Scheduling jobs on parallel machines to minimize a regular step total cost function

This paper deals with a parallel machine scheduling problem whose objective is to minimize a regular step total cost function. A real world application of the problem is presented, and Mixed Integer Linear Programming models are described for the cases with and without release dates, as well as a dedicated constraint generation procedure. Experimental results are reported and discussed to evaluate the relevance of the different approaches on well-known special cases and the general case.     

气压变化对极限电流型氧传感器输出特性的影响

对气压变化对极限电流型氧传感器扩散机理的影响进行了研究。实验中将扩散孔径为30μm的极限电流型氧传感器先后放置在不同气压环境中进行了电学性能测试。实验结果显示:在常压下该氧传感器的极限电流IL与氧浓度的对数表达式ln(1-XO2)具有很好的线性关系,呈现正常扩散模型的特征。但在低气压环境下,该传感器的极限电流IL受气压P的影响,并呈现Knudsen模型的某些特征。     

The delayed effect of treadmill desk usage on recall and attention

The treadmill desk is a new human–computer interaction (HCI) setup intended to reduce the time workers spend sitting. As most workers will not choose to spend their entire workday walking, this study investigated the short-term delayed effect of treadmill desk usage. An experiment was conducted in which participants either sat or walked while they read a text and received emails. Afterward, all participants performed a task to evaluate their attention and memory. Behavioral, neurophysiological, and perceptual evidence showed that participants who walked had a short-term increase in memory and attention, indicating that the use of a treadmill desk has a delayed effect. These findings suggest that the treadmill desk, in addition to having health benefits for workers, can also be beneficial for businesses by enhancing workforce performance.     

The unit learning curve approximation of total cost

Learning curve theory has been integrated into mathematical models which previously did not take learning into account. Researchers have in general used one of two approximations of total cost based on the integral of the unit learning curve when developing larger models. An error analysis of the two approximations is presented.     

Decomposition heuristic to minimize total cost in a multi-level supply chain network

In this paper, the distribution planning model for the multi-level supply chain network is studied. Products which are manufactured at factory are delivered to customers through warehouses and distribution centers for the given customer demands. The objective function of suggested model is to minimize logistic costs such as replenishment cost, inventory holding cost and transportation cost. A mixed integer programming formulation and heuristics for practical use are suggested. Heuristics are composed of two steps: decomposition and post improving process. In the decomposition heuristics, the problems are solved optimally only considering the transportation route first by the minimum cost flow problem, and the replenishment plan is generated by applying the cost-saving heuristic which was originally suggested in the manufacturing assembly line operation, and integrating with the transportation plan. Another heuristic, in which the original model is segmented due to the time periods, and run on a rolling horizon based method, is suggested. With the post-improving process using tabu search method, the performances are evaluated, and it was shown that solutions can be computed within a reasonable computation time by the gap of about 10% in average from the lower bound of the optimal solutions.     

The effect of aerodynamic handlebars on oxygen consumption while cycling at a constant speed

Abstract

In this study, the oxygen consumption ([Vdot]O₂) of bicycling was measured at a fixed speed (40 km·h^?1on level terrain, with normal and aerodynamic handlebars using a Douglas bag collection system. Eleven elite (USCF category I or 2) men cyclists age 24 to 40 years (X¯=28·5, SD±4·6) performed four consecutive (two with each bar in alternating order) steady state rides at 40 km· h^?1over a 4 km flat course (same direction each trial). Expired gases were collected in a 1501 Douglas bag attached to a following vehicle during the last 45 s (approx. 0·5 km) of each trial. A repeated measures analysis of variance revealed a significant (p<0·02) handlebar effect. Specifically, [Vdot]O₂was 2% lower under the aerodynamic handlebar treatment (X¯=4·26, SD±0·36 1 min^?1when compared with that of the normal handlebar treatment (X¯=4·34, SD±0·35 1 min^?1The results of this study demonstrate that the reported aerodynamic advantage of the aerodynamic handlebars produces a small but significant reduction in the [Vdot]O₂of bicycling at 40 km·h^?1     

基于设备全生命周期成本的老旧变压器评估

本文以某运行近25年的老旧变电站500kV电力变压器为实例研究了变压器设备的全生命周期成本为实例,基于某该变电站运行多年以来的运行数据,对该站主变的材料、性能、运行工况进行分析,结合20年前生产制造的工艺、水平和技术能力,考虑包括初始投资成本、运行成本、检修维护成本、故障成本以及退役处置成本,对某变电站500kV主变压器的全寿命周期成本进行综合评估,并通过电力变压器对合资品牌以及国产优质品牌2个质量水平的产品进行分析比较,得出了设备购置成本对LCC的控制起到主导作用,在检修维护成本、故障成本以及退役处置成本占比不大的情况下,合资品牌产品较高的设备购置费用不利于成本的控制,国产优质品牌产品的全寿命周期成本相对更优的结论     

The use of a non-motorized treadmill for analysing sprint performance

The measurement of human power output and anaerobic capacity in high-intensity exercise has traditionally been made using cycle ergometers. The assessment of power output during running has proved difficult because previous approaches have limited themselves to using motorized treadmills. In the present study the problems associated with motorized treadmills were overcome by using a non-motorized treadmill which was instrumented so as to allow the measurement of power output during sprint running. A non-motorized treadmill (Woodway model AB) was used because it allows rapid changes in running velocity normally found in sprinting to be monitored. In order to calculate the horizontal component of the applied power the instantaneous values of both the horizontal component of applied force and the treadmill belt speed were measured, and their product determined. A harness, attached to a force transducer, was passed around the waist securing the subject to the crossbar without restricting the movement of the limbs. The force measured was assumed to be the same as that horizontally applied to the treadmill belt.

