Resolution approach for multi-objective problems with uncertain demands

The job-shop scheduling problem (JSP) is one of the hardest problems (NP-complete problem). In a lot of cases, the combination of goals and resource exponentially increases search space. The objective of resolution of such a problem is generally, to maximize the production with a lower cost and makespan. In this paper, we explain how to modify the objective function of genetic algorithms to treat the multi-objective problem and to generate a set of diversified “optimal” solutions in order to help decision maker. We are interested in one of the problems occurring in the production workshops where the list of demands is split into firm (certain) jobs and predicted jobs. One wishes to maximize the produced quantity, while minimizing as well as possible the makespan and the production costs. Genetic algorithms are used to find the scheduling solution of the firm jobs because they are well adapted to the treatment of the multi-objective optimization problems. The predicted jobs will be inserted in the real solutions (given by genetic algorithms). The solutions proposed by our approach are compared to the lower bound of the cost and makespan in order to prove the quality and robustness of our proposed approach.     

Photostabilisation of wood using aromatic vinyl esters

Thin wood veneers were esterified to different weight gains with vinyl benzoate, vinyl cinnamate or vinyl-4-T-butylbenzoate to graft aromatic groups to wood's molecular components. We hypothesised that such modification would increase the resistance of wood to photodegradation. There was a linear relationship between the level of esterification of wood with vinyl benzoate and the photostability of the modified veneers exposed to natural weathering. Vinyl benzoate protected lignin and cellulose in wood from photodegradation at high weight gains (>30%) whereas modification of wood with vinyl-4-T-butylbenzoate provided no such protection and vinyl cinnamate increased the photodegradation of wood. We provide an explanation for why these effects occurred and discuss the implications of our findings for the development of weather-resistant wood materials.     

Maximizing the minimum completion time on parallel machines

We propose an exact branch-and-bound algorithm for the problem of maximizing the minimum machine completion time on identical parallel machines. The proposed algorithm is based on tight lower and upper bounds as well as an effective symmetry-breaking branching strategy. Computational results performed on a large set of randomly generated instances attest to the efficacy of the proposed algorithm.      

An interpenetrating primitive cubic net formed by hydrogen bonds and coordination bonds in catena‐poly[[bis(methanol‐κO)bis(thiocyanato‐κN)iron(II)]‐μ‐1,2‐bis(4‐pyridylmethylene)hydrazine‐κ2N:N′]

In the title compound, [Fe(NCS)₂(C₁₂H₁₀N₄)(CH₄O)₂]_n, at 153 (2) K, the Fe atom is located on an inversion centre, as is the centre of the N—N bond in the ligand molecule. The structure contains a one‐dimensional coordination polymer with an Fe...Fe distance of 15.866 (7) Å and can be described as two interpenetrating six‐connected primitive cubic (pcu) three‐dimensional networks when additional intermolecular O—H...S hydrogen bonds are taken into account. The compound is not isostructural with the corresponding Mn^II compound as they differ in the rotation around the M—O bond by 90°, giving rise to completely different hydrogen‐bond patterns. This study demonstrates the impact of conformational differences on the final supramolecular arrangement.     

Kinetics of dispersion polymerization: Effect of medium composition

The effect of the medium composition (monomer and solvent) on the kinetics of dispersion polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) was studied via reaction calorimetry. It was found that increasing the monomer concentration increased the reaction rate; the exponent of the dependency of the initial reaction rate on the MMA concentration was found to be 0.93. Narrow particle size distributions were achieved at the lower monomer concentrations (0.24–0.81 mol/L) and a minimum size (2.45 μm) was found at an intermediate concentration (0.44 mol/L). The average molecular weight of the PMMA increased and the molecular weight distribution broadened with increasing monomer concentration. During a dispersion polymerization, the MMA concentration was found to decrease linearly with conversion in both phases, whereas the ratio of concentrations in the particles and continuous phase ([M]_p/[M]_c) remained constant (0.47) with partitioning favoring the continuous phase. The average number of free radicals per particle in MMA dispersion polymerization was estimated to be high from the nucleation stage onward (>5000). The increasing rate during the first ～ 40% conversion was primarily caused by the increasing volume of the polymer particle phase. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 3638–3647, 2008     

Ruthenium(II) 2-hydroxybenzophenone N(4)-substituted thiosemicarbazone complexes

New ruthenium(II) complexes with 2-hydroxybenzophenone N(4)-substituted (Me, Ph and/or piperidyl) thiosemicarbazones have been prepared and characterised by elemental analysis, molar conductivity, thermal analysis, spectroscopy (i.r., ¹H-n.m.r. and u.v.–vis.) and by cyclic voltammetry. The thiosemicarbazones coordinate to ruthenium(II) as mononegative tridentate ligands via the deprotonated hydroxyl group, N¹ nitrogen and thione sulphur centres. The redox properties, nature of the electrode processes and the stability of the complexes towards oxidation in CH₂Cl₂ are discussed. The change in the E _1/2 values of the complexes can be related to the basicity of the N(4)-substituents. All the complexes display an irreversible one-electron charge-transfer couple in the potential range studied. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Nano-sized Co(II)-8-hydroxyquinolate complex thin film via surface layer-by-layer chemical deposition method: Optimized factors and optical properties

An extensive study was performed and reported for evaluation and optimization of the factors affecting thin film formation of nano-sized Co(II)-8-hydroxyquinolate complex by surface layer-by-layer chemical deposition method. The formation of uniform thin films of nano-crystalline metal complex is heavily dependent on several important factors. Variation in metal and ligand concentrations (1:1–1:3) was found to show insignificant contribution to the molar stoichiometric ratio of the synthesized thin film of nano-sized Co(II)-8-hydroxyquinolate. The number of dipping cycles (2–50) was characterized by strong influence on the thin film thickness. The dependence of the immersion time (2–50 s) was proved to influence the crystal growth and homogeneity of the thin film. The role of pH of metal and ligand solutions was identified by strong contribution in development and formation of deposited Co(II)-8-hydroxyquinolate complex thin film. Finally, the role of solvent on the thin film formation was also studied and evaluated. Metal analysis, SEM, EI-MS, FT-IR and TGA were applied as monitoring techniques of these factors. The optical properties of Co(II)-8-hydroxyquinolate complex were also studied and the complex thin films were characterized by the highest optical transition from π–π* or n, π* states with energy gap in the UV-range at 3.13 eV. The lowest optical transition resulted from d–d transition or metal centered transition with energy 1.5 eV while, the optical transition at 2.35 eV is the contribution of metal ligand or ligand metal transition. In the light of the optical measurement, Co(II)-8-hydroxyquinolate complex can be considered as an organic semiconductor with the potential applications in the design of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEMs).     

Spectral Studies and Cathodic Reduction of some Thiazolylazo Derivatives

The structure of the 2-thiazolylazosalicylic acid molecule, TAS, has been determined by means of quantum SCF-CI calculations. The ionization potential and the electron affinity of TAS molecule were calculated to have the values 9.057 and 2.56 eV respectively. The solvation energies in different solvents, and the bond orders of the TAS molecule were calculated for the neutral state, the oxidized form (the cation) and the reduced form (the anion). Mixed solvent studies were carried out with TAS and 2-benzothiazolylazosalicylic acid (BTAS), using polar solvents (EtOH and MeOH) to confirm the formation of a solvent-solute complex. The azo group in the TAS molecule nas a considerable contribution in the SCFLUMO; thus cathodic reduction has been focused on the azo group and was verified experimentally by cathodic reduction.     

Methanol vapor‐induced morphology and current–voltage characteristic changes in a cast‐coated nafion film/interdigitated microarray electrode

Methanol vapor‐induced membranous changes in a cast‐coated Nafion thin film were studied through current–voltage (I–V) characteristics with an interdigitated microarray (IDA) electrode and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The obtained I–V curves showed that the as‐prepared Nafion film was stable under humidified nitrogen gas; however, the I–V profile dramatically changed with exposure to methanol vapor. Next, the morphology of the film was compared before and after methanol exposure with AFM images. On the basis of our observations, we found that the as‐prepared film had an irregularly complicated microstructure, whereas the structure became homogeneous in appearance after 30 min of exposure to methanol gas. The alternating‐current conductivity data, showing almost the same magnitude before and after exposure, strongly suggested that the I–V profile shift was based on a change in an electrode reaction mechanism induced by a change in the junction at the Nafion/IDA electrode interface. Furthermore, the methanol vapor‐pre‐exposed Nafion was stable for further exposure to methanol vapor, water vapor, or both. With the stabilized film used in combination with the IDA electrode, a reversible change in the magnitude of the current was observed when the methanol/water vapor ratio was varied. This indicated that the electrode reaction had good reproducibility after the treatment. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 1103–1109, 2002     

Conductometric study of calcium carbonate prenucleation stage: underlining the role of CaCO3o ion pairs

Calcium carbonate crystallization process, especially the prenucleation stage, has increasingly been the subject of several works. In the present work, a simple method based on electrical conductivity modeling applied to the FCP (Fast Controlled Precipitation) method data is used to highlight the role of CaCO₃^o ion pairs on calcium carbonate prenucleation stage. A good agreement was obtained between the resistivity vs pH curves estimated by the McCleskey model equation and obtained experimentally in a FCP test. Results showed that the nucleation process begins with the formation of CaCO₃^o ion pairs as pre‐nuclei as soon as the calcite‐equilibrium pH is reached. Additionally CaCO₃^o content increases with pH to form aggregates, which depend on the saturation state of the solution. Basing on our thermodynamic data, these aggregates do not form amorphous calcium carbonate ACC as an intermediate phase. They lead to the formation of stable calcium carbonate nuclei which will further evolve to crystallize. Furthermore we demonstrate that in addition to their inhibitory effect on the Ca²⁺ and CO₃²⁻ association to form ion pairs, the two scale inhibitors sodium triphosphate (STP) and sodium polyacrylate (RPI) reduce ion pairs aggregation rate.