Multiple bottlenecks sorting criterion at initial sequence in solving permutation flow shop scheduling problem

This paper proposes a heuristic that introduces the application of bottleneck-based concept at the beginning of an initial sequence determination with the objective of makespan minimization. Earlier studies found that the scheduling activity become complicated when dealing with machine, m greater than 2, known as non-deterministic polynomial-time hardness (NP-hard). To date, the Nawaz-Enscore-Ham (NEH) algorithm is still recognized as the best heuristic in solving makespan problem in scheduling environment. Thus, this study treated the NEH heuristic as the highest ranking and most suitable heuristic for evaluation purpose since it is the best performing heuristic in makespan minimization. This study used the bottleneck-based approach to identify the critical processing machine which led to high completion time. In this study, an experiment involving machines (m =4) and n-job (n = 6, 10, 15, 20) was simulated in Microsoft Excel Simple Programming to solve the permutation flowshop scheduling problem. The overall computational results demonstrated that the bottleneck machine M4 performed the best in minimizing the makespan for all data set of problems

Perilaku Masyarakat dalam Pelestarian Hutan Mangrove di Kabupaten Pangkep Provinsi Sulawesi Selatan

Mangrove forest is one natural resource which essential for the life of living creatures that lives on its surrounding. The existence of mangrove forests has become an integral part of the lives of coastal communities; hence the existence of mangrove forests should be maintained and preserved. Mangrove forest sustainability cannot be separated from the behavior of the people who live around that forest. The objective of this research was (1) to examine the behavior of the coastal communities conserving mangrove forests, (2) to examine the factors related to coastal communities\u27 behavior in managing and conserving mangrove forest. The populations were the 100 heads of fisherman households taken from Tekolabbua and Pundata Baji Village of Pangkep District. This research was correlational research. This data was analyzed using Spearman Rank correlation by using SPSS programming. The result shows that the behavior of coastal communities in the preservation Pangkep mangrove forests is in the middle level. Factors related to this are behavior is the intensity of extension activities and environmental support

Torso detection and tracking using a 2D laser range finder

Detecting and tracking people in populated environments has various applications including, robotics, healthcare, automotive, security and defence. In this paper, we present an algorithm for people detection and tracking based on a two dimensional laser rage finder (LRF). The LRF was mounted on a mobile robotic platform to scan a torso section of a person. The tracker is designed to discard spurious targets based on the log likelihood ratio and can effectively handle short term occlusions. Long term occlusions are considered as new tracks. Performance of the algorithm is analysed based on experiments, which shows appealing results

Non-parametric data optimization for 2D laser based people tracking

© 2017 IEEE. Generally, a model on describing human motion patterns should have an ability to enhance tracking performance particularly when dealing with long term occlusions. These patterns can be efficiently learned by applying Gaussian Processes (GPs). However, the GPs can become computationally expensive with increasing training data with time. Thus, with the proposed data selection and management using Mutual Information (MI) and Mahalanobis Distance (MD)approach, we have be able to keep the necessary portion of informative data and discard the others. This approach is then experimented by using the measurements of horizontal 2D scan of public area of our research centre with a stationary laser range finder. Experimental results show that even 90% reduction of data did not contribute to significantly increased Root Mean Square Error (RMSE). Implementation of Gaussian Process - Particle filter tracker for people tracking with long term occlusions produces a remarkable tracking performance when compared to Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) tracker

Morphological and molecular detection of Fusarium chlamydosporum from root endophytes of Dendrobium crumenatum

Fusarium has a cosmopolitan distribution, with some species able to cause diseases in agricultural crops. A number of isolates of endophytic fungi were isolated from healthy roots of Dendrobium crumenatum (Orchidaceae) at Universiti Putra Malaysia campus. The isolates were primarily identified as Fusarium chlamydosporum based on morphological characteristics. The cultures were produced in a range of chicory pink to red and brown pigmentation. Only morphological studies of Fusarium can notgive any guarantee at the species levels of identification but key the putative species names. Therefore, molecular studies based on gene sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer 1 and 2 regions of theribosomal DNA (rDNA) were carried out. The amplified DNA was sequenced and aligned against the reference sequences, previously identified as Fusarium species. Results obtained have shown that all of the isolates putatively identified as F. chlamydosporum were in agreement with the ex-type strains of F. chlamydosporum gene sequences collected from the GenBank database. Thus, data from the present study suggested that the best conceivable connection between the morphological characters and themolecular characters are to use sequence based analysis of the ITS 1/2 regions of the rDNA of the original specimen at the same times as it could be removed any kind of controversial identification of F. chlamydosporum at the species level

