New Less Conservative Control Design Conditions for T-S Fuzzy Systems: Relaxed Parameterized Linear Matrix Inequality in the Form of Double Sum

The aim of this study is to investigate less conservative conditions for a parameterized linear matrix inequality (PLMI) expressed in the form of double convex sum. This type of PLMI appears frequently in nonlinear T-S fuzzy control analysis and synthesis problems. In this paper, we derive sufficient linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) for the PLMI without using any slack variables, by employing the proposed sum relaxation based on Young's inequality. The derived LMIs are proven to be less conservative than those presented in [1]. The proposed technique is applicable to various control design problems for T-S fuzzy systems represented in PLMIs that take the form of double convex sum. Furthermore, an example is provided to illustrate the reduced conservatism of the derived LMIs

Evaluation of critical thinking course for premedical students using literature and film

Purpose Premedical education is one stage in which various educational approaches are used to promote critical thinking. Given that critical thinking ability could be regarded as one of the intended outcomes of social science and humanities education, this study explored the effectiveness of a course to promote critical thinking in a premedical curriculum using both literature and film. Methods Fifty-one 2nd year premedical students enrolled in a ‘Critical Thinking for Premeds’ course. Students were required to read or watch a selected material, submit group discussion agendas, attend five group discussion sessions, and write critical essays. Five tutors facilitated the group discussions, observed and assessed the students’ performance and critical essay. Students’ critical thinking disposition and opinion on assigned reading materials were examined before and after the course. A program evaluation survey was conducted to investigate the students’ reaction after the course. Results On average, students appreciated 78.6% of the total assigned materials. The students indicated that group discussions and the narrative comments of facilitators contributed the most to develop critical thinking. After the course, the students’ tendency preferring cheaper price books, as well as medicine-related books decreased significantly. Students who had critical essay scores greater than or equal to the median demonstrated a significant improvement in critical thinking disposition scores. Conclusion The course was well-accepted by premedical students and had several positive outcomes. A more effective use of the course could be anticipated with a clearer explanation of the purpose, the consideration of previous reading experience, and use of complementary learning activities

Optimizing Transportation Sequence in Warehouse with Genetic Algorithms

International audienceOptimizing transportation sequence is crucial to reduce material handling costs in warehouse operations and thus in total logistics costs. Transportation sequence is the ordering of storage and retrieval jobs that a material handling device has to perform to finish an order list. In many studies, the optimization of transportation sequence has been simplified as an order-picking problem, and accordingly solved as a classical traveling salesman problem. However, transportation sequence is a double-cycle storage and retrieval problem (DCSRP) in itself, meaning that the combination of storage and retrieval jobs into double cycles has to be considered simultaneously. In this paper, we propose formulating the DCSRP as a permutation problem and applying several genetic algorithms to solve the formulated problem. Extensive computational experiments were performed to demonstrate the capability of the approach. The experimental analysis confirms that our approach could solve the problem efficiently on the one hand, and addresses the question of which genetic operators are best applied to the formulated DCSRP on the other hand

Methyl 9-diethyl­amino-2,2-bis­(4-meth­oxy­phen­yl)-2H-benzo[h]chromene-5-carboxyl­ate

In the title compound, C31H29NO5, the methyl carboxyl­ate and dimethyl­amino groups on the naphtho­pyran group are almost coplanar with the naphtho­pyran ring system [r.m.s. deviations = 0.08 (2) and 0.161 (2) Å, respectively]. The dihedral angle between the methyl carboxyl­ate and dimethyl­amino groups is 4.9 (1)°. The pyran ring has an envelope conformation with the quaternary C atom out of plane by 0.4739 (13) Å. The meth­oxy­phenyl substituent forms a dihedral angle of 16.6 (1)° with the plane of the benzene ring, while the other meth­oxy­phenyl group is almost coplanar, making a dihedral angle of 1.4 (1)°

N,N-Diethyl-4-[9-meth­oxy-6-(4-methoxy­phen­yl)-5-methyl-2-phenyl-2H-benzo[h]chromen-2-yl]aniline

In the title compound, C38H37NO3, the pyran ring has an envelope conformation with the quaternary Cq atom as the flap atom. The dihedral angle formed between the meth­oxy­phenyl group and the naphthalene ring system is 67.32 (6)°. The ethyl­amino groups lie to the same side of the plane through the phenyl ring and form dihedral angles of 84.6 (3) and 75.8 (2)° with it

A Synergistic Anti-Diabetic Effect by Ginsenosides Rb1 and Rg3 through Adipogenic and Insulin Signaling Pathways in 3T3-L1 Cells

Although ginsenosides Rb1 and Rg3 have been identified as the significant ginsenosides found in red ginseng that confer anti-diabetic actions, it is unclear whether insulin-sensitizing effects are mediated by the individual compounds or by their combination. To determine the effect of ginsenosides Rb1 and Rg3 on adipocyte differentiation, 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were induced to differentiate the standard hormonal inducers in the absence or presence of ginsenosides Rb1 or Rg3. Additionally, we determined the effects of Rb1, Rg3, or their combination on the expression of genes related to adipocyte differentiation, adipogenic transcription factors, and the insulin signaling pathway in 3T3-L1 cells using semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Rb1 significantly increased the expression of CEBP alpha, PPAR gamma, and aP2 mRNAs. However, Rg3 exerted its maximal stimulatory effect on these genes at 1 mu M concentration, while a high concentration (50 mu M) showed inhibitory effects. Similarly, treatment with Rb1 and Rg3 (1 mu M) increased the expression of IRS-1, Akt, PI3K, GLUT4, and adiponectin. Importantly, co-treatment of Rb1 and Rg3 (9:1) induced the maximal expression levels of these mRNAs. Our data indicate that the anti-diabetic activity of red ginseng is, in part, mediated by synergistic actions of Rb1 and Rg3, further supporting the significance of minor Rg3