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;

25 Years of IIF Time Series Forecasting: A Selective Review

We review the past 25 years of time series research that has been published in journals managed by the International Institute of Forecasters (Journal of Forecasting 1982-1985; International Journal of Forecasting 1985-2005). During this period, over one third of all papers published in these journals concerned time series forecasting. We also review highly influential works on time series forecasting that have been published elsewhere during this period. Enormous progress has been made in many areas, but we find that there are a large number of topics in need of further development. We conclude with comments on possible future research directions in this field.Accuracy measures; ARCH model; ARIMA model; Combining; Count data; Densities; Exponential smoothing; Kalman Filter; Long memory; Multivariate; Neural nets; Nonlinearity; Prediction intervals; Regime switching models; Robustness; Seasonality; State space; Structural models; Transfer function; Univariate; VAR.

Effects of Tariffication: Tariffs, Quotas and VERs under Monopolistic Competition

Recent rounds of GATT and later WTO have advocated widespread tariffication, meaning that existing non-tariff barriers be converted into import equivalent tariffs. From an economic point of view, the effects of such tariffication are not entirely clear. The paper presents a general equilibrium model with monopolistic competition to examine the welfare effects of tariffication. The ranking of pre- and post-tariffication welfare depends crucially on the nature of the initial trade barrier and the tariff tool applied. Tariffication using a specific (an ad valorem) tariff results in the same (a reduced) welfare level compared to an initial quota, whereas welfare is increased (the same) compared to an initial VER.Trade policy, tariffication, specific tariff, ad valorem tariff, quota, VER

Tariffs and Firm-Level Heterogeneous Fixed Export Costs

Recent literature on the workhorse model of intra-industry trade has explored heterogeneous cost structures at the firm level. These approaches have proven to add realism and predictive power. This note shows, however, that this added realism also implies that there may exist a positive bilateral tariff that maximizes national and world welfare. Applying one of the simplest specifications possible, namely a symmetric two-country intra-industry trade model with fixed export costs that are heterogeneous across firms, we find that the reciprocal reduction of small tariffs reduces welfare.Optimal tariff; Welfare; Intra-industry trade; Monopolistic competition; Protectionism

Hydrogen bonding in C-methylated nitroanilines : the three-dimensional framework structure of 2-methyl-4-nitroaniline

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Path-Integral Quantization of the (2,2) String

A complete treatment of the (2,2) NSR string in flat (2+2) dimensional space-time is given, from the formal path integral over N=2 super Riemann surfaces to the computational recipe for amplitudes at any loop or gauge instanton number. We perform in detail the superconformal gauge fixing, discuss the spectral flow, and analyze the supermoduli space with emphasis on the gauge moduli. Background gauge field configurations in all instanton sectors are constructed. We develop chiral bosonization on punctured higher-genus surfaces in the presence of gauge moduli and instantons. The BRST cohomology is recapitulated, with a new space-time interpretation for picture-changing. We point out two ways of combining left- and right-movers, which lead to different three-point functions.Comment: 36 pages, LaTeX; published version (typos & eq.(7.12) corrected

A South African review of harmonic emission level assessment as per IEC61000-3-6

Large-scale renewable power producing plants are being integrated into South African networks. Network operators need to ensure that Renewable Power Plants (RPP) do not negatively affect the power quality levels of their networks, as harmonics amongst others could become a concern. IEC 61000-3-6 details a method for allocating voltage harmonic emission limits for distorting loads. This method works well for the allocation of emission limits; however it does not address the management of harmonic emissions once a plant is connected to the network. The management of harmonic emissions requires that network operators measure or quantify the emissions from loads and generators to determine compliance. Post-connection quantification of harmonic levels and compliance is a challenge for network operators. The question asked is “How should a network operator measure/quantify the harmonic emissions of a load/generator to establish compliance with the calculated limits as per IEC 61000-3-6”. This paper reviews within a South African context methods of assessing harmonic emission levels and then evaluates these methods by means of field data. Opportunities for improvement are identified and operational requirements discussed

4,5-bis(benzoylsulfanyl)-1,3-dithiol-2-one

Peer reviewedPublisher PD