1,213 research outputs found
ISO 9000 implementation in Turkish industry
[No abstract available
Analysis of Lagrangian lower bounds for a graph partitioning problem
Recently, Ahmadi and Tang (1991) demonstrated how various manufacturing problems can be modeled and solved as graph partitioning problems. They use Lagrangian relaxation of two different mixed integer programming formulations to obtain both heuristic solutions and lower bounds on optimal solution values. In this note, we point to certain inconsistencies in the reported results. Among other things, we show analytically that the first bound proposed is trivial (i.e., it can never have a value greater than zero) while the second is also trivial for certain sparse graphs. We also present limited empirical results on the behavior of this second bound as a function of graph density
New heuristic for the dynamic layout problem
The dynamic layout problem addresses the situation where the traffic among the various units within a facility changes over time. Its objective is to determine a layout for each period in a planning horizon such that the total of the flow and the relocation costs is minimized. The problem is computationally very hard and has begun to receive attention only recently. In this paper, we present a new heuristic scheme, based on the idea of viable layouts, which is easy to operationalize. A limited computational study shows that, depending upon how it is implemented, this scheme can be reasonably fast and can yield results that are competitive with those from other available solution methods
Scheduling with tool changes to minimize total completion time: A study of heuristics and their performance
The machine scheduling literature does not consider the issue of tool change. The parallel literature on tool management addresses this issue but assumes that the change is due only to part mix. In practice, however, a tool change is caused most frequently by tool wear. That is why we consider here the problem of scheduling a set of jobs on a single CNC machine where the cutting tool is subject to wear; our objective is to minimize the total completion time. We first describe the problem and discuss its peculiarities. After briefly reviewing available theoretical results, we then go on to provide a mixed 0-1 linear programming model for the exact solution of the problem; this is useful in solving problem instances with up to 20 jobs and has been used in our computational study. As our main contribution, we next propose a number of heuristic algorithms based on simple dispatch rules and generic search. We then discuss the results of a computational study where the performance of the various heuristics is tested; we note that the well-known SPT rule remains good when the tool change time is small but deteriorates as this time increases and further that the proposed algorithms promise significant improvement over the SPT rule. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc
Gold as an inflation hedge?
This paper attempts to reconcile an apparent contradiction between short-run and long-run movements in the price of gold. The theoretical model suggests a set of conditions under which the price of gold rises over time at the general rate of inflation and hence be an effective hedge against inflation. The model also demonstrates that short-run changes in the gold lease rate, the real interest rate, convenience yield, default risk, the covariance of gold returns with other assets and the dollar/world exchange rate can disturb this equilibrium relationship and generate short-run price volatility. Using monthly gold price data (1976-1999), and cointegration regression techniques, an empirical analysis confirms the central hypotheses of the theoretical model
Thermodynamics Inducing Massive Particles' Tunneling and Cosmic Censorship
By calculating the change of entropy, we prove that the first law of black
hole thermodynamics leads to the tunneling probability of massive particles
through the horizon, including the tunneling probability of massive charged
particles from the Reissner-Nordstr\"om black hole and the Kerr-Newman black
hole. Novelly, we find the trajectories of massive particles are close to that
of massless particles near the horizon, although the trajectories of massive
charged particles may be affected by electromagnetic forces. We show that
Hawking radiation as massive particles tunneling does not lead to violation of
the weak cosmic-censorship conjecture
Remarks on 't Hooft's Brick Wall Model
A semi-classical reasoning leads to the non-commutativity of the space and
time coordinates near the horizon of Schwarzschild black hole. This
non-commutativity in turn provides a mechanism to interpret the brick wall
thickness hypothesis in 't Hooft's brick wall model as well as the boundary
condition imposed for the field considered. For concreteness, we consider a
noncommutative scalar field model near the horizon and derive the effective
metric via the equation of motion of noncommutative scalar field. This metric
displays a new horizon in addition to the original one associated with the
Schwarzschild black hole. The infinite red-shifting of the scalar field on the
new horizon determines the range of the noncommutativ space and explains the
relevant boundary condition for the field. This range enables us to calculate
the entropy of black hole as proportional to the area of its original horizon
along the same line as in 't Hooft's model, and the thickness of the brick wall
is found to be proportional to the thermal average of the noncommutative
space-time range. The Hawking temperature has been derived in this formalism.
