Makespan minimisation on parallel batch processing machines with non-identical job sizes and release dates

The problem we study in this paper arises from the washing step of hospital sterilisation services. Washers in the washing step are capable of handling more than one medical device set as long as their capacity is not exceeded. The medical device set sizes and arrival times to the sterilisation service may be different, but they all have the same washing duration. Thus, we model the washing step as a batch scheduling problem where medical device sets are treated as jobs with non-identical sizes and release dates, but equal processing times. The main findings we present in this paper are the following. First, we study two special cases for which polynomial algorithms are presented. We then develop a 2-approximation algorithm for the general problem. Finally, we develop a MILP model and compare it with another MILP model from the literature. Computational results show that our MILP model outperforms the model from the literature.     

Cis and trans components of lipids: Analysis by 1H NMR and silver shift reagents

In this study, the methodology of shift reagents was exploited to distinguish cis and trans unsaturation in oils and fats. The differential binding of silver ions (in the form of AgFOD) to cis and trans double bonds allowed the separation of the allylic and olefinic proton signals in the ¹H NMR spectra of mixtures of cis and trans methyl esters of monoene aliphatic acids and unsaturated triacylglycerol mixtures at low frequency spectrometers (300 MHz). Careful integration of the appropriate proton resonances in the recorded quantitative ¹H NMR spectra afforded percentage concentrations in very good agreement with the actual values. This ¹H NMR methodology was validated by analyzing AOCS Laboratory Proficiency Program GC samples containing various percentages of saturated, cis‐mono unsaturated, and cis‐polyunsaturated fat as well as trans content. This fast and relatively low‐cost NMR methodology could be used on line for obtaining nutrition labeling compositional data (NLCD) required for fat‐containing food products. Attempts to differentiate lipid molecules with different degree of unsaturation and positional distribution of cis double bonds were unsuccessful.     

Effects of Graded Levels of Physical Similarity and Density on Visual Selective Attention in Patients With Alzheimer's Disease.

A multitarget visual cancellation test was administered to patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and age-matched healthy controls (HC). Attentional loads--physical similarity (number of features shared by target and distractors; 3 levels) and density (number of items per page; 3 levels)--were varied systematically. As physical similarity increased, both groups slowed their search, but whereas the HC group maintained accuracy, the AD group increased commission errors and tended to miss more targets. Increased density yielded slower search and more target omissions in the AD group. Commission errors are additional indicators of higher order attentional deficits, especially in early disease. The findings suggest that patients with AD may rely increasingly on physical features of stimuli during a search, leading to inefficient bottom-up processing strategies. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Germinated Cajanus cajan seeds as ingredients in pasta products: Chemical,biological and sensory evaluation

Pigeon peas (Cajanus cajan) seeds were germinated for 4 days at 20 °C in darkness in order to improve the nutritional quality of seeds. Germination brought about a sharp reduction of α-galactosides, phytic acid and trypsin inhibitor activity (83%, 61% and 36%, respectively) and an increment of vitamin B₂ (145%), vitamin C (from negligible amounts to 14 mg/100 g d.m.), vitamin E (108%) and total antioxidant capacity (28%). These flours were used as ingredients to produce pasta products in a proportion of 5%, 8% and 10%. The supplemented pasta products had shorter cooking time and higher water absorption, cooking and protein losses in water than had control pasta (100% semolina). From sensory evaluation, fortified pasta generally had acceptability similar to control pasta. Cooked pasta with the highest level of substitution (semolina:germinated pigeon pea flour at 10%) was chemically and biologically evaluated and results showed that protein, fat, dietary fibre and mineral contents were improved. Fortified pasta provided more vitamin B₁, B₂, E and antioxidant capacity than did control pasta. Biological assessment of fortified, cooked pasta indicated that true TD and PER value increased by 12% and 64%, respectively, in comparison with control. The germinated pigeon pea flour can be an excellent ingredient to increase the nutritional value of semolina pasta without affecting the sensory properties.     

