Formulation Procedure Research Articles

Production Constraints Modelling: A Tactical Review Approach

A constraint is a limitation or a restriction that poses a threat to the performance and efficiency of a system. This paper presented a tactical review approach to production constraints modeling. It discussed the theory of constraints (TOC) as a thinking process and continuous improvement strategy to curtail constraints in other to constantly increase the performance and efficiency of a system. It also x-rayed the working process of implementing the TOC concept which consists of five steps called “Process of On-Going Improvement”. Furthermore, it talked about constraints programming and constraints-based models which were explained to some details. Finally, production constraints model formulation procedures for linear programming and non-linear programming scenarios were extensively discussed with reference to published literature as instances of production constraints modeling were also cited.

Evaluation of the analgesic activity of single and multiple oral doses of teneligliptin (20 mg/day), using hot air analgesiometer in healthy human volunteers: a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled, cross over study

Background DPP-4inhibitors showed analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity in human and animal-studies. DPP-4 inhibitors improved nerve function and thermal nociception in animal models. Aim of the study was to explore analgesic activity of single and multiple doses of teneligliptin 20 mg/day using hot air analgesiometer in healthy human volunteers.Methods: After IEC approval and informed consent, subjects were randomized to receive either teneligliptin 20 mg or placebo in double-blinded manner with standard breakfast. Mean pain threshold and tolerance(sec) using hot air analgesiometer were recorded at baseline and 1 hr, 2 hrs post drug on day1, for single dose study. Subsequently drugs were administered under supervision daily for 6 days and same procedure repeated on day8 for multiple-dose study. After 2 weeks washout, subjects crossed over in period 2 to other formulation and same procedure repeated to determine study parameters. Fasting blood-sugar (FBS) monitored, ADRs recorded in CRF. Statistical analysis done with SPSS20.0.Results: Twelve-healthy subjects (8 males, 4 females) with mean age 33.08±4.69 years, mean BMI 22.6±1.37kg/m2 participated. Single dose teneligliptin produced significant increase in pain threshold (35.9%) and pain tolerance (25.1%) (p<0.0001) at 1hour compared to baseline. With multiple doses, pain threshold increased by 37.1% and pain tolerance by 25.4% (p<0.0001) at 1hour compared to baseline. The increase in pain threshold and tolerance values at 1 and 2 hours were similar. There was no significant change in pain threshold(p=0.4135) and tolerance (p=0.4476) at baseline on day1 and day 8. Placebo showed non-significant change in study parameters. Both treatments well tolerated. FBS of volunteers within normal limits during treatment period and no hypoglycemia reported.Conclusions: Results of our study suggest that teneligliptin20mg in healthy subjects demonstrated significant analgesic activity on day 1 and day 8 compared to baseline & placebo. Its role in painful diabetic conditions can be further explored.

Numerical procedures for dynamic response and reaction force analysis of a heaving-point absorber wave energy converter

The aim of this study is to present numerical procedures for hydrodynamic analysis of a heaving-buoy-type WEC connected to a fixed jacket structure that is currently being actively studied. In order to accurately assess the effect of the float on the fixed structure, the augmented formulation procedure used in multibody dynamics was used to calculate the reaction force due to the float motion acting on the hinge point of the structure. The hydrodynamic coefficients and wave excitation forces acting on the floats were calculated using the three-dimensional frequency domain solver WAMIT. The wave radiation forces produced by the movement of floats were calculated using the Cummins’ equation in the time domain. Compared to the classical method of formula-derivation technique, the augmented formulation, which is an automated formulation process, has an advantage that it can be easily calculated even if the degree of freedom is increased. Thus, it can be easily extended to analyze hydrodynamic performance of various multibody ocean structures. To conduct the time integration, the implicit Runge-Kutta 4th-order method was applied to the classical method. A two-loop numerical integration with the Newmark-beta explicit method was used in the augmented formulation method. The responses of the float and reaction force acting on the hinge point were evaluated using the two numerical procedures. Finally, the calculation results of two floats for a multi-buoy HPA WEC platform were analyzed to emphasize the importance of reaction force analysis.

