Implementing TURF analysis through binary linear programming

This paper introduces the approach of using Total Unduplicated Reach and Frequency analysis (TURF) to design a product line through a binary linear programming model. This improves the efficiency of the search for the solution to the problem compared to the algorithms that have been used to date. The results obtained through our exact algorithm are presented, and this method shows to be extremely efficient both in obtaining optimal solutions and in computing time for very large instances of the problem at hand. Furthermore, the proposed technique enables the model to be improved in order to overcome the main drawbacks presented by TURF analysis in practice.

Restless bandits, linear programming relaxations and a primal-dual index heuristic

We develop a mathematical programming approach for the classicalPSPACE - hard restless bandit problem in stochastic optimization.We introduce a hierarchy of n (where n is the number of bandits)increasingly stronger linear programming relaxations, the lastof which is exact and corresponds to the (exponential size)formulation of the problem as a Markov decision chain, while theother relaxations provide bounds and are efficiently computed. Wealso propose a priority-index heuristic scheduling policy fromthe solution to the first-order relaxation, where the indices aredefined in terms of optimal dual variables. In this way wepropose a policy and a suboptimality guarantee. We report resultsof computational experiments that suggest that the proposedheuristic policy is nearly optimal. Moreover, the second-orderrelaxation is found to provide strong bounds on the optimalvalue.

Metaheuristics for the bus-driver scheduling problem

We present new metaheuristics for solving real crew scheduling problemsin a public transportation bus company. Since the crews of thesecompanies are drivers, we will designate the problem by the bus-driverscheduling problem. Crew scheduling problems are well known and severalmathematical programming based techniques have been proposed to solvethem, in particular using the set-covering formulation. However, inpractice, there exists the need for improvement in terms of computationalefficiency and capacity of solving large-scale instances. Moreover, thereal bus-driver scheduling problems that we consider can present variantaspects of the set covering, as for example a different objectivefunction, implying that alternative solutions methods have to bedeveloped. We propose metaheuristics based on the following approaches:GRASP (greedy randomized adaptive search procedure), tabu search andgenetic algorithms. These metaheuristics also present some innovationfeatures based on and genetic algorithms. These metaheuristics alsopresent some innovation features based on the structure of the crewscheduling problem, that guide the search efficiently and able them tofind good solutions. Some of these new features can also be applied inthe development of heuristics to other combinatorial optimizationproblems. A summary of computational results with real-data problems ispresented.

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 fitness is a determining factor in viral rebound and set point in chronic infection.

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) isolates from 20 chronically infected patients who participated in a structured treatment interruption (STI) trial were studied to determine whether viral fitness influences reestablishment of viremia. Viruses derived from individuals who spontaneously controlled viremia had significantly lower in vitro replication capacities than viruses derived from individuals that did not control viremia after interruption of antiretroviral therapy (ART), and replication capacities correlated with pre-ART and post-STI viral set points. Of note, no clinically relevant improvement of viral loads upon STI occurred. Virus isolates from controlling and noncontrolling patients were indistinguishable in terms of coreceptor usage, genetic subtype, and sensitivity to neutralizing antibodies. In contrast, viruses from controlling patients exhibited increased sensitivity to inhibition by chemokines. Sensitivity to inhibition by RANTES correlated strongly with slower replication kinetics of the virus isolates, suggesting a marked dependency of these virus isolates on high coreceptor densities on the target cells. In summary, our data indicate that viral fitness is a driving factor in determining the magnitude of viral rebound and viral set point in chronic HIV-1 infection, and thus fitness should be considered as a parameter influencing the outcome of therapeutic intervention in chronic infection.

Exploiting fitness distance correlation of set covering problems

The set covering problem is an NP-hard combinatorial optimization problemthat arises in applications ranging from crew scheduling in airlines todriver scheduling in public mass transport. In this paper we analyze searchspace characteristics of a widely used set of benchmark instances throughan analysis of the fitness-distance correlation. This analysis shows thatthere exist several classes of set covering instances that have a largelydifferent behavior. For instances with high fitness distance correlation,we propose new ways of generating core problems and analyze the performanceof algorithms exploiting these core problems.

