A Recursive Algorithm for Order Cycle-time that Minimizes Logistics Cost

A firm's logistics cost, including shipping and inventory-carrying, is a substantial percentage of its sales. Nevertheless, typical inventory-control methods ignore or insufficiently represent the shipping cost. This paper describes a recursive algorithm that determines the reorder cycle-time that minimizes total logistics cost. It allows for a realistic accounting of shipping cost, which is modelled here as a function of shipping distance and weight. The algorithm uses a relaxation procedure to identify a suitable initial approximation to the optimal order cycle-time and then, through a series of recursive steps, moves to the optimal result. We demonstrate the algorithm with a single item, with a group of items that share a common order cycle, and with multi-items when item demands are random variables. Experience with this algorithm indicates that it converges to the optimal result in a very few steps.     

Quantum interference of electrons in disordered metals

Investigation of the galvanomagnetic properties of disordered metals in weak magnetic fields [r(H)?l, wherer(H) is the electron trajectory radius andl, the electron free path], proved to be one of the effective experimental methods of studying disordered metals. The phase difference between the interfering electron waves is affected by the presence of magnetic flux in the sample. One of the observable effects is the oscillatory magnetoresistanceK(H) of multiconnected samples predicted by Altshuleret al (1981). The period ofK(H) oscillations for the hollow cylinders, networks or chains with orifices cross-sections areasS isΔH=φ ₀/2S [whereφ ₀=hc/e]. The amplitude and the phase of the oscillations depend on the spin orbit interaction, the intensity of superconductive fluctuation etc. It should be noted that in small “mesoscopic” single loops the oscillations with the periodΔH?φ ₀/S were also observed recently (see also Altshuleret al 1987 included in this issue).     

The effect of Erbium concentration on the optical spectrum of Erbium-doped fiber laser

We report an experimental observation of the influence of concentration of Er³⁺ ions in an Erbiumdoped silica fiber on the spectral characteristics of an erbium fiber laser. Our basic conclusion is that an increase of erbium concentration in the fiber results in the laser optical spectrum narrowing. We also discuss possible mechanisms responsible for this effect.     

Observation of the nonlinear effect in relativistic Thomson scattering of electron and laser beams

Thomson scattering of high-power laser and electron beams is a good test of electrodynamics in the high-field region. We demonstrated production of high-intensity X-rays in the head-on collision of a CO₂ laser and 60-MeV electron beams at Brookhaven National Laboratory, Accelerator Test Facility. The energy of an X-ray photon was limited at 6.5 keV in the linear (lowest order) Thomson scattering, but the nonlinear (higher order) process produces higher energy X-rays. We measured the angular distribution of the high-energy X-rays and confirmed that it agrees with theoretical predictions.     

Advantages of NIR radiation use for optical determination of skin horny layer thickness with embedded TiO2 nanoparticles during tape stripping procedure

The tape stripping technique is an experimental method frequently used for reconstruction of the in-depth distribution of various topically administered substances within the horny layer of human skin, e.g., compounds contained in sunscreens. Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles (25–200 nm in diameter) are one such compound. Optical techniques which apply blue light are found to be suitable for reconstruction. However, the presence of particles affects the light propagation within the skin and therefore causes incorrect determination of strip thickness, leading to an improper reconstructed distribution of nanoparticle concentration revealed from the experimental data. This study evaluates the errors emerging from the use of blue (400 nm) and NIR (800 nm) radiation and finds the use of longer wavelength light more advantageous. Particles of different diameters are considered, and it is revealed that the application of small particles (25–60 nm) results in the lowest rate of error.     

Stability of one-phase equilibrium states of a two-phase elastic medium with zero surface tension coefficient. One-dimensional case

All the equilibrium states of a one-dimensional variational phase-transition problem are explicitly found. The temperature-dependence of the stability of one-phase equilibrium states is studied. Bibliography: 5 titles. __________ Translated from Problemy Matematicheskogo Analiza, No. 32, 2006, pp. 3–19.     

Spatial structure of acousto-optic phase matching in uniaxial crystals

The spatial structure of Bragg angles and the transfer functions of an acousto-optic cell are calculated for the cases of isotropic and anisotropic light diffraction in a uniaxial crystal. Their change with ultrasound frequency is traced. The possibility of image processing by acousto-optic filtration of the spatial spectrum of an image is considered. The results of experimental visualization of the transfer functions of a calcium molybdate crystal cell are presented.     

Structure of the Solutions of Generalized Kadomtsev–Petviashvili Equations

We consider generalizations of the earlier results, obtained for one-dimensional equations of the Kadomtsev–Petviashvili (KP) class, to two- and three-dimensional KP-class equations with an arbitrary nonlinearity index with allowance for the higher-order dispersion correction and terms describing dissipation and instability. The asymptotics of soliton and nonsoliton solutions are derived. Constructing phase portraits in the 8-dimensional space based on the results of a qualitative analysis of generalized Korteweg–de Vries (KdV) equations is discussed.