Fitness Landscape-Based Characterisation of Nature-Inspired Algorithms

A significant challenge in nature-inspired algorithmics is the identification of specific characteristics of problems that make them harder (or easier) to solve using specific methods. The hope is that, by identifying these characteristics, we may more easily predict which algorithms are best-suited to problems sharing certain features. Here, we approach this problem using fitness landscape analysis. Techniques already exist for measuring the "difficulty" of specific landscapes, but these are often designed solely with evolutionary algorithms in mind, and are generally specific to discrete optimisation. In this paper we develop an approach for comparing a wide range of continuous optimisation algorithms. Using a fitness landscape generation technique, we compare six different nature-inspired algorithms and identify which methods perform best on landscapes exhibiting specific features.Comment: 10 pages, 1 figure, submitted to the 11th International Conference on Adaptive and Natural Computing Algorithm

Assessing hyper parameter optimization and speedup for convolutional neural networks

The increased processing power of graphical processing units (GPUs) and the availability of large image datasets has fostered a renewed interest in extracting semantic information from images. Promising results for complex image categorization problems have been achieved using deep learning, with neural networks comprised of many layers. Convolutional neural networks (CNN) are one such architecture which provides more opportunities for image classification. Advances in CNN enable the development of training models using large labelled image datasets, but the hyper parameters need to be specified, which is challenging and complex due to the large number of parameters. A substantial amount of computational power and processing time is required to determine the optimal hyper parameters to define a model yielding good results. This article provides a survey of the hyper parameter search and optimization methods for CNN architectures

Cultural Values and Important Possessions: A Cross-Cultural Analysis

The logic behind globalized advertising appeals is based on the premise that cultural value systems are converging. Yet, there is no clear agreement regarding the superiority of standardized campaigns vs. localized ones. One reason for this lack of agreement deals with the extent to which various cultures share similar values. The goal of this study is to apply a relatively new framework dealing with value differences developed by Schwartz [Adv. Exp. Soc. Psychol. 25 (1992) 1.] to New Zealand and the USA by looking at the connection between these values and possessions. The hypotheses received mix support. The results confirm that New Zealanders are higher in Harmony and Affective Autonomy, and these values did, in part, affect possessions and reasons for owning them. New Zealanders’ most valued possessions were for environmental reasons, but they were no more likely to mention enjoyment reasons than Americans. New Zealanders also did not mention recreational possessions as more important, contrary to one of the hypotheses. Nonetheless, the similarities between NZ and the USA were much greater than the differences. The study provides valuable insight into how the meanings of important possessions differ across cultures and illustrates the need to understand these differences when designing marketing communications and positioning products in foreign markets

Optimal Location of Distributed Generation Sources and Capacitance of Distribution Network to Reduce Losses, Improve Voltage Profile, and Minimizing the Costs Using Genetic and Harmonic Search Algorithm

International audienceReducing losses and improving the voltage profile have been the main objectives of electrical power system designers. One of the suggested solutions for achieving these goals is the use of parallel capacitors and distributed generation sources in distribution systems. A location that is optimized for DG installation may not be the best place to minimize losses in improving the system voltage profile. In this paper, determining the optimal location of the dispersed generation unit and the capacitive bank with the goal of optimizing a target function, including losses, improving the voltage profile, and the cost of investment in capacitors and dispersed production. In this paper, IEEE standard 33 buses is considered for simulation, and the results are obtained by using genetic and harmonic search algorithm indicate that DG optimization and capacitor with a target function in which the loss reduction and improvement of the voltage profile is considered to reduce costs, reduce losses, and improve the voltage profile, which are remarkable improvements

Religiosity, ethics and the spirit of capitalism in HRM

This chapter contributes to the debate on the extent to which religion and religiosity have had any effects on the management of people and employee relations in Asian countries and in particular in East Asia where there has been a revival of religious beliefs after many years of suppression on religious practices. The author observed that studies on the relationship between religious beliefs, organizational behavior, managerial practices and organizational outcomes are very limited and much of the debate over the rise of religiosity and spirituality as a form of personal identity has focused on the effects of religion at the national rather than the organizational and workplace level, and has been concerned with the negative aspects of religious extremism rather than on the positive implications of religious enlightenment on work and employee relations. This chapter addresses this imbalance and argues that the gap is still wider between the theory or what religious teachings promote and the reality or how people are managed in the workplace. The author provides emerging evidence that suggests that Asian ethical work behavior inspired by non-religious beliefs has had significant impact on HRM despite the spread of capitalism and the rise of religiosity, and calls for more empirical research on the topic to deepen our understanding

Plug-in to fear: game biosensors and negative physiological responses to music

The games industry is beginning to embark on an ambitious journey into the world of biometric gaming in search of more exciting and immersive gaming experiences. Whether or not biometric game technologies hold the key to unlock the “ultimate gaming experience” hinges not only on technological advancements alone but also on the game industry’s understanding of physiological responses to stimuli of different kinds, and its ability to interpret physiological data in terms of indicative meaning. With reference to horror genre games and music in particular, this article reviews some of the scientific literature relating to specific physiological responses induced by “fearful” or “unpleasant” musical stimuli, and considers some of the challenges facing the games industry in its quest for the ultimate “plugged-in” experience

Spatial inequality and polarisation in India

This paper analyses the extent of inequality amongst the major states of India over nearly two decades. It reviews various theoretical propositions for possible convergence and divergence and argues that while the evidence from the more developed countries supports the case of convergence the empirical evidence shows that the Indian states are on the course of divergence rather than convergence. The paper also investigates if the increasing inequality amongst the states have been coupled with polarisation. Some possible dimensions around which polarisation may have taken place are analysed of which some seem to be highly influential.

In search of a pan-European culture: European values, beliefs and models of selfhood in global perspective

What, if any, are the common cultural characteristics that distinguish European societies and groups when viewed against a backdrop of global cultural variation? We sought to identify any shared features of European cultures through secondary multilevel analyses of two large datasets that together provided measures of cultural values, beliefs and models of selfhood from samples in all inhabited continents. Although heterogeneous in many respects—including the value dimension of autonomy versus embeddedness—European samples shared two distinctive features: a decontextualized representation of personhood and a cultural model of selfhood emphasizing difference from others. Compared to samples from other regions, European samples on average also emphasized egalitarianism and harmony values, commitment to others in their models of selfhood, and an immutable concept of personhood, but not uniformly so. We interpret these findings in relation to a Durkheimian model of individualism