Subset correspondence analysis: Visualizing relationships among a selected set of response categories from a questionnaire survey

It is shown how correspondence analysis may be applied to a subset of response categories from a questionnaire survey, for example the subset of undecided responses or the subset of responses for a particular category. The idea is to maintain the original relative frequencies of the categories and not re-express them relative to totals within the subset, as would normally be done in a regular correspondence analysis of the subset. Furthermore, the masses and chi-square metric assigned to the data subset are the same as those in the correspondence analysis of the whole data set. This variant of the method, called Subset Correspondence Analysis, is illustrated on data from the ISSP survey on Family and Changing Gender Roles.

Systematic study of the static electrical properties of the CO molecule: influence of the basis set size and correlation energy

The influence of the basis set size and the correlation energy in the static electrical properties of the CO molecule is assessed. In particular, we have studied both the nuclear relaxation and the vibrational contributions to the static molecular electrical properties, the vibrational Stark effect (VSE) and the vibrational intensity effect (VIE). From a mathematical point of view, when a static and uniform electric field is applied to a molecule, the energy of this system can be expressed in terms of a double power series with respect to the bond length and to the field strength. From the power series expansion of the potential energy, field-dependent expressions for the equilibrium geometry, for the potential energy and for the force constant are obtained. The nuclear relaxation and vibrational contributions to the molecular electrical properties are analyzed in terms of the derivatives of the electronic molecular properties. In general, the results presented show that accurate inclusion of the correlation energy and large basis sets are needed to calculate the molecular electrical properties and their derivatives with respect to either nuclear displacements or/and field strength. With respect to experimental data, the calculated power series coefficients are overestimated by the SCF, CISD, and QCISD methods. On the contrary, perturbation methods (MP2 and MP4) tend to underestimate them. In average and using the 6-311 + G(3df) basis set and for the CO molecule, the nuclear relaxation and the vibrational contributions to the molecular electrical properties amount to 11.7%, 3.3%, and 69.7% of the purely electronic μ, α, and β values, respectively

2010- 2014 Iowa Transportation Improvement Program

The Iowa Transportation Improvement Program (Program) is published to inform Iowans of planned investments in our state’s transportation system. The Iowa Transportation Commission (Commission) and Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) are committed to programming those investments in a fiscally responsible manner. A major component of the 2010-2014 Program is the full integration of funding allocated to the Iowa DOT from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). To date, the Recovery Act has provided over $400 million of additional federal funding for transportation in Iowa, including funding that is allocated to local governments and entities. Recovery Act funding will result in a record year for transportation construction in Iowa and the creation and retention of jobs. Opportunities for additionalRecovery Act transportation funding remain and will be pursued as they becomeavailable. While Recovery Act funding will make a one-time significant impact in addressing Iowa’s backlog of needs, it is important to note that there remains a large shortfall in sustained annual transportation investment to meet Iowa’s current and future critical transportation needs. In recognition of this shortfall, Governor Culver introduced and the legislature passed an I-JOBS proposal. I-JOBS will result in an additional $50 million of state funding to reduce structurally deficient and functionally obsolete bridges on the primary road system and approximately $10 million in funding for other modes of transportation including $3 million of new funding to support the expansion of passenger rail service in Iowa. I-JOBS, and the continuing gradual increase in funding due to TIME-21, will complement and extend the benefits of Recovery Act funding and set the stage for addressing the shortfall in annual funding in the next few years. Iowa’s transportation system is multi-modal; therefore, the Program encompasses investments in aviation, transit, railroads, trails, and highways. A major component of the Program is the highway section. The FY2010-2014 highway section is financially balanced and was developed to achieve several objectives. The Commission’s primary highway investment objective is stewardship (i.e. safety, maintenance and preservation) of Iowa’s existing highway system. The highway section includes an annual average of $104 million for preserving the interstate system; an annual average of $78 million for non-interstate pavement preservation; an annual average of $36 million for non-interstate bridges; and an annual average of $14 million for safety projects. Another objective is to maintain the scheduled completion of interstate and non-interstate capacity and economic development projects that were identified in the previous Program and this Program does so. The final Commission objective is to further address capacity and economic development needs and the Commission has done so by adding several such projects to the Program. Construction improvements are partially funded through the current federal transportation act, Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). The act will expire September 30, 2009. With the expiration of SAFETEA-LU, there is significant uncertainty in the forecast of federal revenues in the out-years of this Program. The Commission and Iowa DOT will monitor federal actions closely and make adjustments to the Program as necessary. The Iowa DOT and Commission appreciate the public’s involvement in the state’s transportation planning process. Comments received personally, by letter, or through participation in the Commission’s regular meetings or public input meetings held around the state each year are invaluable in providing guidance for the future of Iowa’s transportation system. It should be noted that this document is a planning guide. It does not represent a binding commitment or obligation of the Commission or Iowa DOT, and is subject to change. You are invited to visit the Iowa DOT’s Web site at iowadot.gov for additional and regular updates about the department’s programs and activities.

