Solving multi-objective parallel machine scheduling problem by a modified NSGA-II

In this paper, we modify a Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithm, known as Nondominated sorting Genetic Algorithm-II (NSGA-II) for a parallel machine scheduling problem with three objectives. The objectives are – (1) minimization of total cost due tardiness, (2) minimization of the deterioration cost and (3) minimization of makespan. The formulated problem has been solved by three Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithms which are: (1) the original NSGA-II (Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm–II), (2) SPEA2 (Strength Pareto Evolutionary Algorithm-2) and (3) a modified version of NSGA-II as proposed in this paper. A new mutation algorithm has also been proposed depending on the type of problem and embedded in the modified NSGA-II. The results of the three algorithms have been compared and conclusions have been drawn. The modified NSGA-II is observed to perform better than the original NSGA-II. Besides, the proposed mutation algorithm also works effectively, as evident from the experimental results.     

Co-existence of multiple attractors in the PWM controlled DC drives

DC shunt and series drives are extensively used in the industry. The occurrence of bifurcation and chaos in dc shunt and permanent magnet drives are well known. It is observed that the behavior of the drives not only depends on the value of system parameters but also on the value of initial conditions. Multiple attractors can exist for same parameter value. Different choice of initial conditions gives different periodic behavior of the system. The drive is intended to operate in a parameter range to give period-1 behavior. We report the existence of sub- harmonic oscillations in the period-1 region of the bifurcation diagram along with co-existing attractor with fractal basin boundaries in PWM controlled dc series drives. The series drive is extensively used in electric traction and other applications. The dc drives are run with dc input voltage. This dc voltage may be derived from a dc source or an ac source with a rectifier. The dc series drive shows different bifurcation behavior when different types of input voltage and switching elements are used. The existence of period-1, period-2 and period-4 orbits are observed with different initial conditions in the desired period-1 region of the bifurcation diagram. The dependence of system’s behavior on initial condition may render the system’s behavior unpredictable. These phenomena may have serious implication in performance.     

Dimethyl sulfoxide induced structural transformations and non-monotonic concentration dependence of conformational fluctuation around active site of lysozyme

Experimental studies have observed significant changes in both structure and function of lysozyme (and other proteins) on addition of a small amount of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) in aqueous solution. Our atomistic molecular dynamic simulations of lysozyme in water-DMSO reveal the following sequence of changes on increasing DMSO concentration. (i) At the initial stage (around 5% DMSO concentration) protein's conformational flexibility gets markedly suppressed. From study of radial distribution functions, we attribute this to the preferential solvation of exposed protein hydrophobic residues by the methyl groups of DMSO. (ii) In the next stage (10-15% DMSO concentration range), lysozome partially unfolds accompanied by an increase both in fluctuation and in exposed protein surface area. (iii) Between 15-20% concentration ranges, both conformational fluctuation and solvent accessible protein surface area suddenly decrease again indicating the formation of an intermediate collapse state. These results are in good agreement with near-UV circular dichroism (CD) and fluorescence studies. We explain this apparently surprising behavior in terms of a structural transformation which involves clustering among the methyl groups of DMSO. (iv) Beyond 20% concentration of DMSO, the protein starts its final sojourn towards the unfolding state with further increase in conformational fluctuation and loss in native contacts. Most importantly, analysis of contact map and fluctuation near the active site reveal that both partial unfolding and conformational fluctuations are centered mostly on the hydrophobic core of active site of lysozyme. Our results could offer a general explanation and universal picture of the anomalous behavior of protein structure-function observed in the presence of cosolvents (DMSO, ethanol, tertiary butyl alcohol, dioxane) at their low concentrations.     

Electrically polarized biphasic calcium phosphates: adsorption and release of bovine serum albumin

In this study, we applied electrical polarization technique to increase adsorption and control protein release from biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP). Three different biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) composites, with hydroxyapatite (HAp) and β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP), were processed and electrically polarized. Our study showed that stored charge was increased in the composites with the increase in HAp percentage. Adsorption of bovine serum albumin (BSA), as a model protein, on the poled as well as unpoled surfaces of the composites was studied. The highest amount of BSA adsorption was obtained on positively poled surfaces of each composite. Adsorption isotherm study suggested a multilayer adsorption of BSA on the BCP composites. The effect of electrical polarization on BSA release kinetics from positively charged BCP surfaces was studied. A gradual increase in percent BSA release from positively charged BCP surfaces with decreasing stored charge was observed. Our study showed that the BCP based composites have the potential to be used as a drug or growth factor delivery vehicle.     

Highly selective synthesis of libraries of 1,2-disubstituted benzimidazoles using silica gel soaked with ferric sulfate

An efficient and highly selective synthesis of functionalized 1,2-benzimidazoles has been developed under solvent-free conditions at ambient temperature using eco-friendly ferric sulfate soaked with silica [iron(III)sulfate-silica]. Recycling of the solid support up to six runs was investigated with appreciable yield and selectivity of the product.     

