Primal Recovery from Consensus-Based Dual Decomposition for Distributed Convex Optimization

Dual decomposition has been successfully employed in a variety of distributed convex optimization problems solved by a network of computing and communicating nodes. Often, when the cost function is separable but the constraints are coupled, the dual decomposition scheme involves local parallel subgradient calculations and a global subgradient update performed by a master node. In this paper, we propose a consensus-based dual decomposition to remove the need for such a master node and still enable the computing nodes to generate an approximate dual solution for the underlying convex optimization problem. In addition, we provide a primal recovery mechanism to allow the nodes to have access to approximate near-optimal primal solutions. Our scheme is based on a constant stepsize choice and the dual and primal objective convergence are achieved up to a bounded error floor dependent on the stepsize and on the number of consensus steps among the nodes

Age, growth and some biological characteristics of Silver bream (Blicca bjoerkna L., 1758) (Cyprinidae) from Aras Dam Lake in Northwest of Iran

We collected Silver bream Blicca bjoerkna from March to July 2013 from Aras Dam Lake (North-west of Iran) and investigated its age, size, and some biological characteristics. The maximum age was 5+ years. The total length and weight of specimens ranged 137-278 mm and 26-247 g for male and 134-282 mm and 26-289 g for female, respectively. Length-weight relationship was estimated as W = 1E-06TL3.44 for females, W = 1E-06TL3.45 for males and W = 1E-06TL3.44 for the sexes combined. Sex ratio was 1:1.42 in favor of males. The growth model was positive allometric for males, females and sexes combined. The calculated maximum condition factor was 0.34 in male and 0.37 in female. The most frequent age classes in the samples were 2+ years for males and females

Improving co‐feeding strategies for Neotropical green terror cichlid (Aequidens rivulatus) larvae with lecithin‐enriched Artemia franciscana nauplii: Effects on survival, growth performance and body composition

The effects of feeding on a commercial diet and lecithin‐enriched (EN) Artemia franciscana nauplii for improving co‐feeding strategies of Neotropical green terror cichlid (Aequidens rivulatus) larvae were conducted. For this purpose, eight groups of fish in triplicates were assigned with two different diets (unenriched Artemia [UN] and EN Artemia) and four feeding regimes (1, 5, 10 and 25 days feeding with UN and EN diets and then a 10% daily replacement Artemia nauplii with commercial diet). The crude lipid (21.4%) and total polar lipid (12.96% of total crud lipid) levels significantly increased in enriched Artemia nauplii (p < 0.05). The highest amount of saturated fatty acids (SFA) were in enriched and UN Artemia nauplii (41.74% and 49.64% respectively) but the highest level of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) (25.69%) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) (49.11%) were obtained in commercial diet. Growth performance of fish fed 10 EN and 5 EN had significantly higher values of total weight (120.67, 120.31 mg), %WG (584.48, 580.50%) and SGR (7.69, 7.67%) respectively (p < 0.05). Nevertheless, fish fed 25 EN had significantly higher FCE (190.4%), PER (3.95) and NPU (202.5), in comparison with other groups. In terms of body composition, the EN Artemia nauplii led to increased lipid contents in 25 EN, 10 EN and 5 EN treatments. In conclusion, the results of this study revealed that feeding regimes of 10 EN and 5 EN could improves survival and growth performance of Neotropical green terror cichlid, A. rivulatus larvae.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Lecithin-enriched Artemia combined with inert diet and its effects on reproduction and digestive enzymes of Aequidens rivulatus

The present study investigated the effects of soybean lecithin bioencapsulated in adult Artemia franciscana and unenriched Artemia in combination with an inert diet on digestive enzymes activity and reproductive performance in Aequidens rivulatus (green terror cichlid). Eight hundred and ten fish (3.1 ± 0.2 g) were randomly allotted into glass tank (80 L) and assigned to ten dietary treatments with 5 different levels (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100%) of either lecithin-enriched Artemia (EA) or unenriched Artemia (UA) over a period of 90 days. The amount of total polar lipid increased from 39.2% in the unenriched Artemia to 43.7% in the lecithin-enriched Artemia (P < .05). The fish fed with 50% EA had higher total weight, and total length compared with other groups (P < .05). The peculiar functions of total alkaline proteases, α-amylase, and lipase in green terror increased in the groups fed with lecithin-enriched Artemia, compared to the un-enriched groups (P < .05). The highest total alkaline proteases activity was observed in the fish fed with 75% EA treatment. In comparison to the other groups, fish fed 100 and 0% levels of Artemia replacement had significantly highest and lowest α-amylase activity values, respectively. Concerning reproductive performance, the highest average fecundity, egg diameter, egg weight, fertilization, hatching, and larval survival rates, as well as the lowest time between two spawning episodes, were obtained in fish fed 50% EA. In conclusion, this feeding strategy is advisable for a proper nutritional management of broodfish of green terror cichlid.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

