BoneRoute: An Adaptive Memory-Based Method for Effective Fleet Management

This paper presents an adaptive memory-based method for solving the Capacitated Vehicle Routing Problem (CVRP), called BoneRoute. The CVRP deals with the problem of finding the optimal sequence of deliveries conducted by a fleet of homogeneous vehicles, based at one depot, to serve a set of customers. The computational performance of the BoneRoute was found to be very efficient, producing high quality solutions over two sets of well known case studies examined.     

Optimization of the electrophoretic deposition of YBa2Cu3O7−x superconducting large area coatings

Large area coatings (>10cm²) of the high temperature superconductor YBa₂Cu₃O_7–x (x = 0.1 – 0.2) (YBCO) have been prepared by scale up an electrophoretic deposition technique using silver sheets and Si-wafers coated with Ag or Au as substrates. Several parameters, like the kind of the solvent, the applied voltage, the distance between the electrodes, the initial concentration of the suspension and the temperature during the electrophoresis were investigated in order to attain high deposition rates, as well as uniform YBCO coatings with the proper stoichiometry. To obtain a strongly adherent and dense coating a subsequent appropriate sintering and annealing procedure has been developed. The coatings obtained were characterized for their stoichiometry and superconducting properties by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy and magnetic measurements. The homogeneity and thickness of the films and the average grain size of the deposited particles have been investigated by optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).     

The Capacitated Team Orienteering Problem: A Bi-level Filter-and-Fan method

This paper focuses on vehicle routing problems with profits and addresses the so-called Capacitated Team Orienteering Problem. Given a set of customers with a priori known profits and demands, the objective is to find the subset of customers, for which the collected profit is maximized, and to determine the visiting sequence and assignment to vehicle routes assuming capacity and route duration restrictions. The proposed method adopts a hierarchical bi-level search framework that takes advantage of different search landscapes. At the upper level, the solution space is explored on the basis of the collected profit, using a Filter-and-Fan method and a combination of profit oriented neighborhoods, while at the lower level the routing of customers is optimized in terms of traveling distance via a Variable Neighborhood Descent method. Computational experiments on benchmark data sets illustrate the efficiency and effectiveness of the proposed approach. Compared to existing results, new upper bounds are produced with competitive computational times.     

The GABAA-Benzodiazepine Receptor Antagonist Flumazenil Abolishes the Anxiolytic Effects of the Active Constituents of Crocus sativus L. Crocins in Rats

Anxiety is a chronic severe psychiatric disorder. Crocins are among the various bioactive components of the plant Crocus sativus L. (Iridaceae) and their implication in anxiety is well-documented. However, which is the mechanism of action underlying the anti-anxiety effects of crocins remains unknown. In this context, it has been suggested that these beneficial effects might be ascribed to the agonistic properties of these bioactive ingredients of saffron on the GABA type A receptor. The current experimentation was undertaken to clarify this issue in the rat. For this research project, the light/dark and the open field tests were used. A single injection of crocins (50 mg/kg, i.p., 60 min before testing) induces an anti-anxiety-like effect revealed either in the light-dark or open field tests. Acute administration of the GABA_A-benzodiazepine receptor antagonist flumazenil (10 mg/kg, i.p., 30 min before testing) abolished the above mentioned anxiolytic effects of crocins. The current findings suggest a functional interaction between crocins and the GABA_A receptor allosteric modulator flumazenil on anxiety.     

Spectroscopic determination of the degree of esterification of pectic substances from kenaf

Pectins were isolated from bark, wood and pith of four kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) varieties. The degree of esterification of isolated pectins was studied using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. It was determined as being between 57 and 90% and there were no notable differences between kenaf varieties. The higher value of the degree of esterification was presented in wood pectins (86-90%), the interim in pith (75-83%) and the lower in bark (57-64%).     

A Web-based ERP system for business services and supply chain management: Application to real-world process scheduling

A Web-based ERP system developed for attacking business problems and managing real-world business processes ranging from simple office automation procedures to complicated supply chain planning is presented. The system’s Web-aspect provides significant advantages, as the system is distributed through interoperable, cross-platform and highly pluggable Web-service components. The system involves a powerful workflow engine that manages the entire process event flow within the enterprise increasing efficiency and control at the same time. Business processes, when needed, are controlled by the enterprise quality management system and consequently the ISO directives are accurately followed. A real-world process scheduling system developed for the specific needs of Greek Construction Manufacturing Enterprises is illustrated as a detailed paradigm of the system’s capabilities. The problem was formulated to assign project tasks in form of lots to enterprise resources in order that resources idle time and delays in project preparation time were minimized. The problem was solved by a simple and effective heuristic algorithm.     

