José A. Oliveira

Scheduling the truckload operations in automatic warehouses

Abstract This work presents a scheduling problem that arises in an automatic storage/retrieval warehouse system AS/RS involving the scheduling of the truck load operations. The truck loading operations are modelled as job shop problem with recirculation. The loads are considered as jobs, the pallets of a load are seen as the job’s operations. The forklifts are the machines. The minimization of the makespan allows minimizing the idle time of the warehouse’s equipments. A procedure based on genetic algorithms is presented to sequence the pallets of a set of loads that are prepared simultaneously. The genetic algorithm includes specific knowledge of the problem to improve its efficiency. This work presents interesting computational results for the minimization of the makespan.

Conhecimento da anatomia da orelha de cobaias e ratos e sua aplicação na pesquisa otológica básica

O uso de mostras animais e importante na pesquisa otologica e o conhecimento da anatomia de sua orelha permite sua utilizacao adequada. OBJETIVO: Estudar a anatomia da orelha da cobaia e do rato por microscopia optica de luz (MOL) e microscopia eletronica de varredura (MEV) e suas vantagens anatomicas na pesquisa otologica basica. MATERIAL E METODO: Os ossos temporais, as bulas timpânicas e cocleas de tres cobaias e ratos albinos foram fotografados e analisados ao MOL e MEV. RESULTADOS: O rato nao e tao simples de manipular como a cobaia, e frequentemente apresenta otite media. O rato apresenta uma juncao fragil da bula timpânica, duas e meia espiras na coclea e a membrana timpânica nao veda todo o conduto auditivo externo. A cobaia possui uma bula inteirica, martelo e bigorna fundidos e tres e meia espiras na coclea. Pela MEV a cobaia e o rato possuem Membrana Tectoria, Membrana de Raissner e o Orgao de Corti. As Celulas de Hensen estao presentes somente na cobaia. CONCLUSAO: A cobaia foi considerada de facil manipulacao para a microdisseccao, pelo tamanho e rigidez do osso temporal, e para experimentos cirurgicos envolvendo o estribo, janela oval e a membrana timpânica. Pela MEV nota-se semelhanca entre cobaia e rato, podendo ambos serem utilizados em estudos da orelha interna.

Ototoxicidade da cisplatina e otoproteção pelo extrato de ginkgo biloba às células ciliadas externas: estudo anatômico e eletrofisiológico

Cisplatina e uma potente droga antineoplasica, largamenteutilizada para o tratamento do câncer, tanto em adultos quantoem criancas. Dentre seus efeitos colaterais, a ototoxicidade seapresenta como um dos mais importantes e leva a perda auditivairreversivel, bilateral, para as altas frequencias (4KHz#8KHz). Es-tudos tem tentado identificar drogas que, associadas a cisplatinapossam atuar como otoprotetores. Sabe-se que o mecanismo daototoxicidade pela cisplatina esta relacionado a alteracoes nosmecanismos antioxidantes das celulas ciliadas, principalmente ascelulas ciliadas externas da coclea.

Detecção precoce de ototoxicidade usando emissões otoacústicas produtivas de distorção

Introduction: Aminoglycosides can lead to ototoxicity, but the traditional auditory monitoring detects ototoxicity just when the injury has already occurred. Aim: A prospectively study of the auditory function of patients in treatment with amicacyn using pure tone audiometry (TA) and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) to detect an early suspicion of ototoxicity and its prevention. Study design: Prospective randomized. Material and method: Twenty-nine patients treated with amicacyn were evaluated with TA to detect audiometric changes. Out of 29 patients, three had audiometric changes in 6 and/or 8 kHz (10.34%), one had bilateral and two had unilateral alteration (four ears). They were all asymptomatic. We performed DPOAE to study the cochlear function. Out of 29 patients (58 ears), nine (18 ears) were excluded because they did not have all DPOAE tests, remaining 20 patients (40 ears) to analyze. Results: No specific tendency was found in the DPOAE records during the serum trough and peak of the drug. In a comparative study of ears with and without audiometric changes, no significant difference was found in the response in 1, 2 and 4 kHz; however, a significant difference was observed in 6 and 8 kHz (p<0.05). We found that DPOAE responses of normal ears presented a larger number of increments than decreases when compared to the others. Conclusions: Ototoxicity can be effectively monitored with DPOAE during drug administration, regardless of time of administration, and 6 and 8 kHz are more sensitive frequencies to realize effective auditory monitoring; the increments in responses can be an early sign of ototoxicity by aminoglycosides.

Simulation as a tool for planning a material delivery system to manufacturing lines

This paper describes the procedures used during the planning of a material delivery system for the manufacturing lines of an electronic company. The paper describes the simulation experiments of a material delivery system for the manufacturing lines, using a logistic train. The main objective of this study is to make simulation experiments, regarding different amounts of equipment and logistic train programming methods, in order to identify and to propose changes that may lead to greater efficiency and precision of the logistic train functioning. The developed models were implemented with Arena simulation software. Experimental results are presented. Conclusions are discussed.

