Design of inspection and maintenance models based on the CCC-chart

In this research, six maintenance models are constructed based on whether minor inspection, major inspection, minor maintenance and major maintenance are performed on a system. The system to study is a production process in which items produced can be classified as either conforming or nonconforming, and a statistical process control chart called CCC-chart (cumulative count control chart) can be applied to monitor the process. The maintenance models are analyzed quantitatively, and selection of models can be based on an economic consideration. The total cost can be broken down into inspection cost, maintenance cost, and the cost due to deterioration of the process. From the analytic results obtained, the choice of maintenance plan can be optimized from an economic point of view.published_or_final_versio

Pathogenesis of the novel avian-origin influenza A (H7N9) virus Influenza H7N9 virus in human lower respiratory tract

Poster Session: News and Views from H7N9 OutbreakBackground: As of May 2013, 131 laboratory-confirmed human infections with a novel influenza H7N9 virus had been reported from China. The source of human infection appears to be poultry. There is so far no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission. Genetic analysis revealed that all eight gene segments of H7N9 were of avian origin; six internal gene segments from avian influenza H7N9 viruses, while hemagglutinin and neuraminidase genes were derived from influenza viruses circulating in ducks and wild ducks, respectively. The emergence of the H7N9 influenza virus catches global attention about whether the new virus could spark another pandemic. The majority of the infected patients were hospitalized and suffered from ARDS, with a fatality rate of about 37%. Our study aimed to determine the mechanism contributing to the pathogenesis of the H7N9 virus. A panel of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines will be examined upon influenza H7N9 virus infection in alveolar epithelial cells in order to examine if these mediators were induced differentially when compared with the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 and the 2009 pandemic H1N1 virus. Moreover, because cleaved caspase 3 is commonly employed as a marker for the indication of apoptosis, we further examined the extensiveness of cleaved caspase 3 in influenza virus infection in human lung ex vivo cultures. Materials and Methods: Fresh biopsies of human lung tissue were obtained from patients undergoing surgical resection of lung tissues. Lung tissue fragments were cultured with F12K medium incubated at 37°C. For viral infection experiments, influenza viruses A/Shanghai/1/2013 (SH1, H7N9), A/Shanghai/2/2013 (SH2, H7N9), A/Hong Kong/483/97 (H5N1), and A/California/07 (Ca07, H1N1pdm) at a viral titer of 106 TCID50/mL were used for ex vivo lung culture infection. Infected lung tissues were collected in 10% formalin at 24, 48, and 72 hpi for immunohistochemical staining. Costaining of cleaved caspase 3 and influenza virus nucleoprotein was carried out for the detection of apoptosis. Furthermore, primary culture of human alveolar epithelial cells was isolated from human lungs by mincing the lung, followed by filtration and centrifugation. Human alveolar epithelial cells were infected with the novel influenza H7N9, the HPAI H5N1, and the pandemic H1N1 virus. Virus replication was monitored by measuring infectious viral particles using TCID50. mRNA and protein expression of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines were quantified by real time qPCR and ELISA. Results: We found extensive apoptosis in influenza H7N9 (both SH1 and SH2) and H5N1, but not H1N1pdm infected ex vivo lung tissues, suggesting that both avian influenza viruses can induce apoptosis and cause severe cell death in human lung tissue. Furthermore, unlike HPAI H5N1 which induces dysregulated proinflammatory cytokine responses, the novel influenza H7N9 virus elicited poor proinflammatory cytokine responses, inducing type I and III interferon in ex vivo human lung explant cultures. The novel influenza H7N9 virus is an intrinsically more potent inducer of proinflammatory cytokine than the H1N1pdm virus but less than the H5N1 virus. Conclusions: The proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine responses may contribute modestly to the severity of human H7N9 disease, but it is likely that direct viral cytopathology is probably playing a more important role in pathogenesis of human H7N9 diseases. The recognition of the role of cleaved caspase 3 in severe human infection of avian influenza virus can provide insights on the development of novel therapeutic approaches for the preparedness of the future outbreak of pandemics.published_or_final_versio

Emission characteristics of nonmethane hydrocarbons from private cars and taxis at different driving speeds in Hong Kong

