Distance Measurement-Based Cooperative Source Localization: A Convex Range-Free Approach

One of the most essential objectives in WSNs is to determine the spatial coordinates of a source or a sensor node having information. In this study, the problem of range measurement-based localization of a signal source or a sensor is revisited. The main challenge of the problem results from the non-convexity associated with range measurements calculated using the distances from the set of nodes with known positions to a xed sen- sor node. Such measurements corresponding to certain distances are non-convex in two and three dimensions. Attempts recently proposed in the literature to eliminate the non- convexity approach the problem as a non-convex geometric minimization problem, using techniques to handle the non-convexity. This study proposes a new fuzzy range-free sensor localization method. The method suggests using some notions of Euclidean geometry to convert the problem into a convex geometric problem. The convex equivalent problem is built using convex fuzzy sets, thus avoiding multiple stable local minima issues, then a gradient based localization algorithm is chosen to solve the problem. Next, the proposed algorithm is simulated considering various scenarios, including the number of available source nodes, fuzzi cation level, and area coverage. The results are compared with an algorithm having similar fuzzy logic settings. Also, the behaviour of both algorithms with noisy measurements are discussed. Finally, future extensions of the algorithm are suggested, along with some guidelines

Do actions speak louder than words? Household expectations of inflation based on micro consumption data

Survey data on household expectations of inflation are routinely used in economic analysis, yet it is not clear to what extent households are able to articulate their expectations in survey interviews. We propose an alternative approach to recovering households' implicit expectations of inflation from their consumption expenditures. We show that these implicit expectations have predictive power for CPI inflation. They are better predictors of CPI inflation than survey responses, except for highly educated consumers. Moreover, households' implicit inflation expectations respond to inflation news, consistent with recent work on the transmission of information across consumers. The response of consumers' expectations to inflation news tends to increase with their level of education. Our evidence strengthens the case for macroeconomic models with sticky information. --Inflation Expectations,Consumer Expenditure Survey,Michigan Survey of Consumers,Survey of Professional Forecasters,Euler Equation

A New Model for The Multi-Objective Multiple Allocation Hub Network Design and Routing Problem

In this paper, we propose a new model for the multi-objective multiple allocation hub network design and routing problem which contains determining the location of hubs, the design of hub network, and the routing of commodities between source-destination pairs in the given network. The selected hubs are not assumed to be fully connected, and each node and arc in the network has capacity constraints. The multiple objectives of the problem are the minimization of total xed and transportation costs and the minimization of the maximum travel time required for routing. We propose a mathematical formulation for the multiobjective problem and present a meta-heuristic solution based on a well-known multi-objective evolutionary algorithm. Using the proposed formulation, we are able to nd the optimal solution for small networks of ve nodes and seven nodes. To evaluate the performance of our heuristic approach on real data, the computational experiments are conducted on Turkish postal system data set. The results demonstrate that our heuristic approach can nd feasible solutions to the problem in reasonable execution time, which is less than 10 min

Experimental Evaluation of Meta-Heuristics for Multi-Objective Capacitated Multiple Allocation Hub Location Problem

Multi-objective capacitated multiple allocation hub location problem (MOCMAHLP) is a variation of classic hub location problem, which deals with network design, considering both the number and the location of the hubs and the connections between hubs and spokes, as well as routing of flow on the network. In this study, we offer two meta-heuristic approaches based on the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) and archived multi-objective simulated annealing method (AMOSA) to solve MOCMAHLP. We attuned AMOSA based approach to obtain feasible solutions for the problem and developed five different neighborhood operators in this approach. Moreover, for NSGA-II based approach, we developed two novel problem-specific mutation operators. To statistically analyze the behavior of both algorithms, we conducted experiments on two well-known data sets, namely Turkish and Australian Post (AP). Hypervolume indicator is used as the performance metric to measure the effectiveness of both approaches on the given data sets. In the experimental study, thorough tests are conducted to fine-tune the proposed mutation types for NSGA-II and proposed neighborhood operators for AMOSA. Fine-tuning tests reveal that for NSGA-II, mutation probability does not have a real effect on Turkish data set, whereas lower mutation probabilities are slightly better for AP data set. Moreover, among the AMOSA based neighborhood operators, the one which adds/removes a specific number of links according to temperature (NS-5) performs better than the others for both data sets. After analyzing different operators for both algorithms, a comparison between our NSGA-II based and AMOSA based approaches is performed with the best settings. As a result, we conclude that both of our algorithms are able to find feasible solutions of the problem. Moreover, NSGA-II performs better for larger, whereas AMOSA performs better for smaller size networks

PERCEPTIONS OF TEACHERS ON ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CURRICULUM: A CASE STUDY OF LIBYAN PRIMARY SCHOOLS

