This paper addresses the joint optimization model of production scheduling, work-in-process (WIP) inventory control and group preventive maintenance (PM) planning in a multi-machine system with ...multi-components. The objective is to obtain optimum production sequence, PM intervals and grouping of components, which minimize the total expected cost per unit time of the system. A new meta-heuristic named Jaya algorithm and two popular algorithms viz. simulated annealing (SA) and particle swarm optimization (PSO) are applied to optimize the objective function. Initially, the optimum group of components is obtained based on the integer multiples of individual PM intervals. Secondly, the job permutation sequence incorporating group PM intervals is identified with the largest order value (LOV) rule. The shift in optimum PM intervals is realized with an advanced-postpone balancing approach. Computational results reveal that the proposed integrated model along with group PM yields up to 25% cost reductions when compared to the integrated model with individual maintenance as well as 37% savings while no integration is performed. Furthermore, the performance of algorithms is evaluated with large-sized problems. The obtained results show that Jaya and SA yielded comparable results, however, PSO is least productive. Thus, the proposed approach yields better economic performance and brings more improvised solutions as compared to the conventional methods of integrated scheduling and maintenance optimization problems.
Transoral robotic surgery has been gaining widespread acceptance for the treatment of oropharyngeal malignancies. It has shown tremendous growth in the field of non-oropharyngeal malignancies like ...thyroidectomy, neck dissection, and parapharyngeal tumours. Many studies have aimed at studying the safety and efficacy of the technique. The literature is abundant for procedures and treatment protocols for oropharyngeal malignancy; however, there is paucity on its usability in non-oropharyngeal malignancy. We aim to review the literature to analyse the usability of robotics in non-oropharyngeal tumours and study the evolution and future applications of robotics in head and neck cancer. A thorough literature search using keywords “Transoral robotic surgery”, “TORS”, “ Robotics in Head and Neck”, “ Robot-assisted Neck Dissection”, “ Robotic Thyroidectomy”, “ Robotic Laryngectomy”, “ Robotics in salivary gland disease”, “ Parapharyngeal space”, “Systematic review”, and “Meta-analysis” was done. The articles were reviewed individually by each author for a dedicated sub-heading. A narrative review was formulated under the subheadings—thyroid surgery, salivary gland, neck dissection, parapharyngeal space, and laryngectomy. The role of robotics has expanded with the advances in technology. Non-oropharyngeal head and neck disease can be approached using robotics. Careful patient selection provides a significant advantage of function and cosmesis and helps in avoiding inadvertent complications. With our growing experience, we might see a surge in robot-assisted head and neck surgery.
Controlled conversion of right-handed B-DNA to left-handed Z-DNA is one of the greatest conformational transitions in biology. Recently, the B-Z transition has been explored from nanotechnological ...points of view and used as the driving machinery of many nanomechanical devices. Using a combination of CD spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and PAGE, we demonstrate that low concentration of lanthanum chloride can mediate B-to-Z transition in self-assembled Y-shaped branched DNA (bDNA) structure. The transition is sensitive to the sequence and structure of the bDNA. Thermal melting and competitive dye binding experiments suggest that La(3+) ions are loaded to the major and minor grooves of DNA and stabilize the Z-conformation. Our studies also show that EDTA and EtBr play an active role in reversing the transition from Z-to-B DNA.
Opportunistic maintenance approaches deal with performing group preventive maintenance (PM) on the other units in a series system due to the intervention of any scheduled PM of a component. ...Simultaneous maintenance actions show better economic performance due to the direct reduction of downtime costs and production losses. However, it is uneconomical to perform maintenance on all units simultaneously. To address this issue, various simulation and optimization approaches including Markov chains, genetic algorithm etc. have been applied in order to achieve optimum solutions in group maintenance models. However, most of these strategies suffer from intractability as the problem size increases. In the present paper, we develop an efficient opportunistic grouping methodology for the multi-unit series system while considering imperfect preventive maintenance. The aim is to obtain an optimum PM interval and grouping of units to minimize the expected total system maintenance cost per unit time during the mission. A recently developed meta-heuristic named ‘Jaya algorithm’ is applied to optimize the objective function. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is examined with three maintenance models: single unit model, mono-group model and the proposed opportunistic group model. Results reveal that the proposed group maintenance model results in 19% cost savings as compared to the mono-group model and 71% compared to the single component maintenance model.
Solitary extramedullary plasmacytoma is a rare entity. The diagnosis is established by clinical evaluation, detailed radiological workup and histopathology with immunohistochemistry markers. There is ...no clear standard of care for a solitary laryngeal plasmacytoma. A case of solitary laryngeal plasmacytoma is being reported here with the rationale for the chosen treatment modality.
