Development of a Hybrid Evolutionary Model of Genetic Algorithms and Artificial Neural Networks for Metal Fiber and Reinforced Concrete Mixture Dosage

En un ambiente computacional, un modelo evolutivo es desarrollado para proponer dosificaciones de mezclas de concretos reforzados con fibras metálicas, para solicitudes de resistencia a la compresión. El modelo es híbrido al incluir un sistema de dosificación basado en algoritmos genéticos y un sistema de estimación de propiedades basado en redes neuronales artificiales. Los resultados obtenidos son comparados con un sistema de dosificaciones reportado experimentalmente. Estas comparaciones muestran una aproximación en el proceso de simulación.Además, por las características del modelo, se considera de aporte en la tecnología del concreto.An evolutionary model is developed in a computing environment to propose metal fiber reinforced concrete mixture dosages for compressive strength applications. The model is hybrid as it includes both a dosage system based on genetic algorithm and a properties prediction system based on artificial neural networks. The results obtained are compared with experimentally reported dosages set, and the comparisons show an approximation in the simulation process. Given the characteristics of the model, it is considered a contribution to concrete technology

Arquitectura computacional para estimar propiedades mecánicas de concretos fibrorreforzados con acero, con empleo de redes neuronales artificiales

De acuerdo con Sánchez (1) el concreto o ‘piedra artificial’ es un conglomerado elaborado a partir de agregados, cemento, agua y otros componentes denominados adiciones minerales y aditivos químicos. Sus propiedades mecánicas de diseño son alcanzadas veintiocho días después de hecha la mezcla y se determina con ensayos estandarizados. El concreto es un material frágil y la incorporación de fibra le permite seguir soportando esfuerzos a pesar de haber alcanzado su máxima resistencia, por lo que experimenta un comportamiento cuasi-dúctil. La predicción de sus propiedades mecánicas se ha logrado con modelos matemáticos donde la complejidad y la alta relación de dependencia no-lineal entre las variables de entrada ha llevado a la estimación al campo de la inteligencia artificial (2). La literatura reporta diversos desarrollos con RNA para estimar propiedades en concretos planos, al ser de interés la temática en concretos reforzados con fibras de acero. En este trabajo se presenta la elaboración de una arquitectura prototipo conformada por códigos computacionales con RNA, cuyo objetivo es predecir la resistencia a compresión, tracción y flexión de mezclas de concreto reforzadas con fibras de acero

Neotropical freshwater fisheries : A dataset of occurrence and abundance of freshwater fishes in the Neotropics

The Neotropical region hosts 4225 freshwater fish species, ranking first among the world's most diverse regions for freshwater fishes. Our NEOTROPICAL FRESHWATER FISHES data set is the first to produce a large-scale Neotropical freshwater fish inventory, covering the entire Neotropical region from Mexico and the Caribbean in the north to the southern limits in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. We compiled 185,787 distribution records, with unique georeferenced coordinates, for the 4225 species, represented by occurrence and abundance data. The number of species for the most numerous orders are as follows: Characiformes (1289), Siluriformes (1384), Cichliformes (354), Cyprinodontiformes (245), and Gymnotiformes (135). The most recorded species was the characid Astyanax fasciatus (4696 records). We registered 116,802 distribution records for native species, compared to 1802 distribution records for nonnative species. The main aim of the NEOTROPICAL FRESHWATER FISHES data set was to make these occurrence and abundance data accessible for international researchers to develop ecological and macroecological studies, from local to regional scales, with focal fish species, families, or orders. We anticipate that the NEOTROPICAL FRESHWATER FISHES data set will be valuable for studies on a wide range of ecological processes, such as trophic cascades, fishery pressure, the effects of habitat loss and fragmentation, and the impacts of species invasion and climate change. There are no copyright restrictions on the data, and please cite this data paper when using the data in publications

Global economic burden of unmet surgical need for appendicitis

Background There is a substantial gap in provision of adequate surgical care in many low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to identify the economic burden of unmet surgical need for the common condition of appendicitis. Methods Data on the incidence of appendicitis from 170 countries and two different approaches were used to estimate numbers of patients who do not receive surgery: as a fixed proportion of the total unmet surgical need per country (approach 1); and based on country income status (approach 2). Indirect costs with current levels of access and local quality, and those if quality were at the standards of high-income countries, were estimated. A human capital approach was applied, focusing on the economic burden resulting from premature death and absenteeism. Results Excess mortality was 4185 per 100 000 cases of appendicitis using approach 1 and 3448 per 100 000 using approach 2. The economic burden of continuing current levels of access and local quality was US $92 492 million using approach 1 and$73 141 million using approach 2. The economic burden of not providing surgical care to the standards of high-income countries was $95 004 million using approach 1 and$75 666 million using approach 2. The largest share of these costs resulted from premature death (97.7 per cent) and lack of access (97.0 per cent) in contrast to lack of quality. Conclusion For a comparatively non-complex emergency condition such as appendicitis, increasing access to care should be prioritized. Although improving quality of care should not be neglected, increasing provision of care at current standards could reduce societal costs substantially

Global economic burden of unmet surgical need for appendicitis

Background There is a substantial gap in provision of adequate surgical care in many low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to identify the economic burden of unmet surgical need for the common condition of appendicitis. Methods Data on the incidence of appendicitis from 170 countries and two different approaches were used to estimate numbers of patients who do not receive surgery: as a fixed proportion of the total unmet surgical need per country (approach 1); and based on country income status (approach 2). Indirect costs with current levels of access and local quality, and those if quality were at the standards of high-income countries, were estimated. A human capital approach was applied, focusing on the economic burden resulting from premature death and absenteeism. Results Excess mortality was 4185 per 100 000 cases of appendicitis using approach 1 and 3448 per 100 000 using approach 2. The economic burden of continuing current levels of access and local quality was US $92 492 million using approach 1 and$73 141 million using approach 2. The economic burden of not providing surgical care to the standards of high-income countries was $95 004 million using approach 1 and$75 666 million using approach 2. The largest share of these costs resulted from premature death (97.7 per cent) and lack of access (97.0 per cent) in contrast to lack of quality. Conclusion For a comparatively non-complex emergency condition such as appendicitis, increasing access to care should be prioritized. Although improving quality of care should not be neglected, increasing provision of care at current standards could reduce societal costs substantially