Temporal relation algebra for audiovisual content analysis

Multimedia Tools and Applications - The context of this work is to characterize the content and the structure of audiovisual documents by analysing the temporal relationships between basic events...     

An optimisation support for the design of hybrid production lines including assembly and disassembly tasks

The optimisation problems related to the assignment of tasks to workstations in assembly and disassembly lines have been largely discussed in the literature. They are known, respectively, as Assembly Line Balancing and Disassembly Line Balancing Problems. In this study, both types of task performed on the identical product are integrated in a common hybrid production system. Therefore, the logistic process is simplified and disassembly tasks can supply easier the assembly tasks with the required components. The considered production system has the layout of two parallel lines with common workstations. The product flow is conventional in the assembly line and reverse in the disassembly line. The paper provides a new mathematical model for designing such a hybrid system and an approximate approach based on ant colony optimisation for solving large-scale instances. The solution method is tested in a case study. The obtained results are compared with the solution provided by the design of two independent lines. The analysis of the results highlights the potential benefits of the hybrid production system.     

Compressive mechanical properties of sawdust/high density polyethylene composites under various strain rate loadings

This article is concerned with the static and dynamic mechanical properties of high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) reinforced with sawdust (SD) at a strain rate of up to 10³ s^?1. In this study, the static and dynamic properties of HDPE/SD composites with different filler loadings of 5, 10, 15, 20, and 30 wt% SD were deliberated at different levels of strain rates (0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 650, 900, and 1100 s^?1) using a conventional universal testing machine and the split Hopkinson pressure bar apparatus. The results showed that the stress–strain curves, yield behavior, stiffness, and strength properties of the HDPE/SD composites were strongly affected by both the strain rate and the filler loadings. Furthermore, the rate sensitivityof the HDPE/SD composites showed a great dependency on the applied strain rate, increasing as the strain rate increased. However, the thermal activation values showed a contrary trend. Meanwhile, for the postdamage analysis, the results showed that the applied strain rates influenced the deformation behavior of the tested HDPE/SD composites. Moreover, for the fractographic analysis at dynamic loading, the composites showed that all the specimens underwent a severe catastrophic deformation. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 24:162–173, 2018. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers     

The effect of polypropylene maleic anhydride on polypropylene/(recycled acrylonitrile butadiene rubber)/(sugarcane bagasse) composite

The effect of polypropylene maleic anhydride (PPMAH) on the tensile properties and morphology of polypropylene (PP)/(recycled acrylonitrile butadiene rubber) (NBRr)/(sugarcane bagasse) (SCB) composites has been studied. Six different composites (100/0/10, 80/20/10, 70/30/10, 60/40/10, 50/50/10, and 40/60/10), with fixed 5 wt% of PPMAH compatibilizer and without PPMAH addition, were carried out. The composites were prepared through melt‐mixing technique at 180^oC for 9 min using a rotor speed of 15 rpm. The specimens were analyzed for mechanical properties and examined with scanning electron microscopy. The tensile strength was found to decrease with increasing filler content. However, tensile strength and Young's modulus of the PPMAH compatibilized composites were found to increase, while the elongation at break showed the opposite trend as compared with the control composites. The morphology results support the tensile properties and indicated a better interaction between the SCB filler and PP/NBRr matrices with the presence of PPMAH as a compatibilizer. This is due to the esterification bonding between the SCB filler and PP matrix in the presence of PP/NBRr matrices. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 23:228–233, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Contributing to Understand the Crosstalk between Brain and Periphery in Methylmercury Intoxication: Neurotoxicity and Extracellular Vesicles

Human exposure to methylmercury (MeHg) is currently high in regions such as the Amazon. Understanding the molecular changes associated with MeHg-induced neurotoxicity and the crosstalk with the periphery is essential to support early diagnoses. This work aimed to evaluate cellular and molecular changes associated with behavioral alterations in MeHg acute exposure and the possible changes in extracellular vesicles (EVs) number and S100β content. Adults male Wistar rats were orally treated with 5 mg/kg for four days. Behavioral performance, molecular and histological changes in the cerebellum, and plasma EVs were assessed. MeHg-intoxicated animals performed significantly worse in behavioral tests. MeHg increased the number of GFAP+ cells and GFAP and S100β mRNA expression in the cerebellum but no change in NeuN+ or IBA-1+ cells number was detected. The number of exosomes isolated from plasma were decreased by the metal. S100B mRNA was detected in circulating plasma EVs cargo in MeHg exposure. Though preliminary, our results suggest astrocytic reactivity is displaying a protective role once there was no neuronal death. Interestingly, the reduction in exosomes number could be a new mechanism associated with MeHg-induced neurotoxicity and plasma EVs could represent a source of future biomarkers in MeHg intoxication.     

