An Exact Method for the Minimum Feedback Arc Set Problem

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
pp. 1-28
Author(s):  
Ali Baharev ◽  
Hermann Schichl ◽  
Arnold Neumaier ◽  
Tobias Achterberg

A feedback arc set of a directed graph G is a subset of its arcs containing at least one arc of every cycle in G . Finding a feedback arc set of minimum cardinality is an NP-hard problem called the minimum feedback arc set problem . Numerically, the minimum set cover formulation of the minimum feedback arc set problem is appropriate as long as all simple cycles in G can be enumerated. Unfortunately, even those sparse graphs that are important for practical applications often have Ω (2 n ) simple cycles. Here we address precisely such situations: An exact method is proposed for sparse graphs that enumerates simple cycles in a lazy fashion and iteratively extends an incomplete cycle matrix. In all cases encountered so far, only a tractable number of cycles has to be enumerated until a minimum feedback arc set is found. The practical limits of the new method are evaluated on a test set containing computationally challenging sparse graphs, relevant for industrial applications. The 4,468 test graphs are of varying size and density and suitable for testing the scalability of exact algorithms over a wide range.


Author(s):  
Sampson Kofi Kyei ◽  
Onyewuchi Akaranta ◽  
Godfred Darko ◽  
Uche J. Chukwu

In this study, cashew nut shell liquid has been extracted from cashew nut shells using an accelerated solvent extraction technique and was employed as a precursor for the synthesis of cashew nut shell liquid resin. The extract was a dark brown viscous liquid with an average yield of 30.61±0.200%. Results of the physical analysis showed a moisture content of 4.45±0.020% and a density of 0.95±0.300 gcm-3. The percentage brix and refractive index were 76.20±0.001 and 1.47 ±0.010 respectively. Chemical characterization showed a pH of 5.65±0.003; acid value of 8.25± 0.200 mg KOH/g; ash content of 1.80±0.6%; free fatty acid of 4.12±0.400 mg KOH/g; ester value of 247.01±0.100 mg KOH/g and a saponification value of 255.26±0.800 mg KOH/g. The FTIR spectra revealed that cashew nut shell liquid is polymeric. These findings confirm that higher phenolic compounds which can be used as potential precursors in industrial applications could be obtained from agro wastes. Practical Applications: Cashew nut shell liquid, an extract from cashew nut shell, an agro waste has a wide range of functional products. A practical application is synthesis of a high viscous, flexible cashew nut shell liquid resin with physical properties that are consistent with literature and could also be further used in other industrial applications. Further processing of cashew nut shell for the development of value added products like resin can be a better option.



Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (10) ◽  
pp. 2996 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruowei Yu ◽  
Yuxing Chen ◽  
Lingling Shui ◽  
Limin Xiao

Fiber gas sensing techniques have been applied for a wide range of industrial applications. In this paper, the basic fiber gas sensing principles and the development of different fibers have been introduced. In various specialty fibers, hollow-core photonic crystal fibers (HC-PCFs) can overcome the fundamental limits of solid fibers and have attracted intense interest recently. Here, we focus on the review of HC-PCF gas sensing, including the light-guiding mechanisms of HC-PCFs, various sensing configurations, microfabrication approaches, and recent research advances including the mid-infrared gas sensors via hollow core anti-resonant fibers. This review gives a detailed and deep understanding of HC-PCF gas sensors and will promote more practical applications of HC-PCFs in the near future.



2015 ◽  
Vol 1110 ◽  
pp. 27-31
Author(s):  
Du Yuan ◽  
Xi Wen Zhang ◽  
Xiao Shan Fan ◽  
Chao Bin He

The development of nanocomposites promising a wide range of interesting properties such as mechanical, optical and electrical conductivity is under intense investigation. One key challenge towards practical applications lies in effective dispersion of nanofillers in the polymer matrices. An one-pot wet-chemistry synthesis approach was developed for successful fabrication of surface modified SiO2nanoparticles@epoxy nanocomposites (1 wt%). Homogeneous nanofiller dispersion was obtained in SiO2-epoxide@epoxy. Importantly, the SiO2-epoxide@epoxy presented its enhanced mechanical properties with reference to pure epoxy, i.e., ~ 77% increase in maximum tensile stress and ~ 19% increase in Young’s modulus. This was attributed to the much improved dispersion of nanofillers and the optimized interaction between nanofillers and matrix. Further, SiO2-epoxide@epoxy prepared from master batch with 80 wt% SiO2loading retained the good dispersion of nanofillers and enhanced mechanical properties. This demonstration allows future implementation of the developed approach for the surface modified SiO2@epoxy nanocomposites towards industrial applications.



