Efficient adaptive CUSUM control charts based on generalized likelihood ratio test to monitor process dispersion shift

In practice, a shift in the process parameters (location and/or dispersion) is unknown in prior and cannot be diagnosed precisely with the classical cumulative sum (CUSUM) control chart. To overcome this issue, this study proposed two adaptive CUSUM (ACUSUM) control charts. The proposed control charts utilized linear weighted function that is inspired by generalized likelihood ration test (GLRT) to monitor small and certain range of shift in the process dispersion. In more details, the proposed control charts methodologies are based on GLRT, exponentially weight moving average statistic, and score functions. To obtain the run length of the proposed control charts for performance assessment, algorithms are designed in MATLAB based on Monte Carlo simulation technique. Further, average run length (ARL) is used as a performance measure tool to compare the control charts performance for a single shift. For certain range of shift, extra quadratic loss function, relative ARL, and performance comparison index performance measures based on ARL are calculated. Some existing control charts are used for comparison purpose. The proposed control charts show outstanding capability to detect out-of-control signal against these control charts. Moreover, real-life data of inside diameter of cylinder bore in an engine block are used to reveal the practicality and worth of the proposed control charts relative to other control charts.     

A Zeolitic-Imidazole Frameworks-Derived Interconnected Macroporous Carbon Matrix for Efficient Oxygen Electrocatalysis in Rechargeable Zinc–Air Batteries

Nanostructures derived from zeolitic-imidazole frameworks (ZIFs) gain much interest in bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysis. However, they are not satisfied well for long-life rechargeable zinc–air batteries due to the limited single particle morphology. Herein, the preparation of an interconnected macroporous carbon matrix with a well-defined 3D architecture by the pyrolysis of silica templated ZIF-67 assemblies is reported. The matrix catalyst assembled zinc–air battery exhibits a high power density of 221.1 mW cm⁻² as well as excellent stability during 500 discharging/charging cycles, surpassing that of a commercial Pt/C assembled battery. The synergistic effect from the interconnected macroporous structure together with abundant cobalt–nitrogen–carbon active sites justify the excellent electrocatalytic activity and battery performance. Considering the advanced nanostructures and performance, the as-synthesized hybrid would be promising for rechargeable zinc–air batteries and other energy technologies. This work may also provide significant concept in the view of electrocatalysis design for long-life battery.     

Software-Defined Space-Air-Ground Integrated Network Architecture with the Multi-Layer Satellite Backbone Network

Under the background of the rapid development of ground mobile communication, the advantages of high coverage, survivability, and flexibility of satellite communication provide air support to the construction of space information network. According to the requirements of the future space information communication, a software-defined Space-Air-Ground Integrated network architecture was proposed. It consisted of layered structure satellite backbone network, deep space communication network, the stratosphere communication network and the ground network. The SpaceAir-Ground Integrated network was supported by the satellite backbone network. It provided data relay for the missions such as deep space exploration and controlled the deep-space spacecraft when needed. In addition, it safeguarded the anti-destructibility of stratospheric communication and assisted the stratosphere to supplement ground network communication. In this paper, algorithm requirements of the congestion control and routing of satellite backbone protocols for heterogeneous users’ services were proposed. The algorithm requirements of distinguishing different service objects for the deep space communication and stratospheric communication network protocols were described. Considering the realistic demand for the dynamic coverage of the satellite backbone network and node cost, the multi-layer satellite backbone network architecture was constructed. On this basis, the proposed Software-defined Space-Air-Ground Integrated network architecture could be built as a large, scalable and efficient communication network that could be integrated into space, air, and ground.     

