Improved differential search algorithms for metabolic network optimization

The capabilities of Escherichia coli and Zymomonas mobilis to efficiently converting substrate into valuable metabolites have caught the attention of many industries. However, the production rates of these metabolites are still below the maximum threshold. Over the years, the organism strain design was improvised through the development of metabolic network that eases the process of exploiting and manipulating organism to maximize its growth rate and to maximize metabolites production. Due to the complexity of metabolic networks and multiple objectives, it is difficult to identify near-optimal knockout reactions that can maximize both objectives. This research has developed two improved modelling-optimization methods. The first method introduces a Differential Search Algorithm and Flux Balance Analysis (DSAFBA) to identify knockout reactions that maximize the production rate of desired metabolites. The latter method develops a non-dominated searching DSAFBA (ndsDSAFBA) to investigate the trade-off relationship between production rate and its growth rate by identifying knockout reactions that maximize both objectives. These methods were assessed against three metabolic networks – E.coli core model, iAF1260 and iEM439 for production of succinic acid, acetic acid and ethanol. The results revealed that the improved methods are superior to the other state-of-the-art methods in terms of production rate, growth rate and computation time. The study has demonstrated that the two improved modelling-optimization methods could be used to identify near-optimal knockout reactions that maximize production of desired metabolites as well as the organism’s growth rate within a shorter computation time

Applications of Medical Physics

Applications of Medical Physics” is a Special Issue of Applied Sciences that has collected original research manuscripts describing cutting-edge physics developments in medicine and their translational applications. Reviews providing updates on the latest progresses in this field are also included. The collection includes a total of 20 contributions by authors from 9 different countries, which cover several areas of medical physics, spanning from radiation therapy, nuclear medicine, radiology, dosimetry, radiation protection, and radiobiology

Journal of Telecommunications and Information Technology, 2014, nr 4

kwartalni

Reinforcement Learning

Brains rule the world, and brain-like computation is increasingly used in computers and electronic devices. Brain-like computation is about processing and interpreting data or directly putting forward and performing actions. Learning is a very important aspect. This book is on reinforcement learning which involves performing actions to achieve a goal. The first 11 chapters of this book describe and extend the scope of reinforcement learning. The remaining 11 chapters show that there is already wide usage in numerous fields. Reinforcement learning can tackle control tasks that are too complex for traditional, hand-designed, non-learning controllers. As learning computers can deal with technical complexities, the tasks of human operators remain to specify goals on increasingly higher levels. This book shows that reinforcement learning is a very dynamic area in terms of theory and applications and it shall stimulate and encourage new research in this field

Assembly Line

An assembly line is a manufacturing process in which parts are added to a product in a sequential manner using optimally planned logistics to create a finished product in the fastest possible way. It is a flow-oriented production system where the productive units performing the operations, referred to as stations, are aligned in a serial manner. The present edited book is a collection of 12 chapters written by experts and well-known professionals of the field. The volume is organized in three parts according to the last research works in assembly line subject. The first part of the book is devoted to the assembly line balancing problem. It includes chapters dealing with different problems of ALBP. In the second part of the book some optimization problems in assembly line structure are considered. In many situations there are several contradictory goals that have to be satisfied simultaneously. The third part of the book deals with testing problems in assembly line. This section gives an overview on new trends, techniques and methodologies for testing the quality of a product at the end of the assembling line

Soft Computing

Soft computing is used where a complex problem is not adequately specified for the use of conventional math and computer techniques. Soft computing has numerous real-world applications in domestic, commercial and industrial situations. This book elaborates on the most recent applications in various fields of engineering

Risk-based decision support system for life cycle management of industrials plants

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Doutor em Engenharia Electrotécnica e de ComputadoresThe objective of this thesis is to contribute for a better understanding of the decision making process in industrial plants specifically in situations with impact in the long term performance of the plant. The way decisions are made, and especially the motivations that lead to the selection of a specific course of action, are sometimes unclear and lack on justification. This is particularly critical in cases where inappropriate decisions drive to an increase on the production costs. Industrial plants are part of these cases, specifically the ones that are still lacking enhanced monitoring technologies and associated decision support systems. Maintenance has been identified as one of the critical areas regarding impact on performance. This is due to the fact that maintenance costs still represent a considerable slice of the production costs. Thus, understanding the way maintenance procedures are executed, and more important, the methods used to decide when maintenance should be developed and how, have been a concern of decision makers in industrial plants. This thesis proposes a methodology to efficiently transform the existing information on the plant behaviour into knowledge that may be used to support the decision process in maintenance activities. The development of an appropriate knowledge model relating the core aspects of the process enables the extraction of new knowledge based on the past experience. This thesis proposes also a methodology to calculate the risk associated to each maintenance situation and, based on the possible actions and on the impacts they may have in the plant costs performance, suggests the most appropriate course. The suggestion is made aiming the minimization of the life cycle costs. Results have been validated in test cases performed both at simulation and real industrial environments. The results obtained at the tests cases demonstrated the feasibility of the developed methodology as well as its adequateness and applicability in the domain of interest

An Investigation on Benefit-Cost Analysis of Greenhouse Structures in Antalya

Significant population increase across the world, loss of cultivable land and increasing demand for food put pressure on agriculture. To meet the demand, greenhouses are built, which are, light structures with transparent cladding material in order to provide controlled microclimatic environment proper for plant production. Conceptually, greenhouses are similar with manufacturing buildings where a controlled environment for manufacturing and production have been provided and proper spaces for standardized production processes have been enabled. Parallel with the trends in the world, particularly in southern regions, greenhouse structures have been increasingly constructed and operated in Turkey. A significant number of greenhouses are located at Antalya. The satellite images demonstrated that for over last three decades, there has been a continuous invasion of greenhouses on all cultivable land. There are various researches and attempts for the improvement of greenhouse design and for increasing food production by decreasing required energy consumption. However, the majority of greenhouses in Turkey are very rudimentary structures where capital required for investment is low, but maintenance requirements are high when compared with new generation greenhouse structures. In this research paper, life-long capital requirements for construction and operation of greenhouse buildings in Antalya has been investigated by using benefit-cost analysis study