A New Dynamic Population Variation in Genetic Programming

A dynamic population variation (DPV) in genetic programming (GP) with four innovations is proposed for reducing computational effort and accelerating convergence during the run of GP. Firstly, we give a new stagnation phase definition and the characteristic measure for it. Secondly, we propose an exponential pivot function (EXP) in conjunction with the new stagnation phase definition. Thirdly, we propose an appropriate population variation formula for EXP. Finally, we introduce a scheme using an instruction matrix for producing new individuals to maintain diversity of the population. The efficacy of these innovations in our DPV is examined using four typical benchmark problems. Comparisons among the different characteristic measures have been conducted for regression problems and the proposed measure performed best in all characteristic measures. It is demonstrated that the proposed population variation scheme is superior to fixed and proportionate population variation schemes for sequence induction. It is proved that the new DPV has the capacity to provide solutions at a lower computational effort compared with previously proposed population variation methods and standard genetic programming in most problems

An Adaptive Context-Aware Transaction Model for Mobile and Ubiquitous Computing

Transaction management for mobile and ubiquitous computing (MUC)aims at providing mobile users with reliable and transparent services anytime anywhere. Traditional mobile transaction models built on client-proxy-server architecture cannot make this vision a reality because (1) in these models, base stations (proxy) are the prerequisite for mobile hosts (client) to connect with databases (server), and 2)few models consider context-based transaction management. In this paper, we propose a new network architecture for MUC transactions, with the goal that people can get online network access and transaction even while moving around; and design a context-aware transaction model and a context-driven coordination algorithm adaptive to dynamically changing MUC transaction context. The simulation results have demonstrated that our model and algorithm can significantly improve the successful ratio of MUC transactions

Values in Action Inventory of Strengths の簡易版，Character Strengths Rating Form（CSRF）の日中翻訳

　本稿はValue in Action Inventory of Strengths（Peterson & Seligman, 2004）の簡易版であるCharacter Strengths Rating Form（CSRF；Ruch, Martínez-Martí, Proyer, & Harzer,2014）を日本語・中国語に翻訳したものである。VIA-ISは人の幸福につながる特性を網羅的に示したもので，６領域24 種類のcharacter strengthsそれぞれに10項目，総計240項目で構成された尺度である。筆者達はこの総数の多さがcharacter strengths研究の発展に関して一種の障害になっていると考えた。この点，Ruchらが開発したCSRFは24 項目しかないため大規模の研究や縦断研究に利用することが期待できる。他方でこの簡易版の各項目の問いはとても長く，その中に西洋文化や哲学的内容に関わる用語が多く含まれており，わかりやすく正確に翻訳することは簡単ではない。そこで本稿では，これを丁寧に日本語・中国語へ翻訳した。これを用いることで，大規模調査だけでなく，国際比較研究や東洋文化をcharacter strengthsの観点で記述する研究の展開が期待できる

Distributed Proximity-Aware Peer Clustering in BitTorrent-Like Peer-to-Peer Networks

Abstract. In this paper, we propose a hierarchical architecture for grouping peers into clusters in a large-scale BitTorrent-like underlying overlay network in such a way that clusters are evenly distributed and that the peers within are relatively close together. We achieve this by constructing the CBT (Clustered BitTorrent) system with two novel algorithms: a peer joining algorithm and a super-peer selection algorithm. Proximity and distribution are determined by the measurement of distances among peers. Performance evaluations demonstrate that the new architecture achieves better results than a randomly organized BitTorrent network, improving the system scalability and efficiency while retaining the robustness and incentives of original BitTorrent paradigm

The impact of adult children’s support on the psychological health of rural older adult people in China

