Green Parallel Metaheuristics: Design, Implementation, and Evaluation

Fecha de lectura de Tesis Doctoral 14 mayo 2020Green parallel metaheuristics (GPM) is a new concept we want to introduce in this thesis. It is an idea inspired by two facts: (i) parallel metaheuristics could help as unique tools to solve optimization problems in energy savings applications and sustainability, and (ii) these algorithms themselves run on multiprocessors, clusters, and grids of computers and then consume energy, so they need an energy analysis study for their different implementations over multiprocessors. The context for this thesis is to make a modern and competitive effort to extend the capability of present intelligent search optimization techniques. Analyzing the different sequential and parallel metaheuristics considering its energy consumption requires a deep investigation of the numerical performance, the execution time for efficient future designing to these algorithms. We present a study of the speed-up of the different parallel implementations over a different number of computing units. Moreover, we analyze and compare the energy consumption and numerical performance of the sequential/parallel algorithms and their components: a jump in the efficiency of the algorithms that would probably have a wide impact on the domains involved.El Instituto Egipcio en Madrid, dependiente del Gobierno de Egipto

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

Lokalisierung von Cyber-Physical Systems: Datenschutz, Sicherheit und Effizienz

We estimate the location of a given target while guaranteeing the privacy of locations and measurements of the observers. Then, we propose three different algorithms to jointly solve time synchronization and localization problems in a distributed fashion. Next, An event-triggered diffusion Kalman filter is proposed. Then, reachability analysis is utilized to establish a security layer providing secure estimate shares for the distributed Kalman filter. Finally, we propose a pointing approach for interacting with devices as an application for accurate localization.Wir schätzen den Standort eines bestimmten Ziels ab, wobei wir die Privatsphäre der Standorte und Messungen der Beobachter garantieren. Dann schlagen wir drei verschiedene Algorithmen vor, um gemeinsam Zeitsynchronisations- und Lokalisierungsprobleme auf verteilte Weise zu lösen. Als nächstes schlagen wir einen ereignisgesteuerten Diffusions-Kalman-Filter vor. Dann wird die Erreichbarkeitsanalyse genutzt, um eine Sicherheitsschicht zu etablieren, die sichere Schätzungsanteile für den verteilten Kalman-Filter liefert. Schließlich schlagen wir einen Pointing-Ansatz für die Interaktion mit Geräten als Anwendung zur genauen Lokalisierung vor

Lokalisierung von Cyber-Physical Systems: Datenschutz, Sicherheit und Effizienz

We estimate the location of a given target while guaranteeing the privacy of locations and measurements of the observers. Then, we propose three different algorithms to jointly solve time synchronization and localization problems in a distributed fashion. Next, An event-triggered diffusion Kalman filter is proposed. Then, reachability analysis is utilized to establish a security layer providing secure estimate shares for the distributed Kalman filter. Finally, we propose a pointing approach for interacting with devices as an application for accurate localization.Wir schätzen den Standort eines bestimmten Ziels ab, wobei wir die Privatsphäre der Standorte und Messungen der Beobachter garantieren. Dann schlagen wir drei verschiedene Algorithmen vor, um gemeinsam Zeitsynchronisations- und Lokalisierungsprobleme auf verteilte Weise zu lösen. Als nächstes schlagen wir einen ereignisgesteuerten Diffusions-Kalman-Filter vor. Dann wird die Erreichbarkeitsanalyse genutzt, um eine Sicherheitsschicht zu etablieren, die sichere Schätzungsanteile für den verteilten Kalman-Filter liefert. Schließlich schlagen wir einen Pointing-Ansatz für die Interaktion mit Geräten als Anwendung zur genauen Lokalisierung vor

Role of 18F-FDG PET/CT in the detection of ovarian cancer recurrence in the setting of normal tumor markers

Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of 18F-flurodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/contrast enhanced computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) in patients with clinically/radiologically suspected ovarian tumor recurrence and normal tumor markers. Materials and methods: A total of 54 18F-FDG PET/CT studies from 41 patients with suspected ovarian tumor recurrence and normal tumor markers were evaluated. Each patient underwent PET/CT with CE-CT scans in the same study. Studies were read independently by one experienced nuclear medicine physician and one experienced radiologist. A four-point score (score 0 = definitely benign, score 1 = probably benign, score 2 = probably malignant and score 3 = definitely malignant) used to assess the presence or absence of recurrence (local, regional or distant). The final diagnosis of tumor status was made on the basis of subsequent follow-up by conventional imaging (CT/MRI), 18F-18F-FDG PET/CT or histopathology whenever possible. Results: Of the 54 studies evaluated, 26 (48%) studies had tumor recurrence and 28 (52%) studies were disease-free based on final diagnosis. Combined 18F-FDG PET/CT vs. CE-CT alone showed sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of 92% vs. 73%, 90% vs. 55%, and 91% vs. 63%, respectively. 18F-18F-FDG PET/CT was significantly more sensitive, more specific and more accurate compared to CE-CT with P-values of 0.06, 0.006 and 0.0001, respectively. Site-based analyses were also performed and showed significantly higher diagnostic indices for combined FDG-PET/CT. Conclusion: Combined 18F-FDG PET/CT with contrast enhancement is more accurate than CE-CT alone in the diagnosis of ovarian tumor recurrence in patients with normal tumor markers

