Steady Production Research Articles

An integrated inbound logistics mode with intelligent scheduling of milk-run collection, drop and pull delivery and LNG vehicles

Although it provides a feasible inbound logistics solution for steady production and low inventory management, the Milk-run mode inevitably leads to a high transportation costs due to the features of small-batch and high-frequency delivery. In order to break through the defections of the existing inbound logistics mode, an integrated inbound logistics (IIL) mode with low-carbon and high efficiency is established. An intelligent scheduling method combines Milk-run collection with drop and pull delivery together. Moreover, the LNG vehicles are simultaneously used in the whole process. With AJ company’s auto-parts inbound logistics as a case, the IIL mode is formulated with a mixed integer mathematical model. The genetic algorithm coded with Matlab is used to find the optimal solution. The results show that when compared with the original Milk-run mode, the IIL mode brings massive reductions in driving mileage, wait time and waste gas emission. It can make significant benefits in both economic and social sense. Therefore, it is entirely reasonable for management of industries to believe that the IIL mode will be a feasible and promising alternative for inbound logistics.

A two-stage stochastic model for pig production planning in vertically integrated production systems

This paper focuses on vertically integrated pig companies based on multi-farm systems. The aim is to address tactical decisions to plan production, increase flexibility, improve coordination and overall pig production under the uncertainty associated with future selling price. Decisions to purchase additional piglets and/or rent farms to adapt system capacity were considered. We propose a two-stage stochastic programming model with selling price as a stochastic parameter under a limited time horizon and a case study to illustrate their use. The model maximizes the net revenue of the system by considering a steady piglet production on sow farms and the corresponding animal flow according to growth stage throughout different farms such as breeding, rearing and fattening farms. All-in-all-out management and marketing time window to sell pigs to the abattoir were modeled on fattening farms. The stochastic solution for the case study provides an optimal first stage production plan regarding the purchase of 1016 piglets/week in addition to the 775 already produced beside the renting of rearing and fattening farms taking into account the different scenarios may happen in the future. The model is capable of identifying inefficiencies or bottlenecks in the system. We discuss the value of the stochastic solution of k€1683 compared to the deterministic solution, and concluding the valuable incorporation of uncertainty.

Indigenous Knowledge of Farmer on Grain Storage and Management Practice in Ethiopia

Maize is the primary staple crop grown, nearly in all agro-ecological zones of Ethiopia. Despite the steady production of maize, post-harvest losses of maize remained a serious challenge. In Ethiopia, traditionally farmers use different storages structure for their grain. Gombisa is one of above ground storage structure used by most of farmers. However, those traditional storage structures were not effective in protecting the grain from insect, microbial infestation and environmental factors. Farmers have indigenous knowledge of storage management practices to cop up with this post-harvest loss. The traditional wisdom and methods of storage can protect commodities from insect infestation for substantially longer periods. Among the farmers’ practices; sun drying, use of botanicals, hanging over fire, mixing with wood ash, mixing with partially ground chillies (hot pepper), and storing unshelled maize were some of the storage practice proven effective in minimizing storage infestation. Some of these practices were also effective in controlling mould development that leads to the occurrence of aflatoxin. This review suggested that, modifying traditional storage structure and providing improved storage systems that are affordable for smallholder farmers, could be a possible option to mitigate post-harvest loss.

Unconventional Reservoir Hydrocarbon-Gas Foam Enhanced-Oil-Recovery Pilot: Design, Implementation, and Performance Analysis

