Asynchronous teams for joint lot-sizing and scheduling problem in flow shops

The integrated production scheduling and lot-sizing problem in a flow shop environment consists of establishing production lot sizes and allocating machines to process them within a planning horizon in a production line with machines arranged in series. The problem considers that demands must be met without backlogging, the capacity of the machines must be respected, and machine setups are sequence-dependent and preserved between periods of the planning horizon. The objective is to determine a production schedule to minimise the setup, production and inventory costs. A mathematical model from the literature is presented, as well as procedures for obtaining feasible solutions. However, some of the procedures have difficulty in obtaining feasible solutions for large-sized problem instances. In addition, we address the problem using different versions of the Asynchronous Team (A-Team) approach. The procedures were compared with literature heuristics based on Mixed Integer Programming. The proposed A-Team procedures outperformed the literature heuristics, especially for large instances. The developed methodologies and the results obtained are presented.

Simultaneous bilateral hip replacement reveals superior outcome and fewer complications than two-stage procedures: a prospective study including 1819 patients and 5801 follow-ups from a total joint replacement registry

Background Total joint replacements represent a considerable part of day-to-day orthopaedic routine and a substantial proportion of patients undergoing unilateral total hip arthroplasty require a contralateral treatment after the first operation. This report compares complications and functional outcome of simultaneous versus early and delayed two-stage bilateral THA over a five-year follow-up period. Methods The study is a post hoc analysis of prospectively collected data in the framework of the European IDES hip registry. The database query resulted in 1819 patients with 5801 follow-ups treated with bilateral THA between 1965 and 2002. According to the timing of the two operations the sample was divided into three groups: I) 247 patients with simultaneous bilateral THA, II) 737 patients with two-stage bilateral THA within six months, III) 835 patients with two-stage bilateral THA between six months and five years. Results Whereas postoperative hip pain and flexion did not differ between the groups, the best walking capacity was observed in group I and the worst in group III. The rate of intraoperative complications in the first group was comparable to that of the second. The frequency of postoperative local and systemic complication in group I was the lowest of the three groups. The highest rate of complications was observed in group III. Conclusions From the point of view of possible intra- and postoperative complications, one-stage bilateral THA is equally safe or safer than two-stage interventions. Additionally, from an outcome perspective the one-stage procedure can be considered to be advantageous.

[Antibiotic prophylaxis for late blood-borne infections of joint prostheses]

By analogy with endocarditis prophylaxis, patients with joint prostheses are often given antibiotics before invasive procedures or dental treatment. However, this analogy is not justified: The pathogenesis and bacterial spectrum of infections of artificial joints differ from those of endocarditis. Since the efficacy of administering prophylactic antibiotics to patients with joint prostheses has never been scientifically proven, there is no general indication for such prophylaxis. On the other hand, infections in other parts of the body should be actively sought and treated promptly. Prophylactic antibiotic administration may be appropriate in individual cases during a procedure in patients who are at increased risk of a haematogenic prosthesis infection as a result of bacteraemia. For operations routinely performed under perioperative antibiotic cover, the same prophylaxis should also be used for patients with joint prostheses.

Why Belgium Needs a Special Operations Command. Security Policy Brief No. 70, April 2016

The setting up of a Special Operations Command (SOCOM) constitutes a key element of the ongoing Belgian defence reforms. This Policy Brief aims to put the present demand for special operations forces in its historical context and engage in the discussion on how to structure and employ this special instrument of policy. Building on the legacy of the paracommando regiment, the future Belgian SOCOM constitutes a critical capability within an adaptive force structure. This new entity must be able to deliver results in a variety of unconventional missions that require high readiness, intellectual flexibility and maximum discretion or surprise. At the same time, special operations forces do not constitute a substitute for having a comprehensive security policy. They function best when used as force multipliers alongside other instruments of power towards joint effect. As the proverbial tip of the spear, they must lead the way for Belgian defence regeneration in general.

Commission on Government Security : hearings ... Eighty-fourth Congress, first session, on S.J. Res. 21, a joint resolution to establish a commission on government security. March 8-11, 14-18, 1955.