Infarct size assessment by cardiac magnetic resonance and peak troponin I after aspiration thrombectomy and intracoronary abciximab assisted primary percutaneous coronary intervention in a real-world cohort of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: A single-center study

Objectives: To assess the effect of manual thrombectomy on infarct size by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and peak troponin I (TnI) levels. Background: Use of manual thrombectomy during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (primary PCI) and its effect on infarct size is still debatable. Methods: 70 patients (30 patients with thrombectomy and 40 without) who underwent primary PCI for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) with adjunct intracoronary abciximab between January 2007 and August 2013 and had CMR afterwards were included. Results: No significant difference in the baseline characteristics except for a higher baseline TnI (11.6 ± 16.7 vs. 2.4 ± 7.9, P = 0.009) and more visible thrombus and or TIMI 0 flow (P = 0.04) in the thrombectomy group. No significant difference was found in infarct size assessed by CMR (18.1 ± 13.2 vs. 16.45 ± 11.7, P = 0.6) or peak TnI (75.9 ± 126 vs. 51.3 ± 50.4, P = 0.26) between the two groups. A moderate positive correlation was found between Peak as well as TnI at 24 hours (TnI-24 h) and CMR-determined infarct size (r = 0.5 and r = 0.7 respectively, P < 0.001). TnI-24 h (B = 0.152, 95.0% Confidence Interval (CI) 0.116–0.187, P < 0.001) as well as final TIMI grade (B = −10,848, 95.0% CI −15.109 to −6.587, P < 0.001) predicts infarct size. Conclusions: In a retrospective real world cohort of patients with STEMI, no difference was found in infarct size assessed by CMR or peak TnI between the groups with and without thrombectomy. TnI-24 h as well as final TIMI flow predicts infarct size

External Validation and Recalibration of the CURB-65 and PSI for Predicting 30-Day Mortality and Critical Care Intervention in Multiethnic Patients with COVID-19

Objectives: To validate and recalibrate the CURB-65 and pneumonia severity index (PSI) in predicting 30-day mortality and critical care intervention (CCI) in a multiethnic population with COVID-19, along with evaluating both models in predicting CCI. Methods: Retrospective data was collected for 1181 patients admitted to the largest hospital in Qatar with COVID-19 pneumonia. The area under the curve (AUC), calibration curves, and other metrics were bootstrapped to examine the performance of the models. Variables constituting the CURB-65 and PSI scores underwent further analysis using the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) along with logistic regression to develop a model predicting CCI. Complex machine learning models were built for comparative analysis. Results: The PSI performed better than CURB-65 in predicting 30-day mortality (AUC 0.83, 0.78 respectively), while CURB-65 outperformed PSI in predicting CCI (AUC 0.78, 0.70 respectively). The modified PSI/CURB-65 model (respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, hematocrit, age, sodium, and glucose) predicting CCI had excellent accuracy (AUC 0.823) and good calibration. Conclusions: Our study recalibrated, externally validated the PSI and CURB-65 for predicting 30-day mortality and CCI, and developed a model for predicting CCI. Our tool can potentially guide clinicians in Qatar to stratify patients with COVID-19 pneumonia

Anti-infective potential of the endophytic fungus <i>Aspergillus</i> sp. associated with <i>Aptenia cordifolia</i> root supported by metabolomics analysis and docking studies

Endophytic fungi are known to be a rich source for anti-infective drugs. In this study, Aptenia cordifolia associated endophytic fungi were explored for the first time. Seven isolates were identified morphologically followed by screening of these fungi by plug diffusion assay which revealed their potential activity against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 9144), Bacillus cereus (ATCC 14579), Serratia marcescens (ATCC 14756), Fusarium oxysporum (ATCC 48112), and Aspergillus flavus (ATCC 22546). Additionally, the crude ethyl acetate extract of the most potent three isolates in plug diffusion assay showed that Aspergillus sp. ACEFR2 was the most potent as anti-infective in disc diffusion assay; Accordingly, Aspergillus sp. ACEFR2 was investigated using phylogenetic analysis and LC-HR-ESI-MS. The phylogenetic analysis placed the strain into the Aspergillus section Niger close related to few species including A. niger. Whereas the metabolomic profiling revealed the presence of diverse pool of metabolites. Furthermore, in silico molecular docking study was carried out to predict which compounds most likely responsible for the anti-infective activity.</p