SamACO: variable sampling ant colony optimization algorithm for continuous optimization

An ant colony optimization (ACO) algorithm offers algorithmic techniques for optimization by simulating the foraging behavior of a group of ants to perform incremental solution constructions and to realize a pheromone laying-and-following mechanism. Although ACO is first designed for solving discrete (combinatorial) optimization problems, the ACO procedure is also applicable to continuous optimization. This paper presents a new way of extending ACO to solving continuous optimization problems by focusing on continuous variable sampling as a key to transforming ACO from discrete optimization to continuous optimization. The proposed SamACO algorithm consists of three major steps, i.e., the generation of candidate variable values for selection, the ants’ solution construction, and the pheromone update process. The distinct characteristics of SamACO are the cooperation of a novel sampling method for discretizing the continuous search space and an efficient incremental solution construction method based on the sampled values. The performance of SamACO is tested using continuous numerical functions with unimodal and multimodal features. Compared with some state-of-the-art algorithms, including traditional ant-based algorithms and representative computational intelligence algorithms for continuous optimization, the performance of SamACO is seen competitive and promising

Notes on contributors

The gas-phase complex UO2(TMOGA)(2)(2+) (TMOGA = tetramethyl-3-oxa-glutaramide) prepared by electrospray ionization was characterized by infrared multiphoton dissociation (IRMPD) spectroscopy. The IRMPD spectrum from 700-1800 cm(-1) was interpreted using a computational study based on density functional theory. The predicted vibrational frequencies are in good agreement with the measured values, with an average deviation of only 8 cm(-1) (<1%) and a maximum deviation of 21 cm(-1) (<2%). The only IR peak assigned to the linear uranyl moiety was the asymmetric v(3) mode, which appeared at 965 cm(-1) and was predicted by DFT as 953 cm(-1). This v(3) frequency is red-shifted relative to bare uranyl, UO22+, by ca. 150 cm(-1) due to electron donation from the TMOGA ligands. Based on the degree of red-shifting, it is inferred that two TMOGA oxygen-donor ligands have a greater effective gas basicity than the four monodentate acetone ligands in UO2(acetone)(4)(2+). The uranyl v(3) frequency was also computed for uranyl coordinated by two TMGA ligands, in which the central O-ether, of TMOGA has been replaced by CH2. The computed v(3) for UO2(TMGA)(2)(2+), 950 cm(-1), is essentially the same as that for UO2(TMOGA)(2)(2+), suggesting that electron donation to uranyl from the ether of TMOGA is minor. The computed v(3) asymmetric stretching frequencies for the three actinyl complexes, UO2(TMOGA)(2)(2+), NpO2(TMOGA)(2)(2+) and PuO2(TMOGA)(2)(2+), are comparable. This similarity is discussed in the context of the relationship between v(3) and intrinsic actinide-oxygen bond energies in actinyl complexes

Optimization of Photoelastic Properties and Stress Relief of Small-Sized Polycarbonate Disks for Granular Material Photoelastic Tests

The development of photoelastic tests was strongly enhanced by appearance of polycarbonate, hich turned out to be an excellent photoelastic material. In order to obtain small polycarbonate particles applicable for granular material photoelastic tests, small-diameter transparent cylindrical disks are cut from a polycarbonate plate preliminarily subjected to annealing, in order to provide stress relief. The plate-cutting and annealing regimes are optimized by the comprehensive analysis of mechanical and photoelastic properties of polycarbonate disks of various diameters and constant height of 5 mm. The resulting stress-strain photoelastic visualizations and material fringe patterns are analyzed, in order to verify the effectiveness of the proposed material processing and annealing regimes.Поликарбонат является оптимальным фотоупругим материалом для проведения механических испытаний методом фотоупругости. Для получения небольших частиц поликарбоната, применяемых при фотоупругих испытаниях гранулированного материала, из поликарбонатной пластины, предварительно подвергнутой отжигу для релаксации остаточных напряжений, вырезаются прозрачные цилиндрические диски малого диаметра. Режимы резки и отжига оптимизированы в результате анализа механических и фотоупругих свойств поликарбонатных дисков разного диаметра и постоянной высоты (5 мм). Анализ фотоупругих характеристик напряженно-деформированного состояния дисков и изохром подтвердил высокую эффективность предлагаемых режимов обработки и отжига для данного материала.Полікарбонат є оптимальним фотопружним матеріалом для проведення механічних випробувань методом фотопружності. Для отримання невеликих частинок полікарбонату, що використовуються при фотопружних випробуваннях гранульованого матер іалу, з полікарбонатної пластини, яку попереднью піддавали відпалу для релаксації залишкових напружень, вирізали прозорі циліндричні диски малого діаметра. Режими різання і відпалу оптимізовано в результаті аналізу механічних і фотопружних властивостей полікарбонатних дисків різного діаметра і постійної висоти (5 мм). Аналіз фотопружних характеристик напружено-деформованого стану дисків і ізохром підтвердив високу ефективність запропонованих режимів обробки і відпалу для даного матеріалу

