An Evaluation Model for Financial Reporting Supply Chain Using DEMATEL-ANP

published_or_final_versionThe 9th International Conference on Digital Enterprise Technology (DET 2016): Intelligent Manufacturing in the Knowledge Economy Era, Nanjing, China, 29-31 March, 2016, In Procedia CIRP, 2016, v. 56, p. 516-51

Noisy Classical Field Theories with Two Coupled Fields: Dependence of Escape Rates on Relative Field Stiffnesses

Exit times for stochastic Ginzburg-Landau classical field theories with two or more coupled classical fields depend on the interval length on which the fields are defined, the potential in which the fields deterministically evolve, and the relative stiffness of the fields themselves. The latter is of particular importance in that physical applications will generally require different relative stiffnesses, but the effect of varying field stiffnesses has not heretofore been studied. In this paper, we explore the complete phase diagram of escape times as they depend on the various problem parameters. In addition to finding a transition in escape rates as the relative stiffness varies, we also observe a critical slowing down of the string method algorithm as criticality is approached.Comment: 16 pages, 10 figure

Probing the magnetic ground state of the molecular Dysprosium triangle

We present zero field muon spin lattice relaxation measurements of a Dysprosium triangle molecular magnet. The local magnetic fields sensed by the implanted muons indicate the coexistence of static and dynamic internal magnetic fields below $T^* ~35$ K. Bulk magnetization and heat capacity measurements show no indication of magnetic ordering below this temperature. We attribute the static fields to the slow relaxation of the magnetization in the ground state of Dy3. The fluctuation time of the dynamic part of the field is estimated to be ~0.55 $\mu$s at low temperaturesComment: 5 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

Chemistry of fuel deposits and sediments and their predursors

The mechanism of solid deposit formation on hot engine parts from turbine fuels is investigated. Deposit formation is associated with oxidation of the hydrocarbon fuel. Therefore, oxidation rates and soluble gum formation were measured for several jet turbine fuels and pure hydrocarbon mixtures. Experiments were performed at 130 C using thermal initiation and at 100 C using ditertiary butyl peroxide as a chemical initiator. Correlation of the data shows that the ratio of rate of oxidation to rate of gum formation for a single fuel is not much affected by experimental conditions, even though there are differences in the abilities of different hydrocarbons to initiate and continue the oxidation. This indicates a close association of gum formation with the oxidation process. Oxidations of n-dodecane, tetralin and the more unstable jet fuels are autocatalytic, while those of 2-ethylnaphthalene and a stable jet fuel are self-retarding. However, the ratio of oxidation rate to gum formation rate appear to be nearly constant for each substrate. The effect of oxygen pressure on gum and oxidation formation was also studied. Dependence of gum formation on the concentration of initiator at 100 C is discussed and problems for future study are suggested

Robust photoregulation of GABA(A) receptors by allosteric modulation with a propofol analogue.

Photochemical switches represent a powerful method for improving pharmacological therapies and controlling cellular physiology. Here we report the photoregulation of GABA(A) receptors (GABA(A)Rs) by a derivative of propofol (2,6-diisopropylphenol), a GABA(A)R allosteric modulator, which we have modified to contain photoisomerizable azobenzene. Using α(1)β(2)γ(2) GABA(A)Rs expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes and native GABA(A)Rs of isolated retinal ganglion cells, we show that the trans-azobenzene isomer of the new compound (trans-MPC088), generated by visible light (wavelengths ~440 nm), potentiates the γ-aminobutyric acid-elicited response and, at higher concentrations, directly activates the receptors. cis-MPC088, generated from trans-MPC088 by ultraviolet light (~365 nm), produces little, if any, receptor potentiation/activation. In cerebellar slices, MPC088 co-applied with γ-aminobutyric acid affords bidirectional photomodulation of Purkinje cell membrane current and spike-firing rate. The findings demonstrate photocontrol of GABA(A)Rs by an allosteric ligand, and open new avenues for fundamental and clinically oriented research on GABA(A)Rs, a major class of neurotransmitter receptors in the central nervous system

Quantum interference of electromagnetic fields from remote quantum memories

We observe quantum, Hong-Ou-Mandel, interference of fields produced by two remote atomic memories. High-visibility interference is obtained by utilizing the finite atomic memory time in four-photon delayed coincidence measurements. Interference of fields from remote atomic memories is a crucial element in protocols for scalable generation of multi-node remote qubit entanglement.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Oxidation and formation of deposit precursors in hydrocarbon fuels

The oxidation of two jet turbine fuels and some pure hydrocarbons was studied at 130 C with and without the presence of small amounts of N-methyl pyrrole (NMP) or indene. Tendency to form solid-deposit precursors was studied by measuring soluble gum formation as well as dimer and trimer formation using field ionization mass spectrometry. Pure n-dodecane oxidized fastest and gave the smallest amount of procursors. An unstable fuel oil oxidized much slower but formed large amounts of precursors. Stable Jet A fuel oxidized slowest and gave little precursors. Indene either retarded or accelerated the oxidation of n-dodecane, depending on its concentration, but always caused more gum formation. The NMP greatly retarded n-dodecane oxidation but accelerated Jet A oxidation and greatly increased the latter's gum formation. In general, the additive reacted faster and formed most of the gum. Results are interpreted in terms of classical cooxidation theory. The effect of oxygen pressure on gum formation is also reported

Deflection of Slow Light by Magneto-Optically Controlled Atomic Media

We present a semi-classical theory for light deflection by a coherent $\Lambda$-type three-level atomic medium in an inhomogeneous magnetic field or an inhomogeneous control laser. When the atomic energy levels (or the Rabi coupling by the control laser) are position-dependent due to the Zeeman effect by the inhomogeneous magnetic field (or the inhomogeneity of the control field profile), the spatial dependence of the refraction index of the atomic medium will result in an observable deflection of slow signal light when the electromagnetically induced transparency happens to avoid medium absorption. Our theoretical approach based on Fermat's principle in geometrical optics not only provides a consistent explanation for the most recent experiment in a straightforward way, but also predicts the new effects for the slow signal light deflection by the atomic media in an inhomogeneous off-resonant control laser field.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Leukemia-related chromosomal loss detected in hematopoietic progenitor cells of benzene-exposed workers.

Benzene exposure causes acute myeloid leukemia and hematotoxicity, shown as suppression of mature blood and myeloid progenitor cell numbers. As the leukemia-related aneuploidies monosomy 7 and trisomy 8 previously had been detected in the mature peripheral blood cells of exposed workers, we hypothesized that benzene could cause leukemia through the induction of these aneuploidies in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. We measured loss and gain of chromosomes 7 and 8 by fluorescence in situ hybridization in interphase colony-forming unit-granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM) cells cultured from otherwise healthy benzene-exposed (n=28) and unexposed (n=14) workers. CFU-GM monosomy 7 and 8 levels (but not trisomy) were significantly increased in subjects exposed to benzene overall, compared with levels in the control subjects (P=0.0055 and P=0.0034, respectively). Levels of monosomy 7 and 8 were significantly increased in subjects exposed to <10 p.p.m. (20%, P=0.0419 and 28%, P=0.0056, respectively) and ≥ 10 p.p.m. (48%, P=0.0045 and 32%, 0.0354) benzene, compared with controls, and significant exposure-response trends were detected (P(trend)=0.0033 and 0.0057). These data show that monosomies 7 and 8 are produced in a dose-dependent manner in the blood progenitor cells of workers exposed to benzene, and may be mechanistically relevant biomarkers of early effect for benzene and other leukemogens