Resource efficiency: creating a route to logistics and the circular economy

Resource productivity needs to increase by 30% toward 2030, delivering a purported increase in employment while delivering a net benefit to GDP of 1% (European Commission, 2014). The Europe 2020 strategy will necessitate changes in product and service delivery (lightweighting) and a requirement for systems to support the flows of materials at end of life for collection, separation and re-use. There is a demand for resource efficiency improvements across a range of industrial sectors and a need for whole supply chain cooperation to ensure maximum impact of the circular economy concept. However with current challenges over quality and quantity of products moving through reverse logistics networks (Niknejad & Petrovic, 2014), this will undoubtedly place a need on current infrastructure [logistics] to review working practices. Innovative solutions will be required by industry to deliver sustainable networks that support aligned flows of manufacturing processes delivering supply chain surplus (Zhong, 2009)

Species survival and scaling laws in hostile and disordered environments

In this work we study the likelihood of survival of single-species in the context of hostile and disordered environments. Population dynamics in this environment, as modeled by the Fisher equation, is characterized by negative average growth rate, except in some random spatially distributed patches that may support life. In particular, we are interested in the phase diagram of the survival probability and in the critical size problem, i.e., the minimum patch size required for surviving in the long time dynamics. We propose a measure for the critical patch size as being proportional to the participation ratio (PR) of the eigenvector corresponding to the largest eigenvalue of the linearized Fisher dynamics. We obtain the (extinction-survival) phase diagram and the probability distribution function (PDF) of the critical patch sizes for two topologies, namely, the one-dimensional system and the fractal Peano basin. We show that both topologies share the same qualitative features, but the fractal topology requires higher spatial fluctuations to guarantee species survival. We perform a finite-size scaling and we obtain the associated scaling exponents. In addition, we show that the PDF of the critical patch sizes has an universal shape for the 1D case in terms of the model parameters (diffusion, growth rate, etc.). In contrast, the diffusion coefficient has a drastic effect on the PDF of the critical patch sizes of the fractal Peano basin, and it does not obey the same scaling law of the 1D case.Comment: 20 pages, 5 Figure

Boosts, Schwarzschild Black Holes and Absorption cross-sections in M theory

$D$ dimensional neutral black strings wrapped on a circle are related to $(D-1)$ dimensional charged black holes by boosts. We show that the boost has to be performed in the covering space and the boosted coordinate has to be compactified on a circle with a Lorentz contracted radius. Using this fact we show that the transition between Schwarzschild black holes to black p-branes observed recently in M theory is the well-known black hole- black string transition viewed in a boosted frame. In a similar way the correspondence point where an excited string state goes over to a neutral black hole is mapped exactly to the correspondence point for black p-branes. In terms of the $p$ brane quantities the equation of state for an excited string state becomes identical to that of a 3+1 dimensional massless gas for all $p$. Finally, we show how boosts can be used to relate Hawking radiation rates. Using the known microscopic derivation of absorption by extremal 3-branes and near-extremal 5D holes with three large charges we provide a microscopic derivation of absorption of 0-branes by seven and five dimensional Schwarzschild black holes in a certain regime.Comment: Some references added, minor clarifications (harvmac, 16 pages

Local simulation of singlet statistics for restricted set of measurement

The essence of Bell's theorem is that, in general, quantum statistics cannot be reproduced by local hidden variable (LHV) model. This impossibility is strongly manifested while analyzing the singlet state statistics for Bell-CHSH violations. In this work, we provide various subsets of two outcome POVMs for which a local hidden variable model can be constructed for singlet state.Comment: 2 column, 5 pages, 4 figures, new references, abstract modified, accepted in JP

Dynamic interactions between foreign institutional investment flows and stock market returns: The case of India

