Design of a cluster analysis heuristic for the configuration and capacity management of manufacturing cells

This dissertation presents the configuration and capacity management of manufacturing cells using cluster analysis. A heuristic based on cluster analysis is developed to solve cell formation in cellular manufacturing systems (CMS). The clustering heuristic is applied for cell formation considering processing requirement (CFOPR) as well as various manufacturing factors (CFVMF). The proposed clustering heuristic is developed by employing a new solving structure incorporating hierarchical and non-hierarchical clustering methods. A new similarity measure is constructed by modifying the Jarccard similarity and a new assignment algorithm is proposed by employing the new pairwise exchange method. In CFOPR, the clustering heuristic is modified by adding a feedback step and more exact allocation rules. Grouping efficacy is employed as a measure to evaluate solutions obtained from the heuristic. The clustering heuristic for CFOPR was evaluated on 23 test problems taken from the literature in order to compare with other approaches and produced the best solution in 18 out of 23 and the second best in the remaining problems. These solutions were obtained in a considerably short time and even the largest test problem was solved in around one and a half seconds. In CFVMF, the machine capacity was first ensured, and then manufacturing cells were configured to minimize intercellular movements. In order to ensure the machine capacity, the duplication of machines and the split of operations are allowed and operations are assigned into duplicated machines by the largest-first rule. The clustering heuristic for CFVMF proposes a new similarity measure incorporating processing requirement, material flow and machine workload and a new machine-part matrix representing material flow and processing time assigned to multiple identical machines. Also, setup time, which has not been clearly addressed in existing research, is discussed in the solving procedure. The clustering heuristic for CFVMF employs two evaluation measures such as the number of intercellular movements and grouping efficacy. In two test problems taken from the literature, the heuristic for CFVMF produced the same results, but the trade-off problem between the two evaluation measures is proposed to consider the goodness of grouping

Mice as an Animal Model for Japanese Encephalitis Virus Research: Mouse Susceptibility, Infection Route, and Viral Pathogenesis

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), a zoonotic flavivirus, is principally transmitted by hematophagous mosquitoes, continually between susceptible animals and incidentally from those animals to humans. For almost a century since its discovery, JEV was geographically confined to the Asia-Pacific region with recurrent sizable outbreaks involving wildlife, livestock, and people. However, over the past decade, it has been detected for the first time in Europe (Italy) and Africa (Angola) but has yet to cause any recognizable outbreaks in humans. JEV infection leads to a broad spectrum of clinical outcomes, ranging from asymptomatic conditions to self-limiting febrile illnesses to life-threatening neurological complications, particularly Japanese encephalitis (JE). No clinically proven antiviral drugs are available to treat the development and progression of JE. There are, however, several live and killed vaccines that have been commercialized to prevent the infection and transmission of JEV, yet this virus remains the main cause of acute encephalitis syndrome with high morbidity and mortality among children in the endemic regions. Therefore, significant research efforts have been directed toward understanding the neuropathogenesis of JE to facilitate the development of effective treatments for the disease. Thus far, multiple laboratory animal models have been established for the study of JEV infection. In this review, we focus on mice, the most extensively used animal model for JEV research, and summarize the major findings on mouse susceptibility, infection route, and viral pathogenesis reported in the past and present, and discuss some unanswered key questions for future studies

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia predominantly associated with IgA anti-E and anti-c.

A patient with warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) due to predominance of immunoglobulin A (IgA) with an Rh specificity, considered to be the first case in Korea, is described. A 13-year-old male patient with severe hemolytic anemia showed a weak reactivity (1+) in the direct antiglobulin test (DAT) by using anti-IgG antiglobulin reagent. This finding, however, could not fully explain the patient's severe AIHA. When anti-IgA reagent was used for the DAT, strong reactivity (4+) was observed and free anti-E and anti-c autoantibodies were also detected by anti-IgA and anti-IgG reagents. The patient's hemoglobin began to rise with the administration of steroids. Because RBCs coated with multiple types of immunoglobulins are associated with more severe hemolysis than those only with IgG, the DATs using anti-IgA and other reagents are needed for the correct diagnosis when the result of DAT is not compatible with patient's clinical manifestations

Should Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Be Continued beyond Progressive Disease?

Epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) is almost exclusively effective in patients with activating EGFR mutations, and median time to progression in such patients is generally up to 12 months. Usually, treatment with EGFR-TKI is terminated when disease progression is confirmed; however, acute exacerbation after the withdrawal of EGFR-TKI has been reported. In this paper, we report a case of a 35-year-old patient whose disease rapidly progressed after discontinuation of gefitinib and then rapidly regressed after reintroduction of gefitinib. In addition, we summarize the cases of 3 other patients who could be safely treated with continued erlotinib in combination with pemetrexed after disease progression. Currently, the mechanism of acquired resistance is intensively investigated and a number of new agents, such as irreversible EGFR inhibitors or MET inhibitors, are under development; however, they are still unavailable in clinical setting. We believe that continuing EGFR-TKI treatment after disease progression should be an option in patients who previously responded to EGFR-TKI under the present circumstances

Structural behavior of concrete filled carbon fiber reinforced polymer sheet tube column

In order to examine both static and dynamic behaviors of Concrete Filled Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer Sheet Tube (CFCST) columns, experimental tests have been performed. The main variables of this experimental program included the number and wrapping angles of CFRP sheets. Stress versus strain relation of CFCST specimens was investigated by uni-axial tests. And, six full-scaled CFCST columns subjected to quasi-static lateral loading, as well as constant axial compression, were tested. Finally, an analytical procedure to predict the response of CFCST columns subjected to both axial and lateral loadings has been suggested in conjunction with the findings from the experimental tests