An Approach Based on Genetic and Grasshopper Optimization Algorithms for Dynamic Load Balancing in CloudIoT

CloudIoT is a new paradigm, which has emerged as a result of the combination of Cloud Computing (CC) and the Internet of Things (IoT). It has experienced a growing and rapid development, and it has become more popular in information and technology (IT) environments because of the advantages it offers. However, due to a strong use of this paradigm, especially in smart cities, the problem of imbalance load has emerged. Indeed, to satisfy the needs of the user, the intelligent objects send the collected data to the virtual machines (VMs) of the cloud in order to be processed. So, it is necessary to have an idea about the load of its VM. Thus, the problem of load balancing between VMs is strongly related to the technique used for the VMs selection. To tackle this problem, we propose in this paper a task scheduler called Scheduler Genetic Grasshopper Algorithm (SGGA). It allows to ensure a dynamic load balancing, as well as the optimization of the makespan and the resource usage. Our proposed SGGA is based on the combination of Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Grasshopper Optimization Algorithm (GOA). First, the tasks sent by the IoTs are mapped to the VMs in order to build the initial population, then SGGA performs the genetic algorithm, which has expressed a considerable performance. However, the weakness of the GA is marked by its heaviness caused by the mutation operator, especially when the number of tasks increases. Because of this insufficiency, we have replaced the mutation operator with the grasshopper optimization algorithm. The results of the experiments show that our approach (SGGA) is the most efficient, compared to the recent approaches, in terms of the response time to obtain the optimal solution, makespan, throughput, an average resource utilization rate and the hypervolume indicator

New Game-Theoretic Convolutional Neural Network Applied for the Multi-Pursuer Multi-Evader Game

Pursuit-Evasion Game (PEG) can be defined as a set of agents known as pursuers, which cooperate with the aim forming dynamic coalitions to capture dynamic evader agents, while the evaders try to avoid this capture by moving in the environment according to specific velocities. The factor of capturing time was treated by various studies before, but remain the powerful tools used to satisfy this factor object of research. To improve the capturing time factor we proposed in this work a novel online decentralized coalition formation algorithm equipped with Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) and based on the Iterated Elimination of Dominated Strategies (IEDS). The coalition is formed such that the pursuer should learn at each iteration the approximator formation achieving the capture in the shortest time. The pursuer’s learning process depends on the features extracted by CNN at each iteration. The proposed supervised technique is compared through simulation, with the IEDS algorithm, AGR algorithm. Simulation results show that the proposed learning technique outperform the IEDS algorithm and the AGR algorithm with respect to the learning time which represents an important factor in a chasing game

Une approche d'ontologie pour la modélisation des connaissances et l’interrogation des capteurs de réseaux sans fil

International audienceWireless sensor networks (WSNs) generate large volumes of raw data which increases the difficulty for applications to manage and query sensor data. WSNs are normally application specific with no sharing or reusability of sensor data among applications. In order for applications to be developed independently of particular WSNs, sensor data need to be enriched with semantic information. Ontologies are widely used as a means for solving the information heterogeneity problems because of their capability to provide explicit meaning to the information. This paper presents our work towards the development of a wireless sensor network ontology. Based on the proposed ontology we use the SPARQL query language to enable querying of sensor data. We present the description of the development of the proposed ontology, partial evaluation of the early prototype ontology, a discussion of design and implementation issues, and directions for future research works.Les réseaux de capteurs sans fil (WSN) génèrent de gros volumes de données brutes, ce qui complique la gestion et l'interrogation des données des capteurs par les applications. Les WSN sont normalement spécifiques à une application, sans partage ni possibilité de réutilisation des données de capteur entre les applications. Pour que les applications puissent être développées indépendamment de certains WSN, les données des capteurs doivent être enrichies d'informations sémantiques. Les ontologies sont largement utilisées pour résoudre les problèmes d'hétérogénéité de l'information en raison de leur capacité à donner un sens explicite à l'information. Cet article présente nos travaux en vue du développement d’une ontologie de réseau de capteurs sans fil. Sur la base de l'ontologie proposée, nous utilisons le langage de requête SPARQL pour permettre l'interrogation des données du capteur. Nous présentons la description du développement de l'ontologie proposée, une évaluation partielle de l'ontologie du prototype initial, une discussion des problèmes de conception et de mise en œuvre et des orientations pour les travaux de recherche futurs

