A note on a polynomial time solvable case of the quadratic assignment problem

We identify a class of instances of the Koopmans–Beckmann form of the Quadratic Assignment Problem that are solvable in polynomial time. This class is characterized by a path structure in the flow data and a grid structure in the distance data. Chr18b, one of the test problems in the QAPLIB, is in this class even though this feature of it has not been noticed until now.     

Lagrangian Point State Estimation with Optimized, Redundant Induction Coil Gauges

This research effort studies the use of redundant induction coil gauges to reduce state estimation uncertainties for moving Lagrangian points (LPs); e.g. discrete points, moving interfaces, projectiles, etc. The technique embeds a small, high-strength magnet at the LP and simultaneously tracks the magnet continuously with five (5) or more induction coils along a single axis of motion. A calibrated coil gauge model is presented as a function of LP position and velocity. The optimized LP state (position and velocity) estimate based upon redundant LP observations allows direct solution for LP velocity; requiring only one differentiation step to obtain acceleration. A specific experimental implementation (Particulate Materials Meso-scale Diagnostics system) is simulated to evaluate and minimize the expected state estimation errors. Induction coil signals with various levels of noise are simulated based upon a prescribed LP state variation with time. The state optimization algorithm attempts to recover the truth state values. Worst-case position estimation errors of ±0.3 mm and velocity estimation errors of ±0.46 m/s are determined for LPs travelling 0–1,000 m/s at realistic in-lab data noise levels.     

Carlsson's rank conjecture and a conjecture on square-zero upper triangular matrices

Let k be an algebraically closed field and A the polynomial algebra in r variables with coefficients in k. In case the characteristic of k is 2, Carlsson [9] conjectured that for any DG-A-module M of dimension N as a free A-module, if the homology of M is nontrivial and finite dimensional as a k-vector space, then $2^r\le N$. Here we state a stronger conjecture about varieties of square-zero upper triangular $N\times N$ matrices with entries in A. Using stratifications of these varieties via Borel orbits, we show that the stronger conjecture holds when $N<8$ or $r<3$ without any restriction on the characteristic of k. As a consequence, we obtain a new proof for many of the known cases of Carlsson's conjecture and give new results when $N>4$ and $r=2$.     

Potassium Sensing by Using a Newly Synthesized Squaraine Dye in Sol-Gel Matrix

Squaraines are a group of fluorescent dyes and pigments derived from squaric acid and dialkylanilines well known in applications such as photoreceptors, organic solar cells, optical recording media, and non-linear optics. Their very promising spectral properties, long wavelength absorption and emission, and high absorptivity and quantum yields have not been exploited so far in relation to optical sensor design. They exhibit excellent solubility in sol-gel matrices, and the ligand is an integral part of the fluorophore system, which makes the molecule a fluoroionophore. In this work, potassium-sensing agent, bis[4-N-(1-aza-4,7,10,13,16-pentaox acyclooctadecyl)-3,5-dihydroxyphenyl] squaraine has been used for potassium sensing in a sol-gel matrix. The spectrofluorimetric response of dye-doped tetraethyl ortosilicate (TEOS) film after exposure to certain concentrations of K⁺ has been investigated, and 62% of relative signal change was achieved. The dynamic working range of the sensor membrane has been found between 10^–9 and 10^–6 M K⁺, in other terms from nanomolar to micromolar levels, which is an advantage over flame emission spectroscopy, in view of detection limit. The sensor is fully reversible within the dynamic range and the response time (₉₀) is found to be 2 min under batch conditions. The cross-sensitivity of the molecule to Na⁺, Ba²⁺, Ca²⁺, and NH⁺ ₄ was also tested in separate solutions.     

Video STM studies of adsorbate diffusion at electrochemical interfaces

Direct in situ studies of the surface diffusion of isolated adsorbates at an electrochemical interface by high-speed scanning tunneling microscopy (video STM) are presented for sulfide adsorbates on Cu(100) in HCl solution. As revealed by a quantitative statistical analysis, the adsorbate motion can be described by thermally activated hopping between neighboring adsorption sites with an activation energy that increases linearly with electrode potential by 0.50 eV per V. This can be explained by changes in the adsorbate dipole moment during the hopping process and contributions from coadsorbates.     

Selective solid phase extraction and preconcentration of ultra-trace inorganic mercury in water samples using 2,6-dimethyl-morpholine dithiocarbamate

A sensitive and selective solid-phase spectrophotometric method for the determination of trace amounts of Hg(II) cation in water is described. A complex was created with Hg(II) using 2,6-dimethyl-morpholine dithiocarbamate (DMMDTC) to form Hg(II)–(DMMDTC) and this complex was adsorbed onto microcrystalline naphthalene (MN) and then eluted with 5% acetic acid (in ethanol) solution. A preconcentration factor of 187 and a recovery of 95% were observed at pH of 5.0 and for 10 min. of extraction. The separated Hg(II) ions were quantified by using ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer at 490.0 nm by creating a colored complex with dithizone in Triton X-100 surfactant media. Molar absorptivity and sandell’s sensitivity for the Hg(II)-dithizone were determined as 4.96 × 10⁵ Lmol^?1cm^?1 and 0.4032 µg cm^?2, respectively. The detection limit (LOD) was 1.7 μg L^?1 under the optimized conditions of the analytical method.     

