Spider mites (Acari: Tetranychidae) of Saudi Arabia: two new species,new records and a key to all known species

A total of 18 spider mite species belonging to 10 genera of the family Tetranychidae (Acari: Prostigmata) are reported from different provinces of Saudi Arabia (SA). Among these, two new species, Sonotetranychus madinahensis sp. nov. and Tetranychus salicornicus sp. nov., belonging to the subfamily Tetranychinae are described and illustrated. Also, five genera and 11 species are new to the mite fauna of SA. The distribution and host data of all recorded species in the current study are provided. A key to all spider mite species of SA is provided as well as a key to the species of the armenychus species group of the genus Tetranychus Dufour, based on males.

www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:C41BB3ED-99D5-4DCF-B557-09526FA7D56B     

Real-Time Pricing of Smart Grid Based on Piece-Wise Linear Functions

In a power grid system, utility is a measure of the satisfaction of users' electricity consumption; cost is a monetary value of electricity generated by the supplier. The utility and cost functions represent the satisfaction of different users and the supplier. Quadratic utility, logarithmic utility,and quadratic cost functions are widely used in social welfare maximization models of real-time pricing. These functions are not universal; they have to be discussed in detail for individual models. To overcome this problem, a piece-wise linear utility function and a piece-wise linear cost function with general properties are proposed in this paper. By smoothing the piece-wise linear utility and cost functions, a social welfare maximization model can be transformed into a differentiable convex optimization problem. A dual optimization method is used to solve the smoothed model. Through mathematical deduction and numerical simulations, the rationality of the model and the validity of the algorithm are verified as long as the elastic and cost coefficients take appropriate values. Thus, different user types and the supplier can be determined by selecting different elastic and cost coefficients.     

Energy Management System Design and Testing for Smart Buildings Under Uncertain Generation (Wind/Photovoltaic) and Demand

This study provides details of the energy management architecture used in the Goldwind microgrid test bed. A complete mathematical model, including all constraints and objectives, for microgrid operational management is first described using a modified prediction interval scheme. Forecasting results are then achieved every 10 min using the modified fuzzy prediction interval model, which is trained by particle swarm optimization.A scenario set is also generated using an unserved power profile and coverage grades of forecasting to compare the feasibility of the proposed method with that of the deterministic approach. The worst case operating points are achieved by the scenario with the maximum transaction cost. In summary, selection of the maximum transaction operating point from all the scenarios provides a cushion against uncertainties in renewable generation and load demand.     

Performance of GARCH models in forecasting stock market volatility

This paper studies the performance of GARCH model and its modifications, using the rate of returns from the daily stock market indices of the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange (KLSE) including Composite Index, Tins Index, Plantations Index, Properties Index, and Finance Index. The models are stationary GARCH, unconstrained GARCH, non‐negative GARCH, GARCH‐M, exponential GARCH and integrated GARCH. The parameters of these models and variance processes are estimated jointly using the maximum likelihood method. The performance of the within‐sample estimation is diagnosed using several goodness‐of‐fit statistics. We observed that, among the models, even though exponential GARCH is not the best model in the goodness‐of‐fit statistics, it performs best in describing the often‐observed skewness in stock market indices and in out‐of‐sample (one‐step‐ahead) forecasting. The integrated GARCH, on the other hand, is the poorest model in both respects. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基于自适应变异概率二进制PSO的球磨制粉系统控制

研究了一种新型自适应变异概率二进制粒子群算法。提出的自适应变异策略通过以一定的概率进行动态比特转换帮助算法更好地保持种群多样性和搜索新解,从而有效防止算法早熟。最终将提出的自适应变异概率二进制粒子群算法（adaptive mutation based pobability binary PSO,APBPSO）用于球磨制粉系统这一复杂多变量对象的PID控制器优化设计中以验证算法性能。多变量控制器分别采用了三种多目标优化目标函数,仿真结果表明提出APBPSO能有效避免陷入局部最优,其对控制器优化性能优于粒子群优化算法、离散二进制粒子群优化算法及基本的概率二进制粒子群优化算法。     

