Developing a big data analytics platform for manufacturing systems: architecture,method, and implementation

Manufacturing industries have recently promoted smart manufacturing (SM) for achieving intelligence, connectedness, and responsiveness of manufacturing objects consisting of man, machine, and material. Traditional manufacturing platforms, which identify generic frameworks where common functionalities are shareable and diverse applications are workable, mainly focused on remote collaboration, distributed control, and data integration; however, they are limited to incorporating those characteristic achievements. The present work introduces an SM-toward manufacturing platform. The proposed platform incorporates the capabilities of (1) virtualization of manufacturing objects for their autonomy and cooperation, (2) processing of real and various manufacturing data for mediating physical and virtual objects, and (3) data-driven decision-making for predictive planning on those objects. For such capabilities, the proposed platform advances the framework of Holonic Manufacturing Systems with the use of agent technology. It integrates a distributed data warehouse to encompass data specification, storage, processing, and retrieval. It applies a data analytics approach to create empirical decision-making models based on real and historical data. Furthermore, it uses open and standardized data interfaces to embody interoperable data exchange across shop floors and manufacturing applications. We present the architecture and technical methods for implementing the proposed platform. We also present a prototype implementation to demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the platform in energy-efficient machining.     

Synthesis and Luminescence Properties of Blue‐Emitting Phosphor Eu2+‐Doped Zinc Fluoro‐Phosphate Zn2[PO4]F

Eu²⁺‐doped zinc fluoro‐phosphate Zn₂[PO₄]F was synthesized by the conventional high‐temperature solid‐state reaction. The phase formation was confirmed by X‐ray powder diffraction measurements and the structure refinement. The photoluminescence excitation and emission spectra, and the decay curves were measured. The natures of the Eu²⁺ emission in inorganic hosts, e.g., the emission and excitation properties, the chromaticity coordinates, the Stokes shifts, the absolute quantum efficiency, and the luminescence thermal stability were reported. Under the excitation of near‐UV light, Eu²⁺‐doped Zn₂[PO₄]F presents a narrow blue‐emitting band centered at 423 nm. The thermal stability of the blue luminescence was evaluated by the luminescence intensities as a function of temperature. The phosphor shows an excellent thermal stability on temperature quenching effects.     

Analyses of structurally modified quasi‐solid‐state electrolytes using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy for dye‐sensitized solar cells

Electrochemical properties of structurally modified quasi‐solid‐state electrolytes were examined using porous substrates (PSs). The PS was prepared into two categories by a phase inversion method with a brominated poly(phenylene oxide) (BPPO): the sponge and finger types. Effects of the humidification and cosolvent compositions on the morphology of the PS were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. In all cases of the PSs, a higher V_OC was observed of about 0.1 V than that of a liquid electrolyte owing to a suppressed back electron charge transfer. In addition, the PS prepared by the polymer solution of 1 : 4 : 1 (BPPO : N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone : butyl alcohol) with the humidification process showed better photovoltaic properties in terms of the current density and conversion efficiency owing to the appropriate combinations of pore size, tortuosity, and interconnectivity. Effects of the pore structures were intensively examined using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The impedance results revealed that large pores at the surface layers are advantageous for a lower R_S and R_TiO2. Meanwhile, the straight inner structure is beneficial for the facile I^?/I₃^? diffusion, thus lowering R_Pt. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 39739.     

Low‐Temperature Sintering and Piezoelectric Properties of CuO‐Added KNbO3 Ceramics

Dielectric and piezoelectric properties of CuO‐added KNbO₃ (KN) ceramics were investigated. The CuO reacted with the Nb₂O₅, formed a CuO–Nb₂O₅‐related liquid phase during the sintering, and assisted the densification of the KN ceramics at low temperatures. Moreover, some of the Cu²⁺ ions replaced the Nb⁵⁺ ions in the matrix and behaved as a hardener. The dielectric and piezoelectric properties of the KN ceramics were considerably influenced by the relative density. The 1.0 mol% CuO‐added KN ceramic sintered at 960°C for 1.0 h, which showed a maximum relative density, exhibited a high phase angle of 86.9°, P_r of 14.8 μC/cm², and E_c of 1.8 kV/mm. This specimen also exhibited good dielectric and piezoelectric properties: ε^T₃₃/ε_o of 364, d₃₃ of 122 pC/N, k_p of 0.29, and Q_m of 611.     