SummaryAn immiscible hydrocarbon-gas foam enhanced-oil-recovery (EOR) pilot has been designed and implemented in a hydraulically fractured tight reservoir in the Woodbine Field in Texas. Although gas injection is considered the main EOR technology for tight fractured unconventional reservoirs, gaseous foam has not previously been considered as an effective conformance solution in fractured formations. In this paper, we present experimental evaluation of the surfactant, field-pilot design, and implementation and performance analysis of the pilot toward developing an unconventional hydrocarbon-gas foam EOR conformance solution.Several surfactants were screened through a bulk-foam test for the harsh reservoir conditions (120°C, 3.23% salinity, and ∼27% clay). The selected surfactant was further evaluated for static adsorption on reservoir rocks at room temperature to ensure an economic field pilot. The surfactant was also evaluated for oil-brine emulsion tendency to mitigate any field-implementation issues. A single horizontal injector and two surrounding horizontal producer pads were developed for an improved oil recovery/EOR pilot implementation in the Woodbine Field. Water and produced hydrocarbon gases were injected alternately, as well as in coinjection mode; however, no consistent incremental oil was observed. Injected gas and water broke through on an order of hours and days, respectively. The injector showed more connectivity with one of the producers, suggesting a strong areal conformance problem. A steady baseline operation was established by coinjecting gas and water at a constant gas fraction and total constant rate that resulted in a steady production baseline. The baseline injection was continued with surfactant injection in brine for in-situ foam generation.During 5 weeks of surfactant injection, foam generation and mobility reduction were confirmed with the increase in the measured bottomhole pressure. Mobility control resulted in out-of-zone (OOZ) injection elimination for both gas and water and gas diversion to bypassed areas. With conformance corrected at the injector and deeper in the reservoir, oil-production rates more than doubled, gas utilization was improved, and a low gas/oil ratio (GOR) and improved volumetric sweep were confirmed. The increased oil production continued for at least 6 weeks after completing surfactant injection. More than 2,000 bbl of incremental oil was recovered in 11 weeks of pilot operation. This current work confirms the technical efficacy and potential of the gaseous foam conformance solution for incremental oil production with gas-EOR in unconventional plays.

Few-layered WS2 nanosheets onto 1D CdS@ZnCdS as efficient visible-light photocatalyst for hydrogen evolution

Exploiting highly efficient and non-expensive visible-light photocatalysts is a huge challenge for H2 photocatalytic production. Here we synthesized an efficient non-precious metal photocatalyst WS2/CdS@ZnCdS (WS2/CdS@ZCS) consisting of few-layered WS2 attached on the core/shell structure of CdS@ZnCdS (CdS@ZCS) via three-step hydrothermal and electrostatic adsorption methods, in which the morphology and structure of the components were regulated independently. The optimum photocatalytic H2 evolution rate of 8 wt% WS2/CdS@ZCS is 34860 μmol h−1 g−1, which is almost 5.2 times as high as that of pure CdS nanorods (6730 μmol h−1 g−1) and superior to most previously reported CdS-based photocatalysts. Moreover, it can maintain 91% of its initial hydrogen evolution rate after 20 hours photocatalytic experiment, indicating WS2/CdS@ZCS is very stable. A possible mechanism of H2 generation on WS2/CdS@ZCS photocatalyst is also proposed. It is thought that this work may provide a promising way to design nanosheets/1D core@shell heterostructured photocatalysts for high-performance and steady H2 production.

Production of angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitor derived from egg white protein hydrolysates using a membrane reactor

Egg white proteins (EWP) were hydrolyzed with four proteolytic enzymes, including Thermolysin, Alcalase, Esperase and Chymotrysin, to produce hydrolysates with angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity. The result indicated that EWP hydrolyzed for 0.5-24 hr with Thermolysin produced the highest ACE inhibitory activity among the four enzymes. Therefore, EWP-Thermolysin hydrolysate was produced and further fractionated using several membranes with molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) of 10,000, 3,000 and 1,000 daltons, sequentially. The 1 kDa permeate obtained from the hydrolysate treatment using 1,000 daltons MWCO membrane could further reduce its IC50 value from 54.1 to 17.2 μg protein/mL. A lower IC50 value represented higher ACE inhibitory activity. The operation stability study showed that the membrane reactor system could maintain a steady production of EWP-Thermolysin hydrolysate over 8 hr. The gastrointestinal protease in vitro effect on the ACE inhibitory activity of 1 kDa permeate indicated that gastrointestinal proteases have no significant effect (p＞0.05) on the ACE inhibitory activity of 1 kDa permeate.

MsrA Efflux Pump Inhibitory Activity of Piper cubeba L.f. and its Phytoconstituents against Staphylococcus aureus RN4220.

