促进制造业可持续发展的创新服务模式-协同服务

传统制造业在急剧膨胀的生产能力和竞争日益激烈的环境中,产品供给处于饱和状态。提出了产品服务增值战略,为产品提供全生命周期创新式协同服务,从而增强企业的核心竞争力,实现企业的可持续发展。分析了传统工业服务模式向协同服务的转化过程,给出了信息技术支持下建立协同服务网络的关键支撑技术：复杂设备协同服务的组织形式、协同服务的识别与商业模型构建以及信息支撑技术,为协同服务的研究和建立打下了理论基础。随着制造技术、信息技术与网络技术的迅速发展,远程诊断技术应用越来越广泛,在全球范围内提供快速的专业协同服务已具备了技术基础和实现的可能性。     

Humidity regulation by stretched PP and PLA films with dispersed CaCl2

Polymer materials that regulate the relative humidity in their environment are relevant for applications in the packaging and building sectors. By integration of salts in polymer structures, such materials are able to absorb and desorb high amounts of water vapor. In this study, films of polylactic acid and polypropylene with dispersed calcium chloride (2 and 4 wt %) were produced and biaxially stretched to induce the formation of cavities. The resulting cavities in these films account up to 10 vol % and are able to contain emerging calcium chloride solution formed by water vapor absorption. These films absorb reversibly up to 15 wt % water vapor at 75% relative humidity at 23 °C. This absorption behavior is described by effective diffusion and effective sorption coefficients. Using a simple model, the effective water vapor diffusion coefficient of these films can be estimated from the permeation coefficient of the polymer and the sorption coefficient of the absorber. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135, 45713.     

Car driver behavior at flashing light railroad grade crossings

The behavior of car drivers at two Dutch railroad grade crossings with automatic flashing warning lights was analyzed. Car drivers were videotaped while approaching either the red flashing lights or the white flashing "safe"-signal. Approach speeds, positions, and time intervals were semiautomatically measured from videos of more than 900 drivers: 660 while confronted with the red lights and 272 while passing the white light. Of the latter group, head movements during the approach to the crossing were also registered. Red light compliance was relatively good, as no driver was observed to cross later than 6 seconds after the onset of the red lights, despite train-arrival times of well over 60 seconds. The level of red light compliance was further quantified in terms of both the deceleration and time-to-stopping-line as accepted by drivers. From a comparison with earlier research on red light compliance at signalized road intersections it appeared that red light compliance was better at railroad crossings than at road crossings. It is concluded that faulty red light compliance is not a major cause for car-train accidents and that emphasis should be placed on the ability of the present device to attract attention and to signal unambiguously. The high degree of compliance also causes unexpected driver actions, such as emergency braking and hesitations. A yellow phase may reduce these problems. Some drivers tended to proceed immediately after a train had cleared the road instead of waiting for the end of the red signal (typically some 3 to 5 seconds after the train had passed). This tendency might reveal a major cause of dramatic errors when a second train is approaching. Immediate extinction of the red signal is suggested, or even better, a separate signal to announce the arrival of the second train. Behavior during the white signal phase also showed indications of uncertainty. In some 10% of cases drivers tended to decelerate more strongly than necessary and to make extra head movements. It is recommended that the present white flashing signal be reconsidered.     

Toward On‐and‐Off Magnetism: Reversible Electrochemistry to Control Magnetic Phase Transitions in Spinel Ferrites

The magnetoelectric effect, i.e., electric‐field control of magnetism in artificial heterostructures is usually limited to surface/interface atoms of the magnetic materials. In order to attain electrical control of magnetism in bulk ferromagnets, this study proposes to extend the definition of magnetoelectric phenomena to include reversible, chemistry‐controlled magnetization switching. A large and reversible change in the room temperature magnetization in strong ferromagnets is reported, with electrochemistry‐driven Li‐ion exchange; carefully chosen spinel ferrites demonstrate a reversible magnetization variation up to 50% for CuFe₂O₄ and 70% for ZnFe₂O₄. In case of CuFe₂O₄, the magnetization variation is predominantly associated with the preferential reduction of Cu²⁺ to Cu⁺ ions, and, hence, abides a nearly one‐to‐one relationship with the amount of injected Li‐ions. In addition, the reduction of Cu²⁺ also annihilates the Fe³⁺? O? Cu²⁺ magnetic interaction, resulting in a marked decrease in the Neél temperature of CuFe₂O₄. In contrast, the electrical tuning of superexchange interactions is found to play the decisive role in ZnFe₂O₄, where the simple electrochemical reduction model of magnetic cations can only explain a nominal fraction of the total magnetization variation, and indeed an electrochemically controlled reversible change in transition temperature is found necessary to account for the large magnetization variation observed.     

The Leukotriene Receptor Antagonist Montelukast Attenuates Neuroinflammation and Affects Cognition in Transgenic 5xFAD Mice

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. In particular, neuroinflammation, mediated by microglia cells but also through CD8+ T-cells, actively contributes to disease pathology. Leukotrienes are involved in neuroinflammation and in the pathological hallmarks of AD. In consequence, leukotriene signaling—more specifically, the leukotriene receptors—has been recognized as a potential drug target to ameliorate AD pathology. Here, we analyzed the effects of the leukotriene receptor antagonist montelukast (MTK) on hippocampal gene expression in 5xFAD mice, a commonly used transgenic AD mouse model. We identified glial activation and neuroinflammation as the main pathways modulated by MTK. The treatment increased the number of Tmem119+ microglia and downregulated genes related to AD-associated microglia and to lipid droplet-accumulating microglia, suggesting that the MTK treatment targets and modulates microglia phenotypes in the disease model compared to the vehicle. MTK treatment further reduced infiltration of CD8+T-cells into the brain parenchyma. Finally, MTK treatment resulted in improved cognitive functions. In summary, we provide a proof of concept for MTK to be a potential drug candidate for AD and provide novel modes of action via modulation of microglia and CD8+ T-cells. Of note, 5xFAD females showed a more severe pathology, and in consequence, MTK treatment had a more pronounced effect in the females compared to the males. The effects on neuroinflammation, i.e., microglia and CD8+ T-cells, as well as the effects on cognitive outcome, were dose-dependent, therefore arguing for the use of higher doses of MTK in AD clinical trials compared to the approved asthma dose.     

