Fuzzy-Based Investigation of Challenges for the Deployment of Renewable Energy Power Generation

Studying and analyzing the challenges that the renewable energy sector faces can help evaluate the risks and improve the planning. This research is done by considering the challenges in the implementation of sustainable generation of electricity through RESs in India, based on factors, including technical, financial, involvement, support, and others. The triangular fuzzy number (TFN) method, based on fuzzy logic concept, is used to analyze the challenges in this study. In general, TFN comprises of three numbers, likewise Gaussian fuzzy numbers, trapezoidal fuzzy numbers also exist. The classified sets of numbers are denotations to decision-makers’ perspective or a choice towards the criterion preference. Although alternatives are many to design a fuzzy set depending on elements count, the TFNs are the ones considered as actual representations of a fuzzy number. On the other hand, cases the Gaussian or trapezoidal, are manifestations of fuzzy intervals. Another argument is that the membership function shape corresponding to the number of fuzzy set elements is largely dependent on the study. The challenges identified along with analysis in this paper will help the industry, governments, and policymakers focus and tackle essential issues to facilitate further the deployment of RESs in India towards a more sustainable country.

Two-dimensional craniometry: morphometry and cephalometry

Over the last twenty years, bone research has raised interest; the function, shape and alterations of bone tissue have been analyzed and reported. Craniometry is a method developed as a tool for the precise measurement of the skull and facial structures and it has been used not only for humans, but for a variety of mammals. Morphometry is used to study and quantitatively compare the shape variation of biological objects, organs and organisms. Cephalometry uses two-dimensional measurements of the head and face involving a radiographic analysis to provide data on soft tissue, dental and skeletal relationships. Papers regarding bone research are difficult to access and usually, craniometry and morphometry are reported separately. The object of this article is to report a two-dimensional craniometry performed in rats, using both morphometry and cephalometry. This specific craniometry is a functional, well established method which involves the entire anatomical aspects of the skull.

Mapping the fly’s ‘brain in the brain’

Studying neurons and their connections in the central complex of the fruit fly reveals new insights into how their structure and function shape perception and behavior.

The Influence of the Place Value System on Symbolic Number Perception

Past research on numerical cognition has suggested that both symbolic and non-symbolic numbers are mapped onto the same compressed mental analogue representation. However, experiments using magnitude estimation tasks show logarithmic compression of symbolic numbers while the compression of non-symbolic numbers has a power-function shape. This warrants closer inspection of what differentiates the two processes. In this study, we hypothesized that estimates of symbolic numbers are systematically shaped by the format in which they are represented, namely, the place value system. To investigate this, we tested adults (N = 188) on a magnitude estimation task with unfamiliar base-26 and base-5 scales. Results reveal that adults showed systematic, logarithmic-looking underestimation on both scales, indicating that the place value system itself can cause the pattern. Additionally, the observed shape of participants’ estimates on both scales could be well explained with a simple model that assumed insufficient understanding of exponential growth (i.e., a characteristic of place value systems). Taken together, our results suggest that the discrepancy between symbolic and non-symbolic number compression can be explained by taking the effect of the place value system into account.

Bias Effects on g- and s-Factors in Westcott Convention

For accuracy improvement of neutron activation analysis and neutron capture cross sections, bias effects are investigated on g- and s-factors in the Westcott convention. As origins of biases, a joining function shape, neutron temperature, and sample temperature have been investigated. Biases are quantitatively deduced for two 1/v isotopes (197Au, 59Co) and six non-1/v isotopes (241Am, 151Eu, 103Rh, 115In, 177Hf, 226Ra). The s-factor calculated with a joining function deduced recently by a detailed Monte Carlo simulation is compared to s-factors calculated with traditional joining functions by Westcott. The results show the bias induced by the sample temperature is small, in the order of 0.1% for the g-factor and in the order of 1% for the s-factor. On the other hand, the bias size induced by a joining function shape for the s-factor depends significantly on both isotopes and neutron temperature. As a result, the reaction rates are also affected significantly. The bias size for the reaction rate is given in the case of an epithermal neutron index r = 0.1, for the eight isotopes.

Universality in Urban Growth

In the era of rapid urbanization, understanding the mechanism of urban growth is critical to a better future of humanity. Models for urban growth can prepare policy makers to address the economic and social changes in their growing cities. Over the last decades, the physics of cities has revealed the mechanisms of urban growth from the universal characteristics that are largely observed in the main pillars of cities: function, shape and size. This article introduces the theoretical frameworks - urban scaling, fractal geometry and Zipf’s law-for universality in the function, shape and size of cities. In addition, we review the recent findings for a unified model of urban growth, including recapitulation, hierarchy and migrations.