Applications of river formation dynamics

River formation dynamics is a metaheuristic where solutions are constructed by iteratively modifying the values associated to the nodes of a graph. Its gradient orientation provides interesting features such as the fast reinforcement of new shortcuts, the natural avoidance of cycles, and the focused elimination of blind alleys. Since the method was firstly proposed in 2007, several research groups have applied it to a wide variety of application domains, such as telecommunications, software testing, industrial manufacturing processes, or navigation. In this paper we review the main works of the last decade where the river formation dynamics metaheuristic has been applied to solve optimization problems

Optimising routing and trustworthiness of ad hoc networks using swarm intelligence

This thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philsophy and awarded by Brunel UniversityThis thesis proposes different approaches to address routing and security of MANETs using swarm technology. The mobility and infrastructure-less of MANET as well as nodes misbehavior compose great challenges to routing and security protocols of such a network. The first approach addresses the problem of channel assignment in multichannel ad hoc networks with limited number of interfaces, where stable route are more preferred to be selected. The channel selection is based on link quality between the nodes. Geographical information is used with mapping algorithm in order to estimate and predict the links’ quality and routes life time, which is combined with Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) algorithm to find most stable route with high data rate. As a result, a better utilization of the channels is performed where the throughput increased up to 74% over ASAR protocol. A new smart data packet routing protocol is developed based on the River Formation Dynamics (RFD) algorithm. The RFD algorithm is a subset of swarm intelligence which mimics how rivers are created in nature. The protocol is a distributed swarm learning approach where data packets are smart enough to guide themselves through best available route in the network. The learning information is distributed throughout the nodes of the network. This information can be used and updated by successive data packets in order to maintain and find better routes. Data packets act like swarm agents (drops) where they carry their path information and update routing information without the need for backward agents. These data packets modify the routing information based on different network metrics. As a result, data packet can guide themselves through better routes. In the second approach, a hybrid ACO and RFD smart data packet routing protocol is developed where the protocol tries to find shortest path that is less congested to the destination. Simulation results show throughput improvement by 30% over AODV protocol and 13% over AntHocNet. Both delay and jitter have been improved more than 96% over AODV protocol. In order to overcome the problem of source routing introduced due to the use of the ACO algorithm, a solely RFD based distance vector protocol has been developed as a third approach. Moreover, the protocol separates reactive learned information from proactive learned information to add more reliability to data routing. To minimize the power consumption introduced due to the hybrid nature of the RFD routing protocol, a forth approach has been developed. This protocol tackles the problem of power consumption and adds packets delivery power minimization to the protocol based on RFD algorithm. Finally, a security model based on reputation and trust is added to the smart data packet protocol in order to detect misbehaving nodes. A trust system has been built based on the privilege offered by the RFD algorithm, where drops are always moving from higher altitude to lower one. Moreover, the distributed and undefined nature of the ad hoc network forces the nodes to obligate to cooperative behaviour in order not to be exposed. This system can easily and quickly detect misbehaving nodes according to altitude difference between active intermediate nodes

Smart data packet ad hoc routing protocol

This paper introduces a smart data packet routing protocol (SMART) based on swarm technology for mobile ad hoc networks. The main challenge facing a routing protocol is to cope with the dynamic environment of mobile ad hoc networks. The problem of finding best route between communication end points in such networks is an NP problem. Swarm algorithm is one of the methods used solve such a problem. However, copping with the dynamic environment will demand the use of a lot of training iterations. We present a new infrastructure where data packets are smart enough to guide themselves through best available route in the network. This approach uses distributed swarm learning approach which will minimize convergence time by using smart data packets. This will decrease the number of control packets in the network as well as it provides continues learning which in turn provides better reaction to changes in the network environment. The learning information is distributed throughout the nodes of the network. This information can be used and updated by successive packets in order to maintain and find better routes. This protocol is a hybrid Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) and river formation dynamics (RFD) swarm algorithms protocol. ACO is used to set up multi-path routes to destination at the initialization, while RFD mainly used as a base algorithm for the routing protocol. RFD offers many advantages toward implementing this approach. The main two reasons of using RFD are the small amount of information that required to be added to the packets (12 bytes in our approach) and the main idea of the RFD algorithm which is based on one kind of agent called drop that moves from source to destination only. This will eliminate the need of feedback packets to update the network and offers a suitable solution to change data packet into smart packets. Simulation results shows improvement in the throughput and reduction in end to end delay and jitter compared to AODV and AntHocNet protocols. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Testing de sistemas restaurables empleando metaheurísticas

