Accelerated Particle Swarm Optimization and Support Vector Machine for Business Optimization and Applications

Business optimization is becoming increasingly important because all business activities aim to maximize the profit and performance of products and services, under limited resources and appropriate constraints. Recent developments in support vector machine and metaheuristics show many advantages of these techniques. In particular, particle swarm optimization is now widely used in solving tough optimization problems. In this paper, we use a combination of a recently developed Accelerated PSO and a nonlinear support vector machine to form a framework for solving business optimization problems. We first apply the proposed APSO-SVM to production optimization, and then use it for income prediction and project scheduling. We also carry out some parametric studies and discuss the advantages of the proposed metaheuristic SVM.Comment: 12 page

Hysteretic behavior of angular dependence of exchange bias in FeNi/FeMn bilayers

For FeNi/FeMn bilayers, the angular dependence of exchange bias shows hysteresis between clockwise and counterclockwise rotations, as a new signature. The hysteresis decreases for thick antiferromagnet layers. Calculations have clearly shown that the orientation of antiferromagnet spins also exhibits hysteresis between clockwise and counterclockwise rotations. This furnishes an interpretation of the macroscopic behavior of the ferromagnetic layer in terms of the thermally driven evolution of the magnetic state of the antiferromagnet layer

Transcriptome analysis of hepatic gene expression and DNA methylation in methionine- and betaine-supplemented geese (Anser cygnoides domesticus)

Dietary methionine (Met) restriction produces a coordinated series of transcriptional responses in the liver that limits growth performance and amino acid metabolism. Methyl donor supplementation with betaine (Bet) may protect against this disturbance and affect the molecular basis of gene regulation. However, a lack of genetic information remains an obstacle to understand the mechanisms underlying the relationship between Met and Bet supplementation and its effects on genetic mechanisms. The goal of this study was to identify the effects of dietary supplementation of Met and Bet on growth performance, transcriptomic gene expression, and epigenetic mechanisms in geese on a Met-deficient diet. One hundred and fifty 21-day-old healthy male Yangzhou geese of similar body weight were randomly distributed into 3 groups with 5 replicates per treatment and 10 geese per replicate: Met-deficient diet (Control), Control+1.2 g/kg of Met (Met), and Control+0.6 g/kg of Bet (Bet). All geese had free access to the diet and water throughout rearing. Our results indicated that supplementation of 1.2 g/kg of Met in Met-deficient feed increased growth performance and plasma homocysteine (HCY) levels, indicating increased transsulfuration flux in the liver. Supplementation of 0.6 g/kg Bet had no apparent sparing effect on Met needs for growth performance in growing geese. The expression of many genes critical for Met metabolism is increased in Met supplementation group. In the Bet-supplemented group, genes involved in energy production and conversion were up-regulated. Dietary supplementation with Bet and Met also altered DNA methylation. We observed changes in the methylation of the LOC106032502 promoter and corresponding changes in mRNA expression. In conclusion, Met and Bet supplementation in geese affects the transcriptional regulatory network and alters the hepatic DNA methylation of LOC106032502

Sodium ion storage in reduced graphene oxide

The performance of few-layered metal-reduced graphene oxide (RGO) as a negative electrode material in sodium-ion battery was investigated. Experimental and simulation results indicated that the as-prepared RGO with a large interlayer spacing and disordered structure enabled significant sodium-ion storage, leading to a high discharge capacity. The strong surface driven interactions between sodium ions and oxygen-containing groups and/or defect sites led to a high rate performance and cycling stability. The RGO anode delivered a discharge capacity of 272 mA h g(-1) at a current density of 50mAg(-1), a good cycling stability over 300 cycles and a superior rate capability. The present work provides new insights into optimizing RGOs for high-performance and low-cost sodium-ion batteries. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Selective crystallisation of carbamazepine polymorphs on surfaces with differing properties

Surface-induced nucleation of carbamazepine (CBZ) in ethanol was investigated with different surface materials: glass, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and tin. The introduction of foreign surfaces with different areas and surface chemistries into the solution has an impact on the crystal morphology and polymorphic form (Form II or III). With an increase in supersaturation, a higher possibility of crystallisation of CBZ metastable Form II was observed, as expected. Increasing the number of inserts resulted in a direct increase in the surface area available for heterogeneous nucleation. The increase in surface area resulted in the greater possibility of obtaining the metastable Form II of CBZ. The stable Form III preferred to nucleate on tin rather than on glass and PTFE. The results indicate that the two different polymorphs of CBZ can be selectively crystallised out from solution with the aid of a foreign surface. The kinetic mechanism of heterogeneous nucleation of the different polymorphs induced by foreign surfaces was discussed. The potential applications will be used to control and design the crystallisation process

Modeling soil behaviors under principal stress rotations

This paper presents an elastoplastic soil model considering the Principal Stress Rotation (PSR). The model is developed on the basis of a well-established kinematic hardening soil model using the bounding surface concept. The impact of the stress rate generating the PSR is treated independently, and is added to the base kinematic hardening model. The significance of independent treatment of the PSR stress rate in the soil model is demonstrated through comparing the simulations of soil stress-strain responses by using the base soil model and the modified model in the paper. Various test results in different sands under both drained and undrained conditions are simulated, and the new model gives better simulations involving the PSR induced volumetric strain and liquefaction. The paper also discusses the simulations and experiments of sand responses under multiple PSRs

