A new hybrid GA-PSO method for solving multi-period inventory routing problem with considering financial decisions

Integration of various logistical components in supply chain management, such as transportation, inventory control and facility location are becoming common practice to avoid sub-optimization in nowadays’ competitive environment. The integration of transportation and inventory decisions is known as inventory routing problem (IRP) in the literature. The problem aims to determine the delivery quantity for each customer and the network routes to be used in each period, so that the total inventory and transportation costs are to be minimized. On the contrary of conventional IRP that each retailer can only provide its demand from the supplier, in this paper, a new multi-period, multi-item IRP model with considering lateral trans-shipment, back-log and financial decisions is proposed as a business model in a distinct organization. The main purpose of this paper is applying an applicable inventory routing model with considering real world setting and solving it with an appropriate method.Peer Reviewe

Automated segmentation and morphological characterization of placental histology images based on a single labeled image

In this study, a novel method of data augmentation has been presented for the segmentation of placental histological images when the labeled data are scarce. This method generates new realizations of the placenta intervillous morphology while maintaining the general textures and orientations. As a result, a diversified artificial dataset of images is generated that can be used for training deep learning segmentation models. We have observed that on average the presented method of data augmentation led to a 42% decrease in the binary cross-entropy loss of the validation dataset compared to the common approach in the literature. Additionally, the morphology of the intervillous space is studied under the effect of the proposed image reconstruction technique, and the diversity of the artificially generated population is quantified. Due to the high resemblance of the generated images to the real ones, the applications of the proposed method may not be limited to placental histological images, and it is recommended that other types of tissues be investigated in future studies

Optimal dynamic pricing and replenishment policies for deteriorating items

Marketing strategies and proper inventory replenishment policies are often incorporated by enterprises to stimulate demand and maximize profit. The aim of this paper is to represent an integrated model for dynamic pricing and inventory control of deteriorating items. To reflect the dynamic characteristic of the problem, the selling price is defined as a time-dependent function of the initial selling price and the discount rate. In this regard, the price is exponentially discounted to compensate negative impact of the deterioration. The planning horizon is assumed to be infinite and the deterioration rate is time-dependent. In addition to price, the demand rate is dependent on advertisement as a powerful marketing tool. Several theoretical results and an iterative solution algorithm are developed to provide the optimal solution. Finally, to show validity of the model and illustrate the solution procedure, numerical results are presented

Chemical composition of the essential oil from Kelussia odoratissima Mozaff. and the evaluation of its sedative and anxiolytic effects in mice

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to evaluate the sedative and anxiolytic effects of the essential oils and hydroalcoholic extract of Kelussia odoratissima Mozaff. (K. odoratissima) in mice by utilizing an elevated plus maze. The chemical composition of its essential oil was also determined. METHODS: The hydroalcoholic extract or essential oil fraction from this plant were administered intraperitoneally to male mice at various doses 30 min before testing. The anxiolytic and sedative effects were determined by an elevated plus maze and locomotor activity tests, respectively. RESULTS: According to the results, none of the administered doses of hydroalcoholic extract or essential oil fraction of K. odoratissima changed the percentage of the time spent or number of entries into the open arms of the elevated plus maze. In contrast, the cumulative spontaneous locomotor activity of mice treated with the essential oil or hydroalcoholic extract was significantly decreased. Chemical analysis of the essential oil by Gas chromatography-mass spectromentry (GC-MS) showed that 3-butylidene-4,5-dihydrophthalide (85.9%) was the major component. CONCLUSION: These data confirm the sedative properties of K. odoratissima, yet there were no profound anxiolytic effects observed

Optimization of a dynamic supply portfolio considering risks and discount’s constraints

Purpose: Nowadays finding reliable suppliers in the global supply chains has become so important for success, because reliable suppliers would lead to a reliable supply and besides that orders of customer are met effectively . Yet, there is little empirical evidence to support this view, hence the purpose of this paper is to fill this need by considering risk in order to find the optimum supply portfolio. Design/methodology/approach: This paper proposes a multi objective model for the supplier selection portfolio problem that uses conditional value at risk (CVaR) criteria to control the risks of delayed, disrupted and defected supplies via scenario analysis. Also we consider discount’s constraints which are common assumptions in supplier selection problems. The proposed approach is capable of determining the optimal supply portfolio by calculating value-at-risk and minimizing conditional value-at-risk. In this study the Reservation Level driven Tchebycheff Procedure (RLTP) which is one of the reference point methods, is used to solve small size of our model through coding in GAMS. As our model is NP-hard; a meta-heuristic approach, Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm (NSGA) which is one of the most efficient methods for optimizing multi objective models, is applied to solve large scales of our model. Findings and Originality/value: In order to find a dynamic supply portfolio, we developed a Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) model which contains two objectives. One objective minimizes the cost and the other minimizes the risks of delayed, disrupted and defected supplies. CVaR is used as the risk controlling method which emphases on low-probability, high-consequence events. Discount option as a common offer from suppliers is also implanted in the proposed model. Our findings show that the proposed model can help in optimization of a dynamic supplier selection portfolio with controlling the corresponding risks for large scales of real word problems. Practical implications: To approve the capability of our model various numerical examples are made and non-dominated solutions are generated. Sensitive analysis is made for determination of the most important factors. The results shows that how a dynamic supply portfolio would disperse the allocation of orders among the suppliers combined with the allocation of orders among the planning periods, in order to hedge against the risks of delayed, disrupted and defected supplies. Originality/value: This paper provides a novel multi objective model for supplier selection portfolio problem that is capable of controlling delayed, disrupted and defected supplies via scenario analysis. Also discounts, as an option offered from suppliers, are embedded in the model. Due to the large size of the real problems in the field of supplier selection portfolio a meta-heuristic method, NSGA II, is presented for solving the multi objective model. The chromosome represented for the proposed solving methodology is unique and is another contribution of this paper which showed to be adaptive with the essence of supplier selection portfolio problemPeer Reviewe