Uncertain location–allocation decisions for a bi-objective two-stage supply chain network design problem with environmental impacts

In the cases that the historical data of an uncertain event is not available, belief degree-based uncertainty theory is a useful tool to reflect such uncertainty. This study focuses on uncertain bi-objective supply chain network design problem with cost and environmental impacts under uncertainty. As such network may be designed for the first time in a geographical region, this problem is modelled by the concepts of belief degree-based uncertainty theory. This article is almost the first study on belief degree-based uncertain supply chain network design problem with environmental impacts. Two approaches such as expected value model and chance-constrained model are applied to convert the proposed uncertain problem to its crisp form. The obtained crisp forms are solved by some multi-objective optimization approaches of the literature such as TH, Niroomand, MMNV. A deep computational study with several test problems are performed to study the performance of the crisp models and the solution approaches. According to the results, the obtained crisp formulations are highly sensitive to the changes in the value of the cost parameters. On the other hand, Niroomand and MMNV solution approaches perform better than other solution approaches from the solution quality point of view.     

DSKMS: a dynamic smart key management system based on fuzzy logic in wireless sensor networks

Wireless Networks - Wireless sensor networks include a large number of sensor nodes which are developed in an environment. These networks have military, commercial, industrial, and medical...     

A novel free space communication system using nonlinear InGaAsP microsystem resonators for enabling power-control toward smart cities

Wireless Networks - Nowadays, the smart grid has demonstrated a great ability to make life easier and more comfortable given recent advances. This paper studies the above issue from the perspective...     

Reversible robust data hiding based on wavelet filters modification

Multimedia Tools and Applications - In this paper, a new robust reversible data hiding method is proposed. The method is designed based on wavelet modifications which result in a scalable data...     

A Multi-Model Nonstationary Rainfall-Runoff Modeling Framework: Analysis and Toolbox

Water Resources Management - We present a framework and toolbox for multi-model (one at a time) nonstationary modeling of rainfall-runoff (RR) transformation. The designed time-varying nature of...     

Automatic Seeded Region Growing (ASRG) Using Genetic Algorithm for Brain MRI Segmentation

Wireless Personal Communications - Massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technology has been proven to be a viable strategy for balancing the trade-off between energy efficiency (EE) and...     

A multi-objective assembly line balancing problem with worker’s skill and qualification considerations in fuzzy environment

In this study a new multi-objective assembly line balancing problem is studied. Objectives like the number of stations, the equipment purchasing cost, the worker time dependent wage, and worker dependent dis-quality level of the stations is to be minimized simultaneously with worker allocation and equipment assignment possibilities. The problem also is formulated in a fuzzy environment. To solve such problem, a new hybrid fuzzy interactive approach is proposed in two stages. In the first stage, the fuzzy formulation is converted to a crisp multi-objective formulation using a credibility-based chance constrained programming approach. Then in the second stage, the obtained crisp multi-objective formulation is solved by a new hybrid fuzzy programming approach. To evaluate the proposed approach, two generated examples and a case study from garment production industries are used for computational experiments. The extensive computational study prove the superiority of the proposed approach over the well-known approaches of the literature.     

Inverse Kinematics Based Human Mimicking System using Skeletal Tracking Technology

Humanoid robots needs to have human-like motions and appearance in order to be well-accepted by humans. Mimicking is a fast and user-friendly way to teach them human-like motions. However, direct assignment of observed human motions to robot’s joints is not possible due to their physical differences. This paper presents a real-time inverse kinematics based human mimicking system to map human upper limbs motions to robot’s joints safely and smoothly. It considers both main definitions of motion similarity, between end-effector motions and between angular configurations. Microsoft Kinect sensor is used for natural perceiving of human motions. Additional constraints are proposed and solved in the projected null space of the Jacobian matrix. They consider not only the workspace and the valid motion ranges of the robot’s joints to avoid self-collisions, but also the similarity between the end-effector motions and the angular configurations to bring highly human-like motions to the robot. Performance of the proposed human mimicking system is quantitatively and qualitatively assessed and compared with the state-of-the-art methods in a human-robot interaction task using Nao humanoid robot. The results confirm applicability and ability of the proposed human mimicking system to properly mimic various human motions.     

Alkoxysilane modification of a Ti‐based catalyst system for ethylene dimerization: A step forward in enhancing productivity and selectivity

Alkoxysilanes were used as novel enhancing agents in the Ti‐based catalyst for the highly selective ethylene dimerization to butene‐1. The dimerization of ethylene was carried out using the homogeneous Ti(OBu)₄/THF/TEA/alkoxysilane catalyst system, where Ti(OBu)₄, THF (tetrahydrofuran), TEA (triethylaluminum), and alkoxysilane were used as catalyst, additive, activator, and modifier, respectively. The nature and concentration of alkoxysilanes on the dimerization rate, catalyst yield, by‐products production, and selectivity to butene‐1 were investigated in detail. It was found that the performance of alkoxysilanes assisted with the class of the Ti‐based catalyst system, developed in this work, has been furthered by high productivity and selectivity with respect to the bare catalyst system. It proved that alkoxysilanes could play an excellent improving role in the selective ethylene dimerization process. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134, 44615.