Mode of access: Internet.

Information on the operations and financing of the United Nations.

Accompanied by: Supplement to Joint Committee print of February 6, 1962.

Scientific guide to pest control operations

Mode of access: Internet.

Joint doctrine for amphibious embarkation.

Includes index.

Acts and joint resolutions passed by the General Assembly of the State of Virginia, during the session of 1891-92.

Acts and joint resolutions.--Commissioners of Deeds for Virginia.--List of charters.--Tables showing the time for the commencement of the regular terms of the Supreme Court of Appeals.--Synopsis of the financial operations of the treasury for the fiscal year ending the 30th day of September, 1891.--[State indebtedness]--[Tables showing the time for the commencement of the regular terms of the] circuit, county and corporation courts.--Separate election precincts.--Names and numbers of the magisterial districts in the counties of Virginia as reported to this date.

The organization and training of joint task forces /

"April 1996."

Address of the President of the United States, delivered at a joint session of the two houses of Congress, April 19, 1916.

Issued also as House doc. 1034, 64th Cong., 1st sess., with title: Relations with the German government. Address of the President ... April 19, 1916.

Effects of taper length on traffic operations in construction zones /

Final report; December 1977.

Improving the traffic operations and safety of full cloverleaf interchanges /

Mode of access: Internet.

Midterm to long-term longitudinal outcome of autologous chondrocyte implantation in the knee joint:a multilevel analysis

Background Autologous chondrocyte implantation is a cell therapeutic approach for the treatment of chondral and osteochondral defects in the knee joint. The authors previously reported on the histologic and radiologic outcome of autologous chondrocyte implantation in the short- to midterm, which yields mixed results. Purpose The objective is to report on the clinical outcome of autologous chondrocyte implantation for the knee in the midterm to long term. Study Design Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods Eighty patients who had undergone autologous chondrocyte implantation of the knee with mid- to long-term follow-up were analyzed. The mean patient age was 34.6 years (standard deviation, 9.1 years), with 63 men and 17 women. Seventy-one patients presented with a focal chondral defect, with a median defect area of 4.1 cm2 and a maximum defect area of 20 cm2. The modified Lysholm score was used as a self-reporting clinical outcome measure to determine the following: (1) What is the typical pattern over time of clinical outcome after autologous chondrocyte implantation; and (2) Which patient-related predictors for the clinical outcome pattern can be used to improve patient selection for autologous chondrocyte implantation? Results The average follow-up time was 5 years (range, 2.7–9.3). Improvement in clinical outcome was found in 65 patients (81%), while 15 patients (19%) showed a decline in outcome. The median preoperative Lysholm score of 54 increased to a median of 78 points. The most rapid improvement in Lysholm score was over the 15-month period after operation, after which the Lysholm score remained constant for up to 9 years. The authors were unable to identify any patient-specific factors (ie, age, gender, defect size, defect location, number of previous operations, preoperative Lysholm score) that could predict the change in clinical outcome in the first 15 months. Conclusion Autologous chondrocyte implantation seems to provide a durable clinical outcome in those patients demonstrating success at 15 months after operation. Comparisons between other outcome measures of autologous chondrocyte implantation should be focused on the clinical status at 15 months after surgery. The patient-reported clinical outcome at 15 months is a major predictor of the mid- to long-term success of autologous chondrocyte implantation.

Strategic positioning of manufacturing operations within global supply chains

In global environment, a company has to make many decisions that impact upon its position in global supply chain networks such as outsourcing, offshoring, joint venture, vertical/horizontal integration, etc. All these decisions impact on the company’s strategic position, and hence on competitive space and performance. Therefore, it is important for a company to carefully manage strategic positioning by making careful decisions about the adoption of alternative manufacturing and supply chain activities. Unfortunately, there is no complete process studied in strategic positioning of manufacturing operations within global supply chain. Therefore, the work presented in this paper has investigated leading research and industrial practices to create a formal and rational decision process. An analysis of previous literature, industrial practices, and the resulting decision process are all presented in this paper.