ACO for continuous function optimization: a performance analysis

The performance of the meta-heuristic algorithms often depends on their parameter settings. Appropriate tuning of the underlying parameters can drastically improve the performance of a meta-heuristic. The Ant Colony Optimization (ACO), a population based meta-heuristic algorithm inspired by the foraging behavior of the ants, is no different. Fundamentally, the ACO depends on the construction of new solutions, variable by variable basis using Gaussian sampling of the selected variables from an archive of solutions. A comprehensive performance analysis of the underlying parameters such as: selection strategy, distance measure metric and pheromone evaporation rate of the ACO suggests that the Roulette Wheel Selection strategy enhances the performance of the ACO due to its ability to provide non-uniformity and adequate diversity in the selection of a solution. On the other hand, the Squared Euclidean distance-measure metric offers better performance than other distance-measure metrics. It is observed from the analysis that the ACO is sensitive towards the evaporation rate. Experimental analysis between classical ACO and other meta-heuristic suggested that the performance of the well-tuned ACO surpasses its counterparts

The Structure and Content of Zen Stories

Zen stories are believed to have been used by priests for centuries to teach disciples. The priests have structured and presented their experiences and their ancestors as stories.  Zen stories record the cultural changes that took place in the society and is about the concepts necessary for people's lives.  These stories explain the structures like family, group, society and the feelings that unite people in the name of God, caste, religion, tolerance, equality, faith etc.  Such Zen stories has folklore elements. Zen stories are thought-provoking, makes us to laugh-out-loud and conveys the traditional ideas. This article discusses other folk motifs found in Zen stories.  Also, in this article, the Zen stories are compiled and sorted into four categories: wisdom and ignorance, action, desire less-ness and impermanence

Equilibrium in the Food Chain System in the Novels of R. Murugavel

Literature is composed based on the theme of the natural environment. Literature expresses the nature of environment either explicitly or implicitly. It remains as a constant canon from the Sangam literature to the contemporary literature. Thus, there are many records in the literature about the natural food chain system and the effects of human production methods on their balance. Literary genre novel also records all these things. After India's independence, the Indian government focused on conserving natural resources and maximizing its productivity.  Its influences are reflected in modern literature. In the drive to maximize productivity, little attention has been paid in protecting the natural environment. Novels carry all such messages both explicitly and implicitly.  Among them, the above-mentioned food chain system, their balance and the impact of human production methods on their balance is revealed in this article

Quality Enhancement of Open and Distance Teacher Education through E-Learning 2.0

Quality of teacher education in the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) has been posing a question for pretty long time. Stakeholders at different levels have been working to design innovative strategies to raise the standard to meet the demands of the children. The open teacher education scenario is passing through a paradigm shift in respect of teaching –learning process and other related dimensions. Quality enhancement of teacher education via Open and Distance Learning can be possible by adopting creative use of technology which, by a large is interlinked to e-learning 2.0. E-learning 2.0 is the use of web 2.0 technologies in teaching-learning processes visa-a-visa blogs, wikis, RSS feeds and social networking sites etc. Design of e-pedagogy along with e-learning strategies paves a path to make learning free of social-political cultural barriers and thus enhances the quality of learning. This paper discusses various aspects of e-learning 2.0 strategies in the open and distance teacher education, role of e-learning 2.0 methods in improving the quality of education and latest e-learning 2.0 tools and its application in open and distance education, especially teacher education. It helps stakeholders to build a sound knowledge in e-learning 2.0 strategies and its application for the daily teaching-learning practices at all levels of open and distance teacher education

Accurate inspiral-merger-ringdown gravitational waveforms for non-spinning black-hole binaries including the effect of subdominant modes

We present an analytical waveform family describing gravitational waves (GWs) from the inspiral, merger and ringdown of non-spinning black-hole binaries including the effect of several non-quadrupole modes [($\ell = 2, m = \pm 1), (\ell = 3, m = \pm 3), (\ell = 4, m = \pm 4)$ apart from $(\ell = 2, m=\pm2)$]. We first construct spin-weighted spherical harmonics modes of hybrid waveforms by matching numerical-relativity simulations (with mass ratio $1-10$) describing the late inspiral, merger and ringdown of the binary with post-Newtonian/effective-one-body waveforms describing the early inspiral. An analytical waveform family is constructed in frequency domain by modeling the Fourier transform of the hybrid waveforms making use of analytical functions inspired by perturbative calculations. The resulting highly accurate, ready-to-use waveforms are highly faithful (unfaithfulness $\simeq 10^{-4} - 10^{-2}$) for observation of GWs from non-spinning black hole binaries and are extremely inexpensive to generate.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figure

Infrastructure information management of bridges at local authorities in the UK

Behind the largest infrastructure construction projects currently underway is a system of managing information known as Building Information Modelling (BIM). This represents a collaborative approach to civil engineering and makes use of advances in computer technology to link seamlessly many information repositories together across organisational boundaries. Alongside the developments in BIM, the world of asset management has also seen a major leap forward with the release of ISO 5500x – the family of international standards for asset management. This is now being adopted by many industries – particularly those in the infrastructure sectors – to maximise the value which is returned from their assets. In addition, the Highways Maintenance Efficiency Programme has released a guidance for highway authorities wishing to improve their asset management systems. However, infrastructure managers in local authorities such as county councils are significantly less engaged in both of these developments than their counterparts in strategic infrastructure networks. This paper presents the findings of a study of the ‘information system landscape’ at local authorities from across England, UK. The study reveals a number of recurring information management challenges that are frequently present. The paper finally provides a number of recommendations with specific reference to information management and encourages councils to consider adopting the standards. EPSRC/Innovate U

Auditory processing in individuals with auditory neuropathy

BACKGROUND: Auditory neuropathy is a disorder characterized by no or severely impaired auditory brainstem responses in presence of normal otoacoustic emissions and/or cochlear microphonics. Speech perception abilities in these individuals are disproportionate to their hearing sensitivity and reported to be dependent on cortical evoked potentials and temporal processing abilities. The disproportionate loss of auditory percept in presence of normal cochlear function is suggestive of impairment of auditory neural synchrony. METHODS: We studied the auditory evoked potentials and psychophysical abilities in 14 adults with auditory neuropathy to characterize their perceptual capabilities. Psychophysical tests included measurement of open set speech identification scores, just noticeable difference for transition duration of syllable /da/ and temporal modulation transfer function. Auditory evoked potentials measures were, recording of P(1)/N(1), P(2)/N(2 )complex and mismatch negativity (MMN). RESULTS: Results revealed a significant correlation between temporal processing deficits and speech perception abilities. In majority of individuals with auditory neuropathy P(1)/N(1), P(2)/N(2 )complex and mismatch negativity could be elicited with normal amplitude and latency. None of the measured evoked potential parameters correlated with the speech perception scores. Many of the subjects with auditory neuropathy showed normal MMN even though they could not discriminate the stimulus contrast behaviorally. CONCLUSION: Conclusions drawn from the study are 1. Individuals with auditory neuropathy have severely affected temporal processing. 2. The presence of MMN may not be directly linked to presence of behavioral discrimination and to speech perception capabilities at least in adults with auditory neuropathy