Multi-attribute decision-making based on subjective and objective integrated eigenvector method

An integrated approach is proposed to investigate the fuzzy multi-attribute decision-making （MADM） problems, where subjective preferences are expressed by a pairwise comparison matrix on the relative weights of attributes and objective information is expressed by a decision matrix. An eigenvector method integrated the subjective fuzzy preference matrix and objective information is proposed. Two linear programming models based on subjective and objective information are introduced to assess the relative importance weights of attributes in an MADM problem. The simple additive weighting method is utilized to aggregate the decision information, and then all the alternatives are ranked. Finally, a numerical example is given to show the feasibility and effectiveness of the method. The result shows that it is easier than other methods of integrating subjective and objective information.

The role of echocardiography and CT angiography in transcatheter aortic valve implantation patients

The transcatheter aortic valve implantation （TAVI） consist an altemative treatment in patients with severe aortic stenosis. Multimodality imaging using transthoracic echocardiography （TTE） or transesophageal echocardiography （TOE） and multislice CT （MSCT） constitute cornerstone techniques for the pre-operative management, peri-procedural guidance, follow up and recognition of possible transcatheter valve related complications. CT angiography is much more accurate regarding the total definition of aortic annulus diameter and circumferential area. Two-dimensional （2D） echocardiography, underestimates the aortic valve annulus diameter compared to 3D imaging techniques （MSCT, MRI and 3D TOE）. Three-dimensional TOE imaging provides measurements of the aortic valve annulus similar to those delivered by MSCT. The pre-procedural MSCT constitutes the gold standard modality minimizing the presence of paravalvular aortic regurgitation, one of the most frequent complications. TOE/TTE and MSCT performance could predict the possibility of pacemaker implantation post-procedural. The presence of a new transient or persisting MR can be assessed well by TOE. Both TTE and TOE, consist initially the basic examination for post TAVI evaluation. In case of transcatheter heart valve failure, the MSCT could be used as additional imaging technique.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm： Treatment options, image visualizations and follow-up procedures

Abdominal aortic aneurysm is a common vascular disease that affects elderly population.Open surgical repair is regarded as the gold standard technique for treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm,however,endovaseular aneurysm repair has rapidly expanded since its first introduction in 1990s.As a less invasive technique,endovascular aneurysm repair has been confirmed to be an effective alternative to open surgical repair,especially in patients with co-morbid conditions.Computed tomography （CT） angiography is currently the preferred imaging modality for both preoperative planning and post-operative follow-up.2D CT images are complemented by a number of 3D reconstructions which enhance the diagnostic applications of CT angiography in both planning and follow-up of endovascular repair.CT has the disadvantage of high cummulative radiation dose,of particular concern in younger patients,since patients require regular imaging follow-ups after endovascular repair,thus,exposing patients to repeated radiation exposure for life.There is a trend to change from CT to ultrasound surveillance of endovascular aneurysm repair.Medical image visualizations demonstrate excellent morphological assessment of aneurysm and stent-grafts,but fail to provide hemodynamic changes caused by the complex stent-graft device that is implanted into the aorta.This article reviews the treatment options of abdominal aortic aneurysm,various image visualization tools,and follow-up procedures with use of different modalities including both imaging and computational fluid dynamics methods.Future directions to improve treatment outcomes in the follow-up of endovascular aneurysm repair are outlined.

Localization of Free Verse in China： A Case Study of Bing Xin＇s Short Poems

Intercultures play an important role in localization of translation. They are the essential reference resources for those who are translators as well as writers in their literary translation or creation. Translators contribute to the extension of source culture and in target culture by means ofintercultures to form new localized cultural paradigms. Bing Xin＇ s creation of the short free verse in the vernacular Chinese was influenced by Hu shih＇s new literature ideas and Zheng Zhenduo＇s translation of Stray Birds, a famous poetry anthology of Tagore. Through her translation, she borrowed new literary paradigms from foreign languages and successfully converted them into more acceptable ones in Chinese new literature. The paper, from the perspectives of Localization and Intercultures by Anthony Pym, explores the effects which Hu Shih and Zheng Zhenduo made upon Bing Xin＇s poetry translation and creation in the trend of poetry localization in the May Fourth Movement, and analyzes the interactions between Bing Xin＇s poetry creation and her poetry translation.

Labelling of the Energetic Efficiency on a Case Study in Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil, in Accordance with the Mentioned Methods under the Respective Brazilian Regulation-RTQ-C

Having as a starting point of the problematic energy consumption of buildings, it studied the panorama of energy efficiency, emphasizing the Brazilian program of the INMETRO （Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Normalizacao e Qualidade Industrial）, PROCEL “Edifica” （national program for energy efficiency in buildings）, contained in the norm RTQ-C （technical requirements of the quality for the level of energetic efficiency of commercial, service, and public buildings）. For a better understanding of the regulation, it elected a building, emblematic in the city of Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil, illustrating the perspective of the program. The building was classified in accordance with the two methodologies presented by the program： prescriptive and simulation, so it was possible to investigate the peculiarities of each methodology and the own regulation. After the application of the methodologies, we came to the conclusion that the prescriptive method is less accurate and requires more dedication by the evaluator to do all the calculations and surveys required, however, it is the fastest tool and accessible to the field professionals. The simulation on the other hand, is a more accurate methodology and reaches levels of analysis that the prescriptive method does not reach, but still is a tool that needs large initial financial contribution and prior knowledge.

Secure Network Coding Against Intra/Inter-Generation Pollution Attacks

By allowing routers to combine the received packets before forwarding them,network coding-based applications are susceptible to possible malicious pollution attacks.Existing solutions for counteracting this issue either incur inter-generation pollution attacks(among multiple generations)or suffer high computation/bandwidth overhead.Using a dynamic public key technique,we propose a novel homomorphic signature scheme for network coding for each generation authentication without updating the initial secret key used.As per this idea,the secret key is scrambled for each generation by using the generation identifier,and each packet can be fast signed using the scrambled secret key for the generation to which the packet belongs.The scheme not only can resist intra-generation pollution attacks effectively but also can efficiently prevent inter-generation pollution attacks.Further,the communication overhead of the scheme is small and independent of the size of the transmitting files.

Differences of Vowel Pronunciation in China English and American English： A Case Study of [i] and [I]

This paper investigates the differences between vowels [i] and [ I] pronounced by Chinese English speakers and American English speakers. Seven people consisting of two natives and five Chinese have read a list of sentences and their voices were recorded. A software program is used to analyze their voices. In spectrograms generated by Praat, the connection between formant values and articulation features is used to investigate how native speakers pronounce these two vowels and what the differences are between native speakers and Chinese speakers. Through this investigation, it is discovered that Chinese speakers have lower tongue position in [i] and their tongues are more forward in [I], thus making it hard to differentiate these two vowels. Moreover, the length of [i] is much shorter than those in American pronunciation, suggesting that Chinese speakers differentiate [i] and [I] largely by length. However, the comparison of Chinese speakers and native speakers proved otherwise.

Spectrum Handoff Scheme Based on Recommended Channel Sensing Sequence

We consider the spectrum handoff delay of a Secondary User(SU)in cognitive radio networks.We propose a spectrum handoff scheme based on Recommended Channel Sensing Sequence(RCSS),which aims to optimise the spectrum handoff delay subject to the sensing reliability and link maintenance constraints.There are two cases that should be considered:1)the SU performs spectrum handoff successfully during the current frame,and 2)the SU successfully performs the spectrum handoff using several frames.We develop a dynamic programming algorithm for RCSS to identify the optimal sensing sequence for the first case,and an updating algorithm for RCSS to improve the handoff performance for the second case.The numerical results confirm that the proposed RCSS handoff scheme can achieve better handoff delay performance than others when the received signal-to-noise ratios of the Pus' signals on different channels are non-identical.

Innovative Applications of Post-Tension for Restoration and Rehabilitation of Bridges and Structures--Case Studies in India

This paper deals with new and innovative case studies of application of post-tensioning for restoration of structures for buildings, bridges and rock stabilization in India. In earlier situations for these types of cases conventional method of repair and rehabilitation has been used. These innovative approaches for restoration have led to enormous saving of cost and time. The advantages of post tensioning are well known in the civil industry and are being used for the last 40 to 50 years. Post tensioning is one of the best methods to induce stresses in the concrete before application of live load and this technique can also be widely used for restoration and rehabilitation of structures. Unlike the use of post-tensioning in new structures there are no definite methods or codes for application in restoration and rehabilitation of structures. For restoration and rehabilitation of structures, PT （post tensioned） technique can be applied in combination with other techniques and materials available. Bridge lifting is a tricky and risky job especially when the superstructure is displaced appreciably by a natural calamity, etc.. Not only the present state of structure needs proper study before commencement of restoration and rehabilitation but also calls for careful execution. This paper deals with case studies of innovative applications of post tensioning in restoration and rehabilitation of structures and restoration of bridge structure in Andaman ＆ Nicobar Island, India affected by Sumatra quake.

