Solving Weighted Number of Operation Plus Processing Time Due-Date Assignment, Weighted Scheduling and Process Planning Integration Problem Using Genetic and Simulated Annealing Search Methods

Traditionally, the three important manufacturing functions, which are process planning, scheduling and due-date assignment, are performed separately and sequentially. For couple of decades, hundreds of studies are done on integrated process planning and scheduling problems and numerous researches are performed on scheduling with due date assignment problem, but unfortunately the integration of these three important functions are not adequately addressed. Here, the integration of these three important functions is studied by using genetic, random-genetic hybrid, simulated annealing, random-simulated annealing hybrid and random search techniques. As well, the importance of the integration of these three functions and the power of meta-heuristics and of hybrid heuristics are studied

Solving Integrated Process Planning, Dynamic Scheduling, and Due Date Assignment Using Metaheuristic Algorithms

Because the alternative process plans have significant contributions to the production efficiency of a manufacturing system, researchers have studied the integration of manufacturing functions, which can be divided into two groups, namely, integrated process planning and scheduling (IPPS) and scheduling with due date assignment (SWDDA). Although IPPS and SWDDA are well-known and solved problems in the literature, there are limited works on integration of process planning, scheduling, and due date assignment (IPPSDDA). In this study, due date assignment function was added to IPPS in a dynamic manufacturing environment. And the studied problem was introduced as dynamic integrated process planning, scheduling, and due date assignment (DIPPSDDA). The objective function of DIPPSDDA is to minimize earliness and tardiness (E/T) and determine due dates for each job. Furthermore, four different pure metaheuristic algorithms which are genetic algorithm (GA), tabu algorithm (TA), simulated annealing (SA), and their hybrid (combination) algorithms GA/SA and GA/TA have been developed to facilitate and optimize DIPPSDDA on the 8 different sized shop floors. The performance comparisons of the algorithms for each shop floor have been given to show the efficiency and effectiveness of the algorithms used. In conclusion, computational results show that the proposed combination algorithms are competitive, give better results than pure metaheuristics, and can effectively generate good solutions for DIPPSDDA problems

Concurrent solution of WATC scheduling with WPPW due date assignment for environmentally weighted customers, jobs and services using SA and its hybrid

After industrial revolution environmental problems increased drastically. Air, water and soil pollution became a serious threat for the mankind. In order to overcome this threat everyone should take responsibility and try to preserve environment as much as possible. Environmentally conscious actions, people, law and foundations should be supported. When it came to determining due dates and scheduling, one of the important criteria should be the supporting the environment. In this study environmentally conscious customers, jobs, and services are rewarded, on the other hand unconscious customers, jobs, and services are penalized, while determining due dates and schedules. Simulated annealing and its hybrid with random search are applied to get environmentally better due dates and schedules

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Helicobacter pylori Infection: Protective Against Increased Interdialytic Weight Gain in Asymptomatic Hemodialysis Patients?

WOS: 000291719600008PubMed: 20850344Objective: Infection with Helicobacter pylori, which induces persistent and uncontrolled gastric inflammation leading to decreased appetite, might be protective against obesity. There is a close relationship between interdialytic weight gain (IDWG) and nutritional parameters, confirming the role of IDWG as a marker of calorie and protein intake in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Hypothesis of the present study was that infection with H pylori in subjects with uremia might cause inflammation, diminished appetite, anorexia, and decreased IDWG. Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted. Settings: This trial involved HD patients from a state hospital. Methods: Demographic, laboratory, and clinical parameters were collected. All patients were clinically stable and euvolemic and their average IDWG percent was calculated. Malnutrition inflammation score, spKt/V, and normalized protein equivalent of total nitrogen appearance were determined. Patients were asked to rate their appetite status from 1 to 5 on a Likert scale (very good, good, fair, poor, and very poor appetite, respectively). An H pylori infection was detected by the H pylori stool antigen (HpSA) in all the patients. Results: HpSA was positive in 18 (30%) patients. None of the demographic and laboratory parameters differed between patients infected with HpSA and the noninfected patients. Stepwise linear regression analysis of independent factors related with IDWG% revealed that daily urine output (beta = -0.432, P< .0001), serum phosphorus (beta = +0.343, P = .004), and hemoglobin (beta = +0.358, P = .003) were related with IDWG%. Conclusions: Infection with H pylori is not related with IDWG% and nutritional parameters in HD patients. (C) 2011 by the National Kidney Foundation, Inc. All rights reserved

Synthesis and characterization of organic dyes containing 4,5-diazafluorene as efficient sensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells

<p>Two dyes which are 4,5-diazafluoren-9-one-derived diimine ligands and their corresponding Ru(II) bipyridine complexes were synthesized. The structures of all compounds were determined by FTIR, UV–Vis, ¹H-NMR, ¹C-NMR, and MS spectroscopic data. The photovoltaic and electrochemical properties of these compounds were investigated and the applicability in DSSCs as photosensitizers was studied. The photovoltaic cell efficiencies (PCE) of the devices were 0.36–1.26% under simulated AM 1.5 solar irradiation of 100 mW/cm², and the highest open-circuit voltage (<i>V</i>_oc) reached 0.34 V. When comparing the photovoltaic performance of DSSC devices, efficiency increases L2 < L2-Ru < L1 < L1-Ru. The PCE value of 1.26% was obtained with a DSSC based on L1-Ru under AM irradiation (100 mW/cm²). DSSC based on L1-Ru produced efficiency of 1.26%, whereas DSSC-based L1 exhibited the device performance with efficiency of 0.84% under illumination. These results show that the availability of a <i>π</i>-conjugated bridge and a richer electron donor for photovoltaic performance of the DSSC provides increased efficiency.</p

The role of mitral annular plane systolic excursion in prediction of acute blood loss in healthy voluntary blood donors

Aim: The aim of this study is to compare the diameter of the inferior vena cava with mitral annular plane systolic excursion measurement in order to determine the volume loss before and after blood donation in healthy volunteers. Material and methods: The study was a singlecenter, prospective, cross-sectional study which included 46 healthy blood donors donating in a tertiary care hospital's blood bank. The inclusion criteria for the study were: volunteers aged 18-65 years, over 50 kg in weight, who met blood donation criteria, with hemoglobin values of 13.5 g/dL for males and >12.5 g/dL for females. After obtaining written consent, the systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressure along with the pulse rate of the donors were measured in standing and lying positions by the attending physician. Next, inferior vena cava and mitral annular plane systolic excursion measurements were made both pre and post blood donation. Results: The decrease in both inferior vena cava diameter and mitral annular plane systolic excursion values measured pre and post blood donation was found to be statistically significant (p <0.05). There was no difference between the other variables pre and post blood donation. Conclusions: Our study revealed that decreased inferior vena cava and mitral annular plane systolic excursion values correlated in determining blood loss post blood donation. Mitral annular plane systolic excursion may be useful to predict blood loss in the early stages of hemorrhagic shock