An Algorithm for the Economic Design of <Emphasis Type="Italic">np</Emphasis> Charts for a Multiplicity of Assignable Causes

Chiu, in 1976, studied the economic design of np charts for processes subject to a multiplicity of assignable causes. Chiu developed a two-step minimization procedure to obtain the three control variables, namely, the sampling interval, the sample size and the acceptance number. Although Chiu's two-step minimization procedure is simple, applicable and down to earth, it is rather inefficient and has some drawbacks. This paper presents an algorithm to overcome these drawbacks. The results and the execution times of all numerical examples show that the accuracy and the efficiency of the algorithm is reasonably good.     

A Heuristic Decomposition Algorithm for Scheduling Problems on Mixed Graphs

We consider a scheduling problem where a set of n jobs has to be processed on a set of m machines and arbitrary precedence constraints between operations are given. Moreover, for any two operations i and j values a _ij >0 and a _ji >0 may be given where a _ij is the minimal difference between the starting times of operations i and j when operation i is processed first. Often, the objective is to minimize the makespan but we consider also arbitrary regular criteria. Even the special cases of the classical job shop problem J//C_max belong to the set of NP-hard problems. Therefore, approximation or heuristic algorithms are necessary to handle large-dimension problems. Based on the mixed graph model we give a heuristic decomposition algorithm for such a problem, i.e. the initial problem is partitioned into subproblems that can be solved exactly or approximately with a small error bound. These subproblems are obtained by a relaxation of a subset of the set of undirected edges of the mixed graph. The subproblems are successively solved and a proportion of the results obtained for one subproblem is kept for further subproblem definitions. Numerical results of the algorithm presented here are given.     

Generalized self-dual Yang-Mills flows,explicit solutions and reductions

An evolution equation is added to the generalized self-dual Yang-Mills equations. The evolution equation contains terms of negative powers of the spectral parameter as well as terms of positive powers. The Darboux matrix method is used to obtain explicit solutions, especially single and multiple solitons. All integrable soliton equations in the framework of AKNS system (inR ⁿ⁺¹ orR ¹⁺¹) can be derived from the generalized Yang-Mills flows by reduction.Supported by Chinese research project Nonlinear Science and K.C. Wong Education Foundation, Hong Kong.     

Availability Analysis of Repairable <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-Server <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis><Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">i</Emphasis></Subscript>-Replicated Systems

We develop an exact closed-form expression for the steady-state availability of a repairable, N-server system in which the ith server contains n _i identical, reconfigurable, breakdown-prone units. Our approach, which follows from the Markov chain balance equations and the recursive properties of Hessenberg matrix determinants, is simpler than previously proposed matrix geometric approaches, and can readily be adapted to the availability analysis of more complicated structures. We illustrate this by computing the steady-state availability of a mixed parallel-serial gracefully degrading replicated system.     

The application of principal component regression on simultaneous multicomponent determinations through a single catalytic kinetic run

The kinetic behaviors of Cr(VI) and W(VI), which catalyze a common indicator reaction between H(2)O(2) and I(-), were studied. A new concept, 'Rate Spectrum', is proposed. The two catalysts can be determined simultaneously by analyzing the rate spectra of their mixtures as the rate spectra of each catalyst are linearly independent. Principal Component Regression (PCR) was used to analyze the rate spectra of the mixtures of Cr and W, and in this way the two ions were determined simultaneously through a single kinetic run.     

治疗小儿厌食症中药强壮灵冲剂微量元素测定及其与疗效关系探讨

已证明小儿厌食症除与缺乏微量元素锌关系密切外,还与其他多种微量元素和宏量元素的缺乏或低下也有关。本院以自行研制的中药强壮灵冲剂治疗小儿厌食症疗效显著。其于浸膏粉经２０余种微量元素测定表明含有锌、铁、钴、铜、镍、锰、铬、锗、锶、铝、钡、硒、硅、钛等多种人体必需且品种齐全,含量适度的微量元素。上述元素又恰是患儿体内所缺乏和低下的品种,无疑对患儿全面适度的补充大有裨益．中药强壮灵与西药硫酸锌临床对比研究表明,无论比发锌回升数值以及从厌食等全面疗效统计,中药组均明显优于西药组,并且发现疗效与药物的补锌量不成正相关。说明中药的调理脾胃功能及综合整体治疗作用是其突出优点,值得推广．     

Clumping Data in 2-Way Tables: A User-Orientated Perspective

Following a critique of existing algorithms, an algorithm is presented which will re-organize a 2-way data table to bring like rows together, and like columns together. Extensions of the method are described, and justified, to accommodate distances measured in modular arithmetic, and with bipolar columns/rows, as in repertory grid analysis. One value of the algorithms is that the user can see relationships in the tables without the data in the cells themselves ever having been transformed. Thus, users will continue to feel they own their data.     

Refining the Diffusion Approximation for the <Emphasis Type="Italic">GI</Emphasis><Superscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Superscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">/G/c</Emphasis> Queue

This paper deals with the GI ^x /G/c queueing system in a steady state. We refine a diffusion approximation method incorporating the constraint of traffic conservation for general queueing systems. An approximate expression for the distribution of the number of customers is obtained. Numerical results are presented to show that the refined model provides improved performance.