An approach to resource modelling in support of the life cycle engineering of enterprise systems

Enterprise modelling can facilitate the design, analysis, control and construction of contemporary enterprises which can compete in world-wide Product markets. This research involves a systematic study of enterprise modelling with a particular focus on resource modelling in support of the life cycle engineering of enterprise systems. This led to the specification and design of a framework for resource modelling. This framework was conceived to: classify resource types; identify the different functions that resource modelling can support, with respect to different life phases of enterprise systems; clarify the relationship between resource models and other modelling perspectives provide mechanisms which link resource models and other types of models; identify guidelines for the capture of information - on resources, leading to the establishment of a set of resource reference models. The author also designed and implemented a resource modelling tool which conforms to the principles laid down by the framework. This tool realises important aspects of the resource modeffing concepts so defined. Furthermore, two case studies have been carried out. One models a metal cutting environment, and the other is based on an electronics industry problem area. In this way, the feasibility of concepts embodied in the framework and the design of the resource modelling tool has been tested and evaluated. Following a literature survey and preliminary investigation, the CIMOSA enterprise modelling and integration methodology was adopted and extended within this research. Here the resource modelling tool was built by extending SEWOSA (System Engineering Workbench for Open System Architecture) and utilising the CIMBIOSYS (CINI-Building Integrated Open SYStems) integrating infrastructure. The main contributions of the research are that: a framework for resource modelling has been established; means and mechanisms have been proposed, implemented and tested which link and coordinate different modelling perspectives into an unified enterprise model; the mechanisms and resource models generated by this research support each Pfe phase of systems engineering projects and demonstrate benefits by increasing the degree to which the derivation process among models is automated

Antioxidant Carbocysteine Treatment in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome: A Randomized Clinical Trial

<div><p>Objective</p><p>This study aimed to examine the effects of carbocysteine in OSAS patients.</p><p>Methods</p><p>A total of 40 patients with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) were randomly divided into two groups. One group was treated with 1500 mg carbocysteine daily, and the other was treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) at night. Before treatment and after 6 weeks of treatment, all patients underwent polysomnography and completed questionnaires. Treatment compliance was compared between the two groups. Plasma was collected for various biochemical analyses. Endothelial function was assessed with ultrasound in the carbocysteine group.</p><p>Results</p><p>The proportion of patients who fulfilled the criteria for good compliance was higher in the carbocysteine group (n = 17) than in the CPAP group (n = 11; 100% vs. 64.7%). Compared with baseline values, the carbocysteine group showed significant improvement in their Epworth Sleepiness Scale score (10.18±4.28 vs. 6.82±3.66; P≤0.01), apnea-hypopnea index (55.34±25.03 vs. 47.56±27.32; P≤0.01), time and percentage of 90% oxygen desaturation (12.66 (2.81; 50.01) vs. 8.9 (1.41; 39.71); P≤0.01), and lowest oxygen saturation level (65.88±14.86 vs. 70.41±14.34; P≤0.01). Similar changes were also observed in the CPAP group. The CPAP group also showed a decreased oxygen desaturation index and a significant increase in the mean oxygen saturation after treatment, but these increases were not observed in the carbocysteine group. Snoring volume parameters, such as the power spectral density, were significantly reduced in both groups after the treatments. The plasma malondialdehyde level decreased and the superoxide dismutase and nitric oxide levels increased in both groups. The endothelin-1 level decreased in the CPAP group but did not significantly change in the carbocysteine group. Ultrasonography showed that the intima-media thickness decreased (0.71±0.15 vs. 0.66±0.15; P≤0.05) but that flow-mediated dilation did not significantly change in the carbocysteine group.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>Oral carbocysteine slightly improves sleep disorders by attenuating oxidative stress in patients with moderate to severe OSAS. Carbocysteine may have a role in the treatment of OSAS patients with poor compliance with CPAP treatment. However, the efficiency and feasibility of carbocysteine treatment for OSAS needs further evaluation.</p><p>Trial Registration</p><p>ClinicalTrials.gov <a href="https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02015598?term=NCT02015598&rank=1" target="_blank">NCT02015598</a></p></div

