Application of optimization heuristics for complex astronomical object model identification

Detection and localization of astronomical objects are two of the most fundamental topics in astronomical science where localization uses detection results. Object localization is based on modeling of point spread function and estimation of its parameters. Commonly used models as Gauss or Moffat in objects localization provide good approximation of analyzed objects but cannot be sufficient in the case of exact applications such as object energy estimation. Thus the use of sophisticated models is upon the place. One of the key roles plays also the way of the objective function estimation. The least square method is often used, but it expects data with normal distribution, thus there is a question of a maximum likelihood method application. Another important factor of presented problem is choice of the right optimization method. Classical methods for objective function minimization usually require a good initial estimate for all parameters and differentiation of the objective function with respect to model parameters. The results indicated that stochastic methods such as simulated annealing or harmony search achieved better results than the classical optimization methods.     

Investigation of Laser Surface Remelting Supported by Acoustic Emission Analysis and Machine Learning

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A - In the present work, laser surface remelting (LSR) was carried out on C45 carbon steel using an Nd:YAG pulse laser. The effect of process parameters,...     

Modified natural clinoptilolite with quercetin and quercetin dihydrate and the study of their anticancer activity

Natural zeolite of the clinoptilolite type (CT, particle size up to 200 μm) and its modified forms with different content (0.06-5%) of pharmaceutically active compounds (type of flavonoids): quercetin (Q) and quercetin dihydrate (QD) have been investigated by thermal analyses TG, DTA and DTG, FTIR spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffractometry, determination of the surface areas and the pore volumes by low-temperature adsorption of nitrogen and atomic force microscopy. The analyses checked the presence of Q or QD in modified zeolitic products (CTQ and CTQD).Natural zeolite of the clinoptilolite type and their modified forms CTQ and CTQD with low content (0.06% and 1%) of Q and QD have been used for the study of their anticancer activity. Carcinoma cell lines Jurkat, CEM, HeLa, MCF7, A549 and MDA were treated with various amounts of natural clinoptilolite and their modified forms CTQ and CTQD. The water content of the channel system influences the cytotoxicity of zeolite. The results of the study of pure CT thermally activated at two different temperatures 110 and 400 °C confirmed the better cytotoxicity of CT activated at 110 °C (CT110) with higher content of water in comparison with CT activated at 400 °C (CT400). Clinoptilolite modified with quercetin dihydrate (CTQD) has shown better cytotoxicity compared with clinoptilolite modified with quercetin (CTQ).     

Chronobiological analysis techniques. Application to blood pressure

Most variables of clinical interest show predictable changes with different frequencies, mainly, but not exclusively, along the rest-activity cycle (circadian variation). Methods of linear least-squares estimation have been designed for the detection of periodic components in sparse and noisy time series (as they are usually present in clinical situations). They include the single and population-mean cosinor methods. In cases where more than one period is statistically significant over the span of time investigated, or when the waveform is non-sinusoidal, the use of multiple components analysis to fit a model consisting of several cosine functions (harmonics or not from a given fundamental period) is recommended. We describe these methods, from the characterization of the underlying models to the process of parameter estimation. As an application example, we describe the modelling of the circadian variation of blood pressure (BP). In most individuals, BP presents a morning increase, a small postprandial valley and a deeper descent during nocturnal rest. This pattern can be easily modelled by means of a model with periods of 24 and 12 hours. Individuals that differ from this model might be considered to present increased cardiovascular risk.