In this article the scheduling problem of dynamic hybrid flow shop with uncertain processing time is investigated and an ant colony algorithm based rescheduling approach is proposed. In order to ...reduce the rescheduling frequency the concept of due date deviation is introduced, according to which a rolling horizon driven strategy is specially designed. Considering the importance of computational efficiency in the dynamic environment, the traditional ant colony optimization is improved. On the one hand, a strategy of available routes compression to restrict ants’ movement is proposed so that the ants’ searching cycle for new solutions could be shorten. On the other hand, illuminating function in state transfer possibility is improved to facilitate the exploration of low pheromone trail. Performance of rolling horizon procedure and rescheduling algorithm are evaluated respectively through simulations, the results show the best parameters of rolling horizon procedure and demonstrate the feasibility and efficiency of rescheduling algorithm. An example from the practical production is addressed to verify the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
The main goal of peri-implantitis treatment is to control infection and arrest bone loss, which requires the removal of polymicrobial biofilms on the implant surface and the reduction of tissue ...invasion. Additionally, prognosis can be improved if reosseointegration occurs on previously contaminated implants. To evaluate whether graphene oxide (GO) can remove polymicrobial biofilms, biofilms were established on titanium surfaces in vitro and treated with different methods: group B, removed only with brushing; group G, treated with different GO concentrations (64, 128, 256, and 512 μg/mL); group GB, combined treatments of groups B and G; and group C, untreated. Subsequently, to evaluate reosteogenesis on previously contaminated titanium, 4 groups were used: groups C, B, GB-256, and GB-512 (treated with 256 and 512 μg/mL of GO, respectively). Intact clean titanium (IC) was used as a control. Additionally, cell behavior on IC treated with GB-256 (IGB-256) and GB-512 (IGB-512) was compared with that of the GB-256 and GB-512 groups, respectively. The results showed that at high concentrations (≥256 μg/mL), GO eliminated residual bacteria and inhibited biofilm reformation after brushing, whereas neither GO nor brushing alone could achieve this. Bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stem cell viability in groups GB-256 and IC was higher than that in groups GB-512, C, and B (P < 0.05). No significant difference was found between group GB-256 and group IC (P > 0.05). Osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stem cells in group GB-256 was higher than that in groups IC, GB-512, C, and B. No difference was found between groups IGB-256 and IGB-512 and groups GB-256 and GB-512, respectively (P > 0.05). In conclusion, 256 μg/mL of GO combined with brushing significantly removed polymicrobial biofilms that remained on the previously contaminated titanium surfaces. The bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stem cell osteogenic potential was regained or even enhanced on the titanium surfaces treated this way in vitro, which might provide a new idea for treating peri-implantitis.
Diabetic cardiomyopathy is a common cardiac condition in patients with diabetes mellitus, which can result in cardiac hypertrophy and subsequent heart failure, associated with pyroptosis, the ...pro-inflammatory programmed cell death. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), small endogenous non-coding RNAs, have been shown to be involved in diabetic cardiomyopathy. However, whether miRNAs regulate pyroptosis in diabetic cardiomyopathy remains unknown. Our study revealed that mir-30d expression was substantially increased in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats and in high-glucose-treated cardiomyocytes as well. Upregulation of mir-30d promoted cardiomyocyte pyroptosis in diabetic cardiomyopathy; conversely, knockdown of mir-30d attenuated it. In an effort to understand the signaling mechanisms underlying the pro-pyroptotic property of mir-30d, we found that forced expression of mir-30d upregulated caspase-1 and pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18. Moreover, mir-30d directly repressed foxo3a expression and its downstream protein, apoptosis repressor with caspase recruitment domain (ARC). Furthermore, silencing ARC by siRNA mimicked the action of mir-30d: upregulating caspase-1 and inducing pyroptosis. These findings promoted us to propose a new signaling pathway leading to cardiomyocyte pyroptosis under hyperglycemic conditions: mir-30d↑→foxo3a↓→ ARC↓→caspase-1↑→IL-1β, IL-18↑→pyroptosis↑. Therefore, mir-30d may be a promising therapeutic target for the management of diabetic cardiomyopathy.
