Semantics of Schedules for the Fuzzy Job-Shop Problem

In the sequel, we consider the fuzzy job-shop problem, which is a variation of the job-shop problem where duration of tasks may be uncertain and where due-date constraints are allowed to be flexible. Uncertain durations are modeled using triangular fuzzy numbers, and due-date constraints are fuzzy sets with decreasing membership functions expressing a flexible threshold ldquoless than.rdquo Also, the objective function is built using fuzzy decision-making theory. We propose the use of a genetic algorithm (GA) to find solutions to this problem. Our aim is to provide a semantics for this type of problems and use this semantics in a methodology to analyze, evaluate, and, therefore, compare solutions. Finally, we present the results obtained using the GA and evaluate them using the proposed methodology.     

Evaluation of hydroconverted residues. Rationalization of analytical data through hydrogen transfer balance

Analytical evaluation of petroleum based materials and processed feeds is a complex task relying on a compromise between tedious in-depth characterizations and fast responding tools for process control. In the present paper, a large number of hydroprocessed vacuum residues, obtained either under catalytic or thermal conditions, have been submitted to the following analytical techniques: Simulated distillation, coupled Simdist/MS, UV spectroscopy, ¹³C NMR, quantitative thin-layer chromatography/FID, vapor phase osmometry. A confrontation of analytical data in the light of correlations with hydrogen transfer evaluation is proposed, which accounts for observed variations in aromatic content. Conradson carbon residue largely influences the results obtained with some of the examined techniques. Apparent discrepancies are rationalized and a strategy for a comprehensive analytical evaluation of hydroprocessed feeds is proposed.     

Seismic Deformation of Bar Mat Mechanically Stabilized Earth Walls. I: Centrifuge Tests

Altogether six mechanically stabilized earth walls were subjected to many base excitations on the National Geotechnical Centrifuge at the Univ. of California, Davis. The walls supported dry cohesionless soils deposited at the start of the test at a relative density of 65%. In general, walls behaved as expected, i.e., walls with longer reinforcement deformed less, than the walls with shorter reinforcement. There was no catastrophic failure observed in any of the six walls. The wall face displacement was not uniform across the wall face, and typically the middle of the wall displayed the largest displacement. The acceleration response near the top of the wall showed “clipping,” and during this time the lateral wall movement occurred away from the backfill. Such behavior was not observed either near the bottom of the wall or in locations away from wall, i.e., free field. Measurements show a lack of rotation near the top of the wall, while the bottom of the wall moved laterally and rotated. The acceleration field in the backfill, even within the wall height of 7.3 m studied here, is not uniform and a substantial deamplification occurred when base acceleration level increased above 0.4g. The observations such as nonuniform wall face deformation, wall rotation at the bottom of the wall, and amplification (or deamplification) in the backfill are important factors that should be accounted for in analytical models for wall deformation.     

Understanding the Potential In Vitro Modes of Action of Bis(β-diketonato) Oxovanadium(IV) Complexes

To understand the potential in vitro modes of action of bis(β-diketonato) oxovanadium(IV) complexes, nine compounds of varying functionality have been screened using a range of biological techniques. The antiproliferative activity against a range of cancerous and normal cell lines has been determined, and show these complexes are particularly sensitive against the lung carcinoma cell line, A549. Annexin V (apoptosis) and Caspase-3/7 assays were studied to confirm these complexes induce programmed cell death. While gel electrophoresis was used to determine DNA cleavage activity and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the Comet assay was used to determine induced genomic DNA damage. Additionally, Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based DNA melting and fluorescent intercalation displacement assays have been used to determine the interaction of the complexes with double strand (DS) DNA and to establish preferential DNA base-pair binding (AT versus GC).     

A Methodological Approach for Object-Relational Database Design using UML

The most common way of designing databases is by means of a conceptual model, such as E/R, without taking into account other views of the system. New object-oriented design languages, such as UML (Unified Modelling Language), allow the whole system, including the database schema, to be modelled in a uniform way. Moreover, as UML is an extendable language, it allows for any necessary introduction of new stereotypes for specific applications. Proposals exist to extend UML with stereotypes for database design but, unfortunately, they are focused on relational databases. However, new applications require complex objects to be represented in complex relationships, object-relational databases being more appropriate for these requirements. The framework of this paper is an Object-Relational Database Design Methodology, which defines new UML stereotypes for Object-Relational Database Design and proposes some guidelines to translate a UML conceptual schema into an object-relational schema. The guidelines are based on the SQL:1999 object-relational model and on Oracle8i as a product example. Initial submission: 22 January 2002 / Revised submission: 10 June 2002 Published online: 7 January 2003 This paper is a revised and extended version of Extending UML for Object-Relational Database Design, presented in the UML’2001 conference [17].     

