A Novel Approach to the Common Due-Date Problem on Single and Parallel Machines

This paper presents a novel idea for the general case of the Common Due-Date (CDD) scheduling problem. The problem is about scheduling a certain number of jobs on a single or parallel machines where all the jobs possess different processing times but a common due-date. The objective of the problem is to minimize the total penalty incurred due to earliness or tardiness of the job completions. This work presents exact polynomial algorithms for optimizing a given job sequence for single and identical parallel machines with the run-time complexities of $O(n \log n)$ for both cases, where $n$ is the number of jobs. Besides, we show that our approach for the parallel machine case is also suitable for non-identical parallel machines. We prove the optimality for the single machine case and the runtime complexities of both. Henceforth, we extend our approach to one particular dynamic case of the CDD and conclude the chapter with our results for the benchmark instances provided in the OR-library.Comment: Book Chapter 22 page

Fitting censored quantile regression by variable neighborhood search

Quantile regression is an increasingly important topic in statistical analysis. However, fitting censored quantile regression is hard to solve numerically because the objective function to be minimized is not convex nor concave in regressors. Performance of standard methods is not satisfactory, particularly if a high degree of censoring is present. The usual approach is to simplify (linearize) estimator function, and to show theoretically that such approximation converges to optimal values. In this paper, we suggest a new approach, to solve optimization problem (nonlinear, nonconvex, and nondifferentiable) directly. Our method is based on variable neighborhood search approach, a recent successful technique for solving global optimization problems. The presented results indicate that our method can improve quality of censored quantizing regressors estimator considerably

Predicting the Natural Gas Demand Based on Economic Indicators: Case of Turkey

WOS: 000274218500007This article presents a heuristic approach to estimate Turkey's natural gas demand based on economic indicators. The proposed heuristic methods are based on simulated annealing, which is locating a good approximation to the global optimum of a given function in a large search space. An approach based on simulated annealing is first used to forecast natural gas demand. A simulated annealing natural gas demand estimation model uses economical indicators, such as gross domestic product, population, import, and export. Linear and quadratic forms of simulated annealing natural gas demand estimation are proposed and quadratic simulated annealing natural gas demand estimation provided a better fit solution. The simulating annealing natural gas demand estimation model predicts Turkey's natural gas demand until 2025.M. Duran Toksari; Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of Turkey; Turkish Statistical InstituteThe author is grateful for the support provided for the present work by M. Duran Toksari, the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of Turkey, and Turkish Statistical Institute. The author also highly appreciates the constructive comments of the reviewers

Estimating the net electricity energy generation and demand using the ant colony optimization approach: Case of Turkey

This paper presents Turkey's net electricity energy generation and demand based on economic indicators. Forecasting model for electricity energy generation and demand is first proposed by the ant colony optimization (ACO) approach. It is multi-agent system in which the behavior of each ant is inspired by the foraging behavior of real ants to solve optimization problem. Ant colony optimization electricity energy estimation (ACOEEE) model is developed using population, gross domestic product (GDP), import and export. All equations proposed here are linear electricity energy generation and demand (linear_ACOEEGE and linear ACOEEDE) and quadratic energy generation and demand (quadratic_ACOEEGE and quadratic ACOEEDE). Quadratic models for both generation and demand provided better fit solution due to the fluctuations of the economic indicators. The ACOEEGE and ACOEEDE models indicate Turkey's net electricity energy generation and demand until 2025 according to three scenarios.Ant colony optimization Electricity energy estimation Turkey

Market segmentation of organ donors in Egypt: a bio-inspired computational intelligence approach

First performed in 1954, organ transplantation is a universally practiced clinical procedure. This study uses ant colony optimization (ACO), radial basis function neural network (RBFNN), Kohonen's self-organizing maps (SOM), and support vector machines (SVMs) to examine the effect of various cognitive, psychographic, and attitudinal factors on organ donation. ACO, RBFNN, SOM, and SVMs are compared to a standard statistical method (linear discriminant analysis [LDA]). The variable sets considered are altruistic values, perceived risks/benefits, knowledge, attitudes toward organ donation, and intention to donate organs. The paper shows how it is possible to identify various dimensions of organ donation behavior by uncovering complex patterns in the dataset and also shows the classification and clustering abilities of machine-learning systems

Niğde İlindeki Tüketicilerin Sosyo – Demografik Özellikleri İle Organik Gıdalara İlişkin Tutum Ve Bireysel Değerleri Arasındaki Farklılığın İncelenmesine Yönelik Bir Araştırma (A Research for the Examination of the Differences in Customers Attitude towards Organic Foods Their Demographical Characteristics and Individual Values)

The aim of this study is to examine customers’ attitude towards organic foods, and their relationship with demographic and individual values. The study is based on examination from the customers’ perspective of “universalism” and “goodness” which one among the values of the value theory, consist of 10 life – value as developed Schwartz. A questionnaire was applied to 500 participants. The data gathered by questionnaire were analyzed by SPSS program. The research has shown those families under 40 years old, with 1 or 2 children and over 1000 NTL and especially women with these characteristic are more sensitive toward organic foods than other socio – demographic groups. Individuals, who are positive toward organic food, are sensitive to environment, self reconciled and hold values friendly to the nature. Moreover these individuals are also tolerant, idealistic charitable, responsible and wish a peaceful and beautiful world

A RESEARCH FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE DIFFERENCES IN

Tüketicilerin sosyo – demografik özellikleri ile organik gıdalara ilişkin tutumlarıve bireysel değerler arasındaki farklılığın incelenmesi araştırmanın amacınıoluşturmaktadır. Çalışma kuramsal olarak, Schwartz (1992) tarafından ortaya konulan vetemel olarak 10 yaşam değerinden oluşan değerler teorisi içerisindeki “evrenselcilik” ve“iyilikseverlik” değerlerinin, organik gıda satın alan tüketiciler açısından incelenmesinedayanmaktadır. Daha önce geliştirilen ölçeklere dayanarak hazırlanmış bir anket formuNiğde ilinde 500 katılımcıya yöneltilmiştir. Sonuçlar SPSS 13 paket programı aracılığı ileçeşitli analizlere tabi tutulmuştur. Yapılan çalışmada da görülmüştür ki, 40 yaş altı, gelirseviyesi 1000 YTL üzerinde olan, bir ya da iki çocuklu aileler ve özellikle bu grupta yeralan Kadınlar organik gıda konusunda diğer sosyo demografik özelliklere sahip gruplaragöre daha duyarlıdırlar. Organik gıdaya yönelik olumlu imaj sahibi bireylerin çevreyeduyarlı, kendiyle barışık, doğayla bütünlük içerisinde olmak isteyen değerlere sahipoldukları görülmüştür. Ayrıca, bu bireylerin hoşgörülü, manevi değerlere sahip,yardımsever, sorumluluk sahibi ve güzelliklerle dolu bir dünya isteyen bireylerin olduğusonucuna ulaşılmıştır.The aim of this study is to examine customers' attitude towards organic foods, andtheir relationship with demographic and individual values. The study is based onexamination from the customers' perspective of “universalism” and “goodness” which oneamong the values of the value theory, consist of 10 life – value as developed Schwartz. Aquestionnaire was applied to 500 participants. The data gathered by questionnaire wereanalyzed by SPSS program. The research has shown those families under 40 years old, with1 or 2 children and over 1000 NTL and especially women with these characteristic aremore sensitive toward organic foods than other socio – demographic groups. Individuals,who are positive toward organic food, are sensitive to environment, self reconciled andhold values friendly to the nature. Moreover these individuals are also tolerant, idealisticcharitable, responsible and wish a peaceful and beautiful world