A 3D direct coupling method for steady ship hydroelastic analysis

Asides from the influence of incoming waves, ships can experience steady motions, such as rigid-body sinkage and trim motions, and flexible-body vertical bending motions, due to a constant forward speed even under calm water conditions. In this paper, a novel approach to analyze steady-ship hydroelasticity, particularly for the steady-ship motions and surrounding steady-wave disturbances, is proposed using a three-dimensional (3D) direct coupling method, based on a higher-order boundary element method (HOBEM) and a higher-order shell finite element method (FEM). Within the linearized framework, a solution method is proposed based on a two-step procedure, using two types of Neumann–Kelvin (NK) linear flow models for the fluid part and a virtual work equilibrium equation for the structural part. The first step is to compute a mean position wave-resistance problem using the modified NK equation, the second step is to solve a perturbed position wave-resistance problem, by employing a classical NK model and a virtual work equation based on the first step’s solution. Detailed mathematical formulation and numerical procedures are described, and a few numerical results are illustrated. These include both rigid and flexible steady-ship motions, Von-Mises stress distributions, and wave-resistance coefficients for Froude numbers ranging from 0.15 to 0.5. Furthermore, the numerical results obtained using the present direct coupling method and a modal-based one are compared.

Spurious roots of delay differential equations using Galerkin approximations

The dynamics of time-delay systems are governed by delay differential equations, which are infinite dimensional and can pose computational challenges. Several methods have been proposed for studying the stability characteristics of delay differential equations. One such method employs Galerkin approximations to convert delay differential equations into partial differential equations with boundary conditions; the partial differential equations are then converted into systems of ordinary differential equations, whereupon standard ordinary differential equation methods can be applied. The Galerkin approximation method can be applied to a second-order delay differential equation in two ways: either by converting into a second-order partial differential equation and then into a system of second-order ordinary differential equations (the “second-order Galerkin” method) or by first expressing as two first-order delay differential equations and converting into a system of first-order partial differential equations and then into a first-order ordinary differential equation system (the “first-order Galerkin” method). In this paper, we demonstrate that these subtly different formulation procedures lead to different roots of the characteristic polynomial. In particular, the second-order Galerkin method produces spurious roots near the origin, which must then be identified through substitution into the characteristic polynomial of the original delay differential equation. However, spurious roots do not arise if the first-order Galerkin method is used, which can reduce computation time and simplify stability analyses. We describe these two formulation strategies and present numerical examples to highlight their important differences.

Metode Penentuan Faktor-faktor Keberhasilan Penting dalam Analisis SWOT

Abstract : Discussion about the strategy has become an interesting topic to be discussed. Practitioners and academics mutually support the development of strategic management. SWOT analysis is an analytical tool most widely used amongst other analytical tools.The initial stages should researchers do is set an important success factor, because the key success factors is a prerequisite to the formulation of strategic alternatives. However in the study of the meta-analysis found a fact that the existing strategy formulation has the weakness of the methodology. Among the weakness is the low level of reliability and validity of the critical success factors (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) that are set. This article proposed a solution in the form of formulation procedures critical success factors that can be replicated by other researchers as well as ease of corrective action if found errors in the determination of critical success factors. Keywords: Strategy, Critical Success Factors, Methodological, SWOT

A network design problem formulation and solution procedure for intercity transit services

This study presents a network design problem formulation and solution procedure for an intercity transit service that has multiple routes and serves multiple terminals in the origin and destination cities. The proposed solution procedure consists of three steps: (1) a set of candidate terminals are selected; (2) candidate routes are generated between those terminals using a k-shortest-path algorithm; (3) a mixed integer linear programing model finds the optimal routes, terminals, frequencies, fleet size and depot locations, given a set of constraints and the objective of minimizing total passenger travel time and vehicle deadheading time. The solution procedure was implemented for a newly conceived transit service between Tucson and Phoenix in Arizona, USA. The final routes found by the model look reasonable, and a sensitivity analysis showed that the objective function is most sensitive to changes in the demand satisfaction ratio, and then to the maximum number of routes and fleet size.

