Solving multiple-objective problems in the objective space

Projection and relaxation techniques are employed to decompose a multiobjective problem into a two-level structure. The basic manipulation consists in projecting the decision variables onto the space of the implicit tradeoffs, allowing the definition of a relaxed multiobjective master problem directly in the objective space. An additional subproblem tests the feasibility of the solution encountered by the relaxed problem. Some properties of the relaxed problem (linearity, small number of variables, etc.) render its solution efficient by a number of methods. Representatives of two different classes of multiobjective methods [the Geoffrion, Dyer, Feinberg (GDF) method and the fuzzy method of Baptistella and Ollero] are implemented and applied within this context to a water resources allocation problem. The results attest the computational viability of the overall procedure and its usefulness for the solution of multiobjective problems.This work was partially sponsored by grants from CNP_q and FAPESP, Brazil. The authors are indebted to the anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments.     

Synthesis of bridged heteroaromatic compounds as reference standards for coal degradation products

The synthesis of 2-naphthyl 2′-dibenzothienyl ether, 1-(1′-naphthyl)-2-(4″-acridinyl)ethane and a series of naphthylethyldibenzothiophenes is reported.     

Application of diaza-18-crown-6-capped beta-cyclodextrin bonded silica particles as chiral stationary phases for ultrahigh pressure capillary liquid chromatography

Two bonded chiral stationary phases (CSPs), 8-aminoquinoline-2-ylmethyl- and 8-aminoquinoline-7-ylmethyl-diaza-18-crown-6-capped [3-(2-O-beta-cyclodextrin)-2-hydroxypropoxy]propylsilyl silica particles (non-porous, 1.5 microm), have been prepared and evaluated using capillary liquid chromatography at high pressures (> or = 8000 p.s.i.). High column efficiency (up to 400 000 plates m(-1)) was achieved for chiral separations. These CSPs with two recognition sites, i.e. substituted-diaza-18-crown-6 and beta-cyclodextrin combined with high chromatographic efficiency provide good resolution of a variety of enantiomers and positional isomers in relatively short times under reversed-phase conditions. After inclusion of a Ni (II) ion from the mobile phase, the positively charged crown ether-capped beta-cyclodextrin facilitates specific static, dipolar, and host-guest complexation interactions with solutes.     

The crystal structure of iododimethyl(trimethylamine)aluminum

The crystal structure of iododimethyl(trimethylamine)aluminium has been determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data collected by counter methods. I(CH₃)₂Al · N(CH₃)₃ crystallizes in the othorhombic space group Pnma with cell dimensions a=12.59(1), b=10.75(1), c=7.58(1)å, and p_calc=1.58 g·cm^?3 for Z=4. Least-squares refinement gave a final weighted R Value of 0.071 for 574 independet observed reflections. Each monomeric molecule lies on a crystallographic mirror plane with the trimethylamine and iododimethylaliminium groups in a staggered configuration about the aluminum  nitrogen bond.     

Syntheses of 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-acridinecarbaldehydes

The four acridinecarbaldehydes, namely, acridine-1-carbaldehyde, acridine-2-carbaldehyde, acridine-3-carbaldehyde, and acridine-4-carbaldehyde have been synthesized for the first time.     

Simulation of aerated lagoon using artificial neural networks and multivariate regression techniques

The aim of this study was to develop an empirical model that provides accurate predictions of the biochemical oxygen demand of the output stream from the aerated lagoon at International Paper of Brazil, one of the major pulp and paper plants in Brazil. Predictive models were calculated from functional link neural networks (FLNNs), multiple linear regression, principal components regression, and partial least-squares regression (PLSR). Improvement in FLNN modeling capability was observed when the data were preprocessed using the PLSR technique. PLSR also proved to be a powerful linear regression technique for this problem, which presents operational data limitations.     

Electron transport in corona charged 12 μm teflon FEP with saturable deep traps

Surface-potential measurements carried out in negatively corona charged 12 m samples of fluorethylenepropylene (Teflon FEP) showed the following characteristics: 1) with a constant charging current, the potential initially rises linearly, and then sublinearly; 2) the potential saturates irrespectively of the charging process and 3) practically no potential decay is observed after switching off the corona. These results have been interpreted in terms of an usual model (field-independent trapping time) for charge transport in insulators, with saturable deep traps in both surface and bulk of the sample and a relatively high electron mobility in order to prevent free-space charge accumulation. The partial differential equations derived from the model are numerically solved and it was found that only the product of the mobility with the trapping time is relevant to the fitting of experimental results, provided that >10^–8 cm²/Vs. A field-dependent trapping time model leads to poorer fittings.