A reactive variable neighborhood tabu search for the heterogeneous fleet vehicle routing problem with time windows

This paper presents a solution methodology for the heterogeneous fleet vehicle routing problem with time windows. The objective is to minimize the total distribution costs, or similarly to determine the optimal fleet size and mix that minimizes both the total distance travelled by vehicles and the fixed vehicle costs, such that all problem’s constraints are satisfied. The problem is solved using a two-phase solution framework based upon a hybridized Tabu Search, within a new Reactive Variable Neighborhood Search metaheuristic algorithm. Computational experiments on benchmark data sets yield high quality solutions, illustrating the effectiveness of the approach and its applicability to realistic routing problems. This work is supported by the General Secretariat for Research and Technology of the Hellenic Ministry of Development under contract GSRT NM-67.     

A flexible adaptive memory-based algorithm for real-life transportation operations: Two case studies from dairy and construction sector

Effective routing of vehicles remains a focal goal of all modern enterprises, thriving for excellence in project management with minimal investment and operational costs. This paper proposes a metaheuristic methodology for solving a practical variant of the well-known Vehicle Routing Problem, called Heterogeneous Fixed Fleet VRP (HFFVRP). Using a two-phase construction heuristic, called GEneralized ROute Construction Algorithm (GEROCA), the proposed metaheuristic approach enhances its flexibility to easily adopt various operational constraints. Via this approach, two real-life distribution problems faced by a dairy and a construction company were tackled and formulated as HFFVRP. Computational results on the aforementioned case studies show that the proposed metaheuristic approach (a) consistently outperforms previous published metaheuristic approaches we have developed to solve the HFFVRP, and (b) substantially improves upon the current practice of the company. The key result that impressed both companies’ management was the improvement over the bi-objective character of their problems: the minimization of the total distribution cost as well as the minimization of the number of the given heterogeneous number of vehicles used.     

A Guided Tabu Search for the Vehicle Routing Problem with two-dimensional loading constraints

We present a metaheuristic methodology for the Capacitated Vehicle Routing Problem with two-dimensional loading constraints (2L-CVRP). 2L-CVRP is a generalisation of the Capacitated Vehicle Routing Problem, in which customer demand is formed by a set of two-dimensional, rectangular, weighted items. The purpose of this problem is to produce the minimum cost routes, starting and terminating at a central depot, to satisfy the customer demand. Furthermore, the transported items must be feasibly packed into the loading surfaces of the vehicles. We propose a metaheuristic algorithm which incorporates the rationale of Tabu Search and Guided Local Search. The loading aspects of the problem are tackled using a collection of packing heuristics. To accelerate the search process, we reduce the neighbourhoods explored, and employ a memory structure to record the loading feasibility information. Extensive experiments were conducted to calibrate the algorithmic parameters. The effectiveness of the proposed metaheuristic algorithm was tested on benchmark instances and led to several new best solutions.     

Complexation of Indole-3-acetic Acid with Iron(III): Influence of Coordination on the π-Electronic System of the Ligand

Summary.  The iron(III) complex of indole-3-acetic acid (1) was prepared, and its physicochemical properties, mode of iron(III) coordination, and electronic structure were studied using UV/Vis, diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform (DRIFT), and transmission ⁵⁷Fe M?ssbauer spectroscopic techniques. The data obtained provide evidence that iron(III) is not only coordinated by the carboxylic O-donor atom, but also via the conjugated π-electronic system of the pyrrole moiety involving both the non-shared electronic pair of the heteroatom and the C(2)*C(3) double bond. Considering the well-known increased sensitivity of the pyrrole residue in indole derivatives to oxidation as compared to the benzene ring, as well as the formation of a triple complex (peroxidase-1-O₂) proposed for the enzymatic 1 oxidative degradation mechanism involving as a key step the Fe³⁺ → Fe²⁺ transition in the enzyme form as discussed in literature, it is concluded that iron(III) coordination with 1 can influence the redox properties of the pyrrole ring by affecting its π-electronic system. Received September 17, 2000. Accepted (revised) October 31, 2000