A reformulated nonlinear model to solve the facility layout problem

The facility layout problem is fundamental during the plant design. The solution of this problem has required strategies that become in numerical challenges. One of them is the exact method, which finds optimal distributions for facility layout, as demonstrated in the linear and disjunctive models. Both models are distinguished by a high quantity of nonoverlapping constraints. In contrast, a nonlinear model was formulated with low number of constraints, but it has been solved by genetic algorithms. Herein, that model is reformulated to a MINLP (mixed integer nonlinear programing) problem. The solution was possible using a visual interface linked to GAMS (General Algebraic Modeling System). Three case studies were solved to compare them. The reformulated model reached feasible solutions, and its computational time and binary variables were lower than those of the others. This suggests that the reformulated model can be extended to solve topics about process safety.     

Efficient Neutrophil Activation Requires Two Simultaneous Activating Stimuli

Neutrophils are abundantly present in the synovium and synovial fluid of patients suffering from arthritis. Neutrophils can be activated by a multitude of stimuli and the current dogma states that this is a two-step process, consisting of a priming step followed by an activation step. Considering that neutrophil activation occurs in an inflammatory environment, where multiple stimuli are present, we argue that a two-step process is highly unlikely. Here, we indeed demonstrate that neutrophils require simultaneous ligation of two different receptors for efficient activation. We isolated human peripheral blood neutrophils and cultured them with various combinations of stimuli (GM-CSF, fMLF, TNF, and LPS). Next, we evaluated essential neutrophil functions, including degranulation and ROS production using flow cytometry, mediator release using ELISA, NETosis by a live cell imaging method, phagocytosis by imaging flow cytometry, and extracellular vesicle (EV) release quantified by high-resolution flow cytometry. Exposure of neutrophils to any combination of stimuli, but not to single stimuli, resulted in significant degranulation, and mediator and EV release. Furthermore, ROS production increased substantially by dual stimulation, yet appeared to be more dependent on the type of stimulation than on dual stimulation. Phagocytosis was induced to its maximum capacity by a single stimulus, while NETosis was not induced by any of the used physiological stimuli. Our data indicate that neutrophil activation is tightly regulated and requires activation by two simultaneous stimuli, which is largely independent of the combination of stimuli.     

Investigation of the chemical versatility in high-entropy pyrochlores

This article reports on the exploration of the chemical versatility of entropy-stabilized pyrochlores (A₂B₂O₇) with large chemical disorder introduced on the B site, as well as the study of isovalent and aliovalent substitution on the B site and of Ca²⁺-doping on the A site. Among all the 20 new compounds obtained in this study, 8 are entropy-stabilized: RE₂(TiZrHfGeSn)₂ (with RE = Gd–Ho and Y), Pr₂(TiZrHfScNb)₂O₇, and RE₂(TiGeSnAlNb)₂O₇ (with RE = Er and Y). Moreover, some physical properties (magnetic, electrical, thermal, and optical properties) of these high-entropy pyrochlores have been screened, and some of them could be potentially interesting for applications. For example, we observed low thermal diffusivity values (between 0.4 and 0.7 m² s⁻¹) making them interesting for thermal barrier coating or tunable optical bandgaps in the visible region that could make them appealing as photocatalysts or in optical applications. Furthermore, single-phased compounds were obtained for almost all the rare earths (REs) on the A site. Therefore, when five nonmagnetic cations are used for the B site, it enables to study the magnetic properties and, more specifically, the influence of the local chemical and structural disorder on the exotic ground states observed in monocationic RE pyrochlores.