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Limited number of berths can result in a subsequent bus stopping at the upstreamof a bus stop when all berths are occupied. When this traffic phenomenon occurs, passengers waiting on the platform usually prefer walking to the stopped bus, which leads to additional walking time before boarding the bus. Therefore, passengers' travel time consumed at a bus stop is divided into waiting time, additional walking time, and boarding time. This paper proposed a mathematical model for analyzing passengers' travel time at conventional bus stop based on theory of stochastic service system. Field-measured and simulated data were designated to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed model. By analyzing the results, conclusion was conducted that short headway can reduce passengers' waiting time at bus stop. Meanwhile, the theoretical analysis explained the inefficiency of bus stops with more than three berths from the perspective of passengers' additional walking time. Additional walking time will increase in a large scale when the number of berths at a bus stop exceedsthe threshold of three. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the stock size selection problem (Chambers and Dyson, 1976), which is of relevance in the float glass industry. Given a fixed integer N, generally between 2 and 6 (but potentially larger), we find the N best sizes for intermediate stock from which to cut a roster of orders. An objective function is formulated with the purpose of minimizing wastage, and the problem is phrased as a combinatorial optimization problem involving the selection of columns of a cost matrix. Some bounds and heuristics are developed, and two exact algorithms (depth-first search and branch-and-bound) are applied to the problem, as well as one approximate algorithm (NOMAD). It is found that wastage reduces dramatically as N increases, but this trend becomes less pronounced for larger values of N (beyond 6 or 7). For typical values of N, branch-and-bound is able to find the exact solution within a reasonable amount of time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the kinematics of mutual movement of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and a ground target. The controlled observation and tracking head (OTH) is a device responsible for observing the ground, searching for a ground target, and tracking it. The preprogrammedmovement of theUAV on the circle with the simultaneousmovement of the head axis on Archimedes' spiral during searching for a ground target, both fixed (bunkers, rocket missiles launching positions, etc.) and movable (tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, etc.), is considered. Dynamics of OTH during the performance of the above mentioned activities is examined. Some research results are presented in a graphical form. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims at being a guide to understand the different types of transportation problems by presenting a survey of mathematical models and algorithms used to solve different types of transportation modes (ship, plane, train, bus, truck, Motorcycle, Cars, and others) by air, water, space, cables, tubes, and road. Some problems are as follows: bus scheduling problem, delivery problem, combining truck trip problem, open vehicle routing problem, helicopter routing problem, truck loading problem, truck dispatching problem, truck routing problem, truck transportation problem, vehicle routing problem and variants, convoy routing problem, railroad blocking problem (RBP), inventory routing problem (IRP), air traffic flow management problem (TFMP), cash transportation vehicle routing problem, and so forth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Joint offset calibration is one of the most important methods to improve the positioning accuracy for industrial robots. This paper presents an efficientmethod to calibrate industrial robot joint offset. The proposed method mainly relies on a laser pointermounted on the robot end-effector and a position sensitive device (PSD) located in the work space arbitrarily. A vision based control was employed to aid the laser beam shooting at the center of PSD surface from several initial robot postures. For each shoot, the laser beam was a line in space which can be determined by the robot joint angles and their offsets which were recorded when the laser beam was brought to the center of the PSD surface. Therefore, there are several lines in space parameterized by robot joint offsets only and all these lines were constrained by the same point, that is, the center of the PSD surface. Consequently, an optimization model was formulated and the Levenberg-Marquardt (LM) algorithm was employed to identify the joint offsets. The developed calibration system was implemented on an ABB industrial robot IRB1600 successfully. And the joint offsets of this robot can be calibrated within 6 minutes [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a multilayered quadrotor control method that can move the quadrotor to the desired goal while resisting disturbance. The proposed control systemismodular, convenient to design and verify, and easy to extend. It comprises three layers: a physical layer, a displacement control layer, and an attitude control layer. The displacement control layer considers the movement of the vehicle, while the attitude control layer controls its attitude. The physical layer deals with the physical operation of the vehicle. The two control layers use a mathematical method to provide minute step-by-step control. The proposed control system effectively combines the three layers to achieve drift stabilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cost of LTL model checking is highly sensitive to the length of the formula under verification. We observe that, under some specific conditions, the input LTL formula can be reduced to an easier-to-handle one before model checking. In such reduction, these two formulae need not to be logically equivalent, but