A Framework for Genetic Algorithms Based on Hadoop

Genetic Algorithms (GAs) are powerful metaheuristic techniques mostly used in many real-world applications. The sequential execution of GAs requires considerable computational power both in time and resources. Nevertheless, GAs are naturally parallel and accessing a parallel platform such as Cloud is easy and cheap. Apache Hadoop is one of the common services that can be used for parallel applications. However, using Hadoop to develop a parallel version of GAs is not simple without facing its inner workings. Even though some sequential frameworks for GAs already exist, there is no framework supporting the development of GA applications that can be executed in parallel. In this paper is described a framework for parallel GAs on the Hadoop platform, following the paradigm of MapReduce. The main purpose of this framework is to allow the user to focus on the aspects of GA that are specific to the problem to be addressed, being sure that this task is going to be correctly executed on the Cloud with a good performance. The framework has been also exploited to develop an application for Feature Subset Selection problem. A preliminary analysis of the performance of the developed GA application has been performed using three datasets and shown very promising performance

Radovan Karadzic: war criminal TV (guest blog)

Radovan Karadzic, co-architect of the Bosnian genocide of the early 1990s, and war crimes tribunal fugitive for the past 13 years, is finally under arrest. Polis Summer School student Doug Sarro reports

Travel through the landscapes of Sicily. The experience of the workshops of architectural design

La Sicilia e il suo territorio, meta dei viaggiatori arabi e successivamente dei viaggiatori del Grand Tour tra il ‘700 e ‘800 e architetti degli anni ‘20, interessati sempre alla conoscenza del suo paesaggio, è stata attraversata, negli ultimi anni, da studenti e docenti che hanno partecipato ai numerosi workshop e simposi interessati alla conoscenza dei luoghi della città e del paesaggio, dove potere presentare un progetto di trasformazione. I workshop, infatti, come vedremo attraverso le diverse esperienze nei luoghi, costituiscono un modo diverso di fare didattica attraverso “il viaggio” e il confronto tra le diverse esperienze italiane ed europee. / Sicily and its territory, destination of the Arab travelers and later the Grand Tour travelers between 700 and 800 and the architects of the '20s, always interested in the knowledge of its landscape, has been crossed, in recent years, by the students and teachers who have participated in the numerous workshops and symposia on the knowledge of the places of the town and of the landscape, where were able to present a project of transformation. The workshops, in fact, as we will see through the various experiences in the places, are a different way of teaching through "the travel" and comparing the different Italian and European experience

This is satire (guest blog)

The New Yorker magazine has featured on its cover a cartoon of Barack and Michelle Obama doing what FOX News has called a ‘terrorist fist jab’ in the White House, with a portrait of Osama Bin Laden looking on and a burning American flag in a nearby fireplace. Barack is dressed in what is apparently Muslim garb, and Michelle is carrying what various journalists/cartoon gun experts have identified as an AK-47. Polis Summer School student, Doug Sarro reports

Rational Choices, But for Whom? Transnational Financial Regulation after the Crisis

A review of Chris Brummer, Soft Law and the Global Financial System: Rule Making in the 21st Century (Cambridge University Press, 2012)

Addressing Obstacles in Following Prescribed Medication Regimens in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Background. Type 2 diabetes is the ninth leading cause of death in the United States. Micro/macro vascular complications are common in diabetes. Purpose. To implement an evidence-based protocol addressing obstacles for patients with type 2 diabetes in following their prescribed medication regimens to reduce glycosylated hemoglobin levels. Evidence. Failure to follow treatment plans increases diabetes complications. Perceptions and complexities of treatment plans, side effects of therapies, and cost contribute to patients not taking their medications as prescribed. Goals. To increase the number of patients with type 2 diabetes who follow their prescribed medication regimen and reach their targeted glycosylated hemoglobin. To increase referrals for patients with glycosylated hemoglobin greater than 8.4 g/dL to the optimization clinic. Methods. Patients with diabetes were asked to complete a medication adherence and diabetes knowledge questionnaire identifying obstacles to taking prescribed medications. Providers adjusted treatments according to clinical practice guidelines to address the identified obstacles. Results. A total of 61 patients completed the questionnaire and received educational information. All 22 patients with glycosylated hemoglobin’s above 8.4% were referred to the optimization clinic. Common barriers reported were cost (14%), side effects (31%), and forgetfulness (55%). Patient advocates were used to address cost, alternative therapies were provided for side effects, and mail-in delivery services were offered for forgetfulness. The project ended before three-month follow-up glycosylated hemoglobin levels were obtained. Practice Implications. Early recognition of obstacles that interfere with patients taking their medication providesan opportunity to address these barriers thereby reducing the risk of complications from diabetes

COMMENTS TO JOEL ROBBINS ARTICLE “RELIGIOUS PLURALISM AND VALUE PLURALISM: RITUAL AND THE MANAGEMENT OF INTERCULTURAL DIVERSITY”

COMMENTS TO JOEL ROBBINS ARTICLE “RELIGIOUS PLURALISM AND VALUE PLURALISM: RITUAL AND THE MANAGEMENT OF INTERCULTURAL DIVERSITY