weyl tensor. Due to traceless nature of this non-local effect of the bulk, any solution of  ⁽⁴⁾ R=0 is a possible solution of the vacuum brane. We have derived a class of solutions, which corresponds to wormhole solution. Physical properties and characteristics of the wormhole are studied.     

Gyrator transform-based optical image encryption,using chaos

We propose a new method for image encryption, using gyrator transform and chaos theory. Random phase masks are generated using chaos functions and are called as chaotic random phase masks. In the proposed technique, the image is encrypted using gyrator transform and two chaotic random phase masks. Three types of chaos functions have been used to generate the chaotic random phase masks. These chaos functions are the logistic map, the tent map and the Kaplan-Yorke map. The computer simulations are presented to verify the validity of the proposed technique. The mean square errors have been calculated. The robustness of the proposed technique to blind decryption in terms of rotation angle and the seed values of the chaotic random phase mask have been evaluated. The optical implementation of the encryption and the decryption technique has been proposed.     

Tuning the Electrochemical Performance of Titanium Carbide MXene by Controllable In Situ Anodic Oxidation

MXenes are a class of two‐dimensional (2D) transition metal carbides, nitrides and carbonitrides that have shown promise for high‐rate pseudocapacitive energy storage. However, the effects that irreversible oxidation have on the surface chemistry and electrochemical properties of MXenes are still not understood. Here we report on a controlled anodic oxidation method which improves the rate performance of titanium carbide MXene (Ti₃C₂T_x, T_x refers to ‐F, =O, ‐Cl and ‐OH) electrodes in acidic electrolytes. The capacitance retention at 2000 mV s^?1 (with respect to the lowest scan rate of 5 mV s^?1) increases gradually from 38 % to 66 % by tuning the degree of anodic oxidation. At the same time, a loss in the redox behavior of Ti₃C₂T_x is evident at high anodic potentials after oxidation. Several analysis methods are employed to reveal changes in the structure and surface chemistry while simultaneously introducing defects, without compromising electrochemically active sites, are key factors for improving the rate performance of Ti₃C₂T_x. This study demonstrates improvement of the electrochemical performance of MXene electrodes by performing a controlled anodic oxidation.     

Relevance of inter-site Coulomb repulsion on high-Tc superconductivity within t−J−V model

The relevance of inter-site Coulomb repulsion (V) in the hole-doped cuprates is explored within $t?J?V$ model. An exact diagonalization (ED) technique is employed to investigate some ground state and thermodynamic properties of the model for various hole-doping. Results show that electron-electron ($e?e$) correlation is maximum between the next-nearest-neighbor (NNN) sites which decreases sharply at distances longer than √2 times the lattice spacing. Unlike hole-concentration, Coulomb repulsion reduces effective hopping amplitude. Our results suggest that in this hole-doped system, inter-site Coulomb repulsion favors d-wave pairing. Specific heat curves show characteristic single broad peaks where the peak-height decreases with doping concentration. From specific heat and entropy curves, one can expect a superconducting state at $<h>=0.25$.     

Synthesis,Antitubercular Activity,and Molecular Docking Studies of Novel 2-(4-Chlorobenzylamino)-4-(cyclohexylmethylamino)-pyrimidine-5-carboxamides

Russian Journal of General Chemistry - A novel series of 2-(4-chlorobenzylamino)-4-(cyclohexylmethylamino)-pyrimidine-5-carboxamide derivatives are synthesized and their structures are confirmed by...     

Synthesis and Anticancer Activity of Thiophene-2-carboxamide Derivatives and In Silico Docking Studies

Russian Journal of General Chemistry - A novel series of thiophene-2-carboxamide derivatives are designed and synthesized, and their structures are confirmed by 1H and 13C NMR, and mass spectra....