they share the same counterexample set w.r.t the model. In the case that the model is symbolically represented, the condition enabling such reduction can be detected with a lightweight effort (e.g., with SAT-solving). In this paper, we tentatively name such technique "counterexample-preserving reduction" (CePRe, for short), and the proposed technique is evaluated by conducting comparative experiments of BDD-based model checking, bounded model checking, and property directed reachability-(IC3) based model checking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficiency of the compositional verification of invariants depends on the abstraction, which may lead to verification incompleteness. The invariant strengthening and state partitioning techniques are proposed in this paper. The former could refine the overapproximation by removing the unreachable states, and the latter is a variant of counterexample-guided abstraction refinement. Integrated with these two refinement techniques, a unified compositional verification framework is presented to strengthen the abstraction and find counterexamples. Some examples are included to show that the verification of the safety properties in component-based systems has been achieved by our framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes an input-output conformance (IOCO) test selection method directed by test purpose model specified with colored Petri nets (CPN). Based on conformance testing oriented CPN models for specifying software functional behaviors and specific test purposes, respectively, feasible test cases are generated, guided by the CPN based IOCO relation, using synchronized model simulation with the proof of the soundness of test generation and the coverage towards test purposes. This test selection method integrates the merits the IOCO testing theory and the CPN modeling synergistically and is applied as a novel and applicable test selection method for actual testing practice of large-scale software systems. As the synchronized model simulation with two CPN models is irrespective of their model scale, the effectiveness and practicability of our test selection method are enhanced with scalability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molodtsov's soft set theory is a newly emerging mathematical tool to handle uncertainty. However, the classical soft sets are not appropriate to deal with imprecise and fuzzy parameters. This paper aims to extend the classical soft sets to hesitant fuzzy soft sets which are combined by the soft sets and hesitant fuzzy sets. Then, the complement, "AND", "OR", union and intersection operations are defined on hesitant fuzzy soft sets. The basic properties such as DeMorgan's laws and the relevant laws of hesitant fuzzy soft sets are proved. Finally, with the help of level soft set, the hesitant fuzzy soft sets are applied to a decision making problem and the effectiveness is proved by a numerical example. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we consider a subclass of strongly spirallike functions on the unit disk D in the complex plane C, namely, strongly almost spirallike functions of type β and order α.We obtain the growth results for strongly almost spirallike functions of type β and order α on the unit disk D in C by using subordination principles and the geometric properties of analytic mappings. Furthermore we get the growth theorems for strongly almost starlike functions of order α and strongly starlike functions on the unit disk D of C. These growth results follow the deviation results of these functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is concerned with the numerical stability of Runge-Kutta methods for a class of nonlinear functional differential and functional equations. The sufficient conditions for the stability and asymptotic stability of (k, l)-algebraically stable Runge-Kutta methods are derived. A numerical test is given to confirm the theoretical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and foreground modeling is a typical method in the application of computer vision. The current general "low-rank + sparse" model decomposes the frames from the video sequences into low-rank background and sparse foreground. But the sparse assumption in such a model may not conform with the reality, and the model cannot directly reflect the correlation between the background and foreground either. Thus, we present a novelmodel to solve this problem by decomposing the arranged data matrix D into low-rank background L and moving foreground M. Here, we only need to give the priori assumption of the background to be low-rank and let the foreground be separated from the background as much as possible. Based on this division, we use a pair of dual norms, nuclear norm and spectral norm, to regularize the foreground and background, respectively. Furthermore, we use a reweighted function instead of the normal norm so as to get a better and faster approximation model. Detailed explanation based on linear algebra about our two models will be presented in this paper. By the observation of the experimental results, we can see that our model can get better background modeling, and even simplified versions of our algorithms perform better than mainstream techniques IALM and GoDec. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the derivation of a simple mathematical model of cyclic learning with a period of 24 hours. Various requirements are met with an emphasis and approach which relies on simple mathematical operations, the prediction of measurable quantities, and the creation of uncomplicated processes of calibration. The presented model can be used to answer questions such as the following. Will I be able to memorize a given set of information? How long will it take to memorize information? How long will I remember the information that was memorized? The model is based on known memory retention functions that are in good agreement with experimental results. By the use of these functions and by formalism of differential equations, the concurrent processes of learning and forgetting are described mathematically. The usability of this model is limited to scenarios where logical bonds (connections to prior learning) are not created and mnemonic devices cannot be utilized during the learning process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research scope of grey relational analysis has not been developed in recent years, and the exiting GRA models are all based on three perspectives, including distance perspective, slope perspective, and area perspective. Under this situation, a novel model called grey relational analysis based on angle perspective (GRAAP) was developed in this paper for the first time, and this model can expand the research scope of GRA. Like other GRA models, GRAAP not only has the properties of symmetry, uniqueness, comparability, and so forth but also can be used to make predictions, assessments, classifications, and so on. Finally, this novel model was proved to be rational and effective through a comparative study on the similar degree of four time series. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the T-stability of the Heun method and balanced method for solving stochastic differential delay equations (SDDEs). Two T-stable conditions of the Heun method are obtained for two kinds of linear SDDEs. Moreover, two conditions under which the balanced method is T-stable are obtained for two kinds of linear SDDEs. Some numerical examples verify the theoretical results proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Model criticism is an important stage of model building and thus goodness of fit tests provides a set of tools for diagnostic checking of the fitted model. Several tests are suggested in literature for diagnostic checking. These tests use autocorrelation or partial autocorrelation in the residuals to criticize the adequacy of fitted model. The main idea underlying these portmanteau tests is to identify if there is any dependence structure which is yet unexplained by the fitted model. In this paper, we suggest mixed portmanteau tests based on autocorrelation and partial autocorrelation functions of the residuals. We derived the asymptotic distribution of the mixture test and studied its size and power using Monte Carlo simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In real-life games, the consequence or payoff of a strategy profile and a player's belief about the consequence of a strategy profile are often ambiguous, and players may have different optimistic attitudes with respect to a strategy profile. To handle this problem, this paper proposes a decision rule using the Hurwicz criterion and Dempster-Shafer theory. Based on this rule, we introduce a new kind of games, called ambiguous games, and propose a solution concept that is appropriate for this sort of games. Moreover, we also study how the beliefs regarding possible payoffs and optimistic attitudes may affect the solutions of such a game. To illustrate our model, we provide an analysis of a scenario concerning allocating resource of defending and attacking in military contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a Petri net-based model for cloud workflow which plays a key role in industry. Three kinds of parallelisms in cloud workflow are characterized and modeled. Based on the analysis of the modeling, a cloud workflow engine is designed and implemented in Aneka cloud environment. The experimental results validate the effectiveness of our approach of modeling, design, and implementation of cloud workflow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A delayed SEIQRS model for the transmission of malicious objects in computer network is considered in this paper. Local stability of the positive equilibrium of the model and existence of local Hopf bifurcation are investigated by regarding the time delay due to the temporary immunity period after which a recovered computer may be infected again. Further, the properties of the Hopf bifurcation are studied by using the normal form method and center manifold theorem. Numerical simulations are also presented to support the theoretical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a reduced-order model for the large scale circuits representing the multiconductor systems. It is based on the block Arnoldi algorithm for calculating congruence transformation matrix. By setting up the state equations in frequency domain for the multiconductor systems, the transfer functions are calculated and so the frequency response curves are obtained. A comparison is made between those curves obtained from the circuits with and without reduced-order treatment and a better agreement appears between them. By using inverse Laplace transform, the lightning transient responses in the multiconductor systems are given in time-domain. A better agreement is shown between calculated and experimental results, which confirm the validity of the proposed model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces a novel quay crane design, double girder bridge crane (DGBC). DGBC is capable of handling containers of two adjacent bays simultaneously, avoiding crane collisions, saving travelling and reposition cost, and eventually improving terminal efficiency. This problem is formulated as a resource-constrained project scheduling with objective to minimize the maximum completion time. A two-stage heuristic algorithm is proposed in which an operating sequences on each bay is obtained by double cycling, and the integrated timetable for both bays is constructed by solving resource conflicts using the proposed minimum cost strategy. We examine effectiveness and performance of applying DGBC with double cycling. A case study is presented to illustrate how DGBC works with the two-stage method. Three extreme cases with respective conflict types are investigated to develop the performance bounds of DGBC with double cycling. The results show that DGBC can significantly improve terminal productivity, and outperforms single girder crane in both makespan and the lift operation percentage. The highest DGBC efficiency does not require maximum double cycles in two bay schedules; rather the integrated timetable for two bays is the main contribution to the DGBC performance as it yields better cooperation between two spreaders and the driver. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on activemagnetic bearing (AMB) systems are increasing in popularity and practical applications. Magnetic bearings cause less noise, friction, and vibration than the conventional mechanical bearings; however, the control of AMB systems requires further investigation. The magnetic force has a highly nonlinear relation to the control current and the air gap. This paper proposes an intelligent control method for positioning an AMB system that uses a neural fuzzy controller (NFC). The mathematical model of an AMB system comprises identification followed by collection of information from this system. A fuzzy logic controller (FLC), the parameters of which are adjusted using a radial basis function neural network (RBFNN), is applied to the unbalanced vibration in an AMB system. The AMB system exhibited a satisfactory control performance, with low overshoot, and produced improved transient and steady-state responses under various operating conditions. The NFC has been verified on a prototype AMB system. The proposed controller can be feasibly applied to AMB systems exposed to various external disturbances; demonstrating the effectiveness of the NFC with self-learning and self-improving capacities is proven. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tuberculosis (TB) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can be considered a deadly human syndemic. In this paper, we formulate a model for TB and HIV transmission dynamics. The model considers both TB and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) treatment for individuals with only one of the two infectious diseases or both. The basic reproduction number and equilibrium points are determined and stability is analyzed. Through simulations, we show that TB treatment for individuals with only TB infection reduces the number of individuals that become coinfected with TB and HIV/AIDS and reduces the diseases (TB and AIDS) induced deaths. Analogously, the treatment of individuals with only AIDS also reduces the number of coinfected individuals. Further, TB treatment for coinfected individuals in the active and latent stage of TB disease implies a decrease of the number of individuals that passes from HIV-positive to AIDS [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thousands of victims and millions of affected people are hurt by natural disasters every year. Therefore, it is essential to prepare proper response programs that consider early activities of disaster management. In this paper, a multiobjective model for distribution centers which are located and allocated periodically to the damaged areas in order to distribute relief commodities is offered. The main objectives of this model are minimizing the total costs and maximizing the least rate of the satisfaction in the sense of being fair while distributing the items. The model simultaneously determines the location of relief distribution centers and the allocation of affected areas to relief distribution centers. Furthermore, an efficient solution approach based on genetic algorithm has been developed in order to solve the proposed mathematical model. The results of genetic algorithm are compared with the results provided by simulated annealing algorithm and LINGO software. The computational results show that the proposed genetic algorithm provides relatively good solutions in a reasonable time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Automated line is widely applied in industry especially for mass production with less variety product. Productivity is one of the important criteria in automated line as well as industry which directly present the outputs and profits. Forecast of productivity in industry accurately in order to achieve the customer demand and the forecast result is calculated by using mathematical model. Mathematical model of productivity with availability for automated line has been introduced to express the productivity in terms of single level of reliability for stations and mechanisms. Since this mathematical model of productivity with availability cannot achieve close enough productivity compared to actual one due to lack of parameters consideration, the enhancement of mathematical model is required to consider and add the loss parameters that is not considered in current model. This paper presents the investigation parameters of productivity losses investigated by using DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control) concept and PACE Prioritization Matrix (Priority, Action, Consider, and Eliminate). The investigated parameters are important for further improvement of mathematical model of productivity with availability to develop robust mathematical model of productivity in automated line. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past, fairness verification of exchanges between the traders in E-commerce was based on a common assumption, so-called nonrepudiation property, which says that if the parties involved can deny that they have received or sent some information, then the exchanging protocol is unfair. So, the nonrepudiation property is not a sufficient condition. In this paper, we formulate a new notion of fairness verification based on the strand space model and propose a method for fairness verification, which can potentially determine whether evidences have been forged in transactions. We first present an innovative formal approach not to depend on nonrepudiation, and then establish a relative tradermodel and extend the strand space model in accordance with traders' behaviors of E-commerce. We present a case study to demonstrate the effectiveness of our verification method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herpes simplex