The single-assignment hub covering problem: Models and linearizations

We study the hub covering problem which, so far, has remained one of the unstudied hub location problems in the literature. We give a combinatorial and a new integer programming formulation of the hub covering problem that is different from earlier integer programming formulations. Both new and old formulations are nonlinear binary integer programs. We give three linearizations for the old model and one linearization for the new one and test their computational performances based on 80 instances of the CAB data set. Computational results indicate that the linear version of the new model performs significantly better than the most successful linearization of the old model both in terms of average and maximum CPU times as well as in core storage requirements.     

Effect of temperature and pH on droplet aggregation and phase separation characteristics of flocs formed in oil–water emulsions after coagulation

Coagulation process is used for destabilization of emulsions to promote aggregation of oil droplets on flocs which can be subsequently removed by sedimentation or flotation. The objectives of this study were to investigate the effect of temperature and pH on the effectiveness of destabilization of olive oil–water emulsions in relation to floc morphology and aggregation characteristics of oil droplets, and to quantify the ability of flocs to capture and separate oil. A cationic polyelectrolyte was used for the coagulation of oil droplets in edible olive oil–water emulsions using a jar test apparatus. The flocs formed in olive oil–water emulsions after coagulant addition were analyzed using microscopic image analysis techniques. Fractal dimension, radius of captured oil droplets on flocs, number of oil droplets aggregated on flocs, and floc size were used to quantitatively characterize and compared the effectiveness of the coagulation process at different conditions (pH and temperature) and the ability of flocs to remove oil from water. Analysis of microscopic images showed that floc size was not always the best measure of effectiveness of coagulation process in oil–water emulsions. The flocs forming at different pH levels and temperatures had significant morphological differences in their ability to aggregate different sizes and numbers of oil droplets, resulting in significant differences in their ability for separating oil. Fractal dimension did not correlate with the ability of flocs to aggregate oil droplets nor the total amount of oil captured on flocs. Temperature had a significant effect on droplet size and number of droplets captured on flocs. The differences in floc sizes at different temperatures were not significant. However, the flocs forming at 20 °C had fewer but larger droplets aggregating larger amounts of oil than flocs formed at 30 °C and 40 °C. The size of droplets at different pH levels was similar, however, there were significant differences in number of droplets aggregating on flocs and floc sizes. The amount of oil captured on flocs at pH 7 and pH 9 was significantly higher than those at pH 5 and pH 11. The calculated fractal dimensions of the flocs (all less than 1.8) indicated that the coagulation process was diffusion limited implying that there was no repulsion between the colliding particles (i.e., droplets and flocs); hence, each collision between flocs and droplets resulted in attachment.     

Waveguide Filter on Base of Dielectric the Bragg Structure for Millimeter Waves Applications

It is considered and offered the waveguide band elimination filter with the working mode H₁₀ that can be used in millimeter waves devices such as up, down- converters, mixer, etc. The characteristics of the filter was calculated by using analogy in electromagnetic the waveguide propagation and optical the wave propagation in the medium with the specific refractive index N. This conception can be applied for party-filled waveguide in the case when the Brillouin decomposition of the waveguide waves into plane waves is correct and the transformation of the incident (propagating) mode into other the mode types is absent.In this work were calculated the spectrum energy transmittance T(f) in the filter stop band and the wavelength ₀ in the center of this band using the characteristic equation obtained in the result of theoretical consideration. Theoretical results are compared with experimental measurements.     

Spectroscopic and Electrochemical Studies of Transition Metal Complexes with N,N′-Bis(2-aminothiophenol)-1,7-bis(2-formylphenyl)-1,4,7-trioxaheptane and Structure Effects on Extractability of Ligand towards some Divalent Cations

Summary. La(III), Cu(II), Ni(II), and Zn(II) metal complexes with a novel quadridentate Schiff base derived from 1,7-bis(2-formylphenyl)-1,4,7-trioxaheptane and 2-aminothiophenol were synthesized and characterized by microanalytical data, elemental analysis, magnetic measurements, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, UV-Vis, IR, mass spectra, cyclic voltammetric and conductance measurements. The extractability of divalent cations was evaluated as a function of relationship between distribution ratio of the metal and pH or ligand concentration. The highest extraction percentage of Cu²⁺ and Ni²⁺ showed pH 7.0 and 6.4. It was concluded that the ligand can effectively be used in solvent extraction of copper(II) and nickel(II) from the aqueous phase to the organic phase.