A fuzzy ID3 induction for linguistic data sets

In real life, humans communicate by means of words. Computing with words enables flexibility via fuzzy logic to reach more informative results for the classification and decision‐making. Fuzzy logic handles the imprecise information. In our paper, we propose a novel fuzzy ID3 algorithm for the classification on linguistic data set, where data can be given as linguistic variables. Linguistic variables are defined by using triangular fuzzy numbers given as LR (left‐right) fuzzy numbers. And weighted averaging based on levels (WABL) method is used as the defuzzification method for each data. Then, fuzzy c‐means algorithm is performed to handle the membership degrees for each variable given in each data set used in an experimental study. At last, the fuzzy ID3 algorithm is applied. The rules are generated, and the reasoning is done by different T‐operators. Our study is encouraged by (using) statistical analysis. In conclusion, it is seen that our algorithm proposed for linguistic data is as good as the proposed approach for numeric data. Also, it is shown that the proposed linguistic approach by using different T‐operators on linguistic data gives better results than numerical approach on some data sets.     

Achieving IT‐based synergies through regulation‐oriented and consensus‐oriented IT governance capabilities

This study aims at exploring the IT governance capabilities that enable organizations to achieve IT‐based synergies. Following existing work on the contextualization of theories and drawing on the resource‐based view of the firm (RBV), we develop an RBV of IT‐based synergies in two steps. First, we adopt existing context‐specific constructs and relationships from prior work on IT governance capabilities, IT relatedness, and synergies to develop a preliminary contextualization of the RBV. Second, to further refine our theoretical framework, we conduct an exploratory field study that includes interviews with 26 CIOs and other IT executives from 21 multibusiness firms. Our findings suggest that IT governance capabilities lead to IT‐based synergies through IT relatedness and business process relatedness. We found regulation‐oriented IT governance capabilities (IT roles and IT processes) to increase IT relatedness, while consensus‐oriented IT governance capabilities (IT groups and relational capabilities) had a positive effect on business process relatedness. Our results suggest that, in isolation, IT and business process relatedness lead to IT cost synergies, while collectively enabling IT‐induced business synergies. Our study is among the first to treat IT relatedness as an endogenous construct and to explicitly integrate business process relatedness into the IT governance domain. Our context‐specific decomposition of IT governance capabilities helps to better explain their links to IT and business process relatedness. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the tension between IT‐based synergies and business‐IT alignment. Decision‐makers are guided in developing IT governance capabilities to achieve IT‐based synergies.     

Synthesis and properties of brominate bismaleimide monomers

Brominated bismaleimides were prepared by reacting 3(4)‐maleimidobenzoylchloride with various bisphenols, using chloroform as solvent and triethylamine as acid acceptor. These monomers were characterized by elemental analysis, infrared (IR), and proton nuclear resonance (¹H‐NMR) spectroscopy. Thermal properties of monomers were accomplished by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic thermogravimetric analysis (ATG). The properties of these compounds were compared with those of monomers derived from bisphenol A and bisphenol A chlorinated. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 3881–3885, 2006     

Propham mineralization in aqueous medium by anodic oxidation using boron-doped diamond anode: influence of experimental parameters on degradation kinetics and mineralization efficiency

This study aims the removal of a carbamate herbicide, propham, from aqueous solution by direct electrochemical advanced oxidation process using a boron-doped diamond (BDD) anode. This electrode produces large quantities of hydroxyl radicals from oxidation of water, which leads to the oxidative degradation of propham up to its total mineralization. Effect of operational parameters such as current, temperature, pH and supporting electrolyte on the degradation and mineralization rate was studied. The applied current and temperature exert a prominent effect on the total organic carbon (TOC) removal rate of the solutions. The mineralization of propham can be performed at any pH value between 3 and 11 without any loss in oxidation efficiency. The propham decay and its overall mineralization reaction follows a pseudo-first-order kinetics. The apparent rate constant value of propham oxidation was determined as 4.8×10⁻⁴ s⁻¹ at 100 mA and 35 °C in the presence of 50 mM Na₂SO₄ in acidic media (pH: 3). A general mineralization sequence was proposed considering the identified oxidation intermediates.     

An Effective Approach for High‐Efficiency Photoelectrochemical Solar Cells by Using Bifunctional DNA Molecules Modified Photoanode

This paper firstly reports the effect of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) molecules extracted from chickpea and wheat plants on the injection/recombination of photogenerated electrons and sensitizing ability of dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). These high‐yield DNA molecules are applied as both linker bridging unit as well as thin tunneling barrier (TTB) at titanium dioxide (TiO₂ )/dye interface, to build up high‐efficient DSSCs. With its favorable energy levels, effective linker bridging role, and double helix structure, bifunctional DNA modifier shows an efficient electron injection, suppressed charge recombination, longer electron lifetime, and higher light harvesting efficiency, which leads to higher photovoltaic performance. In particular, a photoconversion efficiency (PCE) of 9.23% is achieved by the binary chickpea and wheat DNA‐modified TiO₂ (CW@TiO₂) photoanode. Furthermore, time‐resolved fluorescence spectroscopy measurements confirm a better electron transfer kinetics for DNA‐modified TiO₂ photoanodes, implying a higher electron transfer rate (k_ET). This work highlights a great contribution for the photoanodes that are linked with DNA molecule, which act as both bridging unit and TTB to control the charge recombination and injection dynamics, and hence, boost the photovoltaic performance in the DSSCs.     

