Multi-objective particle swarm optimization algorithm for multi-step electric load forecasting

As energy saving becomes more and more popular, electric load forecasting has played a more and more crucial role in power management systems in the last few years. Because of the real-time characteristic of electricity and the uncertainty change of an electric load, realizing the accuracy and stability of electric load forecasting is a challenging task. Many predecessors have obtained the expected forecasting results by various methods. Considering the stability of time series prediction, a novel combined electric load forecasting, which based on extreme learning machine (ELM), recurrent neural network (RNN), and support vector machines (SVMs), was proposed. The combined model first uses three neural networks to forecast the electric load data separately considering that the single model has inevitable disadvantages, the combined model applies the multi-objective particle swarm optimization algorithm (MOPSO) to optimize the parameters. In order to verify the capacity of the proposed combined model, 1-step, 2-step, and 3-step are used to forecast the electric load data of three Australian states, including New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria. The experimental results intuitively indicate that for these three datasets, the combined model outperforms all three individual models used for comparison, which demonstrates its superior capability in terms of accuracy and stability

Exotic Higgs Decay h→ϕϕ→4bh\rightarrow\phi\phi\rightarrow 4b at the LHeC

We study the exotic decay of the 125 GeV Higgs boson ($h$) into a pair of light spin-0 particles ($\phi$) which subsequently decays and results in a $4b$ final state. This decay mode is well motivated in the Next to Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (NMSSM) and extended Higgs sector models. Instead of searching at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and the High Luminosity Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC) which are beset by large Standard Model (SM) backgrounds, we investigate this decay channel at the much cleaner Large Hadron Electron Collider (LHeC). With some simple selection cuts this channel becomes nearly free of background at this $ep$ machine, in stark contrast with the situation at the (HL-)LHC. With a parton level analysis we show that for the $\phi$ mass range $[20,60]GeV$, with $100\,fb^{-1}$ luminosity the LHeC is generally capable of constraining $C_{4b}^2\equiv\kappa_{V}^2\times\text{Br}(h\rightarrow\phi\phi)\times\text{Br}^2(\phi\rightarrow b\bar{b})$ ($\kappa_{V}$ denotes the $hVV(V=W,Z)$ coupling strength relative to the SM value) to a few percent level ($95\%$ CLs). With $1\,ab^{-1}$ luminosity $C_{4b}^2$ at a few per mille level can be probed. These sensitivities are much better than the HL-LHC performance and demonstrate the important role expected to be played by the LHeC in probing exotic Higgs decay processes, in addition to the already proposed invisible Higgs decay channel.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figures. Version accepted by EPJC. Tables and figures updated after correcting a mistake in signal event generation. Results essentially unchange

The Number of Alternative Products and the Information about it on the Online Shop

As the Internet can aggregate and distribute a great amount of information to users, providing numerous products for consumers has been recognized as a major advantage of electronic commerce. Causing by the problem of information overload, however, consumers facing many alternatives on the online shop may feel hard to decide which one they prefer. Based on the theory of decision style and prospect theory, this study explores if too many products sold on the online shop will reduce consumers’ subjective status toward their buying decision. A 3×3 between subjects experiment was conducted and showed that the buyers’ decision style, the quantity of alternative products and the information about it will affect consumers’ subjective status. These results suggest that we should consider the role of electronic intermediaries more carefully, and further examine the theory of information overload and the need for information literacy to prepare for the future

Phenotypic, Taxonomy, Phytochemical and Physiological Characterization of Black Pepper (Piper nigrum L.) Cultivars in Malaysia.

To improve the global market competitiveness of Malaysian black pepper, the quality of peppercorn needs to be strengthened. The varietal regulation at farm level is the prerequisite to enhance quality of peppercorn toward strengthening the marketing strategy. This project has comprehensively documented the morphology of ten important black pepper cultivars in Malaysia, namely ‘Semongok Aman’, ‘Kuching’, ‘Semongok Emas’, ‘Semongok Perak’, ‘Semongok 1’, ‘Nyerigai’, ‘India’, ‘Lampung Daun Lebar’, ‘Sarikei’ and ‘Yong Petai’. The key diagnosis characteristics are ‘Semongok Aman’ (Mucronate shaped leaf apex; High percentage of fruit set high, ca. 76%), ‘Kuching’ (High number of inflorescence (spike) per branch per node, ca. 58.67; High number of node/feet of stem, ca. 4.73), ‘Semongok Emas’ (Leaf colour of Green Group 137 Series; Fruit colour of Green Group 141 Series), ‘Semongok Perak’ (Low conversion rate for production of dried black peppercorn, ca. 36.12%; Low conversion rate for production of dried white peppercorn, ca. 24.21%), ‘Semongok 1’ (Cordate shaped leaf; Anthocyanin absent at shoot tip), ‘Nyerigai’ (Erect branching behaviour at mature vine stage), ‘India’ (Lanceolate shaped leaf; Light seed weight, ca. 0.14 g), ‘Lampung Daun Lebar’ (Oblique shaped leaf base; Blade length-width ratio low, ca. 1.52), ‘Sarikei’ (Small leaf area, ca. 36.90 cm2; Short inflorescence, ca. 6.06 cm; Short fruit spike, ca. 8.07 cm; Small fruit size, ca. 5.78 mm; Small seed size, ca. 3.84 mm; Thin pericarp, ca. 1.73 mm) and ‘Yong Petai’ (Long inflorescence length, ca. 12.75 cm; Long fruit spike length, ca. 17.07 cm; Thin inflorescence, ca. 2.90 mm). Phenetic analysis and Principle Component Analysis enlightened that ‘Semongok Aman’ and ‘Semongok 1’ have high distinctive value for identification while ‘Kuching’ and ‘Sarikei’ have high similarity, thus identification are more complicated. In phytochemical study, analysis showed ‘Semongok Aman’ and ‘Lampung Daun Lebar’ has higher piperine (4.20% and 4.25% respectively) and essential oil content (2.50% and 2.24% respectively). At the same time, this analysis also proved the high pleasant aroma index of peppercorn of ‘Nyerigai’ (26.11), ‘Sarikei’ (25.20) and ‘Kuching’ (18.75). In physiological analysis where the evaluation is based on gas exchange performance and leaf area index, ‘Kuching’ was proven most productive, followed by ‘Nyerigai’ and ‘India’. Besides, the efficiency of artificial pollination has been improved also via floral biology study. This study suggests pollen collection for all the ten cultivars, ideally between 0400 h and 1400 h while the stigma was proven more receptive at stage where elongation and spreading of stigmata has occurred and the emergence and wide spreading of stigmata has been completed. In general, this study has ensured efficient in situ identification of black pepper cultivar base on the identification key produced. Besides, the commercial potential of each cultivar particularly in pharmacological and fragrance industry has also been identified. It was hoped the study outcome could be used as industry guideline to ensure sustainable development of Malaysian black pepper industry in future