Characterizing the performance of process flexibility structures

The objective is to identify preferred flexibility structures in service or manufacturing systems, when demand is random and capacity is finite. Considering a network flow type model as the basis of the analysis, general structural properties of flexibility design pertaining to the marginal values of flexibility and capacity are identified.     

Hybrid Modelling for Robust Solving

We study a balanced academic curriculum problem and an industrial steel mill slab design problem. These problems can be modelled in different ways, using both Integer Linear Programming (ILP) and Constraint Programming (CP) techniques. We consider the utility of each model. We also propose integrating the models to create hybrids that benefit from the complementary strengths of each model. Experimental results show that hybridization significantly increases the domain pruning and decreases the run-time on many instances. Furthermore, a CP/ILP hybrid model gives a more robust performance in the face of varying instance data.     

Effect of pressure on pressed pellets in XRS

In this study, the absorption experiments which are an application area in XRS are discussed. The effect on the absorption parameters of the pressure applied to make pellet powder samples was investigated. The mass attenuation coefficients ( μ _m ), mean free paths and half-value layers of samples prepared at different pressures were experimentally determined. C₆H₁₀O₅, VF₄, CaO and Y₂O₃ samples were pressed at 1.91, 3.82, 5.72 and 7.63 tons/cm². A variable energy x-ray source from Amersham (AMC.2084) was used in order to irradiate the samples at energies 13.39, 19.63, 24.90, 32.06, 36.39, 44.48, 51.70 and 59.54 keV. The photon intensities were measured by using an HPGe detector with a resolution of 182 eV at 5.9 keV. The theoretical radiation absorption parameters were calculated by WinXCOM program. The calculated values were compared with the experimental values. Good agreement has been observed within experimental uncertainties for low pellet pressure. The obtained results show that the radiation absorption parameters change with the amount of pressure applied to the sample.     

Hetero‐ and homo‐leptic Ru(II) catalyzed synthesis of cyclic carbonates from CO2; Synthesis,spectroscopic characterization and electrochemical properties

Based on the a ligand BDPPZ [(9a,13a‐dihydro‐4,5,9,14‐tetraaza‐benzo[b]triphenylene‐11‐yl)‐phenyl‐methanone] (1) and its polypyridyl hetero‐ and homoleptic Ru(II) metal complexes, [Ru(bpy)₂L](PF₆)₂ (2), [Ru(phen)₂L](PF₆)₂ (3), [Ru(dafo)₂L](PF₆)₂ (4), [Ru(dcbpy)₂L](PF₆)₂ (5) and [RuL₃](PF₆)₂ (6) (where, L = ligand, bpy = 2,2′‐bipyridine, phen = 1,10‐phenantroline, dafo = 4,5‐diazafluoren‐9‐one and dcbpy = 3,3′‐dicarboxy‐2,2′‐bipyridine), have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, UV–vis, FT‐IR, ¹H and ¹³C‐NMR spectra (for ligand), molar conductivity measurements and X‐ray powder techniques. The electrochemical parameters of the substituted ligand and its polypyridyl hetero‐ and homoleptic Ru(II) metal complexes are reported by cyclic voltammetry. UV–vis spectroscopy is used to compare the differences between the conjugated π systems in this ligand and its Ru(II) metal complexes. The polypyridyl hetero‐ and homoleptic Ru(II) metal complexes also tested as catalysts for the formation of cyclic organic carbonates from carbon dioxide and liquid epoxides which served as both reactant and solvent. The results showed that the [Ru(L)₃](PF₆)₂ (6) complex is more efficient than the other Ru(II) complexes for the formation of cyclic organic carbonates from carbon dioxide. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An approximation for kanban controlled assembly systems

An approximation is proposed to evaluate the steady-state performance of kanban controlled two-stage assembly systems. The development of the approximation is as follows. The considered continuous-time Markov chain is aggregated keeping the model exact, and this aggregate model is approximated replacing some state-dependent transition rates with constant rates. The approximate aggregate model is, then, decomposed into submodels and a product-form steady-state distribution is obtained for each submodel. Finally, the submodels are combined in such a way that the size of the problem becomes independent of the number of kanbans. This leads to the computational advantage in solving the combined model using numerical matrix-geometric solution algorithms. Numerical comparisons of the combined model with simulation, exact model, approximate aggregate model and an approximation in the literature show that the proposed approximation performs well in terms of accuracy and computational burden.     

Combination of the Particle Size Distributions of Some Industrial Minerals Measured by Andreasen Pipette and Sieving Techniques

It is known that size of the individual particles is the predominant factor affecting the behavior of particulate materials, and that the size effects become increasingly important as the particles become finer. In this article, particle size distributions (PSDs) measured by different techniques, i.e. sieving and Andreasen pipette sedimentation, were combined for different mill (ball and rod) products of some industrial (talc and quartz) minerals. The corrected sedimentation data came closer to the sieving data. The apparent mean shape factors, r, determined from the corrected PSDs for the talc mineral ground by ball and rod mill were found to be 1.34, 0.62, whereas it was 1.00, 1.12 for the quartz mineral ground by ball and rod mill, respectively. The results show that the ball milled products of talc mineral have more regular (rounder in shape) particles than those of rod milled, but the rod milled products of quartz mineral studied were not more regular in shape than ball milled products of quartz mineral as confirmed by the SEM pictures and reviewed literature.     

Preparation and characterization of a novel diatomite-based composite and investigation of its adsorption properties for uranyl ions

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - The thiol-functional hydrotalcite (Mg/Al-LDO-SH) composite materials were prepared and characterized by EDS, SEM, FT-IR and XRD. The variables...     

Label-free enrichment of MCF7 breast cancer cells from leukocytes using continuous flow dielectrophoresis

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) present in the bloodstream are strongly linked to the invasive behavior of cancer; therefore, their detection holds great significance for monitoring disease progression. Currently available CTC isolation tools are often based on tumor-specific antigen or cell size approaches. However, these techniques are limited due to the lack of a unique and universal marker for CTCs, and the overlapping size between CTCs and regular blood cells. Dielectrophoresis (DEP), governed by the intrinsic dielectric properties of the particles, is a promising marker-free, accurate, fast, and low-cost technique that enables the isolation of CTCs from blood cells. This study presents a continuous flow, antibody-free DEP-based microfluidic device to concentrate MCF7 breast cancer cells, a well-established CTC model, in the presence of leukocytes extracted from human blood samples. The enrichment strategy was determined according to the DEP responses of the corresponding cells, obtained in our previously reported DEP spectrum study. It was based on the positive-DEP integrated with hydrodynamic focusing under continuous flow. In the proposed device, the parylene microchannel with two inlets and outlets was built on top of rectangular and equally spaced isolated planar electrodes rotated certain degree relative to the main flow (13°). The recovery of MCF7 cells mixed with leukocytes was 74%–98% at a frequency of 1 MHz and a magnitude of 10–12 V_pp. Overall, the results revealed that the presented system successfully concentrates MCF7 cancer cells from leukocytes, ultimately verifying our DEP spectrum study, in which the enrichment frequency and separation strategy of the microfluidic system were determined.