Spatial refinement as collection order relations

An abstract examination of refinement (and conversely, coarsening) with respect to the involved spatial relations gives rise to formulated order relations between spatial coverings, which are defined as complete-coverage representations composed of regional granules. Coverings, which generalize partitions by allowing granules to overlap, enhance hierarchical geocomputations in several ways. Refinement between spatial coverings has underlying patterns with respect to inclusion—formalized as binary topological relations—between their granules. The patterns are captured by collection relations of inclusion, which are obtained by constraining relevant topological relations with cardinality properties such as uniqueness and totality. Conjoining relevant collection relations of equality and proper inclusion with the overlappedness (non-overlapped or overlapped) of the refining and the refined covering yields collection order relations, which serve as specific types of refinement between spatial coverings. The examination results in 75 collection order relations including seven types of equality and 34 pairs of strict or non-strict types of refinement and coarsening, out of which 19 pairs form partial collection orders

NMGRS: Neighborhood-based multigranulation rough sets

AbstractRecently, a multigranulation rough set (MGRS) has become a new direction in rough set theory, which is based on multiple binary relations on the universe. However, it is worth noticing that the original MGRS can not be used to discover knowledge from information systems with various domains of attributes. In order to extend the theory of MGRS, the objective of this study is to develop a so-called neighborhood-based multigranulation rough set (NMGRS) in the framework of multigranulation rough sets. Furthermore, by using two different approximating strategies, i.e., seeking common reserving difference and seeking common rejecting difference, we first present optimistic and pessimistic 1-type neighborhood-based multigranulation rough sets and optimistic and pessimistic 2-type neighborhood-based multigranulation rough sets, respectively. Through analyzing several important properties of neighborhood-based multigranulation rough sets, we find that the new rough sets degenerate to the original MGRS when the size of neighborhood equals zero. To obtain covering reducts under neighborhood-based multigranulation rough sets, we then propose a new definition of covering reduct to describe the smallest attribute subset that preserves the consistency of the neighborhood decision system, which can be calculated by Chen’s discernibility matrix approach. These results show that the proposed NMGRS largely extends the theory and application of classical MGRS in the context of multiple granulations

The Development of the Vestibular Apparatus Under Conditions of Weightlessness

A series of experiments has been carried out on the effect of space flight conditions on morphogenesis and the structure of the vestibular apparatus in amphibian and fish larvae. Larval development proceeded in weightlessness without serious morphological defects. The vestibular apparatus developed; its organization in the experimental animals did not differ qualitatively from that in the controls. The specific external stimulus (gravitation) appears not to be a necessary condition for the development of a gravitation receptor in ontogenesis although the appearance of the vestibular apparatus in phylogenesis was apparently related to this stimulus

The enigmatic mineral particle accumulations on the cuticular rings of marine desmoscolecoid nematodes structure and significance explained with clues from live observations

The majority of Desmoscolecoidea are characterized by ring-shaped accumulations of mineral particles on the cuticle resulting in the impression of a peculiar body articulation. Live observations made during the extraction of desmoscolecoids from mud sampled in the Swedish Gullmar fjord suggested new ideas pertinent to the particle accretion and the likely functional significance of the prominent rings. Undisturbed desmoscolecoids were observed to perform perpetual, vigorous, stationary undulations with their body. In our opinion these undulations affect the distribution of particles adhering to the cuticle by pushing them from soft, pliable cuticular sections to comparably stiff rings thus generating distinct concretion rings and naked interzones. The prominent concretion rings are assumed to increase positive mechanical effects of the undulations on the productivity of ubiquitous microbial populations residing on ambient sediment particles. The microbial production boosted by this kind of bioturbation may be of nutritional importance for the desmoscolecoids. An electron-microscopic investigation (TEM) of Tricoma sp. from the Gullmar fjord revealed the concretion rings to consist of stacks of clay mineral platelets in the submicrometer size range. A perusal through contributions of other authors suggests that such clay mineral aggregates are the basic component (granular component sensu Timm 1970) in the concretion rings of all desmoscolecoids. In a number of species these aggregates contain a specifically determined admixture ofconspicuous other mineral grains

