Strategic Engineering Research Articles

The Viability of All Renewable Grids with Battery Storage Support

This paper quantifies the practical deliverability of the strategic engineering options proposed to power a future national grid, when fossil fuel use for generation, heating and transport is reducing to zero. The main contenders are the naturally variable renewables with their essential storage for times of low output, and an all base-load nuclear grid, including load balancing use for off-peak surpluses. The measures used are the objectives of government policy - most affordable, adequate, sustainable, with lowest CO2 emissions per unit energy of grid supply, including the effects of subsidies awarded to the available options. The results clearly demonstrate that low-density renewable energy is an inadequate primary energy source to meet UK grid demand. In particular when the true cost of renewable intermittency is considered, in terms of provisioning essential battery backup, or other low-density storage, that naturally variable renewables require to match demand 24/7 without fossil backup. Finally how the approximate cost of 4 years of battery support for an all renewable grid, at today's demand level, would fund a surplus of nuclear plant adequate to power the UK grid at triple today's supply for 60 years, using fuel that is sustainable for the foreseeable future.

The Evolution of the Urban Spatial Pattern in the Yangtze River Economic Belt: Based on Multi-Source Remote Sensing Data

The development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) is an important national regional development strategy and a strategic engineering development system. In this study, the evolution of urban spatial patterns in the YREB from 1990 to 2010 was mapped using the nighttime stable light (NSL) data, multi-temporal urban land products, and multiple sources of geographic data by using the rank-size distribution and the Gini coefficient method. Through statistical results, we found that urban land takes on the feature of “high in the east and low in the west”. The study area included cities of different development stages and sizes. The nighttime light increased in most cities from 1992 to 2010, and the rate assumed an obvious growth tendency in the three urban agglomerations in the YREB. The results revealed that the urban size distribution of the YREB is relatively dispersed, the speed of urban development is unequal, and the trend of urban size structure shows a decentralized distribution pattern that has continuously strengthened from 1990 to 2010. Affected by factors such as geographical conditions, spatial distance, and development stage, the lower reaches of the Yangtze River have developed rapidly, the upper and middle reaches have developed large cities, and a contiguous development trend is not obvious. The evolution of urban agglomerations in the region presents a variety of spatial development characteristics. Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai have entered a phase of urban continuation, forming a more mature interregional urban agglomeration, while the YREB inland urban agglomerations are in suburbanization and multi-centered urban areas. At this stage, the conditions for the formation of transregional urban agglomerations do not yet exist, and there are many uncertainties in the boundary and spatial structure of each urban agglomeration.

Improving wood properties for wood utilization through multi-omics integration in lignin biosynthesis

A multi-omics quantitative integrative analysis of lignin biosynthesis can advance the strategic engineering of wood for timber, pulp, and biofuels. Lignin is polymerized from three monomers (monolignols) produced by a grid-like pathway. The pathway in wood formation of Populus trichocarpa has at least 21 genes, encoding enzymes that mediate 37 reactions on 24 metabolites, leading to lignin and affecting wood properties. We perturb these 21 pathway genes and integrate transcriptomic, proteomic, fluxomic and phenomic data from 221 lines selected from ~2000 transgenics (6-month-old). The integrative analysis estimates how changing expression of pathway gene or gene combination affects protein abundance, metabolic-flux, metabolite concentrations, and 25 wood traits, including lignin, tree-growth, density, strength, and saccharification. The analysis then predicts improvements in any of these 25 traits individually or in combinations, through engineering expression of specific monolignol genes. The analysis may lead to greater understanding of other pathways for improved growth and adaptation.

