Robust optimization for interactive multiobjective programming with imprecise information applied to R&D project portfolio selection

A multiobjective binary integer programming model for R&D project portfolio selection with competing objectives is developed when problem coefficients in both objective functions and constraints are uncertain. Robust optimization is used in dealing with uncertainty while an interactive procedure is used in making tradeoffs among the multiple objectives. Robust nondominated solutions are generated by solving the linearized counterpart of the robust augmented weighted Tchebycheff programs. A decision maker’s most preferred solution is identified in the interactive robust weighted Tchebycheff procedure by progressively eliciting and incorporating the decision maker’s preference information into the solution process. An example is presented to illustrate the solution approach and performance. The developed approach can also be applied to general multiobjective mixed integer programming problems.     

Enhancement of catalytic activity of titanosilicalite-1 - sulfated zirconia combination towards epoxidation of 1-octene with aqueous hydrogen peroxide

Summary Titanosilicalite-1 (TS-1) in combination with sulfated zirconia efficiently catalyzes the epoxidation of 1-octene with aqueous hydrogen peroxide. The presence of both octahedral zirconium and sulfate species in the catalysts enhances the epoxidation rates.     

Preparation,characterization and application of 1,4-disulfopiperazine-1,4-diium chloride ([Piper-(SO<Subscript>3</Subscript>H)<Subscript>2</Subscript>]·2Cl) as an efficient dicationic ionic catalyst for the <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-Boc protection of amines

In this work, 1,4-disulfopiperazine-1,4-diium chloride ([Piper-(SO₃H)₂]·2Cl), as a novel Brönsted acidic ionic catalyst is synthesized and characterized using a series of techniques including FT-IR, TGA, DTA, SEM, pH analysis and Hammett acidity function. This substance can significantly catalyze the N-Boc protection of amines without solvent interference at room temperature. The advantages of this manner are chemoselectivity, short reaction times, suitable yields, excellent yields of the products, without solvent interference and ease of preparation as well as reusability of the catalyst.     

BiVO<Subscript>4</Subscript>-NPs: an efficient nano-catalyst for the synthesis of biscoumarins,bis(indolyl)methanes and 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>)-ones (thiones) derivatives

BiVO₄-NPs can be used as an efficient and reusable nano-catalyst for the promotion of the synthesis of biscoumarins, bis(indolyl)methanes and 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones (thiones) derivatives. The structures of the products were characterized by IR, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and comparison with the authentic samples. Easy work-up procedure, excellent yields, short reaction times and reusability of the catalyst are some advantages of this work. In addition, in this article and for the first time, the preparation of 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones and -thiones from the protected derivatives of aldehydes including oximes, semicarbazones and 1,1-diacetates is reported.     

A spectral element method using the modal basis and its application in solving second‐order nonlinear partial differential equations

We present a high‐order spectral element method (SEM) using modal (or hierarchical) basis for modeling of some nonlinear second‐order partial differential equations in two‐dimensional spatial space. The discretization is based on the conforming spectral element technique in space and the semi‐implicit or the explicit finite difference formula in time. Unlike the nodal SEM, which is based on the Lagrange polynomials associated with the Gauss–Lobatto–Legendre or Chebyshev quadrature nodes, the Lobatto polynomials are used in this paper as modal basis. Using modal bases due to their orthogonal properties enables us to exactly obtain the elemental matrices provided that the element‐wise mapping has the constant Jacobian. The difficulty of implementation of modal approximations for nonlinear problems is treated in this paper by expanding the nonlinear terms in the weak form of differential equations in terms of the Lobatto polynomials on each element using the fast Fourier transform (FFT). Utilization of the Fourier interpolation on equidistant points in the FFT algorithm and the enough polynomial order of approximation of the nonlinear terms can lead to minimize the aliasing error. Also, this approach leads to finding numerical solution of a nonlinear differential equation through solving a system of linear algebraic equations. Numerical results for some famous nonlinear equations illustrate efficiency, stability and convergence properties of the approximation scheme, which is exponential in space and up to third‐order in time. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Investigation of Nutrient Feeding Strategies in a Countercurrent Mixed-Acid Multi-Staged Fermentation: Experimental Data

Nutrients are essential for microbial growth and metabolism in mixed-culture acid fermentations. Understanding the influence of nutrient feeding strategies on fermentation performance is necessary for optimization. For a four-bottle fermentation train, five nutrient contacting patterns (single-point nutrient addition to fermentors F1, F2, F3, and F4 and multi-point parallel addition) were investigated. Compared to the traditional nutrient contacting method (all nutrients fed to F1), the near-optimal feeding strategies improved exit yield, culture yield, process yield, exit acetate-equivalent yield, conversion, and total acid productivity by approximately 31%, 39%, 46%, 31%, 100%, and 19%, respectively. There was no statistical improvement in total acid concentration. The traditional nutrient feeding strategy had the highest selectivity and acetate-equivalent selectivity. Total acid productivity depends on carbon–nitrogen ratio.     

Effect of iridium loading on HZSM-5 for isomerization of n-heptane

The effect of iridium loading on the properties and catalytic isomerization of n-heptane over Ir-HZSM-5 is studied. Ir-HZSM-5 was prepared by impregnation method and subjected to isomerization process in the presence of flowing hydrogen gas. XRD and BET studies show that the presence of iridium stabilizes the crystalline structure of HZSM-5, leading to more ordered framework structure and larger surface area. TGA and FTIR results substantiate that iridium species interacts with OH group on the surface of HZSM-5. Pyridine FT-IR study verifies the interaction between iridium and surface OH group slightly increased the Bro¨nsted and Lewis acid sites without changing the lattice structure of HZSM-5. The presence of iridium and the increase of strong Lewis acid sites on HZSM-5 were found to bring an increase about 4.1%, 33.2% and 11.8% in conversion, selectivity and yield of n-heptane isomerization, respectively.     

Bis(methyltri‐o‐tolylphosphonium) octaiodide

In the crystal structure of the title compound, 2C₂₂H₂₄P⁺·I₈²⁻, the I₈²⁻ anion is located on a crystallographic inversion centre and consists of two tri‐iodide anions linked by di‐iodine at angles of 89.92 (4)° to form a planar `Z'‐shaped dianion. The octaiodides are linked via long‐range interactions [3.877 (11) Å] into infinite polyiodide ribbons. This is the first example of a structure containing an [(o‐tolyl)₃PMe]⁺ cation, and the C_Me—P—C—C_Me torsion angles of −54.0 (11), −51.3 (11) and −48.2 (11)° indicate that the configuration is exo₃.     

Hybrid finite element method applied to supersonic flutter of an empty or partially liquid-filled truncated conical shell

In this study, aeroelastic analysis of a truncated conical shell subjected to the external supersonic airflow is carried out. The structural model is based on a combination of linear Sanders thin shell theory and the classic finite element method. Linearized first-order potential (piston) theory with the curvature correction term is coupled with the structural model to account for pressure loading. The influence of stress stiffening due to internal or external pressure and axial compression is also taken into account. The fluid-filled effect is considered as a velocity potential variable at each node of the shell elements at the fluid-structure interface in terms of nodal elastic displacements. Aeroelastic equations using the hybrid finite element formulation are derived and solved numerically. The results are validated using numerical and theoretical data available in the literature. The analysis is accomplished for conical shells of different boundary conditions and cone angles. In all cases the conical shell loses its stability through coupled-mode flutter. This proposed hybrid finite element method can be used efficiently for design and analysis of conical shells employed in high speed aircraft structures.