Separate Operations Research Articles

Peculiarities of assessment and recognition in accounting of certain types of reserves

The article is devoted to the disclosure of issues and problems of assessment, identification and recognition of stocks in the accounting system of organizations, as well as determining the directions for their improvement. The organizational and methodological aspects that determine the concept and composition of reserves as the most important objects of accounting are considered. The criteria for their recognition in the accounting system are considered, the problems and options for the formation of their actual cost in the conditions of the existence of various sources (channels) of their receipt are disclosed. Variants of reflection of separate operations of receipt of stocks in accounting of the organization are offered.

Reversible Data Hiding in Encrypted Domain Based on the Error-Correction Redundancy of Encryption Process

The existing reversible data hiding methods in encrypted domain separate image encryption from information embedding and do not make full use of the redundant space in the process of image encryption. In order to improve the performance of reversible data hiding by using the technical characteristics of image encryption, a reversible data hiding method based on McEliece error correction is proposed. Firstly, the segmentation position of bit plane is determined according to the embedding requirement and texture characteristic, and the image is divided into high and low significant bits. Secondly, because of the error-correcting characteristic of McEliece encryption, reversible data embedding can be realized while encrypting low significant bits. Then, the high significant bits are compressed to reserve space for the ciphertext extension of the low significant bits. Finally, the whole high significant bits information is stream-encrypted. As long as the image receiver has the decryption key, the image can be restored without distortion. By concealing the relationship between error correction and secret information mapping, the concealment of secret information transmission can be realized. In addition, due to different processing for different pixels, it can be efficiently transmitted with low computational complexity for applications that only need general images. The simulation results show that this scheme can not only realize the separable operation of information extraction and image recovery but also resist the noise attack to a certain extent. The maximum embedding rates of 10 standard images from USC-SIPI and 50 standard images from BOSS-BASE are 2.228 and 2.323 bpp, respectively.

Establishment of millet threshing and separating model and optimization of harvester parameters

Aiming at the problems of low threshing rate and high loss rate in threshing and separating device of millet combine harvester, an axial-flow threshing and separating device with front-end rasp bar and rear-end nail tooth structure was designed. The difference of threshing performance and separating performance between rasp bar and the nail tooth was obtained, based on the mathematical model of threshing and separating performance. The threshing and separating performance of the rotary roller of full stripe bar, full nail tooth, and combined-stripe bar and nail tooth were compared by model analysis. The earhead model was established by using Hertz-Mindlin with bonding model. The Discrete Element Method (DEM) simulation test was carried out, and its results combined with that of model analysis to optimize the rotary roller structure parameters. The simulation single factor tests were carried out to obtain the influence rules of rotary roller speed, threshing clearance and concave grid spacing on the operation performance. Finally, a three-factor five-level quadratic orthogonal rotation combination test was carried out. Using the method of variance analysis and multi-objective optimization, it was calculated the best operating parameters and optimal performance indicators of the device. The verification test of the optimization results shows that they are basically consistent with the optimization results, which shows that the rasp bar and nail tooth rotary roller can meet the requirements of millet threshing and separation operations. Mathematical model analysis and DEM can provide reference for the optimization design of millet threshing and separation device.

Scaling microfluidic throughput with flow-balanced manifolds to simply control devices with multiple inlets and outlets.

Microfluidics can bring unique functionalities to cell processing, but the small channel dimensions often limit the throughput for cell processing that prevents scaling necessary for key applications. While processing throughput can be improved by increasing cell concentration or flow rate, an excessive number or velocity of cells can result in device failure. Designing parallel channels can linearly increase the throughput by channel number, but for microfluidic devices with multiple inlets and outlets, the design of the channel architecture with parallel channels can result in intractable numbers of inlets and outlets. We demonstrate an approach to use multiple parallel channels for complex microfluidic designs that uses a second manifold layer to connect three inlets and five outlets per channel in a manner that balances flow properties through each channel. The flow balancing in the individual microfluidic channels was accomplished through a combination of analytical and finite element analysis modeling. Volumetric flow and cell flow velocity were measured in each multiplexed channel to validate these models. We demonstrate eight-channel operation of a label-free mechanical separation device that retains the accuracy of a single channel separation. Using the parallelized device and a model biomechanical cell system for sorting of cells based on their viability, we processed over 16 × 106 cells total over three replicates at a rate of 5.3 × 106 cells per hour. Thus, parallelization of complex microfluidics with a flow-balanced manifold system can enable higher throughput processing with the same number of inlet and outlet channels to control.

