Interactive Evolutionary Multi-Objective Optimization Algorithm Using Cone Dominance

As the number of objectives increases, the performance of the Pareto dominance-based Evolutionary Multi-objective Optimization (EMO) algorithms such as NSGA-II, SPEA2 severely deteriorates due to the drastic increase in the Pareto-incomparable solutions. We propose a sorting method which classifies these incomparable solutions into several ordered classes by using the decision maker's (DM) preference information. This is accomplished by designing an interactive evolutionary algorithm and constructing convex cones. This method allows the DMs to drive the search process toward a preferred region of the Pareto optimal front. The performance of the proposed algorithm is assessed for two, three, and four-objective knapsack problems. The results demonstrate the algorithm's ability to converge to the most preferred point. The evaluation and comparison of the results indicate that the proposed approach gives better solutions than that of NSGA-II. In addition, the approach is more efficient compared to NSGA-II in terms of the number of generations required to reach the preferred point.     

Segmentation and recognition of phonetic features in handwritten Pitman shorthand

There is a wish to be able to enter text into mobile computing devices at the speed of speech. Only handwritten shorthand schemes can achieve this data recording rate. A new, overall solution to the segmentation and recognition of phonetic features in Pitman shorthand is proposed in this paper. Approaches to the recognition of consonant outlines, vowel and diphthong symbols and shortforms, which are different components of Pitman shorthand, are presented. A new rule is introduced to solve the issue of smooth junctions in the consonant outlines which was normally the bottleneck for recognition. Experiments with a set of 1127 consonant outlines, 2039 vowels and diphthongs and 841 shortforms from three shorthand writers have demonstrated that the proposed solution is quite promising. The recognition accuracies for consonant outlines, vowels and diphthongs, and shortforms achieved 75.33%, 96.86% and 91.86%, respectively. From the evaluation of 461 outlines with smooth junction, the introduction of the new rule has a great positive effect on the performance of the solution. The recognition accuracy of smooth junction improves from 37.53% to 93.41% given a writing time increase of 14.42%.     

Investigation of slider out-of-plane and in-plane vibrations during the track-seeking process

This paper employs the coupled air bearing model and modal order reduction (MOR) model of head stack assembly (HSA) to investigate the track-seeking process of a femto slider. Simulations indicate that the flying height and the pitch angle may increase or decrease significantly, depending on the track-seeking directions. For the slider studied in this paper, it is safer for sweeping from OD to ID, than sweeping from ID to OD. The most serious vibration is the off-track vibration, and it is highly related to the sweeping acceleration profile. A smooth acceleration profile is crucial to reduce all the vibrations of slider, especially the off-track vibration.     

Temperature-dependent bending loss characteristics of W-type photonic crystal fibres: design and analysis

The temperature-dependent bending loss characteristics of two solid-core W-typephotonic crystal fibres have been reported by employing full-vectorial finite element method. The bending loss characteristics of W-type-I photonic crystal fibrestructure have been found better than that of the W-type-II photonic crystal fibre structure. The proposed photonic crystal fibrestructures show significant nonlinearity and hence can be used in telecommunication and nonlinear applications such as visible to near-infrared supercontinuum generation. Macro-bend insensitive nature of the proposed photonic crystal fibres makes them suitable candidates for fibre-to-the-home applications.     

Back heating effect of media hot spot at nanoscale head–disk interface

Microsystem Technologies - Heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) is one of prospective high density recording technologies in current hard disk industry due to its theoretical potential. In this...     

Investigation of the effects of recycled engine oil bottoms on asphalt field performance following an oxidation modeling approach

This work investigates the effects of recycled engine oil bottoms (REOBs) on asphalt field performance by comparing asphalts with and without REOBs in terms of the asphalt properties required for pavement oxidation modeling. Specifically, oxidation reaction kinetics parameters, dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) function (DSRFn) hardening susceptibility (HS), and low sheer viscosity (LSV) HS are determined and compared for base binder, 5 wt.% REOBs, and 15 wt.% REOBs blends. At the higher percentage, addition of REOBs appears to increase the initial oxidation rate at field temperatures and significantly increases LSV HS, but does not significantly increase the DSRFn HS. A field modeling example elucidates the effects.     

Synthesis of optical quality ZnO nanowires utilizing ultrasonic spray pyrolysis

ZnO nanowires were grown by an ultrasonic spray pyrolysis technique. The aspect ratio and size of the wire were dependent mainly on the pH value of a precursor solution and the growth temperature. By high-resolution transmission electron microscopic analysis and photoluminescence measurements, it was confirmed that the nanowires are monocrystalline with good optical quality.     

Multiple familiar occurrence of ochronotic arthropathy

Complete papillary muscle rupture is a catastrophic complication of acute myocardial infarction which usually leads to acute severe mitral regurgitation requiring urgent or emergent surgery. A case in which this complication occurred after chordal sparing mitral valve replacement is described. The severed papillary muscle was removed surgically. The incidence and natural history of papillary muscle rupture occurring after chordal sparing mitral valve replacement for ischemic mitral insufficiency is not known.     

Mixed land uses,land-use externalities,and residential property values: A reevaluation

Empirical evidence concerning the impact of neighborhood land-use externalities on residential property value is mixed. That is, no concensus has emerged in the literature as to whether locating non-residential land-use activities in residential neighborhoods can be expected to increase, decrease or leave unaltered surrounding property values. The purpose of this research was two-fold: 1) to construct a theoretical model of consumer behavior in which both the positive and negative effects of neighborhood land-use externalities are taken into account, and 2) to test this generalized model empirically, using hedonic pricing equations. The principal implication of the theoretical model is that the effect of non-residential activity on residential property values isa priori indeterminate, the outcome depending on the relative strength of the associated positive and negative external effects generated. The empirical test of the model was conducted for the city of Tucson, Arizona, where it is shown that over low ranges, increasing the amount of industrial, commercial, multifamily and public land-use activity in a neighborhood tended to increase surrounding residential property values. It is concluded that in locating future economic activity an optimal mix of landuse activities should be sought, not the regional separation of activities.