Proplant: Multiagent system for production planning

The so-called ''tribase'' acquaintance model of the agent's behavior is presented in this paper. This represents an extension of the twin-base model (Cao et al., 1997). Based on practical experience, the new model tries to cope with parallel processing, precedence constraints, and sparse resources. The idea of substituting the interagent negotiation processes by the periodical internal planning activity of the agents is stressed. A multiagent system, ProPlanT, as an application of the tribase model for the project-oriented production planning developed for TESLA TV company is described in detail. Three types of agents production planning agent (PPA), production management agent (PMA), and production agent (PA) are distinguished. The corresponding tribase models and potential role of metaagents are discussed.     

Failure Resistance of the Historic Stone Bridge Structure of Charles Bridge. I: Susceptibility to Nonstress Effects

The monitoring of deformations of the stone structure of Charles Bridge in Prague proved the gravity and relevance of nonstress effects (temperature, moisture content) on cyclic deformations and permanent strain accompanied by a gradual disintegration of its stone masonry, growing tilt of the breast walls, and development of cracks in the masonry of the stone bridge structure. Each deformation cycle is accompanied by a gradual growth in permanent deformations. The “unmanifested” primary deformation due to, e.g., a temperature change causes a mechanical state of tension, and it is mainly the tensile stresses thus arising that contribute to the development of tensile cracks in the stone masonry.     

A model for cell-surface-exposed carbohydrate moieties suitable for structural studies by NMR spectroscopy

In the present study a synthetic glycolipid system is presented that can be readily incorporated into phospholipid micelles and that allows the study of cell-surface-exposed carbohydrate units by high-resolution NMR techniques. Here, we present an efficient route for the synthesis of glycolipid compounds that contain mannose, mannobiose, or mannotriose coupled either directly to an alkyl chain or through a poly(ethylene glycol) linker. Furthermore, we have validated our model system by measuring the binding of cyanovirin N (CV-N), a cyanobacterial protein that binds with nanomolar affinity to the terminal arms of high-mannose structures of the HIV surface-envelope glycoprotein gp120, to glycolipids the carbohydrate portions of which comprise the corresponding high-mannose moieties. From the results of chemical-shift mapping with uniformly (15)N-labelled CV-N, we conclude that binding to the protein occurs at sites similar to those involved in binding the nonconjugated carbohydrates. We characterized the insertion of the glycolipids into dodecylphosphocholine (DPC) micelles by measuring translational diffusion, and we observed that the diffusion constants of the glycolipids were very similar to those of the DPC micelles themselves, but significantly deviated from those of the free glycolipids. We also present experimental proof that the glycolipids remain inserted in the micelles while binding to CV-N. Finally, by addition of a ligand that had a higher affinity to CV-N but which was not attached did not couple to a lipid anchor, CV-N could be released from the glycolipid and, hence, from the micelle-associated state.     

A Novel Insight into the Cardiotoxicity of Antineoplastic Drug Doxorubicin

Doxorubicin is a commonly used antineoplastic agent in the treatment of many types of cancer. Little is known about the interactions of doxorubicin with cardiac biomolecules. Serious cardiotoxicity including dilated cardiomyopathy often resulting in a fatal congestive heart failure may occur as a consequence of chemotherapy with doxorubicin. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of exposure to doxorubicin on the changes in major amino acids in tissue of cardiac muscle (proline, taurine, glutamic acid, arginine, aspartic acid, leucine, glycine, valine, alanine, isoleucine, threonine, lysine and serine). An in vitro interaction study was performed as a comparison of amino acid profiles in heart tissue before and after application of doxorubicin. We found that doxorubicin directly influences myocardial amino acid representation even at low concentrations. In addition, we performed an interaction study that resulted in the determination of breaking points for each of analyzed amino acids. Lysine, arginine, β-alanine, valine and serine were determined as the most sensitive amino acids. Additionally we compared amino acid profiles of myocardium before and after exposure to doxorubicin. The amount of amino acids after interaction with doxorubicin was significantly reduced (p = 0.05). This fact points at an ability of doxorubicin to induce changes in quantitative composition of amino acids in myocardium. Moreover, this confirms that the interactions between doxorubicin and amino acids may act as another factor most likely responsible for adverse effects of doxorubicin on myocardium.     

Dyeing of leather with microencapsulated acid dye

CI Acid Black 210 was microencapsulated into liposomic systems, and the effects of the microencapsulation on dyebath exhaustion, depth of shade, colour fastness properties and through‐dyeing of chrome‐tanned leather were studied. In comparison with the original dyestuff form, the microencapsulated dye showed a deeper shade and a greater depth of through‐dyeing. Exhaustion and colour fastness values were the same.     

