An improved constraint satisfaction adaptive neural network for job-shop scheduling

This paper presents an improved constraint satisfaction adaptive neural network for job-shop scheduling problems. The neural network is constructed based on the constraint conditions of a job-shop scheduling problem. Its structure and neuron connections can change adaptively according to the real-time constraint satisfaction situations that arise during the solving process. Several heuristics are also integrated within the neural network to enhance its convergence, accelerate its convergence, and improve the quality of the solutions produced. An experimental study based on a set of benchmark job-shop scheduling problems shows that the improved constraint satisfaction adaptive neural network outperforms the original constraint satisfaction adaptive neural network in terms of computational time and the quality of schedules it produces. The neural network approach is also experimentally validated to outperform three classical heuristic algorithms that are widely used as the basis of many state-of-the-art scheduling systems. Hence, it may also be used to construct advanced job-shop scheduling systems.     

The Effect of Subfilter-Scale Physics on Regularization Models

The subfilter-scale (SFS) physics of regularization models are investigated to understand the regularizations’ performance as SFS models. Suppression of spectrally local SFS interactions and conservation of small-scale circulation in the Lagrangian-averaged Navier-Stokes α-model (LANS-α) is found to lead to the formation of rigid bodies. These contaminate the superfilter-scale energy spectrum with a scaling that approaches k ⁺¹ as the SFS spectra is resolved. The Clark-α and Leray-α models, truncations of LANS-α, do not conserve small-scale circulation and do not develop rigid bodies. LANS-α, however, is closest to Navier-Stokes in intermittency properties. All three models are found to be stable at high Reynolds number. Differences between L ² and H ¹ norm models are clarified. For magnetohydrodynamics (MHD), the presence of the Lorentz force as a source (or sink) for circulation and as a facilitator of both spectrally nonlocal large to small scale interactions as well as local SFS interactions prevents the formation of rigid bodies in Lagrangian-averaged MHD (LAMHD-α). LAMHD-α performs well as a predictor of superfilter-scale energy spectra and of intermittent current sheets at high Reynolds numbers. It may prove generally applicable as a MHD-LES.     

Structure and Recognition of Graphs with No 6-wheel Subdivision

The subgraph homeomorphism problem has been shown by Robertson and Seymour to be polynomial-time solvable for any fixed pattern graph H. The result, however, is not practical, involving constants that are worse than exponential in |H|. Practical algorithms have only been developed for a few specific pattern graphs, the most recent of these being the wheels with four and five spokes. This paper looks at the subgraph homeomorphism problem where the pattern graph is a wheel with six spokes. The main result is a theorem characterizing graphs that do not contain subdivisions of W ₆. We give an efficient algorithm for solving the subgraph homeomorphism problem for W ₆. We also give a strengthening of the previous W ₅ result.     

An alternative Kalman-Yakubovich-Popov lemma and some extensions

This paper introduces an alternative formulation of the Kalman-Yakubovich-Popov (KYP) Lemma, relating an infinite dimensional Frequency Domain Inequality (FDI) to a pair of finite dimensional Linear Matrix Inequalities (LMI). It is shown that this new formulation encompasses previous generalizations of the KYP Lemma which hold in the case the coefficient matrix of the FDI does not depend on frequency. In addition, it allows the coefficient matrix of the frequency domain inequality to vary affinely with the frequency parameter. One application of this results is illustrated in an example of computing upper bounds to the structured singular value with frequency-dependent scalings.     

Instructional animations can be superior to statics when learning human motor skills

Based on the assumption of a working memory processor devoted to human movement, cognitive load theory is used to explore some conditions under which animated instructions are hypothesised to be more effective for learning than equivalent static graphics. Using paper-folding tasks dealing with human movement, results from three experiments confirmed our hypothesis, indicating a superiority of animation over static graphics. These results are discussed in terms of a working memory processor that may be facilitated by our mirror-neuron system and may explain why animated instructional animations are superior to static graphics for cognitively based tasks that involve human movement.     

Kinetic masks: a new approach and device for dispersing biologically relevant fluids

The controlled dispersion of fluids, particularly biologically relevant solutions in micro-volumes, is of high practical interest in biotechnology and medicine. Pharmaceutical test assays, for example, need a method for the fast and defined deposition of fluid samples. Most current micro-dispensing methods, i.e. contact-based pin printing, have problems such as time delays, limited dosing velocity, minimum volume or high interference that limit biological applications. Spraying techniques suffer from a lack of reproducibility; a defined deposition of samples on targets is not possible. Here, we introduce a new method for the parallel and spatially defined dispersion of many micro-volumes that overcomes disadvantages of common micro-dispensers. The overall approach is that a fluid drop, produced by a droplet generator, falls on a free trajectory with a defined kinetic energy, and is split by a masking unit placed perpendicular to the flight direction into at least two smaller droplets (Zimmermann et al. in Method and device for dosing fluid media, WO/2002/102515, Germany, 2002). On the target, the resulting droplets form reproducible patterns, which are enlarged and scalable images of the grid pattern. Possible applications for this method are non-contact cell patterning, cell encapsulation, cryopreservation and fast mixing processes in micro-volumes. Here, we use this method for the direct and defined parallel positioning of cell suspensions on specific substrates, which can be useful for test assays, tissue engineering and cryopreservation.     

Culture & biometrics: regional differences in the perception of biometric authentication technologies

Previous research has identified user concerns about biometric authentication technology, but most of this research has been conducted in European contexts. There is a lack of research that has investigated attitudes towards biometric technology in other cultures. To address this issue, data from India, South Africa and the United Kingdom were collected and compared. Cross-cultural attitudinal differences were seen, with Indian respondents viewing biometrics most positively while respondents from the United Kingdom were the least likely to have a positive opinion about biometrics. Multiple barriers to the acceptance of biometric technology were identified with data security and health and safety fears having the greatest overall impact on respondents’ attitudes towards biometrics. The results of this investigation are discussed with reference to Hofstede’s cultural dimensions and theories of technology acceptance. It is argued that contextual issues specific to each country provide a better explanation of the results than existing theories based on Hofstede’s model. We conclude that cultural differences have an impact on the way biometric systems will be used and argue that these factors should be taken into account during the design and implementation of biometric systems.     

Development of a Cloud Trust Label: A Delphi Approach

The purpose of this research is to identify the potential information components of an online, real-time trust label, which is proposed as a communication mechanism to encourage trust in cloud service providers and cloud computing products. An online Delphi process was used with 28 cloud computing experts (including vendors, software providers, and legal and business representatives). The proposed label contains 81 information components, covering the cloud service provider (e.g. physical location, legal jurisdiction), the cloud service itself (e.g. data location, security, backup, certification), and a historical service-level summary (e.g. uptime data, support response times). The potential benefits of such a label to encourage trustworthiness perceptions and trust behaviors in the cloud computing environment are explored. Limitations of the study are highlighted, and further research studies are suggested to test the concept of the label and to refine the components of the label itself.     

The personal lift-assist device and lifting technique: a principal component analysis

The personal lift-assist device (PLAD) is a non-motorised, on-body device that acts as an external force generator using the concept of stored elastic energy. In this study, the effect of the PLAD on the lifting kinematics of male and female lifters was investigated using principal component analysis. Joint kinematic data of 15 males and 15 females were collected using an opto-electronic system during a freestyle, symmetrical-lifting protocol with and without wearing the PLAD. Of the 31 Principal Components (PCs) retained in the models, eight scores were significantly different between the PLAD and no-PLAD conditions. There were no main effects for gender and no significant interactions. Results indicated that the PLAD similarly affected the lifting kinematics of males and females; demonstrating significantly less lumbar and thoracic flexion and significantly greater hip and ankle flexion when wearing the PLAD. These findings add to the body of work that suggest the PLAD may be a safe and effective ergonomic aid. STATEMENT OF RELEVANCE: The PLAD is an ergonomic aid that has been shown to be effective at reducing low back demands during manual materials handling tasks. This body of work establishes that the PLAD encourages safe lifting practices without adversely affecting lifting technique.     

Visualising Errors in Animal Pedigree Genotype Data

Genetic analysis of a breeding animal population involves determining the inheritance pattern of genotypes for multiple genetic markers across the individuals in the population pedigree structure. However, experimental pedigree genotype data invariably contains errors in both the pedigree structure and in the associated individual genotypes, introducing inconsistencies into the dataset, rendering them useless for further analysis. The resolution of these errors requires consideration of genotype inheritance patterns in the context of the pedigree structure. Existing pedigree visualisations are typically more suited to human pedigrees and are less suitable for large complex animal pedigrees which may exhibit cross generational inbreeding. Similarly, table‐based viewers of genotype marker data can highlight where errors become apparent but lack the functionality and interactive visual feedback to allow users to locate the origin of errors within the pedigree. In this paper, we detail a design study steered by biologists who work with pedigree data, and describe successive iterations through approaches and prototypes for viewing genotyping errors in the context of a displayed pedigree. We describe how each approach performs with real pedigree genotype data and why eventually we deemed them unsuitable. Finally, a novel prototype visualisation for pedigrees, which we term the ‘sandwich view’, is detailed and we demonstrate how the approach effectively communicates errors in the pedigree context, supporting the biologist in the error identification task.