Makespan minimizing on multiple travel salesman problem with a learning effect of visiting time

-The multiple traveling salesman problem (MTSP) involves the assignment and sequencing procedure simultaneously. The assignment of a set of nodes to each visitors and determining the sequence of visiting of nodes for each visitor. Since specific range of process is needed to be carried out in nodes in commercial environment, several factors associated with routing problem are required to be taken into account. This research considers visitors’ skill and category of customers which can affect visiting time of visitors in nodes. With regard to learning-by-doing, visiting time in nodes can be reduced. And different class of customers which are determined based on their potential purchasing of power specifies that required time for nodes can be vary. So, a novel optimization model is presented to formulate MTSP, which attempts to ascertain the optimum routes for salesmen by minimizing the makespan to ensure the balance of workload of visitors. Since this problem is an NP-hard problem, for overcoming the restriction of exact methods for solving practical large-scale instances within acceptable computational times. So, Artificial Immune System (AIS) and the Firefly (FA) metaheuristic algorithm are implemented in this paper and algorithms parameters are calibrated by applying Taguchi technique. The solution methodology is assessed by an array of numerical examples and the overall performances of these metaheuristic methods are evaluated by analyzing their results with the optimum solutions to suggested problems. The results of statistical analysis by considering 95% confidence interval for calculating average relative percentage of deviation (ARPD) reveal that the solutions of proposed AIS algorithm has less variation and Its’ confidence interval of closer than to zero with no overlapping with that of FA. Although both proposed meta-heuristics are effective and efficient in solving small-scale problems, in medium and large scales problems, AIS had a better performance in a shorter average time. Finally, the applicability of the suggested pattern is implemented in a case study in a specific company, namely Kalleh

Removal of permethrin pesticide from water by chitosan–zinc oxide nanoparticles composite as an adsorbent

AbstractSynthesis of chitosan–ZnO nanoparticles (CS–ZnONPs) composite beads was performed by a polymer-based method. The resulting bionanocomposite was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy and infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Adsorption applications for removal of pesticide pollutants were conducted. The optimum conditions, including adsorbent dose, agitating time, initial concentration of pesticide and pH on the adsorption of pesticide by chitosan loaded with zinc oxide nanoparticles beads were investigated. Results showed that 0.5 g of the bionanocomposite, in room temperature and pH 7, could remove 99% of the pesticide from permethrin solution (25 ml, 0.1 mg L−1), using UV spectrophotometer at 272 nm. Then, the application of the adsorbent for pesticide removal was studied in the on-line column. The column was regenerated with NaOH solution (0.1 M) completely, and then reused for adsorption application. The CS–ZnONPs composite beads appear to be the new promising material in water treatment application with 56% regeneration after 3 cycles

An Allocation-Routing Optimization Model for Integrated Solid Waste Management

Integrated smart waste management (ISWM) is an innovative and technologically advanced approach to managing and collecting waste. It is based on the Internet of Things (IoT) technology, a network of interconnected devices that communicate and exchange data. The data collected from IoT devices helps municipalities to optimize their waste management operations. They can use the information to schedule waste collections more efficiently and plan their routes accordingly. In this study, we consider an ISWM framework for the collection, recycling, and recovery steps to improve the performance of the waste system. Since ISWM typically involves the collaboration of various stakeholders and is affected by different sources of uncertainty, a novel multi-objective model is proposed to maximize the probabilistic profit of the network while minimizing the total travel time and transportation costs. In the proposed model, the chance-constrained programming approach is applied to deal with the profit uncertainty gained from waste recycling and recovery activities. Furthermore, some of the most proficient multi-objective meta-heuristic algorithms are applied to address the complexity of the problem. For optimal adjustment of parameter values, the Taguchi parameter design method is utilized to improve the performance of the proposed optimization algorithm. Finally, the most reliable algorithm is determined based on the Best Worst Method (BWM)

Promjene u RF-amidu srodnom peptidu-3 hipotalamusa i ekspresijama gena Kiss1 tijekom spermatogeneze kod štakora u uvjetima kroničnog stresa.

The effects were evaluated of chronic stress and the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist (RU486) on mRNA expressions of RF-amide related peptide-3 (RFRP-3) in the dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus (DMH) and Kiss1 in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) of male rats. Twenty-four male rats were allocated to four equal sized groups: the stress, RU486, stress/RU486, and control groups. In the stress group the rats were restrained 1 hour/day for 12 days. In the RU486 group, the rats were injected with RU486 for 12 days. In the stress/RU486 group, the rats were injected with RU486 1 hour before the stress process for 12 days. Relative expressions of RFRP-3 and Kiss1 mRNAs were determined using real-time PCR. The relative expression of RFRP-3 mRNA in the stress group was higher than that in the RU486 and control rats. The relative expression of RFRP-3 mRNA did not differ between the stress group and the stress/RU486 rats. Furthermore, the relative expressions of Kiss1 mRNA in the stress, RU486, and stress/RU486 groups were less than that of the control rats. The relative expression of Kiss1 mRNA did not differ between the stress, RU486, and stress/RU486 groups. In conclusion, dysfunction in male rat fertility caused by the chronic stress may be the result of the increase in REFP-3 and the decrease in Kiss1 mRNA expression.Istražen je učinak kroničnog stresa i antagonista glukokortikoidnog receptora (RU486) na ekspresiju mRNA RF-amidu srodnog peptida-3 (RFRP-3) u dorzomedijalnoj jezgri hipotalamusa (DMH), te na ekspresije gena Kiss1 u arkuatnom nukleusu (ARC) štakora. Dvadeset i četiri štakora bila su raspodijeljena u četiri jednake skupine: stresna skupina, RU486 skupina, stresna/RU486 skupina i kontrolna skupina. U stresnoj skupini štakori su 12 dana bili obuzdani tijekom jednog sata dnevno. U skupini RU486, štakorima je tijekom 12 dana bio primijenjivan RU486. U skupini stres/RU486, štakorima je tijekom 12 dana apliciran RU486 jedan sat prije postupka obuzdavanja. Relativne ekspresije RFRP-3 i Kiss1 mRNA određene su lančanom reakcijom polimerazom u stvarnom vremenu. Relativna ekspresija RFRP-3 mRNA u stresnoj skupini bila je veća nego u skupini RU486 i kontrolnoj skupini. Relativna ekspresija RFRP-3 mRNA nije bila različita između stresne skupine i stres/RU486 skupine. Nadalje, relativne ekspresije Kiss1 mRNA u stresnoj skupini, skupini RU486, i stresnoj skupini/RU486 bile su manje u odnosu na kontrolnu skupinu. Relativna ekspresija Kiss1 mRNA nije se razlikovala između stresne skupine, skupineRU486 i stresne skupine/RU486. Zaključno, disfunkcija plodnosti kod štakora izloženih kroničnom stresu može biti uzrokovana putem povećane ekspresije RFRP-3 i smanjene ekspresije Kiss1 mRNA

Preservation of Testicular Tissue and Alleviation of Oxidative Stress by Carvacrol Following Torsion/ Detorsion in Adult Male Rats

Objectives: Testicular torsion is a critical medical condition necessitating prompt diagnosis and intervention. This study aimed to explore the potential safeguarding effect of carvacrol against histological damage and oxidative stress resulting from torsion/detorsion (T/D) in rat testes. Materials and Methods: A total of 32 adult male rats were randomly divided into four groups. The sham group did not undergo any intervention. The second group received an intraperitoneal injection of 75 mg/kg carvacrol half an hour before detorsion application. The third group was administered 80 mg/kg carvacrol intraperitoneally without detorsion. The fourth group (control) experienced (T/D) through the administration of saline. Following a 5-hour reperfusion period, the left testis was excised for histological slide preparation. Blood serum was used to measure antioxidant enzyme levels. Data analysis was performed using the SPSS version 19 software and analysis of variance tests. Results: Significant histological alterations were observed between the sham and other three groups. The levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and testosterone significantly decreased in all treatment groups compared to the control group (P<0.05). Conversely, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels increased in the torsion control group in contrast to the sham group (P<0.05). Carvacrol administration mitigated MDA levels in the treatment groups. Also, there were significant differences in tissue parameters between the sham and the other groups (P<0.05). Conclusions: According to the results of this study, carvacrol possesses the potential to mitigate testicular tissue damage, enhance testicular function, and ameliorate oxidative stress consequential to testicular rotation

Caprine Endometrial Mesenchymal Stromal Stem Cell: Multilineage Potential, Characterization, and Growth Kinetics in Breeding and Anestrous Stages