Current technological trends in biosensors, nanoparticle devices and biolabels: Hi‐tech network sensing applications

AbstractBiosensors are micro‐analytical devices usually coupled to a bio‐integrated transducer that emits signal to measure specific molecules as an analyte, either qualitatively or quantitatively for various downstream applications. Improved detection methods at quantum level in nanoscale became a reality due to the invention of integrated circuits involving nanoparticle devices and biolabels. Next level of discoveries leads to the identification of novel particulates to improve the specificity and sensitivity for single analyte detection. Although different kinds of biosensors show promise for multifaceted applications in science and technology, certain limitations do exist in terms of portability, selectivity and sensitivity as well as in multi‐analyte detection. Recent methodical advancements involving nanomaterials or nanoparticles/metals in combination with biomarkers or biolabels as sensors provide new insights to solve these limitations to prepare flawless detecting devices. These technical advances are evident in modern‐day sensors including hand‐held, smartphone‐based, wearable and flexible sensors developed for multifaceted applications. This concise review article describes the new technological trends in the development of biosensors integrated to nanoparticle devices and/or biolabels involving hi‐tech network system for better efficiency. Future perspectives on new technological developments for effective combination of several nanomaterials and biolabels with strategic engineering methodology were highlighted.

Self –Engineering Strategy of Six Dimentional Inter-Subcultural Mental Images

How the people continually create and recreate the six dimensional inter inter subcultural relationships from strategic point of view? Can they engeene and direct it toward creating a set of peacefull subcultures? This paper answers to these questions. Our mental images shape the quantity and quality of our relationships. The six dimensions of mental images are: my mental image about me, your mental image about you, my mental image you, your mental image about me, my imagination about your image about me and your imagination about my mental image about you. Strategic engineering is dynamic shaping this images and imaginations. This survey based on object and the relation between variables is explanatory, correlation and quantitative. The target community members are 90 educated people from universities. The data hes been collected through questionnaire and interviewand has been analysed by descriptive statistical techniques and qualitative method. our finding shows that engineering and deliberatly managing the process of inter subcultural transactions in the national and global level can able us to reform continually a peacfull set of learner subculturals towaaard recreat a peacfull unit global Home.

PARADIGM SHIFT: ENGINEERING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FUSION

The purpose of this paper is to investigate management strategies that use Artificial Intelligence to perceive, capture, and process real-time data to predict and direct the performance of an enterprise. AI systems can account for errors in human judgment through computational processes that supersede the capabilities of human intelligence alone. Qualitative methodology was used to assess components such as fuzzy logic that can produce answers determined by multiple factors that can be integrated into a determinant solution. Quantifying the neurocircuitry of strategic management processes in tacticians will serve as the foundation for AI and management strategies engineering fusion. When AI is programmed to motivate, interact, and make judgements based upon statistical measurements, the fusion of AI and management engineering can increase efficiency and effectiveness in the attainment of organizational goals. Results demonstrated the application of AI planning can range from directing large-scale machinery overhaul procedures, spacecraft mission planning, emergency response, assembling test procedures for rocket launchers, and delivery truck scheduling. A thorough understanding AI for strategic management engineering fusion and its underlying concepts is a prerequisite to competitive advantage in a global market.

Strategic Thinking: Intelligent Opportunism and Emergent Strategy — The Case of Strategic Engineering Services

This case study focuses on strategic thinking and opportunistic approaches to business growth and diversification. It begins by examining the recent purchase of ‘Quickcover’, a remote-controlled sports pitch covering system, by engineering company Strategic Engineering Services and the company's current dilemma – whether to continue to develop this type of product, or sell it and concentrate on its existing engineering services business. In recent years, Strategic Engineering Services has moved away from traditional heavy engineering and diversified into related areas such as engineering services, oil and gas industry recruitment, plant and equipment hire, instrument calibration and project management. The case considers the relationship between strategic thinking and entrepreneurial approaches to opportunity recognition, exploring the concept of intelligent opportunism as an approach that enables entrepreneurs to develop emergent strategies and take advantage of new opportunities. It explores these concepts in the context of the current dilemma of Strategic Engineering Services.

