Nucleation-induced transition to collective motion in active systems

While the existence of polar ordered states in active systems is well established, the dynamics of the self-assembly processes are still elusive. We study a lattice gas model of self-propelled elongated particles interacting through excluded volume and alignment interactions, which shows a phase transition from an isotropic to a polar ordered state. By analyzing the ordering process we find that the transition is driven by the formation of a critical nucleation cluster and a subsequent coarsening process. Moreover, the time to establish a polar ordered state shows a power-law divergence

Design Model of an Ecosystem for Resilient and Sustainable Value Creation of SMEs in Single and Small Batch Production

Today's markets are increasingly dynamic, not only due to shorter product development times and fast changing customer requirements but also unforeseen events. Contemporary crises and wars disrupt entire supply chains and can have existential consequences for manufacturing companies. In these times of uncertainty, it is essential for SMEs to have a resilient business orientation while at the same time fulfil the sustainability aspects demanded by their stakeholders. This paper provides a design model for an ecosystem for a resilient and sustainable value creation of SMEs in single and small batch production to increase competitiveness and to gain a better response to market dynamics. The developed model comprises the elements of ecosystem strategy, configuration and coordination. An adequate partner matching and the underlying business model complement the approach. The model is intended to assist practitioners as a reference framework in developing and managing ecosystems for value creation

Manufacturing of tabless cylindrical lithium-ion cells: Quantifying the influence of cell dimensions and housing material via process-based cost modeling

The cost saving potential of large-format tabless cylindrical lithium-ion cells has been widely recognized since Tesla announced their plans to produce and BMW has confirmed to adopt this type of cells due to economic benefits among other reasons. However, a quantification and deep analysis of the cost reduction emerging from enlarged dimensions and further innovations such as different housing materials has not been reported in scientific literature so far. In this study, the process steps of manufacturing a large-format tabless cylindrical cell are examined and published in detail for the first time. A model is established that incorporates all manufacturing steps as a function of cell dimensions and choice of housing material. It was found that enlarging the dimensions from the conventional 2170 to the 4680 format achieved a cost reduction of 10.9% for two main reasons. First, the manufacturing cost per kWh decreases due to certain manufacturing steps being directly dependent on the number of cells produced. Second, the cells volumetric energy density itself increases due to a better volume efficiency of the active material share which further decreases the number of cells required. Introducing aluminum housings offers additional cost saving potential of as much as 2.5% of the total cost of 4680 cells due to an efficient backwards impact extrusion manufacturing process and lower cost of the aluminum raw material compared to nickel-plated steel

Influence of Processing Route on the Surface Reactivity of Cu47Ti33Zr11Ni6Sn2Si1 Metallic Glass

Recently, laser additive manufacturing (AM) techniques have emerged as a promising alternative for the synthesis of bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) with massively increased freedom in part size and geometry, thus extending their economic applicability of this material class. Nevertheless, porosity, compositional inhomogeneity, and crystallization display themselves to be the emerging challenges for this processing route. The impact of these “defects” on the surface reactivity and susceptibility to corrosion was seldom investigated but is critical for the further development of 3D-printed BMGs. This work compares the surface reactivity of cast and additively manufactured (via laser powder bed fusion—LPBF) Cu47Ti33Zr11Ni6Sn2Si1 metallic glass after 21 days of immersion in a corrosive HCl solution. The cast material presents lower oxygen content, homogeneous chemical distribution of the main elements, and the surface remains unaffected after the corrosion experimentation based on vertical scanning interferometry (VSI) investigation. On the contrary, the LPBF material presents a considerably higher reactivity seen through crack propagations on the surface. It exhibits higher oxygen content, heterogeneous chemical distribution, and presence of defects (porosity and cracks) generated during the manufacturing process

Antydyskryminacja. Pakiet Edukacyjny

Pakiet edukacyjny Antydyskryminacja opracowany w ramach programu PHARE 2002 PL 2002/000-605/01.02 Wzmocnienie polityki antydyskryminacyjnej w Polsce, wprowadza zagadnienia równości i przeciwdziałania dyskryminacji do działań edukacyjnych podejmowanych przez nauczycieli, edukatorów i przedstawicieli organizacji pozarządowych. Publikacja stanowi doskonałą bazę merytoryczną do prowadzenia szkoleń dotyczących tematyki antydyskryminacyjnej oraz promowania polityki równego traktowania. Publikacja sfinansowana z funduszy Unii Europejskiej

