A new fuzzy set merging technique using inclusion-based fuzzy clustering

This paper proposes a new method of merging parameterized fuzzy sets based on clustering in the parameters space, taking into account the degree of inclusion of each fuzzy set in the cluster prototypes. The merger method is applied to fuzzy rule base simplification by automatically replacing the fuzzy sets corresponding to a given cluster with that pertaining to cluster prototype. The feasibility and the performance of the proposed method are studied using an application in mobile robot navigation. The results indicate that the proposed merging and rule base simplification approach leads to good navigation performance in the application considered and to fuzzy models that are interpretable by experts. In this paper, we concentrate mainly on fuzzy systems with Gaussian membership functions, but the general approach can also be applied to other parameterized fuzzy sets

Exotic ants from the Maghreb (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) with first report of the hairy alien ant Nylanderia jaegerskioeldi (Mayr) in Algeria

Exotic ants from the Maghreb (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) with first report of the Hairy Alien Ant Nylanderia jaegerskioeldi (Mayr) in Algeria.- We compiled 16 exotic ant species found in the Maghreb in wild ecosystems, gardens and urban areas. Five of these introduced species are considered major ecological and agricultural household pest species that have become established above all in Morocco. During our investigation in a citrus orchard of ITMAS Heuraoua, Algiers, we detected two exotic ants, Nylanderia jaegerskioeldi (Mayr, 1904) and Strumigenys membranifera Emery, 1869, plus nine native ant species. The Formicinae ant N. jaegerskioeldi is recorded for the first time in Algeria, taking the number of exotic ants in the country to 11. This is the fourth known record in North Africa. A brief comparison between the exotic ant fauna of Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and neighboring countries highlights the need to improve the limited knowledge of ants in North Africa.Hormigas exóticas del Magreb (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) con primer registro de la hormiga velluda alóctona Nylanderia jaegerskioeldi (Mayr) en Argelia. Documentamos 16 especies exóticas de hormigas distribuidas en ecosistemas naturales, jardines y áreas urbanas del Magreb. Cinco de las especies introducidas y establecidas constituyen plagas importantes desde los puntos de vista ecológico, agrícola y doméstico, especialmente en Marruecos. Durante nuestra investigación en una huerta de cítricos de ITMAS Heuraoua, Argel, registramos dos hormigas exóticas, Nylanderia jaegerskioeldi (Mayr, 1904) y Strumigenys membranifera Emery, 1869, así como nueve especies de hormigas autóctonas. La hormiga N. jaegerskioeldi, de la subfamilia Formicinae, fue registrada por primera vez en Argelia, lo que eleva a 11 el número de hormigas exóticas presentes en el país. Este es el cuarto registro conocido en el Norte de África. Una breve comparación entre la fauna de hormigas exóticas de Argelia, Marruecos, Túnez y países vecinos pone de relieve la necesidad de mejorar el limitado conocimiento sobre las hormigas en el Norte de África.Formigues exòtiques del Magrib (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) amb primer registre de la formiga peluda al·lòctona Nylanderia jaegerskioeldi (Mayr) a Algèria. Documentem 16 espècies exòtiques de formigues distribuïdes en ecosistemes naturals, jardins i àrees urbanes del Magrib. Cinc de les espècies introduïdes i establertes constitueixen plagues importants des dels punts de vista ecològic, agrícola i domèstic, especialment al Marroc. Durant la nostra recerca en una horta de cítrics d'ITMAS Heuraoua, Alger, vam registrar dues formigues exòtiques, Nylanderia jaegerskioeldi (Mayr, 1904) i Strumigenys membranifera Emery, 1869, així com nou espècies de formigues autòctones. La formiga N. jaegerskioeldi, de la subfamília Formicinae, va ser registrada per primera vegada a Algèria, cosa que eleva fins a 11 el nombre de formigues exòtiques presents al país. Aquest és el quart registre conegut al Nord d'Àfrica. Una breu comparació entre la fauna de formigues exòtiques d'Algèria, el Marroc, Tunísia i els països veïns posa en relleu la necessitat de millorar el limitat coneixement sobre les formigues al Nord d'Àfrica

Using the clustering coefficient to guide a genetic-based communities finding algorithm

The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-23878-9_20Proceedings of 12th International Conference IDEAL, Norwich, UK, September 7-9, 2011.We describe an approach taken for automatically associating entries from an on-line encyclopedia with concepts in an ontology or a lexical semantic network. It has been tested with the Simple English Wikipedia and WordNet, although it can be used with other resources. The accuracy in disambiguating the sense of the encyclopedia entries reaches 91.11% (83.89% for polysemous words). It will be applied to enriching ontologies with encyclopedic knowledge

Mesure statistique de la résistance de contact d’une grille sérigraphiée pour cellules solaires au silicium multicristallin

La métallisation par sérigraphie est une des étapes les plus importantes dans la technologie d’élaboration des cellules solaires pour une production à grande échelle. Néanmoins, elle demeure dépendante de plusieurs paramètres variables. Pour le silicium multi cristallin, tout changement dans le procédé de réalisation des cellules solaires influence directement l’optimisation du profil de recuit de la métallisation par sérigraphie. Les plaquettes de silicium multi cristallin subissent toutes les étapes classiques de réalisation des cellules solaires comme le nettoyage chimique et la décontamination, une diffusion au phosphore et le dépôt du nitrure de silicium SiNx par PECVD (Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition). Il y a juste le dépôt du contact Argent Ag sur la face avant de la plaquette. Nous avons utilisé la pâte de sérigraphie Ag Ferro 3349. La grille métallique comporte six (06) motifs TLM (Transfer Length Method) pour les mesures de la résistance de contact. Le principal but de ce travail est le contrôle de la qualité du contact Ag/SiNx/n+-Si dans les cellules solaires au silicium multicristallin. Les mesures TLM révèlent une cartographie des valeurs de la résistance de contact pour chaque température. Le profil optimal de température de recuit est autour de 750 °C

A Novel Parameter Identification Approach for C–V–T Characteristics of Multi-Quantum Wells Schottky Diode Using Ant Lion Optimizer

We report the capacitance-voltage (C–V) characteristics of multi quantum wells Schottky diode. This diode is based on Aluminum gallium arsenide, which is highly promising wide band gap semiconductor for applications in high power electronic and optoelectronic devices. The elaboration process and the characterization phase have been carried out at Nottingham University. The C–V characteristics have been measured at different temperature ranging from 20 to 400 K. The barrier height and effective density were than extracted from 1/(C/A)2 plot using heuristic algorithm which called ALO (Ant Lion Optimizer). The accuracy of the extraction method is verified through the gotten results