Solving the Cubic Cell Formation Problem Using Simulated Annealing

The Cubic Cell Formation Problem (CCFP) in cellular manufacturing systems consists in decomposing a production system into a set of manufacturing cells, and assigning workers to cells besides parts and machines. The major objective is to obtain manageable cells. Manageable cells mean cells with a minimum value of inter-cell moves of parts and workers and a minimum value of heterogeneity within cells. In this paper, a solution methodology based on a modified simulated annealing heuristic with a proposed neighbourhood search procedure is proposed. The methodology allows building multiple configurations by giving to the decision-maker the ability to control some parameters. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm gives a promising performance for all problem instances found in the literature.

AVIFAUNISTIC DIVERSITY OF MERINE FOREST, NORTH-WEST ALGERIA

This study is an avifaunistic diversity assessment was carried out in the Merine forest, Sidi Bel Abbes (Northwest Algeria). During three years (2019-2021). The major objective of our investigation is to inventory avian species and to define their phenological categories. Among the important results is a record of, 71 species of bird, belonging to 17 orders and 28 families. The Passeriformes are the most noted with 43 species, distributed across 15 families, of which the Muscicapidae is the most represented with 10 species. The phenological categories indicates that the majority of this species are resident breeders (65 %), 21% are migrant breeders and 14% are passing visitors. Depending on trophic status, 32% are polyphagous, 27% insectivorous, 17% carnivorous, 15% granivorous and 8% omnivorous. In addition, we noted that, 31 species are protected by Flat 12-235 in Algeria, with one species (Falco naumanni) protected by the Ordinance 06-05. Internationally and one species protected according of the IUCN red list (Streptopelia turtur). The Merine forest is shelter to five species endemic to North Africa: Barbary Partridge (Alectoris barbara), Levaillant's Woodpecker (Picus vaillantii), Moussier's Redstart (Phoenicurus moussieri), Tristram's Warbler (Sylvia deserticola), African Blue Tit (Cyanistes teneriffae).

Nonmonotonic reasoning from conditional knowledge bases with system W

For nonmonotonic reasoning in the context of a knowledge base $\mathcal {R}$ R containing conditionals of the form If A then usually B, system P provides generally accepted axioms. Inference solely based on system P, however, is inherently skeptical because it coincides with reasoning that takes all ranking models of $\mathcal {R}$ R into account. System Z uses only the unique minimal ranking model of $\mathcal {R}$ R , and c-inference, realized via a complex constraint satisfaction problem, takes all c-representations of $\mathcal {R}$ R into account. C-representations constitute the subset of all ranking models of $\mathcal {R}$ R that are obtained by assigning non-negative integer impacts to each conditional in $\mathcal {R}$ R and summing up, for every world, the impacts of all conditionals falsified by that world. While system Z and c-inference license in general different sets of desirable entailments, the first major objective of this article is to present system W. System W fully captures and strictly extends both system Z and c-inference. Moreover, system W can be represented by a single strict partial order on the worlds over the signature of $\mathcal {R}$ R . We show that system W exhibits further inference properties worthwhile for nonmonotonic reasoning, like satisfying the axioms of system P, respecting conditional indifference, and avoiding the drowning problem. The other main goal of this article is to provide results on our investigations, underlying the development of system W, of upper and lower bounds that can be used to restrict the set of c-representations that have to be taken into account for realizing c-inference. We show that the upper bound of n − 1 is sufficient for capturing c-inference with respect to $\mathcal {R}$ R having n conditionals if there is at least one world verifying all conditionals in $\mathcal {R}$ R . In contrast to the previous conjecture that the number of conditionals in $\mathcal {R}$ R is always sufficient, we prove that there are knowledge bases requiring an upper bound of 2n− 1, implying that there is no polynomial upper bound of the impacts assigned to the conditionals in $\mathcal {R}$ R for fully capturing c-inference.

Ecophysiology of Fusarium chaquense a Novel Type A Trichothecene Producer Species Isolated from Natural Grasses

Fusarium chaquense, a recently formally described novel species, has been identified as an T-2 toxin (T-2), HT-2 toxin (HT-2) and other toxins producer in natural grasses (Poaceae) from Argentina. The major objective of this study was to describe the effect of water activity (aW, 0.995, 0.98, 0.95, 0.93 and 0.91), temperature (15, 25 and 30 °C) and incubation time (5, 15 and 25 days) on growth and to evaluate the production of T-2, HT-2 toxins and beauvericin (BEA) by two F. chaquense strains in a grass-based media. The results showed a wide range of conditions for F. chaquense growth and mycotoxin production. Both strains had a maximum growth rate at the highest aW (0.995) and 25 °C. Regarding mycotoxin production, more T-2 than the other analysed mycotoxins were produced by the two strains. T-2 production was favoured at 0.995 aW and 30 °C, while HT-2 production at 0.98–0.95 aW and 15 °C. The maximum levels of BEA were produced at 0.995 aW and 25–30 °C. Two-dimensional profiles of aW by temperature interactions were obtained from these data in order to identify areas where conditions indicate a significant risk of mycotoxins accumulation on grass. For its versatility on growth and mycotoxin production in a wide range of aW and temperatures, F. chaquense would have an adaptive advantage over other Fusarium species, and this would explain its high frequency of isolation in natural grasses grown up in the Chaco wetlands.

