Coupled Quantity-Quality Simulation-Optimization Model for Conjunctive Surface-Groundwater Use

Many water resources optimization problems involve conflicting objectives which the main goal is to find a set of optimal solutions on, or near to, Pareto front. In this study a multi-objective water allocation model was developed for optimization of conjunctive use of surface water and groundwater resources to achieve sustainable supply of agricultural water. Here, the water resource allocation model is based on simulation-optimization (SO) modeling approach. Two surrogate models, namely an Artificial Neural Network model for groundwater level simulation and a Genetic Programming model for TDS concentration prediction were coupled with NSGA-II. The objective functions involved: 1) minimizing water shortage relative to the water demand, 2) minimizing the drawdown of groundwater level, and 3) minimizing the groundwater quality changes. According to the MSE and R² criteria, the results showed that the surrogate models for prediction of groundwater level and TDS concentration performed favorably in comparison to the measured values at the number of observation wells. In Najaf Abad plain case study, the average drawdown was limited to 0.18 m and the average TDS concentration also decreased from 1257 mg/lit to 1229 mg/lit under optimal conditions.     

Rainbow guiding of the lowest-order antisymmetric Lamb mode in phononic crystal plate

The modern acoustic circuits have experienced significant progress with the development of artificial structures, including phononic crystals, metamaterials or metasurfaces. Among the most intensive topics, the reconfigurable acoustic guides are achieved through several mechanisms. In this work, we report on the rainbow guiding for the lowest-order antisymmetric Lamb(A_0) mode in a phononic crystal plate, where the linear waveguides are constituted by erecting aligned pillars either solid or hollow. We show both numerically and experimentally that the whispering gallery modes(WGMs) in the hollow pillars can be generated by the defect mode that propagates in the waveguide. Then, the reemission of A_0 mode by the WGMs to the outer lateral areas can lead to spatial control of frequency selective wave guidance called "rainbow guiding". Our approach allows for an accurate control of the wave guiding and facilitates the integration of waveguides within other devices in the acoustic circuits.     

Thermo-Mechanical Stress in High-Frequency Vacuum Electron Devices

Analysis of the thermo-mechanical performance of high-frequency vacuum electron devices is essential to the advancement of RF sources towards high-power generation. Operation in an ultra-high vacuum environment, space restricting magnetic focusing, and limited material options are just some of the constraints that complicate thermal management in a high-power VED. An analytical method for evaluating temperature, stress, and deformation distribution in thin vacuum-to-cooling walls is presented, accounting for anisotropic material properties. Thin plate geometry is used and analytical expressions are developed for thermo-mechanical analysis that includes the microstructure effects of grain orientations. The method presented evaluates the maximum allowable heat flux that can be used to establish the power-handling limitation of high-frequency VEDs prior to full-scale design, accelerating time-to-manufacture.     

A Clustering Algorithm for Bi‐Criteria Stop Location Design with Elastic Demand

This article proposes a bi‐criteria formulation to find the optimal location of light rapid transit stations in a network where demand is elastic and budget is constrained. Our model is composed of two competing objective functions seeking to maximize the total ridership and minimize the total budget allocated. In this research, demand is formulated using the random utility maximization method with variables including access time and travel time. The transit station location problem of this study is formulated using mixed integer programming and we propose a heuristic solution algorithm to solve large‐scale instances which is inspired by the problem context. The elastic demand is integrated with the optimization problem in an innovative way which facilitates the solution process. The performance of our model is evaluated on two test problems and we carry out its implementation on a real‐world instance. Due to the special shape of the Pareto front function, significant practical policy implications, in particular budget allocation, are discussed to emphasize the fact that the trade‐off between cost and benefit may result in large investments with little outcomes and vice versa.     

Synthesis of chemically cross-linked hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose hydrogels and their application in controlled release of 5-amino salicylic acid

The objective of this study was to achieve the colon-specific delivery of an anti-ulcerative colitis drug using hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) hydrogels. HPMC hydrogels containing poly ethylene glycol (PEG) as cross-links have been prepared by reacting HPMC sodium salt with polyethylene glycol dichloride.