Development, characterization and evaluation of microparticles containing Acacia arabica

The aim of the present research work was to formulate, characterized and evaluate the Acacia arabica microparticles for therapeutic influence. In this research we have developed Acacia arabica microparticles. Microparticles were prepared by solvent diffusion evaporation technique. Particle size and size distribution of prepared microparticles was done. It was observed that all particles formed were almost spherical with size range from 525 to 775 μm. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) studies were done to determine the surface and cross section of the microparticles. The SEM results shows that the surface of the microparticles were smooth and fibrous. Cross section shows that hollow cavity. XRD studies showed no interaction between drug and polymer; no degradation during microparticles preparation and stable at storage conditions. Microparticles of different concentration of drug loaded (1:1, 1:2) were evaluated for drug content, and drug release etc.Result shows that microparticles of 1:1 drug loaded were having drug content in the Percentage of 27.3% and Microparticles of 1:2 drug loaded were having drug content in the percentage of 28.51%. It was observed that all the formulation parameters did not affect much the particle size, but buoyancy, drug content are varied. There are two different drug loading were tried i.e. 1:1 and 1:2. Content uniformity indicated that as the theoretical loading of the drug increases the efficiency of loading also increases. This may probably due to decrease the leaching of drug during formulation procedure. In vitro release study was 0.1 N Hcl for 11 h. It was observed that microparticles of 1:1 drug loaded show 75.28% drug release and microparticles of 1:2 drug loaded show 65.83% drug release in a sustained manner.

Neonatal parenteral nutrition formulation: where are we?

Introduction: the introduction of parenteral nutrition in preterm infants has meant a major advance in their prognosis, being the last few years very fruitful in terms of publication of guidelines in this area. Objectives: to know the formulation and preparation procedures of neonatal parenteral nutrition (NPN) in Spanish hospitals. Methods: a multi-centre survey was conducted in Pharmacy Services on the aforementioned processes. Results: fifty-five hospitals met inclusion criteria. Electronic prescription systems were use by 51 %, 65.5 % always formulated individually, while 34.4 % had predesigned formulas. Tricameral preparations were used by 13.0 %. In 52.7 % of cases, first day nutrition was prepared on demand, starting before 8 hours of life in 88.1 % of cases. Inorganic phosphate was the first option in 10.4 %, vitamins, trace elements and zinc were added daily in 92.7 %, 90.9 % and 70.9 % of cases, respectively. NPN including lipids in the same bag was formulated by 45.4 % of the hospitals, compared to 34.5 % where it was administered separately in all cases. In 50.9 % of hospitals they never added heparin to their NPN. The 89.1 % used photoprotected bags. The stability of the admixture varied from 24 hours to 15 days. Conclusion: the elaboration of the PPN in Spain is subject to great variability. There is controversy regarding the use of heparin and ternary mixtures, which is reflected in the variability of clinical practice.

HL‐TWiM Empirical Model of High‐Latitude Upper Thermospheric Winds

AbstractWe present an empirical model of thermospheric winds (High‐latitude Thermospheric Wind Model [HL‐TWiM]) that specifies F region high‐latitude horizontal neutral winds as a function of day of year, latitude, longitude, local time, and geomagnetic activity. HL‐TWiM represents the large‐scale neutral wind circulation, in geomagnetic coordinates, for the given input conditions. The model synthesizes the most extensive collection to date of historical high‐latitude wind measurements; it is based on statistical analyses of several decades of F region thermospheric wind measurements from 21 ground‐based stations (Fabry‐Perot Interferometers and Scanning Doppler Imaging Fabry‐Perot Interferometers) located at various northern and southern high latitudes and two space‐based instruments (UARS WINDII and GOCE). The geomagnetic latitude and local time dependences in HL‐TWiM are represented using vector spherical harmonics, day of year and longitude variations are represented using simple harmonic functions, and the geomagnetic activity dependence is represented using quadratic B splines. In this paper, we describe the HL‐TWiM formulation and fitting procedures, and we verify the model against the neutral wind databases used in its formulation. HL‐TWiM provides a necessary benchmark for validating new wind observations and tuning our physical understanding of complex wind behaviors. Results show stronger Universal Time variation in winds at southern than northern high latitudes. Model‐data intra‐annual comparisons in this study show semiannual oscillation‐like behavior of GOCE winds, rarely observed before in wind data.