IMPROVING THE EQUIPMENT OF LINT SEPARATION TECHNOLOGICAL PROCESSES

This article describes the operation of the lint separation process equipment, the design and operation of the lint extraction equipment that is wasted in the technological process, and analyzes the operation procedure.

Separable Reversible Data Hiding in Encrypted VQ-Encoded Images

In this paper, a reversible data-hiding scheme in encrypted, vector quantization (VQ) encoded images is proposed. During image encryption, VQ-encoded image, including codebook and index table, is encrypted by content owner with stream-cipher and permutation to protect the privacy of image contents. As for additional-data embedding, a baseline method is first proposed and its corresponding optimized method is then given. By grouping one high-occurrence index with one or multiple low-occurrence indices, a series of index groups are constructed. Thus, by modifying the high-occurrence index to the corresponding index within the same group according to the current to-be-embedded bits, data embedding can be realized. The optimal hiding capacity is obtained by optimizing the coefficient vector for different types of index groups. Separable operations of data extraction, image decryption, and recovery can be achieved on the receiver side based on the availability of the encryption and data-hiding keys. Experimental results show that our scheme can achieve high hiding capacity and satisfactory directly decrypted image quality and guarantee security and reversibility simultaneously.

Modeling the Mixed-Service Fleet Problem of Shared-Use Autonomous Mobility Systems for On-Demand Ridesourcing and Carsharing With Reservations

This paper studies a mixed-service operation of shared-use autonomous mobility systems (SAMS) where customers can request rides either immediately or through reservations and use the vehicle for a point-to-point service or a time-slot-based rental service, respectively. Three autonomous-vehicle-to-user assignment strategies are presented: a first-come-first-served strategy and two optimization-based (bipartite matching) strategies. The mathematical formulations attempt to achieve a good trade-off between the wait times of reservation-based users and on-demand users, while minimizing overall empty fleet miles. A case study in Chicago is presented using taxi data, and the combined mixed-service fleet operation is compared with a case with two separate operations: one for an on-demand point-to-point service and one for a reservation-based time-slot rental service. Results show that a combined mixed-service operation can provide a more balanced service than the case with two separate operations with respect to the key performance measures of wait time and empty fleet miles.

Path-entangling evolution and quantum gravitational interaction

We explore a general feature of the interaction mediated by the gravitational fields of spatially superposed masses. For this purpose, based on quantum information theory, we characterize the evolution of two particles each in a superposition state of paths. The evolution is assumed to be given by a completely positive trace-preserving (CPTP) map. We further assume that the probability of particle being on each path is unchanged during the evolution. This property is called population-preserving. We examine when a population-preserving CPTP map can create entanglement in terms of separable operations, which form a large class of local operations and classical communication (LOCC). In general, entanglement is not always generated by inseparable or non-LOCC operations, and one can consider a model of gravity described by an inseparable operation which does not create entanglement. However, we find that a population-preserving CPTP map is inseparable if and only if it can create entanglement. This means that the above model of gravity is incompatible with the possible evolution of spatially superposed masses.

The projected polar proximal point algorithm converges globally

Friedlander, Macêdo, and Pong recently introduced the projected polar proximal point algorithm (P4A) for solving optimization problems by using the closed perspective transforms of convex objectives. We analyse a generalization (GP4A) which replaces the closed perspective transform with a more general closed gauge. We decompose GP4A into the iterative application of two separate operators, and analyse it as a splitting method. By showing that GP4A and its under-relaxations exhibit global convergence whenever a fixed point exists, we obtain convergence guarantees for P4A by letting the gauge specify to the closed perspective transform for a convex function. We then provide easy-to-verify sufficient conditions for the existence of fixed points for the GP4A, using the Minkowski function representation of the gauge. Conveniently, the approach reveals that global minimizers of the objective function for P4A form an exposed face of the dilated fundamental set of the closed perspective transform.

