Chain-reaction solution update in MOEA/D and its effects on multi- and many-objective optimization

MOEA/D is one of the promising evolutionary algorithms for multi- and many-objective optimization. To improve the search performance of MOEA/D, this work focuses on the solution update method in the conventional MOEA/D and proposes its alternative, the chain-reaction solution update. The proposed method is designed to maintain and improve the variable (genetic) diversity in the population by avoiding duplication of solutions in the population. In addition, the proposed method determines the order of existing solutions to be updated depending on the location of each offspring in the objective space. Furthermore, when an existing solution in the population is replaced by a new offspring, the proposed method tries to reutilize the existing solution for other search directions by recursively performing the proposed chain-reaction update procedure. This work uses discrete knapsack and continuous WFG4 problems with 2–8 objectives. Experimental results using knapsack problems show the proposed chain-reaction update contributes to improving the search performance of MOEA/D by enhancing the diversity of solutions in the objective space. In addition, experimental results using WFG4 problems show that the search performance of MOEA/D can be further improved using the proposed method.     

Variable space diversity, crossover and mutation in MOEA solving many-objective knapsack problems

In this work, we analyze variable space diversity of Pareto optimal solutions (POS) and study the effectiveness of crossover and mutation operators in evolutionary many-objective optimization. First we examine the diversity of variables in the true POS on many-objective 0/1 knapsack problems with up to 20 items (bits), showing that variables in POS become noticeably diverse as we increase the number of objectives. We also verify the effectiveness of conventional two-point and uniform crossovers, Local Recombination that selects mating parents based on proximity in objective space, and two-point and uniform crossover operators which Controls the maximum number of Crossed Genes (CCG). We use NSGA-II, SPEA2, IBEA _??+? and MSOPS, which adopt different selection methods, and many-objective 0/1 knapsack problems with $n=\{100,250,500,750,\mbox{1,000}\}$ items (bits) and m?=?{2,4,6,8,10} objectives to verify the search performance of each crossover operator. Simulation results reveal that Local Recombination and CCG operators significantly improve search performance especially for NSGA-II and MSOPS, which have high diversity of genes in the population. Also, results show that CCG operators achieve higher search performance than Local Recombination for m?≥?4 objectives and that their effectiveness becomes larger as the number of objectives m increases. In addition, the contribution of CCG and mutation operators for the solutions search is analyzed and discussed.     

Topology optimization for fluid–thermal interaction problems under constant input power

This paper deals with density-based topology optimization considering fluid and thermal interactions, in which the Navier–Stokes and heat transport equations are coupled. We particularly focus on designing heat exchangers. In the engineering context, heat exchangers are designed while considering a certain amount of input power. Therefore it is important to maximize the performance of a heat exchanger under a constant input power. In this paper we propose a way to control the input power by introducing an extra integral equation. To be more precise, in the fluid analysis, the inlet pressure is determined by solving the extra integral equation together with the Navier–Stokes equation. By doing this we can keep the inlet power constant even when the flow channels are changed in the optimization process. Consequently, the system of equations of the fluid field takes an integrodifferential form. On the other hand, in the heat transport analysis, a single governing equation is defined for simultaneously modeling both the solid and fluid parts. The design variable is a fluid fraction whose distribution represents the topology of the solid and fluid domains. When designing heat exchangers, two different heat conditions are considered in the formulation of the optimization problems, namely temperature-dependent and temperature-independent heat sources. Through the numerical examples for designing flow channels in a heat exchanger, it is shown that distinct topologies can be obtained according to the input power and the heat source conditions.     

Impedancemetric gas sensor based on Pt and WO3 co-loaded TiO2 and ZrO2 as total NOx sensing materials

Pt-loaded metal oxides [WO₃/ZrO₂, MO_x/TiO₂ (MO_x = WO₃, MoO₃, V₂O₅), WO₃ and TiO₂] equipped with interdigital Au electrodes have been tested as a NO_x (NO and NO₂) gas sensor at 500 °C. The impedance value at 4 Hz was used as a sensing signal. Among the samples tested, Pt-WO₃/TiO₂ showed the highest sensor response magnitude to NO. The sensor was found to respond consistently and rapidly to change in concentration of NO and NO₂ in the oxygen rich and moist gas mixture at 500 °C. The 90% response and 90% recovery times were as short as less than 5–10 s. The impedance at 4 Hz of the present device was found to vary almost linearly with the logarithm of NO_x (NO or NO₂) concentration from 10 to 570 ppm. Pt-WO₃/TiO₂ showed responses to NO and NO₂ of the same algebraic sign and nearly the same magnitude, while Pt/WO₃ and WO₃/TiO₂ showed higher response to NO than NO₂. The impedance at 4 Hz in the presence of NO for Pt-WO₃/TiO₂ was almost equal at any O₂ concentration examined (1–99%), while in the case of Pt/WO₃ and WO₃/TiO₂ the impedance increased with the oxygen concentration. The features of Pt-WO₃/TiO₂ are favorable as a NO_x sensor that can monitor and control the NO_x concentration in automotive exhaust. The effect of WO₃ loading of Pt-WO₃/ZrO₂-based sensor is studied to discuss the role of surface W-OH sites on the NO_x sensing.     

Incoherent-only joint-transform correlator

An incoherent-only optical and electronic digital joint-transform correlator is proposed. A technique for the removal of extraneous signals inherent in the incoherent-only joint-transform correlator is also presented. A computer simulation and experimental results confirm the performance of the proposed incoherent-only joint-transform correlator.     

Market prediction using machine learning based on social media specific features

Artificial Life and Robotics - In recent years, unspecified messages posted on social media have significantly affected the price fluctuations of online-traded products, such as stocks and virtual...     

Revolving Vernier Mechanism Controls Size of Linear Homomultimer

A new kind of the Vernier mechanism that is able to control the size of linear assembly of DNA origami nanostructures is proposed. The mechanism is realized by mechanical design of DNA origami, which consists of a hollow cylinder and a rotatable shaft in it connected through the same scaffold. This nanostructure stacks with each other by the shape complementarity at its top and bottom surfaces of the cylinder, while the number of stacking is limited by twisting angle of the shaft. Experiments have shown that the size distribution of multimeric assembly of the origami depends on the twisting angle of the shaft; the average lengths of the multimer are decamer, hexamer, and tetramer for 0°, 10°, and 20° twist, respectively. In summary, it is possible to affect the number of polymerization by adjusting the precise shape and movability of a molecular structure.     

Chemical modification of group IV graphene analogs

Mono-elemental two-dimensional (2D) crystals (graphene, silicene, germanene, stanene, and so on), termed 2D-Xenes, have been brought to the forefront of scientific research. The stability and electronic properties of 2D-Xenes are main challenges in developing practical devices. Therefore, in this review, we focus on 2D free-standing group-IV graphene analogs (graphene quantum dots, silicane, and germanane) and the functionalization of these sheets with organic moieties, which could be handled under ambient conditions. We highlight the present results and future opportunities, functions and applications, and novel device concepts.