bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Navigating the water trilemma: a strategic assessment of long‐term national water resource management options for Great Britain
Authors: Ives Matthew C. , Simpson Mike , Hall Jim W.
Published: May 2018

Potential increases in water demand, alongside uncertainties in water availability due to climate change, mean that Britain's water supply system could become increasingly stressed over the coming decades. Along with the need for secure water supplies, we must ensure that the supply is affordable and that sufficient water is available to safeguard the natural environment. Meeting these three separate goals of security, affordability and sustainability, with their inevitable trade‐offs, can be termed the ‘water trilemma’. In this novel approach we simulate projections of river flows under population and climate change by using an aggregated national water resource model to test potential policies to manage demand and investments in water supply infrastructure in order to assess Britain's ability to meet its needs into the future. The results indicate that a balanced approach which allows for some inter‐basin water transfers while also engaging local solutions, including water re‐use, combined with scalable actions for demand management and leakage reduction, will best enable Britain to navigate this water trilemma.
Externalization of remote microphone signals using a structural binaural model of the head and pinna
Authors: Kates James M. , Arehart Kathryn H. , Muralimanohar Ramesh Kumar , Sommerfeldt Kristin
Published: May 2018

In a remote microphone (RM) system, a talker speaks into a microphone and the signal is transmitted to the hearing aids worn by the hearing-impaired listener. A difficulty with remote microphones, however, is that the signal received at the hearing aid bypasses the head and pinna, so the acoustic cues needed to externalize the sound source are missing. The objective of this paper is to process the RM signal to improve externalization when listening through earphones. The processing is based on a structural binaural model, which uses a cascade of processing modules to simulate the interaural level difference, interaural time difference, pinna reflections, ear-canal resonance, and early room reflections. The externalization results for the structural binaural model are compared to a left-right signal blend, the listener's own anechoic head-related impulse response (HRIR), and the listener's own HRIR with room reverberation. The azimuth is varied from straight ahead to 90° to one side. The results show that the structural binaural model is as effective as the listener's own HRIR plus reverberation in producing an externalized acoustic image, and that there is no significant difference in externalization between hearing-impaired and normal-hearing listeners.
Sounds of Arctic cod (Boreogadus saida) in captivity: A preliminary description
Authors: Riera Amalis , Rountree Rodney A. , Pine Matthew K. , Juanes Francis
Published: May 2018

Sounds produced by Arctic cod were recorded for the first time and suggest passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) can be an effective additional tool for the study and management of the species. Each of the 38 calls detected in three different aquatic facilities consisted of a single grunt with 6 to 12 pulses and a mean duration of 289 ms. Call frequency ranged between 59 and 234 Hz, with a mean peak frequency of 107 Hz. These preliminary data suggest Arctic cod can be distinguished from other gadids, but additional studies of sympatric species are needed before PAM can be confidently adopted.
History of Concussion Diagnosis, Differences in Concussion Reporting Behavior, and Self-Described Reasons for Non-Report
Authors: Kroshus Emily , Chrisman Sara P.D. , Milroy Jeffrey J. , Baugh Christine M.
Published: May 2018

Purpose: Assess whether athletes with a prior concussion diagnosis are more likely to continue play with a possible concussion. Additionally, explore whether reasons for concussion under-reporting are different among athletes with a prior concussion when compared to other athletes. Methods: Cross-sectional survey of 328 collegiate athletes. Results: Athletes with a prior concussion diagnosis had significantly greater relative risk of continuing play while symptomatic of a possible concussion during their most recent season compared to athletes without prior concussion diagnosis. Significant differences exist in the reasons that athletes provided for not reporting by history of concussion. Conclusions: Findings suggest that learning may have occurred as a result of the prior diagnosis; however, this learning did not appear to result in safer reporting behavior. Additional research is necessary to clarify why athletes who have been previously diagnosed with a concussion are more likely to continue playing while experiencing concussion symptoms.
Has artificial intelligence become alchemy?
Authors: Hutson Matthew
Published: May 2018

Machine learning needs more rigor, scientists argue.
Fractal-like hierarchical organization of bone begins at the nanoscale
Authors: Reznikov Natalie , Bilton Matthew , Lari Leonardo , Stevens Molly M. , Kröger Roland
Published: May 2018

Curving bones

On larger length scales, bone is known to have a hierarchical structure in which small crystals of calcium phosphates arrange themselves around helices of collagen. These make up larger structures, such as the osteons found in compact bone. However, at smaller lengths, does the hierarchical structure persist? By combining three-dimensional electron tomography with two-dimensional electron microscopy, Reznikov
et al.
observed structural ordering from the nanoscale upward. At the smallest scale, needle-shaped mineral units form platelets that organize into stacks bridging multiple collagen units.

