Multiple Feeders Research Articles

A hybrid genetic algorithm for component sequencing and feeder arrangement

This paper presents a hybrid genetic algorithm to optimize the sequence of component placements on a printed circuit board and the arrangement of component types to feeders simultaneously for a pick-and-place machine with multiple stationary feeders, a fixed board table and a movable placement head. The objective of the problem is to minimize the total traveling distance, or the traveling time, of the placement head. The genetic algorithm developed in the paper hybridizes different search heuristics including the nearest neighbor heuristic, the 2-opt heuristic, and an iterated swap procedure, which is a new improving heuristic. Compared with the results obtained by other researchers, the performance of the hybrid genetic algorithm is superior to others in terms of the distance traveled by the placement head.

Improving Distribution Reliability (the “N 9 Problem”) by the Addition of Primary Feeders

Some power system loads require hyper reliability - this is the level of reliability that is characterized by a level of 0.999... availability of service. In this paper, the concept of high and hyper reliability is revisited (the N/sub 9/ problem referring to reliability as 0.999... showing N nines in the reliability figure). A model is proposed for the reliability of multiple distribution feeders, and that model appears to behave like actual distribution engineering experience. The model is termed the discounted model because as the number of primary feeds increases the effectiveness of those feeds on the ultimate load service reliability is discounted.

Weavability limit of yarns with thickness variation in shuttleless weaving

Theoretical weavability limit relationships of fabrics from regular warp yarns and fancy filling yarns with thickness variation in shuttleless weaving are reviewed. The relationships correlate maximum warp and filling cover factors, warp and filling yarn characteristics, the distribution of thick and thin places of filling yarn over the fabric surface, and the warp and filling weave factor. The research considers single filling feeder and multiple feeders cases. Additionally, comparisons between the weavability limit of regular yarns and fancy yarns in shuttle and shuttleless weaving are given.

Multiple Paternity and Multiple Male Feeders in Bicknell's Thrush (Catharus Bicknelli)

AbstractAlthough multiple male feeders and multiple paternity for a single brood are taxonomically widespread among nonmigratory birds, they appear to be exceedingly rare among migrants. During a demographic study of Bicknell's Thrush (Catharus bicknelli) in Vermont, we observed groups of 2–4 males and one female feed each of 14 broods (78% of 18 broods observed). One male and one female fed each of the remaining four broods. Three males fed broods of two females concurrently or consecutively. Genetic analysis using microsatellite markers revealed multiple paternity in 9 of 13 broods (69%). Four males had offspring in more than one brood in the same year, but no females did. Ten of 17 males (59%) sired offspring in the broods they fed, and 10 of 13 sires (77%) fed the broods in which they sired young. Females fed nestlings more than twice as often as males. Both males and females tended to increase feeding rates as brood size increased. Possible factors influencing the reproductive behavior of Bicknell's Thrush include harsh montane weather, food limitation, a male-biased sex ratio, and reproductive synchrony. Additional research is needed to examine the interaction of ecological and demographic variables that shape the complex breeding ecology of Bicknell's Thrush.

Optimization of multi-feeder (depot) printed circuit board manufacturing with error guarantees

This paper considers an integrated optimization problem enhancing productivity in printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturing. The problems of assigning component types to feeder locations and sequencing component placements on the PCB are simultaneously formulated in a mathematical model. Our model differs from earlier studies by allowing component types to be placed in multiple feeders. Although such flexibility adds complexity to the original problem, we develop an integrated solution that has promising results. We develop an integrated algorithm that finds the optimal solution when the optimal solutions for the multi-depot vehicle routing problem (MDVRP) are given. Otherwise, given an ε-approximation algorithm for the MDVRP, our integrated solution has a theoretical ε-error guarantee for PCB problem. The effectiveness of the integrated approach is shown with extensive computational experiments.