Live births achieved via IVF are increased by improvements in air quality and laboratory environment

Infertility is a common disease, which causes many couples to seek treatment with assisted reproduction techniques. Many factors contribute to successful assisted reproduction technique outcomes. One important factor is laboratory environment and air quality. Our facility had the unique opportunity to compare consecutively used, but separate assisted reproduction technique laboratories, as a result of a required move. Environmental conditions were improved by strategic engineering designs. All other aspects of the IVF laboratory, including equipment, physicians, embryologists, nursing staff and protocols, were kept constant between facilities. Air quality testing showed improved air quality at the new IVF site. Embryo implantation (32.4% versus 24.3%; P < 0.01) and live birth (39.3% versus 31.8%, P < 0.05) were significantly increased in the new facility compared with the old facility. More patients met clinical criteria and underwent mandatory single embryo transfer on day 5 leading to both a reduction in multiple gestation pregnancies and increased numbers of vitrified embryos per patient with supernumerary embryos available. Improvements in IVF laboratory conditions and air quality had profound positive effects on laboratory measures and patient outcomes. This study further strengthens the importance of the laboratory environment and air quality in the success of an IVF programme.

Социальное проектирование в формировании социальной ответственности коммерческих банков

In the article a commercial bank is considered as a social institution, and social planning as an effective mechanism for the formation and development of social responsibility of commercial banks. The author argues that social responsibility and problem-oriented strategic social engineering allows banks to act as a subject addressing local communities.

The effects of SiC precursors on the microstructures and mechanical properties of SiCf/SiC composites prepared via polymer impregnation and pyrolysis process

SiCf/SiC ceramic matrix composites (CMC) are considered to be promising candidates for potential structural and functional usages in several strategic engineering applications. In the current work, SiCf/SiC were fabricated by seven repeated polymer impregnation and pyrolysis (PIP) cycles using three types of polycarbosilane (PCS) precursors. SMP-10 had the highest ceramic yield of 81.7% and the lowest melting temperature (room temperature). The CMC prepared using these precursors had high relative density and strength. Due to the fiber pull-out mechanism during fracture, the stress–strain curves displayed a jagged failure behavior. The maximum four-point bending strength of 305MPa was obtained from the CMC made with the NaBond precursor. Several pieces of evidence were provided to reveal the strength deterioration of the NaBond-CMC material at 1500°C in Ar atmosphere.

Factors influencing the target costing process

The article presents principles of defining target price, target profit and target cost and conjoint concept of target costing process. Functions, performed by employees and departments of an organization during the target costing process are defined. The main direct and indirect factors influencing the determination of target cost and target costing process are proposed. Based on the analysis of literature it is stated, that organizational functions that play an important role in the process of target costing are strategic management, marketing, engineering and manufacturing and cost planning and accounting. The level of influence of target costing related factors can differ, however to achieve cost reducing goals organization should pay attention to customer preferences, supplier abilities, the negative influence of competitors, technological production experience and previous profitability.&#x0D; &#x0D;

“Bridged” n→π* Interactions Can Stabilize Peptoid Helices

Peptoids are an increasingly important class of peptidomimetic foldamers comprised of N-alkylglycine units that have been successfully developed as antimicrobial agents, lung surfactant replacements, enzyme inhibitors, and catalysts, among many other applications. Since peptoid secondary structures can be crucial to their desired functions, significant efforts have been devoted to developing means of modularly controlling peptoid backbone amide cis-trans isomerism using side chains. Strategic engineering of interactions between side chain aromatic rings and backbone cis-amides (n→π*(Ar) interactions) is an attractive strategy for stabilizing helical structures in N-a-chiral aromatic peptoids, which are among the most utilized classes of structured peptoids. Herein, we report the first detailed computational and experimental study of n→π*(Ar) interactions in models of peptoids containing backbone thioamides, which we term "thiopeptoids". Our work has revealed that these interactions significantly affect amide rotamerism in both peptoid and thiopeptoid models via a newly characterized "bridged" mode of interaction mediated by the N-α-C-H σ orbitals. Overall, this work elucidates new strategies for controlling both peptoid and thiopeptoid folding and suggests that thiopeptoids will be highly structured and therefore potentially useful as therapeutics, biological probes, and nanostructural engineering elements.

