Two-stage chemical deposition (TSCD) technique is used to produce ZnO, Mn2O3 and NiO films on soda-lime glass (SL-G) from an aqueous solution of zinc, manganese and nickel complex, respectively. The TSCD method enables the deposition of metal oxide thin films with a thickness which can be controlled during the preparation procedure. The ZnO, Mn2O3 and NiO thin films were polycrystalline films w...

A technique for structurally decomposing skin is presented in the form of SIAscopy. Its use in removing some of the subjective decisions required to diagnose melanoma at an early stage is discussed. An increase in the diagnostic accuracy for melanoma diagnosis is shown.

Abstract We address the stochastic scheduled service network design problem with quality targets and uncertainty on travel times. This important problem, raising in tactical planning process of consolidation-based freight carriers, has been little studied up to now. define considering for on-time operation services delivery demand loads destinations. introduce a two-stage mixed-integer model de...

This study measures the performance of participating nations at the Olympics, considering the quest for medals as a two-stage Olympic process. The first stage is characterized as athlete preparation (AP) and the second stage as athlete competition (AC). We extend the relational model from the constant returns to scale framework to the variable returns to scale version. The efficiency of each pa...

In this paper we present a greedy algorithm for solving the problem of the maximum partitioning of graphs with supply and demand (MPGSD). The goal of the method is to solve the MPGSD for large graphs in a reasonable time limit. This is done by using a two stage greedy algorithm, with two corresponding types of heuristics. The solutions acquired in this way are improved by applying a computation...

different manufacturing enterprises use regularly scheduling algorithms in order to help meeting demands over time and reducing operational costs. nowadays, for a better useofresources and manufacturingin accordance withcustomer needs and given the level ofcompetitionbetweencompanies, employing asuitablescheduling programhasa double importance. conventional productionmethods are constantly subs...

Financial holding companies in Taiwan play an important role in the process of economic development. Facing the financial globalization and market liberalization, competition between financial holding companies is growing. In data envelopment analysis (DEA) studies, the efficiency measurement can have a two-stage structure. A common approach to the two-stage problem is to apply a standard DEA m...

In this paper we describe a two-stage optimization model for determining robust rolling stock circulations for passenger trains. Here robustness means that the rolling stock circulations can better deal with large disruptions of the railway system. The two-stage optimization model is formulated as a large Mixed-Integer Linear Programming model. We first use Benders decomposition to determine op...

A hyper-heuristic often represents a heuristic search method that operates over a space of heuristic rules. It can be thought of as a high level searchmethodology to choose lower level heuristics. Nearly 200 papers on hyper-heuristics have recently appeared in the literature. A common theme in this body of literature is an attempt to solve the problems in hand in the following way: at each deci...

This paper presents a hyper-heuristic approach which hybridises lowlevel heuristics to improve constructed timetables. The constructed timetable is analysed and the exams causing a soft-constraint violation are identified. It is observed that both the type of move performed and the order in which exams are rescheduled in the timetable affect the quality of the solution produced. After testing d...