An approach to the reliability optimization of software withredundancy

An approach to the optimization of software reliability is proposed. The emphasis is put on the software redundancy to achieve fault tolerance, i.e. the results of the optimization process are used to determine the optimal structure of the software to be developed. Two optimization models are formulated covering, respectively, modified recovery block scheme and multiversion programming approaches. Both cases are illustrated by simple examples. The models show that it is possible to formulate and solve some software related reliability optimization problems. They further show that the concept of redundancy to achieve fault tolerance (basic for the traditional theory of reliability) can be used in the field of software reliability optimization     

Integrating scheduling and control functions in computer integrated manufacturing using artificial intelligence

Proper integration of scheduling and control in Flexible Manufacturing Systems will make available the required level of decision-making capacity to provide a flexibly-automated, efficient, and quality manufacturing process. To achieve this level of integration, the developments in computer technology and sophisticated techniques of artificial intelligence (AI) should be applied to such FMS functions as scheduling. In this paper, we present an Intelligent Scheduling System for FMS under development that makes use of the integration of two AI technologies. These two AI technologies — Neural Networks and Expert Systems — provide the intelligence that the scheduling function requires in order to generate goodschedules within the restrictions imposed by real-time problems. Because the system has the ability to plan ahead and learn, it has a higher probability of success than conventional approaches. The adaptive behavior that will be achieved contribute to the integration of scheduling and control in FMS.     

Detecting memory impairment with a modified test procedure: Manipulating retention interval with centrally presented event items.

Suggests that detecting memory impairment with the modified test relies on long retention intervals that provide the necessary forgetting of event information for impairing effects of postevent misinformation to occur. 288 Ss were tested in 4 experiments that presented event items centrally, introduced verbal postevent items to a misled condition, and used the modified test, but differed by using either short (15 min) or long (5–7 days) retention intervals. As evidenced by poorer misled than control test performances, memory impairment only occurred with long retention intervals. Retrieval- and storage-based versions of memory-impairment hypotheses are assessed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A systematic transition to flexible manufacturing

The transition from basic automation to flexible manufacturing is an expensive and tedious procedure. It requires meticulous planning and almost clairvoyant forecasting to insure that the initial flexibility obtained is sufficient to allow growth and expansion in the future. This paper will suggest a systematic and methodological approach to achieve optimal flexibility and describe the present results of its application to an ongoing system transformation.

Conclusions based on existing levels of completion are presented along with identification of critical and non critical flexibility requirements. The considerations and steps taken are summarized in a procedural format which may then be applied to a wide variety of system transformations.     

Poly(Acrylamide-Sepiolite) Composite Hydrogels: Preparation, Swelling and Dye Adsorption Properties

Summary Polymer-clay hydrogel composite was prepared on the basis of polyacrylamide (PAAm) gel containing the clay mineral sepiolite. The properties of swelling and dye adsorption of poly(acrylamide-sepiolite) (AAm/Sep) composite hydrogel were investigated. The parameters of swelling and diffusion in water and dye solutions were calculated for the AAm and AAm/Sep hydrogels. It was found that the equilibrium swelling degree of obtained composite higher than that of AAm gel. Spectroscopic analysis of composite and composite-dye systems was done with FT-IR method. Adsorption of monovalent cationic dyes such as Basic Blue 12 (BB-12) Basic Blue 9 (BB-9), and Basic Violet 1 (BV-1), was studied on the composite. In the adsorption experiments, S (Sigmoidal) type for composite gel adsorption isotherms in the Giles classification system was found. Adsorption studies indicated that the amounts of adsorbed dyes on the AAm/Sep composite hydrogel were increased with following order; BB-12 > BB-9 > BV-1. The composite hydrogel may be considered as good candidate for environmental application to retain more water and dyes.     

