From the Book Shelf . . .

Multiobjective Scheduling by Genetic Algorithms

by Tapan P. Bagchi

Kluwer Academic Publishers,

Boston,1999

ISBN 0-7923-8561-6 (hb)

Price: $ 140.00

http://wkap.nl/bookcnt.htm/0-7923-8561-6

The book under review is a fine addition to the list of five books already authored by Professor Tapan Bagchi, a faculty member in the Department of Industrial and Management Engineering, and an IIT Kanpur alumnus (B.Tech, 1967).

As is to be expected from such a veteran, his presentation of a difficult and complex subject, Multiobjective Scheduling, is lucid and simple.

Common production scheduling situations are modelled in the literature as job shops, flow shops and open shops. A shop manager has not only to get the orders completed the fastest way, he/she has also to see that the limited resources of the organization, such as capital/equipment and human resources are fully utilized. Hence the multiobjective scheduling problems arise. Because of the conflicting nature of different objectives to be met in such problems, the concept of an overall optimal solution is debatable. To get around this difficulty, the concept of Pareto Optimality was introduced. A Pareto Optimal solution to multiobjective problems is a non-dominated one, that is, such a solution is "best" with respect to at least one decision objective.

A heuristic is any principle or device that contributes to the reduction in the average search to the solution. Genetic Algorithms (or the GAs) are fairly recent metaheuristic methods developed for solving inherently difficult problems, that is, problems that are too complex to be solved by direct techniques. GAs begin with an initial population of random feasible solutions, and using the problem structure, soon begin to "learn" and "adapt" themselves to generate new and perhaps better feasible solutions. Another feature of GAs which distinguishes them from other solution methodologies is their capacity to conduct search simultaneously among many different regions.

This book describes the complexity in modelling scheduling problems that occur in job shops, flow shops and open shops. It introduces the novice to GAs and to the calibration of GA Parameters to ensure optimum performance. It discusses the role of hybridizing GAs with other heuristic methods to elevate their effectiveness. It then discusses the development and analysis of various specialized GAs for solving multiobjective scheduling problems. The methods described are the outcome of the author's own research (inspired originally by his interest in multiobjective Taguchi methodology) and of several others.

The book has very emphatically demonstrated that GAs can be developed efficiently for solving multiobjective scheduling problems. The last chapter on "Directions for Further Work" highlights the fact that this is certainly not the end and much more needs to be done. Thus it can inspire work in areas where GAs have not yet been applied.

Kudos to Professor Bagchi for a job well done.

Prabha Sharma

Department of Mathematics

Indian Institute of Technology

Kanpur - 208016

e.mail : prabha@iitk.ac.in

Physical Chemistry Through Problems

by S.K. Dogra and S. Dogra, .

New Age International (P) Limited, 1984 (last reprint 1999).

ISBN 0 85226 172 1

Price: Rs.195

This book is primarily written for M.Sc.and B.Sc. students with major in Chemistry. It comprises19 chapters, each chapter covers a different topic in Physical Chemistry. The title correctly reflects the authors' emphasis on problem solving skills.

The first chapter introduces SI units of various physical quantities which are used throughout the book. Chapters 2-4 deal with problems on elementary quantum mechanics and electronic structure of atoms and molecules. Chapter 5 illustrates the techniques of spectroscopy which are used in determining the structure of molecules. Chapters 6-8 deal with three different states of matter: solids, liquids and gases. Chapter 9 is concerned with the basics of statistical mechanics which provide the link between molecular and thermodynamic properties. Problems are chosen to illustrate the calculation of various thermodynamic quantities such as internal energy, entropy and free energy by using information at molecular level. Chapters 10-18 deal with the principles and problems on classical thermodynamics and electro-chemistry. The basic aspects of chemical kine- tics are included in chapter 19. In all the chapters, the authors have been careful in choosing problems which illuminate the basic principles.

Students will find the structural aspects of the book useful. Each section of a chapter starts with a short summary of the basic principles and relevant equations. This is followed by illustrations through worked-out problems. Proper emphasis has been given on the physical picture of a problem and what is learned by solving the problem. In addition to solved problems, there are a number of unsolved problems included at the end of each chapter. The answers to all the end-of-the-chapter problems are given at the end of the book.

Although the primary target audience for the book is the Chemistry major with some background of Physical Chemistry, the students of other Science and Engineering disciplines would also find the book useful for their General and Physical Chemistry courses. In fact, I have made great use of the numerous problems from this book in my tutorials of CHM 101 and BSO 207 at IIT Kanpur.

It is now 15 years since the book was written. Although the book has been reprinted several times in the meantime, no revised edition has come out. Perhaps, it is time that the authors bring out a revised edition of the book by including some of the more advanced topics such as Liquid Structure in chapter 7, Statistical Mechanics of interacting particles (say, imperfect gases) in chapter 9 and theory of Unimolecular Reactions in chapter 19. It may also be worthwhile to have a separate chapter on Chemical Reaction Dynamics in gaseous and condensed phases.

Amalendu Chandra

Department of Chemistry

Indian Institute of Technology

Kanpur - 208016

e.mail :amalen@iitk.ac.in

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