The effect of cross-linking agent on swelling behavior of HPMC-PEG hydrogels, were investigated. Swelling parameters such as equilibrium degree of swelling, swelling ratio and network parameter such as molecular mass between cross-links (M_c) were determined. The cross-linking concentrations were 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2% (based on weight of HPMC). The equilibrium swelling ratio (Q) of cross-linked HPMC hydrogels increases from 13.2 to 27.1 as the cross-linker percentage increases from 0.5% to 2%. 5-Aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) was used as a model of an anti-inflammatory drug. Cross-linked HPMC hydrogels were found to be a promising drug delivery system for the drugs to be delivered to the colon.     

Multidimensional optical sensor and imaging system

We describe a multidimensional optical sensor and imaging system (MOSIS). Using a time-multiplexing, polarimetric, and multispectral imaging system, we are able to reconstruct a fully integrated multidimensional scene. Image fusion is used to integrate the multidimensional images. The fused image contains more information than the single two-dimensional and three-dimensional (3D) images. The multidimensional imaging system utilizes polarimetric imaging, multispectral imaging, 3D integral imaging with time and space multiplexing, and 3D image-fusion techniques to reconstruct the multidimensionally integrated scene. Optical experiments and computer simulations are presented.     

Pixel patterns for voxels in a contact-type three-dimensional imaging system for full-parallax image display

Incomplete voxels, which can be seen only at a part of the viewing zone's cross section in the optical configuration of a full parallax multiview imaging system based on a two-dimensional point light source array, are identified. Their corresponding pixel patterns are found to maximize the space where the voxels can exist in the configuration and to increase the voxel resolution of the displayable three-dimensional images. Furthermore, the pixel patterns for the rhomb-shaped pixel cells are also defined, and some problems related to voxel-based image synthesis are discussed.     

Improved-resolution digital holography using the generalized sampling theorem for locally band-limited fields

We describe the recording conditions that, together with the appropriate numerical reconstruction process, permit high-lateral-resolution reconstruction of in-line digital holograms. By high resolution, we mean a resolution that is beyond the Nyquist frequency, which is achieved by common methods. The proposed method is based on a previously reported generalized sampling theory that presents the conditions to precisely reconstruct fields that in certain cases may be sampled with a sampling rate lower than the Nyquist rate. We examine the hologram-recording process in the Wigner space. On the basis of this analysis, we demonstrate a simple high-resolution numerical reconstruction method.     

Effect of conducting polypyrrole on the transport properties of carbon nanotube yarn

Experiments were conducted to measure the electrical conductivity in three types of pristine and carbon nanotube-polypyrrole (CNT-PPy) composite yarns and its dependence on over a wide temperature range. The experimental results fit well with the analytical models developed. The effective energy separation between localized states of the pristine CNT yarn is larger than that for both the electrochemically and chemically prepared CNT-PPy yarns. It was found that all samples are in the critical regime in the insulator-metal transition, or close to the metallic regime at low temperature. The electrical conductivity results are in good agreement with a Three Dimensional Variable Range Hopping model at low temperatures, which provides a strong indication that electron hopping is the main means of current transfer in CNT yarns at T < 100 K. We found that the two shell model accurately describes the electronic properties of CNT and CNT-PPy composite yarns in the temperature range of 5-350 K.     

Thermodynamic and kinetic studies for the adsorption of Hg(II) by nano-TiO2 from aqueous solution

Titanium dioxide nanocrystals were employed, for the first time, for the sorption of Hg(II) ions from aqueous solutions. The effects of varying parameters such as pH, temperature, initial metal concentration, and contact time on the adsorption process were examined. Adsorption equilibrium was established in 420 min and the maximum adsorption of Hg(II) on the TiO₂ was observed to occur at pH 8.0. The adsorption data correlated with Freundlich, Langmuir, Dubinin–Radushkevich (D–R), and Temkin isotherms. The Freundlich isotherm showed the best fit to the equilibrium data. The Pseudo-first order and pseudo-second-order kinetic models were studied to analyze the kinetic data. A second-order kinetic model fit the data with the (k₂ = 2.8126 × 10^?3 g mg^?1min^?1, 303 K). The intraparticle diffusion models were applied to ascertain the rate-controlling step. The thermodynamic parameters (ΔG°, ΔH°, and ΔS°) were calculated which showed an endothermic adsorption process. The equilibrium parameter (R_L) indicated that TiO₂ nanocrystals are useful for Hg(II) removal from aqueous solutions.