Fabrication of Titanium Bipolar Plates by Rubber Forming Process and Evaluation Characteristics of TiN coated Titanium Bipolar Plates

In this study, the rubber forming process is used to fabricate a micro‐channel titanium plate for a PEM fuel cell. The micro‐channel plate is fabricated using a 200 ton hydraulic press, and various parameters (punch speed, press pressure, rubber thickness, rubber hardness) are investigated in order to evaluate the formability. TiN films are deposited by reactive DC magnetron sputtering (DCMS) with an electromagnetic field system (EMFS). For the uncoated titanium and TiN‐coated titanium substrates, the hardness, surface roughness, and corrosion resistance are estimated by nano‐indentation and electrochemical methods, respectively. The improved corrosion resistance of the TiN films can be attributed to the densification of the film caused by enhancement of nitrification with increasing high reactive nitrogen radicals. The uncoated titanium and TiN‐coated titanium bipolar plates are combined with a unit cell for a performance test, and respective current densities of 0.396 and 0.888 A cm⁻² at 0.6 V are obtained.     

Human MicroRNAs Attenuate the Expression of Immediate Early Proteins and HCMV Replication during Lytic and Latent Infection in Connection with Enhancement of Phosphorylated RelA/p65 (Serine 536) That Binds to MIEP

Attenuating the expression of immediate early (IE) proteins is essential for controlling the lytic replication of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). The human microRNAs (hsa-miRs), miR-200b-3p and miR-200c-3p, have been identified to bind the 3′-untranslated region (3′-UTR) of the mRNA encoding IE proteins. However, whether hsa-miRs can reduce IE72 expression and HCMV viral load or exhibit a crosstalk with the host cellular signaling machinery, most importantly the NF-κB cascade, has not been evaluated. In this study, argonaute-crosslinking and immunoprecipitation-seq revealed that miR-200b-3p and miR-200c-3p bind the 3′-UTR of UL123, which is a gene that encodes IE72. The binding of these miRNAs to the 3′-UTR of UL123 was verified in transfected cells stably expressing GFP. We used miR-200b-3p/miR-200c-3p mimics to counteract the downregulation of these miRNA after acute HCMV infection. This resulted in reduced IE72/IE86 expression and HCMV VL during lytic infection. We determined that IE72/IE86 alone can inhibit the phosphorylation of RelA/p65 at the Ser⁵³⁶ residue and that p-Ser⁵³⁶ RelA/p65 binds to the major IE promoter/enhancer (MIEP). The upregulation of miR-200b-3p and miR-200c-3p resulted in the phosphorylation of RelA/p65 at Ser⁵³⁶ through the downregulation of IE, and the binding of the resultant p-Ser⁵³⁶ RelA/p65 to MIEP resulted in a decreased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Overall, miR-200b-3p and miR-200c-3p—together with p-Ser⁵³⁶ RelA/p65—can prevent lytic HCMV replication during acute and latent infection     

PSMD14 Targeting Triggers Paraptosis in Breast Cancer Cells by Inducing Proteasome Inhibition and Ca2+ Imbalance

