Greedy randomized dispatching heuristics for the single machine scheduling problem with quadratic earliness and tardiness penalties

In this paper, we present greedy randomized dispatching heuristics for the single machine scheduling problem with quadratic earliness and tardiness costs, and no machine idle time. The several heuristic versions differ, on the one hand, on the strategies involved in the construction of the greedy randomized schedules. On the other hand, these versions also differ on whether they employ only a final improvement step, or perform a local search after each greedy randomized construction. The proposed heuristics were compared with existing procedures, as well as with optimum solutions for some instance sizes. The computational results show that the proposed procedures clearly outperform their underlying dispatching heuristic, and the best of these procedures provide results that are quite close to the optimum. The best of the proposed algorithms is the new recommended heuristic for large instances, as well as a suitable alternative to the best existing procedure for the larger of the middle size instances.scheduling, single machine, early/tardy, quadratic penalties, greedy randomized dispatching rules

Improving order-picking operations with precedence constraints through efficient storage location assignment: evidence from a retail company

This paper is inspired by a manual picking retail company where shape and weight constraints affect the order-picking process. We proposed an alternative clustering similarity index that considers the similarity, the weight and the shape of products. This similarity index was further incorporated in a storage allocation heuristic procedure to set the location of the products. We test the procedure in a retail company that supplies over 191 stores, in Northern Portugal. When comparing the strategy currently used in the company with this procedure, we found out that our approach enabled a reduction of up to 40% on the picking distance; a percentage of improvement that is 32% higher than the one achieved by applying the Jaccard index, a similarity index commonly used in the literature. This allows warehouses to save time and work faster.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Desenvolvimento e avaliação das características psicométricas do inventário de avaliação das percepções dos professores acerca das necessidades ao nível da promoção de competências sociais e emocionais

The objective of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of an assessment instrument on teachers' perceptions regarding the development of socio-emotional skills. Results revealed a consistent four-factor structure (School/teachers' needs for socio-emotional skills promotion; Needs regarding teaching-learning process; Difficulties in dealing with students' socio-emotional deficits, Socio-emotional needs related to teacher's initial training) with internal consistency values above .79. Confirmatory analyses revealed a good fit of the model to the data. Teachers reported having more needs at the school/ teachers conditions for the promotion of social and emotional needs, and less needs at the level of their Teachers' initial training. The instrument also showed to be sensitive in capturing teachers' perception of schooling social and emotional needs in terms of teachers' gender, pedagogic group and school level.O objectivo deste estudo foi avaliar as características psicométricas de um instrumento de avaliação das percepções dos professores acerca das suas necessidades na promoção das competências sociais e emocionais. Os resultados revelaram uma estrutura de quatro factores (Necessidades ao nível da escola/professor, necessidades ao nível do processo de ensino-aprendizagem, Dificuldades em lidar com défices sócio-emocionais dos alunos e Necessidades ao nível da formação inicial), com valores de consistência interna acima de 0,79. As análises confirmatórias revelaram bom ajustamento do modelo aos dados. Os professores revelaram sentir maiores dificuldades ao nível das condições da escola/ professores e menores ao nível da formação inicial. O instrumento revelou-se também sensível às diferenças de percepções em termos do género, grupo pedagógico, e nível de ensino

Applying Goldratt’s Framework to the Banking System

This paper describes the major elements of the Goldratt’s framework – the Theory of Constraints (TOC) – in the banking sector, and examines the factors involved in the decision to adopt the TOC by companies in this sector. Through a deep literature review, analyzing similar cases that apply the Goldratt’s framework in services and in manufacturing and the severalviews of its components, we aim at formulating a framework specifically for the banking system.The study uses a qualitative methodology supported by the information extracted from reality as it is framed in a multicase study model. As part of the quantitative approach, we test several research hypotheses raised from the review of existing studies in the area.The main factors that influence the decision to adopt the TOC are the nature and the characteristics of the banking service, the attitude towards change, the leadership and the commitment of the entire institution.By using the Goldratt’s approach outlined in this article, through the location of the constraints and develop practical measurement to facilitate the banking process improvements, banks can improve resource utilization, revenues and employee satisfaction

Cellulolytic ability of Penicillium strains isolated from soil of the Brazilian Atlantic forest

Penicillium spp. are capable of degrading plant wastes by producing large amounts of enzymes such as cellulases. These form a complex capable of acting on cellulosic materials and producing sugars with industrial interest (e.g., ethanol production). Cellulases are also used for (a) pulp and paper industry (b) in the textile industry. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cellulolytic capability of 17 strains of Penicillium isolated from soil of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest and conserved under mineral oil at the URM Culture Collection. All strains were re-grown from mineral oil and re-identifiied. Each strain was grown in synthetic medium with carboxymethylcellulose as the carbon source and incubated for 5 days at 28°C. Strains were subjected to heat shock for 16h at 50°C. Thereafter, onto each colony was added 5 ml of Congo red stain solution in Tris-HCl. After 30 min this solution was removed and the cultures were washed and submerged under 0.1 M NaCl aqueous solution for 5 min. Finally, an enzymatic index was calculated from the ratio of the diameter of the halo around each colony to the diameter of the colony. All of the 17 strains tested showed a halo of cellulose degradation, indicating enzyme production. The enzymatic ratios varied between 0.2 (Penicillium brevicompactum URM5994) and 3.3 (Penicillium glabrum URM6009). Thus, Penicillium glabrum URM6009 is evaluated as a high producer of cellulase. It was selected for quantitative production of this enzyme and additional studies are taking place in order to verify potential industrial application for clarification of fruit juices

Synthesis, In Vitro Antiproliferative And Anti-mycobacterium Tuberculosis Activities Of Novel Beta-carboline Derivatives

A series of beta-carboline derivatives with amino or guanidinium were synthesized and evaluated in vitro against anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis and for antiproliferative activities against nine human cancer cell lines. The compounds 1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-carboxamide(ethylamine) beta-carboline (24.9 mu g mL(-1)) and 1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-carboxamide(ethylamine) beta-carboline (26.9 mu g mL(-1)) were the most active against M. Tuberculosis (MTB). Compounds 1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-carboxamide( ethylamine) beta-carboline and 1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-carboxamide(propylamine) beta-carboline, which had the same substituted groups, inhibited the growth of all human tumor cell lines with growth inhibitory activity (GI(50)) values from 1.37 to 9.20 mmol L-1. Also in this series, compounds 1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-carboxamide(propylamine) beta-carboline and 1-(3-nitrophenyl)-3-carboxamide(propylamine) beta-carboline demonstrated significant activity against NCI/ADR cells. Among compounds with a terminal guanidine group, compounds 1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3carboxamide(ethyl) guanidine beta-carboline (27.8 mu g mL(-1)) and 1-(3-nitrophenyl)-3-carboxamide(ethyl) guanidine beta-carboline (37.4 mu g mL(-1)) demonstrated the greatest activity against MTB. Additionally, compounds 1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-carboxamide(ethyl) guanidine beta-carboline (GI(50) = 0.45 mmol L-1) effectively inhibited growth and was highly selective against NCI/ADR. The in silico study revealed that 1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-carboxamide(ethylamine) beta-carboline, 1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-carboxamide(ethylamine) beta-carboline, 1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-carboxamide(propylamine) beta-carboline, 1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-carboxamide(propylamine) beta-carboline and 1-(3-nitrophenyl)-3-carboxamide(propylamine) beta-carboline compounds follow the rules established by Lipinski, suggesting that this compound has no problems with oral bioavailability.2781398140

Promotion of mental health literacy and mental well-being in a Portuguese unemployed population sample : effectiveness assessment of a capacity building community-based intersectoral intervention

Copyright © 2017 Published by Elsevier Masson SASIntroduction: Economic crises have consequences on labor market, with impacts on mental health (MH) and psychological well-being (PWB). We describe the effectiveness of an intervention among unemployed, performed within EEA Grants Healthy Employment project.Objectives Evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention for MH literacy, PWB and resilience among unemployed. Aims MH and PWB promotion, common mental disorders prevention and inequalities reduction linked to unemployment.Methods A five modules intervention (life-work balance; impact of unemployment on PWB and MH; stigma; depression and anxiety; health promotion) distributed by 20 hours was developed based on literature reviews and a Delphi panel. It was delivered to unemployees from two public employment centers (PECs).Inclusion criteria: 18–65 years old; registration in PEC for less than a year; minimum of nine years of formal education. Control groups from the same PECs received the care-as-usual. Measures of psychological WB, MH self-reported symptoms, life satisfaction,resilience and mental health literacy were collected through an online survey before and one week after intervention.Results Overall, 87 unemployed participated,48% allocated to the intervention group (IG); 56% women (21–64 years old), average education was 15 years. Mixed measures ANOVA showed that the interaction between time and group was significant for PWB and MH literacy measures. The IG showed better self-reported PWB and improved MH literacy after intervention, compared to controls. No significant interactions were found for MH symptoms, life satisfaction and resilience.Conclusions This study shows the contribution of short-term community-based interventions in increasing MH literacy and PWB among unemployed.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Mitochondrial Preconditioning: A Potential Neuroprotective Strategy