MsrA, an efflux pump belonging to ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter family that conferred resistance to macrolides, was detected in Staphylococcus aureus strains. Herein, we report the isolation of phytoconstituents from Piper cubeba fruit methanol extract and investigated their efflux pump inhibitory potential against S. aureus MsrA pump. Four isolated compounds, viz. pellitorine, sesamin, piperic acid and tetrahydropiperine studied in combination with erythromycin in S. aureus RN4220, exhibited 2-8-fold reduction in minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of erythromycin. Pellitorine and sesamin decreased MIC of erythromycin by 8-fold. The real-time fluorometry-based efflux and accumulation studies of ethidium bromide (EtBr) on S. aureus RN4220 in the presence of these compounds showed reduced efflux and enhanced uptake, thus indicating inhibition of the efflux pump. Pellitorine showed significant post-antibiotic effect of erythromycin. The results revealed that the primary mechanism of action of these compounds involves steady ATP production impairment.

Colored Bell Pepper Yields from Cultivars Grown in High Tunnels in Northern New England

High tunnels can facilitate production of ripe colored bell peppers (Capsicum annuum) in locations with short growing seasons by extending the length of the growing season and protecting fruit from biotic and abiotic stressors. We grew 10 cultivars of bell pepper over 3 years in a high tunnel in Durham, NH. Yields of marketable colored fruit ranged from 1576 to 2285 g/plant in 2015, from 1194 to 1839 g/plant in 2016, and 1471 to 2358 g/plant in 2017. Significant differences in marketable yield among cultivars existed only in 2015 and 2017. Of the 10 cultivars evaluated, those developed for controlled environments produced greater marketable yields than those developed for production in the field or unheated tunnels (P < 0.0001). The seasonal production patterns were similar among cultivars in all 3 years: a single peak in production occurred between 159 and 175 days after seeding, followed by much lower but steady production until frost ended each growing season. Our results demonstrate that reasonable yields of colored bell peppers can be produced in high tunnels in locations with short growing seasons. We suggest that further work may be needed to identify optimal pruning and canopy management strategies to maximize yields and fruit quality.

Prospects of the Development of the Russian–Austrian Business Cooperation in the Metallurgical Sector of Global Economy

A high volatility of the indices characterizing economic relations under the conditions of relative steady production in the recent years has been detected by analyzing the economic and production activities of Russian and Austrian metallurgical corporations. The prospects of development of the Russian–Austrian business cooperation on the global steel market are positively evaluated.

소비성향에 따른 호텔 선택속성의 차이연구

This study carried out empirical analysis centering on hypothesis setting to verify the difference of hotel selection attribute factors according to the types of consumer’s consumption propensity. we conducted an empirical analysis of customers aged over 19 who have visited hotels located in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province for the past three years. The survey was conducted from August 1 to September 30, 2019 by pre-trained researchers. A total of 320 questionnaires were distributed, 287 questionnaires were finally used except 33 unsuitable or inconsistent questionnaires. As a result of the analysis, there was a statistically significant difference in the hotel selection attribute factors among the clusters of consumption propensity. Finally, The hypothesis presented based on previous studies was adopted, and the implications were suggested. Firstly, hotels are thought to be useful for improving performance if they strategically utilize excellent accessibility, thoroughly safety and security along with good location. In addition, it is necessary to establish a suitable royalty program for ostentatious consumption pursuing group and provide services that are well-treated from the customer’s perspective. Secondly, The saving pursuing group can be seen as visiting the hotel in anticipation of friendly services and relatively cheap food, so instead of sticking to the same atmosphere, it is necessary to change the hotel‘s decoration and employee uniforms, employee training, diversification of discount policies, and menu changes that can provide new and fresh images to customers. Finally, the planned purchase pursuing group is more likely to be dissatisfied if the expected or better services are not provided by analyzing and using facilities and services as well as prices in advance. Accordingly, hotels should make effort to plan steady products and services.

