Supply chain network design using an integrated neuro-fuzzy and MILP approach: A comparative design study

In this study, an integrated supply chain (SC) design model is developed and a SC network design case is examined for a reputable multinational company in alcohol free beverage sector. Here, a three echelon SC network is considered under demand uncertainty and the proposed integrated neuro-fuzzy and mixed integer linear programming (MILP) approach is applied to this network to realize the design effectively. Matlab 7.0 is used for neuro-fuzzy demand forecasting and, the MILP model is solved using Lingo 10.0. Then Matlab 7.0 is used for artificial neural network (ANN) simulation to supply a comparative study and to show the applicability and efficiency of ANN simulation for this type of problem. By evaluating the output data, the SC network for this case is designed, and the optimal product flow between the factories, warehouses and distributors are calculated. Also it is proved that the ANN simulation can be used instead of analytical computations because of ensuring a simplified representation for this method and time saving.     

Doubly Iterative Equalization of Continuous-Phase Modulation

In this paper, a doubly iterative receiver is proposed for joint turbo equalization, demodulation, and decoding of coded binary continuous-phase modulation (CPM) in multipath fading channels. The proposed receiver consists of three soft-input soft-output (SISO) blocks: a front-end soft-information-aided minimum mean square error (MMSE) equalizer followed by a CPM demodulator and a back-end channel decoder. The MMSE equalizer, combined with an a priori soft-interference canceler (SIC) and an a posteriori probability mapper, forms a SISO processor suitable for iterative processing that considers discrete-time CPM symbols which belong to a finite alphabet. The SISO CPM demodulator and the SISO channel decoder are both implemented by the a posteriori probability algorithm. The proposed doubly iterative receiver has a central demodulator coupled with both the front-end equalizer and the back-end channel decoder. A few back-end demodulation/decoding iterations are performed for each equalization iteration so as to improve the a priori information for the equalizer. As presented in the extrinsic information transfer (EXIT) chart analysis and simulation results for different multipath fading channels, this provides not only faster convergence to low bit error rates, but also lower computational complexity.     

Vaccination with glutaraldehyde-fixed bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV)-infected cells stimulates a better immune response in lambs than vaccination with heat-inactivated cell-free BRSV

The lamb model was used to investigate the possible protective effects of vaccination with inactivated viral antigens against experimental infection with bovine respiratory syncytial virus. Two groups of eight lambs were vaccinated with either glutaraldehyde-inactivated cell-associated virus or heat-inactivated cell-free virus and subsequently challenged with live virus, along with a group of naive lambs. The virus was shed for significantly longer periods, and the virus titres in nasal secretions were significantly higher in the group of naive lambs than in the two groups of vaccinated lambs. The period of virus-shedding in nasal secretions and virus titres was significantly lower (p < 0.01) in the group of lambs immunized with the cell-associated preparation. The same antigen stimulated better cellular immune responses as measured by virus-specific cytotoxicity or by virus-specific lymphocyte proliferation. However, priming with inactivated vaccines had no significant effect on lymphocyte responses to phytohaemagglutinin, which was found to be significantly reduced (p < 0.01) following challenge with live virus.     

Mode I fracture toughness determination with straight notched disk bending method

A new method called the straight notched disk bending method is developed for mode I fracture toughness determination using rock cores. Disk specimens of andesite and marble having a single straight edge notch were subjected to three-point bending loads. Dimensionless stress intensity factor estimations and fracture toughness tests were conducted for different notch lengths, span lengths, thicknesses and diameters of the cylindrical rock specimens. Stress intensity factors were computed by three-dimensional finite element modeling and the results were presented for a wide range of specimen geometrical parameters. Results of experiments were compared to the results of well-known mode I fracture toughness testing methods. For specimens having thickness equal to the radius, mode I fracture toughness was lower and close to the results obtained by semi-circular bending method. When thickness was increased and doubled, mode I fracture toughness increased and approached to the value found by the suggested cracked chevron notched Brazilian disk method. Advantages of the new method included easy specimen preparation and testing procedure, stiffer specimen geometry, smaller fracture process zone, and flexibility of the specimen geometry for the investigation of the size effect behavior.     

