A multi-shift vehicle routing problem with windows and cycle times

In many applications of the vehicle routing problem with time windows (VRPTW), goods must be picked up within desired time frames. In addition, they have some limitations on their arrival time to the central depot. In this paper, we present a new version of VRPTW that minimizes the total cycle time of the goods. In order to meet the time windows and also minimize the cycle time, the courier’s schedule is allowed to vary. An algorithm, named VeRSA, is proposed to solve this problem. VeRSA employs concepts of scheduling theorems and algorithms to determine feasible routes and schedules of the available couriers. We prove a theoretical lower bound that provides a useful bound on the optimality gap. We also conduct a set of numerical experiments. VeRSA obtains a feasible solution faster than solving the MIP. The optimality gap using our proposed lower bound is smaller than the gap found with the standard LP relaxation.     

Catalytic performance in 4-nitrophenol reduction by Ag nanoparticles stabilized on biodegradable amphiphilic copolymers

Biodegradable copolymers have received much more attention in the last decades due their potential applications in the fields related to environmental protection, medicine, agriculture, and the chemical processes. Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) were prepared via reduction of silver nitrate (AgNO₃) using biodegradable amphiphilic copolymers in aqueous solution. The micelles were constructed from the amphiphilic copolymer composed of poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) and poly(ε-caprolactone). The Ag NPs with a diameter of 10–15?nm were found to show a comparable high catalytic activity toward the reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) in the presence of an excess amount of NaBH₄. The synthesized Ag NPs-loaded copolymer exhibits high catalytic activity for the reduction of 4-NP to 4-aminophenol.     

Adaptive controller design for lag-synchronization of two non-identical time-delayed chaotic systems with unknown parameters

In this Letter, two adaptive controllers are proposed for the lag-synchronization of two non-identical time-delayed chaotic systems with fully unknown parameters. Based on Lyapunov-stability theorem and adaptive techniques, sufficient conditions for the lag-synchronization of these two systems are discussed. Finally, illustrative examples are given to verify the validity of the developed controllers.     

Improved charge collection efficiency of hollow sphere/nanoparticle composite TiO2 electrodes for solid state dye sensitized solar cells

The photoanodes of solid state dye sensitized solar cells (ss-DSCs) embedded with different contents of TiO₂ hollow spheres (HSs) were prepared and the photovoltaic performances were systematically characterized. TiO₂ hollow spheres were synthesized by a facile sacrificial templating method, grounded and added in different ratios to TiO₂ nanoparticle (NP) paste, from which composite HS/NP electrodes were fabricated. The composite photoanodes include hollow spheres of 300–700 nm with enhanced light scattering characteristics in visible range which leads to improved light absorption in conventional thin film electrodes of ss-DSC. By optimizing the amount of HSs in the paste, 40% improvement in efficiency was obtained in comparison to ss-DSC utilized pure NP electrodes. By increasing the fraction of HSs in the electrode the current density increased by 56% (from 2.5 to 3.9 mA cm^?2). The improved photovoltaic performance of ss-DSC is primarily due to different morphology and altered charged trap distribution in HSs in comparison to NP which leads to significant enhancement in electron transport time and electron lifetime as well as charge collection efficiency and light absorption properties.     

Characterization of ZnO:Si nanocomposite films grown by thermal evaporation

Composite films were fabricated by co-evaporating Zinc Oxide with Silicon at room temperatures. The resulting films had polycrystalline grains of Zinc Oxide whose grain size were few hundred nanometers, embedded in the silicon matrix. These nanocrystalline grains of ZnO showed good photoluminescence emission at 520 nm along with a photoluminescence emission at 620 nm being contributed by the silicon background. Thus, the nanocomposite films gave a board emission, making it a potentially useful candidate for optoelectronic devices. The photo-luminescent property of the films was found to be stable since the homgenously dispersed ZnO nanocrystals were not allowed to agglomerate by the silicon background.     

Simultaneous Determination of the Endogenous Free ��-Lipoic Acid and Dihydrolipoic Acid in Human Plasma and Erythrocytes by RP-HPLC with Electrochemical Detection

A highly sensitive, precise, and accurate reversed-phase high-performance liquid-chromatography/electrochemical detection method for simultaneous determination of the endogenous free ??-lipoic acid and dihydrolipoic acid in biological matrices was developed and validated. The two analytes were extracted from the samples with acetonitrile/10% metaphosphoric acid solution_(aqueous) (50/50 v/v). To determine the total lipoic acid, samples were treated with tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine solution in phosphate buffer, pH 2.5 with 85% orthophosphoric acid prior to deproteination. The two analytes were separated on a C₁₈ (150 × 4.6 mm, 5 ??m) analytical column using acetonitrile-50 mM phosphate buffer, pH 2.5 with 85% orthophosphoric acid (35/65 v/v) as the isocratic mobile phase pumped at a flow rate of 2.0 mL min^?1 at the column oven temperature of 35 °C. The column eluents were monitored at a potential of 0.9 V. These analytes were efficiently resolved in <7 min. The present method was sufficiently robust and specific for simultaneous determination of the two analytes and demonstrated acceptable values for linearity (r ² = 0.999 in the range of 0.1?C500 and 0.25?C1,000 ng mL^?1 for ??-lipoic acid and dihydrolipoic acid, respectively), recovery (>97%), precision (RSD% <2), and sensitivity (on column limit of detection, 150 and 375 fg for ??-lipoic acid and dihydrolipoic acid, respectively and limit of quantification: 0.5 and 1.25 pg for ??-lipoic acid and dihydrolipoic acid, respectively), indicating that the proposed method was more sensitive, precise, economical, and versatile, and has higher throughput than the previously reported methods for simultaneous determination of the two analytes.     

