Abstract: In order to find the particular interaction energy
between cylcloguanil and the amino acids surrounding the pocket of
wild type and quadruple mutant type PfDHFR enzymes, the MP2
method with basis set 6-31G(d,p) level of calculations was
performed. The obtained interaction energies found that Asp54 has
the strongest interaction energy to both wild type and mutant type of -
12.439 and -11.250 kcal/mol, respectively and three amino acids;
Asp54, Ile164 and Ile14 formed the H-bonding with cycloguanil
drug. Importantly, the mutation at Ser108Asn was the key important
of cycloguanil resistant with showing repulsive interaction energy.
Abstract: A novel method of individual level adaptive mutation rate control called the rank-scaled mutation rate for genetic algorithms is introduced. The rank-scaled mutation rate controlled genetic algorithm varies the mutation parameters based on the rank of each individual within the population. Thereby the distribution of the fitness of the papulation is taken into consideration in forming the new mutation rates. The best fit mutate at the lowest rate and the least fit mutate at the highest rate. The complexity of the algorithm is of the order of an individual adaptation scheme and is lower than that of a self-adaptation scheme. The proposed algorithm is tested on two common problems, namely, numerical optimization of a function and the traveling salesman problem. The results show that the proposed algorithm outperforms both the fixed and deterministic mutation rate schemes. It is best suited for problems with several local optimum solutions without a high demand for excessive mutation rates.
Abstract: The IFS is a scheme for describing and manipulating complex fractal attractors using simple mathematical models. More precisely, the most popular “fractal –based" algorithms for both representation and compression of computer images have involved some implementation of the method of Iterated Function Systems (IFS) on complete metric spaces. In this paper a new generalized space called Multi-Fuzzy Fractal Space was constructed. On these spases a distance function is defined, and its completeness is proved. The completeness property of this space ensures the existence of a fixed-point theorem for the family of continuous mappings. This theorem is the fundamental result on which the IFS methods are based and the fractals are built. The defined mappings are proved to satisfy some generalizations of the contraction condition.
Abstract: A new analysis of perceptual speech enhancement is
presented. It focuses on the fact that if only noise above the masking
threshold is filtered, then noise below the masking threshold, but
above the absolute threshold of hearing, can become audible after the
masker filtering. This particular drawback of some perceptual filters,
hereafter called the maskee-to-audible-noise (MAN) phenomenon,
favours the emergence of isolated tonals that increase musical noise.
Two filtering techniques that avoid or correct the MAN phenomenon
are proposed to effectively suppress background noise without introducing
much distortion. Experimental results, including objective
and subjective measurements, show that these techniques improve
the enhanced speech quality and the gain they bring emphasizes the
importance of the MAN phenomenon.
Abstract: Evolvable hardware (EHW) is a developing field that
applies evolutionary algorithm (EA) to automatically design circuits,
antennas, robot controllers etc. A lot of research has been done in this
area and several different EAs have been introduced to tackle
numerous problems, as scalability, evolvability etc. However every
time a specific EA is chosen for solving a particular task, all its
components, such as population size, initialization, selection
mechanism, mutation rate, and genetic operators, should be selected
in order to achieve the best results. In the last three decade the
selection of the right parameters for the EA-s components for solving
different “test-problems" has been investigated. In this paper the
behaviour of mutation rate for designing logic circuits, which has not
been done before, has been deeply analyzed. The mutation rate for an
EHW system modifies the number of inputs of each logic gates, the
functionality (for example from AND to NOR) and the connectivity
between logic gates. The behaviour of the mutation has been
analyzed based on the number of generations, genotype redundancy
and number of logic gates for the evolved circuits. The experimental
results found provide the behaviour of the mutation rate during
evolution for the design and optimization of simple logic circuits.
The experimental results propose the best mutation rate to be used for
designing combinational logic circuits. The research presented is
particular important for those who would like to implement a
dynamic mutation rate inside the evolutionary algorithm for evolving
digital circuits. The researches on the mutation rate during the last 40
years are also summarized.
Abstract: Monitoring of microbial flora in aquacultured sea bream, in relation to the physicochemical parameters of the rearing seawater, ended to a model describing the influence of the last to the quality of the fisheries. Fishes were sampled during eight months from four aqua farms in Western Greece and analyzed for psychrotrophic, H2S producing bacteria, Salmonella sp., heterotrophic plate count (PCA), with simultaneous physical evaluation. Temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity, TDS, salinity, NO3 - and NH4 + ions were recorded. Temperature, dissolved oxygen and conductivity were correlated, respectively, to PCA, Pseudomonas sp. and Shewanella sp. counts. These parameters were the inputs of the model, which was driving, as outputs, to the prediction of PCA, Vibrio sp., Pseudomonas sp. and Shewanella sp. counts, and fish microbiological quality. The present study provides, for the first time, a ready-to-use predictive model of fisheries hygiene, leading to an effective management system for the optimization of aquaculture fisheries quality.