Efisiensi Reproduksi Sapi Perah PFH Pada Berbagai Umur Di CV. Milkindo Berka Abadi Desa Tegalsari Kecamatan Kepanjen Kabupaten Malang

The purpose of this experiment was to investigate the effect of different age of Holstein Friesian Cross Breed dairy cows on reproductive efficiency at CV. Milkindo Berka Abadi, Tegalsari Village, Kepanjen Sub District, Malang Regency. The materials of the research used 82 heads of dairy cows which had at least two times of parturition. Data used reproductive data which were collected from Artificial Insemination practices at CV. Milkindo Berka Abadi. Descriptive analysis was used to determine average and deviation standard of Service per Conception (S/C), Days Open (DO) and Calving Interval (CI). Data were analyzed using Multiplet-test. The age of animal influenced significantly (P<0.05) the reproductive parameters e.g. S/C (2.6±1.2 times, 3.6±1.8 times, 4.2±2.8 times and 2.9±2.6 times), DO (184.4±97.2 days, 260.6±159.6 days, 396.9±296.2 days and 263.1±125.2 days) and CI (460.9±97.2 days, 538.8±160 days, 674±296.1 days and 539.7±124.6 days) for the age of 3, 4, 5 and 6 years respectively. It was concluded that the young cows at CV. Milkindo Berka Abadi had more efficient reproductive performance than those for older cows

Effective cross hedging : evidence from physical crude palm oil and its inter-related agricultural futures contracts / Noryati Ahmad … [et al.]

Since its establishment, Crude Palm Oil futures contract (FCPO) has been used to directly hedge its physical crude palm oil (CPO). However, due to the excessive speculation activities on crude palm oil futures market, it has been said to be no longer an effective hedging tool to mitigate the price risk of its underlying physical market. This triggers the need for market players to find possible alternatives to ensure that the hedging role can be executed effectively. Thus this investigation attempts to examine whether other inter-related grains and oil seed futures contracts could serve as effective cross-hedging mechanisms for the CPO. Weekly data of inter-related futures contracts from Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) and Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE) are employed to cross hedge the physical crude palm oil prices. The study starts from 2006 until 2016. Empirical results indicate that FCPO is still the best futures contract for hedging purposes while Chicago Soybean (CBOTBO) provides second best alternative if cross-hedging is considered

The Determinant Factors of Green Office Layout Towards Employee Workplace Productivity

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify the determinant factors of green office layout towards employee workplace productivity.   Theoretical Framework: The research is based on the theoretical framework which represent the independent variables of comfort, office space, interactions, distractions and environment and awareness attitude while dependent variables is employee productivity.   Design/Methodology/Approach: This quantitative study data were gathered from 200 logistics company during operation hours. They key respondent was the company’s regular employee as and the validity and the reliability of the questionnaire were thoroughly examined. The results were based on regression analysis and equation modelling by using SPSS software. Then, the data will be analysed in the relationship of each construct using the structural equation modelling approach.   Findings:  The findings of the study provide strong grounds that employee productivity  are highly connected with factor of green office layout involved comfort, office space, interaction, distraction and environment awareness and attitude as well positively influences the employee productivity. Meanwhile, the researcher observation shows that comfort and office space have complementary relationship with employee productivity.   Research, Practical & Social implications:  Companies should emphasize that improvement of employee productivity is basic components in an office environment. The components are comfort dimension, office space dimension, interaction dimension, distraction dimension and environment awareness and attitude dimension. It is valuable to concurrently instilling all of this dimension value in order to improve the employee productivity that give the potential benefit.   Originality/Value: The research is an enhanced conceptual framework that examines critical issues concerning the successful relationship of green office layout dimension and employee workplace productivity, thus providing valuable outcomes for decision makers and academics. This study found that the framework could explain better each variable which has a dimension of green office layout towards employee workplace productivity

RF Energy Harvesting Study Using Various Metamaterial Patch Structure

The E-field absorbance performance of various metamaterial absorber structure is presented. The study started from the simulation of various design patch of metamaterial absorber. The performances are measured from the reflection coefficient, percentage of absorption, value of E-field and the surface current for circle, square and hexagon patch design of metamaterial absorber. From the simulation, it is shown that the circle patch design shows the most reliable design for harvest energy with the absorption of 99.85% and highest E-field concentration of 2.07 × 105 V/m