Search results

A novel many‐valued decomposition within the framework of lossless reconstructability analysis (RA) is presented. In previous work, modified reconstructability analysis (MRA) was applied to Boolean functions, where it was shown that most Boolean functions not decomposable using conventional reconstructability analysis (CRA) are decomposable using MRA. Also, it was previously shown that whenever decomposition exists in both MRA and CRA, MRA yields simpler or equal complexity decompositions. In this paper, MRA is extended to many‐valued logic functions, and logic structures that correspond to such decomposition are developed. It is shown that many‐valued MRA can decompose many‐valued functions when CRA fails to do so. Since real‐life data are often many‐valued, this new decomposition can be useful for machine learning and data mining. Many‐valued MRA can also be applied for the decomposition of relations.

This paper aims to prepare acrylic functional ricinoleic acid monomer and incorporate it in conventional miniemulsion polymerization. Subsequently, paints were formulated to study the variation in final coating properties.

Synthesis process involved the esterification of ricinoleic acid with 2-hydroxy methyl methacrylate in the presence of FASCAT-4100 catalyst. The final product of the reaction, methacrylated ricinoleic acid (MRA), was confirmed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and ¹H-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and determining acid and iodine value. Further, MRA was incorporated in various concentrations (1, 2 and 3 Wt.%) along with methyl acrylate and butyl acrylate in conventional miniemulsion polymerization and paints were formulated thereof.

It was observed that with the addition of MRA monomer, flexibility of emulsion films increased as indicated by glass transition temperature and elongation value (percentage). Moreover, with the addition of MRA monomer, improvement in mechanical and chemical properties of the coatings was observed.

Even a low concentration MRA monomer (as low as 3 per cent) caused a significant reduction in the glass transition temperature of emulsion films. Thus, it can be efficiently used in applications such as adhesives and elastomeric coatings.

The acrylic functional monomer derived from ricinoleic acid is unique and not yet incorporated in miniemulsion polymerization. The synthesized monomer can be used in coatings where low Tg emulsions are required.

This study aims to introduce moral re-armament’s (MRA) role as a mediator in several labor/management disputes in industries primarily in the 1940s and 1950s. In this study, MRA was guided by a social responsibility framed in language that was a precursor to corporate social responsibility (CSR). This study features the case of the Miami-based airlines serving Latin America, who had experienced the longest airline labor strike to that date.

In this study, both artifacts and literary interpretations are used to inform an institutional-theory-based approach to a broad social movement, one player in that movement and its impact on an industry. Actions at one time can be shown to relate to activity and behavior at another time (Wadhwani and Bucheli, 2014). Thus, this paper has combined these perspectives in the approach to historically examine a precursor phenomenon of CSR.

MRA’s approach shared some methods, such as story-telling, with modern change management. This paper proposes that other methods that were important for that historical context played a significant role in MRA’s success. Today, these methods are no longer used. These include “intimacy” (MRA employees lived with members of labor and management while they were mediating), “theater” (they showed plays to all of those involved) and confessional sharing (their training was mostly a series of testimonies by those who previously were combative, but became collaborative when they accepted MRA’s principles).

This historical case may inspire those promoting CSR to expand their methods to have even greater success today.

Currently, China is the largest coal producer and consumer in the world. Underground mining is the main practice. In the process of deep mining, large amounts of low-temperature waste heat are available such as in the mine return air (MRA), mine water (MW), bathing waste water (BWW), etc. Without recycling, the low-temperature waste heat is discharged directly into the atmosphere or into the drainage system. The temperature range of the MRA is about 15-25°C, the relative humidity (RH) of the MRA is above 90 per cent, the temperature range of MW is about 18-20°C and the temperature of the BWW is about 30°C. All of the above parameters are relatively stable throughout the year, and thus MRA, MW and BWW are proper low-temperature heat sources for water source heat pump (WSHP) systems. The study aims to introduce the schemes for recycling the different waste heat sources and the relevant key equipment and technology of each waste heat recycle system; analyze the heat recovery performances of the MRA heat recovery technology; and compare the economies between the MRA heat recovery system and the traditional system.

Based on the WSHP system, heat and mass transfer efficiencies were calculated and analyzed, the outlet air velocity diffusion of the heat and mass transfer units and the parameters including air flow rate, the MRA’s dry bulb temperatures and wet bulb temperatures at inlet and outlet of MRA heat exchanger were tested. Then, it was assessed whether this system can be applied to an actual construction. An actual reconstructive project of MRA heat recovery system is taken as an example, where the cost-saving effects of heat recovery of mine waste heat sources system are analyzed.

Analysis of field test reveals that when heat transfer is stable, heat transfer capacity can be achieved: 957.6 kW in summer, 681 kW in winter and a large amount of heat was recycled. In an economic analysis, by comparing initial investment and 10 years’ operation cost with the traditional boiler and central air conditioning system, the results show that although the MRA system’s initial investment is high, this system can save CNY 6.26m in 10 years.

MRA has a large amount of air volume and temperature that is constant throughout the year, and hence is a good low-temperature heat source for the WSHP system. It can replace boiler heating in winter and central air conditioning refrigeration in summer. The study reveals that this technology is feasible, and has good prospects for development.