Abstract: The problem of generation expansion planning (GEP)
has been extensively studied for many years. This paper presents
three topics in GEP as follow: statistical model, models for
generation expansion, and expansion problem. In the topic of
statistical model, the main stages of the statistical modeling are
briefly explained. Some works on models for GEP are reviewed in
the topic of models for generation expansion. Finally for the topic of
expansion problem, the major issues in the development of a longterm
expansion plan are summarized.
Abstract: In this paper, a new adaptive Fourier decomposition
(AFD) based time-frequency speech analysis approach is proposed.
Given the fact that the fundamental frequency of speech signals often
undergo fluctuation, the classical short-time Fourier transform (STFT)
based spectrogram analysis suffers from the difficulty of window size
selection. AFD is a newly developed signal decomposition theory. It is
designed to deal with time-varying non-stationary signals. Its
outstanding characteristic is to provide instantaneous frequency for
each decomposed component, so the time-frequency analysis becomes
easier. Experiments are conducted based on the sample sentence in
TIMIT Acoustic-Phonetic Continuous Speech Corpus. The results
show that the AFD based time-frequency distribution outperforms the
STFT based one.
Abstract: The business strategy of any company wanting to be
competitive on the market should be designed around the concept of
intangibles, with an increasingly decisive role in knowledge transfer
of the biggest corporations. Advancing the research in these areas,
this study integrates the two approaches, emphasizing the
relationships between the components of intellectual capital and
corporate social responsibility. The three dimensions of intellectual
capital in terms of sustainability requirements are debated. The paper
introduces the concept of sustainable intellectual capital and debates
it within an assessment model designed on the base of key
performance indicators. The results refer to the assessment of
possible ways for including the information on intellectual capital
and corporate responsibility within the corporate strategy. The
conclusions enhance the need for companies to be ready to support
the integration of this type of information the knowledge transfer
process, in order to develop competitive advantage on the market.
Abstract: This paper proposes a zero-voltage transition (ZVT) PWM synchronous buck converter, which is designed to operate at low output voltage and high efficiency typically required for portable systems. To make the DC-DC converter efficient at lower voltage, synchronous converter is an obvious choice because of lower conduction loss in the diode. The high-side MOSFET is dominated by the switching losses and it is eliminated by the soft switching technique. Additionally, the resonant auxiliary circuit designed is also devoid of the switching losses. The suggested procedure ensures an efficient converter. Theoretical analysis, computer simulation, and experimental results are presented to explain the proposed schemes.
Abstract: Mushrooms are a group of fleshy macroscopic fungi.
They have been valued throughout the world as both edible and
medicine. They are highly nutritious with good amount of quality
proteins, vitamins and minerals. An edible mushroom, Calocybe
indica was selected to validate its nutritional and medicinal
properties. Since tissue damage in hyperglycemia has been related to
oxidative stress, we evaluated the enzymatic and non-enzymatic
antioxidant status in the serum, liver and kidney since they are the
target organs in diabetic complications. From the results, increased
oxidative stress and decreased antioxidants might be related to the
causation of diabetes mellitus. The treatment in the diabetic rats with
the Calocybe indica showed an increase in the antioxidant system
and decrease in the production of free radicals. The mushrooms
which contain antioxidant phytochemicals has potential free radical
scavenging capacity and hence can induce the antioxidant system in
the body significantly reduces the generated free radicals thereby
maintaining the normal levels of the antioxidants
Abstract: Procurement is an important component in the field of
operating resource management and e-procurement is the golden key
to optimizing the supply chains system. Global firms are optimistic
on the level of savings that can be achieved through full
implementation of e-procurement strategies. E-procurement is an
Internet-based business process for obtaining materials and services
and managing their inflow into the organization. In this paper, the
subjects of supply chains and e-procurement and its benefits to
organizations have been studied. Also, e-procurement in construction
and its drivers and barriers have been discussed and a framework of
supplier selection in an e-procurement environment has been
demonstrated. This paper also has addressed critical success factors
in adopting e-procurement in supply chains.
Abstract: Data Warehousing tools have become very popular and currently many of them have moved to Web-based user interfaces to make it easier to access and use the tools. The next step is to enable these tools to be used within a portal framework. The portal framework consists of pages having several small windows that contain individual data warehouse query results. There are several issues that need to be considered when designing the architecture for a portal enabled data warehouse query tool. Some issues need special techniques that can overcome the limitations that are imposed by the nature of data warehouse queries. Issues such as single sign-on, query result caching and sharing, customization, scheduling and authorization need to be considered. This paper discusses such issues and suggests an architecture to support data warehouse queries within Web portal frameworks.