Environmental education like all forms of education is a process of learning that requires an optimally designed teaching curriculum. However, unlike other conventional courses and forms of education, environmental education is not a linear form of learning as it requires complex and place-based designed teaching due to the individuality and diversity of people and their local environment and biodiversity. Libya like most countries of the world has joined the active fight against climate change through the incorporation of environmental education into the traditional system of education and designing a curriculum for the entire school system to ensure uniformity in learning standards. This study carries out an investigation of the efficiency of the Libyan primary school environmental education curriculum from the perspective of primary school teachers. Using open-ended questionnaires designed using an adequate theoretical framework, teachers in Libya were surveyed for their perceptions on satisfaction with the curriculum, their dislikes about the curriculum, what they enjoyed the most in the curriculum, and how they prepared using it and the complementary modifications they carry out on it. The results of this study indicate a finding where the majority of the teachers were happy with its efficiency but have recommended several changes to it to enable it to become optimal

PERCEPTIONS OF TEACHERS ON ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CURRICULUM: A CASE STUDY OF LIBYAN PRIMARY SCHOOLS

Environmental education like all forms of education is a process of learning that requires an optimally designed teaching curriculum. However, unlike other conventional courses and forms of education, environmental education is not a linear form of learning as it requires complex and place-based designed teaching due to the individuality and diversity of people and their local environment and biodiversity. Libya like most countries of the world has joined the active fight against climate change through the incorporation of environmental education into the traditional system of education and designing a curriculum for the entire school system to ensure uniformity in learning standards. This study carries out an investigation of the efficiency of the Libyan primary school environmental education curriculum from the perspective of primary school teachers. Using open-ended questionnaires designed using an adequate theoretical framework, teachers in Libya were surveyed for their perceptions on satisfaction with the curriculum, their dislikes about the curriculum, what they enjoyed the most in the curriculum, and how they prepared using it and the complementary modifications they carry out on it. The results of this study indicate a finding where the majority of the teachers were happy with its efficiency but have recommended several changes to it to enable it to become optimal

Analysis of the common genetic component of large-vessel vasculitides through a meta- Immunochip strategy

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) and Takayasu's arteritis (TAK) are major forms of large-vessel vasculitis (LVV) that share clinical features. To evaluate their genetic similarities, we analysed Immunochip genotyping data from 1,434 LVV patients and 3,814 unaffected controls. Genetic pleiotropy was also estimated. The HLA region harboured the main disease-specific associations. GCA was mostly associated with class II genes (HLA-DRB1/HLA-DQA1) whereas TAK was mostly associated with class I genes (HLA-B/MICA). Both the statistical significance and effect size of the HLA signals were considerably reduced in the cross-disease meta-analysis in comparison with the analysis of GCA and TAK separately. Consequently, no significant genetic correlation between these two diseases was observed when HLA variants were tested. Outside the HLA region, only one polymorphism located nearby the IL12B gene surpassed the study-wide significance threshold in the meta-analysis of the discovery datasets (rs755374, P?=?7.54E-07; ORGCA?=?1.19, ORTAK?=?1.50). This marker was confirmed as novel GCA risk factor using four additional cohorts (PGCA?=?5.52E-04, ORGCA?=?1.16). Taken together, our results provide evidence of strong genetic differences between GCA and TAK in the HLA. Outside this region, common susceptibility factors were suggested, especially within the IL12B locus

Do Actions Speak Louder than Words? Household Expectations of Inflation Based on Micro Consumption Data

Survey data on household expectations of inflation are routinely used in economic analysis, yet it is not clear to what extent households are able to articulate their expectations in survey interviews. We propose an alternative approach to recovering households' implicit expectations of inflation from their consumption expenditures. We show that these implicit expectations have predictive power for CPI inflation. They are better predictors of CPI inflation than survey responses, except for highly educated consumers. Moreover, households' implicit inflation expectations respond to inflation news, consistent with recent work on the transmission of information across consumers. The response of consumers' expectations to inflation news tends to increase with their level of education. Our evidence strengthens the case for macroeconomic models with sticky information.consumer expenditure survey; Euler equation; inflation expectations; Michigan survey of consumers; survey of professional forecasters

Impacts of Feedback Current Value and Learning Rate on Equilibrium Propagation Performance

International audienc

Distribution of Candida species isolated from blood cultures in a university hospital

Objective: Candidemia is the fourth most common infection among nosocomial blood circulation infections. Although Candida albicans is the most frequently identified species in invasive candidiasis, incidence of non-albicans Candida species were increased especially among critically ill patients. This reflects the changes in clinical practice. The main objective of the present study is to determine the distribution of the Candida species that causes candidemia in our hospital and contributes to the prevention of nosocomial infections. Methods: In a retrospective study (2013-2014) on candidemia, various Candida species isolated from blood cultures were evaluated and their epidemiological, clinical, and microbiological characteristics were determined. Results: A total of 200 species of Candida were identified and the distribution was as follows: 38% C. albicans, 24.5% C. parapsilosis, 16.5% C. tropicalis, 13% C. glabrata, 3% C. krusei, 2% C. sake, 1% C. lusitaniae, 0.5% C. guilliermondii. The highest amounts of (103/200; 51.5%) of Candida species were identified at the adult intensive care unit. Conclusion: Parallel to the increase in the patient population that is as risk for Candida infections, epidemiological studies should be made to identify the species and develop effective treatment protocols