virus infection is mostly spread and occurs more commonly among substance abusing adolescents as compared to the nonsubstance abusing. In this paper, amathematicalmodel for the spread of HSV-2 within a community with substance abusing adolescents is developed and analysed. The impacts of condom use and educational campaigns are examined. The study suggests that condom use is highly effective among adolescents, when we have more of them quitting than becoming substance abusers. Measures such as educational campaigns can be put in place to try and reduce adolescents from becoming substance abusers. Further, we applied optimal control theory to the proposed model. The controls represent condomuse and educational campaigns. The objective is based on maximising the susceptible nonsubstance abusing adolescents, while minimising the susceptible substance abusing adolescents, the infectious nonsubstance abusing adolescents, and the infectious substance abusing adolescents. We used Pontrygin's maximum principle to characterise the optimal levels of the two controls. The resulting optimality system is solved numerically. Overall, the application of the optimal control theory suggests that more effort should be devoted to condom use as compared to educational campaigns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the problem of the minimum length link scheduling (MLLS) in multiuser MIMO (MU-MIMO) networks. Generally, in the networks with MU-MIMO capability, the number of concurrent transmissions can be as large as that of antenna elements at the receiver. As a result, link interference is no longer binary but demonstrates a strong correlation among multiple links, which cannot be captured by the conventional conflict graph interference model. Hence, we propose a novel hypergraph interference model, which can accurately and efficiently characterize the relationship of multiple interferences induced by concurrent transmissions, and provide a tractable formalization of the minimumlength link scheduling in MU-MIMO networks (MU-MIMO MLLS). Afterwards, we prove that the MU-MIMO MLLS problem is NP-hard and introduce two approximation algorithms to find the near-optimal feasible schedule. Finally, extensive simulation experiments are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a novel numerical procedure based on the combination of an edge-based smoothed finite element (ES-FEM) with a phantom-node method for 2D linear elastic fracture mechanics. In the standard phantom-node method, the cracks are formulated by adding phantom nodes, and the cracked element is replaced by two new superimposed elements. This approach is quite simple to implement into existing explicit finite element programs. The shape functions associated with discontinuous elements are similar to those of the standard finite elements, which leads to certain simplification with implementing in the existing codes. The phantom-node method allows modeling discontinuities at an arbitrary location in themesh. The ES-FEM model owns a close-to-exact stiffness that is much softer than lower-order finite element methods (FEM). Taking advantage of both the ES-FEM and the phantom-node method, we introduce an edge-based strain smoothing technique for the phantom-node method. Numerical results show that the proposed method achieves high accuracy compared with the extended finite element method (XFEM) and other reference solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Business process models are required to be in line with frequently changing regulations, policies, and environments. In the field of intelligent modeling, organisations concern automated business process compliance checking as the manual verification is a timeconsuming and inefficient work. There exist two key issues for business process compliance checking. One is the definition of a business process retrieval language that can be employed to capture the compliance rules, the other concerns efficient evaluation of these rules. Traditional syntax-based retrieval approaches cannot dealwith various important requirements of compliance checking in practice. Although a retrieval language that is based on semantics can overcome the drawback of syntax-based ones, it suffers from the well-known state space explosion. In this paper, we define a semantics-based process model query language through simplifying a property specification pattern system without affecting its expressiveness. We use this language to capture semanticsbased compliance rules and constraints. We also propose a feasible approach in such a way that the compliance checking will not suffer fromthe state space explosion asmuch as possible. Atool is implemented to evaluate the efficiency. An experiment conducted on three model collections illustrates that our technology is very efficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A technique has been developed for predicting road traffic noise for environmental assessment, taking into account traffic volume as well as road surface conditions. The ASJ model (ASJ Prediction Model for Road Traffic Noise, 1999), which is based on the sound power level of the noise emitted by the interaction between the road surface and tires, employs regression models for two road surface types: dense-graded asphalt (DGA) and permeable asphalt (PA). However, thesemodels are not applicable to other types of road surfaces. Accordingly, this paper introduces a parameter estimation procedure for ASJ-based noise predictionmodels, utilizing a harmony search (HS) algorithm. Traffic noise measurement data for four different vehicle types were used in the algorithm to determine the regression parameters for several road surface types. The parameters of the traffic noise prediction models were evaluated using another measurement set, and good agreement was observed between the predicted and measured sound power levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigated the spacing threshold of nonsubmerged spur dikes with alternate layout to classify the impact