Genomic Diversity at Thirteen Short Tandem Repeat Loci in a Substructured Caste Population, Golla, of Southern Andhra Pradesh, India

This is the publisher's version, also available electronically from http://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/humbiol/vol73/iss2/2/Genomic diversity based on 13 short tandem repeat (STR) loci was studied in seven population groups of a substructured Golla caste from Chittoor district in southern Andhra Pradesh, India. These groups are traditionally pastoral, culturally homogeneous, and strictly endogamous. Blood samples were drawn from 317 individuals from 30 Golla villages. The 13 STR loci analyzed in five standard multiplex polymerase chain reactions were: (1) CSF1R, TH01, and PLA2A; (2) F13A1, CYP19, and LPL; (3) D21S1446 and D21S1435; (4) D20S481, D20S473, and D20S604; and (5) D5S1453 and D6S1006. The average heterozygosity was found to be low among the Golla subgroups (0.64–0.70) in comparison to that of groups at the upper levels of the hierarchy. The coefficient of gene differentiation was found to be moderate (average GST = 0.031; range between 0.018 and 0.049 among the loci) when compared to that observed for a similar class of markers among populations with relatively higher levels of hierarchy, for example, among castes. It is, however, much higher when compared to the average observed for Indian caste and tribal populations, based on classical markers. Genetic distance measures revealed clusters of populations that are consistent with the known ethnohistorical and geographical backgrounds of the groups. We claim that these hypervariable markers are quite useful in understanding the process of substructuring within the Indian castes, leading to the formation of smaller breeding isolates, the basic Mendelian units within which microevolutionary forces operate

NS5806 Induces Electromechanically Discordant Alternans and Arrhythmogenic Voltage-Calcium Dynamics in the Isolated Intact Rabbit Heart

Background: NS5806 activates the transient outward potassium current I to, and has been claimed to reproduce Brugada Syndrome (BrS) in ventricular wedge preparations. I to modulates excitation-contraction coupling, which is critical in alternans dynamics. We explored NS5806-arrhythmogenic effects in the intact whole heart and its impact on alternans. Methods: Langendorff-perfused rabbit hearts (n = 20) underwent optical AP and Ca mapping during pacing at decremental cycle lengths (CL). Spontaneous arrhythmias and pacing-induced alternans was characterized at baseline (BL), after perfusing with NS5806, before and after adding verapamil (VP), and SEA0400 (SEA, n = 5 each), to modulate Ca-current and Na-Ca exchange, the main AP-Ca coupling mechanisms. Results: NS5806 induced BrS-like ECG features in 6 out of 20 hearts. NS5806 prolonged steady-state (3 Hz) action potential duration (APD) by 16.8%, Ca decay constant by 34%, and decreased conduction velocity (CV) by 52.6%. After NS5806 infusion, spontaneous ventricular ectopy (VE) and AP/Ca alternans occurred. Pacing-induced alternans during NS5806 infusion occurred at longer CL and were AP/Ca discordant from its onset. Spatially discordant alternans after NS5806 infusion had non-propagation-driven nodal line distribution. No spontaneous phase-2 reentry occurred. Under NS5806 + VP, alternans became AP/Ca concordant and only induced in two out of five; NS5806 + SEA did not affect alternans but suppressed spontaneous ectopy. Conclusions: NS5806 disrupts AP-Ca coupling and leads to Ca-driven, AP/Ca-discordant alternans and VE. Despite BrS-like ECG features, no spontaneous sustained arrhythmias or phase-2 reentry occurred. NS5806 does not fully reproduce BrS in the intact rabbit heart

Impactos socioeconómicos de la agroindustria de la palma de aceite en Colombia :

Palma-Elaeis guineensi

Determining Functional Parameters of Hybrid Catalysts for Sustainable Energy Storage and Conversion Applications

