A neural network approach to decision alternative prioritization

A common decision problem faced by managers in organizations is that of decision alternative prioritization. There have been many proposed approaches to the problem where the decision maker constructs a pairwise comparison matrix of the alternatives under study. All existing ranking methods possess major shortcomings for the general problem. This paper illustrates the usefulness of a neural network model in such prioritization problems, which considers these shortcomings of previous methods. Use of the model is shown through the use of example ranking scenarios.     

多媒体设备的融合趋势和挑战

消费者正在见证一场在各种媒体设备之间制作和共享多媒体内容能力的急剧转变.人们可以从数码相机上取出一段视频片断,将其存到一块适合他们个人数字助理(PDA)的存储卡中,以便乘坐火车时观看.     

The use of propane/isopentane mixtures for rapid freezing of biological specimens

The use of propane/isopentane mixtures as cooling media is proposed since they remain fluid at liquid nitrogen temperature. The attainable cooling rates are virtually identical to those obtained in liquid propane.     

设计与测试合而为一

高效的设计与测试策略需要整个芯片设计和生产生态系统全面努力。 设计和测试部门是否正趋向于融合？在阅读最近一些新闻报道时，您可能会产生这一想法。我曾在一篇早期的评论中提到过设计与测试的关系的问题（参考文献1）。该评论是对此前执行编辑Ron Wilson发表的一篇文章所做的回应（参考文献2）。我坚持自己在今年3月20日发表的文章中得出的结论，即“认为嵌入式仪器会将外置仪器淘汰的想法是错误的”。但是近期的新闻和事件均表明：嵌入式仪器将继续侵入市场。     

Structure-aided optimization of kinase inhibitors derived from alsterpaullone

In order to perform computer-aided design of novel alsterpaullone derivatives, the vicinity of the entrance to the ATP-binding site was scanned for areas that could be useful as anchoring points for additional protein-ligand interactions. Based on the alignment of alsterpaullone in a CDK1/cyclin B homology model, substituents were attached to the 2-position of the parent scaffold to enable contacts within the identified areas. Synthesis of the designed structures revealed three derivatives (3-5) with kinase-inhibitory activity similar to alsterpaullone. The novel 2-cyanoethylalsterpaullone (7) proved to be the most potent paullone described so far, exhibiting inhibitory concentrations for CDK1/ cyclin B and GSK-3beta in the picomolar range.     

开车和走路时不用电话

手机市场有巨大的潜力。高通公司首席运营官兼高通CDMA技术总裁sanjay K Jha在今年6月11日的设计自动化研讨会的主题演讲中称,今天的无线用户有20亿,而到2020年,将有90亿人成为潜在的客户（摩托罗拉后来雇用Jha为协作首席执行官）。Jha也指出了这个爆炸性市场的一个缺陷：90亿潜在用户中,很多人在手机上的花费不超过15美元或20美元。     

Decreased dosage of acidified sodium chlorite reduces microbial contamination and maintains organoleptic qualities of ground beef products

Acidified sodium chlorite (ASC) spray was evaluated at decreased dosages and application rates to determine its efficacy for reducing bacterial contamination on boneless beef trimmings used for production of raw ground beef products while maintaining desirable consumer qualities in the finished ground beef products. Two different applications of ASC (600 ppm applied at a rate of 1.3 oz/lb and 300 ppm applied at a rate of 1 oz/lb) were used to treat boneless beef trimmings before grinding. The effect of ASC treatment on 50/50 lean beef trimmings was greater than on 90/10 trimmings. ASC at 600 ppm reduced both the aerobic plate counts (APC) and Enterobacteriaceae counts (EBC) by 2.3 log CFU/g on 50/50 trimmings, whereas treatment with 300 ppm ASC reduced APC and EBC of 50/50 trimmings by 1.1 and 0.7 log CFU/g, respectively. Ground beef formulations of 90/10 and 73/27 were produced from the treated boneless beef trim and packaged in chubs and in modified atmosphere packaging. The efficacy of ASC spray treatment to inhibit APC and EBC over the shelf life of each ground beef product was monitored. The APC and EBC in ground beef chubs were reduced by 1.0 to 1.5 log CFU/g until day 20. The APC and EBC for products in modified atmosphere packaging were reduced 1.5 to 3.0 log CFU/g throughout their shelf life. Both decreased dosages of ASC were equally effective on 90/10 lean ground beef, but the 300 ppm ASC treatment was slightly better at reducing the EBC of 73/27 ground beef. The organoleptic qualities (color, odor, and taste) of the ground beef products treated with 300 ppm ASC were found to be superior to those treated with 600 ppm ASC. Our results indicated that decreased dosages of ASC reduce contamination and lengthen the shelf life of ground beef. Furthermore, the 300 ppm ASC treatment reduced bacterial counts while maintaining desirable organoleptic ground beef qualities.     

The 25 IEA energy efficiency policy recommendations to the G8 Gleneagles Plan of Action

The imperative to pursue energy efficiency improvements is clearly on the political agenda at all levels of governments. This paper explores the lessons from past attempts at galvanising international efforts to expand energy efficiency activities through the use of international-level recommendations. Drawing on these lessons, the paper outlines the IEA response to the call for policy advice on energy efficiency through the G8 Gleneagles Plan of Action. Specifically, the paper outlines a ‘necessary conditions’ framework that was used to develop a set of energy efficiency policy priorities and describes the subsequent recommendations presented to the G8 in Hokkaido–Toyako Summit in 2008. The recommendations cover 25 fields of action in seven priority areas: buildings, appliances, lighting, transport, industry, energy utilities and cross-sectoral issues. Together, the suite of recommendations sets out an ambitious road map for global energy efficiency improvement. If implemented globally without delay, they could save around 8.2 GtCO₂/yr or 96 EJ/yr by 2030. This is equivalent to roughly twice the current total EU energy-related CO₂ emissions.     

Overview of hydrogen production technologies from biogas and the applications in fuel cells

Traditionally, H₂ is a large-scale production by the reforming process of light hydrocarbons, mainly natural gas, used by the chemical industry. However, the reforming technologies currently used encounter numerous technical/scientific challenges, which depend on the quality of raw materials, the conversion efficiency and security needs for the integration of H₂ production, purification and use, among others. Biogas is a high-potential versatile raw material for reforming processes, which can be used as an alternative CH₄ source. The production of H₂ from renewable sources, such as biogas, helps to largely reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Within this context, the integration of biogas reforming processes and the activation of fuel cell using H₂ represent an important route for generating clean energy, with added high-energy efficiency. This work expounds a literature review of the biogas reforming technologies, emphasizing the types of fuel cells available, the advantages offered by each route and the main problems faced.