Parallel evolution using multi-chromosome cartesian genetic programming

Parallel and distributed methods for evolutionary algorithms have concentrated on maintaining multiple populations of genotypes, where each genotype in a population encodes a potential solution to the problem. In this paper, we investigate the parallelisation of the genotype itself into a collection of independent chromosomes which can be evaluated in parallel. We call this multi-chromosomal evolution (MCE). We test this approach using Cartesian Genetic Programming and apply MCE to a series of digital circuit design problems to compare the efficacy of MCE with a conventional single chromosome approach (SCE). MCE can be readily used for many digital circuits because they have multiple outputs. In MCE, an independent chromosome is assigned to each output. When we compare MCE with SCE we find that MCE allows us to evolve solutions much faster. In addition, in some cases we were able to evolve solutions with MCE that we unable to with SCE. In a case-study, we investigate how MCE can be applied to to a single objective problem in the domain of image classification, namely, the classification of breast X-rays for cancer. To apply MCE to this problem, we identify regions of interest (RoI) from the mammograms, divide the RoI into a collection of sub-images and use a chromosome to classify each sub-image. This problem allows us to evaluate various evolutionary mutation operators which can pairwise swap chromosomes either randomly or topographically or reuse chromosomes in place of other chromosomes.     

Signal transformation and interpolation based on modified DCT synthesis

This paper proposes a novel signal transformation and interpolation approach based on the modification of DCT (Discrete Cosine Transform). The proposed algorithm can be applied to any periodic or quasi periodic waveform for time scale and/or pitch modification purposes in addition to signal reconstruction, compression, coding and packet lost concealment. The proposed algorithm has two advantages:

• (i) 

  Since DCT does not have the explicit phase information, one does not need the cubic spline interpolation of the phase component of the sinusoidal model.

• (ii) 

  The parameters to be interpolated can be reduced because of the energy packing efficiency of the DCT. This is particularly important if signal synthesis is carried out on a remote location from the transmitted parameters.

The results are presented on periodic waveforms and on speech signal in order to appreciate the fidelity of the proposed algorithm. In addition, the proposed method is compared with TD-PSOLA, sinusoidal model and phase vocoder algorithms. The results are presented in objective PESQ scores for time scale modification and output files are provided as supplementary material,¹ for subjective evaluation, for packet lost concealment. Results prove that the proposed modification of the DCT synthesis provides a favorable algorithm for specialists working in the signal processing area.     

Dehydration,Water Vapor Adsorption and Desorption Behavior of Zn[B3O3(OH)5] · H2O and Zn[B3O4(OH)3]

The dehydration behaviors of two different hydrated zinc borate species, Zn[B₃O₃(OH)₅] · H₂O and Zn[B₃O₄(OH)₃], which are industrially important flame retardants, were studied by thermal gravimetric(TG) analysis and in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform (DRIFT) spectroscopy. Dehydration onset temperatures of Zn[B₃O₃(OH)₅] · H₂O and Zn[B₃O₄(OH)₃] were 129 and 320°C, respectively, at a 10°C/min ramp rate. A very small amount of boric acid was volatilized in addition to water vapor when both samples were heated at 250°C. A significant amount of water vapor was adsorbed by Zn[B₃O₃(OH)₅] · H₂O from air at 25°C. However, Zn[B₃O₄(OH)₃] adsorbed a very small amount of water under the same conditions. Both zinc borates did not have a tendency to cake during storage.     

Statistical thermal stability of PVC

Experimental design was used to optimize the processing parameters for the decomposition of poly(vinyl chloride). Factorial design and face centered composite design (FCC) were applied to determine the optimum conditions. A total of 10 g PVC powder was mixed with different amounts of zinc stearate (ZnSt₂) and natural zeolite and tested for thermal stability. Factorial fitted model was explained by first order pattern due to the significant main effect regression constants, and FCC model was described by second order model owing to higher order polynomial coefficients. FCC design was superior to factorial design as FCC considers not only its pure quadratic effects contribution but also its higher overall desirability for thermal stability of PVC. For factorial design the optimum conditions were determined as 163.06 mg for ZnSt₂, 399.99 mg for zeolite, and 140°C for temperature with desirability of 0.933. However, 400 mg for ZnSt₂, 333.24 mg for zeolite, and 140°C for temperature with desirability of 0.956 were obtained as the optimum conditions by FCC design. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Cooperative Communications in Future Home Networks

The basic idea behind cooperative communications is that mobile terminals collaborate to send data to each other. This effectively adds diversity in the system and improves the overall performance. In this paper, we investigate the potential gains of cooperative communication in future home networks. We derive analytical expressions for the error probability of binary phase shift keying (BPSK) signals over Nakagami-m fading channels in a multi relay communication network. Following to the analytical study, we analyze the contribution of cooperative relaying to the 60GHz network connectivity through simulations using a realistic indoor environment model. We compare the performance of different relay configurations under variable obstacle densities. We show that a typical 60GHz indoor network should employ either a multi-relay configuration or a single-relay configuration with a smart relay selection mechanism to achieve acceptable outage rates. In the use of multiple-relay configuration, both analytical and simulation studies indicate that increasing the number of cooperative relays does not improve the system performance significantly after a certain threshold.     

Effect of Nitric Acid “Washing” Procedure on Electrochemical Behavior of Carbon Nanotubes and Glassy Carbon μ-Particles

The electroanalytic performances of glassy carbon paste electrode (GCPE), multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)-GCPE and double-walled carbon nanotube (DWCNT)-GCPE, which include HNO₃ washed/unwashed materials, were compared by monitoring cyclic voltammograms of potassium ferricyanide and catechol. Electrodes were prepared by introducing proper amount of DWCNT and MWCNT into GCPE. First untreated materials (DWCNT, MWCNT, GC μ-particles) were used in the electrodes and then HNO₃-treated materials were utilized for comparing difference in electrochemical performances. The effect of treatment procedure was also examined by applying Raman spectroscopy to treated and untreated materials. Moreover, TEM images were obtained for further investigation of MWCNT and DWCNT.     

Phase transformation kinetics and microstructure of NiTi shape memory alloy: effect of hydrostatic pressure

The effect of hydrostatic pressure on the behaviour of reverse and forward transformation temperatures and physical properties of NiTi shape memory alloy has been investigated. The transformation temperatures and physical properties of the alloy change with applied pressure. It has been clearly seen from differential scanning calorimetry that with the increase of applied pressure, while \(A_\mathrm{s},\, A_\mathrm{f}\) and \(M_\mathrm{f}\) transformation temperatures decrease, \(M_\mathrm{s}\) value increases. Moreover, it is obvious that with the increase of applied pressure, Gibbs free energy increases by 5.2883 J, while elastic energy increases by 1.4687 J. In addition, entropy of the alloys decreases by 0.2335 J \((\hbox {g }{^{\circ }}\!\hbox { C})^{-1}\) with applied pressure. Additionally, it is evident from the scanning electron microscopy images of the samples that there is an obvious difference in the grain sizes of the unpressured sample and the samples on which pressure is applied, the sizes being 10–100 and 30–150 \(\upmu \!\hbox {m}\), respectively.     

CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> gas sensitivity of sputtered zinc oxide thin films

For the first time, sputtered zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films have been used as a CO₂ gas sensor. Zinc oxide thin films have been synthesized using reactive d.c. sputtering method for gas sensor applications, in the deposition temperature range from 130–153°C at a chamber pressure of 8·5 mbar for 18 h. Argon and oxygen gases were used as sputtering and reactive gases, respectively. ZnO phase could be crystallized using a pure metal target of zinc. The structure of the films determined by means of X-ray diffraction method indicates that the zinc oxide single phase can be fabricated in this substrate temperature range. The sensitivity of the film synthesized at substrate temperature of 130°C is 2·17 in the presence of CO₂ gas at a measuring temperature of 100°C.     

Surface acoustic wave mediated carrier injection into individual quantum post nano emitters

Acousto-electric charge conveyance induced by a surface acoustic wave (SAW) is employed to dissociate photogenerated excitons. Over macroscopic distances, both electrons and holes are injected sequentially into a remotely positioned, isolated and high quality quantum emitter, a self-assembled quantum post. This process is found to be highly efficient and to exhibit improved stability at high acoustic powers when compared to direct optical pumping at the position of the quantum post. These characteristics are attributed to the wide matrix quantum well in which charge conveyance occurs and to the larger number of carriers available for injection in the remote configuration, respectively. The emission of such pumped quantum posts is dominated by recombination of neutral excitons and fully directional when the propagation direction of the SAW and the position of the quantum post are reversed.