Efficient shift scheduling in the retail sector through two-stage optimization

Efficient workforce scheduling has an important impact on store profit and customer service. Standard scheduling problems do not recognize the effect of staff availability on customer sales, however, even though the latter is an important factor in the retail sector. In this paper a two-stage model is proposed for this purpose. In the first stage a sales response model is used to specify hourly staff requirements. The output of the sales response model is then used as the input of a mixed integer optimization model, which finds an optimum assignment of the staff to daily shifts. Simulations are used to validate the sales response function, and to revise the model for more accurate results. In the simulations, customer arrivals and sales response error values are generated using appropriate distribution functions. As a case study the proposed model is applied to a Turkish retailer in the apparel sector.     

Hazardous metal geochemistry of sedimentary phosphate rock used for fertilizer (Maz?dag, SE Anatolia, Turkey)

Composition of phosphate rocks mostly depend on their type and origin. Sedimentary rocks contain high concentration of heavy metals. Phosphate rocks are mainly used for the manufacturing of phosphate fertilizers. The contents of heavy metals Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn, as well as rare earth elements Ce, La, and Th were determined in sedimentary phosphate rock used for production of fertilizer in Turkey. The Kasrik-Semikan, Mazidag (Mardin, SE Anatolia, Turkey) high-grade phosphate rock used in this study is situated near the border with Syria and was deposited during the Turonian and Senonian (Cretaceous) ages. Total phosphorus (P) concentration in the rock is 18.5% on the average. Microwave acid digestion (MW-AD) followed by ?nductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrophotometry (ICP-OES) was carried out for the determination of all the elements of interest in phosphate rock. The results revealed that hazardous metal content of the phosphate rock was lower in Mazidag phosphate than that in samples imported from other countries and were within the safety limits.     

Treatment of turkeys with nitroimidazoles: Impact of the selection of target analytes and matrices on an effective residue control

In several animal studies turkeys were treated with different nitroimidazoles (Dimetridazole, Metronidazole, Ronidazole, Ipronidazole). After slaughtering, different matrices (breast muscle, leg muscle, liver, plasma, retina) were analysed for their analyte content, for the percentage of hydroxy-metabolites, for homogeneity, stability and bound, and conjugated residues. The tests showed that for animals treated with Dimetridazole and Ipronidazole, the hydroxy-metabolites (2-hydroxymethyl-1-methyl-5-nitroimidazole (HMMNI) and 1-methyl-2-(2′-hydroxyisopropyl)-5-nitroimidazole (IPZOH)) are the relevant target analytes, whereas for animals treated with Ronidazole and Metronidazole, the parent drug itself is the most relevant analyte. In muscle samples an inhomogeneous analyte distribution was found. Degradation studies showed a rapid decline of the analyte concentration in muscle and liver samples stored at room temperature and a decelerated degradation at 4 °C. In plasma and retina samples, however, the analytes were stable during storage under the same conditions. In these matrices the analytes were found to be present in considerably higher concentrations than in muscle or liver and could be detected for a longer period of time after withdrawal of the medication. Therefore, plasma or retina can be recommended as target matrices for the residue control of nitroimidazoles in turkeys.     

Interaction of kerogen and mineral matrix of an oil shale in an oxidative atmosphere

The effects of the inorganic matrix of the oil shale on the oxidation of the kerogen at temperatures up to 1000°C in an air atmosphere were investigated Kerogen was isolated by successive HCl, HF and LiAlH₄ treatments. The initial shale and each product of every demineralization process were oxidized in a thermogravimetric system in an air atmosphere. The oxidation products were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Changes in the chemical structure of the organic material of the shale were correlated with the separated constituents of the inorganic matrix. Oxidation of the kerogen occurred in two stages. The first stage was complete at about 400°C. The oxidized product after the first stage contained a char of an aromatic ring system substituted with some aliphatic material and carbonyl groups. Calcium minerals increased the reactivity of the aromatic part of the organic material towards the oxidation reactions. Where calcium minerals were absent, mainly the aliphatic and the carbonyl groups decomposed. Silicates and pyrites did not affect the reactivity of the organic material in oxidation reactions.     

Vibrational relaxation of compressed nD2 fluid

Experimental observations of the vibrational population relaxation time of ⁿD₂ fluid under pressures of up to 500 atm in the 25–85 K range are presented and described in terms of a semi-classical model for energy transfer in liquids. For comparison with the parameters of this model, a classical equivalent potential for quantum systems is derived from the “real” intermolecular potential.     

Spectral,electron microscopic and chemical investigations of gamma-induced purple color zonings in amethyst crystals from the Dursunbey-Balıkesir region of Turkey

Amethyst crystals on matrix specimens from the Dursunbey-Bal?kesir region in Turkey have five representative purple color zonings: dark purple, light purple, lilac, orchid, and violet. The purple color zonings have been analyzed with optical absorption spectra in the visible wavelength region, chemical full trace element analyses (inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy), and scanning electron microscopic images with high magnification. It can be proposed that the production of the purple color in amethyst crystals is due to three dominant absorption bands centered at 375, 530, and 675 nm, respectively. In addition, the purple color zonings are also due to four minor absorption bands centered at 435, 480, 620, and 760 nm. X-ray diffraction graphics of the investigated amethyst crystals indicate that these crystals are composed of a nearly pure alpha-quartz phase and do not include any moganite silica phase and/or other mineral implications. Trace element analyses of the amethyst crystals show five representative purple color zonings, suggesting that the absorption bands can be mainly attributed to extrinsic defects (chemical impurities). However, another important factor that influences all structural defects in amethyst is likely to be the gamma irradiation that exists during amethyst crystallization and its inclusion in host materials. This gamma irradiation originates from the large underlying intrusive granitoid body in the region of amethyst formation. Irradiation modifies the valence values of the impurity elements in the amethyst crystals. It is observed that the violet-colored amethyst crystals have the most stable and the least reversible coloration when exposed to strong light sources. This situation can be related to the higher impurity content of Fe (2.50 ppm), Co (3.1 ppm), Ni (38 ppm), Cu (17.9 ppm), Zn (10 ppm), Zr (3.9 ppm), and Mo (21.8 ppm).     