PSMD14, a subunit of the 19S regulatory particles of the 26S proteasome, was recently identified as a potential prognostic marker and therapeutic target in diverse human cancers. Here, we show that the silencing and pharmacological blockade of PSMD14 in MDA-MB 435S breast cancer cells induce paraptosis, a non-apoptotic cell death mode characterized by extensive vacuolation derived from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria. The PSMD14 inhibitor, capzimin (CZM), inhibits proteasome activity but differs from the 20S proteasome subunit-inhibiting bortezomib (Bz) in that it does not induce aggresome formation or Nrf1 upregulation, which underlie Bz resistance in cancer cells. In addition to proteasome inhibition, the release of Ca²⁺ from the ER into the cytosol critically contributes to CZM-induced paraptosis. Induction of paraptosis by targeting PSMD14 may provide an attractive therapeutic strategy against cancer cells resistant to proteasome inhibitors or pro-apoptotic drugs.     

新一代超小型DIP-IPM

为了满足空调、洗衣机、冰箱等白色家电对高效、高性能的需要,三菱电机开发了新一代超小型第四代(Ver.4)双列直插封装的智能功率模块(Dual-In-linePackageIntelligentPowerModule,简称DIP-IPM)。本文首先分析了第四代超小型DIP-IPM内部电路的构成和功能,然后详细介绍了第四代DIP-IPM生产过程中的关键技术,包括无铅化、高热传导性绝缘片、chip-to-chip导线直接连接以及ASIC技术,最后与第三代(Ver.3)DIP-IPM进行了比较。     

Induction of PLXNA4 Gene during Neural Differentiation in Human Umbilical-Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells by Low-Intensity Sub-Sonic Vibration

Human umbilical-cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSC) are a type of mesenchymal stem cells and are more primitive than other MSCs. In this study, we identify novel genes and signal-activating proteins involved in the neural differentiation of hUC-MSCs induced by Low-Intensity Sub-Sonic Vibration (LISSV). RNA sequencing was used to find genes involved in the differentiation process by LISSV. The changes in hUC-MSCs caused by LISSV were confirmed by PLXNA4 overexpression and gene knockdown through small interfering RNA experiments. The six genes were increased among genes related to neurons and the nervous system. One of them, the PLXNA4 gene, is known to play a role as a guide for axons in the development of the nervous system. When the PLXNA4 recombinant protein was added, neuron-related genes were increased. In the PLXNA4 gene knockdown experiment, the expression of neuron-related genes was not changed by LISSV exposure. The PLXNA4 gene is activated by sema family ligands. The expression of SEMA3A was increased by LISSV, and its downstream signaling molecule, FYN, was also activated. We suggest that the PLXNA4 gene plays an important role in hUC-MSC neuronal differentiation through exposure to LISSV. The differentiation process depends on SEMA3A-PLXNA4-dependent FYN activation in hUC-MSCs.     

Benzyl Isothiocyanate Attenuates Inflammasome Activation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa LPS-Stimulated THP-1 Cells and Exerts Regulation through the MAPKs/NF-κB Pathway

Inflammasomes are a group of intracellular multiprotein platforms that play important roles in immune systems. Benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) is a constituent of cruciferous plants and has been confirmed to exhibit various biological activities. The modulatory effects of BITC on inflammasome-mediated interleukin (IL)-1β expression and its regulatory mechanisms in Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) LPS/ATP-stimulated THP-1 cells was investigated. Monocytic THP-1 cells were treated with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) to induce differentiation into macrophages. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) were performed to measure the levels of IL-1β produced in P. aeruginosa LPS/ATP-exposed THP-1 cells. Western blotting was performed to examine the BITC modulatory mechanisms in inflammasome-mediated signaling pathways. BITC inhibited IL-1β production in P. aeruginosa LPS/ATP-induced THP-1 cells. BITC also inhibited activation of leucine-rich repeat protein-3 (NLRP3) and caspase-1 in P. aeruginosa LPS/ATP-induced THP-1 cells. Furthermore, we show that mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation in P. aeruginosa LPS was attenuated by BITC. These BITC-mediated modulatory effects on IL-1β production may have therapeutic potential for inflammasome-mediated disorders such as a nasal polyp.