An optimization algorithm inspired by social creativity systems

The need for efficient and effective optimization problem solving methods arouses nowadays the design and development of new heuristic algorithms. This paper present ideas that leads to a novel multiagent metaheuristic technique based on creative social systems suported on music composition concepts. This technique, called “Musical Composition Method” (MMC), which was proposed in Mora-Gutiérrez et?al. (Artif Intell Rev 2012) as well as a variant, are presented in this study. The performance of MMC is evaluated and analyzed over forty instances drawn from twenty-two benchmark global optimization problems. The solutions obtained by the MMC algorithm were compared with those of various versions of particle swarm optimizer and harmony search on the same problem set. The experimental results demonstrate that MMC significantly improves the global performances of the other tested metaheuristics on this set of multimodal functions.     

A First-Order Primal-Dual Algorithm for Convex Problems with Applications to Imaging

In this paper we study a first-order primal-dual algorithm for non-smooth convex optimization problems with known saddle-point structure. We prove convergence to a saddle-point with rate O(1/N) in finite dimensions for the complete class of problems. We further show accelerations of the proposed algorithm to yield improved rates on problems with some degree of smoothness. In particular we show that we can achieve O(1/N ²) convergence on problems, where the primal or the dual objective is uniformly convex, and we can show linear convergence, i.e. O(ω ^N ) for some ω∈(0,1), on smooth problems. The wide applicability of the proposed algorithm is demonstrated on several imaging problems such as image denoising, image deconvolution, image inpainting, motion estimation and multi-label image segmentation.     

A hybrid Differential Evolution—Tabu Search algorithm for the solution of Job-Shop Scheduling Problems

The Job-Shop Scheduling Problem (JSSP) has drawn considerable interest during the last decades, mainly because of its combinatorial characteristics, which make it very difficult to solve. The good performances attained by local search procedures, and especially Nowicki and Smutnicki's i-TSAB algorithm, encouraged researchers to combine such local search engines with global methods. Differential Evolution (DE) is an Evolutionary Algorithm that has been found to be particularly efficient for continuous optimization, but which does not usually perform well when applied to permutation problems. We introduce in this paper the idea of hybridizing DE with Tabu Search (TS) in order to solve the JSSP. A competitive neighborhood is included within the TS with the aim of determining if DE is able to replace the re-start features that constitute the main strengths of i-TSAB (i.e., a long-term memory and a path-relinking procedure). The computational experiments reported for more than 100 JSSP instances show that the proposed hybrid DE–TS algorithm is competitive with respect to other state-of-the-art techniques, although, there is still room for improvement if the adequacy between the solution representation modes within DE and TS is properly stressed.     

On Total Variation Minimization and Surface Evolution Using Parametric Maximum Flows

In a recent paper Boykov et al. (LNCS, Vol. 3953, pp. 409–422, 2006) propose an approach for computing curve and surface evolution using a variational approach and the geo-cuts method of Boykov and Kolmogorov (International conference on computer vision, pp. 26–33, 2003). We recall in this paper how this is related to well-known approaches for mean curvature motion, introduced by Almgren et al. (SIAM Journal on Control and Optimization 31(2):387–438, 1993) and Luckhaus and Sturzenhecker (Calculus of Variations and Partial Differential Equations 3(2):253–271, 1995), and show how the corresponding problems can be solved with sub-pixel accuracy using Parametric Maximum Flow techniques. This provides interesting algorithms for computing crystalline curvature motion, possibly with a forcing term. A. Chambolle’s research supported by ANR project “MICA”, grant ANR-08-BLAN-0082. J. Darbon’s research supported by ONR grant N000140710810.     

Design of experiment approach applied to reducing and oxidizing tolerance of anode supported solid oxide fuel cell. Part I: Microstructure optimization

The main drawback of Ni/YSZ anode supports for solid oxide fuel cell application is their low tolerance to reducing and oxidizing (RedOx) atmosphere changes, owing to the Ni/NiO volume variation. This work describes a structured approach based on design of experiments for optimizing the microstructure for RedOx stability enhancement. A full factorial hypercube design and the response surface methodology are applied with the variables and their variation range defined as: (1) NiO proportion (40-60 wt% of the ceramic powders), (2) pore-former proportion (0-30 wt% corresponding to 0-64 vol.%), (3) NiO particle size (0.5-8 μm) and (4) 8YSZ particle size (0.6-9 μm).To obtain quadratic response models, 25 different compositions were prepared forming a central composite design. The measured responses are (i) shrinkage during firing, (ii) surface quality, (iii) as-sintered porosity, (iv) electrical conductivity after reduction and (v) expansion after re-oxidation. This approach quantifies the effect of all factors and their interactions. From the quadratic models, optimal compositions for high surface quality, electrical conductivity (>500 S cm⁻¹ at room temperature) and RedOx expansion (<0.2% upon re-oxidation) are defined. Results show that expansion after re-oxidation is directly influenced by the sample porosity whereas, surprisingly, the NiO content, varied between 40 and 60 wt%, does not show any impact on this response.     

