Dependent task assignment algorithm based on particle swarm optimization and simulated annealing in ad-hoc mobile cloud

In order to solve the problem of efficiently assigning tasks in an ad-hoc mobile cloud( AMC),a task assignment algorithm based on the heuristic algorithm is proposed. The proposed task assignment algorithm based on particle swarm optimization and simulated annealing( PSO-SA) transforms the dependencies between tasks into a directed acyclic graph( DAG) model. The number in each node represents the computation workload of each task and the number on each edge represents the workload produced by the transmission. In order to simulate the environment of task assignment in AMC,mathematical models are developed to describe the dependencies between tasks and the costs of each task are defined. PSO-SA is used to make the decision for task assignment and for minimizing the cost of all devices,which includes the energy consumption and time delay of all devices.PSO-SA also takes the advantage of both particle swarm optimization and simulated annealing by selecting an optimal solution with a certain probability to avoid falling into local optimal solution and to guarantee the convergence speed. The simulation results show that compared with other existing algorithms,the PSO-SA has a smaller cost and the result of PSO-SA can be very close to the optimal solution.

Improved Hungarian algorithm for assignment problems of serial-parallel systems

In order to overcome the shortcoming of the classical Hungarian algorithm that it can only solve the problems where the total cost is the sum of that of each job, an improved Hungarian algorithm is proposed and used to solve the assignment problem of serial-parallel systems. First of all, by replacing parallel jobs with virtual jobs, the proposed algorithm converts the serial-parallel system into a pure serial system, where the classical Hungarian algorithm can be used to generate a temporal assignment plan via optimization. Afterwards, the assignment plan is validated by checking whether the virtual jobs can be realized by real jobs through local searching. If the assignment plan is not valid, the converted system will be adapted by adjusting the parameters of virtual jobs, and then be optimized again. Through iterative searching, the valid optimal assignment plan can eventually be obtained.To evaluate the proposed algorithm, the valid optimal assignment plan is applied to labor allocation of a manufacturing system which is a typical serial-parallel system.

Partially Overlapping Channel Assignment Using Bonded and Non-Bonded Channels in IEEE 802.11n WLAN

Nowadays,wireless local area network(WLAN)has become prevalent Internet access due to its low-cost gadgets,flexible coverage and hasslefree simple wireless installation.WLAN facilitates wireless Internet services to users with mobile devices like smart phones,tablets,and laptops through deployment of multiple access points(APs)in a network field.Every AP operates on a frequency band called channel.Popular wireless standard such as IEEE 802.11n has a limited number of channels where frequency spectrum of adjacent channels overlaps partially with each other.In a crowded environment,users may experience poor Internet services due to channel collision i.e.,interference from surrounding APs that affects the performance of the WLAN system.Therefore,it becomes a challenge to maintain expected performance in a crowded environment.A mathematical model of throughput considering interferences from surrounding APs can play an important role to set up a WLAN system properly.While set up,assignment of channels considering interference can maximize network performance.In this paper,we investigate the signal propagation of APs under interference of partially overlapping channels for both bonded and non-bonded channels.Then,a throughput estimation model is proposed using difference of operating channels and received signal strength indicator(RSSI).Then,a channel assignment algorithm is introduced using proposed throughput estimation model.Finally,the efficiency of the proposal is verified by numerical experiments using simulator.The results show that the proposal selects the best channel combination of bonded and non-bonded channels that maximize the performance.

Storage Assignment Optimization in a Multi-tier Shuttle Warehousing System

The current mathematical models for the storage assignment problem are generally established based on the traveling salesman problem（TSP）,which has been widely applied in the conventional automated storage and retrieval system（AS/RS）.However,the previous mathematical models in conventional AS/RS do not match multi-tier shuttle warehousing systems（MSWS） because the characteristics of parallel retrieval in multiple tiers and progressive vertical movement destroy the foundation of TSP.In this study,a two-stage open queuing network model in which shuttles and a lift are regarded as servers at different stages is proposed to analyze system performance in the terms of shuttle waiting period（SWP） and lift idle period（LIP） during transaction cycle time.A mean arrival time difference matrix for pairwise stock keeping units（SKUs） is presented to determine the mean waiting time and queue length to optimize the storage assignment problem on the basis of SKU correlation.The decomposition method is applied to analyze the interactions among outbound task time,SWP,and LIP.The ant colony clustering algorithm is designed to determine storage partitions using clustering items.In addition,goods are assigned for storage according to the rearranging permutation and the combination of storage partitions in a 2D plane.This combination is derived based on the analysis results of the queuing network model and on three basic principles.The storage assignment method and its entire optimization algorithm method as applied in a MSWS are verified through a practical engineering project conducted in the tobacco industry.The applying results show that the total SWP and LIP can be reduced effectively to improve the utilization rates of all devices and to increase the throughput of the distribution center.

