Fuzzy Linear Programming with Interactive Uncertain Parameters

In this paper, we treat fuzzy linear programming problems with uncertain parameters whose ranges are specified as fuzzy polytopes. The problem is formulated based on fractile optimization model using a necessity measure. It is shown that the problem can be reduced to a semi-infinite linear programming problem and that a solution algorithm based on a relaxation procedure can be applied. A simple numerical example is given to illustrate the solution procedure. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Evaluation of a cloud cover based model for estimation of hourly global solar radiation in Western Canada

Cloud cover based solar radiation models are relatively simple and convenient as the models require the input of cloud cover data which are mostly available from the meteorological stations. In this study, the performance of a cloud cover based solar radiation model (Kasten–Czeplak model) with original or locally fitted coefficients was evaluated for estimating the hourly global solar radiation for four different locations in Western Canada. The average value of R², mean bias error, and root mean square error are 0.69, ?61.6, and 157.9?W?m^?2, respectively, for the model with original coefficients, whereas 0.82, 4.4, 107.1?W?m^?2 with locally fitted coefficients. Results show that the Kasten–Czeplak model with locally fitted coefficients satisfactorily estimated the hourly solar radiation of four different locations in Western Canada. Also, the results indicate that the model with original coefficients has very limited accuracy under intermediate cloud cover conditions.     

Energy‐efficient design of greenhouse for Canadian Prairies using a heating simulation model

Greenhouses in northern climates require a large amount of supplemental heating for growing crops in winter seasons, so energy‐efficient design of greenhouses based on local climate is important to minimize the heating demand. In this study, greenhouse design parameters including shape, orientation, the angle of the roof, and width of the span have been studied for the conceptual design of conventional greenhouses for Canadian Prairies using a heating simulation model. Five different shapes of greenhouses including even‐span, uneven‐span, modified arch, vinery, and quonset shape have been selected for the study. The simulation results proved that the uneven‐span gable roof shape receives the highest solar radiation, whereas the quonset shape receives the lowest solar radiation. However, the quonset shape greenhouse requires about 7.6% less annual heating as compared to the gable roof greenhouse, but the quonset would not be adopted as multispan greenhouses. Therefore, the gable roof greenhouse is considered as energy efficient for the multispan gutter connected greenhouses whereas quonset shape as a free‐standing single‐span greenhouses. In high northern latitudes, the greenhouse with east‐west orientation is more energy efficient from heating and cooling point of view when the length‐width ratio of the greenhouse is more than 1. The heating energy saving potential of the large span width in single‐span greenhouses is relatively higher as compared to the multispan greenhouses.     

Synthesis and photoinduced surface relief grating formation of novel photo-responsive amorphous molecular materials, 4-[bis(9,9-dimethylfluoren-2-yl)amino]-4′-cyanoazobenzene and 4-[bis(9,9-dimethylfluoren-2-yl)-amino]-4′-nitroazobenzene

Novel azobenzene-based photo-responsive amorphous molecular materials, 4-[bis(9,9-dimethylfluoren-2-yl)amino]-4′-cyanoazobenzene and 4-[bis(9,9-dimethylfluoren-2-yl)amino]-4′-nitroazobenzene, have been synthesized and the formation of surface relief grating on their amorphous films has been investigated. It was found that a relatively large surface relief grating could be inscribed on both amorphous films upon interference exposure to the writing laser beams. The modulation depth of the surface relief grating inscribed on the amorphous film of the cyano-substituted material was found to be larger than that inscribed on the film of the nitro-substituted one and seemed to be comparable to that inscribed on the amorphous film of the parent material, 4-[bis(9,9-dimethylfluoren-2-yl)amino]azobenzene. These results were discussed from the viewpoint of their trans–cis photoisomerizations as amorphous films and glass-transition temperatures.     

PREVENTION OF THE INTERGRANULAR FRACTURE AT ELEVATED TEMPERATURES BY ADDITION OF PHOSPHORUS TO A HIGH PURITY Fe0 002% SALLOY

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Fabrication of heterostructures of halogen-bridged quasi-one-dimensional mixed-valence transition metal complexes

Single-heterostructure crystals of a series of halogen-bridged quasi-one- dimensional mixed-valence transition metal complexes (HMMCs) were fabricated by selective coordination epitaxial growth (SCE growth). The overgrowth crystals of the HMMC were grown on the columnar crystals of the substrate HMMC in solution. The single-heterostructure crystals were epitaxially grown only when the two HMMCs had similar crystal structures. If their crystal structures were different, no heterostructure crystal was grown. This result suggests that the degree of mismatch between the crystal structures of the substrate and the overgrowth is the predominant factor which determines the SCE growth of the HMMCs.     

Hepatocellular carcinoma complicating biliary cirrhosis caused by biliary atresia: report of a case

A case of hepatocellular carcinoma complicating biliary cirrhosis caused by biliary atresia is reported. The patient had persistent severe jaundice with hepatosplenomegaly. A liver tumor was suspected because of the elevated serum alpha-fetoprotein and was shown by ultrasonography at 6 years of age. The tumor was treated with percutaneous ethanol injection therapy (PEIT). Nine months after initiation of PEIT, the patient died of massive bleeding from a metastatic tumor.     

Characterization of high- and low-molecular weight zinc-dependent acid phosphatases in bovine liver

We have purified two forms of Zn2+-dependent acid phosphatase (Zn2+-APase) from bovine liver, both of which require Zn2+ to hydrolyze the substrate p-nitrophenyl phosphate in an acidic environment. The apparent molecular weights of these two forms of Zn2+-APase were estimated to be about 100,000 and 62,000 by gel filtration, and about 44,000 and 31,000 by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate, respectively. The low-molecular weight (LMW) Zn2+-APase catalyzed the hydrolysis of myo-inositol-1-phosphate in the presence of 3 mM Mg2+ at physiological pH, but the high-molecular weight (HMW) enzyme did not. The LMW-Zn2+-APase of bovine liver was recognized by polyclonal antibodies developed against the Zn2+-APase of bovine brain, but the HMW-Zn2+-APase was not.     

Development of a ligation-based impedimetric DNA sensor for single-nucleotide polymorphism associated with metabolic syndrome

Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) detection is becoming important in molecular diagnostics, clinical assay, and novel drug development. Electrochemical methods are well suited for the DNA diagnostics system. Since electrochemical reactions directly emit an electronic signal, expensive signal transduction equipment is not required. We describe the development of a novel DNA sensor that utilizes impedance spectroscopy and DNA ligation reaction on a gold electrode. Impedance spectroscopy enables label-free detection and is nondestructive and useful in equivalent circuit models for interpretation on an electrode surface, whereas from the ligation reaction, the specificity is derived by the allele-specific oligonucleotide of the capture probe on immobilized gold electrode. In other words, DNA diagnostics system using the combination of impedance spectroscopy and ligation reaction is simple, rapid, and allele specific. In this report, we have described a ligation-based impedimetric DNA sensor and the analysis of Trp64Arg polymorphism in the beta3-adrenergic receptor gene (ADRβ3).