Systematic and efficient optimisation-based design of a process for CO2 removal from natural gas

Natural gas is an important resource for bridging technology on the way to mostly renewable power. A significant number of natural gas sources with high CO2 contents have not been exploited yet due to high cost of CO2 separation. Growth in global natural gas demand, however, has lead to re-evaluation of unconventional natural gas reserves. In this contribution, different hybrid processes for CO2 removal from natural gas are optimised with regard to minimum process energy requirements. Considered separation operations are cryogenic distillation, membrane separation, and physical absorption with methanol. The influence of a wide range of CO2 contents in the natural gas feed (40mol-% to 80mol-%) on different process alternatives is investigated. This is combined with limits for CO2 contents in the natural gas product varying from pipeline transport (2–3 mol-%) to LNG specification (50ppm). As a result, we provide an overview over which process topology is optimal for which combination of natural gas feed and natural gas product specifications. Process optimisation is performed using a framework for systematic optimisation-based process design which includes robust and computationally efficient reduced models for unit operations and hence enables automated performance of a large number of optimisation calculations.

Battery health prognosis using improved temporal convolutional network modeling

Accurate estimation of the state of health (SOH) of lithium-ion batteries is the key to ensure the safe use of lithium-ion batteries. In practice, the application of traditional health features is hindered by incomplete charge and discharge. When the battery is stably charged, the voltage and temperature of the battery under different health states show similar spatial degradation trends. Therefore, the degradation trend of voltage and temperature can be directly used as the health feature sequence to reduce the error caused by manual feature extraction. In addition, a new model attention depthwise temporal convolutional network (AD-TCN) considering health characteristics is proposed for SOH estimation. Depthwise separable convolution operation is used to extend temporal convolutional network (TCN) to a model suitable for multivariate prediction. Depthwise convolution is used as feature extractor, and pointwise convolution recombines all features for regression prediction. In addition, the convolutional block attention module is used in the channel dimension and spatial dimension to selectively enhance or suppress the details. Experiments on NASA data sets show that this method has strong reliability and high prediction accuracy.

Negatively charged hollow crosslinked aromatic polymer fiber membrane for high-efficiency removal of cationic dyes in wastewater

• Negatively charged hollow crosslinked polymer fiber membranes were fabricated. • The membrane exhibited high adsorption capacity and rate for cationic dyes. • The membrane indicated high flux of 530 L·m −2 ·h −1 without external driven pressure. • The rejection ratio of 100% and 20 L pure water per gram of membrane were achieved. • The membrane showed absolute superiority to the reported carboxylated cellulose fabrics membrane. The complete, high-efficiency removal of cationic dyes in industrial wastewater before discharge becomes particularly urgent due to their biological toxicity. The membranes have emerged for removal of dyes benefiting from free separation, cheap component and easy operation, and thus aroused increasing research interest. Herein, the negatively charged hollow crosslinked aromatic polystyrene (PS) fiber (HPF-C) membrane has been successfully synthesized by a rapid room-temperature crosslinking of linear PS in HPF membrane, followed by deep sulfonation. The sulfonated HPF-C (HPF-C-S) membrane showed high experimental equilibrium adsorption capacity of 443.6 mg·g −1 for basic red 46 (BR46) with initial concentration of 50 mg·L -1 . Its maximum adsorption capacity (346.0 mg·g −1 ) of methylene blue (MB) calculated by Langmuir model was about 5 times that of carboxylated cellulose fabrics (CCFs) membrane and higher than that of the most reported or commercially available nanofiber/nanoparticle adsorbents. Without external driven pressure, a flow rate of cationic dye solution through HPF-C-S membrane was up to 530 L·m −2 ·h −1 which was about 90 times that (6 L·m −2 ·h −1 ) of the CCFs membrane. The solution concentration through the HPF-C-S membrane always remained 0 mg L -1 (lower than the LODs of UV) before the permeation volume reached 4000 mL for 2 mg L -1 BR46 solution (In other words, 20 L of clean water could be obtained through per gram of membrane) and 1500 mL for 2 mg L -1 MB solution, respectively. The rejection ratio of 100% fully met the environmental criterion for wastewater disposal, indicating absolute superiority to the reported CCFs membrane that could not completely purify dyes. Moreover, the HPF-C-S membranes indicated excellent sustainability and stability. Besides, the kinetics, thermodynamics and mechanism behind these phenomena were studied.

