Space–time surveillance of count data subject to linear trends

This paper proposes a new space–time cumulative sum (CUSUM) approach for detecting changes in spatially distributed Poisson count data subject to linear drifts. We develop expressions for the likelihood ratio test monitoring statistics and the change point estimators. The effectiveness of the proposed monitoring approach in detecting and identifying trend-type shifts is studied by simulation under various shift scenarios in regional counts. It is shown that designing the space–time monitoring approach specifically for linear trends can enhance the change point estimation accuracy significantly. A case study for male thyroid cancer outbreak detection is presented to illustrate the application of the proposed methodology in public health surveillance.     

Binary and ternary effects of ground dune sand and blast furnace slag on the compressive strength of mortar

The aim of this study is to promote the use of available natural dune sand from desert areas as a partial cement replacement. Binary and ternary combinations of ground dune sand (GDS), Portland cement (PC) and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) were investigated for their effects on the compressive strength of mortar cured under standard or autoclave curing conditions. The results showed that the compressive strength decreased significantly with increasing GDS and GGBS contents under standard curing. However, with autoclave curing, all of the binary and ternary mixtures yielded mortar with a compressive strength higher than that of the control sample. The autoclave-cured ternary combination of 30% GDS, 50% PC and 20% GGBS showed the highest compressive strength. It is possible to use a PC content as low as 10% since the mixture of 30% GDS, 10% PC and 60% GGBS displayed strength comparable to the control sample.     

Discrete Jaya with refraction learning and three mutation methods for the permutation flow shop scheduling problem

The Permutation Flow Shop Scheduling Problem (PFSSP) is an interesting scheduling problem that has many real-world applications. It has been widely used as a benchmark to prove the efficiency of many discrete optimization algorithms. The DJaya algorithm is a discrete variation of the Jaya algorithm that has been recently proposed for solving discrete real-world problems. However, DJaya may get stuck in a local optima because of some limitations in its optimization operators. In this paper, we propose a new discrete optimization algorithm called Discrete Jaya with Refraction Learning and Three Mutation Methods (DJRL3M) for solving the PFSSP. DJRL3M incorporates five modifications into DJaya. First, it utilizes Refraction Learning (RL), which is a special type of opposition learning, to generate a diverse initial population of solutions. Second, it uses three mutation methods to explore the search space of a problem: DJaya mutation, highly disruptive polynomial mutation and Pitch Adjustment mutation. Third, it employs RL at each iteration to generate the opposite solutions of the best and worst solutions in an attempt to jump out local optima. Fourth, it uses the abandon method at the end of each iteration to discard a predefined percentage of the worst solutions and generate new random solutions. Finally, it uses the smallest position value to determine the correct values of the decision variables in a given candidate solution. The performance of DJRL3M was evaluated and compared with six well-recognized optimization algorithms [(New Cuckoo Search (NCS) (Wang et al. in SC 21:4297–4307, 2017), DJaya (Gao et al. in ITC 49:1944–1955, 2018), Hybrid Harmony Search (HHS) (Zhao et al. in EAAI 65:178-199, 2017), Modified Genetic algorithm (MGA) (Mumtaz et al. in: Advances in Manufacturing Technology XXXII: Proceedings of the 16th International Conference on Manufacturing Research, incorporating the 33rd National Conference on Manufacturing Research, 2018), Generalised Accelerations for Insertion-based Heuristics (GAIbH) (Fernandez-Viagas et al. in EJOR 282:858–872, 2020), Memetic algorithm with novel semi-constructive crossover and mutation operators (MASC) (Kurdi in ASC 94:106548, 2020)] using a set of Taillard’s benchmark instances. The experimental and statistical results show that DJRL3M obtains better performance than the performance of NCS, DJaya, HHS and MGA and exhibits competitive performance compared to the performance of MASC and GAIbH.