Open-closed field algebras

We introduce the notions of open-closed field algebra and open-closed field algebra over a vertex operator algebra V. In the case that V satisfies certain finiteness and reductivity conditions, we show that an open-closed field algebra over V canonically gives an algebra over a \C-extension of the Swiss-cheese partial operad. We also give a tensor categorical formulation and categorical constructions of open-closed field algebras over V.Comment: 55 pages, largely revised, an old subsection is deleted, a few references are adde

Role of K(ATP)(+) channels in regulation of systemic, pulmonary, and coronary vasomotor tone in exercising swine

The role of ATP-sensitive K(+) (K(ATP)(+)) channels in vasomotor tone regulation during metabolic stimulation is incompletely understood. Consequently, we studied the contribution of K(ATP)(+) channels to vasomotor tone regulation in the systemic, pulmonary, and coronary vascular bed in nine treadmill-exercising swine. Exercise up to 85% of maximum heart rat

Discrete Laplace Cycles of Period Four

We study discrete conjugate nets whose Laplace sequence is of period four. Corresponding points of opposite nets in this cyclic sequence have equal osculating planes in different net directions, that is, they correspond in an asymptotic transformation. We show that this implies that the connecting lines of corresponding points form a discrete W-congruence. We derive some properties of discrete Laplace cycles of period four and describe two explicit methods for their construction

Transient elastohydrodynamic lubrication analysis of a novel metal-on-metal hip prosthesis with a non-spherical femoral bearing surface

Effective lubrication performance of metal-on-metal hip implants only requires optimum conformity within the main loaded area, while it is advantageous to increase the clearance in the equatorial region. Such a varying clearance can be achieved by using non-spherical bearing surfaces for either acetabular or femoral components. An elastohydrodynamic lubrication model of a novel metal-on-metal hip prosthesis using a non-spherical femoral bearing surface against a spherical cup was solved under loading and motion conditions specified by ISO standard. A full numerical methodology of considering the geometric variation in the rotating non-spherical head in elastohydrodynamic lubrication solution was presented, which is applicable to all non-spherical head designs. The lubrication performance of a hip prosthesis using a specific non-spherical femoral head, Alpharabola, was analysed and compared with those of spherical bearing surfaces and a non-spherical Alpharabola cup investigated in previous studies. The sensitivity of the lubrication performance to the anteversion angle of the Alpharabola head was also investigated. Results showed that the non-spherical head introduced a large squeeze-film action and also led to a large variation in clearance within the loaded area. With the same equatorial clearance, the lubrication performance of the metal-on-metal hip prosthesis using an Alpharabola head was better than that of the conventional spherical bearings but worse than that of the metal-on-metal hip prosthesis using an Alpharabola cup. The reduction in the lubrication performance caused by the initial anteversion angle of the non-spherical head was small, compared with the improvement resulted from the non-spherical geometry