A joint learning Im-BiLSTM model for incomplete time-series Sentinel-2A data imputation and crop classification

Multi-temporal deep learning approaches can make full use of crop growth patterns and phenological characteristics, resulting in excellent crop classification performance in large areas. However, obtaining complete time-series remote sensing images during the growing season is challenging due to cloud contamination. Hence, given time-series multispectral data, it is important to impute missing data and accurately classify crops. A novel Imputation-BiLSTM model (Im-BiLSTM) was developed based on Bidirectional Long Short-term Memory network (BiLSTM) to jointly perform missing data imputation and crop classification. The Im-BiLSTM model regards missing data as network variables, which are efficiently updated during backpropagation. Im-BiLSTM treats the interaction between imputation and classification tasks, reducing the error and uncertainty caused by the separation operation of imputation to classification. Furthermore, we improved the interpretability of the Im-BiLSTM model by evaluating the importance of input features and visualizing hidden state units. In Shawan County, Xinjiang, China, we acquired a total of 10 Sentinel-2A images from April to October 2016, of which 3 images lost partial data due to cloud cover. The Im-BiLSTM model was applied to incomplete time-series data containing 10 time-steps for pixel-level crop classification, and the BiLSTM model was constructed based on cloud-free images for comparison. The performance of the proposed model was tested in four different cases of images missing and missing rates. The results showed that the classification of the Im-BiLSTM model outperformed the BiLSTM model, the overall accuracy was improved by a maximum of 4.2%, and the F1-scores of spring corn and tomato was improved by a maximum of 16.1% and 21.4%, respectively. Therefore, the Im-BiLSTM model can effectively improve classification performance by jointly imputing missing data. The imputation results (the coefficient of determination values range 0.4 ∼ 0.9) indicated that the bands with the larger contribution to the classification had higher imputation accuracy. Feature importance evaluation showed that the Im-BiLSTM model captured the key phenological periods and features from time-series input. The visualization of hidden units demonstrated that the Im-BiLSTM model accumulated useful information over time, and the learned high-level features made the crops more separable than the original inputs.

A robust ethane-selective metal-organic framework with nonpolar pore surface for efficient C2H6/C2H4 separation

A robust chiral chain-based microporous MOF with nonpolar pore surface and suitable cavity space was designed and synthesized for C 2 H 6 /C 2 H 4 separation. The MOF shows simultaneously high C 2 H 6 uptake and inverse C 2 H 6 /C 2 H 4 selectivity, affording the one-step purification of C 2 H 4 from C 2 H 6 -C 2 H 4 mixture under ambient condition. • Adopting the methyl-modified ligands afforded a Zn-MOF with nonpolar channels. • The MOF shows excellent stability and uncommon preferential adsorption for C 2 H 6 . • The methyl groups in MOF are crucial for the separation of C 2 H 6 over C 2 H 4 . • The MOF achieves effective one-step purification of C 2 H 4 from C 2 H 6 -C 2 H 4 mixture. Due to similar physical and chemical properties, the separation of ethane (C 2 H 6 ) and ethylene (C 2 H 4 ) is an indispensable and extremely challenging task in petrochemical process. Although traditional C 2 H 4 -selective porous materials realize the separation of C 2 H 6 -C 2 H 4 mixture, but subsequent multiple separation operations are required to produce high-purity C 2 H 4 . Herein, we designed a hydrophobic methyl group-modified metal-organic framework (MOF) for one-step efficient purification of C 2 H 4 from C 2 H 6 -C 2 H 4 mixture. The as-synthesized MOF constructed from inexpensive carboxylic acid and pyrazole mixed linkers shows high thermal stability and chemical stability (water resistance). Cooperative study on the pure-component sorption isotherm, Ideal Adsorbed Solution Theory method, adsorption heat calculation and grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulation supports the unique C 2 H 6 -selective feature of the MOF. Breakthrough experiments revealed the one-step C 2 H 4 purification from C 2 H 6 -C 2 H 4 (1/1, 1/10 and 1/15) mixtures through the MOF around room temperature condition with nice recyclability.