Laser cutting of 7050 Al alloy reinforced with Al2O3 and B4C composites

In the present study, laser cutting of 7050 aluminum alloy sheets reinforced with Al₂O₃ and B₄C particles are carried out. The cut geometry is examined using scanning electron microscope and the optical microscope. The lump parameter analysis technique is used to formulate and determine the kerf width size. The predictions for kerf width are compared with experimental data. The percentage kerf width size variation along the cut edges is determined and the influence of the laser power level and duty cycle of the laser pulses on the percentage kerf width size variation is examined. It is found that 7050 aluminum alloy reinforced with 20% Al₂O₃ composite results in relatively large kerf width size as compared to its counter parts that corresponding to 7050 aluminum alloy reinforced with 20% B₄C composite. The kerf width size predicted agreed with the experimental data for both composites.     

Production,characterization and optimization of thermoelectric module and investigation of doping effects on thermoelectric performances

The objective of this study is to produce the thermoelectric (TE) module called as a Peltier module or element using new and promising materials that work at high temperature for generation of electricity with thermoelectric energy conversion from waste heat at high temperatures. Peltier modules used commercially nowadays can work at relatively low temperatures and their efficiency increase in proportion to the temperature difference between the surfaces of the modules. They consist of a pair of p- and n-type semiconductor. In this study, calcium cobalt oxide was chosen as a p-type semiconductor whilst zinc oxide was chosen as n-type semiconductor. Pure and aluminum-doped zinc oxide and silver-doped calcium cobalt oxide powders were synthesized via sol–gel processing successfully. The obtained powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), fourier transform infrared (FTIR), differential thermal analysis-thermogravimetry (DTA-TG), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In addition, the particle size distribution of the powders obtained via sol–gel processing was determined using a particle size analyzer. One and two leg oxide thermo-electric modules consisting of one pair of p-type 0.03 percent silver doped calcium cobalt oxide and n-type 0.02 percent aluminum doped zinc oxide bulks of 25 square millimeter cross-section and 3 millimeter heights were constructed. The thermoelectric module constructed was tested at high temperatures, and compared to other similar oxide modules reported in literature. Ultimately, the thermal stress and alteration of thermal stress depending on the leg length and side length of semiconductors were calculated using the finite element analysis (FEA) model in ANSYS 15.0 software. According to the results of the analysis, TE module was optimized in terms of mechanical behavior.     

Silicon nanocrystal production through non-thermal plasma synthesis: a comparative study between silicon tetrachloride and silane precursors

Silicon nanocrystals with sizes between 5 and 10?nm have been produced in a non-thermal plasma reactor using silicon tetrachloride as precursor. We demonstrate that high-quality material can be produced with this method and that production rates as high as 140?mg?h(-1) can be obtained, with a maximum precursor utilization rate of roughly 50%. Compared to the case in which particles are produced using silane as the main precursor, the gas composition needs to be modified and hydrogen needs to be added to the mixture to enable the nucleation and growth of the powder. The presence of chlorine in the system leads to the production of nanoparticles with a chlorine terminated surface which is significantly less robust against oxidation in air compared to the case of a hydrogen terminated surface. We also observe that significantly higher power input is needed to guarantee the formation of crystalline particles, which is a consequence not only of the different gas-phase composition, but also of the influence of chlorine on the stability of the crystalline structure.     

The development of the German energy market until 2030—A critical survey of selected scenarios

Many scenarios have been generated in the last years analysing the international energy market. The variety of these scenarios is manifold, as they are generated by different institutions using different methodological approaches and different framework assumptions. However, these scenarios can roughly be classified into three main groups: “moderate”, “climate protection” and “resource scarcity and high fossil fuel prices”. Analysing the German energy market makes a fourth scenario group necessary, which considers the possible revision of the decided nuclear energy phase out. Most of the existing scenarios developed by different institutions can be allocated into one of these groups. A representative scenario for each group has been selected to illustrate the development of the energy sector until 2030. Contrary to the worldwide primary energy demand (PED), the German PED decreases in each scenario, even though the drop differs strongly throughout the scenarios. On the other hand the structure of the PED in 2030 varies strongly for each scenario, especially regarding the share of fossil energy sources. However, a common robust result can be observed throughout all scenarios, namely the high increase in the share of the renewable energy resources, although the scenario generation processes are not always robust.