Two approaches for solving the buffer allocation problem in unreliable production lines

This paper presents an integrated approach to solve the buffer allocation problem in unreliable production lines so as to maximize the throughput rate of the line with minimum total buffer size. The proposed integrated approach has two control loops; the inner loop and the outer loop. While the inner loop control includes an adaptive tabu search algorithm proposed by Demir et al. [8], binary search and tabu search are proposed for the outer loop. These nested loops aim at minimizing the total buffer size to achieve the desired throughput level. To improve the efficiency of the proposed tabu search, alternative neighborhood generation mechanisms are developed. The performances of the proposed algorithms are evaluated by extensive computational experimentation, and the results are reported.     

Saliency detection based on hybrid artificial bee colony and firefly optimization

Pattern Analysis and Applications - Saliency detection is one of the challenging problems still tackled by image processing and computer vision research communities. Although not very numerous,...     

Minimax mutual information approach for independent component analysis

Minimum output mutual information is regarded as a natural criterion for independent component analysis (ICA) and is used as the performance measure in many ICA algorithms. Two common approaches in information-theoretic ICA algorithms are minimum mutual information and maximum output entropy approaches. In the former approach, we substitute some form of probability density function (pdf) estimate into the mutual information expression, and in the latter we incorporate the source pdf assumption in the algorithm through the use of nonlinearities matched to the corresponding cumulative density functions (cdf). Alternative solutions to ICA use higher-order cumulant-based optimization criteria, which are related to either one of these approaches through truncated series approximations for densities. In this article, we propose a new ICA algorithm motivated by the maximum entropy principle (for estimating signal distributions). The optimality criterion is the minimum output mutual information, where the estimated pdfs are from the exponential family and are approximate solutions to a constrained entropy maximization problem. This approach yields an upper bound for the actual mutual information of the output signals - hence, the name minimax mutual information ICA algorithm. In addition, we demonstrate that for a specific selection of the constraint functions in the maximum entropy density estimation procedure, the algorithm relates strongly to ICA methods using higher-order cumulants.     

Defects in liquid crystals (II)

Defects in the disordered (uniaxial) liquid crystals, nematic, smecticA and cholesteric, and the use of topological analysis in classifying them, are discussed. While the latter is very successful in classifying defects in nematics, it fails to do so in the case of smecticA and cholesteric liquid crystals because of geometrical constraints. However, topological arguments have been partially successful in predicting some of the defects in cholesterics. The known features of the isotropic (cubic and amorphous) cholesteric blue phases are summarised and the various theoretical models picturing them as defect lattices, are also discussed briefly.     

Electrochemical treatment of deproteinated whey wastewater and optimization of treatment conditions with response surface methodology

Electrochemical treatment of deproteinated whey wastewater produced during cheese manufacture was studied as an alternative treatment method for the first time in literature. Through the preliminary batch runs, appropriate electrode material was determined as iron due to high removal efficiency of chemical oxygen demand (COD), and turbidity. The electrochemical treatment conditions were optimized through response surface methodology (RSM), where applied voltage was kept in the range, electrolyte concentration was minimized, waste concentration and COD removal percent were maximized at 25 degrees C. Optimum conditions at 25 degrees C were estimated through RSM as 11.29 V applied voltage, 100% waste concentration (containing 40 g/L lactose) and 19.87 g/L electrolyte concentration to achieve 29.27% COD removal. However, highest COD removal through the set of runs was found as 53.32% within 8h. These results reveal the applicability of electrochemical treatment to the deproteinated whey wastewater as an alternative advanced wastewater treatment method.     

Effect of gamma irradiation on the properties of tyre cords

Gamma irradiation of high tenacity Nylon 6.6 (Ny 66) and polyester (PET) tyre cords was investigated. The untreated and treated tyre cords with different twist levels were irradiated at different dose rates in air. The effects of irradiation on both Ny 66 and PET cords were not found to be depending on the twist levels of the cords. The changes in the mechanical and thermal properties with absorbed dose at two different dose rates were measured. The mechanical properties were observed to deteriorate with increasing dose for Ny 66 cords, whereas remained almost unchanged for PET cords both in greige and dipped forms. Hot shrinkage value for the greige Ny 66 cords was found to be improved, i.e. decreased. This decrease was much lower for greige PET than Ny 66 cords. It is concluded that PET cord has higher radiation resistance than Ny 66 cord and the effects of high energy irradiation on tyre cords have to be taken into consideration during tyre design if pre-vulcanization with high energy radiation is to be applied.     

Statistical Modeling of β-galactosidase Inhibition During Lactose Hydrolysis

A statistical model approach called response surface methodology was used to describe the product and substrate inhibition effect on β-galactosidase enzyme during lactose hydrolysis. The effect of independent variables, namely the initial concentrations of lactose (73 - 146 mM), galactose (44 - 122 mM) and glucose (83 - 167 mM) on the reaction rate of β-galactosidase was evaluated. The enzymatic reaction rate was influenced by both combined and individual effects of all the substrate and products. Although, glucose acted as an activator at low lactose and low galactose concentrations, glucose caused the inhibition of β-galactosidase at higher concentrations of lactose and galactose. The effect of galactose concentration on β-galactosidase enzyme was in the direction of inhibition. At low lactose concentrations and high glucose concentrations, galactose concentration became more effective on the reaction rate.     

The Effect of Uncertainties in the Kuhn-Mark-Houwink-Sakurada Constants on the Quantitative Analysis by Gel Permeation Chromatography

The effect of uncertainties in Kuhn-Mark-Houwink-Sakurada (KMHS) constants on weight average and number average molecular weights and molecular weight distributions of some poly(ethyl methacrylate) samples have been investigated. Parameters were computed by the Weiss and Cohn-Ginsberg method. Whereas errors introduced in M_w, M_n and HI values due to uncertainty in the K value are insignificant, uncertainties in the KMHS exponent present a serious problem. Deviations of ± 3% around a particular a value cause a ± 20% error in M_w and ± 15% error in M_n, values. The effect of deviations in the KMHS exponent on the HI values is dependent on the polydisperity of the sample investigated.     

Characterization and elemental analysis of wood pellets obtained from low-valued types of wood

In this study, we compared the quality of wood pellets obtained from several different raw materials, i.e., Rhododendron ponticum (Type 1), Laurus nobilis (Type 2), and Castanea sativa (Type 3). The quality of the wood pellets was characterized mainly by their bulk density, moisture content, ash content, volatiles, sulfur content in the ash, total sulfur content, heating values, elemental analysis of the ash, and chlorine content. The results showed that bulk density was similar for each type of pellet. In quality values, ash content and the sulfur content in the ash were found to be lower for Type 3 (Chestnut wood pellets) than they were for the other two types. The results also showed that dry samples of Type 1, Type 2, and Type 3 wood pellets had heating values of 5057, 4691, and 4571 kcal/kg, respectively, whereas the original (undried) samples had heating values of 4571, 4409, and 4293 kcal/kg, respectively.