Determining Fuel Type from Estimates of Bulk Modulus Using Rail Pressure Measurements

The intention of this project is to measure fuel properties that would lead to determination whether the fuel is diesel or biodiesel. This research is focused on developing strategies to estimate the isentropic bulk modulus, which is a critical parameter for fuel characterization. Bulk modulus of fuel affects pressure rise due to pumping events differently for different fuels. With the help of sensors available on Cummins XPI fuel system, obtaining the data for pressure rise is accomplished. The pressure rise information is extracted from raw transient rail pressure data after filtering. The effects of filtering, engine speed and sampling rate have been taken into account while extracting the pressure rise estimates. The results obtained from test data have been applied on data from simulation models and from a test rig, which include high frequency oscillations due to sensor noise and rail dynamics. The bulk modulus estimation technique in this research is able to estimate the bulk modulus value for diesel fuel, with errors in the range of 0.71\% to 2.89\%, depending on pressure. The difference in values for bulk modulus of diesel and biodiesel is 7\%, which is not high enough to accommodate the uncertainties produced from bulk modulus estimation calculations. The value of $\Delta V$ used for bulk modulus changes with changing pressure and depends on the compressibility of the fuel, which in turn is dependent on the bulk modulus of the fuel. A possible approach to tackle this problem is to develop equations that use tangent and secant bulk modulus and their inter-relationship to determine $\Delta V$ and bulk modulus simultaneously from data collected at several rail pressures. Apart from this, several recommendations have been made in order to reduce the uncertainty in the results for pressure rise as well as bulk modulus estimation

OBSTACLES TO SUCCESS IN THE WORKPLACE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: A REVIEW AND RESEARCH AGENDA

Our objectives in this paper were to summarize research relevant to obstacles that people with disabilities (PWD) face in the workplace and to identify directions for future research on the topic. We included review, theoretical, and empirical articles in mainstream management journals and those in psychology or rehabilitation journals if they had clear workplace implications. We argue that obstacles identified in prior research may only partially reflect organizational reality. This is because of the heavy reliance on laboratory studies, which we urge researchers to replicate in organizational settings. Better understanding of obstacles will lead to more evidence-based solutions where the payoff is a less exclusionary world in which more individuals are provided opportunities to use their talent for the benefit of all. .Disability, Workplace obstacles, Review

AN EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SURVEY STUDY TO KNOW THE SLEEPING AND WAKE UP TIME OF ELDERLY AND ITS RELATION TO HEALTH

Vridh Awsatha compared with Geriatric Population is the state of “Vata Vridhi” related with various Vatavridhi disorders. The older individuals often suffer from multiple medical problems. Like, osteoarthritis, shortness of breath, congestive heart failure, all can lead to difficulty with sleep initiation and maintenance. Trouble with sleep is strongly correlated with complaints about health and depression. Studies examining the prevalence of sleep disturbances in patients with chronic medical diseases have reported that 31% of arthritis and 66% of chronic pain patients report difficulty falling asleep, while 81% of arthritis, 85% of chronic pain, and 33% of diabetes patients report difficulty staying asleep. In a recent National Sleep Foundation survey of adults aged 65 years and over, those with more medical conditions, including cardiac and pulmonary disease and depression, reported significantly more sleep complaints. Objective: This study has been conducted to evaluate the sleeping and waking time of elderly and Diseases pattern with sleep status. Methodology: Interview based Questionnaire was prepared to know the sleep timings, waking up timings of elderly. 96 subjects of both sex was selected from OPD of AIIA, and nearby place and collected data was analyzed by using odd’s. Conclusion: According to the study the health status is directly affected by the timings of sleeping and waking up i.e. people who wake up early tends to be healthier. So, to add the quality in the end years of life, sleep will be main domain to work upon

Disability, Gender and Race: Does Educational Attainment Reduce Earning Disparity for All or Just Some?

Although interest in research on persons with disabilities has grown steadily, these individuals continue to encounter workplace discrimination and remain marginalized and understudied. We draw on human capital and discrimination theories to propose and test hypotheses on the effects of educational attainment on earnings (in)equality for persons with disabilities and the moderating influence of gender and race using 885,950 records, including 40,438 persons with disabilities from the American Community Survey 2015 (United States Census Bureau, 2015). Consistent with human capital theory, we find that persons with disabilities benefit from greater educational attainment, yet consistent with disability discrimination theories, we find evidence that they are less likely to convert educational gains for master’s and higher degrees into earning gains, and consistent with theories on multiple sources of discrimination, we find that women with disabilities may be doubly disadvantaged. These results, however, are mixed and complex. Considering the importance of harnessing diverse talent in organizations, we outline implications for research and practice toward reducing workplace discrimination

