An inventory model with backorders with fuzzy parameters and decision variables

The paper considers an inventory model with backorders in a fuzzy situation by employing two types of fuzzy numbers, which are trapezoidal and triangular. A full-fuzzy model is developed where the input parameters and the decision variables are fuzzified. The optimal policy for the developed model is determined using the Kuhn-Tucker conditions after the defuzzification of the cost function with the graded mean integration (GMI) method. Numerical examples and a sensitivity analysis study are provided to highlight the differences between crisp and the fuzzy cases.     

A photocatalytic green system for chemoselective reduction of nitroarenes

A highly efficient photocatalytic reduction of nitroarenes using TiO₂/polyethylene glycol 400-water (TiO₂/PEG–H₂O) is reported. This system at deoxygenated and illuminated (sunlight or violet LED) conditions efficiently reduced nitroarenes using oxalic acid or ammonium formate as a sacrificial electron donor. Reducible functional groups such as chloro, hydroxy, flouro, bromo and carbonyl were intact under the optimized reaction conditions. The 0.1 and 0.5–1 mmol amount of nitroarenes was used under sunlight and violet LED (400 nm) irradiation, respectively. Reusability of the nanotitania was successfully carried out four times. The analyses of the recovered catalyst after five runs including TEM, XRD, TGA and CHN were done and results showed that PEG is located on TiO₂; no change in morphology, crystallinity and particle sizes was observed.     

Exact Analysis of Level-Crossing Statistics for (d+1)-Dimensional Fluctuating Surfaces

We carry out an exact analysis of the average frequency ν⁺ _αxi in the direction x _i of positiveslope crossing of a given level α such that, h(x, t) − = α, of growing surfaces in spatial dimension d. Here, h(x, t) is the surface height at time t, and is its mean value. We analyze the problem when the surface growth dynamics is governed by the Kardar-Parisi-Zhang (KPZ) equation without surface tension, in the time regime prior to appearance of cusp singularities (sharp valleys), as well as in the random deposition (RD) model. The total number N ⁺ of such level-crossings with positive slope in all the directions is then shown to scale with time as t ^d/2 for both the KPZ equation and the RD model. PACS number(s): 52.75.Rx, 68.35.Ct     

Highly selective transport of lead cation through bulk liquid membrane by macrocyclic ligand of decyl-18-crown-6 as carrier

The liquid membrane transport of Pb²⁺ cation using decyl-18-crown-6 as selective ion carrier was studied. The transport of lead ion across the liquid membrane in the presence of S₂O ₃ ^2? , P₂O ₇ ^4? , CN^?, SCN^?, and DDC^? as stripping agents in the receiving phase shows that the nature and the concentration of the stripping agents affect on Pb²⁺ cation transport and the maximum transport occurs when the sodium thiosulfate (Na₂S₂O₃) was used. The effects of various parameters influencing the transport efficiency such as the pH of the source and receiving phases, the concentration of picrate ion as counter ion in the source phase were also studied. Five replicated experiments show that a value 82.12 ± 2.09% of the initial concentration of the Pb²⁺ cation in the source phase is extracted into the receiving phase after 4 hours. Also the selectivity and efficiency of lead ion transport from the source phase containing equimolar mixtures of Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Cd²⁺ and Ag⁺ metal cations were investigated.     

Synthesis and characterization of sulfamic acid supported on Fe3O4 nanoparticles: A green,versatile and magnetically separable acidic catalyst for oxidation reactions and Knoevenagel condensation

Sulfamic acid immobilized on diethylenetriamine functionalized Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles (SA‐DETA‐Fe₃O₄) was successfully prepared and characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), X‐Ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The sulfamic acid was found as a magnetically separable and highly active catalyst for the oxidative coupling thiols, oxidation of sulfides. Furthermore, the SA‐DETA‐Fe₃O₄ showed the high catalytic activity in Knoevenagel condensation of aromatic aldehydes with active methylene compounds (malononitrile and ethyl cynoacetate). The nanosolid catalyst could be easily recovered by a simple magnetic separation and reused for many cycles without deterioration in catalytic activity.     

Origins of Enantiopreference of Mycobacterium smegmatis Acyl Transferase: A Computational Analysis

Acyl transferase from Mycobacterium smegmatis (MsAcT) is a promising biocatalyst because it catalyzes an acyl transfer reaction in aqueous solution, thereby accepting many primary and secondary alcohols as substrates. MsAcT also exhibits high enantioselectivity for a selected number of secondary alcohols. To increase the applicability of this enzyme for the production of optically active compounds, a detailed understanding of the reaction mechanism and the factors that affect enantioselectivity is essential. Herein, quantum chemical calculations are employed to study the reactions of two secondary alcohols, 1-isopropyl propargyl alcohol and 2-hydroxy propanenitrile, for which the enzyme displays opposite enantiopreference, favoring the S enantiomer in the former case and R enantiomer in the latter. A model of the active site has been designed and for both substrates various binding modes are evaluated and the intermediates and transition states along the reaction path are then located. The calculated energy profiles agree with the experimental observations, and reproduce the selectivity outcome. Through a detailed analysis of the geometries of key transition states, insights into the origins of the enantiopreference are obtained.     

NaY zeolite functionalized by sulfamic acid/Cu(OAc)2 as a new and reusable heterogeneous hybrid catalyst for efficient solvent-free formylation of amines

NaY zeolite functionalized by sulfamic acid/Cu(OAc)_2[NaY/SA/Cu(Ⅱ)] was synthesized and used as a new,efficient and recyclable catalyst for preparation of formamides. This novel organic-inorganic hybrid catalyst was characterized by several techniques such as FT-IR, XRD, SEM, EDX and TG analysis.Chemoselectivity, easy procedure, excellent yields, very short reaction times, solvent-free and mild reaction conditions are some benefits of this new protocol.     

Dynamic stability of functionally graded cantilever cylindrical shells under distributed axial follower forces

In this paper, flutter of functionally graded material (FGM) cylindrical shells under distributed axial follower forces is addressed. The first-order shear deformation theory is used to model the shell, and the material properties are assumed to be graded in the thickness direction according to a power law distribution using the properties of two base material phases. The solution is obtained by using the extended Galerkin's method, which accounts for the natural boundary conditions that are not satisfied by the assumed displacement functions. The effect of changing the concentrated (Beck's) follower force into the uniform (Leipholz's) and linear (Hauger's) distributed follower loads on the critical circumferential mode number and the minimum flutter load is investigated. As expected, the flutter load increases as the follower force changes from the so-called Beck's load into the so-called Leipholz's and Hauger's loadings. The increased flutter load was calculated for homogeneous shell with different mechanical properties, and it was found that the difference in elasticity moduli bears the most significant effect on the flutter load increase in short, thick shells. Also, for an FGM shell, the increase in the flutter load was calculated directly, and it was found that it can be derived from the simple power law when the corresponding increase for the two base phases are known.