     

Der Gehalt an Ascorbins?ure in zw?lf verschiedenen Geweben sowie der an Vitamin A in der Leber beim Damwild (Dama dama L.) im Alter von 15 und 27 Monaten

Zusammenfassung Bei 3 Damspießern und 3 Muchsen im Alter von 15 Monaten (Körpermasse: 51,3±4,0 kg) sowie bei 3 Kniepern und 4 kastrierten Tieren im Alter von 27 Monaten (KM: 61,4±6,3 kg) wurde der Gehalt an Ascorbinsäure in verschiedenen Geweben und der an Vitamin A in der Leber bestimmt. In den Geweben der 15 Monate alten Tiere wurde folgender Gehalt an Ascorbinsäure ermittelt: Hypophyse 3368±483, Nebennieren 1296±200, Thymus 606±30, Milz 398±61, Leber 383±46, Lunge 337±72, Großhirn 275±56, Hoden 266±37, Kleinhirn 252±61, Pankreas 160±17, Hirnstamm 158±7, Niere 134±19 und Herzmuskel 117±30 µg/g FM). Der Gehalt an Ascorbinsäure bei den 27 Monate alten Tieren war im Großhirn, in der Niere, in den Nebennieren und in den Hoden kleiner (p<0,05) als bei den 15 Monate alten. Im Alter der Tiere von 15 Monaten wurde in der Leber ein Gehalt an Vitamin A von 552±100 und in dem von 27 Monaten von 556±121 nmol/g FM festgestellt. Der Ascorbinsäuregehalt der Gewebe vom Damwild wird mit dem von anderen Säugetierarten verglichen.

---

The contents of ascorbic acid in 12 different tissues and the vitamin A content of the liver among fallow deer (Dama dama L.) at the ages of 15 and 27 months

Summary In 3 fallow deer and 3 short scrotum fallow deer, age 15 months (body weight: 51.3±4.0 kg) as well as in 3 fallow deer and 4 castrated deer, age 27 months (b. w.: 61.4±6.3 kg), the content of ascorbic acid in different tissues and that of vitamin A in the liver were analyzed. In the tissues of the animals 15 months of age the following contents of ascorbic acid were determined: hypophysis 3368±483, adrenals 1296±200, thymus 606±30, spleen 398±61, liver 383±46, lung 337±72, cerebrum 275±56, testes 266±37, cerebellum 252±61, pancreas 160±17, brain stem 158±7, kidney 134±19, and heart muscle 117±30 µg/g wet weight. In the cerebrum, in the kidney, adrenals, and in the testes of the animals, age 27 months, the contents of ascorbic acid were smaller than those in the 15 months old animals. A content of vitamin A of 552±100 nmol/g wet weight in the livers of the 15 months old animals and of 556±121 nmol/g wet weight in that of the 27 months old animals was analyzed. The contents of ascorbic acid in the tissues of the fallow deer is compared to that of other mammals.

---

La teneur en Acide ascorbique dans 12 tissus différents ainsi que celle en Vitamine A dans le foie chez le Daim (Dama dama L.) entre l'âge de 15 à 27 mois

Résumé Les teneurs en Acide ascorbique dans différents tissus et en Vitamine A dans le foie ont été déterminées chez 3 daguets de Daim, chez 3 sujets à scrotums réduits de 15 mois (masse corporelle de 51,3±4,0 kg) et chez 7 sujets de 27 mois dont 4 castrats (masse corporelle de 61,4±6,3 kg). Dans les tissus des sujets de 15 mois, les teneurs suivantes en Acide ascorbique ont été relevées: hypophyse 3368±483, surrénales 1296±200, thymus 606±30, rate 398±61, foie 383±46, poumons 337±72, cerveau 275±56, testicules 266±37, cervelet 252±61, pancréas 160±17, tronc cervical 158±7, reins 134±19 et muscle cardiaque 117±30 µg/g de poids vif. La teneur en Acide ascorbique chez les sujets de 27 mois était significativement plus faible (p<0.05) que chez les sujets de 15 mois en ce qui concerne le cerveau, les reins, les surrénales et les testicules. A l'âge de 15 mois, les animaux présentent une teneur en Vitamine A de 552±100, à l'âge de 27 mois de 556±121 nmol/g de poids vif. La teneur en Acide ascorbique des tissus du Daim est comparée à celle d'autres mammifères.