Application of multi-objective optimization to structural damage estimation via model updating

Peer reviewedPostprin

HYBRID WARFARE: AN UMBRELLA FOR TERRORISM IN AN ERA OF GREAT POWER COMPETITION?

Today’s geostrategic environment is largely characterized by the phenomenon of great power competition (GPC). In this new cold war, instead of compelling an antagonist through use of force, hybrid warfare seeks to overcome an adversary by developing authenticity and persuading the populace. Against this evolving geopolitical backdrop, violent non-state actors (NSAs) and proxies gain even more significance. They become tools for great powers to achieve policy objectives. NSAs, like Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and the Balochistan Liberation Army acting as Indian proxies against Pakistan, and Al-Qaida and ISIS in Afghanistan, provide apt examples of the enhanced role of terrorism through non-state proxies. Academic studies on the subjects of hybrid warfare, terrorism, and the GPC are found in abundance, but few draw together the distinct facets of hybrid warfare and GPC and the space for terrorism in between. This thesis is designed to tie together the dimensions of hybrid warfare, terrorism, and GPC to identify their impact on the security environment of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Based on the qualitative inquiry, this research concludes that hybrid warfare employed by great powers serves as an umbrella for terrorism, and the world needs to confront terrorism and hybrid threats together.Lieutenant Colonel, Pakistan ArmyApproved for public release. Distribution is unlimited

Discrimination and visualization of ELM types based on a probabilistic description of inter-ELM waiting times

Discrimination and visualization of different observed classes of edge-localized plasma instabilities (ELMs), using advanced data analysis techniques has been considered. An automated ELM type classifier which effectively incorporates measurement uncertainties is developed herein and applied to the discrimination of type I and type III ELMs in a set of carbon-wall JET plasmas. The approach involves constructing probability density functions (PDFs) for inter-ELM waiting times and global plasma parameters and then utilizing an effective similarity measure for comparing distributions: the Rao geodesic distance (GD). It is demonstrated that complete probability distributions of plasma parameters contain significantly more information than the measurement values alone, enabling effective discrimination of ELM type

Visualization of the operational space of edge-localized modes through low-dimensional embedding of probability distributions

Information visualization aimed at facilitating human perception is an important tool for the interpretation of experiments on the basis of complex multidimensional data characterizing the operational space of fusion devices. This work describes a method for visualizing the operational space on a two-dimensional map and applies it to the discrimination of type I and type III edge-localized modes (ELMs) from a series of carbon-wall ELMy discharges at JET. The approach accounts for stochastic uncertainties that play an important role in fusion data sets, by modeling measurements with probability distributions in a metric space. The method is aimed at contributing to physical understanding of ELMs as well as their control. Furthermore, it is a general method that can be applied to the modeling of various other plasma phenomena as well

On H-irregularity Strengths of G-amalgamation of Graphs

A simple graph G=(V(G),E(G)) admits an H-covering if every edge in E(G) belongs at least to one subgraph of G isomorphic to a given graph H. Then the graph G admitting H-covering admits an H-irregular total k-labeling f: V(G) U E(G) \to {1, 2, ..., k} if for every two different subgraphs H\u27 and H\u27\u27 isomorphic to H there is $wt_{f}(H\u27) \neq wt_{f}(H\u27\u27)$, where $wt_{f}(H)= \sum \limits_{v\in V(H)} f(v) + \sum \limits_{e \in E(H)} f(e)$ is the associated H-weight. The minimum k for which the graph G has an H-irregular total k-labeling is called the total H-irregularity strength of the graph G.In this paper, we obtain the precise value of the total H-irregularity strength of G-amalgamation of graphs

Análise de desenhos experimentais com outliers

Primary purpose of the article is to develop outlier robust designs. As a matter of fact, negative effect of outliers in any experimental settings is established where the outliers at any specific design point can destroy the features of the design for which it is being developed. It is attempted here in this article to develop a version of robustness for central composite designs which may protect it for outliers by introducing the idea of minimax outlying effect. This involves the calculation of the degree of outlying effect(s) outlier(s) may produce and then minimize the maximum of these outlying effects in an attempt to equalize the influence of all design points. On comparison, these outlier robust designs are proved to be more optimal, on the scales of A, D, and E optimalities, against existing conventional rotatable, orthogonal, and other such designs. The outlier robust designs, developed here, are suitable for settings prone to outliers where conventional designs fail to represent and analyze the processes and systems.El objetivo principal del artículo es desarrollar diseños robustos atípicos. De hecho, el efecto negativo de los valores atípicos en cualquier configuración experimental se establece donde los valores atípicos en cualquier punto de diseño específico pueden destruir las características del diseño para el que se está desarrollando. En este artículo se intenta desarrollar una versión de robustez para los diseños compuestos centrales que pueden protegerlo de los valores atípicos mediante la introducción de la idea del efecto periférico minimax. Esto implica el cálculo del grado de efecto (s) externo (s) que puede producir un valor atípico y luego minimizar el máximo de estos efectos externos en un intento de igualar la influencia de todos los puntos de diseño. En comparación, se demuestra que estos diseños robustos atípicos son más óptimos, en las escalas de las optimidades A, D y E, frente a los diseños convencionales existentes, ortogonales, rotativos y otros similares. Los diseños robustos atípicos, desarrollados aquí, son adecuados para configuraciones propensas a los valores atípicos en los que los diseños convencionales no representan ni analizan los procesos y sistemas.Objetivo principal do artigo é desenvolver projetos robustos outlier. De fato, o efeito negativo de outliers em qualquer ambiente experimental é estabelecido onde os outliers em qualquer ponto de design específico podem destruir os recursos do design para o qual ele está sendo desenvolvido. Neste artigo, tenta-se desenvolver uma versão de robustez para projetos compostos centrais que possam protegê-lo de outliers, introduzindo a ideia de efeito periférico minimax. Isso envolve o cálculo do grau de efeito (s) outlier (s) outlier (s) pode produzir e, em seguida, minimizar o máximo desses efeitos periféricos em uma tentativa de equalizar a influência de todos os pontos do projeto. Em comparação, esses designs robustos discrepantes são comprovadamente mais otimizados, nas escalas de otimalidades A, D e E, contra os designs convencionais rotacionais, ortogonais e outros existentes. Os designs robustos outlier, desenvolvidos aqui, são adequados para configurações propensas a outliers em que projetos convencionais não representam e analisam os processos e sistemas

