Simulation-based conjoint ranking for optimal decision support process under aleatory uncertainty

Design chain management requires many decision makers throughout the product development process. It is critical to reduce complexity and uncertainty of the design process by correctly modeling subjective data associated with decision makers’ preferences. This paper aims at using decision support to find optimal designs by modeling respondent preferences and trade-offs with consideration of uncertainty. Specifically, a simulation-based ranking methodology is implemented and incorporated with traditional conjoint analysis. This process facilitates a schematic decision support process by alleviating user fatigue. In addition, incorporation of uncertainty in the ranking process provides the capability of producing robust and reliable products. The efficacy and applicability of simulation-based conjoint ranking is demonstrated with a case study of a power-generating shock absorber design.     

Focused SWOT: diagnosing critical strengths and weaknesses

Despite the problems involved in its use, SWOT (strengths-weaknesses-opportunities-threats) analysis remains a major strategic tool for listing the strengths and weaknesses of an organisation, for recording the major strengths and translating them into value. This paper presents a straightforward methodology for making a structured analysis of strengths and weaknesses, based on an analysis of important value-creating events and the strengths and weaknesses that caused these events. The focused SWOT methodology distils the strengths and weaknesses into core competences and core problems, by using the core-competence tree and the current-reality tree. The core competences and core problems are then linked into a plan of action aimed at preserving and leveraging the organisation's core competences, while defending against exposure to core problems. Applications of the methodology are presented and it is demonstrated in a detailed case study.     

Privacy-sensitive recognition of group conversational context with sociometers

Recognizing the conversational context in which group interactions unfold has applications in machines that support collaborative work and perform automatic social inference using contextual knowledge. This paper addresses the task of discriminating one conversational context from another, specifically brainstorming from decision-making interactions, using easily computable nonverbal behavioral cues. Privacy-sensitive mobile sociometers are used to record the interaction data. We hypothesize that the difference in the conversational dynamics between brainstorming and decision-making discussions is significant and measurable using speaking activity-based nonverbal cues. We characterize the communication patterns of the entire group by the aggregation (both temporal and person-wise) of their nonverbal behavior. The results on our interaction data set show that the floor-occupation patterns in a brainstorming interaction are different from a decision-making interaction, and our method can obtain a classification accuracy as high as 87.5%.     

Searching for Inefficiencies in Exchange Rate Dynamics

This paper develops a new pair trading method to detect inefficiencies in exchange rates movements and arbitrage opportunities using a convergence/divergence indicator (CDI) belonging to the oscillatory class. The proposed technique is applied to 11 exchange rates over the period 2010–2015, and trading rules based on CDI signals are obtained. The CDI indicator is shown to outperform others of the oscillatory class and in some cases (for EURAUD and AUDJPY) to generate profits. The suggested approach is of general interest and can be applied to different financial markets and assets.     

Reversible Control of Gelatin Hydrogel Stiffness by Using DNA Crosslinkers**

Biomaterials with dynamically tunable properties are critical for a range of applications in regenerative medicine and basic biology. In this work, we show the reversible control of gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) hydrogel stiffness through the use of DNA crosslinkers. We replaced some of the inter-GelMA crosslinks with double-stranded DNA, allowing for their removal through toehold-mediated strand displacement. The crosslinks could be restored by adding fresh dsDNA with complementary handles to those on the hydrogel. The elastic modulus (G’) of the hydrogels could be tuned between 500 and 1000 Pa, reversibly, over two cycles without degradation of performance. By functionalizing the gels with a second DNA strand, it was possible to control the crosslink density and a model ligand in an orthogonal fashion with two different displacement strands. Our results demonstrate the potential for DNA to reversibly control both stiffness and ligand presentation in a protein-based hydrogel, and will be useful for teasing apart the spatiotemporal behavior of encapsulated cells.     

Recycling von marinen Sekundärrohstoffen

As a waste product, oyster shells pose a major environmental pollution problem and the reuse of the material is becoming increasingly important. Since the comminution process in the recycling of secondary raw materials defines the properties of the material, oyster shells were grinded using a planetary ball mill and an impact mill and the fractions obtained were analyzed in terms of size and shape and compared with each other. A comminuted material from the impact mill was used for a series of wetting experiments, which helped to demonstrate the surface free energy of the material.