Objective Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a potentially malignant disorder associated with the use of areca nut, and is mainly seen in the parts of Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent. We ...hypothesized that oral cancers occurring in presence of OSMF are clinicopathologically a distinct entity. Study Design We analyzed 289 treatment naïve patients of oral cancer. They were followed up for a median of 44 months. Association of presence of OSMF with other histopathological factors was done using the χ2 test. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used for survival analysis. Results Oral squamous cell carcinoma along with OSMF was seen more often in younger patients ( P < .001) and males ( P < .007), and had a lower T-stage ( P < .002) and N-stage ( P < .000). These were thinner ( P < .002), less infiltrative ( P < .04) tumors and required adjuvant therapy less frequently ( P < .017). The mean disease specific survival, overall for those with and without OSMF was 58.8 and 48.6 months ( P < .002), and specifically for stages III and IV was 49.4 and 38.5 months, respectively ( P < .053). Conclusions Oral squamous cell carcinomas associated with OSMF are associated with good clinicopathologic profile and have better prognosis and oncological outcomes.
•Joint WIP inventory and tardiness cost model in flow shop problem is proposed.•We optimize the objective function, with two new metaheuristics: TLBO and Jaya.•Computational results of various ...algorithms are compared.•Jaya algorithm outperforms all other meta-heuristics.
This paper deals with permutation flow shop scheduling problem in which an integrated cost model consisting of work-in-process inventory carrying cost and penalty cost due to batch delay is proposed. The objective is to obtain an optimum production schedule which minimizes the expected total cost per unit time of scheduling. To optimize the objective function, we apply two new metaheuristic optimization techniques namely TLBO (teaching-learning based optimization) and Jaya and two traditional algorithms: PSO (particle swarm optimization) and SA (simulated annealing). The problem is solved for several instances ranging from 8 jobs and 5 machines to 500 jobs and 20 machines. Computational results show that for small instances, all algorithms performed equally good when compared with the exact solution (total enumeration method). However, for medium and large size problems, enumeration method was unable to give the results in a reasonable computation time period. Therefore the results of all four algorithms are compared among themselves and found that Jaya outperforms all algorithms. However, for a few large instances, SA yields better results in less computation time as against other heuristics. The overall performance of all algorithms reveals that TLBO and Jaya have considerable potential to solve discrete combinatorial problems such as permutation flow-shop scheduling problems.
It has been over four decades since the launch of the National Cancer Control Programme in India, yet the cancer screening rates for oral cancer remain unremarkable. Moreover, India is bracing a ...large burden of oral cancer with poor survival rates. An effective public health programme implementation relies on a multitude of factors related to cost-effective evidence-based interventions, the healthcare delivery system, public health human resource management, community behaviour, partnership with stakeholders, identifying opportunities and political commitment. In this context, we discuss the various challenges in the early detection of oral premalignant and malignant lesions and potential solutions.
hIAPP fibrillization implicated in Type 2 diabetes pathology involves formation of oligomers toxic to insulin producing pancreatic β-cells. We report design, synthesis, 3D structure and functional ...characterization of dehydrophenylalanine (ΔF) containing peptides which inhibit hIAPP fibrillization. The inhibitor protects β-cells from hIAPP induced toxicity.
Inhibition of human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP) fibrillisation by peptides incorporating a helicogenic amino acid, dehydrophenylalanine: implications for Type-2 diabetes.
Objective Surgical margin status is an important prognostic factor in oral squamous cell carcinoma. The primary aim of the surgeon is to achieve a microscopically complete surgical resection during ...initial surgery. As there are no definite guidelines, a few surgeons use frozen section (FS) for margin assessment whereas others use gross examination (GE). Study Design This is a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from the electronic medical records of 435 oral cavity cancer patients. As per the operating surgeon's preference, margin assessment was done using GE in 239 (54.94%) specimens, and FS was used in 196 (45.05%) specimens. Surgery was the primary modality of treatment for all patients, followed by adjuvant therapy. Results Close/positive margins were seen in 6.63% of patients in the FS group and in 6.69% of patients in the GE group ( P = .855). The sensitivity and specificity were 45.45% and 98.8%, respectively, for FS and 61.9% and 88.32% for GE. We found no survival benefit when FS was used for margin assessment (disease-free survival: P = .469; overall survival: 0.325). Incidence of inadequate margins was similar in both the groups ( P = .608) even in patients with some form of previous treatment. Conclusion We propose the judicious use of FS rather than routine use for margin assessment. The study reports that GE is an well-tolerated oncologic alternative to FS.
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