Multiple Paternity and Multiple Male Feeders in Bicknell's Thrush (Catharus bicknelli)

Multiple Paternity and Multiple Male Feeders in Bicknell's Thrush (Catharus bicknelli)

Optimal reliability design in an electrical distribution system via a polynomial-time algorithm

In this paper, the optimal design of reliability indices in an electrical distribution system and their impact to planning are studied. By formulating the cost due to interrupted KVA-hour, initial interruption cost, and modification cost in terms of component reliability indices, an optimization problem is derived while simultaneously considering multiple load points and feeder capacity limits, resulting in a nonlinear programming problem. To solve this nonlinear programming problem, an effective polynomial-time algorithm is presented. The numerical test shows that not only significant savings can be achieved, but also information on identifying value-saving feeder/components can be revealed as well. This is a valuable tool to distribution planning/operations.

Management of massive hemoptysis in a thoracic surgical unit.

Massive hemoptysis is a life-threatening condition. Surgery is effective but we are sometimes reluctant to operate on patients with this condition. We reviewed our experience with patients who underwent emergency surgery for massive hemoptysis to verify the indications for non-emergency surgical intervention. We reviewed chest computed tomography (CT) and angiographic and pathological findings and the postoperative course of 25 patients who underwent emergency pulmonary resection in our department between 1979 and 2001 due to life-threatening hemoptysis. CT revealed a persistent cavity within the radiological opacity before massive hemoptysis in 12 patients (48%). Of the 21 patients who underwent angiography, nine showed focal bleeding in one bronchial branch and the others showed bleeding in multiple branches. Of these nine patients, seven did not undergo embolotherapy mainly due to minor vascularity. In the remaining patients, embolotherapy was not indicated in six due to multiple bleeding feeders and recurrence after embolotherapy was seen in six. Pathological findings showed that eight of the 12 patients with multiple systemic shunts had a fungal infection. Operative morbidity and hospital mortality were 32 and 4%, respectively. There was no recurrence in patients who underwent surgical treatment. Early pulmonary resection is indicated in patients with hemoptysis of multiple branches from the cavity and chest wall, such as in fungal infections. When a bronchial branch is the only bleeding focus, superselective embolotherapy should be considered prior to surgery even if the localized focus of the bronchial branch shows minor vascularity on the angiography.

Covered stent as an innovative tool for tumor devascularization and endovascular arterial reconstruction

A temporal paraganglioma was pre-operatively embolised with particles and due to the fact that the internal carotid artery was encased by the tumor and that multiple petrous feeders precluded safe embolization, we decided to implant a balloon-expandable covered stent. On immediate post-procedural angiography, the arterial diameter was restored and a complete devascularization of the tumor was achieved. The tumor was operated with minimal blood loss and the carotid artery was released from surrounding tumor using the frame of the stent as a surgical limit. Covered stents may become a valuable tool for pre-operative tumor devascularization and arterial reconstruction especially when dealing with hypervascular tumors of the cranial base that encase the carotid artery.

MULTIPLE PATERNITY AND MULTIPLE MALE FEEDERS IN BICKNELL'S THRUSH (CATHARUS BICKNELLI)

Abstract Although multiple male feeders and multiple paternity for a single brood are taxonomically widespread among nonmigratory birds, they appear to be exceedingly rare among migrants. During a demographic study of Bicknell's Thrush (Catharus bicknelli) in Vermont, we observed groups of 2–4 males and one female feed each of 14 broods (78% of 18 broods observed). One male and one female fed each of the remaining four broods. Three males fed broods of two females concurrently or consecutively. Genetic analysis using microsatellite markers revealed multiple paternity in 9 of 13 broods (69%). Four males had offspring in more than one brood in the same year, but no females did. Ten of 17 males (59%) sired offspring in the broods they fed, and 10 of 13 sires (77%) fed the broods in which they sired young. Females fed nestlings more than twice as often as males. Both males and females tended to increase feeding rates as brood size increased. Possible factors influencing the reproductive behavior of Bicknell's...

