Cooperative games with nontransferable utility on antimatroids

This paper introduces a new family of nontransferable utility (NTU) games with partial cooperation. Games with transferable utility (TU) restricted by antimatroids were studied since 2004. Antimatroids are known combinatorial structures which are interpreted in games as dependency situations among a group of agents, and they generalize several other hierarchical structures studied in the literature. Now we define projected NTU games over antimatroids following the same idea. We have needed to build a new theory about projections between two coalitions. In this case, an outcome is feasible for a coalition if and only if its projection is feasible in the NTU game. This paper studies several properties of the projected games and the relations between these games and the original game for some interesting cases: TU games, hyperplane games and bargaining problems.     

A cost-effective heuristic to schedule local and remote memory in cluster computers

Cluster computers represent a cost-effective alternative solution to supercomputers. In these systems, it is common to constrain the memory address space of a given processor to the local motherboard. Constraining the system in this way is much cheaper than using a full-fledged shared memory implementation among motherboards. However, memory usage among motherboards can be unfairly balanced.     

Hinging hyperplane based regression tree identified by fuzzy clustering and its application

Hierarchical fuzzy modeling techniques have great advantage since model accuracy and complexity can be easily controlled thanks to the transparent model structures. A novel tool for regression tree identification is proposed based on the synergistic combination of fuzzy c-regression clustering and the concept of hierarchical modeling. In a special case (c = 2), fuzzy c-regression clustering can be used for identification of hinging hyperplane models. The proposed method recursively identifies a hinging hyperplane model that contains two linear submodels by partitioning operating region of one local linear model resulting a binary regression tree. Novel measures of model performance and complexity are developed to support the analysis and building of the proposed special model structure. Effectiveness of proposed model is demonstrated by benchmark regression datasets. Examples also demonstrate that the proposed model can effectively represent nonlinear dynamical systems. Thanks to the piecewise linear model structure the resulted regression tree can be easily utilized in model predictive control. A detailed application example related to the model predictive control of a water heater demonstrate that the proposed framework can be effectively used in modeling and control of dynamical systems.     

Groundwater Numerical Simulation in an Open Pit Mine in a Limestone Formation Using MODFLOW

Numerical groundwater simulations of a complex limestone formation quarry in northern Spain enabled problems there to be quantified. A conceptual model of the aquifer, based on extensive in situ field work and information analysis was developed using MODFLOW. Steady state simulations as well as a first transient simulation were performed. The predictions matched the measured flows in the pit reasonably well, allowing practical scenarios of immediate interest to be simulated. Model calibration suggested a new permeability zonation, dependent of the degree of fracturing. The model provides a consistent quantitative framework with which new tests or operations can be evaluated in a cost effective manner.     

Use of Repetitive Sequences for Molecular and Cytogenetic Characterization of Avena Species from Portugal

Genomic diversity of Portuguese accessions of Avena species—diploid A. strigosa and hexaploids A. sativa and A. sterilis—was evaluated through molecular and cytological analysis of 45S rDNA, and other repetitive sequences previously studied in cereal species—rye subtelomeric sequence (pSc200) and cereal centromeric sequence (CCS1). Additionally, retrotransposons and microsatellites targeting methodologies—IRAP (inter-retrotransposon amplified polymorphism) and REMAP (retrotransposon-microsatellite amplified polymorphism)—were performed. A very high homology was detected for ribosomal internal transcribed sequences (ITS1 and ITS2) between the species analyzed, although nucleolar organizing regions (NOR) fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis revealed distinct number of Nor loci between diploid and hexaploid species. Moreover, morphological diversity, evidenced by FISH signals with different sizes, was observed between distinct accessions within each species. pSc200 sequences were for the first time isolated from Avena species but proven to be highly similar in all genotypes analyzed. The use of primers designed for CCS1 unraveled a sequence homologous to the Ty3/gypsy retrotransposon Cereba, that was mapped to centromeric regions of diploid and hexaploid species, being however restricted to the more related A and D haplomes. Retrotransposon-based methodologies disclosed species- and accessions-specific bands essential for the accurate discrimination of all genotypes studied. Centromeric, IRAP and REMAP profiles therefore allowed accurate assessment of inter and intraspecific variability, demonstrating the potential of these molecular markers on future oat breeding programs.     

New rules of thumb maximizing energy efficiency in street lighting with discharge lamps: The general equations for lighting design

New relationships between energy efficiency, illuminance uniformity, spacing and mounting height in public lighting installations were derived from the analysis of a large sample of outputs generated with a widely used software application for lighting design. These new relationships greatly facilitate the calculation of basic lighting installation parameters. The results obtained are also based on maximal energy efficiency and illuminance uniformity as a premise, which are not included in more conventional methods. However, these factors are crucial since they ensure the sustainability of the installations. This research formulated, applied and analysed these new equations. The results of this study highlight their usefulness in rapid planning and urban planning in developing countries or areas affected by natural disasters where engineering facilities and computer applications for this purpose are often unavailable.