A Taxonomy of Exact Methods for Partial Max-SAT

Partial Maximum Boolean Satisfiability (Partial Max-SAT or PMSAT) is an optimization variant of Boolean satisfiability (SAT) problem, in which a variable assignment is required to satisfy all hard clauses and a maximum number of soft clauses in a Boolean formula. PMSAT is considered as an interesting encoding domain to many real-life problems for which a solution is acceptable even if some constraints are violated. Amongst the problems that can be formulated as such are planning and scheduling. New insights into the study of PMSAT problem have been gained since the introduction of the Max-SAT evaluations in 2006. Indeed, several PMSAT exact solvers have been developed based mainly on the Davis-Putnam-Logemann-Loveland (DPLL) procedure and Branch and Bound (B&B) algorithms. In this paper, we investigate and analyze a number of exact methods for PMSAT. We propose a taxonomy of the main exact methods within a general framework that integrates their various techniques into a unified perspective. We show its effectiveness by using it to classify PMSAT exact solvers which participated in the 2007～2011 Max-SAT evaluations, emphasizing on the most promising research directions.     

Ferroelectricity and high tunability in novel strontium and tantalum based layered perovskite materials

The present study reveals the ferroelectric nature of the novel (Sr₂Ta₂O₇)_100-x(La₂Ti₂O₇)_x layered perovskite materials and highlights a large variation of their permittivity under electric fields associated with very low dielectric loss in the radio-frequency range. More precisely, an ideal solid solution has been evidenced within the composition range 0?≤?x?≤?5 with lattice parameters and cell volume varying linearly with x. The relative permittivity also depends on the composition and reaches a maximum value (365 @10?kHz, RT), associated with a high tunability (17.6% @0.38?kV/mm) with very low dielectric loss lower than 2.10^?3. Variation of the relative permittivity as a function of the temperature is also demonstrated, with the existence of a temperature maximum, increasing with the composition. Polarization-electric field (P-E) measurements feature hysteresis loops for compositions x?≥?1.85, in conjunction with current peaks in the I-E curves originating from ferroelectric domains switching.     

Automatic plagiarism detection in obfuscated text

Pattern Analysis and Applications - Plagiarism is a serious problem in education, research, publishing and other fields. Automatic plagiarism detection systems are crucial for ensuring the...     

Three-dimensional numerical simulation of free convection and entropy generation in a cubic cavity containing a heat source

The present article provides a three-dimensional numerical investigation of thermal convection and entropy generation. The lattice Boltzmann method, coupled with the finite difference approach, is applied to perform numerical simulations. The validation of these numerical approaches for thermal convection simulation and entropy calculation is performed by comparing our numerical results with those in the published literature for the case of benchmark problems. The physical geometry studied in this paper concerns a hot obstacle having the shape of a plus sign (+) placed in the center of a cubic enclosure. This cube is filled with air of a Prandtl number of 0.71 and characterized by two cold vertical walls. The heat exchange between the fluid and the hot body is studied as a function of the Rayleigh number (${10}^3\le \mathit{Ra}\le {10}^7$). The performed simulations show that the heat transfer rate can be increased by about 429% by switching from $\mathit{Ra}={10}^3$ to ${10}^7$. The entropy generation due to fluid friction, heat transfer, and total entropy are also calculated and discussed. For an irreversibility coefficient $\mathit{\phi }={10}^{-4}$, the analysis of the results showed that for low values of the Rayleigh number ($\mathit{Ra}={10}^3$), the entropy production due to temperature gradients predominates over that produced by viscous effects. In the cases of $\mathit{Ra}={10}^4$ and ${10}^5$, entropy generation is due to both fluid friction and heat transfer. However, when the Rayleigh number becomes large ($\mathit{Ra}{\ge 10}^6$), entropy generation due to viscosity predominates over entropy production related to heat exchange. These results have important implications for the optimization and design of heat transfer systems in various industrial applications.