Structural and optical properties of Cr doped ZnO crystalline thin films deposited by reactive electron beam evaporation technique

ZnO and Cr-doped ZnO thin films are grown on to glass substrates using reactive electron beam(e-beam) evaporation technique.Variation of structural,morphological,and optical properties with Cr doping is investigated.X-ray diffraction(XRD) studies show that the films are polycrystalline in nature with single phase.Energy dispersive spectroscopy(EDS) results demonstrate that Cr ions are substitutionally incorporated into ZnO.Atomic force microscopy(AFM) reveals that the films present a compact surface and root mean squared(RMS) roughness increased with Cr contents.The optical band gap energy Eg of the films has been determined using Transmission data by spectrophotometer and ellipsometry.The band gap energy found to be decreased with increasing Cr doping concentration.The optical constants(refractive index,extinction coefficient) are calculated using ellipsometry and found to increase with Cr doping concentration.     

Mimicking unfolding motion of a beetle hind wing

This paper presents an experimental research aiming to realize an artificial hind wing that can mimic the wing unfolding motion of AIIomyrina dichotoma, an insect in coleopteran order. Based on the understanding of working principles of beetle wing folding/unfolding mechanisms, the hind wing unfolding motion is mimicked by a combination of creative ideas and state-of-art artificial muscle actuator. In this work, we devise two types of artificial wings and the successfully demonstrate that they can be unfolded by actuation of shape memory alloy wires to provide actuation force at the wing base and along the leading edge vein. The folding/unfolding mechanisms may provide an insight for portable nano/micro air vehicles with morphing wings.     

Advances in Electrospun Nanofiber Yarns

In order to increase the application area of nanofibers, electrospun nanofiber yarns have drawn attention of many researchers around the globe. Once the production method of nanofiber yarn is mature enough to be universally accepted, many new gates of applications will open to the world. In this review, different electrospinning techniques of electrospun nanofiber yarns are divided into needle electrospinning and needleless electrospinning. Considering yarn twist as an important mechanism, needle electrospinning technique is further categorized into mechanical, electrical and field flow twisting methods. Moreover, parameters influencing the mechanical properties of electrospun nanofiber yarns are investigated. Methods of improving mechanical properties of nanofiber yarns are addressed, including hot-water-bath treatment, addition of carbon nanotubes(CNTs) and introducing regulators. Finally, applications of electrospun nanofiber yarns in different fields of smart textile and bioengineering are summed-up. In summary, challenges encountered in the industrialization of nanofiber yarns and future prospects are anticipated.     

Enhanced urease inhibition activity of Ag nanomaterials capped with N-substituted methyl 5-acetamido-β-resorcylate

Medically, bacterial ureases are important virulent factors and are used for treatment of peptic ulcers and urinary tones. Reported urease inhibitors are associated with various side effects including antibiotic resistance as a major one. Still there is an urgent need to synthesize new urease inhibitors. In this context we have synthesized new urease inhibitor i.e. AgL that is composed of Ag nanomaterials capped with N-substituted methyl 5-acetamido-β-resorcylate(L). The conjugation of L to silver was confirmed through FTIR, UV–vis and TEM analysis.Bare silver nanomaterials(Ag) were also prepared. The stability of AgL nanostructures was determined against various parameters(temperature, high salt concentration, pH) and found to be stable. The in vitro antimicrobial(antibacterial, antifungal), enzyme inhibition(xanthine oxidase, urease, carbonic anhydrase, α-chymotrypsin,cholinesterase) and antioxidant activities of AgL were investigated and compared with Ag, L and standard drugs.In comparison to other bioactivities, AgL shows statistically enhanced selective enzyme inhibition activity against urease enzyme. Urease inhibition activity of AgL was significantly greater than standard drug(thiourea),L and Ag. On a per weight basis, AgL required about 11–18 times less amount of L for inhibition of urease enzyme.