Optimal competitiveness for the Rectilinear Steiner Arborescence problem

We present optimal online algorithms for two related known problems involving Steiner Arborescence, improving both the lower and the upper bounds. One of them is the well studied continuous problem of the {\em Rectilinear Steiner Arborescence} ($RSA$). We improve the lower bound and the upper bound on the competitive ratio for $RSA$ from $O(\log N)$ and $\Omega(\sqrt{\log N})$ to $\Theta(\frac{\log N}{\log \log N})$, where $N$ is the number of Steiner points. This separates the competitive ratios of $RSA$ and the Symetric-$RSA$, two problems for which the bounds of Berman and Coulston is STOC 1997 were identical. The second problem is one of the Multimedia Content Distribution problems presented by Papadimitriou et al. in several papers and Charikar et al. SODA 1998. It can be viewed as the discrete counterparts (or a network counterpart) of $RSA$. For this second problem we present tight bounds also in terms of the network size, in addition to presenting tight bounds in terms of the number of Steiner points (the latter are similar to those we derived for $RSA$)

An interactive computer program for sizing spacecraft momentum storage devices

An interactive computer program was developed which computes the sizing requirements for nongimbled reaction wheels, control moment gyros (CMG), and dual momentum control devices (DMCD) used in Earth-orbiting spacecraft. The program accepts as inputs the spacecraft's environmental disturbance torques, rotational inertias, maneuver rates, and orbital data. From these inputs, wheel weights are calculated for a range of radii and rotational speeds. The shape of the momentum wheel may be chosen to be either a hoop, solid cylinder, or annular cylinder. The program provides graphic output illustrating the trade-off potential between the weight, radius, and wheel speed. A number of the intermediate calculations such as the X-, Y-, and Z-axis total momentum, the momentum absorption requirements for reaction wheels, CMG's, DMCD's, and basic orbit analysis information are also provided as program output

Preparation of dilute magnetic semiconductor films by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition

A method for preparation of a dilute magnetic semiconductor (DMS) film is provided, in which a Group II metal source, a Group VI metal source and a transition metal magnetic ion source are pyrolyzed in the reactor of a metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) system by contact with a heated substrate. As an example, the preparation of films of Cd(sub 1-x)Mn(sub x)Te, in which 0 is less than or equal to x less than or equal to 0.7, on suitable substrates (e.g., GaAs) is described. As a source of manganese, tricarbonyl (methylcyclopentadienyl) manganese (TCPMn) is employed. To prevent TCPMn condensation during its introduction into the reactor, the gas lines, valves and reactor tubes are heated. A thin-film solar cell of n-i-p structure, in which the i-type layer comprises a DMS, is also described; the i-type layer is suitably prepared by MOCVD

Spectroelectrochemistry of Heteroatom-Containing Intrinsically Conducting Polymers Synthesized via Encapsulated Monomers

This dissertation describes the electrochemical synthesis of conducting polypyrrole (PPy), poly(N-methylpyrrole) (PNMPy), poly(3-methylpyrrole) (P3MPy), poly(pyrrole-2,6-dimethyl-β-cyclodextrin) P(Py-β-DMCD), poly(N-methylpyrrole-2,6-dimethyl-β-cyclodextrin) P(NMPy-β-DMCD) and poly(3-methylpyrrole-2,6-dimethyl-β-cyclodextrin) P(3MPy-β-DMCD) films by electrode potential cycling on a gold electrode in aqueous and nonaqueous (acetonitrile) electrolyte solutions containing lithium perchlorate. The resulting products were characterized by cyclic voltammetry, in situ UV-Vis spectroscopy, ex situ FT-IR spectroscopy, in situ surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and in situ resistance measurements. For electrosynthesis of polymers in the presence of cyclodextrin, a (1:1) (mole-mole) compounds (host-guest-complex) of β-DMCD with Py, NMPy and 3MPy, respectively; previously characterized with proton NMR spectroscopy was used as starting material. Different cyclic voltammetric behavior was observed for polymers in aqueous and nonaqueous solutions during electrosynthesis. The results show that in nonaqueous solutions the oxidation potential of Py, NMPy and 3MPy monomers increases in the presence of cyclodextrin. The same results were observed for P(Py-β-DMCD) and P(NMPy-β-DMCD) in aqueous solution. The slight shift of the oxidation peak for polymers in the presence of cyclodextrin (CD) compared to polymers in absence of CD may be a result of the hydrophobic monomer partly or entirely included in the CD hydrophobic interior cavity. In situ resistance measurements of the PPy and PNMPy show that films prepared in acetonitrile solution have less resistance than those synthesized in aqueous solutions. Meanwhile, the results show that the resistance of the polymer increased in the following order PPy < P3MPy < PNMPy and P(Py-β-DMCD) < P(3MPy-β-DMCD) < P(NMPy-β-DMCD). The FT-IR spectroscopy was used to identify the polymers and to find evidence for the presence of the CD in the material. The spectra suggests no CD incorporation in the P(Py-β-DMCD) and P(NMPy-β-DMCD) films. In situ UV-Vis spectroscopy and in situ SERS measurements for the study of the structure and properties of electronically conducting PPy, PNMPy, P3MPy, P(Py-β-DMCD), P(NMPy-β-DMCD) and P(3MPy-β-DMCD) were carried out in two different media. The in situ SERS spectra of polymers deposited on the roughened gold substrate with ORC (oxidation-reduction cycle) pre-treatment indicated both a marked increase in intensity and a better resolution.Diese Dissertation beschreibt die elektrochemische Synthese von leitfähigem Polypyrrol (PPy), Poly-N-Methylpyrrol (PNMPy), Poly(3-Methylpyrrol) (P3MPy), Poly(Pyrrol-2,6-dimethyl-β-cyclodextrin) P(Py-β-DMCD), Poly(N-Methylpyrrol-2,6-dimethyl-β-cyclodextrin) P(NMPy-β-DMCD) und Poly(3-Methylpyrrol-2,6-dimethyl-β-cyclodextrin) P(3MPy-β-DMCD) auf einer Goldelektrode durch Potentialzyklen in wässrigen und nichtwässrigen (Acetonitril) Elektrolytlösungen mit Lithiumperchlorat als Leitsalz. Die erhaltenen Stoffe wurden mit zyklischer Voltammetrie, in situ UV-Vis-Spektroskopie, ex situ FT-IR Spektroskopie, in situ oberflächen verstärkter Ramanspektroskopie (SERS) und in situ Widerstandmessungen charakterisiert. Für die Elektrosynthese der Polymere in Gegenwart von Cyclodextrin wurden 1:1 (Molverhältnis) Verbindungen (Wirt-Gast-Komplex) von β-DMCD mit Py, NMPy und 3MPy resp., charakterisiert mit Proton-NMR-Spektroskopie, als Ausgangsmaterial eingesetzt. Die zyklischen Voltammogramme ergaben unterschiedliches Verhalten der Polymere in wässrigen und nichtwässrigen Lösungen während der Elektrosynthese. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass sich in nichtwässrigen Lösungen das Oxidationspotenzial von Py, NMPy und 3MPy-Monomeren bei Anwesenheit von Cyclodextrin erhöht. Dieselben Resultate ergaben sich für P(Py-β-DMCD) und P(NMPy-β-DMCD) in wässriger Lösung. Die leichte Verschiebung des Oxidationspeaks der Polymere bei Anwesenheit von Cyclodextrin (CD) verglichen mit den Polymeren bei Abwesenheit von CD könnte das Resultat der teilweise oder vollständig im hydrophoben Hohlraum der CD eingeschlossenen hydrophoben Monomere sein. In situ Leitfähigkeitsmessungen von PPy und PNMPy zeigen, dass Filme, die in Acetonitrillösungen hergestellt wurden besser leitfähig sind als die Filme, die in wässrigen Lösungen hergestellt wurden. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass der Widerstand der Polymere in der folgenden Reihenfolge steigt: PPy < P3MPy < PNMPy and P(Py-β-DMCD) < P(3MPy-β-DMCD) < P(NMPy-β-DMCD). Die FT-IR-Spektroskopie wurde verwendet die Polymere zu identifizieren und die Anwesenheit der CD in das Material. Die Spektren schlägt vor, keine CD-Aufnahme in den P (Py-β-DMCD) und P (NMPy-β-DMCD) Filme. In situ UV-Vis- und in situ SERS-Messungen zur Untersuchung der Struktur und der Eigenschaften der elektronisch leitfähigen PPy, PNMPy, P3MPy, P(Py-β-DMCD), P(NMPy-β-DMCD) and P(3MPy-β-DMCD) wurden in 2 verschiedenen Medien durchgeführt. Die in situ SERS-Spektren der Polymere, abgeschieden auf aufgerauhter Goldoberfläche und Substrat durch ORC (Oxidations-Reduktions-Zyklus) –Vorbehandlung zeigten sowohl eine deutliche Erhöhung der Intensität als auch eine bessere Auflösung

Cyclodextrin/poly(anhydride) nanoparticles as drug carriers for the oral delivery of atovaquone.

