A stochastic model for risk management in global supply chain networks

With the increasing emphasis on supply chain vulnerabilities, effective mathematical tools for analyzing and understanding appropriate supply chain risk management are now attracting much attention. This paper presents a stochastic model of the multi-stage global supply chain network problem, incorporating a set of related risks, namely, supply, demand, exchange, and disruption. We provide a new solution methodology using the Moreau–Yosida regularization, and design an algorithm for treating the multi-stage global supply chain network problem with profit maximization and risk minimization objectives.     

An Algorithm for Non-Linear Network Programming: Implementation,Results and Comparisons

This paper evaluates an algorithm for solving network flow optimization problems with quadratic cost functions. Strategies for fast implementation are discussed and the results of extensive numerical tests are given. The performance of the algorithm measured by CPU time is compared with that of the convex simplex method specialized for quadratic network programming. Performance of the two methods is analysed with respect to network size and density, and other parameters of interest. The algorithm is shown to perform significantly better on the majority of problems. We also show how the algorithm may be used to solve non-linear convex network optimization problems by the use of sequential quadratic programming.     

The maximum degree in a random tree and related problems

Meir and Moon studied the distribution of the maximum degree for simply generated families of trees. We have sharper results for the special case of labelled trees. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Investigations of the effects of ultrasound on some metal and nonmetal systems

The effects of power ultrasound on four metal-nonmetal powdered systems: copper-sulphur iron-sulphur, zinc-sulphur and magnesium-sulphur in various solvents, such as hexane and carbon disulphide, are briefly examined here. For each system, a sonication time of 30 min was affected. The sonicated products are analysed by X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence and atomic absorption spectrophotometry to determine their qualitative and quantitative compositions and the percentage yields of the products obtained are then compared and discussed.     

Algorithms for Unconstrained Optimization Problems via Control Theory

Existing algorithms for solving unconstrained optimization problems are generally only optimal in the short term. It is desirable to have algorithms which are long-term optimal. To achieve this, the problem of computing the minimum point of an unconstrained function is formulated as a sequence of optimal control problems. Some qualitative results are obtained from the optimal control analysis. These qualitative results are then used to construct a theoretical iterative method and a new continuous-time method for computing the minimum point of a nonlinear unconstrained function. New iterative algorithms which approximate the theoretical iterative method and the proposed continuous-time method are then established. For convergence analysis, it is useful to note that the numerical solution of an unconstrained optimization problem is none other than an inverse Lyapunov function problem. Convergence conditions for the proposed continuous-time method and iterative algorithms are established by using the Lyapunov function theorem.     

Passively mode-locked lasers with 17.2-GHz fundamental-mode repetition rate pulsed by carbon nanotubes

17.2 GHz, the highest fundamental-mode repetition rate to our knowledge, of a carbon nanotube-based passively mode-locked laser is realized at 1570 nm by employing purified single-walled carbon nanotubes as saturable absorbers. The ultrashort linear laser cavity configured with a approximately 9 mm length is designed and demonstrated with our extremely miniaturized nanotube mode locker and a mirror-coated semiconductor optical amplifier as gain medium. The demonstrated pulsed laser has the inferred temporal pulse width of 14 ps and a 3 dB spectral bandwidth of 0.73 nm.     

Total Synthesis of (+)‐Rubriflordilactone A

Two enantioselective total syntheses of the nortriterpenoid natural product rubriflordilactone A are described, which use palladium‐ or cobalt‐catalyzed cyclizations to form the CDE rings, and converge on a late‐stage synthetic intermediate. These key processes are set up through the convergent coupling of a common diyne component with appropriate AB‐ring aldehydes, a strategy that sets the stage for the synthetic exploration of other members of this family of natural products.     

A new naturally derived photosensitizer and its phototoxicity on head and neck cancer cells

In our screening for photosensitizers from natural resources, 15(1)-hydroxypurpurin-7-lactone ethyl methyl diester (compound 1) was isolated for the first time from an Araceae plant. To evaluate the efficacy of compound 1 as a photosensitizer for head and neck cancers, compound 1 was studied in reference to a known photosensitizer pheophorbide-a (Pha), in terms of photophysical properties, singlet oxygen generation and in in vitro experiments (intracellular uptake and phototoxicity assays) in two oral (HSC2 and HSC3) and two nasopharyngeal (HK1 and C666-1) cancer cell lines. In this study, compound 1 exhibited higher intracellular uptake over 24 h compared with Pha in both HSC3 and HK1 cells. When activated by ≥4.8 J cm(-2) of light, compound 1 was slightly more potent as a photosensitizer than Pha by consistently having marginally lower IC(50) values across different cell lines. In flow cytometry experiments to study the mechanism of photoactivated cell death in HSC3, compound 1 was observed to induce more pronounced apoptosis compared with Pha, which may have been driven by the transient G(2)/M cell cycle block which was also observed. These promising results on compound 1 warrant its further investigation as a clinically useful photodynamic therapy agent for head and neck cancer.     

Determination of metabolites in Uncaria sinensis by HPLC and GC-MS after green solvent microwave-assisted extraction

Uncaria sinensis (Oliv.) Havil (Rubiaceae) has been used as an important Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) herb for the treatment of fevers and various nervous disorders. The major bioactive secondary metabolites from different classes of chemical compounds, i.e. organic acid, flavonoid and alkaloid, present in this TCM herb, namely catechin, caffeic acid, epicatechin and rhynchophylline, were extracted by microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) method with ultra-pure water as the extraction solvent. The optimal extraction conditions for this green solvent MAE method were found to be 100 °C for 20 min. The recoveries of the compounds were found to be comparable to that of heating under reflux using ultra-pure water for 60 min. The method precision (RSD, n = 6) was found to vary from 0.19% to 5.60% for the proposed method on different days for the secondary metabolites. Simultaneously, the key primary metabolites such as sucrose and phenylalanine for the biosynthesis of bioactive secondary metabolites were successfully characterized by GC-MS. Furthermore, an approach using the combination of primary and secondary metabolite profiling based on their chemical fingerprints with Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was successfully developed to evaluate the quality of U. sinensis obtained from different sources. This approach was shown to be feasible in discriminating U. sinensis from different origins and thus a potential application for the quality control of other medicinal herbs.