Nature-inspired algorithms for solving some hard numerical problems

Optimisation is a branch of mathematics that was developed to find the optimal solutions, among all the possible ones, for a given problem. Applications of optimisation techniques are currently employed in engineering, computing, and industrial problems. Therefore, optimisation is a very active research area, leading to the publication of a large number of methods to solve specific problems to its optimality. This dissertation focuses on the adaptation of two nature inspired algorithms that, based on optimisation techniques, are able to compute approximations for zeros of polynomials and roots of non-linear equations and systems of non-linear equations. Although many iterative methods for finding all the roots of a given function already exist, they usually require: (a) repeated deflations, that can lead to very inaccurate results due to the problem of accumulating rounding errors, (b) good initial approximations to the roots for the algorithm converge, or (c) the computation of first or second order derivatives, which besides being computationally intensive, it is not always possible. The drawbacks previously mentioned served as motivation for the use of Particle Swarm Optimisation (PSO) and Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) for root-finding, since they are known, respectively, for their ability to explore high-dimensional spaces (not requiring good initial approximations) and for their capability to model complex problems. Besides that, both methods do not need repeated deflations, nor derivative information. The algorithms were described throughout this document and tested using a test suite of hard numerical problems in science and engineering. Results, in turn, were compared with several results available on the literature and with the well-known Durand–Kerner method, depicting that both algorithms are effective to solve the numerical problems considered.A Optimização é um ramo da matemática desenvolvido para encontrar as soluções óptimas, de entre todas as possíveis, para um determinado problema. Actualmente, são várias as técnicas de optimização aplicadas a problemas de engenharia, de informática e da indústria. Dada a grande panóplia de aplicações, existem inúmeros trabalhos publicados que propõem métodos para resolver, de forma óptima, problemas específicos. Esta dissertação foca-se na adaptação de dois algoritmos inspirados na natureza que, tendo como base técnicas de optimização, são capazes de calcular aproximações para zeros de polinómios e raízes de equações não lineares e sistemas de equações não lineares. Embora já existam muitos métodos iterativos para encontrar todas as raízes ou zeros de uma função, eles usualmente exigem: (a) deflações repetidas, que podem levar a resultados muito inexactos, devido ao problema da acumulação de erros de arredondamento a cada iteração; (b) boas aproximações iniciais para as raízes para o algoritmo convergir, ou (c) o cálculo de derivadas de primeira ou de segunda ordem que, além de ser computacionalmente intensivo, para muitas funções é impossível de se calcular. Estas desvantagens motivaram o uso da Optimização por Enxame de Partículas (PSO) e de Redes Neurais Artificiais (RNAs) para o cálculo de raízes. Estas técnicas são conhecidas, respectivamente, pela sua capacidade de explorar espaços de dimensão superior (não exigindo boas aproximações iniciais) e pela sua capacidade de modelar problemas complexos. Além disto, tais técnicas não necessitam de deflações repetidas, nem do cálculo de derivadas. Ao longo deste documento, os algoritmos são descritos e testados, usando um conjunto de problemas numéricos com aplicações nas ciências e na engenharia. Os resultados foram comparados com outros disponíveis na literatura e com o método de Durand–Kerner, e sugerem que ambos os algoritmos são capazes de resolver os problemas numéricos considerados

Poučavanje engleskoga kao stranoga jezika (TEFL) u digitalnom dobu: uporaba računalno potpomognutih aplikacija

