Bounds on an anomalous dijet resonance in W+jets production in pp collisions at √s = 1.96 TeV

We present a study of the dijet invariant mass spectrum in events with two jets produced in association with a W boson in data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 4.3 fb(-1) collected with the D0 detector at √s = 1.96 TeV. We find no evidence for anomalous resonant dijet production and derive upper limits on the production cross section of an anomalous dijet resonance recently reported by the CDF Collaboration, investigating the range of dijet invariant mass from 110 to 170 GeV/c(2). The probability of the D0 data being consistent with the presence of a dijet resonance with 4 pb production cross section at 145 GeV/c(2) is 8×10(-6).     

Search for Resonant WW and WZ Production in pp collisions at √s=1.96 TeV

We search for resonant WW or WZ production by using up to 5.4 fb(-1) of integrated luminosity collected by the D0 experiment in run II of the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. The data are consistent with the standard model background expectation, and we set limits on a resonance mass by using the sequential standard model W' boson and the Randall-Sundrum model graviton G as benchmarks. We exclude a sequential standard model W' boson in the mass range 180-690 GeV and a Randall-Sundrum graviton in the range 300-754 GeV at 95% C.L.     

A transportation problem with fuzzy-stochastic cost

In this paper, we consider some transportation problems (TPs) with different types of fuzzy-stochastic unit transportation costs and budget constraints. These fuzzy stochastic costs are reduced to corresponding crisp ones in two different ways. For the first method, using the definition of α$\alpha$-cut of the fuzzy numbers, expectation is taken separately on both lower and upper α$\alpha$-cuts and then mean expectation is calculated with the help of signed distance. In the second procedure, we realize fuzzy random events (ξ?r)$(\xi ?r)$ and (ξ?r)$(\xi ?r)$ for the fuzzy random variable (ξ)$(\xi )$. Using credibility measure of these events, mean chances for the above fuzzy random events are calculated and then expectation is taken to get the crisp expressions. The reduced deterministic problems of the fuzzy stochastic TP are solved using a real coded genetic algorithm with Roulette wheel selection, arithmetic crossover and random mutation. Few numerical examples are demonstrated to find the optimal solutions of the proposed models.     

Managing raw material in supply chains

In this paper, we explore how firms can manage their raw material sourcing better by developing appropriate sourcing relationships with their raw material suppliers. We detail three empirical case studies of firms explaining their different raw material sourcing strategies: (a) firms can adopt a hands-off approach to raw material management, (b) firms can supply raw material directly to their suppliers, and this may be beneficial for some agents in the supply chain, and (c) firms can bring their component suppliers together, and the resulting cooperation between suppliers can be beneficial for supply chain. We then analytically model the three raw material scenarios encountered in our empirical work, examine the resulting profits along the supply chain, and extend the results to a competitive buyer scenario. Overall, our results show that active management of raw material sourcing can add value to supply chains.     

Synthesis and characterization of a polymer-anchored palladium(II) Schiff base complex and its catalytic efficiency in phosphine-free Sonogashira coupling reactions

A polymer-anchored Pd(II) Schiff base complex has been synthesized by reacting a polymeric amine with 2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde to get the polymer-anchored Schiff base, which was then reacted with palladium acetate. The catalyst was characterized by physicochemical and spectroscopic methods. It shows excellent catalytic activity in the Sonogashira coupling of phenylacetylene with aryl halides using triethylamine as a base and copper iodide as a co-catalyst in water under open air at 70 °C. We have also studied the effects of base and solvent on the coupling reaction. Sonogashira reactions of phenylacetylene with a variety of functionalized aryl halides were performed under the optimized reaction conditions. This catalyst gives excellent yields without the use of phosphine ligands. Further experiments showed that the catalyst can be used five times without much loss in the catalytic activity.     

Synthesis,characterization and catalytic activities of a reusable polymer-anchored palladium(II) complex: effective catalytic hydrogenation of various organic substrates

A poly(3,6-dibenzaldimino N-vinyl carbazole) Pd(II) complex has been synthesized and characterized by physicochemical and spectroscopic techniques. The complex was found to be highly active toward hydrogenation reactions of various organic substrates under atmospheric pressure at ambient temperature. A tentative reaction mechanism is proposed on the basis of kinetic studies and isolation of reactive intermediates. The catalyst shows good conversion rates, thermal stability and recyclability.     

The effect of length of single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) on electrical properties of conducting polymer–SWNT composites

DC conductivity of conjugated polymer‐single‐walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) composite films has been measured for different SWNT concentrations. The composite was prepared by dispersing SWNTs in the poly (3‐octylthiophene), P3OT matrix already dissolved in xylene. The conductivity of the composite films showed a rapid increase as the SWNT concentration increases beyond a certain value. This behavior is explained in terms of percolating paths provided by the SWNTs in the volume of polymer matrix. To investigate the effect of length of nanotubes on the percolation conductivity, different SWNT samples were employed with similar diameter but varying tube lengths. It was found that the conductivity of the composite films is strongly dominated by the length of the nanotubes. Lower percolation limit and high conductivity value of composite films is observed for longer nanotubes. Furthermore, the conductivity is observed to be dependent on the size of the host polymer molecule also. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 89–95, 2010