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Optical Fiber Tips for Biological Applications: from Light Confinement, Biosensing to Bioparticles Manipulation
No full textIterated-greedy-based algorithms with beam search initialization for the permutation flowshop to minimise total tardiness
Get PDFThe permutation flow shop scheduling problem is one of the most studied operations research related problems. Literally, hundreds of exact and approximate algorithms have been proposed to optimise several objective functions. In this paper we address the total tardiness criterion, which is aimed towards the satisfaction of customers in a make-to-order scenario. Although several approximate algorithms have been proposed for this problem in the literature, recent contributions for related problems suggest that there is room for improving the current available algorithms. Thus, our contribution is twofold: First, we propose a fast beam-search-based constructive heuristic that estimates the quality of partial sequences without a complete evaluation of their objective function. Second, using this constructive heuristic as initial solution, eight variations of an iterated-greedy-based algorithm are proposed. A comprehensive computational evaluation is performed to establish the efficiency of our proposals against the existing heuristics and metaheuristics for the problem
A Safety Monitoring Model for a Faulty Mobile Robot
Get PDFThe continued development of mobile robots (MR) must be accompanied by an increase in robotics' safety measures. Not only must MR be capable of detecting and diagnosing faults, they should also be capable of understanding when the dangers of a mission, to themselves and the surrounding environment, warrant the abandonment of their endeavors. Analysis of fault detection and diagnosis techniques helps shed light on the challenges of the robotic field, while also showing a lack of research in autonomous decision-making tools. This paper proposes a new skill-based architecture for mobile robots, together with a novel risk assessment and decision-making model to overcome the difficulties currently felt in autonomous robot design
Allocating products on shelves under merchandising rules: Multi-level product families with display directions
No full textRetailers’ individual products are categorized as part of product families. Merchandising rules specify how the products should be arranged on the shelves using product families, creating more structured displays capable of increasing the viewers’ attention. This paper presents a novel mixed integer programming formulation for the Shelf Space Allocation Problem considering two innovative features emerging from merchandising rules: hierarchical product families and display directions. The formulation uses single commodity flow constraints to model product sequencing and explores the product families’ hierarchy to reduce the combinatorial nature of the problem. Based on the formulation, a mathematical programming-based heuristic was also developed that uses product families to decompose the problem into a sequence of sub-problems. To improve performance, its original design was adapted following two directions: recovery from infeasible solutions and reduction of solution times. A new set of real case benchmark instances is also provided, which was used to assess the formulation and the matheuristic. This approach will allow retailers to efficiently create planograms capable of following merchandising rules and optimizing shelf space revenue. © 2017 Elsevier Lt
Evaluation of e-commerce websites accessibility and usability: an e-commerce platform analysis with the inclusion of blind users
Get PDFConsidering the importance associated with e-commerce website accessibility and usability, a study on one of the most relevant Portuguese e-commerce websites has been performed using both automatic and manual assessment procedures. In an initial stage, we evaluated the chosen website with a Web accessibility and usability automatic tool called SortSite; after that, we performed a manual evaluation to verify each previously detected error and present possible solutions to overcome those faults. In a third phase, three usability specialists have been used to perform a heuristic evaluation of the chosen website. Finally, user tests with blind people were carried out in order to fully assess the compliance with accessibility and usability guidelines and standards. The results showed that the platform had a good score regarding the automatic evaluation; however, when the heuristic and manual evaluations were performed, some accessibility and usability problems were discovered. Moreover, the user test results showed bad marks regarding efficiency, effectiveness, and satisfaction by the group of participants. As a conclusion, we highlight user interaction problems and propose seven recommendations focused on enhancing accessibility and usability of not only the evaluated e-commerce website, but also of other similar ones. © 2017 Springer-Verlag GmbH German
Cleaved Silica Microsphere for Temperature Measurement
Get PDFA sensing structure based on a cleaved silica microsphere is proposed for temperature sensing. The microsphere was cleaved using focused ion beam milling. The asymmetry in the structure introduced by the cut generates not only new cavities but also random interferometric reflections inside the microsphere. These two spectral components can be separated using low-pass and high-pass filters, respectively. The sensor response to temperature can be extracted from the cavities' component using a correlation method. The device achieved a temperature sensitivity of -10.8 +/- 0.2 pm/degrees C between 30 degrees C and 80 degrees C. The same effect is impossible to be obtained in a normal uncleaved microsphere. The random interferometric component did not provide any information on temperature using the same analysis. However, when changing the temperature, a new and completely distinct reflection spectrum with no apparent correlation with others at different temperatures was achieved
Wearable Biomonitoring Platform for the Assessment of Stress and its Impact on Cognitive Performance of Firefighters: An Experimental Study
Get PDFPlanning woody biomass supply in hot systems under variable chips energy content
Get PDFThe growing economic importance of the biomass-for-bioenergy in Europe motivates research on biomass supply chain design and planning. The temporally and geographically fragmented availability of woody biomass makes it particularly relevant to find cost-effective solutions for biomass production, storage and transportation up to the consumption facility. This paper addresses tactical decisions related with optimal allocation of wood chips from forest residues at forest sites to terminals and power plants. The emphasis is on a “hot-system” with synchronized chipping and chips transportation at the roadside. Thus, decisions related with the assignment of chippers to forest sites are also considered. We extend existing studies by considering the impact of the wood chips energy content variation in the logistics planning. This is a key issue in biomass-for-bioenergy supply chains. The higher the moisture content of wood chips, the lower its net caloric value and therefore, a larger amount of chips is needed to meet the contracted demand. We propose a Mixed Integer Programming (MIP) model to solve this problem to optimality. Results of applying the model in a biomass supply chain case in Finland are presented. Results suggest that a 20% improvement in the supplier profit can be obtained with the proposed approach when compared with a baseline situation that relies on empirical estimates for a fixed and known moisture content in the end of an obliged storage age. © 201
Generating the algebraic theory of C(X): The case of partially ordered compact spaces
Get PDFIt is known since the late 1960’s that the dual of the category of compact Hausdorff spaces and continuous maps is a variety-not ffnitary, but bounded by ?1. In this note we show that the dual of the category of partially ordered compact spaces and monotone continuous maps is an ?1-ary quasivariety, and describe partially its algebraic theory. Based on this description, we extend these results to categories of Vietoris coalgebras and homomorphisms on ordered compact spaces. We also characterise the ?1-copresentable partially ordered compact spaces. © Dirk Hofmann, Renato Neves, and Pedro Nora, 2018
Image-type representation: A preliminary study on preferences of users with intellectual disabilities
Get PDFPrevious findings have shown that users with intellectual disabilities navigate the Web more easily and with greater interest when images are used to represent hyperlinks (Rocha, 2008; 2014; Rocha et al., 2012). Although images can be better for navigation purposes, there is a need to understand how these images should be designed to enhance users' interaction with digital content for this particular group of people. The purpose of this study is to measure the user's preference for image-type representation (Object, Action and Universe), within four different categories (music, movies, sports, games). The sample consisted of 20 individuals with intellectual disabilities, their ages ranging from 22 to 49 years old. The results showed that they preferred less complex images, namely object representative images, and that categories had no effect