Probabilistic programming models for traffic incident management operations planning

This paper proposes mathematical programming models with probabilistic constraints in order to address incident response and resource allocation problems for the planning of traffic incident management operations. For the incident response planning, we use the concept of quality of service during a potential incident to give the decision-maker the flexibility to determine the optimal policy in response to various possible situations. An integer programming model with probabilistic constraints is also proposed to address the incident response problem with stochastic resource requirements at the sites of incidents. For the resource allocation planning, we introduce a mathematical model to determine the number of service vehicles allocated to each depot to meet the resource requirements of the incidents by taking into account the stochastic nature of the resource requirement and incident occurrence probabilities. A detailed case study for the incident resource allocation problem is included to demonstrate the use of proposed model in a real-world context. The paper concludes with a summary of results and recommendations for future research.     

Cloning and Sequence Analysis of Novel DNA Polymerases from Thermophilic Geobacillus Species Isolated from Hot Springs in Turkey: Characterization of a DNA Polymerase I from Geobacillus kaue Strain NB

The complete coding sequences of the polA genes from seven thermophilic Geobacillus species, isolated from hot springs of G?nen and Hisaralan in Turkey, were cloned and sequenced. The polA genes of these Geobacillus species contain a long open reading frame of 2,637 bp encoding DNA polymerase I with a calculated molecular mass of 99 kDa. Amino acid sequences of these Geobacillus DNA polymerases are closely related. The multiple sequence alignments show all include the conserved amino acids in the polymerase and 5'-3' exonuclease domains, but the catalytic residues varied in 3'-5' exonuclease domain of these Geobacillus DNA polymerases. One of them, DNA polymerase I from Geobacillus kaue strain NB (Gkaue polI) is purified to homogeneity and biochemically characterized in vitro. The optimum temperature for enzymatic activity of Gkaue polI is 70 °C at pH 7.5-8.5 in the presence of 8 mM Mg(2+) and 80-100 mM of monovalent ions. The addition of polyamines stimulates the polymerization activity of the enzyme. Three-dimensional structure of Gkaue polI predicted using homology modeling confirmed the conservation of all the functionally important regions in the polymerase active site.     

Infrastructure security games

Infrastructure security against possible attacks involves making decisions under uncertainty. This paper presents game theoretic models of the interaction between an adversary and a first responder in order to study the problem of security within a transportation infrastructure. The risk measure used is based on the consequence of an attack in terms of the number of people affected or the occupancy level of a critical infrastructure, e.g. stations, trains, subway cars, escalators, bridges, etc. The objective of the adversary is to inflict the maximum damage to a transportation network by selecting a set of nodes to attack, while the first responder (emergency management center) allocates resources (emergency personnel or personnel-hours) to the sites of interest in an attempt to find the hidden adversary. This paper considers both static and dynamic, in which the first responder is mobile, games. The unique equilibrium strategy pair is given in closed form for the simple static game. For the dynamic game, the equilibrium for the first responder becomes the best patrol policy within the infrastructure. This model uses partially observable Markov decision processes (POMDPs) in which the payoff functions depend on an exogenous people flow, and thus, are time varying. A numerical example illustrating the algorithm is presented to evaluate an equilibrium strategy pair.     

Poly(ethylene glycol)/poly(2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propane sulfonic acid) gel electrolytes: a detailed investigation of their conductivity and characterization

Poly(ethylene glycol)/poly(2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propane sulfonic acid) (PEG/PAMPS) with a transparent appearance were prepared in the presence of ammonium persulfate (APS) as an initiator at 70 °C for 24 h. PEG/PAMPS-based polymer gel electrolytes in a motionless and uniform state were obtained by adding the required amount of liquid electrolytes to a dry PEG/PAMPS polymer. Liquid electrolytes include organic solvents with high boiling points (-1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) and γ-butyrolactone (GBL)) and a redox couple (alkali metal iodide salt/iodine). The optimized conditions for PEG/PAMPS-based gel electrolytes based on the salt type, the concentration of alkali metal iodide salt/iodine, and solvent volume ratio were determined to be NaI, 0.4 M NaI/0.04 M I₂, and NMP:GBL (7:3, v/v), respectively. The highest ionic conductivity and the liquid electrolyte absorbency were 2.58 mS cm^?1 and 3.6 g g^?1 at 25 °C, respectively. The ion transport mechanism in both the polymer gel electrolytes and liquid electrolytes is investigated extensively, and their best fits with respect to the temperature dependence of the ionic conductivity are determined with the Arrhenius equation.     