Science
, this issue p.
eaao2189
Probing magnetism in 2D van der Waals crystalline insulators via electron tunneling
Authors: Klein D. R. , MacNeill D. , Lado J. L. , Soriano D. , Navarro-Moratalla E. , Watanabe K. , Taniguchi T. , Manni S. , Canfield P. , Fernández-Rossier J. , Jarillo-Herrero P.
Published: May 2018

An intrinsic magnetic tunnel junction

An electrical current running through two stacked magnetic layers is larger if their magnetizations point in the same direction than if they point in opposite directions. These so-called magnetic tunnel junctions, used in electronics, must be carefully engineered. Two groups now show that high magnetoresistance intrinsically occurs in samples of the layered material CrI
3
sandwiched between graphite contacts. By varying the number of layers in the samples, Klein
et al.
and Song
et al.
found that the electrical current running perpendicular to the layers was largest in high magnetic fields and smallest near zero field. This observation is consistent with adjacent layers naturally having opposite magnetizations, which align parallel to each other in high magnetic fields.

Science
, this issue p.
1218
, p.
1214
Tunable intraparticle frameworks for creating complex heterostructured nanoparticle libraries
Authors: Fenton Julie L. , Steimle Benjamin C. , Schaak Raymond E.
Published: May 2018

Retrosynthesizing complex nanostructures

The solution synthesis of complex and asymmetric nanostructures is still challenging. For many applications, it will be important to gain simultaneous control over particle size and morphology, constituent materials, and internal interfaces. Fenton
et al.
have developed a strategy that mimics chemical retrosynthesis, starting with simple nanoparticle synthons—in this case, Cu
1.8
S nanoparticles, nanorods, and nanosheets. Various types of interfaces and junctions can be introduced, for example, by cation substitution. This intervention breaks the symmetry of the synthons and assembles them into higher-order structures. The nanostructures can thus be formed with asymmetric, patchy, porous, or sculpted regions.

Science
, this issue p.
513
Exposure of Staphylococcus aureus to Targocil Blocks Translocation of the Major Autolysin Atl across the Membrane, Resulting in a Significant Decrease in Autolysis
Authors: Tiwari Kiran B. , Gatto Craig , Walker Suzanne , Wilkinson Brian J.
Published: May 2018

Peptidoglycan (PG) and wall teichoic acid (WTA) are the major staphylococcal cell wall components, and WTA biosynthesis has recently been explored for drug development. Targocil is a novel agent that targets the TarG subunit of the WTA translocase (TarGH) that transports WTA across the membrane to the wall. Previously we showed that targocil treatment of a methicillin-susceptible
Staphylococcus aureus
strain led to a rapid shut down of cellular autolysis. Targocil II, which targets the TarH subunit of TarGH, also resulted in a drastic decrease in autolysis. Here, we address the mechanism of targocil-mediated decreased autolysis. The mechanism is WTA dependent since targocil treatment decreased autolysis in methicillin-resistant strains but not in a WTA-deficient mutant. Similar to cellular autolysis, autolysin-retaining crude cell walls isolated from targocil-treated cells had vastly decreased autolytic activity compared to those from untreated cells. Purified cell walls from control and targocil-treated cells, which lack autolytic activity, were similarly susceptible to lysozyme and lysostaphin and had similar O-acetyl contents, indicating that targocil treatment did not grossly alter PG structure and chemistry. Purified cell walls from targocil-treated cells were highly susceptible to autolysin extracts, supporting the notion that targocil treatment led to decreased autolysin in the crude cell walls. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis revealed that the decrease in autolysis in the targocil-exposed cells was not due to transcriptional repression of the autolysin genes
atl
,
lytM
,
lytN
, and
sle1
. Zymographic analysis of peptidoglycan hydrolase profiles showed a deficiency of cell surface autolysins in targocil-treated cells but higher activity in cell membrane fractions. Here, we propose that the untranslocated WTA molecules in the targocil-exposed cells sequester Atl at the membrane, resulting in significantly decreased autolysis.
Human-Associated Lachnospiraceae Genetic Markers Improve Detection of Fecal Pollution Sources in Urban Waters
Authors: Feng Shuchen , Bootsma Melinda , McLellan Sandra L.
Published: May 2018

Traditional fecal indicator bacteria do not distinguish animal from human fecal pollution, which is necessary to evaluate health risks and mitigate pollution sources. Assessing water in urban areas is challenging, since the water can be impacted by sewage, which has a high likelihood of carrying human pathogens, as well as pet and urban wildlife waste. We demonstrate that the Lachno3 and Lachno12 markers are human associated and highly specific for the detection of human fecal pollution from urban sources, offering reliable identification of fecal pollution sources in urban waters.
Engineered 3-Ketosteroid 9α-Hydroxylases in Mycobacterium neoaurum: an Efficient Platform for Production of Steroid Drugs
Authors: Liu Hao-Hao , Xu Li-Qin , Yao Kang , Xiong Liang-Bin , Tao Xin-Yi , Liu Min , Wang Feng-Qing , Wei Dong-Zhi
Published: May 2018

Steroidal drugs are widely used for anti-inflammation, anti-tumor action, endocrine regulation, and fertility management, among other uses. The two main starting materials for the industrial synthesis of steroid drugs are phytosterol and diosgenin. The phytosterol processing is carried out by microbial transformation, which is thought to be superior to the diosgenin processing by chemical conversions, given its simple and environmentally friendly process. However, diosgenin has long been used as the primary starting material instead of phytosterol. This is in response to challenges in developing efficient microbial strains for industrial phytosterol transformation, which stem from complex metabolic processes that feature many currently unclear details. In this study, we identified two oxygenase homologues of 3-ketosteroid-9α-hydroxylase, KshA1
N
and KshA2
N
, in
M. neoaurum
and demonstrated their crucial role in determining the yield and variety of products from phytosterol transformation. This work has practical value in developing industrial strains for phytosterol biotransformation.
Banking for health: the role of financial sector actors in investing in global health
Authors: Krech Rüdiger , Kickbusch Ilona , Franz Christian , Wells Nadya
Published: May 2018

