Simple heuristics for the assembly line worker assignment and balancing problem

We propose simple heuristics for the assembly line worker assignment and balancing problem. This problem typically occurs in assembly lines in sheltered work centers for the disabled. Different from the classical simple assembly line balancing problem, the task execution times vary according to the assigned worker. We develop a constructive heuristic framework based on task and worker priority rules defining the order in which the tasks and workers should be assigned to the workstations. We present a number of such rules and compare their performance across three possible uses: as a stand-alone method, as an initial solution generator for meta-heuristics, and as a decoder for a hybrid genetic algorithm. Our results show that the heuristics are fast, they obtain good results as a stand-alone method and are efficient when used as a initial solution generator or as a solution decoder within more elaborate approaches.Comment: 18 pages, 1 figur

O Uso do Modelo Qual2k como Subsídio à Seleção de Alternativas de Tratamento de Esgotos – Estudo de Caso: Município de São Simão-SP

The goal of this investigation was to simulate the water quality of São Simão stream, in different sceneries, using the QUAL2K model to subsidize the technical-economical and environmental analysis of possible alternatives to wastewater treatment in the city. The alternatives were analyzed using an interactive matrix originally developed; it was constituted of evaluation criteria and their weights, essentially linked to the reality of the place. After the model was calibrated, simulations of different sceneries were carried out, showing the need of the implantation of alternatives that reach at least 75% of efficiency to attend the current legislation. Finally, the result shows that the UASB treatment system was the most applicable to the reality of the town.O objetivo fundamental deste estudo foi simular a qualidade da água do córrego São Simão, para diferentes cenários, por meio do uso do modelo QUAL2K, visando subsidiar a análise técnico-econômica e ambiental de possíveis alternativas empregadas no sistema de tratamento de esgotos do município. As alternativas foram analisadas por meio de uma matriz de interação desenvolvida ineditamente, constituída por critérios de avaliação e seus pesos, sendo estes vinculados essencialmente à realidade do local. Depois do modelo calibrado foram realizadas simulações de diferentes cenários, que demonstraram a necessidade da implantação de alternativas que atinjam no mínimo 75% de eficiência, de modo a atender à legislação vigente. Por fim, concluiu-se que o sistema UASB de tratamento foi o mais adequado para a realidade do município

Morphofunctional characteristics of Dorper sheep crossed with Brazilian native breeds

Abstract The relationship between body development and external measures in sheep could provide useful information to define the optimal slaughter time as well as the adequate nutritional management. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the morpho-functional diversity of Dorper sheep crossed with Brazilian native breeds using in vivo morphometric analysis. The animals evaluated were from crosses of Dorper with Morada Nova, Rabo Largo and Santa Ines sheeps. The animals were slaughtered at 120 and 240 days of age. Body and carcass measures, weight of meat cuts and growth were evaluated. The crossbred animals were analyzed by sex, totaling six treatments. A factorial analysis was performed using two sets of data: the in vivo morphometric measures, and all the other characteristics and these factors were used as new variables. The differences among treatments were analyzed using MANOVA and canonical analysis. The meat cuts, conformation, marketability adaptation, and early maturity of the animals slaughtered at 120 days, as well as the meat cuts, conformation, adaptation, early maturity, and hindquarter of the animals slaughtered at 240 days were evaluated. As regards body measurements, at both slaughter ages, the following factors were discriminated: height, robustness, length, and thoracic circumference. Animal slaughtered at 120 days of age showed greater differences whereas at 240 days the differences diminished allowing to individuate which treatments were more adaptive or productive. Crosses ½ Dorper × ½ Santa Ines (male and female), and ½ Dorper × ½ Rabo Largo male slaughtered at 240 days seem to show higher productivity and better marketability abilities. The other crosses tend to have a more rustic profile (less productive) and smaller size, reaching however adult size earlier and showing better adaptive characteristics, which allows to decide for slaughtering at younger ages

Lower lip squamous cell carcinoma in patients with photosensitive disorders : analysis of cases treated at the Brazilian National Cancer Institute (INCA) from 1999 to 2012

