COMPUTATIONAL METHODS THROUGH GENETIC ALGORITHMS FOR OBTAINING STACKELBERG SOLUTIONS TO TWO-LEVEL MIXED ZERO-ONE PROGRAMMING PROBLEMS

In this paper, we develop computational methods for obtaining Stackelberg solutions to two-level mixed zero-one programming problems in which the decision maker at the upper level controls zero-one variables and the decision maker at the lower level controls real variables. To illustrate two-level mixed zero-one programming problems, we formulate a facility location and transportation problem as a two-level mixed zero-one programming problem. We develop computational methods through genetic algorithms for obtaining Stackelberg solutions. To demonstrate the feasibility and efficiency of the proposed methods, computational experiments are carried out and comparisons between the methods based on the branch-and-bound techniques and the proposed methods are provided.     

INTERACTIVE FUZZY PROGRAMMING BASED ON FRACTILE CRITERION OPTIMIZATION MODEL FOR TWO-LEVEL STOCHASTIC LINEAR PROGRAMMING PROBLEMS

In this article, we focus on two-level linear programming problems involving random variable coefficients in objective functions and constraints. Following the concept of chance constrained programming, the two-level stochastic linear programming problems are transformed into deterministic ones based on the fractile criterion optimization model. After introducing fuzzy goals for objective functions, interactive fuzzy programming to derive a satisfactory solution for decision makers is presented as a fusion of a stochastic approach and a fuzzy one. An illustrative numerical example is provided to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed method.     

Cooling load prediction in a district heating and cooling system through simplified robust filter and multilayered neural network

Cooling load is a heat value of cold water used for air conditioning in a district heating and cooling system. Cooling load prediction in a district heating and cooling system is one of the key techniques for smooth and economical operation. In this article, cooling load prediction in such a district heating and cooling system is considered. Unfortunately, since actual cooling load data usually involve measurement noises, outliers, and missing data for several reasons, a prediction method considering the effect of the outliers and missing data is desirable. In this article, a new prediction method using a simplified robust filter to improve a numerical stability problem of a robust filter and a three-layered neural network, is proposed. Applications of the proposed method and some other methods to actual cooling load data in a district heating and cooling system involving outliers and missing data show the usefulness of the proposed method.     

γ‐Butyrolactone‐processable high‐modulus poly(ester imide)s

γ‐Butyrolactone (GBL)‐processable high modulus heat‐resistant materials were developed in this work. The polyaddition of an ester‐containing tetracarboxylic dianhydride, i.e. hydroquinone bis(trimellitate anhydride) (TAHQ), and 2,2′‐bis(trifluoromethyl)benzidine (TFMB) in GBL resulted in gelation in the initial reaction stage. The incorporation of a methyl group to TAHQ (M‐TAHQ) allowed polymerization with TFMB in GBL and led to a homogeneous poly(ester imide) (PEsI) precursor solution with a short pot life of 3 days, whereas a simple copolymerization approach using bulky/flexible comonomers to TAHQ/TFMB was less effective. PEsI precursors (PEsAAs) were prepared from TFMB, M‐TAHQ and a minor fraction of 4,4′‐(hexafluoroisopropylidene)diphthalic anhydride (6FDA) or a fluorene‐containing tetracarboxylic dianhydride. These PEsAA systems showed drastically improved GBL solution stability. In particular, the M‐TAHQ(80);6FDA(20)/TFMB copolymer system provided a PEsAA film with a very high light transmittance at 365 nm (>70%). A photosensitive film composed of this matrix resin and diazonaphthoquinone provided a clear positive‐tone pattern by development in a 2.38 wt% tetramethylammonium hydroxide aqueous solution at room temperature with a high dissolution contrast. The thermally cured PEsI film achieved a very high tensile modulus (>5 GPa) as the present target with other desirable properties, i.e. sufficient film flexibility, a relatively low coefficient of thermal expansion, a high T_g and low water absorption. The present materials can be promising candidates as novel buffer coat films in semiconductor applications. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

CRACK GROWTH BEHAVIOUR OF FATIGUE MICROCRACKS IN LOW CARBON STEELS

The behaviour of low carbon steels has been studied, in particular the initiation and growth of the major crack which led to final fracture of smooth specimens, via surface replica and photomicrograph techniques. From this study, the fracture process and fatigue life prediction characterized by the growth of surface microcracks have been analysed by a new approach unifying the conventional approaches based on the final fracture of materials with the fracture mechanics approach. Knowledge of fracture parameters is critical for non-destructive inspection during service life and the application of fracture mechanics to life prediction and assessment.     

