A solution procedure for the discrete time, cost and quality tradeoff problem using electromagnetic scatter search

Decisions concerning a project’s expedition, traditionally involved considerations regarding time and cost tradeoff. It was recently suggested that the quality of a project should also be taken into considerations. In this paper, we propose a meta-heuristic solution procedure for the discrete time, cost and quality tradeoff problem. This problem involves the scheduling of project activities in order to minimize the total cost of the project while maximizing the quality of the project and also meeting a given deadline. We apply a so called electromagnetic scatter search to solve this problem. In this process, we initially generate a population of feasible solutions. In so doing, we use frequency memory to well sample the feasible region. A number of these solutions are then selected and improved locally. The improved solutions are then combined to generate new set of solutions. The combination process utilizes attraction–repulsion mechanisms borrowed from the electromagnetism theory. The whole process is stopped when no significant improvement in the set of solutions are observed. The validity of the proposed solution procedure is demonstrated, and its applicability is tested on a randomly generated large and complex problem having 19,900 activities.     

Enhancement of Kerr nonlinearity at long wavelength in a quantum dot nanostructure

The giant Kerr nonlinearity with reduced linear and nonlinear absorption in a four-level quantum dot by employing the tunnel coupling is investigated. It is shown that by enhancement of tunnel coupling value the Kerr nonlinearity increases and at the same time linear and nonlinear absorption reduces at the long wavelength which is very important for communicational applications. Enhanced of Kerr nonlinearity in a double quantum dots is investigated. It is found that the electron tunneling has an essential role to reducing the linear absorption and increasing the Kerr nonlinearity at long wavelength.     

T-shaped channel drop filter based on photonic crystal ring resonator

Photonic crystal ring resonators are promising candidates for realizing all optical filters with acceptable transmission efficiency and quality factor values. In this paper, by putting a12-fold quasi crystal at the middle of on 7 × 7 square cavity we created a ring resonator structure and designed a T-shaped channel drop filter. The drop wavelength of our filter is at 1551 nm, with transmission efficiency and quality factor equal to 90% and 387. Our structure is composed of dielectric rods immersed in air. Because in this kind of structures the dominant band gap is in TM mode, all of our simulations have been done in TM mode. The total footprint of our filter is 242.4 μm², which makes it suitable for all optical integrated circuits.     

Effect of persistence on the significance of Kendall’s tau as a measure of correlation between natural time series

Although persistence in natural data is generally admitted, its effect on the significance of various statistical tests has not been extensively studied and is sometimes overlooked or simply ignored in practice. In particular, modified tests that are robust in the presence of persistence are still lacking. In many situations, need may arise to test the significance of correlation between two observed natural time series. Although the estimation of the classical product-moment correlation coefficient is a straightforward task, classical significance testing depends on two major assumptions. The first assumption is that the data are Gaussian, which is violated by many natural time series. In this case, a distribution-free measure of correlation, such as Kendall’s tau should be used. The second, and often overlooked assumption, is that the observations in each time series are not autocorrelated, which is also violated by most natural time series. Similar to the case of trend testing (e.g. Mann-Kendall trend test), which has received some attention recently, the existence of persistence increases the chance of falsely detecting significant correlation when the two series are actually uncorrelated. In this paper, the effect of both short- and long-term persistence (STP and LTP) on the distribution of Kendall’s tau as a distribution-free measure of correlation between two time series is investigated, and an exact expression for its variance under persistence is derived. The implications of these results for the analysis of natural data are illustrated through the study of spurious correlation between a 133-year Nile flow time series from A.D. 1871 to A.D. 2003 and independent segments of a reconstruction of the North Hemisphere temperature time series from A.D. 1000 to A.D. 1980, both of which exhibit LTP. It is shown that spurious significant correlation between completely unrelated segments of the two time series is on average three times as common as in random series of the same length at the 10% significance level, which is consistent with the theoretical results. It is also shown that accounting for LTP by using the correct variance of the test statistic effectively reduces the probability of false identification to near its expected nominal value of 10%. Similar results were obtained at other significance levels.     

