Quality evaluation model using loss function for multiple S-type quality characteristics

Most of the studies of quality system or product-quality assessment deal with a single quality characteristic to determine the quality loss. Products are often assessed on more than one quality characteristic. For this reason, different multivariate quality loss functions have been proposed. However, these loss functions only consider the nominal-the-best quality characteristics (N-type); they do not consider the condition when the quality characteristics are of the smaller-the-better (S-type). In this article, we present a quality evaluation model using loss function for multiple S-type quality characteristics. A numerical example is illustrated showing that using inappropriate loss functions will lead to inaccurate results that give either an underestimate or overestimate of the expected quality costs.     

An Indexing Method for Answering Queries on Moving Objects

We consider the problem of indexing a set of objects moving in d-dimensional spaces along linear trajectories. A simple external-memory indexing scheme is proposed to efficiently answer general range queries. The following are examples of the queries that can be answered by the proposed method: report all moving objects that will (i) pass between two given points within a specified time interval; (ii) become within a given distance from some or all of a given set of other moving objects. Our scheme is based on mapping the objects to a dual space, where queries about moving objects are transformed into polyhedral queries concerning their speeds and initial locations. We then present a simple method for answering such polyhedral queries, based on partitioning the space into disjoint regions and using a B+-tree to index the points in each region. By appropriately selecting the boundaries of each region, we guarantee an average search time that matches a known lower bound for the problem. Specifically, for a fixed d, if the coordinates of a given set of N points are statistically independent, the proposed technique answers polyhedral queries, on the average, in O((N/B)^1−1/d⋅(log _B N)^1/d+K/B) I/O's using O(N/B) space, where B is the block size, and K is the number of reported points. Our approach is novel in that, while it provides a theoretical upper bound on the average query time, it avoids the use of complicated data structures, making it an effective candidate for practical applications. The proposed index is also dynamic in the sense that it allows object insertion and deletion in an amortized update cost of log _B(N) I/O's. Experimental results are presented to show the superiority of the proposed index over other methods based on R-trees. recommend Ahmed Elmagarmid     

The Small and Silent Force Multiplier: A Swarm UAV—Electronic Attack

At the last two decades, according to UAVs concepts and technological advances, there have been lots of unimagined improvements. Nowadays there are serious works and researches about the usage of UAVs in military operations at electronic warfare (EW) missions. But most of the work on UAV platforms is based upon the advantages of a single, big, expensive, and non-expendable platform. In this study, to get rid off the disadvantages of a stand alone platform a new concept is developed consisting of multiple UAVs with smaller dimensions, at a cheaper price and a wider coverage. According to clarify the study, firstly the EW and RADAR systems and then the swarm UAV concepts are explained. In this manner the current and previous works are pointed out and then the use of the swarm UAVs for EA in military operations is stated. Objectively, the swarm UAV concept’s advantages and some outstanding challenges to the intra-theater space have been put forward regarding the information mentioned above. As a result it is considered that the swarm UAV systems will be tasked important EW missions in the future operation theatres, as soon as the technical handicaps are solved.     

维吾尔语意见挖掘关系抽取研究

在分析维吾尔语词性规则和语法特征的基础上,以维吾尔语评论性语句为研究语料,提出了一种基于Bootstrapping算法的意见挖掘关系抽取方法.在每一次迭代过程中,根据改进的评分公式选取最优模式抽取主题词-意见词对;迭代结束后,对于主题-意见词对为空的评论语句,使用最近匹配算法抽取主题-意见词对;用并联模式和否定模式对抽取的主题-意见词对进行扩展和修正.关系抽取的最终目标是为每一个评论性语句建立一个或多个二元组＜主题词,意见词＞,并使主题词和意见词一一对应.实验结果表明了该方法在关系抽取上的有效性.     

