An Improved Algorithm for the Non-Guillotine-Constrained Cutting-Stock Problem

A personal-computer-based algorithm to solve the non-guillotine-constrained two-dimensional cutting-stock problem is developed. The problem is constrained to single-sized rectangles placed orthogonally on a larger containing rectangle. The algorithm uses the linear combination of box lengths and widths that minimizes waste along the cutting stock's length and width to determine an optimal layout. The algorithm's performance is evaluated using two sets of test cases and compared to the results of other algorithms.     

Fast Fourier transformation with continuous cyclic voltammetry at an Au microelectrode for the determination of morphine in a flow injection system

For the fast morphine monitoring in flow injection systems a highly sensitive method is being introduced in this work. The fast Fourier transformation with continuous cyclic voltammetry (FFTCV) in a flowing solution as a detection system was applied for the prompt morphine monitoring. Here it should be stressed that this technique is simple, precise, accurate, time saving and economical. This research includes the observation of the effects of various parameters on the sensitivity of the detection system. Eventually, it was concluded that the best condition was obtained within the pH value of 2, scan rate value of 40 V s⁻¹, accumulation potential of 400 mV and accumulation time of 0.6 s.In detail, the noteworthy advantages which this method illustrates in comparison with other reported methods are the following; no necessity for the oxygen removal from the test solution, a sub-nano molar detection limit and the fast determination of any such compound in a wide variety of chromatographic methods.The method proved to be linear over the concentration range of 285-305,300 pg mL⁻¹ (r = 0.999) with a detection limit and a quantitation limit of 95.5 and 285 pg mL⁻¹, respectively. Consequently, the method illustrates the requisite accuracy, sensitivity, precision and selectivity to assay morphine in its tablets and biological fluids.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bis</Emphasis>(macrocyclic)dinickel(II) complexes containing phenylene bridges between 13-membered triaza dioxa macrocyclic ligands: <Emphasis Type="Italic">in-situ</Emphasis> one pot template synthesis,characterization and catalytic oxidation of cyclohexene

A new series of bis(macrocyclic)dinickel(II) complexes containing phenylene bridges between 13-membered triaza dioxa macrocyclic subunits have been synthesized via in-situ One Pot Template Condensation (IOPTC) of nitrogen–nitrogen linker, CH₂O and 1,8-diamino-3,6-dioxaoctane and nickel(II) in a 1:4:2:2 molar ratio. These complexes have been found to be effective catalysts for the selective oxidation of cyclohexene to 2-cyclohexene-1-one and 2-cyclohexene-2-ol with molecular oxygen as the oxidant.     

Selective attachment of F-actin with controlled length for developing an intelligent nanodevice

Development of the nanodevice that myosin-coated beads "walk" on actin filaments (F-actin) tracks for in vitro nanotransportation was hindered due to the difficulty of assembling large-area well-orientated F-actin tracks on the surface. In this work, we present a selective attachment of F-actin with controlled length on a patterned surface by employing biotinylated capped protein gelsolin as intermediate anchoring bridge. A patterned streptavidin layer was formed via coupling with a biotin layer that photo-actively attached to an amine-functionalized glass surface. The patterned film was found stable and homogenous compared to that obtained by microcontact printing method, according to the profiling with fluorescence microscopy. By a secondary blocking process, non-specific binding of F-actin to the patterned surface through electrostatic adsorption can be resisted. The length variation of F-actin as a function of gelsolin concentration was also investigated, implying that F-actin is appropriately of 2.5 μm in average length once F-actin/gelsolin molar ratio is 4:1. Finally, the selective attachment of F-actin was well characterized with quantifying the number of attached F-actin per unit area in the patterned areas over that in blocked areas. The density of F-actin was estimated at c.a. 2 μm(2) per actin filament molecule so that the distance between one another actin filament is estimated as c.a. 1.41-1.97 μm. The unique properties of F-actin, e.g. well flexibility or electrical conductivity, make it feasible to lay them down and form unidirectional aligned tracks by fluidic flow or electrical field. This may open a possibility for the long-distant movement of myosin-coated beads, offering a novel discipline for the development of micro-biochip in vitro.     

A branch and bound algorithm for hybrid flow shop scheduling problem with setup time and assembly operations

A hybrid flow shop scheduling problem (HFSP) with assembly operations is studied in this paper. In the considered problem, a number of products of the same kind are produced. Each product is assembled using a set of several parts. At first, the parts are produced in a hybrid flow shop and then they are assembled in an assembly stage to produce products. The considered objective is to minimize the completion time of all products (makespan). This problem has been proved strongly NP-hard, so in order to solve it, a hierarchical branch and bound algorithm is presented. Also, some lower and upper bounds are developed to increase the efficiency of the proposed algorithm. The numerical experiments are used to evaluate the performance of the proposed algorithm.     

Rapid and Direct Spectrofluorometric and Chemometrics Methods for the Simultaneous Determination of Two Dansyl Derivatives

ABSTRACT

In this study the simultaneous molecular spectrofluorometric determination of ultratrace amounts of two dansyl chloride derivatives, DMNPS (5-(dimethylamino)naphthalene-1-sulfonyl 4-phenylsemicarbazide) and DMNPH (2-(5-(dimethylamino)naphthalen-1-ylsulfonyl)-N-phenylhydrazinecarbothioamide), was accomplished using a genetic algorithm joint partial least squares (GA-PLS) technique that leads to very low detection limits (lower than 10^?6 mol/L) The linear dynamic ranges of the compounds were 1–6 µ mol L^?1 and 1–7 µ mol L^?1 for DMNPS and DMNPH, respectively. Quantification was performed using the emission wavelength range from 360 to 600 nm with an optimum calibration sample number of 25 and prediction sample number of 7. The technique was proved to be beneficial.     

Application of WDXRF in the provenance studies of Persian haft rang tiles: a statistical approach

An outstanding style of Persian tilework, which emerged from the north‐eastern Iran in the 15th century, was extensively used for decorating architectural facades during the Safavid period (from the 16th through the 18th century). This type of tilework, the so‐called haft rang, technically comprises of forming a clay body and firing two glazed layers on top of the body. In the present paper, the first analytical data concerning haft rang tiles is provided. To do so, forty three samples of Safavid haft rang bodies were analysed by wavelength dispersive x‐ray fluorescence (WDXRF) and the obtained data were handled by principal component analysis (PCA). The results showed that the 17th century haft rang tiles wherever found are local products; that is, Safavid tile‐makers have used local clay sources to make the bodies of haft rang tiles. The analytical data also showed that old tileworks, in general sense, can be simply replaced by newly manufactured tiles or, at least, all tilework revetments in an individual edifice might not have been produced in an identical workshop. Moreover, WDXRF was used as an accurate and precise method to determine the chemical composition and to support compositional classification in provenance studies and can be considered as a reliable alternative for studying the provenance of archaeological ceramics. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.