Improving traceability in continuous processes using flow simulations

Traceability is normally difficult to achieve in continuous processes, since there are no natural batch structures. In this article, we demonstrate flow-based simulation using process data to improve traceability in a continuous pelletising process. Using the simulation model, the engineers could test the impacts of process disturbances, identify cause and effect relations and aid control in case of process disturbances. In a field trial where the chemistry of an additive was varied during production of a special product, the simulation forecasts predicted the level of the chemical content after the plant within the errors that the engineers found acceptable.     

Polynomial Factorization for Servers with Semi-Markovian Workload: Performance and Numerical Aspects of a Verified Solution Technique

Abstract

We investigate polynomial factorization as a classical analysis method for servers with semi-Markov arrival and service processes. The modeling approach is directly applicable to queueing systems and servers in production lines and telecommunication networks, where the flexibility in adaptation to autocorrelated processes is essential.

Although the method offers a compact form of the solution with favourable computation time complexity enabling to consider large state spaces and system equations of high degree, numerical stability is not guaranteed for this approach. Therefore we apply interval arithmetic in order to get verified results for the workload distributions, or otherwise to indicate that the precision of the computation has to be improved. The paper gives an overview of numerical and performance aspects of factorization in comparison to alternative methods.     

网络环境对财务风险预警系统的影响

近年来，随着网络在财务管理工作中的应用，财务风险发生了显著的变化。建立网络环境下的财务风险预警系统已经迫在眉睫。我国对这一领域的研究无论在理论上还是在实践上都较薄弱，财务预警管理也是我国企业迫切需要解决的问题。     

以基督精神重新解读米开朗基罗《创世纪》中上帝形象

五百年来中外学界一直用人文主义观点，把米开朗基罗在《创世纪》中的上帝形象解读成人间英雄，将其画旨归结为歌颂人的创造和伟大。其实，米氏《创世纪》中的上帝形象是对摩西的“烈火”、以赛亚的“长衫君王”和但以理的“银发圣父”等上帝原型的承续和再创，其画旨是表达人的悲郁无助和对神的伟大救恩的颂赞和呼求。     

土地流转视角的农村人力资本流动及其对策建议

农村人力资本的合理流动是土地流转的前提。土地流转能够有效提高土地资源配置效率．进一步激活农村富余劳动力的转移。观念障碍、信息障碍、成本障碍、技能障碍、制度障碍、职位障碍、收益障碍和公平障碍等八大障碍，较严重地制约了农村人力资本的流动，阻碍了土地流转的进一步实施。必须消除这些障碍，进一步促进人力资本有序流动。     

有关PTC现象的理论研究进展

概要介绍了PTC理论及与PTC现象密切相关的相变理论的研究进展 ,分析了解释PTC现象的一些典型理论模型的发展概况     

Tracing ‘driver’ versus ‘modulator’ information flow throughout large-scale,task-related neural circuitry

Primary objective: To determine the relative uses of neural action potential (‘spike’) data versus local field potentials (LFPs) for modeling information flow through complex brain networks. Hypothesis: The common use of LFP data, which are continuous and therefore more mathematically suited for spectral information-flow modeling techniques such as Granger causality analysis, can lead to spurious inferences about whether a given brain area ‘drives’ the spiking in a downstream area. Experiment: We recorded spikes and LFPs from the forelimb motor cortex (M1) and the magnocellular red nucleus (mRN), which receives axon collaterals from M1 projection cells onto its distal dendrites, but not onto its perisomatic regions, as rats performed a skilled reaching task. Results and implications: As predicted, Granger causality analysis on the LFPs—which are mainly composed of vector-summed dendritic currents—produced results that if conventionally interpreted would suggest that the M1 cells drove spike firing in the mRN, whereas analyses of spiking in the two recorded regions revealed no significant correlations. These results suggest that mathematical models of information flow should treat the sampled dendritic activity as more likely to reflect intrinsic dendritic and input-related processing in neural networks, whereas spikes are more likely to provide information about the output of neural network processing.     

Job satisfaction and ‘welfare‐to‐work‘: is any job a good job for Australian single mothers?

This exploratory study sought to assess the job satisfaction of employed Australian single mothers who had mandatory employment participation requirements. In particular, we sought to identify the characteristics of the job and the individual that were closely associated with participant's job satisfaction. Self‐report data on job satisfaction, employment characteristics and parenting stress were collected from 155 employed single mothers. Participant job satisfaction was compared to female Australian population norms and linear regression analyses determined the job‐related and individual predictors of single mothers' job satisfaction. Findings from this exploratory study revealed that single mothers involved in a mandatory welfare‐to‐work program experienced significantly lower job satisfaction than the Australian female population. The individual variable, parental distress, negatively predicted each of the six job satisfaction domains while being employed on a casual basis was inversely associated with three domains (job security, work hours and overall job satisfaction). The Australian government purported that making the transition from welfare to work would improve wellbeing for program participants, under the assumption that ‘any job's a good job‘. However, the relatively low levels of job satisfaction experienced by single mothers in the current study provide little support for this assumption.