Fiber-Array-Based Raman Hyperspectral Imaging for Simultaneous, Chemically-Selective Monitoring of Particle Size and Shape of Active Ingredients in Analgesic Tablets.

The particle shape, size and distribution of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) are relevant quality indicators of pharmaceutical tablets due to their high impact on the manufacturing process. Furthermore, the bioavailability of the APIs from the dosage form depends largely on these characteristics. Routinely, particle size and shape are only analyzed in the powder form, without regard to the effect of the formulation procedure on the particle characteristics. The monitoring of these parameters improves the understanding of the process; therefore, higher quality and better control over the biopharmaceutical profile can be ensured. A new fiber-array-based Raman hyperspectral imaging technique is presented for direct simultaneous in-situ monitoring of three different active pharmaceutical ingredients- acetylsalicylic acid, acetaminophen and caffeine- in analgesic tablets. This novel method enables a chemically selective, noninvasive assessment of the distribution of the active ingredients down to 1 µm spatial resolution. The occurrence of spherical and needle-like particles, as well as agglomerations and the respective particle size ranges, were rapidly determined for two commercially available analgesic tablet types. Subtle differences were observed in comparison between these two tablets. Higher amounts of acetaminophen were visible, more needle-shaped and bigger acetylsalicylic acid particles, and a higher incidence of bigger agglomerations were found in one of the analgesic tablets.

South African service users' perceptions of patient-reported outcome and experience measures for adolescent substance use treatment: A qualitative study.

Patient-reported outcome measures (PROM) and experience measures (PREM) for substance use disorder (SUD) treatment exist for adults but have unknown relevance for adolescents. This study aimed to explore adolescents' perceptions of effective SUD treatment and possible barriers to completing PROMs and PREMs to guide efforts to adapt the South African Addiction Treatment Services Assessment (SAATSA) for adolescents. Five focus groups were conducted with 38 adolescent service users recruited from residential and outpatient SUD treatment facilities in South Africa. Group discussions explored perceptions of treatment components necessary for desired SUD treatment outcomes, treatment experiences that support engagement in care, and perceptions of PROM and PREM completion. Participants viewed treatment elements that enhance motivation for change, coping and emotional regulation; provide recreational alternatives to substance use; and improve family relationships and home environments as critical to positive treatment outcomes. They reflected that provider characteristics and developmentally and culturally appropriate services facilitated engagement in treatment. PROM and PREM completion seemed acceptable, with participants suggesting ways to enhance their appeal. Findings confirm that adult-oriented PROMs and PREMs require adaptation for adolescents. Service user inputs identified ways to expand the content of the SAATSA to better reflect adolescents' treatment priorities. These inputs have also guided changes to item formulation and administration procedures to enhance the SAATSA's acceptability for adolescents. Ensuring the SAATSA addresses treatment outcomes and experiences that matter to adolescents is vital for generating information to guide improvements to adolescent SUD services.

Surface Energy Effects on the Nonlinear Free Vibration of Functionally Graded Timoshenko Nanobeams Based on Modified Couple Stress Theory

An integrated nonlinear couple stress-surface energy continuum model is developed to study the nonlinear vibration characteristics of size-dependent functionally graded nanobeams for the first time. The nanobeam theory is formulated based on the Timoshenko kinematics, augmented by von Kármán’s geometric nonlinearity. The modified couple stress and Gurtin–Murdoch surface elasticity theories are incorporated to capture the long-range interaction and surface energy, respectively. Unlike existing Timoshenko nanobeam models, the effects of surface elasticity, residual surface stress, surface mass density and Poisson’s ratio, in addition to bending and axial deformations, are incorporated in the newly developed model. A power law function is used to model the material distribution through the thickness of the beam, considering the gradation of bulk and surface material parameters. A variational formulation of the nonlinear nonclassical governing equations and associated nonclassical boundary conditions is established by employing Hamilton’s principle. The generalized differential quadrature method is exploited in conjunction with either the Pseudo-arclength continuation or Runge–Kutta method to solve the problem with an exact implementation of the nonclassical boundary conditions. The formulation and solution procedure presented are verified by comparing the obtained results with available ones. Based on the parametric study, it is concluded that the nonclassical boundary conditions, material length scale parameter, residual surface stress, surface elasticity, bulk elasticity modulus, gradient index, nonlinear amplitude and thickness have important influences on the linear and nonlinear vibration responses of functionally graded Timoshenko nanobeams.