Mitochondria have long been known as the powerhouse of the cell. However, these organelles are also pivotal players in neuronal cell death. Mitochondrial dysfunction is a prominent feature of chronic brain disorders, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD), and cerebral ischemic stroke. Data derived from morphologic, biochemical, and molecular genetic studies indicate that mitochondria constitute a convergence point for neurodegeneration. Conversely, mitochondria have also been implicated in the neuroprotective signaling processes of preconditioning. Despite the precise molecular mechanisms underlying preconditioning-induced brain tolerance are still unclear, mitochondrial reactive oxygen species generation and mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channels activation have been shown to be involved in the preconditioning phenomenon. This review intends to discuss how mitochondrial malfunction contributes to the onset and progression of cerebral ischemic stroke and AD and PD, two major neurodegenerative disorders. The role of mitochondrial mechanisms involved in the preconditioning-mediated neuroprotective events will be also discussed. Mitochondrial targeted preconditioning may represent a promising therapeutic weapon to fight neurodegeneration

Linhagem celular RC-IAL: sensibilidade de crescimento do vírus da rubéola

OBJECTIVE: The rapid growth of the rubella virus in RC-IAL² with development of cytopathic effect, in response to rubella virus infection, is described. For purposes of comparison, the rubella virus RA-27/3 strain was titered simultaneously in the RC-IAL, Vero, SIRC and RK13 cell lines. METHODS: Rubella virus RA-27/3 strain are inoculated in the RC-IAL cell line (rabbit Kidney, Institute Adolfo Lutz). Plates containing 1.5x10(5) cells/ml of RC-IAL line were inoculated with 0.1ml s RA-27/3 strain virus containing 1x 10(4)TCID50/0.1ml. A 25% cytopathic effect was observed after 48 hours and 100% after 96 hours. The results obtained were compared to those observed with the SIRC, Vero and RK13 cell lines. Rubella virus was detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: With the results, it was possible to conclude that the RC-IAL cell line is a very good substrate for culturing rubella virus. The cells inoculated with rubella virus were examined by phase contrast microscopy and showed the characteristic rounded, bipolar and multipolar cells. The CPE in RC-IAL was observed in the first 48 hours and the curve of the increased infectivity was practically the same as observed in other cell lines. CONCLUSIONS: These findings are important since this is one the few cell lines described in the literature with a cytopathic effect. So it can be used for antigen preparation and serological testing for the diagnosis of specific rubella antibodies.OBJETIVO: Descreve-se o crescimento do vírus-padrão da rubéola RA-27/3 na linhagem celular RC-IAL, com desenvolvimento de efeito citopático em resposta à infecção viral. Para este propósito, o vírus-padrão foi titulado simultaneamente nas linhagens celulares Vero, SIRC e RK13. MÉTODOS: O vírus-padrão da rubéola RA-27/3 foi inoculado na linhagem celular RC-IAL (rim de coelho, Instituto Adolfo Lutz). Placas contendo 1,5x10(5) células/ml foram inoculadas com 0,1 ml do vírus contendo 1x10(4) DICT50/0,1 ml. O efeito citopático correspondente a 25% foi observado após 48 h e 100% após 96 h. Os resultados obtidos foram comparados com o crescimento do vírus nas linhagens celulares SIRC, Vero e RK13. O vírus da rubéola na linhagem celular RC-IAL foi detectado por imuno-histoquímica. RESULTADOS: As células inoculadas com o vírus da rubéola apresentaram efeito citopático nas primeiras 48h. As células apresentaram aspecto arredondado, com formação de alguns prolongamentos citoplasmáticos e sincícios, produzindo células multinucleadas. A curva do crescimento da infectividade do vírus foi praticamente a mesma que a observada nas outras linhagens celulares. CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados obtidos mostram que a linhagem celular RC-IAL é um ótimo substrato para crescimento do vírus da rubéola, pois poucas linhagens celulares descritas na literatura apresentam efeito citopático considerável e podem ser utilizadas para preparação de antígenos e nos testes de diagnóstico sorológico para o vírus da rubéola