1,281 research outputs found
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Resource constrained routing and scheduling: Review and research prospects
In the service industry, it is crucial to efficiently allocate scarce resources to perform tasks and meet particular service requirements. What considerably complicates matters is when these resources, for example skilled technicians, nurses, and home carers have to visit different customer locations. This paper provides a comprehensive survey on resource constrained routing and scheduling that unveils the problem characteristics with respect to resource qualifications, service requirements and problem objectives. It also identifies the most effective exact and heuristic algorithms for this class of problems. The paper closes with several research prospects
Developing a novel selection method for alcoholic fermentation starters by exploring wine yeast microbiota from Greece
The selection of native yeast for alcoholic fermentation in wine focuses on ensuring the success of the process and promoting the quality of the final product. The purpose of this study was firstly to create a large collection of new yeast isolates and categorize them based on their oenological potential. Additionally, the geographical distribution of the most dominant species, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, was further explored. Towards this direction, fourteen spontaneously fermented wines from different regions of Greece were collected for yeast typing. The yeast isolates were subjected in molecular analyses and identification at species level. RAPD (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA) genomic fingerprinting with the oligo-nucleotide primer M13 was used, combined with Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization–Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) technique. All yeast isolates were scrutinized for their sensitivity to killer toxin, production of non-desirable metabolites such as acetic acid and H2S, β-glucosidase production and resistance to the antimicrobial agent; SO2. In parallel, S. cerevisiae isolates were typed at strain level by interdelta – PCR genomic fingerprinting. S. cerevisiae strains were examined for their fermentative capacity in laboratory scale fermentation on pasteurized grape must. Glucose and fructose consumption was monitored daily and at the final point a free sorting task was conducted to categorize the samples according to their organoleptic profile. According to our results, among the 190 isolates, S. cerevisiae was the most dominant species while some less common non-Saccharomyces species such as Trigonopsis californica, Priceomyces carsonii, Zygosaccharomyces bailii, Brettanomyces bruxellensis and Pichia manshurica were identified in minor abundancies. According to phenotypic typing, most isolates were neutral to killer toxin test and exhibited low acetic acid production. Hierarchical Cluster Analysis revealed the presence of four yeast groups based on phenotypic fingerprinting. Strain level typing reported 20 different S. cerevisiae strains from which 65% indicated fermentative capacity and led to dry wines. Sensory evaluation results clearly discriminated the produced wines and consequently, the proposed yeast categorization was confirmed. A novel approach that employs biostatistical tools for a rapid screening and classification of indigenous wine yeasts with oenological potential, allowing a more efficient preliminary selection or rejection of isolates is proposed
Structural, magnetic and electrical properties of single crystalline La_(1-x)Sr_xMnO_3 for 0.4 < x < 0.85
We report on structural, magnetic and electrical properties of Sr-doped
LaMnO_3 single crystals for doping levels 0.4 < x < 0.85. The complex
structural and magnetic phase diagram can only be explained assuming
significant contributions from the orbital degrees of freedom. Close to x = 0.6
a ferromagnetic metal is followed by an antiferromagnetic metallic phase below
200 K. This antiferromagnetic metallic phase exists in a monoclinic
crystallographic structure. Following theoretical predictions this metallic
antiferromagnet is expected to reveal an (x^2-y^2)-type orbital order. For
higher Sr concentrations an antiferromagnetic insulator is established below
room temperature.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figure
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Machine learning techniques for the estimation of limit state thresholds and bridge-specific fragility analysis of R/C bridges
Based on past earthquake events, bridges are the most critical and usually the most vulnerable components of road and rail transport systems, while bridge damage is related to substantial direct and indirect losses. In view of this, the need for direct and reliable assessment of bridge vulnerability has emerged, and several methodologies have been developed using probabilistic analysis for the derivation of fragility curves. A new framework for the derivation of bridge-specific fragility curves is proposed herein, introducing machine learning techniques for a reliable estimation of limit state thresholds of the most critical component of the bridge system (which in standard -ductility based- design is the piers), in terms of a widely used engineering demand parameter, i.e. displacement of control point. A set of parameters affecting the seismic capacity and the failure modes of bridge piers is selected, including geometry, material properties, and reinforcement ratios for cylindrical piers. Training and test sets are generated from multiple inelastic pushover analyses of the pier component, and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) analysis is performed to derive closed-form relationships for the estimation of limit state thresholds. The latter are compared with closed-form relationships available in the literature, highlighting the effect of machine learning techniques on the reliable estimation of bridge fragility curves for all damage states