Attractants for Rice Leaf Bug, <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Trigonotylus caelestialium</Emphasis> (Kirkaldy), are Emitted from Flowering Rice Panicles

Volatiles were extracted from rice plants of various growth stages with solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to identify attractants that cause invasion of the rice leaf bug Trigonotylus caelestialium (Kirkaldy) into paddy fields. The composition of volatile blends produced by rice plants changed with rice development. In addition, volatile blend compositions differed between the panicles and the stems and leaves. The relative geranyl acetone content was high in all plant structures analyzed. In volatiles from whole plants in the fourth-leaf stage and panicles in the full-ripe stage, the relative content of green leaf volatiles (GLVs) was higher than that found in other rice plant structures. In contrast, relative terpene levels emitted from whole plants in the panicle-formation stage and by panicles and stems and leaves in the flowering stage were higher than those of other rice plant structures. However, the type of terpenes found differed between the panicles and the stems and leaves. Relative levels of β-caryophyllene in whole plants in the panicle-formation stage and panicles in the flowering stage were much higher than that in stems and leaves in the flowering stage. Our previous studies demonstrated that the odor from whole plants in the panicle-formation stage and panicles in the flowering stage is attractive to rice leaf bugs. Here, the attractiveness of β-caryophyllene to adult bugs was investigated in olfactometer assays. Adult females were attracted to β-caryophyllene at a concentration of 0.001%, which is approximately equivalent to the concentration produced by flowering rice panicles. However, β-caryophyllene also was present in the odor of whole plants in the fourth-leaf stage and in stems and leaves in the flowering stage. Furthermore, the amounts of this compound emitted from these structures were similar. Therefore, we suggest that the relative abundance of this compound in a volatile blend is important for attractance of the bugs.     

Development of Y‐branch joint for 275‐kV XLPE and fluid‐filled cable

When a new UHV substation is built in an urban region, generally, an existing underground transmission line will be diverted and drawn into the new substation. Compared with the latter construction method, enormous cost reduction of switching facilities and cable construction is expected when applying a Y‐branch joint (YJ) which is able to serve as a three‐way joint. The YJ has already been applied for 154‐kV‐class circuit, but it has not been investigated for 275‐kV‐class circuit. Since both XLPE and oil‐filled cable are presently used in 275‐kV‐class underground cable line, a universal design YJ for both cables has been investigated. The YJ was applied in a compact design which was based on our sophisticated electrical stress control technology for 500‐kV prefabricated‐type joint. Furthermore, the design was based on its prefabricated assembling technology. The YJ was verified as to its electrical and mechanical performance as 275‐kV cable joint by completion of its assembling test and a long‐term electrical test. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 164(2): 18–24, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20514     

Electrical Properties of 1.7-MeV-Electron-Irradiated Sulfur-Doped GaP

The electrical properties of 1.7-MeV-electron-irradiated sulfur (S)-doped GaP were studied by using Hall effect and resistivity measurements. It was found that the concentration of S donors decreased and the deep acceptors were introduced by 1.7-MeV electron irradiation. The decrease of the concentration of S donors could be understood by considering the formation of a complex center of radiation-produced defects with S. A complex center acted as a deep acceptor and recovered in the stage centered at 150°C anneal. The introduction rate of this center was ~2.1 cm-1. From the isothermal annealing experiments, it was found that the recovery for this center approximately obeyed first-order kinetics and its activation energy was ~1.7 eV. Furthermore, another complex center involving S, which was a non-compensating defect in n-type GaP, was introduced. This center was seemed to be a deep donor.     

Chitosan and marine phospholipids reduce matrix metalloproteinase activity in myeloma SP2 tumor‐bearing mice

An animal experiment was conducted to assess the antitumor effects of chitosan‐coated liposomes on myeloma SP2. The animal experimental groups designed for myeloma SP2 tumor‐bearing BALB/c mice were provided with five different drinks: (I) control (double‐distilled water); (II) squid phospholipid liposomes alone 1.0 mg/mL; (III) chitosan alone 5.0 mg/mL; (IV) squid phospholipid liposomes 1.0 mg/mL with chitosan 5.0 mg/mL in the form of a simple mixture; and (V) squid phospholipid liposomes 1.0 mg/mL coated with chitosan 5.0 mg/mL. At 20 days after implantation of the myeloma SP2 cells into mice, oral administration of the experimental drinks was provided for 35 days. There was significant suppression of tumor growth when chitosan and squid phospholipids were administered simultaneously in a simple mixture or as chitosan‐coated liposomes. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‐2 and MMP‐9 activity was significantly less in the serum of mice that consumed chitosan‐coated liposomes than in control mice. We found that decreased tumor burden was related to MMP secretion. Therefore, chitosan‐coated marine phospholipid liposomes might be useful as potential agents for the treatment of myeloma SP2.     

Universals and cultural differences in the judgments of facial expressions of emotion.

We present here new evidence of cross-cultural agreement in the judgment of facial expression. Subjects in 10 cultures performed a more complex judgment task than has been used in previous cross-cultural studies. Instead of limiting the subjects to selecting only one emotion term for each expression, this task allowed them to indicate that multiple emotions were evident and the intensity of each emotion. Agreement was very high across cultures about which emotion was the most intense. The 10 cultures also agreed about the second most intense emotion signaled by an expression and about the relative intensity among expressions of the same emotion. However, cultural differences were found in judgments of the absolute level of emotional intensity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)