Branch and win: OR tree search algorithms for solving combinatorial optimisation problems

Currently, most combinatorial optimisation problems have to be solved, if the optimum solution is sought, using general techniques to explore the space of feasible solutions and, more specifically, through exploratory enumerative procedures in trees and search graphs. We propose Branch and Win, a general formulation for understanding and synthesising the different tree search procedures that have been presented in the literature of operations research as well as in that of artificial intelligence. Several general ideas are also presented, whose application allows designing new hybrid search algorithms, in order to implement the procedure.     

Power scaling of printed-circuit-board preionized TEA CO2 laser up to 3.6 kW

A high average power, high-repetition-rate TEA CO₂ laser employing printed-circuit-board preionizer is described. The power scaling of this preionization configuration has been demonstrated. The average output power reaches 3.6 kW at pulse repetition rate of 180 pps. Furthermore, the scaling-up ability of the rotating spark gap as high-voltage switch for high-average-power gas laser has been validated.     

Modification of GaAs by medium-energy N<Stack><Subscript>2</Subscript><Superscript>+</Superscript></Stack> ions

The modification of GaAs with a 2500-eV beam containing N ₂ ⁺ and Ar⁺ ions is examined with Auger electron spectroscopy. Most implanted nitrogen atoms are found to react with the matrix, substituting arsenic atoms to produce a several-nanometer-thick layer of the single-phase GaAs_1−x N_x (x=6%) solid solution. The GaN phase is absent. Displaced arsenic atoms and nitrogen atoms unreacted with the matrix are present in the layer and on its surface. The former segregate, whereas the latter form molecules.     

Planting in his Neighbor's Garden: David Hilbert and Early Göttingen Quantum Physics

David Hilbert (1862-1943) played an important role in establishing quantum physics in Göttingen. I analyze the ways in which his influence was decisive by comparison with Woldemar Voigt (1850-1919). Voigt was the leading Göttingen theoretical physicist before the arrival of Peter Debye (1884-1966), who was appointed to a new professorship in 1914 at Hilbert's instigation. I portray the Göttingen mathematicians, above all Hermann Minkowski (1864-1909) and David Hilbert, as planting the seeds for the blossoming of quantum physics under their student Max Born (1882-1970) in the 1920s.     

Aftereffect in microhardness testing of corundum

Cleavage near microhardness indentations on the surface of corundum is found to appear long (20–30 days) after unloading.     

Wiener path integrals and the fundamental solution for the Heisenberg Laplacian

In this paper, we present an explicit calculation of the heat kernel, fundamental solution and Schwartz kernel of the resolvent for the Heisenberg Laplacian using Wiener path integrals and their realizations via the Trotter product formula. This also gives another derivation of mehler’s formula.     

Molecular dynamics in aqueous solutions of β-cyclodextrin

Water molecule mobility in ion-containing and nonionic aqueous solutions of β-cyclodextrin was studied by quasielastic neutron scattering (QENS). The total self-diffusion coefficients and their components corresponding to the contributions from collective (Lagrange type) and single-particle (jump diffusion) parts of molecular motions were determined. From the data obtained, one can conclude that the molecular mobility of free water in nonionic aqueous solutions of β-cyclodextrin with guest molecules (2-aminopyridine) proceeds by a single-particle mechanism. The addition of Pb²⁺ ions into the solution leads to increase in self-diffusion coefficients and growth of a bound water fraction.     

A modified Silver–Meal heuristic for dynamic lot sizing under incremental quantity discounts

This note presents a variation of the well-known Silver–Meal heuristic to deal with lot sizing under a combination of a known, but time-varying, demand pattern along with an incremental quantity discount structure. The heuristic is shown to perform very well on a set of experiments presented in a recent paper in this journal. Additional experiments are performed to further explore the time horizon effects on the relative performance of the newly proposed heuristic compared to the two best performing ones from the previous paper.     

Lanthanide Complexes for Oligomerization of Phenyl Isocyanate

IntroductionThestudyonthereactivitiesoflanthanidecomplexesto wardisocyanateshasattractedmuchattention .Ithasbeenre portedthatlanthanidealkoxides,1anddivalentdiaza pentadi enyllanthanidecomplexes2 canbeusedasthesinglecompo nentinitiatorsforisocyanatespolymerization .Recentlyourre searchgrouphasalsofoundthatlanthanoceneamide ,3diva lentaryloxideofsamarium4 ,5anddivalentsamarocene6 areallactivefortheoligomerizationofphenylisocyanate,andtheactivespeciesforthesethreesystemswereallsuccessfullyisolat…