A comparison of global optimization algorithms applied to a ride comfort optimization problem

This study presents a comparison of global optimization algorithms applied to an industrial engineering optimization problem. Three global stochastic optimization algorithms using continuous variables, i.e. the domain elimination method, the zooming method and controlled random search, have been applied to a previously studied ride comfort optimization problem. Each algorithm is executed three times and the total number of objective function evaluations needed to locate a global optimum is averaged and used as a measure of efficiency. The results show that the zooming method, with a proposed modification, is most efficient in terms of number of objective function evaluations and ability to locate the global optimum. Each design variable is thereafter given a set of discrete values and two optimization algorithms using discrete variables, i.e. a genetic algorithm and simulated annealing, are applied to the discrete ride comfort optimization problem. The results show that the genetic algorithm is more efficient than the simulated annealing algorithm for this particular optimization problem.     

Optimization-based motion prediction of mechanical systems: sensitivity analysis

In this study, we derive sensitivity equations for the problem of optimization-based motion prediction of a mechanical system using the inverse recursive Lagrangian formulation. The simulation and sensitivity formulations are based on Denavit–Hartenberg transformation matrices. External forces and moments are taken into account in the formulation. The sensitivity information is needed in the optimization-based simulation process. The proposed formulation is demonstrated by calculating sensitivities for the optimal time trajectory planning problem of a two-link manipulator. In addition, sensitivities obtained using the proposed algorithm are compared to those obtained using the closed-form equations of motion. The two sensitivities match quite closely. The lifting motion of the two-link manipulator with external loads is also optimized by using the algorithm developed in this paper. More complex applications of the proposed formulation to digital human motion prediction are presented elsewhere.     

Decolorisation of a monoazo disperse dye with Candida tropicalis

Decolorisation of a heterocyclic monoazo disperse dye by the yeast species Candida tropicalis growing in mineral salt medium has been investigated. The effects of nutritional as well as environmental factors on the decolorisation efficiency were studied. Though Candida tropicalis displayed good growth in aerobic conditions, the colour removal was best under anoxic conditions. The degradation products of the decolorisation experiments under aerobic, as well as anoxic, conditions have also been identified.     

Effect of parthenin--a sesquiterpene lactone from Parthenium hysterophorus--on early growth and physiology of Ageratum conyzoides

A study was undertaken to assess the effect of parthenin—a sesquiterpene lactone from Parthenium hysterophorus—on the germination, growth, and some associated physiological changes in Ageratum conyzoides. The study reveals that germination and growth of A. conyzoides was severely reduced by parthenin in the concentration range of 50, 100, and 200 M, while at 400 M a complete inhibition of germination was observed. The radicle length of A. conyzoides was reduced more than the plumule length. Further, the content of the photosynthetic pigment chlorophyll was appreciably reduced in the leaves of test plants spray treated with parthenin at 200 M concentration. However, this inhibitory effect declined with the passage of time and at 10 days after treatment only a 25% reduction in chlorophyll content was observed compared to 76% on the first day after spray. Likewise, the cellular respiration measured through 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride was found to be less in the treated leaves, and the inhibitory response also declined with time. The content of proteins and carbohydrates decreased with the passage of time after parthenin treatment. The specific activities of the enzymes protease and - and -amylase were also adversely affected in the parthenin treated leaves. In the case of protease, the activity decreased with passage of time while those of the amylases increased. Thus, we conclude that parthenin affects the germination and growth of A. conyzoides by altering the contents of some macromolecules and the specific activities of some enzymes. Such observations may be helpful in further exploring parthenin's mode of action.     

A mirror based polar magneto-optical Kerr effect spectroscopy arrangement

An arrangement is described for performing magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE) spectroscopy in polar geometry with a conventional C-frame or H-frame type electromagnet. It uses an additional mirror which eliminates the need for an electromagnet pole piece with an axial hole and allows for easy switching between polar MOKE geometry and longitudinal or transverse MOKE geometries. A theoretical analysis of the photo-elastic modulation based detection scheme shows that the mirror causes a strong mixing of signals corresponding to Kerr rotation and ellipticity. The influence of the mirror is experimentally demonstrated and a procedure is given to correct for it. MOKE spectrum of nickel films obtained using this arrangement is shown to match with reports in the literature.     

