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In multi-criteria ranking problems, the UTA-like methods can be used to infer the value functions that restore the decision-maker’s (DM’s) indirect preference information. These value functions represent all possible preference systems for the DM. In this paper, we aim to develop a method for determining the complete ranking of alternatives based on all such value functions.

We extend the DM’s inductive preference for value functions in the selection of a representative value function to rankings of alternatives and construct a novel measure referred as the representativeness index to evaluate the performance of rankings relative to the inductive preference. Subsequently, by exploring all value functions that are capable of generating a ranking, two robust representativeness indices are constructed and a simulation algorithm is proposed for calculating the robust representativeness index.

Determining the ranking based on the representative value function can be seen as selecting the ranking with the largest representativeness index. Additionally, we find through a case study that the ranking determined based on robust representativeness indices has good robustness in the sense of inductive preferences.

The inductive preference is a manifestation of the DM’s preference system. This paper proposes a method for measuring the performance of rankings relative to inductive preferences. The performance of a ranking is defined as the performance of all value functions that can produce that ranking relative to the inductive preference. In turn, it is possible to identify the ranking that best matches the DM’s preference system.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate aerosol evolution in a planar mixing layer from a Lagrangian point of view. After using Monte Carlo (MC) method to simulate the evolution of aerosol dynamics along particles trajectories, the particles size distributions are obtained, which are unavailable in mostly used methods of moments.

Nucleation and growth of dibutyl phthalate (DBP) particles are simulated using the quadrature method of moments in a planar mixing layer, where a fast hot stream with DBP vapor is mixing with a slow cool stream without vapor. Trajectories of aerosol particles are recorded. MC method is used to simulate the aerosol evolution along trajectories.

Investigation on aerosol evolution along the trajectories prompts to classify these trajectories into three groups: first, trajectories away from the active nucleation zone; second, trajectories starting from the active nucleation zone; and third, trajectories crossing over the active nucleation zone. Particle size distributions (psds) along selected representative trajectories are investigated. The psd evolution exhibits interesting behavior due to the synthetic effects of nucleation and condensation. Condensation growth tends to narrow down the psd, and form a sharp front on the side of big particle size. Nucleation is able to broaden the psd through generating the smallest particles. The duration and strength of nucleation have significant effect on the shape of psd.

As far as the authors knowledge, it is the first simulation of aerosol evolution that takes a Lagrangian point of view, and uses MC simulation along particles trajectories to provide the particles size distribution.

The shape of a product plays a crucial role in shaping consumer behavior. Despite the voluminous research on factors influencing consumers’ shape preferences, there remains a limited understanding of how the busy mindset, a mentality increasingly emphasized by marketing campaigns, works. This study aims to fill this gap by exploring the relationship between a busy mindset and the preference for angular-shaped versus circular-shaped products and brand logos.

This research consists of seven experimental studies using various shape stimuli, distinct manipulations of busy mindset, different assessments of shape preference and samples drawn from multiple countries.

The findings reveal that a busy mindset leads to a preference for angular shapes over circular ones by amplifying the need for uniqueness. In addition, these effects are attenuated when products are scarce.

This research represents one of the pioneering efforts to study the role of a busy mindset on consumers’ aesthetic preferences. Beyond yielding insights for practitioners into visual marketing, this research contributes to the theories on the busy mindset and shape preference.

Traditional embedded operation systems are resource consuming multitask, thus they are not adapted for smart wireless sensors. This paper presents a super‐small distributed real‐time microkernel (SDREAM) dedicated to wireless sensors. SDREAM is a tuple‐based message‐driven real‐time kernel. It adopts a meta language: Kernel Modeling Language to define and describe the system primitives in abstract manner. The IPC and processes synchronization are based on the LINDA concept: the tuple model implemented by two light primitives (SND: OUT & RCV: IN). In SDREAM, tasks are classified into two categories: periodic and priority. The periodic task has the highest priority level and is responsible for capturing sensor signals or actuating control signals; the priority task has various priority levels and is suitable for time‐constraints applications. A two‐level task scheduling policy scheme, named priority‐based pre‐emptive scheduling, is used for task scheduling. SDREAM is simple and efficient. It has a flexible hardware abstraction capability that enables it to be rapidly ported into different WSN platforms and other tiny embedded devices. Currently, it has been ported and evaluated in several hardware platforms. The performance results show SDREAM requires tiny resource and is suitable and efficient for hard real‐time multitask WSN applications.

This study aims to reduce the weight of the door, improve the operating efficiency and ensure the safety of vehicle operation.

Based on traditional aluminium alloy doors, a new type of honeycomb composite material was developed. Tests were conducted to determine the honeycomb compression resistance, honeycomb and skin shear performance, plate bending, thermal conductivity and environmental protection. Eight doors were developed based on the full-side open structure, and static strength and stiffness analyses were performed simultaneously. To solve door vibration problems, modal analysis and test were carried out.

