Single Machine Batch Scheduling Problem with Resource Dependent Setup and Processing Time in the Presence of Fuzzy Due Date

We consider a batch scheduling problem on a single machine which processes jobs with resource dependent setup and processing time in the presence of fuzzy due-dates given as follows:1. There are n independent non-preemptive and simultaneously available jobs processed on a single machine in batches. Each job j has a processing time and a due-date.2. All jobs in a batch are completed together upon the completion of the last job in the batch. The batch processing time is equal to the sum of the processing times of its jobs. A common machine setup time is required before the processing of each batch.3. Both the job processing times and the setup time can be compressed through allocation of a continuously divisible resource. Each job uses the same amount of the resource. Each setup also uses the same amount of the resource.4. The due-date of each job is flexible. That is, a membership function describing non-decreasing satisfaction degree about completion time of each job is defined.5. Under above setting, we find an optimal batch sequence and resource values such that the total weighted resource consumption is minimized subject to meeting the job due-dates, and minimal satisfaction degree about each due-date of each job is maximized. But usually we cannot optimize two objectives at a time. So we seek non-dominated pairs i.e. the batch sequence and resource value, after defining dominance between solutions.A polynomial algorithm is constructed based on linear programming formulations of the corresponding problems.     

A Crop Planning Problem with Fuzzy Random Profit Coefficients

The main purpose of this paper is to present a crop planning problem for agricultural management under uncertainty. It is significant that agricultural managers assign their limited farmlands to cultivation of which crops in a season. This planning is called the crop planning problem and influences their incomes for the season. Usually, the crop planning problem is formulated as a linear programming problem. But there are many uncertain factors in agricultural problems, so future profits for crops are not certain values. A linear programming model with constant profit coefficients may not reflect the environment of decision making properly. Therefore, we propose a model of crop planning with fuzzy profit coefficients, and an effective solution procedure for the model. Furthermore, we extend this fuzzy model, setting the profit coefficients as discrete randomized fuzzy numbers. We show concrete optimal solutions for each models.     

Explosive fragmentation of a thin ceramic tube using pulsed power

This study experimentally examined the explosive fragmentation of thin ceramic tubes using pulsed power. A thin ceramic tube was threaded on a thin copper wire, and high voltage was applied to the wire using a pulsed power generator. This melted the wire and the resulting vapor put pressure on the ceramic tube, causing it to fragment. We examined the statistical properties of the fragment mass distribution. The cumulative fragment mass distribution obeyed the double exponential or power law with exponential decay. Both distributions agreed well with the experimental data. Finally, we obtained universal scaling for fragmentation, which is applicable to both impact and explosive fragmentation.     

Preconcentration of copper, cadmium, and lead with a thiacalix[4]arenetetrasulfonate-loaded Sephadex A-25 anion-exchanger for graphite-furnace atomic-absorption spectrometry

A rapid column-adsorption method has been developed for concentrating traces of copper, cadmium, and lead in water prior to their determinations by graphite-furnace atomic-absorption spectrometry. The adsorbent used was prepared by loading a strongly basic anion-exchanger QAE-Sephadex A-25 (50 mg) with thiacalix[4]arenetetrasulfonate (20 mol). Two-hundredfold preconcentration of the analyte elements was achieved by passing 100 mL of sample solution (pH 8.0) through a column packed with the adsorbent (6 mm i.d.×7 mm high) at a flow rate of 10 mL min^–1 and by the subsequent elution with 500 L of aqueous nitric acid solution (1 mol L^–1). The practical applicability of the proposed method was evaluated by analyzing certified reference seawater samples.     

The first samarium(II)-mediated aryl radical cyclisation onto an aromatic ring

Intramolecular arylation of aryl radicals was mediated by SmI(2)/HMPA in the presence of i-PrOH to give spirocycles and/or reduced cine-cyclised products, while the reaction in the absence of i-PrOH gave the rearomatised fused rings.     

Total synthesis of cladocorans A and B: a structural revision

Cladocorans A and B, isolated from the Mediterranean coral Cladocora cespitosa, are novel sesterterpenoids whose structures were initially proposed as 1 and 2, respectively. These designations, however, subsequently came under doubt. In the present study, the synthesis of compounds 5 and 6 was undertaken. The physical properties of 5 and 6 were found to be identical to those of natural cladocorans A and B, whose structures were thus concluded to be 5 and 6, respectively. Cladocoran B is thus clearly shown to be an olefinic regioisomer of dysidiolide and cladocoran A as its acetate.     

Monitoring molecular beacon DNA probe hybridization at the single-molecule level

We have monitored the reaction dynamics of the DNA hybridization process on a liquid/solid interface at the single-molecule level by using a hairpin-type molecular beacon DNA probe. Fluorescence images of single DNA probes were recorded by using total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy. The fluorescence signal of single DNA probes during the hybridization to individual complementary DNA probes was monitored over time. Among 400 molecular beacon DNA probes that we tracked, 349 molecular beacons (87.5 %) were hybridized quickly and showed an abrupt fluorescence increase, while 51 probes (12.5 %) reacted slowly, resulting in a gradual fluorescence increase. This ratio stayed about the same when varying the concentrations of cDNA in MB hybridization on the liquid/surface interface. Statistical data of the 51 single-molecule hybridization images showed that there was a multistep hybridization process. Our results also showed that photostability for the dye molecules associated with the double-stranded hybrids was better than that for those with the single-stranded molecular beacon DNA probes. Our results demonstrate the ability to obtain a better understanding of DNA hybridization processes using single-molecule techniques, which will improve biosensor and biochip development where surface-immobilized molecular beacon DNA probes provide unique advantages in signal transduction.     

Porphyrin hetero-dimer as charge separating system for photocurrent generation

Introducing a porphyrin bearing electron acceptor onto a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) using a supramolecular method to form a hetero-dimer increased the photocurrent value compared with using porphyrin without an electron acceptor.