Production of extracellular polysaccharides and phycobiliproteins from Tolypothrix sp. PCC7601 using mechanical milking systems

The bio-industrial application of microalgae has gained much attention in recent years. One of the challenges in this field is to lower the cultivation and harvest costs and to achieve the steady productivity. To address this, new systems have been proposed, in which the products are extracted without killing the algal cells. These non-destructive extraction systems are called “milking.” Some of the milking systems reported so far are continuous processes where culturing and milking occur simultaneously, and the others are a periodic process where cells are cyclically cultured and milked. These systems are based on the organic solvent extraction of non-polar products, such as lipids, terpenes, and carotenoids. However, a special facility required for handling organic solvents increases the costs and solvents lost during milking need to be recouped. In this study, we examined a solvent-free method, based on mechanical milking using a shearing disperser (glass homogenizer). We cultured the N2-fixing filamentous cyanobacteria, Tolypothrix sp. PCC7601 in non-sterile agricultural water and performed long-term (87 days) milking cycles to harvest the extracellular carbohydrates and phycobiliproteins. As a result, the productivity of extracellular carbohydrates and the cell densities remained constant throughout the milking cycle, yielding 90–140 mg/L of extracellular carbohydrates every 3 weeks. Our results demonstrated that mechanical milking is a practical and effective method that can be used to harvest products from algae steadily.

Perceptual and Motor Effects of Muscle Co-activation in a Force Production Task

We tested several predictions of the theory of motor control with spatial referent coordinates related to effects of muscle coactivation on force production and perception. In particular, we predicted that subjects would produce unintentional force increase by finger flexors and be unaware of this force increase. Healthy subjects performed steady force production task in isometric conditions with visual feedback on the force level. They coactivated muscles of the arm trying to keep the force constant in the absence of visual feedback. This led to a consistent force increase not perceived by the subjects as reflected by their verbal reports. In contrast, when asked to match the force with the contralateral hand, adequate force matching was observed. Using the “inverse piano” apparatus confirmed no change in the referent coordinate of the fingers and an increase in its apparent stiffness. The results confirm the earlier hypothesis on the reciprocal command being hierarchically higher than the coactivation command. The observations suggest that verbal reports and force matching use different neural mechanisms of force perception; the former are dominated by sense of effort, which reflects primarily the magnitude of the reciprocal command. There were only minor differences between the dominant and non-dominant hands, likely reflecting the faster unintentional drifts of control variables in the dominant hand.

Performance analysis and optimization of solar thermochemical reactor by diluting catalyst with encapsulated phase change material

Solar thermochemical reactor, which can produce solar fuel at low cost, suffers discontinuous low-efficiency performance due to solar radiation fluctuation caused by cloud passage. To achieve highly efficient steady and dynamic performance of solar chemical reactor with less catalyst, in this study, catalytic activity is adjusted by diluting catalyst with encapsulated phase change material. At first, two-dimensional model of solar parabolic trough receiver reactors diluted with encapsulated phase change material is established and validated. Then, effect of catalytic activity on performance of reactor is discussed. Afterwards, one-dimensional model is derived from two-dimensional model to train Back Propagation neural network for quick and precise performance prediction of reactor. Finally, optimal catalytic distribution is obtained by genetic algorithm and Back Propagation neural network, and steady and unsteady performance of reactor between uniform and optimal catalytic distribution are compared. The results show that when catalytic activity decreases from 1.0 to 0.2, steady methanol conversion efficiency and production rate of H2 are reduced by 8.4% and 9.9%, and reactor shows more stability under unsteady condition of solar radiation. One-dimensional model derived in present study is accurate enough and time-saving compared to two-dimensional model. And compared to reactor fully packed with catalyst, reactor with optimal catalytic distribution can achieve similar steady performance with 56% less of catalyst, but shows better stability under the fluctuation of solar radiation.

IL-7 derived from lymph node fibroblastic reticular cells is dispensable for naive Tcell homeostasis but crucial for central memory Tcell survival.

The survival of peripheral Tcells is dependent on their access to peripheral LNs (pLNs) and stimulation by IL-7. In pLNs fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs) and lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) produce IL-7 suggesting their contribution to the IL-7-dependent survival of Tcells. However, IL-7 production is detectable in multiple organs and is not restricted to pLNs. This raises the question whether pLN-derived IL-7 is required for the maintenance of peripheral Tcell homeostasis. Here, we show that numbers of naive Tcells (TN ) remain unaffected in pLNs and spleen of mice lacking Il7 gene activity in pLN FRCs, LECs, or both. In contrast, frequencies of central memory Tcells (TCM ) are reduced in FRC-specific IL-7 KO mice. Thus, steady state IL-7 production by pLN FRCs is critical for the maintenance of TCM , but not TN , indicating that both Tcell subsets colonize different ecological niches in vivo.

