Using the generalized maximum covering location model to control a project’s progress

Project control consists of monitoring a project’s progress at so called control points, finding possible deviations from the baseline schedule and if necessary, making adjustments to the deviated schedule subject to the available control budget, the adjusting strategies and also other technical and environmental possibilities in order to bring the schedule back on the right track. In this study, we adapt for the first time the generalized maximum covering location model to determine the adjusting strategies such that the maximum control coverage is achieved, i.e. under the given constraints, a schedule that is globally as close to the baseline schedule as possible is obtained. Numerical examples are given to illustrate the intricacies of the proposed method and also to demonstrate its applicability.

     

Hilbert $$C^*$$-modules as a subcategory of operator systems and injectivity

In this paper, we study a category whose objects are Hilbert \(C^*\)-modules and whose morphisms are completely semi-\(\phi \)-maps. We give a characterization of injective objects in this category. In fact, we investigate extendability of completely semi-\(\phi \)-maps on Hilbert \(C^*\)-modules, leading to an analog of the Arveson’s extension theorem for completely semi-\(\phi \)-maps (in contrast with \(\phi \)-maps). This theorem together with previous results suggest that the completely semi-\(\phi \)-maps are proper generalizations of the completely positive maps.     

Certain Integral Transforms of Generalized k-Bessel Function

The objective of this note is to provide some(potentially useful) integral transforms(for example, Euler, Laplace, Whittaker etc.) associated with the generalized k-Bessel function defined by Saiful and Nisar [3]. We have also discussed some other transforms as special cases of our main results.     

On the Szeged and the Laplacian Szeged spectrum of a graph

For a given graph G its Szeged weighting is defined by w(e)=n_u(e)n_v(e), where e=uv is an edge of G,n_u(e) is the number of vertices of G closer to u than to v, and n_v(e) is defined analogously. The adjacency matrix of a graph weighted in this way is called its Szeged matrix. In this paper we determine the spectra of Szeged matrices and their Laplacians for several families of graphs. We also present sharp upper and lower bounds on the eigenvalues of Szeged matrices of graphs.     

Preparation,Characterization and Controlled Release Investigation of Biocompatible pH-Sensitive PVA/PAA Hydrogels

In the present research hydrogel films based on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyacrylic acid (PAA) blend, with various crosslink densities, have been prepared through different thermal treatment. The results of FTIR and DSC confirmed quality and quantity of conclusion on miscibility of PVA/PAA blends, respectively. Besides, biocompatibility of the samples has been proved in cytotoxicity tests using L929 cells, according to ISO10993–5. Water uptake of the hydrogel blends is measured. pH sensitivity properties of blends are studied with and without boiling in NaOH solutions where the effect of swelling in water before boiling has also been investigated. Preswellings in water and NaOH concentration have been found to be mainly effective on pH sensitivity of PVA/PAA blends. Biocompatibility and pH sensitivity behavior make these hydrogels appropriate candidates to orally deliver drugs such as insulin and peptides that can be released in basic pH of intestine. The stability of these films in acidic solutions and its expansion and also the consequent release of drugs in basic solutions have been studied by using Teofilin as a model drug by UV-spectrophotometeric measurements.     

Decay of mass for nonlinear equation with fractional Laplacian

The large time behavior of non-negative solutions to the reaction–diffusion equation ?_t u=-(-D)^a/2u - u^p{\partial_t u=-(-\Delta)^{\alpha/2}u - u^p}, ${(\alpha\in(0,2], \;p > 1)}${(\alpha\in(0,2], \;p > 1)} posed on \mathbbR^N{\mathbb{R}^N} and supplemented with an integrable initial condition is studied. We show that the anomalous diffusion term determines the large time asymptotics for p > 1 + α/N, while nonlinear effects win if p ≤ 1 + α/N.     

Models for concurrent product and process design

We propose procedures to address product design and manufacturing process configurations concurrently in environments characterized by large degrees of product proliferation. Exploiting the intrinsic flexibility of product and process design, we present two approaches that synchronize production flows through the manufacturing system. These approaches integrate product and manufacturing system design decisions with operational concerns and provide powerful means for managing production in environments characterized by a proliferation of products. Experimental results show that the proposed methods can substantially reduce manufacturing lead times, work in process (WIP), and overall system complexity.     

Series solutions for unsteady laminar MHD flow near forward stagnation point of an impulsively rotating and translating sphere in presence of buoyancy forces

The similarity solution for the unsteady laminar incompressible boundary layer flow of a viscous electrically conducting fluid in stagnation point region of an impulsively rotating and translating sphere with a magnetic field and a buoyancy force gives a system of non-linear partial differential equations. These non-linear differential equations are analytically solved by applying a newly developed method, namely the homotopy analysis method (HAM). The analytic solutions of the system of non-linear differential equations are constructed in the series form. The convergence of the obtained series solutions is carefully analyzed. Graphical results are presented to investigate the influence of the magnetic parameter, buoyancy parameter and rotation parameter on the surface shear stresses and surface heat transfer. It is noted that the behavior of the HAM solution for the surface shear stresses and surface heat transfer is in good agreement with the numerical solution given in reference [H. S. Takhar, A. J. Chamkha, G. Nath, Unsteady laminar MHD flow and heat transfer in the stagnation region of an impulsively spinning and translating sphere in the presence of buoyancy forces, Heat Mass Transfer 37 (2001) 397].     

A novel approach to solve linear systems arising from BEM using fast wavelet transforms

This paper uses Daubechies orthogonal wavelets to change dense and fully populated matrices of boundary element method (BEM) systems into sparse and semi‐banded matrices. Then a novel algorithm based on hierarchical nature of multiresolution analysis is introduced to solving resultant sparse linear systems. This algorithm decomposes NS‐form of transformed parent matrix into descendant systems with reduced sizes and solves them iteratively using GMRES algorithm. Both parts, changing dense matrices to sparse systems and the novel solver, can be added as a black box to the existing BEM codes. Transforming matrices into wavelet space needs less time than saved by solving sparse large systems. Numerical results with a precise study on sensitivity of solution for physical variables to the thresholding parameter, and savings in computer time and memory are presented. Also, the suitable value for thresholding parameter is recommended for elasticity problems. The results indicate that the proposed method is efficient for large problems. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.