The study here represents an attempt to reveal some physics beyond the brick
wall model.Comment: RevTeX, 5 pages, no figure
Sedimentation record in the Konkan-Kerala Basin: implications for the evolution of the Western Ghats and the Western Indian passive margin
The Konkan and Kerala Basins constitute a major depocentre for sediment from the onshore hinterland of Western India and as such provide a valuable record of the timing and magnitude of Cenozoic denudation along the continental margin. This paper presents an analysis of sedimentation in the Konkan-Kerala Basin, coupledwith a mass balance study, and numerical modelling of flexural responses to onshore denudational unloading and o¡shore sediment loading in order to test competing conceptual models for the development of high-elevation passive margins. The Konkan-Kerala Basin contains an estimated 109,000 km<sup>3</sup>; of Cenozoic clastic sediment, a volume difficult to reconcile with the denudation of a downwarped rift flank onshore, and more consistent with denudation of an elevated rift flank. We infer from modelling of the isostatic response of the lithosphere to sediment loading offshore and denudation onshore that flexure is an important component in the development of the Western Indian Margin.There is evidence for two major pulses in sedimentation: an early phase in the Palaeocene, and a second beginning in the Pliocene. The Palaeocene increase in sedimentation can be interpreted in terms of a denudational response to the rifting between India and the Seychelles, whereas the mechanism responsible for the Pliocene pulse is more enigmatic
Klein tunneling in graphene: optics with massless electrons
This article provides a pedagogical review on Klein tunneling in graphene,
i.e. the peculiar tunneling properties of two-dimensional massless Dirac
electrons. We consider two simple situations in detail: a massless Dirac
electron incident either on a potential step or on a potential barrier and use
elementary quantum wave mechanics to obtain the transmission probability. We
emphasize the connection to related phenomena in optics, such as the
Snell-Descartes law of refraction, total internal reflection, Fabry-P\'erot
resonances, negative refraction index materials (the so called meta-materials),
etc. We also stress that Klein tunneling is not a genuine quantum tunneling
effect as it does not necessarily involve passing through a classically
forbidden region via evanescent waves. A crucial role in Klein tunneling is
played by the conservation of (sublattice) pseudo-spin, which is discussed in
detail. A major consequence is the absence of backscattering at normal
incidence, of which we give a new shorten proof. The current experimental
status is also thoroughly reviewed. The appendix contains the discussion of a
one-dimensional toy model that clearly illustrates the difference in Klein
tunneling between mono- and bi-layer graphene.Comment: short review article, 18 pages, 14 figures; v3: references added,
several figures slightly modifie
Accretion, Outflows, and Winds of Magnetized Stars
Many types of stars have strong magnetic fields that can dynamically
influence the flow of circumstellar matter. In stars with accretion disks, the
stellar magnetic field can truncate the inner disk and determine the paths that
matter can take to flow onto the star. These paths are different in stars with
different magnetospheres and periods of rotation. External field lines of the
magnetosphere may inflate and produce favorable conditions for outflows from
the disk-magnetosphere boundary. Outflows can be particularly strong in the
propeller regime, wherein a star rotates more rapidly than the inner disk.
Outflows may also form at the disk-magnetosphere boundary of slowly rotating
stars, if the magnetosphere is compressed by the accreting matter. In isolated,
strongly magnetized stars, the magnetic field can influence formation and/or
propagation of stellar wind outflows. Winds from low-mass, solar-type stars may
be either thermally or magnetically driven, while winds from massive, luminous
O and B type stars are radiatively driven. In all of these cases, the magnetic
field influences matter flow from the stars and determines many observational
properties. In this chapter we review recent studies of accretion, outflows,
and winds of magnetized stars with a focus on three main topics: (1) accretion
onto magnetized stars; (2) outflows from the disk-magnetosphere boundary; and
(3) winds from isolated massive magnetized stars. We show results obtained from
global magnetohydrodynamic simulations and, in a number of cases compare global
simulations with observations.Comment: 60 pages, 44 figure
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