Ontology of Spatial Concepts in a Natural Language Interface for a Mobile Robot

In this paper we present problems connected with the construction of a natural language (NL) interface for a mobile robot. We determine the spatial information that should be analysed in this kind of interface, as well as indicate which information can be omitted. This study is a contribution to our long-term research program on man-machine communication. Implementation of a virtual agent (ACALA) equipped with a natural language interface is important from a methodological point of view because it permits us to observe natural language interaction between the human user and the computer-controlled system.     

An integrated model for the transshipment yard scheduling problem

A hub-and-spoke railway system is an efficient way of handling freight transport by land. A modern rail–rail train yard consists of huge gantry cranes that move the containers between the trains. In this context, we consider a rail–rail transshipment yard scheduling problem (TYSP) where the containers arrive to the hub and need to be placed on a train that will deliver them to their destination. In the literature, the problem is decomposed hierarchically into five subproblems, which are solved separately. First, the trains have to be grouped into bundles in which they visit the yard. Next, the trains have to be assigned to tracks within these bundles, namely parking positions. Then the final positions for the containers on trains have to be determined. Next, the container moves that need to be performed are assigned to the cranes. Finally, these moves have to be sequenced for each crane for processing. In this paper, an integrated MILP model is proposed, which aims to solve the TYSP as a single optimization problem. The proposed formulation also enables us to define more robust and complex objective functions that include key characteristics from each of the above-mentioned subproblems. The strength of our proposed formulation is demonstrated via computational experiments using the data from the literature. Indeed, the results show that the TYSP can be solved without the use of decomposition techniques and more insight can be obtained from the same input data used to solve particular single decomposed subproblems.     

The influence of catalytic activity on the response of Pt/SnO2 gas sensors to carbon monoxide and hydrogen

The article presents the results of research studies on ceramics SnO₂ sensors with Pt catalysts. The role of catalysis in gas sensing mechanisms was investigated. In order to obtain samples with different catalytic activity but with identical Pt loading, the Pt/SnO₂ catalysts were calcined at different temperatures (400-800 °C). Structural analysis of these samples was performed. Among the sensors manufactured with Pt/SnO₂, the highest sensitivity was shown for the sensor obtained with Pt/SnO₂ sample sintered at 800 °C. The correlation between catalytic activity and sensor sensitivity is given.     

Implementing an extension of the analytical hierarchy process using ordered weighted averaging operators with fuzzy quantifiers in ArcGIS

This paper focuses on the integration of GIS and an extension of the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) using quantifier-guided ordered weighted averaging (OWA) procedure. AHP_OWA is a multicriteria combination operator. The nature of the AHP_OWA depends on some parameters, which are expressed by means of fuzzy linguistic quantifiers. By changing the linguistic terms, AHP_OWA can generate a wide range of decision strategies. We propose a GIS-multicriteria evaluation (MCE) system through implementation of AHP_OWA within ArcGIS, capable of integrating linguistic labels within conventional AHP for spatial decision making. We suggest that the proposed GIS-MCE would simplify the definition of decision strategies and facilitate an exploratory analysis of multiple criteria by incorporating qualitative information within the analysis.     

Asymptotic Preserving scheme for strongly anisotropic parabolic equations for arbitrary anisotropy direction

This paper deals with the numerical study of a strongly anisotropic heat equation. The use of standard schemes in this situation leads to poor results, due to high anisotropy. Furthermore, the recently proposed Asymptotic-Preserving method (Lozinski et al., 2012) allows one to perform simulations regardless of the anisotropy strength but its application is limited to the case where the anisotropy direction is given by a field whose lines are all open. In this paper we introduce a new Asymptotic-Preserving method, which overcomes those limitations without any loss of precision or increase in computational costs. The convergence of the method is shown to be independent of the anisotropy parameter 0<ε<1$0<\epsilon <1$ for fixed coarse Cartesian grids, and for variable anisotropy directions. The context of this work is magnetically confined fusion plasmas.     

Catalytic Synthesis of Higher Aliphatic Amines from the Corresponding Alcohols

Aliphatic amines are of considerable industrial importance and find application in almost every field of modern technology, agriculture, and medicine [1], Lower aliphatic amines (C₁ to C₆) are important intermediates for the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. A large number of drugs, herbicides, pesticides, dyes, and other chemicals contain amino pups which originate from reactions with such intermediates, Many important applications of higher aliphatic amines (fatty amines) and their derivatives (most important derivatives are quarternary ammonium compounds) are based on their cationic surface activity. Relatively small amounts of such compounds are usually required to achieve the desired changes in surface and colloidal properties. Thus, not surprising, one of the first applications of fatty amines was in the flotation separation of nonmetallic materials such as potash, feldspar, phosphate, and mica. Today, probably the biggest demand for fatty amines lies in the production of fabric softeners. There are other important applications for aliphatic amines in the plastics and protective coat industries as emulsion stabilizers, mold release agents, pigment dispersers, and flushing agents. They are used as catalysts for polyurethane production. For granular products, alkylamines are used as anticaking and antidusting agents. In the rubber industry they are used as oxidation inhibitors and catalysts for accelerating vulcanization. Aliphatic amines find also many applications in the petroleum industry, especially as corrosion inhibitors and as components of lubricating oils, greases, and fuel oil where they act as sludge dispersants and stabilizers. They are added to gasoline as corrosion inhibitors.     

Viable Stabilising Non-Taylor Monetary Policies for an Open Economy

We extend Krawczyk and Kim (Macroecon Dyn 13(1):46–80, 1999) and apply a viability approach to a small-open economy where the exchange rate works as an additional monetary policy transmission channel. A continuous-time version of the model presented in Batini and Haldane (In: Monetary policy rules. National Bureau of Economic Research, Cambridge, pp. 157–202, 1999a) is used. The model comprises the IS equation, a supply curve and the interest parity condition. We modify the third equation to capture an impact of a domestic interest-rate hike on the speedy appreciation of local currency. We calibrate this modified model using available literature results and apply specialised software (VIKAASA) to compute the open-economy viability kernel that is a set of economic states, from which the central bank can control the economy so that it remains within a nominal constraint set. We then analyse the kernel topology and show a few stablising policies that keep the economy within the constraint set. We also discuss the robustness of such polices to shocks and parameter uncertainty and observe that viability-based policies come from models, which do not require explicit weights on the variables of interest of a central bank. We also contend that in general, viability-based policies are less likely to do damage, if the policy-maker is wrong about some aspects of the environment.     

Influence of differences in porous structure within granules of activated carbon on adsorption of aromatics from aqueous solutions

The adsorption of organics from aqueous solutions on the activated carbon samples obtained by gradual abrasion of granules is studied. The nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms are applied to determine the parameters of porous structure of investigated carbon samples. The adsorption isotherms of four organic substances: nitrobenzene, phenol, 4-nitrophenol, and 4-chlorophenol from dilute aqueous solutions are also measured. The influence of porous structure changes inside of a carbon particle on organic solute adsorption from aqueous solutions is analyzed and discussed. It was stated that the carbon porosity was a function of the distance from granule surface, however, the properties of carbon micropore and mesopore walls were preserved. The similarity of adsorption mechanisms over the whole carbon granule were found for liquid systems.     

The effect of lamellar separation on the properties of a Ti–46Al–2Nb–2Cr intermetallic alloy

The relationships between the γ and ₂ lamellae apparent separation and hardnesses as well as the peak flow stresses estimated in hot compression tests obtained for specimens made of Ti–46Al–2Nb–2Cr alloy are presented. The lamellae separations were estimated using image analysis on the microstructure of the specimens. The procedure employing a fast Fourier transformation of secondary electron microstructural images for fully automatic lamellae separation measurements is described. It was found that the effect of the apparent lamellae separations of γ and ₂ on the peak flow stress is significant. For the microstructure with thick lamellae of γ and ₂ phases, the peak flow stress decreases. The hardness of the specimens decreases with an increase of the lamellae apparent separation as well.     

Engineering On‐Surface Spin Crossover: Spin‐State Switching in a Self‐Assembled Film of Vacuum‐Sublimable Functional Molecule

The realization of spin‐crossover (SCO)‐based applications requires study of the spin‐state switching characteristics of SCO complex molecules within nanostructured environments, especially on surfaces. Except for a very few cases, the SCO of a surface‐bound thin molecular film is either quenched or heavily altered due to: (i) molecule–surface interactions and (ii) differing intermolecular interactions in films relative to the bulk. By fabricating SCO complexes on a weakly interacting surface, the interfacial quenching problem is tackled. However, engineering intermolecular interactions in thin SCO active films is rather difficult. Here, a molecular self‐assembly strategy is proposed to fabricate thin spin‐switchable surface‐bound films with programmable intermolecular interactions. Molecular engineering of the parent complex system [Fe(H₂B(pz)₂)₂(bpy)] (pz = pyrazole, bpy = 2,2′‐bipyridine) with a dodecyl (C₁₂) alkyl chain yields a classical amphiphile‐like functional and vacuum‐sublimable charge‐neutral Fe^II complex, [Fe(H₂B(pz)₂)₂(C₁₂‐bpy)] (C₁₂‐bpy = dodecyl[2,2′‐bipyridine]‐5‐carboxylate). Both the bulk powder and 10 nm thin films sublimed onto either quartz glass or SiO_x surfaces of the complex show comparable spin‐state switching characteristics mediated by similar lamellar bilayer like self‐assembly/molecular interactions. This unprecedented observation augurs well for the development of SCO‐based applications, especially in molecular spintronics.