On the safety stock problem for random delivery processes

Inventory models are considered in which the delivery of an order occurs not on one occasion but at random moments of a period in random parts. We give two extensions of the reliability type inventory model of A. Prékopa. In this model a known constant demand rate is assumed and a simple approximate formula is given for the initial stock of the order period which serves as safety stock and ensures a continuous supply during the whole order period on a prescribed probability level. This formula is widely used in practice for safety stock planning in the case when deliveries in random parts occur.We formulate a generalized version of the random delivery process and derive the exact solution of the safety stock which can be applied also for the previous model. In the second model a random demand rate is considered together with a random delivery process. An exact solution method and a simple approximate formula for the safety stock will be discussed. We have experiences in the application of these models both in a steel works and a textile factory in Hungary.     

Luminescence quenching by DNA-bound viologens: effect of reactant identity on efficiency and dynamics of electron transfer in DNA

Photoinduced electron transfer from two intercalating photoactive donors, Ru(phen)2dppz2+ and ethidium, to intercalating viologen acceptors of the N,N'-dialkyl-6-(2'-pyridiniumyl)phenanthridinium family has been investigated through steady-state and time-resolved luminescence quenching measurements. Efficient quenching of the emission from these donors bound to DNA is observed at low concentrations of acceptor (1-10 eq.), and in time-resolved emission experiments it is determined that electron transfer occurs on the nanosecond time scale. Furthermore, transient absorption measurements confirm that the quenching is the result of a charge-transfer process; upon photoreaction of intercalated Ru(phen)2dppz2+ with a viologen acceptor, an intermediate with spectral properties resembling the expected charge-separated pair is observed. The quenching yields and kinetics obtained with this quencher are in marked contrast to those observed with these same donors paired with Rh(phi)2bpy3+ as an acceptor. The differing efficiencies of electron transfer for these donor/acceptor pairs bound to DNA as compared to others previously described are discussed qualitatively in terms of the structural and electronic properties of the different reactants.     

A Condition Based Maintenance Model with Exponential Failures and Fixed Inspection Intervals

This paper discusses a condition based maintenance model with exponential failures, and fixed inspection intervals. A condition of the equipment, such as vibration, is monitored at equidistant time intervals. If the variable indicating the condition is above a threshold an instantaneous maintenance action is performed and the monitored condition takes on its initial value. The equipment can fail only once within an inspection interval. The probability of failure is exponential and the failure rate is dependent on the condition. The cost to be minimized is the long-run average cost of maintenance actions and failures. We study the optimal solution to this problem obtained via dynamic programming and compare it to an approximate steady state solution based on renewal theory.