Universidad Complutense, Facultad de Informática. Departamento de Sistemas Informáticos y Computación, curso 2017/2018Este trabajo consiste en la elaboración de una aplicación que permita realizar pruebas sobre máquinas de estados utilizando técnicas de inteligencia artificial, concretamente heurísticas y metaheurísticas, optimizando los costes necesarios para llevarlas a cabo. En el entorno de la computación, cualquier programa de software, lógica electrónica o aplicación informática puede representarse como una máquina de estados que codifique todas las posibles combinaciones de uso que pueda realizar y todos los pasos que atraviesa en su proceso. En sistemas pequeños resulta sencillo comprobar manualmente el correcto funcionamiento de estos, sin embargo, cuando manejamos sistemas de cierta envergadura la complejidad aumenta exponencialmente. En estos casos es imprescindible el uso de mecanismos que automaticen las pruebas, pero en ocasiones resultan ineficientes debido a las múltiples posibilidades que se presentan. Por ello, es necesario desarrollar procedimientos que sean capaces de abordar las pruebas de dichos sistemas en unas condiciones de tiempo aceptables. El objetivo de este trabajo es precisamente tratar de resolver esta problemática utilizando varios elementos de computación que permitan reducir al máximo los costes y elaborar un estudio que muestre qué métodos se han mostrado más efectivos. Estos métodos consisten en tres metaheurísticas ya definidas, que son Ant Colony Optimization, Genetic Algorithm y River Formation Dynamics, sobre las que se realizará un desarrollo para adaptarlas al problema que se trata de resolver. Tras haber implementado estas metaheurísticas, se realizará una investigación exhaustiva para examinar su comportamiento y descubrir la mejor solución entre las propuestas.This work consists in the development of an application that allows to perform tests on state machines using artificial intelligence techniques, specifically heuristics and metaheuristics, optimizing the costs necessary to carry them out. In the computing environment, any software program, electronic logic or computer application can be represented as a state machine that encodes all the possible combinations of use that can be made, and all the steps that it goes through in its process. In small systems it is easy to manually check the correct operation of them, however, when we manage systems of a certain size, the complexity increases exponentially. In these cases, it is essential to use mechanisms to automate the tests, but sometimes they are inefficient due to the multiple possibilities that arise. Therefore, it is necessary to develop procedures that are capable of addressing the testing of such systems in acceptable time conditions. The goal of our work is to try solving this problem using several computing elements that allow to reduce the time costs as much as possible and develop a study that shows which methods have been most effective. These methods consist of three metaheuristics already defined, on which a development will be carried out to adapt them to the problem to be solved. After implementing these metaheuristics, a thorough research will be conducted to examine their behavior and discover the best solution among the proposals.Depto. de Sistemas Informáticos y ComputaciónFac. de InformáticaTRUEunpu

Sellado Dentinario Inmediato: debe ser un procedimiento de rutina en las restauraciones adheridas indirectas?

