Reverse logistics network design and planning utilizing conditional value at risk

Nowadays, due to some social, legal, and economical reasons, dealing with reverse supply chain is an unavoidable issue in many industries. Besides, regarding real-world volatile parameters, lead us to use stochastic optimization techniques. In location–allocation type of problems (such as the presented design and planning one), two-stage stochastic optimization techniques are the most appropriate and popular approaches. Nevertheless, traditional two-stage stochastic programming is risk neutral, which considers the expectation of random variables in its objective function. In this paper, a risk-averse two-stage stochastic programming approach is considered in order to design and planning a reverse supply chain network. We specify the conditional value at risk (CVaR) as a risk evaluator, which is a linear, convex, and mathematically well-behaved type of risk measure. We first consider return amounts and prices of second products as two stochastic parameters. Then, the optimum point is achieved in a two-stage stochastic structure regarding a mean-risk (mean-CVaR) objective function. Appropriate numerical examples are designed, and solved in order to compare the classical versus the proposed approach. We comprehensively discuss about the effectiveness of incorporating a risk measure in a two-stage stochastic model. The results prove the capabilities and acceptability of the developed risk-averse approach and the affects of risk parameters in the model behavior.     

Red organic light emitting device based on TPP and a new host material

A novel coating method for fabrication of red OLEDs by using a new host material has been developed with the aid of a single furnace. The host material, zinc complex, was prepared from the reaction of zinc acetate and 2-methyl-8-hydroxyquinoline and after characterization by UV-vis, FT-IR, and ¹H NMR spectroscopes was used as an emitting material in the fabrication of OLEDs. Since meso-tetraphenylporphyrin (TPP) and zinc complex have a close molecular weight, both materials were evaporated from a single furnace. Devices with TPP and structures of ITO/PEDOT:PSS (55 nm)/PVK (90 nm)/zinc complex:TPP (65 nm)/Al (180 nm) were fabricated; Without TPP green and with TPP red emission was achieved. The device with 2 % TPP that doped into the zinc complex showed the purest red emission among all devices. The device showed the CIE coordinates of 0.70 and 0.28 at 14 V and a maximum luminance of about 94.2 cd/m². This new method is a promising candidate for fabrication of low cost red OLEDs with a more homogeneous layer.     

Heat transfer analysis in the flow of Waiters＇ B fluid with a convective boundary condition

Radiative heat transfer in the steady two-dimensional flow of Walters＇ B fluid with a non-uniform heat source/sink is investigated. An incompressible fluid is bounded by a stretching porous surface. The convective boundary condition is used for the thermal boundary layer problem. The relevant equations are first simplified under usual boundary layer assumptions and then transformed into a similar form by suitable transformations. Explicit series solutions of velocity and temperature are derived by the homotopy analysis method （HAM）. The dimensionless velocity and temperature gradients at the wall are calculated and discussed.     

Limits of locally–globally convergent graph sequences

The colored neighborhood metric for sparse graphs was introduced by Bollobás and Riordan [BR11]. The corresponding convergence notion refines a convergence notion introduced by Benjamini and Schramm [BS01]. We prove that even in this refined sense, the limit of a convergent graph sequence (with uniformly bounded degree) can be represented by a graphing. We study various topics related to this convergence notion such as: Bernoulli graphings, factor of i.i.d. processes and hyperfiniteness.     

Design,Synthesis, and Antibacterial Evaluation of Some Novel 3′-(Phenylamino)-1′H-spiro[indoline-3,2′-quinazoline]-2,4′(3′H)-dione Derivatives

A combinatorial synthesis and evaluation of antibacterial activity against clinically isolated resistant strains of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria of 3′-(phenylamino)-1′H-spiro[indoline-3,2′-quinazoline]-2,4′(3′H)-dione derivatives is described.     

Sequestration of a β‐Hairpin for Control of α‐Synuclein Aggregation

The misfolding and aggregation of the protein α‐synuclein (α‐syn), which results in the formation of amyloid fibrils, is involved in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease and other synucleinopathies. The emergence of amyloid toxicity is associated with the formation of partially folded aggregation intermediates. Here, we engineered a class of binding proteins termed β‐wrapins (β‐wrap proteins) with affinity for α‐synuclein (α‐syn). The NMR structure of an α‐syn:β‐wrapin complex reveals a β‐hairpin of α‐syn comprising the sequence region α‐syn(37–54). The β‐wrapin inhibits α‐syn aggregation and toxicity at substoichiometric concentrations, demonstrating that it interferes with the nucleation of aggregation.     

