Maryam Mogheiseh, Reza Hasanzadeh Ghasemi and Reza Soheilifard
The purpose of this paper is to compare the stability of the three nanocarriers created by DNA origami method with different positions and numbers of crossovers
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to compare the stability of the three nanocarriers created by DNA origami method with different positions and numbers of crossovers
Design/methodology/approach
Nanocarriers are attractive components among a variety of nanostructures created by DNA origami and can have numerous applications in mechanical and medical engineering. For this reason, the current study compares three nanotubes with different positions and numbers of crossovers created by DNA origami method that can be utilized as nanocarriers. To investigate the structures, the DNA nanocarriers are studied at the human body temperature 310 K. Molecular dynamics simulations are used for this study. For a quantitative analysis of DNA nanocarriers, the areas of three hexagons at three different sites in each of the nanotubes are investigated. The results indicate that the number and position of crossovers are among the significant factors in the structure stability of nanocarriers. The analyses also revealed that although adding crossovers in locations with fewer crossovers increase structural stability, the position of crossovers can have different effects on the stability. DNA origami-based nanocarriers can be implemented in drug delivery, allow the nanocargoes to pass various surfaces and act as filters for passing cargoes of different dimensions and chemical structures.
Findings
The results indicate that the number and position of crossovers are among the significant factors in the structure stability of nanocarriers
Originality/value
In this paper, the stability of DNA origami nanocarriers with different positions and numbers of crossovers was investigated.
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Javad Gerami, Mohammad Reza Mozaffari, Peter Wanke and Yong Tan
This study aims to present the cost and revenue efficiency evaluation models in data envelopment analysis in the presence of fuzzy inputs, outputs and their prices that the prices…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to present the cost and revenue efficiency evaluation models in data envelopment analysis in the presence of fuzzy inputs, outputs and their prices that the prices are also fuzzy. This study applies the proposed approach in the energy sector of the oil industry.
Design/methodology/approach
This study proposes a value-based technology according to fuzzy input-cost and revenue-output data, and based on this technology, the authors propose an approach to calculate fuzzy cost and revenue efficiency based on a directional distance function approach. These papers incorporated a decision-maker’s (DM) a priori knowledge into the fuzzy cost (revenue) efficiency analysis.
Findings
This study shows that the proposed approach obtains the components of fuzzy numbers corresponding to fuzzy cost efficiency scores in the interval [0, 1] corresponding to each of the decision-making units (DMUs). The models presented in this paper satisfies the most important properties: translation invariance, translation invariance, handle with negative data. The proposed approach obtains the fuzzy efficient targets corresponding to each DMU.
Originality/value
In the proposed approach, by selecting the appropriate direction vector in the model, we can incorporate preference information of the DM in the process of evaluating fuzzy cost or revenue efficiency and this shows the efficiency of the method and the advantages of the proposed model in a fully fuzzy environment.
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Naser Safaeian Hamzehkolaei, Mahmoud Miri and Mohsen Rashki
Reliability-based design optimizations (RBDOs) of engineering structures involve complex non-linear/non-differentiable performance functions, including both continuous and…
Abstract
Purpose
Reliability-based design optimizations (RBDOs) of engineering structures involve complex non-linear/non-differentiable performance functions, including both continuous and discrete variables. The gradient-based RBDO algorithms are less than satisfactory for these cases. The simulation-based approaches could also be computationally inefficient, especially when the double-loop strategy is used. This paper aims to present a pseudo-double loop flexible RBDO, which is efficient for solving problems, including both discrete/continuous variables.
Design/methodology/approach
The method is based on the hybrid improved binary bat algorithm (BBA) and weighed simulation method (WSM). According to this method, each BBA’s movement generates proper candidate solutions, and subsequently, WSM evaluates the reliability levels for design candidates to conduct swarm in a low-cost safe-region.
Findings
The accuracy of the proposed enhanced BBA and also the hybrid WSM-BBA are examined for ten benchmark deterministic optimizations and also four RBDO problems of truss structures, respectively. The solved examples reveal computational efficiency and superiority of the method to conventional RBDO approaches for solving complex problems including discrete variables.
Originality/value
Unlike other RBDO approaches, the proposed method is such organized that only one simulation run suffices during the optimization process. The flexibility future of the proposed RBDO framework enables a designer to present multi-level design solutions for different arrangements of the problem by using the results of the only one simulation for WSM, which is very helpful to decrease computational burden of the RBDO. In addition, a new suitable transfer function that enhanced convergence rate and search ability of the original BBA is introduced.
