Fuzzy particle swarm optimization algorithms for the open shortest path first weight setting problem

The open shortest path first (OSPF) routing protocol is a well-known approach for routing packets from a source node to a destination node. The protocol assigns weights (or costs) to the links of a network. These weights are used to determine the shortest paths between all sources to all destination nodes. Assignment of these weights to the links is classified as an NP-hard problem. The aim behind the solution to the OSPF weight setting problem is to obtain optimized routing paths to enhance the utilization of the network. This paper formulates the above problem as a multi-objective optimization problem. The optimization metrics are maximum utilization, number of congested links, and number of unused links. These metrics are conflicting in nature, which motivates the use of fuzzy logic to be employed as a tool to aggregate these metrics into a scalar cost function. This scalar cost function is then optimized using a fuzzy particle swarm optimization (FPSO) algorithm developed in this paper. A modified variant of the proposed PSO, namely, fuzzy evolutionary PSO (FEPSO), is also developed. FEPSO incorporates the characteristics of the simulated evolution heuristic into FPSO. Experimentation is done using 12 test cases reported in literature. These test cases consist of 50 and 100 nodes, with the number of arcs ranging from 148 to 503. Empirical results have been obtained and analyzed for different values of FPSO parameters. Results also suggest that FEPSO outperformed FPSO in terms of quality of solution by achieving improvements between 7 and 31 %. Furthermore, comparison of FEPSO with various other algorithms such as Pareto-dominance PSO, weighted aggregation PSO, NSGA-II, simulated evolution, and simulated annealing algorithms revealed that FEPSO performed better than all of them by achieving best results for two or all three objectives.     

Using positive psychology with special mental health populations.

In our clinical practice, we have attempted to use a positive psychology approach in working with people with schizophrenia and youths with behavioral disorders. We present three clinical applications that use a positive psychology approach with these populations: group treatment with persons with schizophrenia; individual cognitive stimulation therapy with persons with schizophrenia; and computer-facilitated dialogue and therapy with persons with schizophrenia and adolescents with behavioral disorders. These three clinical applications using positive psychology are consistent with those traditional treatment goals that aim to increase clients' functioning and improve their quality of life. Given that many people with long-standing emotional "problems" have difficulties initiating change or internalizing feedback regarding their behavioral deficits, the therapeutic environment and clinical interactions need to focus equally on clients' strengths and skills. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

EpCAM- and EGFR-Specific Antibody Drug Conjugates for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Treatment

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a group of heterogeneous and refractory breast cancers with the absence of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PgR) and epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). Over the past decade, antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) have ushered in a new era of targeting therapy. Since the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) are over expressed on triple-negative breast cancer, we developed novel ADCs by conjugating benzylguanine (BG)-modified monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) to EpCAM- and EGFR-specific SNAP-tagged single chain antibody fragments (scFvs). Rapid and efficient conjugation was achieved by SNAP-tag technology. The binding and internalization properties of scFv-SNAP fusion proteins were confirmed by flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy. The dose-dependent cytotoxicity was evaluated in cell lines expressing different levels of EGFR and EpCAM. Both ADCs showed specific cytotoxicity to EGFR or EpCAM positive cell lines via inducing apoptosis at a nanomolar concentration. Our study demonstrated that EGFR specific scFv-425-SNAP-BG-MMAE and EpCAM-specific scFv-EpCAM-SNAP-BG-MMAE could be promising ADCs for the treatment of TNBC.     

Effect of pressure on electronic,magnetic, thermodynamic,and thermoelectric properties of tantalum‐based double perovskites Ba2MTaO6 (M = Mn,Cr)

The tantalum‐based double perovskites Ba₂MTaO₆ (M = Mn, Cr) are studied to understand the effect of pressure on structural, electronic, magnetic, thermodynamic, and thermoelectric properties by means of density functional theory. Ba₂MTaO₆(M = Mn, Cr) perovskites' own maximum stability in ferromagnetic phase with calculated high magnetic moments of 4.02 and 3.0 μ_B at zero pressure. Ba₂MTaO₆ (M = Mn, Cr) perovskites display complete spin polarization, ensuing the half metallic behavior. Effect of high pressure on the electronic structure and magnetism was also studied. The compounds have wide band gap that varies from 2.63 to 2.56 eV as the pressure increases from 0 to 25 GPa in Ba₂CrTaO₆, while as in Ba₂MnTaO₆ band gap varies from 2.24 to 1.95 eV as the pressure increase from 0 to 25 GPa. The magnetic moment also shows a decreasing inclination with increase in pressure in both compounds. Also, we calculated the heat capacities, thermal expansion coefficients, Debye temperature and Grüneisen parameter by using the Debye model. Boltzmann's theory was employed to perform post DFT treatment to investigate the thermoelectric properties of the compounds.     