Removal of Cd(II), Hg(II), and Pb(II) ions from aqueous solution using p(HEMA/chitosan) membranes

An interpenetration network (IPN) was synthesized from 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and chitosan, p(HEMA/chitosan) via UV‐initiated photo‐polymerization. The selectivity to different heavy metal ions viz Cd(II), Pb(II), and Hg(II) to the IPN membrane has been investigated from aqueous solution using bare pHEMA membrane as a control system. Removal efficiency of metal ions from aqueous solution using the IPN membranes increased with increasing chitosan content and initial metal ions concentrations, and the equilibrium time was reached within 60 min. Adsorption of all the tested heavy metal ions on the IPN membranes was found to be pH dependent and maximum adsorption was obtained at pH 5.0. The maximum adsorption capacities of the IPN membrane for Cd(II), Pb(II), and Hg(II) were 0.063, 0.179, and 0.197 mmol/g membrane, respectively. The adsorption of the Cd(II), Hg(II), and Pb(II) metal ions on the bare pHEMA membrane was not significant. When the heavy metal ions were in competition, the amounts of adsorbed metal ions were found to be 0.035 mmol/g for Cd(II), 0.074 mmol/g for Hg(II), and 0.153 mmol/g for Pb(II), the IPN membrane is significantly selective for Pb(II) ions. The stability constants of IPN membrane–metal ions complexes were calculated by the method of Ruzic. The results obtained from the kinetics and isotherm studies showed that the experimental data for the removal of heavy metal ions were well described with the second‐order kinetic equations and the Langmuir isotherm model. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007     

Wire antennas optimized using genetic algorithm

In this work, wire antennas are designed to jam GSM frequencies using genetic algorithms. These antennas are designed to block communication at 3-band GSM frequencies. They are planned to be mounted on a vehicle and therefore are modeled on a ground plane. Jammer antennas designed in this work are composed of wires, placed on two square dielectric frames, perpendicular to each other. Genetic optimization routines are developed on MATLAB environment for the designs carried out in this work. Electromagnetic simulation program called SuperNEC, which analyses antennas by the method of moments, is used to determine the antenna performances and is called by the developed GA routines. The purpose of the antenna optimization is to obtain low VSWR values and omni-directional radiation pattern near ground at θ = [70° 80° 90°] planes at all GSM frequencies, since the targets will be near ground for this application. Original and interesting antenna designs are obtained as the result of genetic optimization, and are presented in the paper.     

Interaction between radiation and drug damage in mammalian cells. II. The effect of actinomycin-D on the repair of the sublethal radiation damage in plateau phase cells

The effect of actinomycin-D (AMD) on radiation damage repair was studied in plateau phase V79 Chinese hamster cells. Sublethal radiation damage repair, as demonstrated by survival fluctuations following two x-ray exposures separted by time, was observed in our plateau phase cells. Plateau phase cells exposed to 0.01-0.04 mug/ml AMD (a nontoxic regimen to 8 hours) between x-ray exposures were less able to repair sublethal damage. If plateau phase cells were plated at low dilutions into fresh medium (conditions for resuming exponential growth) immediately after the first x-ray dose, and exposed to 0.01--0.04 mug/ml AMD until the second dose, inhibition of sublethal damage repair and additional cell killing were observed particularly at 0.04 mug/ml AMD. It is suggested that radiation-drug damage interactions should be studied in plateau phase cells and in cells resuming exponential growth after plateau phase (possibly analogous to "recruitment"), as well as in exponential phase cultures.     

Innovative hydrogen release from sodium borohydride hydrolysis using biocatalyst-like Fe2O3 nanoparticles impregnated on Bacillus simplex bacteria

For the first time in this innovative study, microorganisms such as Bacillus simplex bacteria, mostly used in biological activity studies, are used as a bio-supporter agent of iron to release hydrogen from sodium borohydride hydrolysis at 25.0 ± 0.1 °C. The goal is to investigate thoroughly sodium borohydride hydrolysis catalyzed by Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles impregnated on microorganism such as Bacillus simplex (BS) bacteria (Fe₂O₃@BS NPs) known with strong antibacterial properties, which makes innovative them a candidate for hydrolysis reaction. This study was focused on the preparation, identification, and catalytic use of biocatalyst-like Fe₂O₃@BS NPs for hydrogen release from the sodium borohydride hydrolysis at 25.0 ± 0.1 °C. The characterization results made after and before hydrolysis reaction using by SEM/SEM-EDX, FT-IR, XRD, UV–vis, XPS, DLS, ELS Zeta potential, ESR, and TEM techniques reveal the formation of highly active, stable, durable, and long-lived biocatalysts-like Fe₂O₃@BS NPs.