Machine prognostics based on health state estimation using SVM

The ability to accurately predict the remaining useful life of machine components is critical for continuous operations in machines which can also improve productivity and enhance system safety. In condition-based maintenance (CBM), effective diagnostics and prognostics are important aspects of CBM which provide sufficient time for maintenance engineers to schedule a repair and acquire replacement components before the components finally fail. All machine components have certain characteristics of failure patterns and are subjected to degradation processes in real environments. This paper describes a technique for accurate assessment of the remnant life of machines based on prior expert knowledge embedded in closed loop prognostics systems. The technique uses Support Vector Machines (SVM) for classification of faults and evaluation of health for six stages of bearing degradation. To validate the feasibility of the proposed model, several fault historical data from High Pressure Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) pumps were analysed to obtain their failure patterns. The results obtained were very encouraging and the prediction closely matched the real life particularly at the end of term of the bearings

An Unusual Case of Colon Perforation Complicating Acute Pancreatitis

Colonic complications of severe acute pancreatitis occur rarely. Although there have been several theories on how pancreatic pseudocysts rupture into the colon, the exact pathogenesis remains unknown. We report an unusual case of pseudocysts complicating severe acute pancreatitis presenting with colonic perforation in a 71-year-old man with a history of chronic mesenteric ischemia. Pressure effects from a giant pseudocyst and intravascular volume depletion with acute insult on chronic mesenteric ischemia are highlighted as possible etiologic factors

The Characteristics of Necessity, Commoner, and Parasite with Multicultural Data Comparison

Three different types of employees can be found in workplaces all over the world: “Necessities,” “Commoners,” and “Parasites.” A person is a Necessity if s/he is irreplaceable and crucial to the functioning of an organization. A Commoner is a person of normal ability and talent who has no significant impact on organizational success. Parasites are detrimental freeloaders who damage the functioning of an organization. To identify the principal characteristics of these three types of workers, a group of researchers led by Chong W. Kim conducted six studies in which they collected survey data from undergraduate and graduate business students in the U.S., India, Korea, Chile, and Japan. The results of this research effort are reported in Kim & Sikula (2005), Kim & Sikula (2006), Kim, Sikula & Smith (2006), Kim, Cho & Sikula (2007), Kim, Arias- Bolzmann & Smith (2008), and Kim, Arias-Bolzmann & Magoshi (2009). The summary of these six studies has been reported in Kim, Smith, Sikula & Anderson (2011). The purpose of this article is to compare the results of the summary study with a new set of data, which was collected from a multicultural student body. The authors note the points of commonality between the data sets and offer their thoughts on future research in this area

Food for All in Clackamas County

In partnership with OSU Extension Service and Clackamas County Public Health Division, this project used data and narrative research for planning community-based strategies to improve availability and access to culturally relevant, healthy food resources in Clackamas County. The student team updated demographic and health data from the past Blueprints for a Healthy Clackamas County and visualized the information through maps. Through community engagement in the Molalla area, the project helped determine food preferences, assess gaps, and provide recommendations for healthy, culturally preferred food resource availability specific to Molalla

Effects of green tea leaf, lotus leaf, and kimchi powders on quality characteristics of chicken liver sausages