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Raheleh Khosravi, Maryam Mogheiseh and Reza Hasanzadeh Ghasemi
The present study aims to design and simulate various types of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) origami-based nanopores and explore their stability under different temperatures and…
Abstract
Purpose
The present study aims to design and simulate various types of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) origami-based nanopores and explore their stability under different temperatures and constraints. To create DNA origami nanopores, both one-layer and two-layer structures can be utilized.
Design/methodology/approach
One of the key applications of DNA origami structures involves the creation of nanopores, which have garnered significant interest for their diverse applications across multiple scientific disciplines. DNA origami nanopores can be studied individually and in combination with other structures. The structural stability of these nanopores across various temperature conditions is crucial for enabling the passage of diverse payloads.
Findings
Comparing these DNA origami structures can provide valuable insights into the performance of these nanopores under different conditions. The results indicate that two-layer nanopores exhibit better structural stability under various temperatures compared to one-layer nanopores. Additionally, small structural changes in two-layer nanopores enable them to maintain stability even at high temperatures.
Originality/value
In this paper, various DNA origami-based nanopores were designed and simulated, focusing specifically on one-layer and two-layer configurations. The two-layer nanopore consistently exhibited superior stability across both free and restrained scenarios, undergoing fewer structural changes compared to the one-layer nanopore. As temperatures increased, the two-layer nanopore remained less susceptible to deformation, maintaining closer to its original shape. Moreover, in the free scenario, the geometric shape of the two-layer nanopore demonstrated fewer variations than the one-layer nanopore.
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Xiaoqing Chen, Xinwang Liu and Zaiwu Gong
The purpose of this paper is to combine the uncertain methods of type-2 fuzzy sets and data envelopment analysis (DEA) evaluation model together. A new type-2 fuzzy DEA efficiency…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to combine the uncertain methods of type-2 fuzzy sets and data envelopment analysis (DEA) evaluation model together. A new type-2 fuzzy DEA efficiency assessment method is established. Then the proposed procedure is applied to the poverty alleviation problem.
Design/methodology/approach
The research method is the DEA model, which is an effective method for efficiency assessment of social–economic systems. Considering the existence of the same efficiency values that cannot be ranked in the proposed DEA model, the balance index is introduced to solve the ranking problem of decision-making units effectively.
Findings
The results show that the proposed method can not only measure the efficiency of the existence of uncertain information but also deal with the ranking of multiple efficient decision-making units.
Originality/value
This paper selects type-2 fuzzy DEA model to express a lot of uncertain information in efficiency evaluation problems. We use the parameter decomposition method of type-2 fuzzy programming or the type-2 expectation values indirectly. The balance index is proposed to further distinguish the multiple effective decision-making units. Furthermore, this paper selects rural poverty alleviation in Hainan Province as a case study to verify the feasibility of the method. The relative efficiency values in different years are calculated and analyzed.
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M.R. Ghasemi, E. Hinton and R.D. Wood
This paper demonstrates the use of genetic algorithms (GAs) for size optimization of trusses. The concept of rebirthing is shown to be considerably effective for problems…
Abstract
This paper demonstrates the use of genetic algorithms (GAs) for size optimization of trusses. The concept of rebirthing is shown to be considerably effective for problems involving continuous design variables. Some benchmark examples are studied involving 4‐bar, 10‐bar, 64‐bar, 200‐bar and 940‐bar two‐dimensional trusses. Both continuous and discrete variables are considered.
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M. Rashidzadeh, B. Faridnia and M.R. Ghasemi
The purpose of this paper is to study the effect of synthesis conditions on properties of TiO2 nanoparticles to be used for photocatalysis and also producing TiO2 using a low…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to study the effect of synthesis conditions on properties of TiO2 nanoparticles to be used for photocatalysis and also producing TiO2 using a low temperature method.
Design/methodology/approach
TiO2 nanoparticles were synthesised via a sol‐gel method at low temperature and the effect of parameters such as: synthesis temperature, HNO3 concentration, calcination temperature and synthesis time on properties of TiO2 were studied. The effects of the physico‐chemical properties of TiO2, its concentration and light intensity on photocatalytic properties of TiO2 nanoparticles were investigated also.
