Learning Curves and p-charts for a preliminary estimation of asymptotic performances of a manufacturing process

This paper presents a method for a preliminary estimation of asymptotic performances of a manufacturing process based on the knowledge of its learning curve estimated during the setting up of p-chart. The main novelties of the method are the possibility of estimating the asymptotic variability of a process and providing a simple approach for evaluating the period of revision of process control limits. An application of the method to a real example taken from the literature is also provided

Numerical analysis of piled embankments on soft soils

The construction of embankments on soft soils is a common problem. Soft soil cannot sustain external loads without having large deformations. Piled embankments system provides a possible solution for the construction of roads and railways over soft soils. Until now, the system behaviour could only be described by analytical models such as those included in British or German codes. This paper describes research undertaken to investigate the effects of pile embankment construction in soft soils. Experimental results are used to help investigate arching effect developed due to differential settlement between pile and surrounding soft soil. A numerical parametric study was carried out to examine the impact of various soil parameters on the pile-embankment system behaviour. The outcome of the parametric study implemented using numerical analysis has been investigated and discussed throughout this paper. Based on the numerical analysis carried out in this research, it was found that the earth pressure coefficient normalized by the passive earth pressure Kp plotted on a vertical profile at the midpoint between piles can give a good illustration of arching behaviour. The findings presented in this paper can be considered as guides for numerical analysis and design criteria of soil arching for embankments constructed over piles

Antibacterial activity of medical-grade manuka honey against oral bacteria in vitro

Manuka honey (MH), derived from manuka shrub Leptospermum scoparium, native to New Zealand and Australia, contains elevated amounts of antimicrobial methylglyoxal1,2. Topical application of MH is effective in the treatment of burn and surgical wound infections3. Our aim was to assess the antibacterial effect of MH against oral microorganisms in order to explore its potential use in periodontal treatment

Solution-Phase Combinatorial Chemistry in Lead Discovery

Solution-phase approaches in combinatorial chemistry complement solid-phase approaches and each can be used to advantage in particular circumstances. Solution-phase synthesis of pools of compounds, whilst allowing successful identification of a selection of good lead structures for medicinal chemistry programmes, also reinforced a number of the disadvantages of such an approach. Solution-phase parallel synthesis of discrete compounds has, however, proved to be a very useful and popular approach both for lead generation and in lead optimisation work. The range of chemistry suitable for use in such approaches is expanding rapidly and some of these chemistries are discussed. The current focus is on enhancing the quality of compounds prepared in array formats, and we describe a number of useful approaches which are being developed to that end

Efeitos da densidade de população de plantas na cultura de couve-flor (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis)

An experiment was carried out to study the effects of the following population densities cauliflowers (plants per ha): 20,833 (0.60 m x 0.80 m), 25,641 (0.60 m x 0.65 m), ....37.037 (0.60 m x 0.45 m) , 55.555 (.0.60 m x 0.30 m), and 111,111 (0,60 m x 0,15 m) ; variety Snow ball. It was concluded that the effects of plant population density are greater on curd quality (weight and size) than on production per ha. The best plant population density to produce cauliflowers curd for Brazil market is from 20,000 to 25,000 plants/ha while for mini-curd is above 55,000 plants/ha.O experimento foi instalado na área experimental do Setor de Horticultura da ESALQ. (Piracicaba, SP), em um Latossol Roxo série "Luiz de Queiroz", em março de 1977, considerando as seguintes densidades de população: 20.833 plantas/ha (0,60 m x 0,80m), .. 25.641 plantas/ha (0,60 m x 0,65 m), 37.037 plantas/ha (..0.,60 m x 0,45 ml, 55.550 plantas/ha (,06Q m x 0,30 ,) e 111.111 plantas/ ha (0,60 m x 0,15 m). A partir dos resultados obtidos e para as condições do experimento concluiu-se que a densidade de população sobre a produção de couve-flor afeta mais a qualidade da cabeça (peso e tamanho), enquanto que o rendimento por área é pouco afetado. Para as condições do nosso mercado, a densidade ótima deve estar entre 20.000 a 25.000 plantas por ha e para a produção de mini-couve-flor mais de 55.000 plantas por ha, paraocultivar Bola de Neve

Heavy-Higgs Lifetime at Two Loops

The Standard-Model Higgs boson with mass $M_H >> 2M_Z$ decays almost exclusively to pairs of $W$ and $Z$ bosons. We calculate the dominant two-loop corrections of $O( G_F^2 M_H^4 )$ to the partial widths of these decays. In the on-mass-shell renormalization scheme, the correction factor is found to be $1 + 14.6$, where the second term is the one-loop correction. We give full analytic results for all divergent two-loop Feynman diagrams. A subset of finite two-loop vertex diagrams is computed to high precision using numerical techniques. We find agreement with a previous numerical analysis. The above correction factor is also in line with a recent lattice calculation.Comment: 26 pages, 6 postscript figures. The complete paper including figures is also available via WWW at http://www.physik.tu-muenchen.de/tumphy/d/T30d/PAPERS/TUM-HEP-247-96.ps.g

The Kuiper Belt and Other Debris Disks

We discuss the current knowledge of the Solar system, focusing on bodies in the outer regions, on the information they provide concerning Solar system formation, and on the possible relationships that may exist between our system and the debris disks of other stars. Beyond the domains of the Terrestrial and giant planets, the comets in the Kuiper belt and the Oort cloud preserve some of our most pristine materials. The Kuiper belt, in particular, is a collisional dust source and a scientific bridge to the dusty "debris disks" observed around many nearby main-sequence stars. Study of the Solar system provides a level of detail that we cannot discern in the distant disks while observations of the disks may help to set the Solar system in proper context.Comment: 50 pages, 25 Figures. To appear in conference proceedings book "Astrophysics in the Next Decade

Effect of Magnetic-Field on the Microstructure and Macrosegregation in Directionally Solidified Pb-Sn Alloys

An investigation into the influence of a transverse magnetic field (0.45 T) on the mushy zone morphology and macrosegregation in directionally solidified hypoeutectic Pb-Sn alloy shows that the field has no influence on the morphology of dendritic arrays. The field does, however, cause severe distortion in the cellular array morphology. Cellular arrayed growth with the magnetic field results in an extensive channel formation in the mushy zone, as opposed to the well-aligned and uniformly distributed cells formed in the absence of the field. The channels are produced due to the anisotropy in the thermosolutal convection caused by the magnetic field. Macrosegregation, however, along the length of the directionally solidified samples is not influenced by this magnetic field for either the cellular or dendritic arrays

Endoplasmic reticulum and lysosomal Ca2+ stores are remodelled in GBA1-linked Parkinson disease patient fibroblasts.

Mutations in β-glucocerebrosidase (encoded by GBA1) cause Gaucher disease (GD), a lysosomal storage disorder, and increase the risk of developing Parkinson disease (PD). The pathogenetic relationship between the two disorders is unclear. Here, we characterised Ca2+ release in fibroblasts from type I GD and PD patients together with age-matched, asymptomatic carriers, all with the common N370S mutation in β-glucocerebrosidase. We show that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca2+ release was potentiated in GD and PD patient fibroblasts but not in cells from asymptomatic carriers. ER Ca2+ signalling was also potentiated in fibroblasts from aged healthy subjects relative to younger individuals but not further increased in aged PD patient cells. Chemical or molecular inhibition of β-glucocerebrosidase in fibroblasts and a neuronal cell line did not affect ER Ca2+ signalling suggesting defects are independent of enzymatic activity loss. Conversely, lysosomal Ca2+ store content was reduced in PD fibroblasts and associated with age-dependent alterations in lysosomal morphology. Accelerated remodelling of Ca2+ stores by pathogenic GBA1 mutations may therefore feature in PD