Fuzzy guaranteed cost output tracking control for fuzzy discrete‐time systems with different premise variables

This article investigates the problem of output tracking control for a class of discrete‐time interval type‐2 (IT2) fuzzy systems subject to mismatched premise variables. Based on the IT2 Takagi–Sugeno (T–S) fuzzy model, the criterion to design the desired controller is obtained, which guarantees the closed‐loop system to be asymptotically stable and satisfies the predefined cost function. Moreover, the controller to be designed does not need to share the same premise variables of the system, which enhances the flexibility of controller design and reduces the conservativeness. Finally, two examples are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the method proposed in this article. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity 21: 265–276, 2016     

Impact of RFID technology on inventory control policy

RFID application can improve operation performance in a supply chain by reducing or eliminating inventory misplacement and shrinkage. In this paper, we present a periodic review inventory model to investigate and characterize the multiperiod inventory control policies in both non-RFID and RFID cases when the firm encounters misplacement and shrinkage. The optimal inventory control policy is proved to be a two-control limit policy. The control limits in both the non-RFID case and the RFID case are analyzed and examined, while considering the impact of shrinkage and misplacement on inventory policies. A critical inventory level is determined to identify the relationship of higher inventory level control limits between the RFID case and the non-RFID case. An intensive numerical study with sensitivity analysis of selling price, misplacement rate, shrinkage rate, inventory recovery rate, and tag price is conducted. We find that when RFID technology is adopted, the inventory control policy in the RFID case is much more stable than that of the non-RFID case, as the misplaced inventory can be recovered perfectly and instantly for sale and the inventory shrinkage can be reduced by RFID technology. In addition, one of our intriguing findings is that when the shrinkage rate is below a threshold value which is independent of parameters, RFID application has no effect on inventory control policy if the misplaced inventory can be recovered in a timely manner by physical audit, which has not been revealed in previous studies.     

Quality investment and price decision in a risk-averse supply chain

In this paper, we investigate quality investment and price decision of a make-to-order (MTO) supply chain with uncertain demand in international trade. Due to volatility of orders from buyers, the supplier and the manufacturer in the supply chain are subject to financial risk. In contrast to the general assumption that players in a supply chain are risk neutral in quality investment and price decision, we consider the risk-averse behavior of the players in three different supply chain strategies: Vertical Integration (VI), Manufacturer’s Stackelberg (MS) and Supplier’s Stackelberg (SS). The study shows that both supply chain strategy and risk-averse behavior have significant impacts on quality investment and pricing. Compared to a risk-neutral supply chain, a risk-averse supply chain has lower, same and higher quality of products in VI, MS and SS, respectively. Also, we derive the conditions under which the supply chain strategy is implemented in a decentralized setting. A numerical study is used to illustrate some related issues.     

Regioselective synthesis of pyrimido[1,2-a][1,3,5]triazin-6-ones via reaction of 1-(6-oxo-1,6-dihydropyrimidin-2-yl)guanidines with triethylorthoacetate: observation of an unexpected rearrangement

A novel thermal rearrangement, involving pyrimidine ring opening and subsequent ring closure leading to recyclization of the system, was identified in the reaction of (6-oxo-1,6-dihydropyrimidin-2-yl)guanidines 3 (where NR(1)R(2) = NH(2), NH alkyl, NH aralkyl, NHCH(2)Ph(R)) with triethyl orthoacetate, affording 4-substituted-2-methyl-6H-pyrimido[1,2-a][1,3,5]triazin-6-ones 6 and their ring opened products. However, no such rearrangement was observed with (6-oxo-1,6-dihydropyrimidin-2-yl)guanidines 3 bearing a tertiary amino or anilino substituent (i.e. where NR(1)R(2) = N(CH(3))(2), indoline, morpholino, NHAr). As expected, 2-substituted-4-methyl-6H-pyrimido[1,2-a][1,3,5]triazin-6-ones 4 were obtained as the final products. Experimental structural determination and theoretical studies were carried out to get an understanding of the observed thermal rearrangement. In addition, an attempt to obtain similar pyrimido[1,2-a][1,3,5]triazin-6-ones using N,N-dimethylacetamide dimethyl acetal (DMA-DMA) as one carbon inserting synthon had furnished triazine ring annulated product 14 bearing N,N-dimethyl enamino substituent at position 4 as a result of further reaction with a second molecule of DMA-DMA.     

