Designing a Framework for Target-Site Assignment in Naval Combat Management

In this study, using operational research techniques, a model has been presented to assess battlefield threat, to prioritise aggressive targets, to evaluate the capability of own sites and the risks of the conflict with the targets, to define conflict scenarios and finally to select the best scenario using an assignment model. The above proceedings were added as an intermediate phase of target-site assignment, called ‘deciding the best conflict scenario’, to the ‘threat assessment’ and ‘weapon-target assignment’ in the naval combat management system. For each of the own site, the data collected from the environment together with the panels of experts are shown in a two-dimensional matrix, in which the four areas of the matrix represent the conflict scenarios. Considering that the study was done in a simulated environment, the expert’s verification and the convergence of the results in Monte Carlo method were used to validate the research. The proposed model can offer optimised decision to the operational commander through predicting the battlefield and managing the site’s capacity and the interaction in between during the combat

An Improvement to The Relative Efficiency With Price Uncertainty: An Application to The Bank Branches

Abstract This article describes the method of measuring relative efficiency, when the input and output prices are unknown. In a situation, where only the bound of input prices for the cost efficiency and the bound of output prices for the revenue efficiency are known, measurement of relative efficiency consists of two cases: optimistic and pessimistic perspective. The main object of this article is to study the pessimistic relative efficiency that eventually, with the computation of assessment of optimistic, it gives an interval efficiency for each DMU. Finally we apply the method in the analysis of bank branches activity

Statistical Studies of Fading in Underwater Wireless Optical Channels in the Presence of Air Bubble, Temperature, and Salinity Random Variations (Long Version)

Optical signal propagation through underwater channels is affected by three main degrading phenomena, namely absorption, scattering, and fading. In this paper, we experimentally study the statistical distribution of intensity fluctuations in underwater wireless optical channels with random temperature and salinity variations as well as the presence of air bubbles. In particular, we define different scenarios to produce random fluctuations on the water refractive index across the propagation path, and then examine the accuracy of various statistical distributions in terms of their goodness of fit to the experimental data. We also obtain the channel coherence time to address the average period of fading temporal variations. The scenarios under consideration cover a wide range of scintillation index from weak to strong turbulence. Moreover, the effects of beam-collimator at the transmitter side and aperture averaging lens at the receiver side are experimentally investigated. We show that the use of a transmitter beam-collimator and/or a receiver aperture averaging lens suits single-lobe distributions such that the generalized Gamma and exponential Weibull distributions can excellently match the histograms of the acquired data. Our experimental results further reveal that the channel coherence time is on the order of $10^{-3}$ seconds and larger which implies to the slow fading turbulent channels

The effect of pregnancy on orthodontic tooth movement in rats

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of pregnancy on orthodontic tooth movement in Wistar rats. Material and Methods: Forty eight female three-month old Wistar rats with an average weight of 250 ±25 g r were selected and randomly divided into two experimental (pregnant) and control groups (non-pregnant). Maxillary central incisors were tipped distally by insertion of springs exerting 30g force. Two, seven and fourteen days after spring insertion animals were sacrificed. Then the mesioincisal distance between maxillary incisors were measured. Subsequently, histological sections were prepared to count osteoclasts under a light microscope. The data on the extent of orthodontic tooth movement, and the number of osteoclasts were analyzed by independent sample t-test. Results: The results indicated that 2,7 and 14 days after force application there was no significant difference in orthodontic tooth movement between experimental and control groups (p>0.05). The number of osteoclasts were significantly lower in the experimental group 7 and 14 days after spring insertion (p<0.05). Conclusion: Pregnancy may decrease the amount of tooth movement in the linear phase but it is not statistically significant. The number of osteoclasts is significantly decreased during pregnancy

The Banking Industry Foresight Using the Scenario Planning Approach and the Cross-Effects Matrix

While this study identifies the most important key indicators that influence the banking industry, it also attempts to provide a forecast for the Iranian banking industry in the future. Scenario planning and cross-impact matrix are used in this study. Among all the identified factors, 29 key factors influencing the future of the industry were selected through a fuzzy analytical hierarchical process and then the impact of each of these factors was determined through analysis of the cross-impact matrix. The cross-impact balance was then used to write scenarios.Accordingly, of all combined scenarios, the most likely strong scenarios were clustered into five general categories using K-mode clustering. Finally, four scenarios were identified, including optimism for the bank, banking industry development, inflationary conditions and sanctions. It was therefore possible to define action plans for each of the scenarios

The effect of oral contraceptives on orthodontic tooth movement in rat

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of ethinyl estradiol/norgestrel ? used in some oral contraceptives- on orthodontic tooth movement in Wistar rats. Material and Methods: Forty eight female three-month old Wistar rats with an average weight of 250?25gr were divided into two experimental and control groups. One week prior to appliance insertion and during the appliance therapy period, 100 mcg/kg/day of ethinyl estradiol and 1mg/kg/days of norgestrel were administered to the experimental group by gavage; meanwhile the control group received an equivalent volume of Sodium Chloride 0.9 % (Saline). Maxillary central incisors were tipped distally by insertion of springs exerting 30g force. Two, seven and fourteen days after spring insertion animals were sacrificed. The mesioincisal distance between maxillary incisors were measured. Subsequently, histological sections were prepared for histomorphometric studies. Results: 14 days after force application the orthodontic tooth movement was significantly lower in the experimental group (p<0.05). The number of osteoclasts were significantly lower in the experimental group 2, 7 and 14 days after spring insertion (p<0.05). Conclusion: Ethinyl estradiol/norgestrel (oral contraceptives) can significantly decrease the amount of tooth movement in the linear phase

The Comparative Efficacy of Kalami and Rhetorical Exegesis in Understanding Aliment

Consciously or unconsciously, Shi’ite, Mo’tazila, and ‘Ashari commentators have consistently been affected by their own Kalami presumption during the exegetic history of the Noble Quran.  One of the issues in this regard is the possibility or impossibility of Haram aliment. In order to investigate this exegetic subject, first historical origins on how it entered the Quranic exegesis should be illuminated through historical study. Then, we should achieve a new and valid understanding of this term using linguistic devices such as etymology and semantics. The study of the history of Islam indicates that unlawful withholding of Muslims’ property especially public aliment by Othman ibn Affan is one of the most important causes which led to his killing. In the 2nd century A.H., this issue turned to a serious Kalami argument between Shi’ite and ‘Ash’ari denominations. In that historical period, it has been attempted to justify the unlawful withholding of Muslim’s property by the third Caliph using justification such as justice of Sahabe (companions), determinism, and references to the Quran. The etymological and semantic study of the term “aliment” shows that none of the exegetic and terminological books have surveyed the origin of this term because they were affected by the above mentioned serious argument. The etymology of “aliment” reveals that benevolence and mercy are key concepts in this term. The semantic investigation of “aliment” shows that this term in the Noble Quran means giving gift and it cannot be applied for Haram property. Using this method, represents new and valid evidence from the Noble Quran rejecting the possibility of Haram aliment

Alignment Maturity Assessment(Case study: Ferdowsi University of Mashhad)

Measuring operational alignment maturity, or in other words, business processes- information systems alignment maturity, has been important as a way to evaluate the success of operational alignment implementation. However, studies on alignment have been mainly focused on measuring strategic alignment maturity. Therefore, given the differences between strategic alignment and operational alignment, the results of these studies have not been very effective in measuring operational alignment maturity. That is why the present study aimed to provide a framework for measuring operational alignment maturity. To that end, ten dimensions of operational alignment were determined and then, confirmed by confirmatory factor analysis. Next, neural networks was used to assess the importance of each of these dimensions. Then, based on the position of each of these dimensions in the importance-performance analysis matrix and after examining the gap between the current and desired status of each dimension using the pairwise mean comparison test, the level of operational alignment maturity for each dimension was determined. As the results indicated, alignment of non-core business processes with management information systems (D7) at optimized level, alignment of core business processes with management information system (D4) at improved and managed levels, as well as alignment of management processes with knowledge-based information systems (D2), alignment of core business processes with strategic information systems (D3) and alignment of non-core business processes with knowledge-based information systems (D8), all three at establised and focused levels, were identified. Moreover, the alignment of management processes with strategic information systems (D1), the alignment of core business processes with knowledge-based information systems (D5), the alignment of core business processes with operational information systems (D6), all three at commited level, as well as alignment of support processes with operational information systems (D9) and alignment of support processes with knowledge-based information systems (D10), both at initial and ad hoc levels, were determined

A low-complexity equalizer for video broadcasting in cyber-physical social systems through handheld mobile devices

In Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld (DVB-H) devices for cyber-physical social systems, the Discrete Fractional Fourier Transform-Orthogonal Chirp Division Multiplexing (DFrFT-OCDM) has been suggested to enhance the performance over Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) systems under time and frequency-selective fading channels. In this case, the need for equalizers like the Minimum Mean Square Error (MMSE) and Zero-Forcing (ZF) arises, though it is excessively complex due to the need for a matrix inversion, especially for DVB-H extensive symbol lengths. In this work, a low complexity equalizer, Least-Squares Minimal Residual (LSMR) algorithm, is used to solve the matrix inversion iteratively. The paper proposes the LSMR algorithm for linear and nonlinear equalizers with the simulation results, which indicate that the proposed equalizer has significant performance and reduced complexity over the classical MMSE equalizer and other low complexity equalizers, in time and frequency-selective fading channels. © 2013 IEEE

Designing Iranian Customer Expectations Model for Platform Growth and Development with Agent-Based Model Approach (Case Study: Instagram)

One of the most important factors in understanding customer behavior is identifying their expectations. Therefore, this study in order to design customer expectations model for platform with agent-based model approach. At first, for finding customers and servants expectations was used of semi-structure interview and then was done automatic clustering with using meta-heuristic algorithms in order to find different factors. Then, with the factor-based simulation approach, the model was designed in Any Logic software. After designing the model, using design method of Taguchi experiments (Qualitek-4 software), scenarios for the growth and development of the platform based on effective factors (liquidity the quality of communication and trust) designed on four levels and finally simulation was performed and scenarios were examined in the simulation environment. the research results showed that the appropriate level of platform growth and development indicators in the fourth level of liquidity, the fourth level of communication quality and the fourth level of trust. In addition, after implementing the optimal scenario in the simulation environment was determined that the percentage of value created on the Instagram platform due to the implementation of the desired scenario is equal to 0.934