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In most hub location problem in the literature, the demand is independent of the market share. However, especially about the services and products which are not essential, this assumption does not mirror the reality. Considering the elastic demand increases the complexity and solution of the problem. The elasticity of demand depends on the utility of available hub. For simplicity, we assume that the utility of hub nodes are additive. Utility of the nodes is based on the attraction of the facility on that node and also the decay function of distance. In this paper we propose a new model for hub location problem in an airline industry with elastic demand. In this problem, passengers use hubs... 

We study the volume averaging of inhomogeneous metrics within GR and discuss its shortcomings, such as gauge dependence, singular behavior as a result of caustics, and causality violations. To remedy these shortcomings, we suggest some modifications to this method. As a case study we focus on the inhomogeneous structured FRW model based on a flat LTB metric. The effect of averaging is then studied in terms of an effective backreaction fluid. It is shown that, contrary to the claims in the literature, the backreaction fluid behaves like a dark matter component, instead of dark energy, having a density of the order of 10-5 times the matter density, and, most importantly, it is gauge-dependent.... 

This paper presents a model for “Domestic Facility and Hub Location” in transportation network. Number of hubs and facilities are unknown and the objective is to minimize the transportation cost, lost demand penalty and facility set up costs. Also the distribution of demand among domestic facilities and hubs adheres to gravity rule. To solve the problem, sequential and integrated approaches were undertaken. In the sequential approach, domestic facilities were allocated and hubs were selected afterwards. However the integrated approach deals with both concurrently, with a more sophisticated steps reaching to the solution. This is mainly because the demand itself is highly dependent to where... 

This paper examines the spoke and hub location decisions in a routing problem. To minimize the total cost, the study analyzes on how to locate the spokes, hubs and the allocation of spoke nodes to hub nodes, the routing among the nodes and the number of vehicles assigned to each hub thoroughly. As there might be no facility assigned to some points, unsatisfied demands must be distributed to other nodes with available facilities. Furthermore, the realized demand is determined by considering the perceived utility of each path, using The Gravity rule. For this purpose, the proposed nonlinear model is transformed into a linear programming model, where some tightening rules and preprocessing... 

We extend our previous formalism in order to analyse the dynamics of a general shell of matter with an arbitrary finite thickness immersed in a curved spacetime. Within this new formulation, we obtain the equations of motion of a spherically symmetric dust thick shell immersed in vacuum as well as Friedmann-Robertson-Walker spacetimes. © 2006 IOP Publishing Ltd  

The Least Significant Bit (LSB) substitution is an old and simple data hiding method that could almost effortlessly be implemented in spatial or transform domain over any digital media. This method can be attacked by several steganalysis methods, because it detectably changes statistical and perceptual characteristics of the cover signal. A typical method for steganalysis of the LSB substitution is the histogram attack that attempts to diagnose anomalies in the cover image's histogram. A well-known method to stand the histogram attack is the LSB + steganography that intentionally embeds some extra bits to make the histogram look natural. However, the LSB + method still affects the perceptual... 

Temporal and spatial analysis of dynamics of hybrid transversely excited atmospheric pressure (TEA)-CO2 lasers is studied using two different models with four and eight energy levels. These models are used for simulation of the laser and computing the output energy. Effects of several parameters such as input energies and gas mixture concentrations (especially presence of CO molecules) are also studied. © 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved  

We consider the Gaussian Dirty Tape Channel (DTC) Y=X+S+Z, where S is an additive Gaussian interference known causally to the transmitter. The general expression maxPU, f(.), X=f(U,S) I(U;Y) is proposed for the capacity of this channel. For linear assignment to f(.), i.e., X=U-βS, this expression leads to the compensation strategy proposed previously by Willems to obtain an achievable rate for the DTC. We show that linear assignment to f(.) is optimal under the condition that there exists a real number β* such that the pair (X+β*S, U) is independent of the interference S. Furthermore, by applying a time-sharing technique to the achievable rate derived by linear assignment to f (.), an... 

The Partially Cooperative Relay-Broadcast Channel (PC-RBC) is a generalization of Relay Channel in which the relay node decodes its own private message. In this paper, we introduce a class of parallel PC-RBCs with three unmatched subchannels, in which the first component of the channel is assumed to be degraded, the second to be orthogonal and the third to be deterministic. We characterize the capacity region of this channel for the case where the source sends a private message for each of the users. We also investigate a class of parallel relay channels with three unmatched subchannels, in which the first component of the channel is degraded, the second is orthogonal and the third is... 

An optimal labeling where labels are disjoint axis-parallel equal-size squares is called 2PM labeling if the labels have maximum length each attached to its corresponding point on the middle of one of its horizontal edges. In a closed-2PM labeling, no two edges of labels containing points should intersect. Removing one point and its label, makes free room for its adjacent labels and may cause a global label expansion. In this paper, we construct several data structures in the preprocessing stage, so that any point removal event is handled efficiently. We present an algorithm which decides in O (lg n) amortized time whether a label removal leads to label expansion in which case a new optimal... 