N-Chloro-2,2-dimethyltaurines: a new class of remarkably stable N-chlorotaurines

The preparation of novel N-chloro-2,2-dimethyltaurine (4) and N,N-dichloro-2,2-dimethyltaurine (5) is described. These 2,2-dimethyltaurines were strategically designed to avoid the hydrolytic dehydrochlorination of N-chlorotaurines. Thus, they possess long-term stability in contrast to the parent N-chlorotaurines, which exhibit broad-spectrum antimicrobial activities.     

Metal- and Catalyst-Free Synthesis of 2-Substituted-Phthalimides Using 2-(Arenesulfonyl)Phthalimide as Key Reagents

Phthalimide derivatives are important in medicinal chemistry, several phthalimidation methodologies have been developed. Here, we report a facile, metal-free, and catalyst-free method for the preparation of N-phthalimides in good to excellent yield by reacting 2-(arenesulfonyl)phthalimides with various amine substrates.     

A Targeted Review of Current Progress,Challenges and Future Perspective of g-C3N4 based Hybrid Photocatalyst Toward Multidimensional Applications

The increasing demand for searching highly efficient and robust technologies in the context of sustainable energy production totally rely onto the cost-effective energy efficient production technologies. Solar power technology in this regard will perceived to be extensively employed in a variety of ways in the future ahead, in terms of the combustion of petroleum-based pollutants, CO₂ reduction, heterogeneous photocatalysis, as well as the formation of unlimited and sustainable hydrogen gas production. Semiconductor-based photocatalysis is regarded as potentially sustainable solution in this context. g-C₃N₄ is classified as non-metallic semiconductor to overcome this energy demand and enviromental challenges, because of its superior electronic configuration, which has a median band energy of around 2.7 eV, strong photocatalytic stability, and higher light performance. The photocatalytic performance of g-C₃N₄ is perceived to be inadequate, owing to its small surface area along with high rate of charge recombination. However, various synthetic strategies were applied in order to incorporate g-C₃N₄ with different guest materials to increase photocatalytic performance. After these fabrication approaches, the photocatalytic activity was enhanced owing to generation of photoinduced electrons and holes, by improving light absorption ability, and boosting surface area, which provides more space for photocatalytic reaction. In this review, various metals, non-metals, metals oxide, sulfides, and ferrites have been integrated with g-C₃N₄ to form mono, bimetallic, heterojunction, Z-scheme, and S-scheme-based materials for boosting performance. Also, different varieties of g-C₃N₄ were utilized for different aspects of photocatalytic application i. e., water reduction, water oxidation, CO₂ reduction, and photodegradation of dye pollutants, etc. As a consequence, we have assembled a summary of the latest g-C₃N₄ based materials, their uses in solar energy adaption, and proper management of the environment. This research will further well explain the detail of the mechanism of all these photocatalytic processes for the next steps, as well as the age number of new insights in order to overcome the current challenges.     

Polycarbonate-coated magnetic nanoparticles for the extraction of imipramine and its primary metabolite from urine

This study introduces a reliable and inexpensive magnetic dispersive solid phase extraction to extract imipramine and its primary metabolite (desipramine) from urine samples. To accomplish this aim, Fe₃O₄ magnetic nanoparticles were synthesized by sonication, subsequently, polycarbonate was precipitated gradually onto the surface of them to form the adsorbent. Extraction recoveries of 85% and 76%, enrichment factors of 57 and 51, limits of detection of 2.5 and 2.8 μg/L, and limits of quantification of 8.3 and 9.3 μg/L were obtained for imipramine and desipramine under the optimal conditions, respectively. In addition, relative standard deviations for intra- (n = 6) and inter-day (n = 5) precisions at two concentrations (50 and 100 μg/L of each analyte) were less than or equal to 4%. Short extraction time, good repeatability, high enrichment factors, and simplicity are the main advantages of the proposed method.