Dynamic selection of dispatching rules for job shop scheduling

Although the academic contribution to job shop scheduling is abundant, its impact on practice has been minimal. The most preferred approach to job shop scheduling in the industry is dispatching rules. A major criticism against dispatching rules is that there is no single universal rule. The effective choice of dispatching rules depends on the scheduling criterion and existing job shop conditions. In this paper, the authors have proposed a scheduling method based on the analytic hierarchy process, that dynamically selects the most appropriate dispatching rule from several candidate rules. The selection is based on the existing job shop conditions. This method is applied to two formal job shop problems, and the results for single dispatching rules are inferior to the method proposed in this paper.     

An examination of the ISO 9001:2000 standard and its influence on the integration of management systems

Abstract

Analysis of the literature and examination of the various models of integration and testing in the field, have revealed five key issues relating to management system integration. This paper examines the recently published ISO 9001 : 2000 quality management system standard to see how it addresses these issues, under the headings of compatibility, scope and organizational culture. The examination reveals that while compatibility with the ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 standards has been improved in some areas, a different approach and model of a management system has been used. The paper suggests that differences in the scope of the standards are also likely to give rise to different sub-cultures which will hinder integration, and scope and culture are more important than compatibility. This leads the authors to conclude that new models of integration should be based on an approach and definitions which can be used in any management system, as well as an integrated one. Models of an integrated management system should also emphasize the need for no significant differences in the scope of the integrated systems, and a strong culture which supports the main requirements of TQM.     

DEFINING MOMENTS: THE TENSION BETWEEN RICHNESS AND REACH

The defining moments of traditional spatially based higher education are made up of fixed and fluid experiences. These 'moments' are now creaking as funding per student falls and the romanticized ideal of an education detached from 'real' life falters under the weight of highly variable student experiences. Distance learning in all its guises has always been regarded as inferior by those embedded in the traditional system. However more and more students demand something different from costly campus-based education. It is time for a more open discussion about the tensions between richness and reach and the role that new facilities like the Internet could play in reaching more students without wallowing in the nostalgia that often accompanies such debates.     

唐代有关乐工小说的符号阐释

唐代音乐发达,乐工作为宫廷音乐组织、编排、演奏的主体,在唐代政治生活中扮演了重要角色。唐代小说中的乐工不仅具有高超的艺术造诣和艺术修养,而且表现了高尚的艺德和人格品质。在中晚唐战乱频仍、山河日下的社会背景下,他们流落各地,穷困潦倒,往往与一些同样失意的诗人邂逅,共同出现在小说视野中。此时乐工就具有了符号象征意义,与失意诗人及其诗作一起生成作品文本的情感特质知音情结和黍离之痛。     

日本影视作品对日语教学的作用--以日剧《日本人不知道的日语》为例

近年来,我国学习日语的人数不断增多,多数高校也都开设了日语这一课程。然而,在实际的教学过程中出现了诸多问题,比如词汇量匮乏、对单词理解不透彻、对中日文化间差异的理解不深刻、实际口语交际能力差等都逐渐暴露出来。以日剧《日本人不知道的日语》为例,分析剧中所表现的日语实际学习和教学过程中的各种问题,进而讨论日本影视作品在实际教学中的作用以及运用日本影视作品进行教学时应该注意的问题。     

侦诉一体化：我国检警关系之重塑

检警关系是刑事诉讼关系的基本内容之一,定位准确、线条流畅的检警关系对于诉讼机制的协调运作具有重要意义。然而,长期以来,我国在配合制约原则指导下构建的检警配合制约模式,却导致了我国检警关系的错位。我国应当在借鉴国外处理检警关系的经验基础上,以侦诉一体化为目标模式,对我国检警关系予以重构。     

1999-2003年双十佳社科学报实证分析

选取22种学报为对象,对其近5年的信息量、稿件来源、基金论文、合著、作者情况、时滞、关键词、参考文献、文摘率等项展开调查,并与《中国社会科学》等中外名刊进行比较。统计结果表明,双十佳学报刊均年载文量137篇,2/3的稿件来自本校,93.83%的稿件源于高校;基金论文比9.73%;合作度1.23,合著率19.31%,高职称、高学历著者占80.81%;时滞176天,篇均关键词3.5个;平均引文量7.37条,其中引用图书占72.88%,期刊占20.63%;年平均文摘率15.90%。相比较而言,双十佳学报在发文量、审稿时间、标准化著录等方面有一定优势。     

突发事件应急机制研究

本文从分析社会经济系统运行机制入手,从社会需求、动力与制约等方面分析论述了应急系统生成和运行条件,探讨了突发事件应急机制的形成及其与国民经济动员和应急功能整合的关系。     

Traditional birth attendants’ roles and homebirth choices in Ethiopia: A qualitative study

BackgroundIn Ethiopia, it is encouraged that labour and delivery care are performed under the observation of skilled/trained midwifery or medical professionals. However, 70% of all births occur outside the healthcare system under the care of unskilled birth attendants, family members, or without any assistance at all.ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the reasons for choosing homebirth and the role of traditional birth attendants in Arba Minch Health and Demographic Surveillance Site.MethodA qualitative, exploratory study was carried out between May and June 2017. Twenty-nine semi-structured interviews were conducted with various respondent groups such as traditional birth attendants, pregnant women, skilled birth attendants, and health extension workers. Data were transcribed and for analysis, structured as per the participants’ responses, sorted and categorized as per the topic guide, and presented in narrative form.FindingsThe study revealed that traditional birth attendants are actively engaged in assisting homebirths in the selected area. It was also found that many women still prefer traditional birth attendants for childbirth assistance. Reasons for choosing homebirth included lack of transport to health care facilities, distance to health care facilities, lack of respectful care at health care facilities, and the friendliness of traditional birth attendants. Lack of formal partnerships between traditional birth attendants and the health system was also observed.ConclusionsThere is a need to incorporate traditional birth attendants as a link between healthcare facilities and pregnant women; thereby, improving respectful care at the healthcare facilities.     

Amemiya's generalized least squares and tests of overidentification in simultaneous equation models with qualitative or limited dependent variables

Amemiya's generalized least squares method for the estimation of simultaneous equation modeis with qualitative or limited dependent variables is known to be efficient relative to many popular two stage estimators. This note points out that test statistics for overidentification restrictions can be obtained as by-products of Amerniya's generalized least squares procedure. Amemiya's procedure is shown to be a minimum chisquare method. The Amemiya procedure is valuable both for efficient estimation and for model evaluation of such models.