A characterization of annularity for area-preserving toral homeomorphisms

We prove that if an area-preserving homeomorphism of the torus in the homotopy class of the identity has a rotation set which is a nondegenerate vertical segment containing the origin, then there exists an essential invariant annulus. In particular, some lift to the universal covering has uniformly bounded displacement in the horizontal direction.     

Location-allocation models for traffic police patrol vehicles on an interurban network

This research investigates the traffic police routine patrol vehicle (RPV) assignment problem on an interurban road network through a series of integer linear programs. The traffic police RPV’s main task, like other emergency services, is to handle calls-for-service. Emergency services allocation models are generally based on the shortest path algorithm however, the traffic police RPV also handles other roles, namely patrolling to create a presence that acts as a deterrence, and issuing tickets to offenders. The RPVs need to be located dynamically on both hazardous sections and on roads with heavy traffic in order to increase their presence and conspicuousness, in an attempt to prevent or reduce traffic offences, road accidents and traffic congestion. Due to the importance of the traffic patrol vehicle’s location with regard to their additional roles, allocation of the RPVs adheres to an exogenous, legal, time-to-arrival constraint. We develop location-allocation models and apply them to a case study of the road network in northern Israel. The results of the four models are compared to each other and in relation to the current chosen locations. The multiple formulations provide alternatives that jointly account for road safety and policing objectives which aid decision-makers in the selection of their preferred RPV assignments. The results of the models present a location-allocation configuration per RPV per shift with full call-for-service coverage whilst maximizing police presence and conspicuousness as a proxy for road safety.     

Increasing the detection speed of an all-electronic real-time biosensor

Biosensor response time, which depends sensitively on the transport of biomolecules to the sensor surface, is a critical concern for future biosensor applications. We have fabricated carbon nanotube field-effect transistor biosensors and quantified protein binding rates onto these nanoelectronic sensors. Using this experimental platform we test the effectiveness of a protein repellent coating designed to enhance protein flux to the all-electronic real-time biosensor. We observe a 2.5-fold increase in the initial protein flux to the sensor when upstream binding sites are blocked. Mass transport modelling is used to calculate the maximal flux enhancement that is possible with this strategy. Our results demonstrate a new methodology for characterizing nanoelectronic biosensor performance, and demonstrate a mass transport optimization strategy that is applicable to a wide range of microfluidic based biosensors.     

The locomotive fleet fueling problem

This paper considers the problem of how to determine an optimal fueling schedule and contracting policy with fuel suppliers so as to minimize the total cost of the fueling operation. The problem is formulated as a mixed integer program and the formulation is enhanced by valid inequalities and domination rules. The enhanced model allows us to obtain near optimal solutions for large scale instances.     

Isotope abundance analysis methods and software for improved sample identification with supersonic gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

We present newly developed isotope abundance analysis (IAA) methods and software which are used to derive elemental formula information from experimental mass spectral data of molecular ion isotopomeric abundances. The software, using a novel method, can also be used to automatically confirm or reject NIST library search results, thereby significantly improving the confidence level in sample identifications. In the case of IAA confirmation of the NIST library results, sample identification is unambiguous, since the confirmation is achieved by two independent sets of data and analytical methods. In the case of a rejection, such as when the molecule is not included in the library's databases, the IAA software independently provides a list of elemental formulae with declining order of matching to the isotopomeric experimental data, in a similar way to accurate mass measurements with costly instruments. IAA is ideally applicable to gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) (and liquid chromatography/electron ionization mass spectrometry (LC/EI-MS)) with a supersonic molecular beam (SMB) since it requires a trustworthy and highly abundant true molecular ion that is unique to the SMB-MS systems, plus the absence of self chemical ionization and vacuum background noise, again unique features of GC/SMB-MS. The various features of the IAA methods and software are described, their performance is demonstrated with the analysis of experimental GC-SMB-MS data and the IAA concept is compared with accurate mass alternatives. The combination of IAA and GC/SMB-MS is believed to be superior to accurate mass GC/MS in view of the general availability of trustworthy molecular ions for an extended range of compounds.     

Experimental and Theoretical Investigation of M-Array Pulse Amplitude Modulation Transmission for Reach Extension

We present here the M-array modulation scheme that enables transmission of higher data rates at the same spectral bandwidth. The results indicate that the M-array technique can be implemented. This scheme leads to a significant narrowing of the optical spectrum which, in turn, enables a significant extension of dispersion-limited links.     

On the strength of no normal precipitous filter

We consider a question of T. Jech and K. Prikry that asks if the existence of a precipitous filter implies the existence of a normal precipitous filter. The aim of this paper is to improve a result of Gitik (Israel J Math, 175:191?C219, 2010) and to show that measurable cardinals of a higher order rather than just measurable cardinals are necessary in order to have a model with a precipitous filter but without a normal one.     

A method for analyzing the δ18O of resin-extractable soil inorganic phosphate

Improved tools for tracing phosphate transformations in soils are much needed, and can lead to a better understanding of the terrestrial phosphorus cycle. The oxygen stable isotopes in soil phosphate are still not exploited in this regard. Here we present a method for measuring the oxygen stable isotopes in a fraction of the soil phosphate which is rapidly available to plants, the resin-extractable P. This method is based on extracting available phosphate from the soil with anion-exchange membranes, soil organic matter removal by a resin, purification by precipitation as cerium phosphate, and finally precipitation as silver phosphate. The purified silver phosphate samples are then measured by a high-temperature elemental analyzer (HT-EA) coupled in continuous flow mode to an isotope ratio mass spectrometer. Testing the method with Mediterranean and semi-arid soils showed no artifacts, as well as good reproducibility in the same order as that of the HT-EA analytical uncertainty (0.3‰).     

Cellulose Nanocrystals (CNCs) Induced Crystallization of Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) Super Performing Nanocomposite Films

This study is aimed to explore the properties of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) composite films with and without 1,2,3,4‐butane tetracarboxylic acid (BTCA), a nontoxic crosslinker. CNC and CNC‐PVA nanocomposite films are prepared using solution‐casting technique. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analyses show that crosslinking increased the glass transition temperature but reduced the melting temperature and crystallinity. Furthermore, high CNC concentrations in the PVA matrix interfere with PVA crystallinity, whereas in specific ratio between CNC and PVA, two different crystalline structures are observed within the PVA matrix. Film surfaces and fracture topographies characterized using scanning electron microscope indicate that at certain CNC‐PVA ratios, micron‐sized needle‐like crystals have formed. These crystalline structures correlate with the remarkable improvement in mechanical properties of the CNC‐PVA nanocomposite films, that is, enhanced tensile strain and toughness to 570% and 202 MJ m^?3, respectively, as compared to pristine PVA. BTCA enhances the tensile strain, ultimate tensile stress, toughness, and modulus of CNC films compared to pristine CNC films. Water absorption of crosslinked CNC and CNC‐PVA nanocomposite films is significantly reduced, while film transparency is significantly improved as a function of PVA and crosslinker content. The presented results indicate that CNC‐PVA nanocomposite films may find applications in packaging, and though materials applications.