Well design development for multilayer horizons for the simultaneous separate operation by one well

The positive effects of applying the technology for simultaneous separate operation (hereinafter referred to as SSO) include the reduction in capital investments for the construction of wells for each of the operational facilities, the cutback of operating costs and the development period of a multi-layer horizon, the increase in hydrocarbon production and the final oil recovery period from profitable operation of wells. In addition, the use of this technology contributes to increasing the utilization rate of downhole equipment and enhancing the reliability of the downhole device. The simultaneous separate operation technology is economically efficient due to the production of additional oil, a high profitability index and a low payback period. Keywords: azimuth, zenith angle; off-vertical; well profile; doublelift tubing; liner filter; packers; valves.

Basis of Developing Automated Machines with Digital Control Systems for Cultivating, Harvesting and Postharvest Processing of Vegetable Crops and Potatoes

Introduction. The accelerated deployment of modern electronics contributes to the efficiency of agricultural activities. The aim of the study is to develop automated machines with digital control systems for cultivating, harvesting and post-harvest processing of vegetable crops and potatoes. Materials and Methods. The article describes the technique of analytical studying the development of automated machines for cultivating, planting, harvesting and post-harvesting with automation in separate technological operations according to the technique of comprehensive assessment of performance quality and stability of technological operations on the basis of quantitative optimization criteria. Results. It is found that for the development of control and monitoring system of the technological process, it is necessary to provide automatic adjustment of the main technological parameters of the machines. These parameters should include the uniformity of soil density when seeding down, recording the force impact of the working body on the soil layer below or above the specified limits of the soil density toleration, changing and maintaining the vibration frequency of separation intensifiers, identifying commercial products through the vision system in the form of a camera, respectively. Discussion and Conclusion. The results of the study on the development of algorithms and hardware-software means of the functioning of automated machine individual elements have resulted in ensuring the implementation of automation segments on the main operations of crop production: tillage, seeding/planting, harvesting and post-harvest processing.

Total Synthesis of Rucaparib.

A concise total synthesis of rucaparib, an FDA-approved drug for ovarian and prostate cancers, is reported. The Heck reaction of the commercially available aryl iodide with acrylonitrile provided the desired (E)-2-aminocinnamonitrile derivative. A subsequent imino-Stetter reaction of the aldimine derived from 2-aminocinnamonitrile and aldehyde furnished indole-3-acetonitrile bearing the desired substituents at appropriate positions. The construction of the final azepinone scaffold via reduction of the nitrile group followed by seven-membered lactamization afforded rucaparib. Notably, the synthesis of rucaparib is achieved using commercially available starting materials in only three separation operations with 54% overall yield.