Eucalyptol is an Attractant of the Redbay Ambrosia Beetle,Xyleborus Glabratus

The redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus, is an invasive wood-boring beetle that has become established in the southeastern United States. The beetle transmits the causal pathogen of lethal laurel wilt to susceptible host trees, which include redbay, an important forest community species, and avocado, a valuable food crop. By examining odors of redbay wood, we developed an artificial lure that captured X. glabratus in redbay forests. Eucalyptol was a critical component of the blend for beetle attraction, and eucalyptol alone in large quantities attracted X. glabratus. Furthermore, eucalyptol stimulated boring by X. glabratus into paper arenas. The results suggest that eucalyptol contributes to host selection behavior of X. glabratus and may be useful for management of this pathogen vector.     

Using CFD Modeling to Improve the Inlet Hydraulics and Performance of a Storm-Water Clarifier

The feasibility of high-rate treatment of storm water achieving total suspended solids (TSS) removals in the range from 60 to 80% was studied using an available clarifier. The clarifier (3?m long, 1.4?m wide, and 2?m deep) was fitted with a removable lamella pack and had a limited flow capacity (surface load rate of 35?m/h). To achieve the desired removals of TSS, the clarifier required polymer feed (4?mg/L), which caused maintenance problems during intermittent storm-water treatment—laborious and costly cleaning of lamella plates after individual storm events. This problem posed the following challenge: was it feasible to avoid costly maintenance by removing the lamella pack and at the same time to retain the high TSS removals by improving the clarifier hydraulics by internal structural changes? The purpose of the paper is to evaluate such changes by focusing on different inlet configurations designed using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. This analysis resulted in adopting a U-tube duct inlet (inserted into the outer box of the original clarifier) with two special features: (1) three horizontal slot openings (width = 0.1?m) releasing flow into the clarifier and (2) a narrow slot opening in the bottom U bend allowing removal of grit. The flow release slots in the rising leg of the U tube were fitted, along the upper edge, with horizontal trailing plates protruding 0.15?m into the clarifier and forcing the flow to move horizontally. This clarifier design performed well, but storm-water grit accumulated at the bottom of the U tube, which had to be cleaned out after individual storms to avoid plugging. This issue was resolved by allowing grit to move into the sludge storage compartment of the clarifier through a narrow tilted slot opening in the U-tube bottom. The final clarifier design with polymer feed, without lamellas, produced TSS removals comparable to those in the original lamella clarifier (almost 80%), but at a higher surface loading rate (43?m/h, which was limited by the feed pump capacity). CFD modeling, in comparison to conventional methods of hydraulic design, served as a flexible and powerful tool providing distinct advantages with respect to the speed, efficiency and reduced cost of analysis, and a better understanding of the clarifier operation.     

Investigation of the gas inlet velocity distribution in a fixed granular bed filter

Granular bed filter (GBF) technology can be applied for high-temperature gas cleanup in integrated gasification combined-cycle (IGCC) and pressurized fluidized-bed combustion (PFBC) advanced coal-fired power plants. The design of the gas inlet component of the granular bed filter is important to achieve a uniform gas distribution and higher usage rate of the filter media. Previous studies show that the gas velocity at the inlet is not uniformly distributed. This non-uniformity may lead to a lower usage rate of the filter media. In this study a baffle device is introduced to the inlet system in order to achieve a more uniform gas velocity distribution. A more uniform gas inlet distribution can be obtained by adjustment of the lengths and angles of the baffles. The gas velocities along the inlet and filtration surfaces are measured using a pitot tube. The uniformity of the gas velocity distribution can be characterized by looking at the distributions of the standard deviation of the gas velocity and the differences in the mean velocities between the two filtration surfaces.     

Exhaust hood for steam turbines-single-flow arrangement

In the past, increased attention was given to the development of an optimal shape for the inlet part of LP turbine casings in SKODA POWER. A double-flow design is typically used for high power output turbines. An optimized shape for the internal diffuser has been found, which transforms the kinetic energy of steam into increased pressure, thus effectively increasing the thermodynamic efficiency of the stage. Some conclusions have been drawn from laboratory experiments, others derived directly from on-site measurements at power plants. The conclusions from the development of double-flow turbines form the basis for the design of the single-flow turbine arrangement. Single-flow design is typically used for lower output turbines. There are still some limitations in applying this arrangement. The designer needs to resolve the bearing position and how to ensure access to them. Reinforcing the ribs and supports are used, therefore, to ensure the rigidity of the entire casing. The optimization of the single-flow diffuser shape is therefore the subject of the study presented below.