A fuzzy logic control using a differential evolution algorithm aimed at modelling the financial market dynamics

The topic of modelling financial market price movements is in the heart of a wide ranging debate between fundamentalists and behaviourists. Therefore, the difficulty of the prediction is due to several features: the complexity, the non-linearity and the dynamism of the financial market system, as well as the behaviour of two categories of traders. While the irrational traders are known by a shift in their sentiments, the rational ones have a limited capacity of arbitration. While taking into account the fuzzy complementarity between the fundamentalists and the behaviourists in the explanation of financial market dynamics, this study investigates the development of a new modelling technique using fuzzy sets optimized through differential evolution. This new technique provides some applicable results in the explanation of the dynamical emergent and international financial markets.     

Toward an Integrated Smart Sensing System and Data Interpretation Techniques for Pavement Fatigue Monitoring

Abstract: Currently, pavement instrumentation for condition monitoring is done on a localized and short‐term basis. Existing technology does not allow for continuous long‐term monitoring and network level deployment. Long‐term monitoring of mechanical loading for pavement structures could reduce maintenance costs, improve longevity, and enhance safety. In this article, on‐going research to develop and validate a smart pavement monitoring system is described. The system mainly consists of a novel self‐powered wireless sensor based on the integration of piezoelectric transduction with floating‐gate injection capable of detecting, storing, and transmitting strain history for long‐term monitoring and a novel passive temperature gauge. A technique for estimating full‐field strain distributions using measured data from a limited number of implemented sensors is also described. The ultimate purpose is to incorporate the traffic wander effect in the fatigue prediction algorithms. Preliminary results are shown and limitations are discussed.     

Effect of hygrothermal ageing on the monotonic and cyclic loading of glass fiber reinforced polyamide

The properties of short glass fiber reinforced thermoplastic based on polyamide 6 in humid environment are studied. Conditioning was conducted at 90°C. The combined action of water and heat (90°C) affects progressively the mechanical properties. When the injection molded samples were subjected to moisture, decrease in tensile strength and elastic modulus was observed whatever in distilled water or in salt solution. However, there is an enhancement of elongation at break with increasing exposure to humidity. After immersion in water, the fatigue life time is drastically reduced. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used in order to examine the fractured samples feature. Results show that water diffuses into the polymer leading to a reduction of the interfacial stress transmissibility. The major contributor of the stiffness loss is the adhesion loss between the fibers and the polymer. POLYM. COMPOS., 35:501–508, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Predicting the organoleptic stability of beer from chemical data using multivariate analysis

Delaying flavour staling, to prolong the shelf life of beer, is one of the greatest challenges facing the brewing industry today. In this study, a series of lager beers were brewed using five European barley varieties and four chemical indicators of the degree of beer ageing were correlated with the sensory evaluation: E-2-nonenal, β-damascenone, 2-furaldehyde and 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde (5-HMF). A statistical strategy using principal component analysis and multiple linear regression was applied to draw relationships between the sensory and chemical data sets. Additionally, the relative significance of each of the chemical data on the organoleptic stability of beer was evaluated within the method. 5-HMF was the only studied carbonyl compound whose concentration cannot be used for predicting the total taste score of beers. E-2-nonenal, in contrast, was found to be the most discriminant carbonyl compound under consideration for predicting the flavour stability of beer.     

Thymic cyst in the neck. Apropos of a case

Accidents are the most common cause of death in children over one year of age. Prevention remains a high priority. We have reviewed the current epidemiology of childhood accidents and their prevention, and made recommendations for the future. In 1992, 559 children died in United Kingdom as a result of an accidents--240 from road traffic accidents and 100 from burns and scalds. Every year 50 children drown. Accidents cause significant disability to children. Many children, up to one in four of the population in urban areas, attend accident and emergency departments, and 5-10% of these are admitted to hospital. Accident risk factors include low social class, psychosocial stress, an unsafe environment, and child developmental disorders. Research has shown that prevention is best achieved by making the child's environment safer, often through legislation. Insufficient resources have been put into both research into childhood injuries and preventive work in communities. Collaboration between health authorities, NHS trusts, local authorities and community networks is vital if success is to be achieved. A national safety agenda for children would focus the attention that this problem deserves.     

A Consistent Interpolation Function for the Solution of Radiative Transfer on Triangular Meshes,II—Validation

This article presents selected problems used to assess the validity and usefulness of a first-order skew, positive coefficient, upwind scheme (SPCUS) applied to radiative transfer. This particular procedure could be incorporated in several discretization methods such as finite-volume, finite-element, or control-volume finite-element methods for the prediction of radiative transfer in participating media. The suggested scheme has been validated by application to several basic two-dimensional test problems, acknowledged by the radiative heat transfer community, and its performance has proven to be good.     

