Enriching the tactical network design of express service carriers with fleet scheduling characteristics

Express service carriers provide time-guaranteed deliveries of parcels via a network consisting of nodes and hubs. In this, nodes take care of the collection and delivery of parcels, and hubs have the function to consolidate parcels in between the nodes. The tactical network design problem assigns nodes to hubs, determines arcs between hubs, and routes parcels through the network. Afterwards, fleet scheduling creates a schedule for vehicles operated in the network. The strong relation between flow routing and fleet scheduling makes it difficult to optimise the network cost. Due to this complexity, fleet scheduling and network design are usually decoupled. We propose a new tactical network design model that is able to include fleet scheduling characteristics (like vehicle capacities, vehicle balancing, and drivers' legislations) in the network design. The model is tested on benchmark data based on instances from an express provider, resulting in significant cost reductions

Gebruik van hechters en uitvloeiers tegen bladschimmels in asperges

Doel van het onderzoek is om vast te stellen of de effectiviteit van de fungicidentoepassingen verbeterd kan worden door toevoeging van hechters en uitvloeiers. Vervolgens is vastgesteld of door deze toevoegingen ook het interval tussen de bespuitingen verlengd kan worden. Hierdoor zal tevens het totaal aantal bespuiting afnemen. Verder is vastgesteld of de toepassing van hechters en uitvloeiers het mogelijk maakt om met minder water per hectare de bespuiting uit te voeren

Notes on marine Dolichopodid flies from Thailand (Insecta: Diptera: Dolichopodidae)

A preliminary report is given on the marine Dolichopodidae from the Thai coasts of the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Siam. Fifteen species in 7 genera are identified. Keys to the genera and the species are provided together with short diagnoses to the species. Seven species are described as new: Cymatopus thaicus, new species, Thinolestris thaica, new species, Thinophilus nitens, new species, Th. parmatus, new species, Thinophilus setiventris, new species, Nanothinophilus hoplites, new species and Phacaspis mitis, new species

Enriching the Tactical Network Design of Express Service Carriers with Fleet Scheduling Characteristics

Express service carriers provide time-guaranteed deliveries of parcels via a network consisting of nodes and hubs. In this, nodes take care of the collection and delivery of parcels, and hubs have the function to consolidate parcels in between the nodes. The tactical network design problem assigns nodes to hubs, determines arcs between hubs, and routes parcels through the network. Afterwards, fleet scheduling creates a schedule for vehicles operated in the network. The strong relation between flow routing and fleet scheduling makes it difficult to optimise the network cost. Due to this complexity, fleet scheduling and network design are usually decoupled. We propose a new tactical network design model that is able to include fleet scheduling characteristics (like vehicle capacities, vehicle balancing, and drivers’ legislations) in the network design. The model is tested on benchmark data based on instances from an express provider, resulting in significant cost reductions.express service carriers;freight transportation;tactical hub network design;integer programming;fleet scheduling;heuristics

Justifying age thresholds for mammographic screening: an application of pragma-dialectical argumentation theory

Information campaigns on breast cancer screening in the Netherlands need to convince women above 50 years of age to have biannual mammography, and women below 50 years of age that regular mammograms are not recommended for them. This article reports the results of two experiments in which the construction of the persuasive messages was informed by argumentation-theoretical insights. No differences were found between either statistical and anecdotal evidence or gain- and loss-framing in the attempt to convince women under 50 that they normally do not need regular mammography. A striking contrast emerged, however, between the overwhelming acceptance of breast cancer screening for women above 50 and the relative restraint and reluctance to consent that mammography is usually not recommended for women under 50. The reluctance to accept that regular mammography is not recommended for women under 50 is traced back to ego involvement

Onderzoek zwavelbemesting winterkoolzaad : resultaten onderzoek 2010 en 2011

De vraag is ontstaan of het noodzakelijk is om bij de teelt van koolzaad een bemesting met een zwavelhoudende meststof uit te voeren. Door de afname aan depositie geeft een bemesting met zwavel bij zwavelbehoeftige gewassen mogelijk een verhoging van opbrengst en kwaliteit. In 2010 en 2011 is op PPO onderzoekslocatie Vredepeel een onderzoek uitgevoerd, waarin verschillende trappen van zwavelbemesting zijn vergeleken met geen zwavelbemesting. Door de extreme verschillen in groeiseizoen in 2010 en 2011 is het zeer moeilijk een uitspraak te doen over het nut van zwavelbemesting bij winterkoolzaad. Deze rapportage is onderdeel van het project Energieboerderij