Features of the mechanical properties of phosphate glasses doped with rare earth elements under indentation

The microstructure, as well as the mechanical and thermal properties, of phosphate glasses (PhGs) doped with rare earth elements (REEs), namely, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, and Yb, were studied in the present paper. The strength parameters of the PhGs and their dependence on the load value modification were estimated by the dynamic indentation method. Three specific stages were revealed in the deformation process, including nano-, submicro-, and microdeformation. The factors responsible for each stage were determined. It was shown that the strength properties (Young’s modulus and hardness) and the thermal characteristics (the lower and upper annealing temperature, the softening temperature, and the vitrification temperature) exhibit no evident relationship with the atomic mass and ionic radius of an REE. An assumption was made that the elastic and plastic properties of PhGs can be determined by the internal structure of the glasses.     

Surface properties of aromatic polymer film during thermal treatment

Aromatic polyimide films are processed from polyamic acid solutions. This process involved the simultaneous loss of solvent and chemical conversion of polyamic acid to polyimide, and implied structural reorganization which led to changed physical properties. Polymer films generated from benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride and 4,4′-diamino-3,3′-dimethyl diphenylmethane have been investigated at different stages of thermal treatment. The surface polarity, which was determined by the presence of polar COOH and CONH groups, changed during polyamic acid thermal treatment. These polar groups were removed step by step by imidization process leading to the modification of the physical properties of the polymer film.     

Preparation method and thermal properties of samarium and europium-doped alumino-phosphate glasses

The present work investigates alumino-phosphate glasses from Li₂O–BaO–Al₂O₃–La₂O₃–P₂O₅ system containing Sm³⁺ and Eu³⁺ ions, prepared by two different ways: a wet raw materials mixing route followed by evaporation and melt-quenching, and by remelting of shards. The linear thermal expansion coefficient measured by dilatometry is identical for both rare-earth-doped phosphate glasses. Comparatively to undoped phosphate glass the linear thermal expansion coefficient increases with 2 × 10⁻⁷ K⁻¹ when dopants are added. The characteristic temperatures very slowly decrease but can be considered constant with atomic weight, atomic number and f electrons number of the doping ions in the case of T_g (vitreous transition temperature) and T_sr (high annealing temperature) but slowly increase in the case of T_ir (low annealing temperature–strain point) and very slowly increase, being practically constant in the case of T_D (dilatometric softening temperature). Comparatively to undoped phosphate glass the characteristic temperatures of Sm and Eu-doped glasses present lower values. The higher values of electrical conductance for both doped glasses, comparatively to usual soda-lime-silicate glass, indicate a slightly reduced stability against water. The viscosity measurements, showed a quasi-linear variation with temperature the mean square deviation (R²) being ranged between 0.872% and 0.996%. The viscosity of doped glasses comparatively to the undoped one is lower at the same temperature. Thermogravimetric analysis did not show notable mass change for any of doped samples. DSC curves for both rare-earth-doped phosphate glasses, as bulk and powdered samples, showed T_g values in the range 435–450 °C. Bulk samples exhibited a very weak exothermic peak at about 685 °C, while powdered samples showed two weak exothermic peaks at about 555 °C and 685 °C due to devitrification of the glasses. Using designed melting and annealing programs, the doped glasses were improved regarding bubbles and cords content and strain elimination.     

Effect of cooling rate on structure and mechanical properties of monotectoid zinc-aluminium alloys

The cooling curves of a number of monotectoid zinc-aluminium allows have been obtained during casting at different pouring and mould temperatures using thermocouples and an analogue-digital converter in a computer. The average cooling rate for each ingot of the allows was determined by taking the derivative of the cooling curves. The effect of cooling rate on the structure and properties of the alloys was investigated. It was observed that as the cooling rate increased the secondary dendrite arm spacing of the alloys decreased but their hardness, tensile strength and percentage elongation increased. Correlation of the experimental results showed that the cooling rate of the alloys could be related to their secondary dendrite arm spacing, hardness, tensile strength and percentage elongation using first and second degree mathematical equations. In addition, the Skenazi equation was found to be applicable to these alloys. As a result of this work, the optimum range of cooling rate for the alloys was found to be between 4·40?4·56 K s^-1.     

Synthesis and thermal behavior of some anthracene‐based copolymers obtained by Diels–Alder cycloaddition reactions

New polymer structures have been synthesized via Diels–Alder cycloaddition of bisdiene compounds bearing two anthracene groups and different bisdienophiles, all containing bismaleimide or biscitraconimide functions. The monomers and polymers were characterized by FTIR, UV, and ¹H NMR techniques and compared with two models having a cycloadduct structure. The polymers were studied by thermogravimetric analyses. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2008