scale of spur dikes. A mathematical model was built based on standard k-ε model, finite volume method (FVM), and rigid lid assumption and was verified by experimental data. According to dimensional analysis, three indices, that is, Fr (Froude number), B/b (channel width to dike length), and B/b (channel width to water depth), were identified as the influencing factors on the spacing threshold, based on which fifteen sets of conditions were simulated. The calculation results indicate that B/h is themost influencing parameter on Sc/b (spacing threshold to dike length), followed by B/b and Fr. A dimensionless empirical formula of spacing threshold is fitted by multivariate regression. The results of four sets of additional conditions illustrate that the generalization of empirical formula is satisfactory and the precision of interpolation is higher than that of extrapolation. Furthermore, the spacing threshold of alternate spur dikes is generally smaller than ipsilateral spur dikes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Component-based models are widely used for embedded systems. The models consist of components with input and output ports linked to each other. However, mismatched links or assumptions among components may cause many failures, especially for large scale models. Binding semantic knowledge into models can enable domain-specific checking and help expose modeling errors in the early stage. Ontology is known as the formalization of semantic knowledge. In this paper we propose an ontology-driven tool for static correctness checking of domain-specific errors two kinds of important static checking, semantic type and domain-restrcted rules, are fulfilled in a unified framework. We first propose a formalway to precisely describe the checking requirements by ontology and then separately check them by a lattice-based constraint solver and a description logic reasoner. Compared with other static checking methods, the ontology-based method we proposed is model-externally configurable and thus flexible and adaptable to the changes of requirements. The case study demonstrates the effectiveness of our method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate a class of generalized weighted scale-free networks, where the new vertex connects to m pairs of vertices selected preferentially. The key contribution of this paper is that, from the standpoint of random processes, we provide rigorous analytic solutions for the steady state distributions, including the vertex degree distribution, the vertex strength distribution and the edge weight distribution. Numerical simulations indicate that this network model yields three power law distributions for the vertex degrees, vertex strengths and edge weights, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Being difficult to attain the precise mathematical models, traditional control methods such as proportional integral (PI) and proportional integral differentiation (PID) cannot meet the demands for real time and robustness when applied in some nonlinear systems. Theneural network controller is a good replacement to overcome these shortcomings. However, the performance of neural network controller is directly determined by neural network model. In this paper, a new neural network model is constructed with a structure topology between the regular and random connection modes based on complex network, which simulates the brain neural network as far as possible, to design a better neural network controller. Then, a new controller is designed under smallworld neural network model and is investigated in both linear and nonlinear systems control. The simulation results show that the new controller basing on small-world network model can improve the control precision by 30% in the case of system with random disturbance. Besides the good performance of the new controller in tracking square wave signals, which is demonstrated by the experiment results of direct drive electro-hydraulic actuation position control system, it works well on anti-interference performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is concerned with the identification of linear parameter varying (LPV) systems by utilizing a multimodel structure. To improve the approximation capability of the LPV model, asymmetric Gaussian weighting functions are introduced and compared with commonly used symmetric Gaussian functions. By this mean, locations of operating points can be selected freely. It has been demonstrated through simulations with a high purity distillation column that the identified models provide more satisfactory approximation. Moreover, an experiment is performed on real HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning) to further validate the effectiveness of the proposed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on a multiproject resource allocation problem in a bilevel organization. To solve this problem, a bilevel multiproject resource allocation model under a fuzzy random environment is proposed. Two levels of decision makers are considered in the model. On the upper level, the company manager aims to allocate the company's resources to multiple projects to achieve the lowest cost, which include resource costs and a tardiness penalty. On the lower level, each project manager attempts to schedule their resource-constrained project, with minimization of project duration as the main objective. In contrast to prior studies, uncertainty in resource allocation has been explicitly considered. Specifically, our research uses fuzzy random variables to model uncertain activity durations and resource costs. To search for the optimal solution of the bilevel model, a hybrid algorithm made up of an adaptive particle swarm optimization, an adaptive hybrid genetic algorithm, and a fuzzy random simulation algorithm is also proposed. Finally, the efficiency of the proposed model and algorithm is evaluated through a practical case from an industrial equipment installation company. The results show that the proposed model is efficient in dealing with practical resource allocation problems in a bilevel organization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The availability of adequate system models to reproduce, as faithfully as possible, the actual behaviour of the experimental systems is of key importance. In marine systems, the changing environmental conditions and the complexity of the infrastructure needed to carry out experimental tests call for mathematical models for accurate simulations. There exist a wide number of techniques to define mathematical models from experimental data. Support Vector Machines (SVMs) have shown a great performance in pattern recognition and classification research areas having an inherent potential ability for linear and nonlinear system identification. In this paper, this ability is demonstrated through the identification of the Nomoto second-order ship model with real experimental data obtained from a zig-zag manoeuvre made by a scale ship. The mathematical model of the ship is identified using Least Squares Support Vector Machines (LS-SVMs) for regression by analysing the rudder angle, surge and sway speed, and yaw rate. The coefficients of the Nomoto model are obtained with a linear kernel function. The model obtained is validated through experimental tests that illustrate the potential of SVM for system identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modeling and testing for parallel software systems are very difficult, because the number of states and execution sequences expands significantly caused by parallel behaviors. In this paper, a model reduction method based on Coloured Petri Net (CPN) is shown, which could generate a functionality-equivalent and trace-equivalent model with smaller scale. Model-based testing for parallel software systems becomesmuch easier after the model is reduced by the reduction method. Specifically, a formal model for software system specification is constructed based on CPN. Then the places in the model are divided into input places, output places, and internal places; the transitions in the model are divided into input transitions, output transitions, and internal transitions. Internal places and internal transitions could be reduced if preconditions are matching, and some other operations should be done for functionality equivalence and trace equivalence. If the place and the transition are in a parallel structure, then many execution sequences will be removed from the state space. We have proved the equivalence and have analyzed the reduction effort, so that we could get the same testing result with much lower testing workload. Finally, some practices and a performance analysis show that the method is effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selecting the right set of features from data of high dimensionality for inducing an accurate classification model is a tough computational challenge. It is almost a NP-hard problem as the combinations of features escalate exponentially as the number of features increases. Unfortunately in data mining, as well as other engineering applications and bioinformatics, some data are described by a long array of features. Many feature subset selection algorithms have been proposed in the past, but not all of them are effective. Since it takes seemingly forever to use brute force in exhaustively trying every possible combination of features, stochastic optimization may be a solution. In this paper, we propose a new feature selection scheme called Swarm Search to find an optimal feature set by using metaheuristics. The advantage of Swarm Search is its flexibility in integrating any classifier into its fitness function and plugging in any metaheuristic algorithmto facilitate heuristic search. Simulation experiments are carried out by testing the Swarm Search over some high-dimensional datasets, with different classification algorithms and various metaheuristic algorithms. The comparative experiment results show that Swarm Search is able to attain relatively low error rates in classification without shrinking the size of the feature subset to its minimum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An improved Susceptible-Infected-Susceptible (SIS) epidemic diffusion model with population migration between two cities is modeled. Global stability conditions for both the disease-free equilibrium and the endemic equilibrium are analyzed and proved. The main contribution of this paper is reflected in epidemic modeling and analysis which considers unequal migration rates, and only susceptible individuals can migrate between the two cities. Numerical simulation shows when the epidemic diffusion system is stable, number of infected individuals in one city can reach zero, while the number of infected individuals in the other city is still positive. On the other hand, decreasing population migration in only one city seems not as effective as improving the recovery rate for controlling the epidemic diffusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the identification problem of Wiener nonlinear systems. The application of the key-termseparation principle provides a simplified form of the estimated parameter model. To solve the identification problem of Wiener nonlinear systems with the unmeasurable variables in the information vector, the least-squares-based iterative algorithmis presented by replacing the unmeasurable variables in the information vector with their corresponding iterative estimates. The simulation results indicate that the proposed algorithm is effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with financial modeling to describe the behavior of asset returns, through consideration of economic cycles together with the stylized empirical features of asset returns such as fat tails. We propose that asset returns are modeled by a stochastic volatility L'evy process incorporating a regime switching model. Based on the risk-neutral approach, there exists a large set of candidates of martingale measures due to the driving of a stochastic