Common Due-Date Problem: Exact Polynomial Algorithms for a Given Job Sequence

This paper considers the problem of scheduling jobs on single and parallel machines where all the jobs possess different processing times but a common due date. There is a penalty involved with each job if it is processed earlier or later than the due date. The objective of the problem is to find the assignment of jobs to machines, the processing sequence of jobs and the time at which they are processed, which minimizes the total penalty incurred due to tardiness or earliness of the jobs. This work presents exact polynomial algorithms for optimizing a given job sequence or single and parallel machines with the run-time complexities of $O(n \log n)$ and $O(mn^2 \log n)$ respectively, where $n$ is the number of jobs and $m$ the number of machines. The algorithms take a sequence consisting of all the jobs $(J_i, i=1,2,\dots,n)$ as input and distribute the jobs to machines (for $m>1$) along with their best completion times so as to get the least possible total penalty for this sequence. We prove the optimality for the single machine case and the runtime complexities of both. Henceforth, we present the results for the benchmark instances and compare with previous work for single and parallel machine cases, up to $200$ jobs.Comment: 15th International Symposium on Symbolic and Numeric Algorithms for Scientific Computin

Dual mode control of inverter to integrate solar-wind hybrid fed DC-grid with distributed AC grid

Abstract: This paper presents integration of solar-wind hybrid fed DC-grid to distributed AC grid. Generally, the renewable hybrid energy systems use two or more energy sources to supply power to the dc grid. In case of insufficient power generation or excessive load demand, in order to supply power to DC loads, it must integrate with AC grid. As dc loads increase in number, complexity increases and tighter voltage regulation is required. This paper presents dual mode control operation of inverter which integrates the solar and wind power fed dc bus to the single phase ac distribution system. The inverter can be operated in hysteresis current control when power is fed from DC grid to AC distributed grid and in AC-DC boost rectifier mode otherwise. The detailed operation of dual mode control of inverter is described in this paper. The effectiveness of the proposed system has been verified through simulation studies using MATLAB/SIMULINK

Explorando la eficacia del biocontrol de Trichoderma spp. contra Fusarium sacchari, el agente causal de la marchitez de la caña de azúcar

Wilt caused by Fusarium sacchari, is one of the major diseases of sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) causing considerable economic loss. Trichoderma spp. are important biocontrol agents which have been exploited effectively for the management of several plant diseases including wilt in various crops. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the antagonistic potential of Trichoderma spp. against sugarcane wilt pathogen. A total of 103 Trichoderma isolates comprising of 43 isolates established from sugarcane rhizosphere soils as well as 60 endophytic isolates established from root, leaf and stalk tissue of sugarcane were assessed for their antagonistic activity against F. sacchari by dual culture technique. We observed considerable variability in the inhibitory activity of the 103 isolates against the pathogen with inhibition ranging from 1.4% to 27.2% (SER42). In general, the endophytic Trichoderma isolates were more effective in inhibiting F. sacchari as compared to rhizospheric isolates in dual culture studies. Twelve most promising endophytic isolates were selected and assessed further for production of soluble inhibitory metabolites against F. sacchari by poison food technique. Variability was observed among the Trichoderma isolates in inhibition of F. sacchari growth with inhibition ranging between 1.4% (SER 43) to 44.2% (SER10). Overall, based on the in vitro assays, Trichoderma isolate SER 10, isolated from root tissue of sugarcane, was found most promising showing 44.2% inhibition of F. sacchari growth in poison food and 26.3% inhibition in dual culture studies. This is the first study reporting biocontrol potential of endophytic Trichoderma spp. against F. sacchari, a causative agent of wilt in sugarcane.La marchitez causada por Fusarium sacchari, es una de las principales enfermedades de la caña de azúcar (Saccharum spp.) que causa considerables pérdidas económicas. Trichoderma spp. es un importante agente de biocontrol que se ha explotado eficazmente para el manejo de varias enfermedades de las plantas, incluida la marchitez en varios cultivos. El presente estudio se realizó para evaluar el potencial antagonista de Trichoderma spp. contra el patógeno de la marchitez de la caña de azúcar. Un total de 103 aislamientos de Trichoderma que comprenden 43 aislamientos establecidos a partir de suelos de la rizosfera de la caña de azúcar, así como 60 aislamientos endofíticos establecidos a partir del tejido de las raíces, hojas y tallos de la caña de azúcar, fueron evaluados por su actividad antagonista contra F. sacchari mediante la técnica de cultivo dual. Se observó una considerable variabilidad en la actividad inhibidora de los 103 aislamientos contra el organismo patógeno con una inhibición que osciló entre 1.4% y el 27.2% (SER42). En general, los aislados endofíticos de Trichoderma fueron más efectivos en la inhibición de F. sacchari en comparación con los aislados rizosféricos en estudios de cultivo dual y se seleccionaron 12 aislados endofíticos prometedores que se evaluaron más a fondo para la producción de metabolitos inhibidores solubles contra F. sacchari mediante la técnica de medios de cultivo envenenados. Se observó variabilidad entre los aislados de Trichoderma en la inhibición del crecimiento de F. sacchari con valores que oscilaban entre el 1.4% (SER 43) y el 44.2% (SER10). En general, según los ensayos in vitro, Trichoderma SER 10, aislado del tejido de la raíz de la caña de azúcar, resultó ser el más prometedor que mostró una inhibición del 44.2% del crecimiento de F. sacchari en el método de medio de cultivo envenenado y un 26.3% de inhibición en los estudios de cultivo dual. Este es el primer estudio informa sobre el potencial de control biológico de Trichoderma spp. contra F. sacchari, agente causal de la marchitez en la caña de azúcar