Self-assembled Ni/NiO/RGO heterostructures for high-performance supercapacitors

A nano-sized nickel/nickel oxide/RGO (Ni/NiO/RGO) nano-hybrid was generated successfully by using a facile and green sol-gel approach, with the reduced graphene oxide as an effective component, for developing a high-efficiency electrode material with super-capacitance. In the novel hierarchical nano-composite, the combination of metallic nickel interfaced with the nickel oxide was created by the reduction of a nickel nitrate precursor with the carbon of the reduced graphene oxide surface, during the thermal treatment in nitrogen. The electrochemical performances of the Ni/NiO/RGO composite were measured through cyclic voltammetry tests and galvanostatic charge-discharges, as a supercapacitor material. Due to the higher conductivity and synergistic effect, the new hybrid delivered a high specific capacitance of 1027.27 F g-1 at the charge/discharge current density of 2 A g-1, and 720 F g-1 at 20 A g-1. After 1000 uninterrupted cycles at 5 A g-1, the high specific capacitance value can be still stabilized, and kept at 92.95% of the initial value of the specific capacitance for Ni/NiO/RGO. This new nano composite with RGO and Ni/NiO exhibits great promise as an electrode material for supercapacitors

Executable Architectures Using Cuckoo Search Optimization Coupled with OPM and CPN-A Module: A New Meta-Architecture Model for FILA SoS

Understanding System of Systems (SoS) requires novel ways to apply systems engineering processes. Acknowledged SoS have recognized objectives, a designated manager and resources for the SoS. The goal of this research is to develop a proof of concept tool suite for Acknowledged SoS systems simulation. This suite is named flexible, intelligent and learning architectures for System of Systems (FILA-SoS). FILA-SoS assists the SoS manager in architecture generation, selection, and implementation working as an aid for decision making. Binary cuckoo search constrained optimization is used to generate meta-architectures which are evaluated by a fuzzy assessor for quality assurance. The architecture is then converted into an executable structure using Object Process Methodology (OPM) and Colored Petri Nets (CPN). A hybrid methodology comprising of OPM and CPN approach is implemented for simulating the acquisition environment. Initial application for a Search and Rescue (SAR) SoS, consisting of 25 individual systems with ten capabilities gave promising results

Biomass derived carbon nanoparticle as anodes for high performance sodium and lithium ion batteries

In this paper, we report a flame deposition method to prepare carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) from coconut oil. The CNPs were further modified with a piranha solution to obtain surface-carboxylated carbon nanoparticles (c-CNPs). When used as an anode for sodium-ion batteries, the CNPs and c-CNPs respectively delivered discharge capacities of 277 and 278 mA h g in the second cycle at a current density of 100 mA g. At the 20th cycle, the capacities of CNP and c-CNPs were 217 and 206 mA h g respectively. The results suggest that modification of the CNPs with the piranha solution improved neither the charge storage capacity nor the stability against cycling in a sodium-ion battery. When the CNP and c-CNP were used an anode in a lithium-ion battery, 2nd-cycle discharge capacities of 741 and 742 mA h g respectively at a current density of 100 mA g were obtained. After 20 cycles the capacities of CNP and c-CNP became 464 and 577 mA h g respectively, showing the cycling stability of the CNPs was improved after modification. The excellent cycling performance, high capacity and good rate capability make the present material as highly promising anodes for both sodium-ion and lithium-ion batteries

Direct Measurements of the Branching Fractions for D0→K−e+νeD^0 \to K^-e^+\nu_e and D0→π−e+νeD^0 \to \pi^-e^+\nu_e and Determinations of the Form Factors f+K(0)f_{+}^{K}(0) and f+π(0)f^{\pi}_{+}(0)

The absolute branching fractions for the decays $D^0 \to K^-e ^+\nu_e$ and $D^0 \to \pi^-e^+\nu_e$ are determined using $7584\pm 198 \pm 341$ singly tagged $\bar D^0$ sample from the data collected around 3.773 GeV with the BES-II detector at the BEPC. In the system recoiling against the singly tagged $\bar D^0$ meson, $104.0\pm 10.9$ events for $D^0 \to K^-e ^+\nu_e$ and $9.0 \pm 3.6$ events for $D^0 \to \pi^-e^+\nu_e$ decays are observed. Those yield the absolute branching fractions to be $BF(D^0 \to K^-e^+\nu_e)=(3.82 \pm 0.40\pm 0.27)$ and $BF(D^0 \to \pi^-e^+\nu_e)=(0.33 \pm 0.13\pm 0.03)$. The vector form factors are determined to be $|f^K_+(0)| = 0.78 \pm 0.04 \pm 0.03$ and $|f^{\pi}_+(0)| = 0.73 \pm 0.14 \pm 0.06$. The ratio of the two form factors is measured to be $|f^{\pi}_+(0)/f^K_+(0)|= 0.93 \pm 0.19 \pm 0.07$.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure