Using response surface design to determine the optimal parameters of genetic algorithm and a case study

Copyright © 2013 Taylor & Francis. This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in International Journal of Production Research on 09 June 2013, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/00207543.2013.784411Genetic algorithms are efficient stochastic search techniques for approximating optimal solutions within complex search spaces and used widely to solve NP hard problems. This algorithm includes a number of parameters whose different levels affect the performance of the algorithm strictly. The general approach to determine the appropriate parameter combination of genetic algorithm depends on too many trials of different combinations and the best one of the combinations that produces good results is selected for the program that would be used for problem solving. A few researchers studied on parameter optimisation of genetic algorithm. In this paper, response surface depended parameter optimisation is proposed to determine the optimal parameters of genetic algorithm. Results are tested for benchmark problems that is most common in mixed-model assembly line balancing problems of type-I (MMALBP-I)

Effects of Rhizobacteria Application on Leaf and Fruit Nutrient Content of Different Apple Scion–Rootstock Combinations

The plant pomological characteristics and physiological behaviors of genotypes in modern apple cultivation could be different depending on the use of rootstock, changing growth ecology and application of biological control agents. The aim of this research was to determine the effects of rhizobacteria application on leaf and fruit nutrient contents in different apple scion–rootstock combinations. This study was carried out with seven standard cultivars (Scarlet Spur, Red Chief, Fuji, Jeromine, Galaxy Gala, Granny Smith, and Golden Reinders) budded on M.9 and MM.106 rootstocks. In the experiment, trees were sprayed by a nitrogen + phosphorus solvent rhizobacteria three times, with an interval of 15 days in the spring period. The effect of rhizobacteria application on leaf and fruit nutrient contents was statistically significant and provided generally significant positive contributions, except for leaf Mg content. Comparing both rootstocks, the positive effect of bacterial application was higher on the M.9 rootstock for leaf N and B content and fruit N and Fe content, and on the MM.106 rootstock for other nutrient content. While the effects of bacterial application on the basis of cultivars were generally positive, the highest positive contribution was made in leaf P content (10.7%) and fruit Mn content (32.1%) of the Fuji cultivar. Considering the total increase in nutrients in scion–rootstocks combination, rhizobacteria application had a positive effect on the leaf nutrient contents in Golden Reinders/MM.106, but not leaf K content. The highest increases in leaves of scion-rootstock combinations were determined as 4.0% in N content in Granny Smith/M.9, 14.1% in P content in Scarlet Spur/MM.106, 7.1% in K content in Fuji/MM.106, 4.4% in Ca content in Jeromine/M.9, and 14.0% in Mg content in Granny Smith/MM.106. The highest increase in fruit nutrient contents was between 4.9% (N content) and 13.5% (Ca content) for macro elements, and between 9.5% (Cu content) and 41.8% (Mn content) for microelements. The results of the present study may provide significant leads for further studies on this subject.Effects of Rhizobacteria Application on Leaf and Fruit Nutrient Content of Different Apple Scion–Rootstock CombinationspublishedVersio

The incidance of Malaria in Hatay province

Bu çalışma Hatay Sağlık Müdürlüğünden elde edilen verilerin değerlendirilmesi ile yapılmıştır. Hatay'da 1986-2001 yılları arasında büyük çoğunluğu pasif sürveyans çalışmaları sonucu tespit edildiği anlaşılan toplam 5672 sıtma olgusuna rastlanmıştır. Yurtdışı kaynaklı olan bir Plasmodium falciparum olgusu dışında saptanan olguların tamamı Plasmodium vivax'tir. Sıtma olguları 1986 yılından itibaren (%1.37) azalarak 2001 yılında %0.05'e düşmüş, son üç yılın oranlan oldukça düşük olmuştur. Yerli vakaların oranı 1994 yılma kadar yüksek seyretmiş ve özellikle bu tarihten itibaren azalma göstermiştir. Bu azalma eğilimi ekonomik şartların düzelmesine, vektör ve sürveyans çalışmalarının etkisine bağlanabilir. Olguların çoğunun işçi hareketlerinin yoğun görüldüğü Altınözü, Dörtyol ve Antakya merkezinde yoğunlaşması, 1994-2001 yılları arasındaki olguların %75'ini harici vakaların oluşturması bölgede sıtmanın insan hareketlerinin etkisinde olduğunu göstermiştir. Hatay ilinde 1-4 yaş grubunda (%2.68) görülen sıtmalı olgularının çokluğu sıtmanın bölgede halen etkili olduğunu göstermektedir.SUMMARYIn this study, we investigated malaria using the data provided by The Health Administration of Hatay Province, Turkey. According to the records, a total of 5672 malaria cases were detected with most of them found during passive surveillance between 1986 and 2001. Except for one case of foreign origin infected with Plasmodium falciparum, all of the cases were caused by Plasmodium vivax. The number of malaria cases dramatically decreased from 1986 to 2001 with the prevalence of malaria decreasing from 1.37% in 1986 to 0.05% in 2001. The rate in the local population increased until 1994 and after that it decreased. This decrease may have resulted from improvement in the socioeconomic status of the people, firm control of malaria vectors and surveillance studies in the Hatay province. Most of the cases have been reported from the cities of Altınözü, Dörtyol and Antakya, where immigrant agricultural workers reside. The majority of malaria cases (%75) in 1994-2001 were found in migratory workers. This suggests that the rate of malaria cases is affected by population movements. The fact that most cases of malaria are found in children aged 1-4 years shows that malaria is still active in the Hatay Province

