Application of MADM in a fuzzy environment for selecting the best barrier for offshore wells

A fuzzy Multi Attribute Decision Making (FMADM) method, which is suitable for treating group decision making problems in a fuzzy environment, is proposed for ranking offshore well barriers from a cost-benefit view point. It is obvious that much knowledge in the real world is fuzzy rather than precise. MADM decision data is usually fuzzy, crisp, or a combination of the two. A useful model is proposed here in order to handle both fuzzy and crisp data. Imprecision and ambiguity in the calculation of a performance rating are incorporated into MADM whereby fuzzy set theory provides a mathematical framework for modeling them. Human opinions often conflict in group decision-making. The purpose of fuzzy MADM is to aggregate the conflicting opinions. In general, one expert’s opinion for a given attribute may be different from others’. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an appropriate method of aggregating multiple experts’ opinions, taking into account a degree of importance of each expert in the aggregation procedure. The weights of all attributes and experts are estimated using a Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP). Finally, the best well barrier or risk control option (RCO) with respect to cost and benefit is selected using a Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method.     

An enhanced simulation-based design method coupled with meta-heuristic search algorithm for accurate reliability-based design optimization

The enhanced weighted simulation-based design method in conjunction with particle swarm optimization (PSO) is developed as a pseudo double-loop algorithm for accurate reliability-based design optimization (RBDO). According to this hybrid method, generated samples of weighed simulation method (WSM) are considered as initial population of the PSO. The proposed population is then employed to evaluate the safety level of each PSO swarm (design candidates) during movement. Using this strategy, there is no required to conduct new sampling for reliability assessment of design candidates (PSO swarms). Employing PSO as the search engine of RBDO and WSM as the reliability analyzer provide more accurate results with few samples and also increase the application range of traditional WSM. Besides, a shift strategy is also introduced to increase the capability of the WSM to investigate general RBDO problems including both deterministic and random design variables. Several examples are investigated to demonstrate the accuracy and robustness of the method. Results demonstrate the computational efficiency and superiority of the proposed method for practical engineering problems with highly nonlinear and implicit probabilistic constrains.     

An improved watermarking technique for multi-user,multi-right environments

In digital rights management, there are many instances where there is more than one user involved, with each user having different level of rights. In this paper, we develop a novel approach to the multi-user, multi-right problem, where users are tied to various rights in an arbitrary access structure. Our approach is applicable to all kinds of media and can be used with any watermarking algorithm, provided that keys are used to generate the watermarks. This flexibility also enables it to benefit from future progress in the development of watermarking algorithms, in particular that of multiple watermarking. The proposed technique uses the generalized secret sharing scheme of Benaloh and Leichter, and builds on the earlier work of Guo on the joint ownership problem. By noting that the number of rights is likely much smaller than the number of users in most practical situations, and by generating the watermarks independently, the proposed approach achieves greater fidelity and detection capability than Guo’s schemes while remaining secure against colluding users.

Effect of the food traceability system for building trust: Price premium and buying behavior

Facing a series of food-related accidents, consumers worldwide have become more concerned with the safety of the food they consume. The Food Traceability System has been introduced in many countries to reduce the uncertainties originating in the food purchasing process by providing information about the entire food process, from farm to table, in terms of quality and safety. However, this relatively new information system has not yet been explored with an academic approach. The main goal of this study was to determine whether reduced uncertainty provides benefits for producers and consumers, thereby warranting the adoption of the food traceability system. We also analyzed the factors and mechanisms that explain consumer behavior within the system. We have modified and applied the uncertainty model of Pavlou et al. (MIS Quarterly 31(1):105–136, 2007) derived from the principal–agent perspective in order to fulfill our research objectives. Through a survey conducted in Korea, we found that Korean consumers were not only willing to purchase greater quantities of food, but also willing to pay more for food managed with the traceability system. The results of this study indicate that the mitigated uncertainty given by the traceability system plays a key role in price premium and purchase intention. In addition, mitigated uncertainty has a larger impact on purchase intention than on price premium, implying that consumers are inclined to buy more rather than pay more. These results provide valuable suggestions for producers for how to deal with increased costs resulting from adoption of the system. We also found that in the context of the Food Traceability System, perceived uncertainty was mitigated as a result of a reduced fear of seller opportunism originating from increased trust and reduced information asymmetry originating from increased product diagnosticity, informativeness, and trust. Reduced fear of seller opportunism had a stronger impact than reduced information asymmetry on perceived mitigated uncertainty.

New neural network-based response surface method for reliability analysis of structures

Neural Computing and Applications - In this paper, a new algorithm is introduced for reliability analysis of structures using response surface method based on a group method of data handling-type...     

Adolescents' Attachment Representations and Developmental Tasks in Emerging Adulthood.