Simple Expert System for Evaluation of Nutrient Pollution Potential in Groundwater from Manure Application

An expert system for the evaluation of groundwater pollution potential due to leaching of nutrients from land application of manure is developed in this study. The expert system consists of five modules: surface loading, sorption, vadose zone transport, saturated zone transport, and final module. The expert system evaluates the pollution potential in two steps. In the first step, rating values are evaluated for the selected modules. A set of expert system rules is assigned by the writers to evaluate the rating value of each selected module. In the second step, the pollution potential is evaluated from calculating the weighted average rating of the selected modules. Finally, the expert system is validated against a site assessment done by a group of experts for a concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) facility in Oklahoma. The advantages of the expert system are its user-friendliness, requirement of easily available input data, and faster evaluation time. The expert system is recommended to the farmers for improving their management practices and for selecting sites suitable for building new CAFOs. It is also recommended to the regulatory agencies as a screening level tool to identify the most vulnerable sites.     

Modification of PVC/ENR blends by electron beam irradiation

The effects of electron irradiation, with doses ranging from 20 to 100 kGy on the physical properties of poly(vinyl chloride)/epoxidised natural rubber blends (PVC/ENR50 blends) were investigated. The enhancement in tensile strength, elongation at break, hardness, and aging properties of the blends have confirmed the positive effect of irradiation on the blends. Crosslinking of the ENR50 phase proved to play a major role in the improvement of mechanical properties of blends. The results also revealed that at any blend composition the enhancement in properties depends on the irradiation dose which controls the degree of radiation-induced crosslinking. The single glass transition temperature obtained confirms that the blends remain miscible upon irradiation.     

Hydrogel coating of RVNRL film by electron‐beam irradiation

The tackiness properties of radiation‐vulcanized natural rubber latex (RVNRL) film surfaces coated by various monomers were investigated in order to define the suitable hydrogels which reduce the tackiness of the film. In this context, different types of monomers, namely, N‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NVP), N,N‐dimethylaminoethylamide (DMAEA), acrylic acid (AAc), n‐butyl acrylate (n‐BA), and 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) as well as the monomer mixtures were tried with varying degrees of success. Coating the RVNRL film with 80% HEMA/20% n‐BA by irradiation at 80 kGy using a low‐energy electron beam gave a remarkable reduction in the surface tackiness of the RVNRL film. Several other attempts were made such as priming the RVNRL film with acid and aluminum sulfate prior to coating, mixing the aluminum sulfate into the monomer mixtures, and dipping the partially wet RVNRL film into the monomer to enhance the wettability of the monomers with the film. The photomicrographs taken illustrate that the decrease in tackiness with the coating is due to the increase of the surface roughness at an 80‐kGy irradiation dose. The studies also revealed that the reduction in the contact angle and the increase in water absorption of the RVNRL film after irradiation are due to the formation of the hydrogel layer. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 72: 1421–1428, 1999     

Electrospun Fiber-Coated Human Amniotic Membrane: A Potential Angioinductive Scaffold for Ischemic Tissue Repair

Cardiac patch implantation helps maximize the paracrine function of grafted cells and serves as a reservoir of soluble proangiogenic factors required for the neovascularization of infarcted hearts. We have previously fabricated a cardiac patch, EF-HAM, composed of a human amniotic membrane (HAM) coated with aligned PLGA electrospun fibers (EF). In this study, we aimed to evaluate the biocompatibility and angiogenic effects of EF-HAM scaffolds with varying fiber thicknesses on the paracrine behavior of skeletal muscle cells (SkM). Conditioned media (CM) obtained from SkM-seeded HAM and EF-HAM scaffolds were subjected to multiplex analysis of angiogenic factors and tested on HUVECs for endothelial cell viability, migration, and tube formation analyses. All three different groups of EF-HAM scaffolds demonstrated excellent biocompatibility with SkM. CM derived from SkM-seeded EF-HAM 7 min scaffolds contained significantly elevated levels of proangiogenic factors, including angiopoietin-1, IL-8, and VEGF-C compared to plain CM, which was obtained from SkM cultured on the plain surface. CM obtained from all SkM-seeded EF-HAM scaffolds significantly increased the viability of HUVECs compared to plain CM after five days of culture. However, only EF-HAM 7 min CM induced a higher migration capacity in HUVECs and formed a longer and more elaborate capillary-like network on Matrigel compared with plain CM. Surface roughness and wettability of EF-HAM 7 min scaffolds might have influenced the proportion of skeletal myoblasts and fibroblasts growing on the scaffolds and subsequently potentiated the angiogenic paracrine function of SkM. This study demonstrated the angioinductive properties of EF-HAM composite scaffold and its potential applications in the repair and regeneration of ischemic tissues.     