A PROGRAMMABLE, MULTIPLE SUPPLEMENT CATTLE FEEDER FOR PASTURE USE

A mobile, programmable, multiple supplement cattle feeder for pasture use was designed, constructed, andevaluated. The feeder is capable of feeding an individualized ration of liquids and solids to cattle in a grazing system withoutthe need for AC power in a research pasture setting. The feeder is electrically powered by solar energy (with battery backup).Additional energy is stored in the form of compressed air held in two 53L (13.5gal) tanks, which must be charged by anexternal source. The design includes storage and metering equipment for up to five separate feed ingredients. Two pressuretanks with approximately 115kg (254lb) capacity are provided for fats or molassesbased liquid supplements; two smallbins with approximately 40kg (88lb) capacity are provided for small quantities of solids, and one 1.2m3 (42ft3) bin isprovided for grain concentrates. Animal identification is achieved using radio transponder ear tags, and control is handledthrough the use of a programmable logic controller.<br><br>A mixed group of 10 dairy heifers and cows were used to complete testing. Animals adapted readily to feeder use after initialtraining and no problems were encountered with tag reading. Liquids, grains, and smallspecialized solids were all meteredaccurately and consistently (coefficient of variation was 0.45% for liquids, 5.8% for small solids, and 2.3% for large solids)based on an individual animal program. Though effective for delivering molassesbased feeds, air leaks in theliquidmetering system required constant monitoring. Computer simulation of the power system suggests that it should handlesupplemental feeding of up to 20 grazing dairy cows at a central Pennsylvania location.

Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty Of A Renal Artery Stenosis Of A Pelvic Kidney With Multiple Vascular Supply

Stenosis of the renal artery can cause arterial hypertension. Frequently, multiple supply of the kidneys with vessels of small diameters is present. However, it is unclear whether stenosis of these vessels that feed only small parts of the kidney parenchyma can induce hypertension. A case is presented in which percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of a vessel stenosis of a kidney with multiple feeders followed by stent implantation improved the arterial hypertension and made it possible to reduce blood pressure medication.

MR Quantification of Flow in Children with Vascular Malformations

The evaluation of treatments such as embolization, stereotactic radiation, and even surgery would be enhanced by an objective method of measuring flow in feeding arteries or draining veins. We developed a non-invasive method of measuring vascular flow using cardiac gated phase contrast MR angiography (MR Q flow). The purpose of this work was to employ the same technique in a series of patients with vascular malformations of the head and neck. We selected a series of vascular malformations with simple arterial and venous architecture and significantly smaller vessel diameters than that encountered with Vein of Calen Malformations. Our aim was to determine the reproducibility of the derived flow values by using multiple velocity encoded sequences (VENC) and compare the values derived from the arterial feeders to the venous outflow data. There are inherent technical difficulties with assessing flow through multiple arterial feeders or draining veins, so the technique is most easily applied to AVMs with simple, easily defined feeding arteries or draining veins. Nonetheless, this technique is relatively straightforward to learn, rapid, cost-effective and may provide an objective means to assess therapeutic maneuvers when applied to head and neck vascular malformations.

Ｅｍｂｏｌｉｚａｔｉｏｎ導入後の脳動静脈奇形２６例の治療成績

We retrospectively analyzed treatment modalities and outcome in 26 patients with cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) since 1991, when endovascular treatment was introduced in our clinic. In treating AVM, it is our policy to: 1) Aim at surgical resection of AVMs except non-ruptured eloquent AVMs. 2) Resect AVM without endovascular embolization in emergent cases and AVMs with a small nidus fed by a few feeding cortical arteries. 3) Choose resection with preoperative indispensable embolization in AVMs with deep feeders or multiple feeders that hide behind the nidus at the surgery. 4) Choose radiosurgery or radiosurgery with endovascular embolization in non-ruptured eloquent AVMs. Fourteen of 17 patients (82.4%) had no complications after surgery. However, we could not avoid complication due to endovascular embolization in spite of careful procedure. Twenty of 24 patients (83.3%) had good recovery and moderate disability in Glasgow outcome scale three months after treatment. From these results, we conclude that our strategies for the treatment of AVMs are proper.

The online voltage control of ULTC transformer for distribution voltage regulation

This paper proposes the advanced online control method of the Under-Load Tap Changer (ULTC) transformer for distribution voltage regulation which considers the unbalanced load diversity on multiple feeders and the hysterical tap changing mechanism of the ULTC transformer. The proposed method determines the optimal tap position of the ULTC transformer to maintain the customers' voltages within the permissible limits as much as possible. The numerical formulations of the proposed method are presented. The results from a case study show that the proposed method can be practically applied to voltage regulation methods on power distribution systems that have unbalanced load diversity on multiple feeders and large voltage drops on feeders.

Changes in the metabolic rate of the foraging honeybee: effect of the carried weight or of the reward rate?

The metabolic rate of free flying honeybees (Apis mellifera ligustica) foraging on a multiple automatic feeder was measured in complete absence of perturbation. Each time the sucrose flow rate was doubled, the metabolic rate increased by 18.2 +/- 2.0% (14.7 microl CO2 min(-1) and final crop load by 25.1 +/- 2.4% (7.04 microl). The possibility that the heavier load carried by the bees caused the increase in the metabolic rate was analyzed in detail. It was found that, for the same weight in the crop, the metabolic rate increased with the increasing reward rate. Therefore, a factor other than the carried weight might account for this increase: a motivational drive, whose intensity may depend on the reward rate at the food source. Although at higher reward rates metabolic rate increased during the visit, at lower reward rates it remained constant, suggesting that the effect of the carried weight on the metabolic rate might be controlled by this motivational drive. The hypothesis that honeybees maximize individual efficiency by reducing their crop load loses support, as foraging costs are not determined by the carried weight. The functional meaning of the reduction in crop load would be to increase the informational exchange at the hive.

Failure of the London Underground's 22 kV power supply system – an exercise in logic and transport management

The power supply to the north-east sector of London Underground Ltd&apos;s Central Line, and therefore the train service, was out of service for the majority of the time between the 24th and the 29th November 1993. During this period the power system faults were investigated, identified and corrected. This incident was the most extensive power fault on London Underground&apos;s power supply system in its recent history. The key cause was identified as an earth fault on a neutral cable of an alternator, which was located several kilometres from the part of the network that became inoperative. London Underground&apos;s power 22 kV generation and distribution system is described, and the feed arrangements historically made to minimise the possibility of such an extensive outage are explained. The events leading to the loss of supply, subsequent identification and correction of the underlying main fault are described, and a model of the 150 Hz harmonic earth-return current, which was the immediate cause of tripping owing to a series resonant circuit condition, is included. The effect of the neutral cable fault was to increase the 150 Hz current to the point where it caused simultaneous multiple feeder breaker trips from earth-fault relays for the feeders supplying the north-east sector of the Central Line, resulting in loss of power to that sector. A comparison is made between the model and practically measured results.

Sequence Stratigraphy, Facies, and Sea Level Change of the Hauterivian Productive Complex, Priobskoe Oil Field (West Siberia)

