Fuzzy additive hybrid operators for network-based decision making

Evidence Aggregation Networks based on multiplicative fuzzy hybrid operators were introduced by Krishnapuram and Lee. They have been used for image segmentation, pattern recognition, and general multicriteria decision making. One of the drawbacks to these networks is that the training is complex and quite time consuming. In this article, we modify these aggregation networks to implement additive fuzzy hybrid connectives. We study the theoretical properties of two classes of such aggregation operators, one where the union and intersection components are based on multiplication, and the other where these components are derived from Yager connectives. These new networks have similar excellent properties such as backpropagation training and node interpretability for decision making under uncertainty as do their multiplicative precursors. They also have the advantage that training is easier since the derivatives of the additive hybrid operators are not as complex in form. the appropriate training algorithms are derived, and several examples given to illustrate the properties of the networks. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

A hybrid evolutionary approach to job-shop scheduling with generic time lags

Journal of Scheduling - This paper addresses the job shop scheduling problem including time lag constraints. This is an extension of the job shop scheduling problem with many applications in real...     

Design and implementation of a cloud-based event-driven architecture for real-time data processing in wireless sensor networks

The growth of the Internet of Things (IoTs) and the number of connected devices is driven by emerging applications and business models. One common aim is to provide systems able to synchronize these devices, handle the big amount of daily generated data and meet business demands. This paper proposes a cost-effective cloud-based architecture using an event-driven backbone to process many applications’ data in real-time, called REDA. It supports the Amazon Web Service (AWS) IoT core, and it opens the door as a free software-based implementation. Measured data from several wireless sensor nodes are transmitted to the cloud running application through the lightweight publisher/subscriber messaging transport protocol, MQTT. The real-time stream processing platform, Apache Kafka, is used as a message broker to receive data from the producer and forward it to the correspondent consumer. Micro-services design patterns, as an event consumer, are implemented with Java spring and managed with Apache Maven to avoid the monolithic applications’ problem. The Apache Kafka cluster co-located with Zookeeper is deployed over three availability zones and optimized for high throughput and low latency. To guarantee no message loss and to simulate the system performances, different load tests are carried out. The proposed architecture is reliable in stress cases and can handle records goes to 8000 messages in a second with low latency in a cheap hosted and configured architecture.

     

Reflexive transitive invariant relations: A basis for computing loop functions

Invariant assertions play an important role in the analysis and verification of iterative programs. In this paper, we introduce a related but distinct concept, namely that of invariant relation. While invariant assertions are useful to prove the correctness of a loop with respect to a specification (represented by a precondition/ postcondition pair) in Hoare’s logic, invariant relations are useful to derive the function of the loop in Mills’ logic.     

Information transmission based on network coding over wireless networks: a survey

Network coding (NC) for wireless local area network has received a lot of attention from researchers. It replaces the traditional methods of video erasure protection. The principal of NC is to combine several packets together before their transmission. Thus, NC is able to provide higher throughput, reliability and efficient transmission. Up to now, many works have been done to ensure the advantages and the robustness of NC against the packet loss and link failures. The performance gains of NC are successfully processed not only for data to increase throughput, but also for video streaming over wireless networks. In this context, this paper surveys and discusses the most popular approaches based on NC of both data and video transmission over wireless network (static or dynamic). Strength and limitations for robust video streaming and data transmission are deeply discussed.     

RPL in a nutshell: A survey

IPv6 Routing Protocol for Low Power and Lossy Networks (RPL) is a routing protocol specifically designed for Low power and Lossy Networks (LLN) compliant with the 6LoWPAN protocol. It currently shows up as an RFC proposed by the IETF ROLL working group. However, RPL has gained a lot of maturity and is attracting increasing interest in the research community. The absence of surveys about RPL motivates us to write this paper, with the objective to provide a quick introduction to RPL. In addition, we present the most relevant research efforts made around RPL routing protocol that pertain to its performance evaluation, implementation, experimentation, deployment and improvement. We also present an experimental performance evaluation of RPL for different network settings to understand the impact of the protocol attributes on the network behavior, namely in terms of convergence time, energy, packet loss and packet delay. Finally, we point out open research challenges on the RPL design. We believe that this survey will pave the way for interested researchers to understand its behavior and contributes for further relevant research works.     

