Iterative Flattening Search (IFS) is a meta-heuristic strategy for solving multi-capacity scheduling problems. Given an initial solution, IFS iteratively applies: (1) a relaxationstep, in which a subset of scheduling decisions are randomly retracted from the current solution; and (2) a flattening-step, in which a new solution is incrementally recomputed from this partial schedule. Whenever a be...

In the paper, a new method for modelling trees at medium detail is presented. The method is based on a volumetric representation of trees, generated by an iterated function system (IFS). Alleviating the modeling restrictions of fractal techniques, extensions to the standard IFS are introduced. Practical aspects of modeling and rendering of trees, such as data structures and bounding volumes, ar...

Nonlinear systems, defined by a system of ODE’s, usually contain nonlinear terms. Under some circumstances these terms can be locally approximated by linear factors and by discretization can be transformed in the sequence of (hyperbolic) Iterated Function Systems (IFS). Then, this IFS generate a unique attractor that uses as a kind of characteristic set that reflects the dynamics in the vicinit...

Informal finance is a crucial financing method for small and micro enterprises (SMEs) in most developing countries. Interest rate risks (IRS) should be vital component of SMEs' informal strategies (IFS), public health emergencies (as COVID-19) likely to modify IFS due increased liquidity SMEs. This article examines the relationship between IRS its moderated effects by COVID-19. The study develo...

In the majority of cases, acromegaly is sporadic. However, it can also occur in a familial setting as a component of MEN-1, MEN-4, Carney complex (CNC) or as the extremely rare syndrome of isolated familial somatotropinoma (IFS), the latter belonging to familial isolated pituitary adenomas (FIPA). The diagnosis of IFS is based on the recognition of acromegaly/gigantism in at least two family me...

Keratins, the largest subgroup of intermediate filament (IF) proteins, form a network of 10-nm filaments built from type I/II heterodimers in epithelial cells. A major function of keratin IFs is to protect epithelial cells from mechanical stress. Like filamentous actin, keratin IFs must be cross-linked in vitro to achieve the high level of mechanical resilience characteristic of live cells. Ker...

Intermediate filaments (IFs) are major constituents of the cytoskeleton and nuclear boundary in animal cells. They are of prime importance for the functional organization of structural elements. Depending on the cell type, morphologically similar but biochemically distinct proteins form highly viscoelastic filament networks with multiple nanomechanical functions. Besides their primary role in c...

In the last years Image Fractal Compression techniques (IFS) have gained ever more interest because of their capability to achieve high compression ratios while maintaining very good quality for the reconstructed image. The main drawback of such techniques is the very high computing time needed to determine the compressed code. In this paper, after a brief description of the IFS theory, we disc...

A determinação de enxofre por espectrometria de massa com plasma acoplado indutivamente (ICP-MS) não é trivial, especialmente devido a intensas interferências espectrais causadas por íons poliatômicos como O2 , (OH)2 , NOH2 + e NO. Neste trabalho, espécies de argônio naturalmente presentes no plasma (padrões de interferência, IFS) são usadas para minimizar interferências espectrais na determina...