A greedy algorithm to determine the number of transporters in a cyclic electroplating process

This paper presents a local optimization algorithm for minimizing the number of transporters required for material handling in a cyclic processing line. Within a cycle, a given set of transportation operations must be performed. Each operation consists of picking up a work-in-process job at a stage and delivering it to the next stage. The length of time that a job can remain at a particular stage is restricted by a time window. The transporters that perform the operations move on a shared track, and traffic collisions must be avoided during their movements. To avoid traffic collisions, the operations are partitioned into groups, where each group is served by a single transporter. A local optimal solution is obtained when the group sizes are maximized. We show that the duals of the linear programming subproblems formulated in the process of maximizing the group sizes are specially structured shortest-path problems. This leads to an effective search method for the maximization problem. Conditions when die proposed algorithm achieves die global optimal solution are discussed. The algorithm's performance is evaluated on both randomly generated test problems and benchmark problems.     

The effect of LH, FSH and pregnant mares' serum gonadotrophin on ornithine decarboxylase activity in thecal and granulosa tissue during follicular growth and atresia in laying hens (Gallus domesticus)

The effect of ovine LH, porcine FSH and pregnant mares' serum gonadotrophin (PMSG) on the activity of ornithine decarboxylase activity in theca and granulosa tissue during folliculogenesis in laying hens is described. The changes in the activity of ornithine decarboxylase induced by hormonal challenge was used to measure the sensitivity of the tissue to the hormone. Thecal tissue from small (< 6 mm) follicles showed a large increase in the activity of ornithine decarboxylase 3 h after treatment with LH, FSH and PMSG, in vivo, whereas ornithine decarboxylase activity in thecal tissue from large (> 8 mm) preovulatory follicles and atretic follicles did not respond to any of the hormonal treatments. Ornithine decarboxylase activity in granulosa tissue from the largest preovulatory follicle increased significantly 3 h after treatment with LH and PMSG in vivo; no effect was observed with FSH. Granulosa tissue from the third largest and fifth largest preovulatory follicles were refractory to the hormonal treatments. Basal activity of ornithine decarboxylase in granulosa tissue from preovulatory follicles increased as the follicles approached ovulation, whereas the activity in thecal tissue from the same follicles decreased. The difference in sensitivity of thecal tissue from small and large preovulatory follicles towards gonadotrophin treatment in vivo is correlated with the difference in the observed rate of atresia occurring within the two groups of follicles. Atresia is the common fate for small follicles, whereas it is a rare event for large preovulatory follicles under normal physiological conditions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Machine learning in control of functional electrical stimulationsystems for locomotion

Two machine learning techniques were evaluated for automatic design of a rule-based control of functional electrical stimulation (FES) for locomotion of spinal cord injured humans. The task was to learn the invariant characteristics of the relationship between sensory information and the FES-control signal by using off-line supervised training. Sensory signals were recorded using pressure sensors installed in the insoles of a subject's shoes and goniometers attached across the joints of the affected leg. The FES-control consisted of pulses corresponding to time intervals when the subject pressed on the manual push-button to deliver the stimulation during FES-assisted ambulation. The machine learning techniques used were the adaptive logic network (ALN) and the inductive learning algorithm (IL). Results to date suggest that, given the same training data, the IL learned faster than the ALN while both performed the test rapidly. The generalization was estimated by measuring the test errors and it was better with an ALN, especially if past points were used to reflect the time dimension. Both techniques were able to predict future stimulation events. An advantage of the ALN over the IL was that ALN's can be retrained with new data without losing previously collected knowledge. The advantages of the IL over the ALN were that the IL produces small, explicit, comprehensible trees and that the relative importance of each sensory contribution can be quantified     

Use of helical parameters to generate candidate conformations for crystal packing: illustrative application to a polyimide

This communication describes the application and extension of a method for calculating the helical parameters with which to describe molecular conformations. The method, which was originally developed by Shimanouchi and others, is applied to a polyimide of 3,3′,4,4′-benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTDA) and 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-(4-aminophenoxy)propane (DMDA) which has eight torsional bonds in the chemical repeat unit. Discrete low energy states for these torsions were determined by Ramanchandran energy maps of sequential dihedral pairs or single bond torsional energy diagrams. The total number of possible low energy conformations for these states is 1152 including conformationally related isoenantiomorphs. The method conveniently generates the conformations for subsequent crystal structure packing and refinement. Consideration of these together with the X-ray data of Cheng and co-workers reduces the number to about 15 with about a 2/1 conformation and a c axis of approximately 49.2 Å. Of these, about half appear to be good candidates for crystal packing.     

A model of personality test item response dissimulation.

Proposes and empirically evaluates a general model of faking on self-report personality test items. The model predicts that differential test item response latencies should be faster for schema-congruent test answers than for noncongruent responses. Thus, individuals faking good should take relatively longer to endorse socially undesirable test item content than desirable test item content. Conversely, individuals faking bad should endorse socially desirable test item content relatively slower than undesirable test item content. Support for the model was found to generalize across personality inventories and across populations of university students and maximum security prisoners. Conflicting results from previous research are viewed in terms of the model. Further testing of the model's generality and practical relevance is discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Anthropometric data for describing the kinematics of the human hand.

The major goal of this investigation was to collect statistically-based anthropometry describing the kinematics of the human hand and to model this anthropometry as a function of external hand measurements, so that it may be predicted noninvasively. Joint centres were anatomically estimated as the centre of curvature of the head of the bone proximal to the given joint. Joint centres determined using Reuleaux's method for PIP and DIP were within 1.4 mm of this anatomical estimate. Models using bone length as the independent variable explain more than 97% of the variability in the anatomically estimated joint centre position along the mid-line of the bone. Models for estimating the lengths of the kinematic segments using external hand length as the independent variable account for between 49 and 99% of the variability in segment length. Models for estimating the axial location of the finger MCP and thumb CMC joints with respect to the distal wrist crease using external hand length as the independent variable account for between 82 and 96% of the variability in these locations. Models for estimating the radio-ulnar location of the finger MCP and thumb CMC joints with respect to the long axis of the third metacarpal using external hand breadth as the independent variable account for between 30 and 74% of the variability in these locations.     

Relationships between identity formation and computer use among black and white emerging adult females

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between computer use, identity formation, and self-esteem among Black and White emerging adult females. One hundred 56 female college students participated in this study by completing a survey that included the Internet/Computer Use Questionnaire, the Ego Identity Process Questionnaire, and the Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale. Racial differences were found between Black and White females with regard to perceived problematic use of the Internet and use of the computer for communication and use of the Internet for schoolwork. In addition, differences between Black and White females were found between identity formation and problematic use of the Internet and between self-esteem and type of use of the Internet. These findings were discussed in relation to future research and interventions.     

Performance evaluation of dynamically linearized and kinematically redundant planar manipulators

The objective of this research is to investigate the feasibility of a theoretical development which could lead to advanced manipulator concepts offering fast dynamic and control features. Specifically, the application of “dynamic linearization” to a kinematically redundant planar manipulator is studied. In comparing such a manipulator with a standard non-linear, non-redundant design it is shown that in addition to the expected merits in linearity, dexterity, and computational simplicity, savings in actuator energy consumption can also be realized using a relative simple trajectory optimization scheme.