Sharif Digital Repository

Ant colony optimization (ACO) is a well-known metaheuristic in which a colony of artificial ants cooperate in exploring good solutions to a combinatorial optimization problem. In this paper, an ACO algorithm is presented for the graph coloring problem. This ACO algorithm conforms to max-min ant system structure and exploits a local search heuristic to improve its performance. Experimental results on DIMACS test instances show improvements over existing ACO algorithms of the graph coloring problem  

In the present study, a novel α-MnO2/AgI photocatalyst was successfully fabricated by using hydrothermal/precipitation methods, and its photocatalytic performance was evaluated from the degradation of Acid blue 92 (AB92) dye under visible light irradiation. The surface and crystalline structure, morphology, and electro-chemical properties of the as-made photocatalyst were investigated by BET, XRD, XPS, SEM-EDS, TEM, DRS, PL, PC, and Raman analysis. The optimized nanocomposite (α-MnO2/AgI) with a weight ratio of 1:15 showed the best photocatalytic activity in the decomposition of AB92 with a removal efficiency of 100% in 40 min which was better than that of pure α-MnO2 (48%) and AgI (61%),... 

In the present work, the novel ternary Fe2O3/MoO3/AgBr photocatalyst with different dosages of AgBr was successfully synthesized via a facile method. The physicochemical properties of the resultant catalyst were characterized by using various techniques such as XRD, SEM, EDX, BET, XPS, DRS, and VSM. The photocatalytic performance of as-prepared samples was evaluated by degradation of organic dye acid blue 92 (AB92) under visible light irradiation, and in dark. The impact of different operating parameters namely calcination temperature, amount of photocatalyst, dye concentration, and pH of solution were investigated in degradation reaction. Ternary nanocomposite exhibited the best... 

A novel ɑ-NiMoO4/ɑ-MoO3 binary nanocomposite was fabricated by using facile method. The fabricated nanocomposite was characterized by various techniques, and the photocatalytic activity was evaluated in degradation of Acid blue 92 dye. Among of as-made photocatalysts with various weight ratios of ɑ-MoO3, ɑ-NiMoO4/ɑ-MoO3 (1:5%w/w) exhibited the best photocatalytic performance, and selected as optimum photocatalyst. Under optimum reaction conditions ([dye] = 10 mg L−1, [catalyst] = 200 mg L−1, and pH = 7.0), complete removal efficiency was obtained within 100 min. Also, the first-order rate constant value of reaction in the presence of ɑ-NiMoO4/ɑ-MoO3 was calculated to be 0.032 min−1 that was... 

Background: Convolutional neural networks (CNN) have enabled significant progress in speech recognition, image classification, automotive software engineering, and neuroscience. This impressive progress is largely due to a combination of algorithmic breakthroughs, computation resource improvements, and access to a large amount of data. Method: In this paper, we focus on the automated detection of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) using CNN with a brain imaging dataset. We detected ASD patients using most common resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data from a multi-site dataset named the Autism Brain Imaging Exchange (ABIDE). The proposed approach was able to classify ASD... 

Time-cost trade-off problems (TCT) are well-known in project management contents. This approach normally applied for scheduling of a project especially where the project should be completed under pre-determined deadline. This paper aims to extend time-cost trade-off (TCT) problems in order to provide a well-organized mechanism for both scheduling and rescheduling processes of a project. The proposed mechanism includes project scheduling which concerns with the TCT problem, monitoring of project performance during execution phase using earned value management (EVM), and also predicting project future performance through statistical modeling. Once the predicted values of project performance... 

Optimized conditions of hot and cold rolling followed by annealing can result in a balance between recrystallization and rolling textures in order to reduce the planar anisotropy of brass sheets. In this work, the effect of finish rolling temperature, cold reduction and annealing temperature on texture development has been investigated. It is shown that uniform deformation at higher finishing temperature is responsible of formation of a severe Cube and G texture components. In contrast, mechanical twinnings are widely formed at low finishing temperatures. There is also a direct relation between the intensity of Cube component and the amount of cold reduction  

The earned value management (EVM) model is an essential technique for managing and forecasting project features such as scheduling and cost performances indexes. This paper presents a novel fuzzy earned-value model based on Z-number theory incorporating both the impreciseness of real life conditions and a degree of reliability through considering an expert judgment process. The latter factor has not been used by other researchers in the field. The proposed model provides a reliable assessment for the progress performance of a project and its 'at completion' cost in an uncertain environment. Finally, an illustrative case demonstrates the applicability of the proposed model in real life... 

In project management context, the Earned Value Management (EVM) is a well-known technique. Despite its popularity, the standard EVM suffers from the absence of some features that require being focused further on to make this method more efficient. This paper is addressing such features specifically the financial aspects of cost control system. These aspects that have been absent in the standard EVM include the time value of money, delay in client payment and contractor cash flow in uncertain environment. The proposed model here utilizes fuzzy sets to deal with the uncertain conditions of real projects. It attempts to extend the theoretical framework of EVM to evaluate and control the... 

Fe3O4 magnetic structure was synthesized with co-precipitation method. Surface of magnetic core was modified with hydrophobic BMIM[PF6] ionic liquid. The samples became antibacterial by loading gold, copper and silver nanoparticles and denoted as Fe3O4/IL/X (X=Ag, Au, Cu). X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and vibration sample magnetometer (VSM) technics were applied for catalysts characterization, metal concentration analysis and morphology monitoring. Modified nanostructures were used for inactivation of Escherichia coli as... 