There has been a marked increase in the magnitude of Foreign Institutional Investments (FIIs) into India since the 1990s, resulting in increased forex reserves and liquidity and a higher-valued Indian capital market. However, such investment is more volatile than other types of flows, causing disruptive effects in the form of sudden stops (for example, the crash of the Indian stock market on January 21, 2008). This study empirically examines the dynamic relationship between FIIs and Indian stock market returns. It also analyses the effects of FIIs on Indian capital market returns, using data from January, 2004 through September, 2012. The analysis employs a Cross Correlation Function (CCF) approach, a Granger Causality Test and Vector Auto Regression after dividing the data into two parts: Pre Global financial crisis and Post Global financial crisis periods. The results of the CCF suggest bi-directional causality between FIIs and Nifty returns, whereas the Granger Causality Test and the VAR analysis suggest uni-directional causality running Nifty returns to FIIs

Management of Morel-Lavallee lesion of the knee: Twenty-seven cases in the National Football League

BACKGROUND: The Morel-Lavallee lesion is a closed degloving injury most commonly described in the region of the hip joint after blunt trauma. It also occurs in the knee as a result of shearing trauma during football and is a distinct lesion from prepatellar bursitis and quadriceps contusion. PURPOSE: To review the authors\u27 experience with Morel-Lavallee lesion of the knee in the elite contact athlete to construct a diagnostic and treatment algorithm. STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS: Twenty-seven knees in 24 players were identified from 1 National Football League team\u27s annual injury database as having sustained a Morel-Lavallee lesion between 1993 and 2006. Their charts were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: The most common mechanism of injury was a shearing blow on the playing surface (81%). The most common motion deficit was active flexion (41%). The mean time for resolution of the fluid collection and achievement of full active flexion was 16.3 days. The mean number of practices missed was 1.5. The mean number of games missed was 0.1. Fourteen knees (52%) were treated successfully with compression wrap, cryotherapy, and motion exercises. Thirteen knees (48%) were treated with at least 1 aspiration, and 6 knees (22%) were treated with multiple aspirations for recurrent serosanguineous fluid collections. In 3 cases (11%), the Morel-Lavallee lesion was successfully treated with doxycycline sclerodesis after 3 aspirations failed to resolve the recurrent fluid collections; return to play was immediate thereafter in each case. CONCLUSION: In football, Morel-Lavallee lesion of the knee usually occurs from a shearing blow from the playing field. Diagnosis is confirmed when examination reveals a large suprapatellar area of palpable fluctuance. Elite athletes are typically able to return to practice and game play long before complete resolution of the lesion. Recurrent fluid collections can occur, necessitating aspiration in approximately half the cases for successful treatment. Recalcitrant fluid collections can be safely and expeditiously treated with doxycycline sclerodesis

Risk Factors for Homelessness and Sex Trade Among Incarcerated Women: A Structural Equation Model

Incarcerated women are among the most vulnerable and perhaps the least studied populations in the US. Significant proportions of female inmates are substance users, and many living in unstable housing conditions or being homeless. Female inmates are often at high risk of engaging in sex exchange for drugs or housing needs. While a disproportionate number of incarcerated women have experienced childhood household adversities and maltreatments, the effects of these childhood experiences on psychosocial and behavioral outcomes of this population in later life. We apply a life course perspective to examine these pathways in a sample of incarcerated women in Cook County, Illinois. Findings demonstrated lasting, but differential, effects of household adversities and childhood abuse on subsequent life risks and opportunities among these women

Primary stroke in a woman with sickle cell anemia responsive to hydroxyurea therapy.

The most common cause of stroke in children with sickle cell anemia is infarction due to ischemia. In adults, however, stroke is most commonly hemorrhagic in nature. Other causes of stroke in patients with sickle cell disease are very rare. In this short communication, we describe a woman with sickle cell anemia responsive to hydroxyurea (HU) therapy who had primary stroke due to paradoxical embolization caused by a large atrial septal defect. Successful management of the stroke included surgical closure of the defect with trans-esophageal echocardiographic guidance. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first patient with sickle cell anemia and stroke due to congenital heart disease who did not require open heart surgery for successful management