Invasive weed optimization for model order reduction of linear MIMO systems

In this work, a model order reduction (MOR) technique for a linear multivariable system is proposed using invasive weed optimization (IWO). This technique is applied with the combined advantages of retaining the dominant poles and the error minimization. The state space matrices of the reduced order system are chosen such that the dominant eigenvalues of the full order system are unchanged. The other system parameters are chosen using the invasive weed optimization with objective function to minimize the mean squared errors between the outputs of the full order system and the outputs of the reduced order model when the inputs are unit step. The proposed algorithm has been applied successfully, a 10th order Multiple-Input–Multiple-Output (MIMO) linear model for a practical power system was reduced to a 3rd order and compared with recently published work.     

Transformation of Iodosulfuron-Methyl into Ionic Liquids Enables Elimination of Additional Surfactants in Commercial Formulations of Sulfonylureas

Efficient use of herbicides for plant protection requires the application of auxiliary substances such as surfactants, stabilizers, wetting or anti-foaming agents, and absorption enhancers, which can be more problematic for environment than the herbicides themselves. We hypothesized that the combination of sulfonylurea (iodosulfuron-methyl) anion with inexpensive, commercially available quaternary tetraalkylammonium cations could lead to biologically active ionic liquids (ILs) that could become a convenient and environment-friendly alternative to adjuvants. A simple one-step synthesis allowed for synthesizing iodosulfuron-methyl based ILs with high yields ranging from 88 to 96% as confirmed by UV, FTIR, and NMR. The obtained ILs were found to possess several favorable properties compared to the currently used sodium salt iodosulfuron-methyl, such as adjustable hydrophobicity (octanol-water partition coefficient) and enhanced stability in aqueous solutions, which was supported by molecular calculations showing cation–anion interaction energies. In addition, soil mobility and volatility of ILs were more beneficial compared to the parental herbicide. Herbicidal activity tests toward oil-seed rape and cornflower revealed that ILs comprising at least one alkyl chain in the decyl to octadecyl range had similar or better efficacy compared to the commercial preparation without addition of any adjuvant. Furthermore, results of antimicrobial activity indicated that they were practically harmless or slightly toxic toward model soil microorganisms such as Pseudomonas putida and Bacillus cereus.     

Bio-inspired optimization algorithms for optical parameter extraction of dielectric materials: A comparative study

Particle swarm optimization(PSO) and invasive weed optimization(IWO) algorithms are used for extracting the modeling parameters of materials useful for optics and photonics research community. These two bio-inspired algorithms are used here for the first time in this particular field to the best of our knowledge. The algorithms are used for modeling graphene oxide and the performances of the two are compared. Two objective functions are used for different boundary values. Root mean square(RMS) deviation is determined and compared.