Structure-Based Design of an RNase Chimera for Antimicrobial Therapy

Bacterial resistance to antibiotics urges the development of alternative therapies. Based on the structure-function of antimicrobial members of the RNase A superfamily, we have developed a hybrid enzyme. Within this family, RNase 1 exhibits the highest catalytic activity and the lowest cytotoxicity; in contrast, RNase 3 shows the highest bactericidal action, alas with a reduced catalytic activity. Starting from both parental proteins, we designed a first RNase 3/1-v1 chimera. The construct had a catalytic activity much higher than RNase 3, unfortunately without reaching an equivalent antimicrobial activity. Thus, two new versions were created with improved antimicrobial properties. Both of these versions (RNase 3/1-v2 and -v3) incorporated an antimicrobial loop characteristic of RNase 3, while a flexible RNase 1-specific loop was removed in the latest construct. RNase 3/1-v3 acquired both higher antimicrobial and catalytic activities than previous versions, while retaining the structural determinants for interaction with the RNase inhibitor and displaying non-significant cytotoxicity. Following, we tested the constructs’ ability to eradicate macrophage intracellular infection and observed an enhanced ability in both RNase 3/1-v2 and v3. Interestingly, the inhibition of intracellular infection correlates with the variants’ capacity to induce autophagy. We propose RNase 3/1-v3 chimera as a promising lead for applied therapeutics.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Sous</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">Vide</Emphasis> Processing as an Alternative to Common Cooking Treatments: Impact on the Starch Profile,Color, and Shear Force of Potato (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Solanum tuberosum</Emphasis> L.)

This study aimed to assess the effect of sous vide cooking on the total and resistant starch content, color, and shear force in three potato cultivars (Agria, Agata, and Carrera). Potato strips were also cooked by three common treatments (boiling, frying, and microwaving) to evaluate the differences between the methods. According to principal component analysis (PCA), sous vide-processed cv. Agria and Agata potato strips were grouped with boiled samples, in contrast, cv. Carrera sous vide samples were grouped with microwaved samples. Higher water losses were associated with microwaved potatoes due to the diffusion of water inside the tuber. In addition, a significant decrease in shear force was obtained after microwaving and sous vide cooking (p < 0.05) irrespective of the treatment strength. The three cultivars became less bright, and the intensity of the color decreased; however, variations in the cook value (C ₁₀₀, min) between treatments did not affect the lightness and hue angle. Regardless of the initial value of resistant starch and the intensity of the cooking process, all of the cultivars reached a final content of less than 5%. From our results, in-pack sterilization may be considered for application in the food industry as a technology that has a similar impact to conventional cooking treatments used on potato products.     

Degradation of disperse azo dyes from waters by solar photoelectro-Fenton

Solutions of the azo dyes Disperse Red 1 (DR1) and Disperse Yellow 3 (DY3), commonly used in the Chilean textile industry, in 0.1 mol dm⁻³ Na₂SO₄ and 0.5 mmol dm⁻³ Fe²⁺ of pH 3.0 were comparatively degraded by electro-Fenton (EF) and solar photoelectro-Fenton (SPEF) using a 2.5 dm³ recirculation flow plant containing a BDD/air-diffusion cell coupled with a solar photoreactor. Organics were oxidized in EF with hydroxyl radicals formed at the anode surface from water oxidation and in the bulk from Fenton's reaction between electrogenerated H₂O₂ and added Fe²⁺. The oxidizing power of SPEF was enhanced by the additional production of hydroxyl radicals from the photolysis of Fe(III) hydrated species and the photodecomposition of Fe(III) complexes with intermediates by UV light of solar irradiation. Total decolorization, complete dye removal and almost overall mineralization for both dye solutions were only achieved using the most potent SPEF process, yielding higher current efficiencies and lower energy consumptions than EF. Final carboxylic acids like pyruvic, acetic, oxalic and oxamic were detected during the SPEF treatments. NO₃⁻ ion was released as inorganic ion. The use of a solution pH of 2.0–3.0 at 50 mA cm⁻² was found preferable for SPEF. Synthetic textile dyeing solutions containing the dyes were treated under these conditions yielding lower decolorization rate, slower dye removal and smaller mineralization degree than only using 0.1 mol dm⁻³ Na₂SO₄ due to the parallel oxidation of organic dyeing components. However, lower energy consumptions were obtained by the destruction of more amounts of total organic carbon, indicating that SPEF is a useful and viable method for the remediation of textile industrial wastewaters with high contents of disperse azo dyes.     

Diatom assemblages distribution in catalan rivers, NE Spain, in relation to chemical and physiographical factors

Distribution patterns of epilithic diatom assemblages in streams in northeastern Spain and their relation to different environmental gradients are presented. Thirty-five sites were sampled covering a wide range of fluvial typologies. Gradient analysis was used to analyze the community structure and the major ecological gradients underlying variation in species composition. Two major gradients were evident; the first was a complex gradient from oligotrophic, pristine, fast-flowing highland rivers to mainly eutrophic rivers of low elevation; and the second related to altitudinal and seasonal variation of temperature. Two sets of factors were evident; one was associated with water chemistry, and the other to seasonal and physiographical variation. Variance partitioning allowed the separation of the effects of the different sets of environmental parameters. The contribution of physiography and water chemistry to diatom distribution was more unclear when the level of disturbance was intermediate. Considering the relatively high proportion of variation explained by physiographical variables alone, we suggest that when using diatoms to evaluate water quality, ecoregional characteristics of river stretches should also be considered.