A hybrid genetic algorithm for solving a layout problem in the fashion industry.

As of this writing, many success stories exist yet of powerful genetic algorithms (GAs) in the field of constraint optimisation. In this paper, a hybrid, intelligent genetic algorithm will be developed for solving a cutting layout problem in the Belgian fashion industry. In an initial section, an existing LP formulation of the cutting problem is briefly summarised and is used in further paragraphs as the core design of our GA. Through an initial attempt of rendering the algorithm as universal as possible, it was conceived a threefold genetic enhancement had to be carried out that reduces the size of the active solution space. The GA is therefore rebuilt using intelligent genetic operators, carrying out a local optimisation and applying a heuristic feasibility operator. Powerful computational results are achieved for a variety of problem cases that outperform any existing LP model yet developed.Fashion; Industry;

An experimental investigation of fluctuations and correlations in electromagnetic and nuclear showers developing in lead

Investigation of fluctuation and correlation in electromagnetic and nuclear showers developing in lea

The behavior of fuzzy implications in a fuzzy knowledge base.

More and more companies today discover the advantages of using knowledge bases for their processes and services. Recently, fuzzy set theory has also captured the attention due to good performances within control systems. Therefore, it is very appealing to combine the advantages of these two areas into a fuzzy knowledge base. However, obtaining the results of control systems in a knowleg based environment is not so straightforward. This paper will investigate one aspect of the reasoning process, namely the behavior of the implication. From the different tests performed, four main behaviors of implications can be found. First of all, there are the implications not always resulting in a convex set. A second classs - the so-called impotent implications- doesn't change the predefined set at all. A third grouping reveals always a constant value portion, that rises or falls according to the changed input. A final divsion shifts the complete set in its whole conformably the intuition.Implications; Companies; Advantages; Knowledge; Processes; Theory; Performance; Systems; Value;

Report on active and planned spacecraft and experiments

Information dealing with active and planned spacecraft and experiments known to the National Space Science Data Center (NSSDC) is presented. Included is information concerning a wide range of disciplines: astronomy, earth sciences, meteorology, planetary sciences, aeronomy, particles and fields, solar physics, life sciences, and material sciences. These spacecraft represent the efforts and funding of individual countries, as well as cooperative arrangements among different countries

An Intercomparison Between Divergence-Cleaning and Staggered Mesh Formulations for Numerical Magnetohydrodynamics

In recent years, several different strategies have emerged for evolving the magnetic field in numerical MHD. Some of these methods can be classified as divergence-cleaning schemes, where one evolves the magnetic field components just like any other variable in a higher order Godunov scheme. The fact that the magnetic field is divergence-free is imposed post-facto via a divergence-cleaning step. Other schemes for evolving the magnetic field rely on a staggered mesh formulation which is inherently divergence-free. The claim has been made that the two approaches are equivalent. In this paper we cross-compare three divergence-cleaning schemes based on scalar and vector divergence-cleaning and a popular divergence-free scheme. All schemes are applied to the same stringent test problem. Several deficiencies in all the divergence-cleaning schemes become clearly apparent with the scalar divergence-cleaning schemes performing worse than the vector divergence-cleaning scheme. The vector divergence-cleaning scheme also shows some deficiencies relative to the staggered mesh divergence-free scheme. The differences can be explained by realizing that all the divergence-cleaning schemes are based on a Poisson solver which introduces a non-locality into the scheme, though other subtler points of difference are also catalogued. By using several diagnostics that are routinely used in the study of turbulence, it is shown that the differences in the schemes produce measurable differences in physical quantities that are of interest in such studies

Multi-frame Packet Reservation Multiple Access Using Oscillation-scaled Histogram-based Markov Modelling of Video Codecs

A model is proposed for replacing the video codec in networking studies, which is tested for sources with a mean bitrate in the range of 10Kb/s to 10Mb/s. The standard frame sizes investigated are the International Telecommunications Union's (ITU) 352 x 288-pixel Common Intermediate Format (CIF), 176 x 144-pixel Quarter CIF (QCIF), 704 x 576-pixel 4CIF and 128 x 96-pixel Sub-QCIF (SQCIF). The proposed 20-state 'oscillation-scaled’ Markov model was found to represent the relevant video codec characteristics adequately. The performance of this model is then tested in the context of a novel Multi-frame Packet Reservation Multiple Access or MF-PRMA scheme, which is shown in Figure 17 to outperform conventional PRMA in terms of both its delay and packet dropping performance, reaching throughput values as high as 79%

Integrated optical directional coupler biosensor

We present measurements on biomolecular binding reactions, using a new type of integrated optical biosensor based on a planar directional coupler structure. The device is fabricated by Ag+-Na+ ion-exchange in glass and definition of the sensing region is achieved by use of transparent fluoropolymer isolation layers formed by thermal evaporation. The suitability of the sensor for application to the detection of environmental pollutants is considered