Future e-waste scenarios

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Exploring biocontrol efficacy of Trichoderma spp. against Fusarium sacchari, the causal agent of sugarcane wilt

Wilt caused by Fusarium sacchari, is one of the major diseases of sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) causing considerable economic loss. Trichoderma spp. are important biocontrol agents which have been exploited effectively for the management of several plant diseases including wilt in various crops. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the antagonistic potential of Trichoderma spp. against sugarcane wilt pathogen. A total of 103 Trichoderma isolates comprising of 43 isolates established from sugarcane rhizosphere soils as well as 60 endophytic isolates established from root, leaf and stalk tissue of sugarcane were assessed for their antagonistic activity against F. sacchari by dual culture technique. We observed considerable variability in the inhibitory activity of the 103 isolates against the pathogen with inhibition ranging from 1.4% to 27.2% (SER42). In general, the endophytic Trichoderma isolates were more effective in inhibiting F. sacchari as compared to rhizospheric isolates in dual culture studies. Twelve most promising endophytic isolates were selected and assessed further for production of soluble inhibitory metabolites against F. sacchari by poison food technique. Variability was observed among the Trichoderma isolates in inhibition of F. sacchari growth with inhibition ranging between 1.4% (SER 43) to 44.2% (SER10). Overall, based on the in vitro assays, Trichoderma isolate SER 10, isolated from root tissue of sugarcane, was found most promising showing 44.2% inhibition of F. sacchari growth in poison food and 26.3% inhibition in dual culture studies. This is the first study reporting biocontrol potential of endophytic Trichoderma spp. against F. sacchari, a causative agent of wilt in sugarcane

BCS Class II Drug & Its Solubility Enhancement: A Review

The objective of this review article is to summarize literature data pertinent to potential excipient effects on intestinal drug permeability and transit. Despite the use of excipients in drug products for decades, considerable research efforts have been directed towards evaluating their potential effects on drug bioavailability. Potential excipient concerns stem from drug formulation changes (e.g., scale-up and post-approval changes, development of a new generic product). Regulatory agencies have established in vivo bioequivalence standards and, as a result, may waive the in vivo requirement, known as a biowaiver, for some oral products. Biowaiver acceptance criteria are based on the in vitro characterization of the drug substance and drug product using the Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS). Various regulatory guidance documents have been issued regarding BCS-based biowaivers, such that the current FDA guidance is more restrictive than prior guidance, specifically about excipient risk. In particular, sugar alcohols have been identified as potential absorption-modifying excipients. These biowaivers and excipient risks are discussed here

Recent Approaches of Intranasal to Brain Drug Delivery System

While the intranasal administration of drugs to the brain has been gaining both research attention and regulatory success over the past several years, key fundamental and translational challenges remain to fully leveraging the promise of this drug delivery pathway for improving the treatment of various neurological and psychiatric illnesses. In response, this review highlights the current state of understanding of the nose-to-brain drug delivery pathway and how both biological and clinical barriers to drug transport using the pathway can been addressed, as illustrated by demonstrations of how currently approved intranasal sprays leverage these pathways to enable the design of successful therapies. Moving forward, aiming to better exploit the understanding of this fundamental pathway, we also outline the development of nanoparticle systems that show improvement in delivering approved drugs to the brain and how engineered nanoparticle formulations could aid in breakthroughs in terms of delivering emerging drugs and therapeutics while avoiding systemic adverse effects

A Quantum Optimization Case Study for a Transport Robot Scheduling Problem

We present a comprehensive case study comparing the performance of D-Waves' quantum-classical hybrid framework, Fujitsu's quantum-inspired digital annealer, and Gurobi's state-of-the-art classical solver in solving a transport robot scheduling problem. This problem originates from an industrially relevant real-world scenario. We provide three different models for our problem following different design philosophies. In our benchmark, we focus on the solution quality and end-to-end runtime of different model and solver combinations. We find promising results for the digital annealer and some opportunities for the hybrid quantum annealer in direct comparison with Gurobi. Our study provides insights into the workflow for solving an application-oriented optimization problem with different strategies, and can be useful for evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches

Clustering algorithms for anti-money laundering using graph theory and social network analysis

HEMOLIA (a project under European community's 7th framework programme) is a new generation Anti-Money Laundering (AML) intelligent multi-agent alert and investigation system which in addition to the traditional financial data makes extensive use of modern society's huge telecom data source, thereby opening up a new dimension of capabilities to all Money Laundering fighters (FIUs, LEAs) and Financial Institutes (Banks, Insurance Companies, etc.). This Master-Thesis project is done at AIA, one of the partners for the HEMOLIA project in Barcelona. The objective of this thesis is to find the clusters in a network drawn by using the financial data. An extensive literature survey has been carried out and several standard algorithms related to networks have been studied and implemented. The clustering problem is a NP-hard problem and several algorithms like K-Means and Hierarchical clustering are being implemented for studying several problems relating to sociology, evolution, anthropology etc. However, these algorithms have certain drawbacks which make them very difficult to implement. The thesis suggests (a) a possible improvement to the K-Means algorithm, (b) a novel approach to the clustering problem using the Genetic Algorithms and (c) a new algorithm for finding the cluster of a node using the Genetic Algorithm

Environmentally sound system for E-waste: Biotechnological perspectives

The rapid e-waste volume is generating globally. At the same time, different recycling technologies, mainly the mechanical and chemical methods well studied, while the biological method is the most promising approach. Therefore, this article provides a comprehensive information about extracting valuable metals from e-waste. In addition, this article outlines the process and key opportunity for extraction of metals, identifies some of the most critical challenges for e-waste environmentally sound management practices, and opinions on possible solutions for exiting challenges, and emphasis on importance of advanced recycling technologies that can be utilized, in order to minimize the environmental impact causes due to improper recycling of e-waste