Integrated analytical hierarch process and mathematical programming to supplier selection problem with quantity discount

In this article an integration of analytical hierarchy process and non-linear integer and multi-objective programming under some constraints such as quantity discounts, capacity, and budget is applied to determine the best suppliers and to place the optimal order quantities among them. This integration-based multi-criteria decision making methodology takes into account both qualitative and quantitative factors in supplier selection. While the analytical hierarchy process matches item characteristics with supplier characteristics, non-linear integer programming model analytically determines the best suppliers and the optimal order quantities among the determined suppliers. The objectives of the mathematical models constructed are maximizing the total value of purchase (TVP), minimizing the total cost of purchase (TCP) or maximizing TVP and minimizing TCP simultaneously. In addition, several “what if” scenarios are facilitated and the quality of the resulting models is evaluated on real-life data.     

Understanding kindergarten teachers’ perspectives of teaching basic geometric shapes: a phenomenographic research

Geometry is one of the disciplines children involve within early years of their lives. However, there is not much information about geometry education in Turkish kindergarten classes. The current study aims to examine teachers’ perspectives on teaching geometry in kindergarten classes. The researchers inquired about teachers’ in-class experiences in geometry and asked a series of questions such as “what are the benchmarks in your kindergarten class?”; “what kind of tools and materials you use to teach geometry in your class?”; “what shape do you teach first in your kindergarten class?”; “what do you expect to hear when you asked your students ‘what is square’?”; “how do you teach rectangular?”. The study utilized one of the qualitative research methods, namely phenomenography, to collect the data and analyze the data. The study involved with eight kindergarten teachers who work in different schools in central Kutahya, Turkey. The researchers collected data by conducting face-to-face half-structured interviews. The findings of this phenomenographic research showed that kindergarten teachers have some difficulties in teaching geometry and have lack of knowledge and skills in teaching geometry in kindergarten classes.     

Halogenated secondary metabolites from Laurencia obtusa

A new sesquiterpene (1), and a halogenated C15 acetogenin (2), a stereoisomer of neoisoprelaurefucin were isolated from Laurencia obtusa. Four known compounds laurencienyne (3), rogiolenyne B (4), obtusenol (5), and (3E)-dactomelyne (6) were also isolated from this alga. Rogiolenyne B (4) and (3E)-dactomelyne (6) were found for the first from this species. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. The unambiguous assignments of the 1H and 13C NMR spectral data of (5) and 13C NMR data of (6) were also reported for the first time.     

Structural and adsorption behaviour of ZnO/aminated SWCNT-COOH for malachite green removal: face-centred central composite design

In this study, an effective adsorbent was synthesized to remove malachite green (MG), which is one of the toxic dyes. Firstly, single walled carbon nanotube with carboxylated acid (SWCNT-COOH) was functionalized with diethylenetriamine and a new nanocomposite was obtained using nano zinc oxide (ZnO) powder. The effects of pH (3–7), the amount of adsorbent (5–15 mg) and the initial concentration (10–50 mg L^–1) of the solution on the adsorption uptake were investigated. The optimal parameters that maximize the adsorption uptake according to the specified working range are found to be 4.63 for pH, 49.94 mg L^–1 for initial concentration, 5.25 mg for the adsorbent dose, and the maximum adsorption capacity has been found as 52.26 mg g^–1. The excellent fitting of the pseudo-second kinetic model with (R² = 0.9912) was fitted the experimental data. The Freundlich isotherm model gave a clue about the type of adsorption. Furthermore, thermodynamic results showed that adsorption process was endothermic.     

B-splines with geometric knot spacings

In this paper we study B-splines when the intervals between consecutive knots are in geometric progression and obtain generalizations of the particularly simple properties of the uniform B-splines, where the knots are equally spaced.     

Hepatic nodules in liver transplantation candidates: MR imaging and underlying hepatic disease

OBJECTIVE: To assess by MR imaging the frequency of hepatic nodules in patients waiting on the liver transplant list and to determine whether certain underlying hepatic diseases were more often associated with the development of such hepatic nodules. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We reviewed the MR and clinical records in all patients seen by the liver transplant service at our center since its inception in January 1998 until September 2002. A total of 371 patients (207 men and 164 women, age range 18-68 years, mean 45 years) were included in the study. The presence of hepatic nodules, size, number and underlying hepatic diseases were determined in all patients. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed on a 1.5-T MR imager using T1-weighted, T2-weighted and multi-phase gadolinium-enhanced sequences. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed to evaluate the association between the underlying hepatic disease and the development of hepatic nodule. RESULTS: Among 371 liver transplantation candidates, the most common underlying hepatic disease was hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, either alone (n=93; 25%) or associated with other hepatic diseases (n=40; 10.8%). Of all patients, 33 (8.9%) had regenerative nodules (RNs), 40 (10.7%) dysplastic nodules (DNs) and 57 (15.3%) hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). Hepatocellular carcinoma was observed in 35.3% of patients with HCV infection and alcohol abuse combined, 24.5% with cryptogenic cirrhosis, 25% with hemochromatosis and 19% with alcohol abuse. Patients who had either DNs or HCC were 2.5 times more likely to have either alcohol abuse or HCV, alone or combined, as the substrate of their liver disease (OR 2.54, 95% CI 1.56-4.13). Our data suggest a supra-additive interaction between HCV infection and ethanol in their association with MR imaging detected lesions. CONCLUSION: Patients with cryptogenic cirrhosis, alcohol abuse, HCV infection (alone or combined) and hemochromatosis had the greatest likelihood of having HCC, with the combination of HCV infection and alcohol abuse having the highest of all.     

Synthesis of pyrene end‐capped A6 dendrimer and star polymer with phosphazene core via “click chemistry”

Novel hexa‐armed and pyrene (Pyr) end‐capped phosphazene dendrimer [N₃P₃‐(Pyr)₆] and star polymer with poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) arms [N₃P₃‐(PCL‐Pyr)₆] were prepared via two series of reactions. In these series, core‐first approach was used starting from a hexa‐hydroxy functional phosphazene derivative (N₃P₃‐(OH)₆). It was used as an initiator in the ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone to prepare a hexa‐armed PCL star polymer (N₃P₃‐(PCL‐OH)₆). Hydroxyl functionalities of N₃P₃‐(OH)₆ and N₃P₃‐(PCL‐OH)₆ were then successfully converted into bromide and azide, in turn. Further end‐group modifications of azide functional dendrimer precursor (N₃P₃‐(N₃)₆) and star polymer (N₃P₃‐(PCL‐N₃)₆) were achieved quantitatively via the Cu(I) catalyzed click reaction between azide functional groups and 1‐ethynyl pyrene in the final step. Moreover, the pyrene end‐capped phosphazene dendrimer and star polymer were used in noncovalent functionalization of multiwalled carbon nanotubes. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011