A review of open queueing network models of manufacturing systems

In this paper we review open queueing network models of manufacturing systems. The paper consists of two parts. In the first part we discuss design and planning problems arising in manufacturing. In doing so we focus on those problems that are best addressed by queueing network models. In the second part of the paper we describe developments in queueing network methodology. We are primarily concerned with features such as general service times, deterministic product routings, and machine failures — features that are prevalent in manufacturing settings. Since these features have eluded exact analysis, approximation procedures have been proposed. In the second part of this paper we review the developments in approximation procedures and highlight the assumptions that underlie these approaches.     

Silica-supported perchloric acid and potassium bisulfate as reusable green catalysts for nitration of aromatics under solvent-free microwave conditions

Silica-supported perchloric acid and bisulfate (SiO₂/HClO₄ and SiO₂/KHSO₄) have been developed as reusable green catalysts for nitration of aromatic compounds using NaNO₂ in acetonitrile medium under conventional and solvent-free microwave conditions. The reaction times under microwave irradiation are significantly shorter than conventional method even though the yields obtained in microwave-assisted reactions are comparable with those obtained under reflux conditions.     

BER analysis of DPSK–SIM over MIMO free space optical links with misalignment

Free-space optics (FSO) is a safe, license-free, high speed and high-bandwidth cordless technique for broadcasting signals at the same speed as fiber optics. But the main drawback of FSO is the dissolution of the signals due to atmospheric turbulence and thus degrading the link performance. So, to enhance the bit error rate (BER) performance, spatial diversity is employed over the FSO links for single-input multiple-output FSO (SIMO-FSO) systems. In this paper, we analyze the BER performance of SIMO-FSO links with spatial diversity and multiple-input multiple-output FSO (MIMO-FSO) systems over gamma–gamma atmospheric turbulence fading channel with misalignment (pointing errors). The closed form expressions are derived for the same with various combining schemes in terms of the Meijer G function and also evaluate the results with 2D and 3D graphs.     

Extremely correlated Fermi liquids

We present the theory of an extremely correlated Fermi liquid with U→∞. This liquid has an underlying auxiliary Fermi liquid Green's function that is further caparisoned by extreme correlations. The theory leads to two parallel hierarchies of equations that permit iterative approximations in a certain parameter. Preliminary results for the spectral functions display a broad background and a distinct T dependent left skew. An important energy scale Δ(k[over →],x) emerges as the average inelasticity of the FL Green's function, and influences the photoemission spectra profoundly. A duality is identified wherein a loss of coherence of the ECFL results from an excessively sharp FL.     

Influence of Temperature,Concentration, and Gas/Liquid Ratios on the Gas-Mobility Reduction of Foams in Porous Media

The gas-mobility reduction capability of sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate foams was studied in sandpacks as a function of temperature at different surfactant concentrations and gas/liquid ratios. Increasing the temperature decreased the gas mobility at a given surfactant concentration and gas/liquid ratio. At any given temperature, the gas-mobility reduction was not increased beyond a certain limit with increasing surfactant concentration. While increasing the gas/liquid ratio improved the gas-mobility reduction at 20°C, at higher temperatures the reduction capability decreased after reaching a maximum at a gas/liquid ratio of 9. All the foams became weak at temperatures of 150°C and higher.     

Complex dynamics in the Oregonator model with linear delayed feedback

The Belousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction can display a rich dynamics when a delayed feedback is applied. We used the Oregonator model of the oscillating BZ reaction to explore the dynamics brought about by a linear delayed feedback. The time-delayed feedback can generate a succession of complex dynamics: period-doubling bifurcation route to chaos; amplitude death; fat, wrinkled, fractal, and broken tori; and mixed-mode oscillations. We observed that this dynamics arises due to a delay-driven transition, or toggling of the system between large and small amplitude oscillations, through a canard bifurcation. We used a combination of numerical bifurcation continuation techniques and other numerical methods to explore the dynamics in the strength of feedback-delay space. We observed that the period-doubling and quasiperiodic route to chaos span a low-dimensional subspace, perhaps due to the trapping of the trajectories in the small amplitude regime near the canard; and the trapped chaotic trajectories get ejected from the small amplitude regime due to a crowding effect to generate chaotic-excitable spikes. We also qualitatively explained the observed dynamics by projecting a three-dimensional phase portrait of the delayed dynamics on the two-dimensional nullclines. This is the first instance in which it is shown that the interaction of delay and canard can bring about complex dynamics.