Multiobjective Optimization for Complex Systems

Complex systems are becoming more and more apparent in a variety of disciplines, making solution methods for these systems valuable tools. The solution of complex systems requires two significant skills. The first challenge of developing mathematical models for these systems is followed by the difficulty of solving these models to produce preferred solutions for the overall systems. Both issues are addressed by this research. This study of complex systems focuses on two distinct aspects. First, models of complex systems with multiobjective formulations and a variety of structures are proposed. Using multiobjective optimization theory, relationships between the efficient solutions of the overall system and the efficient solutions of its subproblems are derived. A system with a particular structure is then selected and further analysis is performed regarding the connection between the original system and its decomposable counterpart. The analysis is based on Kuhn-Tucker efficiency conditions. The other aspect of this thesis pertains to the study of a class of complex systems with a structure that is amenable for use with analytic target cascading (ATC), a decomposition and coordination approach of special interest to engineering design. Two types of algorithms are investigated. Modifications to a subgradient optimization algorithm are proposed and shown to improve the speed of the algorithm. A new family of biobjective algorithms showing considerable promise for ATC-decomposable problems is introduced for two-level systems, and convergence results for a specified algorithm are given. Numerical examples showing the effectiveness of all algorithms are included

β-Thalassemia: HiJAKing Ineffective Erythropoiesis and Iron Overload

β-thalassemia encompasses a group of monogenic diseases that have in common defective synthesis of β-globin. The defects involved are extremely heterogeneous and give rise to a large phenotypic spectrum, with patients that are almost asymptomatic to cases in which regular blood transfusions are required to sustain life. As a result of the inefficient synthesis of β-globin, the patients suffer from chronic anemia due to a process called ineffective erythropoiesis (IE). The sequelae of IE lead to extramedullary hematopoiesis (EMH) with massive splenomegaly and dramatic iron overload, which in turn is responsible for many of the secondary pathologies observed in thalassemic patients. The processes are intimately linked such that an ideal therapeutic approach should address all of the complications. Although β-thalassemia is one of the first monogenic diseases to be described and represents a global health problem, only recently has the scientific community started to focus on the real molecular mechanisms that underlie this disease, opening new and exciting therapeutic perspectives for thalassemic patients worldwide

Towards a multimedia remote viewer for mobile thin clients

Be there a traditional mobile user wanting to connect to a remote multimedia server. In order to allow them to enjoy the same user experience remotely (play, interact, edit, store and share capabilities) as in a traditional fixed LAN environment, several dead-locks are to be dealt with: (1) a heavy and heterogeneous content should be sent through a bandwidth constrained network; (2) the displayed content should be of good quality; (3) user interaction should be processed in real-time and (4) the complexity of the practical solution should not exceed the features of the mobile client in terms of CPU, memory and battery. The present paper takes this challenge and presents a fully operational MPEG-4 BiFS solution

Optimized mobile thin clients through a MPEG-4 BiFS semantic remote display framework

According to the thin client computing principle, the user interface is physically separated from the application logic. In practice only a viewer component is executed on the client device, rendering the display updates received from the distant application server and capturing the user interaction. Existing remote display frameworks are not optimized to encode the complex scenes of modern applications, which are composed of objects with very diverse graphical characteristics. In order to tackle this challenge, we propose to transfer to the client, in addition to the binary encoded objects, semantic information about the characteristics of each object. Through this semantic knowledge, the client is enabled to react autonomously on user input and does not have to wait for the display update from the server. Resulting in a reduction of the interaction latency and a mitigation of the bursty remote display traffic pattern, the presented framework is of particular interest in a wireless context, where the bandwidth is limited and expensive. In this paper, we describe a generic architecture of a semantic remote display framework. Furthermore, we have developed a prototype using the MPEG-4 Binary Format for Scenes to convey the semantic information to the client. We experimentally compare the bandwidth consumption of MPEG-4 BiFS with existing, non-semantic, remote display frameworks. In a text editing scenario, we realize an average reduction of 23% of the data peaks that are observed in remote display protocol traffic

LA DIGITALIZZAZIONE DELL’EDUCAZIONE: POSSIBILITÀ DI ANALISI E CRITICA DEL FENOMENO CON TERMINI FOUCAULTIANI

The aim of this paper is to discuss the new methods and goals of the digital education system and to highlight their connection with the economics and politics powers using Foucauldian concepts. In the first part, I provide a brief analysis of the normative power and of the constitution of the subject in the disciplinary system, with a focus on the relationship between the capitalistic form of economy, the power implied by the structure of normative practices and discourses, and the process of subjection. In the second one, following recent studies on the digital education, I try to point out the process of subjection im- plicated using digital devices in schools. At this regard, particular attention is on the career guidance promoted by these technologies, the constant exposure to performance feedbacks in education, and the type of subjectivity encouraged by these phenomena. Conclusively, I focus on the connection between these as- pects of the digital governance of education and the neoliberal logic of nowa- days

As paixões do julgador nas sentenças condenatórias de roubo: apresentação da pesquisa

The aim of this article is to present a preliminary investigation which object is the analysis of the "path of meaning" in robbery final sentences. The intention is to study the ideological constitution and the passions contained in the senderarbitrator's speach. Furthermore, the author intends to analyze the path of the sanction, using the method given by Greimas' semiotic criteria.O artigo apresenta pesquisa de iniciação científica cujo objeto é a análise do percurso de sentido de sentenças condenatórias de roubo. O interesse do autor é estudar as formações ideológicas e as paixões do destinador julgador. Para tanto, quer analisar o percurso do julgamento, tendo como método a semiótica greimasiana

As paixões do julgador nas sentenças condenatórias de roubo: apresentação da pesquisa

The aim of this article is to present a preliminary investigation which object is the analysis of the "path of meaning" in robbery final sentences. The intention is to study the ideological constitution and the passions contained in the senderarbitrator's speach. Furthermore, the author intends to analyze the path of the sanction, using the method given by Greimas' semiotic criteria.O artigo apresenta pesquisa de iniciação científica cujo objeto é a análise do percurso de sentido de sentenças condenatórias de roubo. O interesse do autor é estudar as formações ideológicas e as paixões do destinador julgador. Para tanto, quer analisar o percurso do julgamento, tendo como método a semiótica greimasiana