CONSIDERATION OF PHASE TRANSITION MECHANISMS DURING PRODUCTION IN MANUFACTURING PROCESSES

In this study, by introducing the Ginzburg-Landau free energy, we define a parameter corresponding to an order parameter as a factor of the phase transition in manufacturing processes. Because thermal diffusion equations can be applied as mathematical models in the manufacturing process, we consider the applicability of the "Edge of Chaos", which is used in complex systems, to the manufacturing industry and the extent to which it would do so. We believe that in the manufacturing industry, the "Edge of Chaos" is a phenomenon that is caused by the loss of synchronization between the production and production throughput. The phase transition phenomenon is observed as the process throughput while manufacturing certain control equipment. We also verify the phase transition in the system through experiments on the flow production system. To maintain synchronization between the manufacturing and process throughput, it is necessary to know the critical point of the phase transition. From an economic perspective, it is important to focus on ways to prevent the critical point from being exceeded. In this study, we adopt the average value of the normalized rate-of-return deviations as the critical point. By not exceeding the average value of the rate-of-return, it is possible to maintain uninterrupted production

MATHEMATICAL MODEL OF THERMAL REACTION PROCESS FOR EXTERNAL HEATING EQUIPMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SEMICONDUCTORS (PART II)

This paper proposes a mathematical model that is derived from bilinear partial differential equations (BPDs) in order to configure a control system including the external heat equipment (EHE) proposed in Part1. It is widely recognized that the mathematical model of the heat exchange unit has been reported. The target control system can be configured using the control parameter of the overall heat exchange coefficient (OHEC), which is given using a linear approximation from BPDs to an ordinary differential equation (ODE). The numerical simulation results are also represented for the optimal control system, and the gradient method is used in this simulation. Our findings show that this study is suitable for possible practical systems

PROPAGATION OF WORKING-TIME DELAY IN PRODUCTION

Manufacture of products proceeds in multiple stages from the beginning of production. Such volatility is encountered in every stage of manufacturing, and the delays in the production line propagate this volatility to the successive step. A delay in the production process is equivalent to a "fluctuation" in physical phenomena. For example, there is the deviation from the thermal equilibrium state to fluctuations in physics. The propagation of fluctuation (volatility) in each stage delays the entire process. In this study, we mathematically analyzed this phenomenon and assessed whether volatility is encountered during manufacturing. Finally, we examined the propagation of fluctuationinduced delays to successive stages in manufacturing

POWER-LAW DISTRIBUTION OF RATE-OF-RETURN DEVIATION AND EVALUATION OF CASH FLOW IN A CONTROL EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING COMPANY

Although it is well known that power-law distribution appears in stock price fluctuation models and the like and theoretical analytic methods by mathematical finance has made progress, there are not many examples where such theoretical analysis has been performed for manufacturing industries. Therefore, we collected data about a rate of return and its deviation in a certain control equipment manufacturing company for about 10 years, and analyzed the both by applying methods of mathematical finance. Regarding rate-of-return deviation, it was found that it conforms to log-normal distribution. From analysis of mathematical models about rate-of-return deviation, we obtained the following conclusion. If an amount of money of order entries and an amount of money of production are stochastic, accumulated excessive order entries become of Brownian motion, and thus a random "fluctuation" occurs in hour to hour order entries and production even though it might be of a small degree. In comparison with a case where production is made to conform to the average order entry, pro t can be increased in a case where strategy to purposefully lead to excessive production or excessive order entries state is adopted. Regarding rate of return, analysis of characteristics of power-law distribution was made. As a result of analysis of mathematical models for a rate of return, the followings are reported. A cash ow of a target company is log-normally distributed. With regard to equipment manufacturing, whether a value after a repayment of a loan is changed or not in the case where a guaranty by a company president is required is reported. In addition, how a value of manufacturing equipment (remaining value) changes after a repayment of a loan relative to a repayment period is reported. Finally, a degree (sensitivity) of influence of parameters, an initial plan money amount, a repaid money amount and a repayment period, on a remaining value and a result of risk analysis is also reported

Retrospective clinical study on the notable efficacy and related factors of infliximab therapy in a rheumatoid arthritis management group in Japan: one-year clinical outcomes (RECONFIRM-2)

Biologics targeting TNF have brought about a paradigm shift in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and infliximab, anti-TNF-α chimeric monoclonal antibody, was marketed in 2003 in Japan. We previously reported on the RECONFIRM study, a retrospective clinical study on the efficacy of infliximab therapy in a RA management group in Japan, where we evaluated the clinical response after 22 weeks of the therapy in 258 patients. The study reported here was aimed at reconfirming the clinical efficacy of the infliximab therapy and demographic factors related to the efficacy over a 54-week study period in 410 RA patients in the same study group. Infliximab was infused according to the domestically approved method, and the clinical response was evaluated following 54 weeks of infliximab therapy using the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) response criteria. Disease activity was assessed by DAS28-CRP (Disease Activity Score including a 28-joint count/C-reactive protein). Infliximab was discontinued in 24.4% of the 410 patients at 54 weeks and 9.3% and 8.1% discontinued the therapy due to adverse events and inefficiency, respectively. Average DAS28-CRP decreased from 5.5 at week 0 to 3.1 at week 54 after the therapy. Patients in remission and those showing low-, moderate-, and high-disease activity changed from 0.0, 1.0, 9.0 and 90.0%, respectively, at the start of the study to 27.6, 11.7, 34.4 and 26.3%, respectively, at week 54. Younger age, RF-negativity and low scores of DAS28-CRP showed significant correlations with remission at week 54. EULAR response criteria—good, moderate, and no response to infliximab—were 37.0, 41.7 and 21.2%, respectively. In conclusion, we reconfirmed the clinical efficacy of infliximab and demographic factors related to the efficacy over a 54-week study period in 410 Japanese patients with RA using DAS28-CRP and EULAR response criteria

Novel oestrogen receptor beta-selective ligand reduces obesity and depressive-like behaviour in ovariectomized mice

Hormonal changes due to menopause can cause various health problems including weight gain and depressive symptoms. Multiple lines of evidence indicate that oestrogen receptors (ERs) play a major role in postmenopausal obesity and depression. However, little is known regarding the ER subtype-specific effects on obesity and depressive symptoms. To delineate potential effects of ER beta activation in postmenopausal women, we investigated the effects of a novel oestrogen receptor beta-selective ligand (C-1) in ovariectomized mice. Uterine weight, depressive behaviour, and weight gain were examined in sham-operated control mice and ovariectomized mice administered placebo, C-1, or 17 beta-oestradiol (E2). Administration of C-1 or E2 reduced body weight gain and depressive-like behaviour in ovariectomized mice, as assessed by the forced swim test. In addition, administration of E2 to ovariectomized mice increased uterine weight, but administration of C-1 did not result in a significant increase in uterine weight. These results suggest that the selective activation of ERa in ovariectomized mice may have protective effects against obesity and depressive-like behaviour without causing an increase in uterine weight. The present findings raise the possibility of the application of ER beta-ligands such as C-1 as a novel treatment for obesity and depression in postmenopausal women.ArticleSCIENTIFIC REPORTS. 7:4663 (2017)journal articl