The test results showed that the weight of the door was reduced by more than 40% whilst ensuring the strength and stiffness of the vehicle. The first–sixth-order test mode of the door was increased by more than 14% compared with existing aluminium alloy doors.

A new type of honeycomb composite material was used in this study. The test results showed that the weight of the door was reduced by more than 40% whilst ensuring the strength and stiffness of the vehicle. The 1st-to-6th order test mode of the door was increased by more than 14% compared with the existing aluminium alloy door.

The purpose of this paper is to study the complex aerosol dynamic processes by using this newly developed stochastically weighted operator splitting Monte Carlo (SWOSMC) method.

Stochastically weighted particle method and operator splitting method are coupled to formulate the SWOSMC method for the numerical simulation of particle-fluid systems undergoing the complex simultaneous processes.

This SWOSMC method is first validated by comparing its numerical simulation results of constant rate coagulation and linear rate condensation with the corresponding analytical solutions. Coagulation and nucleation cases are further studied whose results are compared with the sectional method in excellent agreement. This SWOSMC method has also demonstrated its high numerical simulation capability when used to deal with simultaneous aerosol dynamic processes including coagulation, nucleation and condensation.

There always exists conflict and tradeoffs between computational cost and accuracy for Monte Carlo-based methods for the numerical simulation of aerosol dynamics. The operator splitting method has been widely used in solving complex partial differential equations, while the stochastic-weighted particle method has been commonly used in numerical simulation of aerosol dynamics. However, the integration of these two methods has not been well investigated.

By introducing the basic concepts and theories of the philosophy of information created by Kun Wu, and making some comparisons of the philosophy of information and related information theories between Wu and other scholars, this paper aims to have Chinese philosophy of information widely known and understood by more people in the world, thus promoting the international exchanges between Chinese and Western scholars on the topic of philosophy of information.

The main research methods used in this paper are the literature review and the comparative study. On the one hand, it reviews some related concepts and theories in Kun Wu's academic works of philosophy of information. On the other hand, it compares the thoughts and viewpoints of Kun Wu with those of other scholars.

First, Kun Wu is the first person who has established a complete and comprehensive theoretical system of philosophy of information in China; second, Kun Wu's philosophy of information is significant in originality and value, which could be thought as the intellectual quintessence of information age, thus worth learning. Third, with more international exchanges, Chinese philosophy of information created by Wu will surely be more and more influential in philosophical circles at home and abroad.

It is a very valuable first-hand material for Western scholars to know and understand Chinese philosophy of information.

Selective electron beam melting (SEBM) is one of the popular powder-bed additive manufacturing (AM) technologies. The purpose of this paper is to develop a simulation strategy for SEBM process to get data which are vital for realistic failure prediction and process parameters control for real complex components.

Focusing on the SEBM process of tantalum, this paper presents a three-dimensional thermo-mechanical modeling strategy based on ABAQUS and its subroutines. The simulation strategy used in this paper is developed for SEBM process of pure tantalum but could be extended to other AM fabrication technologies and other metals without difficulties.

The simulation of multi-track multi-layer SEBM process of tantalum was carried out to predict the temperature field, the molten pool evolution and the residual stress distribution. The key information such as inter-track molten pool overlapping ratio and inter-layer refusion state can be extracted from the obtained molten pool morphologies, which are vital for realistic failure prediction and process parameters control for real components. The authors finally demonstrate the capability of the strategy used by simulating a 2 mm × 2 mm × 10 mm lattice structure with total 200 layers.

The simulation of multi-track multi-layer SEBM process of tantalum was carried out. The key information such as inter-track molten pool overlapping ratio and inter-layer refusion state can be extracted. The authors finally demonstrate the capability of the strategy used by simulating a lattice structure. Not only temperature distribution but also stress evolution are captured. Our simulation strategy is developed for the SEBM process of pure tantalum, but it could be extended to other AM fabrication technologies and other metals without difficulties.

The purpose of this paper is to design a contract to coordinate the biomass molding fuel supply chain consisting of a supplier with uncertain supply and a producer with cyclical demand as well as improve the profit of this supply chain.

In this paper, the supply chain model was build and all the variables and assumptions are set. Stackelberg game model was used to analyze and solve the problem. Furthermore, the authors give numerical examples and result analysis on the basis of data coming from field study and online information about a real biomass fuel supply chain.

The wholesale price with shortage penalty contract the authors proposed can coordinate the supply chain. And as the dominator of the supply chain, the producer can realize the redistribution of profits within the supply chain by determine the contract parameters.

This one-to-one supply chain is a basic of complex supply chain system. Multi-to-one, one-to-multi and multi-to-multi supply chain can be studied in the future.

The results obtained in this paper can be used as a reference for enterprises in biomass energy supply chain to make contracts and realize the long-term co-operations among supply chain members.