BackgroundFamily old-age care is dominant in Chinese rural society, and children’s support is an important force in family old-age care. However, the migration of a large number of young and middle-aged rural laborers has undermined the traditional arrangements for old-age care in rural areas and affected the psychological health of the older adult.Methods2014 China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey targets Chinese citizens aged 60 or older and covers 28 provinces in mainland China. In this paper, the database of the CLASS was selected for empirical analysis to explore the impact of children’s support on the depression level and loneliness of rural older adults through multiple linear regression, and was divided into two groups according to children’s migration to analyze heterogeneity.ResultsChildren’s financial support facilitates the maintenance of mental health among rural older adults. Children’s support promotes mental health among rural older adults, but this association does not exist among older adults without children’s migration. Individual characteristics of older people have a greater impact on mental health.DiscussionOur study firstly compares the differences of children’s migration status between children’s support and mental health among the older adult in rural China. In order to improve the mental health of the older adult, it is necessary to create a favorable atmosphere of love and respect for the older adult, improve the social security system in rural areas, and give full play to the strengths of the social forces, so as to ensure that the older adult have a sense of worthiness and enjoyment in their old age

SCRAM: A Sharing Considered Route Assignment Mechanism for Fair Taxi Route Recommendations

International audienceRecommending routes for a group of competing taxi drivers is almost untouched in most route recommender systems. For this kind of problem, recommendation fairness and driving efficiency are two fundamental aspects. In the paper, we propose SCRAM, a sharing considered route assignment mechanism for fair taxi route recommendations. SCRAM aims to provide recommendation fairness for a group of competing taxi drivers, without sacrificing driving efficiency. By designing a concise route assignment mechanism, SCRAM achieves better recommendation fairness for competing taxis. By considering the sharing of road sections to avoid unnecessary competition, SCRAM is more efficient in terms of driving cost per customer (DCC). We test SCRAM based on a large number of historical taxi trajectories and validate the recommendation fairness and driving efficiency of SCRAM with extensive evaluations. Experimental results show that SCRAM achieves better recommendation fairness and higher driving efficiency than three compared approaches

Towards Prioritized Event Matching in a Content-based Publish/Subscribe System

International audienceQoS support is important for a large-scale content-based publish/subscribe (pub/sub) system to provide guaranteed service for clients with high QoS requirements. So far, great efforts have been dedicated to integrating QoS support into pub/sub systems. However, most work focus on providing QoS support on routing, without touching QoS support in event matching. In this paper, we propose the idea of prioritized event matching, aiming to integrate QoS support into event matching. We first point out the lack of time metrics that reveal performance detail of matching algorithms, leading to the definition of new time metrics. Through a series of experiments conducted in terms of new metrics, we discover the foundation for prioritized event matching. Finally, we realize prioritized event matching, called Pri-Rein, based on an existing matching algorithm and provide three design guidelines learned from the lessons in Pri-Rein. Extensive experiments are conducted to verify the effectiveness and efficiency of Pri-Rein and results show that Pri-Rein well achieves our design goal. We argue that the idea proposed in this paper can be generalized to matching algorithms that are used in cloud computing or complex event processing

Systematic analysis and case series of the diagnosis and management of trichilemmal carcinoma

BackgroundTrichilemmal carcinoma (TLC) is a rare malignant cutaneous adnexal neoplasm, with no relatively comprehensive research.ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to perform an updated statistical analysis so as to better understand TLC’s epidemiology, clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment.MethodsThe diagnosis and treatment of three TLC cases in our department were summarized. Then, all TLC cases published in the literature were retrieved for a comprehensive analysis, followed by the analysis of global trends and regional distribution, demographic characteristics, clinical features, pathogenesis, histopathological features, and treatment and prognosis of TLC.ResultsOf the 231 cases, the incidence of TLC has shown an upward trend recently, especially in China, in Asia. The susceptible population is men aged 60–80 and women over 80, and the most prone location is head and neck. The phenotype of TLC is not always typical and may be misdiagnosed because of the coexistence of other diseases. There is a linear relationship between the diameter and its duration or thickness. UV, locally present skin lesions, trauma, scarring, organ transplantation, and genetic disorders may trigger the occurrence of TLC. Periodic acid–Schiff staining and CD34, but not Epithelial Membrane Antigen (EMA), were helpful in the diagnosis of TLC. Although effective, surgical excision and Mohs micrographic surgery need further improvement to reduce recurrence of TLC. Carcinoma history is an independent risk factor for TLC recurrence.LimitationsThe limitation of this study is the lack of randomized controlled trial on TLC treatment and recurrence.ConclusionTLC has the possibility of invasive growth and recurrence, especially in patients with longer duration and carcinoma history