Optical and Structural Characterization of CdTe Nanoparticles Synthesized Using Chemical Bath Deposition Technique

The purpose of this research is the elaboration of cadmium telluride nanoparticles by using the chemical bath deposition technique. The formulation procedure consists of preparing tellurium ions (Te−2) and combination of tellurium ion solution with deionized water, cadmium chloride, and polyethyleneimine (PEI). The nanoparticles were synthesized at three different concentrations denoted C1, C2, and C3. Furthermore, for each CdTe, nanoparticles were obtained with absorption edges at 404.02 nm, 428 nm and 452.66 nm related to C1, C2, and C3, respectively. Also, the direct energy gaps of CdTe nanoparticle semiconductors were: Eg(C1) = 3.07 eV, Eg(C2) = 2.9 eV, and Eg(C3) = 2.74 eV. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) indicated three different average diameter sizes of a single nanoparticle: D(C1) = 3.23 nm, D(C2) = 6.46 nm, and D(C3) = 7.73 nm with average sizes of 6.11 nm, 5.29 nm, and 9.76 nm, respectively. The fast Fourier transform of TEM contrast micrographs corresponded with a hexagonal structure. The presence of Cd, Te, and TeO2 was identified by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Raman spectroscopy was used to identify three peaks at 122 cm−1, 140 cm−1 and 165 cm−1 that proved the formation of CdTe nanoparticles.

Production and Use of Cola Follicles (Cola nitida Vent. Schott & Endl.) Potash in the Formulation of "Kabatôh" in Côte d’Ivoire

Aims: The objective of this study was to produce and use potash from kola follicles (Cola nitda) in the formulation of an ethnic or traditional foods namely kabatôh.
 Study Design: 17 formulations of kabatôh carried out in the presence of potash were subjected to a sensory analysis.
 Place and Duration of Study: Laboratory of Biochemistry and Food Sciences, Biochemistry department of Biosciences Unit, Felix Houphouet-Boigny University, running 2019.
 Methodology: Kola dried follicles collected from the region of Tonkpi were incinerated after sun dried. Ash obtained was used for the production of potash after maceration (with water), filtration and evaporation. The extracted potash was characterized and used in the kabatôh formulation procedure. Seventeen formulations of kabatôh and the control sample were used as part of a sensory analysis to evaluate the perception of the color, savor, texture and the flavor like their level of appreciation by tasters.
 Results: The potash extraction yield determined was 10.23 ± 0.72%, with a basic pH of 11.15 ± 0.05. Results showed that potash moisture content and concentration of potassium hydroxide are 4.15 ± 0.21% and 0.81 ± 0.03 mol/L, respectively. Some of the formulations with potash were appreciated more than 83% by the panelists. The control sample was appreciated by 56.76% of the panel.
 Conclusion: The presence of potash improves the organoleptic characteristics of kabatôh. Thus, Kola follicules could be used in the potash production process that represents an interest in food and feed but also in the industrial world.

Environmentally friendly foundation for the sustainability development of infrastructures in swamp area

Infrastructure development in Indonesia, especially, has moved into swamp areas. Swamps are usually associated with saturated clay and peat soils that are soft and highly compressible. The low bearing capacity and the high excessive settlement are usually solved with piles and pre-consolidation. The remove and replace method with new and better material is sometimes also used. Those methods have really changed the characteristics of the soils and are not friendly to the environment. Some foundation constructions for soft soils have also been proposed, but, in their application, there are technical constraints which are difficult to overcome. Research on the light foundation in soft soils has been carried out to support the light load with a satisfactory settlement. Further studies are carried out to obtain a foundation construction that can support larger loads, but which are still friendly to the swamp environment. The bearing capacity and settlement of foundation is plotted in the graph to formulate the satisfaction indicators of the foundation. In addition, the simple formulation procedures for practical application requirements will be also provided since it is the target of this research for general applications. This foundation is very useful for the sustainability of infrastructure developments that is environmentally friendly.