The outputs from the speed detector, force transducer and heart rate monitor were continuously monitored by a microcomputer.

The results of the study showed that:

(1)the peak speed attained on the treadmill is approximately 80% of that achieved in free-sprinting.

(2)peak force is attained earlier than peak power and in turn peak power occurs before peak speed.

(3)the force and power required to propel the treadmill belt at a constant speed increase with body weight.

(4)the power required to propel the treadmill belt increases with speed.

(5)stride length and frequency could be monitored.

(6)elasticity in the tethering system acted as a low pass filter on the force profile.     

Cardio-respiratory performance of porters carrying loads on a treadmill

Four workers, accustomed to load carrying, carried loads (no load, 60, 80 and 100?kg) at 0·89 and 1·03?m s^?1 on a treadmill during the pre- and post-lunch period respectively, to obtain information regarding the degree of exhaustion from similar load carrying in their usual working situation. The rate of work is expressed in Watts. During pre- and post-lunch work there was a rise of 6 to 71 of pulmonary ventilation with each increment of 163 W. beyond the initial work level. The oxygen consumptions in the pre-lunch period were 15 to 27% higher, suggesting a greater anaerobic metabolism in the post-lunch period. The average work-pulse-rate varied from 116 to 162 beats min^?. Cardiac demand for a particular load is more or less constant, irrespective of time of day. During the pre-lunch period the work-pulse-sum was 78, 71, 65 and 54 beats per 163 W for respective four loads;-where-as in the post-lunch period, except the initial load, it varied only between 56 to 60 beats per 163 W. indicating a proportionate rise of pulse beats during post-lunch work. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd min recovery pulses of the 3rd and 4th loads were much beyond a level sustainable throughout the day. The recovery-pulse-sum varied from 39 to 104 beats and 36 to 117 beats min^? during the pre- and post-lunch period respectively, which were mostly beyond the permissible endurance limit. The oxygen-pulse for similar loads were 18 to 44% higher in the pre-lunch period, indicating better ability to work. To arrive at a reasonable load and rate of work, simple and multiple regression equations have been evolved. Indian workers may be allowed to work up to 1140 W (i.e. 50 to 55% of maximum oxygen uptake).     

The cost of a generated parser

The ‘fact’ that compilers employing generated parsers suffer significant performance degradation dis-a-vis recursive descent compilers is entrenched in the folklore of computing. We give detailed measurements that support this belief when the entire compiler is written in Pascal. We then define a general interface for a parsing module that hides significantly more information than usual, simplifying the process of generation and integration. This interface makes an assembly-coded parse table interpreter feasible without changing the language used for the remainder of the compiler. When the parse table interpreter is written in assembly language, the costs of the generated parser are essentially the same as those for recursive descent. (A minor space/time trade-off is possible, with the recursive descent implementation being slightly bigger and slightly faster.)     

The impact of the distance-dependent promotional effect on the promotion cost sharing decision

This paper considers the promotion cost sharing decision between a supplier and a retailer. The customer demand is affected by both national and local promotional effects while the local promotional effect on a customer is dependent on the distance between the retailer and this customer. We propose a continuous approximation approach to modelling the sum of the customer demand in the whole market area served by the retailer. A model is provided to help managers decide on the retail price, the local advertising expenditure, the national advertising expenditure, and the supplier participation rate, with consideration of the influence of distance on the promotional effect. We also find that the supplier's promotion cost sharing rate increases as the market size increases or the influence of distance on the promotional effect decreases. A numerical example is given to show that the nature of distance-dependent promotional effect has a significant impact on the decisions and profits.     

Single-machine batch scheduling to minimize the total setup cost in the presence of deadlines

We address the single-machine batch scheduling problem with the objective of minimizing the total setup cost. This problem arises when there are n jobs that are partitioned into F families and when setup operations are required whenever the machine switches from processing a job of one family to processing a job of another family. We assume that setups do not require time but are associated with a fixed cost which is identical for all setup operations. Each job has a processing time and an associated deadline. The objective is to schedule all jobs such that they are on time with respect to their deadlines and the total setup cost is minimized. We show that the decision version of this problem is NP-complete in the strong sense. Furthermore, we present properties of optimal solutions and an \(O(n\log n+nF)\) algorithm that approximates the cost of an optimal schedule by a factor of F. The algorithm is analyzed in computational tests.