A decomposition-based design optimization method with applications

A two-level design optimization metholology is described. A progress report of its application to Printed Wiring Board (PWB) assembly examples is given. The design of PWB assemblies is a complex task which is generally conducted as a sequential process. Individual PWBs are usually designed first, followed by the composition of the PWBs into an assembly. As a result, optimizing design considerations such as assembly reliability cannot be accomplished. This study showed that a two-level decomposition method can be employed to optimize for reliability at both the PWB- and the assembly-level in a coupled manner. The two-level decomposition method also resolved the mixed-integer nonlinear programming nature of the problem rather easily

Effects of amino acid supplementation of lysine and methionine on body biochemical composition and amino acid profile of Sobaity sea bream (Sparidentex hasta) juveniles

In this study that lasted to 8 weeks, was conducted to determine the effects of dietary supplementation of lysine and methionine on body biochemical composition and amino acid profile of Sobaity sea bream, Sparidentex hasta. Therefore, 180 juvenile fish with an initial weight of 31.38 ±1.4 g were distributed randomly among eighteen tanks. Fish were fed to satiation three time per day (08:00, 13:00 and 18:00 hours) with formulated diets containing six different levels of dietary methionine and lysine; Diet 1: a control diet without dietary amino acid supplementation; Diet 2: 100% methionine supplementation; Diet 3: 75% methionine and 25% lysine supplementation; Diet 4: 50% methionine and 50% lysine supplementation; Diet 5: 25% methionine and 75% lysine supplementation and Diet 6: 100% lysine supplementation.The results of this study showed Carcass protein content was significantly affected by the amino acid supplements and the highest level of carcass protein observed in fish were fed by diet 3(P 0.05). In addition, essential amino acids (ΣEAA) and non-essential amino acids (ΣNEAA) and ratio ΣEAA / ΣNEAA, were affected by lysine and methionine amino acid supplementation as ΣEAA and ratio (ΣEAA) / (ΣNEAA) significantly increased with increasing levels of amino acid supplementation and the highest amount of this parameters observed in groups were fed by diet with high levels of methionine.The results showed that adding 75% dietary methionine supplementation and 25% lysine supplemtation to the diet containg 45/95% protein, have positive effects on biochemical composition and amino acid profile in rearing of Sobaity seabream juveniles

Beyond Volume: The Impact of Complex Healthcare Data on the Machine Learning Pipeline

From medical charts to national census, healthcare has traditionally operated under a paper-based paradigm. However, the past decade has marked a long and arduous transformation bringing healthcare into the digital age. Ranging from electronic health records, to digitized imaging and laboratory reports, to public health datasets, today, healthcare now generates an incredible amount of digital information. Such a wealth of data presents an exciting opportunity for integrated machine learning solutions to address problems across multiple facets of healthcare practice and administration. Unfortunately, the ability to derive accurate and informative insights requires more than the ability to execute machine learning models. Rather, a deeper understanding of the data on which the models are run is imperative for their success. While a significant effort has been undertaken to develop models able to process the volume of data obtained during the analysis of millions of digitalized patient records, it is important to remember that volume represents only one aspect of the data. In fact, drawing on data from an increasingly diverse set of sources, healthcare data presents an incredibly complex set of attributes that must be accounted for throughout the machine learning pipeline. This chapter focuses on highlighting such challenges, and is broken down into three distinct components, each representing a phase of the pipeline. We begin with attributes of the data accounted for during preprocessing, then move to considerations during model building, and end with challenges to the interpretation of model output. For each component, we present a discussion around data as it relates to the healthcare domain and offer insight into the challenges each may impose on the efficiency of machine learning techniques.Comment: Healthcare Informatics, Machine Learning, Knowledge Discovery: 20 Pages, 1 Figur

Cost-Benefit Analysis using Modular Dynamic Fault Tree Analysis and Monte Carlo Simulations for Condition-based Maintenance of Unmanned Systems

Recent developments in condition-based maintenance (CBM) have helped make it a promising approach to maintenance cost avoidance in engineering systems. By performing maintenance based on conditions of the component with regards to failure or time, there is potential to avoid the large costs of system shutdown and maintenance delays. However, CBM requires a large investment cost compared to other available maintenance strategies. The investment cost is required for research, development, and implementation. Despite the potential to avoid significant maintenance costs, the large investment cost of CBM makes decision makers hesitant to implement. This study is the first in the literature that attempts to address the problem of conducting a cost-benefit analysis (CBA) for implementing CBM concepts for unmanned systems. This paper proposes a method for conducting a CBA to determine the return on investment (ROI) of potential CBM strategies. The CBA seeks to compare different CBM strategies based on the differences in the various maintenance requirements associated with maintaining a multi-component, unmanned system. The proposed method uses modular dynamic fault tree analysis (MDFTA) with Monte Carlo simulations (MCS) to assess the various maintenance requirements. The proposed method is demonstrated on an unmanned surface vessel (USV) example taken from the literature that consists of 5 subsystems and 71 components. Following this USV example, it is found that selecting different combinations of components for a CBM strategy can have a significant impact on maintenance requirements and ROI by impacting cost avoidances and investment costs.Comment: 18 pages, 9 figures, 4 table

A Performance Indicator for Reduction in Vulnerability Through Stabilization of Plutonium

The US Department of Energy (DOE) is currently storing several metric tons of plutonium in various forms in a variety of facilities throughout the DOE complex. Since the cessation of weapons production in 1990, many of these facilities with plutonium in storage have not operated. Since the shutdown was regarded as temporary, little attempt was made at that time to empty the process lines of plutonium, or to place the plutonium in containers or packages that would provide safe storage for extended periods of time. As a result, the packages and containers providing interim storage are vulnerable to failure through leakage, rupture and other modes, and pose potential hazards to facility workers, the public and the environment. Here, an approach to measuring and tracking the reduction in vulnerabilities resulting from stabilizing and repackaging plutonium is developed and presented. The approach utilizes results obtained by the DOE Working Group on the vulnerabilities associated with plutonium storage

The Effect of Photosynthetic Characteristics and Grain Yield of Different Growth Habit of Wheat Cultivars to Early, usual and Delayed Planting Dates

IntroductionIn recent decades, the introduction of high-yielding cultivars under optimal conditions has been the main focus of grain research programs. The identification of wheat cultivars that have acceptable yields on different planting dates has been taken into account.Materials and MethodsThe present split-plot test was performed with three replications in two cropping years, 2016-2017 and 2017-2018. The main factor included three planting dates (October 20, November 20, and December 20 as early, normal, and delayed planting dates), and the sub-factor included six wheat cultivars (Zare with winter growth habits, Heidari, Pishgam, and Alvand with facultative growth habits, and Sirvan and Pishtaz with spring growth habits). The soil was sampled from a depth of 0 to 30 cm before the experiment, and the physical and chemical traits of the soil were determined. Land preparation steps were performed before the experiment. For this purpose, a land area of 1500 m2 was plowed by a reversible plow and then leveled. Fertilizer application was performed based on the soil experiment results as 100 kg.ha-1 of triple superphosphate, 100 kg.ha-1 of potassium sulfate, and 100 kg.ha-1 of urea before planting. The rest of the urea fertilizer (200 kg.ha-1) was applied at the stage of stem emergence and the beginning of anthesis wheat. Iron, zinc, and manganese fertilizers were also used from their sulfate sources at the rate of 0.2%, which were sprayed in two stages at the beginning of stalking and spiking. Each plot was 5 m long and 2 m wide and consisted of 8 planting rows at a distance of 25 cm. A distance of 50 cm was considered between the two sub-plots and 1 m between the two main plots. The required seed for each experimental plot was determined and distributed based on the density of 400 seeds per m2 based on the weight of 1000 seeds of each cultivar. Irrigation was performed immediately after planting. Agricultural care was applied uniformly, including pest, disease, and weed control. In each subplot, 50 cm from the beginning and end of the rows was considered as the margin. All data were subjected to ANOVA using the GLM procedure of SAS (SAS 9.1) and means were compared by using the Duncan test at 5% probability level.Results and DiscussionThe results showed that delayed planting reduced nutrient uptake and increased the extinction coefficient. Radiation use efficiency on the planting date of December 20 showed a reduction of 27% and 25%, compared to the planting date of October 20 in 2016-2017 and 2017-2018, respectively. Also, on December 20, Sirvan and Pishtaz cultivars with spring growth habits showed lower extinction coefficients and higher photosynthesis rates than winter and facultative cultivars. On October 20 and November 20, the highest grain yield was obtained in cultivars with winter and facultative growth habits. On December 20, the grain yield was higher in cultivars with facultative and spring growth habits than in winter cultivars. Late planting of wheat cultivars with winter growth type, which must receive low temperatures for Vernalization, is very risky. Because delaying planting may lead to a sharp decrease in yield. These negative consequences of the delay in planting may have occurred through disruption of absorption of water, nutrients, and absorption of active photosynthetic radiation. Late cultivation shortens the vegetative growth period and the plant enters the reproductive stage prematurely, and then the plant faces a lack of photosynthetic resources. Also, the grain filling period is faced with drought and heat stress at the end of the season and this final stress causes a sharp decrease in yield.ConclusionIn general, the delayed planting significantly reduced grain yield, especially in cultivars with winter growth habits. Therefore, it is recommended to use intermediate and spring cultivars for delayed cultivation

Effects of supplementation of amino acids, lysine and methionine on growth performance and feed utilization of sobaity sea bream juveniles, Sparidentex hasta

This study was conducted to determine the effects of dietary supplementation of lysine and methionine on growth and nutrient utilization of Sobaity sea bream, Sparidentex hasta.A total of 180 juvenile fish with an initial weight of 31.38 ±1.4 g were distributed randomly among eighteen tanks. Fish were fed to satiation three times per day (08:00, 13:00 and 18:00 hours) for 8 weeks with formulated diets containing six different levels of dietary methionine and/or lysine; Diet 1: a control diet without dietary amino acid supplementation; Diet 2: 100% methionine supplementation; Diet 3: 75% methionine and 25% lysine supplementation; Diet 4: 50% methionine and 50% lysine supplementation; Diet 5: 25% methionine and 75% lysine supplementation and Diet 6: 100% lysine supplementation. The results of this study showed that dietary lysine and methionine supplementation significantly affected (P<0.05) growth parameters and feed utilization. The fish fed with high level of methionine supplementation had significantly improved growth performance than the group fed the control diet and treatment 6. Highest feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio and protein retention were observed in diet 3. Though lysine and methionine supplementation showed positive effects on growth and feeding performance, our results suggested that Sobaity juveniles probably required more methionine than lysine

Cross-reactive and cross-neutralizing activity of human mumps antibodies against a novel mumps virus from bats.

To evaluate the antigenic relationship between bat mumps virus (BMV) and the JL5 vaccine strain of mumps virus (MuV(JL5)), we rescued a chimeric virus bearing the F and HN glycoproteins of BMV in the genomic background of MuV(JL5) Cross-reactivity and cross-neutralization between this chimeric rMuV(JL5)-F/HN(BMV) virus and rMuV(JL5) were demonstrated using hyperimmune mouse sera and a curated panel of human sera. All mouse and human sera that were able to neutralize rMuV(JL5) infection had cross-neutralizing activity against rMuV(JL5)-F/HN(BMV) Our data suggests that people who have neutralizing antibodies against MuV might be protected from infection by BMV