► Temperature and temperature shock affected the performance of SAnMBR. ► Temperature shock resulted in a temporary increase in biogas production. ► An increase in temperature resulted in a lower ...membrane flux and lower COD removal efficiency. ► Microbial community structure was affected by temperature variations.
Effects of temperature and temperature shock on the performance and microbial community structure of a submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactor (SAnMBR) treating thermomechanical pulping pressate were studied for 416days. The results showed that the SAnMBR system were highly resilient to temperature variations in terms of chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal. The residual COD in treated effluent was slightly higher at 55°C than that at 37 and 45°C. There were no significant changes in biogas production rate and biogas composition. However, temperature shocks resulted in an increase in biogas production temporarily. The SAnMBR could tolerate the 5 and 10°C temperature shocks at 37°C and the temperature variations from 37 to 45°C. The temperature shock of 5 and 10°C at 45°C led to slight and significant disturbance of the performance, respectively. Temperature affected the richness and diversity of microbial populations.
Aims
The gut microbiota has a great effect on the health and nutrition of the host. Manipulation of the intestinal microbiota may improve animal health and growth performance. The objectives of our ...study were to characterize the faecal microbiota between wild and captive Tibetan wild asses and discuss the differences and their reasons.
Methods and Results
Through high‐throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA V4‐V5 region, we studied the gut microbiota composition and structure of Tibetan wild asses in winter, and analysed the differences between wild and captive groups. The results showed that the most common bacterial phylum in Tibetan wild ass faeces samples was Bacteroidetes, while the phylum Firmicutes was dominant in captive Tibetan wild ass faecal samples. The relative abundance of Firmicutes, Tenericutes and Spirochaetes were significantly higher (P < 0·01) than in the wild groups.
Conclusions
Captivity reduces intestinal microbial diversity, evenness and operational taxonomic unit number due to the consumption of industrial food, therefore, increasing the risk of disease prevalence and affecting the health of wildlife.
Significance and Impact of the Study
We studied the effect of the captive environment on intestinal micro‐organisms. This article provides a theoretical basis for the ex‐situ conservation of wild animals in the future.
Recurrence/persistence of symptoms occurs in approximately 20 % of patients after Heller myotomy for achalasia. Controversy exists regarding the therapy for patients in whom Heller myotomy has ...failed. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM), a new endoscopic myotomy technique, for patients with failed Heller myotomy.
A total of 12 patients with recurrence/persistence of symptoms after Heller myotomy, as diagnosed by established methods and an Eckardt score of ≥ 4, were prospectively included. The primary outcome was symptom relief during follow-up, defined as an Eckardt score of ≤ 3. Secondary outcomes were procedure-related adverse events, lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure on manometry, reflux symptoms, and medication use before and after POEM.
All 12 patients underwent successful POEM after a mean of 11.9 years (range 2 - 38 years) from the time of the primary Heller myotomy. No serious complications related to POEM were encountered. During a mean follow-up period of 10.4 months (range 5 - 14 months), treatment success was achieved in 11/12 patients (91.7 %; mean score pre- vs. post-treatment 9.2 vs. 1.3; P < 0.001). Mean LES pressure was 29.4 mmHg pre-treatment and 13.5 mmHg post-treatment (P < 0.001). One patient developed mild reflux symptoms and required intermittent medication with proton pump inhibitors.
POEM seems to be a promising new treatment for failed Heller myotomy resulting in short-term symptom relief in > 90 % of cases. Previous Heller myotomy may make subsequent endoscopic remyotomy more challenging, but does not prevent successful POEM.