Tata Power Ltd: innovation in financing growth

Subject area Corporate finance, strategic financial management, financial innovation and financial engineering. Study level/applicability The case is suitable for graduate level management students. Case overview In early April 2011, Mr Ramakrishnan, the CFO of Tata Power Ltd and members of his team were busy re-evaluating fundraising options for financing Tata Power's capital expenditure requirements, for refinancing of debt, for working capital related to current projects and for liquidity to support potential acquisition bids. The team had the task of evaluating different innovative funding options as the challenge was to strike a fine balance between maintaining the owners' equity without dilution of control and avoiding any adverse impact on credit rating that could increase the cost of capital; these constraints reduced flexibility for fund raising. Keeping in mind the global market scenario and estimating the investor appetite were factors critical to the structuring of a funding instrument. Expected learning outcomes The case will help students to be comfortable in thinking about evaluating markets, financial instruments and weigh rating considerations and regulatory constraints for taking capital structure decisions. Supplementary materials Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.

Open questions on Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) with CAD /CAE integration

Nowadays, manufacturing industries have to shorten the time to market in order to satisfy needs of customers and to survive in global competitive markets. For these reasons a new type of product data development and management is necessary. The Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) is an emerging philosophy to improve strategic engineering for managing information, processes and resources to support the life cycle of a product, from its conception, development, launch and the withdrawal. The well-established technologies CAD / CAE / CAM are fundamental part of it, although their interactions may be only partially involved. The paper takes into account open questions regarding the relationship between models and simulations and new possible scenarios related to their integration starting from a complete and multi-disciplinary case-test involving the virtual-experimental deliverable process of the fatigue life prediction and related structural modification design applied to a suspension cab for truck vehicle.

Engineering strategic approach as organizational necessary

The article supports previous evidence that, even in host environments with high cultural distance and constraining employment frameworks, engineering planning, engineering are able to find room for engineering management maneuver. Specific attention paid to the transfer of the headquarters‘ flat organizational structure to a body of organizations with a noticeably hierarchical managerial system. This paper explore the ways in which certain characteristics in case of organizations generates a tendency to prepare a formal written engineering plan and focus is primarily on what describe as the environmental characteristics. Engineering excellence for strategic engineering includes also tools for financial, human resource, and risk management, as well as technology management, acquisitions and marketing. In other words, as has been suggested elsewhere, every national organizational system even one as constrained engineering strategic approach as organizational necessary contains some degree of malleability and openness which may be exploited through appropriate organization specific managerial strategies for engineering management.

The US Geological Survey’s Military Geology Unit in World War II: ‘the Army’s pet prophets’

In 1942 the US Geological Survey formed a Military Geology Unit (MGU) at Washington, DC of in-house and other earth scientists and engineers to gather terrain and related strategic intelligence. MGU compiled reports containing data about regions outside the USA as tables, text and maps for use by Allied forces, especially American and British. Benefiting to some extent from both Allied and German geological experience in World War I, MGU developed into by far the largest geology-based intelligence unit used to help guide Allied planning and operations in World War II. About 50 ‘Strategic Engineering Studies’ were completed in 1942, and at least 50 more in 1943. MGU products contributed significantly to the Allied campaigns in Sicily and Italy from 1943, and complemented British geotechnical work associated with Normandy and the NW Europe Campaign in 1944–1945. In 1944–1945, MGU deployed teams from Washington to US Army theatre headquarters in Europe, and more substantially to the SW Pacific and Pacific Ocean areas, principally to provide intelligence for strategic and tactical planning, and advice to and (in the Pacific) participation in combat operations. After 1945, MGU developed into a Military Geology Branch, responding to demands of wars cold and hot until 1972.

