Optical performance of a composite parabolic trough

The effects of receiver misplacement and the trough pointing towards the sun on the concentration characteristics of a composite parabolic trough are discussed. Results from some numerical calculations are presented graphically and discussed.     

Finding consistent global checkpoints in a distributed computation

Consistent global checkpoints have many uses in distributed computations. A central question in applications that use consistent global checkpoints is to determine whether a consistent global checkpoint that includes a given set of local checkpoints can exist. Netzer and Xu (1995) presented the necessary and sufficient conditions under which such a consistent global checkpoint can exist, but they did not explore what checkpoints could be constructed. In this paper, we prove exactly which local checkpoints can be used for constructing such consistent global checkpoints. We illustrate the use of our results with a simple and elegant algorithm to enumerate all such consistent global checkpoints     

Semi-supervised model adaptation for statistical machine translation

Statistical machine translation systems are usually trained on large amounts of bilingual text (used to learn a translation model), and also large amounts of monolingual text in the target language (used to train a language model). In this article we explore the use of semi-supervised model adaptation methods for the effective use of monolingual data from the source language in order to improve translation quality. We propose several algorithms with this aim, and present the strengths and weaknesses of each one. We present detailed experimental evaluations on the French–English EuroParl data set and on data from the NIST Chinese–English large-data track. We show a significant improvement in translation quality on both tasks.     

Optimal job sequence determination and operation machine allocation in flexible manufacturing systems: an approach using adaptive hierarchical ant colony algorithm

In this paper, an Adaptive Hierarchical Ant Colony Optimization (AHACO) has been proposed to resolve the traditional machine loading problem in Flexible Manufacturing Systems (FMS). Machine loading is one of the most important issues that is interlinked with the efficiency and utilization of FMS. The machine loading problem is formulated in order to minimize the system unbalance and maximize the throughput, considering the job sequencing, optional machines and technological constraints. The performance of proposed AHACO has been tested over a number of benchmark problems taken from the literature. Computational results indicate that the proposed algorithm is more effective and produces promising results as compared to the existing solution methodologies in the literature. The evaluation and comparison of system efficiency and system utilization justifies the supremacy of the algorithm. Further, results obtained from the proposed algorithm have been compared with well known random search algorithm viz. genetic algorithm, simulated annealing, artificial Immune system, simple ant colony optimization, tabu search etc. In addition, the algorithm has been tested over a randomly generated problem set of varying complexities; the results validate the robustness and scalability of the algorithm utilizing the concepts of ‘heuristic gap’ and ANOVA analysis.     

不同无线技术能否共存?

新建工厂的无线技术应用已逐步获得认可,然而,还有一些过程工业对采用这项新技术或其它新的解决方案存有疑虑,主要担心多种无线技术互相之间可能存在射频干扰而影响主要通讯的可靠性,例如使用IEEE 802.11b/g和IEEE 802.15.4协议的无线电。因为两种无线电通讯采用的也是用于工业、科技和医疗的2.4GHz波段,业内人士曾     

Attack Resilient and Efficient Protocol based on Greedy Perimeter Coordinator Routing—Mobility Awareness for Preventing the Attack in the VANET

Wireless Personal Communications - A Greedy Perimeter Coordinator Routing and Mobility Awareness (GPCR-MA) vehicular routing is a widely accepted routing protocol for VANET (Vehicular Ad hoc...     

Investigation of machining characteristics in rotary ultrasonic machining of alumina ceramic

Alumina ceramic is well documented as a much-demanded advanced ceramic in the present competitive structure of manufacturing and industrial applications owing to its excellent and superior properties. The current article aimed to experimentally investigate the influence of several process variables, namely: spindle speed, feed rate, coolant pressure, and ultrasonic power, on considered machining characteristics of interest, i.e., chipping size and material removal rate in the rotary ultrasonic machining of alumina ceramic. Response surface methodology has been employed in the form of a central composite rotatable design to design the experiments. Variance analysis testing has also been performed with a view to observing the consequence of the considered parameters. The microstructure of machined rod samples was evaluated and analyzed using a scanning electron microscope. This analysis has revealed and confirmed the presence of plastic deformation that caused removal of material along with brittle fractures in rotary ultrasonic machining of alumina ceramic. The validity and competence of the developed mathematical model have been verified with test results. The multi-response optimization of machining responses (material removal rate and chipping size) has also been attempted by employing a desirability approach, and at an optimized parametric setting the obtained experimental values for material removal rate and chipping size were 0.4166?mm³/s and 0.5134?mm, respectively, with a combined desirability index value of 0.849.     

Intelligent System Application to Monitor the Smart City Building Lighting

A smart city incorporates infrastructure methods that are environmentally responsible, such as smart communications, smart grids, smart energy, and smart buildings. The city administration has prioritized the use of cutting-edge technology and informatics as the primary strategy for enhancing service quality, with energy resources taking precedence. To achieve optimal energy management in the multidimensional system of a city tribe, it is necessary not only to identify and study the vast majority of energy elements, but also to define their implicit interdependencies. This is because optimal energy management is required to reach this objective. The lighting index is an essential consideration when evaluating the comfort indicators. In order to realize the concept of a smart city, the primary objective of this research is to create a system for managing and monitoring the lighting index. It is possible to identify two distinct phases within the intelligent system. Once data collection concludes, the monitoring system will be activated. In the second step, the operation of the control system is analyzed and its effect on the performance of the numerical model is determined. This evaluation is based on the proposed methodology. The optimized results were deemed satisfactory because they maintained the brightness index value (79%) while consuming less energy. The intelligent implementation system generated satisfactory outcomes, which were observed 1.75 times on average.