Distributed/virtual manufacturing system cell: an experimental installation

The main objectives of the “Distributed/Virtual Manufacturing System (D/V MS) Cell” project are: (1) The development of Tele-services technologies and organisation for the production planning and control functions; (2) The development of permanent high performance laboratory facilities that enable development and demonstration of D/V MS design and control, i.e., global distribution of production planning and control functions; (3) The development of an abstract environment, i.e., a virtual environment for design and real time control of manufacturing systems, or one of its elements, independent of the physical implementations. The D/V MS Cell satisfies the defined hierarchical distributed control model The Hardware System of the D/V MS Cell is composed by: (1) Machine tool cell: CNC milling machine, external sensors and actuators, interface computer with communications links, (2) Machine cell: Two machine simulators, PLC, sensors and actuators, computer based local controller, (3) Robot cell: Robot SCORBOT ER-VII, artificial vision system, conveyor system, computer based local controller, (4) Control centre: Video projector, computer based remote controller, computer based real time video and audio system. The Software System of the D/V MS Cell is composed by: (1) Applications for Human-Computer Interface (HMI): Interfaces for machine tool and robot programming and control, interface for production planning and control, (2) Computer-Machine Interface, via RS-232C, (3) Computer-Computer Interface, for communications via Internet. The hardware structure of the (D/V MS) Cell is already implemented and interfaces for machine tool programming and control are developed (software system). The operation of the complete system is planned for the year 1999

Autonomous electrical current monitoring system for aircraft

Aircraft monitoring systems offer enhanced safety, reliability, reduced maintenance cost and improved overall flight efficiency. Advancements in wireless sensor networks (WSN) are enabling unprecedented data acquisition functionalities, but their applicability is restricted by power limitations, as batteries require replacement or recharging and wired power adds weight and detracts from the benefits of wireless technology. In this paper, an energy autonomous WSN is presented for monitoring the structural current in aircraft structures. A hybrid inductive/hall sensing concept is introduced demonstrating 0.5 A resolution, < 2% accuracy and frequency independence, for a 5 A – 100 A RMS, DC-800 Hz current and frequency range, with 35 mW active power consumption. An inductive energy harvesting power supply with magnetic flux funnelling, reactance compensation and supercapacitor storage is demonstrated to provide 0.16 mW of continuous power from the 65 μT RMS field of a 20 A RMS, 360 Hz structural current. A low-power sensor node platform with a custom multi-mode duty cycling network protocol is developed, offering cold starting network association and data acquisition/transmission functionality at 50 μW and 70 μW average power respectively. WSN level operation for 1 minute for every 8 minutes of energy harvesting is demonstrated. The proposed system offers a unique energy autonomous WSN platform for aircraft monitoring

A Comparative Investigation of an in vitro and Clinical Test of the Bifidogenic Effect of an Infant Formula

The bifidogenic effect of an infant formula supplemented with inulin and fructooligosaccharides (4.0 g/l) was examined clinically and in vitro, and compared that of mature breast milk. In a 28-day clinical study, fecal samples of 21 infants, divided into two groups: one receiving the infant formula and the other breast milk, were microbiologically and biochemically examined. In the in vitro investigation, microbiological and biochemical changes in the infant formula and breast milk induced by the action of bifidobacteria isolated from infant feces were examined. There were no significant differences in the fecal numbers of lactobacilli, total aerobes, anaerobes or yeasts and fungi. In contrast, the bifidobacteria numbers in the stools increased significantly during the study in the infants receiving the supplemented formula. The comparative in vitro test showed that the bifidogenic effect was similar for infant formula and breast milk in terms of the number of bifidobacteria. Consumption of infant formula with added inulin and fructooligosaccharides stimulated the bifidogenic effect, both clinically and in vitro. The in vitro test can quickly and objectively determine the bifidogenic effect of infant formula and indicate their quality. However, a clinical test is necessary to determine the acceptance and biological value of infant formula

Center for Fishery and Applied Hydrobiology “Little Danube”, Experimental School Estate “Radmilovac”: Synergy of Research, Economy and Society

In every society, initiators and promoters of the development are individuals, teams or institutions with a vision, good ideas, seriousness, but above enthusiasm to work hard. They trace the road and drive activities related to research and/or economy. In the Serbian aquaculture sector such institutions is the Faculty of Agriculture and its Center for Fishery and Applied Hydrobiology (CEFAH) (or the “Little Danube”), which operates within the Experimental school estate “Radmilovac”. The Center started to be established in 2007. Unlike other similar Centers built by state resources intended for research and scientific work, the “Little Danube” was created much more as a result of enthusiasm of a group of researchers and their readiness to cooperate with national and international institutions, but also by enthusiasm of individuals ready to financially or materially help some of the Center’s programs. The Center’s activities are directed towards improving and developing the research and economy in aquaculture. Today the Center in “Radmilovac” and its laboratories located in the building of the Faculty of Agriculture represent an education and research polygon for aquaculture development. The education part is aimed at all levels: from pre-school and elementary school level by educational visits to the “Little Danube”, where they get to know different fish species and other aquatic organisms, their culture, fishing, fishing tools; to PhD level students and researchers that increase their knowledge and skills in the Center. CEFAH is a scientific polygon: in its aquaria, tanks, RAS systems, as well as in a number of earthen ponds a range of various experiments in different areas of aquaculture are carried out and knowledge is transferred directly in aquaculture economy. The development of Serbian aquaculture is directly affected by the connection of the Center with the economy through realization of biotechnology projects, fish selective breeding programs, and experiments

Scheduling Analysis of Imprecise Mixed-Criticality Real-Time Tasks

In this paper, we study the scheduling problem of the imprecise mixed-criticality model (IMC) under earliest deadline first with virtual deadline (EDF-VD) scheduling upon uniprocessor systems. Two schedulability tests are presented. The first test is a concise utilization-based test which can be applied to the implicit deadline IMC task set. The suboptimality of the proposed utilization-based test is evaluated via a widely-used scheduling metric, speedup factors. The second test is a more effective test but with higher complexity which is based on the concept of demand bound function (DBF). The proposed DBF-based test is more generic and can apply to constrained deadline IMC task set. Moreover, in order to address the high time cost of the existing deadline tuning algorithm, we propose a novel algorithm which significantly improve the efficiency of the deadline tuning procedure. Experimental results show the effectiveness of our proposed schedulability tests, confirm the theoretical suboptimality results with respect to speedup factor, and demonstrate the efficiency of our proposed algorithm over the existing deadline tunning algorithm. In addition, issues related to the implementation of the IMC model under EDF-VD are discussed.Computer Systems, Imagery and Medi

Uticaj letnjeg i zimskog perioda ishrane na telesnu razvijenost krava simentalske rase

The paper analyzed linear type traits and influence of summer and winter nutrition on body development of Simmental cattle. Test cows (paternal a half-sisters) were located in identical breedingconditions on the eastern slopes of Mount Kopaonik.Considering that expression of the genetic potential depends on the environment in which the organisms exist, the differences between summer and winter period feeding of Simmental cattle were not statistically significant (Tukey's test, p> 0.05) for the investigated properties of linear type traits and body development.U radu su analizirane linearne ocene tipa i uticaj letnjeg i zimskog perioda ishrane na telesnu razvijenost krava simentalske rase. Ispitivane krave (polusestre po ocu) nalazile su se u identičnim uslovima gajenja na istočnim padinama planine Kopaonik. S obzirom da ispoljavanje genetskog potencijala zavisi i od uslova sredine u kojoj egzistiraju organizmi, razlike između letnjeg i zimskog perioda ishrane krava simentalske rase su statistički nesignifikantne (Tukey test,p> 0.05) za ispitivana svojstva linearne ocene tipa i telesne razvijenosti

Stanje ribarstva u Srbiji

Fishery in Serbia comprises of aquaculture and fishery. Aquaculture in Serbia concerns fish culturing. For production of other aquatic animals, mainly ornamental plants and crayfish, only occasional interest and small scale production in aquarium type of units exists. Fish are produced in carp and trout fish farms (over 95%), to a smaller extent in cages, enclosed or partitioned natural or man made aquatic ecosystems. Aquaria fish culture is mainly low scale, with a small number of specialized breeders and one public aquarium (M a r k o v i ć i M i t r o v i ć T u t u n d ž i ć, 2003, 2005; M a r k o v i ć i P o l e k s i ć, 2007, M a r k o v i ć i sar., 2009). In Serbia freshwater species cultured are: common carp, white and gray bighead, wells, pike perch, rainbow trout and to a lesser degree Northern pike, tench, brown trout, beluga, Russian starlet. There is 13 500 – 14 000 ha of fish farms in Serbia, with 99.9% of carp farms and 0.1% of trout farms. The total fish production in recent years is between 10 000 and 15 000 tons with 70 to 75% of consumable fish. All three types of production systems are present: extensive, semi-intensive and intensive. Extensive production is sporadic and is present only at a few carp production units, mostly not economic for semi-intensive production due to remoteness from other production units or neglect. The principal type of production (75 – 80%) is semi-intensive production of cyprinids, with common carp as the main species. Common carp is present with more than 80% of the total production in warmwater fish farms. The traditional (old) type of feeding is slowly changing. Cereals are more often, at over 50% of production surfaces, totally of partially replaced by complete, peletted and even more extruded feed. This has resulted in an increase of production per surface unit in recent years. Intensive production systems in carp culture are less present, at a small number of earthen ponds with aeration systems, mainly for fish fry production, and in cages. However, rainbow trout, the only salmonid species cultured for consummation, is exclusively produced in intensive systems at trout farms in Serbia. The number of people involved full-time in fish production in Serbia is about 1100 and approximately 400 seasonal workers that are hired mainly prior to harvest. With the rising of standard and returning to traditional habits during religious fasting, as well as with a slow increase of “healthy food” supporters, fish consumption has a growing trend. However, although fish production is increasing in recent years, the country’s production and open-water capture fishery barely represent a quarter of the total needs of inhabitants. This results in increase of import, mainly marine and frizzed fish, but also freshwater fish. Open-water capture fishery is performed in Serbia’s fishing waters. They are represented by 66 000 km of water currents (rivers and streams), flood plains, backwaters, 50 lakes, 150 reservoir lakes and around 30 000 km of canal systems, hydromeliorative systems, as well as all other waters with fish. All fishing waters are divided into 6 fishing regions (Serbia – Vojvodina, Serbia – West, Serbia – South West, Srbia - South, Serbia – East, Serbia – Center) since year 2007. Sports fishing is obtainable at all regions but commercial fishery is aloud only at two regions (Serbia – Vojvodina, Serbia – west), and in rivers Tisa, Sava and Danube. Number of fisherman with purchased license in the last couple of years is between 50 000 and 100 000. Number of commercial fishermen is between 500 and 2000 in the last ten years. The amount of captured fish is between 2000 and 3000 tons in the few past years

Management of perioperative bleeding risk in patients on antithrombotic medications undergoing cardiac surgery—a systematic review

Background: Antithrombotic drugs increase the risk of bleeding, especially in patients who need urgent surgery without an adequate wash-out period. This review aims to evaluate perioperative bleeding complications in patients on dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) or direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) undergoing high-bleeding risk cardiovascular surgery and to present currently available potential solutions to mitigate antithrombotic therapy-related bleeding complications. Methods: As a first step, we searched for relevant articles, over the last 10 years, in Medline (PubMed) and abstracted clinical information based on pre-defined criteria for bleeding complications. In the next step, an additional search evaluating potential solutions to mitigate bleeding complications was performed. The literature screening and selection process followed the principles derived from the PRISMA statement. Results: From all reviewed studies, a total of 19 articles could be included evaluating the risk for bleeding in cardiac surgery related to DAPT or DOACs and 10 papers evaluating antithrombotic drug reversal or removal in the setting of cardiovascular surgery. Reported bleeding rates ranged between 18% and 41%. The variability of the reported data is remarkable. Idarucizumab is reported to provide optimal perioperative hemostasis in up to 93% of patients. It has been observed that andexanet alfa causes unresponsiveness to the anticoagulant effects of heparin. Antithrombotic removal by intraoperative hemoadsorption is found to be associated with a significant decrease in re-thoracotomy rate, overall procedure duration, administered transfusion volumes, chest-tube drainage, and length of hospitalization. Discussion: Bleeding complications in patients treated with DAPT or DOACs in cardiac surgery are high. New costly reversal agents are available but have not been sufficiently tested in the cardio-surgical setting so far. Interestingly, bleeding-related complications seem to be effectively reduced by applying innovative intraoperative hemoadsorption techniques. Expected results from the ongoing trials should provide better insights concerning the efficacy and safety of several potential solutions. Currently, the variability of reports and the deficit of high-quality studies in this specific setting represent the major limitation for the unbiased conclusion of this review

Infectious Disease Ontology

Technological developments have resulted in tremendous increases in the volume and diversity of the data and information that must be processed in the course of biomedical and clinical research and practice. Researchers are at the same time under ever greater pressure to share data and to take steps to ensure that data resources are interoperable. The use of ontologies to annotate data has proven successful in supporting these goals and in providing new possibilities for the automated processing of data and information. In this chapter, we describe different types of vocabulary resources and emphasize those features of formal ontologies that make them most useful for computational applications. We describe current uses of ontologies and discuss future goals for ontology-based computing, focusing on its use in the field of infectious diseases. We review the largest and most widely used vocabulary resources relevant to the study of infectious diseases and conclude with a description of the Infectious Disease Ontology (IDO) suite of interoperable ontology modules that together cover the entire infectious disease domain

OntoFox: web-based support for ontology reuse

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Ontology development is a rapidly growing area of research, especially in the life sciences domain. To promote collaboration and interoperability between different projects, the OBO Foundry principles require that these ontologies be open and non-redundant, avoiding duplication of terms through the re-use of existing resources. As current options to do so present various difficulties, a new approach, MIREOT, allows specifying import of single terms. Initial implementations allow for controlled import of selected annotations and certain classes of related terms.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>OntoFox <url>http://ontofox.hegroup.org/</url> is a web-based system that allows users to input terms, fetch selected properties, annotations, and certain classes of related terms from the source ontologies and save the results using the RDF/XML serialization of the Web Ontology Language (OWL). Compared to an initial implementation of MIREOT, OntoFox allows additional and more easily configurable options for selecting and rewriting annotation properties, and for inclusion of all or a computed subset of terms between low and top level terms. Additional methods for including related classes include a SPARQL-based ontology term retrieval algorithm that extracts terms related to a given set of signature terms and an option to extract the hierarchy rooted at a specified ontology term. OntoFox's output can be directly imported into a developer's ontology. OntoFox currently supports term retrieval from a selection of 15 ontologies accessible via SPARQL endpoints and allows users to extend this by specifying additional endpoints. An OntoFox application in the development of the Vaccine Ontology (VO) is demonstrated.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>OntoFox provides a timely publicly available service, providing different options for users to collect terms from external ontologies, making them available for reuse by import into client OWL ontologies.</p