Some quality characteristics of solar-dried cocoa beans in St Lucia

A field comparison of solar drying and open-air sun-drying of cocoa (Theobroma cocoa L) beans was carried out in St Lucia. Four methods of drying (indirect solar drier, direct solar drier, open air/perforated steel surface and open air/non-perforated wooden surface) were examined at three loading rates: 13·7, 26·9 and 40·4 kg m⁻². Beans from the open air had a higher incidence of external mould and poorer external appearance, though differences were minor. Beans dried at the lower rate of 13 kg m⁻² showed the best colour, but the highest titratable acidity. Conversely, beans dried at the higher loading rate of 40·4 kg m⁻² showed significantly lower titratable acidity, but poorer colour. Differences in cut-test score, colour, pH and titratable acidity between the open air and closed driers were small or not significant. While not significant, the indirect drier did show the highest cut-test score and the direct drier the poorest. Beans from the indirect drier were darker and more purple, while those from the direct drier were lighter coloured and less purple. The beans from the direct drier, dried to 6% moisture (WB) were, though not significantly so, more brittle and higher in titratable acidity than those from either the open air or indirect drier. Overall the beans from the indirect drier showed the highest quality and those from the direct drier the poorest. Whether the modest improvement of the indirect drier over the open air driers is sufficient to warrant investment in such a drier is unclear. © 1998 SCI.     

Evaluation of isotopic boron (11B) for the fabrication of low activation Mg11B2 superconductor for next generation fusion magnets

In this study, we analyze the properties of boron isotope (¹¹B)-rich powders from three different sources, that is, American, Cambridge, and Pavezyum, to fabricate the bulk Mg¹¹B₂ superconductors and evaluate their superconducting properties. While ¹¹B-rich powder is an essential precursor to fabricate Mg¹¹B₂ superconductors for fusion magnet applications, the properties of the ¹¹B powder turned out to be critical to determine the quality of the final superconducting product. Therefore, appropriate control of processing conditions is needed to comply with the requirements of the nuclear fusion application. Analysis of the B isotope ratio by accelerator mass spectroscopy and neutron transmission revealed that all three types of powder are enriched with ¹¹B to better than 99 at % quality. In addition, Pavezyum's ¹¹B shows the lowest crystallinity and smallest crystalline domain size as evidenced by the high-resolution X-ray diffractometer and scanning electron microscopy. The chemical states of the boron isotope investigated with near edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy and X-ray photoemission spectroscopy also reveals that Pavezyum boron has amorphous structure. Mg¹¹B₂ bulks and multi-filamentary (12-filament) wires have been manufactured, sintered at different temperatures and characterized via the transport critical current density. The wire with Pavezyum ¹¹B shows three times higher current carrying capacity at a particular magnetic field compared to the wire using Cambridge ¹¹B and hence, Pavezyum ¹¹B boron has the potential for manufacturing fusion grade Mg¹¹B₂ based magnets. The results of this study demonstrated that Boron powders with higher purity, smaller grain size and lower crystallinity are critical for improving the superconducting and electronic properties of Mg¹¹B₂ samples fabricated from the powder. Thus, the low-neutron-activation Mg¹¹B₂ is possibly an affordable and technically viable candidate to replace NbTi superconductors in the low field poloidal field and correction coils for the next-generation fusion reactors.