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This paper presents two novel competitive-cooperative learning models (CCLM) for achieving goals by human contenders. These models have two phases, viz., Competition phase and Cooperation phase. CCLM based on Hanman Transform (HT) is called HT-CCLM and that using a new concept termed Pervasive Information set is called PIS-CCLM. In the competition phase of HT-CCLM, each contender emulates the effort of best achiever by taking the difference of Hanman Transform values associated with the efforts of an individual and the best achiever whereas in the cooperation phase the differential of HT values of efforts of two random contenders is considered. In PIS-CCLM pervasive information value obtained from hesitancy values are used in the competition phase only. We have also carried out Wilcoxon test to establish the superiority of the proposed HT-CCLM and PIS-CCLM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a novel polyimide with trifluoromethyl group (PIS) was synthesized successfully and used to improve the toughness of epoxy resins. Five modified epoxy resins (5, 7.5, 10, 12.5 and 15 wt%) were prepared and investigated, respectively. The structure, thermal properties, tensile properties, viscoelastic properties, toughness and morphology of modified epoxy resins were studied by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Instron 5967, Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The results showed that the epoxy resins modified with PIS exhibited good thermal stability which the glass transition temperatures increased from 135.9 °C to 146.4 °C. Tensile strength of modified epoxy resins increased from 40.4 MPa to 92.3 MPa. The KIC values increased from 0.86 MPa·m1/2 to 1.56 MPa·m1/2 indicated that the toughness enhancement was markedly. The fracture modes also were examined by SEM images and exhibited the fracture mode changed from the brittle one to ductile fracture with varied weight of the novel trifluoromethyl-polyimide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel pyrano[2,3- d] pyrimidine derivatives were synthesized via the three-component reaction of thiophene-2-carbaldehyde, malononitrile and barbituric or thiobarbituric acid in the presence of MnO nanoparticles. This method has been found to be eco-friendly and economical. Compound 1 was used as a precursor for the synthesis of new pyranopyrimidine derivatives 2-5. Moreover, 7-amino-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-4-oxo-5-(thiophen-2-yl)-2-thioxo-1H-pyrano[2,3-d]pyrimidine-6-carboxamide 4 was then converted into another set of novel compounds 6-8. On the other hand, a series of Mn(II) complexes with pyrano[2,3- d]pyrimidine derivatives have been prepared. The synthesized compounds and its complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, magnetic and spectroscopic methods (IR, XRD, SEM, TEM, C, HNMR) as well as thermal analysis. The spectrophotometric determinations suggest a distorted octahedral geometry for all complexes. The organic compounds and its chelates as inhibitors exhibited remarkable effects on the enzyme activity of an extracellular toxic protease, KB76 from Brevibacterium otitidis as well as against different bacterial and fungal strains. Graphical abstract: [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a key component of urban rail transit systems, communications-based train control (CBTC) is an automated train control system using train-ground communications to ensure efficient operation of rail vehicles. In addition to CBTC systems, passenger information systems (PISs) are adopted in urban rail transit systems to improve quality of service (QoS) offered to customers. The interference between CBTC systems and PISs is an important factor impacting QoS of both CBTC systems and PISs. With recent advances in cognitive dynamic systems, in this paper, we take a cognitive control approach to interference mitigation considering the co-existence of CBTC systems and PISs. In our cognitive control approach, the notion of information gap is adopted to quantitatively describe effects of interference on CBTC. The wireless channel is modeled as a finite-state Markov chain with multiple state transition probability matrices, which are derived from real field measurements. Simulation results show that the proposed cognitive control approach can significantly improve performance of CBTC train-ground communications under interference from co-existing PISs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study on genetics of photoperiodic response and growth habit to flowering time in dolichos bean (Lablab purpureus L. Sweet). It mentions that the study included analysis of joint segregation of photoperiodic response controlling genes, photoperiod insensitive (PIS) in breeding crop plants, and identification of duplication in the germplasm database.

In this paper we describe a comparative analysis between multivariate and docking methods in the study of the drug resistance to the reverse transcriptase and the protease inhibitors. In our early papers we developed a simple but efficient method to evaluate the features of compounds that are less likely to trigger resistance or are effective against mutant HIV strains, using the multivariate statistical procedures PCA and DA. In the attempt to create a more solid background for the prediction of susceptibility or resistance, we carried out a comparative analysis between our previous multivariate approach and molecular docking study. The intent of this paper is not only to find further support to the results obtained by the combined use of PCA and DA, but also to evidence the structural features, in terms of molecular descriptors, similarity, and energetic contributions, derived from docking, which can account for the arising of drug-resistance against mutant strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]