Incremental cell formation considering alternative machines

Many algorithms for cell formation have been developed for past three decades in cellular manufacturing. Some use binary data for cell formation and others use production data such as operation sequence, processing times, production volumes, etc. for cell formation. All these algorithms assume that the conversion of job shop to cellular manufacturing is performed comprehensively. (In other words, they assume that all the cells are formed at a time.) However, this is far from reality. In practice, cell formation is done incrementally, one after the other, rather than comprehensively. None of the algorithms developed so far addresses the issue of incremental cell formation. In this paper, the incremental cell formation problem is defined and various categories of problems are mentioned. One type of those categories is selected for solving. Two methods, namely the branch and bound technique and a heuristic based on a multistage programming approach, have been applied to solve the chosen problem. Data sets have been generated to compare these two methods in terms of quality of solution and demand on computational time. It has been found that the branch and bound technique gives a superior quality solution, but is computationally more demanding, where as heuristic based on a multistage programming approach is computationally far superior.     

Plug-load densities for energy analysis: K-12 schools

Benchmarking plug-load densities is essential to bypass arbitrary and/or incorrect inputs used in building energy analysis. As more building simulationists play a decision-making role for the design team, they tend to lean on building energy standards and guidelines for preliminary inputs such as plug-load densities. It is necessary for building energy standards and rating systems to implement plug-load density benchmarks to reward design teams in their efforts to reduce plug-load energy use. Using case study buildings, this paper establishes benchmark plug-load densities for K-12 schools under two new categories – classrooms with computers and classrooms without computers. Eighteen K-12 schools including 9 elementary, 2 middle, and 7 high schools are assessed for actual plug-load densities. For the same case study buildings, four existing approaches – NREL, COMNET, ASHRAE 90.1-1989, and Title-24 are evaluated for plug-load densities. Results show under- and over-estimation of plug-load densities over actual densities. The development of benchmark for K-12 schools will pave way for instituting targets for trimming plug-load densities in new and retrofit building projects.     

Mechanical characterization of a bituminous mix under quasi-static and high-strain rate loading

There are various methods to determine the compressive and tensile strength of asphalt concrete under static loading conditions and most studies on asphalt strength and fracture have been conducted under such loading conditions. However, pavement materials also have to withstand a wide variety of loading and temperature conditions which may vary from quasi-static to high-strain rate impact, and pavement breakdown may occur due to fracture and/or fatigue failure. In the present study, a bituminous mix with 30% RAP has been characterized under quasi-static (10^?3–10^?4 strain/s) and high-strain rate (200–700 strain/s) regimes. The experimental studies have been performed to better understand the compressive, tensile and fracture response of bituminous mixes. Split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) and its modifications were used for high-strain rate characterization of this bituminous mixture. It was observed that the mechanical properties of the hot mix asphalt (HMA) changed significantly under high-strain rate testing. Also, the failure mechanisms observed under the high-strain rate loading were found to be considerably different from those obtained in static testing, where failure of binder was a predominant mechanism. It was observed that high-strain rate loading caused trans-aggregate failures in the specimens; in addition to failure of the binder.     

Effect of underlap and soft error performance in 30 nm FinFET-based 6T-SRAM cells with simultaneous and independent driven gates

The effect of Gate-Source/Drain underlap (L _un) on soft error performance in 30 nm common double gate-FinFET (simultaneously driven gates) and independent double gate-FinFET (independently driven gates) have been examined through extensive mixed mode-device and circuit simulations using Sentaurus TCAD. Four different 6T-SRAM topologies, one simultaneously driven double gate-FinFET and three independently driven double gate-FinFETs-based topologies namely Flex-V _TH, Flex-PG, and PG-SN are chosen to study the geometrical parameter L _un and also to calculate their soft error performance. When L _un increases, current decreases due to increase in parasitic series resistance. The simulation results reveal that L _un increase in independently driven double gate-FinFETs in place of access devices in 6T-SRAM does not degrade the soft error performance significantly whereas the L _un increase inside the cell, in the inverters, degrade the performance significantly.     

Minocycline Loaded Hybrid Composites Nanoparticles for Mesenchymal Stem Cells Differentiation into Osteogenesis

Bone transplants are used to treat fractures and increase new tissue development in bone tissue engineering. Grafting of massive implantations showing slow curing rate and results in cell death for poor vascularization. The potentials of biocomposite scaffolds to mimic extracellular matrix (ECM) and including new biomaterials could produce a better substitute for new bone tissue formation. A purpose of this study is to analyze polycaprolactone/silk fibroin/hyaluronic acid/minocycline hydrochloride (PCL/SF/HA/MH) nanoparticles initiate human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) proliferation and differentiation into osteogenesis. Electrospraying technique was used to develop PCL, PCL/SF, PCL/SF/HA and PCL/SF/HA/MH hybrid biocomposite nanoparticles and characterization was analyzed by field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), contact angle and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The obtained results proved that the particle diameter and water contact angle obtained around 0.54 ± 0.12 to 3.2 ± 0.18 µm and 43.93 ± 10.8° to 133.1 ± 12.4° respectively. The cell proliferation and cell-nanoparticle interactions analyzed using (3-(4,5-dimethyl thiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium inner salt) MTS assay (Promega, Madison, WI, USA), FESEM for cell morphology and 5-Chloromethylfluorescein diacetate (CMFDA) dye for imaging live cells. Osteogenic differentiation was proved by expression of osteocalcin, alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP) and mineralization was confirmed by using alizarin red (ARS). The quantity of cells was considerably increased in PCL/SF/HA/MH nanoparticles when compare to all other biocomposite nanoparticles and the cell interaction was observed more on PCL/SF/HA/MH nanoparticles. The electrosprayed PCL/SF/HA/MH biocomposite nanoparticle significantly initiated increased cell proliferation, osteogenic differentiation and mineralization, which provide huge potential for bone tissue engineering.     

Slope instability analysis in Phyllitic rock in the Lesser Himalayan using three different modeling approach

Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment - The numerical methods for slope stability problems always have a serious concern related to their continuum and discontinuum nature. In...     

Enhanced Stretch Formability of Magnesium Alloy Sheet by Prestretching at Various Speeds at Higher Temperature

JOM - Prestretch deformation of 6.48% with various initial speeds (1 mm/min, 101 mm/min, and 100 mm/min) was carried out at 723 K to improve the formability of...     

Microstructure and Mechanical Property Correlation of Mg-Si Alloys

Silicon - The present work aims at understanding the microstructure and mechanical property correlation of hypo (Mg-0.5, 0.7, 1.15 wt% Si) and hyper (Mg-2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 wt% Si) eutectic binary...