Ordering and pricing decisions in a closed-loop supply chain with fuzzy demand

This paper investigates ordering and pricing decisions in a closed-loop supply chain with fuzzy demand. In this paper, the market demand is characterized as a fuzzy variable and two settings, decentralized channel and centralized channel, are considered. Based on game theory and fuzzy theory, the optimal ordering decision and the optimal recovery prices are given for each setting. The factors that impact the optimal ordering decision and the optimal recovery prices are also found. Some characteristics of the optimal decisions are discussed from the view of management. © 2011 IEEE.published_or_final_versionThe 4th International Joint Conference on Computational Sciences and Optimization (CSO 2011), Yunnan, China, 15-19 April 2011. In Proceedings of the 4th CSO, 2011, p. 1206-121

Cellular FLICE-like inhibitory protein (C-FLIP): a novel target for cancer therapy

Cellular FLICE-like inhibitory protein (c-FLIP) has been identified as a protease-dead, procaspase-8-like regulator of death ligand-induced apoptosis, based on observations that c-FLIP impedes tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), Fas-L, and TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-induced apoptosis by binding to FADD and/or caspase-8 or -10 in a ligand-dependent fashion, which in turn prevents death-inducing signaling complex (DISC) formation and subsequent activation of the caspase cascade. c-FLIP is a family of alternatively spliced variants, and primarily exists as long (c-FLIP(L)) and short (c-FLIP(S)) splice variants in human cells. Although c-FLIP has apoptogenic activity in some cell contexts, which is currently attributed to heterodimerization with caspase-8 at the DISC, accumulating evidence indicates an anti-apoptotic role for c-FLIP in various types of human cancers. For example, small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) that specifically knocked down expression of c-FLIP(L) in diverse human cancer cell lines, e.g., lung and cervical cancer cells, augmented TRAIL-induced DISC recruitment, and thereby enhanced effector caspase stimulation and apoptosis. Therefore, the outlook for the therapeutic index of c-FLIP-targeted drugs appears excellent, not only from the efficacy observed in experimental models of cancer therapy, but also because the current understanding of dual c-FLIP action in normal tissues supports the notion that c-FLIP-targeted cancer therapy will be well tolerated. Interestingly, Taxol, TRAIL, as well as several classes of small molecules induce c-FLIP downregulation in neoplastic cells. Efforts are underway to develop small-molecule drugs that induce c-FLIP downregulation and other c-FLIP-targeted cancer therapies. In this review, we assess the outlook for improving cancer therapy through c-FLIP-targeted therapeutics

pH effect on the formation of THM and HAA disinfection byproducts and potential control strategies for food processing

Chlorine-based sanitizers have seen wide spread use in food sanitation. The reaction of chlorine species with organic matter is a concern for two reasons. Available chlorine can be “used up” by organic compounds resulting in a lower amount of chlorine available for disinfection. Another concern is that some forms of chlorine can react with some organic compounds to form toxic halogenated disinfection byproducts (DBPs). Many studies have been conducted to evaluate the role of hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and hypochlorite ion (OCl−) in the production of DBPs with a particular interest in the production of trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs). Since most of the chlorine reactions are pH dependent, pH is found to have a significant effect on the formation of chlorine DBPs. In many cases, the concentration of THMs decreases and HAAs increases as pH decreases. pH also plays an important role in the determination of the type and amount of DBPs formed, with lower, more acidic, pHs resulting in the formation of less chloroform. This review summarizes the information from the literature on the role of chlorine-based sanitizers as affected by pH in the formation of different types of DBPs. Alternative novel strategies to minimize the formation of DBPs are also discussed

On finite-horizon control of genetic regulatory networks with multiple hard-constraints

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Probabilistic Boolean Networks (PBNs) provide a convenient tool for studying genetic regulatory networks. There are three major approaches to develop intervention strategies: (1) resetting the state of the PBN to a desirable initial state and letting the network evolve from there, (2) changing the steady-state behavior of the genetic network by minimally altering the rule-based structure and (3) manipulating external control variables which alter the transition probabilities of the network and therefore desirably affects the dynamic evolution. Many literatures study various types of external control problems, with a common drawback of ignoring the number of times that external control(s) can be applied.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>This paper studies the intervention problem by manipulating multiple external controls in a finite time interval in a PBN. The maximum numbers of times that each control method can be applied are given. We treat the problem as an optimization problem with multi-constraints. Here we introduce an algorithm, the "Reserving Place Algorithm'', to find all optimal intervention strategies. Given a fixed number of times that a certain control method is applied, the algorithm can provide all the sub-optimal control policies. Theoretical analysis for the upper bound of the computational cost is also given. We also develop a heuristic algorithm based on Genetic Algorithm, to find the possible optimal intervention strategy for networks of large size. </p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Studying the finite-horizon control problem with multiple hard-constraints is meaningful. The problem proposed is NP-hard. The Reserving Place Algorithm can provide more than one optimal intervention strategies if there are. Moreover, the algorithm can find all the sub-optimal control strategies corresponding to the number of times that certain control method is conducted. To speed up the computational time, a heuristic algorithm based on Genetic Algorithm is proposed for genetic networks of large size.</p

Improving interface bonding of double-skinned CFST columns

It has been demonstrated that high-strength concrete (HSC) is able to improve the strength-to-weight ratio of reinforced concrete columns and maximise the usable areas of tall buildings. However, closely spaced transverse reinforcement needs to be installed to provide stronger confinement for averting brittle failure of HSC. To resolve the problem, double-skinned concrete-filled-steel-tubular (CFST) columns have been advocated, which eliminates the steel congestion problem for better concrete placing and reduces the concrete arching action thus providing a more uniform confining pressure. Despite these advantages, a major shortcoming of double-skinned CFST columns is that imperfect interface bonding occurs in the elastic stage that reduces elastic strength and stiffness. Thus, the authors proposed to adopt external confinement to restrict the lateral dilation of the outer tube of double-skinned CFST columns. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed external rings, a total of 20 double-skinned normal- and high-strength CFST columns were tested. From the test results, it was observed that the stiffness, axial load-carrying capacity and ductility of ringconfined double-skinned CFST columns were significantly higher than the unconfined columns

Experimental Apparatus for Production, Cooling, and Storing Multiply Charged Ions for Charge-Transfer Measurements

A novel method is described that combines the production of ions by laser ablation with an ion‐trap technique for the measurement of thermal‐energy charge‐transfer rates of multiply charged ions and neutrals. The charge‐transfer rate is determined by measuring the rate of loss of stored ions from the trap. Verification of the calibration of the apparatus is demonstrated through investigation of charge transfer of N2 and N2+, which has been studied by another group. We also have made the first measurement on the thermal‐energy charge‐transfer coefficient of Ar and W2+. The rate coefficient is 0.99(0.22)×10−11 cm3 s−1

Ultrafast hole carrier relaxation dynamics in p-type CuO nanowires

Ultrafast hole carrier relaxation dynamics in CuO nanowires have been investigated using transient absorption spectroscopy. Following femtosecond pulse excitation in a non-collinear pump-probe configuration, a combination of non-degenerate transmission and reflection measurements reveal initial ultrafast state filling dynamics independent of the probing photon energy. This behavior is attributed to the occupation of states by photo-generated carriers in the intrinsic hole region of the p-type CuO nanowires located near the top of the valence band. Intensity measurements indicate an upper fluence threshold of 40 μJ/cm2 where carrier relaxation is mainly governed by the hole dynamics. The fast relaxation of the photo-generated carriers was determined to follow a double exponential decay with time constants of 0.4 ps and 2.1 ps. Furthermore, time-correlated single photon counting measurements provide evidence of three exponential relaxation channels on the nanosecond timescale

Pseudomonas aeruginosa Genome Database and PseudoCAP: facilitating community-based, continually updated, genome annotation

Using the Pseudomonas aeruginosa Genome Project as a test case, we have developed a database and submission system to facilitate a community-based approach to continually updated genome annotation (http://www.pseudomonas.com). Researchers submit proposed annotation updates through one of three web-based form options which are then subjected to review, and if accepted, entered into both the database and log file of updates with author acknowledgement. In addition, a coordinator continually reviews literature for suitable updates, as we have found such reviews to be the most efficient. Both the annotations database and updates-log database have Boolean search capability with the ability to sort results and download all data or search results as tab-delimited files. To complement this peer-reviewed genome annotation, we also provide a linked GBrowse view which displays alternate annotations. Additional tools and analyses are also integrated, including PseudoCyc, and knockout mutant information. We propose that this database system, with its focus on facilitating flexible queries of the data and providing access to both peer-reviewed annotations as well as alternate annotation information, may be a suitable model for other genome projects wishing to use a continually updated, community-based annotation approach. The source code is freely available under GNU General Public Licence

Low-voltage magnetoelectric coupling in Fe0.5Rh0.5/0.68PbMg1/3Nb2/3O3-0.32PbTiO3 thin-film heterostructures

The rapid development of computing applications demands novel low-energy consumption devices for information processing. Among various candidates, magnetoelectric heterostructures hold promise for meeting the required voltage and power goals. Here, a route to low-voltage control of magnetism in 30 nm FeRh/100 nm 0.68PbMgNbO-0.32PbTiO (PMN-PT) heterostructures is demonstrated wherein the magnetoelectric coupling is achieved via strain-induced changes in the FeRh mediated by voltages applied to the PMN-PT. We describe approaches to achieve high-quality, epitaxial growth of FeRh on the PMN-PT films and, a methodology to probe and quantify magnetoelectric coupling in small thin-film devices via studies of the anomalous Hall effect. By comparing the spin-flop field change induced by temperature and external voltage, the magnetoelectric coupling coefficient is estimated to reach ≈7 × 10 s m at 325 K while applying a −0.75 V bias