Liver sausage is flavorful and highly nutritious. However, liver has a relatively short shelf life due to acceleration of oxidation in the presence of endogenous enzymes and metals. Powders derived from natural sources, including plants or fruits, are applied to meat products for inhibiting oxidation without adverse effects on their quality. Hence, this study investigated the effects of natural powders derived from green tea leaf (GTL), lotus leaf (LL), and kimchi (KC) on the quality and change in lipid oxidation and freshness of chicken liver sausages during two weeks of storage. Chicken liver sausages were manufactured with chicken breast (70%) and liver (20%), pork back fat (5%), iced water (5%), various additives, and GTL, LL, and KC [0 (control) or 1%]. They were processed in three batches. For determination of the quality characteristics of chicken liver sausages with various plant powders, pH, color, and texture properties were assessed. In addition, lipid oxidation and freshness using thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and total volatile basic nitrogen (TVBN) were analyzed at day 0 and week 2 of refrigerated storage. Higher values were obtained for pH and cooking yield in sausage samples with LL and KC powders than in samples with the other treatments. For a* values, the sausage samples with KC showed similar (p > 0.05) values, whilst others had significantly lower values than the control. The addition of the three powders to sausage samples induced an increase (p < 0.05) in hardness, gumminess, and chewiness. The addition of plant powders did not influence TBARS and TVBN of sausage samples at the initial stage. However, after two weeks of storage, significantly lower TBARS and TVBN values were observed, and the sausage with KC (p < 0.05) showed the lowest values of both TBARS and TVBN. The results showed the potential ability of the three powders to improve the quality and inhibit lipid oxidation in liver sausages. Particularly, the addition of KC did not adversely affect the a* values of sausage samples. The effects on sensory properties and inhibition mechanisms of GTL, LL, and KC in meat products should be further studied

Effects of Polyethylene Glycol-Induced Water Stress on the Physiological and Biochemical Responses of Different Sorghum Genotypes

Globally, abiotic stress is the primary cause of crop loss, reducing the average yields of most major crop plants by more than 50% (Bray et. al., 2000). Drought stress is one of the most widespread environmental stresses when the total area of arable land is classified according to the occurrence of various stress factors (Arora et al., 2002). Drought and other abiotic stresses limit the photosynthetic activity of various crops, which in turn reduces the production of photosynthetic assimilates. Almost every developmental stage of the plant is affected by water stress. However, it has been observed that drought stress is more damaging to plants at the growth and germination stages, affecting seedling shoot length, flowering, and root length (Khayatnezhad, et al., 2010

Translational repression of mouse mu opioid receptor expression via leaky scanning

Mu opioid receptor (MOR) expression is under temporal and spatial controls, but expression levels of the MOR gene are relatively low in vivo. In addition to transcriptional regulations, upstream AUGs (uAUGs) and open reading frames (uORFs) profoundly affect the translation of the primary ORF and thus the protein levels in several genes. The 5′-untranslated region (UTR) of mouse MOR mRNA contains three uORFs preceding the MOR main initiation codon. In MOR-fused EGFP or MOR promoter/luciferase reporter constructs, mutating each uAUG individually or in combinations increased MOR transient heterologous expression in neuroblastoma NMB and HEK293 cells significantly. Translation of such constructs increased up to 3-fold without altering the mRNA levels if either the third uAUG or both the second and third AUGs were mutated. Additionally, these uAUG-mediated translational inhibitions were independent of their peptide as confirmed by internal mutation analyses in each uORF. Translational studies indicated that protein syntheses were initiated at these uAUG initiation sites, with the third uAUG initiating the highest translation level. These results support the hypothesis that uORFs in mouse MOR mRNA act as negative regulators through a ribosome leaky scanning mechanism. Such leaky scanning resulted in the suppression of mouse MOR under normal conditions

Nudging student recycling behaviour: An experimental study in Kazakhstan and UK higher education

We study the effects of influencing the recycling decisions of young people in the UK and Kazakhstan Universities using a public good experiment with an information nudge (through a video) and a peer effect nudge. Kazakhstan recycles approximately 15% of its municipal waste, compared to almost half in the UK; however, surprisingly, overall contributions are significantly higher from Kazakh students compared to those from UK students. An information video on recycling prompts Kazakh students to contribute more while no such effect is found with the UK students. This suggests that Kazakh students may perceive themselves to be more capable of recycling despite a less sophisticated recycling system compared to the UK. A strong peer effect is seen across both countries. The study highlights the importance of subjective norms through peer nudge and the likelihood of higher contributions from students with siblings. A wider implication is that emerging economies’ educational institutions may have latent positive environmental and recycling practices that developed nations could learn from. The study has implications for educational development as well as national recycling policy frameworks