A neural network procedure for kanban allocation in JIT production control systems

In this paper, we develop a Generalized Systematic Procedure (GSP) for determining the optimum kanban allocation in just-in-time (JIT) controlled production lines. This procedure is based on a meta-model that incorporates (1) a factorial design approach to select the appropriate kanban combinations, (2) a simulation model to simulate the JIT production line, and (3) a trained neural network model to evaluate the line performance over the entire domain of possible kanban combinations. The GSP is then applied to a case problem and the results are presented.     

Probabilistic neural computing with advanced nanoscale MOSFETs

The use of intrinsic nanoscale MOSFET noise for probabilistic computation is explored, using the continuous restricted Boltzmann machine (CRBM), a probabilistic neural model, as the exemplar architecture. The CRBM is modified by localising noise in its synaptic multipliers, exploiting random telegraph signal (RTS) noise in nanoscale MOSFETs. A look-up table (LUT) technique is adopted to link temporal noise data to the synaptic multipliers of a CRBM, trained to model simple, non-trivial data distributions. It is shown that, for such distributions at least, the CRBM with intrinsic nanoscale MOSFET noise can be trained to provide a useful model.     

Optimizing Material Procurement and Storage on Construction Sites

Efficient planning of materials procurement and storage on construction sites can lead to significant improvements in construction productivity and project profitability. Existing research studies focus on material procurement and storage layout as two separate planning tasks without considering their critical and mutual interdependencies. This paper presents the development of a new optimization model for construction logistics planning that is capable of simultaneously integrating and optimizing the critical planning decisions of material procurement and material storage on construction sites. The model utilizes genetic algorithms to minimize construction logistics costs that cover material ordering, financing, stock-out, and layout costs. The model incorporates newly developed algorithms to estimate the impact of potential material shortages on-site because of late delivery on project delays and stock-out costs. An application example is analyzed to demonstrate the capabilities of the construction logistics planning model in simultaneously optimizing material procurement decisions and storage layout plans.     

Physicochemical and morphological evaluation of chitosan/poly(vinyl alcohol)/methylcellulose chemically cross-linked ternary blends

Chitosan/poly(vinyl alcohol)/methylcellulose (CS/PVA/MC) ternary blend was prepared and chemically cross-linked with glutaraldehyde. The prepared ternary blends were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The FTIR results showed that the strong intermolecular hydrogen bonds took place between CS and PVA. TGA showed the thermostability of the blend is enhanced by glutaraldehyde as crosslink agent. Results of XRD indicated that the relative crystalline of pure CS film was reduced when the polymeric network was reticulated by glutaraldehyde. Finally, the results of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicated that the morphology of the blend is rough and heterogenous, further it confirms the interaction between the functional groups of the blend components.     

Synthesis and characterization of nanocrystalline mesoporous zirconia using supercritical drying

Synthesis of nano-crystalline zirconia aerogel was done by sol-gel technique and supercritical drying using n-propanol solvent at and above supercritical temperature (235-280 degrees C) and pressure (48-52 bar) of n-propanol. Zirconia xerogel samples have also been prepared by conventional thermal drying method to compare with the super critically dried samples. Crystalline phase, crystallite size, surface area, pore volume, and pore size distribution were determined for all the samples in detail to understand the effect of gel drying methods on these properties. Supercritical drying of zirconia gel was observed to give thermally stable, nano-crystalline, tetragonal zirconia aerogels having high specific surface area and porosity with narrow and uniform pore size distribution as compared to thermally dried zirconia. With supercritical drying, zirconia samples show the formation of only mesopores whereas in thermally dried samples, substantial amount of micropores are observed along with mesopores. The samples prepared using supercritical drying yield nano-crystalline zirconia with smaller crystallite size (4-6 nm) as compared to higher crystallite size (13-20 nm) observed with thermally dried zirconia.     

Antimicrobial synergism of partially-denatured lysozyme with glycine: effect of sucrose and sodium chloride

Previously we reported that heat-treatment of lysozyme at 80°C for 20 min in pH 6.0 (HL80/6) greatly promoted its antimicrobial action to Gram-negative bacteria without detrimental effects on its inherent action to Gram-positive ones. In this study the effects of sucrose and NaCl on the promoted antimicrobial activity of HL80/6 and synergy with glycine were investigated. This potent antimicrobial lysozyme (HL80/6) retained 54% of the native enzymatic activity. The enhanced bactericidal action of HL80/6 against Escherichia coli K12 was gradually decreased with increasing sucrose and NaCl concentration in the medium, where complete suppression was observed at 2% sucrose and 0.1% NaCl. On the other hand, 1% NaCl concentration was required to suppress the antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus of either native lysozyme (NLz) or HL80/6, while sucrose up to 8% had no detectable inhibitory effect on this strain. However, similar doses of sucrose or NaCl had no effect on the enzymatic activity of both NLz and HL80/6, indicating that the antimicrobial action of HL80/6 is independent of its muramidase activity. HL80/6 lysozyme, but not NLz, exhibited good synergy with glycine against Gram-negative bacteria even in the presence of the inhibitory doses of sucrose or NaCl, suggesting a possible application in food industry as a food preservative. Thus, the results introduce an interesting finding that partial denaturation of lysozyme can induce its antimicrobial specificity to include the food-borne Gram-negative pathogens and heralded fascinating opportunities for application of HL80/6 with glycine in formulated food systems.     