A Distance-Based Method for Attribute Reduction in Incomplete Decision Systems

There are limitations in recent research undertaken on attribute reduction in incomplete decision systems. In this paper, we propose a distance-based method for attribute reduction in an incomplete decision system. In addition, we prove theoretically that our method is more effective than some other methods

Identifying problems in pop cork manufacturing process

The current context of the Europe, USA, China, India and worldwide industry is marked by an intense competition between producers to attract the customer´s choice. The dynamic needs of client feed the competitiveness to the companies, pushing them to lower prices, high quality and better delivery conditions in terms of lead time and quantities. The pop cork production makes more efficiency the production of larger amounts of granules in grain materials technology. Amorim cork industry is the biggest cork materials manufacturer company in the world and is located at Portugal, supplying to different fields such as aerospace, automobile industry, textiles and household things. Following this, innovation unit is embedded in the grain materials technology. This work expects to recognize the pop cork issues and to enhance the pop cork effectiveness by improving the cork expansion, as well as the equipment working conditions. The case study provides detailed information about the granules units 1 and 3, at na operational level. In the GMT (Granules Materials Technology) units 1 and 3, analyses and improvements in the cork expansion were carried out, by identifying the boilers capacity limitations, controls of the equipment conditions, operational failures and available resources, such as natural cork waste, because different kinds of Cork Bark are used in the pop cork production. These sections were analysed collecting samples of different kinds of cork bark used in the pop cork production, at diferente temperatures, observing as well the variation of cork expansion in order to identify the problems occurred in the process. Errors displayed by the equipment and/or pointed out by operators in the GMT units 1 and 3 were recorded. Corporate changes to promote the standardization of procedures, from initial objectives to evaluation, considering the planning, execution and reports, were also identified. At the end, the results of pop cork production in the GMT unit 1 and 3 were improved by 3%. Now, Amorim Cork Composites presents a more profitable process, which was proved. The regularity of maintenance operations should be undertaken to increase the granules production.O contexto atual da Europa, EUA, China, Índia e da indústria em todo o mundo, é marcado por uma intensa concorrência entre os produtores para conquistar a escolha dos consumidores. As dinâmicas dos clientes alimentam a competitividade das empresas, impelindo-as para a prática de preços mais baixos, alta qualidade e melhores condições de entrega em termos de prazos e quantidades. A produção de pop cork torna mais eficiente a produção de grandes quantidades de grânulos na tecnologia de materiais granulados. O Grupo Amorim é o maior conjunto de empresas fabricante de materiais de cortiça do mundo e está localizado em Portugal, fornecendo as diferentes áreas, como a aeroespacial, indústria automobilística, têxteis e artigos domésticas. Para tal, a unidade de inovação está incorporada na unidade de tecnologia de granulados. Este trabalho espera reconhecer os problemas de produção da pop cork e melhorar a eficácia do processo de expansão da cortiça, bem como as condições de trabalho do equipamento. O caso de estudo fornece informações detalhadas sobre as unidades de grânulos 1 e 3, ao nível operacional. Nas unidades 1 e 3 da GMT (Granules Materials Technology), foram realizadas análises e melhorias na expansão da cortiça, identificando as limitações da capacidade da caldeira, controlo das condições do equipamento, suas falhas operacionais e recursos disponíveis, como resíduos de cortiça natural, porque são usados diferentes tipos de casca de cortiça como matéria-prima na produção de pop cork. Essas unidades foram analisadas recolhendo as amostras de diferentes tipos de cortiça usados na produção de pop cork a diferentes temperaturas, observando também a variação da expansão da cortiça para identificar os problemas ocorridos no processo. Os erros exibidos pelo equipamento e/ou apontados pelos operadores nas GMT 1 e 3 foram registrados. Foram também identificadas mudanças na Organização para promover a padronização de procedimentos, desde objetivos até a correspondente avaliação, considerando o planeamento, execução e relatórios. No final, foi possível registar um incremento na produção de pop cork nas unidades 1 e 3, o qual atingiu os 3%. Agora, a Amorim Cork Composites apresenta um processo mais lucrativo, o que ficou provado. A regularidade da manutenção deve ser tida em conta, com vista a aumentar a produção de grânulos