Optimal Dynamic Behavior of Adaptive WIP Regulation with Multiple Modes of Capacity Adjustment

AbstractIt is desirable to maintain consistent dynamic behavior of WIP regulation in work systems with multiple modes of capacity adjustment (floaters, overtime, etc.) and different adjustment periods, delays and limits in the various modes. Coordination of these modes is necessary in order to keep optimal dynamic behavior. In this paper, a control-theoretic model of WIP regulation is presented first that accommodates multiple capacity adjustment modes with different adjustment periods (per shift, per day, per week, etc.) and different delays in implementing adjustments. Then an algorithm is presented for adapting WIP adjustment parameters in the presence of capacity adjustment limits and mode priorities so that a specified dynamic performance goal continues to be met. Results of simulations driven by industrial data are used to illustrate the effect of limits and performance goals on dynamic behavior, and conclusions are drawn regarding the effectiveness of adaptive regulation of WIP by coordinating multiple modes of capacity adjustment

Farnesyl Pyrophosphate Analogs

The post-translational addition of a farnesyl moiety to the Ras oncoprotein is essential for its membrane localization and is required for both its biological activity and ability to induce malignant transformation. The present invention describes design and synthesis of a farnesylpyrophosphate (FPP) analog, 8-anilinogeranyl pyrophosphate (AGPP) that is transferred to Ras by farnesyltransferase (FTase), in which the ω-terminal isoprene unit of the farnesyl group has been replaced with an aniline functionality. AGPP potently inhibited FTase activity in vitro (IC50=0.6 μM) and is highly selective showing little inhibitory activity against either geranylgeranyl-protein transferase type I (GGTase I) (IC50=31 μM) or the utilization of FPP by the enzyme squalene synthase (IC50=1000 μM). Kinetic analyses suggest that AGPP acts as a competitive inhibitor of FTase with respect to FPP. In vitro studies using [3H]AGPP show that the analog was appropriately transferred by FTase to Ras. Derivitization of AGPP with a bulky iodo group on the aniline ring does not significantly alter its biochemical properties. These data indicate that the modified molecules are the first truly transferable analogs of FPP and open the door to additional analogs to probe the biological function of protein farnesylation

Pneumopericardium, pneumomediastinum and air travel: A case report in a patient with Gardner syndrome

© 2020 The Author(s) Onboard aircraft medical emergencies are on the rise as commercial air traffic is increasing. However, thoracic injury secondary to air travel is extremely rare and, most reported injuries are cases of pneumothoraces. Spontaneous pneumomediastinum and pneumopericardium have been barely reported in the medical literature as a complication of air travel. We are reporting a case of spontaneous pneumopericardium and pneumomediastinum in a patient with Gardner\u27s Syndrome after a flight from Central America to New York City. The patient presented with chest discomfort. He was managed conservatively with oxygen therapy as he was hemodynamically stable throughout his stay in the hospital. A thorough work up in hospital including and esophagogram and a CT scan of the chest were none revealing of the cause. However, the patient was noted to have metastatic rectal cancer with lung involvement. The patient was discharged with instructions to avoid air travel

High spectral resolution ozone absorption cross-sections – Part 1: Measurements, data analysis and comparison with previous measurements around 293 K

In this paper we discuss the methodology of taking broadband relative and absolute measurements of ozone cross-sections including uncertainty budget, experimental set-ups, and methods for data analysis. We report on new ozone absorption cross-section measurements in the solar spectral region using a combination of Fourier transform and echelle spectrometers. The new cross-sections cover the spectral range 213–1100 nm at a spectral resolution of 0.02–0.06 nm in the UV–visible and 0.12–0.24 nm in the IR at eleven temperatures from 193 to 293 K in steps of 10 K. The absolute accuracy is better than three percent for most parts of the spectral region and wavelength calibration accuracy is better than 0.005 nm. <br><br> The new room temperature cross-section data are compared in detail with previously available literature data. The temperature dependence of our cross-sections is described in a companion paper (Serdyuchenko et al., 2014)

Leveraging machine learning to predict rail corrugation level from axle-box acceleration measurements on commercial vehicles

Rail corrugation is a prominent degradative problem in the health monitoring of railway systems. Monitoring process is dependent on use of a diagnostic trolley, which is expensive and needs the track to be out-of-service. Alternatively, in-service rail vehicles with Axle-Box Acceleration measurement systems installed, have shown success in detecting rail corrugation levels based on physical models, albeit with limitations. Extending this approach, we build a Machine Learning model, represented by a tuned Random Forest regressor, trained on collected accelerometer signals along with other offline and/or static features. We also propose a method to engineer acceleration-based features which nullifies the aggregated acceleration vibrations inherited from the other rail due to dynamically coupled vibrations between the left and right rails. The resulting model is able to recreate the moving RMS irregularity profile at bandwidth 100-300 mm, especially in highly corrugated sections, with an R-2 score of 0.97-0.98. The results show that the suggested data-driven approach outperforms a state-of-the-art model-based benchmark

Perspectives of frailty and frailty screening: Protocol for a collaborative knowledge translation approach and qualitative study of stakeholder understandings and experiences

Accompanying the unprecedented growth in the older adult population worldwide is an increase in the prevalence of frailty, an age-related clinical state of increased vulnerability to stressor events. This increased vulnerability results in lower social engagement and quality of life, increased dependency, and higher rates of morbidity, health service utilization and mortality. Early identification of frailty is necessary to guide implementation of interventions to prevent associated functional decline. Consensus is lacking on how to clinically recognize and manage frailty. It is unknown how healthcare providers and healthcare consumers understand and perceive frailty, whether or not they regard frailty as a public health concern; and information on the indirect and direct experiences of consumer and healthcare provider groups towards frailty are markedly limited.We will conduct a qualitative study of consumer, practice nurse, general practitioner, emergency department physician, and orthopedic surgeons' perspectives of frailty and frailty screening in metropolitan and non-metropolitan South Australia. We will use tailored combinations of semi-structured interviews and arts-based data collection methods depending on each stakeholder group, followed by inductive and iterative analysis of data using qualitative description.Using stakeholder driven approaches to understanding and addressing frailty and frailty screening in context is critical as the prevalence and burden of frailty is likely to increase worldwide. We will use the findings from the Perceptions of Frailty and Frailty Screening study to inform a context-driven identification, implementation and evaluation of a frailty-screening tool; drive awareness, knowledge, and skills development strategies across stakeholder groups; and guide future efforts to embed emerging knowledge about frailty and its management across diverse South Australian contexts using a collaborative knowledge translation approach. Study findings will help achieve a coordinated frailty and healthy ageing strategy with relevance to other jurisdictions in Australia and abroad, and application of the stakeholder driven approach will help illuminate how its applicability to other jurisdictions.Mandy M. Archibald, Rachel Ambagtsheer, Justin Beilby, Mellick J. Chehade, Tiffany K. Gill, Renuka Visvanathan, and Alison L. Kitso

A field vegetable transplanter for use in both tilled and no-till soils

A commercial, manually fed vegetable transplanter was modified and adapted to work in no-till soils. Details of the modifications are described in this article. The aim of this research was to evaluate the performance of this transplanter under actual field conditions in both tilled and no-till soils. The draft force in the no-till soil was measured for different working tools mounted for tilling or loosening a narrow band of soil before passing with the furrower. The combination of a ripper shank opener with a straight nose point resulted in the lowest draft force values per unit of working depth. The transplanter accuracy and transplant success rate were evaluated in different vegetable crops. The accuracy parameters (multiple index, miss index, quality of feed index, and precision) were estimated and in general were similar in the tilled and no-till soils, indicating that the transplanter was able to operate in both soil conditions with the same accuracy. The transplant success rates were also similar in both soil conditions. The transplanter thus offers a satisfactory technical solution for transplanting vegetables in both tilled and no-till soils