Diversity Control in Evolutionary Computation using Asynchronous Dual-Populations with Search Space Partitioning

Diversity control is vital for effective global optimization using evolutionary computation (EC) techniques. This paper classifies the various diversity control policies in the EC literature. Many research works have attributed the high risk of premature convergence to sub-optimal solutions to the poor exploration capabilities resulting from diversity collapse. Also, excessive cost of convergence to optimal solution has been linked to the poor exploitation capabilities necessary to focus the search. To address this exploration-exploitation trade-off, this paper deploys diversity control policies that ensure sustained exploration of the search space without compromising effective exploitation of its promising regions. First, a dual-pool EC algorithm that facilitates a temporal evolution-diversification strategy is proposed. Then a quasi-random heuristic initialisation based on search space partitioning (SSP) is introduced to ensure uniform sampling of the initial search space. Second, for the diversity measurement, a robust convergence detection mechanism that combines a spatial diversity measure; and a population evolvability measure is utilised. It was found that the proposed algorithm needed a pool size of only 50 samples to converge to optimal solutions of a variety of global optimization benchmarks. Overall, the proposed algorithm yields a 33.34% reduction in the cost incurred by a standard EC algorithm. The outcome justifies the efficacy of effective diversity control on solving complex global optimization landscapes. Keywords: Diversity, exploration-exploitation tradeoff, evolutionary algorithms, heuristic initialisation, taxonomy

Forecasting rainfed sorghum yield using satellite-derived vegetation indices with limited ground-based information in Gadarif region, eastern Sudan

A practical crop growth and yield monitoring system based on satellite data is required and fundamental not only for precision farming, but also very useful for global food security enhancement. This study was performed to determine the optimal vegetation index and also to identify the best time for making a reliable crop yield forecast in one of the major sorghum-growing region (Gedarif State, Sudan). The study was also aimed to develop a simple yield prediction model which was later validated using an official yield data acquired during 2013 and 2014 cropping seasons from the Department of Information System and Statistical Analysis of the State Ministry of Agriculture, Gedarif State. The study used NASA’s multi-temporal MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) land products with limited ground information. Relationship between sorghum yield and crop reflectance indicated that normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) at the third dekad of September (Sep.III) is the most appropriate to develop sorghum yield prediction model with higher R2 value of 0.77 (p<0.05) compared to other vegetation indices (normalized ratio vegetation index, NRVI and soil-adjusted vegetation index, SAVI). The plotting of estimated yield against actual yield during 2013 and 2014 cropping seasons revealed strong positive and linear correlations (R2 = 0.64 (p=0.06) and 0.74 (p<0.05), respectively with average R2 = 0.71 (p<0.001) for both seasons. This study concluded that a good prediction of rainfed sorghum yield could be achieved more than 30 days before harvesting with quick, accurate and cost-effective method compared to traditional field surveys

Longitudinal and transverse fermion-boson vertex in QED at finite temperature in the HTL approximation

We evaluate the fermion-photon vertex in QED at the one loop level in Hard Thermal Loop approximation and write it in covariant form. The complete vertex can be expanded in terms of 32 basis vectors. As is well known, the fermion-photon vertex and the fermion propagator are related through a Ward-Takahashi Identity (WTI). This relation splits the vertex into two parts: longitudinal (Gamma_L) and transverse (Gamma_T). Gamma_L is fixed by the WTI. The description of the longitudinal part consumes 8 of the basis vectors. The remaining piece Gamma_T is then written in terms of 24 spin amplitudes. Extending the work of Ball and Chiu and Kizilersu et. al., we propose a set of basis vectors T^mu_i(P_1,P_2) at finite temperature such that each of these is transverse to the photon four-momentum and also satisfies T^mu_i(P,P)=0, in accordance with the Ward Identity, with their corresponding coefficients being free of kinematic singularities. This basis reduces to the form proposed by Kizilersu et. al. at zero temperature. We also evaluate explicitly the coefficient of each of these vectors at the above-mentioned level of approximation.Comment: 13 pages, uses RevTe

Mortality pattern among tuberculosis patients on treatment in Nigeria: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) has continued to be associated with a substantial number of deaths, even in the era of effective antimicrobials. Nigeria is one of the countries with a high tuberculosis burden and has sub-optimal documentation of TB related deaths. Vital statistics/registration is not robust, and mortality surveys are rarely undertaken. In this study, we aimed to determine a precise estimate of TB related deaths on treatment and the trends in death rate while on TB treatment in Nigeria. Methods: We searched electronic databases for eligible studies from 1st January 2000 to 31st December 2017. We generated pooled death rate estimates using random-effects models and determined trends using meta-regression. Results: We identified 546 studies, of which 28 fulfilled the criteria for quantitative analysis. Overall, studies reported on 64,999 individuals. The pooled TB death rate during treatment was 6.6% (95% CI; 5.2-8.1%). There was a non-significant rise in TB related deaths on treatment of 0.2% per year (p-value = 0.454). Conclusion: We found a low TB related deaths on treatment, death rate and slight temporal rise over the study years. There is a need for continuous vital registration, including TB related death, and mortality survey among TB patients

Chiral fermion mass and dispersion relations at finite temperature in the presence of hypermagnetic fields