Toward automated discovery of artistic influence

Considering the huge amount of art pieces that exist, there is valuable information to be discovered. Examining a painting, an expert can determine its style, genre, and the time period that the painting belongs. One important task for art historians is to find influences and connections between artists. Is influence a task that a computer can measure? The contribution of this paper is in exploring the problem of computer-automated suggestion of influences between artists, a problem that was not addressed before in a general setting. We first present a comparative study of different classification methodologies for the task of fine-art style classification. A two-level comparative study is performed for this classification problem. The first level reviews the performance of discriminative vs. generative models, while the second level touches the features aspect of the paintings and compares semantic-level features vs. low-level and intermediate-level features present in the painting. Then, we investigate the question “Who influenced this artist?” by looking at his masterpieces and comparing them to others. We pose this interesting question as a knowledge discovery problem. For this purpose, we investigated several painting-similarity and artist-similarity measures. As a result, we provide a visualization of artists (Map of Artists) based on the similarity between their works     

An artificial neural network approach for landslide hazard zonation in the Bhagirathi (Ganga) Valley,Himalayas

Landslides are natural hazards that cause havoc to both property and life every year, especially in the Himalayas. Landslide hazard zonation (LHZ) of areas affected by landslides therefore is essential for future developmental planning and organization of various disaster mitigation programmes. The conventional Geographical Information System (GIS)-based approaches for LHZ suffer from the subjective weight rating system where weights are assigned to different causative factors responsible for triggering a landslide. Alternatively, artificial neural networks (ANNs) may be applied. These are considered to be independent of any strict assumptions or bias, and they determine the weights objectively in an iterative fashion. In this study, an ANN has been applied to generate an LHZ map of an area in the Bhagirathi Valley, Himalayas, using spatial data prepared from IRS-1B satellite sensor data and maps from other sources. The accuracy of the LHZ map produced by the ANN is around 80% with a very small training dataset. The distribution of landslide hazard zones derived from ANN shows similar trends as that observed with the existing landslides locations in the field. A comparison of the results with an earlier produced GIS-based LHZ map of the same area by the authors (using the ordinal weight rating method) indicates that ANN results are better than the earlier method.     

Collocation method using artificial viscosity for solving stiff singularly perturbed turning point problem having twin boundary layers

A numerical scheme is proposed to solve singularly perturbed two-point boundary value problems with a turning point exhibiting twin boundary layers. The scheme comprises a B-spline collocation method on a uniform mesh, which leads to a tridiagonal linear system. Asymptotic bounds are established for the derivative of the analytical solution of a turning point problem. The analysis is done on a uniform mesh, which permits its extension to the case of adaptive meshes which may be used to improve the solution. The design of an artificial viscosity parameter is confirmed to be a crucial ingredient for simulating the solution of the problem. Some relevant numerical examples are also illustrated to verify computationally the theoretical aspects.     

Design sensitivity analysis of nonlinear dynamic response of structural and mechanical systems

This paper describes a unified variational theory for design sensitivity analysis of nonlinear dynamic response of structural and mechanical systems for shape, nonshape, material and mechanical properties selection, as well as control problems. The concept of an adjoint system, the principle of virtual work and a Lagrangian-Eulerian formulation to describe the deformations and the design variations are used to develop a unified view point. A general formula for design sensitivity analysis is derived and interpreted for usual performance functionals. Analytical examples are utilized to demonstrate the use of the theory and give insights for application to more complex problems that must be treated numerically.Derivatives The comma notation for partial derivatives is used, i.e. G,_u = G/u. An upper dot represents material time derivative, i.e. ü = ²u/t². A prime implies derivative with respect to the time measured in the reference time-domain, i.e. u = du/d.