Fluorogenic Detection of Human Serum Albumin Using Curcumin-Capped Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles loaded with rhodamine B and capped with curcumin are used for the selective and sensitive fluorogenic detection of human serum albumin (HSA). The sensing mesoporous silica nanoparticles are loaded with rhodamine B, decorated with aminopropyl moieties and capped with curcumin. The nanoparticles selectively release the rhodamine B cargo in the presence of HSA. A limit of detection for HSA of 0.1 mg/mL in PBS (pH 7.4)-acetonitrile 95:5 v/v was found, and the sensing nanoparticles were used to detect HSA in spiked synthetic urine samples.     

Very large purely intralayer critical current density in ultrathin cuprate artificial structures

Ultrathin artificial high temperature superconducting structures, consisting of (Ba(0.9)Nd0.1)CuO2+x and CaCuO2 layers, were grown by pulsed laser deposition. Intralayer superconductivity at 60 K was obtained for a structure consisting of a single (CaCuO2) block sandwiched between two (Ba(0.9)Nd0.1)CuO2+x charge reservoir blocks. The purely intralayer critical current density was measured at 4.2 K and resulted to be larger than 10(8) A/cm(2). These findings clearly show that interaction between nearest neighbor (CaCuO2) layers is not essential for high T(c) superconductivity and strongly supports the physical model based on the idea that intralayer interaction alone is responsible for high temperature superconductivity.     

Labeling algorithm for the shortest path problem with turn prohibitions with application to large-scale road networks

In real road networks, the presence of no-left, no-right or no U-turn signs, restricts the movement of vehicles at intersections. These turn prohibitions must be considered when calculating the shortest path between a starting and an ending point in a road network. We propose an extension of Dijkstra’s algorithm to solve the shortest path problem with turn prohibitions. The method uses arc labeling and a network structure with low memory requirements. We compare the proposed method with the dual graph approach in a set of randomly generated networks and Bogotá’s large-scale road network. Our computational experiments show that the performance of the proposed method is better than that of the dual graph approach, both in terms of computing time and memory requirements. We co-developed a Web-based decision support system for computing shortest paths with turn prohibitions that uses the proposed method as the core engine.     

Electron correlation and charge transfer in superconducting superlattices

We use x-ray spectroscopy to examine the electronic structure of high-temperature superconducting superlattices [(Ba0.9Nd0.10)CuO(2 + delta)]2/[CaCuO2]2. The O 2p density of states reveals the insulating character of the individual component layers and the metallic character of the superlattices. We report the first direct observation of Zhang-Rice singlets in artificial high-temperature superconducting heteroepitaxial structures. The experimental findings in the superlattices and its component layers offer evidence of charge transport from the so-called charge reservoir layer to the superconducting infinite layer. This suggests a strong link between superconductivity and both electron correlation and charge transfer within the superlattices.     

Low energy electronic spectroscopy of an infinite-layer cuprate: A resonant inelastic X-ray scattering study of CaCuO2

We report the results of Oxygen K-edge soft X-ray absorption and emission spectroscopy that was performed on an infinite-layer insulating cuprate thin film CaCuO₂. Experimentally obtained spectra are consistent with local density approximation calculations. X-ray absorption spectra show a close resemblance to spectra obtained from homologous single crystal cuprates. In addition to d–d excitations, X-ray emission spectra reveal the presence of Zhang-Rice singlet states in the infinite-layer CuO₂ planes. The question of whether the Zhang-Rice singlet features are masked by the O 2p main-band is addressed: it is possible to quantify the position of the Zhang-Rice singlet using emission intensity profiles. X-ray emission is demonstrated as a tool for understanding CuO₂ planar electronic correlation in the prototypical infinite-layer. The energy difference, 2.0 eV, between the oxygen main-band and the Zhang-Rice singlet band is found to match values obtained theoretically using established planar electronic correlation parameters.     

Sustainable workforce scheduling in construction program management

The multimode resource-constrained project scheduling problem (MRCPSP) deals with the scheduling of a set of projects with alternative requirements of renewable and non-renewable resources. Solutions to the MRCPSP usually consider objectives in terms of cost and time. However, social objectives related with the workforce may impact the performance of projects and affect program sustainability goals. To account for this new social input, this paper extends the MRCPSP and proposes a new multiobjective mixed-integer programming model. The proposed solution method uses an a priori lexicographic ordering of the objectives, followed by an ?-constraints approach. The model is illustrated with a case study of a construction program.     

Solution methods for the bi-objective (cost-coverage) unconstrained facility location problem with an illustrative example

The Colombian coffee supply network, managed by the Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia (Colombian National Coffee-Growers Federation), requires slimming down operational costs while continuing to provide a high level of service in terms of coverage to its affiliated coffee growers. We model this problem as a biobjective (cost-coverage) uncapacitated facility location problem (BOUFLP). We designed and implemented three different algorithms for the BOUFLP that are able to obtain a good approximation of the Pareto frontier. We designed an algorithm based on the Nondominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm; an algorithm based on the Pareto Archive Evolution Strategy; and an algorithm based on mathematical programming. We developed a random problem generator for testing and comparison using as reference the Colombian coffee supply network with 29 depots and 47 purchasing centers. We compared the algorithms based on the quality of the approximation to the Pareto frontier using a nondominated space metric inspired on Zitzler and Thiele's. We used the mathematical programming-based algorithm to identify unique tradeoff opportunities for the reconfiguration of the Colombian coffee supply network. Finally, we illustrate an extension of the mathematical programming-based algorithm to perform scenario analysis for a set of uncapacitated location problems found in the literature.     

A parallel matheuristic for the technician routing and scheduling problem

The Technician Routing and Scheduling Problem (TRSP) consists in routing staff to serve requests for service, taking into account time windows, skills, tools, and spare parts. Typical applications include maintenance operations and staff routing in telecoms, public utilities, and in the health care industry. In this paper, we present a formal definition of the TRSP, discuss its relation with the Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Windows (VRPTW), and review related research. From a methodological perspective, we describe a matheuristic composed of a constructive heuristic, a parallel Adaptive Large Neighborhood Search, and a mathematical programming based post-optimization procedure that successfully tackles the TRSP. We validate the matheuristic on the Solomon VRPTW instances, where we achieve an average gap of $0.23\,\%$ , and matched 44 out of 55 optimal solutions. Finally, we illustrate how the matheuristic successfully solves a set of TRSP instances extended from the Solomon benchmark.