The Effects of Learning on Optimal Lot Size Determination—Multiple Product Case

This article extends the analysis of an earlier paper by the authors for a single product to lot size determination for manufacturing cycles of multiple products. The effects of production breaks, learning interactions due to commonality of tasks and different learning rates for products are considered in the formulation of an equation for the average production time per unit. The equation is applied to an equal lot size per product model. An analysis of a model restricted to equal production intervals per product per cycle is also presented. A sample problem is solved to demonstrate the application of the effects of learning to multiple product lot size determination.     

On the thermodynamics of oxygen in molten copper,Cu-Sn,and Cu-Ag alloys

Measurements of oxygen activity in molten copper, Cu-Sn, and Cu-Ag alloys at 1135°C have been made utilizing the solid-state electrolyte technique. The activity coefficient of oxygen in molten copper at low oxygen levels (<0.1 pet) was found to be 0.12. The interaction parameters of silver and tin on oxygen were found to be ε _O ^Ag = 4.52 and ε _O ^Sn =-10.5. Comparison of experimental data with solution models revealed that the behavior of oxygen in Cu-O-Ag alloys is in accordance with predictions of Alcock and Richardson’s quasichemical model when a coordination number between 1 and 4 is assumed, depending on the silver and oxygen content. Furthermore, agreement with Belton’s quasichemical model based on the assumption of Ag-O dipoles serves to strengthen the evidence for the existence of Ag-O species in solution. The behavior of oxygen in the Cu-O-Sn system also shows better agreement with the quasichemical model than with the random model, with low coordination numbers favored in dilute tin solutions, increasing to larger values in Cu-60 Sn solutions.     

Electroactive Shape Memory Effect of Polyurethane Composites Filled with Carbon Nanotubes and Conducting Polymer

We report the electroactive shape memory composites obtained by shape memory polyurethane block copolymer (PU) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs), and polypyrrole (PPy). An addition of combined MWNTs and PPy contributed to an enhancement in conductivity of PU-MWNTs composites. PU containing 2.5% MWNTs showed better mechanical and thermal properties than other composites, but conductivity was not sufficient for showing the shape memory effect by applying electrical voltages. However, when the composite was lightly coated by PPy (2.5%), its conductivity was the highest than other composites. Such the conductivity of this composite was enough to show electroactive shape recovery by heating above transition temperature of 40-48°C due to melting of polycaprolactone soft segment domain. The good shape recovery of 90-96% could be obtained in the shape recovery test when an electric field of 25 V was applied.     

Automatic clustering algorithm based on multi-objective Immunized PSO to classify actions of 3D human models

Multi-objective clustering algorithms are preferred over its conventional single objective counterparts as they incorporate additional knowledge on properties of data in the from of objectives to extract the underlying clusters present in many datasets. Researchers have recently proposed some standardized multi-objective evolutionary clustering algorithms based on genetic operations, particle swarm optimization, clonal selection principles, differential evolution and simulated annealing, etc. In many cases it is observed that hybrid evolutionary algorithms provide improved performance compared to that of individual algorithm. In this paper an automatic clustering algorithm MOIMPSO (Multi-objective Immunized Particle Swarm Optimization) is proposed, which is based on a recently developed hybrid evolutionary algorithm Immunized PSO. The proposed algorithm provides suitable Pareto optimal archive for unsupervised problems by automatically evolving the cluster centers and simultaneously optimizing two objective functions. In addition the algorithm provides a single best solution from the Pareto optimal archive which mostly satisfy the users' requirement. Rigorous simulation studies on 11 benchmark datasets demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed algorithm compared to that of the standardized automatic clustering algorithms such as MOCK, MOPSO and MOCLONAL. An interesting application of the proposed algorithm has also been demonstrated to classify the normal and aggressive actions of 3D human models.     

Short- and long-term effects of fraternity and sorority membership on heavy drinking: A social norms perspective.

