Search results for "MULTIPLE"
showing 10 items of 2678 documents
Adaptive Neural Control of MIMO Nonstrict-Feedback Nonlinear Systems with Time Delay
2016
In this paper, an adaptive neural output-feedback tracking controller is designed for a class of multiple-input and multiple-output nonstrict-feedback nonlinear systems with time delay. The system coefficient and uncertain functions of our considered systems are both unknown. By employing neural networks to approximate the unknown function entries, and constructing a new input-driven filter, a backstepping design method of tracking controller is developed for the systems under consideration. The proposed controller can guarantee that all the signals in the closed-loop systems are ultimately bounded, and the time-varying target signal can be tracked within a small error as well. The main con…
Disturbance observer-based disturbance attenuation control for a class of stochastic systems
2016
This paper studies a class of stochastic systems with multiple disturbances which include the disturbance with partially-known information and the white noise. A disturbance observer is constructed to estimate the disturbance with partially-known information, based on which, a disturbance observer-based disturbance attenuation control (DOBDAC) scheme is proposed by combining pole placement and linear matrix inequality (LMI) methods.
Metaheuristic procedures for the lexicographic bottleneck assembly line balancing problem
2015
The goal of this work is to develop an improved procedure for the solution of the lexicographic bottleneck variant of the assembly line balancing problem (LB-ALBP). The objective of the LB-ALBP is to minimize the workload of the most heavily loaded workstation, followed by the workload of the second most heavily loaded workstation and so on. This problem-recently introduced to the literature (Pastor, 2011)-has practical relevance to manufacturing facilities. We design, implement and fine-tune GRASP, tabu search (TS) and scatter search (SS) heuristics for the LB-ALBP and show that our procedures are able to obtain solutions of a quality that outperforms previous approaches. We rely on both s…
PolyACO+: a multi-level polygon-based ant colony optimisation classifier
2017
Ant Colony Optimisation for classification has mostly been limited to rule based approaches where artificial ants walk on datasets in order to extract rules from the trends in the data, and hybrid approaches which attempt to boost the performance of existing classifiers through guided feature reductions or parameter optimisations. A recent notable example that is distinct from the mainstream approaches is PolyACO, which is a proof of concept polygon-based classifier that resorts to ant colony optimisation as a technique to create multi-edged polygons as class separators. Despite possessing some promise, PolyACO has some significant limitations, most notably, the fact of supporting classific…
Ranking corporate sustainability: a flexible multidimensional approach based on linguistic variables
2017
Corporate sustainability implies a compromise between the present environmental, social, and economic needs of a firm's stakeholders and their future needs. Corporate sustainability is therefore a multidimensional concept. Nowadays, several independent rating agencies rate firms in terms of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria. These ratings are usually used by main sustainability indices such as the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, FTSE4 Good, Stoxx Sustainability Index, or Euronext Vigeo Family to select companies to invest in. Only those firms performing better than the average of their sector are selected. However, although providing linguistic ratings about the performan…
The ELECTRE I method to support the FMECA
2018
Abstract In traditional Failure Modes, Effects and Criticality Analysis (FMECA), risk priorities of failure modes are determined through the Risk Priority Number (RPN), which is a function of the three risk parameters Occurrence (O), Severity (S), and Detection (D). In the present paper, an alternative approach to RPN is proposed for the criticality assessment of system failure modes. Particularly, the Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) method ELECTRE I is proposed to select the most critical failure mode in the set of the failure modes charactering a complex system. The method has been applied to a case study previously proposed by Zammori and Gabrielli (2012).
Modelli di parenting multipli e benessere interpersonale. Una rassegna teorica sull’evoluzione del sistema motivazionale diadico verso il network del…
2016
Models of multiple parenting and interpersonal wellbeing. A theoretical review on the evolution of the dyadic motivational system toward the network of care A theoretical analysis on the evolution of the dyadic parenting model toward the multiple attachment perspective is presented. In particular, looking beyond the monotropic perspective (Bowlby, 1969), a theoretical framework about the integration model as a support of the elasticity of the Internal Working Models is highlighted. Based on these studies, the continuity in the quality of the attachment representations would remain in function also of the changes inside the care environment, in its aspects of risk and protection as well as o…
Building Robustness into Translational Research
2020
AbstractNonclinical studies form the basis for the decision whether to take a therapeutic candidate into the clinic. These studies need to exhibit translational robustness for both ethical and economic reasons. Key findings confirmed in multiple species have a greater chance to also occur in humans. Given the heterogeneity of patient populations, preclinical studies or at least programs comprising multiple studies need to reflect such heterogeneity, e.g., regarding strains, sex, age, and comorbidities of experimental animals. However, introducing such heterogeneity requires larger studies/programs to maintain statistical power in the face of greater variability. In addition to classic sourc…
Betulinic Acid Exerts Cytotoxic Activity Against Multidrug-Resistant Tumor Cells via Targeting Autocrine Motility Factor Receptor (AMFR).
2018
Betulinic acid (BetA) is a naturally occurring pentacyclic triterpene isolated from the outer bark of white-barked birch trees and many other medicinal plants. Here, we studied betulinic acid's cytotoxic activity against drug-resistant tumor cell lines. P-glycoprotein (MDR1/ABCB1) and BCRP (ABCG2) are known ATP-binding cassette (ABC) drug transporters that mediating MDR. ABCB5 is a close relative to ABCB1, which also mediates MDR. Constitutive activation of the EGF receptor is tightly linked to the development of chemotherapeutic resistance. BetA inhibited P-gp, BCRP, ABCB5 and mutation activated EGFR overexpressing cells with similar efficacy as their drug-sensitive parental counterparts. …
Genomic characterization of a local epidemic Pseudomonas aeruginosa reveals specific features of the widespread clone ST395
2017
International audience; Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a ubiquitous opportunistic pathogen with several clones being frequently associated with outbreaks in hospital settings. ST395 is among these so-called 'international' clones. We aimed here to define the biological features that could have helped the implantation and spread of the clone ST395 in hospital settings. The complete genome of a multidrug resistant index isolate (DHS01) of a large hospital outbreak was analysed. We identified DHS01-specific genetic elements, among which were identified those shared with a panel of six independent ST395 isolates responsible for outbreaks in other hospitals. DHS01 has the fifth largest chromosome of …