We present a new model universe based on the junction of FRW to flat Lemaitre-Tolman-Bondi (LTB) solutions of Einstein equations along our past light cone, bringing structures within the FRW models. The model is assumed globally to be homogeneous, i.e. the cosmological principle is valid. Local inhomogeneities within the past light cone are modeled as a flat LTB, whereas those outside the light cone are assumed to be smoothed out and represented by a FRW model. The model is singularity free, always FRW far from the observer along the past light cone, gives way to a different luminosity distance relation as for the CDM/FRW models, a negative deceleration parameter near the observer, and... 

Effect of different conditions on shear behaviour of rock has been investigated by various researchers. As known, in larger scale the continuity of the rock material is interrupted by separated planes such as bedding planes, faults, shear zones, closure and the behaviour converts to be inelastic and anisotropic. Generally, discontinuities appear repeatedly in more than one preferential direction, creating a three dimensional structure, reducing its stiffness and shear strength as mechanical effects and increasing its transport velocity associated with discontinuity flow as hydraulic effects. They also make rock behavior more complex and different compared to the behavior of soil. According... 

This paper presents an optimum pre-filter for ICA based multi-input multi-output OFDM system. In our former work, we presented a pre-filter solution for multiuser reconstruction in ICA based MIMO-OFDM systems [1,2]. Here, based on the structure of the system and former pre-filter solution, an optimization problem has been designed to give us the optimum pre-filter. The designed problem is based on minimization of the estimation error of ambiguities inherent to ICA in reconstruction of the data after separation. The optimization problem is mathematically solved and a set of optimized coefficients are obtained. Among the obtained set as optimum coefficients, optimum coefficients are acquired... 

This paper presents an Optimum pre-filter for ICA based mulit-input multi-output OFDM System. In our former work, we presented a pre-filter solution for multiuser reconstruction in ICA based MIMO-OFDM systems [1], [2]. Here, based on the structure of the system and former prefilter solution, an optimization problem has been designed to give us the optimum pre-filter. The designed problem is based on minimization of the estimation error of ambiguities inherent to ICA in reconstruction of the data after separation. The optimization problem is mathematically solved and a set of optimized coefficients are obtained. Among the obtained set as optimum coefficients, optimum coefficients are acquired... 

Background: The issue of medial image resolution enhancement is one of the most important topics for medical imaging that helps improve the performance of many post-processing aspects like classification and segmentation towards medical diagnosis. Objective: Our aim in this paper is to evaluate different types of pixel selection models in terms of pixel originality in medical image reconstruction problems. A previous investigation showed that selecting far original pixels has highly better performance than using near unoriginal/estimated pixels while magnifying some benchmarks in digital image processing. Material and Methods: In our technical study, we apply two classical inter-polators,... 

The thermo-mechanical behavior of energy piles has been studied extensively in recent years. In the present study, a numerical model was adapted to study the effect of various parameters (e.g. heating/cooling temperature, head loading condition and soil stiffness) on the thermo-mechanical behavior of an energy pile installed in unsaturated sandstone. The results from the simulations were compared with measurements from a thermal response test on a prototype energy pile installed beneath a 1-story building at the US Air Force Academy (USAFA) in Colorado Springs, CO. A good agreement was achieved between the results obtained from the prototype and the numerical models. A parametric evaluation... 

In this paper, we consider partially and fully cooperative state-dependent relay broadcast channels with perfect causal Channel State Information (CSI). For these two channels, we study three different situations: 1) both the source and the relay nodes have access to perfect CSI, 2) perfect CSI is only known to the relay nodes, 3) perfect CSI is only available at the source node. In each situation we obtain the capacity region for a degraded version of the channel. Our work subsumes previously obtained results for the degraded broadcast and relay channels with perfect causal CSI. © 2009 IEEE  

Site investigations at limited-access project sites often require mobilization of smaller rigs that may not have the reaction mass required to perform soundings to the desired depth. This study explores the feasibility of a new conceptual bio-inspired solution by adapting functional principles from organisms whose primary mode of locomotion is soil burrowing, including razor clams, caecilians, and earthworms. These organisms radially expand a segment of their body to increase the normal radial pressure acting on it to temporarily form an anchor. This study evaluates the dimensions required for self penetration of an idealized bio-inspired probe consisting of a radially expanding shaft and a... 

The drainage of oil under gravity forces is an efficient method because it can farther reduce the remaining oil saturation to below that obtained after water flooding. This paper describes a series of visual experiments under forced gas invasion with special attention to the effects of wettability. From oil production history and image analysis, we examine a threshold criterion for displacement stability that is consistent with the results of gradient percolation theory. The effect of the destabilized front velocity on oil recovery and residual saturation is investigated for both wettability conditions. Different recovery rates occur with different fluid morphologies, which depend on the...