Temporal and spatial changes in bacterial diversity in mixed use watersheds of the Great Lakes region

Environmental water monitoring is an important responsibility of municipal governments. In this study, we partnered with several municipalities in an extensive sampling program to investigate the effects of spatiotemporal and environmental factors on bacterial diversity in a complex watershed ecosystem containing specific environments including creeks, a river, canals, stormwater outfalls and freshwater lakes of the Niagara Peninsula. Samples were collected using standard municipal protocols and bacterial DNA extracted from these samples was sequenced using high-throughput DNA sequencing targeting the V3–V4 regions of the 16S rRNA gene. Average taxonomic richness and alpha diversity differed significantly between samples collected from lakes and creeks (P?<?0.05), and between lakes and stormwater outfalls (P?<?0.05). Beta diversity also differed significantly (P?<?0.0001) between habitats suggesting that each of these habitats harbours distinct bacterial groups. Among the environmental factors examined, dissolved oxygen (DO) level was strongly associated (P?<?0.001) with bacterial diversity. Using a Bayesian source tracking method, the proportional contribution of creeks, river, canals and stormwater outfall habitats in shaping lake bacterial community structure was quantified. Sequences associated with genera known to contain pathogens as well as fecal indicator bacteria were found in every habitat. This study demonstrates that DNA sequence analysis can augment traditional methods of watershed monitoring and management by providing additional information on bacteria of interest to water quality policy makers. Future work may integrate taxonomic and functional analyses to obtain a greater understanding of pathogen survival, nutrient cycling and microbial interactions in freshwater ecosystems.     

3D Visible-Light-Driven Plasmonic Oxide Frameworks Deviated from Liquid Metal Nanodroplets

Eutectic gallium-indium (EGaIn) liquid metal droplets have been considered as a suitable platform for producing customized 3D composites with functional nanomaterials owing to their soft and highly reductive surface. Herein, the synthesis of a 3D plasmonic oxide framework (POF) is reported by incorporating the ultra-thin angstrom-scale-porous hexagonal molybdenum oxide (h-MoO₃) onto the spherical EGaIn nanodroplets through ultrasonication. Simultaneously, a large number of oxygen vacancies form in h-MoO₃, boosting its free charge carrier concentration and therefore generating a broad surface plasmon resonance across the whole visible light spectrum. The plasmonic chemical sensing properties of the POF is investigated by the surface-enhanced Raman scattering detection of rhodamine 6G (R6G) at 532 nm, in which the minimum detectable concentration is 10⁻⁸ m and the enhancement factor reached up to 6.14 × 10⁶. The extended optical absorption of the POF also allowed the efficient degradation of the R6G dye under the excitation of ultraviolet-filtered simulated solar light. Furthermore, the POF exhibits remarkable photocurrent responses towards the entire visible light region with the maximum response of ≈ 1588 A W⁻¹ at 455 nm. This work demonstrates the great potential of the liquid metal-based POFs for high-performance sensing, catalytic, and optoelectronic devices.     

A New Optimization Technique in Massive MIMO and LSAS using Hybrid Architecture and Channel Estimation Algorithm for 5G Networks

Wireless Personal Communications - Massive Multiple Input Multiple Output (m-MIMO) or Large Scale Antenna System (LSAS) is the latest version of cellular network technology with the purpose to send...     

Chemical Vapor Deposition Growth of Composite Silicon-Silica Nanowires from Silicon Monoxide Vapor

Si/SiO₂ nanowires were synthesized directly by and on silicon substrate surface without the use of a metal catalyst. Since these nanowires grow directly from the silicon substrate, they do not need to be manipulated or aligned for subsequent applications. The obtained nanowires are amorphous with diameters ranging between 50 to 200 nm and few micrometers in length. Parameters like heating temperature, deposition time, and carrier gas flow-rate were found critical in determining the size, structure, growth yield and morphology of the obtained nanowires. FTIR absorption spectra showed high intensity Si–O asymmetric stretching mode and no absorption for Si-Si backbone vibration mode at 620 cm^?1which indicates the non-crystalline nature of grown wires.