Apparent giant dielectric constants, dielectric relaxation, and ac-conductivity of hexagonal perovskites La1.2Sr2.7BO7.33 (B = Ru, Ir)
We present a thorough dielectric investigation of the hexagonal perovskites
La1.2Sr2.7IrO7.33 and La1.2Sr2.7RuO7.33 in a broad frequency and temperature
range, supplemented by additional infrared measurements. The occurrence of
giant dielectric constants up to 10^5 is revealed to be due to electrode
polarization. Aside of dc and ac conductivity contributions, we detect two
intrinsic relaxation processes that can be ascribed to ionic hopping between
different off-center positions. In both materials we find evidence for charge
transport via hopping of localized charge carriers. In the infrared region,
three phonon bands are detected, followed by several electronic excitations. In
addition, these materials provide further examples for the occurrence of a
superlinear power law in the broadband ac conductivity, which recently was
proposed to be a universal feature of all disordered matter.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figure
Far infrared properties of PbTe doped with Hg
Single crystal samples of PbTe doped with Hg were grown using the Bridgman method. Far infrared reflectivity spectra were measured at room temperature for samples with 0.5 at. % Hg; 0.9 at. % Hg and 1.4 at. % Hg. The plasma frequency decreased when PbTe was doped with Hg and it was lowest for the PbTe sample doped with 0.5 at. % Hg. The values of the determined optical free carrier mobility increased and was the highest for PbTe doped with 0.5 at. % Hg
Formalising the Continuous/Discrete Modeling Step
Formally capturing the transition from a continuous model to a discrete model
is investigated using model based refinement techniques. A very simple model
for stopping (eg. of a train) is developed in both the continuous and discrete
domains. The difference between the two is quantified using generic results
from ODE theory, and these estimates can be compared with the exact solutions.
Such results do not fit well into a conventional model based refinement
framework; however they can be accommodated into a model based retrenchment.
The retrenchment is described, and the way it can interface to refinement
development on both the continuous and discrete sides is outlined. The approach
is compared to what can be achieved using hybrid systems techniques.Comment: In Proceedings Refine 2011, arXiv:1106.348
Far infrared and photoacoustic characterization of iodine doped PbTe
Single crystal samples of PbTe doped with PbI2 were made using the Bridgman technique. Far infrared reflectivity diagrams of PbTe doped with 0.4 at% and 0.6 at% Iodine were measured and numerically analyzed. A plasma resonance at about 650 cm(-1) with the reflectivity minima very close to zero was observed for both samples. Thermal diffusivity was determined for the same samples using the photoacoustic method with a transmission detection configuration and the values of the minority free carrier (holes) mobility were calculated
Effect of transport-induced charge inhomogeneity on point-contact Andreev reflection spectra at ferromagnet-superconductor interfaces
We investigate the transport properties of a ferromagnet-superconductor
interface within the framework of a modified three-dimensional
Blonder-Tinkham-Klapwijk formalism. In particular, we propose that charge
inhomogeneity forms via two unique transport mechanisms, namely, evanescent
Andreev reflection and evanescent quasiparticle transmission. Furthermore, we
take into account the influence of charge inhomogeneity on the interfacial
barrier potential and calculate the conductance as a function of bias voltage.
Point-contact Andreev reflection (PCAR) spectra often show dip structures,
large zero-bias conductance enhancement, and additional zero-bias conductance
peak. Our results indicate that transport-induced charge inhomogeneity could be
a source of all these anomalous characteristics of the PCAR spectra.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figure
Strain effect on electronic transport and ferromagnetic transition temperature in LaSrMnO thin films
We report on a systematic study of strain effects on the transport properties
and the ferromagnetic transition temperature of high-quality
LaSrMnO thin films epitaxially grown on (100) SrTiO
substrates. Both the magnetization and the resistivity are critically dependent
on the film thickness. is enhanced with decreasing the film thickness
due to the compressive stain produced by lattice mismatch. The resistivity
above 165 K of the films with various thicknesses is consistent with small
polaronic hopping conductivity. The polaronic formation energy is
reduced with the decrease of film thickness. We found that the strain
dependence of mainly results from the strain-induced electron-phonon
coupling. The strain effect on is in good agreement with the
theoretical predictions.Comment: 6 pages and 5 figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.
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