Approximation algorithms for scheduling unrelated parallel machines

We consider the following scheduling problem. There arem parallel machines andn independent jobs. Each job is to be assigned to one of the machines. The processing of jobj on machinei requires timep _ij . The objective is to find a schedule that minimizes the makespan.Our main result is a polynomial algorithm which constructs a schedule that is guaranteed to be no longer than twice the optimum. We also present a polynomial approximation scheme for the case that the number of machines is fixed. Both approximation results are corollaries of a theorem about the relationship of a class of integer programming problems and their linear programming relaxations. In particular, we give a polynomial method to round the fractional extreme points of the linear program to integral points that nearly satisfy the constraints.In contrast to our main result, we prove that no polynomial algorithm can achieve a worst-case ratio less than 3/2 unlessP = NP. We finally obtain a complexity classification for all special cases with a fixed number of processing times.A preliminary version of this paper appeared in theProceedings of the 28th Annual IEEE Symposium on the Foundations of Computer Science (Computer Society Press of the IEEE, Washington, D.C., 1987) pp. 217–224.     

UV laser deposition of nanostructured Si/C/O/N/H from disilazane precursors and evolution to silicon oxycarbonitride

Megawatt ArF laser photolysis of gaseous methyldisilazanes [(CH₃)_nH_3?nSi]₂NH (n = 2, 3) in excess of Ar yields hydrocarbons (major volatile products), methylsilanes (minor volatile products) and allows chemical vapour deposition of solid amorphous Si/C/O/N/H powder containing Si? X (X? C, H, O, N) bonds. The incorporation of O is due to a high reactivity of the primarily formed products towards air moisture. The resulting solid materials possess nanometer‐sized texture and high specific area, contain Si‐centered radicals and anneal under argon to silicon oxycarbonitride, whose structure is described as a network of O‐ and N‐interconnected Si and C atoms. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A novel technique for time-resolved detection and tracking of interfacial and matrix fracture in layered materials

A novel experimental technique is developed for time-resolved detection and tracking of damage in the forms of delamination and matrix cracking in layered materials such as composite laminates. The technique is non-contact in nature and uses dual or quadruple laser interferometers for high temporal resolution. Simultaneous measurements of differential displacement and velocity at individual locations are obtained to analyze the initiation and progression of interfacial fracture and/or matrix cracking/delamination in a polymer matrix composite laminate system reinforced by graphite fibers. The measurements at multiple locations allow the speeds at which interfacial crack front (mode-I) or matrix cracking/delamination front (mode-II dominated) propagates to be determined. Experiments carried out use three-point bend configurations. Impact loading is achieved using a modified Kolsky bar apparatus with a complete set of diagnostics for load, deformation, deformation rate, and input energy measurement. This technique is used to characterize the full process of damage initiation and growth. The experiments also focused on the quantification of the speed at which delamination or damage propagates under primarily mode-I and mode-II conditions. The results show that the speed of delamination (mode-I) or the speed of matrix cracking/delamination (primarily mode-II) increases linearly with impact velocity. Furthermore, speeds of matrix failure/delamination under primarily mode-II conditions are much higher than the speeds of mode-I crack induced delamination under mode-I conditions.     

Creating Space for Large Acceptors: Rational Biocatalyst Design for Resveratrol Glycosylation in an Aqueous System

Polyphenols display a number of interesting properties but their low solubility limits practical applications. In that respect, glycosylation offers a solution for which sucrose phosphorylase has been proposed as a cost‐effective biocatalyst. However, its activity on alternative acceptor substrates is too low for synthetic purposes and typically requires the addition of organic (co‐)solvents. Here, we describe the engineering of the enzyme from Thermoanaerobacterium thermosaccharolyticum to enable glycosylation of resveratrol as test case. Based on docking and modeling studies, an active‐site loop was predicted to hinder binding. Indeed, the unbolted loop variant R134A showed useful affinity for resveratrol (K_m=185 mM ) and could be used for the quantitative production of resveratrol 3‐α‐glucoside in an aqueous system. Improved activity was also shown for other acceptors, introducing variant R134A as promising new biocatalyst for glycosylation reactions on bulky phenolic acceptors.     

High Performance Liquid Chromatography/Electrochemistry/High Resolution Electrospray Ionization‐Mass Spectrometry (HPLC/EC/HR ESI‐MS) Characterization of Selected Cytokinins Oxidation Products

Electrochemistry combined with mass spectrometry represents an emerging analytical technique used to study the oxidation pathway of various drugs and in vivo occurring compounds, continuously showing a capability to generate many known metabolites or new oxidation products. An on‐line HPLC/EC/HR ESI‐MS method had been used to investigate the oxidation of selected cytokinin compounds. This setup allowed rapid identification and general structure elucidation of the obtained products. An electrochemical oxidation of isopentenyladenine resulted in five products, including hydroxylated and dehydrogenated products, which correlates very well with its in vivo metabolism. Electrochemical conversion of trans‐zeatin revealed six products, with two dehydrogenation products corresponding to its in vivo occurring metabolites. cis‐Zeatin oxidation in the electrochemical cell gave rise to eight products, resembling similarity to trans‐zeatin oxidation. All three compounds underwent a complete turnover mainly through two oxidation reactions occurring in the electrochemical cell? dehydrogenation and a less typical aliphatic hydroxylation. The resulting products are in correlation with their known in vivo metabolism.     

