Towards the Exact Minimization of BDDs—An Elitism-Based Distributed Evolutionary Algorithm

Binary Decision Diagrams (BDDs) are the state-of-the-art data structure for representation and manipulation of Boolean functions. In general, exact BDD minimization is NP-complete. For BDD-based technology, a small improvement in the number of nodes often simplifies the follow-up problem tremendously. This paper proposes an elitism-based evolutionary algorithm (EBEA) for BDD minimization. It can efficiently find the optimal orderings of variables for all LGSynth91 benchmark circuits with a known minimum size. Moreover, we develop a distributed model of EBEA, DEBEA, which obtains the best-ever variable orders for almost all benchmarks in the LGSynth91. Experimental results show that DEBEA is able to achieve super-linear performance compared to EBEA for some hard benchmarks.     

Full-field measurement of surface reflectivity using a microscopy for refractive index profiling of GRIN lenses

This paper outlines an improved technique for profiling the refractive index of Graded-index (GRIN) lenses based on the measurements obtained from a reflectivity image. Reflective cross-sectional image of the GRIN lens were compared with a reflectance reference target under illumination at small incidence angles to obtain the full-field refractive index distribution of the GRIN lens quickly and easily.     

Two-dimensional densely packed DNA nanostructure derived from DNA complexation with a low-generation poly(amidoamine) dendrimer

One of the keys for using deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) as a nanomaterial relies on how the individual DNA chain can be aligned and how a multitude of DNA chains can be packed into ordered nanostructures. Here we present a simple method for constructing a 2-D densely packed DNA nanostructure using the electrostatic complex of DNA with a poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimer of generation two. Ordered DNA arrays are formed by drop-casting an aqueous solution containing positively overcharged complexes onto mica followed by a prolonged incubation. During the incubation, the complexes tend to adsorb onto the negatively charged mica surface through electrostatic attraction. The rodlike complexes organize to form ordered arrays to increase the surface density of the adsorbed complexes and hence the attractive free energy of adsorption. The densely packed nanostructure obtained here is distinguished from the previously reported spheroid or toroid structure derived from DNA complexations with the higher-generation dendrimers.     

A modified method to compute economic order quantities without derivatives by cost-difference comparisons

This note presents a modified method to compute economic order quantities without derivatives by cost-difference comparisons. Extensions to allow backorders are done for the EOQ/EPQ models. In contrast to previous literatures, limiting values on a finite planning horizon are used rather than algebraic manipulations for the cost function comparisons.     

Rhodanine flanked indacenodithiophene as non-fullerene acceptor for efficient polymer solar cells

A fused-ring electron acceptor IDT-2BR1 based on indacenodithiophene core with hexyl side-chains flanked by benzothiadiazole rhodanine was designed and synthesized.In comparison with its counterpart with hexylphenyl side-chains(IDT-2BR),IDT-2BR1exhibits higher highest occupied molecular orbital(HOMO)energy but similar lowest unoccupied molecular orbital(LUMO)energy(IDT-2BR1:HOMO=-5.37eV,LUMO=-3.67eV;IDT-2BR:HOMO=-5.52eV,LUMO=-3.69eV),red-shifted absorption and narrower bandgap.IDT-2BR1 has higher electron mobility(2.2×10~(-3)cm~2 V~(-1)s~(-1))than IDT-2BR(3.4×10~(-4)cm~2 V~(-1)s~(-1))due to the reduced steric hindrance and ordered molecular packing.Fullerene-free organic solar cells based on PTB7-Th:IDT-2BRl yield power conversion efficiencies up to 8.7%,higher than that of PTB7-Th:IDT-2BR(7.7%),with a high open circuit voltage of0.95 V and good device stability.     

Mass spectra of nitro-beta,beta-dihalostyrenes

The electron ionization (EI) fragmentation of nitro-beta,beta-dihalostyrenes depends strongly on the specific halogens present as well as on the position of the nitro group. Beta,beta-difluorostyrenes yielded mainly fluoroacetylene ions as the base peaks and o-nitro-beta,beta-dihalostyrene possibly furnished the ion with a structure similar to that of benzo[a]isoxazole (11). The structural identity of the ion was verified by comparing the collision-induced dissociation (CID) spectra of m/z 119 ions from p- and o-nitro-beta,beta-difluorostyrene, o-nitro-beta,beta-dibromostyrene and compound 11.