Speed Limit Questions? Here’s Your Answer, July 6, 2005

Iowa’s speed regulations are based on the same basic speed law that is used in all 50 states: “Any person driving a motor vehicle on a highway shall drive the same at a careful and prudent speed not greater than nor less than is reasonable and proper, having due regard to the traffic, surface, and width of the highway and of any other conditions then existing, and no person shall drive any vehicle upon a highway at a speed greater than will permit the person to bring it to a stop within the assured clear distance ahead, such driver having the right to assume, however, that all persons using said highway will observe the law.” Statutory limits are based on the concept that uniform categories of highways can be traveled safely at certain preset maximum speeds under ideal conditions. Whether the speed limit is posted or unposted, drivers should reduce their speed below these values in poor weather, heavy traffic, and under other potentially hazardous conditions.

Basis set effects on the energy and hardness profiles of the hydrogen fluoride dimer

In earlier work, the present authors have shown that hardness profiles are less dependent on the level of calculation than energy profiles for potential energy surfaces (PESs) having pathological behaviors. At variance with energy profiles, hardness profiles always show the correct number of stationary points. This characteristic has been used to indicate the existence of spurious stationary points on the PESs. In the present work, we apply this methodology to the hydrogen fluoride dimer, a classical difficult case for the density functional theory methods

Xarxa digital multimèdia de pantalles i kioscs interactius

Internet s’ha alçat en poc temps com el mitjà més utilitzat pels turistes per a planificar, organitzar i comprar un viatge, és per això que es proposa donar les mateixes facilitats en el destí. La Publicitat Dinàmica o “Digital Signage” és un nou servei de comunicació que consisteix en un conjunt de tecnologies i aplicacions informàtiques que permeten emetre missatges multimèdia i comunicar-se així d’una manera innovadora amb el públic objectiu de cada empresa, si s’afegeix un sistema independent, multimèdia i interactiu que pot utilitzar-se per a proporcionar informació i/o permetre la realització de transaccions es potencia al màxim el servei. D’aquesta manera es proposa crear una Xarxa Digital Multimèdia de Kioscs Interactius recolzats amb una pantalla de plasma per a la tecnologia Digital Signage. La ubicació escollida estratègicament és en un dels punts de major afluència turística, tal com l’entrada dels hotels. Així es tracta de crear circuits tancats en àrees geogràfiques on es troben els principals nuclis turístics de Mallorca. La possibilitat d’accedir a segments de població altament interessants per al producte o servei es multiplica al ser una manera fàcil, eficaç i altament suggestiva de promocionar el què es pretén. Un avantatge és la simplicitat de la infraestructura tecnològica que es necessita, el dispositiu mitjançant el qual es visualitzaran els missatges serà una pantalla de plasma convencional, i un terminal de punt de venda instal.lat en un lloc de pas. Cada mòdul està connectat a la xarxa ADSL mitjançant un servidor local a Internet. La connexió a la xarxa és imprescindible per a que el manteniment i actualització dels continguts es puguin efectuar remotament. L’objectiu principal d’aquest treball és estudiar la viabilitat de la implantació de la xarxa, mitjançant la realització d’un estudi de mercat on s’analitzen els grups claus per a la implantació: els hotelers, la indústria turística i el Govern Balear. S’identifiquen els beneficis que aportarà al nou servei i les repercussions que tendrà la seva instal.lació. Entre els resultats més destacats d’aquest estudi cal remarcar l’acceptació que ha tengut la idea entre els hotelers entrevistats i la resposta positiva de la indústria turística. Es reconeix: una millora de la imatge del sector, l’ús com a eina de promoció turística pel Govern, i la contribució a la sostenibilitat econòmica pel fet que augmenta la competitivitat de les empreses i això millora la qualitat del servei.

Desenvolupament d'un sistema de transferència de software per una placa entrenadora

El departament d’electrònica i telecomunicacions de la Universitat de Vic ha dissenyat un conjunt de plaques entrenadores amb finalitat educativa. Perquè els alumnes puguin utilitzar aquestes plaques com a eina d’estudi, és necessari disposar d’un sistema de gravació econòmic i còmode. La major part dels programadors, en aquest cas, no compleixen amb aquests requeriments. L’objectiu d’aquest projecte és dissenyar un sistema de programació que utilitzi la comunicació sèrie i que no requereixi d'un hardware ni software específics. D’aquesta manera, obtenim una placa autònoma i un programador gratuït, de muntatge ràpid i simple d’utilitzar. El sistema de gravació dissenyat s’ha dividit en tres blocs. Per una banda, un programa que anomenem “programador” encarregat de transferir codi de programa des de l’ordinador al microcontrolador de la placa entrenadora. Per altra banda, un programa anomenat “bootloader”, situat al microcontrolador, permet rebre aquest codi de programa i emmagatzemar-lo a les direccions de memòria de programa corresponents. Com a tercer bloc, s’implementa un protocol de comunicació i un sistema de control d’errors per tal d’assegurar una correcta comunicació entre el “programador” i el “bootloader”. Els objectius d’aquest projecte s’han complert i per les proves realitzades, el sistema de programació ha funcionat correctament.

Programa de gestió per la Pastisseria Mas

En els últims anys, el món de la informàtica ha evolucionat d'una manera inimaginable, tan a nivell de Hardware com de Software. Aquesta evolució ha donat lloc a la creació de moltes empreses dedicades a la programació, on una de les seves principals feines ha estat la realització de programes de gestió d'empreses. Moltes vegades, però, els programes estàndards no poden satisfer el total de les necessitats dels clients, sinó algunes d’aquestes i realitzar un programa personalitzat té un cost elevat. En el cas de la Pastisseria Mas de Navàs, una empresa familiar, per poder realitzar les tasques administratives utilitzen fulls de càlcul, concretament el Microsoft Excel, que permet portar els comptes d'una manera més o menys senzilla, ja que només són necessàries unes nocions bàsiques d'informàtica. El mateix passa amb les dades dels proveïdors, que les guarden en una Base de Dades del tipus Microsoft Access. Una altra de les mancances és el tema dels encàrrecs que es fa de manera manual. Per tant, l’objectiu d’aquest projecte, és realitzar un programa que els hi faciliti la seva activitat. Aquest programa els permetrà gestionar les dades que utilitzen, com la informació sobre els clients, personal, comandes... També s’ha desenvolupat una web que permet obtenir informació sobre les comandes que s’han realitzat. Aquesta aplicació està dissenyada per funcionar en l’entorn Windows XP i s’ha desenvolupat amb el compilador de CodeGear Rad Studio, concretament el C++ Builder 2009. A nivell de base de dades, he utilitzat MySQL i en el cas de la pàgina web, PHP i lamateixa base de dades. L’anàlisi i el disseny ha estat fet en UML.