Exact Methods for the Preemptive Resource-Constrained Project Scheduling Problem

A simple best-first tree search scheme with pruning rules to minimize the completion time (makespan) of the project is described. A project consists of a set of activities partially ordered by precedence constraints. An activity has a given non-negative duration and uses renewable resources such as manpower and machinery. The total number of available units of each resource is constant and specified in advance. A unit of resource cannot be shared by two activities. An activity is ready to be processed only when all its predecessor activities are completed and the numbers of units of the various resources required by it are free and can be allocated to it. Once started, an activity can be interrupted and rescheduled later on without any increase in remaining duration of that activity. Each such part of the activity can be called a segment of that activity. There are no set-up times. The objective is to assign start times to the activities or segment of activities so that the makespan is minimized.

Evolution of IS Competencies due to Mandatory Telework on Organizational scale – A Work-Systems Approach

Given the recent pandemic crisis, telework has become a mandatory practice for organizations across the world. Mandatory large scale implementations of telework are an abrupt technological shift in organizations which presents a unique set of challenges for organizational competencies. In this research initiative, we derive from the work systems framework to analyze the consequences of telework shift on organizational competencies from a resource-based view. Many organizations are inexperienced and unprepared to implement telework on an organizational scale. We analyze how organizations have been affected by these large scale implementations of mandatory telework and how the competencies of these organizations have been affected. Content and thematic analysis of several interviews of managers across organizations supervising teleworking teams have been done to provide insights into how IS competencies have been affected by this shift

Strategies for Improving Indian Railways’ Market Share of Port Based Coal Traffic: A Diagnostic Study

India is a vast country. After its independence in 1947, it steadily lost its position in international trade. With the beginning of economic liberalization in 1991, it has taken new initiatives in integrating itself with the world economy. Import restrictions have been removed for many commodities. One of the major impacts of liberalization has been on infrastructure: railways, roadways, ports and airports. Significant changes have also taken place in the composition of imported and exported commodities. Due to these changes, new challenges are being faced on the infrastructure front. One of the challenges is to rectify the mismatch of available infrastructure at ports where a modal change of commodities that are either imported or exported takes place. This paper examines such issues with a specific focus on improving infrastructure required for integration of railways and ports. This is achieved by focusing on coal which is a commodity that (i) brings significant revenues to Indian Railways, and (ii) is witnessing increasing imports. In this diagnostic study, we discuss the problems faced by Indian Railways and identify ways to increase its market share of coal movement between ports and the hinterland.

Study of the distribution profile of piperidine alkaloids in various parts of Prosopis juliflora by the application of Direct Analysis in Real Time Mass Spectrometry (DART-MS)

[Image: see text] ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: Supplementary material is available for this article at 10.1007/s13659-012-0069-1 and is accessible for authorized users

Gamification at Workplace: Theories, constructs and conceptual frameworks

Gamification has been an active area of interest for both academicians and practitioners for the last decade. Gamification has extended its application to many areas, including the workplace. This study aims to shed light on the theoretical scenario of the gamification literature at the workplace. The article reviews the recent literature on gamification in this context and analyses the theories, constructs, and frameworks used to study the phenomenon. There is a lack of focus on the theoretical framework in the existing reviews. We create a broad taxonomy of theories used in the literature of gamification of the workplace. Further, we also propose a causal-chain framework to explain how gamification influences employees in the workplace. The results indicate that gamification at the workplace is still in its nascent stage and requires more rigorous and in-depth research. We believe that the insights generated provide research avenues for future research studies

Cold abscess of thigh following inadvertent vaccination in an infant

Localized abscess in the same site of bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine is a known complication. However, the occurrence ofsuch abscess at other sites is uncommon. We, hereby, report a case of 4-month-old female child who developed a swelling at left thighfollowing intramuscular injection at 6 weeks vaccination. Aspiration cytology of abscess showed granulomatous inflammation andpositivity for acid-fast bacilli. The exact etiology for this presentation is unknown; however, wrongful inoculation of the BCG vaccinein place of DPwT vaccine at 6 weeks could be suspected. Mycobacterium should be considered in any unexplained soft tissue abscessin areas of the world where tuberculosis is prevalent

Cogging Torque Minimization of PMBLDC Motor for Application in Battery Electric Vehicle

Since the beginning, researchers have focused globally on the automotive industry, which recently yielded a notable increase in the development of electric vehicles. The cogging torque of the motor is the leading cause of acoustic noise and vibration. Therefore, this paper aims to reduce the cogging torque of Brushless DC motors in electric vehicles. The power rating of the two-wheeler battery electric vehicle is determined with kinematic dynamic equations. The choice of material and the combination of pole slots impact the vehicle’s overall performance, particularly in raising the average torque of the motor. Finite element based Ansys Maxwell electromagnetic field simulation software has been used to design and analyze the electric and magnetic field parameters of BLDC motor using several rotor poles embrace factor values. The findings of this study are expected to reduce vibration and noise in electric vehicles with increased average torque

Glycemic Guardianship: World Health Organization Leads the Way

The prevalence of diabetes is rapidly increasing globally in epidemic proportions, but many people with diabetes remain undiagnosed or untreated. In view of this escalating prevalence, the World Health Organization (WHO) has launched the Global Diabetes Compact (GDC) campaign to improve the diagnosis and management of people with diabetes. To this end, a set of diabetes coverage targets, focusing on 80% of people living with diabetes, to be achieved by the year 2030, were defined at the 75th World Health Assembly for the first time in May this year. These targets aim to achieve not just glycemic control, but also blood pressure and lipid management at all levels of the health care system. India has the second largest number of people with diabetes in the globe. In this article, we have proposed the concept of “glycemic guardianship”, which means activities carried out by the health care team and the health care system in partnership with the patient to ensure optimal care of diabetes. Recognizing and acknowledging our role as “glycemic guardians” of the nation will automatically pave the way to realize the targets set by the GDC

Assessment of levetiracetam and valproic acid as monotherapy for quality of life in partial epilepsy patients

Background: Quality of life (QOL) is important in patients of epilepsy as it is affected both by disease as well as therapy. QOL is the most overlooked component of antiepileptic treatment.Methods: An observational analytical study was conducted in the Department of Pharmacology in collaboration with Department of Neurology of Himalayan Institute of Medical Science, Dehradun over 12 months. 80 patients satisfying inclusion criteria were enrolled and divided into two groups based on physician discretion and followed up for 12 weeks. Patients were evaluated at 0 and 12 weeks for quality of life using QOLIE-10 self-administered questionnaire, they were also assessed for seizure control and drug related adverse effects.Results: 60 patients were enrolled and divided into two treatment groups as per physician discretion, levetiracetam (30) and valproic acid (30) groups. Study groups showed significant improvement in QOL (mean change in QOL17.95±2.527 for LEV and 11.56±3.540 for VPA). Levetiracetam (LEV) group showed significant improvement over valproic acid (VPA) group (p=0.05) at 12 weeks. Patients who achieved total seizure control at 6 weeks were 93.33% patients in levetiracetam and 90% in valproic acid group, reason being non adherence which was 6.67% and 10% respectively. Adverse event recorded with levetiracetam (03), most common being drowsiness and with valproic acid (08), with most common being anorexia.Conclusions: Levetiracetam therapy has led to better quality of life and has the same seizure control as valproic acid, and has shown to have lower incidence of adverse effect