RedOx study of anode-supported solid oxide fuel cell

The common technology for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) is based on a cermet (ceramic-metal composite) anode of nickel with yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ), often used as the supporting structure. One of the main limitations of this technology is the tolerance of the anode towards reduction and oxidation (“RedOx”) cycles.In this study, two techniques are used to quantify the anode expansion after a RedOx cycle of the nickel at different temperatures. The first method considers the anode expansion above the electrolyte fracture limit by measuring the crack width in the electrolyte layer. In the second method, the anode porosity is measured using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) image quantification. The same measurement techniques are used to quantify anode expansion after consecutive RedOx cycles at constant temperature.The quantification technique is then applied to cells tested in real stack conditions. The cell corners can undergo several RedOx cycles depending on stack design and fuel utilization. The study of such zones allows estimating the number of cycles that the anode experienced locally.     

Comparative content of some phytochemicals in Spanish apples,peaches and pears

Dietary fibre, total polyphenols and phenolic acids in Spanish apples, peaches and pears were analysed and compared with their total radical‐trapping antioxidative potential (TRAP). There were no significant differences in the content of dietary fibre among the studied fruits. The content of total polyphenols was 2.4 ± 0.4, 2.1 ± 0.3 and 6.9 ± 0.7 g kg^?1 in peeled fruits and 4.7 ± 0.4, 4.5 ± 0.4 and 11.1 ± 1.2 g kg^?1 in their peels for peaches, pears and apples respectively. The contents of dietary fibre, total polyphenols, caffeic, p‐coumaric and ferulic acids and the TRAP values were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in peels than in peeled fruits. The contents of all studied compounds and the TRAP values were significantly higher in peeled apples and their peel than in peaches and pears. We observed a strong correlation between the contents of total polyphenols and phenolic acids and the total radical‐trapping antioxidative potential in all three fruits. The relatively high content of dietary fibre, the highest contents of total polyphenols, caffeic, p‐coumaric and ferulic acids and the highest value of TRAP make apples preferable among the studied fruits for dietary prevention of atherosclerosis and other diseases. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

Giant Barocaloric Effect at the Spin Crossover Transition of a Molecular Crystal

The first experimental evidence for a giant, conventional barocaloric effect (BCE) associated with a pressure‐driven spin crossover transition near room temperature is provided. Magnetometry, neutron scattering, and calorimetry are used to explore the pressure dependence of the SCO phase transition in polycrystalline samples of protonated and partially deuterated [FeL₂][BF₄]₂ [L = 2,6‐di(pyrazol‐1‐yl)pyridine] at applied pressures of up to 120 MPa (1200 bar). The data indicate that, for a pressure change of only 0–300 bar (0–30 MPa), an adiabatic temperature change of 3 K is observed at 262 K or 257 K in the protonated and deuterated materials, respectively. This BCE is equivalent to the magnetocaloric effect (MCE) observed in gadolinium in a magnetic field change of 0–1 Tesla. The work confirms recent predictions that giant, conventional BCEs will be found in a wide range of SCO compounds.     

Accelerated Alternating Descent Methods for Dykstra-Like Problems

This paper extends recent results by the first author and T. Pock (ICG, TU Graz, Austria) on the acceleration of alternating minimization techniques for quadratic plus nonsmooth objectives depending on two variables. We discuss here the strongly convex situation, and how ‘fast’ methods can be derived by adapting the overrelaxation strategy of Nesterov for projected gradient descent. We also investigate slightly more general alternating descent methods, where several descent steps in each variable are alternatively performed.     

Paraxial analysis of four-component zoom lens with fixed distance between focal points

Zoom lenses with a fixed distance between focal points are analyzed. Formulas are derived for the primary design of basic parameters of a four-component zoom lens. It is also demonstrated that a three-component zoom lens can be analyzed using derived formulas. Zoom lenses with such a design can be used in a 4-f system with variable magnification or as a part of a double side telecentric lenses with variable magnification.