The endometrial layer of the uterus contains a population of cells with similar characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). In the present study, caprine endometrial mesenchymal stromal stem cells (En-MSCs) characters and differentiation potential to chondrogenic, osteogenic, and adipogenic cell lines as well as their growth kinetics in breeding and anestrous stages were evaluated. En-MSCs were enzymatically isolated from endometrial layer of the uterus of adult goats and were cultured and subcultured until passage 4. The growth kinetics and population doubling time (PDT) of caprine En-MSCs in breeding and anestrous stages were determined. En-MSCs in passage 4 were used for the karyotyping and differentiation into chondrocytes, osteocytes, and adipocytes. The PDT in anestrus phase was 40.6 h and in cyclic goats was 53 h. En-MSCs were fibroblast-like in all passages. The number of chromosomes was normal (2n=60) with no chromosomal instability. Chondrogenic, osteogenic, and adipogenic differentiation of En-MSCs was confirmed by staining with Alcian blue, Alizarin red, and Oil Red O, respectively. Caprine En-MSCs demonstrated to be an alternative source of MSCs for cell therapy purposes in regenerative medicine

Histomorphometric Evaluation of Superovulation Effect on Follicular Development after Autologous Ovarian Transplantation in Mice

The effect of superovulation by pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) on autologous transplanted ovaries in the lumbar muscles of mice was histomorphometrically evaluated using the indices of number and volume of different kind of follicles and volume of corpora lutea, ovary, and stroma. Angiogenesis was observed after mouse ovarian transplantation on days 14 and 21 after ovarian grafting. After transplantation, the total number and volume of primary and secondary follicles reduced, while PMSG superovulation increased the total number and total volume of tertiary follicles and also the ovarian volume after transplantation. Transplantation increased the average size of primary, secondary, and tertiary follicles. Therefore, primary and secondary follicles can survive after autologous transplantation but their reservations diminished by increasing the time of transplantation. However, number of tertiary follicles and their response to superovulation increased over time after transplantation

Low-power density radiations emitted from common wi-fi routers influence sperm concentration and sperm histomorphometric parameters: A new horizon on male infertility treatment

Background: Male infertility is defined as an inability to impregnate a fertile fe-male; it is a widespread problem which is usually caused by some male factors such as low quantity and quality of sperm, specifically oligospermia and azoospermia. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the bio-positive effects of low power density Wi-Fi radiation on the reproductive system of infertile and healthy mice. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, thirty adult male Balb/c mice were randomly divided into 5 groups. Groups oligospermic-sham (OS), oligo-spermic-exposure 1 (OE1) and oligospermic-exposure 2 (OE2) received Busulfan, 10 mg/kg, intraperitoneally, but the control-sham (CS) and control-exposure (CE) groups left without Busulfan therapy. Groups CE, OE1 and OE2 were exposed to 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi radiation while, the CS and OS were sham exposed to Wi-Fi radiation without energizing the Wi-Fi router. The right and left testes and right epididymis were dissected out and histopathological, histomorphologic changes and the quality of the sperms were analyzed. Results: Low power density Wi-Fi radiation significantly increased sperm concentration in the CE group compared to that in CS, while enhancement of spermatid cells was not significant. Sperm concentration in OE2 was more than that in OE1 as the spermatid cells enhanced. Conclusion: Findings revealed that radiation hormesis induced by low power density Wi-Fi radiation have biological beneficial effects on mouse sperm concentration and sperm histomorphometric parameters

Benign prostatic hyperplasia treatment using plasmonic nanoparticles irradiated by laser in a rat model

Objective: In the current study we have stimulated the efficacy of plasmonic nanoparticles (NPs) by laser hyperthermia to achieve a less invasive method for tumor photothermal therapy of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Methods: The levels of apoptosis on induced BPH in rats were assessed after treatment and revealed and recorded by various assayed. Moreover, the expression of caspases was considered to demonstrate the apoptotic pathways due to laser induced plasmonic NPs. Results: In the Laser + NPs group prostate size of induced BPH decreased. Laser + NPs also decreased prostate specific antigen in comparison with the BPH groups. Furthermore, Laser + NPs attenuated BPH histopathologic indices in the rats. Laser + NPs induced apoptosis in prostatic epithelial cells via caspase-1 pathway. Conclusions: Altogether, the approach and findings from this study can be applied to introduce the laser irritated NPs method as a novel and less invasive therapy for patients suffering from BP