On Vanishing Theorems For Vector Bundle Valued p-Forms And Their Applications

Let $F: [0, \infty) \to [0, \infty)$ be a strictly increasing $C^2$ function with $F(0)=0$. We unify the concepts of $F$-harmonic maps, minimal hypersurfaces, maximal spacelike hypersurfaces, and Yang-Mills Fields, and introduce $F$-Yang-Mills fields, $F$-degree, $F$-lower degree, and generalized Yang-Mills-Born-Infeld fields (with the plus sign or with the minus sign) on manifolds. When $F(t)=t, \frac 1p(2t)^{\frac p2}, \sqrt{1+2t} -1,$ and $1-\sqrt{1-2t},$ the $F$-Yang-Mills field becomes an ordinary Yang-Mills field, $p$-Yang-Mills field, a generalized Yang-Mills-Born-Infeld field with the plus sign, and a generalized Yang-Mills-Born-Infeld field with the minus sign on a manifold respectively. We also introduce the $E_{F,g}-$energy functional (resp. $F$-Yang-Mills functional) and derive the first variational formula of the $E_{F,g}-$energy functional (resp. $F$-Yang-Mills functional) with applications. In a more general frame, we use a unified method to study the stress-energy tensors that arise from calculating the rate of change of various functionals when the metric of the domain or base manifold is changed. These stress-energy tensors, linked to $F$-conservation laws yield monotonicity formulae. A "macroscopic" version of these monotonicity inequalities enables us to derive some Liouville type results and vanishing theorems for $p-$forms with values in vector bundles, and to investigate constant Dirichlet boundary value problems for 1-forms. In particular, we obtain Liouville theorems for $F-$harmonic maps (e.g. $p$-harmonic maps), and $F-$Yang-Mills fields (e.g. generalized Yang-Mills-Born-Infeld fields on manifolds). We also obtain generalized Chern type results for constant mean curvature type equations for $p-$forms on $\Bbb{R}^m$ and on manifolds $M$ with the global doubling property by a different approach. The case $p=0$ and $M=\mathbb{R}^m$ is due to Chern.Comment: 1. This is a revised version with several new sections and an appendix that will appear in Communications in Mathematical Physics. 2. A "microscopic" approach to some of these monotonicity formulae leads to celebrated blow-up techniques and regularity theory in geometric measure theory. 3. Our unique solution of the Dirichlet problems generalizes the work of Karcher and Wood on harmonic map

Sonic velocity in holographic fluids and its applications

Gravity/fluid correspondence acts as an important tool in investigating the strongly correlated fluids. We carefully investigate the holographic fluids at the finite cutoff surface by considering different boundary conditions in the scenario of gravity/fluid correspondence. We find that the sonic velocity of the boundary fluids at the finite cutoff surface is critical in clarifying the superficial similarity between the bulk viscosity and perturbation of the pressure for the holographic fluid, where we set a special boundary condition at the finite cutoff surface to explicitly express this superficial similarity. Moreover, we further take the sonic velocity into account to investigate a case with a more general boundary condition. In this more genaral case, although two parameters in the first order stress tensor of holographic fluid cannot be fixed, one can still extract the information about the transport coefficients by considering the sonic velocity seriously.Theoretical Physic

Effects on egg production and quality of supplementing drinking water with calcium and magnesium

This study was conducted to appraise the effects on egg quality and production performance of laying hens when drinking water was supplemented with calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg). A total of 384 (64-week-old) Hy-line Brown laying hens were assigned at random to four treatments, which consisted of CON: unsupplemented drinking water; T1: drinking water + 2 mg/L Ca + 250 mg/L Mg; T2: drinking water + 4 mg/L Ca + 510 mg/L Mg /10 L; and T3: drinking water + 5 mg/L Ca and 760 mg/L Mg. The experiment lasted six weeks. Water intake increased linearly in week 1 with the rising levels of Ca and Mg in the drinking water. Increasing the Ca and Mg levels improved eggshell strength (week 2 (P =0.01), week 5 (P =0.01), and week 6 (P = 0.03), and eggshell thickness (week 6) (P =0.02) and reduced the rate at which eggs were broken (week 4) (P =0.01). The supplemental Ca and Mg did not affect egg production, egg weight, Haugh unit, albumen height, eggshell colour, and yolk colour compared with CON. Nor did they influence the Haugh unit and albumen height after storing for 1, 5, 10 and 15 days. In conclusion, adding Ca and Mg to the drinking water increased the thickness and strength of the eggshells