Weighted Superposition Attraction (WSA): A swarm intelligence algorithm for optimization problems – Part 2: Constrained optimization

This paper is the second one of the two papers entitled “Weighted Superposition Attraction (WSA) Algorithm”, which is about the performance evaluation of the WSA algorithm in solving the constrained global optimization problems. For this purpose, the well-known mechanical design optimization problems, design of a tension/compression coil spring, design of a pressure vessel, design of a welded beam and design of a speed reducer, are selected as test problems. Since all these problems were formulated as constrained global optimization problems, WSA algorithm requires a constraint handling method for tackling them. For this purpose we have selected 6 formerly developed constraint handling methods for adapting into WSA algorithm and analyze the effect of the used constraint handling method on the performance of the WSA algorithm. In other words, we have the aim of producing concluding remarks over the performance and robustness of the WSA algorithm through a set of computational study in solving the constrained global optimization problems. Computational study indicates the robustness and the effectiveness of the WSA in terms of obtained results, reached level of convergence and the capability of coping with the problems of premature convergence, trapping in a local optima and stagnation.     

Liquid Marble Patchwork on Super-Repellent Surface

Liquid marble (LM) is a droplet that is wrapped by hydrophobic solid particles, which behave as a non-wetting soft solid. Based on these properties, LM can be applied in fluidics and soft device applications. A wide variety of functional particles have been synthesized to form functional LMs. However, the formation of multifunctional LMs by integrating several types of functional particles is challenging. Here, a general strategy for the flexible patterning of functional particles on droplet surfaces in a patchwork-like design is reported. It is shown that LMs can switch their macroscopic behavior between a stable and active state on super-repellent surfaces in situ by jamming/unjamming the surface particles. Active LMs hydrostatically coalesce to form a self-sorted particle pattern on the droplet surface. With the support of LM handling robotics, on-demand cyclic activation–manipulation–coalescence–stabilization protocols by LMs with different sizes and particle types result in the reliable design of multi-faced LMs. Based on this concept, a single bi-functional LM is designed from two mono-functional LMs as an advanced droplet carrier.     

Survey of domestic food purchases and related home handling practices in the Abruzzo region (central Italy): Data collection and analysis through a language-independent classification system

A telephone survey was carried out on 13,486 randomly selected households located in the Abruzzo region (central Italy). Three questionnaires were specifically designed in relation to three different groups of foods (Meat and meat products, Fishery products, Fruit and vegetables). Questions were mainly focused on the amount and number of purchases, type of retailer, and home food handling practices with respect to the week prior to the interview. Data were classified according to a multilingual thesaurus system (LanguaL). Results allowed to estimate domestic purchases (in kg) per capita for different food categories. The category “Red meat/Cattle” accounted for a large part of purchases in the “meat and meat products” group (10.9 kg per capita/year; 32.2% of purchases in the group) while the category “Fish or related organism/Fish” was the most purchased in the “fishery products” group (6.9 kg per capita/year; 63.3%). The aggregation of more detailed characteristics enabled the identification of popular categories of foods, such as “Red meat/Cattle/Divided into pieces” (25% of the “meat and meat products” group). Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found between the four different provinces (L'Aquila, Chieti, Pescara and Teramo) with respect to “Poultry/Chicken” and “Red meat/Cattle” categories. Householders were also asked about post-purchase food handling practices that might be hazardous to food safety. More than 20% of those surveyed stated that they thawed frozen meat at room temperature. The degree of doneness after cooking of different food categories was generally high: over 90% of products purchased in the majority of meat and fish categories were properly cooked. However a noticeable proportion of householders (about 15%) reported medium or rare cooking of “Red meat/Cattle” and “Red meat/Swine”. Differences (p < 0.05) were also found between consumers of different ages, with people over 65 years old being more prone to freeze meat and cook it thoroughly.The survey was carried out in a specific geographic area and on a statistically significant sample of households, thus allowing a collection of data on domestic habits relating to food purchases and home food handling practices. This information should be included in the framework of quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) models as a measure of the actual exposure of consumers to pathogenic microorganism. The LanguaL system also proved to be a practical language-independent method useful not only to identify and describe food items but also to classify them according to specific food safety characteristics.     

武山铜矿主井系统延深改造及效果浅析

武山铜矿主井延深时根据新的采、选工艺要求，在前期工程的基础上，对其箕斗提升系统进行改造，增设坑内破碎。针对该矿特粘的矿石性质和前期工程遗留问题，在具体设计和实施过程中采取特别措施保证系统通畅和安全并注意节省投资。同时对尚存在的问题也提出了新的思考。     

Specification methods for material-handling control algorithms in flexible manufacturing systems

Good methods are needed to specify, test, and debug material-handling control logic. This article surveys a number of representative methods for defining and describing control algorithms for programmable material-handling equipment used in flexible manufacturing systems. The methods are evaluated with regard to their suitability for communication between people and as bases for interfaces to automatic program generators. It is concluded that no single method is entirely satisfactory. Three methods (position diagrams, function block diagrams, and operation networks) have potential to be combined into an effective hybrid approach that minimizes the need for the user to switch between various conceptual models.     

Facility layout problems: A survey

Layout problems are found in several types of manufacturing systems. Typically, layout problems are related to the location of facilities (e.g., machines, departments) in a plant. They are known to greatly impact the system performance. Most of these problems are NP hard. Numerous research works related to facility layout have been published. A few literature reviews exist, but they are not recent or are restricted to certain specific aspects of these problems. The literature analysis given here is recent and not restricted to specific considerations about layout design.

We suggest a general framework to analyze the literature and present existing works using such criteria as: the manufacturing system features, static/dynamic considerations, continual/discrete representation, problem formulation, and resolution approach. Several research directions are pointed out and discussed in our conclusion.     

斗南锰矿选矿厂设计中几个问题的处理

作者在斗南锰矿选矿厂设计中,针对当前锰选厂生产的经验和存在的问题,从工艺角度分别对干、湿筛分、CS-2强磁机的处理量、矿泥强磁选机的选型、以及在强磁选前设置脱除强磁性物质装置等作了分析,并提出了作者的看法。     

HTR-10燃料元件装卸系统冷态调试

10MW高温气冷实验堆（HTR－10）是一座球床堆，由燃料元件装卸系统实现燃料元件的装卸和循环，且不需要停堆，为保证HTR－10的正常运行，燃料元件装卸系统必须安全，可靠，为此，必须对燃料元件装卸系统进行周密，细致的调试试验和验证，本文介绍了燃料元件装卸系统冷调试的主要调试项目，调试方法和调试结果。     

应用计算机实现选矿自动化

本文就太钢尖山铁矿计算机控制系统的硬件构成，顺控系统的软件编制、模拟调试以及现场调试等方面展开论述。     

日本锰质合金生产与锰矿石的消耗

本文全面介绍了日本近年特别是1990年锰矿石进口量和锰铁合金的生产情况。同时还介绍了锰质合金、电解金属锰和电解二氧化锰的进出口情况。日本1990年进口锰矿石143万t,高碳锰铁4.6万t,中、低碳锰铁0.3万t,硅锰21.8t。还列出了进口矿石和硬质合金来源国数量。此外,还介绍了日本重点锰质合金厂的产品。