On the use of preference-based evolutionary multi-objective optimization for solving a credibilistic portfolio selection model

The portfolio selection problem tries to identify the assets to allocate the capital, and the proportion to be devoted to each asset, for maximizing the returns at the minimum risk. By nature, this is a multi-objective optimization problem. In this work, we propose a three-objective model for portfolio selection, in which the uncertainty of the portfolio returns is modelled by means of LR-power fuzzy variables. We consider as criteria the credibilistic expected return (to be maxi- mized), the below-mean absolute semi-deviation as a risk measure (to be minimized), and a loss function which evaluates the credibility of achieving a non-positive return (to be minimized). The uncorrelation among the risk and loss measures concludes that they provide different information. Budget, cardinality, and diversification constraints are considered. To generate non-dominated portfolios fitting the investor' expectations, preference-based evolutionary algorithms are applied. The preferences are given by aspiration values to be attained by the objectives and profiles representing aggressive, cautious, and conservative investors are analysed. The results for data of the IBEX35 show that portfolios improving the preferences are found in the cautious and aggressive cases, while portfolios with objective values as close as possible to the expectations are obtained in the conservative case. In the generation process, the credibilistic loss has played an important role to and diversified portfolios.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tec

Nongauge bright soliton of the nonlinear Schrodinger (NLS) equation and a family of generalized NLS equations

We present an approach to the bright soliton solution of the NLS equation from the standpoint of introducing a constant potential term in the equation. We discuss a `nongauge' bright soliton for which both the envelope and the phase depend only on the traveling variable. We also construct a family of generalized NLS equations with solitonic sech^p solutions in the traveling variable and find an exact equivalence with other nonlinear equations, such as the Korteveg-de Vries and Benjamin-Bona-Mahony equations when p=2Comment: ~4 pages, 3 figures, 16 references, published versio

Evaluation of Secondary and Micronutrients for Soybean Production in Kansas

Study of secondary and micronutrients is growing because of their potential contribution to yield increases. The objective of this study was to evaluate soybean response to secondary and micronutrient fertilizer application to maximize yields. A randomized complete block design was employed with four replications at five locations during 2013 and five locations in 2014. Treatments consisted of an unfertilized control; micronutrient fertilizer as individual nutrients for boron, copper, manganese, sulfur, and zinc; and a mix of these nutrients using two different placements (dry broadcast and liquid band). Soil samples were collected prior to planting and after harvest. Soybean trifoliates were collected at R2–R3 growth stage and analyzed for the micronutrients evaluated in this study. At harvest, nutrient concentration was analyzed in the seed, and yield was calculated at 13% moisture. No significant difference was found in yields between treatments by location or across locations. Results from tissue and grain analysis showed significant treatment effects on zinc concentrations across locations

Nongauge Bright Soliton of the Nonlinear Schrodinger (NLS) Equation and a Family of Generalized NLS Equations

We present an approach to the bright soliton solution of the nonlinear Schrödinger (NLS) equation from the standpoint of introducing a constant potential term in the equation. We discuss a “nongauge” bright soliton for which both the envelope and the phase depend only on the traveling variable. We also construct a family of generalized NLS equations with solitonic sechpsechp solutions in the traveling variable and find an exact equivalence with other nonlinear equations, such as the Korteveg–de Vries (KdV) and Benjamin–Bona–Mahony (BBM) equations when p=2

In situ or ex situ synthesis for electrochemical detection of hydrogen peroxide—an evaluation of Co2SnO4/RGO nanohybrids

Nowadays, there is no doubt about the high electrocatalytic efficiency that is obtained when using hybrid materials between carbonaceous nanomaterials and transition metal oxides. However, the method to prepare them may involve differences in the observed analytical responses, making it necessary to evaluate them for each new material. The goal of this work was to obtain for the first time Co2SnO4 (CSO)/RGO nanohybrids via in situ and ex situ methods and to evaluate their performance in the amperometric detection of hydrogen peroxide. The electroanalytical response was evaluated in NaOH pH 12 solution using detection potentials of −0.400 V or 0.300 V for the reduction or oxidation of H2O2. The results show that for CSO there were no differences between the nanohybrids either by oxidation or by reduction, unlike what we previously observed with cobalt titanate hybrids, in which the in situ nanohybrid clearly had the best performance. On the other hand, no influence in the study of interferents and more stable signals were obtained when the reduction mode was used. In conclusion, for detecting hydrogen peroxide, any of the nanohybrids studied, i.e., in situ or ex situ, are suitable to be used, and more efficiency is obtained using the reduction mode

Centrifugal separation and equilibration dynamics in an electron-antiproton plasma

Charges in cold, multiple-species, non-neutral plasmas separate radially by mass, forming centrifugally-separated states. Here, we report the first detailed measurements of such states in an electron-antiproton plasma, and the first observations of the separation dynamics in any centrifugally-separated system. While the observed equilibrium states are expected and in agreement with theory, the equilibration time is approximately constant over a wide range of parameters, a surprising and as yet unexplained result. Electron-antiproton plasmas play a crucial role in antihydrogen trapping experiments

Antihydrogen and mirror-trapped antiproton discrimination: Discriminating between antihydrogen and mirror-trapped antiprotons in a minimum-B trap

Recently, antihydrogen atoms were trapped at CERN in a magnetic minimum (minimum-B) trap formed by superconducting octupole and mirror magnet coils. The trapped antiatoms were detected by rapidly turning off these magnets, thereby eliminating the magnetic minimum and releasing any antiatoms contained in the trap. Once released, these antiatoms quickly hit the trap wall, whereupon the positrons and antiprotons in the antiatoms annihilated. The antiproton annihilations produce easily detected signals; we used these signals to prove that we trapped antihydrogen. However, our technique could be confounded by mirror-trapped antiprotons, which would produce seemingly-identical annihilation signals upon hitting the trap wall. In this paper, we discuss possible sources of mirror-trapped antiprotons and show that antihydrogen and antiprotons can be readily distinguished, often with the aid of applied electric fields, by analyzing the annihilation locations and times. We further discuss the general properties of antiproton and antihydrogen trajectories in this magnetic geometry, and reconstruct the antihydrogen energy distribution from the measured annihilation time history.Comment: 17 figure

Derivation and external validation of the SIMPLICITY score as a simple immune-based risk score to predict infection in kidney transplant recipients

Existing approaches for infection risk stratification in kidney transplant recipients are suboptimal. Here, we aimed to develop and validate a weighted score integrating non-pathogen-specific immune parameters and clinical variables to predict the occurrence of post-transplant infectious complications. To this end, we retrospectively analyzed a single-center derivation cohort of 410 patients undergoing kidney transplantation in 2008-2013 in Madrid. Peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations, serum immunoglobulin and complement levels were measured at one-month post-transplant. The primary and secondary outcomes were overall and bacterial infection through month six. A point score was derived from a logistic regression model and prospectively applied on a validation cohort of 522 patients undergoing kidney transplantation at 16 centers throughout Spain in 2014-2015. The SIMPLICITY score consisted of the following variables measured at month one after transplantation: C3 level, CD4+ T-cell count, CD8+ T-cell count, IgG level, glomerular filtration rate, recipient age, and infection within the first month. The discrimination capacity in the derivation and validation cohorts was good for overall (areas under the receiver operating curve of 0.774 and 0.730) and bacterial infection (0.767 and 0.734, respectively). The cumulative incidence of overall infection significantly increased across risk categories in the derivation (low-risk 13.7%; intermediate-risk, 35.9%; high-risk 77.6%) and validation datasets (10.2%, 28.9% and 50.4%, respectively). Thus, the SIMPLICITY score, based on easily available immune parameters, allows for stratification of kidney transplant recipients at month one according to their expected risk of subsequent infection