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Cloud computing is widely applied in modern industrial areas due to its technological advancement, cost reduction, and applicability. Packets (tasks) belonging to different applications (agents) compete to share the common cloud resource through a series of edge nodes (processors) in pursuit of fast transmission. This paper abstracts the cloud computing system as a multi-agent flow-shop scheduling (MAFS) problem. The objective is to minimise the total completion time of several agents with the restriction that the maximum lateness cannot exceed a given bound. Given the complexity of the considered problem, a branch and bound algorithm combined with several pruning rules and lower bounds is proposed to obtain optimal solutions. Furthermore, the considered problem is generalised to a bi-scenario version, and a bi-population cooperative co-evolutionary (BCCE) algorithm is proposed to solve it. A reinforcement learning-based method is presented to generate the initial population. Several problem-specific intensification strategies are constructed to explore promising solutions. Comprehensive experiments verified the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms. The industrial data from the China Earthquake Network Centre further confirmed the superiority of the BCCE algorithm. Overall, the MAFS model and the proposed algorithms effectively enhance the user experience and reasonably guarantee revenue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bifunctional catalysts comprising metal and acid sites are commonly used for many reactions. Interfacial acid sites impact intermediate reactions more than other sites. However, controlling the type and amounts of interfacial acid sites by regulating metal‐support interaction (MSI) via traditional methods is difficult. Thus, the influence of MSI on interfacial acid sites remains unclear. We prepared Pt‐mTiO2/α‐Al2O3 (m represents the cycle number of TiO2) catalysts via atomic layer deposition (ALD). New Brønsted acid sites were generated via Pt−TiO2 interaction, and the acidity was precisely regulated by regulating Pt−TiO2 interaction by changing the TiO2 nanolayer thickness. We chose levulinic acid (LA) hydrogenation as a model reaction. The catalytic activity varied with the TiO2 nanolayer thickness and was linearly correlated with the Ti−OH species (Brønsted acid) content. Pt‐40TiO2/α‐Al2O3, with the highest acid site content of 0.486 mmol/g, exhibited the best catalytic activity. Hydrogen spillover and water dissociation at the Pt−TiO2 interface promoted Ti−OH species generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Titanium implants are widely used in surgeries for their biocompatibility and mechanical properties. However, excessive titanium particle release can cause implant failure. This study explores Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) to coat commercially pure titanium (Cp-Ti) with TiO 2 , aiming to improve its frictional and corrosion resistance while reducing particle release. By comparing TiO 2 films with varying ALD cycle numbers, we assess surface properties, particle release, friction, and corrosion performance, providing insights into mitigating particle release from implants. Methods: Cp-Ti surfaces were prepared and coated with TiO 2 films of 100, 300, and 500 ALD cycles. Surface characterization involved SEM, EDX, and XRD. Friction was tested using SEM, nanoindentation, and ICP-MS. Corrosion resistance was evaluated through immersion tests and electrochemical analysis. Cytotoxicity was assessed using BMSCs. Results: Surface characterization revealed smoother surfaces with increased ALD cycles, confirming successful TiO 2 deposition. Friction testing showed reduced friction coefficients with higher ALD cycles, supported by nanoindentation results. Corrosion resistance improved with increasing ALD cycles, as evidenced by electrochemical tests and reduced titanium release. Cytotoxicity studies showed no significant cytotoxic effects. Conclusion: ALD-coated TiO 2 films significantly enhance frictional and corrosion resistance of titanium implants while reducing particle release. The study underscores the importance of ALD cycle numbers in optimizing film performance, offering insights for designing implants with improved properties., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Zhao, Zhang, Zhou, Meng, Liu, Zhang, Hao, Xie, Sun, Zhang and Wang.)

Bifunctional catalysts comprising metal and acid sites are commonly used for many reactions. Interfacial acid sites impact intermediate reactions more than other sites. However, controlling the type and amounts of interfacial acid sites by regulating metal-support interaction (MSI) via traditional methods is difficult. Thus, the influence of MSI on interfacial acid sites remains unclear. We prepared Pt-mTiO 2 /α-Al 2 O 3 (m represents the cycle number of TiO 2 ) catalysts via atomic layer deposition (ALD). New Brønsted acid sites were generated via Pt-TiO 2 interaction, and the acidity was precisely regulated by regulating Pt-TiO 2 interaction by changing the TiO 2 nanolayer thickness. We chose levulinic acid (LA) hydrogenation as a model reaction. The catalytic activity varied with the TiO 2 nanolayer thickness and was linearly correlated with the Ti-OH species (Brønsted acid) content. Pt-40TiO 2 /α-Al 2 O 3, with the highest acid site content of 0.486 mmol/g, exhibited the best catalytic activity. Hydrogen spillover and water dissociation at the Pt-TiO 2 interface promoted Ti-OH species generation., (© 2023 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)