The Qualitative Analysis of Host–Parasitoid Model with Inclusion of Spatial Refuge Effect

The objective of this work was to investigate the dynamics of host–parasitoid model with spatial refuge effect. For this, two discrete host–parasitoid models were considered under spatial refuge effect. Suppose that a constant population of hosts may seek refuge and protection from an attack of parasitoids. We found the parametric factors affecting the existence of the equilibrium points and uniqueness of equilibrium points. A local stability analysis of host–parasitoid models was also carried out. Bifurcation theory was used to observe that the host–parasitoid models undergo Neimark–Sacker bifurcation. The effect of the existence of constant refuge effect on the local stability and bifurcation of models was also explored. Hybrid chaos control methodology was used to control the chaotic behavior of model. In addition, numerical simulations, bifurcation diagrams, and phase portraits of the models are also presented.This research is funded by the Basque Government under the Grants IT1555-22 and KK-2022/00090; and to MCIN/AEI 269.10.13039/501100011033 for Grant PID2021-358 1235430B-C21; and to MCIN/AEI 269.10.13039/501100011033 for Grant PID2021-358 1235430B-C22. The APC was funded by M. De la Sen

Expressed breast milk feeding: knowledge and attitude of employed mothers

Appropriate knowledge on expressing, storing and use of breast milk are essential for mothers to continue breastfeeding when they return to work. The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge and attitude of employed mothers towards breast milk expression, storage and usage. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 300 full-time employed mothers who delivered at a tertiary hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. A content-validated questionnaire consisting of 28 questions testing knowledge and nine questions assessing attitude was used. The highest possible scores for knowledge and attitude were 28 and 45, respectively. The mean score for knowledge was 20.47 (SD 4.06). Mothers who scored ≥ 21 (≥75% of maximum score) were categorized as having “good knowledge” while those who scored <21 were considered to have “poor knowledge”. One hundred and seventy (57%) mothers had good knowledge. Good knowledge was significantly associated with Malay ethnicity, tertiary education, multiparity status and prior breastfeeding experience. Two hundred and nineteen (73%) mothers had a positive attitude (scored ≥34). Malay ethnicity, tertiary education, multiparity status, prior experience in giving expressed milk and feasibility of expressing breast milk at the workplace were significantly associated with a positive attitude. More than half of the mothers had good knowledge, and a higher proportion had a positive attitude towards breast milk expression, storage and usage. Additional support and education should be given to mothers who are: non-Malay, non-tertiary educated and having their first child as these factors were associated with poor knowledge and negative attitude

Neurologic outcome after penetrating extracranial arterial trauma

AbstractPurposeWe undertook this study to determine factors that adversely affect outcome in patients with penetrating injury to the extracranial cerebral vasculature.Patients and methodsMedical records were reviewed for all patients who had undergone surgical intervention to treat penetrating injury to the extracranial cerebral arteries between January 1989 and December 1999. Forensic autopsy findings were also reviewed for all patients who died as a result of their injury.ResultsOne hundred fifty-one patients with injury to the brachiocephalic artery (n = 21), common carotid artery (n = 98), or internal carotid artery (n = 32) were identified. Overall mortality was 21.2%, and stroke rate in surviving patients was 15.1%. Twenty-five of 32 deaths (78.1%) were stroke-related. Brachiocephalic artery injury was associated with the highest mortality (38.1%), and survivor stroke rate was highest in patients with internal carotid injuries (22.7%). Hemodynamic instability at presentation led to both higher mortality (30.7%) and stroke rate (19.2%). Preoperative angiography did not influence mortality or stroke rate in hemodynamically stable patients. Procedural mortality associated with arterial ligation was 45% (9 of 20 patients), and no surviving patient experienced a change in pre-ligation neurologic state. Nine patients remained neurologically intact after ligation, and 2 patients with preoperative localized neurologic deficit were unchanged postoperatively. In 131 patients, mortality after arterial repair was 17.6%, and in 5 surviving patients (5.4%) an ischemic neurologic deficit developed. Twelve of 15 surviving patients (80%) with preoperative neurologic deficit who underwent arterial repair had improved neurologic status. Cerebral infarcts were confirmed at autopsy in 23 patients; 18 infarcts were ischemic (10, repair; 8, ligation), and 5 infarcts were hemorrhagic (all, repair). No factor was identified that was predictive of ischemic versus hemorrhagic infarction in patients undergoing repair.ConclusionsThe presence of hypovolemic shock, internal carotid artery injury, complete vessel transection, and arterial ligation are associated with unfavorable outcome. Penetrating injury to the brachiocephalic, common carotid, or internal carotid artery should be repaired rather than ligated when technically possible. Subsequent ischemic or hemorrhagic cerebral infarction is unpredictable, but overall outcome is superior to that with ligation of the injured artery