Distribution requirements and compactness constraints in school timetabling

This paper provides the following contributions: First, distribution requirements for lessons of different lengths are modelled in a novel way by the use of the so-called multiple mode concept with mode identity constraints. Second, we show that several types of constraints may be modelled using the unifying framework of partially renewable resources. Among these constraints are: No class, subject, room, and teacher overlaps; class, subject, room, and teacher unavailabilities; compactness constraints; preassignment constraints; lectures to be given simultaneously; lunch breaks, etc. Third, we present two-phase parallel greedy randomized and genetic methods. Fourth, we provide an instance generator for the generation of a representative set of instances. Fifth, the generator along with a statistical model is used for a thorough experimental evaluation of the methods. Computational results show that the methods solve the instances investigated close to optimality.     

Exploiting the subharmonic parametric resonances of a buckled beam for vibratory energy harvesting

The potential of harvesting vibratory energy via a bistable beam subjected to subharmonic parametric excitations is investigated. The vibrating structure is a buckled beam with two stable equilibria separated by a potential barrier. The beam is subjected to a superposition of a static axial load beyond its buckling load and a harmonic axial excitation whose frequency is around twice the frequency of the buckled beam’s first vibration mode. A macro-fiber composite patch is attached to one side of the beam to convert the strain energy resulting from the beam’s oscillation into electricity. The study considers two regimes of excitations: an amplitude sweep and a frequency sweep. In the first regime, the amplitude of excitation is quasi-statically varied while the excitation frequency is tuned at twice the natural frequency of the first vibration mode. In the second regime, the excitation frequency is swept forward and backward around the subharmonic resonant frequency while the amplitude of excitation is kept constant. A theoretical model which governs the electromechanical coupling of the transverse vibrations of the beam and the output voltage is used to monitor the response as the excitation parameters are changed. An experimental setup is also built and a series of tests is performed to validate the theoretical findings. It is shown that, depending on the amplitude and frequency of excitation, the harvester can perform small-amplitude periodic intra-well motion, intra- and inter-well chaotic motions, as well as periodic inter-well motions. Experimental results also show that, as compared to the classical linear resonance, utilizing the sub-harmonic resonance of a bistable energy harvesters can result in a broadband frequency response.     

Radioiodination, purification and bioevaluation of Piroxicam in comparison with Meloxicam for imaging of inflammation

The present study is performed to compare the electrophilic substitution radioiodination reaction of two non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs namely, Piroxicam (Pirox) and Meloxicam (Melox) with ¹²⁵I where both chloramine-T (CAT) and iodogen were used as oxidizing agents. The factors affecting the percent of radiochemical yields such as drug concentration, pH of the reaction mixtures, different oxidizing agents, reaction time, temperature and different organic media were studied to optimize the conditions for labeling of Pirox and Melox and to obtain high radiochemical yields. The maximum radiochemical yield of ¹²⁵I-Piroxicam (¹²⁵I-Pirox) was 94% using 3.7 MBq of Na¹²⁵I, 0.4 mM of Pirox as substrate, 3.6 mM of chloramine-T (CAT) as oxidizing agent in acetone at neutral pH = 7 and at 60 °C within 20 min where the maximum radiochemical yield of ¹²⁵I-Melox was 92% using 0.7 mM of Melox as substrate, 0.62 mM of iodogen as oxidizing agent in acetone at neutral pH = 7 and at 25 °C within 30 min. The radiochemical yields were determined by TLC and high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Tracers showed good localization in inflamed muscle either septic or sterile. The collected data indicates that Pirox and Melox can be used as antiinflammatory imaging agents at 24 and 2 h post injection, respectively.     

A comparative study on various spectrometries with thin layer chromatography for simultaneous analysis of drotaverine and nifuroxazide in capsules

Three spectrophotometric methods including Vierordt's method, derivative, ratio spectra derivative, and thin layer chromatography (TLC)-UV densitometric method were developed for simultaneous determination of drotaverine HCl (DRT) and nifuroxazide (NIF) in presence of its impurity, 4-hydroxybenzohydrazide (4-HBH). In Vierordt's method, (E(1 cm)(1%)) values were calculated at 227 and 368 nm in the zero-order spectra of DRT and NIF. By derivative spectrophotometry, the zero-crossing method, drotaverine HCl was determined using the second derivative at 245 nm and the third derivative at 238 nm, while nifuroxazide was determined using the first derivative at 399 nm and the second derivative at 411 nm. The ratio spectra derivative spectrophotometry is basedon the measure of the amplitude at 459 nm for DRT and at 416 nm for NIF in the first derivative of the ratio spectra. Calibration graphs of the three spectrophotometric methods were plotted in the range 1-10 mug/ml of DRT and 2-20 mug/ml of NIF. TLC-UV densitometric method was achieved on silica gel plates using ethyl acetate : methanol : ammonia 33% (10 : 1 : 0.1 v/v/v) as the mobile phase. The Rf values were 0.74, 0.50, 0.30+/-0.01 for DRT, NIF and 4-HBH, respectively. On the fluorescent plates, the spots were located by fluorescence quenching and the densitometrical area were measured at 308 and 287 nm with linear range 0.2-4 mug/spot and 0.6-12 mug/spot for DRT and NIF, respectively. The proposed methods have been successfully applied to the commercial pharmaceutical formulation without any interference of excipients. Mean recoveries, relative standard deviations and the results of the proposed methods were compared with those obtained by applying the alternate methods.     

Abundant Exact Traveling Wave Solutions of Generalized Bretherton Equation via Improved (G′/G)-Expansion Method

In this article, we construct abundant exact traveling wave solutions involving free parameters to the generalized Bretherton equation via the improved (G′/G)-expansion method. The traveling wave solutions are presented in terms of the trigonometric, the hyperbolic, and rational functions. When the parameters take special values, the solitary waves are derived from the traveling waves.     

On the propagation waves in the theory of thermoelasticity with microtemperatures

The present paper studies the propagation of plane time harmonic waves in an infinite space filled by a thermoelastic material with microtemperatures. It is found that there are seven basic waves traveling with distinct speeds: (a) two transverse elastic waves uncoupled, undamped in time and traveling independently with the speed that is unaffected by the thermal effects; (b) two transverse thermal standing waves decaying exponentially to zero when time tends to infinity and they are unaffected by the elastic deformations; (c) three dilatational waves that are coupled due to the presence of thermal properties of the material. The set of dilatational waves consists of a quasi-elastic longitudinal wave and two quasi-thermal standing waves. The two transverse elastic waves are not subjected to the dispersion, while the other two transverse thermal standing waves and the dilatational waves present the dispersive character. Explicit expressions for all these seven waves are presented. The Rayleigh surface wave propagation problem is addressed and the secular equation is obtained in an explicit form. Numerical computations are performed for a specific model, and the results obtained are depicted graphically.     

A nonlocal beam model for out-of-plane static analysis of circular nanobeams

In this paper, out-of-plane static behavior of circular nanobeams with point loads is investigated. Inclusion of small length scales such as lattice spacing between atoms, surface properties, grain size etc. are considered in the analysis by employing Eringen’s nonlocal elasticity theory in the formulations. The nonlocal equations are arranged in cylindrical coordinates and applied to the beam theory. The effect of shear deformation is considered. The governing differential equations are solved exactly by using the initial value method. The displacements, rotation angle about the normal and tangential axes and the force resultants are established and the analytical expressions are presented. The predicted trends of the size effect at the nano scale agree with those given in the experiments. The results can be used for designing nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS) where the curved nanobeams are used as a basic component.