Laying the foundation for smart contract development: an integrated engineering process model

Information Systems and e-Business Management - Smart contracts are seen as the major building blocks for future autonomous blockchain- and Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT)-based applications....     

Atom probe investigations on temper embrittlement and reversible temper embrittlement in S 690 steel weld metal

Severe embrittlement was observed in weld material of a brand new penstock of a huge hydro power plant. Temper embrittlement (TE) was found as root case of embrittlement. Reversible temper embrittlement (RTE) treatment characterised by a short-time heating at about 600°C, by which the toughness of embrittled weld material can significantly be recovered, was qualified and successfully applied in the plant. Basic investigations were performed to explain the embrittlement as well as the de-embrittlement effect. By the application of high resolution analytics as Atom Probe Tomography (APT) applied on TE as well as on the RTE-treated material, revealed phosphorus segregation in the grain boundaries as root cause of embrittlement. By application of RTE treatment the APT results revealed, that the phosphorus segregation in the grain boundaries disappeared. The mechanism of this behaviour can be explained by referring the McLean [Grain boundaries in metals. Oxford: Clarendon Press; 1957] based grain boundary equilibrium segregation of phosphorous. During RTE treatment, which occur at higher temperatures (600°C) that segregation (which starts during cooling at about 550°C), desegregation occurs. During this higher temperature, the diffusion is much faster than segregation producing the fast recovery of toughness.     

Barriers towards integrated product development — Challenges from a holistic project management perspective

The basis for product development in many large industrial companies is a traditional project management method positing non-overlapping phases, independent activities, and a dedicated project team. Research findings indicate that the use of integrated product development methods increases performance compared to traditional methods in contexts of complex problem solving, which are disruptive and non-linear. Even though integrated product development has been the focus of a large number of research studies, these studies mostly focus on identifying success criteria and improving performance, while the requirements for implementing integrated product development remain under-researched. This study takes a more holistic project management perspective and identifies both the challenges and the requirements of successful implementation through an in-depth case study. It was found in a chosen case company that successful implementation requires awareness and skills of integrated product development in senior management, as well as a set of cross-organizational project governance structures.     

Temperature-dependent morphology changes of noble metal tricalcium phosphate-nanocomposites

Calcium phosphates, functionalized with nano-sized metal particles, are a promising material class for the treatment of bone defects. However, a sintering process is required in principle to achieve sufficient strength of calcium phosphate scaffolds. In this work laser-generated nano-sized silver, gold and platinum particles were adsorbed on micro-sized β-tricalcium phosphate particles and further heat treated at temperatures between 600 and 1200 °C. Gold and platinum nanoparticles underwent exponential growth starting at about 600 °C, while sintering of β-tricalcium phosphate started at 800 °C. We hypothesise that this phenomenon is caused by a heat-induced evaporation and growth process where the decrease of the particle number is directly correlated with the size increase. The silver nanoparticles on the other hand formed a new phase with the calcium phosphate (AgCa₁₀(PO₄)₇) during the heat treatments and could not be observed within the ceramic scaffold anymore. Addressing the lack of information in nanoparticle-combined calcium phosphate scaffolds, this study contributes to the further modification of bone replacement materials with biologically relevant functions and molecules.     

Effects of chronic environmental cold on growth, health, and select metabolic and immunologic responses of preruminant calves

The physiological response of the preruminant calf to sustained exposure to moderate cold has not been studied extensively. Effects of cold on growth performance and health of preruminant calves as well as functional measures of energy metabolism, fat-soluble vitamin, and immune responsiveness were evaluated in the present study. Calves, 3 to 10 d of age, were assigned randomly to cold (n = 14) or warm (n = 15) indoor environments. Temperatures in the cold environment averaged 4.7°C during the study. Frequent wetting of the environment and the calves was used to augment effects of the cold environment. Temperatures in the warm environment averaged 15.5°C during the study. There was no attempt to increase the humidity in the warm environment. Preventative medications or vaccinations that might influence disease resistance were not administered. Nonmedicated milk replacer (20% crude protein and 20% fat fed at 0.45 kg/d) and a nonmedicated starter grain fed ad libitum were fed to all calves. Relative humidity was, on average, almost 10% higher in the cold environment. Warm-environment calves were moderately healthier (i.e., lower respiratory scores) and required less antibiotics. Scour scores, days scouring, and electrolyte costs, however, were unaffected by environmental temperature. Growth rates were comparable in warm and cold environments, although cold-environment calves consumed more starter grain and had lower blood glucose and higher blood nonesterified fatty acid concentrations. The nonesterified fatty acid and glucose values for cold-stressed calves, however, did not differ sufficiently from normal values to categorize these calves as being in a state of negative-energy balance. Levels of fat-soluble vitamin, antibody, tumor necrosis factor-α, and haptoglobin were unaffected by sustained exposure to moderate cold. These results support the contention that successful adaptation of the dairy calf to cold is dependent upon the availability of adequate nutrition.