The clique potential of Markov random field in a random experiment for estimation of noise levels in 2D brain MRI

Effective performance of many image processing and image analysis algorithms is strongly dependent on accurate estimation of noise level. We exploit the simplicity and similarity of statistics of human anatomy among different subjects to develop new noise level estimation algorithm for magnetic resonance images of brain. Objects of the experiment are noise‐free 3D brain MRI of 422 subjects. There are 21 slices for each subject. For each slice, total clique potential (TCP) of Markov random field, computed from local clique potential, is indexed by 200 different levels of noise. The sample space is the set of TCP‐noise level data of each slice. The random variable is the set of indices of noise level of TCP in each element of sample space that is closest in numerical value to TCP measured from a test MRI slice. Noise level is estimated from the mean and variance of the random variable. We also report the formulation of a generalized mathematical model describing relationship between TCP and Rician noise level in brain MRI images. Our proposal can operate in the absence of signals in the background and significantly reduce modeling errors inherent in strong parametric assumptions adopted by some of the current algorithms. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 23, 304–413, 2013     

Design and simulation of High Q MEMS LC-tank for oscillators

This research focuses on the design of a high-performance MEMS LC-tank using a high Q MEMS inductor and capacitor. A two different gap varactor has been used to avoid pull-in voltage at 2.4 GHz. The layout has been done by CoventorWare software. The DC voltage is 2.5 v, which is applied to the plates and results of 2.04 pF could be gained. The Q factor of the varactor is computed at about 557.27, which is good enough to make a low-phase noise VCO. A hollow spiral inductor with a silicon base substrate for compatibility with CMOS technology has been designed. The Greenhouse equation has been used to obtain the dimensions of the inductor. A suspended inductor has been implemented to avoid substrate coupling. The simulation has been done by CoventorWare. The Q factor of the inductor has been calculated using Yue's model. The resultant values of inductance and the Q factor at 2.4 GHz, are 2.89 nH and 27, respectively, which are in good agreement with the results of theoretical computation. The results were verified with the well-documented literature.     

Enhanced co-tolerance and co-sensitivity from long-term metal exposures of heterotrophic and autotrophic components of fluvial biofilms

Understanding the interactive effects of multiple stressors on ecosystems has started to become a major concern. The aim of our study was therefore to evaluate the consequences of a long-term exposure to environmental concentrations of Cu, Zn and As on the pollution-induced community tolerance (PICT) of lotic biofilm communities in artificial indoor channels. Moreover, the specificity of the PICT was assessed by evaluating the positive and negative co-tolerance between these metals. Photosynthetic efficiency and substrate-induced respiration (SIR), targeting the autotrophic and heterotrophic communities respectively were used in short-term inhibition bioassays with Cu, Zn and As to assess sensitivities of pre-exposed biofilms to the metals tested. Diversity profiles of a phototrophic, eukaryotic and prokaryotic community in biofilms following the different treatments were determined and analyzed with principal component analysis. The results demonstrated that pre-exposure to metals induced structural shifts in the community and led to tolerance enhancements in the phototrophic and heterotrophic communities. On the other hand, whatever the functional parameter used (i.e. photosynthesis and SIR), communities exposed to Cu were more tolerant to Zn and vice versa. Furthermore, only phototrophic communities pre-exposed to As developed tolerance to Cu but not to Zn, whereas no co-tolerance between Cu and As was observed in the heterotrophic communities. Finally, phototrophic and heterotrophic communities exposed to Cu and Zn became more sensitive to As, reflecting a negative co-tolerance between these metals. Overall, our findings support the fact that although the mode of action of the different metals is an important driver for the structure and thus the tolerance of the communities, it appears that the detoxification modes are the most important factors for the occurrence of positive or negative co-tolerance.     

Mechanical and thermophysical properties of EVA copolymer filled with nickel particles

Complex physical behavior of ethylene‐vinylacetate (EVA)/nickel composites was investigated in this article. The presence of Ni in EVA matrix leads to an increase of surface hydrophilicity. The peel strength of adhesive joints of EVA/nickel composites to aluminum is sharply increased up to 10 vol% of Ni, followed by a subsequent decrease. The investigated composites are highly elastic and deformable. Young's modulus of composites increases steeply only for concentrations up to 15 vol%. The thermal conductivity of composites significantly increases by the presence of nickel. An interesting correlation between thermal conductivity and relative permittivity of composites was observed. POLYM. COMPOS., 2011. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers