Dynamic Optimization of Chemical Processes Based on Modified Sailfish Optimizer Combined with an Equal Division Method

The optimal solution of the chemical dynamic optimization problem is the basis of automatic control operation in the chemical process, which can reduce energy consumption, increase production efficiency, and maximize economic benefit. In this paper, a modified sailfish optimizer (MSFO) combined with an equal division method is proposed for solving chemical dynamic optimization problems. Based on the basic sailfish optimizer, firstly, the tent chaotic mapping strategy is introduced to disturb the initialization of sailfish and sardine populations to avoid the loss of population diversity. Secondly, an adaptive linear reduction strategy of attack parameters is proposed to enhance the exploration and exploitation ability of sailfish. Thirdly, the updating formula of sardine position is modified, and the global optimal solution is used to attract all sardine positions, which can avoid the premature phenomenon of the algorithm. Eventually, the MSFO is applied to solve six classical optimization cases of chemical engineering to evaluate its feasibility. The experimental results are analyzed and compared with other optimization methods to prove the superiority of the MSFO in solving chemical dynamic optimization problems.

On the fuzzy interval equal surplus sharing solutions

PurposeThis paper deals with cooperative games whose characteristic functions are fuzzy intervals, i.e. the worth of a coalition is not a real number but a fuzzy interval. This means that one observes a lower and an upper bound of the considered coalitions. This is very important, for example, from a computational and algorithmic viewpoint. The authors notice that the approach is general, since the characteristic function fuzzy interval values may result from solving general optimization problems.Design/methodology/approachThis paper deals with cooperative games whose characteristic functions are fuzzy intervals, i.e. the worth of a coalition is not a real number but a fuzzy interval. A situation in which a finite set of players can obtain certain fuzzy payoffs by cooperation can be described by a cooperative fuzzy interval game.FindingsIn this paper, the authors extend a class of solutions for cooperative games that all have some egalitarian flavour in the sense that they assign to every player some initial payoff and distribute the remainder of the worth v(N) of the grand coalition N equally among all players under fuzzy uncertainty.Originality/valueIn this paper, the authors extend a class of solutions for cooperative games that all have some egalitarian flavour in the sense that they assign to every player some initial payoff and distribute the remainder of the worth v(N) of the grand coalition N equally among all players under fuzzy uncertainty. Examples of such solutions are the centre-of-gravity of the imputation-set value, shortly denoted by CIS value, egalitarian non-separable contribution value, shortly denoted by ENSC value and the equal division solution. Further, the authors discuss a class of equal surplus sharing solutions consisting of all convex combinations of the CIS value, the ENSC value and the equal division solution. The authors provide several characterizations of this class of solutions on variable and fixed player set. Specifications of several properties characterize specific solutions in this class.

American Heterosexual Young Adults’ Reasoning about their Expectations for Future Household Labor Participation

Despite being egalitarian, heterosexual young adults, especially women, predict a gendered division in their future household. The present study investigated 178 American heterosexual young adults’ (M = 20.56, 88.20% European American, 51% ciswomen) ideal and expected future household labor participation, their social attitudes and their justifications for their expectations. Participants were on average egalitarian in their attitudes and reasoning. Across the sample, gender norm reasoning was positively associated with expecting an unequal division, while equality reasoning was associated with expecting an equal division. A final model in which reasoning and attitudes were both included found that only being male and employing equality justifications was positively predictive of expecting an egalitarian division. The present study highlights the value of going beyond social attitudes and turning to investigating young adults’ underlying reasoning for understanding why gender (in)equality is expected and potentially perpetuated despite egalitarian ideals.

On the Fair Division of a Random Object

Ann likes oranges much more than apples; Bob likes apples much more than oranges. Tomorrow they will receive one fruit that will be an orange or an apple with equal probability. Giving one half to each agent is fair for each realization of the fruit. However, agreeing that whatever fruit appears will go to the agent who likes it more gives a higher expected utility to each agent and is fair in the average sense: in expectation, each agent prefers the allocation to the equal division of the fruit; that is, the agent gets a fair share. We turn this familiar observation into an economic design problem: upon drawing a random object (the fruit), we learn the realized utility of each agent and can compare it to the mean of the agent’s distribution of utilities; no other statistical information about the distribution is available. We fully characterize the division rules using only this sparse information in the most efficient possible way while giving everyone a fair share. Although the probability distribution of individual utilities is arbitrary and mostly unknown to the manager, these rules perform in the same range as the best rule when the manager has full access to this distribution. This paper was accepted by Ilia Tsetlin, behavioral economics and decision analysis.

8. Parental Leave and Gender Equality

This chapter defends the radical view that the state should legally require all parents to take a substantial period of parental leave following the birth or adoption of a child. Though extreme, this strikes the right balance between advancing gender equality and respecting other considerations relating to the family. The chapter begins by identifying the various ways in which the current distribution of paid employment and household work is gendered, showing how women and men tend to play different roles in these domains. It then explains how different kinds of parental leave schemes can challenge the gendered division of labour, criticizing those that are likely to reproduce the current pattern of paid employment and household work. The chapter argues for schemes that encourage a more equal division of labour between women and men. It also discusses the implications of the chapter’s conclusions for the design of parental leave schemes and for the broader landscape in which these policies are nested.

Various Tonal Systems and Phenomena in the 19th and 20th Centuries

This study – without claiming completeness – takes into account systems and phenomena in which the organising of pitches is different from that of functional tonality. A central topic is how the principle of symmetry prevails, along with possible interpretations of the notion of tonality. The starting point of the most important manifestations of symmetry is the equal division of the octave, from which the issues of the distance scales are inseparable. The study presents the interactions of diatonic scale and pitch-organization based on the principles of symmetry, which casts a new light on the phenomenon of polytonality. The study relies on important research published abroad during the last few decades – mainly in relation to Stravinsky’s music – but which may be lesser known in Hungary. Keywords: “Ungar” scale, symmetry, polytonality

Ensuring Equal Bandwidth for Remote Connections to the Local Company Server

Creating the required IT infrastructure to enable the ability for comfortable remote working is not an easy task. Improper configuration can create the possibility of taking over the whole bandwidth of the link by one device. Increasing bandwidth introduces extra costs and does not completely eliminate the problem – it will be more difficult to take over the whole bandwidth, but it is still possible. The solution to the problem may be the use of clouds and VPS, but it is associated with high costs and the need to entrust company data to providers of these services. Due to security and too high costs, this may not be an optimal solution. An alternative solution may be to use QoS along with PCQ. This mechanism allows to ensure equal division of the bandwidth between the devices under its control. With an appropriate configuration, QoS can eliminate the problem of taking over the whole bandwidth and ensure equal access to resources.

Gender and Perception of Justice in Housework Division between Unemployed Spouses

Division of family tasks between the members of a couple often reflects gender (in)equality in the family. Identifying how couples with different unemployment configurations divide family tasks may contribute to a better understanding of the process. In this study, we evaluated how unemployed couples (only husbands, only wives, and both; n = 291) distributed different types of family tasks (domestic, maintenance/repair, and childcare), the effects of this division on the perception of justice, and the influence of attitudes towards gender roles in their perception of justice. We verified that unemployment introduces some changes, for both men and women. Namely, individuals when unemployed start performing more family tasks. However, division is still unequal, with wives performing more domestic and childcare tasks than their husbands. Nevertheless, men and women have a greater perception of justice towards a more equal division, even after we control the effect of traditional gender attitudes.