A hybrid model for a multiproduct pipeline planning and scheduling problem

Brazilian petrobras is one of the world largest oil companies. Recurrently, it faces a very difficult planning and scheduling problem: how to operate a large pipeline network in order to adequately transport oil derivatives and biofuels from refineries to local markets. In spite of being more economical and environmentally safer, the use of a complex pipeline network poses serious operational difficulties related to resource allocation and temporal constraints. The current approaches known from the literature only consider a few types of constraints and restricted topologies, hence they are far from being applicable to real instances from petrobras. We propose a hybrid framework based on a two-phase problem decomposition strategy. A novel Constraint Programming (CP) model plays a key role in modelling operational constraints that are usually overlooked in literature, but that are essential in order to guarantee viable solutions. The full strategy was implemented and produced very adequate results when tested over large real instances.     

On-chip fabrication of magnetic alginate hydrogel microfibers by multilayered pneumatic microvalves

Alginate hydrogel has widespread applications in tissue engineering, cancer therapy, wound management and drug/cell/growth factor delivery due to its biocompatibility, hydrated environment and desirable viscoelastic properties. However, the lack of controllability is still an obstacle for utilizing it in the fabrication of 3D tissue constructs and accurate targeting in mass delivery. Here, we proposed a new method for achieving magnetic alginate hydrogel microfibers by dispersing magnetic nanoparticles in alginate solution and solidifying the magnetic alginate into hydrogel fiber inside microfluidic devices. The microfluidic devices have multilayered pneumatic microvalves with hemicylindrical channels to fully stop the fluids. In the experiments, the magnetic nanoparticles and the alginate solution were mixed and formed a uniform suspension. No aggregation of magnetic nanoparticles was found, which is crucial for flow control inside microfluidic devices. By regulating the flow rates of different solutions with the microvalves inside the microfluidic device, magnetic hydrogel fibers and nonmagnetic hydrogel fibers were fabricated with controlled sizes. The proposed method for fabricating magnetic hydrogel fiber holds great potential for engineering 3D tissue constructs with complex architectures and active drug release.     

Repetition bend properties of Cu-Cr and Cu-Cr-Sn alloys

Repetition numbers of bending of Cu-0.81 wt% Cr, Cu-0.81 wt% Cr-0.14 wt% Sn and Cu-0.26 wt% Cr-0.10 wt% Sn alloys were investigated. After solution treatment, the first two types of copper alloys have a primary chromium phase; this is not so in the last alloy. The primary chromium phase does not influence the repetition numbers of bending of cold-rolled specimens; the repetition numbers of bending of specimens aged at 723 K for 1.8 × 10³ sec after cold rolling are higher than those of cold-rolled specimens. The cause of this is considered to be a recovery of work-hardening during ageing.     

Surface structures of synthetic diamonds

Diamond crystals of about 2 mm in size were grown by the temperature gradient method using Ni, Ni-Fe alloy and Fe as solvent metals. Several characteristic patterns were seen on the surfaces of the grown diamonds and were found to correspond to the texture of the quenched solvent metals. A vague vein-like pattern appeared when Ni was used. The surface patterns became finer with the increase of the content of Fe in Ni-Fe alloy, and when 70 wt% Fe-30 wt% Ni alloy was used, very fine dendritic patterns were seen on all of the faces of diamond in accordance with the symmetries of the lattice. The patterns are formed by the precipitation of carbon atoms in the space of the dendrites of the solvent metals during the quenching process. Lamellar patterns and etch pits were seen when Fe was used. The patterns are formed when Fe dissolves the diamond surfaces to produce Fe₃C during the quenching process.     

Algorithms for Extracting Correct Critical Points and Constructing Topological Graphs from Discrete Geographical Elevation Data

Researchers in the fields of computer graphics and geographical information systems (GISs) have extensively studied the methods of extracting terrain features such as peaks, pits, passes, ridges, and ravines from discrete elevation data. The existing techniques, however, do not guarantee the topological integrity of the extracted features because of their heuristic operations, which results in spurious features. Furthermore, there have been no algorithms for constructing topological graphs such as the surface network and the Reeb graph from the extracted peaks, pits, and passes. This paper presents new algorithms for extracting features and constructing the topological graphs using the features. Our algorithms enable us to extract correct terrain features; i.e., our method extracts the critical points that satisfy the Euler formula, which represents the topological invariant of smooth surfaces. This paper also provides an algorithm that converts the surface network to the Reeb graph for representing contour changes with respect to the height. The discrete elevation data used in this paper is a set of sample points on a terrain surface. Examples are presented to show that the algorithms also appeal to our visual cognition.     

Highly conductive alumina/NCN composites electrodes fabricated by gelcasting and reduction-sintering—An electrochemical behavior study in aggressive environments

A novel highly conductive alumina/nano-carbon network composites (alumina/NCN composites) was fabricated by gelcasting and reduction-sintering method under argon atmosphere. The electrochemical behaviors of the alumina/NCN composites were studied systematically in some aggressive solutions (HCl, H₂SO₄, HNO₃, NaOH, and KOH), using potentiodynamic polarization and chronoamperometry and X-ray diffraction and SEM observations. The results showed that the electrochemical stability and reproducibility of the composite electrodes in these diluted acids and alkalis were very good and had, in some extent, an electro-catalytic activity toward formation of hydrogen evolution and reduction of dissolved oxygen in aqueous solutions in comparison with a commercial graphite electrode. In addition, the pyrolyzed nano-carbon contents, size, and shape in the alumina matrix, have greatly effects on the electrochemical performances and electrode reactions in these solutions. It is found that the minimal residual carbon content of 0.62 wt.% in the matrix is enough to improve electrochemical performances and avoid to loss the ceramics physical properties at the same time. When the additional potential in all the tested electrolytes was at +1700 mV (vs. SCE), alumina particles at the electrode surface were not observed to dissolve into solution in this case, indicating the material being suitable for electrodes in aggressive solutions.