Vehicular emissions are the major sources of a number of air pollutants including nonmethane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) in urban area. The emission composition and emission factors of NMHCs from vehicles are currently lacking in Hong Kong. In this study, speciation and emission factors of NMHCs emitted from gasoline-fuelled private cars and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)-fuelled taxis at different driving speeds were constructed using a chassis dynamometer. Large variations in the contributions of individual NMHC species to total emission were observed for different private cars at different driving speeds. The variations of individual NMHC emissions were relatively smaller for taxis due to their relatively homogeneous year of manufacture and mileages. Incomplete combustion products like ethane, ethene and propene were the major component of both types of vehicles, while unburned fuel component was also abundant in the exhausts of private cars and taxis (i.e. i-pentane and toluene for private car, and propane and butanes for taxi). Emission factors of major NMHCs emitted from private cars and taxis were estimated. High emission factors of ethane, n-butane, i/n-pentanes, methylpentanes, trimethylpentanes, ethene, propene, i-butene, benzene, toluene and xylenes were found for private cars, whereas propane and i/n-butanes had the highest values for taxis. By evaluating the effect of vehicular emissions on the ozone formation potential (OFP), it was found that the contributions of olefinic and aromatic hydrocarbons to OFP were higher than that from paraffinic hydrocarbons for private car, whereas the contributions of propane and i/n-butanes were the highest for taxis. The total OFP value was higher at lower speeds (≤50 km h-1) for private cars while a minimum value at driving speed of 100 km h-1 was found for taxis. At the steady driving speeds, the total contribution of NMHCs emitted from LPG-fuelled taxis to the OFP was much lower than that from gasoline-fuelled private cars. However, at idling state, the contribution of NMHCs from LPG-fuelled vehicles to OFP was comparable to that from gasoline-fuelled vehicles. The findings obtained in this study can be used to mitigate the air pollution caused by vehicles in highly dense urban areas. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd

Total quality control on printed circuit board assembly process

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Immunomodulatory and anti-viral effects of statins in influenza H5N1 virus infection of human alveolar epithelial cells and peripheral blood–derived macrophages

Poster Session: Novel TherapeuticsBackground: Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus panzootic in poultry continues to spread. It causes zoonotic human disease with a high (> 60%) fatality rate and continues to pose a pandemic threat. Based on clinical, animal, and in vitro cell studies, we and others have suggested that differences in viral replication competence, tissue tropism, and cytokine dysregulation between H5N1 and low pathogenic viruses may contribute to disease pathogenesis. Statins as HMG-CoA inhibitors act to reduce cholesterol and have been demonstrated to have anti-inflammatory and immune-modulatory activities. However, there is controversy about the benefits of statin use on influenza infection in mice and humans. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of statin treatment in influenza infection using physiologically relevant in vitro models—human alveolar epithelial cells (AECs) and peripheral blood–derived macrophages (PBDMs). Materials and Methods: Primary human AECs and PBDMs were infected with HPAI H5N1 (A/HK/483/97) and seasonal H1N1 (A/HK/54/98) viruses in the presence or absence of statin (simvastatin and sevastatin) treatment. Virus replication was monitored by measuring infectious viral particles in cell culture supernatants using TCID50. Immuno-modulatory effects of statins were examined by measuring the mRNA and protein expression of cytokines and chemokines using qPCR and ELISA. In order to understand the intervention of statins and influenza infection, the gene expression profile of selected members of the sterol-biosynthesis pathway in influenza virus–infected AECs and PBDMs were also monitored. The responses of a variety of cytokine treatments on the genes of the sterol-biosynthesis pathway were investigated in AECs. Furthermore, the intracellular free cholesterol level was also examined by enzymatic assay in AECs infected with influenza virus. Results: We demonstrated that both simvastatin and mevastatin exhibited a dose-dependent inhibition of influenza virus replication for both HPAI H5N1 and seasonal H1N1 viruses in human AECs and PBDMs. The observed inhibitory effect of simvastatin and mevastatin occurred below the non-specific toxic effects to cells, which were measured by MTT assay. Treatment of simvastatin and mevastatin significantly suppressed H5N1 virus–induced pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α in PBDMs and chemokines, including IP-10 and MCP-1 secretion in both AECs and PBDMs at 24 hours post-infection. We further showed that human AECs and PBDMs infected with both HPAI H5N1 and seasonal H1N1 viruses had significant down-regulation of sterol pathway gene expression at 24 hours post-infection. AECs and PBDMs treated with IFN-γ or IFN-β but not IL-1β, TNF, or IL-6, showed down-regulation of sterol pathway gene expression. In addition, we found that the free cholesterol level was significantly reduced at 24 and 48 h post-H5N1 virus infection in AECs and in IFN-β–treated AECs. These results further support a specific modulation of the sterol metabolic pathway upon influenza virus infection. Conclusions: Taken together, the controversy about the beneficial effects of statin use in influenza infection and our data suggest that statins possess both the antiviral and immune-regulatory effects in H5N1-infected in vitro cell models. We also demonstrated a highly specific response of AECs and PBDMs through a coordinated negative regulation of multiple sterol pathway members upon influenza virus infection or treatment of interferon. Identification of a reduction in sterol pathway gene expression and cholesterol levels with IFN treatment in human AECs offers new insights on the host-mediated antiviral responses through the sterol metabolism pathway and opens new therapeutic options for human influenza disease.published_or_final_versio

