A honeybees-inspired heuristic algorithm for numerical optimisation

© 2019, The Author(s). Swarm intelligence is all about developing collective behaviours to solve complex, ill-structured and large-scale problems. Efficiency in collective behaviours depends on how to harmonise the individual contributors so that a complementary collective effort can be achieved to offer a useful solution. The main points in organising the harmony remain as managing the diversification and intensification actions appropriately, where the efficiency of collective behaviours depends on blending these two actions appropriately. In this paper, a hybrid bee algorithm is presented, which harmonises bee operators of two mainstream well-known swarm intelligence algorithms inspired of natural honeybee colonies. The parent algorithms have been overviewed with many respects, strengths and weaknesses are identified, first, and the hybrid version has been proposed, next. The efficiency of the hybrid algorithm is demonstrated in comparison with the parent algorithms in solving two types of numerical optimisation problems; (1) a set of well-known functional optimisation benchmark problems and (2) optimising the weights of a set of artificial neural network models trained for medical classification benchmark problems. The experimental results demonstrate the outperforming success of the proposed hybrid algorithm in comparison with two original/parent bee algorithms in solving both types of numerical optimisation benchmarks

Investigation of the Relationship between Leisure Satisfaction and Smartphone Addiction of University Students

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between Leisure Satisfaction levels and Smartphone Addictions of university students and to determine if these parameters differ in terms of various variables. The Leisure Satisfaction Scale, developed by Beard and Ragheb (1980) and adapted into Turkish by Gökçe and Orhan (2011) and the Smartphone Addiction Scale developed by Kwon et al. (2013) and adapted into Turkish by Noyan et al. (2015) were used in the study. Convenience sampling method for sample selection and face-to-face survey method for data collection were used. In the analysis of the data, descriptive statistics, independent sample t-test, ANOVA and Pearson correlation analysis were used through SPSS package program. A total of 1636 volunteers, 766 males (46.8%) and 870 females (53.2%), participated in the study. According to the research findings, it was determined that the leisure satisfaction levels of male participants were higher than female participants and the levels of smartphone addiction of female participants were higher than male participants. It was concluded that the leisure satisfaction levels of those aged between 24-26 was higher than the other age groups and that the levels of smartphone addiction of those aged 20 or below were higher than the other age groups. As a result, although leisure satisfaction changed according to various variables, no significant relationship between leisure satisfaction and smartphone addiction was determined

Influence of different fibers on the change of pore pressure of self-consolidating concrete exposed to fire

The focus of this paper is given to investigate the effect of different fibers on the pore pressure of fiber reinforced self-consolidating concrete under fire. The investigation on the pore pressure-time and temperature relationships at different depths of fiber reinforced self-consolidating concrete beams was carried out. The results indicated that micro PP fiber is more effective in mitigating the pore pressure than macro PP fiber and steel fiber. The composed use of steel fiber, micro PP fiber and macro PP fiber showed clear positive hybrid effect on the pore pressure reduction near the beam bottom subjected to fire. Compared to the effect of macro PP fiber with high dosages, the effect of micro PP fiber with low fiber contents on the pore pressure reduction is much stronger. The significant factor for reduction of pore pressure depends mainly on the number of PP fibers and not only on the fiber content. An empirical formula was proposed to predict the relative maximum pore pressure of fiber reinforced self-consolidating concrete exposed to fire by considering the moisture content, compressive strength and various fibers. The suggested model corresponds well with the experimental results of other research and tends to prove that the micro PP fiber can be the vital component for reduction in pore pressure, temperature as well spalling of concrete.National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant: 51121005), DUT and Fundaçãopara a Ciência e a Tecnologia (SFRH/BPD/22680/2005), the FEDER Funds through “Programa Operacional Factores de Competitividade - COMPETE" and by Portuguese Funds through FCT-within the Projects PEst-CMAT/UI0013/2011 and PTDC/MAT/112273/2009