Comparative study on volatile compounds from Tunisian and Sicilian monovarietal virgin olive oils

The effects of ripening degree of olives on volatile profile of monovarietal virgin olive oils (VOO) from Tunisian and Sicilian cultivars were investigated. Fruits obtained from Tunisia (Chétoui and Chemlali) and Italy (Nocellara del Belice, Biancolilla and Cerasuola) were picked at three different stages of ripeness and then immediately processed. Moreover, the changes in volatile composition were evaluated in Chétoui variety as a function of the irrigation regime versus the rain-fed control. Using headspace–solid-phase microextraction (HS–SPME) technique coupled to GC–MS and GC–FID, the volatile compounds of the monovarietal virgin olive oils were identified and quantitatively analyzed. The proportions of different classes of volatiles of oils showed significant differences throughout the maturity process. The results suggest that adding to the genetic factor; agronomic conditions affect the volatile formation and therefore the organoleptic properties of VOO.     

Antioxidant,lipase and ACE-inhibitory properties of camel lactoferrin and its enzymatic hydrolysates

The antioxidant and the lipase and the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory properties of camel lactoferrin and its hydrolysates elaborated with four proteolytic enzymes (trypsin, α-chymotrypsin, pancreatin and papain) were assessed. Lactoferrin was purified from camel colostrum using cation exchange chromatography. Camel lactoferrin hydrolysates showed different degrees of hydrolysis, reverse phase-HPLC profiles and molecular weight distributions, reflecting heterogeneity in terms of polarity and molecular weight of the generated peptides. Camel lactoferrin hydrolysates exhibited higher antioxidant, lipase and ACE inhibitory activities than native lactoferrin. Pancreatin-generated hydrolysates showed the highest lipase inhibitory activity (48.1%), while papain-generated hydrolysates presented the greatest ACE inhibitory activity (89.14%).     

Phase Transitions in the BiVO<Subscript>4</Subscript>-<Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>PbO (<Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis> = 1, 2) System: Structural–Electrical Properties Relationships

In a general survey of nPbO-BiVO₄ compounds, interesting phases corresponding to n = 1: PbBiVO₅, and n = 2: Pb₂BiVO₆ are described. A phase transition has been unambiguously characterized for PbBiVO₅. The crystal structures were solved from twinned crystals at room temperature (α phase, triclinic, S.G. P-1) and at 530°C (β phase, monoclinic, C2/m). Powder neutron diffraction experiments confirmed these settings and both room-temperature (RT) and high-temperature (HT) refinements corroborated space group choices, clearing up a literature controversy about the centrosymmetry of the α phase, and identifying structural modifications occurring under the α → β transition. Cationic substitutions for V were tested and PbBi(V_1−x M _x )O₅ (M = P) solid solutions identified. Pb₂BiVO₆ (n = 2) is a compound showing several successive structural transitions, i.e., α → β → δ. Structures of α and δ forms have been previously described from powder diffraction data (x-ray and neutron). In this work, we have refined these structures from single-crystal data, and the resolution of the intermediate β form, so far unsolved, was possible through a stabilization thermal cycle; its complete structural understanding required a 4D formalism. Two new polymorphic phases, α′ and δ′, were obtained by substituting Mn or P for V; their structures are closely related to, respectively, the α phase at room temperature, and the δ phase at 680°C. Electrical conductivities of all structurally characterized compositions were investigated, and correlations were drawn between their conduction properties and structural characteristics. Conductivity properties measured under variable O₂ partial pressures for Pb₂Bi(V_0.75P_0.25)O₆ were interpreted as a mixed ionic–electronic (p-type) conduction mechanism.