Zinc chloride catalyzed three-component Ugi reaction: synthesis of N-cyclohexyl-2-(2-hydroxyphenylamino)acetamide derivatives

The ability of zinc chloride as a catalyst to promote the three-component Ugi reaction of 2-aminophenols, aliphatic or aromatic aldehydes, and cyclohexyl isocyanide in methanol at room temperature is described. The N-cyclohexyl-2-(2-hydroxyphenylamino) amide products are obtained in high yields. When N,N-dimethylformamide dimethyl acetal and triethyl orthoformate, as two new components of the three-component Ugi reaction are used instead of the aldehyde the reaction gives N-cyclohexyl-2-(dimethylamino)-2-(2-hydroxyphenylamino)acetamide and N-cyclohexyl-2-(2-hydroxyphenylamino)-2-ethoxyacetamide derivatives, respectively.     

Synthesis,Characterization and X‐ray Crystal Structure of a Chromium(III) Complex Obtained from a Proton‐Transfer Compound Containing 1,10‐Phenanthroline‐2,9‐dicarboxylic Acid and 2,6‐Pyridinediamine

The novel 1,10‐phenanthroline‐2,9‐dicarboxylate containing Chromium(III) complex, (pydaH)[Cr(phendc)₂] · 5H₂O, was synthesized using proton‐transfer compound LH₂, (pydaH₂)²⁺(phendc)^2?, (pyda: 2,6‐pyridinediamine; phendcH₂: 1,10‐phenanthroline‐2,9‐dicarboxylic acid) and thoroughly characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, X‐ray crystallography and cyclic voltammetry. The complex crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/n with four formula units in the unit cell. The unit cell dimensions are: a = 13.962(3) Å, b = 14.529(3) Å, c = 16.381(3) Å and β = 106.691(4)°. In this complex, 1,10‐phenanthroline‐2,9‐dicarboxylate acts as a tridentate ligand and the lattice is composed of anionic hexacoordinated complex, [Cr(phendc)₂]^?, 2,6‐pyridiniumdiamine counter ion, (pydaH)⁺, and five lattice water molecules. Crystallographic characterization revealed that the resulting supramolecular structure is strongly stabilized by complicated network of hydrogen bonds between the crystallization water molecules, counter ion and both coordinated and uncoordinated carboxylate groups. There is no relevant π‐π interaction for this anionic complex between pyda or phendc moieties. The electrochemical studies indicated over potential for both the cathodic and anodic peaks of the complex with respect to the free Cr³⁺ ion, as a consequence of the energy requirement for rearrangement of the ligand at electrode surface.     

New Methylene Blue (NMB) Encapsulated in Mesoporous AlMCM‐41 Material and Its Application for Amperometric Determination of Ascorbic Acid in Real Samples

New methylene blue (NMB) dye incorporated into AlMCM‐41 surfactant‐free and hybrid surfactant‐AlMCM‐41 mesophase. UV‐vis evidence shows that new methylene blue dye protonated in both cases of zeolites. New methylene blue is electroactive in zeolites and their electrochemical activity has been studied by cyclic voltammetry and compared to that of NMB in aqueous solutions. New methylene blue molecules are not released to the solution during CV measurements and are accessible to H₃O⁺ ions. The presence of surfactant affects the kinetics of the redox process through proton ions diffusion. The midpoint potentials (E_m) values show that new methylene blue dye incorporated into AlMCM‐41 can be reduced easily with respect to solution new methylene blue. New methylene blue interacting with surfactant polar heads and residual Br^? ions as a results, it shows a couple of peaks in high potential with respect to new methylene blue solution. The electrode made with methylene blue‐AlMCM‐41 without surfactant was used for the mediated oxidation of ascorbic acid. The anodic peak current observed in cyclic voltammetry was linearly dependent on the ascorbic acid concentration. The calibration plot was linear over the ascorbic acid concentration range 1.0×10^?5 to 5.0×10^?4 M. The detection limit of the method is 1.0×10^?5 M, low enough for trace ascorbic acid determination in various real samples.     

Ion Pairing,H‐bonding,and π‐π Interactions in Cobalt(II) Compound Containing Guanidinium Counter Ion

A novel proton transfer compound, (GH)₂(phendc), ( 1 ), was synthesized from the reaction of 1,10‐phenanthroline‐2,9‐dicarboxylic acid, phendcH₂, and guanidine hydrochloride, (GH)(Cl), (G: guanidine). The characterization was performed using IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The cobalt(II) compounds were synthesized using proton transfer compounds containing guanidinium counter ion. These proton transfer compounds are (GH)₂(phendc), and (GH)₂(pydc) (pydcH₂: 2,6‐pyridinedicarboxylic acid). The chemical formulae and space groups are (GH)₂[Co(phendc)₂]·4H₂O, (2) , and (GH)₂[Co(H₂O)₆][Co(pydc)₂]₂, P2₁/n (3) . Non‐covalent interactions such as ionpairing, hydrogen bonding and π‐π stacking are discussed.