Using a genetic algorithm to determine optimal complementary learning clusters for ESL in Taiwan

This paper proposes a strategy for using students’ complementary competencies in cooperative learning to increase their English learning performance. The concept of complementary learning is based on the idea that teaching is learning. The foundation of the complementary learning concept is composed of three stages proposed to derive the optimal learning clusters—input stage, genetic algorithm (GA) stage, and output stage. In tests and verification of the feasibility of using optimal complementary learning clusters in increasing students’ English learning outcome, comparisons between the experimental group (the optimal complementary learning clusters) and the control group showed that students in the experimental group had higher performances in listening, speaking, and reading competencies than those in the control group. Finally, according to the respective importance weights of different English competencies in different learning objectives, the fuzzy linguistic terms were applied to derive optimal complementary learning clusters to maximize students’ learning outcome.     

Online Behavior-Robust Feedback Information Routing Strategy for Mass Evacuation

Disaster response to manmade and natural events involves the quick evacuation of the affected population to safer areas. Given the potential for large-scale loss of life and property, there is a need for effective emergency strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of these disasters. Most existing evacuation traffic management strategies focus on increasing network capacity along the evacuation direction such as contraflow lanes, but other information or routing strategies have not been fully explored. Optimal routing strategies can be presented to evacuees as recommended routes. Advising evacuees that take system-optimal routes help balance the distribution of evacuation flows among multiple evacuation routes. However, a critical aspect in evaluating the effectiveness of such strategies is to properly account for the possible evacuation route-choice behavior. This study analyzed the situation in which evacuees are given a set of system-optimal paths; evacuees choose their evacuation routes, following a certain route-choice behavior (rational, panic, etc.). Discussions focus on the extent to which the routing effectiveness can be properly estimated, subject to the route-choice behavior. This paper further proposes a behavior-robust feedback information routing (FIR) strategy to further improve system performance. The FIR is based on the concept of closed-loop control that reacts to the system state and updates the advised routes. The FIR that targets the system-optimal routing strategy has been shown to be effective and robust for real-time evacuation traffic management.     

Structural and Dielectric Characteristics of Barium Lanthanum Zinc Niobate

The dielectric properties and microstructural characteristics in solid solutions of Ba_{1− x} La _x [Zn_{(1+ x )/3}Nb_{(2− x )/3}]O₃ (BLZN) are investigated by measuring and observing these properties, respectively, by means of transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The 1:1 ordered structure of BLZN can be explained by the random-site model for the distribution of B-site cations. The decrease in the tolerance factor ( t ) by lanthanum substitution causes the tilting of oxygen octahedra. It appears that the onset of antiphase and inphase tilting causes the variation in the temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (τ_f). In the untilted region where t ≥1.01, the τ_f shows a linear increase with decreasing tolerance factor. The region of antiphase tilting, where 0.965≤ t <1.01, causes a rapid decrease in τ_f, including the reverse sign. The τ_f slowly increases, where t <0.965, which is due to the presence of inphase tilting of oxygen octahedra. The τ_f can be predicted by using the tolerance factor, and the near zero of τ_f can be obtained with lanthanum substitution in the solid solution of the BLZN system.     

Design of the PID Controller for Hydro-turbines Based on Optimization Algorithms

In this study, multiple objective particle swarm optimization (MOPSO), genetic algorithm, bees, and reinforcement learning (RL) are used to calculate the rise time (tr), integral square-error, integral of time-multiplied-squared-error, integral absolute error, and integral of time multiplied by absolute error of the system transfer function and then we use a fuzzy algorithm on MOPSO, GA, bees, and RL based on the frequency sensitivity margin of a water turbine governor to optimize the proportional gain (kp) and integral gain (ki) and calculate the relative collapsing frequency response values. The MOPSO algorithm returned the optimal result. The radial basis function (RBF) neural network curve is obtained from the MOPSO algorithm with three variables (i.e., kp, ki, kd = 0.6 and grid frequency deviations values), and finally we identify and predict three variable values near the RBF neural network curve through deep learning. The result of the grid frequency deviation is close to 0, and the gain response time is better for damping the frequency oscillations in different operating conditions.