Interfacial and micellar properties of anionic azo dye-surfactant binary systems

The association of an anionic dye C.I. Reactive Orange 16 (RO16) and different types of surfactants, i.e., anionic surfactant sodium dodecylsulfate, nonionic surfactants poly(oxyethylene) ethers (C _m POE₁₀, m = 12, 16, and 18; C₁₂POE _n , n = 4, 10, and 23), was investigated using tensiometry in a certain micellar concentration range. RO16 was shown to aggregate in water when its concentration is above the threshold value. The surface tension lowering and critical micellar concentration (CMC) values were interpreted on the same grounds as those for surfactants mixtures. The tensiometric measurements of dye-surfactant systems are carried out as a function of the molar concentration of solution at 25°C. Using Rubingh’s regular solution theory, the values of interaction parameters were found to be negative for all studied binary mixtures. These negative values indicate that there is an attractive interaction of the surfactants in mixed micelles and reflect synergistic behavior of a mixture. In all studied systems, deviations from ideal behavior were observed depending on the type of surfactant. Interaction parameters calculated using regular solution theory are changed from −2.62 to −12.43. The smallest deviation from ideal behavior is obtained for the RO16-C₁₂POE₄ mixed system; i.e., in the case when nonionic surfactant has the shortest alkyl chain and the smallest number of ethylene oxide units. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Nanomorphology and fire behavior of polystyrene/organoclay nanocomposites containing brominated epoxy and antimony oxide

Organoclay nanocomposites were prepared by ultrasound‐assisted solution intercalation technique based on polystyrene containing brominated epoxy and a combination of brominated epoxy and antimony oxide. Aspects of nanomorphology and nanodispersion were investigated by X‐ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy whereas flammability and reaction to fire were evaluated using limiting oxygen index, UL‐94, and mass loss calorimeter tests. Polystyrene/brominated‐epoxy‐blend‐based nanocomposites showed mixed intercalated–exfoliated nanomorphology where polymer‐intercalated crystallites predominantly exist in polystyrene matrix and exfoliated silicate layers reside on polystyrene/brominated epoxy phase boundaries and within brominated epoxy domains. Organoclay was found to impart a compatibilization effect on polystyrene and dispersed brominated epoxy, which facilitates uniform distribution of a fine flame‐retarding phase within the matrix. With the reduction of the rate at which decomposition products evolve into the gas phase, organoclay nanocomposites showed notable reductions in peak heat release rate and increases in limiting oxygen index. The gas‐phase hot radical entrapment by halogenated flame‐retardant system was coupled with the condensed‐phase physical action of nanodispersed organoclay, which increased the overall fire‐retardant effectiveness. Fire‐retardant mechanisms of nanocomposites based on polystyrene/brominated epoxy blends were attributed to nanoconfinement and tortuous pathway effects of organoclay rather than to carbonaceous char formation proposed earlier for polystyrene/organoclay systems without conventional flame retardants. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Contrast-material-enhanced MR urography in evaluation of postoperative lower urinary tract fistulae and leakages

Urinary fistulas and leakages of lower urinary tract are serious complications of various surgical procedures. Radiologists need to have enough information about these situations to perform precise diagnosis and treatment. Various techniques [such as intravenous pyelography, ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), CT urography, cystoscopy, cystography and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging] are used for the diagnosis of these conditions. Application of all these techniques reduces the comfort and cooperation of the patients and increases the cost. Here we present four postoperative patients with lower urinary tract fistula or leakage. To the best of our knowledge, there is no report regarding the use of contrast-material-enhanced MR urography (CE-MRU) in the demonstration of postoperative lower urinary tract fistulae and leakages. In conclusion, CE-MRU could show the existence and location of the urinary fistulae and leakages clearly without the need for another investigation technique, as described in our patients. Also, CE-MRU is a safe and relatively inexpensive technique that avoids exposure to radiation as well as nephrotoxic and more allergic contrast-material administration.     

Preparation and Application of a Hydrochar-Based Palladium Nanocatalyst for the Reduction of Nitroarenes

In the present study, a novel heterogeneous catalyst was successfully fabricated through the decoration of palladium nanoparticles on the surface of designed Fe₃O₄-coffee waste composite (Pd-Fe₃O₄-CWH) for the catalytic reduction of nitroarenes. Various characterization techniques such as XRD, FE-SEM and EDS were used to establish its nano-sized chemical structure. It was determined that Pd-Fe₃O₄-CWH is a useful nanocatalyst, which can efficiently reduce various nitroarenes, including 4-nitrobenzoic acid (4-NBA), 4-nitroaniline (4-NA), 4-nitro-o-phenylenediamine (4-NPD), 2-nitroaniline (2-NA) and 3-nitroanisole (3-NAS), using NaBH₄ in aqueous media and ambient conditions. Catalytic reactions were monitored with the help of high-performance liquid chromatography. Additionally, Pd-Fe₃O₄-CWH was proved to be a reusable catalyst by maintaining its catalytic activity through six successive runs. Moreover, the nanocatalyst displayed a superior catalytic performance compared to other catalysts by providing a shorter reaction time to complete the reduction in nitroarenes.