Applying control theories and ABM to improve resilience-based design of systems

Applying optimal control theories and agent base modeling to improve resilience assessment of systems is a new field which has not been explored yet. A resilience decision support system should include some critical elements: (i) Assess risk, (ii) identify choices (Identify choices for reducing vulnerability that focus on joint solutions across social, economic, and ecological systems; provide decision support, including Web-based guidance and scenarios to assess options) and (iii) take actions (Help communities develop and implement solutions). The field of structural control provides loops which are able to approach the problem in a more rational way and provide practical solutions to the resilience design strategies. The paper describes the concept and provides some promising applications of the proposed interdisciplinary approach

Electronic Structure of Electron-doped Sm1.86Ce0.14CuO4: Strong `Pseudo-Gap' Effects, Nodeless Gap and Signatures of Short Range Order

Angle resolved photoemission (ARPES) data from the electron doped cuprate superconductor Sm$_{1.86}$Ce$_{0.14}$CuO$_4$ shows a much stronger pseudo-gap or "hot-spot" effect than that observed in other optimally doped $n$-type cuprates. Importantly, these effects are strong enough to drive the zone-diagonal states below the chemical potential, implying that d-wave superconductivity in this compound would be of a novel "nodeless" gap variety. The gross features of the Fermi surface topology and low energy electronic structure are found to be well described by reconstruction of bands by a $\sqrt{2}\times\sqrt{2}$ order. Comparison of the ARPES and optical data from the $same$ sample shows that the pseudo-gap energy observed in optical data is consistent with the inter-band transition energy of the model, allowing us to have a unified picture of pseudo-gap effects. However, the high energy electronic structure is found to be inconsistent with such a scenario. We show that a number of these model inconsistencies can be resolved by considering a short range ordering or inhomogeneous state.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Up-regulation of adipogenin, an adipocyte plasma transmembrane protein, during adipogenesis

The original publication is available at www.springerlink.com.ArticleMOLECULAR AND CELLULAR BIOCHEMISTRY. 276(1-2): 133-141 (2005)journal articl

Deficiency of plasminogen activator inhibitor‐2 results in accelerated tumor growth

BackgroundUpregulation of the plasminogen activation system, including urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA), has been observed in many malignancies, suggesting that co‐opting the PA system is a common method by which tumor cells accomplish extracellular matrix proteolysis. PAI‐2, a serine protease inhibitor, produced from the SERPINB2 gene, inhibits circulating and extracellular matrix‐tethered uPA. Decreased SERPINB2 expression has been associated with increased tumor invasiveness and metastasis for several types of cancer. PAI‐2 deficiency has not been reported in humans and PAI‐2‐deficient (SerpinB2−/−) mice exhibit no apparent abnormalities.ObjectivesWe investigated the role of PAI‐2 deficiency on tumor growth and metastasis.MethodsTo explore the long‐term impact of PAI‐2 deficiency, a cohort of SerpinB2−/− mice were aged to >18 months, with spontaneous malignancies observed in 4/9 animals, all of apparently vascular origin. To further investigate the role of PAI‐2 deficiency in malignancy, SerpinB2−/− and wild‐type control mice were injected with either B16 melanoma or Lewis lung carcinoma tumor cells, with markedly accelerated tumor growth observed in SerpinB2−/− mice for both cell lines. To determine the relative contributions of PAI‐2 from hematopoietic or nonhematopoietically derived sources, bone marrow transplants between wild‐type C57BL/6J and SerpinB2−/− mice were performed.Results and ConclusionsOur results suggest that PAI‐2 deficiency increases susceptibility to spontaneous tumorigenesis in the mouse, and demonstrate that SerpinB2 expression derived from a nonhematopoietic compartment is a key host factor in the regulation of tumor growth in both the B16 melanoma and Lewis lung carcinoma models.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/163438/2/jth15054_am.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/163438/1/jth15054.pd

Global evaluation of Doppler velocity errors of EarthCARE cloud-profiling radar using a global storm-resolving simulation

The cloud-profiling radar (CPR) on the Earth Clouds, Aerosol, and Radiation Explorer (EarthCARE) satellite (EC-CPR) is the first satellite-borne Doppler radar. In a previous study, we examined the effects of horizontal (along-track) integration and simple unfolding methods on the reduction of Doppler errors in the EC-CPR observations, and those effects were evaluated using two limited scenes in limited-latitude and low-pulse-repetition-frequency (PRF) settings. In this study, the amount of data used was significantly increased, and the area of the data used was extended globally. Not only low-PRF but also high-PRF settings were examined. We calculated the EC-CPR-observed Doppler velocity from pulse-pair covariances using the radar reflectivity factor and Doppler velocity obtained from a satellite data simulator and a global storm-resolving simulation. The global data were divided into five latitudinal zones, and each standard deviation of Doppler errors for 5 dBZe after 10 km integration was calculated. In the case of the low-PRF setting, the error without unfolding correction for the tropics reached a maximum of 2.2 m s−1 and then decreased toward the poles (0.43 m s−1). The error with unfolding correction for the tropics became much smaller at 0.63 m s−1. In the case of the high-PRF setting, the error without unfolding correction for the tropics reached a maximum of 0.78 m s−1 and then decreased toward the poles (0.19 m s−1). The error with unfolding correction for the tropics was 0.29 m s−1, less than half the value without the correction. The results of the analyses of the simulated data indicated that the zonal mean frequency of precipitation echoes was highest in the tropics and decreased toward the poles. Considering a limitation of the unfolding correction for discrimination between large upward velocity and large precipitation falling velocity, the latitudinal variation in the standard deviation of Doppler error can be explained by the precipitation echo distribution.</p

The Hamiltonian boundary term and quasi-local energy flux

The Hamiltonian for a gravitating region includes a boundary term which determines not only the quasi-local values but also, via the boundary variation principle, the boundary conditions. Using our covariant Hamiltonian formalism, we found four particular quasi-local energy-momentum boundary term expressions; each corresponds to a physically distinct and geometrically clear boundary condition. Here, from a consideration of the asymptotics, we show how a fundamental Hamiltonian identity naturally leads to the associated quasi-local energy flux expressions. For electromagnetism one of the four is distinguished: the only one which is gauge invariant; it gives the familiar energy density and Poynting flux. For Einstein's general relativity two different boundary condition choices correspond to quasi-local expressions which asymptotically give the ADM energy, the Trautman-Bondi energy and, moreover, an associated energy flux (both outgoing and incoming). Again there is a distinguished expression: the one which is covariant.Comment: 12 pages, no figures, revtex

Amino-functionalized magnetic chitosan beads to enhance immobilization of potassium copper hexacyanoferrate for selective Cs+ removal and facile recovery

Potassium copper hexacyanoferrate (KCuHCF)-incorporated magnetic chitosan beads (HMC) were synthesized for both selective Cs+ removal in aqueous solutions and facile recovery of the spent adsorbent. To disperse and immobilize large amounts of the KCuHCF, methyl acrylate and diethylenetriamine were sequentially grafted onto the one-step synthesized magnetic chitosan beads. The additional introduction of amino functionality led to the enriched Cu2+ ions on the bead surface to incorporate KCuHCF into the grafting matrix. Consequently, the HMC exhibited a high Cs+ capacity calculated to be 136.47 mg g−1 from the Langmuir model, and the equilibrium was established within 4 h. Moreover, the HMC exhibited excellent stability in a wide pH range from 4 to 11 and an outstanding Cs+ selectivity (>97%) in seawater (1.11 mg L−1 Cs+). From a practical point of view, the HMC was stable during five successive adsorption cycles and easily recovered by magnets, enabling continuous operation to decontaminate a large volume of wastewater

The performance of major airports in the Europe, North America and Asia

File replaced (AAM) on 30.5.23 by NK (LDS)© 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited. This AAM is provided for your own personal use only. It may not be used for resale, reprinting, systematic distribution, emailing, or for any other commercial purpose without the permission of the publisher.Purpose This study aims to provide a meaningful comparison of airports’ performance and better understand the differences observed in the analysed airport performance by presenting a model to analyse the relationship between operational and financial performance and airport characteristics. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a quantitative analysis approach. The Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) and entropy weight were utilised to analyse 17 airports in three Airports Council International regions: Asia, Europe and North America. Through operational and financial factors, these sample airports identified the most efficiently operated airports from 2016 to 2019. Findings Overall, Asian airports were superior in operational and financial efficiency. Unlike operating performance, the sample airport’s financial and total performance results show a similar trend. There were no noticeable changes in operational factors. Therefore, differences in financial variables for each airport may affect the total performance. Practical implications This study provides insightful implications for airport policymakers to establish a standardised information disclosure foundation for consistent analysis and encourage airports to provide this information. Originality/value The adoption of Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortisation (EBITDA) to debt ratio and EBITDA per passenger, which had previously been underutilised in the previous study as financial factors, demonstrated differences between airports for airport stakeholders. In addition, the study presented a model that facilitates producing more intuitive results using TOPSIS, which was relatively underutilised compared to other methodologies such as date envelopment analysis