The association between attachment representations and adolescents' coping with 3 developmental tasks of emerging adulthood-leaving home, advancing in the capacity for mature intimacy, and developing individuation-was examined. Israeli male adolescents (N = 88) were administered the Adult Attachment Interview during their high-school senior year. A year later, they and their friends reported on the adolescents' adjustment to mandatory military service. Three years later, participants and their parents reported on the adolescents' capacity for intimacy using an in-depth interview and on their individuation. An autonomous state of mind was associated with better coping with basic training and with a higher capacity for mature intimacy but was not associated with markers of individuation. The results highlight the importance of attachment representations in shaping an individual's developmental trajectory. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A stabilizer for oscillating torques in synchronous machines

A novel torque stabilizer was developed and has been continuously applied at the Max-Planck-Institut fur Plasmaphysik (IPP), Garching, Germany, as a countermeasure to torsional oscillation and resonance problems in large synchronous machines. Such problems are most frequently encountered in rotor systems with long shafts and large inertias constituting a weakly damped mechanical resonator which exhibits a low resonance frequency, e.g., 10-30 Hz. This paper presents examples for the successful suppression of torsional resonances in synchronous machines of the IPP experimental power supply, an isolated power system based on flywheel generators. The novel torque stabilizer is a power electronic device which is connected to the stator winding of the synchronous machine. It produces the same effect as an increased natural damping for oscillation modes in the rotating shaft assembly. It is, therefore, universally applicable to torsional oscillation problems in generators and electrical drive systems.     

Octa-O-bis-(R,R)-Tartarate Ditellurane (SAS) - a novel bioactive organotellurium(IV) compound: synthesis, characterization, and protease inhibitory activity

Octa-O-bis-(R,R)-Tartarate Ditellurane (SAS) is a new Te(IV) compound, comprised of two tellurium atoms, each liganded by four oxygen atoms from two carboxylates and two alkoxides of two tartaric acids. Unlike many other Te(IV) compounds, SAS was highly stable in aqueous solution. It interacted with thiols to form an unstable Te(SR)(4) product. The product of the interaction of SAS with cysteine was isolated and characterized by mass spectroscopy and elemental analysis. SAS selectively inactivated cysteine proteases, but it did not inactivate other families of proteolytic enzymes. It displayed selectivity towards the cysteine protease cathepsin B, a human enzyme of pharmaceutical interest, with a second order rate constant k(i)/K(i)=5900 M(-1) s(-1).     

Structural and Functional Changes and Possible Molecular Mechanisms in Aged Skin

Skin aging is a complex process influenced by intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Together, these factors affect the structure and function of the epidermis and dermis. Histologically, aging skin typically shows epidermal atrophy due to decreased cell numbers. The dermis of aged skin shows decreased numbers of mast cells and fibroblasts. Fibroblast senescence contributes to skin aging by secreting a senescence-associated secretory phenotype, which decreases proliferation by impairing the release of essential growth factors and enhancing degradation of the extracellular matrix through activation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Several molecular mechanisms affect skin aging including telomere shortening, oxidative stress and MMP, cytokines, autophagic control, microRNAs, and the microbiome. Accumulating evidence on the molecular mechanisms of skin aging has provided clinicians with a wide range of therapeutic targets for treating aging skin.     

A Comprehensive Study on Physical,Mechanical, and Thermal Properties of Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate) Filled by Micro‐ and Nanoglass Flakes

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) composites containing micro‐ and nanoglass flakes were prepared by melt blending. The percentage of nanoglass flakes was varied from 0.5, 1, 2, and 3 wt% and the concentration of microglass flakes was 1, 3, and 5 wt%. The effect of glass flake on morphology, physical, mechanical, and thermal properties of PET was studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy‐dispersive X‐ray analysis (EDXA), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and tensile test. The observations showed that both types of particles were dispersed in PET, homogeneously, though microglass flakes had better dispersion compared with their nanosized counterparts. According to DSC thermogram, the crystallization rate and temperature of PET increased with incorporation of both types of glass flakes. The crystallization rate of PET was increased from 31.41% to 34.25% with the addition of 1 wt% of nanoglass flakes. Moreover, the onset of thermal degradation increased more than 9°C with the addition of micro‐ and nanoglass flakes. Based on the mechanical viewpoint, the Young's modulus of PET was improved by the addition of both micro‐ and nanoglass flakes. On the other hand, the tensile strength of PET was decreased from 45.4 MPa to 31.3 MPa using 1 wt% of nanoglass flakes. According to X‐ray diffractometry, using of micro‐ and nanoglass flakes resulted in the decrement of PET crystallites. Whereas, the size of crystallites was lower than microglass flakes, in the case of using nanoglass flakes. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 26:380–389, 2020. © 2019 Society of Plastics Engineers