"Teaching them a lesson?" A qualitative exploration of underlying motivations for driver aggression

Aggressive driving is increasingly a concern for drivers in highly motorised countries. However, the role of driver intent in this behaviour is problematic and there is little research on driver cognitions in relation to aggressive driving incidents. In addition, while drivers who admit to behaving aggressively on the road also frequently report being recipients of similar behaviours, little is known about the relationship between perpetration and victimisation or about how road incidents escalate into the more serious events that feature in capture media attention. The current study used qualitative interviews to explore driver cognitions and underlying motivations for aggressive behaviours on the road. A total of 30 drivers aged 18–49 years were interviewed about their experiences with aggressive driving. A key theme identified in responses was driver aggression as an attempt to manage or modify the behaviour of other road users. Two subthemes were identified and appeared related to separate motivations for aggressive responses: ‘teaching them a lesson’ referred to situations where respondents intended to convey criticism or disapproval, usually of unintended behaviours by the other driver, and thus encourage self-correction; and ‘justified retaliation’ which referred to situations where respondents perceived deliberate intent on the part of the other driver and responded aggressively in return. Mildly aggressive driver behaviour appears to be common. Moreover such behaviour has a sufficiently negative impact on other drivers that it may be worth addressing because of its potential for triggering retaliation in kind or escalation of aggression, thus compromising safety.     

Methodology for Performance Evaluation of Dust Control Systems with an Application to Electrostatic Precipitators

A general methodology is presented that enables rigorous estimation of the total collection efficiency and the size distribution of particles penetrating dust control systems. This methodology assumes lognormal inlet particle-size distributions and can be used with fractional efficiency formulations that predict, under such conditions, lognormal outlet particle-size distributions. Multimodal inlet particle distributions can be accommodated additively. This methodology is applied to Electrostatic Precipitator Systems (ESPs), with the Nobrega et al. (2004) Nobrega, S. W., Falaguasta, M. C. R. and Coury, J. R. 2004. A Study of a Wire-Plate Electrostatic Precipitator Operating in the Removal of Polydispersed Particles. Braz. J. Chem. Eng., 21(2): 275–284. [Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar] model selected for predicting their fractional efficiencies. For ease of use, a graphical solution has been developed for the Nobrega et al. fractional efficiency relations, but its availability is not a prerequisite for the application of the general methodology. For the latter, the fractional efficiencies corresponding to three particle diameters need to be estimated and this can be done either graphically or numerically using the model of Nobrega et al. or any other fractional efficiency formulation of interest.

Fine particles emerge as the most important pollutant worldwide in terms of human health, creating thus the need for credible particle size-specific inventories. In line with the above, a generic and rigorous method, capable of producing size-specific emission estimates from uncontrolled and controlled sources, has been developed (Economopoulou and Economopoulos 2001 Economopoulou, A. A. and Economopoulos, A. P. 2001. Method for Estimating Size-Specific Particulate Emission Inventories. J. Environ. Eng., ASCE, 127: 1139–1148. [Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]). For controlled sources, this method relies on the development of easy to use models that predict the total efficiency and the lognormal size distribution of particles penetrating the control systems used. Such models have already been developed for dry cyclone separators (Economopoulou and Economopoulos 2002a Economopoulou, A. A. and Economopoulos, A. P. 2002a. Rapid Performance Evaluation and Optimal Sizing of Dry Cyclone Separators. J. Environ. Eng., ASCE, 128: 275–285. [Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar], 2002b Economopoulou, A. A. and Economopoulos, A. P. 2002b. Size Distribution of Particles Penetrating Dry Cyclone Separators. J. Environ. Eng., ASCE, 128: 919–928. [Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) and venturi scrubbers (Economopoulou and Harrison 2007a Economopoulou, A. A. and Harrison, R. M. 2007a. Graphical Analysis of the Performance of Venturi Scrubbers for Particle Abatement. Part I: Rapid Collection Efficiency Evaluation. Aerosol Sci. Technol., 41: 51–62. [Taylor & Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar], 2007b Economopoulou, A. A. and Harrison, R. M. 2007b. Graphical Analysis of the Performance of Venturi Scrubbers for Particle Abatement. Part II: Size Distribution of Penetrating Particles. Aerosol Sci. Technol., 41: 63–74. [Taylor & Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]). The present methodology extends the use of the inventory methodology to ESP-controlled sources and, in addition, it provides a generalized basis for covering other types of control systems with any fractional efficiency formulation considered appropriate.     