A step change towards sustainable aviation fuel from sewage sludge

Sewage sludge, an abundant and problematic organic waste, was successfully converted into sustainable jet fuel range hydrocarbons (C8-C16). Sewage sludge was pre-conditioned and processed through a Thermo-Catalytic Reforming (TCR) system (2 Kg/h) at 450 ºC pyrolysis and 700 ºC post-reforming temperature to produce a biocrude oil. The bio-crude oil was subsequently conditioned and upgraded via consecutive two-step hydroprocessing, comprising hydrodeoxygenation and hydrocracking as two separate unit operations. The two-step hydroprocessing was carried out in a bench-scale batch high-pressure reactor (autoclave). The process parameters such as temperature, feed volume, catalyst loading, and batch time were held constant, whilst the H2 pressure was varied. The effect of H2 pressure across 30 – 60 bar on the quality of the hydroprocessed oil was evaluated in terms of elemental composition, chemical compound distribution, and fuel properties. Hydroprocessing at 60 bar H2 resulted in better fuel properties compared to hydroprocessing at 30 bar H2. Hence, approximately 25% by weight jet fuel fraction, including normal, cyclo and iso-paraffins and aromatics in the C8–C16 range, was recovered via atmospheric distillation of the hydroprocessed oil at 60 bar H2. Sewage sludge derived jet fuel range fraction met the majority of the jet fuel specifications for calorific value, viscosity, density, and freeze point under the ASTM D7566 standard. Some parameters such as smoke, flash point and total acid number slightly fell out of specifications. The process also produced green naphtha and diesel as by-products. In addition, the process was further tested for catalyst reusability and regeneration potential that showed promising results for future research.

Proposal of a New Green Process for Waste Valorization and Cascade Utilization of Essential Oil Plants

In this study, different unit operations for distillation, extraction, capturing and separation of essential oil components from essential oil plants are evaluated, on the example of limonene and carvone from caraway fruits. Hydrodistillation is the standard process for obtaining essential oils and leaves the distillation water (hydrolate) after phase separation of the essential oil and the distilled plant material (pomace) as waste streams. In this study, a process for the valorization of these waste streams, using different techniques, such as traps and pressurized hot water extraction, is developed, reaching high yields, with a plus of 35%, compared to established methods, and reducing the overall global warming potential of the whole process, as well as reducing the cost of goods by around 30%.

Manual therapy interventions in the management of adults with prior cervical spine surgery for degenerative conditions: a scoping review

ObjectiveCervical spine surgeries for degenerative conditions are rapidly increasing. Cervical post-surgery syndrome consisting of chronic pain, adjacent segment disease, recurrent disc herniation, facet joint pain, and/or epidural scarring is common. Repeat surgery is regularly recommended, though patients are often unable to undergo or decline further surgery. Manual therapy is included in clinical practice guidelines for neck pain and related disorders, however clinical guidance for utilization of manual therapy in adults with prior cervical spine surgery is lacking. This study aimed to synthesize available literature and characterize outcomes and adverse events for manual therapy interventions in adults with prior cervical spine surgery due to degenerative conditions.MethodsPreferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses extension for scoping reviews was followed. PubMed, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, physiotherapy evidence database, and Index to Chiropractic Literature were searched from inception through October 2021. English-language literature comprised of randomized clinical trials (RCT), case–control, cohort, and case report designs were included. Adults undergoing manual therapy, with or without combination of other interventions, with prior cervical spine surgery due to degenerative conditions were included.ResultsTwelve articles were identified, including 10 case reports, 1 low-quality RCT, and 1 acceptable-quality RCT. Eight case reports described 9 patients with history of fusion surgery. Two case reports described 2 patients with history of discectomy. One case report described one patient with separate operations of a discectomy at one level and a fusion at another level. One case report described 2 patients with history of cervical disc replacement surgery. The two RCTs included 63 and 86 participants, respectively. Use of manual joint mobilization/manipulation, table/instrument assisted mobilization/manipulation, and multimodal interventions were described in eligible studies. Favorable clinical outcomes were reported in 10 studies. Six case reports/series involving 8 patients described use of unclassified forms of manual therapy. Eight studies described the use of multimodal interventions along with manual therapy. One study described high patient satisfaction. Two studies, accounting for 3 patients, reported serious adverse events.ConclusionsThere is a lack of literature informing evidence related to clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction, and adverse events associated with manual therapy for patients with prior cervical spine surgery due to degenerative conditions. High-quality studies of higher-level hierarchical study design are needed to understand the clinical utility and safety profile of manual therapy for this population.