Author(s):  
J.M. Cowley

The HB5 STEM instrument at ASU has been modified previously to include an efficient two-dimensional detector incorporating an optical analyser device and also a digital system for the recording of multiple images. The detector system was built to explore a wide range of possibilities including in-line electron holography, the observation and recording of diffraction patterns from very small specimen regions (having diameters as small as 3Å) and the formation of both bright field and dark field images by detection of various portions of the diffraction pattern. Experience in the use of this system has shown that sane of its capabilities are unique and valuable. For other purposes it appears that, while the principles of the operational modes may be verified, the practical applications are limited by the details of the initial design.



2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Ewen ◽  
Carlos Ayestaran Latorre ◽  
Arash Khajeh ◽  
Joshua Moore ◽  
Joseph Remias ◽  
...  

<p>Phosphate esters have a wide range of industrial applications, for example in tribology where they are used as vapour phase lubricants and antiwear additives. To rationally design phosphate esters with improved tribological performance, an atomic-level understanding of their film formation mechanisms is required. One important aspect is the thermal decomposition of phosphate esters on steel surfaces, since this initiates film formation. In this study, ReaxFF molecular dynamics simulations are used to study the thermal decomposition of phosphate esters with different substituents on several ferrous surfaces. On Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>(001) and α-Fe(110), chemisorption interactions between the phosphate esters and the surfaces occur even at room temperature, and the number of molecule-surface bonds increases as the temperature is increased from 300 to 1000 K. Conversely, on hydroxylated, amorphous Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>, most of the molecules are physisorbed, even at high temperature. Thermal decomposition rates were much higher on Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>(001) and particularly α-Fe(110) compared to hydroxylated, amorphous Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>. This suggests that water passivates ferrous surfaces and inhibits phosphate ester chemisorption, decomposition, and ultimately film formation. On Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>(001), thermal decomposition proceeds mainly through C-O cleavage (to form surface alkyl and aryl groups) and C-H cleavage (to form surface hydroxyls). The onset temperature for C-O cleavage on Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>(001) increases in the order: tertiary alkyl < secondary alkyl < primary linear alkyl ≈ primary branched alkyl < aryl. This order is in agreement with experimental observations for the thermal stability of antiwear additives with similar substituents. The results highlight surface and substituent effects on the thermal decomposition of phosphate esters which should be helpful for the design of new molecules with improved performance.</p>



Alloy Digest ◽  
1970 ◽  
Vol 19 (11) ◽  

Abstract PLATINUM is a soft, ductile, white metal which can be readily worked either hot or cold. It has a wide range of industrial applications because of its excellent corrosion and oxidation resistance and its high melting point. This datasheet provides information on composition, physical properties, hardness, elasticity, and tensile properties. It also includes information on high temperature performance and corrosion resistance as well as forming, heat treating, machining, and joining. Filing Code: Pt-1. Producer or source: Matthey Bishop Inc..



2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 787-796 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marek Kieliszek ◽  
Kamil Piwowarek ◽  
Anna M. Kot ◽  
Katarzyna Pobiega

AbstractCellular biomass of microorganisms can be effectively used in the treatment of waste from various branches of the agro-food industry. Urbanization processes and economic development, which have been intensifying in recent decades, lead to the degradation of the natural environment. In the first half of the 20th century, problems related to waste management were not as serious and challenging as they are today. The present situation forces the use of modern technologies and the creation of innovative solutions for environmental protection. Waste of industrial origin are difficult to recycle and require a high financial outlay, while the organic waste of animal and plant origins, such as potato wastewater, whey, lignin, and cellulose, is dominant. In this article, we describe the possibilities of using microorganisms for the utilization of various waste products. A solution to reduce the costs of waste disposal is the use of yeast biomass. Management of waste products using yeast biomass has made it possible to generate new metabolites, such as β-glucans, vitamins, carotenoids, and enzymes, which have a wide range of industrial applications. Exploration and discovery of new areas of applications of yeast, fungal, and bacteria cells can lead to an increase in their effective use in many fields of biotechnology.



Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 1711
Author(s):  
Heba A. Gad ◽  
Autumn Roberts ◽  
Samirah H. Hamzi ◽  
Haidy A. Gad ◽  
Ilham Touiss ◽  
...  

Jojoba is a widely used medicinal plant that is cultivated worldwide. Its seeds and oil have a long history of use in folklore to treat various ailments, such as skin and scalp disorders, superficial wounds, sore throat, obesity, and cancer; for improvement of liver functions, enhancement of immunity, and promotion of hair growth. Extensive studies on Jojoba oil showed a wide range of pharmacological applications, including antioxidant, anti-acne and antipsoriasis, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antipyretic, analgesic, antimicrobial, and anti-hyperglycemia activities. In addition, Jojoba oil is widely used in the pharmaceutical industry, especially in cosmetics for topical, transdermal, and parenteral preparations. Jojoba oil also holds value in the industry as an anti-rodent, insecticides, lubricant, surfactant, and a source for the production of bioenergy. Jojoba oil is considered among the top-ranked oils due to its wax, which constitutes about 98% (mainly wax esters, few free fatty acids, alcohols, and hydrocarbons). In addition, sterols and vitamins with few triglyceride esters, flavonoids, phenolic and cyanogenic compounds are also present. The present review represents an updated literature survey about the chemical composition of jojoba oil, its physical properties, pharmacological activities, pharmaceutical and industrial applications, and toxicity.



Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 1058
Author(s):  
Hikaru Okubo ◽  
Haruka Kaneyasu ◽  
Tetsuya Kimura ◽  
Patchiya Phanthong ◽  
Shigeru Yao

Each year, increasing amounts of plastic waste are generated, causing environmental pollution and resource loss. Recycling is a solution, but recycled plastics often have inferior mechanical properties to virgin plastics. However, studies have shown that holding polymers in the melt state before extrusion can restore the mechanical properties; thus, we propose a twin-screw extruder with a molten resin reservoir (MSR), a cavity between the screw zone and twin-screw extruder discharge, which retains molten polymer after mixing in the twin-screw zone, thus influencing the polymer properties. Re-extruded recycled polyethylene (RPE) pellets were produced, and the tensile properties and microstructure of virgin polyethylene (PE), unextruded RPE, and re-extruded RPE moldings prepared with and without the MSR were evaluated. Crucially, the elongation at break of the MSR-extruded RPE molding was seven times higher than that of the original RPE molding, and the Young’s modulus of the MSR-extruded RPE molding was comparable to that of the virgin PE molding. Both the MSR-extruded RPE and virgin PE moldings contained similar striped lamellae. Thus, MSR re-extrusion improved the mechanical performance of recycled polymers by optimizing the microstructure. The use of MSRs will facilitate the reuse of waste plastics as value-added materials having a wide range of industrial applications.



Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 1486
Author(s):  
Eugene B. Caldona ◽  
Ernesto I. Borrego ◽  
Ketki E. Shelar ◽  
Karl M. Mukeba ◽  
Dennis W. Smith

Many desirable characteristics of polymers arise from the method of polymerization and structural features of their repeat units, which typically are responsible for the polymer’s performance at the cost of processability. While linear alternatives are popular, polymers composed of cyclic repeat units across their backbones have generally been shown to exhibit higher optical transparency, lower water absorption, and higher glass transition temperatures. These specifically include polymers built with either substituted alicyclic structures or aromatic rings, or both. In this review article, we highlight two useful ring-forming polymer groups, perfluorocyclobutyl (PFCB) aryl ether polymers and ortho-diynylarene- (ODA) based thermosets, both demonstrating outstanding thermal stability, chemical resistance, mechanical integrity, and improved processability. Different synthetic routes (with emphasis on ring-forming polymerization) and properties for these polymers are discussed, followed by their relevant applications in a wide range of aspects.



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