Parasitic infestations in ostriches and therapy

Devekuşlarına özgü paraziter hastalık etkeni azdır. Helmintlerden Houttuynia struthionis, Libyostrongylus douglassii, Chandrella quiscali; prozotoonlardan Cryptosporidium sp., Isospora struthionis ve ektoparazitlerden Struthiolipeurus struthionis, S. nandu, Pterolichus bicaudatus, Gabucinia sculpturata ve Dermoglyphus pachycnemi ile Hypoboscis struthionis devekuşlarının önemli parazitlerindendir. Diğer kuş ve memeli hayvanlarla birlikte yetiştirilen devekuşlarında bu hayvanların paraziter etkenleri (amipler, Giardia, Trichomonas, Histomonas türleri) hastalık oluşturabilirler. Ergin devekuşları oldukça dirençli olduklarından, çoğunlukla direnci kırılmış erişkinler ile devekuşu yavruları paraziter hastalıklardan etkilenmektedir. Bu derlemede, yetiştiriciliği Türkiye'de yaygınlık kazanan devekuşlarının parazitleri hakkında güncel bilgi verilmektedir.Ostriches have few endo and ectoparasite agents. These include Houttuynia struthionis, Libyostrongylus douglassii, Chandrella quiscali, Cryptosporidium spp, Isospora struthionis, Struthiolipeurus struthionis, S. nandu, Pterolichus bicaudatus, Gabucinia sculpturata, Dermoglyphus pachycnemi and Hypoboscis struthionis. Furthermore, ostriches can also be infected with other parasites (such as the amoeba, Giardia, Trichomonas, Histomonas spp.), when they are raised along with mammals and other birds. Generally, ostriches are resistant to parasites, but sometimes immunodeficient mature and young ostriches can easily be infected. This review gives up-to-date knowledge about common ostriches for which breeding industries in Turkey have recently been increasing

The relationship between the success and time management of executives and a view to executives of Turkish top companies

One of the limited and valuable resources which are "Time" and "Time Management" are examined by this paper. With this view, time management of top executives of the successful companies of Turkey is studied. The central message of the article that is proposed in this study is to put the relationship between the success and the time management of top executives clearly with a numerical analysis. In the first section, the manager and the leader conceptions are emphasized and the definitions of these two concepts are given. Then, the conceptions of time and time management are given. Also, the reasons of losing time which are originated from individuals or from work are explained and time planning techniques which are used to abolish the effects of these reasons are given. In the end, a questionnaire is applied to the top executives of Turkey which are the managers of top 300 companies (according to their sales out of their production) and the results of the study are presented

