Location and Capacity Optimization of Waste Recycling Centers:Mathematical Models and Numerical Experiments

With rapid urbanization growth, considerable amounts of construction waste are generated on an annual basis, posing significant economic and environmental challenges worldwide. Re-cycling construction waste is a sustainable way for waste disposal, leading to the necessity of meticulous planning of recycling centers. A well-designed plan for constructing recycling centers can effectively improve the recycling rate of construction waste while minimizing investment. This paper formulates a two-stage stochastic model for planning recycling centers with the objective of maximizing the recycling rate under different scenarios. This study comprehensively considers various uncertain factors, such as the amount of construction waste generated and the demand for recycled materials. A case study of Guangzhou is used for validation, which demonstrates the effectiveness of the developed model in planning recycling center construction. The comparison between the proposed model and a conventional mean value model shows the importance of accounting for uncertainties. Specifically, the derived results indicate that 7% more construction waste is recycled with the same investment in constructing recycling centers. Additionally, via a sensitivity analysis, valuable managerial insights on investing resources in recycling center construction are provided to decision makers. Ultimately, the research findings are expected to enhance the recycling rate of construction waste, thereby contributing to sustainable industry development

25th annual computational neuroscience meeting: CNS-2016

The same neuron may play different functional roles in the neural circuits to which it belongs. For example, neurons in the Tritonia pedal ganglia may participate in variable phases of the swim motor rhythms [1]. While such neuronal functional variability is likely to play a major role the delivery of the functionality of neural systems, it is difficult to study it in most nervous systems. We work on the pyloric rhythm network of the crustacean stomatogastric ganglion (STG) [2]. Typically network models of the STG treat neurons of the same functional type as a single model neuron (e.g. PD neurons), assuming the same conductance parameters for these neurons and implying their synchronous firing [3, 4]. However, simultaneous recording of PD neurons shows differences between the timings of spikes of these neurons. This may indicate functional variability of these neurons. Here we modelled separately the two PD neurons of the STG in a multi-neuron model of the pyloric network. Our neuron models comply with known correlations between conductance parameters of ionic currents. Our results reproduce the experimental finding of increasing spike time distance between spikes originating from the two model PD neurons during their synchronised burst phase. The PD neuron with the larger calcium conductance generates its spikes before the other PD neuron. Larger potassium conductance values in the follower neuron imply longer delays between spikes, see Fig. 17.Neuromodulators change the conductance parameters of neurons and maintain the ratios of these parameters [5]. Our results show that such changes may shift the individual contribution of two PD neurons to the PD-phase of the pyloric rhythm altering their functionality within this rhythm. Our work paves the way towards an accessible experimental and computational framework for the analysis of the mechanisms and impact of functional variability of neurons within the neural circuits to which they belong

Exploratory study on the competency level of Singapore companies in reconciling new product development and innovation dilemmas.

A qualitative research on the competency level of Singapore companies surveyed in reconciling New Product and Innovation Dilemmas

China’s Successful Recruitment of Healthcare Professionals to the Worst-Hit City: A Lesson Learned

The outbreak of coronavirus disease in 2019 (COVID-19) in Wuhan has led Chinese health authorities to recruit healthcare providers from the least-affected areas to provide care to the infected patients in Wuhan. We took further steps to explain some plausible reasons for their experiences. We used interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) to understand the subjective experiences, as well as the reasons for these experiences among the healthcare providers who had traveled from the least-affected parts of China to render aid during Wuhan’s COVID-19 outbreak. Using purposive and snowball sampling, healthcare professionals were recruited from three major hospitals in Jiangsu province. Semi-structured interviews were conducted from 1 September to 14 November 2020 in face-to-face contexts. Ten nurses and four doctors provided their informed consent for the study. The primary superordinate theme from the responses highlighted how social identity and individual needs were challenged by each individual’s professional ethics. COVID-19 not only presents significant risks to the health of nurses and medical doctors; it further challenges their emotional and psychosocial wellbeing. Care should be taken in allocating support and help, with the careful deployment of professional values and beliefs, so that any human resource as precious as medical doctors and nurses can be protected

Practical approach to strategic communications in effective campaign planning for World Vision Singapore.

This report provides a practical insight into the use of strategic communications in effective campaign planning for World Vision Singapore, an international non-profit organisationl.Bachelor of Communication Studie

Association of wrist and forearm range of motion measures with self-reported functional scores amongst patients with distal radius fractures: a longitudinal study

Abstract Background Patients with distal radius fractures (DRF) often have limited range-of-motion (ROM) in multiple planes of movement. No studies have comprehensively examined the impact of various ROM limitations on physical function. Methods We performed a multi-center, longitudinal study of 138 patients with conservatively managed DRF. ROM measures were taken at initial evaluation, and at 4 and 8 weeks later. Self-reported physical function was indexed by the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (QuickDASH). Results Wrist extension, active thumb opposition and a full composite grip were amongst the strongest ROM measures associated with functional scores over time. However, wrist radial deviation and forearm pronation were non-significantly associated with functional scores. Conclusion Given that ROM is potentially modifiable, the identification of important ROM measures associated with QuickDASH scores can potentially facilitate patient education and refine interventions to optimize functional recovery. Well-designed randomized intervention studies are however needed to confirm these association findings

Shared signatures and divergence in skin microbiomes of children with atopic dermatitis and their caregivers

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2022.01.03