Arrival time distributions of product ions reveal isomeric ratio of deprotonated molecules in ion mobility–mass spectrometry of hyaluronan‐derived oligosaccharides

Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring linear polysaccharide with substantial medical potential. In this work, discrimination of tyramine‐based hyaluronan derivatives was accessed by ion mobility–mass spectrometry of deprotonated molecules and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. As the product ion mass spectra did not allow for direct isomer discrimination in mixture, the reductive labeling of oligosaccharides as well as stable isotope labeling was performed. The ion mobility separation of parent ions together with the characteristic fragmentation for reduced isomers providing unique product ions allowed us to identify isomers present in a mixture and determine their mutual isomeric ratio. The determination used simple recalculation of arrival time distribution areas of unique ions to areas of deprotonated molecules. Mass spectrometry data were confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Continuous fast focusing in a trapezoidal void channel based on bidirectional isotachophoresis in a wide pH range

This study concentrates on development of instrumentation for focusing and separation of analytes in continuous flow. It is based on bidirectional ITP working in wide pH range with separation space of closed void channel of trapezoidal shape and continuous supply of sample. The novel instrumentation is working with electrolyte system formulated previously and on the contrary to devices currently available, it allows preparative separation and concentration of cationic, anionic, and amphoteric analytes simultaneously and in wide pH range. The formation of sharp edges at zone boundaries as well as low conductivity zones are avoided in suggested system and thus, local overheating is eliminated allowing for high current densities at initial stages of focusing. This results in high focusing speed and reduction of analysis time, which is particularly advantageous for separations performed in continuous flow systems. The closed void channel is designed to avoid basic obstacles related to liquid leakage, bubbles formation, contacts with electrodes, channel height and complicated assembling. The performance of designed instrumentation and focusing dynamics were tested by using colored low molecular mass pH indicators for local pH determination, focusing pattern, and completion. In addition, feasibility and separation efficiency were demonstrated by focusing of cytochrome C and myoglobin. The collection of fractions at instrument output allows for subsequent analysis and identification of sample components that are concentrated and conveniently in form of solution for further processing. Since the instrumentation operates with commercially available simple defined buffers and compounds without need of carrier ampholytes background, it is economically favorable.     

Stripping voltammetric determination of mercury(II) at antimony-coated carbon paste electrode

A new procedure was elaborated to determine mercury(II) using an anodic stripping square-wave voltammetry at the antimony film carbon paste electrode (SbF-CPE). In highly acidic medium of 1 M hydrochloric acid, voltammetric measurements can be realized in a wide potential window. Presence of cadmium(II) allows to separate peaks of Hg(II) and Sb(III) and apparently catalyses reoxidation of electrolytically accumulated mercury, thus allowing its determination at ppb levels. Calibration dependence was linear up to 100 ppb Hg with a detection limit of 1.3 ppb. Applicability of the method was tested on the real river water sample.     

Spectroscopic, morphological, and mechanistic investigation of the solvent-promoted aggregation of porphyrins modified in meso-positions by glucosylated steroids

Solvent-driven aggregation of a series of porphyrin derivatives was studied by UV/Vis and circular dichroism spectroscopy. The porphyrins are characterised by the presence in the meso positions of steroidal moieties further conjugated with glucosyl groups. The presence of these groups makes the investigated macrocycles amphiphilic and soluble in aqueous solvent, namely, dimethyl acetamide/water. Aggregation of the macrocycles is triggered by a change in bulk solvent composition leading to formation of large architectures that express supramolecular chirality, steered by the presence of the stereogenic centres on the periphery of the macrocycles. The aggregation behaviour and chiroptical features of the aggregates are strongly dependent on the number of moieties decorating the periphery of the porphyrin framework. In particular, experimental evidence indicates that the structure of the steroid linker dictates the overall chirality of the supramolecular architectures. Moreover, the porphyrin concentration strongly affects the aggregation mechanism and the CD intensities of the spectra. Notably, AFM investigations reveal strong differences in aggregate morphology that are dependent on the nature of the appended functional groups, and closely in line with the changes in aggregation mechanism. The suprastructures formed at lower concentration show a network of long fibrous structures spanning over tens of micrometres, whereas the aggregates formed at higher concentration have smaller rod-shaped structures that can be recognised as the result of coalescence of smaller globular structures. The fully steroid substituted derivative forms globular structures over the whole concentration range explored. Finally, a rationale for the aggregation phenomena was given by semiempirical calculations at the PM6 level.