In Silico Structural Determination of GPAT Enzyme from Ostreococcus Lucimarinus for Biotechnological Application of Microalgal Biofuel Production

ABSTRACTGlycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase (GPAT) is an enzyme in the triacylglycerol (TAG) biosynthetic pathway that catalyses the conversion of glycerol-3-phosphate to lysophosphatidic acid. Targeting key enzymes involved in TAG pathway is considered to be a powerful strategy for augmented lipid accumulation in microorganisms. In the present study three-dimensional structure of the marine microalgae, Ostreococcus lucimarinus GPAT protein was developed based on the crystal structure of Cucurbita moschata GPAT protein. Besides, several structure validation tools were employed to confirm the reliability of the developed model. The predicted and validated model reveals the tertiary structure of GPAT monomer comprising of two domains, the smaller domain I, which folds into a four helix bundle, and the larger domain II, which is constructed from alternating α/β secondary structural elements that give rise to 9-stranded β sheet flanked by 11α helices. Critical structural analysis of the developed model reveals the presence of H(X) 4D motif; the latter being, a consensus sequence conserved amongst many glycerolipid acyltransferase. The detected cluster of positively charged residues H189, K243, H244, R285 and R287 in the model could be conjectured to be important in glycerol-3-phosphate recognition. The structural insight obtained from this in silico study may provide useful clues to further advanced biotechnological studies of strategic site-specific genetic and metabolic engineering of microalgae for enhanced biofuel production.

Engineering Transdisciplinarity in University Academic Affairs: Challenges, Dilemmas, and Progress

Since the 1970s the notion of transdisciplinarity and pragmatic approaches to it have challenged the monolithic traditional orientation and procedures of academia. The long tradition of monodisciplinary academic departmentalization in higher education institutions has crippled the development of human knowledge, way of doing, and even world view; ironically, it has hindered understanding of the interconnected and interdependent ecological human and the natural world. Monodisciplinary academic departmentalization has perpetually and inherently limited the discovery of knowledge and its application to complex real-life problems that demand solutions to assure a sustainable and democratic human society. This article presents a discussion of strategic engineering in higher education academic affairs aiming toward transdisciplinary teaching, learning, research, service, and curriculum transformation with an emphasis on challenges, dilemmas, and progress.

A Posteriori Design Change Analysis for Complex Engineering Projects

Engineering changes are an inherent part of the design and development process and can play an important role in driving the overall success of the system. This work seeks to create a multidimensional understanding of change activity in large systems that can help in improving future design and development efforts. This is achieved by a posteriori analysis of design changes. It is proposed that by constructing a temporal, spatial, and financial view of change activity within and across these dimensions, it becomes possible to gain useful insights regarding the system of study. Engineering change data from the design and development of a multiyear, multibillion dollar development project of an offshore oil and gas production system is used as a case study in this work. It is shown that the results from such an analysis can be used for identifying better design and management strategies (in similar systems and projects) and for targeting design improvement in identified subsystems. The isolation and identification of change hotspots can be helpful in uncovering potential systemic design issues that may be prevalent. Similarly, strategic engineering and management decisions can be made if the major cost drivers are known.

Retail Channel Structure Impact on Strategic Engineering Product Design

We examine, in a strategic setting, the broad issue of how retail channel structures—retail monopoly versus retail duopoly—impact a manufacturer's optimal new product design, both in terms of engineering design specifications as well as manufacturer and retailer profits. Our strategic framework enables manufacturers in specific contexts to anticipate the reactions of the retailers and competitive manufacturers to new designs in terms of the retail and wholesale pricing and to understand how different channel structures and channel strategies (such as an exclusive channel strategy) impact the engineering design of the new product, conditional on consumer preference distributions and competitor product attributes. Based on a simple numerical and a power tool design example, we illustrate how the insight from the framework translates to design guidelines; specifically, understanding which designs are optimal under differing channel structure conditions, and which design variables need precise targeting given their profit sensitivity. This paper was accepted by Christoph Loch, R&amp;D and product development.