A genetic algorithm for railway scheduling with environmental considerations

A genetic algorithm is a randomized optimization technique that draws its inspiration from the biological sciences. Specifically, it uses the idea that genetics determines the evolution of any species in the natural world. Integer strings are used to encode an optimization problem and these strings are subject to combinatorial operations called reproduction, crossover and mutation, which improve these strings and cause them to ‘evolve’ to an optimal or nearly optimal solution. In this paper, the general machinations of genetic algorithms are described and a performance-enhanced algorithm is proposed for solving the important practical problem of railway scheduling. The problem under consideration involves moving a number of trains carrying mineral deposits across a long haul railway line with both single and double tracks in either direction. Collisions can only be avoided in sections of the line with double tracks. Constraints reflecting practical requirements to reduce environmental impacts from mineral transport, such as avoidance of loaded trains traversing populated areas during certain time slots, have to be satisfied. This is an NP-hard problem, which usually requires enumerative, as opposed to constructive, algorithms. For this reason, an ‘educated’ random search procedure like the genetic algorithm is an alternative and effective technique. The genetic algorithm is given difficult test problems to solve and the algorithm was able to generate feasible solutions in all cases.     

Perspectives in pancreatic pain

This review describes some of the mechanisms which are thought to be important in the causation of pain in chronic pancreatitis. Both medical and surgical techniques for treating this pain are described.     

Fetal retinoblastoma

Fetal tumors are sporadic entities and in some cases can be diagnosed prenatally. A team approach, incorporating the skills of obstetricians, radiation therapists, pediatric medical oncologists and hematologists, neonatal surgeons, rehabilitation specialists, and social workers, is imperative to ensure that the patient receives the best treatment. Retinoblastoma is a relatively uncommon tumor of childhood that arises in the retina. The estimated annual incidence is between 1 in 15,000 and 1 in 34,000. Although it may occur at any age, it most often arises in younger children, with 80% of cases diagnosed before the age of 5 years. We report a case of prenatally diagnosed fetal retinoblastoma.     

Rapid monitoring of the spoilage of minced beef stored under conventionally and active packaging conditions using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in tandem with chemometrics

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was exploited to measure biochemical changes within fresh minced beef in an attempt to rapidly monitor beef spoilage. Minced beef packaged either aerobically, under modified atmosphere and using an active packaging were held from freshness to spoilage at 0, 5, 10, and 15 °C. Frequent FTIR measurements were collected directly from the sample surface using attenuated total reflectance, in parallel the total viable counts of bacteria, the sensory quality and the pH were also determined.     

FIBER-MODIFIED SCALING IN HEAT TRANSFER FOULING MITIGATION

The study of heat exchanger fouling using supersaturated calcium sulphate solutions has been widely reported. In this study fouling was investigated in a larger-scale heat exchange apparatus using stainless-steel pipe, and data were obtained at different flow rates, concentrations and temperature differences. The deposits were examined using a scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction and conventional photography. In a novel approach, wood pulp fibers were added to the fouling solution at various concentrations to mitigate fouling. Heat transfer enhancement above the solution-alone was observed initially and the onset of fouling delayed. When fouling eventually developed the final asymptotic level was lower than the fiber-free case for the experimental conditions specified. At a fiber concentration of 0.15% heat transfer augmentation occurred for 11 days. However, at 0.25% fiber concentration, heat transfer augmentation (no fouling) was sustained over the experimental duration of 45 days. It can be concluded that the service-life cycle of a heat exchanger can be prolonged with the addition of asymmetric, flexible, natural fibers. In this work it is argued that fibers modify the onset of deposition by boundary layer scavenging, and interact with turbulent eddies to reduce the rate of mass transfer of the foulant to the heated surface. When scale forms, the crystalline structure of the scale is interrupted by the fibers, which appear to roughen the heat transfer surface initially and increase the heat transfer coefficient. However, the scale deposit continues to build up very slowly, causing the thermal resistance to eventually override the turbulence augmented heat transfer effect of the fibers.     

Anodic polarization of tungsten in neutral and alkaline solutions under conditions of anode film growth

Anodic polarization of W has been studied in neutral (Na₂SO₄, NaCl) and alkaline solutions (ammonium borate, Na₂CO₃, Na₃PO₄, and NaOH) by the galvanostatic method under conditions which lead to anode film growth. The rate of oxide growth has been calculated as a function of current density, nature and concentration of electrolyte. Film growth to potentials above 100 V is achieved in alkaline solutions, provided the solution is dilute and the current density is high. The applicability of the high field ionic conduction has been verified from the dependence of both reciprocal capacity and potential on the logarithm of current density. Data are recorded for the coulometric increase of oxide thickness. The constants of the exponential law, and the electric field.     

Development of a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire for use in United Arab Emirates and Kuwait based on local foods

Background  

The Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) is one of the most commonly used tools in epidemiologic studies to assess long-term nutritional exposure. The purpose of this study is to describe the development of a culture specific FFQ for Arab populations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Kuwait.     

Burnability of cement raw materials at rapid calcination conditions

Cement raw materials (clay, limestone and pyrite cinders) were mixed, pressed into pellets, burnt at high temperatures, cooled and the resulting clinkers analysed for free CaO content. The effect of the following parameters and their interactions on the free CaO was studied: top temperature of burning (in three levels: 1300, 1350, 1400°C), soaking time at top temperature (in three levels: 5, 30 and in some cases 60 min), method of heating (in two levels: rapid and normal), method of cooling (in two levels, rapid and slow), lime saturation factor of the mix, LSF (in three levels, 0.95, 0.85, 0.76). Experiments were planned to enable a statistical evaluation (calculation of error variance at various levels of significance). Rapid calcination improves the burnability of cement raw materials, as contrasted to normal calcination. This indicates that rapid calcination enables the use of lower calcination temperatures. A long soaking at top temperature is unnecessary in case of rapid calcination. The free CaO content of the clinker is affected primarily by the LSF of the mix and the top temperature of firing; all other parameters are less effective.     

A numerical method for nonlinear complex modes with application to active–passive damped sandwich structures

In this paper, a numerical method is proposed for determining complex vibrations modes of sandwich structures with piezoelectric and viscoelastic layers. Based on homotopy and asymptotic numerical techniques, this method leads to the damping properties calculation (loss factor and natural frequency per mode) of the hybrid sandwich structure. The numerical results of the loss factor and natural frequency are compared to those obtained from analytical beam model and from numerical studies the modal strain energy method.     

Optical and mechanical characterization of transparent α-alumina fabricated by spark plasma sintering

The aim of this work was the analysis of the experimental results of a transparent alumina (BMA15) ceramic which was fabricated by Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) from nanopowder (BMA15, Baikowski Chimie, France), at different temperatures (1200°C, 1250°C, 1300°C). With the application of a maximum uniaxial pressure of 73 MPa during all the fabrication-cycle (more than 3 hours). We sought an optimal sintering temperature combining better optical and mechanical properties of our pellets. The sintered alumina (BMA15) has a crystalline and dense microstructure. The samples sintered at 1200°C exhibit the best optical properties, in particular: good real inline transmission (RIT) and an optical gap greater than those of the samples sintered at 1250°C and 1300°C. Due to their low density, the Young modulus of alumina sintered at 1200 °C, deduced by ultrasound, has a low value which is about 385 GPa. Similarly, its small grain size gives it a better Vickers hardness ~ 21 GPa. Therefore, the value of the coefficient of friction μ stabilizes around the mean value of 0.21.