Protection of construction pit for car-park building in Ljubljana

V diplomski nalogi je obravnavano varovanje gradbene jame za objekt parkirno garažne hiše v Ljubljani. Varovalna konstrukcija je bila izvedena s sidranimi slopi po tehnologiji injektiranja pod visokimi pritiski (jet grouting). Sidranje smo izvedli z začasnimi geotehničnimi sidri v enem ali dveh nivojih. V nalogi je podan pregled postopkov za izvedbo jet grouting slopov in začasnih geotehničnih sider po veljavnih standardih. Pozornost je posvečena načinom izvedbe, ki so uveljavljeni pri nas, in problemom, ki se pojavljajo zaradi odstopanja od zhatev tehnične regulative ali nezmožnosti upoštevanja le-te. To je delno posledica zastarele opreme in utečenih postopkov izvajanja del. Dodatno pa na to vplivajo tudi zahteve po čim cenejši izvedbi gradbenih del. V nalogi so predstavljene izkušnje pridobljene med izvedbo varovalne konstrukcije gradbene jame, rezultati kontrolnih preiskav in problemi, ki so se pojavili med izvedbo del, ter rešitve teh problemov. V fazi izvedbe varovalne konstrukcije iz jet grouting slopov smo največ pozornosti posvetili tehnologiji enofaznega postopka injektiranja in njeni učinkovitosti v danih razmerah. Pri izvedbi geotehničnih sider pa smo največ pozornosti posvetili vgradnji in napenjanju preskusnih sider. Na gradbišču nastali problemi so lahko tudi posledica nepopolne gradbene dokumentacije, vključno s starimi in pomanjkljivimi načrti sosednjih objektov. V nalogi je prav tako obravnavano reševanje problemov, povezanih z nepričakovano sestavo temeljnih tal. Ta je pomembno vplivala na težave in zamude pri izvedbi in nemoteno napredovanje del.The subject of this thesis is the execution construction pit for multi-storey car-park building in Ljubljana. The supporting structure was made with high pressure grouting (e.q jet grouting), and anchored with temporary ground anchors in one or two levels. An overview of jet grouting and temporary ground anchors procedures accoding to current standards is shown. A special attention is put on the currently valid execution of works in our country. We primarily examined the problems occurring due to the deviation from technical regulations or inability to stick to them, which may be the consequence of either old equipment or sticking to generally accepted procedures of the execution, as well as requirements for a cheaper execution. The thesis presents the description of experiences gained during the execution works, the results of control examinations, the problems that occurred during the execution and appropriate solutions. In the phase of the jet-grouting-piles execution, which were used as a supporting structure, the attention was on the technology of the single fluid system and its effectiveness in the ground, while with ground anchors the most attention was paid to ground anchor installation and. The problems occurring on the construction site are often result of an incomplete project documentation, often involving the old and incomplete documentation of neighbouring buildings. The solution of issues in relation to the unexpected ground conditions, which significantly delayed the execution of works, is examined

Isolation of Aeromonas strains from the intestinal flora of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L. 1758)

The aim of this study was to isolate and identify motile Aeromonas strains from the intestinal micro-flora of healthy Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L. 1758) from freshwater areas and from the Black Sea, to determine the opportunistic pathogen of motile Aeromonad septicemia in summer months. An additional aim was to compare the API 20E multiple test system with conventional biochemical methods for strains of motile Aeromonas isolated from fish. Atlantic salmon (S. salar) were obtained from a private-sector farm on the Black Sea coast of Turkey in summer 1995 and by the end of the examination of 51 S. salar intestinal flora, six motile Aeromonas strains from freshwater and two motile Aeromonas strains from the Black Sea had been isolated. Five of the motile Aeromonas strains isolated from freshwater and one of the motile Aeromonas strains isolated from the Black Sea were identified as A. caviae. The rest were identified as A. sobria

The effect of some immunostimulants on the non-specific immune system of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss, Walbaum)

The aim of this study was to determine the effect on non-specific defence mechanisms in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fed diets containing different doses of P-glucan (MacroGard), Schizosaccharomyces pombe and S. pombe P450. Over a period of 3 weeks, fish were given 0.1% and 1% MacroGard, 0.1% and 1% S. pombe, 0.1% and 1% S. pombe P450 in their food. Then phagocytosis, intracellular and extracellular respiratory burst activity, total protein, and specific growth ratio and condition factor values were determined. After feeding for 3 weeks with three different immunostimulants, extracellular and intracellular respiratory burst and phagocytic activity were significantly increased in the groups fed 1% MacroGard and 0.1% S. pombe P450 compared with the control group and the other experimental groups (P < 0.05). Respiratory burst activity was higher in all the experimental groups than in the control group. Phagocytic activity was elevated in all the experimental groups except that fed 0.1% MacroGard (P < 0.05). Total protein levels were higher in all the experimental groups than in the control group, but the difference was not significant (P < 0.05). The results indicate that rainbow trout fed different doses of MacroGard, S. pombe and S. pombe P450 all showed increased intracellular and extracellular respiratory burst activity, and phagocytic activity. However, there was no effect on total protein. In conclusion, S. pombe P450 could confer the same non-specific immunity as MacroGard

