Common due date assignment scheduling for a no-wait flowshop with convex resource allocation and learning effect

This article addresses the no-wait flowshop scheduling problem with simultaneous consideration of common due date assignment, convex resource allocation and learning effect in a two machine setting. The processing time of each job can be controlled by its position in a sequence and also by allocating extra resource, which is a convex function of the amount of a common continuously divisible resource allocated to the job. The objective is to determine the optimal common due date, the resource allocation and the schedule of jobs such that the total earliness, tardiness and common due date cost (the total resource consumption cost) are minimized under the constraint condition that the total resource consumption cost (the total earliness, tardiness and common due date cost) is limited. Polynomial time algorithms are developed for two versions of the problem.     

Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Mg–RE–TM Cast Alloys Containing Long Period Stacking Ordered Phases: A Review

Casting magnesium alloys hold the greatest share of magnesium application products due to their short processing period, low cost and near net shape forming. Compared with conventional commercial magnesium alloys or other Mg–RE-based alloys, the novel Mg–RE–TM cast alloys with long period stacking ordered(LPSO) phases usually possess a higher strength and are promising candidates for aluminum alloy applications. Up to now, two ways: alloying design and casting process control(including subsequent heat treatments), have been predominantly employed to further improve the mechanical properties of these alloys. Alloying with other elements or ceramic particles could alter the solidifi cation pattern of alloys, change the morphology of LPSO phases and refi ne the microstructures. Diff erent casting techniques(conventional casting, rapidly solidifi cation, directional solidifi cation, etc.) introduce various microstructure characteristics, such as dendritic structure, nanocrystalline, metastable phase, anisotropy. Further heat treatments could activate the transformation of various LPSO structures and precipitation of diverse precipitates. All these evolutions exert great impacts on the mechanical properties of the LPSO-containing alloys. However, the underlying mechanisms still remain a subject of debate. Therefore, this review mainly provides the state of the art of the casting magnesium alloys research and the accompanying challenges and summarizes some topics that merit future investigation for developing high-performance Mg–RE–TM cast alloys.     

Hierarchical sampling optimization of particle filter for global robot localization in pervasive network environment

This paper presents a hierarchical framework for managing the sampling distribution of a particle filter (PF) that estimates the global positions of mobile robots in a large‐scale area. The key concept is to gradually improve the accuracy of the global localization by fusing sensor information with different characteristics. The sensor observations are the received signal strength indications (RSSIs) of Wi‐Fi devices as network facilities and the range of a laser scanner. First, the RSSI data used for determining certain global areas within which the robot is located are represented as RSSI bins. In addition, the results of the RSSI bins contain the uncertainty of localization, which is utilized for calculating the optimal sampling size of the PF to cover the regions of the RSSI bins. The range data are then used to estimate the precise position of the robot in the regions of the RSSI bins using the core process of the PF. The experimental results demonstrate superior performance compared with other approaches in terms of the success rate of the global localization and the amount of computation for managing the optimal sampling size.     

In-situ observation of interaction between precipitates and austenite during δ→γ phase transformations

The δ-ferrite to γ-austenite phase transformation in duplex stainless steels was observed using ultra high-temperature confocal laser scanning microscope, and the orientation relationship between the γ phase, and precipitate is discussed. Owing to mutual promotion action, the γ phase was observed at δ/δ grain boundary at the beginning of δ-ferrite→γ-austenite transformation, followed by two-dimensional γ-phase growth at the same speed (0.625?µm?s^?1) along the grain boundary and into the δ grain matrix. The γ-phase growth rate decreases to 0.244?µm?s^?1 when precipitate stops growing. In the process of grain growth at high temperature, the precipitated pinning grain boundary will slow the movement speed of the grain boundary.

The mutual promotion action leads to preferential nucleation of the γ phase, and the nucleation and growth of the austenite also promoting the growth of MnS the growth.     

Dhh1 is a member of the SESA network

The correct separation of chromosomes during mitosis is necessary to prevent genetic instability and aneuploidy, which are responsible for cancer and other diseases, and it depends on proper centrosome duplication. In a recent study, we found that Smy2 can suppress the essential role of Mps2 in the insertion of yeast centrosome into the nuclear membrane by interacting with Eap1, Scp160, and Asc1 and designated this network as SESA (S my2, E ap1, S cp160, A sc1). Detailed analysis showed that the SESA network is part of a mechanism which regulates translation of POM34 mRNA. Thus, SESA is a system that suppresses spindle pole body duplication defects by repressing the translation of POM34 mRNA. In this study, we performed a genome-wide screening in order to identify new members of the SESA network and confirmed Dhh1 as a putative member. Dhh1 is a cytoplasmic DEAD-box helicase known to regulate translation. Therefore, we hypothesized that Dhh1 is responsible for the highly selective inhibition of POM34 mRNA by SESA.     

Methods for constructing analytic phase function for small spherical particle polydispersions

Two ways of constructing analytic phase function for a polydispersion of small spherical non-absorbing particles have been investigated. First one is a straightforward procedure emanating from the implementation of single particle scattering input into the defined polydisperse phase function. This results in an analytic phase function in terms of moments of the distribution. The second approach is a new strategy, based on the Lagrange mean value theorem. A clear understanding of the relationship between these two approaches has been developed. The efficacy and accuracy of the scattering phase functions is illustrated by applying it to a power-law size distributed sphere ensemble.     

不锈钢酸洗污泥对烧结黏结相与平衡相的影响

 不锈钢酸洗污泥安全填埋占用土地且难以消除对环境的危害，将酸洗污泥作为烧结配料使用有望回收其中铁、铬、镍等金属，并充分利用其中的熔剂组分，实现酸洗污泥在冶金企业的闭路资源化利用。铁矿粉配加酸洗污泥烧结黏结相强度试验表明，随着酸洗污泥配加比例的增加，黏结相强度先增加后减小，且随着碱度的增加整体减小，当酸洗污泥配加比例为10%时，试样中赤铁矿、磁铁矿质量分数最大，枪晶石质量分数较小，在碱度为1.5时于1 280 ℃焙烧4 min，试样的黏结相强度最大可达15.12 kN。平衡相烧结试验表明，配加酸洗污泥能改善烧结矿质量，铁矿粉配加10%的酸洗污泥，碱度为1.5，1 300 ℃烧结240 min后，烧结矿的矿相组成和微观结构最好，综合性能最佳。