A simulated annealing-based permutation method and experimental analysis for multiple criteria decision analysis with interval type-2 fuzzy sets

The aim of this paper is to develop a simulated annealing-based permutation method for multiple criteria decision analysis within the environment of interval type-2 fuzzy sets. The outranking methodology constitutes one of the most fruitful approaches in multiple criteria decision making and has been applied in numerous real-world problems. The permutation method is a classical outranking model, which generalizes Jacquet–Lagreze's permutation method and is based on a pairwise criterion comparison of the alternatives. Because modeling of the uncertainty in the decision-making process becomes increasingly important, an extension to the interval type-2 fuzzy environment is a useful generalization of the permutation method and is appropriate for handling uncertain and imprecise information in practical decision-making situations. This paper produces a signed-distance-based comparison among the comprehensive rankings of alternatives for concordance and discordance analyses. An integrated nonlinear programming model is constructed for estimation of the criterion weights and the optimal ranking order of the alternatives under incomplete preference information. To enhance the implementation efficiency, a simulated annealing-based permutation method and its meta-heuristic algorithm are developed to produce a polynomial time solution for the total completion time problem. Furthermore, computational experiments with notably large amounts of simulation data are conducted to test the solution approach and validate the correctness of the approximate solution compared with the optimal all-permutation-based result.     

High performance,uniaxially-strained,silicon and germanium,double-gate p-MOSFETs

The effect of uniaxial-strain, band-structure, mobility, effective masses, density of states, channel orientation and high-field transport on the drive current, off-state leakage and switching delay in nano-scale, Silicon (Si) and Germanium (Ge), p-MOS DGFETs is thoroughly and systematically investigated. To accurately model and capture all these complex effects, different simulation techniques, such as the Non-local Empirical Pseudopotential method (bandstructure), Full-Band Monte-Carlo Simulations (transport), 1-D Poisson-Schrodinger (electrostatics) and detailed Band-To-Band-Tunneling (BTBT) (including bandstructure and quantum effects) simulations, were used in this study.     

Impact of weak Fermi-level pinning on the correct interpretation of III-V MOS C-V and G-V characteristics

The commonly encountered frequency dispersion and distorted behavior of GaAs and III-V MOS C-V and G-V is clarified by using MOS interface state theory. The relation of the C-V behavior with Fermi-level pinning of III-V MOS is explained. It is shown why it is difficult to quantify the interface state density using the conductance method for III-V MOS. A qualitative distinction of interface state behavior from common frequency dispersion due to series resistance is also put forward and guidelines are given to properly interpret III-V admittance data.     

Influence of chelating agents on the growth and photoelectrochemical responses of chemical bath-synthesized AgIn5S8 film electrodes

An aqueous method for the deposition of silver-indium-sulfide ternary semiconductor film electrodes is presented. Various deposition parameters, such as reaction temperature and molar ratios of different chelating agents, were changed in order to grow uniform and adherent films on indium-tin-oxide glass substrates. With a reaction temperature higher than 65 °C, a film composed of AgIn₅S₈ was grown on the substrates in our experimental conditions. The direct and indirect energy band gaps of samples prepared in this study varied from 1.70 to 1.97 eV and 1.61 to 1.72 eV, respectively. The maximum photocurrent density of samples in this study reached 3.0 mA/cm² at an external potential of +1.0 V vs. a Pt electrode under illumination using a 300 W Xe lamp system with the light intensity set at 100 mW/cm².     

A real-time data compression algorithm for gear fault signals

A flexible, stable and controllable real-time algorithm of Auto-Regressive and Moving Average based on Swing Door Trending (ARMA-SDT) is proposed for the compression of impact-type signals in gear fault detection systems. The Auto-Regressive and Moving Average (ARMA) model is used to predict the variation trend of signal features. To guarantee the adaptability, an empirical equation is proposed to calculate the compression threshold of the Swing Door Trending (SDT). Based on the empirical equation and prediction results, dynamic self-regulation of compression threshold is realized, and the compression error always stays around a preconfigured value. Moreover, an experimental setup and an engineering solution are proposed to verify the usefulness, reliability, and stability of the proposed ARMA-SDT algorithm in data compression.     

Monitoring of the hydrolysis process of bear bile powder using near infrared spectroscopy and chemometrics

A near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy-based method was developed for monitoring the hydrolysis process of bear bile powder. During the hydrolysis process, samples were collected and measured using both NIR spectrometer and high performance liquid chromatography. The quantitative calibration models were established with the collected NIR spectra and the reference concentrations of tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA), taurochenodeoxycholic acid (TCDCA), ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), and chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) using partial least squares regression algorithm. After the models were established and validated, the samples of new batches can be determined rapidly, and the hydrolysis process of bear bile powder can be monitored quantitatively. Additionally, a moving block of standard deviation (MBSD) method was also developed for the endpoint determination of the hydrolysis process. The proposed methods have reduced the laborious workload of process sample analysis significantly, and the fast analytical results have contributed to the understanding and controlling of the bear bile powder hydrolysis process.     

A zero-watermark algorithm for multiple images based on visual cryptography and image fusion

At present, it is difficult for the multiple images zero-watermark algorithm to protect all the images in the image set, and repeated operations will reduce the efficiency of the algorithm. To solve these issues, the proposed algorithm can design a reasonable copyright protection scheme according to the number of images in the image set to realize the protection of all images, and reduce the cost of time and storage. The gray-weighted average image fusion method is used to fuse multiple normalized standard images into one image. The LWT(Lifting the Wavelet Transform)-QR decomposition is applied to the effective area of the fusion image to obtain the robust feature image. Non-extended visual cryptography is used to enhance the security of the algorithm. A zero-watermark image is obtained by using the XOR manipulation for the feature image and the public shared image. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm has good performance.     

Digital circularly polarized heterodyne ellipsometer

In this research, a digital circularly polarized heterodyne ellipsometer (DCPHE) is developed, which has a heterodyne interferometer based on a dual-frequency paired circularly polarized laser beam integrated with a digital storage oscilloscope. DCPHE is an amplitude-sensitive ellipsometer that is applicable to real time and precise measurement of ellipsometric parameters. The systematic errors are likewise derived and analyzed. When the incident angle α are set at 60° and 70° in DCPHE, an accuracy of less than 0.7% of the ellipsometric parameter measurement of the SiO₂ thin film deposited on silicon substrate is achieved.     

Drug permeation behavior through thermo- and pH-responsive polycarbonate-g-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) composites

Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) hydrogel was grafted onto track-etched polycarbonate (PC) films using the free-radical polymerization method to prepare thermo-sensitive micro-porous films. Differential scanning calorimeter analysis was used to determine the lower critical solution temperature for the hydrogels. Thermo-gravimetric analysis was used to determine the thermal stability of the PC–hydrogel composite films. The composite films were characterized using Fourier transform-infrared spectra, scanning electron microscope, and effective pore diameters derived from water permeability data. 4-Acetamidophenol, citric acid, KCl, and methyl orange were used as the model drugs. For neutral drugs, the larger molecules exhibited lower permeability but higher on–off ratio than smaller ones. The strong electrolyte model molecules (KCl) exhibited depressed permeability due to enlarged hydrated ion sizes. The acidic (citric acid) model solution promoted gel shrinkage, resulting in increased drug permeability and on–off ratio.     

The effect of CNT content on the surface and mechanical properties of CNTs doped diamond like carbon films

The carbon nanotubes (CNTs) doped diamond like carbon films were carried out by spinning coating multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on silicon covered with diamond like carbon films via PECVD with C₂H₂ and H₂. The results show that the I_D/I_G and sp²/sp³ ratios are proportional to the CNT contents. For wettability and hydrogen content, the increase of CNT content results in more hydrophobic and less hydrogen for CNT doped DLC films. As for mechanical properties, the hardness and elastic modulus increases linearly with increasing CNT content. The residual stress is reduced for increasing CNT content. As for the surface property, the friction coefficient is reduced for higher CNT content. For CNT doped DLC films, the inclusion of horizontal CNT into DLC films increases the hardness, elastic modulus and reduces the hydrogen content, friction coefficient and residual stress. Like the light element and metal doping, the CNT doping has effects on the surface and mechanical properties on DLC which might be useful to specific application.