volatility L'evy process in the proposed model which renders the market incomplete in general. We first establish an equivalent martingale measure for the proposed model introduced in risk-neutral version. Regime switching of stochastic volatility L'evy process is employed in an approximation mode for model calibration and the calibration of parameters model done based on EM algorithm. Finally, some empirical results are illustrated via applications to the Bangkok Stock Exchange of Thailand index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grey Verhulst models are often employed to simulate the development tendency with the characteristic of saturated process of S curve. However, the uncertainty of interval grey numbers will be increased since the boundaries of interval grey number are extended by the Axiom of nondecreasing grey degree in the existing Verhulst modeling method. In this paper, the interval grey number is divided into two real number parts, that is, "white" and "grey" parts. Then the "white" and "grey" parts are simulated and forecasted by building the grey Verhulst model and DGM(1, 1) model, respectively. To some degree, this method resolves the issue of amplifying the range of interval grey number. Finally, an example is used to compare the simulation performance between the new model and the traditional model, and the results show that the new model is superior to the other model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellular manufacturing (CM) is a production approach directed towards reducing costs, as well as increasing system's flexibility in today's small-to-medium lot production environment. Many structural and operational issues should be considered for a successful CM design and implementation such as cell formation (CF), production planning, and facility layout. Most researchers have addressed these issues sequentially or independently, instead of jointly optimizing a combination of these issues. In order to attain better results to ensure that the system will be capable of remaining efficient in unknown future situations, these issues should be addressed simultaneously. In this paper, a mathematical model is developed using an integrated approach for production planning and cell formation problems in a CM. A set of numerical examples are provided from existing the literature in order to test and illustrate the proposed model. In order to evaluate and verify the performance of the proposed model, it is compared with a well known cell formation methods (rank order clustering and direct clustering analysis), using group capability index (GCI) measure. The results and comparisons indicate that the proposed model has a significantly higher and satisfactory performance and it is reliable for the design and the analysis of CM systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a complementary technique of the BDD-based approach, bounded model checking (BMC) has been successfully applied to LTL symbolic model checking. However, the expressiveness of LTL is rather limited, and some important properties cannot be captured by such logic. In this paper, we present a semantic BMC encoding approach to deal with the mixture of ETLf and ETLl. Since such kind of temporal logic involves both finite and looping automata as connectives, all regular properties can be succinctly specified with it. The presented algorithm is integrated into the model checker ENuSMV, and the approach is evaluated via conducting a series of imperial experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multifunction Vehicle Bus (MVB) is a critical component in the Train Communication Network (TCN), which is widely used in most of the modern train techniques of the transportation system. How to ensure security of MVB has become an important issue. Traditional testing could not ensure the system correctness. The MVB system modeling and verification are concerned in this paper. Petri Net and model checking methods are used to verify the MVB system. A Hierarchy Colored Petri Net (HCPN) approach is presented to model and simulate the Master Transfer protocol of MVB. Synchronous and asynchronous methods are proposed to describe the entities and communication environment. Automata model of the Master Transfer protocol is designed. Based on our model checking platform M³C, the Master Transfer protocol of the MVB is verified and some system logic critical errors are found. Experimental results show the efficiency of our methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vehicle crash test is considered to be the most direct and common approach to assess the vehicle crashworthiness. However, it suffers from the drawbacks of high experiment cost and huge time consumption. Therefore, the establishment of a mathematical model of vehicle crash which can simplify the analysis process is significantly attractive. In this paper, we present the application of LPV-ARMAX model to simulate the car-to-pole collision with different initial impact velocities. The parameters of the LPVARMAX are assumed to have dependence on the initial impact velocities. Instead of establishing a set of LTI models for vehicle crashes with various impact velocities, the LPV-ARMAX model is comparatively simple and applicable to predict the responses of new collision situations different fromthe ones used for identification. Finally, the comparison between the predicted response and the real test data is conducted, which shows the high fidelity of the LPV-ARMAX model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we offer the generalization of the known technique of the construction of the gradient of the residual functional based on the statement of the conjugate problem for the case when the unknown function is complex valued. The notion of the reference frequency of the medium is introduced. Knowing the value of the reference frequency lets us judge the possibility of simultaneous definition of the dielectric permittivity and conductivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]