Application of genetic algorithm for fuzzy rules optimization on semi expert judgment automation using Pittsburg approach

Genetic algorithm is well-known of its best heuristic search method. Fuzzy logic unveils the advantage of interpretability. Genetic fuzzy system exploits potential of optimization with ease of understanding that facilitates rules optimization. This paper presents the optimization of fourteen fuzzy rules for semi expert judgment automation of early activity based duration estimation in software project management. The goal of the optimization is to reduce linguistic terms complexity and improve estimation accuracy of the fuzzy rule set while at the same time maintaining a similar degree of interpretability. The optimized numbers of linguistic terms in fuzzy rules by 27.76% using simplistic binary encoding mechanism managed to improve accuracy by 14.29% and reduce optimization execution time by 6.95% without compromising on interpretability in addition to promote improvement of knowledge base in fuzzy rule based systems.     

Augmented reality assisted facility layout digitization and planning

Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology - Facility layout planning (FLP) has an important role in manufacturing industries. There are few approaches to solve FLP such as procedural,...     

超长混凝土结构的研究与应用

本文结合南京国际展览中心工程 ,对超长混凝土结构的设计、温度应力的有限元分析以及施工措施等进行了深入的探讨 ,并介绍了长期测试结果。     

Knowledge construction and misconstruction: A case study approach in asynchronous discussion using Knowledge Construction – Message Map (KCMM) and Knowledge Construction – Message Graph (KCMG)

This paper introduces a methodology for analyzing the knowledge construction and misconstruction processes occurring in online asynchronous discussion for Secondary 2 (Grade 8) students. The use of purposive sampling targeting specific students in a single course forum could potentially advance understanding of these processes using Knowledge Construction – Message Map (KCMM) and Knowledge Construction – Message Graph (KCMG). This paper traced the communication patterns and knowledge construction as well as misconstruction processes of students working in groups to formulate scientific ideas. This methodology reveals the dynamics of asynchronous discussion through mapping and quantifying the electronic learning process. This will equip educational practitioners and researchers with a useful tool for describing online interaction through adoption of a measurement methodology more systematic and effective than anecdotally. The research findings suggest that self-directed learning through asynchronous discussion has to be monitored by facilitators as learners possessed misconceptions that could potentially mislead other participants.     

Red-green-blue laser emissions from dye-doped poly(vinyl alcohol) films

A microscope slide acting as a passive waveguide was coated by three separate poly(vinyl alcohol) films that were doped with Coumarin 460, Disodium Fluorescein, and Rhodamine 640 perchlorate. On collinear pumping by a nitrogen laser, these dyes furnished primary red-green-blue laser emissions that were collected and waveguided by the microscope slide but exited from both ends. Frosting the waveguide exit introduced light scattering at the glass-air interface and spatially overlaid the red-green-blue laser emissions that emerged as a uniform white-light beam.     

Transmutation-incineration potential of transuraniums discharged from PWR-UO2 spent fuel in modified PROMETHEUS fusion reactor

This study presents the potential of the burning and/or transmutation (B/T) of transuraniums (TRUs), discharged from the pressured water reactor PWR-UO₂ spent fuel, in the modified PROMETHEUS-H fusion reactor. Two different design shapes (Models A and B) were considered. The transmutation zone (TZ), which contains the mixture of TRU nuclides (10%), was located in the modified blankets. The volume fraction of Pu in the mixture is raised from 0 to 40% stepped by 10% to determine its effect on the B/T. The fuel spheres were cladded with SiC (5%) and cooled with high-pressured helium gas (85%) for nuclear heat transfer. The calculations were performed for an operation period (OP) of up to 10 years by 75% plant factor (η) under a neutron wall load (P) of 4.7 MW/m². The results bring out that: (1) the Model B transmutes the TRUs more rapidly than the Model A; (2) the effective half-lives decrease about 20 and 40% with the increase of Pu fraction in the cases of Models A and B, respectively; (3) the M values are quite high with respect to the M value of the original PROMETHEUS fusion reactor; (4) the blankets can produce substantial electricity in situ.     