Decreased Linezolid Serum Concentrations in Three Critically Ill Patients: Clinical Case Studies of a Potential Drug Interaction between Linezolid and Rifampicin

Linezolid is a valuable treatment option for treating infections caused by multi-resistant gram-positive pathogens. Lack of effective linezolid levels due to the co-administration of rifampicin has been described in healthy subjects. However, the clinical significance of this potential drug interaction (DI) for critically ill patients is still unclear. This was a retrospective analysis of 3 critically ill patients with the combination therapy of linezolid and rifampicin or rifampicin pre-treatment. Despite increasing the dose of linezolid, the majority of observed linezolid trough concentrations in all 3 patients were below 2 mg/l. Furthermore, linezolid trough concentrations remained below 2 mg/l after discontinuation of rifampicin. This potential DI between linezolid and rifampicin could lead to treatment failure. Therefore, we strongly recommend that linezolid serum concentrations be monitored in patients with rifampicin co-administration or rifampicin pretreatment. (C) 2016 S. Karger AG, Base

Cerebrospinal fluid penetration of meropenem in neurocritical care patients with proven or suspected ventriculitis: a prospective observational study

Background: Ventriculitis is a complication of temporary intraventricular drains. The limited penetration of meropenem into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is well known. However, ventricular CSF pharmacokinetic data in patients with ventriculitis are lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate meropenem pharmacokinetics in the serum and CSF of neurocritical care patients with proven or suspected ventriculitis. Methods: We conducted an observational pharmacokinetic study of neurocritical care patients with proven or suspected ventriculitis receiving meropenem. Multiple blood and CSF samples were taken and were described using nonparametric pharmacokinetic modelling with Pmetrics. Results: In total, 21 patients (median age 52 years, median weight 76 kg) were included. The median (range) of peak and trough concentrations in serum were 20.16 (4.40-69.00) mg/L and 2.54 (0.00-31.40) mg/L, respectively. The corresponding peak and trough concentrations in CSF were 1.20 (0.00-6.20) mg/L and 1.28 (0.00-4.10) mg/L, respectively, with a median CSF/serum ratio (range) of 0.09 (0.03-0.16). Median creatinine clearance ranged from 60. 7 to 217.6 ml/minute (median 122.5 ml/minute). A three-compartment linear population pharmacokinetic model was most appropriate. No covariate relationships could be supported for any of the model parameters. Meropenem demonstrated poor penetration into CSF, with a median CSF/serum ratio of 9 % and high interindividual pharmacokinetic variability. Conclusions: Administration of higher-than-standard doses of meropenem and therapeutic drug monitoring in both serum and CSF should be considered to individualise meropenem dosing in neurocritical care patients with ventriculitis

An Architectural Design for Measurement Uncertainty Evaluation in Cyber-Physical Systems

Several use cases from the areas of manufacturing and process industry, require highly accurate sensor data. As sensors always have some degree of uncertainty, methods are needed to increase their reliability. The common approach is to regularly calibrate the devices to enable traceability according to national standards and Syst\`eme international (SI) units - which follows costly processes. However, sensor networks can also be represented as Cyber Physical Systems (CPS) and a single sensor can have a digital representation (Digital Twin) to use its data further on. To propagate uncertainty in a reliable way in the network, we present a system architecture to communicate measurement uncertainties in sensor networks utilizing the concept of Asset Administration Shells alongside methods from the domain of Organic Computing. The presented approach contains methods for uncertainty propagation as well as concepts from the Machine Learning domain that combine the need for an accurate uncertainty estimation. The mathematical description of the metrological uncertainty of fused or propagated values can be seen as a first step towards the development of a harmonized approach for uncertainty in distributed CPSs in the context of Industrie 4.0. In this paper, we present basic use cases, conceptual ideas and an agenda of how to proceed further on.Comment: accepted at FedCSIS 202