Performance optimization of a leagility inspired supply chain model: a CFGTSA algorithm based approach

Lean and agile principles have attracted considerable interest in the past few decades. Industrial sectors throughout the world are upgrading to these principles to enhance their performance, since they have been proven to be efficient in handling supply chains. However, the present market trend demands a more robust strategy incorporating the salient features of both lean and agile principles. Inspired by these, the leagility principle has emerged, encapsulating both lean and agile features. The present work proposes a leagile supply chain based model for manufacturing industries. The paper emphasizes the various aspects of leagile supply chain modeling and implementation and proposes a new Hybrid Chaos-based Fast Genetic Tabu Simulated Annealing (CFGTSA) algorithm to solve the complex scheduling problem prevailing in the leagile environment. The proposed CFGTSA algorithm is compared with the GA, SA, TS and Hybrid Tabu SA algorithms to demonstrate its efficacy in handling complex scheduling problems

FACTOR ANALYSIS OF INTERN EFFECTIVENESS

Four factors in teaching intern effectiveness, as measured by a Praxis III-similar instrument, were found among observational data of teaching interns during the 2010 spring semester. Those factors were lesson planning, teacher/student reflection, fairness & safe environment, and professionalism/efficacy. This factor analysis was as much of a statement about effective teaching as it is about the technical aspects of an instrument utilized to assess it. Forty-one percent of effective teaching was found to be in the lesson planning

North American Hard Yellow Liver Disease: An Old Problem Readdressed

Hard yellow liver disease or fatty cirrhosis periodically affects cattle, sheep, goats, pronghorn antelope (Antilocapra americana) and whitetail deer (Odocoileus virginianus texanus) within several Texas counties in the United States. Clinically it presents as chronic liver disease with progressive hepatic necrosis and fibrosis, icterus and liver failure. The damaged livers are yellow and many have multiple firm, often gritty foci that are scattered throughout all lobes. Early investigations included feeding studies using potential toxic plants, climate and forage studies, infectious disease surveys and various mycotoxin studies and analyses. None have definitively reproduced the disease or identified the inciting cause. However, the problem continues and recent outbreaks have allowed the collection of additional frozen tissues, and numerous paraffin tissue blocks and slides for additional studies. The objectives for this work are to evaluate and compare the microscopic changes, special histochemical studies, microbial and fungal surveys and chemical assays for dehyro-pyrrolizidine alkaloid (DHPA) metabolites of these additional cases with historical reports. These bovine livers had a spectrum of lesions including lipid degeneration and necrosis, eosinophilic granulomatous hepatitis, focal follicular lymphoid proliferation and chronic fibrosing hepatitis with dystrophic mineralization. No pyrrolizidine alkaloid metabolites were detected in any of the livers and select special stains did not reveal any fungal, bacterial or parasitic etiologies. The lack of findings and mixed histologic presentation suggest that this syndrome is a collection of chronic diseases probably of various etiologies. Earlier animal surveillance work is needed in endemic areas to better understand the etiology and pathogenesis of this syndrome

The effect of laser pulse tailored welding of Inconel 718

Pulse tailored laser welding has been applied to wrought, wrought grain grown, and cast Inconel 718 using a CO2 laser. Prior to welding, the material was characterized metallographically and the solid state transformation regions were identified using Differential Scanning Calorimetry and high temperature x-ray diffraction. Bead on plate welds (restrained and unrestrained) were then produced using a matrix of pulse duty cycles and pulsed average power. Subsequent characterization included heat affected zone width, penetration and underbead width, the presence of cracks, microfissures and porosity, fusion zone curvature, and precipitation and liquated region width. Pedigree welding on three selected processing conditions was shown by microstructural and dye penetrant analysis to produce no microfissures, a result which strongly indicates the viability of pulse tailored welding for microfissure free IN 718

Neuroma of a double gallbladder: a case report

We report a case of 55 year old male patient who presented with recurrent upper abdominal pain following a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. A subsequent diagnostic laparoscopy revealed the presence of a second gallbladder which was initially missed. The peculiarity of his symptoms can in part be explained by the presence of a traumatic neuroma in his second gallbladder. A subsequent cholecystectomy led to a complete resolution of this patient's signs and symptoms. As far as we know this is the first report in the literature of a traumatic neuroma in a second gallbladder