Lower lip squamous cell carcinoma (LLSCC) is a common malignancy of the head and neck, being mainly a consequence of a chronic exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light solar radiation. Here, we evaluated the clinicopathological profile of patients with photosensitive disorders (xeroderma pigmentosum, lupus erythematosus and albinism) that developed LLSCC. Data from patients who had a diagnosed LLSCC with a prior xeroderma pigmentosum, lupus erythematosus or albinism diagnosis that were treated at INCA from 1999 to 2012 were collected from patients? medical records (n=16). The control group was composed of 68 patients with LLSCC without a medical history of photosensitivity. The clinicopathological data of this study population were collected and the association between these variables was analyzed by Fisher?s exact test. Survival curves were constructed using the Kaplan?Meier method and compared by log-rank test. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS statistics package. The mean age of patients in the photosensitive and non-photosensitive groups was 42 years and 67 years, respectively (p<0.0001). A previous history of malignant diseases was more common in the photosensitive group (p=0.001). In both groups, most tumors showed a pathological stage I/II disease. Overall and cancer-specific survival were not statistically different. However, disease-free interval showed a significant difference (p=0.01) between the photosensitive and non-photosensitive patients. Photosensitive patients presented LLSCC at earlier age but it usually was not the primary tumor in these patients. Furthermore, a more aggressive pathological behavior was not seen when compared with tumors from non-photosensitive patients. The disease-free interval was lower in photosensitive patients, as expected

Comparative study on optical performance and visual outcomes between two diffractive multifocal lenses: AMO Tecnis® ZMB00 and AcrySof® IQ ReSTOR® Multifocal IOL SN6AD1

ABSTRACT Purpose: To compare the optical performance and visual outcomes between two diffractive multifocal lenses: AMO Tecnis® ZMB00 and AcrySof® ReSTOR® SN6AD1. Methods: This prospective, non-randomized comparative study included the assessment of 74 eyes in 37 patients referred for cataract surgery and candidates for multifocal intraocular lens implants. Exclusion criteria included existence of any other eye disease, previous eye surgery, high axial myopia, preoperative corneal astigmatism of >1.00 cylindrical diopter (D), and intraoperative or postoperative complications. Ophthalmological evaluation included the measurement of uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), distance-corrected near visual acuity (DCNVA), and distance-corrected intermediate visual acuity (DCIVA), with analysis of contrast sensitivity (CS), wavefront, and visual defocus curve. Results: Postoperative UDVA was 0.09 and 0.08 logMAR in the SN6AD1 and ZMB00 groups, respectively (p=0.868); postoperative CDVA was 0.04 and 0.02 logMAR in the SN6AD1 and ZMB00 groups, respectively (p=0.68); DCIVA was 0.17 and 0.54 logMAR in the SN6AD1 and ZMB00 groups, respectively (p=0.000); and DCNVA was 0.04 and 0.09 logMAR in the SN6AD1 and ZMB00 groups, respectively (p=0.001). In both cases, there was an improvement in the spherical equivalent and UDVA (p<0.05). Under photopic conditions, the SN6AD1 group had better CS at low frequencies without glare (p=0.04); however, the ZMB00 group achieved better sensitivity at high frequencies with glare (p=0.003). The SN6AD1 and ZMB00 lenses exhibited similar behavior for intermediate vision, according to the defocus curve; however, the ZMB00 group showed a shorter reading distance than the SN6AD1 group. There were no significant differences regarding aberrometry between the two groups. Conclusion: Both lenses promoted better quality of vision for both long and short distances and exhibited a similar behavior for intermediate vision. The SN6AD1 and ZMB00 groups showed better results for CS under photopic conditions at low and high spatial frequencies, respectively

Application of ergonomic studies related to heat conditions in workplace: a case study in a bakery house at Governador Valadares - MG