Abstract: A reliable estimate of the average bond stress within
the anchorage of steel reinforcing bars in tension is critically
important for the design of reinforced concrete member. This paper
describes part of a recently completed experimental research program
in the Centre for Infrastructure Engineering and Safety (CIES) at the
University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia aimed at
assessing the effects of different factors on the anchorage
requirements of modern high strength steel reinforcing bars. The
study found that an increase in the anchorage length and bar diameter
generally leads to a reduction of the average ultimate bond stress. By
the extension of a well established analytical model of bond and
anchorage, it is shown here that the differences in the average
ultimate bond stress for different anchorage lengths is associated with
the variable degree of plastic deformation in the tensile zone of the
concrete surrounding the bar.
Abstract: Let a and b be nonnegative integers with 2 ≤ a < b, and
let G be a Hamiltonian graph of order n with n ≥ (a+b−4)(a+b−2)
b−2 .
An [a, b]-factor F of G is called a Hamiltonian [a, b]-factor if F
contains a Hamiltonian cycle. In this paper, it is proved that G has a
Hamiltonian [a, b]-factor if |NG(X)| > (a−1)n+|X|−1
a+b−3 for every nonempty
independent subset X of V (G) and δ(G) > (a−1)n+a+b−4
a+b−3 .
Abstract: This paper presents a practical scheme that can be used for allocating the transmission loss to generators and loads. In this scheme first the share of a generator or load on the current through a branch is determined using Z-bus modified matrix. Then the current components are decomposed and the branch loss allocation is obtained. A motivation of proposed scheme is to improve the results of Z-bus method and to reach more fair allocation. The proposed scheme has been implemented and tested on several networks. To achieve practical and applicable results, the proposed scheme is simulated and compared on the transmission network (400kv) of Khorasan region in Iran and the 14-bus standard IEEE network. The results show that the proposed scheme is comprehensive and fair to allocating the energy losses of a power market to its participants.
Abstract: Hysteresis phenomenon has been observed in the
operations of both horizontal-axis and vertical-axis wind turbines
(HAWTs and VAWTs). In this study, wind tunnel experiments were
applied to investigate the characters of hysteresis phenomena between
the angular speed and the external resistance of electrical loading
during the operation of a Darrieus type VAWT. Data of output voltage,
output current, angular speed of wind turbine under different wind
speeds are measured and analyzed. Results show that the range of
external resistance changes with the wind speed. The range decreases
as the wind speed increases following an exponential decay form.
Experiments also indicate that the maximum output power of wind
turbines is always inside the range where hysteresis happened. These
results provide an important reference to the design of output control
system of wind turbines.
Abstract: Disposal of health-care waste (HCW) is considered as
an important environmental problem especially in large cities.
Multiple criteria decision making (MCDM) techniques are apt to deal
with quantitative and qualitative considerations of the health-care
waste management (HCWM) problems. This research proposes a
fuzzy multi-criteria group decision making approach with a multilevel
hierarchical structure including qualitative as well as
quantitative performance attributes for evaluating HCW disposal
alternatives for Istanbul. Using the entropy weighting method,
objective weights as well as subjective weights are taken into account
to determine the importance weighting of quantitative performance
attributes. The results obtained using the proposed methodology are
thoroughly analyzed.
Abstract: The game of Maundy Block is the three-player variant
of Maundy Cake, a classical combinatorial game. Even though to
determine the solution of Maundy Cake is trivial, solving Maundy
Block is challenging because of the identification of queer games,
i.e., games where no player has a winning strategy.
Abstract: The main objective of this article is to present the semi-active vibration control using an electro-rheological fluid embedded sandwich structure for a cantilever beam. ER fluid is a smart material, which cause the suspended particles polarize and connect each other to form chain. The stiffness and damping coefficients of the ER fluid can be changed in 10 micro seconds; therefore, ERF is suitable to become the material embedded in the tunable vibration absorber to become a smart absorber. For the ERF smart material embedded structure, the fuzzy control law depends on the experimental expert database and the proposed self-tuning strategy. The electric field is controlled by a CRIO embedded system to implement the real application. This study investigates the different performances using the Type-1 fuzzy and interval Type-2 fuzzy controllers. The Interval type-2 fuzzy control is used to improve the modeling uncertainties for this ERF embedded shock absorber. The self-tuning vibration controllers using Type-1 and Interval Type-2 fuzzy law are implemented to the shock absorber system. Based on the resulting performance, Internal Type-2 fuzzy is better than the traditional Type-1 fuzzy control for this vibration control system.