A Slicing Tree Representation and QCP-Model-Based Heuristic Algorithm for the Unequal-Area Block Facility Layout Problem

The facility layout problem is a typical combinational optimization problem. In this research, a slicing tree representation and a quadratically constrained program model are combined with harmony search to develop a heuristic method for solving the unequal-area block layout problem. Because of characteristics of slicing tree structure, we propose a regional structure of harmony memory to memorize facility layout solutions and two kinds of harmony improvisation to enhance global search ability of the proposed heuristic method. The proposed harmony search based heuristic is tested on 10 well-known unequal-area facility layout problems from the literature. The results are compared with the previously best-known solutions obtained by genetic algorithm, tabu search, and ant system as well as exact methods. For problems O7, O9, vC10Ra, M11*, and Nug12, new best solutions are found. For other problems, the proposed approach can find solutions that are very similar to previous best-known solutions

Equilibrium analysis and corporate social responsibility for supply chain integration

This paper evaluates the profit of coordination between manufacturers on corporate social responsibility (CSR) under network equilibrium. A three-tier supply chain network with multiple manufacturers, distributors, and retailers is considered, and several mathematical models are established to investigate behavior and profits in a decentralized supply chain network, a centralized supply chain network, and a supply chain network with CSR. The system-optimal solution of a supply chain network problem is usually not achievable or stable since each member always tries to maximize its own profit. In order to make such a system-optimal solution in a stable state and ensure the maximization of total profits, a strategy of coordination between manufacturers on CSR is proposed. The amount of payment in CSR of each manufacturer is clearly defined. A hybrid diagonalization method with a super-network representation is proposed and tested with numerical examples. The results show that by taking CSR, the total profits of the whole supply chain network can increase with or without coordination.

The real-time time-dependent vehicle routing problem

In this article, the real-time time-dependent vehicle routing problem with time windows is formulated as a series of mixed integer programming models that account for real-time and time-dependent travel times, as well as for real-time demands in a unified framework. In addition to vehicles routes, departure times are treated as decision variables, with delayed departure permitted at each node serviced. A heuristic comprising route construction and route improvement is proposed within which critical nodes are defined to delineate the scope of the remaining problem along the time rolling horizon and an efficient technique for choosing optimal departure times is developed. Fifty-six numerical problems and a real application are provided for demonstration.Time-dependent travel time Real time Time window constraints Vehicle routing problem

A scenario planning approach for the flood emergency logistics preparation problem under uncertainty

This paper aims to develop a decision-making tool that can be used by government agencies in planning for flood emergency logistics. In this article, the flood emergency logistics problem with uncertainty is formulated as two stochastic programming models that allow for the determination of a rescue resource distribution system for urban flood disasters. The decision variables include the structure of rescue organizations, locations of rescue resource storehouses, allocations of rescue resources under capacity restrictions, and distributions of rescue resources. By applying the data processing and network analysis functions of the geographic information system, flooding potential maps can estimate the possible locations of rescue demand points and the required amount of rescue equipment. The proposed models are solved using a sample average approximation scheme. Finally, a real example of planning for flood emergency logistics is presented to highlight the significance of the proposed model as well as the efficacy of the proposed solution strategy.Emergency facility location Rescue resource allocation Scenario planning Geographic information system

Effectiveness of bisphosphonate analogues and functional electrical stimulation on attenuating post-injury osteoporosis in spinal cord injury patients- a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Various pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic approaches have been applied to reduce sublesional bone loss after spinal cord injury (SCI), and the results are inconsistent across the studies. The objective of this meta-analysis was to investigate whether the two most-studied interventions, bisphosphonate analogues and functional electrical stimulation (FES), could effectively decrease bone mineral density (BMD) attenuation and/or restore lost BMD in the SCI population. METHODS: Randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental studies, and prospective follow-up studies employing bisphosphonates or FES to treat post-SCI osteoporosis were identified in PubMed and Scopus. The primary outcome was the percentage of BMD change from baseline measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) or computed tomography (CT). Data were extracted from four points: the 3rd, 6th, 12th, and 18th month after intervention. RESULTS: A total of 19 studies were included in the analysis and involved 364 patients and 14 healthy individuals. Acute SCI participants treated with bisphosphonate therapy demonstrated a trend toward less bone loss than participants who received placebos or usual care. A significant difference in BMD decline was noted between both groups at the 3rd and 12th month post-medication. The subgroup analysis failed to show the superiority of intravenous bisphosphonate over oral administration. Regarding FES training, chronic SCI patients had 5.96% (95% CI, 2.08% to 9.84%), 7.21% (95%CI, 1.79% to 12.62%), and 9.56% (95% CI, 2.86% to 16.26%) increases in BMD at the 3rd, 6th, and 12th months post-treatment, respectively. The studies employing FES ≥ 5 days per week were likely to have better effectiveness than studies using FES ≤ 3 days per week. CONCLUSIONS: Our meta-analysis indicated bisphosphonate administration early following SCI effectively attenuated sublesional bone loss. FES intervention for chronic SCI patients could significantly increase sublesional BMD near the site of maximal mechanical loading

Item response theory with fuzzy markup language for parameter estimation and validation

International audienceOwing to advanced technical progress in information and communication technology, computerized adaptive assessment becomes more and more important for the personalized learning achievement. According to the response data from the conventional test and three-parameter logistic (3PL) model of the item response theory (IRT), this paper combines IRT with fuzzy markup language (FML) for an adaptive assessment application. The novel FML-based IRT estimation mechanism includes a Gauss-Seidel (GS) parameter estimation mechanism, a fuzzy knowledge base and a fuzzy rule base, to estimate the item parameters for each item. Meanwhile, it is able to infer the possibility of correct response to each item for each involved student. Additionally, this paper also proposes a static-IRT test assembly mechanism to assemble a form for the conventional test. After that, this paper chooses 5-fold cross validation to validate the research performance. From the experimental results, it shows that the proposed approach performs better than the traditional Bayesian estimation one

A Silicon-based Coral-like Nanostructured Microfluidics to Isolate Rare Cells in Human Circulation: Validation by SK-BR-3 Cancer Cell Line and Its Utility in Circulating Fetal Nucleated Red Blood Cells

Circulating fetal cells (CFCs) in maternal blood are rare but have a strong potential to be the target for noninvasive prenatal diagnosis (NIPD). “Cell RevealTM system„ is a silicon-based microfluidic platform capable to capture rare cell populations in human circulation. The platform is recently optimized to enhance the capture efficiency and system automation. In this study, spiking tests of SK-BR-3 breast cancer cells were used for the evaluation of capture efficiency. Then, peripheral bloods from 14 pregnant women whose fetuses have evidenced non-maternal genomic markers (e.g., de novo pathogenic copy number changes) were tested for the capture of circulating fetal nucleated red blood cells (fnRBCs). Captured cells were subjected to fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) on chip or recovered by an automated cell picker for molecular genetic analyses. The capture rate for the spiking tests is estimated as 88.1%. For the prenatal study, 2⁻71 fnRBCs were successfully captured from 2 mL of maternal blood in all pregnant women. The captured fnRBCs were verified to be from fetal origin. Our results demonstrated that the Cell RevealTM system has a high capture efficiency and can be used for fnRBC capture that is feasible for the genetic diagnosis of fetuses without invasive procedures