A Lagrangean heuristic algorithm for disassembly scheduling with capacity constraints

This paper considers the problem of determining the disassembly schedule (quantity and timing) of products in order to satisfy the demand of their parts or components over a finite planning horizon. The objective is to minimize the sum of set-up, disassembly operation, and inventory holding costs. As an extension of the uncapacitated versions of the problem, we consider the resource capacity restrictions over the planning horizon. An integer program is suggested to describe the problem mathematically, and to solve the problem, a heuristic is developed using a Lagrangean relaxation technique together with a method to find a good feasible solution while considering the trade-offs among different costs. The effectiveness of the algorithm is tested on a number of randomly generated problems and the test results show that the heuristic suggested in this paper can give near optimal solutions within a short amount of computation time.     

Bulk Sn1−xMnxO2 magnetic semiconductors without room-temperature ferromagnetism

Polycrystalline Sn_1−xMn_xO₂ (0≤x≤0.05) diluted magnetic semiconductors were prepared by solid-state reaction method and their structural and magnetic properties had been investigated systematically. The three Mn-doped samples (x=0.01, 0.03, 0.05) undergo paramagnetic to ferromagnetic phase transitions upon cooling, but their Curie temperatures are far lower than room temperature. The magnetization cannot be attributed to any identified impurity phase. It is also found that the magnetization increases with increasing Mn doping, while the ratio of the Mn ions contributing to ferromagnetic ordering to the total Mn ions decreases.     

Mappings of finite distortion: Hausdorff measure of zero sets

We prove that a for a mapping f of finite distortion , the -Hausdorff measure of any point preimage is zero provided is integrable, with , and the multiplicity function of f is essentially bounded. As a consequence for we obtain that the mapping is then open and discrete. Received: 18 June 2001 / Revised version: 31 January 2002 / Published online: 27 June 2002     

Local ν-Euler Derivations and Deligne's¶Characteristic Class of Fedosov Star Products¶and Star Products of Special Type

In this paper we explicitly construct local ν-Euler derivations , where the ξ_α are local, conformally symplectic vector fields and the are formal series of locally defined differential operators, for Fedosov star products on a symplectic manifold (M,ω) by means of which we are able to compute Deligne's characteristic class of these star products. We show that this class is given by , where is a formal series of closed two-forms on M the cohomology class of which coincides with the one introduced by Fedosov to classify his star products. Moreover, we consider star products that have additional algebraic structures and compute the effect of these structures on the corresponding characteristic classes of these star products. Specifying the constituents of Fedosov's construction we obtain star products with these special properties. Finally, we investigate equivalence transformations between such special star products and prove existence of equivalence transformations being compatible with the considered algebraic structures. Dedicated to the memory of Moshé Flato Received: 28 June 1999 / Accepted: 11 April 2002?Published online: 11 September 2002     

Local search algorithms for the min-max loop layout problem

In the min-max loop layout problem, machines are to be arranged around a loop of conveyor belt. The ordering of the machines dictates the number of circuits of the conveyor belt required to manufacture each of several products. The goal is to find an ordering of the machines that minimises the maximum number of circuits required for the manufacture of any of the products. Since the problem is strongly NP-hard, the study of heuristic methods is of interest. This paper proposes iterated descent and tabu search algorithms, and a randomised insertion algorithm. Results of extensive computational tests show that all of our algorithms outperform a previously known algorithm that applies a greedy heuristic to the solution of a linear programming relaxation. The best quality solutions are obtained with iterated descent. This adds further evidence to the belief that iterated descent can produce high quality solutions to a variety of combinatorial optimisation problems. Moreover, unlike some other local search algorithms, iterated descent does not require much tuning in order to be competitive.     

Combining PSMs with hard OR methods: the philosophical and practical challenges

Combinations of problem structuring methods with hard OR methodologies are seldom described in the literature. This paper will reflect on the barriers to such combinations that can be seen at the philosophical level—paradigm incommensurability—and cognitive level—type of personality and difficulty of switching paradigm. This paper examines the combination of Soft Systems Methodology and Discrete Event Simulation within an Intermediate Care case study. The paper will argue, by way of the practical application, that these problems are not insurmountable and that the result can be seen as interplay of the soft and hard paradigms. The idea of yin and yang is proposed as a metaphor for this process.     

A new microtensile tester for the study of MEMS materials with the aid of atomic force microscopy

An apparatus has been designed and implemented to measure the elastic tensile properties (Young's modulus and tensile strength) of surface micromachined polysilicon specimens. The tensile specimens are “dog-bone” shaped ending in a large “paddle” for convenient electrostatic or, in the improved apparatus, ultraviolet (UV) light curable adhesive gripping deposited with electrostatically controlled manipulation. The typical test section of the specimens is 400 μm long with 2 μm×50 μm cross section. The new device supports a nanomechanics method developed in our laboratory to acquire surface topologies of deforming specimens by means of Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) to determine (fields of) strains via Digital Image Correlation (DIC). With this tool, high strength or non-linearly behaving materials can be tested under different environmental conditions by measuring the strains directly on the surface of the film with nanometer resolution.     

一个新的四维混沌系统理论分析与电路实现

分析了一个新的复杂的四维混沌系统的基本特性，该系统每个方程中包含一个三次交叉乘积项，共有9个平衡点，它们相对于原点和坐标轴具有完美的对称性，并且相对于线性特性和不变流形具有很好的相似性.描述了两个同时共存的对称双翼吸引子.最后，设计了一个模拟电路来实现这个新的四维混沌系统，表明数值仿真和电路实现具有很好的一致性，同时说明在应用上由于频率不同导致的仿真与物理实现之间的重要区别. 关键词： 四维混沌系统 Lyapunov 指数 共存双翼吸引子 电路实现     

Absorption Complex between Porphyrin and Phenothiazine in Reverse Micelles

Porphyrin derivatives attract much more interest in photodynamic therapy (PDT). Their importance as therapeutic drugs and targeting agents has been widely recognized1, and many of the efforts have been put towards crafting new porphyrin-based molecular entities to achieve enhanced tumor localization, better tissue penetration and increased singlet oxygen quantum yield2. The states of porphyrins in tissue models such as micelles, lipid bilayers are extensively investigated focusing more or l…