Modified reconstructability analysis (MRA), a novel decomposition technique within the framework of set‐theoretic (crisp possibilistic) reconstructability analysis, is applied to three‐variable NPN‐classified Boolean functions. MRA is superior to conventional reconstructability analysis, i.e. it decomposes more NPN functions. MRA is compared to Ashenhurst‐Curtis (AC) decomposition using two different complexity measures: log‐functionality, a measure suitable for machine learning, and the count of the total number of two‐input gates, a measure suitable for circuit design. MRA is superior to AC using the first of these measures, and is comparable to, but different from AC, using the second.

The purpose of this paper is to develop a conceptual cost estimation (CCE) model for building project by using a pragmatic approach, which is a mix of tools drawn from multiple regression analysis (MRA) and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS), to improve the accuracy of cost estimation at an early stage.

This paper presents a set of MRA and integrating MRA with ANFIS or MRANFIS. A simultaneous regression analysis was developed to determine the main cost factors from 12 variables as input variables in the ANFIS model. Cost data from 78 projects of state building in West Sumatra, Indonesia were used to indicate the advantages of the proposed model.

The result shows that the proposed model, MRANFIS, has successfully improved the mean absolute percent error (MAPE) by 2.8 percent from MRA of 10.7–7.9 percent for closeness of fit to the model data and by 3.1 percent from MRA of 9.8–6.7 percent for prediction performance to the new data.

Because the significant variables are different for each building type, the model may be not appropriate for other buildings depending on the characteristics of building. The models can be used and analyzed based on the own historical project data for each case so that the model can be applied.

The study thus provides better accuracy of CCE at an early stage for state building projects in West Sumatra, Indonesia by using the integrated model of MRA and ANFIS.

Urban resilience is becoming increasingly important due to increasing degree of urbanization and a combination of several factors affecting urban vulnerability. Urban resilience is also understood as a capacity of a system to prepare, respond and recover from multi-hazard threats. The purpose of multi-risk approach (MRA) is to take into consideration interdependencies between multiple risks, which can trigger a chain of natural and manmade events with different spatial and temporal scales. The purpose of this study is to understand correlation between multi-risk approach and urban resilience.

To increase urban resilience, MRA should also include multi-risk governance, which is based on understanding how existing institutional and governance structures, individual judgments and communication of risk assessment results shape decision-making processes.

This paper is based on extensive fieldwork in the test studies of Naples, Italy and Guadeloupe, France, the historical case study analysis and the stakeholders’ interviews, workshops and focus groups discussions.

Multi-risk is a relatively new field in science, only partially developed in social and geosciences. The originality of this research is in establishment of a link between MRA, including both assessment and governance, and urban resilience. In this paper, the authors take a holistic and systemic look at the MRA, including all stages of knowledge generation and decision-making. Both, knowledge generation and decision-making are reinforced by behavioural biases, different perceptions and institutional factors. Further on, the authors develop recommendations on how an MRA can contribute to urban resilience.

The purpose of this paper is to apply boosted regression trees (BRT) to a heterogeneous data set of residential property drawn from a jurisdiction in Malaysia, with the objective to evaluate its application within the mass appraisal environment in Malaysia. Machine learning (ML) techniques have been applied to real estate mass appraisal with varying degrees of success.

To evaluate the performance of the BRT model two multiple regression analysis (MRA) models have been specified (linear and non-linear). One of the weaknesses of traditional regression is the need to a priori specify the functional form of the model and to ensure that all non-linearities have been accounted for. For a BRT model the algorithm does not require any predetermined model or variable transformations, making the process much simpler.

The results show that the BRT model outperformed the MRA-specified models in terms of the coefficient of dispersion and mean absolute percentage error. While the results are encouraging, BRT models still lack transparency and suffer from the inability to translate variable importance into quantifiable variable effects.

This paper presents a useful alternative modelling technique, BRT, for use within the mass appraisal environment in Malaysia. Its advantages include less intensive data cleansing, no requirement to specify the predictive underlying model, ability to utilise categorical variables without the need to transform them and not as data hungry, as for example, MRA.

This paper adds to the knowledge in this area by applying a relatively new ML model, BRT to residential property data from a jurisdiction in Malaysia. BRT has shown promise as a strong predictive model when applied in other disciplines; therefore this research empirically tests this finding within real estate valuation.

The adoption of statistical methods of analysis by British valuers has been, at the best, rather piece‐meal. This paper highlights the contrasting application of multiple regression analysis (MRA) within valuation practice in the USA relative to that in the UK and emphasises the need for suitable databases. Historically the valuer in the UK has lacked access to databases. The analyses presented in this paper indicate that, even if databases exist, factors such as statistical variability, heterogeneity, geographical scale and sample size may influence both the explanatory and predictive powers of the MRA model. Nevertheless the estimation of value from the objectivity of the MRA model can assist the valuer by supporting opinion or highlighting circumstances where re‐appraisal is necessary.

Modified reconstructability analysis (MRA) can be realized reversibly by utilizing Boolean reversible (3,3) logic gates that are universal in two arguments. The quantum computation of the reversible MRA circuits is also introduced. The reversible MRA transformations are given a quantum form by using the normal matrix representation of such gates. The MRA‐based quantum decomposition may play an important role in the synthesis of logic structures using future technologies that consume less power and occupy less space.