Generating global-scale sustainable energy systems and preserving our environment for the future at the same time are the biggest challenges. Therefore, the search for diverse energy sources which will reduce our dependency on fossil fuels leads to immense attention towards sustainable energy storage and conversion devices like metal-air batteries, fuel cells and water splitting devices (photochemical, electrochemical, photoelectrochemical and photovoltaic coupled to electrolyzers). The aforementioned devices involve key reactions like oxygen evolution reaction (OER), oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR). The energy barrier to overcome these reactions can be reduced by using a catalyst. Therefore, the rational design of catalysts is important as it determines the performance of such devices. Ir and Ru-based oxides are the benchmark electrocatalysts for OER whereas Pt/C is the benchmark catalyst for ORR, HOR and HER. All being precious metals, various transition metal-based catalysts have gained immense attention. Transition metal-based oxides/hydroxides are believed to be potential candidate for OER. Firstly, we have design Co−Ni-Based hybrid oxide−hydroxide flowers as an efficient electrocatalyst for OER. The importance of integrating the hydroxide moieties in the bimetallic oxide has been elucidated. Improving the functionality of a catalyst reduces the overall cost of device production. In this regard, the functionality of NiCo oxide flower is improved by integrating NiCo encapsulated N-doped carbon nanotubes on Ni-Co oxide flowers which show remarkable bifunctional OER and ORR. Further, this work has been extended to trifunctional OER, ORR and HER activity by designing hierarchical one-dimensional (1D)-two-dimensional (2D) heteroatom-doped carbon nanostructure on the oxide support. iii Multimetallic systems improve the OER performance by improving intrinsic activity. Therefore, trimetallic Co, Ni and Mn-based oxide-hydroxide hybrids have been explored for OER and detailed investigation on the mechanism has been carried out. The importance of electronic modulation via incorporating a third element (Mn) on the bimetallic Co-Ni oxide-hydroxide hybrid has been highlighted. Finally, we have design modified hematite by employing possible ways to improve its photoelectrochemical water splitting performance and the importance of various modification on the water-splitting performance have been investigated. We believe that the present work can provide a basic understanding of the parameters required to design efficient catalysts for various sustainable energy storage and conversion devices.DST-FIST (SR/FST/PSII-009/2010), India and Ministry of Education, Singapore (RG15/16, RG16/18

Effects of Grandmother\u27s Presence and Work Effort on Fertility, Survivorship, and Weight in Two Ethnic Groups in N.E. India

Hypotheses regarding the selection for extension of post-menopausal life in humans depend on showing that reproductive success is enhanced via positive effects of older persons on the fertility and offspring viability of descendants. We investigate grandmother effects in 617 patrilineal Bengali and 772 matrilineal Khasi households in N.E. India. Direct access to resources varies. Bengali women do no field labor nor do they market or own property. Khasi women own property and are productive workers in the fields and in wage labor and manage the household resources via selling and buying in the markets. The current living status and the presence ofa grandmother at the time of each birth was noted, and the current work effort of grandmothers was estimated through surveys on the frequency of a long list of child care, domestic, and field work activities by calculating kilocalorie unit estimates of effort based on amount of energy use involved in each. Survivorship to age 6 yrs of the children born to the reproductive women of the household, and weight and height of all children currently under age 6 years were measured and z-scores computed. The data show that in both groups the pace of fertility is faster for reproductive women of higher parities who have had a living mother-in-law (Bengali) or mother (Khasi). With respect to survivorship, only Khasi grandmother\u27s status had a significantly positive effect (present, 0.966, absent 0.857;

Cooperative Breeding Effects Among the Matrilineal Khasi of N. E. India

As a hallmark of our species, mothers of small children generally require and receive help from others in their reproductive efforts of parenting, in what can be called cooperative breeding. This help appears to affect the frequency of births and the success of reproductive efforts as measured by the health and survival of children. The nature of such effects in family systems organized around women and in which women control resources holds interest with respect to the evolution of the human species. The matrilineal Khasi tribe of N. E. India are swidden agriculturalists characterized by low socioeconomic resources and high natural fertility (average is 6.7 children). Women are economically active in the fields, markets, and in home ownership. Khasi households, which may have several married or single women and men are organized around the matriline, often consisting of three generations. A woman is free to choose her own husband who may or may not join the household. Our data represent 773 households providing lineage and reproductive histories comprising 3,274 births. Dependent variables include interbirth interval, cumulative net reproductive success by age of mother, and child nutritional status and mortality (172 deaths). Within this strongly matrilineal context, we examine measures of reproductive success in terms of local resource enhancement and resource competition models with respect to sibling and older offspring effects (depending on sex, age and birth order). We also examine the effect of husband’s presence and of grandmother’s help at the birth of a child, and her continued presence in the household