A tabu search algorithm for scheduling a single robot in a job-shop environment

We consider a single-machine scheduling problem which arises as a subproblem in a job-shop environment where the jobs have to be transported between the machines by a single transport robot. The robot scheduling problem may be regarded as a generalization of the travelling-salesman problem with time windows, where additionally generalized precedence constraints have to be respected. The objective is to determine a sequence of all nodes and corresponding starting times in the given time windows in such a way that all generalized precedence relations are respected and the sum of all travelling and waiting times is minimized. We present a local search algorithm for this problem where an appropriate neighborhood structure is defined using problem-specific properties. In order to make the search process more efficient, we apply some techniques which accelerate the evaluation of the solutions in the proposed neighbourhood considerably. Computational results are presented for test data arising from job-shop instances with a single transport robot

Tabu search algorithms for job-shop problems with a single transport robot

We consider a generalized job-shop problem where the jobs additionally have to be transported between the machines by a single transport robot. Besides transportation times for the jobs, empty moving times for the robot are taken into account. The objective is to determine a schedule with minimal makespan. \u

Polar Research and Supply Vessel POLARSTERN Operated by the Alfred-Wegener-Institute

POLARSTERN, operated by the Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, is an ice going research and supply vessel. The main operation areas are the ice-covered seas of the northern and southern polar regions. The ship provides ideal working conditions for almost all compartments of marine sciences, atmospheric and glaciological research. It can break ice up to 2m continuously and can operate up to 90 days at sea. POLARSTERN is therefore ideally suited for often long expeditions to remote Polar Regions. POLARSTERN regularly supplies the Antarctic research stations, especially the Neumayer Station III and the Kohnen Station (Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, 2016a). In the last 30 years POLARSTERN was in average 310 days per year at sea, she is the major research tool of the German polar research programme

Intoxicações por êxtase : série de casos do centro de informações toxicológicas de Santa Catarina

Trabalho de Conclusão de Curso - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Curso de Medicina. Departamento de Saúde Pública

CEO Communication during Strategic Change: A Regulatory Focus Perspective

The study examines CEO communication in times of strategic change based on regulatory focus theory that describes individuals’ promotion and prevention focus. While promotion-focused individuals strive for maximizing gains, prevention-focused individuals strive for minimizing losses. As CEO communication is especially relevant during strategic changes, when fundamental processes and beliefs are affected and employees need sense-making and meaning-making contributions, the paper analyzes the regulatory focus of CEO letters to shareholders in annual reports and links it to the intensity of change that the organization is currently executing. The paper first develops existing analysis tools further and examines regulatory focus of CEOs as well as the type of change qualitatively from annual reports. Secondly, the paper ties the intensity of change to the CEO regulatory focus quantitatively. Results indicate a persistence of both promotion as well as prevention elements in CEO letters to shareholders. While controlling for contextual variables of the organization, the findings furthermore show a positive association between a more promotion-focused CEO letter to shareholders and the intensity of the organization’s change.Keywords: CEO Communication, Strategic Change, Regulatory Focus Theory, Promotion Focus, Prevention Focu

Every Day, We Have the Opportunity to Make a Difference : NCAA Division I Female Head Coaches\u27 Experiences of Care

According to sport psychology literature, care is an important part of the coach-athlete relationship (e.g., Jowett & Poczwardowski, 2007; LaVoi, 2004; Poczwardowski, 1997; Wylleman, 2000). However, a systematic study of “exemplar” caring coaches is lacking. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to interview 12 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I head female coaches of female teams who were identified by others as “exemplar” carers. A semi-structured interview guide was developed using a modified version of Gilligan and colleagues’ (1989) Listening Guide. An adaptation of Hatch’s (2002) political analysis was used to identify major themes found in the transcribed interviews. Results suggest that four major themes (a) Team as “Family”; (b) Holistic Care of Student-Athletes; (c) Development of the Self-as-Coach; and (d) Institutional Care were found in the data. While coaches described relationships with and responsibilities for athletes and assistant coaches like a traditional, heterosexual family (e.g., coaches serve as “transitional parents”; athletes serve in the roles of children), relationships with university administrators and the NCAA were typically perceived as hierarchical and also complex. For these coaches, it was important to have in place caring coaching philosophies and behaviors that affected not only the short-term well-being and development of their athletes (e.g., make sure that athletes felt “heard” and “known,” help them reach their full potential both on and off the court, use “tough love” when necessary) but also their long-term well-being. Coaches measured their success based on the interactions they had with their athletes after graduation. Female identity development models (e.g., Layton, 1998) and feminist models of care (e.g., Noddings, 2005) are linked to sport in the discussion too. Further, suggestions are made for how to foster a caring environment in NCAA Division I sport