A Multistage In Silico Study of Natural Potential Inhibitors Targeting SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease

Among a group of 310 natural antiviral natural metabolites, our team identified three compounds as the most potent natural inhibitors against the SARS-CoV-2 main protease (PDB ID: 5R84), M^pro. The identified compounds are sattazolin and caprolactin A and B. A validated multistage in silico study was conducted using several techniques. First, the molecular structures of the selected metabolites were compared with that of GWS, the co-crystallized ligand of M^pro, in a structural similarity study. The aim of this study was to determine the thirty most similar metabolites (10%) that may bind to the M^pro similar to GWS. Then, molecular docking against M^pro and pharmacophore studies led to the choice of five metabolites that exhibited good binding modes against the M^pro and good fit values against the generated pharmacophore model. Among them, three metabolites were chosen according to ADMET studies. The most promising M^pro inhibitor was determined by toxicity and DFT studies to be caprolactin A (292). Finally, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation studies were performed for caprolactin A to confirm the obtained results and understand the thermodynamic characteristics of the binding. It is hoped that the accomplished results could represent a positive step in the battle against COVID-19 through further in vitro and in vivo studies on the selected compounds.     

Pivotal Role of Phytohormones and Their Responsive Genes in Plant Growth and Their Signaling and Transduction Pathway under Salt Stress in Cotton

The presence of phyto-hormones in plants at relatively low concentrations plays an indispensable role in regulating crop growth and yield. Salt stress is one of the major abiotic stresses limiting cotton production. It has been reported that exogenous phyto-hormones are involved in various plant defense systems against salt stress. Recently, different studies revealed the pivotal performance of hormones in regulating cotton growth and yield. However, a comprehensive understanding of these exogenous hormones, which regulate cotton growth and yield under salt stress, is lacking. In this review, we focused on new advances in elucidating the roles of exogenous hormones (gibberellin (GA) and salicylic acid (SA)) and their signaling and transduction pathways and the cross-talk between GA and SA in regulating crop growth and development under salt stress. In this review, we not only focused on the role of phyto-hormones but also identified the roles of GA and SA responsive genes to salt stress. Our aim is to provide a comprehensive review of the performance of GA and SA and their responsive genes under salt stress, assisting in the further elucidation of the mechanism that plant hormones use to regulate growth and yield under salt stress.     

Impact of graphite impurities on the structure and optical properties of the sodium borate oxide glass

For the carbon-based glass fabrication/manufacture process, different amounts of pure graphite powder were added up to 100 wt.% of sodium tetraborate oxide (the weight of one mole of the sodium tetraborate is 381.372 g/mol) and then melted at 950 °C for 2 h before fast quenching in the air at RT. The resulted solids were examined by the XRD and SEM techniques, which confirmed the amorphous natures for studied samples. FTIR spectroscopy showed that some C-atoms are shared in the glass network as C–O and CO₂. In contrast, the UV–Vis showed that the increase in the graphite contents/impurities causes a red shift in the value of the optical edge and the value of Fermi energy. Also, the increase of the graphite impurities causes a decrease in the bandgap values of both direct and indirect electronic transitions. Both the values of Urbach energy and the metallization indicated an increase in the crystallinity degree as the graphite content increase. A graphite-based glass is a promising material for wide-scale applications.

     

Robotic Companions for Smart Space Interactions

In this piece we take a brief peek at the possible world of robotic companions. In such a world, robots are adopted as butlers in our homes, as baby watchers, as friends and in general as life companions. For example, Helen lives with a robotic companion named Schpuffy. In the morning, Schpuffy checks Helen's schedule and finds out she has an appointment with a neighbor to take a walk at 8:30 a.m. Schpuffy recognizes that it takes 30 minutes for her to prepare to go for a walk and wakes her up at 8:00 a.m. After she gets up, Schpuffy reminds Helen of her appointment at 8:30 a.m. While she gets dressed, Schpuffy lets her know that current weather is very cold and suggests that she wear thermal clothing. When she's about to leave the house, Schpuffy says "good bye" to her and locks the door as she leaves. Schpuffy hasn't gained majored acceptance. It's not in every home or even in a tiny fraction of homes. However, it's a bold new research that is taking shape with early commercial products already hitting the marketplace. It could soon be the chief appliance in your home, or the new interface technology for smart spaces.