Gain enhancement of an electrically small antenna array using metamaterials

This paper presents the enhancement of radiated power ratio of a two-dipole array of infinitesimal dipole elements, separated by an infinitesimal distance. It is shown that a properly constructed metamaterial shell configuration with optimized material parameters surrounding the dipole can cancel both the self- and the mutual reactances of the array system. Simultaneously, a very high radiated power ratio is realized for the array system even in the presence of strong mutual coupling between the array elements. This potentially leads to the development of highly efficient ultra-compact antenna arrays. In addition, by using a material of non-unity permittivity surrounding the array system, uniform radiated power ratio characteristics can be achieved with the variation in the metamaterial shell thickness. This removes the major drawback in the practical design of the metamaterial shell proposed earlier for the radiated power ratio enhancement of a single dipole. Very good matching characteristics are obtained for the antenna configuration demonstrating almost complete cancelation of the reactive power of the array system. The frequency dispersive behavior of the antenna configuration is investigated using the lossless and lossy Drude models.     

Tethering of nickel(II) Schiff-base complex onto mesoporous silica: An efficient heterogeneous catalyst for epoxidation of olefins

A new hybrid catalyst has been prepared by tethering a nickel(II) Schiff-base complex via post-synthesis modification of mesoporous silica, MCM-41. The Schiff-base has been derived from salicylaldehyde and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (3-APTES) which is chemically anchored on MCM-41 via silicon alkoxide route. The anchored Schiff-bases imposed a stable planar coordination geometry around the central nickel ions. The catalyst has been characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, UV-Vis, small angle X-ray diffraction (SAX) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies. The SAX and TEM measurement showed the mesoporosity of the catalyst. The activity of the catalyst has been assessed in the epoxidation of olefins using tert-butyl-hydroperoxide (tert-BuOOH) as oxidant in heterogeneous condition. Immobilized nickel catalyst was found to be catalytically more active and selective compared to the similar type of nickel(II) complex as well as Ni(NO₃)₂·6H₂O in homogeneous media. The catalyst can be recycled and reused several times without significant loss of activity.     

Studies on –SO3H functionalized Brønsted acidic imidazolium ionic liquids (ILs) for one-pot,two-step synthesis of 2-styrylquinolines

Four task-specific –SO₃H functionalized imidazolium ionic liquids (ILs) were investigated for Brønsted acidities by Hammett functions. After knowing their thermal stabilities, the catalytic activity was observed for the preparation of 2-styrylquinolines by following consecutive Friedländer and Knoevenagel reactions in solvent-free thermal energy. The acidity order ([Dsim][OOCCF₃] > [Dsim][OTs] > [Dsim][OOCCl₃] > [Msim][OOCCF₃]) of three ILs was consistent with their activity order observed in the acid-catalyzed synthesis of 2-styrylquinolines under solvent-free conditions at 90° C, with the exception of [Dsim][OTs]. The best catalytic activity was shown by 25 mol% of [Dsim][OOCCF₃] IL. The less acidic IL required 50 mol% to give good yield of 2-styrylquinolines under the optimized condition.     

A kinetic study on pyrolysis and combustion characteristics of oil cakes: Effect of cellulose and lignin content

Pyrolysis and combustion characteristics of three different oil cakes such as Pongamia(Pongamia Pinnata),Madhuca(Madhuca Indica),and Jatropha(Jatropha curcas) were investigated in this study.The cellulose and lignin contents of oil cakes play very important role in pyrolysis and combustion processes.A kinetic investigation of three oil cakes was carried out and major part of the samples decomposed between 210℃ and 500℃.Pyrolysis and combustion were carried out with the mixtures of cellulose and lignin chemi...     

Kinetics of adsorption of metal ions on inorganic materials: A review

It is necessary to establish the rate law of adsorbate-adsorbent interactions to understand the mechanism by which the solute accumulates on the surface of a solid and gets adsorbed to the surface. A number of theoretical models and equations are available for the purpose and the best fit of the experimental data to any of these models is interpreted as giving the appropriate kinetics for the adsorption process. There is a spate of publications during the last few years on adsorption of various metals and other contaminants on conventional and non-conventional adsorbents, and many have tried to work out the kinetics. This has resulted from the wide interest generated on using adsorption as a practical method for treating contaminated water. In this review, an attempt has been made to discuss the kinetics of adsorption of metal ions on inorganic solids on the basis of published reports. A variety of materials like clays and clay minerals, zeolites, silica gel, soil, activated alumina, inorganic polymer, inorganic oxides, fly ash, etc. have been considered as the adsorbents and cations and anions of As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, and Zn as adsorbate have been covered in this review. The majority of the interactions have been divided into either pseudo first order or second order kinetics on the basis of the best fit obtained by various groups of workers, although second order kinetics has been found to be the most predominant one. The discussion under each category is carried out with respect to each type of metal ion separately. Application of models as given by the Elovich equation, intra-particle diffusion and liquid film diffusion has also been shown by many authors and these have also been reviewed. The time taken for attaining equilibrium in each case has been considered as a significant parameter and is discussed almost in all the cases. The values of the kinetic rate coefficients indicate the speed at which the metal ions adsorb on the materials and these are discussed in all available cases. The review aims to give a comprehensive picture on the studies of kinetics of adsorption during the last few years.