The world faces multiple health financing challenges as the global health burden evolves. Countries have set an ambitious health policy agenda for the next 15 years with prioritisation of universal health coverage under the Sustainable Development Goals. The scale of investment needed for equitable access to health services means global health is one of the key economic opportunities for decades to come. New financing partnerships with the private sector are vital. The aim of this study is to unlock additional financing sources, acknowledging the imperative to link financial returns to the providers of capital, and create profitable, sustainable financing structures. This paper outlines the global health investment opportunity exploring intersections of financial and health sector interests, and the role investment in health can play in economic development. Considering increasing demand for impact investments, the paper explores responsible financing initiatives and expansion of the global movement for sustainable capital markets. Adding an explicit health component (H) to the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) investment criteria, creating the ESG+H initiative, could serve as catalyst for the inclusion of health criteria into mainstream financial actors’ business practices and investment objectives. The conclusion finds that health considerations directly impact profitability of the firm and therefore should be incorporated into financial analysis. Positive assessment of health impact, at a broad societal or environmental level, as well as for a firm’s employees can become a value enhancing competitive advantage. An ESG+H framework could incorporate this into mainstream financial decision-making and into scalable investment products.
Burden of physical, psychological and social ill-health during and after pregnancy among women in India, Pakistan, Kenya and Malawi
Authors: McCauley Mary , Madaj Barbara , White Sarah A , Dickinson Fiona , Bar-Zev Sarah , Aminu Mamuda , Godia Pamela , Mittal Pratima , Zafar Shamsa , van den Broek Nynke
Published: May 2018

Introduction

For every woman who dies during pregnancy and childbirth, many more suffer ill-health, the burden of which is highest in low-resource settings. We sought to assess the extent and types of maternal morbidity.

Methods

Descriptive observational cross-sectional study at primary-level and secondary-level healthcare facilities in India, Pakistan, Kenya and Malawi to assess physical, psychological and social morbidity during and after pregnancy. Sociodemographic factors, education, socioeconomic status (SES), quality of life, satisfaction with health, reported symptoms, clinical examination and laboratory investigations were assessed. Relationships between morbidity and maternal characteristics were investigated using multivariable logistic regression analysis.

Results

11 454 women were assessed in India (2099), Malawi (2923), Kenya (3145), and Pakistan (3287). Almost 3 out of 4 women had ≥1 symptoms (73.5%), abnormalities on clinical examination (71.3%) or laboratory investigation (73.5%). In total, 36% of women had infectious morbidity of which 9.0% had an identified infectious disease (HIV, malaria, syphilis, chest infection or tuberculosis) and an additional 32.5% had signs of early infection. HIV-positive status was highest in Malawi (14.5%) as was malaria (10.4%). Overall, 47.9% of women were anaemic, 11.5% had other medical or obstetric conditions, 25.1% reported psychological morbidity and 36.6% reported social morbidity (domestic violence and/or substance misuse). Infectious morbidity was highest in Malawi (56.5%) and Kenya (40.4%), psychological and social morbidity was highest in Pakistan (47.3%, 60.2%). Maternal morbidity was not limited to a core at-risk group; only 1.2% had all four morbidities. The likelihood of medical or obstetric, psychological or social morbidity decreased with increased education; adjusted OR (95% CI) for each additional level of education ranged from 0.79 (0.75 to 0.83) for psychological morbidity to 0.91 (0.87 to 0.95) for infectious morbidity. Each additional level of SES was associated with increased psychological morbidity (OR 1.15 (95% CI 1.10 to 1.21)) and social morbidity (OR 1.05 (95% CI 1.01 to 1.10)), but there was no difference regarding medical or obstetric morbidity. However, for each morbidity association was heterogeneous between countries.

Conclusion

Women suffer significant ill-health which is still largely unrecognised. Current antenatal and postnatal care packages require adaptation if they are to meet the identified health needs of women.
Chemical peels for acne vulgaris: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials
Authors: Chen Xiaomei , Wang Sheng , Yang Ming , Li Li
Published: April 2018

Objective

We evaluated current evidence from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) regarding the effectiveness of chemical peeling for treating acne vulgaris.

Methods

Standard Cochrane methodological procedures were used. We searched MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and EMBASE via OvidSP through April 2017. Reviewers independently assessed eligibility, risk of bias and extracted data.

Results

Twelve RCTs (387 participants) were included. Effectiveness was not significantly different: trichloroacetic acid versus salicylic acid (SA) (percentage of total improvement: risk ratio (RR) 0.89; 95% CI 0.73 to 1.10), glycolic acid (GA) versus amino fruit acid (the reduction of inflammatory lesions: mean difference (MD), 0.20; 95% CI −3.03 to 3.43), SA versus pyruvic acid (excellent or good improvement: RR 1.11; 95% CI 0.73 to 1.69), GA versus SA (good or fair improvement: RR 1.00; 95% CI 0.85 to 1.18), GA versus Jessner’s solution (JS) (self-reported improvements: RR 1.00; 95% CI 0.44 to 2.26), and lipohydroxy acid versus SA (reduction of non-inflammatory lesions: 55.6%vs48.5%, p=0.878). Combined SA and mandelic acid peeling was superior to GA peeling (percentage of improvement in total acne score: 85.3%vs68.5%, p<0.001). GA peeling was superior to placebo (excellent or good improvement: RR 2.30; 95% CI 1.40 to 3.77). SA peeling may be superior to JS peeling for comedones (reduction of comedones: 53.4%vs26.3%, p=0.001) but less effective than phototherapy for pustules (number of pustules: MD −7.00; 95% CI −10.84 to −3.16).

Limitations

The methodological quality of the included RCTs was very low to moderate. Meta-analysis was not possible due to the significant clinical heterogeneity across studies.

Conclusion

Commonly used chemical peels appear to be similarly effective for mild-to-moderate acne vulgaris and well tolerated. However, based on current limited evidence, a robust conclusion cannot be drawn regarding any definitive superiority or equality among the currently used chemical peels. Well-designed RCTs are needed to identify optimal regimens.
Efficacy of bilevel positive airway pressure and continuous positive airway pressure therapy in patients with obesity hypoventilation syndrome: protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Guan Lili , Wu Weiliang , Huo Yating , Li Xiaoying , Guo Bingpeng , Yang Yuqiong , Xu Jiawen , Jiang Fangfang , Zhou Luqian , Chen Rongchang
Published: May 2018

Introduction

Obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) is a major respiratory complication caused by severe obesity, being associated with significant morbidity, negative impacts on quality of life and reduced survival if not treated appropriately. Positive airway pressure therapy is the first-line treatment for OHS although the optimal modality remains unclear. The goal of this study is to identify the efficacy of home bilevel positive airway pressure therapy by comparison to continuous positive airway pressure therapy and determine the best strategy for patients with OHS.

Methods and analysis

This study will be conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols 2015 statement. We will search the following databases: PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and CINAHL. Ongoing studies will be identified through the ClinicalTrials.gov and WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform Search Portal. Grey literature will be recognised through Google Scholar and other search engines. Only randomised controlled trials meeting the eligibility criteria will be included. The risk of bias of the included studies will be evaluated through the Cochrane Collaboration’s tool. RevMan V.5.3.5 software will be used for data analysis. The Q statistic and I2index will be used for investigating heterogeneity, and subgroup analysis or sensitivity analysis will be used to explore the source of heterogeneity. In addition, the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation system will be used to inspect the quality of evidence.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethics approval is not required because this study contains no primary data collected from humans. This systematic review and meta-analysis will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal for publication.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42017078369.
Some eigenvalue comparison theorems of Finsler p-Laplacian
Authors: Yin Songting , He Qun
Published: May 2018

We obtain Cheng type inequality, Cheeger type inequality, Faber–Krahn type inequality and McKean type inequality of [Formula: see text]-Laplacian on a Finsler manifold. These generalize the corresponding theorems in Riemannian geometry and sharpen some results in recent literatures. Moreover, for a complete noncompact Finsler manifold with negative constant flag curvature and vanishing [Formula: see text] curvature, the first eigenvalue is calculated.
Yang–Mills theory and the ABC conjecture
Authors: He Yang-Hui , Hu Zhi , Probst Malte , Read James
Published: May 2018

We establish a precise correspondence between the ABC Conjecture and [Formula: see text] super-Yang–Mills theory. This is achieved by combining three ingredients: (i) Elkies’ method of mapping ABC-triples to elliptic curves in his demonstration that ABC implies Mordell/Faltings; (ii) an explicit pair of elliptic curve and associated Belyi map given by Khadjavi–Scharaschkin; and (iii) the fact that the bipartite brane-tiling/dimer model for a gauge theory with toric moduli space is a particular dessin d’enfant in the sense of Grothendieck. We explore this correspondence for the highest quality ABC-triples as well as large samples of random triples. The conjecture itself is mapped to a statement about the fundamental domain of the toroidal compactification of the string realization of [Formula: see text] SYM.
A modified adjoint-based grid adaptation and error correction method for unstructured grid
Authors: Cui Pengcheng , Li Bin , Tang Jing , Chen Jiangtao , Deng Youqi
Published: May 2018

Grid adaptation is an important strategy to improve the accuracy of output functions (e.g. drag, lift, etc.) in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis and design applications. This paper presents a modified robust grid adaptation and error correction method for reducing simulation errors in integral outputs. The procedure is based on discrete adjoint optimization theory in which the estimated global error of output functions can be directly related to the local residual error. According to this relationship, local residual error contribution can be used as an indicator in a grid adaptation strategy designed to generate refined grids for accurately estimating the output functions. This grid adaptation and error correction method is applied to subsonic and supersonic simulations around three-dimensional configurations. Numerical results demonstrate that the sensitive grids to output functions are detected and refined after grid adaptation, and the accuracy of output functions is obviously improved after error correction. The proposed grid adaptation and error correction method is shown to compare very favorably in terms of output accuracy and computational efficiency relative to the traditional featured-based grid adaptation.
A Short Review of Security-Aware Techniques in Real-Time Embedded Systems
Authors: Chai Hongxia , Zhang Gongxuan , Zhou Junlong , Sun Jin , Huang Longxia , Wang Tian
Published: May 2018

With the rapid development of embedded systems, users and services have been greatly facilitated while also experiencing security threats as a result of cyber-attacks and system vulnerabilities. Currently, the real-time embedded system (RTES) focus is to deal with these security issues. In this paper, we introduce a short review of security-aware techniques for RTES. We mainly discuss two common approaches to improve the security of RTESs. The first approach is achieved by exploring specific attacks. The second approach is realized by deploying security-guaranteed services. However, improving the security of embedded systems may cause excessive energy consumption at the same time. Therefore, we investigate the secure and energy-aware RTESs on a wide range of research. In addition, we study a number of common applications used in secure RETSs. This paper stands for providing awareness and better understanding of the current RTES research status as well as technical theory behind it. Hence, the RTES security issues are resolved.
Finite-Frequency Static Output Feedback H∞ Control of Continuous-Time T–S Fuzzy Systems
Authors: Chaibi Redouane , Er Rachid Ismail , Tissir El Houssaine , Hmamed Abdelaziz
Published: May 2018

This paper is concerned with finite-frequency static output feedback (SOF) [Formula: see text] control for a class of continuous-time Takagi–Sugeno (T–S) fuzzy systems. With the aid of the generalized Kalman–Yakubovich–Popov (GKYP) lemma, sufficient conditions for the existence of the finite-frequency SOF [Formula: see text] control are presented. The bilinear matrix inequalities are converted to a set of linear matrix inequalities, with the aid of some special derivations. Two practical examples are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
TA-MCF: Thermal-Aware Fluid Scheduling for Mixed-Criticality System
Authors: Li Tiantian , Zhang Tianyu , Yu Ge , Zhang Yichuan , Song Jie
Published: May 2018

Fluid scheduling allows tasks to be allocated with fractional processing capacity, which significantly improves the schedulability performance. For dual-criticality systems (DCS), dual-rate fluid-based scheduling has been widely studied, e.g., the state-of-the-art approaches mixed-criticality fluid scheduling (MCF) and MC-Sort. However, most of the existing works on DCS either only focus on the schedulability analysis or minimize the energy consumption treating leakage power as a constant. To this end, this paper considers the effect of temperature on leakage power and proposes a thermal and power aware fluid scheduling strategy, referred to as thermal and energy aware (TA)-MCF which minimizes both the energy consumption and temperature, while ensuring a comparable schedulability ratio compared with the MCF and MC-Sort. Extensive experiments validate the efficiency of TA-MCF.
Prioritizing Key Supply Chain Risks Using the Risk Assessment Matrix and Shannon Fuzzy Entropy — with a Case Study in the Home Appliance Industry
Authors: Shahin Arash , Kianersi Arezou , Shali Azarakhsh
Published: May 2018

The aim of this study is to present an approach for identifying and prioritizing risk factors of supply chain in the home appliance industry. First, the indexes related to the supply chain risk have been determined by literature review; and then the indexes have been refined by consulting experts; finally, the six main indexes including supplier, manufacturer, customer, environment, distributor and information as well as 32 subsidiary indexes for supply chain risks have been selected. In order to assess the indexes, a fuzzy questionnaire has been developed and distributed to 15 managers and employees of Snowa as one of the Entekhab Industrial Group corporate brands, the main home appliance manufacturing company in Iran. Research population included managers and experts of the company and the analysis approaches included risk-assessment matrix and Shannon fuzzy entropy. Findings indicated that environment, manufacturer and supplier indexes with the weights of 0.105, 0.102 and 0.095, respectively were prioritized as the top three risk factors in product development. Furthermore, the subsidiary indexes of raw material alteration, delay in supply of the demand, work force, after-sale services, competitors and lack of political stability were among the top risk factors of new product development.
An Improved Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm for Integrated Scheduling Model in AGV-Served Manufacturing Systems
Authors: Zhang Fuqiang , Li Jingjing
Published: May 2018

To address the resources optimization problem of AGV-served manufacturing systems driven by multi-varieties and small-batch production orders, a scheduling model integrating machines and automated guided vehicles (AGVs) is proposed. In this model, the makespan of jobs from raw material storage to finished parts storage through multi-stage processes has been used as the objective function, and the utilization ratios of machines and AGVs have been used as the comprehensive evaluation functions. An improved particle swarm optimization algorithm with the characteristics of main particles and nested particles is developed to solve a reasonable scheduling scheme. Compared with the basic particle swarm optimization algorithm and genetic algorithm, the numerical result suggests that the nested particle swarm optimization algorithm has more advantages in convergence and solving efficiency. It is expected that this study can provide a useful reference for the flexible adjustment of AGV-served manufacturing systems.
A Novel Mathematical Logic for Improvement Using Lean Manufacturing Practices
Authors: Albzeirat Malek Khalaf , Hussain Muhammad Iqbal , Ahmad Rosmaini , Al-Saraireh Falah Mustafa , Ahmad Israr
Published: May 2018

The implementation of lean manufacturing practices (LMP) means a systematic approach of several management procedures and practices, which may impact content, nature and quality of people’s work. This implementation process is often performed after an accurate assessment to ensure the effectiveness and efficient execution of these practices. However, the necessity and logic of different assessments according to the situation required by assessment objective, the logic requires general rules for designing assessment with effective and reliable results. The aim of this research paper is to develop a logical perception to explain the impact of LMP on the actual and overall performance of the company and explains the computational basics and mathematical equations contributing to the assessment design of these practices to ensure efficiency and accuracy in the results. Moreover, this study also concludes a novel mathematical equations that can be used in the effective assessment to increase the effectiveness of evaluation for improvement processes in different sectors.
Viscous Elastoplastic SPH Model for Long-Distance High-Speed Landslide
Authors: Zhang Wentao , Shi Chuanqi , An Yi , Yang Shihao , Liu Qingquan
Published: May 2018

In the landslide-induced debris flow problem, the soil slope experiences three stages: slope instability, debris flow and deposition. This study develops a three-dimensional smoothed particle hydrodynamics model which adopts elastoplastic viscous constitutive relation to simulate this complex process. The Drucker–Prager model with nonassociated plastic flow rule is implemented for slope instability and deposition and constant viscosity is used for propagation stage. The model is validated with laboratory dry-granular dam-break experiments. Good agreements are found between the simulated results and the laboratory data on both the shape evolution and the velocity field. Then, we use the model to study the Yigong avalanche after detailed discussion of model parameters, the time of duration, deposited scope and estimated velocity essentially agree with site survey. Thus, the model is able to simulate instability and flow of dense granular materials at both experimental and field scale, and it could be a powerful tool for the landslide-induced debris flow study.
A Multiscale Approximation Method to Describe Diatomic Crystalline Systems: Constitutive Equations
Authors: Giovine Pasquale
Published: May 2018

We model the mechanical behavior of diatomic crystals in the light of mixture theory. Use is made of an approximation method similar to one proposed by Signorini within the theory of elasticity, by supposing that the relative motion between phases is infinitesimal. The constitutive equations for a mixture of elastic bodies in the absence of diffusion are adapted to the partially linearized case considered here, and the representation theorems for constitutive fields are applied to obtain the final expression of dynamical equations in the form which appears in theories of continua with vectorial microstructure. Comparisons are made with results of lattice theories.
Modeling Avascular Tumor Growth: Approach with an Adaptive Grid Numerical Technique
Authors: Amoddeo Antonino
Published: May 2018

The mathematical modeling of complex biological systems leads to system of coupled nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs). In this paper, we present a short review on the interaction of the urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) system with a model for cancer cell in the avascular phase, faced using the moving mesh PDE/(MMPDE) numerical technique. The dynamical evolution of the system as a function of the diffusion properties of cancer cells has been considered, as well as the effect of hypoxia to the cancer evolution, introducing a model equation for the nutrient oxygen. The model parameters have been taken from the data existing in the literature, in particular to gauge the oxygen supply, data determined from in vivo experiments on human tumors have been used. The numerical results obtained simulating a one-dimensional portion of the biological tissue are consistent with the data existing in the literature. Our high-resolution computations show that cancer proliferation begins through highly irregular spatio-temporal pattern, which depends on cancer motility characteristics. In presence of hypoxia, the cancer proliferation patterns are still characterized by an inhomogeneous pattern, but other effects are present which depend on the model parameters, triggered by the oxygen.
An Experimental Investigation on Training of NiTi-Based Shape Memory Alloys
Authors: Ansari Mehdi , Fahimi Pouya , Baghani Mostafa , Golzar Mohammad
Published: May 2018

Training of a shape memory alloy (SMA) is a process in which the mechanical response is stabilized. Since in real-world applications of an SMA, stress is variable and different from the training stress, in this paper we study NiTi-based SMAs’ response in higher and lower stresses than the training stress. In this work, six SMA wire samples were trained at stresses [Formula: see text] and 250[Formula: see text]MPa. Then, their recoverable strains were evaluated at a stress range of zero to 250[Formula: see text]MPa. Regarding the results, SMA wires which trained at 30, 150 and 200[Formula: see text]MPa exhibited a two-way shape memory effect (TWSME) behavior. Moreover, experimental tests showed that in stresses higher than 100[Formula: see text]MPa, recoverable strains are independent of the training stress, and to arrive at a better performance, training stresses higher than 100[Formula: see text]MPa are required. An unstable behavior was observed for SMA wires which were trained at 180[Formula: see text]MPa and 200[Formula: see text]MPa.
The Improved Element-Free Galerkin Method Based on the Nonsingular Weight Functions for Inhomogeneous Swelling of Polymer Gels
Authors: Liu Fengbin , Cheng Yumin
Published: May 2018

In this paper, the interpolating moving least-squares (IMLS) method based on a nonsingular weight function is used to construct the approximation function, the weak form of the problem of inhomogeneous swelling of polymer gels is used to obtain the final discretized equations, and penalty method is applied to impose the displacement boundary condition, then an improved element-free Galerkin (IEFG) method for the problem of the inhomogeneous swelling of polymer gels is presented. Three selected examples of inhomogeneous swelling of polymer gels solved with the IEFG method are given in this paper. The accuracy of the numerical solutions of the IEFG method are discussed by using different weight functions, penalty factor, scale parameter of influence domain, node distribution and step number. Numerical results of the IEFG method for inhomogeneous swelling of polymer gels show that this method has great precision, and it can solve large deformation problems of polymer gels effectively.
Conversion of blue light to near infrared emission by Y3Al5O12: Ce3+, Er3+, Ho3+
Authors: Xiao Kai , Yang Xiaoliang , Xiao Siguo
Published: May 2018

Ho[Formula: see text] single-doped, Ce[Formula: see text]/Ho[Formula: see text] co-doped and Ce[Formula: see text]/Er[Formula: see text]/Ho[Formula: see text] tri-doped Y3Al5O[Formula: see text] (YAG) near infrared (NIR) phosphors were prepared by coprecipitation-melted salt method. The 2090[Formula: see text]nm emission of Ho[Formula: see text] is improved by 2 times in Ce[Formula: see text]/Er[Formula: see text]/Ho[Formula: see text] tri-doped YAG phosphor and by 0.5 times in Ce[Formula: see text]/Ho[Formula: see text] co-doped YAG phosphor, compared with that in Ho[Formula: see text] single-doped YAG phosphor. The improved luminescence at 2090[Formula: see text]nm in Ce[Formula: see text]/Er[Formula: see text]/Ho[Formula: see text] tri-doped YAG phosphor is performed by the Ce[Formula: see text] indirect sensitization. It is estimated that the Ce[Formula: see text] indirect sensitization efficiency is about 64% in the Y[Formula: see text]Al5O[Formula: see text]:0.06Ce, 0.15Er, 0.14Ho sample.
Crystallization and luminescence of Pr3+-doped CdS QDs silicate glass
Authors: Tian Peijing , Zhang Zhe , Yuan Jian , Zheng Weihong , Li Hong , Zhu Shimei
Published: May 2018

CdS QDs (quantum dots) were precipitated in the Pr3+-doped silicate glass by the melting-quenching method. The crystallization behavior and luminescent property of the Pr3+-doped CdS QDs silicate glass were analyzed by XRD, Raman, TEM, UV–Vis–NIR scanning spectrophotometer and fluorescence spectra. It was found that with the increase in the heat-treatment temperature, the size of CdS particles increased from 2.30[Formula: see text]nm to 3.63[Formula: see text]nm, while red-shift was observed in absorption and fluorescence spectra excited at 370[Formula: see text]nm. Fluorescence measurements of the glass showed that the growth of CdS QDs induced a considerable enhancement in the emission spectra of Pr3+, and the sensitization is due to the energy transfer from CdS QDs to Pr3+ ions.
Cratonic basins and the Wilson cycle: a perspective from the Parnaíba Basin, Brazil
Authors: Daly M. C. , Tozer B. , Watts A. B.
Published: May 2018

Cratonic basins appear to occupy a specific place in the Wilson cycle, initiating after continental collision and supercontinent development, but before rifting and continental break-up. They do not result directly from the horizontal plate motions characteristic of the Wilson cycle, but from localized, long-lived subsidence. Covering
c.
10% of the Earth's continental crust, most of the preserved cratonic basins developed in the Early Paleozoic after the formation of Gondwana and Laurentia. Recent investigation of the Parnaíba cratonic basin of Brazil has shown that this basin, and potentially cratonic basins in general, are characterized by six features: (1) formation on thickened lithosphere (>150 km); (2) a pronounced basal unconformity; (3) a sub-circular outline and large area of 0.5 × 10
5
to 2 × 10
6
km
2
; (4) long-lived (100–300 myr) quasi-exponential tectonic subsidence of shallow marine and terrestrial sediments; (5) no major extensional strain features, such as rifts, crustal or lithospheric thinning or Moho elevation; and (6) dense, high velocity and conductive lower crust and upper mantle. These characteristics indicate basin initiation and development by purely vertical subsidence of the lithosphere, either thermally or mechanically driven. Thermal subsidence may be related to orogenic thickening, radiogenic heating and erosion associated with supercontinent assembly, whereas mechanical subsidence may be a result of the emplacement in the lower crust or upper mantle of a dense igneous body related to plume activity during the lifetime of a supercontinent.
The role of palaeorelief in the control of Permian facies distribution over the Mid North Sea High, UK Continental Shelf
Authors: Mulholland Philip , Esestime Paolo , Rodriguez Karyna , John Hargreaves Phillip
Published: May 2018

The Mid North Sea High (MNSH) consists of a ridge of Paleozoic strata located in the centre of the North Sea between 55° N and 56° N. In 2010, interest in the Permian of the MNSH was revived by the discovery in Quadrant 44 of the Cygnus gas field. This study focuses on the Zechstein carbonates of the MNSH and uses play concepts that draw an analogy with the Zechstein oil and gas fields discovered in Denmark and Poland, and also with the Wissey gas field in Quadrant 53.

New 2D seismic establishes the presence of a significant Zechstein reef that blocks the southern entrance of the Jenyon Gap onto the MNSH. Seismic data show that the reef developed in stages and its presence can be inferred from the occurrence of isolated lagoons within the centre of the build-up. The barrier reef's existence explains both the presence of the rare hygroscopic mineral tachyhydrite in the centre of the MNSH and also the observed isopach difference in the Zechstein cycles over the MNSH, as the barrier restricted marine-water ingress onto the MNSH and allowed the creation of a ‘crystal-starved basin’, the evaporitic equivalent of a sediment-starved basin.
Acoustic televiewer amplitude data for porosity estimation with application to porewater conversion
Authors: Kennel J. R. , Parker B. L.
Published: May 2018

The ability to detect and quantify rock matrix porosity is explored using acoustic televiewer images and dolostone rock core samples. In particular, an empirical relationship between the acoustic televiewer amplitude response and core-derived total porosity is developed. The performance of the acoustic televiewer amplitude relationship was compared to neutron and gamma-gamma logs, which are traditional nuclear wireline tools commonly used for estimating porosity in dolostones. Acoustic televiewer amplitude results are consistent with the gamma-gamma (density) and neutron (porosity) logs, provide increased vertical resolution, do not require downhole radioactive sources and also provide oriented fracture information. Sample specific porosity and bulk density values from the calibrated acoustic televiewer datasets are then used to improve porewater concentration estimates from rock concentrations.
Transcriptional factor Pdx1 is involved in age-related GIP hypersecretion in mice
Authors: Ikeguchi Eri , Harada Norio , Kanemaru Yoshinori , Sankoda Akiko , Yamane Shunsuke , Iwasaki Kanako , Imajo Masamichi , Murata Yuki , Suzuki Kazuyo , Joo Erina , Inagaki Nobuya
Published: May 2018

Fat accumulation with aging is a serious problem; glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide/gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) is an incretin that plays an important role in fat accumulation. GIP receptor knockout mice show reduced fat mass and improved insulin sensitivity associated with aging. Therefore, GIP is involved in fat accumulation and insulin resistance with aging. However, age-related changes of GIP secretion remain unclear. The present study aimed to elucidate age-related changes of GIP secretion and enteroendocrine K cells using GIP reporter [GIP-green fluorescent protein (GFP) knock-in heterozygous (GIPgfp/+)] mice. Aged 1-yr-old GIPgfp/+ mice exhibited a phenotype of fat accumulation, insulin resistance, and GIP hypersecretion compared with young (3–4 mo old) GIPgfp/+ mice. In aged mice, K-cell number in the small intestine and the mRNA expression levels of GIP and transcriptional factor pancreatic and duodenal homeobox-1 (Pdx1) in K cells were increased. K-cell number, GIP mRNA expression and content in small intestine, and GIP secretion were decreased after posteriori suppression of Pdx1 using intestine-specific gene transfer. Thus, Pdx1 positively regulates GIP mRNA and K-cell number in small intestine. Increased Pdx1 expression might be involved in GIP hypersecretion with aging.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Age-related changes of glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide/gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) secretion and K cells were investigated. We found that K-cell number and GIP and pancreatic and duodenal homeobox-1 (Pdx1) expression in K cells were increased in aged mice, which showed greater GIP secretion compared with young mice. In addition, we have succeeded in posteriori suppression of Pdx1 in small intestine using the method of intestine-specific gene transfer, and showed that K-cell number, GIP expression, and GIP secretion were decreased in the Pdx1-knockdown intestine.
Intrauterine growth restriction decreases NF-κB signaling in fetal pulmonary artery endothelial cells of fetal sheep
Authors: Dodson R. Blair , Powers Kyle N. , Gien Jason , Rozance Paul J. , Seedorf Gregory , Astling David , Jones Kenneth , Crombleholme Timothy M. , Abman Steven H. , Alvira Cristina M.
Published: May 2018

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) in premature newborns increases the risk for bronchopulmonary dysplasia, a chronic lung disease characterized by disrupted pulmonary angiogenesis and alveolarization. We previously showed that experimental IUGR impairs angiogenesis; however, mechanisms that impair pulmonary artery endothelial cell (PAEC) function are uncertain. The NF-κB pathway promotes vascular growth in the developing mouse lung, and we hypothesized that IUGR disrupts NF-κB-regulated proangiogenic targets in fetal PAEC. PAECs were isolated from the lungs of control fetal sheep and sheep with experimental IUGR from an established model of chronic placental insufficiency. Microarray analysis identified suppression of NF-κB signaling and significant alterations in extracellular matrix (ECM) pathways in IUGR PAEC, including decreases in collagen 4α1 and laminin α4, components of the basement membrane and putative NF-κB targets. In comparison with controls, immunostaining of active NF-κB complexes, NF-κB-DNA binding, baseline expression of NF-κB subunits p65 and p50, and LPS-mediated inducible activation of NF-κB signaling were decreased in IUGR PAEC. Although pharmacological NF-κB inhibition did not affect angiogenic function in IUGR PAEC, angiogenic function of control PAEC was reduced to a similar degree as that observed in IUGR PAEC. These data identify reductions in endothelial NF-κB signaling as central to the disrupted angiogenesis observed in IUGR, likely by impairing both intrinsic PAEC angiogenic function and NF-κB-mediated regulation of ECM components necessary for vascular development. These data further suggest that strategies that preserve endothelial NF-κB activation may be useful in lung diseases marked by disrupted angiogenesis such as IUGR.