We study the modifications to the real part of the thermal self-energy for chiral fermions in the presence of a constant external hypermagnetic field. We compute the dispersion relation for fermions occupying a given Landau level to first order in g'^2, g^2 and g_phi^2 and to all orders in g'B, where g' and g are the U(1)_Y and SU(2)_L couplings of the standard model, respectively, g_phi is the fermion Yukawa coupling, and B is the hypermagnetic field strength. We show that in the limit where the temperature is large compared to sqrt{g'B}, left- and right-handed modes acquire finite and different B-dependent masses due to the chiral nature of their coupling with the external field. Given the current bounds on the strength of primordial magnetic fields, we argue that the above is the relevant scenario to study the effects of magnetic fields on the propagation of fermions prior and during the electroweak phase transition.Comment: 11 pages 4 figures, published versio

The global burden of cancer attributable to risk factors, 2010–19: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

BACKGROUND: Understanding the magnitude of cancer burden attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors is crucial for development of effective prevention and mitigation strategies. We analysed results from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 to inform cancer control planning efforts globally. METHODS: The GBD 2019 comparative risk assessment framework was used to estimate cancer burden attributable to behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risk factors. A total of 82 risk–outcome pairs were included on the basis of the World Cancer Research Fund criteria. Estimated cancer deaths and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) in 2019 and change in these measures between 2010 and 2019 are presented. FINDINGS: Globally, in 2019, the risk factors included in this analysis accounted for 4·45 million (95% uncertainty interval 4·01–4·94) deaths and 105 million (95·0–116) DALYs for both sexes combined, representing 44·4% (41·3–48·4) of all cancer deaths and 42·0% (39·1–45·6) of all DALYs. There were 2·88 million (2·60–3·18) risk-attributable cancer deaths in males (50·6% [47·8–54·1] of all male cancer deaths) and 1·58 million (1·36–1·84) risk-attributable cancer deaths in females (36·3% [32·5–41·3] of all female cancer deaths). The leading risk factors at the most detailed level globally for risk-attributable cancer deaths and DALYs in 2019 for both sexes combined were smoking, followed by alcohol use and high BMI. Risk-attributable cancer burden varied by world region and Socio-demographic Index (SDI), with smoking, unsafe sex, and alcohol use being the three leading risk factors for risk-attributable cancer DALYs in low SDI locations in 2019, whereas DALYs in high SDI locations mirrored the top three global risk factor rankings. From 2010 to 2019, global risk-attributable cancer deaths increased by 20·4% (12·6–28·4) and DALYs by 16·8% (8·8–25·0), with the greatest percentage increase in metabolic risks (34·7% [27·9–42·8] and 33·3% [25·8–42·0]). INTERPRETATION: The leading risk factors contributing to global cancer burden in 2019 were behavioural, whereas metabolic risk factors saw the largest increases between 2010 and 2019. Reducing exposure to these modifiable risk factors would decrease cancer mortality and DALY rates worldwide, and policies should be tailored appropriately to local cancer risk factor burden

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

PSO-Based Integral Sliding Mode Controller for Optimal Swing-Up and Stabilization of the Cart-Inverted Pendulum System

An integral sliding mode controller (ISMC) which employs particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm to search for optimal values of the parameters of the integral sliding manifold as well as the gains of the controller is proposed in this work. We considered the swing-up and stabilization of the cart-inverted pendulum system which is assumed to be affected by uncertainties. First, we determined the swing-up and stabilization conditions of the control system by using the internal dynamics of the cart-inverted pendulum system and sliding mode dynamics. A PSO algorithm is then used to search for the optimal values of the ISMC design parameters that satisfy the stabilization condition with the aim of improving the transient performance of the control system. To mitigate the chattering phenomenon, a saturation function of the integral sliding variable was used in the discontinuous control law. Simulation results on swing-up and stabilization of the cart-inverted pendulum system revealed improvement in transient behaviour by reducing settling time (by 52.61%), overshoots (by 45.56%) and required track length for cart movement (by 68.34%)

The use of poly-aluminum chloride and alum for the treatment of partially stabilized leachate: A comparative study

Coagulation-flocculation as a relatively simple physical-chemical technique was applied in this work. Polymeric forms of metal coagulants which are increasingly applied in water treatment are not well documented in leachate treatment. This study examined poly-aluminum chloride (PAC) and aluminum sulfate (alum) in treating a partially stabilized leachate, and compared attained results in respect to the removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD), turbidity, color and total suspended solid (TSS). Series of coagulation-flocculation tests were carried out to optimize the coagulant dose, pH, and operating conditions (speed and time for rapid and slow mixing). Optimum coagulant dose (OpCD) and pH were respectively found at 1.9 g/L and 7.5 for PAC, and 9.4 g/L and 7 for alum. A concurrent optimization of speed and time of mixing resulted in a considerable enhancement in COD removal: 84.50% and 56.76% for alum and PAC, respectively. Using PAC, almost complete removals for physical parameters of leachate (turbidity: 99.18%, color: 97.26%, and TSS: 99.22%) were achieved; whereas alum showed inferior removal (turbidity 94.82%, color 92.23%, and TSS 95.92%). However, results revealed PAC is not as efficient as alum for COD elimination, where the alum dose (9.4 g/L) was about fivefold that of PAC (1.9 g/L). (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved