15,997 research outputs found
Profile of Fatty Acid contents in Malaysian freshwater fish
Nine species of Malaysian freshwater fish were analysed for their lipid and fatty acid contents. The results show that
4 species offish commonly consumed by local people contained significantly high levels offat (range 11-17% of wet
weight). Malaysian freshwater fish analysed also contained high levels of unsaturated acids compared to saturated
acids. The ratio of unsaturates/saturates ranged from 1.2 to 2.3. The omega-3 acids were generally low in most
species analysed except for the belut sawah which contained significantly high levels in C22:6w3 (9.4/100g oil).
This quantity is comparable to that of salmon, cod and herring and thus warrants consideration for commercial
exploitation. Phospholipid fractions of all fish analysed (except jelawat) had polyunsaturates/saturates ratios
greater than 1. O
Lean six sigma applied to process performance and improvement model for the development of electric scooter water-cooling green motor assembly
In response to the environmental issues triggered by global warming, worldwide companies gradually put the factor of carbon emission into the process of product life cycle, developing green technology or adopting cleaner production aimed at sustainable development. Lean Six Sigma has advantages of cutting waste and facilitating process improvements as well as system analysis, helping enterprises create the overall business benefits in the value chain. Used in the renewable energy industry, it can promote the Triple Bottom Line (TBL), the performance of sustainable production for corporate profit, social responsibility, and environmental responsibility. Therefore, this study took the process performance of the electric scooter water-cooling green motor manufactured in Taiwan with the world’s highest density of scooters as a case study. The developed performance evaluation and improvement model for manufacturing scheduling and process quality achieved the goal of economic benefits of enhancing process quality performance by shortening manufacturing scheduling and reducing process variations with Lean Six Sigma. 2 Besides, they could respond to the policy of energy saving and carbon reduction - replacing the traditional scooters of high carbon emissions with the electric scooters of low emissions. Furthermore, they could bring enterprises into harmony with economic benefits, ecological benefits, and social benefits
Optochemically Responsive 2D Nanosheets of a 3D Metal-Organic Framework Material
Outstanding functional tunability underpinning metal-organic framework (MOF)
confers a versatile platform to contrive next-generation chemical sensors,
optoelectronics, energy harvesters and converters. We report a rare exemplar of
a porous 2D nanosheet material, constructed from an extended 3D MOF structure.
We develop a rapid supramolecular self-assembly methodology at ambient
conditions, to synthesize readily-exfoliatable MOF nanosheets, functionalized
in situ by adopting the Guest@MOF (Host) strategy. Nanoscale confinement of
light-emitting molecules (as functional guest) inside the MOF pores generates
unusual combination of optical, electronic, and chemical properties, arising
from the strong host-guest coupling effects. We show highly promising photonics
based chemical sensing opened up by the new Guest@MOF composite systems. By
harnessing host-guest optochemical interactions of functionalized MOF
nanosheets, we have accomplished detection of an extensive range of volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) and small molecules important for many practical
applications.Comment: 21 pages, 5 figures, 1 schem
Measurement of Scattering Rate and Minimum Conductivity in Graphene
The conductivity of graphene samples with various levels of disorder is
investigated for a set of specimens with mobility in the range of
cm/V sec. Comparing the experimental data with the
theoretical transport calculations based on charged impurity scattering, we
estimate that the impurity concentration in the samples varies from cm. In the low carrier density limit, the conductivity exhibits
values in the range of , which can be related to the residual
density induced by the inhomogeneous charge distribution in the samples. The
shape of the conductivity curves indicates that high mobility samples contain
some short range disorder whereas low mobility samples are dominated by long
range scatterers.Comment: 4 pages 4 figure
The impact of Brexit on designing a material-based global supply chain network for Asian manufacturers
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate effects on global supply chain reconfigured in the customs duty rate of parts and specific material types brought about by Brexit and the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Design/methodology/approach – The supply chain network is modeled and formulated using mixed integer programming. Numerical experiments are conducted using bill of materials with information such as the procurement cost of each part, 3D-CAD and an industry census. Findings – The experiments indicates that if the customs duty rate increases by Brexit, manufacturers would be necessary to restructure supply chain configuration and locate the domestic factory and market. Additionally, when the UK leaves the EU and joins the TPP, there is a case where the total cost decreases in the global supply chain network compared to the baseline without Brexit. Therefore, it is reasonable for the UK to join the TPP. Practical implications – The study shows how a new trading rules from non-partnership countries can critically disrupt existing global supply chain equilibrium. Asian manufacturers should evaluate a move to more local sourcing, opening new facilities and setting up warehouses to stock finished goods or raw materials in different trading areas to overcome any barriers to the goods movement. Originality/value – This study enables us to quantitatively evaluate what there are opportunities or cost increasing risks by the selection of supply chain configuration for Asian manufacturers by political and economic factors of each country such as Brexit and participation in TPP
Small molecule additive for low-power accumulation mode organic electrochemical transistors
A small molecule additive, dodecylbenzenesulfonate (DBSA), is added to the electrolyte in OECTs to improve the device performance.ERC IMBIBE
EPSRC CDT Plastic Electronic
Evidence for nodeless superconducting gap in NaFeCoAs from low-temperature thermal conductivity measurements
The thermal conductivity of optimally doped NaFeCoAs
( 20 K) and overdoped NaFeCoAs ( 11 K)
single crystals were measured down to 50 mK. No residual linear term
is found in zero magnetic field for both compounds, which is an
evidence for nodeless superconducting gap. Applying field up to = 9 T
() does not noticeably increase in
NaFeCoAs, which is consistent with multiple isotropic gaps
with similar magnitudes. The of overdoped
NaFeCoAs shows a relatively faster field dependence,
indicating the increase of the ratio between the magnitudes of different gaps,
or the enhancement of gap anisotropy upon increasing doping.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure
In vivo and ex vivo regulation of visfatin production by leptin in human and murine adipose tissue : role of mitogen-activated protein kinase and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase signaling pathways
Visfatin is an adipogenic adipokine with increased levels in obesity, properties common to leptin. Thus, leptin may modulate visfatin production in adipose tissue (AT). Therefore, we investigated the effects of leptin on visfatin levels in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and human/murine AT, with or without a leptin antagonist. The potential signaling pathways and mechanisms regulating visfatin production in AT was also studied. Real-time RT-PCR and Western blotting were used to assess the relative mRNA and protein expression of visfatin. ELISA was performed to measure visfatin levels in conditioned media of AT explants, and small interfering RNA technology was used to reduce leptin receptor expression. Leptin significantly (P < 0.01) increased visfatin levels in human and murine AT with a maximal response at leptin 10–9 M, returning to baseline at leptin 10–7 M. Importantly, ip leptin administration to C57BL/6 ob/ob mice further supported leptin-induced visfatin protein production in omental AT (P < 0.05). Additionally, soluble leptin receptor levels rose with concentration dependency to a maximal response at leptin 10–7 M (P < 0.01). The use of a leptin antagonist negated the induction of visfatin and soluble leptin receptor by leptin. Furthermore, leptin-induced visfatin production was significantly decreased in the presence of MAPK and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitors. Also, when the leptin receptor gene was knocked down using small interfering RNA, leptin-induced visfatin expression was significantly decreased. Thus, leptin increases visfatin production in AT in vivo and ex vivo via pathways involving MAPK and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase signaling. The pleiotropic effects of leptin may be partially mediated by visfatin
A proposed framework for accelerated innovation in data-driven environments
Purpose In today’s rapidly changing business environment, the case for accelerated innovation processes has become increasingly compelling at both a theoretical and practical level. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to propose a conceptual framework for accelerated innovation in a data-driven market environment. Design/methodology/approach This research is based on a two-step approach. First, a set of propositions concerning the best approaches to accelerated innovation are put forward. Then it offers qualitative evidence from five case studies involving world-leading firms, and explains how innovation can be accelerated in different kinds of data-driven environments. Findings The key sets of factors for accelerated innovation are: collateral structure; customer involvement; and ecosystem of innovation. The proposed framework enables firms to find ways to innovate – specifically, to make product innovation faster and less costly. Research limitations/implications The findings from this research focus on high-tech industries in China. Using several specific innovation projects to represent accelerated innovation could raise the problem of the reliability and validity of the research findings. Additional research will probably be required to adapt the proposed framework to accommodate the cultural nuances of other countries and business environments. Practical implications The study is intended as a framework for managers to apply their resources to conduct product innovation in a fast and effective way. It developed six propositions about how, specifically, data analytics and ICTs can contribute to accelerated innovation. Originality/value The research shows that firms could harvest external knowledge and import ideas across organisational boundaries. An accelerated innovation framework is characterised by a multidimensional process involving intelligence efforts, relentless data collection and flexible working relationships with team members. </jats:sec
Doping - dependent anisotropic superconducting gap in Na(FeCo)As
The London penetration depth was measured in single crystals of self-doped
NaFeAs (from under - to optimal - doping, from 14 to 27 K)
and electron-doped Na(FeCo)As with ranging from undoped,
to overdoped . In all samples, the low - temperature variation of
the penetration depth exhibits a power-law dependence, , with the exponent that varies in a dome - like fashion from
in the underdoped, reaching a maximum of in the optimally doped
and decreasing again to on the overdoped side. While the
anisotropy of the gap structure follows universal dome-like evolution, the
exponent at the optimal doping, , is lower than in other charge -
doped Fe-based superconductors (FeSCs). The full - temperature range superfluid
density, , at the optimal doping is also
distinctly different from other charge - doped FeSCs but is similar to
isovalently - substituted BaFe(AsP), believed to be a nodal
pnictide at the optimal doping. These results suggest that the superconducting
gap in Na(FeCo)As is highly anisotropic even at the optimal
doping
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