An integrated information system based DSS is developed for Open and Distance Learning (ODL) institutions in India. The system has been web structured with the most suitable newly developed modules. A DSS model has been developed for solving semi-structured and unstructured problems including decision making with regard to various programmes and activities operating in the ODLIs. The DSS model designed for problem solving is generally based on quantitative formulas, whereas for problems involving imprecision and uncertainty, a fuzzy theory based DSS is employed. The computer operated system thus developed would help the ODLI management to quickly identify programmes and activities that require immediate attention. It shall also provide guidance for obtaining the most appropriate managerial decisions without any loss of time. As a result, the various subsystems operating in the ODLI are able to administer its activities more efficiently and effectively to enhance the overall performance of the concerned ODL institution to a new level.

Decision making problem is the process of finding the best option out of all feasible alternatives. There are some methods for solving Multiple Criteria Decision-Making problems and Simple Additive Weighting (SAW) is one of the most popular ones. In this paper, among multi-criteria models in making complex decisions and multiple attribute models for the most preferable choice, SAW technique is extended using interval numbers. For this purpose, we first propose a method for extending Entropy method for dealing with interval data, and then the extended SAW method with interval data is proposed by using the interval weights derived by the proposed interval Entropy method. The extended SAW method is an algorithm to determine the most preferable choice out of all possible choices, when the input data are stated in interval.

It is necessary for companies and industries to select the most appropriate maintenance strategy to increase the reliability and safety level with reasonable cost. The primary objective of this paper is to assess different maintenance strategies and to select the best and the most appropriate alternatives for Saipa vehicle industry in Tehran, Iran. For this purpose, we simultaneously consider numerous conflicting objectives and constraints. In this study to counter with this conflicting and to consider the dependency among the qualitative and quantitative criteria and sub-criteria, an integration of Analytic Network Process (ANP) and fuzzy set theory are considered. Therefore, factors playing important role in selecting the best maintenance strategy are determined by reviewing the research literature and interviewing with the experts by Delphi technique. Considering the relations among different factors, a network with 4 criteria and 28 sub-criteria are proposed. In the next step, ANP technique is applied for ranking effective factors in evolution of appropriate maintenance strategy. Results reveal that the best maintenance strategy for fixture body of pride (setter) is corrective maintenance.

In the contexture of a customer-driven goods or service design process, a well-timed update of customer’s requirements may not only serve as a necessity indicator to observe how things change over time, but also it incorporates the firms a better ground to interoperate different strategies to meet the future needs of its customer. This paper proposes a systematic methodology to deal with the customer needs’ dynamics, in terms of their relative weights, in the QFD. Compared with previous research, the contribution of this paper is fourfold. First, it applies some linguistic variables to get preferences of customers and experts to determine the relative importance of customer requirements (CRs) and the relationships between customer requirements and engineering characteristics (ECs). Second, it proposes the implementation of a forecasting technique. Third, it describes more comprehensively on how future uncertainty in the weights of customer’s needs could be estimated and transmitted into the design attributes. Fourth, it proposes the implementation of a quantitative approach, which takes into account the decision maker’s attitude towards risk to optimize the QFD decision making analysis. Finally, a real-world application of QFD is provided to demonstrate the practical applicability of the proposed methodology.

The title compound 3-amino-5-(4-chlorophenyl)pyridazine-4-carbonitrile was prepared by a one-pot three-component reaction of malononitrile with corresponding arylglyoxal in the presence of hydrazine hydrate at room temperature in water and ethanol. Its structure was also con?rmed by its IR, 1H, 13C-NMR, Mass spectral data and elemental analysis. The compound was crystallized in the monoclinic system, space group P21/c, a = 3.817(3) ?, b = 13.533(10) ?, c = 19.607(15) ?, B = 93.401(10)°, Z=4, R1 = 0.0906 and wR2 = 0.1422. The crystal structure of the compound also shows a weak intermolecular interaction between N1 atom of one molecule and N3 atom of the other molecule.

The present paper is aimed at multi-objective scheduling in an agent based holonic manufacturing system to satisfy the goal of several communities namely the product, the resource, and the organization simultaneously. In this attempt, first a multi criteria based priority rule is developed following Simple Additive Weight (SAW) method under Multi Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) environment to rank the products. Accordingly, the products are allowed to select a particular resource for execution by negotiation considering minimum time as criterion. The interests of different communities are accomplished by allocating the ordered rank of products to the ordered rank of resources. Conflict, if arises between products and resources, are resolved by introducing the concept of Early Finish Time (EFT) as criterion for task allocation. A scheduling algorithm is proposed for execution of the rule. In view of machine failure, a cooperation strategy is evolved that also optimizes reallocation of the incomplete task. It is concluded that the proposed scheduling algorithm together with the disturbance handling algorithm are poised to satisfy the agent’s local objective as well as organization’s global objective concurrently and are commensurable with multi agent paradigm.

Glacial acetic acid as a protic acid was employed as a catalyst in a solvent free condition for facile preparation of di(indolyl)methanes (DIMs) via one-pot condensation of indole with aryl or heteroaryl aldehydes. Various aryl and heteroaryl aldehydes were efficiently converted to the corresponding di(indolyl)methanes (1a-p) in high yields. The described novel synthetic method proposes several advantages of safety, mild condition, short reaction times, high yields, simplicity and the inexpensively glacial acetic acid compared to other catalysts.

A highly sensitive, accurate and simple spectrophotometric method was established for determination of naproxen (NAP). The method involved ion-pair complex formation between naproxen and bromophenol blue (BPB). The colored product was measured at 432 nm. The reaction conditions were optimized. The absorbance was found to increase linearly with increase in concentration of NAP which was corroborated by correlation coefficient value. Beer’s law was obeyed in the concentration range of 1-110 µg mL-1 with molar absorptivity of 9.756×103 L mol-1 cm-1. The limits of detection (LOD) and quantitation (LOQ) for the proposed method are 0.292 and 0.973 µg mL-1, respectively. Recovery of the method was carried out by standard addition method. Recovery studies and statistical data proved the accuracy, reproducibility and the precision of the proposed method. The common excipients did not interfere in this analysis. Hence the method is useful for routine estimation of naproxen in pharmaceutical formulation and human serum samples.

Food industries as one of the most important industries in country, needs appropriate planning at both macro and micro levels. One of the important parts, which need to be discussed is the supply chain management in this industry. In this study, the importance of supply chain in food industries is studied. The proposed study determines different suppliers and using various criteria, the study applies Fuzzy Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) to rank different alternatives. The preliminary results indicate that the proposed model of this paper is capable of determining appropriate suppliers in food industry.

An inexpensive straightforward approach to direct oxidative twofold C-H arylation of 1,4-naphthoquinone catalyzed by readily available Br?nsted acids was developed. Under the simple and easily achievable reaction conditions, electron-rich aromatics undergo Friedel-Crafts type functionalization to furnish 2-arylonaphthoquinones in good yields. The attempt to rationalize the scope and limitation of the approach based on desktop PC DFT calculation and reactivity indexes theory was taken up.