A prediction model of artificial neural networks in development of thermoelectric materials with innovative approaches

The fact that the properties of thermoelectric materials are to be estimated with Artificial Neural Networks without production and measurement will help researchers in terms of time and cost. For this purpose, figure of merit, which is the performance value of thermoelectric materials, is estimated by Artificial Neural Networks without an experimental study. P-and n-type thermoelectric bulk samples were obtained in 19 different compositions by doping different elements into Ca2.7Ag0.3Co4O9- and Zn0.98Al0.02O-based oxide thermoelectric materials. The Seebeck coefficient, electrical resistivity and thermal diffusivity values of the bulk samples were measured from 200 degrees C to 800 degrees C with an increase rate of 100 degrees C, and figure of merit values were calculated. 7 different Artificial Neural Network models were created using 123 measured results of experimental data and the molar masses of the doping elements. In this system aiming to predict the electrical resistivity, thermal diffusivity and figure of merit values of thermoelectric materials, the average R value and accuracy rate of these values were estimated to be 94% and 80%, respectively. (c) 2020 Karabuk University. Publishing services by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

Estimating Seebeck Coefficient of a p-Type High Temperature Thermoelectric Material Using Bee Algorithm Multi-layer Perception

Thermoelectric generators (TEGs) convert heat into electrical energy. These energy-conversion systems do not involve any moving parts and are made of thermoelectric (TE) elements connected electrically in a series and thermally in parallel; however, they are currently not suitable for use in regular operations due to their low efficiency levels. In order to produce high-efficiency TEGs, there is a need for highly heat-resistant thermoelectric materials (TEMs) with an improved figure of merit (ZT). Production and test methods used for TEMs today are highly expensive. This study attempts to estimate the Seebeck coefficient of TEMs by using the values of existing materials in the literature. The estimation is made within an artificial neural network (ANN) based on the amount of doping and production methods. Results of the estimations show that the Seebeck coefficient can approximate the real values with an average accuracy of 94.4%. In addition, ANN has detected that any change in production methods is followed by a change in the Seebeck coefficient

Structure health monitoring using wireless sensor networks on structural elements

This paper presents a system that monitors the health of structural elements in Reinforced Concrete (RC), concrete elements and/or masonry buildings and warn the authorities in case of physical damage formation. Such rapid and reliable detection of impairments enables the development of better risk management strategies to prevent casualties in case of earthquake and floods. Piezoelectric (PZT) sensors with lead zirconate titanate material are the preferred sensor type for fracture detection. The developed sensor mote hardware triggers the PZT sensors and collects the responses they gather from the structural elements. It also sends the collected data to a data center for further processing and analysis in an energy-efficient manner utilizing low-power wireless communication technologies. The access and the analysis of the collected data can be remotely performed via a web interface. Performance results show that the fractures serious enough to cause structural problems can be successfully detected with the developed system. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Mechanical properties of steel fibre reinforced geopolymer concretes at elevated temperatures

This paper presents the effects of two types of alkali activators (Na and K-based) on the residual mechanical properties of steel fibre reinforced geopolymer concretes (SFRGC) after exposed to various elevated temperatures and compared with those of steel fibre reinforced concrete (SFRC). Compressive strength, indirect tensile strength and elastic modulus of above three types of steel fibre reinforced concretes are measured after exposure to elevated temperatures of 200, 400, 600 and 800 °C. Results show that the SFRGC containing Na-based activators exhibited much higher residual compressive and indirect tensile strength at all elevated temperatures including at ambient condition than its K-based counterpart and SFRC. However, the retention of residual compressive strengths relative to ambient is comparable in both Na- and K-based SFRGC and both SFRGCs showed original (ambient temperature) compressive strength retention capacity up to about 500 °C temperature. In the case of indirect tensile strength, the K-based SFRGC showed ambient temperature strength retention capacity up to about 700 °C temperature with more than 60% increase in residual indirect tensile strength at 400 °C. In the case of elastic modulus the SFRC, however, showed slightly higher retention capacity than the SFRGC.Good correlations between the indirect tensile strength and the compressive strength and between the elastic modulus and the compressive strength of all three types of fibre reinforced concretes are observed. Existing model to predict the compressive and indirect tensile strengths of SFRGCs is found to underestimates the test results, however, it predicts reasonably well the elastic modulus of SFRGCs. New empirical equations to predict the compressive, indirect tensile strength and elastic modulus of SFRGCs are also proposed. Both SFRGCs also show negligible damage in terms of surface cracking after elevated temperatures heating compared to visible surface cracks in SFRC