In the modern world, which has undergone an extensive technological revolution, the plurality of digital devices and electronic contents available, as well as a massive digitisation of information, knowledge and everyday communication have caused the convergence of communication and computing technologies. On this view, the paper aims at exploring how and why the digital resources can play a crucial role in assuming the new perspectives of Teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL). Since the denial of the advent of new ways for knowledge transmission is a failing classroom strategy in the long run, Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) should be embedded purposefully into the modern foreign languages classroom, with Computer-assisted language learning (CALL) being the new imperative of the good TEFL practice. By providing rich learning environment, CALL can increase the digital native students’ interest and motivation. In this regard, the paper elaborates on the types of CALL applications in the EFL classrooms.U suvremenom svijetu, koji je pretrpio veliku tehnološku revoluciju, mnoštvo dostupnih digitalnih uređaja i elektroničkih sadržaja, kao i velika digitalizacija informacija, znanja i svakodnevne komunikacije, prouzročili su postupno približavanje svakodnevne komunikacije i računalnih tehnologija. U svjetlu tih navoda, cilj rada je istražiti kako i zašto digitalni resursi mogu igrati presudnu ulogu u prihvaćanju novoga pristupa poučavanju engleskoga kao stranoga jezika (eng. krat. TEFL). Budući da je negiranje pojave novih metoda širenja znanja dugoročno neuspješna strategija za poučavanje, informacijske i komunikacijske tehnologije (eng. krat. ICT), trebalo bi svrhovito biti ugrađene u modernu učionicu stranih jezika, gdje učenje (jezika) pomoću računala (engl. krat. CALL) postaje novi imperativ dobre TEFL prakse. U stimulativnom nastavnom okruženju, primjena CALL-a može pospješiti interes i motivaciju učenika koji su rođeni digitalci. S tim u svezi, rad se bavi primjenom vrsta CALL aplikacija u EFL učionicama

Assessment of the Environmental Sector and Climate Change in Malawi: Relationships between Environmental Policy, Scientific Literature, and Development Projects

As funding increases for climate change related issues in Sub-Saharan Africa there should also be an increase in research to understand how scientific literature in the environmental sector can assist in developing policy and implementing development projects. Using secondary research, this paper centers on Malawi to develop an understanding of what is occurring in Sub-Saharan Africa as a whole in regards to climate change and environmental policy, science and development projects. It sought to determine if scientific thematic areas of research and recommended courses of action were being incorporated into actual government policies and on the ground development projects. This study employed a literature and document review approach. Findings showed that minimal overlap among all three sectors of science, policy, and practice was occurring. The discussion of these results then compares communication and framing of environmental issues in these three sectors, and concludes with final recommendations that sustainable development projects are designed and implemented to include a wide variety of stakeholders

Proceedings of the Second International Workshop on Sustainable Ultrascale Computing Systems (NESUS 2015) Krakow, Poland

Proceedings of: Second International Workshop on Sustainable Ultrascale Computing Systems (NESUS 2015). Krakow (Poland), September 10-11, 2015

Assessment of the Environmental Sector and Climate Change in Malawi: Relationships between Environmental Policy, Scientific Literature, and Development Projects

As funding increases for climate change related issues in Sub-Saharan Africa there should also be an increase in research to understand how scientific literature in the environmental sector can assist in developing policy and implementing development projects. Using secondary research, this paper centers on Malawi to develop an understanding of what is occurring in Sub-Saharan Africa as a whole in regards to climate change and environmental policy, science and development projects. It sought to determine if scientific thematic areas of research and recommended courses of action were being incorporated into actual government policies and on the ground development projects. This study employed a literature and document review approach. Findings showed that minimal overlap among all three sectors of science, policy, and practice was occurring. The discussion of these results then compares communication and framing of environmental issues in these three sectors, and concludes with final recommendations that sustainable development projects are designed and implemented to include a wide variety of stakeholders

Intelligent Systems

This book is dedicated to intelligent systems of broad-spectrum application, such as personal and social biosafety or use of intelligent sensory micro-nanosystems such as "e-nose", "e-tongue" and "e-eye". In addition to that, effective acquiring information, knowledge management and improved knowledge transfer in any media, as well as modeling its information content using meta-and hyper heuristics and semantic reasoning all benefit from the systems covered in this book. Intelligent systems can also be applied in education and generating the intelligent distributed eLearning architecture, as well as in a large number of technical fields, such as industrial design, manufacturing and utilization, e.g., in precision agriculture, cartography, electric power distribution systems, intelligent building management systems, drilling operations etc. Furthermore, decision making using fuzzy logic models, computational recognition of comprehension uncertainty and the joint synthesis of goals and means of intelligent behavior biosystems, as well as diagnostic and human support in the healthcare environment have also been made easier