This study sought to determine whether the well-established relation between fraternity/sorority (Greek) membership and heavy alcohol use persists beyond the college years and whether some common third variables might account for the relation between Greek status and heavy drinking. During each of 4 years of college and 1 additional year, young adults (N ?=?319) completed measures of alcohol use, personality, alcohol expectancies, and environmental influences on drinking. Throughout the college years, Greeks consistently drank more heavily than non-Greeks. Statistically controlling for previous alcohol use did not eliminate this effect. However, Greek status did not predict postcollege heavy drinking levels. Also, perceived peer norms for heavy drinking mediated the relation between Greek affiliation and heavy alcohol use. Results are discussed in terms of situational determinants of heavy alcohol involvement in young adults. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Structural and electrical properties of TlLiWO4 ceramics

Abstracts are not published in this journal     

Hydrogen peroxide sensing properties of PVA/TiO2/I2 nanocomposite‐based free standing membranes

The nanocomposite of titanium‐di‐oxide (TiO₂)/iodine (I₂) in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix has been explored to be used in hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) sensing applications for the first time. The proposed nanocomposite can be easily casted in the form of thin film on glass substrates as well as free standing membranes. These nanocomposite films and membranes exhibit reduced resistance values and easily observable colour changes in the presence of H₂O₂. The films also exhibit significant quenching in photoluminescence emission properties upon H₂O₂ exposure. These sensor responses have been attributed to redox reactions at nanocomposite films and H₂O₂ interface. This study indicates an easy to fabricate, flexible and environmental friendly sensing platform for H₂O₂. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42257.     

Performance Analysis of Aluminum- and Copper-Rotor Induction Generators Considering Skin and Thermal Effects

Recent progress in wind-power generation has led to the use of grid-connected and self-excited induction generators (SEIGs). Aluminum has been the common conductor material for squirrel-cage induction machines for a long time, largely because of low cost and ease of manufacturing. Recent developments in materials engineering have brought forth copper-rotor induction machines with promising results. In these machines, skin effect as well as temperature effect on the machine equivalent-circuit parameters during operation are expected to play an important role in the evaluation of induction-machine performance. In this paper, a qualitative performance analysis of aluminum- and copper-rotor SEIGs considering the skin and thermal effects has been presented theoretically and experimentally.     

Electroporation therapy: a new approach for the treatment of headand neck cancer

Electroporation can deliver exogenous molecules like drugs and genes into cells by pulsed electric fields through a temporary increase in cell membrane permeability. This effect is being used for the treatment of cancer by intratumoral injection of low dosage of an otherwise marginally effective chemotherapeutic drug, bleomycin. Application of a pulsed electric field results in substantially higher uptake of the drug and enhanced killing of the cancer cells than is possible by conventional methods. The MedPulser, a new treatment system for local electroporation therapy (EPT) of head and neck tumors was developed and is described in this paper. EPT with bleomycin has been found to be very effective in killing cancer cells in vitro, in mouse tumor xenografts in vivo, and in tumors in humans. Ten head and neck cancer patients with recurring or unresponsive tumors were enrolled in a Phase I/II clinical trial. Treatment of the entire tumor mass in each of eight patients resulted in five complete responses confirmed by biopsy and MRI, and three partial responses (> or = 50% shrinkage). Two additional patients who received partial treatment of their tumor mass had local response where treated, but no overall lesion remission. Duration of the complete responses ranges from 2-10 months to date. All patients tolerated the treatment well with no significant local or systemic adverse effects.     

Emphasis on Validation in Research: A Meta-Analysis

The emphasis of validity as a publication content was investigated in dissertations and journal articles. The time of first publication, longitudinal publication profile, ratio of articles to dissertations, and time lag between dissertations and articles emphasizing validity were compared within and among various fields. A three-decade gap separated the first field adopting validity-related contents in its dissertations from the latest fields that did so. The longitudinal data suggested three groups of fields (Agricultural Sciences, Applied Sciences and Social Sciences) which showed consistent differences among groups and consistent similarities within groups in their emphasis on validity-related content. Adoption of validity-related content in dissertations always preceded adoption of validity-related content in journal articles. On average, less than 4% of journal articles included validity-related content across fields. These findings support the hypothesis that validity has been introduced and disseminated within fields following patterns predicted by diffusion of innovations theory. It is argued that this pattern is inconsistent with an efficient and interdisciplinary utilization of available knowledge. Policy recommendations are made for developing strategic communication and education programs for academicians and journal reviewers.