Findings
The results showed that TiO2 with Anatase phase were formed at 80‐100°C by using proper HNO3 concentration, synthesis time and calcinations temperature. Calcinations programme and temperature and also the synthesis time affect the formation of TiO2 crystalline phase (i.e. Rutile and Brookite), their surface area and crystallite size. To evaluate the photocatalytic properties of TiO2 nanoparticles, fluorescein was used as a model molecule. Results showed that degradation of fluorescein could be described by pseudo‐first order kinetics. The effect of TiO2 concentration and light intensity on photocatalytic activity showed that increasing concentration of TiO2 and the light intensity would increase the degradation of fluorescein.
Originality/value
The method used in this work to prepare TiO2 nanoparticles is an economic method for low temperature synthesis of TiO2 nanoparticles with high photocatalytic activity, which could find numerous applications in coating technology.
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Ali Kaveh and Ataollah Zaerreza
This paper aims to present a new multi-community meta-heuristic optimization algorithm, which is called shuffled shepherd optimization algorithm (SSOA). In this algorithm.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to present a new multi-community meta-heuristic optimization algorithm, which is called shuffled shepherd optimization algorithm (SSOA). In this algorithm.
Design/methodology/approach
The agents are first separated into multi-communities and the optimization process is then performed mimicking the behavior of a shepherd in nature operating on each community.
Findings
A new multi-community meta-heuristic optimization algorithm called a shuffled shepherd optimization algorithm is developed in this paper and applied to some attractive examples.
Originality/value
A new metaheuristic is presented and tested with some classic benchmark problems and some attractive structures are optimized.
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R.W. Lewis, M.T. Manzari and D.T. Gethin
The general procedure of thermal optimisation in the sand casting process is addressed. Various aspects of design including the size and position of feeders and chills are…
Abstract
The general procedure of thermal optimisation in the sand casting process is addressed. Various aspects of design including the size and position of feeders and chills are discussed and practical approaches are presented to search for optimum design configurations. An algorithm is also presented for finding the optimum size, position and number of chills in a sand casting process. The presence of the chill(s) in the casting configuration is simulated using a one‐dimensional heat conduction model and proper inter‐facial heat transfer coefficients. The method is efficient as all computations are carried out on the same grid and there is no need for re‐meshing due to re‐sizing or re‐positioning of the chills. A finite element thermal analysis module is linked to a commercial optimisation tool to search for the optimum set of design variables and a computationally efficient sensitivity analysis method is introduced. Three sand casting test cases are solved to validate and demonstrate the optimisation procedure and these show its use to determine the optimum size, location and number of feeders and chills on a section through a casting.
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This study evaluated the impact of a faculty training program on student assessment using the Kirkpatrick model.
Abstract
Purpose
This study evaluated the impact of a faculty training program on student assessment using the Kirkpatrick model.
Design/methodology/approach
A self-reported survey assessed 111 Saudi and non-Saudi participants' satisfaction. Subjective and objective measures (self-reported measures, assessment literacy inventory and performance-based assessment tasks) gauged participants' learning level. Pre- and post-training data were collected from 2020 to 2022.
Findings
A highly significant effect on satisfaction (>80%) and learning levels was observed, as manifested by workplace practices of student assessment (>70%, the cut-off score). Pre- and post-training comparisons of participants' satisfaction and assessment literacy scores showed significant improvements following training. Multiple regression analyses showed no significant effects for gender and educational attainment but a substantial impact of academic cluster on participants' student assessment skills.
Research limitations/implications
Long-term effects of training faculty on assessment practices and student achievement will be studied at the institutional level in future research.
Practical implications
The current study contributes to human capital investment via faculty training on student assessment, helping them comply with assessment best practices. This assures the quality, fairness and consistency of assessment processes across disciplines in higher education institutions, enhances assessment validity and trust in educational services and may support institutional accreditation.
Social implications
This study provides opportunities for sharing best practices and helps establish a community of practice. It enhances learning outcomes achievement and empowers higher education graduates with attributes necessary to succeed in the labor market. The human capital investment may have a long-term impact on overall higher education quality.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the scarce literature investigating the impact of training faculty from different clusters on student assessment using subjective and objective measures. It provides developing and evaluating a long-term student assessment program following the Kirkpatrick model.