Atmospheric submicron particulate matter (PM1) is one of the most significant pollution components in China. Despite its current popularity in the studies of aerosol chemistry, the characteristics, ...sources and evolution of atmospheric PM1 species are still poorly understood in China, particularly for the two harvest seasons, namely, the summer wheat harvest and autumn rice harvest. An Aerodyne Aerosol Chemical Speciation Monitor (ACSM) was deployed for online monitoring of PM1 components during summer and autumn harvest seasons in urban Nanjing, in the Yangtze River delta (YRD) region of China. PM1 components were shown to be dominated by organic aerosol (OA, 39 and 41%) and nitrate (23 and 20%) during the harvest seasons (the summer and autumn harvest). Positive matrix factorization (PMF) analysis of the ACSM OA mass spectra resolved four OA factors: hydrocarbon-like mixed with cooking-related OA (HOA + COA), fresh biomass-burning OA (BBOA), oxidized biomass-burning-influenced OA (OOA-BB), and highly oxidized OA (OOA); in particular the oxidized BBOA contributes ~80% of the total BBOA loadings. Both fresh and oxidized BBOA exhibited apparent diurnal cycles with peak concentration at night, when the high ambient relative humidity and low temperature facilitated the partitioning of semi-volatile organic species into the particle phase. The fresh BBOA concentrations for the harvests are estimated as BBOA = 15.1 × (m/z 60–0.26% × OA), where m/z (mass-to-charge ratio) 60 is a marker for levoglucosan-like species. The (BBOA + OOA-BB)/ΔCO, (ΔCO is the CO minus background CO), decreases as a function of f44 (fraction of m/z 44 in OA signal), which might indicate that BBOA was oxidized to less volatile OOA, e.g., more aged and low volatility OOA (LV-OOA) during the aging process. Analysis of air mass back trajectories indicates that the high BB pollutant concentrations are linked to the air masses from the western (summer harvest) and southern (autumn harvest) areas.
To delineate temporal and spatial variations in suspended sediment concentration (SSC) in the Yangtze (Changjiang) Estuary and adjacent coastal waters, surfacewater samples were taken twice daily ...from 10 stations over periods ranging from 2 to 12 years (total number of samples >28,000). Synoptic measurements in 2009 showed an increase in surface SSC from 0.058 g/l in the upper sections of the estuary to ∼0.6 g/l at the Yangtze River turbidity maximum at the river mouth, decreasing seaward to 0.057 g/l. Annual periodicities reflect variations in the Yangtze discharge, which affect the horizontal distribution and transport of SSC, and seasonal winds, which result in vertical resuspension and mixing. Over the past 10–20 years, annual surface SSC in the lower Yangtze River and the upper estuary has decreased by 55%, due mainly to dam construction in the upper and middle reaches of the river. The 20–30% decrease in mean surface SSC in the lower estuary and adjacent coastal waters over the same period presumably reflects sediment resuspension, in part due to erosion of the subaqueous Yangtze Delta. SSCs in the estuary and adjacent coastal waters are expected to continue to decline as new dams are constructed in the Yangtze basin and as erosion of the subaqueous delta slows in coming decades.
Carbon fibers based on pyrolytic lignin Qin, W.; Kadla, J. F.
Journal of applied polymer science,
25 October 2012, Letnik:
126, Številka:
S1
Journal Article
ABSTRACT
In the caviar software package, a standard tool for astrometry of images from the Cassini imaging science subsystem (ISS), Gaussian fitting is used to measure the centre of point-like ...objects, achieving a typical precision of about 0.2 pixels. In this work, we consider how alternative methods may improve on this. We compare three traditional centroiding methods: two-dimensional Gaussian fitting, median, and modified moment. Results using 56 selected images show that the centroiding precision of the modified moment method is significantly better than the other two methods, with standard deviations for all residuals in sample and line of 0.065 and 0.063 pixels, respectively, representing a factor of over 2 improvement compared to Gaussian fitting. Secondly, a comparison of observations using Cassini ISS images of Anthe is performed. Anthe results show a similar improvement. The modified moment method is then used to reduce all ISS images of Anthe during the period 2008–2017. The observed-minus-calculated residuals relative to the JPL SAT393 ephemeris are calculated. In terms of α × cos(δ) and δ in the Cassini-centred international celestial reference frame, mean values of all residuals are close to 0 km, and their standard deviations are less than 1 km for narrow angle camera images, and about 4 km for wide angle camera images.
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