Radioactivity concentrations in topsoil samples from the Thrace region of Turkey and assessment of radiological hazard

The activity concentrations of gamma emitting radionuclides were measured in surface soil samples from the Thrace region. ²³²Th, ²³⁸U, ²²⁶Ra, ⁴⁰K and ¹³⁷Cs activities and physico-chemical parameters of the soil samples were determined in samples collected from 73 sampling stations. Radionuclide concentrations measured were compared with those found in the samples from other locations of Turkey and from different countries. The average activity concentrations of ²³²Th, ²³⁸U, ²²⁶Ra, ⁴⁰K and ¹³⁷Cs were found to be 24.71 ± 8.79, 22.30 ± 7.93, 32.09±12.44, 509.00±160.05, 32.74±29.24 Bq kg^?1, respectively. The mean value of the annual effective dose equivalent from the outdoor terrestrial gamma radiation was calculated as 57.2 μ Sv.     

Radioactivity measurements and risk assessments of spa waters in some areas in Turkey

The current study presents the results of the activity of radionuclides in spa waters, and evaluates their radiological influences on the population consuming these waters in the Central and Eastern Black Sea regions of Turkey. Since these waters are used for therapy and consumption purposes unconsciously, their radiological impact on the people was computed by taking into consideration the annual intake through ingestion of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, ⁴⁰K, ¹³⁷Cs and ²²²Rn. The mean activities were estimated to be 11.35 for gross alpha, 6.23 for gross beta, 2.96 for ²²⁶Ra, 0.42 for ²³²Th, 0.069 for ¹³⁷Cs, 0.19 for ⁴⁰K, and 267 Bq L^–1 for ²²²Rn, respectively. The estimated effective doses from spa water were found to be 49.77 µSv a^–1 (²²⁶Ra), 5.95 µSv a^–1 (²³²Th), 0.07 µSv a^–1 (¹³⁷Cs), 0.83 µSv a^–1 (⁴⁰K) and 56.03 µSv a^–1 (²²²Rn). These values were evaluated and compared with related verified values from literature. Also, physico-chemical characterizations of spa water samples considered in the current study were investigated. This study would be useful for consumers and official authorities for the assessment of radiation exposure risk due to usage of the considered spa waters.     

Strengthening buildings of stone masonry to resist earthquakes

Stone masonry buildings are common in many areas in the Alpine-Himalayan earthquake zone, and their failure in recent earthquakes has been the cause of many deaths. Poverty and lack of alternatives prevent the replacement of stone masonry with more ductile materials, but the brittleness of unreinforced stone masonry can be considerably reduced by the incorporation of horizontal lacings of timber or reinforced mortar.As part of a joint research project with the Turkish Earthquake Research Institute in Ankara to study low-cost upgrading strategies for rural earthquake protection, full-scale wall elements were subjected to static lateral loading test and dynamic tests on an impulse table. A simple yield-line analysis based on wall overturning was shown to be able to give a useful prediction of the mode of failure and failure load in the static test, and give guidance on the relative performance of unreinforced and reinforced walls in the dynamic test. The results of these tests were used to assess the cost-effectiveness of a large-scale programme of upgrading rural buildings in eastern Turkey.

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Sommario Gli edifici in muratura di pietra sono molto diffusi in ampie zone della regione sismica alpino-himalayana ed il loro crollo ha provocato la perdita di numerose vite umane durante gli ultimi eventi sismici. Spessola poverta' e la mancanza di alternative impediscono la sostituzione della muratura di pietra con materiali piu' duttili: ciononostante il comportamento di tale materiale puo' essere sostanzialmente migliorato incorporando cuciture orizzontali di legno od introducendo elementi metallici nei ricorsi di malta. II progetto di ricerca che si va sviluppando congiuntamente con l'Istituto Turco di Ricerca sui Terremoti di Ankara si propone di individuare una serie di provvedimenti di basso costo per migliorare la qualita' antisimica dell' edilizia rurale. In tale schema sono stati condotti una serie di esperimenti su pannelli murari in scala reale soggetti a carichi statici laterali ed a prove dinamiche su tavola vibrante. Una semplice analisi a rottura basata sul ribaltamento dell'elemento murario si e'dimostrata in grado di fornire accurate previsioni sui meccanismi e sui carichi di rottura nelle prove statiche, e dare utili indicazioni sul comportamento di pannelli semplici e rinforzati sottoposti a prove dinamiche.I risultati di tali prove sono stati utilizzati per una analisi cost-benefici per la definizone di un programma su larga scalla del miglioramento del comportamento sismico di edifici rurali nella Turchia Orientale.