Modelling recruitment training in mathematical human resource planning

This paper deals with mathematical human resource planning; more specifically, it suggests a new model for a manpower‐planning system. In general, we study a k‐classed hierarchical system where the workforce demand at each time period is satisfied through internal mobility and recruitment. The motivation for this work is based on various European Union incentives, which promote regional or local government assistance programs that could be exploited by firms not only for hiring and training newcomers, but also to improve the skills and knowledge of their existing personnel. In this respect, in our augmented mobility model we establish a new ‘training/standby’ class, which serves as a manpower inventory position for potential recruits. This class, which may very well be internal or external to the system, is incorporated into the framework of a non‐homogeneous Markov chain model. Furthermore, cost objectives are employed using the goal‐programming approach, under different operating assumptions, in order to minimize the operational cost in the presence of system's constraints and regulations. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Switchable photocatalysis for the chemodivergent benzylation of 4-cyanopyridines

We report a photocatalytic strategy for the chemodivergent radical benzylation of 4-cyanopyridines. The chemistry uses a single photoredox catalyst to generate benzyl radicals upon N–F bond activation of 2-alkyl N-fluorobenzamides. The judicious choice of different photocatalyst quenchers allowed us to select at will between mechanistically divergent processes. The two reaction manifolds, an ipso-substitution path proceeding via radical coupling and a Minisci-type addition, enabled selective access to regioisomeric C4 or C2 benzylated pyridines, respectively. Mechanistic investigations shed light on the origin of the chemoselectivity switch.

We report a photocatalytic strategy for the chemodivergent radical benzylation of 4-cyanopyridines. The chemistry uses a single photoredox catalyst to generate benzyl radicals upon N–F bond activation of 2-alkyl N-fluorobenzamides.     

Rational Design and Synthesis of AT1R Antagonists

Hypertension is one of the most common diseases nowadays and is still the major cause of premature death despite of the continuous discovery of novel therapeutics. The discovery of the Renin Angiotensin System (RAS) unveiled a path to develop efficient drugs to fruitfully combat hypertension. Several compounds that prevent the Angiotensin II hormone from binding and activating the AT1R, named sartans, have been developed. Herein, we report a comprehensive review of the synthetic paths followed for the development of different sartans since the discovery of the first sartan, Losartan.     

Examination of photoproducts in the ablation plume of doped PMMA

Optical emission and laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopies (OES and LIF) are employed to examine the plume ejected into vacuum upon UV pulsed laser ablation (248 nm, 20 ns, and 266 nm, 5 ns) of poly(methyl methacrylate) PMMA films doped with photostable compounds naphthalene (NapH) and phenanthrene (PhenH), and their photolabile iodide derivatives iodonaphthalene (NapI) and iodophenanthrene (PhenI). Spontaneous emissions observed in the irradiation of NapI and PhenI sensitised films can be assigned to excited products resulting from photodissociation of the dopants and to excited C₂, CH, and CN radicals. The presence in the plume of ground state products is revealed by LIF upon excitation at 266 nm. Measurements of the dependence of the spontaneous and LIF emissions on distance to the surface, ablation fluence, and flight velocities of species are discussed with reference to the mechanistic implications derived from the measurements. PACS 52.38.Mf; 61.82.Pv; 82.50     

Influence of polymer molecular weight on the chemical modifications induced by UV laser ablation

This paper investigates the influence of polymer molecular weight (M(W)) on the chemical modifications of poly(methyl methacrylate), PMMA, and polystyrene, PS, films doped with iodonaphthalene (NapI) and iodophenanthrene (PhenI), following irradiation at 248 nm (KrF excimer laser, 20 ns fwhm and hybrid excimer-dye laser, 500 fs fwhm) and at 308 nm (XeCl excimer laser, 30 ns fwhm). The changes of intensity and position of the polymer Raman bands upon irradiation provide information on cleavage of the polymer bonds. Degradation of PMMA, which is a weak absorbing system at 248 nm, occurs to a higher extent in the case of a larger M(W), giving rise to the creation of unsaturation centers and to degradation products. For highly absorbing PS, no degradation is observed upon irradiation with a KrF laser. Consistently irradiating doped PS at 308 nm, where the absorption is low, induces degradation of the polymer. Results provide direct support for the bulk photothermal model, according to which ejection requires a critical number of broken bonds. In the case of irradiation of doped PMMA with pulses of 248 nm and 500 fs, neither degradation nor dependence with polymer M(W) are observed, indicating that mechanisms involved in the femtosecond laser ablation differ from those operating in the case of nanosecond laser ablation. Participation of multiphoton/avalanche processes is proposed.     

Newtonian plane Couette flow with dynamic wall slip

Meccanica - The occurrence of slip complicates the estimation of the viscosity in rheometric flows. Thus, special analyses and experimental protocols are needed in order to obtain reliable...     

Laser assisted removal of synthetic painting-conservation materials using UV radiation of ns and fs pulse duration: Morphological studies on model samples

In an effort to establish the optimal parameters for the cleaning of complex layers of polymers (mainly based on acrylics, vinyls, epoxys known as Elvacite, Laropal, Paraloid B72, among others) applied during past conservation treatments on the surface of wall paintings, laser cleaning tests were performed with particular emphasis on the plausible morphological modifications induced in the remaining polymeric material. Pulse duration effects were studied using laser systems of different pulse durations (ns and fs) at 248 nm. Prior to tests on real fragments from the Monumental Cemetery in Pisa (Italy) which were coated with different polymers, attention was focused on the study of model samples consisting of analogous polymer films cast on quartz disks. Ultraviolet irradiation is strongly absorbed by the studied materials both in ns and fs irradiation regimes. However, it is demonstrated that ultrashort laser pulses result in reduced morphological alterations in comparison to ns irradiation. In addition, the dependence of the observed alterations on the chemical composition of the consolidation materials in both regimes was examined. Most importantly, it was shown that in this specific conservation problem, an optimum cleaning process may rely not only on the minimization of laser-induced morphological changes but also on the exploitation of the conditions that favour the disruption of the adhesion between the synthetic material and the painting.     

Non-homogeneous random walks on a semi-infinite strip

We study the asymptotic behaviour of Markov chains (_Xn,_ηn)$(X_n,{\eta }_n)$ on _Z+×S${\mathbb{Z}}_{+}\times S$, where _Z+${\mathbb{Z}}_{+}$ is the non-negative integers and S$S$ is a finite set. Neither coordinate is assumed to be Markov. We assume a moments bound on the jumps of _Xn$X_n$, and that, roughly speaking, _ηn${\eta }_n$ is close to being Markov when _Xn$X_n$ is large. This departure from much of the literature, which assumes that _ηn${\eta }_n$ is itself a Markov chain, enables us to probe precisely the recurrence phase transitions by assuming asymptotically zero drift for _Xn$X_n$ given _ηn${\eta }_n$. We give a recurrence classification in terms of increment moment parameters for _Xn$X_n$ and the stationary distribution for the large- X$X$ limit of _ηn${\eta }_n$. In the null case we also provide a weak convergence result, which demonstrates a form of asymptotic independence between _Xn$X_n$ (rescaled) and _ηn${\eta }_n$. Our results can be seen as generalizations of Lamperti’s results for non-homogeneous random walks on _Z+${\mathbb{Z}}_{+}$ (the case where S$S$ is a singleton). Motivation arises from modulated queues or processes with hidden variables where _ηn${\eta }_n$ tracks an internal state of the system.