The Engagement Between MDSCs and Metastases: Partners in Crime.

Tumor metastases represent the major cause of cancer-related mortality, confirming the urgent need to identify key molecular pathways and cell-associated networks during the early phases of the metastatic process to develop new strategies to either prevent or control distal cancer spread. Several data revealed the ability of cancer cells to establish a favorable microenvironment, before their arrival in distant organs, by manipulating the cell composition and function of the new host tissue where cancer cells can survive and outgrow. This predetermined environment is termed “pre-metastatic niche” (pMN). pMN development requires that tumor-derived soluble factors, like cytokines, growth-factors and extracellular vesicles, genetically and epigenetically re-program not only resident cells (i.e., fibroblasts) but also non-resident cells such as bone marrow-derived cells. Indeed, by promoting an “emergency” myelopoiesis, cancer cells switch the steady state production of blood cells toward the generation of pro-tumor circulating myeloid cells defined as myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) able to sustain tumor growth and dissemination. MDSCs are a heterogeneous subset of myeloid cells with immunosuppressive properties that sustain metastatic process. In this review, we discuss current understandings of how MDSCs shape and promote metastatic dissemination acting in each fundamental steps of cancer progression from primary tumor to metastatic disease.

Synergistic Tandem Solar Electricity-Water Generators

Summary Energy and clean water are two intertwined fundamental elements for human civilization and sustainable development. Here, we devise a monolithic tandem solar electricity-water generator that synergistically produces electricity and clean water by utilizing the full spectrum of solar irradiance. The tandem generator has two components: a top infrared-transparent photovoltaic device using above-band-gap photons, and a bottom solar water purifier using the below-band-gap photons. More strikingly, a well-designed water-proof thermal interconnecting layer (WTIL) makes these two components work synergistically: the bottom purifier serves as an evaporative cooler of the top solar cell to increase its efficiency, whereas the thermalization energy of the top cell is reutilized by the bottom purifier for producing more clean water. We experimentally demonstrate that a prototype hybrid tandem solar device with WTIL can generate electricity with a power output of 204 W m−2 and purify water at a rate of 0.80 kg m−2 h−1 under 1-sun illumination.

Permeability measurement and discovery of dissociation process of hydrate sediments

The study on the permeability of methane hydrates in fine quartz sands contributes to the accurate prediction of gas/water production and can effectively express the characteristics of fluid migration. In this study, the water effective permeability (kw) of methane hydrates in three fine quartz sands containing various hydrate saturation (SH) were carried out under steady water injection and production. Experimental results indicated that the effect of particle sizes on kw was significant even though the difference in the average particle size of three fine quartz sands was relatively limited. The differential pressure of the hydrate sediments was completely recorded during permeability measurement, and the stabilization and decomposition process of hydrate could be clearly represented by differential pressure. The kw increased rapidly with the decomposition of hydrate and the appearance of flow channel in the hydrate sediments. Hydrate dissociation process was recorded in situ by Cold Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (CFE–SEM), the dissociation of hydrates in pore space was clearly visible, and the hydrates in pore space were first dissociated into many small regions. A new reduction model between water relative permeability (krw) and SH was proposed on the basis of experimental results, and the experimental data fitted well with hydrates occupying pore centers. The effect of particle sizes on krw was eliminated, the Archie saturation exponent n tended to increase with the increase of SH, and n was recommended between 20 and 30.