Power-optimal encoding for low-power address bus

This paper presented a novel bus encoding method to reduce the switching activity on address buses and hence reduce power dissipation. Dynamic-sorting encoding(DSE) method reduces the power dissipation of address bus based on the dynamic reordering of the modified offset address bus lines. This method reorders the ten least significant bits of offset address according to the range of offset address, and the optimal sorting pattern is transmitted through the high bits of address bus without the need for redundant bus lines. The experimental results by using an instruction set simulator and SPEC2000 benchmarks show that DSE method can reduce signal transitions on the address bus by 88.2%, and the actual overhead of the encoder circuit is estimated after encoder is designed and synthesized in 0.18-μm CMOS technology. The results show that DSE method outperforms the low-power encoding schemes presented in the past.

A Self-synchronizing Stream Encryption Scheme Based on One-Dimensional Coupled Map Lattices

We present a self-synchronizing stream encryption scheme based on one-dimensional coupled map lattices which is introduced as a model with the essential features of spatiotemporal chaos, and of great complexity and diffusion capability of the little disturbance in the initial condition. To evaluate the scheme, a series of statistical tests are employed, and the results show good random-look nature of the ciphertext. Furthermore, we apply our algorithm to encrypt a grey-scale image to show the key sensitivity.

Nonlinear model predictive control based on support vector machine and genetic algorithm

This paper presents a nonlinear model predictive control(NMPC) approach based on support vector machine(SVM) and genetic algorithm(GA) for multiple-input multiple-output(MIMO) nonlinear systems.Individual SVM is used to approximate each output of the controlled plant Then the model is used in MPC control scheme to predict the outputs of the controlled plant.The optimal control sequence is calculated using GA with elite preserve strategy.Simulation results of a typical MIMO nonlinear system show that this method has a good ability of set points tracking and disturbance rejection.

Residents'Satisfaction with Public Services in Mountainous Areas:An Empirical Study of Southwestern Sichuan Province,China

Abstract： Enhancing the efficiency of public services is essential to residents in mountainous areas. It is also important to promote sus- tainable development of these regions. Analysing residents＇ satisfaction with public services in mountainous areas can help in evaluating outcomes of fiscal investment and identifying potential coping approaches for improving public service efficiencies. The residents＇ satisfaction with public services and the factors that influence such satisfaction were examined in this study. A study of 12 towns located in the southwestern Sichuan Province was performed using an entropy-weighted analytic hierarchy process （EWAHP）, the technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution （TOPSIS） and Tobit regression methods. The results indicate that： 1） the spatial distribu- tion of satisfaction with public services is non-uniform, and the spatial distribution structure varies for different types of public services. 2） Residents＇ satisfaction with public services is influenced by both objective and subjective factors. Population density, economic dis- tance, social and cultural divisions and elevation are the major objective factors, whereas bounded rationality, the hierarchy of needs and service expectations are the main subjective factors. The most effective strategies for enhancing residents＇ satisfaction with public ser- vices are likely to be clustering the population, choosing supply centres with different public services, regulating the cultural division in ethnic minority towns, selecting supply priorities in accordance with residents＇ needs, implementing targeted intervention policies and establishing ＇bottom-up＇ and ＇top-down＇ integrated decision-making mechanisms. Keywords： mountainous areas; public services; residents＇ satisfaction; entropy-weighted analytic hierarchy process （EWAHP）; technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution （TOPSIS）; Tobit regression; southwestern Sichuan Province

Research on the stiffening girder erection sequence of three-tower suspension bridge

Compared to the conventional two-tower suspension bridge, the three-tower suspension bridge has obviously different characteristics in structural performance because of the extra middle tower and main span. The construction sequence for the stiffening girder is significantly different between the three-tower suspension bridge and the two-tower suspension bridge. The tangential angle of the main cable is one of the controlling factors of the stiffening girder erection stage for a suspension bridge. According to 5 feasible cases for the stiffening girder erection scheme in Taizhou Bridge, the research about the tangential angle in each case mentioned above was made, and some factors that should be taken into account for the erection scheme of stiffening girder were pointed out.

Ad-Hoc Broadcast Encryption wit Dynamic Revocation

In order to support the dynamics of the privileged users with low computation, communica- tion and storage overheads in receivers, a secure broadcast encryption scheme for ad hoc networks based on cluster-based structure is proposed, as Mu-Vmdharajan＇s scheme cannot securely remove subscribers with data redundancy. In the proposed scheme, we employ polynomial function and filter functions as the basic means of constructing broadcast encryption procedure in order to reduce computation and shortage overhead. Compared with existing schemes, our scheme requires low computation, corrmaunication and storage over- heads in receivers and can support the dynamics of the privileged users. Furthermore, our scheme can avoid n^assive message to exchange for estab-fishing the decryption key between members of the cluster. The analysis of security and perforrmnce shows that our scheme is more secure than Mu- Vmdharajan＇s scheme and has the same speed of encryption and decryption as theirs. So our scheme is particularly suitable for the devices with low power setting such as ad hoc networks.

