A robust fuzzy possibilistic AHP approach for partner selection in international strategic alliance

The international strategic alliance is an inevitable solution for making competitive advantage and reducing the risk in today’s business environment. Partner selection is an important part in success of partnerships, and meanwhile it is a complicated decision because of various dimensions of the problem and inherent conflicts of stockholders. The purpose of this paper is to provide a practical approach to the problem of partner selection in international strategic alliances, which fulfills the gap between theories of inter-organizational relationships and quantitative models. Thus, a novel Robust Fuzzy Possibilistic AHP approach is proposed for combining the benefits of two complementary theories of inter-organizational relationships named, (1) Resource-based view, and (2) Transaction-cost theory and considering Fit theory as the perquisite of alliance success. The Robust Fuzzy Possibilistic AHP approach is a noveldevelopment of Interval-AHP technique employing robust formulation; aimed at handling the ambiguity of the problem and let the use of intervals as pairwise judgments. The proposed approach was compared with existing approaches, and the results show that it provides the best quality solutions in terms of minimum error degree. Moreover, the framework implemented in a case study and its applicability were discussed

Análisis de armónicos variando en el tiempo en sistemas eléctricos de potencia con parques eólicos, a través de la teoría de la posibilidad

This paper focuses on the analysis of the connection of wind farms to the electric power system and their impact on the harmonic load-flow. A possibilistic harmonic load-flow methodology, previously developed by the authors, allows for modeling uncertainties related to linear and nonlinear load variations. On the other hand, it is well known that some types of wind turbines also produce harmonics, in fact, time-varying harmonics. The purpose of this paper is to present an improvement of the former method, in order to include the uncertainties due to the wind speed variations as an input related with power generated by the turbines. Simulations to test the proposal are performed in the IEEE 14-bus standard test system for harmonic analysis, but replacing the generator, at bus two, by a wind farm composed by ten FPC type wind turbines.En este trabajo se analiza el impacto de la conexión de parques eólicos, en el flujo de cargas armónicas en un sistema de potencia. Algunos generadores eólicos producen armónicos debido a la electrónica de potencia que utilizan para su vinculación con la red. Estos armónicos son variables en el tiempo ya que se relacionan con las variaciones en la velocidad del viento. El propósito de este trabajo es presentar una mejora a la metodología para el cálculo de incertidumbre en el flujo de cargas armónicas, a través de la teoría de la posibilidad, la cual fue previamente desarrollada por los autores. La mejora consiste en incluir la incertidumbre debida a las variaciones de la velocidad del viento. Para probar la metodología, se realizan simulaciones en el sistema de prueba de 14 barras de la IEEE, conectando en una de las barras un parque eólico compuesto por diez turbinas del tipo FPC. Los resultados obtenidos muestran que la incertidumbre en la velocidad del viento tiene un efecto considerable en las incertidumbres asociadas a las magnitudes de las tensiones armónicas calculadas.Fil: Romero Quete, Andrés Arturo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan. Instituto de Energía Eléctrica. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Energía Eléctrica; ArgentinaFil: Suvire, Gaston Orlando. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan. Instituto de Energía Eléctrica. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Energía Eléctrica; ArgentinaFil: Zini, Humberto Cassiano. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan. Instituto de Energía Eléctrica. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Energía Eléctrica; ArgentinaFil: Ratta, Giuseppe. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan. Instituto de Energía Eléctrica. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Energía Eléctrica; Argentin

A Semantic Hierarchy for Erasure Policies

We consider the problem of logical data erasure, contrasting with physical erasure in the same way that end-to-end information flow control contrasts with access control. We present a semantic hierarchy for erasure policies, using a possibilistic knowledge-based semantics to define policy satisfaction such that there is an intuitively clear upper bound on what information an erasure policy permits to be retained. Our hierarchy allows a rich class of erasure policies to be expressed, taking account of the power of the attacker, how much information may be retained, and under what conditions it may be retained. While our main aim is to specify erasure policies, the semantic framework allows quite general information-flow policies to be formulated for a variety of semantic notions of secrecy.Comment: 18 pages, ICISS 201

Interval and Possibilistic Methods for Constraint-Based Metabolic Models

This thesis is devoted to the study and application of constraint-based metabolic models. The objective was to find simple ways to handle the difficulties that arise in practice due to uncertainty (knowledge is incomplete, there is a lack of measurable variables, and those available are imprecise). With this purpose, tools have been developed to model, analyse, estimate and predict the metabolic behaviour of cells. The document is structured in three parts. First, related literature is revised and summarised. This results in a unified perspective of several methodologies that use constraint-based representations of the cell metabolism. Three outstanding methods are discussed in detail, network-based pathways analysis (NPA), metabolic flux analysis (MFA), and flux balance analysis (FBA). Four types of metabolic pathways are also compared to clarify the subtle differences among them. The second part is devoted to interval methods for constraint-based models. The first contribution is an interval approach to traditional MFA, particularly useful to estimate the metabolic fluxes under data scarcity (FS-MFA). These estimates provide insight on the internal state of cells, which determines the behaviour they exhibit at given conditions. The second contribution is a procedure for monitoring the metabolic fluxes during a cultivation process that uses FS-MFA to handle uncertainty. The third part of the document addresses the use of possibility theory. The main contribution is a possibilistic framework to (a) evaluate model and measurements consistency, and (b) perform flux estimations (Poss-MFA). It combines flexibility on the assumptions and computational efficiency. Poss-MFA is also applied to monitoring fluxes and metabolite concentrations during a cultivation, information of great use for fault-detection and control of industrial processes. Afterwards, the FBA problem is addressed.Llaneras Estrada, F. (2011). Interval and Possibilistic Methods for Constraint-Based Metabolic Models [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/10528Palanci

A possibilistic framework for constraint-based metabolic flux analysis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Constraint-based models allow the calculation of the metabolic flux states that can be exhibited by cells, standing out as a powerful analytical tool, but they do not determine which of these are likely to be existing under given circumstances. Typical methods to perform these predictions are (a) flux balance analysis, which is based on the assumption that cell behaviour is optimal, and (b) metabolic flux analysis, which combines the model with experimental measurements.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Herein we discuss a possibilistic framework to perform metabolic flux estimations using a constraint-based model and a set of measurements. The methodology is able to handle inconsistencies, by considering sensors errors and model imprecision, to provide rich and reliable flux estimations. The methodology can be cast as linear programming problems, able to handle thousands of variables with efficiency, so it is suitable to deal with large-scale networks. Moreover, the possibilistic estimation does not attempt necessarily to predict the actual fluxes with precision, but rather to exploit the available data – even if those are scarce – to distinguish possible from impossible flux states in a gradual way.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We introduce a possibilistic framework for the estimation of metabolic fluxes, which is shown to be flexible, reliable, usable in scenarios lacking data and computationally efficient.</p

Dynamic estimations of metabolic fluxes with constraint-based models and possibility theory

Living cells can be modelled by successively imposing known constraints that limit their behaviour, such as mass balances, thermodynamic laws or enzyme capacities. The resulting constraint-based models enclose all the functional states that the modelled cells may exhibit. Then, predictions can be obtained from the models in two main ways: adding experimental data to determine the state of cells at given conditions (MFA) or invoking an assumption of evolved optimal behaviour (FBA). Both MFA and FBA predictions are typically performed at steady state. However, it is easy to take extracellular dynamics into account. This work explores the benefits of using possibility theory to get these dynamic predictions. It will be shown that the possibilistic methods (a) provide rich estimates for time-varying fluxes and metabolite concentrations, (b) account for uncertainty and data scarcity, and (c) give predictions relaxing the optimality assumption of FBA. On the other hand, these methods could serve as basis for monitoring and fault detection systems in industrial bioprocesses.This research has been partially supported by the Spanish Government MINECO (1st and 3rd authors are grateful to grant CICYT DPI2011-28112-C04-01, and A. Sala is grateful to grant DPI2011-27845-C02-01).Llaneras Estrada, F.; Sala, A.; Picó Marco, JA. (2012). Dynamic estimations of metabolic fluxes with constraint-based models and possibility theory. Journal of Process Control. 22(10):1946-1955. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jprocont.2012.09.00119461955221

Validation of a constraint-based model of Pichia pastoris metabolism under data scarcity

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Constraint-based models enable structured cellular representations in which intracellular kinetics are circumvented. These models, combined with experimental data, are useful analytical tools to estimate the state exhibited (the phenotype) by the cells at given pseudo-steady conditions.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In this contribution, a simplified constraint-based stoichiometric model of the metabolism of the yeast <it>Pichia pastoris</it>, a workhorse for heterologous protein expression, is validated against several experimental available datasets. Firstly, maximum theoretical growth yields are calculated and compared to the experimental ones. Secondly, possibility theory is applied to quantify the consistency between model and measurements. Finally, the biomass growth rate is excluded from the datasets and its prediction used to exemplify the capability of the model to calculate non-measured fluxes.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This contribution shows how a small-sized network can be assessed following a rational, quantitative procedure even when measurements are scarce and imprecise. This approach is particularly useful in lacking data scenarios.</p

Naive possibilistic classifiers for imprecise or uncertain numerical data

International audienceIn real-world problems, input data may be pervaded with uncertainty. In this paper, we investigate the behavior of naive possibilistic classifiers, as a counterpart to naive Bayesian ones, for dealing with classification tasks in the presence of uncertainty. For this purpose, we extend possibilistic classifiers, which have been recently adapted to numerical data, in order to cope with uncertainty in data representation. Here the possibility distributions that are used are supposed to encode the family of Gaussian probabilistic distributions that are compatible with the considered dataset. We consider two types of uncertainty: (i) the uncertainty associated with the class in the training set, which is modeled by a possibility distribution over class labels, and (ii) the imprecision pervading attribute values in the testing set represented under the form of intervals for continuous data. Moreover, the approach takes into account the uncertainty about the estimation of the Gaussian distribution parameters due to the limited amount of data available. We first adapt the possibilistic classification model, previously proposed for the certain case, in order to accommodate the uncertainty about class labels. Then, we propose an algorithm based on the extension principle to deal with imprecise attribute values. The experiments reported show the interest of possibilistic classifiers for handling uncertainty in data. In particular, the probability-to-possibility transform-based classifier shows a robust behavior when dealing with imperfect data