I Am Error: The Nintendo Family Computer by Nathan Altice

Reviewed by: I Am Error: The Nintendo Family Computer by Nathan Altice Casey O’Donnell (bio) I Am Error: The Nintendo Family Computer. By Nathan Altice. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2015. Pp. 440. Paperback $30. I desperately wanted to write this book. Of course, then it wouldn’t have been this book. When I was told someone else was going to be writing “the NES book,” I was intensely jealous. Consequently, I went into my reading of the text with unreasonable expectations. I have critiqued the atheoretical perspective of many of the platform studies texts, and I have an intense sense of care for the object of this text. Nathan Altice does an exceptional job of overcoming my unreasonable expectations, making this jilted lover of the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) appreciate his take on the project. The NES and its Japanese counterpart the Nintendo Famicom (Famicom) sit central in this Platform Studies series text published by MIT Press, [End Page 378] edited by Nick Montfort and Ian Bogost. The series draws heavily on a conceptual framework rooted in object-oriented ontology. What is most intriguing in the choice of studying both the NES and Famicom simultaneously is that Altice runs the perfect gambit by destabilizing the “objectness” of the NES/Famicom from the very beginning. While it does not run explicitly throughout the text, he leverages “translation” in an explicitly Derridean sense, which again defuses some of my critiques of the platform studies approach. Most importantly, the book also explores the NES/Famicom as an object not ready made, but rather an object becoming. Throughout the text, the NES/Famicom shifts and swerves over time. On the one hand, we have the opportunity to learn of the history of the Famicom and its simultaneously limited and yet innovative design and construction. The nuances of this device have come to have lasting impacts on videogame design and development and an entire generation of developers that drew heavily on the resulting “8-bit” aesthetics. Altice gives us a distinct perspective on the NES/Famicom and the games produced for these systems through the lens of translation: PAL/NTSC, Japanese/English, and PRG-ROM/CHR-ROM. While on the one hand the book can feel at times overly technical, Altice decodes the objects and ushers the reader through a very nuanced and detailed unpacking of a device almost constantly under translation. The author walks readers through the construction of things like levels of Super Mario Bros., which becomes a kind of translational object for understanding game design and development practice. “Design data” is as much a part of a game as its “engine” or pixelated art “assets.” There is a sense of contingency and lack of closure, which at its core troubles the foundations of platform studies. The NES/Famicom as a platform under translation and manipulation sits at the core of the text. Altice draws on Mark Sample’s notion of the “pre-platform,” or as I might say, the object-becoming. Early versions of a North American bound version of the NES trouble the idea of a kind of steady or self-assured product development cycle. The Famicom’s strange set of peripheral devices that made the device’s lifespan in Japan significantly longer than that of its American-bound counterpart encourage us to see every port on the device as an opportunity for platforms to swerve out of control. Clearly this level of attention tells us something new about platforms, particularly those like the NES/Famicom. Ever present in the text is the figure of the emulator, to which members of the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) would be well suited to pay heed. The history and archival future of videogames is intimately tied to software systems that they would rather classify as the tools of pirates. Throughout the text, FCEUX (an NES/Famicom/Famicom Disk System emulator) and Macifom (an NES emulator) loom large. [End Page 379] Piracy and ideas about software and development become encoded into the platform in interesting ways, as I have written about in my work as well. Altice’s devotion to the device makes it clear that this is a kind of labor of love...

Refracturing candidate selection for MFHWs in tight oil and gas reservoirs using hybrid method with data analysis techniques and fuzzy clustering

The selection of refracturing candidate is one of the most important jobs faced by oilfield engineers. However, due to the complicated multi-parameter relationships and their comprehensive influence, the selection of refracturing candidate is often very difficult. In this paper, a novel approach combining data analysis techniques and fuzzy clustering was proposed to select refracturing candidate. First, the analysis techniques were used to quantitatively calculate the weight coefficient and determine the key factors. Then, the idealized refracturing well was established by considering the main factors. Fuzzy clustering was applied to evaluate refracturing potential. Finally, reservoirs numerical simulation was used to further evaluate reservoirs energy and material basis of the optimum refracturing candidates. The hybrid method has been successfully applied to a tight oil reservoir in China. The average steady production was 15.8 t/d after refracturing treatment, increasing significantly compared with previous status. The research results can guide the development of tight oil and gas reservoirs effectively.

Productivity growth in Indian banking: Who did the gains accrue to?

In this paper we analyse the beneficiaries of productivity gains in the Indian banking sector during the period from 1992 to 2019. We document the relative efficiency of different groups of banks by ownership. We find that the Indian banking sector, particularly the public sector banks experienced steady productivity growth from the mid 1990s till about 2010. We conduct a detailed descriptive analysis to examine the various stakeholders that the productivity gains have accrued to, over the years and across bank groups. We conclude that most of the gains may have accrued to the shareholders which for the public sector banks would mean the government. These gains presumably helped reduce the burden on the government of capitalising the public sector banks, especially during the 1997-2002 period of sharp rise in non performing assets.