Evolutionary Computation

This book presents several recent advances on Evolutionary Computation, specially evolution-based optimization methods and hybrid algorithms for several applications, from optimization and learning to pattern recognition and bioinformatics. This book also presents new algorithms based on several analogies and metafores, where one of them is based on philosophy, specifically on the philosophy of praxis and dialectics. In this book it is also presented interesting applications on bioinformatics, specially the use of particle swarms to discover gene expression patterns in DNA microarrays. Therefore, this book features representative work on the field of evolutionary computation and applied sciences. The intended audience is graduate, undergraduate, researchers, and anyone who wishes to become familiar with the latest research work on this field

Marketing Higher Education to Mexican-Americans: Identification of Successful Marketing Strategies and Tactics

In this study, a comprehensive set of successful marketing strategies and tactics for the recruitment of Mexican-Americans into four-year colleges and universities was identified. A taxonomy of findings ranging from very successful to not successful was developed. The methodology included focus groups conducted in Los Angeles, California and San Antonio, Texas to aid in the creation of survey instrument items. The resulting survey was mailed to admissions directors of four-year colleges and universities located in the six southwestern states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas. The responses were analyzed by computing frequencies and crosstabulations. Subsequently, factor analysis was used for the purpose of data reduction and to identify the factors underlying the marketing strategies and tactics identified as successful. The four P\u27s of marketing include product, price, place, and promotion. Successful marketing strategies and tactics were identified for each of the four P\u27s of marketing. These successful marketing strategies and tactics were grouped through the use of factor analysis. The factors identified as underlying these successful marketing strategies and tactics are as follows: (1) on-campus programs and activities, (2) off-campus programs and activities, (3) perceptions, and (4) cost. Examples of the factor identified as on-campus programs and activities include: (1) support groups for Mexican-Americans on campus, (2) increased Mexican-American employment on campus, and (3) increased contact of Mexican-Americans by letter or telephone. Examples of off-campus programs and activities include: (1) career fair programs, (2) school and business marketing programs, and (3) transfer centers on community college campuses. Examples of the factor identified as perceptions include: (1) parent preference for college/university close to home, (2) student preference for college/university close to home, and (3) current Mexican-American students promoting college/university. Finally, examples of the factor identified as cost include: (1) financial aid increase for Mexican-Americans, (2) provision of low cost relative to other colleges and universities, and (3) cost competition with community colleges because they are cheaper. The successful marketing strategies and tactics identified in this study can be used by four-year colleges and universities to develop recruitment plans for Mexican-Americans. The four factors identified can also be used as a guide for future research to aid in the identification of additional marketing strategies and tactics tailored to the needs of individual institutions

Uncertain Multi-Criteria Optimization Problems

Most real-world search and optimization problems naturally involve multiple criteria as objectives. Generally, symmetry, asymmetry, and anti-symmetry are basic characteristics of binary relationships used when modeling optimization problems. Moreover, the notion of symmetry has appeared in many articles about uncertainty theories that are employed in multi-criteria problems. Different solutions may produce trade-offs (conflicting scenarios) among different objectives. A better solution with respect to one objective may compromise other objectives. There are various factors that need to be considered to address the problems in multidisciplinary research, which is critical for the overall sustainability of human development and activity. In this regard, in recent decades, decision-making theory has been the subject of intense research activities due to its wide applications in different areas. The decision-making theory approach has become an important means to provide real-time solutions to uncertainty problems. Theories such as probability theory, fuzzy set theory, type-2 fuzzy set theory, rough set, and uncertainty theory, available in the existing literature, deal with such uncertainties. Nevertheless, the uncertain multi-criteria characteristics in such problems have not yet been explored in depth, and there is much left to be achieved in this direction. Hence, different mathematical models of real-life multi-criteria optimization problems can be developed in various uncertain frameworks with special emphasis on optimization problems

The StartUPS Project at Politecnica Salesiana University (UPS): a Common Good Approach to Institutional Management and Human Development

The purpose of this research is to analyze the StartUPS project from the Politecnica Salesiana University and see how this open environment has enhanced people capabilities considering the person-centered vision and how the project base in common good management and capability approach helped the human development of these project participants. In this analysis the concept of development is reviewed from the well-fare to the well-being and contrast with modern and Andean perspectives aiming to understand different forms of development and management of common pool resources and how this set up a line for future research about how to mix these perspectives with the commonly known indicators to measure development. To measure the impact of the project over the participants development, quantitative and qualitative data was collected from the multiple activities and projects that took place under the project open spaces, data shown how almost unanimously not only the participants but also the mentors, professors and strategic allies improve their capabilities and indirectly their perceived self-well-being. Leaving also new research lines to study how strategic planned activities targeting specific functionings could be applied and improved, how Universities seen as an open environment could become community engagement agents improving the community and national well-being.Lo scopo di questa ricerca è analizzare il progetto StartUPS dell'Università Politecnica Salesiana e studiare come questo ambiente aperto abbia migliorato le capacità delle persone, considerando una visione centrata sulla persona e i pilastri del progetto: la gestione del bene comune e il capability approach, in modo che l'insieme migliorasse lo sviluppo umano dei partecipanti. Questa analisi passa in rassegna i concetti di sviluppo, dall'assistenza sociale (statale) al welfare [integrale], e li contrappone alle prospettive moderne e andine per comprendere le diverse forme di sviluppo, la gestione delle risorse del bene comune e, da questa prospettiva, stabilire una linea di ricerca che si combini con gli indicatori comunemente noti per misurare lo sviluppo. Per misurare l'impatto del progetto StartUPS sullo sviluppo dei partecipanti, sono stati raccolti dati quantitativi e qualitativi dalle molteplici attività e progetti realizzati negli ambienti aperti del progetto, dati che mostrano come quasi all'unanimità, non solo i partecipanti ma anche i mentori, i docenti e gli alleati dell'università abbiano migliorato le loro capacità e indirettamente il loro benessere percepito. Questa analisi propone anche nuove linee di ricerca per studiare come le attività strategiche possano essere implementate e migliorate per le functioning, e come le università, viste come un ambiente aperto, potrebbero diventare agenti di coinvolgimento della comunità che migliorano il benessere della comunità e del Paese

Background Examples of Literature Searches on Topics of Interest

A zip file of various literature searches & some resources related to our work related to exposure after the Chernobyl accident and as we began looking at helping in Semey Kazakhstan----a collection of literature reviews on various topics we were interested in... eg. establishing a registry of those exposed for longterm follow-up, what we knew about certain areas like genetics and some resources like A Guide to Environmental Resources on the Internet by Carol Briggs-Erickson and Toni Murphy which could be found on the Internet and was written to be used by researchers, environmentalists, teachers and any person who is interested in knowing and doing something about the health of our planet. See more at https://archives.library.tmc.edu/dm-ms211-012-0060