Proactive project scheduling in an R&D department: a bi-objective genetic algorithm

In this paper, we present part of a study on stochastic, dynamic project scheduling in an R&D Department of a leading home appliances company in Turkey. The problem under consideration is the preemptive resource constrained multi-project scheduling problem with generalized precedence relations in a stochastic and dynamic environment. The model consists of three phases. Phase I of the model provides a systematic approach to assess uncertainty resulting in activity deviation distributions. In Phase II, proactive project scheduling is accomplished through two different scheduling approaches,which employ a bi-objective genetic algorithm. Phase III is the reactive project scheduling phase aiming at rescheduling the disrupted project activities. Here, we will limit our presentation to Phase II – the proactive project scheduling phase. The procedure is demonstrated through an implementation with real data covering 37 R&D projects. Computational study is performed to compare the two different scheduling approaches called single and multi-project scheduling approaches, as well as two different chromosome evaluation heuristics. Results are presented and discussed

Uncertainty assessment in project scheduling with data mining

During project execution, especially in a multi-project environment project activities are subject to risks that may cause delays or interruptions in the baseline schedules. This paper considers the resource constrained multi-project scheduling problem with generalized activity precedence relations requiring multi-skilled resources in a stochastic and dynamic environment present in the R&D department of a home appliances company and introduces a two-phase model incorporating data mining and project scheduling techniques. This paper presents the details of Phase I, uncertainty assessment phase, where Phase II corresponds to proactive project scheduling module. In the proposed uncertainty assessment approach models are developed to classify the projects and their activities with respect to resource usage deviation levels. In doing so, the proposed approach enables the project managers not only to predict the deviation level of projects before they actually start, but also to take needed precautions by detecting the most risky projects. Moreover, Phase I generates one of the main inputs of Phase II to obtain robust baseline project schedules and identifies the risky activities that need close monitoring. Details of the proposed approach are illustrated using R&D project data of a leading home appliances company. The results support the efficiency of the proposed approach

Quality of life in obstructive sleep apnea is related to female gender and comorbid insomnia

WOS: 000452078700016PubMed ID: 29352360Purpose Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder affecting health-related quality of life (QoL), and OSA severity is not a reliable indicator for QoL. The aim of this study was (1) to evaluate the impact of gender on QoL and (2) to identify the predictors of QoL in OSA patients. Methods World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale short form (WHOQOL-Bref) was used for evaluating QoL in OSA patients undergoing polysomnography in sleep laboratory of a university hospital. Results Out of 197 patients (age 50.4 +/- 12.1 years, AHI 38.5 +/- 28.4/h), 139 (70.6%) were men and 79.2% had moderate-to-severe OSA. Female gender, increased BMI, higher Epworth sleepiness score (ESS), and lower oxygen saturations were associated significantly with poor QoL in terms of all domains (physical, psychological, social relationship, and environmental) of WHOQOL-Bref questionnaire. The indicators of OSA severity (AHI and ODI) correlated negatively only with the physical domain. The subjects with comorbid insomnia and OSA had lower physical and social scores than subjects with no insomnia, and women with insomnia had significantly worse QoL scores in all domains than the others. In the multivariate linear regression analysis, female gender, comorbid insomnia, increased sleepiness, and higher BMI were significantly associated with poor QoL. Conclusions Female gender, comorbid insomnia, and daytime sleepiness were the outstanding factors affecting health-related QoL negatively in OSA. Besides, the impact of OSA on QoL may be explained by the presence of daytime sleepiness rather than OSA severity

Clinical Features of the Patients with Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder

Introduction: Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is an inflammatory, demyelinating syndrome of the central nervous system (CNS) that predominantly affects the spinal cord and optic nerves. Since it was first described, new information about the pathophysiology gained momentum with the discovery of an antibody against Aquaporin-4, a water channel protein that is predominantly found in the astrocytes. In our study, we evaluated the clinical features of NMOSD and clinically related CNS disorders

Fingolimod Therapy for Pediatric Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis: A Real-Life Study

Objective: Clinical studies in childhood multiple sclerosis (MS) are very limited compared with adults. Although first-line injection therapies are well tolerated in this patient group, there are difficulties in the long-term treatment of patients due to the difficulty and adverse effects of injections for children. Oral therapies are better tolerated for use and adverse effects compared with injection therapies. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical features and treatment outcomes of patients aged under 18 years with relapsing-remitting MS (RAMS) who received fingolimod treatment

Association of Vitamin D Receptor Gene Polymorphisms with Colon Cancer

Objective: In this study, we investigated the association of two vitamin D receptor (VDR) polymorphisms BsmI and TaqI with colon cancer in a Caucasian population. Methods: The VDR gene polymorphisms BsmI and TaqI were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP)-genotyping assays by using endonucleases BsmI and TaqI, and an agarose gel electrophoresis technique in a series of 43 colon cancer patients and 42 healthy controls. Results: Allele frequencies and genotype distributions were found to be similar in both cases and controls. When homozygous carriers and heterozygotes were combined for each allele, alleles B and T were found to be more common in the control group (p = 0.039, chi(2) = 4.276, odds ratio [OR] = 0.312, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.100-0.973 and p = 0.039, chi(2) = 4.258, OR = 0.254, 95% CI = 0.064-1.000, respectively). When genotypes were analyzed as pairs, the Bb/TT variant was higher in the control group at a statistically high significance (p = 0.001, chi(2) = 11.854, OR = 0.122, 95% CI = 0.032-0.460). Conclusion: The alleles B and T and the genotype combination Bb/TT were found to be higher in the control group, and thus BsmI and TaqI polymorphisms of the VDR gene may be possible risk factors for colorectal carcinogenesis