Usability Determination Using Multistage Fuzzy System

AbstractThe evaluation of software is important for enhancing the modification and improvement in a software development process. There are many factors to evaluate a software process. One of the factors is the Quality of software, which cannot be calculated with ease; as Quality of software is dependent on other factors. Software Usability is one of the significant aspects on which quality of software depends. A number of software usability models have been proposed by a number of researchers, each model considers a set of factors. In real world, we are facing many obstacles in implementing any of these proposed usability models as there is a lack in its precise definition and the concept of globally accepted usability. This paper aims to define the term ‘usability’ using a detailed taxonomy which includes all the aspects of usability and is globally accepted. Generalized Usability Model (GUM) with taxonomy has been proposed in this paper. This paper also shows how to determine the usability of a software application using a fuzzy based system which has been implemented using multistage fuzzy logic toolbox

Collecting Genetic Resources of Major Forage Grasses in India: Progress and Future Strategies

Indian gene centre possesses rich genetic and species diversity in native forage grasses (1256 spp.), as about one third of them, chiefly belonging to the tribes namely Andropogoneae, Paniceae and Eragrostideae, are of forage importance (Handbook of Agriculture, 2009). Forage grasses are important source of livestock feed. Collecting genetic diversity in major native forage species, occurring in both wild (mostly in rangelands) and cultivated state, is of paramount importance in conservation and use. Considerable genetic variability has also been generated in some introduced forages (e.g. Panicum maximum, Brachiaria spp.) as a result of repeated introductions followed by acclimatization due to cultivation under various climatic conditions of India. Since inception in 1976, ICAR-NBPGR has been nodal organization at country level for survey, exploration, collection, characterization, documentation and conservation of plant genetic resources (PGR) viz., landraces of crops, their wild relatives, and other economic plants including forages

Designing an Energy Efficient Network Using Integration of KSOM, ANN and Data Fusion Techniques

Energy in a wireless sensor network (WSN) is rendered as the major constraint that affects the overall feasibility and performance of a network. With the dynamic and demanding requirements of diverse applications, the need for an energy efficient network persists. Therefore, this paper proposes a mechanism for optimizing the energy consumption in WSN through the integration of artificial neural networks (ANN) and Kohonen self-organizing map (KSOM) techniques. The clusters are formed and re-located after iteration for effective distribution of energy and reduction of energy depletion at individual nodes. Furthermore, back propagation algorithm is used as a supervised learning method for optimizing the approach and reducing the loss function. The simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed energy efficient network

A Review on Modeling of AlGaN/GaN MODFET based on Artificial Neural Networks

High electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) based on GaN have gained attention mainly due to its high quality performance especially in high-frequency as well as high-power devices. Significant developments have been donein terms of fabrication and performance of HEMT through several modeling techniques. This review article focuses on artificial neural networks for modeling of HEMT devices with enhanced performance.The focus of this article is further extended to the discussion of different models of AlGaN/GaN HEMT devices

Understanding the Modus Operandi of Class II KNOX Transcription Factors in Secondary Cell Wall Biosynthesis

Lignocellulosic biomass from the secondary cell walls of plants has a veritable potential to provide some of the most appropriate raw materials for producing second-generation biofuels. Therefore, we must first understand how plants synthesize these complex secondary cell walls that consist of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin in order to deconstruct them later on into simple sugars to produce bioethanol via fermentation. Knotted-like homeobox (KNOX) genes encode homeodomain-containing transcription factors (TFs) that modulate various important developmental processes in plants. While Class I KNOX TF genes are mainly expressed in the shoot apical meristems of both monocot and eudicot plants and are involved in meristem maintenance and/or formation, Class II KNOX TF genes exhibit diverse expression patterns and their precise functions have mostly remained unknown, until recently. The expression patterns of Class II KNOX TF genes in Arabidopsis, namely KNAT3, KNAT4, KNAT5, and KNAT7, suggest that TFs encoded by at least some of these genes, such as KNAT7 and KNAT3, may play a significant role in secondary cell wall formation. Specifically, the expression of the KNAT7 gene is regulated by upstream TFs, such as SND1 and MYB46, while KNAT7 interacts with other cell wall proteins, such as KNAT3, MYB75, OFPs, and BLHs, to regulate secondary cell wall formation. Moreover, KNAT7 directly regulates the expression of some xylan synthesis genes. In this review, we summarize the current mechanistic understanding of the roles of Class II KNOX TFs in secondary cell wall formation. Recent success with the genetic manipulation of Class II KNOX TFs suggests that this may be one of the biotechnological strategies to improve plant feedstocks for bioethanol production

Status of exploitation of tuna, mackerel and seerfish in Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Annual fish landing of Andaman and Nicobar Islands during 1989-'99 and the contribution of scombroids viz., tuna, mackerel and seerfishes are described. During the period the exploitation of tuna ranged between 321 to 3,8231, the average contribution being about 5% of the total fish landings. Among the tuna species, yellowfin tuna Thunnus albacares is the major contributor followed by skipjack tuna Katsuwonus pelamis and bigeye tuna Thunns obesus all of which are best caught during March to August. The mackerfel fishery is supported by Rastrelliger brachysoma followed by R.kanagurta. The total mackerel landings ranged between 806 to 1,9551, the major fishing season being from March to June and September to October and is best caught in the gill nets and boat seines. Seerfishes are dominantly represented by two genera and three species vjz. Scomberomorus commerson, S. guttatus and Acanthocybium solandri. Their major fishing season is from March to August and November to Febmary, being generally caught by gill nets, troll lines and hand lines. During the period of 1989 -'99, the total exploitation of seerfishes ranged between 293 to 1,172 t and showed a gradual increase in their production