Optimizing Reactors Selection and Sequencing: Minimum Cost versus Minimum Volume

The present investigation targets minimum cost of reactors in series for the case of one single chemical reaction, considering plug flow and stirred tank reactor(s) in the sequence of flow reactors. Using Guthrie's cost correlations three typical cases were considered based on the profile of the reaction rate reciprocal versus conversion. Significant differences were found compared to the classical approach targeting minimum total reactor volume.

Clinical study on concurrent and sequential therapy of intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) combined with NP regimen chemotherapy in the treatment of middle and advanced non-small cell lung cancer

Objective: To evaluate the clinical effects of concurrent and sequential therapy for middle and advanced stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) useing IMRT combined with NP regimen chemotherapy. Methods: Eighty patients with middle and advanced stage NSCLC were randomized into two groups. Forty patients were underwent sequential therapy and other 40 patients were underwent concurrent therapy. IMRT was used in radiotherapy and NP regimen of vinorelbine+cispatin (NP) was used in chemotherapy. Results: (1) The overall response (CR+PR) rate was 75% in concurrent group and 45% in sequential group (P<0.05); (2) The treatment courses were 84 days and 140 days for concurrent group and sequential group respectively (P<0.05); (3) One-year survival rate in concurrent group was 72.4% and 52.3% in sequential group respectively; (4) The toxic effects can be tolerable by all of patients. Conclusion: The concurrent chemo-radiotherapy has better overall re- sponse, one-year survival rate and shorter treatment course than the sequential chemo-radiotherapy, so it is a better method for the treatment of middle and advanced stage NSCLC, but the long term survival rate will be studied.

Cross-Layer Scheduling Design for Multimedia Applications over Cognitive Ad Hoc Networks

In this paper,we study cross-layer scheduling scheme on multimedia application which considers both streaming traffic and data traffic over cognitive ad hoc networks.A cross-layer design is proposed to optimize SU's utility,which is used as an approach to balance the transmission efficiency and heterogeneous traffic in cognitive ad hoc networks.A framework is provided for utility-based optimal subcarrier assignment,power allocation strategy and corresponding modulation scheme,subject to the interference threshold to primary user(PU) and total transmit power constraint.Bayesian learning is adopted in subcarrier allocation strategy to avoid collision and alleviate the burden of information exchange on limited common control channel(CCC).In addition,the M/G/l queuing model is also introduced to analyze the expected delay of streaming traffic.Numerical results are given to demonstrate that the proposed scheme significantly reduces the blocking probability and outperforms the mentioned single-channel dynamic resource scheduling by almost 8%in term of system utility.

Methodology for Selecting the Best Model for Forecasts： The Case Study of Forest Bioenergy

The aim of this paper is the analysis of methodology for selecting the best model for forecasting of fuelwood demand in Greece for the years 2020, 2025 and 2030 with a final objective the decision-making in the sector of forest bioenergy. A complete time series of historical data exists that concerns： （a） the consumption of fuelwood and （b） the six most important from the independent variables that could influence the consumption of fuelwood, whose data cover the time period 1989-2010. The evaluation and choice of the best model was realized with the help of the following six statistical criteria： （a） the size of standard error of theoretical values of dependant variable, S. E.; （b） the value of adjusted R square （R2）; （c） the non-existence of autocorrelation among the residuals （ei） through the criterion Durbin-Watson; （d） the statistical significance of models coefficients through t criterion; （e） the statistical significance of models through F criterion and （f） the non-existence of multicolinearity through the values of Variance Inflation Factor.

The Harmony Concept between Government Program and Community Need to Achieve Sustainability

The background of research was conditions of settlement in slum area at Tallo which are most apprehensive; lack of facilities, the houses made of flammable materials, and some criminal action occurred in the density settlement. Upgrading Programs has been twice implemented in this area. However, those have the same aim, to improve street and drainage condition around the area. The different between of them is the using of material which are the first program used asphalt as street cover material and the second one used paving blok. Although the upgrading programs had done, the condition of the settlement did not improve significantly. The problems in settlement were not only leak in infrastructure condition and needs, but also lake of community welfare, unemployment, housing conditions, and the existence of the warehouses in the settlement. The flood problems also appeared in this area which closed with the water channel to the city disposal channel so when rainy season, the area is always flooded and enter into the entrance of the houses. The objective of this research was to find the root of the problems and find good solutions for the environment and how to meet the major needs of the settlement upgrading program into the local community point of view. Field research and questioners was conducted as research method to the research objectivities in the needs of community for good environment. Furthermore, the data from the field research was analyzed by making synchronization with the theory of environmental sustainability. Results from this research showed the comparison study between first and the last condition of the settlement area which had the upgrading program implementation. These findings could provide a new guideline for the government in policy related to slum upgrading.