The aim was to study the ability of bioadhesive cyclodextrin-poly(anhydride) nanoparticles as carriers for the oral delivery of atovaquone (ATO). In order to increase the loading capacity of ATO by poly(anhydride) nanoparticles, the following oligosaccharides were assayed: 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPCD), 2,6-di-O-methyl-β-cyclodextrin (DCMD), randomly methylated-β-cyclodextrin (RMCD) and sulfobuthyl ether-β-cyclodextrin (SBECD). Nanoparticles were obtained by desolvation after the incubation between the poly(anhydride) with the ATO-cyclodextrin complexes. For the pharmacokinetic studies, ATO formulations were administered orally in rats. Overall, ATO displayed a higher affinity for methylated cyclodextrins than for the other derivatives. However, for in vivo studies, both ATO-DMCD-NP and ATO-HPCD-NP were chosen. These nanoparticle formulations showed more adequate physicochemical properties in terms of size (75%). In vivo, nanoparticle formulations induced higher and more prolonged plasmatic levels of atovaquone than control suspensions of the drug in methylcellulose. Relative bioavailability of ATO when loaded in nanoparticles ranged from 52% (for ATO-HPCD NP) to 71% (for ATO-DMCD NP), whereas for the suspension control formulation the bioavailability was only about 30%. The encapsulation of atovaquone in cyclodextrins-poly(anhydride) nanoparticles seems to be an interesting strategy to improve the oral bioavailability of this lipophilic drug

Impact of In-Situ Cd Saturation MOCVD Grown CdTe Solar Cells on As Doping and VOC

In-situ Cd-saturated growth of polycrystalline CdTe:As thin film was performed by metal organic chemical vapour deposition at a low temperature of 350 °C, to investigate the impact on As doping and device VOC. Device characterization showed conversion efficiency of ∼14%, and VOC of 772 mV, which is an improvement to the baseline device with CdTe:As absorber layer grown at 390 °C under non-saturated conditions. When the low temperature Cd-saturated growth was combined with chlorine heat treatment at a higher temperature of 440 °C (in contrast with the standard 420 °C) for 10 min, device efficiency improved to ∼17% with a high VOC of 877 mV. As a result, ∼100 mV boost in VOC from baseline is demonstrated with Cd-saturated CdTe:As device. Micro-photoluminescence and time-resolved photoluminescence measurements performed on these Cd-saturated CdTe:As devices confirmed that minority carrier lifetime significantly improved

Avaliação das enzimas hepáticas na artrite reumatóide com a terapia de combinação metotrexato e leflunomida

Trabalho de Conclusão de Curso - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Curso de Medicina. Departamento de Clinica Medica

Structural characterization of a-plane Zn1−xCdxO (0 < x <0.085) thin films grown by metal-organic vapor phase epitaxy.

Zn1−xCdxO(11math0) films have been grown on (01math2) sapphire (r–plane) substrates by metal-organic vapor phase epitaxy. A 800-nm-thick ZnO buffer, deposited prior to the alloy growth, helps to prevent the formation of pure CdO. A maximum uniform Cd incorporation of 8.5 at. % has been determined by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry. Higher Cd contents lead to the coexistence of Zn1−xCdxO alloys of different compositions within the same film. The near band-edge photoluminescence emission shifts gradually to lower energies as Cd is incorporated and reaches 2.93 eV for the highest Cd concentration (8.5 at. %). The lattice deformation, due to Cd incorporation, has been described using a new reference frame in which the lattice distortions are directly related to the a-plane surface structure. Cd introduction does not affect the c lattice parameter but expands the lattice along the two perpendicular directions, [11math0] and [math100], resulting in a quadratic volume [email protected] [email protected]