Aero-thermo-mechanical characteristics of imperfect shape memory alloy hybrid composite panels

A nonlinear finite element model is provided to predict the static aero-thermal deflection and the vibration behavior of geometrically imperfect shape memory alloy hybrid composite panels under the combined effect of thermal and aerodynamic loads. The nonlinear governing equations are obtained using Marguerre curved plate theory and the principle of virtual work taking into account the temperature-dependence of material properties. The effect of large deflection is included in the formulation through the von Karman nonlinear strain-displacement relations. The thermal load is assumed to be a steady-state constant-temperature distribution, whereas the aerodynamic pressure is modeled using the quasi-steady first-order piston theory. The Newton-Raphson iteration method is employed to obtain the nonlinear aero-thermal deflections, while an eigenvalue problem is solved at each temperature step and static aerodynamic load to predict the free vibration frequencies about the deflected equilibrium position. Finally, the nonlinear deflection and free vibration characteristics of a composite panel are presented, illustrating the effects of geometric imperfection, temperature rise, aerodynamic pressure, boundary conditions and shape memory alloy fiber embeddings on the panel response.     

Separation and preconcentration in a batch mode of Cd(II), Cr(III, VI), Cu(II), Mn(II, VII) and Pb(II) by solid-phase extraction by using of silica modified with N-propylsalicylaldimine

The complexes formed between IE11 and Cd(II), Cr(III), Cu(II), Mn(II) and Pb(II) were identified and confirmed by IR, UV and pH-metric titration. The uptake behavior of porous silica modified with N-propylsalicylaldimine (IE11) and these metal ions were studied. Log k(d) was found to be within the range 2.19-5.16 depending on pH and time of stirring. IE11 was used in the separation and preconcentration of Cd(II), Cr(III, VI), Cu(II), Mn(II, VII) and Pb(II) from some natural water samples. Data were compared with those obtained by the solvent extraction method APDC/MIBK. The proposed methodology allows to verify an improvement in the water quality of Nile River probably attributed to high to moderate floods in the last few years. The method was found to be accurate and not subject to random error, i.e. precise.     

Investigation of magnetic field effect on surface and finite-site free energy in one-dimensional Ising model of nanosystems

We investigate a one-dimensional (1-D) Ising model for finite-site systems. The finite-site free energy and the surface free energy are calculated via the transfer matrix method. We show that, at high magnetic fields, the surface free energy has an asymptotic limit. The absolute surface energy increases when the value of f (the ratio of magnetic field to nearest-neighbor interactions) increases, and for f?≥?10 approaches a constant value. For the values of f?≥?0.2, the finite-site free energy also increases, but slowly. The thermodynamic limit in which physical properties approach the bulk value is also explored.     

Spectroscopic studies on some phenylethylamine drugs: Molecular orbital calculations

The electronic absorption spectra of some phenylethylamine drugs, namely, d-pseudoepherine, l-pseudoephedrine, l-ephedrine, dl-ephedrine dl-norephedrine, phenylethylamine, methoxyphenamine, and l-noradrenaline were investigated in polar and nonpolar solvents. The observed transitions were interpreted, and the role of σ-π interaction was explored. Molecular orbital calculations were performed on representatives of the above group of compounds, namely, d-pseudoephedrine, l-ephedrine, and l-noradrenaline using the INDO procedures and adopting the best conformer of the molecule. The transition energy, band intensity, and dipole moments were calculated and corresponded satisfactorily with the experimental values.     

Uranium recovery from UCF liquid waste by nanoporous MCM-41: breakthrough capacity and elution behavior studies

Adsorption and recovery of uranium by nanoporous MCM-41 from aqueous solutions (synthetic solution and uranium conversion facility liquid waste) were investigated by use of a fixed-bed column (1.2 cm diameter and 3.0 cm height). Adsorption was carried out at flow rates 0.2 and 0.5 mL min^?1, which correspond to retention times of 10 and 6 min. The maximum breakthrough capacity for uranium ions was achieved by use of nanoporous MCM-41 at the optimum pH of 3.6 and flow rate 0.2 mL min^?1 (61.95 μg g^?1). The Thomas and Yan models were applied to the experimental data, by use of linear regression, to determine the characteristics of the column for process design. The breakthrough curves calculated from the models were in good agreement with the experimental data. The elution behavior of uranium on nanoporous MCM-41 was studied with different eluents; the results showed that 0.1 M HCl is good eluent for uranium recovery. The regenerated column could be used in a multitude of adsorption–desorption cycles.     

Rational synthesis of Pt spheres with hollow interior and nanosponge shell using silica particles as template

Here we report a facile and efficient method to prepare Pt spheres with hollow interior and nanosponge shell with high surface area. Such a unique Pt nanostructure can effectively improve the electrocatalytic performance of Pt catalysts by facilitating the access of electroactive species to the full-extent Pt surface.