高强混凝土新型梁柱节点构造的抗震性能试验研究

针对低-中震害区构件有限延性的要求,提出了2种新型钢筋混凝土梁柱节点的构造形式:在节点区加配斜钢筋,或梁主钢筋在节点区弯起.它们既可满足有限延性的要求,又可避免节点区钢筋密集.通过对4个高强混凝土梁柱节点在低周反复荷载作用的试验表明:2种新型节点均可提高节点延性,将节点的位移延性系数分别从3提高到3.5和4.4;在节点区加配斜钢筋的试件可提高强度15%.因此,对于有限延性要求的节点,是最佳的节点构造形式.     

Comparison of newly isolated strains of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. lactis for hydrogen peroxide production at 5 degrees C

Isolates of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. lactis obtained from raw milk samples were compared for the ability to produce hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) at 5 degrees C. Nineteen out of 101 lactobacilli isolated were identified as L. delbrueckii subsp. lactis. The isolates of L. delbrueckii subsp. lactis from most raw milk samples produced more H2O2 than did isolates of other species of lactobacilli from the same samples. Seven isolates of L. delbrueckii subsp. lactis, which produced the highest levels of H2O2 at 5 degrees C were selected for comparison with a laboratory strain, L. delbrueckii subsp. lactis I. In 24 h, isolate RM2-5 produced 7.0 microg/10(9) cfu in buffer containing 5 mM sodium lactate and 4.4 microg/10(9) cfu in buffer containing 5 mM glucose. Three other isolates also produced more H2O2 on sodium lactate than on glucose. However, three remaining new isolates produced more H2O2 on glucose than on sodium lactate. All seven of the most active new isolates of L. delbrueckii subsp. lactis produced significantly higher concentrations of H2O2 than did L. delbrueckii subsp. lactis I in both solutions. Strain RM2-5 produced more H2O2 than did the other six most active newly isolated strains of L. delbrueckii subsp. lactis in this comparison.     

Numerical Study on Effects of Fuel Mixture Fraction and Li-6 Enrichment on Neutronic Parameters of a Fusion–Fission Hybrid Reactor

This study presents the effects of mixture fractions of nuclear fuels (mixture of fissile–fertile fuels and mixture of two different fertile fuels) and ⁶Li enrichment on the neutronic parameters (the tritium breeding ratio, TBR, the fission rate, FR, the energy multiplication ratio, M, the fissile breeding rate, FBR, the neutron leakage out of blanket, L, and the peak-to-average fission power density ratio, Γ) of a deuterium–tritium (D–T) fusion neutron-driven hybrid blanket. Three different fertile fuels (²³²Th, ²³⁸U and ²⁴⁴Cm), and one fissile fuel (²³⁵U) were selected as the nuclear fuel. Two different coolants (pressurized helium and natural lithium) were used for the nuclear heat transfer out of the fuel zone (FZ). The Boltzmann transport equation was solved numerically for obtaining the neutronic parameters with the help of the neutron transport code XSDRNPM/SCALE4.4a. In addition, these calculations were performed by also using the MCNP4B code. The sub-limits of the mixture fractions and ⁶Li enrichment were determined for the tritium self-sufficiency. The considered hybrid reactor can be operated in a self-sufficiency mode in the cases with the fuel mixtures mixed with a fraction of equal to or greater than these sub-limits. Furthermore, the numerical results show that the fissile fuel breeding and fission potentials of the blankets with the helium coolant are higher than with the lithium coolant.     

MMU GASPFA: A COTS multimodal biometric database

This paper describes the baseline corpus of a new multimodal biometric database, the MMU GASPFA (Gait–Speech–Face) database. The corpus in GASPFA is acquired using commercial off the shelf (COTS) equipment including digital video cameras, digital voice recorder, digital camera, Kinect camera and accelerometer equipped smart phones. The corpus consists of frontal face images from the digital camera, speech utterances recorded using the digital voice recorder, gait videos with their associated data recorded using both the digital video cameras and Kinect camera simultaneously as well as accelerometer readings from the smart phones. A total of 82 participants had their biometric data recorded. MMU GASPFA is able to support both multimodal biometric authentication as well as gait action recognition. This paper describes the acquisition setup and protocols used in MMU GASPFA, as well as the content of the corpus. Baseline results from a subset of the participants are presented for validation purposes.