Preventive medicine in ruminants : II. endoparasitic control

Koruyucu hekimlik, ruminantlarda endoparazit olarak yaşayan helmint hastalıklarını önlemek ve maksimum ve- rim elde etmek amacıyla önemlidir. Aşı çalışmaları henüz başarıya ulaşmadığından antihelmintik kullanımı, üretim ka- yıplarının azaltılmasına, zoonoz hastalıkların önlenmesine katkı sağlayan ve hala en sık başvurulan yöntemdir. Bunun- la birlikte ruminantlarda helmint enfeksiyonlarının kontrolü antihelmintik mücadele ve alternatif kontrol yöntemlerinin eş zamanlı ve bilinçli yapılmasıyla sağlanabilir. Bilinçsiz ve düzensiz antihelmintik uygulamaları etkili bir kontrolü engelle- mekte ve ilaçlara karşı direnç gelişmesine neden olmaktadır. Antihelmintik ilaç kullanımının temel amacı, konakçının parazit yükünü mümkün olduğunca azaltmaktır. Kullanılacak ilacın seçiminde parazitin gelişme dönemi, ilacın etki spektrumu, terapotik indeksi, verilme kolaylığı, fiyatı ve kalıntı bırakıp bırakmayacağı gibi kriterler dikkate alınmalıdır. Mücadele etkili ilaçlarla ve uygun zamanda yapılmalıdır. Tedavide etki spektrumu dar olan ilaçlar başka ilaçlarla kombi- ne edilmeli veya geniş spektrumlu ilaçlar tercih edilmelidir. Pratik uygulamada ruminantlar yılda iki kez tedavi edilirler. Tedavide doğru doz uygulamasına, kullanım sıklığına ve ilaç rotasyonuna dikkat edilmesi, ilaçlara karşı direnç gelişimi- ni önleyerek daha az antihelmintik kullanımı sağlayacaktır. Bu derlemede antihelmintik ilaçların etki mekanizması, etki spektrumu, etken maddeleri ve bunların ticari preparatları ile gebelik, laktasyon ve kesim öncesi kullanımında dikkat edilecek hususlar tablolarla özetlenmiştir.Preventive medicine is important to avert helminth diseases living in ruminants as endoparasite and to achieve maximum productivity. The usage of anthelmintic is still the most common method used that contributes to the reduction of production losses and prevention of zoonotic diseases because vaccine studies have not succeeded yet. However, the control of helminth infections in ruminants may be achieved by consciously and simultaneously applying anthelmintic and alternative control methods. Unconscious and irregular applications of anthelmintic prevent an effective control and lead to the development of drug resistance. The main purpose of anthelmintic drug use is to decrease to the parasite burden on the host as much as possible. The criteria that need to be taken into account/ consideration when choosing an antihelmintic drug are the growth period of parasite, the action spectrum of drug, therapeutic index, ease of administration, price, and whether it leaves a residue. Anthelmintic treatments should be performed with effective drugs at the right time. Narrow-spectrum drugs should be combined with other appropriate medications, or broad-spectrum drugs should be preferred for treatment. In practice, ruminants are treated twice a year. Attention to the application of the correct dose, frequency of use, and drug rotation in treatment will result in less usage of anthelmintic by preventing the development of drug resistance. In this review, the action mechanism of anthelmintic drugs, the action spectrum, the active ingredients and their commercial forms, as well as precautions for their usage during pregnancy, lactation, and pre-slaughter period are summarized in tables

Preventive medicine in ruminants: II. Endoparasitic control

Koruyucu hekimlik, ruminantlarda endoparazit olarak yaşayan helmint hastalıklarını önlemek ve maksimum ve- rim elde etmek amacıyla önemlidir. Aşı çalışmaları henüz başarıya ulaşmadığından antihelmintik kullanımı, üretim ka- yıplarının azaltılmasına, zoonoz hastalıkların önlenmesine katkı sağlayan ve hala en sık başvurulan yöntemdir. Bunun- la birlikte ruminantlarda helmint enfeksiyonlarının kontrolü antihelmintik mücadele ve alternatif kontrol yöntemlerinin eş zamanlı ve bilinçli yapılmasıyla sağlanabilir. Bilinçsiz ve düzensiz antihelmintik uygulamaları etkili bir kontrolü engelle- mekte ve ilaçlara karşı direnç gelişmesine neden olmaktadır. Antihelmintik ilaç kullanımının temel amacı, konakçının parazit yükünü mümkün olduğunca azaltmaktır. Kullanılacak ilacın seçiminde parazitin gelişme dönemi, ilacın etki spektrumu, terapotik indeksi, verilme kolaylığı, fiyatı ve kalıntı bırakıp bırakmayacağı gibi kriterler dikkate alınmalıdır. Mücadele etkili ilaçlarla ve uygun zamanda yapılmalıdır. Tedavide etki spektrumu dar olan ilaçlar başka ilaçlarla kombi- ne edilmeli veya geniş spektrumlu ilaçlar tercih edilmelidir. Pratik uygulamada ruminantlar yılda iki kez tedavi edilirler. Tedavide doğru doz uygulamasına, kullanım sıklığına ve ilaç rotasyonuna dikkat edilmesi, ilaçlara karşı direnç gelişimi- ni önleyerek daha az antihelmintik kullanımı sağlayacaktır. Bu derlemede antihelmintik ilaçların etki mekanizması, etki spektrumu, etken maddeleri ve bunların ticari preparatları ile gebelik, laktasyon ve kesim öncesi kullanımında dikkat edilecek hususlar tablolarla özetlenmiştir.Preventive medicine is important to avert helminth diseases living in ruminants as endoparasite and to achieve maximum productivity. The usage of anthelmintic is still the most common method used that contributes to the reduction of production losses and prevention of zoonotic diseases because vaccine studies have not succeeded yet. However, the control of helminth infections in ruminants may be achieved by consciously and simultaneously applying anthelmintic and alternative control methods. Unconscious and irregular applications of anthelmintic prevent an effective control and lead to the development of drug resistance. The main purpose of anthelmintic drug use is to decrease to the parasite burden on the host as much as possible. The criteria that need to be taken into account/ consideration when choosing an antihelmintic drug are the growth period of parasite, the action spectrum of drug, therapeutic index, ease of administration, price, and whether it leaves a residue. Anthelmintic treatments should be performed with effective drugs at the right time. Narrow-spectrum drugs should be combined with other appropriate medications, or broad-spectrum drugs should be preferred for treatment. In practice, ruminants are treated twice a year. Attention to the application of the correct dose, frequency of use, and drug rotation in treatment will result in less usage of anthelmintic by preventing the development of drug resistance. In this review, the action mechanism of anthelmintic drugs, the action spectrum, the active ingredients and their commercial forms, as well as precautions for their usage during pregnancy, lactation, and pre-slaughter period are summarized in tables

Sığır akciğer, karaciğer ve üreme organ lezyonları üzerine bir mezbaha çalışması

Bu çalışma ineklerdeki karaciğer, akciğer ve reprodüktif sistemdeki sorunların belirlenebilmesi amacıyla yapıldı. Antakya Mezbahasına kesim için getirilen yaşları 4-9 arasında değişen Holştayn melezi 800 inek değerlendirmeye alındı. Kesim öncesi klinik muayeneler ve rektal palpasyon yapıldı. Kesilen hayvanların % 48.75'inde hidatit kist, % 25.62'sinde fasioliazis, % 6.87'sinde tek veya çift taraflı akciğer lezyonları belirlendi. Kistler hayvanların % 38.20'sinde akciğer, % 39.48'sinde akciğer ve karaciğer, % 22.30'unda karaciğerde tespit edildi. Kesim sonrası muayenede ineklerin % 31.25'inin gebe olduğu ve bu gebelerin de % 52'sinde reprodüktif sorunlar belirlendi. Sonuç olarak; karaciğer, akciğer ve reprodüktif problemlerin Antakya bölgesi ineklerinde önemli sağlık sorunları oluşturduğu, bu yüzden parazit kontrol programlarının uygulanması, yetiştiricilerin koruyucu hekimlik, sürü idaresi ve yetiştiricilik açısından bilgilendirilmesi gerektiği kanısına varıldı.This study was conducted to determine the problems of the liver, lungs, and reproductive abnormalities in cows. In this study, 800 Holstein and its crossbreed cows, four to nine years old, presented to Antakya Slaughterhouse were evaluated. Ante-mortem clinical examinations and rectal palpation were performed before slaughtering. Hydatid cysts in 48.75%, fascioliasis in 25.62%, unilateral or bilateral lung lesions in 6.87% of cows were found. The organ distribution of cysts in infected animals was 38.20% in lungs, 39.48% in both liver and lungs and 22.30% in liver. The results of the clinical and after slaughtering examination showed that 31.25% of cows were pregnant and 52% of them had reproduction problems. It was concluded that liver and lung parasitism and reproduction problems are the major health problems of cows in Antakya province, therefore, parasite control program should be established and breeders should be informed for the preventative health, management, and breeding aspects of the cows

Distribution of neuroendocrine cells in the small and large intestines of the mole-rats (Spalax leucodon)

In this research, we aimed to determine the regional distribution and relative frequency of immunoreactive (IR) endocrine cells of ghrelin, glucagon, somatostatin–14 (SOM–14), neuropeptide Y (NPY), calcitonin-gene-related peptide (CGRP), insulin and galanin in small and large intestines of mole-rats (Spalax leucodon) by using immunohistochemical staining methods. For this purpose, small and large intestine regions of six adult mole-rats were used as material. In the small and large intestines of mole-rats (S. leucodon), ghrelin, glucagon, SOM–14, NPY and CGRP were identified at various frequencies, but insulin and galanin were not detected in this study. Ghrelin-IR cells were only observed in the small intestine. In addition, the existence of positive staining in the cells was decreased while passing from duodenum to ileum. Glucagon-IR cells were mainly detected in the small intestine regions and colon. SOM–14-IR cells were detected throughout the small intestines with a lesser frequency. NPY-IR cells were also detected in the small and large intestines at various frequencies but not in cecum and rectum. CGRP-IR cells were scarce in duodenum and jejunum, but their numbers increased from ileum to colon. In conclusion, the present study revealed the existence and distributions of neuropeptide-secreting endocrine cells in small and large intestines of mole-rats (S. leucodon)