Differentiating the Higgs boson from the dilaton and radion at Hadron colliders

A number of candidate theories beyond the standard model (SM) predict new scalar bosons below the TeV region. Among these, the radion, which is predicted in the Randall-Sundrum model, and the dilaton, which is predicted by the walking technicolor theory, have very similar couplings to those of the SM Higgs boson, and it is very difficult to differentiate these three spin-0 particles in the expected signals of the Higgs boson at the LHC and Tevatron. We demonstrate that the observation of the ratio σ(γγ)/σ(WW) gives a simple and decisive way to differentiate these, independent of the values of model parameters, the vacuum expectation values of the radion, and dilaton fields.     

A new synthesis of 2,8-disubstituted pyrazolo[4,3-e][1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidines

A practical synthesis of pyrazolo[4,3-e][1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidines, which are key intermediates in the preparation of adenosine receptor antagonists, is developed. The method allows introduction of a variety of aryl substituents at position 2 of the pyrazolo[4,3-e][1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidine system via cyclocondensation of 5-amino-4-iminopyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine with benzaldehydes accompanied with oxidation by iodobenzene diacetate. Some unexpected reactions are observed and the structures of the products are confirmed using NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography.     

An intelligent-agent-based fuzzy group decision making model for financial multicriteria decision support: The case of credit scoring

Credit risk analysis is an active research area in financial risk management and credit scoring is one of the key analytical techniques in credit risk evaluation. In this study, a novel intelligent-agent-based fuzzy group decision making (GDM) model is proposed as an effective multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) tool for credit risk evaluation. In this proposed model, some artificial intelligent techniques, which are used as intelligent agents, are first used to analyze and evaluate the risk levels of credit applicants over a set of pre-defined criteria. Then these evaluation results, generated by different intelligent agents, are fuzzified into some fuzzy opinions on credit risk level of applicants. Finally, these fuzzification opinions are aggregated into a group consensus and meantime the fuzzy aggregated consensus is defuzzified into a crisp aggregated value to support final decision for decision-makers of credit-granting institutions. For illustration and verification purposes, a simple numerical example and three real-world credit application approval datasets are presented.     

The Relationship between Crude Oil Futures Market and Chinese/US Stock Index Futures Market Based on Breakpoint Test

Combined with the B-P (breakpoint) test and VAR–DCC–GARCH model, the relationship between WTI crude oil futures and S&P 500 index futures or CSI 300 index futures was investigated and compared. The results show that breakpoints exist in the relationship in the mean between WTI crude oil futures market and Chinese stock index futures market or US stock index futures market. The relationship in mean between WTI crude oil futures prices and S&P 500 stock index futures, or CSI 300 stock index futures is weakening. Meanwhile, there is a decreasing dynamic conditional correlation between the WTI crude oil futures market and Chinese stock index futures market or US stock index futures market after the breakpoint in the price series. The Chinese stock index futures are less affected by short-term fluctuations in crude oil futures returns than US stock index futures.     

Determination of loads applied perpendicularly to the outer boundary of a ring using coefficients of influence

A procedure is explained to determined the amount of several pairs of diametrical loads applied to the outside boundary of a ring when stresses at selected points of the inside or outside boundaries are known. Coefficients of influence are used, following an approach similar to the one presented in a previous paper. Examples of application are given and the possible increase in precision is shown when the number of points of measurements is larger than the number of loads to be determined.