EFFICIENT MULTI-OBJECTIVE EVOLUTIONARY ALGORITHM FOR JOB SHOP SCHEDULING

A new representation method is first presented based on priority roles. According to this method, each entry in the chromosome indicates that in the procedure of the Giffler and Thompson （GT） algorithm, the conflict occurring in the corresponding machine is resolved by the corresponding priority role. Then crowding-measure multi-objective evolutionary algorithm （CMOEA） is designed, in which both archive maintenance and fitness assignment use crowding measure. Finally the comparisons between CMOEA and SPEA in solving 15 scheduling problems demonstrate that CMOEA is suitable to job shop scheduling.

Rule-based scheduling of multi-stage multi-product batch plants with parallel units

A novel rule-based model for multi-stage multi-product scheduling problem(MMSP)in batch plants with parallel units is proposed.The scheduling problem is decomposed into two sub-problems of order assignment and order sequencing.Firstly,hierarchical scheduling strategy is presented for solving the former sub-problem,where the multi-stage multi-product batch process is divided into multiple sequentially connected single process stages,and then the production of orders are arranged in each single stage by using forward order assignment strategy and backward order assignment strategy respectively according to the feature of scheduling objective.Line-up competition algorithm(LCA)is presented to find out optimal order sequence and order assignment rule,which can minimize total flow time or maximize total weighted process time.Computational results show that the proposed approach can obtain better solutions than those of the literature for all scheduling problems with more than 10 orders.Moreover,with the problem size increasing,the solutions obtained by the proposed approach are improved remarkably.The proposed approach has the potential to solve large size MMSP.

Three-dimensional pharmacophore screening for fentanyl derivatives

Fentanyl is a highly selective u-opioid receptor agonist with high analgesic activity. Three-dimensional pharmacophore models were built from a set of 50 fentanyl derivatives. These were employed to elucidate ligand-receptor interactions using information derived only from the ligand structure to identify new potential lead compounds. The present studies demonstrated that three hydrophobic regions, one positive ionizable region and two hydrogen bond acceptor region sites located on the molecule seem to be essential for analgesic activity. The results of the comparative molecular field analysis model suggested that both steric and electrostatic interactions play important roles. The contributions from steric and electrostatic fields for the model were 0.621 and 0.379, respectively. The pharmacophore model provides crucial information about how well the common features of a subject molecule overlap with the hypothesis model, which is very valuable for designing and optimizing new active structures.

New optimal algorithm of data association for multi-passive-sensor location system

In dense target and false detection scenario of four time difference of arrival （TDOA） for multi-passive-sensor location system, the global optimal data association algorithm has to be adopted. In view of the heavy calculation burden of the traditional optimal assignment algorithm, this paper proposes a new global optimal assignment algorithm and a 2-stage association algorithm based on a statistic test. Compared with the traditional optimal algorithm, the new optimal algorithm avoids the complicated operations for finding the target position before we calculate association cost; hence, much of the procedure time is saved. In the 2-stage association algorithm, a large number of false location points are eliminated from candidate associations in advance. Therefore, the operation is further decreased, and the correct data association probability is improved in varying degrees. Both the complexity analyses and simulation results can verify the effectiveness of the new algorithms.

Pharmacophore Screening on Piperidinecarboxamides Derivatives Based on GALAHAD and CoMFA Models

In order to discover the novel anticonvulsant drugs, pharmacophore screening of the anticonvulsant inhibitors was enforced. Genetic Algorithm with Linear Assignment for Hypermolecular Alignment of Datasets （GALAHAD） and Comparative Molecular Field Analysis （CoMFA） studies were combined to implement our research. Firstly, multiple models were generated using GALAHAG based on high active molecules. Secondly, several of them were validated using the CoMFA study. Finally, a good values of q2 from training set and promising predictive power from test set were obtained based on one model simutaneously. One model had been selected as the most reasonable pharmacophore model. The results of the CoMFA study based on the model 1 suggested that both steric and electrostatic interactions played important roles.