Blockchain‐based secure information sharing for supply chain management: Optimization assisted data sanitization process

Currently, the furious competitiveness in global markets and speedy improvements in information technology lead to shorter product life cycles, lesser transportation capabilities, and increased demands as well. In most business scenarios, the supply chain network is becoming one of the most vital focusing areas. In the supply chain network, blockchain technology is a promising solution for secure information sharing. However, it is a bit critical in maintaining security at each level of the blockchain and hence the public–private–key cryptography is more commonly preferred. This study intends to construct a new privacy preservation model in the field of supply chain networks based on blockchain technology by undergoing three major phases, namely, (a) data sanitization, (b) key generation, and (c) restoration. Further, the sensitive fields in the original data are selected during the data sanitization phase, and in the key generation phase; the optimal key is generated to hide the selected sensitive fields. The hidden data with the secured key is transferred from the source (manufacturer) to destination (vendor) in the supply chain network via the blockchain. The restoration process takes place in the receiver side with the help of the same key. Among all these data flow methods, the optimal key selection is the critical issue that needs to be overridden to make the data transmission secured. As a novelty, a new optimization algorithm referred to as Whale with New Crosspoint‐based Update (WNU), which is the advanced version of Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA), is developed here to select the optimal key. Finally, the proposed WNU model is analyzed in terms of Hiding Failure (HF) rate, Information Preservation (IP) Rate, and False Rule generation (FR), and Degree of Modification (DM). The proposed secured information sharing in supply chain management (SCM) with blockchain technology will be validated by comparing it over the traditional models in terms of security as well.     

Adaptive Interconnection and Damping Assignment Passivity Based Control for Underactuated Mechanical Systems

In this paper, we present two adaptive control approaches to handle uncertainties caused by parametric and modeling errors in a class of nonlinear systems with uncertainties. The methods use the Port-controlled Hamiltonian (PCH) modelling framework and the interconnection and damping assignment passivity-based control (IDA-PBC) control design methodology being the most effectively applicable method to such models. The methods explore an extension on the classical IDA-PBC by adopting the state-transformation, yielding a dynamic state-feedback controller that asymptotically stabilizes a class of underactuated mechanical systems and preserves the PCH structure of the augmented closed-loop system. The results are applied to the underactuated mechanical systems that are a class of mechanical systems with broad applications and are more interesting as well as challenging control problems within this context. The results are illustrated with numerical simulations applied to two underactuated robotic systems; the Acrobot and non-prehensile planar rolling robotic (disk-on-disk) systems.

     

Influences of wind flow over heritage sites: A case study of the wind environment over the Giza Plateau in Egypt

Wind influences are important environmental factors that cause deterioration of historical heritage sites. This work presents a computational framework for investigating the influences of the wind flow over such sites. The wind flow is considered to be fully turbulent, isothermal and incompressible. The present framework employs three-dimensional Reynolds Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations along with multi-block approach and non-conformal meshes to perform wind flow simulations over such sites with complex geometry. As a case study, the influences of wind flow over the “Giza Plateau”, one of the most important Egyptian historical heritage sites, were studied for the Northwest wind (at average wind speed over the year) and the Southwest windstorms. The study addresses the less understood, yet important, influences of the wind flow structure on the site and its famous monuments: the Pyramids and the Great Sphinx. Qualitative and quantitative treatments of the results are carried out for estimating the wind loading on the different monuments within the plateau. Particular attention was paid to the Great Sphinx to investigate its most vulnerable parts to the wind, as one of the critical environmental factors that cause erosion of this colossal statue.     

Silicon‐based integrated millimeter‐wave CPW‐to‐dielectric image‐guide transition

In this article, a novel mm‐wave dielectric image‐guide (DIG) to CPW transition is proposed, fabricated, and successfully tested in the silicon technology. A DIG is implemented on high resistivity Silicon‐On‐Insulator (SOI) wafer. The image‐guide height and handle layer thickness are 500 μm and 130 μm, respectively. An Aluminum coplanar waveguide is patterned over the DIG. The measured transmission characteristics of the transition are in acceptable agreement with the simulation results. A transition (coupling) loss of about 1 dB has been achieved at 60 GHz. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE 24:490–497, 2014.