The Accuracy of GAP and MGAP Scoring Systems in Predicting Mortality in Trauma; a Diagnostic Accuracy Study

Introduction: Trauma scoring systems help physicians and nurses to be informed of injuries to a patient and assist their decision making in the cases of trauma and importantly prediction of their outcome and prognosis.&nbsp;Objective: This study aimed to compare the accuracy of GAP and MGAP scoring systems as predictors of mortality in trauma patients.&nbsp;Methods: This diagnostic accuracy study was conducted amongst 1861 trauma patients admitted to Rajaee Hospital in Shiraz, Iran, during 2017. The data on demographic features were extracted from the patients’ records. Then, trauma scoring systems including injury severity score (ISS), GAP, MGAP, and Glasgow coma&nbsp;scale (GCS) were compared to evaluate their accuracy in predicting mortality. Area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the accuracy of different trauma scoring systems and detect the sensitivity and specificity in order to predict status of discharge after 24 hours.&nbsp;Results: Based on the results, the area under the ROC curve was 0.8 for GCS. Moreover, Area Under Curve (AUC) of GAP was 0.91 and amongst different values, GAP value of ≤18 was selected as the cut-off point, since it exhibited the best sensitivity and specificity (72.99 and 95.52, respectively). In addition, the area under the ROC curve was 0.9 for MGAP, and value of ≤23 was selected as the cut-off point because it showed the best sensitivity and specificity (81.04 and 87.70, respectively). Additionally, AUC of ISS was 0.88.&nbsp;Conclusion: Both GAP and MGAP methods were able to appropriately predict mortality and were not significantly different; hence, both can be used for the right triage of patients and to predict the severity of injuries and subsequent mortality. Moreover, GAP and ISS had the best specificity and sensitivity, respectively

The Accuracy of GAP and MGAP Scoring Systems in Predicting Mortality in Trauma; a Diagnostic Accuracy Study

Introduction: Trauma scoring systems help physicians and nurses to be informed of injuries to a patient and assist their decision making in the cases of trauma and importantly prediction of their outcome and prognosis.&nbsp;Objective: This study aimed to compare the accuracy of GAP and MGAP scoring systems as predictors of mortality in trauma patients.&nbsp;Methods: This diagnostic accuracy study was conducted amongst 1861 trauma patients admitted to Rajaee Hospital in Shiraz, Iran, during 2017. The data on demographic features were extracted from the patients’ records. Then, trauma scoring systems including injury severity score (ISS), GAP, MGAP, and Glasgow coma&nbsp;scale (GCS) were compared to evaluate their accuracy in predicting mortality. Area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the accuracy of different trauma scoring systems and detect the sensitivity and specificity in order to predict status of discharge after 24 hours.&nbsp;Results: Based on the results, the area under the ROC curve was 0.8 for GCS. Moreover, Area Under Curve (AUC) of GAP was 0.91 and amongst different values, GAP value of ≤18 was selected as the cut-off point, since it exhibited the best sensitivity and specificity (72.99 and 95.52, respectively). In addition, the area under the ROC curve was 0.9 for MGAP, and value of ≤23 was selected as the cut-off point because it showed the best sensitivity and specificity (81.04 and 87.70, respectively). Additionally, AUC of ISS was 0.88.&nbsp;Conclusion: Both GAP and MGAP methods were able to appropriately predict mortality and were not significantly different; hence, both can be used for the right triage of patients and to predict the severity of injuries and subsequent mortality. Moreover, GAP and ISS had the best specificity and sensitivity, respectively

Implementation of Evolutionary Algorithms to Parametric Identification of Gradient Flexible Plate Structure

This paper focused on modelling of a gradient flexible plate system utilizing an evolutionary algorithm, namely particle swarm optimization (PSO) and cuckoo search (CS) algorithm. A square aluminium plate experimental rig with a gradient of 30° and all edges clamped were designed and fabricated to acquire input-output vibration data experimentally. This input-output data was then applied in a system identification method, which used an evolutionary algorithm with a linear autoregressive with exogenous (ARX) model structure to generate a dynamic model of the system. The obtained results were then compared with the conventional method that is recursive least square (RLS). The developed models were evaluated based on the lowest mean square error (MSE), within the 95% confidence level of both auto and cross-correlation tests as well as high stability in the pole-zero diagram. Investigation of results indicates that both evolutionary algorithms provide lower MSE than RLS. It is demonstrated that intelligence algorithms, PSO and CS outperformed the conventional algorithm by 85% and 89%, respectively. However, in terms of the overall assessment, model order 4 by the CS algorithm was selected to be the ideal model in representing the dynamic modelling of the system since it had the lowest MSE value, which fell inside the 95% confidence threshold, indicating unbiasedness and stabilit