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Oocyte competence is an important determinant of reproductive success and can be disrupted by heat/cold stress. Information related to seasonally induced cold stress effects in cold areas on oocyte competence in the bovine is still scarce, however. Therefore, we performed experiments to test the hypothesis that seasonally induced cold/heat stress affects bovine oocyte competence in cold areas. Oocytes were collected in the winter, summer, and autumn, and we showed a significantly better survival and growth rate in the cold compared with hot temperatures, as recorded for two-cell and blastocyst stage embryos (P

A real industrial production phenomenon, referred to as learning effects, has drawn increasing attention. However, most research on this issue considers only single machine problems. Motivated by t...

In this paper we consider a single machine scheduling problem with deteriorating jobs. By deteriorating jobs, we mean that the processing time of a job is a simple linear function of its execution starting time. For the jobs with chain precedence constraints, we prove that the weighted sum of squared completion times minimization problem with strong chains and weak chains can be solved in polynomial time, respectively.

A lot of welding fumes are generated due to the evaporation of magnesium during welding aluminium alloys using Al–Mg welding wires. Fume formation is mainly evaluated by two methods. An average formation rate can be calculated by collecting the fumes formed during a constant welding period. The other one is carried out by observing the droplet with a high speed video. However, these two methods become invalid in quantitatively evaluating the evaporation rate of magnesium in peak or background period during pulsed metal inert gas arc welding. In this paper, a novel method was developed to evaluate the evaporation rate and flux of magnesium in the peak period. First, a robot welding system was used to produce a series of droplets by shutting down the peak current at different times in the peak period. Second, the magnesium contents of these droplets were analysed. Finally, the evaporation rate and flux of magnesium in the peak period were calculated.

In this paper we consider the single-machine scheduling problems with a sum-of-actual-processing-time-based learning effect. By the sum-of-actual-processing-time-based learning effect, we mean that the processing time of a job is defined by a function of the sum of the actual processing time of the already processed jobs. We show that even with the introduction of the sum-of-actual-processing-time-based learning effect to job processing times, the makespan minimization problem, the total completion time minimization problem, the total completion time square minimization problem, and some special cases of the total weighted completion time minimization problem and the maximum lateness minimization problem remain polynomially solvable, respectively.

The paper deals with the single machine scheduling problems with a time-dependent learning effect and deteriorating jobs. By the effects of time-dependent learning and deterioration, we mean that the processing time of a job is defined by function of its starting time and total normal processing time of jobs in front of it in the sequence. It is shown that even with the introduction of a time-dependent learning effect and deteriorating jobs to job processing times, the single machine makespan minimization problem remain polynomially solvable. But for the total completion time minimization problem, the classical shortest processing time first rule or largest processing time first rule cannot give an optimal solution.

This paper considers the general, no-wait and no-idle flow shop scheduling problems with deteriorating jobs. By a deteriorating job we mean that the processing time is an increasing function of its execution starting time. A linear deterioration function is assumed and some dominating relationships between machines can be satisfied. It is shown that for the problems to minimize the makespan or the weighted sum of completion time, polynomial algorithms still exist, although these problems are more complicated than the classical ones. When the objective is to minimize the maximum lateness, the solutions of a classical version may not hold.

The paper is devoted to some flow-shop scheduling problems with a learning effect. The objective is to minimize one of the two regular performance criteria, namely, makespan and total flowtime. A heuristic algorithm with worst-case bound m for each criteria is given, where m is the number of machines. Furthermore, a polynomial algorithm is proposed for both of the special cases: identical processing time on each machine and an increasing series of dominating machines. An example is also constructed to show that the classical Johnson's rule is not the optimal solution for the two-machine flow-shop scheduling to minimize makespan with a learning effect. Some extensions of the problem are also shown.

This paper presents a fuzzy slip angular speed estimator for improving the efficiency of an indirect field-oriented (IFO) induction motor drive. The proposed estimator consists of a fuzzy detuning correction controller (FDCC) and a fuzzy excitation controller (FEC). At heavy load, the rated flux excitation of motor is set and the nominal slip angular speed is augmented by a tuning signal generated by the proposed FDCC such that the motor drawn line current is significantly reduced, and thus the field-orientation characteristics can also be much improved. At steady-state of light load, for reducing the line drawn current more effectively, the nominal slip angular speed is set and the flux current command is reduced from its rated value by the FEC. As the transient due to command or load change occurs, the flux current command is restored to its rated value to increase the torque generating capability. Finally, a simple reference model following controller is designed to further yield good rotor speed dynam...

Edited by A SyntetosFirstly, we would like thank Professors Kuo and Yang for having pointed out the errors of this paper. In fact, shortly after its publication I also became aware of the problems....