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.     

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 steric structure of multiflorine methylation products

Summary Multiflorine (1) — a minor lupine alkaloid — treated by methyl lithium or methyl magnesium iodide affords 4S-4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2,3-didehydrosparteine (2) and 2S-2-methyl-4-oxosparteine (3), respectively, as the dominating products. Their steric structure, determined by¹H and¹³C NMR techniques, points to stereospecific preferences of these reactions. The observed nucleophilic 1,2- and 1,4-additions indicate that regiospecificity of the action of MeLi or MeMgI on multiflorine is different from that of the so far known similar alkylation of other enamino ketones.

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Die räumliche Struktur von Methylierungsprodukten des Multiflorins

Zusammenfassung Multiflorin (1), ein Lupin-Nebenalkaloid, ergibt bei Umsetzung mit Methyllithium oder Methylmagnesiumiodid 4S-4-Hydroxy-4-methyl-2,3-didehydrospartein (2) und 2S-2-Methyl-4-oxospartein (3) als Hauptprodukte. Ihre NMR-spektroskopisch (¹H und¹³C) aufgeklärte räumliche Struktur weist auf eine Stereoselektivität der erwähnten Reaktionen hin. Die beobachteten nucleophilen 1,2- und 1,4-Additionen zeigen, daß sich die Regiospezifität der Einwirkung von MeLi oder MeMgl auf Multiflorin von jener bis jetzt bekannter Alkylierungen von Enaminoketonen unterscheidet.

     

Europium isotope separation in the HCl/HDEHP extraction system

The^153/151Eu isotope separation factor (q) for the Eu(II)/Eu(III) chemical exchange in the liquid-liquid extraction system, containing Eu (III) in di (2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (HDEHP) and Eu(II) in water acidified with hydrochloric acid, was found to be 0.9993±0.0002 (2) for the single stage. Some theoretical aspects of separation of the Eu isotopes are discussed. The decisive role of the electron exchange reaction and complexation by the counter-ion in the aqueous phase is emphasized.     

Influence of substituents on positron annihilation in styrene copolymers

Results of angular correlation of annihilation radiation (ACAR) and positron annihilation lifetime (PAL) measurements are presented for five styrene copolymers: poly(co-styrene-phenylmaleimide) and its three derivatives with chlorine as well as for one with the OH group substituted at the benzene ring. It occurs that the chlorine substituted at three different positions at the benzene ring poly(co-styrene-o (or-m,-p)-chlorophenylmaleimide) inhibits the formation of the positronium to different extent. The greatest effect is observed in case of the chlorine atom substituted at the benzene ring at the ortho-position towards the nitrogen atom. The two long lifetimes (₃ and ₄) observed in the lifetime spectra are connected with the bimodal distributions of the free volume radius in the samples.     

A definitive method for the determination of trace amounts of cobalt in biological materials by neutron activation analysis

A new, very accurate (definitive) method for the determination of trace amounts of cobalt in biological materials has been devised. The method is based on combination of neutron irradiation with quantitative and selective post-irradiation separation of cobalt from all accompanying radionuclides followed by measurement by -ray spectrometry. Column chromatography in which owing to addition of Co carrier the course of separation can be followed visually is the key element of the separation scheme. Several criteria have been formulated which must be simultaneously fulfilled in order to acknowledge the result as obtained by a definitive method. The high accuracy of the method has been demonstrated by the analysis of several certified reference materials of widely different Co contents.     

Atomic absorption spectrophotometric determination of gold with preconcentration by Donnan dialysis

Donnan dialysis enrichment with tubular cation-exchange membrane was used as a preconcentration method prior to determination of gold by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The value of enrichment factor can be controlled for a particular application through adjustment of the membrane tuning length, dialysis time, carrier flow rate, composition of the receiver solution and by addition of complexing ligand to the receiver or the sample solution. For 10 min dialysis enrichment factor above 3 can be achieved. The detection limit (signal-to-noise ratio = 3) of 35 ng/ml was obtained. RSD at 0.2 mug/ml level was 4.7% (n = 6). The results of dialysis of noble metals mixtures are demonstrated.     

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.