A Note on Single Alternating Cycle Neighborhoods for the TSP

This paper investigates two different local search approaches for the TSP. Both approaches are based on the general concept of single-alternating cycle neighborhoods. The first approach, stems from the famous heuristic suggested by Lin and Kernighan and the second is based on the notion of stem-and-cycles developed by Glover in the early nineties. We show that the corresponding neighborhoods are not identical and that only a subset of moves can be found when Lin & Kernighan’s gain criterion is applied.     

Local Search for Vehicle Routing and Scheduling Problems: Review and Conceptual Integration

Local search and local search-based metaheuristics are currently the only available methods for obtaining good solutions to large vehicle routing and scheduling problems. In this paper we provide a review of both classical and modern local search neighborhoods for this class of problems. The intention of this paper is not only to give an overview but to classify and analyze the structure of different neighborhoods. The analysis is based on a formal representation of VRSP solutions given by a unifying giant-tour model. We describe neighborhoods implicitly by a set of transformations called moves and show how moves can be decomposed further into partial moves. The search method has to compose these partial moves into a complete move in an efficient way. The goal is to find a local best neighbor and to reach a local optimum as quickly as possible. This can be achieved by search methods, which do not scan all neighbor solutions explicitly. Our analysis shows how the properties of the partial moves and the constraints of the VRSP influences the choice of an appropriate search technique.     

The effects of neural synchronization and peripheral compression on the acoustic-reflex threshold

This study investigates the acoustic reflex threshold (ART) dependency on stimulus phase utilizing low-level reflex audiometry [Neumann et al., Audiol. Neuro-Otol. 1, 359-369 (1996)]. The goal is to obtain optimal broadband stimuli for elicitation of the acoustic reflex and to obtain objective determinations of cochlear hearing loss. Three types of tone complexes with different phase characteristics were investigated: A stimulus that compensates for basilar-membrane dispersion, thus causing a large overall neural synchrony (basilar-membrane tone complex-BMTC), the temporally inversed stimulus (iBMTC), and random-phase tone complexes (rTC). The ARTs were measured in eight normal-hearing and six hearing-impaired subjects. Five different conditions of peak amplitude and stimulus repetition rate were used for each stimulus type. The results of the present study suggest that the ART is influenced by at least two different factors: (a) the degree of synchrony of neural activity across frequency, and (b) the fast-acting compression mechanism in the cochlea that is reduced in the case of a sensorineural hearing loss. The results allow a clear distinction of the two subjects groups based on the different ART for the utilized types and conditions of the stimuli. These differences might be useful for objective recruitment detection in clinical diagnostics.     

Crossover behaviour of 3-species systems with mutations or migrations

We study the ABC model in the cyclic competition ( , , ) and the neutral drift ( or 2A, or 2B, or 2C) versions, with mutations and migrations introduced into the model. When stochastic phenomena are taken into account, there are three distinct regimes in the model. (i) In the fixation regime, the first extinction time scales with the system size N and has an exponential distribution, with an exponent that depends on the mutation/migration probability per particle . (ii) In the diversity regime, the order parameter remains nonzero for very long times, and becomes zero only rarely, almost never for large system sizes. (iii) In the critical regime, the first passage time for crossing the boundary (one of the populations becoming zero) has a power law distribution with exponent -1. The critical mutation/migration probability scales with system size as N^-1. The transition corresponds to a crossover from diffusive behaviour to Gaussian fluctuations about a stable solution. The analytical results are checked against computer simulations of the model.Received: 26 November 2003, Published online: 19 February 2004PACS: 87.23.Cc Population dynamics and ecological pattern formation - 82.39.Rt Reactions in complex biological systems - 64.60.Cn Order-disorder transformations; statistical mechanics of model systems     

Unbounded quasi-integrals

Let be a locally compact Hausdorff space. We define a quasi-measure in , a quasi-integral on , and a quasi-integral on . We show that all quasi-integrals on are bounded, continuity properties of the quasi-integral on , representation of quasi-integrals on in terms of quasi-measures, and unique extension of quasi-integrals on to .

     

Siamese‐Twin Porphyrin: A Pyrazole‐Based Expanded Porphyrin of Persistent Helical Conformation

The 3+3‐type synthesis of a pyrazole‐based expanded porphyrin 22 H₄ , a hexaphyrin analogue named Siamese‐twin porphyrin, and its homobimetallic diamagnetic nickel(II) and paramagnetic copper(II) complexes, 22 Ni₂ and 22 Cu₂ , are described. The structure of the macrocycle composed of four pyrroles and two pyrazoles all linked by single carbon atoms, can be interpreted as two conjoined porphyrin‐like subunits, with the two opposing pyrazoles acting as the fusion points. Variable‐temperature 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic analyses suggested a conformationally flexible structure for 22 H₄ . NMR and UV/Vis spectroscopic evidence as well as structural parameters proved the macrocycle to be non‐aromatic, though each half of the molecule is fully conjugated. UV/Vis and NMR spectroscopic titrations of the free base macrocycle with acid showed it to be dibasic. In the complexes, each metal ion is coordinated in a square‐planar fashion by a dianionic, porphyrin‐like {N₄} binding pocket. The solid‐state structures of the dication and both metal complexes were elucidated by single‐crystal diffractometry. The conformations of the three structures are all similar to each other and strongly twisted, rendering the molecules chiral. The persistent helical twist in the protonated form of the free base and in both metal complexes permitted resolution of these enantiomeric helimers by HPLC on a chiral phase. The absolute stereostructures of 22 H₆ ²⁺, 22 Ni₂ , and 22 Cu₂ were assigned by a combination of experimental electronic circular dichroism (ECD) investigations and quantum‐chemical ECD calculations. The synthesis of the first member of this long‐sought class of expanded porphyrin‐like macrocycles lays the foundation for the study of the interactions of the metal centers within their bimetallic complexes.     

An access to base-stabilized three-membered silicon heterocycles

The three-membered silacyclic ring compounds LSi[N(2)(Ph)(2)]tBu (1), LSi[HCN(Ph)(2)]tBu (2) and LSi[C(2)(Ph)(2)]tBu (3) were obtained by the treatment of base stabilized monoalkylsilylenes LSitBu (L = PhC(NtBu)(2)) with PhN=NPh, PhN=CHPh and PhC≡CPh. The reaction of PhN=NPh and PhC≡CPh with LSitBu shows a different reactivity pattern with base stabilized monochlorosilylene LSiCl. The arrangement of the three-membered ring (SiNN) in 1 is the first structurally isolated example of a siladiaziridine compound.     

First enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-(R)-Pinnatolide using an asymmetric domino allylation reaction

An efficient total synthesis of (+)-(R)-Pinnatolide is described. As a key step an asymmetric multicomponent domino allylation reaction of methyl levulinate is used to form the quaternary stereogenic center in a highly selective way.     

The far from equilibrium structure of argon clusters doped with krypton or xenon

Heterogeneous clusters created by doping Ar host clusters with Kr or Xe are shown to have radically different structures from the mixed clusters of the same type created by co-expansion of Ar-Kr or Ar-Xe gas mixtures. In contrast to the co-expansion case, the doped mixed clusters can be produced with Kr or Xe on the surface and Ar in the bulk. With the doping technique it is thus possible to control the surface composition of a specific cluster. A study of the cluster properties as a function of the doping pressure is also reported for the case of Ar clusters doped with Xe. The clusters have been studied by means of synchrotron radiation based X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.