The work shows the practical application of using regulatory rules of Ministry of Labour., the NR-15 and NR-17 in a company of bakery sector. This work aims to detect if the company comply with the legal requirements of regulatory rules about temperature conditions at the work ambient . First of all, it was used theoretical references to determine which temperature intervals are satisfactory to the studied work ambient, and also to determine the effective temperature that makes the employees work under comfort conditions, and also the determine the temperature index that the employees don't work under unhealthy conditions of heat exposition. After that, it was made measure using a Thermal Stress Measurer. The equipment used gives us the natural wet bulb temperature, the dry bulb temperature, air velocity, and the IBUTG index. The data obtained by the measure were projected on the Effective Temperature Abacus in order to verify thermal comfort conditions and also apply it in the equation that determine the IBUTG index, in order to verify if the ambient is healthy or unhealthy about heat exposition.O presente trabalho mostra a aplicação prática das Normas Regulamentadoras do Ministério do Trabalho, NR-15 e NR-17, em uma empresa do setor de panificação, com o objetivo de detectar se a empresa cumpre as exigências legais previstas nessas normas em relação as condições de temperatura no ambiente de trabalho. Inicialmente foram utilizadas referências teóricas para determinar quais são os intervalos de temperatura satisfatórios para o ambiente de trabalho em estudo e assim determinar qual a temperatura efetiva para que os trabalhadores estejam em condições de conforto e os índices de temperatura para que estes não operem em condições insalubres em relação a exposição ao calor. Após, foram realizadas medições utilizando o Medidor de Stress Térmico, que fornece as temperaturas de bulbo úmido natural, temperatura de bulbo seco, velocidade do ar e o índice de IBUTG. Os dados obtidos através das medições foram projetados no Ábaco de Temperaturas Efetivas para verificação das condições de conforto térmico e também aplicados na equação que determina o índice de IBUTG a fim de verificar se o ambiente é salubre ou insalubre em relação a exposição ao calor.São Cristóvão, S

Reactivation of latent HIV-1 in vitro using an ethanolic extract from Euphorbia umbellata (Euphorbiaceae) latex

Euphorbia umbellata (E. umbellata) belongs to Euphorbiaceae family, popularly known as Janauba, and its latex contains a combination of phorbol esters with biological activities described to different cellular protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms. Here, we identified deoxi-phorbol esters present in E. umbellata latex alcoholic extract that are able to increase HIV transcription and reactivate virus from latency models. This activity is probably mediated by NF-kB activation followed by nuclear translocation and binding to the HIV LTR promoter. In addition, E. umbellata latex extract induced the production of pro inflammatory cytokines in vitro in human PBMC cultures. This latex extract also activates latent virus in human PBMCs isolated from HIV positive patients as well as latent SIV in non-human primate primary CD4+ T lymphocytes. Together, these results indicate that the phorbol esters present in E. umbellata latex are promising candidate compounds for future clinical trials for shock and kill therapies to promote HIV cure and eradication.Research and experimental expenses were funded by the grant E26/2015064289 from FAPERJinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Influência da Temperatura do Solo no Efluxo de Co2 do Solo em uma Floresta Tropical da Amazônia Oriental

It was studied the variability of the average hourly flux of CO2associated with the soil temperature and soil moisture in an area of tropicalrain forest in Amazonia, in the experimental site of the NationalForest Caxiuanã, State of Pará. Purpose was to evaluate the influence oftemperature and soil moisture on CO2 efflux from soil and estimate thevalue of Q10. The soil temperature did not get a good correlation withsoil CO2 efflux.Estudou-se a variabilidade média horário do fluxo de CO2 dosolo associado à temperatura e umidade do solo em uma área de florestatropical chuvosa na Amazônia, no sítio experimental na Floresta Nacionalde Caxiuanã, no Estado do Pará. Objetivo foi avaliar a influência datemperatura e umidade do solo no efluxo de CO2 do solo e estimar ovalor do Q10. A temperatura do solo não obteve uma boa correlação comefluxo de CO2 do solo

Introdução à engenharia como disciplina estruturante do primeiro ano de um curso de engenharia / Introduction to engineering as a structuring subject of the first year of an engineering course

Este trabalho discute a disciplina Introdução à Engenharia (INTENG), oferecida a todos os alunos ingressantes nos nove cursos de engenharia do Centro Universitário do Instituto Mauá de Tecnologia – CEUN/IMT. Atualmente estruturada na forma de um PBL – Project Based Learning, a disciplina é aquiapresentada desde sua concepção até sua implantação e os primeiros resultados obtidos neste 1º semestre de 2017. No contexto do ciclo básico dos cursos de engenharia, a disciplina INTENG compõe um dos dois eixos de condução da 1ª série, a saber: Profissional e Formativo de Habilidades Específicas, que se completa com o eixo Motivacional e Formativo de Habilidades Transversais.