The behaviour of solvatochromic absorbance probes (4-nitroaniline, 4-nitroanisole, and Reichardt's dye) within binary mixtures of polyethylene glycol p-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)-phenyl ether (Triton X-100 or TX-100)/organic solvents (2-propanol, hexanol, butyl acetate, THF, toluene, and p-xylene) was extensively explored by using solvatochromism and the quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM). To be more precise, the polarity parameters, ET N, and Kamlet-Taft parameters, such as the hydrogen bond donor ability (HBD) (α), hydrogen bond acceptor ability (HBA) (β), and dipolarity/polarizability (π∗), have been investigated in selected mixtures at 298 K. All binary mixtures exhibit complex... 

This paper deals with the investigation of the laminar flow past an elliptical cylinder confined in a channel. In this paper, the Lattice Boltzmann (LB) method is used to simulate flow in two dimensions. The present LB method with the used boundary conditions is validated in simulations of the incompressible flow past a circular cylinder. The simulations are carried out in a range of condition, 0≤θ≤90 (angle of incidence), 5≤Re≤100, (Reynolds number) for AR=0.25,0.5 (aspect ratio). The effects of those parameters on the drag and lift coefficients and other flow characteristics of the cylinder are examined in detail. The results demonstrate that the drag and lift coefficients increase with... 

Microbubbles are broadly used as ultrasound contrast agents. In this paper we use a low-cost flow focusing microchannel fabrication method for preparing microbubble contrast agents by using some surface active agents and a viscosity enhancing material to obtain appropriate microbubbles with desired lifetime and stability for any in vitro infusion for velocity measurement. All the five parameters that govern the bubble size extract and some efforts are done to achieve the smallest bubbles by adding suitable surfactant concentrations. By using these microbubbles for the echo-particle image velocimetry method, we experimentally determine the velocity field of steady state and pulsatile pipe... 

Lorentz force is the pumping basis of many electromagnetic micropumps used in lab-on-a-chip. In this paper a novel reciprocating single-chamber micropump is proposed, in which the actuation technique is based on Lorentz force acting on an array of microwires attached on a membrane surface. An alternating current is applied through the microwires in the presence of a magnetic field. The resultant force causes the membrane to oscillate and pushes the fluid to flow through microchannel using a ball-valve. The pump chamber (3 mm depth) was fabricated on a Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) substrate using laser engraving technique. The chamber was covered by a 60 μm thick hyper-elastic latex rubber... 

In an attempt to prolong the performance of the conventional Solar Chimney (SC) and enhance its efficiency, this contribution presents a kind of novel compound SC with the Photovoltaic (PV) module and Phase Change Material (PCM) called the SC-PV-PCM system. Using PCM not only improves the PV module performance but also extends the productive period of the SC. A three-dimensional quasi-steady computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model of the proposed system is developed. The developed model is used to investigate the effect of using PCMs with different melting points on the performance of the proposed system. It is demonstrated that the RT-50 provides superior performance among the studied... 

Rate constants, k A, for the aromatic nucleophilic substitution reaction of 2-chloro-3,5-dinitropyridine with aniline were determined in different compositions of 2-propanol mixed with hexane, benzene, and 2-methylpropan-2-ol and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethylsulfate ([Emim][EtSO4]) with dimethyl sulfoxide at 25 C. The obtained rate constants of the reaction in pure solvents are in the following order: 2-methylpropan-2-ol > dimethyl sulfoxide > 2-propanol > hexane > benzene > [Emim][EtSO4]. Molecularmicroscopic solvent parameters corresponding to the selected binary mixtures were utilized to study the kinetics of a nucleophilic substitution reaction in order to investigate and compare the... 

The microscopic features of binary solvent systems formed by molecular solvents (methanol, ethanol, 2-methylpropan-2-ol, water, pyridine, acetonitrile, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, dimethylformamide) and the ionic liquid ([bmim]BF 4) as cosolvent were used to select mixed solvents with particular characteristics. Molecular-microscopic solvent parameters corresponding to these binary mixtures were utilised to study the kinetics of the nucleophilic substitution reaction between 2-chloro-3,5-dinitropyridine and aniline to investigate and compare the effects of the solvents on a model chemical reaction. For these mixtures, the solvation behaviour is dominated by both the dipolarity/ polarisability... 

Today, the flow of gas-solid, solid-liquid and liquid-liquid mixtures is broadly used in many industries such as slurry transportation, propulsion, dredging and power generation equipment. In this paper, single solid particle motion through free and forced vortices is analytically studied. The equations are solved for cases in which the drag, pressure gradient, added mass, buoyancy and weight forces are considered individually and simultaneously. Verification has been done for the value of ReP , which confirms the solution for the first t = 0.1 s. The results show that the most important force governing particle motion is the pressure gradient force  

This work aims to compare results of dissipating and pure dephasing single-qubit probes in characterizing the cutoff frequency of a harmonic reservoir Ohmic spectral density. In particular, we proved that a dissipating single-qubit improves the estimation precision of the cutoff frequency estimator. The information backflow and outflow of the dissipating and the dephasing single-qubit are compared. The relation between the quantum Fisher information and the information outflow and backflow of the probe is obtained. The results show that difference between the values of information outflow and backflow of a dissipating single-qubit is larger than a dephasing single-qubit. So, a single-qubit... 

One of the most prominent hybrid solar devices is the photovoltaic thermal system (PVTS), which is able to provide simultaneous electricity and thermal energy. The thermal energy is the heat absorbed by the photovoltaic (PV) module and transferred to the attached thermal collector and finally to the heat transfer fluid. Utilizing a proper heat transfer fluid is an effective means to increase in obtained thermal and electrical powers and enhance PV thermal management. Over the past decade, employing nanofluids thanks to their superior thermophysical properties became a proved strategy to improve the efficiency of the PVTS. This paper covers cutting-edge researches on nanofluid-based PVTS via...