     

聚多巴胺修饰的介孔二氧化硅微球的合成及其用于负载左旋薄荷醇凉味剂

介孔二氧化硅材料具有巨大的孔隙率、开放的孔道结构、易于改性的孔道表面以及良好的生物相容性, 广泛用于药物传递、吸附分离以及催化等领域。本研究通过非极性溶剂辅助共组装法合成了具有较大孔径(6.9 nm)和比表面积(615 m²/g)的介孔二氧化硅微球。采用纳米浇铸的方法, 成功地将左旋-薄荷醇负载到该材料的孔内。进一步通过界面聚合的方法, 在所得微球的表面涂覆一层聚多巴胺(PDA)涂层, 从而将薄荷醇封装在微球的孔道内。利用PDA作为半透膜, 研究了复合微球在不同温度的空气吹扫下释放薄荷醇的行为, 发现在相对适宜的温度下PDA涂层有利于薄荷醇的可控缓慢释放。这些研究结果表明基于聚多巴胺修饰的介孔二氧化硅材料有望用于开发食品和医药等领域的缓释制剂。     

Performance comparisons of intelligent load forecasting structures and its application to energy-saving load regulation

This study mainly focuses on the development of intelligent forecasting structures via a similar time method with historical load change rates for the hourly, daily and monthly load forecasting simultaneously based on the basic frameworks of fuzzy neural network (FNN) and particle swarm optimization (PSO). In the regulative aspect of network parameters, conventional back-propagation (BP) and PSO tuning algorithms are used, and varied learning rates are designed in the sense of discrete-time Lyapunov stability theory. The performance comparisons of different intelligent forecasting structures including neural network (NN) structure with BP tuning algorithm (NN-BP), FNN structure with BP tuning algorithm (FNN-BP), FNN structure with BP tuning algorithm and varied learning rates (FNN-BP-V), FNN structure with PSO tuning algorithm (FNN-PSO) and newly-designed adaptive PSO (APSO) structure are verified by numerical simulations. In order to verify the effectiveness of the superior APSO forecasting structure in practical energy-saving load regulation, the load forecasting during every 15 min is also given, and its result is used to manipulate the scheduled unloading control of a real case in Taiwan campus.     

Preparation of amphiphilic membranes using photosensitive polymers and their applications on the enzyme electrode

To decrease the mass transfer resistance of oxygen permeation and to improve the response of the enzyme electrode, a series of hydrophilic–hydrophobic polyvinylcinnamate (PVCin) membranes were developed. The PVCins were synthesized from polyvinyl alcohol using various amounts of cinnamoyl chlorides in the presence of alkali. The amphiphilic membranes were prepared by using photosensitive PVCin and/or sensitizers that were used instead of the traditional Teflon–hydrophilic two-layer membranes. The properties of photocrosslinking, water and oxygen permeability of the amphiphilic membranes, the calibration curves, and the characteristics of the enzyme electrode prepared by the amphiphilic membranes were investigated. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis and characterization of water-soluble diazonium salts as contrast-enhancement materials

Water soluble aromatic diazonium double salts, p-diazodiphenylamine chloride zinc chloride (DZS-1) and p-diazoanisol chloride zinc chloride (DZS-2), have been evaluated as photobleachable dyes for contrast enhancement lithography. After testing the bleaching characteristics, aqueous solutions of DZS-1 and poly(vinyl alcohol) were used as a contrast enhancement material. Thermal stability, resist contrast, exposure parameters and other bleaching characteristics of the photobleachable membranes were investigated. A. commercial i-line photoresist was used to evaluate the contrast ratio of the DZS-1/PVA CEL layer. The contrast ratio obtained in this investigation is 1.67.     

Structural and Dielectric Characteristics in a Ca(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3–CaZrO3 System

This study investigates the effect of CaZrO₃ (CZ) substitution on the evolution of an ordered structure in a Ca(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃ (CMN) system using Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry, and transmission electron microscopy. It indicates that a (1− x ) CMN−( x )CZ solid solution has the 1:2 and 1:1 ordered structure distorted by the antiphase, the inphase tilting of oxygen octahedra, and the antiparallel shift of A-site cation. A distinct correlation is noted between the transition of the ordered structure and microwave dielectric properties. The differences in ɛ_r and τ_f are attributed exclusively to the differences in the type of cation arrangement. The structure with the 1:2 ordering exhibits a lower relative permittivity and a more negative τ_f than the structure with the 1:1 ordering. The increased fraction of compressed Nb–O bond in the 1:2 ordered structure associated with a large NbO₆ octahedral distortion is correlated with a decrease in relative permittivity and change of τ_f toward more negative values. Simultaneously, the substitution of the Zr⁴⁺ ion causes a linear increase in polarizability, and it also results in an increase in the relative permittivity.