Characteristics of nonmethane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) in industrial, industrial-urban, and industrial-suburban atmospheres of the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region of south China

In a study conducted in late summer 2000, a wide range of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were measured throughout five target cities in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region of south China. Twenty-eight nonmethane hydrocarbons (NMHCs; 13 saturated, 9 unsaturated, and 6 aromatic) are discussed. The effect of rapid industrialization was studied for three categories of landuse in the PRD: Industrial, industrial-urban, and industrial-suburban. The highest VOC mixing ratios were observed in industrial areas. Despite its relatively short atmospheric lifetime (2-3 days), toluene, which is largely emitted from industrial solvent use and vehicular emissions, was the most abundant NMHC quantified. Ethane, ethene, ethyne, propane, n-butane, i-pentane, benzene, and m-xylene were the next most abundant VOCs. Direct emissions from industrial activities were found to greatly impact the air quality in nearby neighborhoods. These emissions lead to large concentration variations for many VOCs in the five PRD study cities. Good correlations between isoprene and several short-lived combustion products were found in industrial areas, suggesting that in addition to biogenic sources, anthropogenic emissions may contribute to urban isoprene levels. This study provides a snapshot of industrial, industrial-urban, and industrial-suburban NMHCs in the five most industrially developed cities of the PRD. Increased impact of industrial activities on PRD air quality due to the rapid spread of industry from urban to suburban and rural areas, and the decrease of farmland, is expected to continue until effective emission standards are implemented. Copyright 2006 by the American Geophysical Union

Ecocide: New Zealand Legislation and Māori Culture

An international ecocide law requires two-thirds of States Parties of the International Criminal Court to vote in favor of establishing it as an amendment to the Rome Statute. Our sponsors, Island Reach and Shirleen Chin, want to gauge the feasibility of New Zealand joining as a supporter. This project assessed the stance of key Māori leaders and philosophers, and the New Zealand government on environmental justice, and how these views may align with an ecocide movement. Through archival research, semi- structured interviews, and participant observation, we delved into the environmental and legal influence of Māori culture. Our analysis of the Māori philosophy and New Zealand legislation may help assess a pathway for an ecocide law

Ambient halocarbon mixing ratios in 45 Chinese cities

During this study 158 whole air samples were collected in 45 Chinese cities in January and February 2001. The spatial distribution of different classes of halocarbons in the Chinese urban atmosphere, including chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), Halon-1211, and other chlorinated compounds is presented and discussed. Most of these compounds were enhanced compared to background levels. However, the mean enhancement of CFCs was relatively small, with CFC-12 and CFC-11 increases of 6% (range 1-31%) and 10% (range 2-89%), respectively, with respect to the global background. On the contrary, strongly enhanced levels of CFC replacement compounds and halogenated compounds used as solvents were measured. The average Halon-1211 concentration exceeded the background of 4.3 pptv by 75% and was higher than 10 pptv in several cities. Methyl chloride mixing ratios were also strongly elevated (78% higher than background levels), which is likely related to the widespread use of coal and biofuel in China. © 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

From customer orientation to customer satisfaction: The gap between theory and practice

The classical quality management theory suggests that different quality improvement practices have a similar positive effect on overall operational efficiency, leading to customer satisfaction. Based on a study of 225 organizations in the electronics industry in Hong Kong, we find that individual quality improvement practice has a specific effect on operational performance, rather than equally improving the overall operational efficiency. Our investigations indicate that customer orientation practices primarily affect time-based efficiency, while process improvement efforts help cost-related performance. On the other hand, emphasizing process-control systems leads to customer satisfaction directly without necessarily improving operations. While supporting the basic assertions of the classical quality management theory, these findings reveal that several problems exist in the practice of quality management in industry, and suggest that a re-direction of several quality management practices seems necessary. This research refines the understanding of quality management by explicating the specific effect of customer orientation and process management on organizational performance.published_or_final_versio