A CONNECTIONIST METHOD TO SOLVE JOB SHOP PROBLEMS

A novel framework to solve job shop scheduling problems is proposed based on connectionist ideas of distributed information processing. In this approach, each operation of a given job shop problem is considered to be a simple agent looking for a position in time, such that all its time and resource constraints are satisfied. Each agent considers the current time position of its constraint neighbors to gradually change its own position to reach this goal. All agents together form a recurrent dynamical system which either self organizes after some iterations to a feasible schedule or fails to do so depending on the constrainedness of the problem. By gradually increasing the constrainedness through decreasing the allowable overall processing time for a valid schedule, better and better solutions are found up to the point where no further improvements can be made. The proposed distributed algorithm is simple, easy to implement, fast, and scalable and can be used to find near-optimal schedules within several seconds.     

Experiences with the Implementation of Computerized Tools in Health Care Units: A Review Article

Demands for improved patient care as well as improved efficiency in the delivery of health care have increased dramatically in recent years. New technologies, including computers, are expected to play an important role in meeting these demands. The aim of this review is to identify the main challenges to the introduction of computer technology in health care and to identify what kinds of factors may promote or hamper the implementation process. A systematic search of relevant databases resulted in 299 hits related to implementation of computer technology in health care, of which 17 met all criteria for inclusion in this review. The following barriers to the adoption of computer technology were identified: negative attitudes, lack of knowledge, role adjustment related to the disruption of traditional work habits, and changes in established work roles. The dual needs to both assess and change attitudes were identified as crucial factors in allowing for the successful implementation of these new technologies. The challenges for future clinical work and research will be to influence the behavior and intentions of health care personnel, to focus on the benefits of introducing computer technology (CT) in health care units, and to make certain that the institution's leadership is fully supportive of the change. Furthermore, this review showed that if the introduction of computerized tools is going to succeed, an adequate training program is imperative.     

Smart Objects as Building Blocks for the Internet of Things

The combination of the Internet and emerging technologies such as near-field communications, real-time localization, and embedded sensors lets us transform everyday objects into smart objects that can understand and react to their environment. Such objects are building blocks for the Internet of Things and enable novel computing applications. As a step toward design and architectural principles for smart objects, the authors introduce a hierarchy of architectures with increasing levels of real-world awareness and interactivity. In particular, they describe activity-, policy-, and process-aware smart objects and demonstrate how the respective architectural abstractions support increasingly complex application.     

Vivid agents: Theory,architecture, and applications

Vivid agents (Wagner, 1996) are software-controlled systems whose state comprises the mental components of knowledge, perceptions, tasks, and intentions, and whose behavior is represented by means of action and reaction rules. An execution model for vivid agents is presented, which is based on an architecture for concurrent action and planning (CAP). The concept of vivid agents and the CAP architecture in distributed diagnosis is evaluated, including fault-tolerant diagnosis and the diagnosis of an unreliable communication protocol.     

Runoff mapping using WEPP erosion model and GIS tools

Soil erosion, associated with environmental impacts and crop productivity loss, is usually considered the most impacting of surface hydrology processes. Runoff plays a major role in the erosion process, but it is also important by itself as it directly influences several surface hydrologic processes. In this paper, a computer interface (Erosion Database Interface, EDI) is described that allows processing the surface hydrology output database of the Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) erosion prediction model, resulting in a georeferenced estimation of runoff. WEPP output contains non-georeferenced daily information about estimated runoff at the lower end of each Overland Flow Element. EDI, when running with WEPP, allows extracting WEPP-calculated runoff values, transforming them into annual means and relocating them in a georeferenced database readable by Geographic Information Systems (GIS). EDI was applied to a 1990 ha watershed in southeast Brazil, with vegetation of mainly sugarcane, forest, and pasture. A 100-year climate simulation was used as input to WEPP, and erosion values were calculated at about six points per hectare and interpolated to a raster format. EDI was successful in preparing the database for automatic calculation of erosion and hydrologic parameters with WEPP and to restore georeferences to mean annual accumulated runoff data that were imported in the GIS as a vector database. Of all the resulting maps, the runoff map is the one that integrates all of the input parameters required for WEPP simulation, thus reflecting not only the physical environment but also crop growth and management and tillage operations. A very small correlation between runoff and erosion shows them to behave independently. Moreover, it is concluded that on analyzing runoff related to agricultural management, georeferenced runoff studies are especially important. In this context, EDI may be a useful tool to assess the effect of tillage and crop management on runoff production.     

cis-9,trans-11 and trans-10,cis-12 CLA affect lipid metabolism differently in primary white and brown adipocytes of Djungarian hamsters

We explored whether CLA isomers and other C₁₈ FA affect (i) lipid content and FA concentrations in total adipocyte lipids, (ii) FA synthesis from glucose in TAG and phospholipids of primary brown (BAT) and white adipocytes (WAT), and (iii) mRNA expression of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) in primary brown adipocytes of Djungarian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus). c9,t11-CLA, oleic, linoleic, and α-linolenic acid increased whereas t10,c12-CLA decreased lipid accumulation in both adipocyte types. t10,c12-CLA treatment affected FA composition mainly in BAT cells. CLA incorporation into lipids, in particular c9,t11-CLA, was higher in BAT. In both cell types, t10,c12-CLA treatment reduced the incorporation of glucose ¹³C carbon into FA of TAG and phospholipids, whereas c9,t11-CLA, linoleic, and α-linolenic acid either did not influence or dose-dependently increased glucose carbon incorporation into FA. UCP1 mRNA expression was inhibited by t10,c12-CLA but increased by c9,t11-CLA, linoleic, and α-linolenic acid. It is concluded that c9,t11-CLA and t10,c12-CLA have distinctly different effects on lipid metabolism in primary adipocytes. The effects of c9,t11-CLA are similar to those of other unsaturated C₁₈ FA. The opposite effects of c9,t11-CLA and t10,c12-CLA are evident in both WAT and BAT cultures; however, brown adipocytes seem to be more susceptible to CLA treatment.     

The role of coherent effects in mode bistability of a gas laser in inhomogeneous medium

Abstract

We have studied microscopic effects leading to mode competition in an inhomogeneously broadened medium of a gas laser with a weakly anisotropic cavity. The polarization bistability observed in some lasers, which is believed to be caused by hole burning, we attribute to microscopic coherent effects induced by two light fields. Due to these effects one field can be coupled with another. Hole burning is found to be important, but not crucial. The exact solution of the equation of motion for field amplitudes is compared with the third order approximation of perturbation theory. The role of four wave mixing, important for bistability of axial modes in a homogeneously broadened medium, is discussed.     

Overcoming difficulties in Bayesian reasoning: A reply to Lewis and Keren (1999) and Mellers and McGraw (1999).

Bayesian reasoning can be improved by representing information in frequency formats rather than in probabilities. This thesis opens up applications in medicine, law, statistics education, and other fields. The beneficial effect is no longer in dispute, but rather its cause and its boundary conditions. C. Lewis and G. Keren (1999) argued that the effect of frequency formats is due to "joint statements" rather than to "frequency statements." However, they overlooked the fact that our thesis is about frequency formats, not just any kind of frequency statements. We show that joint statements alone cannot account for the effect. B. A. Mellers and A. P. McGraw (1999) proposed a boundary condition under which the beneficial effect is reduced. In a reanalysis of our original data, we found this reduction for the problem they used but not for any other problem. We conclude by summarizing results indicating that teaching frequency representations fosters insight into Bayesian reasoning. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)