[Amifostine otoprotection to cisplatin ototoxicity: a guinea pig study using otoacoustic emission distortion products (DPOEA) and scanning electron microscopy].

UNLABELLED Cisplatin is an antineoplastic drug for cancer treatment in children and adults. The side effects of cisplatin ototoxicity are significant: irreversible bilateral hearing damage to high frequencies (4 kHz - 8 kHz). Reports recognize some drugs that are associated with cisplatin to obtain an otoprotector effect. The ototoxicity mechanisms of cisplatin are related to injury of hair cell oxidation mechanism, especially of outer hair cells. AIM Using otoacoustic emissions distortion products (DPOEA) and scanning electron microscopy we intended to verify the action of amifostine, a radioprotective drug that has well known antioxidant characteristics and otoprotector effects to cisplatin injury. STUDY DESIGN Experimental. MATERIAL AND METHODS We used an experimental guinea pig model. The study was performed as follows: group 1: 6 animals, 12 ears, cisplatin 8.0 mg/Kg/day (IP), 3 days. Group 2: 6 animals, 12 ears, amifostine 100 mg/Kg/day (IP) and after 90 minutes, cisplatin 8.0 mg/Kg/day (IP), 3 days and group 3: 3 animals, 6 ears, amifostine 100 mg/Kg/day (IP), 3 days. RESULTS DPOEA were present before and after treatment in groups 2 and 3. The normal cilium architecture of outer hair cells was supported in all cochlear turns in groups 2 and 3. We concluded that amifostine has a potential otoprotector effect against cisplatin ototoxicity and could be used in clinical trials.

Solving the Team Orienteering Problem: Developing a Solution Tool Using a Genetic Algorithm Approach

Nowadays, the collection of separated solid waste for recycling is still an expensive process, specially when performed in large-scale. One main problem resides in fleet-management, since the currently applied strategies usually have low efficiency. The waste collection process can be modelled as a vehicle routing problem, in particular as a Team Orienteering Problem (TOP). In the TOP, a vehicle fleet is assigned to visit a set of customers, while executing optimized routes that maximize total profit and minimize resources needed. The objective of this work is to optimize the waste collection process while addressing the specific issues around fleet-management. This should be achieved by developing a software tool that implements a genetic algorithm to solve the TOP. We were able to accomplish the proposed task, as our computational tests have produced some challenging results in comparison to previous work around this subject of study. Specifically, our results attained 60% of the best known scores in a selection of 24 TOP benchmark instances, with an average error of 18.7 in the remaining instances. The usage of a genetic algorithm to solve the TOP proved to be an efficient method by outputting good results in an acceptable time.

A Genetic Algorithm with a Quasi-local Search for the Job Shop Problem with Recirculation

A polyalphaolefin extended polyurethane system comprising the reaction product of an isocyanate terminated polyisocyanate with a polyol in the presence of a polyalphaolefin and, optionally, a liquid ester coupling agent, said polyurethane systems being applicable for use as reenterable encapsulants for sealing insulated electrical devices, as hard volume encapsulants and as general polyurethane elastomers.

Using simio for the specification of an integrated automated weighing solution in a cement plant

This paper focuses on the use of a discrete simulation tool (SIMIO) in the logistic system design of a cement plant. This research project specifies a proposal of using Discrete Event Simulation (DES) and innovative logistic methods for the correct specification of an integrated weighing solution in a cement plant. This specification will then help the design phase of the whole plant and will contribute for the rationalization of the use of cement plant resources. The proposed monitoring weighing system (Cachapuz - SLV Cement) together with the simulation model will evaluate different scenarios as far as the logistic system is concerned and will support important decisions in the design phase of a cement plant, contributing to the best use of the best set of resources.

Layout and process optimisation : using computer-aided design (CAD) and simulation through an integrated systems design tool

The design of production and logistic systems is a process of managing both technical and organisational variants in order to identify the best solution for a given system. This paper discusses design issues of production systems that are applied to an internal logistic system in the automotive industry. As far as the production systems design (PSD) is concerned, three basic classes of software tools usually pertain: computer-aided design (CAD), process simulation, and information systems. However, these software tools have been used with low levels of integration. Vik et al. (2010b, 2010c) proposed integrating these software resources in production systems and developed an advanced tool called integrated design of systems (IDS). The proposed IDS tool involves a wide set of functions for the most common tasks of PSD, from conceptualisation to implementation, including systems analysis (P-Q, cluster, and material flow analysis), automatic generation of simulation models, generation of alternatives for the layout of facilities and factories, material flows display, transportation system design, and iterative buffer size specification. The IDS approach takes advantage of simulation, CAD systems, and their integration. This paper will demonstrate the concept and functionalities of the proposed tool in a real industrial case study.