Integration of reconfigurable inspection with stream of variations methodology

This paper describes an advanced closed loop quality control methodology for reconfigurable manufacturing systems. The methodology enables rapid root-cause diagnostics for faster ramp-up of reconfigurable systems through integration of the Reconfigurable Inspection Machine (RIM) and the Stream of Variations (SoV) methodology. The RIM enables reconfigurable, rapid, and accurate inspection using non-contact sensors while the SoV methodology is used to quickly analyze the measurements and identify the root-cause of the errors produced during machining.The feasibility of the industrial concept was experimentally validated. A machining error was introduced during machining of an engine head. Measurement information collected by the RIM was processed and used to locate the root-cause of the error using the SoV methodology.     

Real time discrete shading

A shading technique for voxel-based images, termedcongradient shading, is presented. As the surface information is not available in voxel representation, the surface normal must be recovered from the 3D discrete voxel map itself. The technique defines the normal as one of a finite set of neighborhood-estimated gradients and can thus employ precalculated look-up tables. Furthermore, a table-driven mechanism permits changing the light source parameters by merely redefining the look-up table. The technique uses only simple arithmetic operations and is thus suitable for hardware implementation. Since it has been implemented not as a post-processor, but as part of the projection pipeline of the cube architecture, congradient shading can be executed in real time. Two versions of the technique in real time. Two versions of the technique have been conceived and implemented:unidirectional shading, in which the gradient is estimated only from neighborhoods along the scan-lines;bidirectional shading, in which both horizontal and vertical components of the gradient are considered. In spite of the simplicity of the technique, the results are practically indistinguishable from images generated by conventional techniques.This work was supported by the National Science Foundation under grants DCR 8603603, CCR 8743478, CCR 8717016, and MIP 8805130     

Stability and bandwidth enhancement of difference frequencygeneration (DFG)-based wavelength conversion by pump detuning

The authors report on a method for enhancing the operating stability and signal bandwidth of difference-frequency-generation-based wavelength conversion by detuning the pump from the degenerate phase matching wavelength; both can be further enhanced by using nonuniform quasi-phase-matching structures     

A Study of Lot Sizing Algorithms

The many MRP lot-sizing algorithms proposed imply four underlying time-phasing requirements: minimizing inventory, maintaining uniform batch sizes, maintaining regular order cycles, and attaining minimum costs. This study examines the cost behavior of four exact and two classical algorithms addressing these structures. Several parameters, describing the demand profile, planning horizon and component costs enable effective evaluation and prediction of cost behaviour. The study shows that: (1) imposing regularity constraints on an MRP schedule leads to costs 14% above the minimum for fixed batch sizing, and 2% for regular order cycling; (2) fixed order cycle schedules show costs close to the minimum attainable, thus supporting the use of this approach in practice; (3) the classical POQ schedules also show good cost performance (11% above minimum); and (4) the cost behaviour of a wide range of MRP demand profiles and cost components can be fairly well predicted (to 7% on the average) using simplified “ideal” relationships.     

The olive compound 4-hydroxytyrosol inactivates Staphylococcus aureus bacteria and Staphylococcal Enterotoxin A (SEA)

The foodborne pathogen Staphylococcus aureus produces the virulent staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA), a single chain protein which consists of 233 amino acid residues with a molecular weight of 27078 Da. SEA is a superantigen that is reported to contribute to animal (mastitis) and human (emesis, diarrhea, atopic dermatitis, arthritis, and toxic shock) syndromes. Changes in the native structural integrity may inactivate the toxin by preventing molecular interaction with cell membrane receptor sites of their host cells. In the present study, we evaluated the ability of the pure olive compound 4-hydroxytyrosol and a commercial olive powder called Hidrox-12, prepared by freeze-drying olive juice, to inhibit S. aureus bacteria and SEA's biological activity. Dilutions of both test substances inactivated the pathogens. Two independent cell assays (BrdU incorporation into newly synthesized DNA and glycyl-phenylalanyl-aminofluorocoumarin proteolysis) demonstrated that the olive compound 4-hydroxytyrosol also inactivated the biological activity of SEA at concentrations that were not toxic to the spleen cells. However, efforts to determine inhibition of the toxin by Hidrox-12 were not successful because the olive powder was cytotoxic to the spleen cells at concentrations found to be effective against the bacteria. The results suggest that food-compatible and safe antitoxin olive compounds can be used to inactivate both pathogens and toxins produced by the pathogens. Practical Application: The results of this study suggest that food-compatible and safe antitoxin olive compounds can be used to reduce both pathogens and toxins produced by the pathogens in foods.     

Exosome Secretion and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Ovarian Cancer Are Regulated by Phospholipase D

Phospholipase D (PLD) isoenzymes participate in a variety of cellular functions that are mostly attributed to phosphatidic acid (PA) synthesis. Dysregulation of PLD regulates tumor progression and metastasis, yet little is known about the underlying mechanism. We previously reported on the expression and clinical role of the PLD isoenzymes PLD1 and PLD2 in tubo-ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC). In the present study, we investigated the biological function of PLD1 and PLD2 using the OVCAR-3 and OVCAR-8 HGSC cell lines. KO cell lines for both PLDs were generated using CRISPR/CAS9 technology and assayed for exosome secretion, spheroid formation, migration, invasion and expression of molecules involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and intracellular signaling. Significant differences between PLD1 and PLD2 KO cells and controls were observed for all the above parameters, supporting an important role for PLD in regulating migration, invasion, metastasis and EMT.     

A simulation model for risk analysis of toxic chemical storage

With the increasing complexity of chemical plants and the growing public concern for the safe manufacture, transport, and disposal of these chemicals, there exist a need to assist decision-makers in project evaluation with regard to risk.

Extensive work has been done in risk analysis area related to nuclear industry. The amount of research and applications of risk analysis methodology in chemical industry is seriously lacking. Direct application of some of the risk analysis techniques used for nuclear risk studies is not always appropriate to the chemical industry.

The use of simulation models to overcome some of the problems of direct application of probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) methodologies is evaluated in this paper. A simulation model is developed for a toxic chemical storage risk analysis problem. The results of the simulation model are compared to the results of using standard fault tree methodology.     

Lower bounds on the state complexity of linear tail-biting trellises

Lower bounds on the state complexity of linear tail-biting trellises are presented. One bound generalizes the total-span bound, while another bound can be regarded as a generalization of the cut-set bound. It is shown by examples that the new bounds may be tighter than any of the existing lower bounds.