The Knapsack Problem with forfeit sets

This work introduces a novel extension of the 0/1 Knapsack Problem in which we consider the existence of so-called forfeit sets. A forfeit set is a subset of items of arbitrary cardinality, such that including a number of its elements that exceeds a predefined allowance threshold implies some penalty costs to be paid in the objective function value. A global upper bound on these allowance violations is also considered.

Switching and defect dynamics in multistable liquid crystal devices

We investigate the switching dynamics of multistable nematic liquid crystal devices. In particular, we identify a remarkably simple two-dimensional device which exploits hybrid alignment at the surfaces to yield a bistable response. We also consider a three-dimensional tristable nematic device with patterned anchoring, recently implemented in practice, and discuss how the director and disclination patterns change during switching.

Continuum theory of phase separation kinetics for active brownian particles

Active Brownian particles (ABPs), when subject to purely repulsive interactions, are known to undergo activity-induced phase separation broadly resembling an equilibrium (attraction-induced) gas-liquid coexistence. Here we present an accurate continuum theory for the dynamics of phase-separating ABPs, derived by direct coarse graining, capturing leading-order density gradient terms alongside an effective bulk free energy. Such gradient terms do not obey detailed balance; yet we find coarsening dynamics closely resembling that of equilibrium phase separation.

Flexoelectric switching in cholesteric blue phases

We present computer simulations of the response of a flexoelectric blue phase network, either in bulk or under confinement, to an applied field. We find a transition in the bulk between the blue phase I disclination network and a parallel array of disclinations along the direction of the applied field. Upon switching off the field, the system is unable to reconstruct the original blue phase but gets stuck in a metastable phase. Blue phase II is comparatively much less affected by the field.

De la Vallée Poussin interpolation method for image resizing

The aim of this talk is to show how de la Vallee Poussin type interpolation based on Chebyshev zeros of rst kind, can be applied to resize an arbitrary color digital image. In fact, using such kind of approximation, we get an image scaling method running for any desired scaling factor or size, in both downscaling and upscaling. The peculiarities and the performance of such method will be discussed.