Chemical,biological and sensory evaluation of pasta products supplemented with α‐galactoside‐free lupin flours

α‐Galactoside‐free lupin flour has been used to supplement durum wheat semolina flour in order to increase the nutritive value of pasta products. Supplemented pasta products had a shorter cooking time, higher cooking water absorption, cooking loss and protein loss in water than control pasta prepared with only semolina. Sensory evaluation of cooked pastas showed that products supplemented with 80 g kg^?1 of α‐galactoside‐free Lupinus angustifolius var. Emir flour or with 100 g kg^?1 of α‐galactoside‐free Lupinus angustifolius var. Troll flour showed the same acceptability by panellists as the semolina pasta. These levels of supplementation were selected for further studies. The cooked α‐galactoside‐free lupin/semolina pastas showed higher amounts of protein, dietary fibre, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc and antioxidant capacity than control pasta and a reasonable level of vitamin B₁, vitamin B₂ and vitamin E. Biological assessment of cooked pastas indicated that the true protein digestibility did not change after the fortification of semolina but protein efficiency ratio increased sharply in the pasta supplemented with α‐galactoside‐free lupin flours (2.07 and 1.92 for Emir and Troll lupin varieties, respectively) in comparison with the control pasta (1.11). It is concluded that the α‐galactoside‐free lupin flours are an adequate ingredient to improve the nutritional quality of pasta products without adding flatulent oligosaccharides. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry     

Influence of curing temperature on the evolution of magnesium oxychloride cement

Hardening behaviour and strength of oxychloride cement strongly depend on the formation of Phase 3 and Phase 5 from MgO and magnesium chloride water solution, and the initial composition can be chosen accordingly within the corresponding phase diagram. A certain number of reactions occur before the final formation of P5 or P3 crystals, and several parameters influence the transformations kinetic, such as MgO reactivity and temperature. Several articles deal with the first aspect, while no indications can be found with regard to the curing temperature’s effect on the formation of noble phases. In this article the evolution of magnesium oxychloride cement pastes is analysed at various curing temperatures between 5 and 40 °C. The study is carried out to simulate typical industrial processing conditions and indicate optimal conditions for the production of high chemical and mechanical resistance oxychloride cement. It is shown that at low temperature, Phase 3 is produced in place of Phase 5, and a certain amount of MgO remains non-reacted. The corresponding cement is characterised by lower mechanical strength and higher water solubility.     

Synbiotic Effects of the Dietary Fiber Long‐Chain Inulin and Probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus W37 Can be Caused by Direct,Synergistic Stimulation of Immune Toll‐Like Receptors and Dendritic Cells

1 Scope

Synbiotic effects of dietary fibers and lactobacilli are usually explained by synergistic modulation of gut microbiota. New insight, however, has demonstrated that both dietary fibers and lactobacilli can directly stimulate immune cells and benefit consumer immunity. Here, the synergistic effects of immune active long‐chain inulin (lcITF) and Lactobacillus acidophilus W37 (LaW37) on dendritic cells (DCs) are investigated.

2 Methods and results

Effects of lcITF and LaW37 alone or combined were studied on Toll‐like receptor (TLRs) signaling and cytokine secretion by DCs in the presence and absence of media of intestinal epithelial cell (IEC) exposed to the ingredients. Also, the effects of DC responses against Salmonella Typhimurium (STM) were investigated. Synergistic effects were observed on TLR2 and 3. Synergistic effects were not always pro‐inflammatory. LaW37 was strongly pro‐inflammatory, while cytokine responses were regulatory when combined with lcITF. Exposure of DCs to IECs medium changed the DCs’ response, which revealed synergistic enhancing effects of lcITF/LaW37 on production of IL‐6 and IL‐8. DCs’ response in the presence of STM and LaW37 were so strong that lcITF had no additional effect.

3 Conclusion

It is demonstrated that synbiotic effects of dietary fibers and bacteria are not limited to the effects on gut microbiota but can also occur by synergistically directly stimulating IECs and/or immune cells.     

LOX-induced lipid peroxidation mechanism responsible for the detrimental effect of marine diatoms on zooplankton grazers

Some marine diatoms negatively affect the reproduction of dominant zooplankton grazers such as copepods, thus compromising the transfer of energy through the marine food chains. In this paper, the metabolic mechanism that leads to diatom-induced toxicity is investigated in three bloom-forming microalgae. We show that copepod dysfunctions can be induced by highly reactive oxygen species (hROS) and a blended mixture of diatom products, including fatty acid hydroperoxides (FAHs); these compounds display teratogenic and proapoptotic properties. The process is triggered by the early onset of lipoxygenase activities that elicit the synthesis of species-specific products, the basic structures of which were established (1-20); these compounds boost oxidative stress by massive lipid peroxidation. Our study might explain past laboratory and field results showing how diatoms damage zooplankton grazers even in the absence of polyunsaturated aldehydes, a class of molecules that has been formerly implicated in mediating the toxic activity of diatoms on copepods.