A novel ensemble statistical topic extraction method for scientific publications based on optimization clustering

Multimedia Tools and Applications - The automatic topic extraction (TE) from scientific publications provides a very compact summary of the clusters’ contents. This often helps in locating...     

Density functional study of the antioxidant activity of some recently synthesized resveratrol analogues

In this paper we have investigated the two main working mechanisms (H atom and single-electron transfer) of five new potential antioxidant analogues of cis-resveratrol. The O–H bond dissociation energy (BDE) and ionization potential (IP) key parameters were computed in methanol. Results obtained indicate that all the examined compounds are more efficient antioxidants than the molecule from which they derive, mainly due to their higher degree of conjugation and the capability to delocalize the π-electrons which contribute to the stabilization of the radical species. The enhancement of these stabilizing effects is in part a result of the introduction of a single bond between the C2′ and C6 carbon atoms of cis-resveratrol that generates a new central aromatic ring. However, the number of hydroxyl groups and in particular the presence of the catechol moiety remains the most significant features in determining the order of radical scavenging potentiality. Spectroscopic UV–Vis characterization is also reported and discussed.     

ivnpiv-Neutrosophic soft sets and their decision making based on similarity measure

In recent years, soft sets and neutrosophic sets have become a subject of great interest for researchers and have been widely studied based on decision-making problems. In this paper, we propose a new concept of the soft sets that is called interval-valued neutrosophic parameterized interval-valued neutrosophic soft sets (ivnpivn-soft sets). It is a generalization of the other soft sets such as fuzzy soft sets, intuitionistic fuzzy soft sets, neutrosophic soft sets, fuzzy parameterized soft sets, intuitionistic fuzzy parameterized soft sets, neutrosophic parameterized neutrosophic soft sets. Also, we proposed ivnpivn-soft matrices which are representative of the ivnpivn-soft sets. We then developed a decision-making method on the ivnpivn-soft sets and ivnpivn-soft matrices. Then, we proposed a numerical example to verify validity and feasibility of the developed method. Finally, the proposed method is compared with several different methods to verify its feasibility.

     

The impact of information transparency on the dynamic behaviour of a hybrid manufacturing/remanufacturing system

A combined manufacturing/remanufacturing system is modelled and its dynamic behaviour is investigated using a control engineering approach. The model is an extension of the automated pipeline, inventory and order based production control system (APIOBPCS), which is well understood from a dynamic perspective. It is assumed that the remanufacturing process is based on a PUSH policy. Utilising different levels of information transparency from the remanufacturing process, three system types are developed and compared. Mathematical and simulation analyses of the system types were undertaken and their robustness to remanufacturing process uncertainties were tested. Our analysis indicates that the greater the degree of information transparency, the greater the robustness of the hybrid system.     

Methodology before technology [supply chain re-engineering]

Supply chain re-engineering is a difficult exercise with potentially far-reaching implications for all involved. Simulation can help to avoid some of the pitfalls. Supply chain re-engineering aims to overcome the distorting effects of industrial dynamics by looking closely at the main flows that constitute the supply chain. These are the flow of information `down' the supply chain, the movement of material `up' the supply chain towards the end customer, the transfer of cash between levels, and in more sophisticated supply chains, the two-way flow of resources. The most demanding task of supply chain re-engineering is to establish a method by which the `law of industrial dynamics' may be suppressed or minimised     

Combined effects of heat, nisin and acidification on the inactivation of Clostridium sporogenes spores in carrot-alginate particles: from kinetics to process validation

Combined effects of mild temperatures, acidification and nisin on the thermal resistance of Clostridium sporogenes ATCC 11437 spores were assessed. Inoculated carrot-alginate particles were used as a solid-food model for the validation of the spore inactivation during the flow of a solid-liquid food system through the holding tube of an aseptic processing unit. Inactivation kinetics was studied in a water bath with the spores inoculated into carrot-alginate particles and in Sorensen's phosphate buffer. For temperatures of 70-90 degrees C, D-values in the buffer were 24.9-5.7 min, much lower than those evaluated for the particles (115.1-22.2 min). Statistical analyses showed significant synergistic effects of temperature and pH on spore inactivation for both media. Acidification reduced the heat resistance of the spores by reducing the D-values. Nisin was not significantly effective at the lower concentrations (up to 750 IU/g). The combination of 90 degrees C, pH: 4.5 and 500IU/g nisin resulted in a ten-fold decrease of the D-value for spores inoculated in the particles (from 111.1 to 10.6 min). Microbial validation tests were conducted using a pilot-scale aseptic processing unit with a mixture of carrot cubes (10%) and carrier liquid of 2%-carboxymethylcellulose solution (90%). Spore-inoculated carrot-alginate particles (initial counts of 106 CFU/g, obtained after come-up-time pre-heat) with pH 3.5 and 2000 IU/g nisin were processed at 90 degrees C in the aseptic processing unit. Microbial analysis showed no spore survivors in the particles after passing through the holding tube (5.2-6.0 min of residence time). The proposed combination of these hurdles significantly enhanced the spore inactivation rate (D(90)=1.17 min) as compared to that for thermal treatment only (D(90)=19.6 min).