Spectral time-dependent solutions for Darcy model of natural convection in a porous enclosure

According to his high accuracy in the simply connected domains, the Galerkin spectral method having Fourier series as trial functions is chosen to develop a space-time dependent solution for the Darcy model coupled with the convection-diffusion heat transfer equation in a square porous cavity. Applying the Fourier-Galerkin (FG) procedure for the stream function formulation of the governing equations, we obtain a system of nonlinear algebraic differential equations that we simplify in ordinary differential equations and integrate in time using the variable order Runge-Kutta method. Two configurations dealing with transient and unsteady regimes are considered where the solution is derived for a wide range of Rayleigh numbers. The developed FG solution shows high accuracy with a reduced computational cost and excellent agreement with a finite element solution. The FG solution is used to provide physical insight into the effect of time variation on the mechanisms of natural convection (NC). The results provide a set of high-accurate data that can be used for testing numerical codes of heat transfer in time-dependent configurations.

Discrete material selection and structural topology optimization of composite frames for maximum fundamental frequency with manufacturing constraints

This paper proposes a methodology for simultaneous optimization of composite frame topology and its material design considering specific manufacturing constraints for the maximum fundamental frequency with a bound formulation. The discrete material optimization (DMO) approach is employed to couple two geometrical scales: frame structural topology scale and microscopic composite material parameter scale. The simultaneous optimization of macroscopic size or topology of the frame and microscopic composite material design can be implemented within the DMO framework. Six types of manufacturing constraints are explicitly included in the optimization model as a series of linear inequality or equality constraints. Sensitivity analysis with respect to variables of the two geometrical scales is performed using the semi-analytical sensitivity analysis method. Corresponding optimization formulation and solution procedures are also developed and validated through numerical examples. Numerical study shows that the proposed simultaneous optimization model can effectively enhance the frame fundamental frequency while including specific manufacturing constraints that reduce the risk of local failure of the laminated composite. The proposed multi-scale optimization model for the maximum fundamental frequency is expected to provide a new choice for the design of composite frames in engineering applications.

Transient elastodynamic behavior of cylindrical tubes under moving pressures and different boundary conditions

A complete set of analytical solutions for the transient elastodynamic response of thick cylindrical shells with finite length to single and successive moving pressures are presented over a wide range of load speeds. The formulation of the problem is based on the first-order shear deformation theory and the solutions are obtained using the mode-summation method. The effects of reflected waves at different types of boundary condition (simply-supported, clamped-clamped, and clamped-free) are also considered in the solution procedures. The results of the analytical solutions are validated through comparisons with the experimental results from the literature and a series of finite element simulations. The very good agreement between the analytical and experimental results showed the accuracy of the formulation and solution procedures. The excellent agreement between the analytical and numerical results over a wide range of load speeds showed the higher precision and superior efficiency of the new analytical solution, compared to the previous models.

Contact Analysis of Functionally Graded Materials Using Smoothed Finite Element Methods

In the paper, the smoothed finite element method (S-FEM) based on linear triangular elements is used to solve 2D solid contact problems for functionally graded materials. Both conforming and nonconforming contacts algorithms are developed using modified Coulomb friction contact models including tangential strength and normal adhesion. Based on the smoothed Galerkin weak form, the system stiffness matrices are created using the formulation procedures of node-based S-FEM (NS-FEM) and edge-based S-FEM (ES-FEM), and the contact interface equations are discretized by contact point-pairs. Then these discretized system equations are converted into a form of linear complementarity problems (LCPs), which can be further solved efficiently using the Lemke method. The singular value decomposition method is used to deal with the singularity of the stiffness matrices in the procedure constructing the standard LCP, which can greatly improve the stability and accuracy of the numerical results. Numerical examples are presented to investigate the effects of the various parameters of functionally graded materials and comparisons have been made with reference solutions and the standard FEM. The numerical results demonstrate that the strain energy solutions of ES-FEM have higher convergence rate and accuracy compared with that of NS-FEM and FEM for functionally graded materials through the present contact analysis approach.