Porphyrin-Based Honeycomb Films and Their Antibacterial Activity

Micrometer-sized porous honeycomb-patterned thin films based on hybrid complexes formed via electrostatic interaction between Mn­(III) meso-tetra­(4-sulfonatophenyl) porphine chloride (an acid form, {MnTPPS}) and dimethyldioctadecylammonium bromide (DODMABr). The morphology of the microporous thin films can be well regulated by controlling the concentration of MnTPPS-DODMA complexes, DODMABr, and polystyrene (PS), respectively. The formation of the microporous thin films was largely influenced by different solvents. The well-ordered microporous films of MnTPPS-DODMA complexes exhibit a more efficient antibacterial activity under visible light than those of hybrid complexes of nanoparticles modified with DODMABr, implying that well-ordered microporous films containing porphyrin composition can improve photochemical activity and more dominance in applications in biological medicine fields

Correlation between intima-media thickness (IMT) and PSG Parameters in OSAS patients at baseline.

<p>(A) Pearson correlation analysis between lowest oxygen saturation (LSaO₂) and baseline IMT. (B) Spearman correlation analysis between Mean oxygen saturation (MSaO2) and baseline IMT. (C) Spearman correlation analysis between time percentage of 90% oxygen desaturation (T90%) and baseline IMT. (D) Spearman correlation analysis between nitric oxide (NO) and baseline IMT.</p

Polysomnography parameters in patients with OSAS before and after treatment.

<p>No significant difference of the baseline and the after treatment value between carbocysteine group and CPAP group.</p

Consort diagram.

<p>OSAS = sleep apnea syndrome; CPAP = continuous positive airway pressure.</p

Study plan.

<p>PSG <b>=</b> Polysomnography; CPAP = continuous positive airway pressure; t.i.d. = three times a day.</p

Characteristics of the study subjects.

<p>ESS = Epworth sleeping scale, AHI = Apnea-hypopnea index, ODI = Oxygen desaturation index, MSaO2 = Mean oxygen saturation, LSaO2 = Lowest oxygen saturation, T90% = Time percentage of 90% oxygen desaturation, Fpeak = Peak frequency. Data are given as means±SEM unless otherwise indicated</p

Sb Nanoparticles Anchored on Nitrogen-Doped Amorphous Carbon-Coated Ultrathin CoS_<i>x</i> Nanosheets for Excellent Performance in Lithium-Ion Batteries

Compared to single-component materials, hybrid materials with various components display superior electrochemical performance. In this work, two-dimensional CoS_<i>x</i>@NC@Sb nanosheets assembled by ultrathin CoS_<i>x</i> nanosheets (∼4 nm) and a thin layer of N-doped amorphous carbon (NC) combined with colloidlike Sb nanoparticles are designed and synthesized via a solvothermal route accompanied by a carbonization and Sb deposition procedure. If applied in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), the hybrids exhibit a specific capacity of 960 mA h g^–1 at the 100th cycle at 0.1 A g^–1. Moreover, the reversible capacity still maintains at 494 mA h g^–1 after 500 cycles at a high rate of 10 A g^–1. All enhanced electrochemical properties of the hybrids are attributed to the synergistic effect of the two components and their unique structural features, which can effectively increase the electrical conductivity, shorten the pathway of Li⁺ diffusion, accommodate the volume variation, and inhibit the aggregation and pulverization of the electrode. We believe that the current work can provide a new strategy for designing and fabricating high-performance anode materials for LIBs

Hydrogelation and Crystallization of Sodium Deoxycholate Controlled by Organic Acids

The gelation and crystallization behavior of a biological surfactant, sodium deoxycholate (NaDC), mixed with l-taric acid (L-TA) in water is described in detail. With the variation of molar ratio of L-TA to NaDC (<i>r</i> = <i>n</i>_L‑TA/<i>n</i>_NaDC) and total concentration of the mixtures, the transition from sol to gel was observed. SEM images showed that the density of nanofibers gradually increases over the sol–gel transition. The microstructures of the hydrogels are three-dimensional networks of densely packed nanofibers with lengths extending to several micrometers. One week after preparation, regular crystallized nanospheres formed along the length of the nanofibers, and it was typical among the transparent hydrogels induced by organic acids with p<i>K</i>_a₁ value <3.4. Small-angle X-ray diffraction demonstrated differences in the molecular packing between transparent and turbid gels, indicating a variable hydrogen bond mode between NaDC molecules