Raumakustische Zielgrößen und Maßnahmen zur Optimierung der kognitiven Leistungsfähigkeit sowie des akustischen Komforts in Mehrpersonenbüros

Lärm zählt zu den häufigsten Quellen von Beschwerden an Büroarbeitsplätzen. Insbesondere Gespräche von Mitarbeitern werden als störend erlebt. Darüber hinaus beeinträchtigt Bürolärm die Leistungsfähigkeit und das Befinden der Angestellten. Richtlinien und Normen berücksichtigen kaum die besondere Bedeutung sprachlicher Hintergrundgeräusche. Der Speech Transmission Index (STI), ein Maß für die Verständlichkeit von Sprache, wird aktuell als geeignete physikalische Führungsgröße zur Gestaltung offener Büroumgebungen diskutiert. Im Rahmen einer laborexperimentellen Untersuchung wird der Zusammenhang zwischen der Darbietung von Hintergrundschallen mit unterschied licher Sprachverständlichkeit (STI) und der kognitiven Leistungsfähigkeit sowie dem empfundenen akustischen Komfort von Probanden untersucht. Dabei zeigt sich ein starker Zusammenhang zwischen der Sprachverständlichkeit und Maßen kognitiver Leistungsfähigkeit sowie akustischem Komfort. Der STI kann daher als eine geeignete physikalische Führungsgröße zur Gestaltung offener Büroumgebungen betrachtet werden. Room acoustical set values and measures for optimization of cognitive performance and acoustic comfort in open‐plan offices. Noise is among the most frequently mentioned sources of complaint in open‐plan offices. Particularly conversations of colleagues are perceived as being annoying. In addition office noise is known to impair employees’ cognitive performance and wellbeing. Standards and norms hardly account for the special role of background speech. The Speech Transmission Index (STI), a measure of speech intelligibility, is assumed to be a suitable physical set value for the acoustical design of open‐plan offices. The results of a laboratory experiment are presented investigating the relationship between presentation of background speech varying in STI and cognitive performance as well as perceived acoustic comfort. A strong relationship between speech intelligibility and cognitive performance as well as acoustic comfort is found. Therefore the STI can be assumed to be a suitable physical set value for the acoustic design of open‐plan office.     

Vibration analysis of cross-ply laminated truncated conical shells using a spline method

Free vibration of symmetric and antisymmetric cross-ply composite laminated truncated conical shells using the spline function technique is studied. The equilibrium equations for a truncated conical shells are formulated including first-order shear deformation theory. The equations of motion are derived in terms of displacement functions and rotational functions using stress–strain and strain–displacement relationships. The coupled differential equations are solved using Bickley-type splines to obtain the generalized eigenvalue problem by combining suitable boundary conditions. The convergence and comparative results are presented. Both symmetric and anti-symmetric cross-ply shells are considered using various types of material properties. Parametric studies are made to investigate the effect of transverse shear deformation on the frequency parameter with respect to the thickness ratio, length ratio, cone angle, and circumferential mode number using different numbers of layers under various types of boundary conditions.     

Study of mixed convection in an annular vertical cylinder filled with saturated porous medium,using thermal non-equilibrium model

The present study deals with numerical investigation of effects of different parameters on enhancement or retardation of the heat transfer rate in an annular vertical cylinder filled with saturated porous medium. The heat transfer is assumed to take place by mixed convection mode. The thermal non-equilibrium approach is considered. The inner surface of the annular cylinder is maintained at constant wall temperature whereas the outer surface remains at ambient temperature. The governing partial differential equations are solved using finite element method. The results are discussed for the effects of Peclet number, interphase heat transfer co-efficient and thermal conductivity ratio.