A Lot-sizing Model for Just-in-time Manufacturing

We consider the problem of determining lot sizes of multiple items that are manufactured by a single capacitated facility. The manufacturing facility may represent a bottleneck processing activity on the shop floor or a storeroom that provides components to the shop floor. Items flow from the facility to a downstream facility, where they are assembled according to a specified mix. Just-in-time (JIT) manufacturing requires a balanced flow of items, in the proper mix, between successive facilities. Our model determines lot sizes of the various items based on available capacity and four attributes of each item: demand rate, holding cost, set-up time and processing time. Holding costs for each item accrue until the appropriate mix of items is available for shipment downstream. We develop a lot-sizing heuristic that minimizes total holding cost per time unit over all items, subject to capacity availability and the required mix of items.     

Developing and Maintaining an Equity Index Fund

An index fund is a portfolio of shares designed to replicate the investment performance of a market index. The index represents the behaviour of the market as a whole. This paper describes the selection of an index fund which minimizes expected tracking error. Using a multivariate model of returns on shares, a development of a univariate model by Taylor, the selection problem is formulated as a quadratic programme. The effects of various constraints on tracking error are demonstrated. Several policies for the readjustment of a fund are examined in the context of the differing objectives of fund managers. As a general rule, regular readjustment is shown to be a more expensive policy than irregular updating.     

Scheduling Parts in a Combined Production-transportation Work Cell

This paper is concerned with a combined production-transportation scheduling problem. The problem comprises a simple, two-machine, automated manufacturing cell, which either stands alone or is a subunit of a complete flexible manufacturing system. The cell consists of two machines in series with a dedicated part-handling device such as a crane or robotic arm for transferring parts from the first machine to the second. The loading of a new piece on the first machine and the ejection of a finished piece from the second machine are performed by dedicated automated mechanisms. The introduction of parts into the system is done n at a time, whereby the parts are reshuffled into a sequence that minimizes completion time. All processing and transfer times are considered deterministic—a reasonable assumption for a cell comprising a robotic transfer device and two CNC machining units. What complicates the problem is the assumption of a non-negligible time for the transfer device to return (empty) from the second machine to the first. The operation is a generalization of a two-machine flowshop problem, and is formulated as a specially structured, asymmetric travelling salesman problem. An approximate polynomial time 0(n log n) algorithm is proffered. The procedure incorporates a lower bound using the Gilmore–Gomory algorithm for the no-wait, two-machine flowshop problem.     

锯齿型与扶手椅型碳化硅纳米管光电性质第一性原理研究

本文基于密度泛函理论计算分析了手性参数为(17,0)、(20,0)、(26,0) (10,10)、(12,12)、(15,15)的碳化硅纳米管的能带图,态密度及主要光学性质。结果表明：锯齿型与扶手椅型碳化硅纳米管均具有明显的半导体性质;在相近直径下,扶手椅型碳化硅纳米管带隙宽度要大于锯齿型碳化硅纳米管的带隙宽度;碳化硅纳米管的光吸收峰在100nm~200nm之间,可用于制作紫外线探测器件。     

SO_2和NO_2在γ-Al_2O_3(110)表面吸附的第一性原理计算

采用基于平面波基组的Vienna Ab-initio Simulations Package (VASP)程序研究了SO_2和NO_2在γ-Al_2O_3(110)表面和羟基化γ-Al_2O_3(110)表面的吸附,获得了SO_2和NO_2吸附的不同构型和结构参数.对吸附能,电荷转移,差分电荷密度和投影态密度等进行分析和讨论.对比发现,在γ-Al_2O_3(110)表面SO_2的吸附能力强于NO_2.SO_2或NO_2在非羟基化γ-Al_2O_3(110)表面吸附时O原子的2p轨道和Al原子的3s3p轨道作用形成O-Al键,且SO_2吸附时键结强度高于NO_2.NO_2吸附时费米能级以下有部分反键态,削弱了与γ-Al_2O_3(110)表面相互作用.在羟基化γ-Al_2O_3(110)表面SO_2或NO_2的吸附能力会低于非羟基化表面,但是SO_2的吸附能力依旧强于NO_2.计算结果说明SO_2与γ-Al_2O_3(110)表面的相互作用强于NO_2.以上研究,将有助于理解SO_2和NO_2在γ-Al_2O_3的反应性,为进一步研究它们的非均相转化和在灰霾形成中的促进作用奠定基础.     

平面波超声成像中的波束合成方法研究进展

平面波成像通过单次全孔径发射-接收即可获取整幅图像,将成像帧频显著地提升至1000帧/秒以上.然而,平面波成像过程中发射的非聚焦波束将导致回波信号信噪比降低,进而使图像的分辨率和对比度变差.通过多角度相干复合成像技术可以改善平面波成像的图像质量,但是会以牺牲帧频为代价.因此研究人员们开始将新型波束合成技术引入平面波成像...     

A posteriori error estimates for optimal control problems governed by parabolic equations

Summary. In this paper, we derive a posteriori error estimates for the finite element approximation of quadratic optimal control problem governed by linear parabolic equation. We obtain a posteriori error estimates for both the state and the control approximation. Such estimates, which are apparently not available in the literature, are an important step towards developing reliable adaptive finite element approximation schemes for the control problem. Received July 7, 2000 / Revised version received January 22, 2001 / Published online January 30, 2002 RID="*" ID="*" Supported by EPSRC research grant GR/R31980     

Positive solutions of singular boundary value problem of negative exponent Emden—Fowler equation

This paper investigates the existence of positive solutions of a singular boundary value problem with negative exponent similar to standard Emden-Fowler equation. A necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of C[0, 1] positive solutions as well as C¹[0, 1] positive solutions is given by means of the method of lower and upper solutions with the Schauder fixed point theorem.     

Lower Bounds for the Height and Size of the Ideal Class Group in CM-Fields

 We prove that, under the assumption of the Generalized Riemann Hypothesis, the exponent of the ideal class group of a CM-field goes to infinity with its absolute discriminant. This gives a positive answer to a question raised by Louboutin and Okazaki [4]. Received September 10, 2001; in revised form April 5, 2002