Framework design for competitive marketing mechanism in Iraqi social media

Several organizations in Iraq manufacture similar commodities in this aggressive social trading. The objective of these organizations is diffusing information about their commodities publicly for popularity of the commodities in social media. More returns result in popular commodities and vice versa. The development of a framework incorporating two organizations engaging to broaden the information to the large media has been undertaken. The organizations first identified their initial seed points concurrently and then data was scattered as per the Independent Cascade Model (ICM). The major objective of the organizations is the identification of seed points for the diffusion of data to several points in social media. Significant is also how fast data diffusion can be done. Data effect will arise from either none, one or more nodes in a social interconnection. Evaluation is also accomplished on the number of fraction parts in various sections are affected by the different rates of data diffusion. The simulation result for suggested framework presented better outcomes result for random network 1 and random network 2 comparing with regular network. This framework is used a Hotellingframwork of competition.

Synergistic lubricating performance of h-BN/GF nanoparticles as oil additives for steel-steel contact

The major objective of this work is to investigate the synergistic lubricating performance of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) and graphite fluoride (GF) nanoparticles (NPs) as lubricant additive in white oil. The tribological tests were carried out on steel-steel contacts using reciprocating ball-on-disk tribometer. Compared with white oil, addition of 0.1 wt. % h-BN/GF reduced the friction coefficient, wear rate and wear depth by 41.1 %, 89.1 %, and 92.3 %, respectively. Furthermore, when the mass ratio of h-BN and GF is 1:1 and the content of h-BN/GF nanocomposites is 0.1 wt. % the white oil show the best lubrication and wear resistance performance. Finally, the synergistic lubrication mechanism was investigated, the unique microstructure of the h-BN/GF composite and weak interfacial interaction between h-BN and GF contributed to the formation of continuous and adhesive tribo-films at the interface.

Research on the Distribution of Coronary Arteries in Pig (Sus Scrofa Domesticus)

Pigs are some of the most widely used experimental models, an advantage being the characteristics of homeostasis and many morphological features comparable to those in humans. For this reason, we addressed this topic in this paper, with the major objective of completing the data and even identifying some features not described in the literature. The present study was performed on 20 pig carcasses, with different weights and ages (2-4 months). The aim was to highlight some peculiarities regarding the coronary artery system in this species, using as a method the injection of vessels with contrasting plastic material. The collaterals and terminals of the coronary arteries, their distribution territories as well as the identified individual variants were described. As a general conclusion, regardless of the polymorphism in all dissected cases, the left coronary artery was the dominant artery, there being no exception from the data known in the literature.

Price stability - major macroeconomic objective

Price is a basic element of the market economy system and has become a leading economic category, due to its functions within it. Ensuring price stability is a major objective of the governance process, as it contributes to creating a relatively stable economic framework that allows for economic development and ensuring a sustained level of economic growth. The global economic crises, in parallel with the regional political instability, aggravated by the devastating consequences of the pandemic situation, emphasize once again the importance of the dynamics of price developments on the macroeconomic situations of contemporary states.

The Implication of REDD+ in Community Forestry (CF) Governance and Local Livelihood: A Case from Nepal

Nepal's decentralized forest governance has now included a new actor, i.e. REDD+ which is a mechanism based on market for mitigation of climate change through conservation of forest. This paper aims to shed lights on the REDD+ effect on community forestry governance, and local livelihood. For this various published articles and reports were reviewed and analyzed. Organizations like ICIMOD, FECOFUN and ANSAB are leading a pilot project in community forestry on measurement of carbon and equalizing benefit. The major objective of the REDD+ program is to reduce forest carbon emissions by providing financial incentives for developing countries. The impacts of the implication of the REDD+ is more questionable preceding its 10th anniversary. Special income generating activities and awareness programs have been implemented by the REDD+ pilot project targeting the poor, women, disadvantaged groups and indigenous people. While some study findings show the REDD+ gave priority to the carbon outcome rather than community forestry's forest management objective which threatens the objective of meeting the local needs of people. Analysis also showed that REDD+ policies have been developed and interventions are made in a way local people’s participation and representation of their voices is limited which may weaken and reverse the trend of forest decentralization. The involvement of the new actors in forest politics can be seen as a proof of positive impact of implementation of REDD+.

An Empirical Study on Movement of Stock Market of BRIC Economies- Are they Co-Integrated?

The major objective of this article is to assist the BRICS nations’ foreign investment decisionmaking process, as well as the creation or changes in policies by these nations’ characteristics. The context is crucial for foreign investors considering diversification advantages internationally, as well as policymakers responding to the aforesaid economies’ growth. This study examines the interconnections between the stock indexes of the BRIC economies. The goal of the research is to look at the long-term link between stock market indexes. From January 2010 to December 2020, the researcher utilized the index’s monthly closing price. To get the ADF at the first-order difference, all of the data is utilized in its raw form. The co-integration method is employed to determine the connection between stock indexes. The causal influence on stock market indices is studied using Granger causality. The sample considers countries such as Brazil, Russia, India, and China. The goal of the research is to look at the long-term link between stock market indexes. It is found that Sensex has the highest return among others, followed by SHCOMP, MOEX and BOVESPA. It is also found that the standard deviation of MOEX is high, followed by SENSEX, SHCOMP and BOVESPA. From the causality analysis, it is found Bi-directional relationship between India and China stock market. Whereas in the case of the other two markets, i.e., Brazil and Russia, the relationship with the Indian stock market are neither Uni-directional nor Bi-directional.