The productive complex of the Priobskoe field formed during the Hauterivian in the central part of the West Siberian basin as part of the Neocomian (Early Cretaceous) progradational complex. Its depositional setting was a shelf-break margin with well-developed clinoform units and a 1-2° slope gradient. Two depositional sequences have been identified and consist of distinct systems tracts. The lowstand systems tract of the lower sequence (AC12.2-4) formed as a result of rapid high-amplitude relative sea level fall, and is clearly differentiated into lowstand fan and lowstand prograding wedge deposits. Sea level fall of lower amplitude (and rate) led to deposition of a lowstand systems tract in the upper sequence (AC10.1-2) in which no lowstand fan unit was deposited. A thin transgressive systems tract of the lower sequence (AC11.0) formed during a short-term sea level rise. In contrast, prolonged high-amplitude sea level rise led to deposition of a thick transgressive deposit in the upper sequence (AC10.0-AC8). Deposition of the sandiest units is related to shelf (shoal-water) deltas and shelf-edge deltas on the shelf, and to submarine fans in basinal portions. Deposition of shelf-edge deltas was accompanied by abundant gravity-driven processes and formation of shingled turbidites, during which the basin margin significantly prograded and infilled accommodation space. In many cases, sediment supply into the deep-marine systems of Priobskoe was provided from multiple feeder entry points that led to coalescence of individual submarine fans into thick submarine ramps. Because it is based on copious drilling and seismic data, the sequence stratigraphic framework developed for the Priobskoe field may serve as a useful analog model for exploration and prospect generation in Hauterivian clinoforms, as well as in the entire West Siberian Neocomian. There is good correspondence between the relative sea level change interpreted for Priobskoe to the quantified eustatic curve (QEC) generated from Russian platform stratigraphy. This implies that eustasy played an important role in controlling sedimentation in the Priobskoe field. In addition, it supports the validity for the Hauterivian interval of the QEC.

The component retrieval problem in printed circuit board assembly

Minimization of the makespan of a printed circuit board assembly process is a complex problem. Decisions involved in this problem concern the specification of the order in which components are to be placed on the board and the assignment of component types to the feeder slots of the placement machine. If some component types are assigned to multiple feeder slots, an additional problem emerges: for each placement on the board, one must select the feeder slot from which the required component is to be retrieved. In this paper, we consider this component retrieval problem for placement machines of the Fuji CP type. We explain why simple forward dynamic programming schemes cannot provide a solution to this problem, invalidating the correctness of an algorithm proposed by Bard, Clayton, and Feo (1994). We then present a polynomial algorithm that solves the problem to optimality.The analysis of the component retrieval problem is facilitated by its reformulation as a PERT/CPM problem with design aspects: finding the minimal makespan of the assembly process amounts to identifying a design for which the longest path in the induced PERT/CPM network is shortest. The complexity of this network problem is analyzed, and we prove that the polynomial solvability of the component retrieval problem is caused by the specific structure it inflicts on the arc lengths of the network: in the absence of this structure, the network problem is shown to be NP-hard.

Transverse sinus dural fistula: Combined surgical and endovascular approach: A case report

The treatment of a large dural sinus fistula can be very difficult and complicated. The very extensive and complex nature of these malformations may require a combination therapy in the form of surgery and multistaged embolization. The transverse sinus fistula in our patient was fed by multiple large high-flow feeders and was draining retrograde into the superior sagittal sinus (SSS) and the cortical veins. The SSS did not fill in the late venous phase of the carotid angiogram, suggesting increased venous pressure. A case of transverse sinus dural fistula is described that was managed by a combination of surgery and embolization. The complex nature of this malformation encouraged us to adopt a combination of multistaged embolization and surgery for the management and clinical control. The patient underwent embolization of multiple feeders from the branches of the external carotid artery. After this procedure, the patient underwent endovascular occlusion of the transverse sinus via the SSS. Throughout the endovascular treatment, the patient had concomitant intracranial pressure monitoring and SSS pressure monitoring, along with transcranial cerebral oximetry (TCCO). Despite this aggressive endovascular intervention, the fistula could not be completely closed. The patient then underwent surgical excision of the transverse sinus along with duraplasty and cranioplasty. The patient had a good recovery and posttreatment angiogram revealed normal antegrade flow in the SSS with no evidence of the fistula. The combined surgical and endovascular techniques are described and their use in clinical practice is discussed. The complexity of certain large dural sinus fistulae should not be underestimated. They may require a prolonged multistaged treatment for their total obliteration. Also, despite the large size and complexity of the disease, complete cure can be achieved.