Objetivos: Evaluar los resultados biomecánicos, biológicos, técnicos y clínicos de la técnica del Sellado Dentinario Inmediato. Metodología: Una Revisión Crítica de la Literatura fue llevada a cabo, para discutir los resultados de estudios clínicos, de laboratorio y revisiones sistemáticas, a fin de responder la pregunta del título. Resultados: Los resultados clínicos, biomecánicos y biológicos fueron variados, pero a mediano y largo plazo no mostraron diferencias significativas entre el Sellado Dentinario Inmediato y el Sellado Dentinario Diferido. Por otra parte, la técnica es más compleja e insume más tiempo clínico. Discusión: De acuerdo con la evaluación de los resultados mencionados, el Sellado Dentinario Inmediato no tuvo los niveles de eficacia y eficiencia esperados. Conclusiones: Hasta el momento, el Sellado Dentinario Inmediato justificaría su aplicación en situaciones específicas y no como procedimiento de rutina en la realización de restauraciones indirectas adheridas

Bio-Inspired Systems: Computational and Ambient Intelligence. 10th International Work-Conference on Artificial Neural Networks, IWANN 2009, Salamanca, Spain, June 10-12, 2009. Proceedings, Part I

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 10th International Work-Conference on Artificial Neural Networks, IWANN 2009, held in Salamanca, Spain in June 2009. The 167 revised full papers presented together with 3 invited lectures were carefully reviewed and selected from over 230 submissions. The papers are organized in thematic sections on theoretical foundations and models; learning and adaptation; self-organizing networks, methods and applications; fuzzy systems; evolutionary computation and genetic algoritms; pattern recognition; formal languages in linguistics; agents and multi-agent on intelligent systems; brain-computer interfaces (bci); multiobjetive optimization; robotics; bioinformatics; biomedical applications; ambient assisted living (aal) and ambient intelligence (ai); other applications

Annual report of the town of Rye, New Hampshire for the year ended December 31, 1994.

This is an annual report containing vital statistics for a town/city in the state of New Hampshire

Report of the forest fuels and hazard mitigation committee to the Oregon Department of Forestry and Oregon Fire Program Review

Many Oregon communities face serious and growing risks from wildfires. These fires are increasingly large and severe after many decades of fire suppression and land use changes, flammable fuel buildups and interactions with climate. The wildland-urban interface (WUI) continues to expand as people relocate to rural areas where they often expect structural fire protection similar to what they experienced in cities. But conditions are different in rural communities located in fire-prone forests. The risk of severe wildfire is greater and limited resources are available to deal with severe fires when they break out. Fire prevention and suppression without vegetation management to reduce accumulated fuels has and will result in a continuation of uncharacteristically severe, stand-replacing wildfires, particularly in eastern and southwestern Oregon. These fires are difficult and expensive to control. They also place firefighters at high risk. Federal, state and rural fire protection agencies are struggling to cope as wildfire threats, costs, and the scope of protection responsibilities continue to increase. Federal agencies have initiated efforts to reduce hazardous fuels and increase community wildfire readiness as directed by the 2000 National Fire Plan (NFP) and 2003 Healthy Forests Restoration Act (HFRA). These mandates are now being implemented at multiple levels with every effort to coordinate for greater efficiency. As part of the 2004 Oregon Fire Program Review, the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) formed the Forest Fuels and Hazard Mitigation (FFHM) Committee to assess hazardous fuel loading issues, and recommend ways to reduce risk, and improve and strengthen the multiple hazard mitigation strategies in Oregon.KEYWORDS: Bureau of Land Management, Prevention, Wildfire, Oregon Grange, Timber, Oregon, Environment and Conservation, Protection, Forestry, OFIC, Oregon State Legislature, State forester, Fire, Fire marshall, Land clearing, Farm bureau, Logging, Institute for Natural Resources, Oregon Department of Forestr

Designing and Synthesis of Shape-Memory Polymers for Biomedical Application

Ph.DDOCTOR OF PHILOSOPH

Federal Register

Daily publication of the U.S. Office of the Federal Register contains rules and regulations, proposed legislation and rule changes, and other notices, including "Presidential proclamations and Executive Orders, Federal agency documents having general applicability and legal effect, documents required to be published by act of Congress, and other Federal agency documents of public interest" (p. ii). Table of Contents starts on page iii