The role of leadership in emergent, self-organization

As complex systems, organizations exist far from equilibrium where the ongoing interaction of system components leads to emergent and self-organizing behavior. What, then, is the role of leadership in systems where change often emerges in unexpected ways? In this paper, we build on the work of Marion and Uhl-Bien who suggest that in complex systems leaders enable rather than control the future. While traditional views of leadership focus on the leader’s responsibility for determining and directing the future through heavy reliance on control mechanisms, we offer empirical support for a different view of leadership based on a complexity perspective of organizations. Our findings show that as enablers, leaders disrupt existing patterns of behavior, encourage novelty, and make sense of emerging events for others. The results of our qualitative study include a set of research propositions as well as a discussion of the implications for managers and researchers

Radical Change Accidentally: The Emergence and Amplification of Small Change

A decision to offer breakfast to homeless people led to radical change in a church and its environment. Existing theories of change do not fully explain observations from our qualitative study; however, complexity theory constructs suggest how and why such change emerged. We offer four key findings. First, the radical change was unintended, emergent, and slow. Second, destabilizing conditions helped small changes to emerge and become radical. Third, subsequent actions amplified an initial small change and, though not intended to do so, promoted radical change. Finally, the dynamic interaction of amplifying actions, contextual conditions, and small changes led to continuous radical change

Radical Change Accidentally: The Emergence and Amplification of Small Change

A decision to offer breakfast to homeless people led to radical change in a church and its environment. Existing theories of change do not fully explain observations from our qualitative study; however, complexity theory constructs suggest how and why such change emerged. We offer four key findings. First, the radical change was unintended, emergent, and slow. Second, destabilizing conditions helped small changes to emerge and become radical. Third, subsequent actions amplified an initial small change and, though not intended to do so, promoted radical change. Finally, the dynamic interaction of amplifying actions, contextual conditions, and small changes led to continuous radical change

Influence of various sterilization procedures on TiO2 nanotubes used for biomedical devices

Sterilization is the final surface treatment procedure of all implantable devices and is one of the key factors which have to be considered before implementation. Since different sterilization procedures for all implantable devices influence mechanical properties as well as biological response, the influence of different sterilization techniques on titanium nanotubes was studied. Commonly used sterilization techniques such as autoclaving, ultra-violet light sterilization, hydrogen peroxide plasma sterilization as well as the not so frequently used gaseous oxygen plasma sterilization were used. Three different nanotube diameters; 15 nm, 50 nm and 100 nm were employed to study the effects of various sterilization techniques. It was observed that autoclave sterilization resulted in destruction of nanotubular features on all three studied nanotube diameters, while UV-light and both kinds of plasma sterilization did not cause any significant morphological changes on the surfaces. Differences between the sterilization techniques employed influenced cytocompatibility, especially in the case of nanotubes with 100 nm diameter. © 2016 Elsevier B.V.Slovenian Research Agency (ARRS) [J1-4109, J1-4136, J3-4108, P3-0314, P2-0232]; Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic [L01504

Adherence of oral streptococci to nanostructured titanium surfaces

AbstractObjectivesPeri-implantitis and peri-mucositis pose a severe threat to the success of dental implants. Current research focuses on the development of surfaces that inhibit biofilm formation while not inferring with tissue integration. This study compared the adherence of two oral bacterial species, Streptococcus sanguinis and Streptococcus mutans to nanostructured titanium surfaces.MethodsThe samples included TiO2 nanotubes formed by anodization of titanium foil of 100, 50 and 15nm diameter (NT15, NT50, NT100), a nanoporous (15nm pore diameter) surface and compact TiO2 control. Adherent surviving bacteria were enumerated after 1h in an artificial saliva medium containing bovine mucin.ResultsLowest numbers of adherent bacteria of both species were recovered from the original titanium foil and nanoporous surface and highest numbers from the Ti100 nanotubes. Numbers of attached S. sanguinis increased in the order (NT15<NT50<NT100), correlated with increasing percentage of surface fluoride. The lowest adhesion of S. sanguinis and S. mutans on TiO2 nanostructured surfaces was observed for small diameter nanoporous surfaces which coincides with the highest osteoblast adhesion on small diameter nanotubular/nanoporous surfaces shown in previous work.SignificanceThis study indicates that the adherence of oral streptococci can be modified by titanium anodization and nanotube diameter

The future of research in an artificial intelligence-driven world

Current and future developments in artificial intelligence (AI) systems have the capacity to revolutionize the research process for better or worse. On the one hand, AI systems can serve as collaborators as they help streamline and conduct our research. On the other hand, such systems can also become our adversaries when they impoverish our ability to learn as theorists, or when they lead us astray through inaccurate, biased, or fake information. No matter which angle is considered, and whether we like it or not, AI systems are here to stay. In this curated discussion, we raise questions about human centrality and agency in the research process, and about the multiple philosophical and practical challenges we are facing now and ones we will face in the future