Cyclo[2]benzimidazole: luminescence turn-on sensing of anions

Cyclo[2]benzimidazole is a new host for anions that turns on its luminescence up to 150 fold upon binding. Photoexcited cyclo[2]benzimidazole undergoes an efficient non-radiative deactivation through an excited-state intramolecular proton-transfer (ESIPT) mechanism. Upon binding an anion, the ESIPT pathway is blocked, resulting in an increase in the luminescence efficiency.     

Modal Analysis of a Servo-Hydraulic High Speed Machine and its Application to Dynamic Tensile Testing at an Intermediate Strain Rate

This paper describes the experimental procedure to identify the predominant frequencies of the high speed testing machine by conducting modal analysis. The effects due to the predominant frequencies of the system and loading rate on the magnitude of system ringing and the flow stress were analyzed by using a single degree-of-freedom (SDOF) spring-mass-damper model. The system was then used to study the dynamic tensile behavior of two engineering materials, i.e., polyethylene (PE) fabric-cement composite and Alkaline Resistant (AR) glass fabrics at an intermediate strain rate. The stress oscillations in the response of these materials due to system ringing were addressed. The failure behavior of each material was studied by examining high speed digital camera images of specimens during the test. The validity of the dynamic tensile tests was investigated by examining the condition of dynamic stress equilibrium—a criterion used in split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) tests. The results show that the quantitative criterion for a valid SHPB test is also applicable to dynamic tensile tests of these materials at the intermediate strain rate.     

Atlas motion platform generalized kinematic model

Conventional training simulators commonly use a hexapod configuration to provide motion cues. While widely used, studies have shown that hexapods are incapable of producing the range of motion required to achieve high fidelity simulation required in many applications. A novel alternative is the Atlas motion platform. This paper presents a new generalized kinematic model of the platform which can be applied to any spherical platform actuated by three omnidirectional wheels. In addition, conditions for slip-free and singularity-free motions are identified. Two illustrative examples are given for different omnidirectional wheel configurations.     

On generalized balanced optimization problems

In the generalized balanced optimization problem (GBaOP) the objective value \({\max_{e \in S}{|c(e)-k\max(S)|}}\) is minimized over all feasible subsets S of E = {1, . . . , m}. We show that the algorithm proposed in Punnen and Aneja (Oper Res Lett 32:27–30, 2004) can be modified to ensure that the resulting solution is indeed optimal. This modification is attained at the expense of increased worst-case complexity, but still maintains polynomial solvability of various special cases that are of general interest. In particular, we show that GBaOP can be solved in polynomial time if an associated bottleneck problem can be solved in polynomial time. For the solution of this bottleneck problem, we propose two alternative approaches.     

Exact versus approximate determination of structural reliability

Exact and approximate solutions for the reliability of a circular shaft, simultaneously subjected to a bending moment and a torque, are derived and compared. The closed-form solution is obtained in terms of an equivalent bending moment having a noncentral chi-square distribution, whereas the approximate solution is derived via the Hasofer-Lind reliability index. Comparison shows a remarkably high accuracy of the index.On leave from the Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel     

Asymptotics in Bayesian decision theory with applications to global robustness

We provide the rate of convergence of the Bayes action derived from non smooth loss functions involved in Bayesian robustness. Such loss functions are typically not twice differentiable but admit right and left second derivatives. The asymptotic limit of three measures of global robustness is given. These measures are the range of the Bayes actions set associated with a class of loss functions, the maximum regret of using a particular loss when the subjective loss belongs to a given class and the range of the posterior expected loss when the loss ranges over a given class. An application to prior robustness with density ratio classes is provided.     

Rings with Commuting Nilpotents and Zero Divisors

We explore the consequences of certain commutativity hypotheses on a single nilpotent element or the set N of all nilpotent elements. We give several sufficient conditions for N to be an ideal. We present some nontrivial examples, including an example in which N is commutative (in fact, N ² = {0}) and N is not an ideal. Received: April 27, 2006. Revised: July 31, 2006.     

Performance analysis of single stage kanban controlled production systems using parametric decomposition

We present a new approach that permits efficient performance analysis of kanban systems with general demand processes, material arrival processes, and service times. The approach is based on parametric characterization of the traffic processes (arrival and departure) in the network and uses two-moment approximations to estimate performance measures at individual stations. We derive traffic flow constraints that are particular to closed queuing networks with synchronization stations and use these to establish relationships between the parameters characterizing arrival and departure processes at the stations in the network. The resultant set of non-linear equations is solved to estimate network performance measures. Numerical studies show that the approach is not only fast but also reasonably accurate when compared to simulation. These studies also provide insights with respect to the impact of different types of variability on the performance of a kanban system. This work also provides a fundamental building block that can be used in the analysis of multi-stage kanban systems. AMS Subject Classifications 68M20, 60K20, 90B05, 90B30     

Correlated equilibrium and potential games

Any correlated equilibrium of a strategic game with bounded payoffs and convex strategy sets which has a smooth concave potential, is a mixture of pure strategy profiles which maximize the potential. If moreover, the strategy sets are compact and the potential is strictly concave, then the game has a unique correlated equilibrium.     

Randomly coloring sparse random graphs with fewer colors than the maximum degree

We analyze Markov chains for generating a random k‐coloring of a random graph G_n,d/n. When the average degree d is constant, a random graph has maximum degree Θ(log n/log log n), with high probability. We show that, with high probability, an efficient procedure can generate an almost uniformly random k‐coloring when k = Θ(log log n/log log log n), i.e., with many fewer colors than the maximum degree. Previous results hold for a more general class of graphs, but always require more colors than the maximum degree. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 2006