Design of water distribution networks using accelerated momentum particle swarm optimisation technique

Optimisation of looped water distribution networks (WDNs) has been recognised as an NP-hard combinatorial problem which cannot be easily solved using traditional mathematical optimisation techniques. This article proposes the use of a new version of heuristic particle swarm optimisation (PSO) for solving this problem. In order to increase the convergence speed of the original PSO algorithm, some accelerated parameters are introduced to the velocity update equation. Furthermore, momentum parts are added to the PSO position updating formula to get away from trapping in local optimums. The new version of the PSO algorithm is called accelerated momentum particle swarm optimisation (AMPSO). The proposed AMPSO is then applied to solve WDN design problems. Some illustrative and comparative illustrative examples are presented to show the efficiency of the introduced AMPSO compared with some other heuristic algorithms.     

Copolymer-Templated Nickel Oxide for High-Efficiency Mesoscopic Perovskite Solar Cells in Inverted Architecture

Despite the outstanding role of mesoscopic structures on the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) in the regular (n–i–p) architecture, mesoscopic PSCs in inverted (p–i–n) architecture have rarely been reported. Herein, an efficient and stable mesoscopic NiO_x (mp-NiO_x) scaffold formed via a simple and low-cost triblock copolymer template-assisted strategy is employed, and this mp-NiO_x film is utilized as a hole transport layer (HTL) in PSCs, for the first time. Promisingly, this approach allows the fabrication of homogenous, crack-free, and robust 150 nm thick mp-NiO_x HTLs through a facile chemical approach. Such a high-quality templated mp-NiO_x structure promotes the growth of the perovskite film yielding better surface coverage and enlarged grains. These desired structural and morphological features effectively translate into improved charge extraction, accelerated charge transportation, and suppressed trap-assisted recombination. Ultimately, a considerable efficiency of 20.2% is achieved with negligible hysteresis which is among the highest efficiencies for mp-NiO_x based inverted PSCs so far. Moreover, mesoscopic devices indicate higher long-term stability under ambient conditions compared to planar devices. Overall, these results may set new benchmarks in terms of performance for mesoscopic inverted PSCs employing templated mp-NiO_x films as highly efficient, stable, and easy fabricated HTLs.     

Correction to: Probabilistic elderly person’s mood analysis based on its activities of daily living using smart facilities

Pattern Analysis and Applications -     

Decreased lecithin: Cholesterol acyltransferase activity in the plasma of hypercholesterolemic pigs

Lecithincholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) activity levels were determined, as function of plasma total cholesterol (TC) in 13 normocholesterolemic (TC<85 mg/dL) and in 28 hypercholesterolemic (TC>98 mg/dL) pigs. The normocholesterolemic group consisted of pigs that carried apo-B allelic genes other thanLpb ⁵ and orLpb ⁸. The hypercholesterolemic group consisted ofLpb ^5/x andLpb ^5/8 heterozygous andLpb ^5/5 homozygous animals. The data reported in this study show that the LCAT activity in the plasma of hypercholesterolemic (HC) pigs (79±43 units) was significantly lower (p<0.0005) compared to the normocholesterolemic controls (175±45 units). Furthermore, LCAT activity was positively correlated with TC in the normocholesterolemic group (r=+0.54; p<0.05), whereas it was negatively correlated with TC in the hypercholesterolemic group (r=−0.73; p<0.001). Additional data obtained from incubation experiments suggest that the lower LCAT activity in hypercholesterolemic pigs may be due, at least in part, to inhibition of LCAT activity by components found in the lipoprotein-deficient fractions of the plasma of hypercholesterolemic pigs.     

ATM Network Design: Traffic Models and Optimization-Based Heuristics

We consider the design and capacity expansion of ATM networks as an optimization problem in which flows representing end-to-end variable bit-rate services of different classes are to be multiplexed and routed over ATM trunks and switches so as to minimize the costs of additional switches and transport pipes while meeting service quality and survivability constraints. After an overview of the underlying fractional Brownian motion model for aggregate flows, a nonlinear multicommodity optimization problem is formulated and LP-based heuristics for its approximate solutions are described. Finally, computational results are produced that demonstrate realistic size problems can be solved with the proposed method to shed light on key economic characteristics of ATM traffic, such as safe levels of statistical multiplexing, as well as robust and efficient design alternatives.     

The Relationship of the Maximum Amplitude and the Maximum and Minimum Slope of the Intrauterine Pressure Waveform in Late Pregnancy and Labor

An attempt to quantitate the organization of the human uterus was made by measuring the maximum amplitude and the maximum and minimum slopes of the intrauterine pressure waveform prior to induced labor and during spontaneous and induced labors. No apparent differences in the ratio of the maximum amplitude to the maximum and minimum slopes were found in these three physiological states. All the correlation coefficients for the maximum amplitude and maximum (r1) and minimum (r2) slopes were high, r1, ranging from 0.79-0.84, and r2 from 0.72-0.80. Possible use of these measures in the further analysis of the organization of uterine contractility is discussed.     

Designing a new model of distributed quality control for sub-assemble products based on the intelligent web information system

The quality control of sub-assemble products (SAP) in a distributed manufacturing shop (DMS) becomes crucial and complicated when the production of SAPs involves a variety of production technology. In this case, traditional statistical process control methods are not sufficient to control such manufacturing system. Here, we design an intelligent web information system, where quality data are collected from DMS and stored in the central database. The processes of manufacturing SAPs in DMS are then controlled by clustering homogenous SAPs using the quality control of SAP in DMS (QCSD) and process smoothness factor based SAP predefined clustering (PSFSPC) algorithms, respectively. A prototype system called an intelligent web information system quality control (IWIS-QC) has been developed to trace the quality profiles of SAPs. Finally, a case study has been presented to illustrate and validate the proposed approach.