The effect of multiple optima on the simple GA run-time complexity

Genetic algorithms are stochastic search algorithms that have been applied to optimization problems. In this paper we analyze the run-time complexity of a genetic algorithm when we are interested in one of a set of distinguished solutions. One such case occurs when multiple optima exist. We define the worst case scenario and derive a probabilistic worst case bound on the number of iterations required to find one of these multiple solutions of interest.     

Thermodynamic and kinetic investigations of PO3-4 adsorption on blast furnace slag

The kinetics of adsorption of PO(3-)(4) by blast furnace slag were found to be fast, reaching equilibrium in 20 min and following a pseudo-second-order rate equation. The adsorption behavior of PO(3-)(4) on blast furnace slag has been studied as a function of the solution agitation speed, pH, and temperature. Results have been analyzed by Freundlich, Langmuir, BET, and Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) adsorption isotherms. The mean energy of adsorption, 10.31 kJ mol(-1), was calculated from the D-R adsorption isotherm. The rate constants were calculated for 293, 298, 303, and 308 K using a pseudo-second-order rate equation and the activation energy (E(a)) was derived using the Arrhenius equation. Thermodynamic parameters such as DeltaH(0), DeltaS(0), and DeltaG(0) were calculated from the slope and intercept of linear plot of lnK(D) against 1/T. The DeltaH(0) and DeltaG(0) values of PO(3-)(4) adsorption on the blast furnace slag show endothermic heat of adsorption. But there is a negative free energy value, indicating that the process of PO(3-)(4) adsorption is favored at high temperatures.     

Monitoring the Instant Creation of a New Fluorescent Signal for Evaluation of DNA Conformation Based on Intercalation Complex

Here we report the monitoring the instant creation of a new fluorescent signal (FS) aroused from a positively charged water-soluble fluorogenic probe, ethidium bromide (EtBr) in the presence of a radical initiator, ammonium persulfate (APS) and an accelerator, tetraethylmetilendiamine (TEMED) for evaluation of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) conformation. The results revealed that the occurred FS (λ_ex?=?430 nm; λ_max?=?525 nm) is a reduced form of EtBr (λ_ex?=?480 nm; λ_max?=?617 nm) and it is completely distinct from hydroethidine (λ_ex?=?350 nm; λ_max?=?430 nm), which is two-electron reduced form of EtBr. It was noticed that EtBr was reduced to a new FS during the polymerization of N, N dimethyacrylamide (DMAA) too, at 25 °C in the presence of APS and TEMED or at 55 °C with only APS, and the rate of formation of FS was increased upon treatment time. The effect of nanoclays such as Laponite XLG® and Laponite XLS®, which provide a protective environment for DNA in nature, were also investigated through the reduction process of EtBr in the absence and presence of a water soluble monomer DMAA. We demonstrated that DNA conformation might be evaluated by monitoring FS effectuated during the reduction of EtBr in the presence of nanoclays having positively and negatively charged surfaces. Protective property of DNA against the formation of reduced product was elucidated by carrying out the polymerization at 55 °C. The results revealed that the monitoring of formation of FS in the presence of radical initiator could lead to elucidate the conformation of DNA upon formation of intercalator complex.     

A fully polynomial approximation algorithm for the 0–1 knapsack problem

A fully polynomial ?-approximation algorithm is developed for the 0–1 knapsack problem. The algorithm uses results of Lawler and Ibarra and Kim. A pseudo-polynomial dynamic programming algorithm is first suggested which solves the problem in O(nb log n) time and O(b) space.     

Acoustic Analysis Findings in Objective Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Patients

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify the effects of objective laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) on the acoustic parameters of patients by comparing their voice samples with that of control subjects. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study in two tertiary reference hospitals. METHODS: 48 consecutive patients with symptoms related to LPR and 64 control subjects were included in the study. Suspected LPR patients underwent a 24-hour ambulatory pH monitoring, and 25 (52%) of them were shown to have objective LPR. Acoustical evaluation results of objective LPR patients were compared with that of symptomatic LPR patients and control subjects. RESULTS: All frequency perturbation values obtained from objective and symptomatic LPR patients were higher than the control subjects (P<0.01). Mean fundamental frequency, amplitude perturbation measures, and noise-to-harmonics ratio were not significantly different between groups. CONCLUSION: LPR patients have significantly different frequency perturbation values than control subjects.     

A single supplier–single retailer system with an order-up-to level inventory policy

We consider a two-level vendor-managed system in which external demand occurs only at a retailer and a supplier replenishes the retailer employing an order-up-to S policy over T periods. We present an O(T³) algorithm to coordinate the system when S is known. We also show that S can be optimized in O(aT³) time for an input parameter a.     

Electricity Production and Characterization of High-Strength Industrial Wastewaters in Microbial Fuel Cell

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) convert electrochemical energy into electrical energy immediately and have a big potential usage for the same time wastewater treatment and energy recovery via electro-active microorganisms. However, MFCs must be efficiently optimized due to its limitations such as high cost and low power production. Finding new materials to increase the cell performance and reduce cost for MFC anodes is mandatory. In the first step of this study, different inoculation sludges such as anaerobic gum industry wastewater, anaerobic brewery wastewater and anaerobic phosphate were tested, and MFC that was set up with anaerobic gum industry wastewater inoculation sludge exhibited the highest performance. In the second step of this study, various wastewaters such as chocolate industry, gum industry and slaughterhouse industry were investigated for anode bacteria sources. Several electrochemical techniques have been employed to elucidate how wastewaters affect the MFCs’ performance. Among all the mentioned wastewaters, the best performance was achieved by the MFCs fed with slaughterhouse wastewater; this device produced a maximum power density of 267 mW·m^?2.     

Temperature independent length optimization of L-band EDFAs providing flat gain

In this study, single stage (SS), double-stage (DS), and gain flattened (GF) DS L-band erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) configurations are designed in order to obtain a flat gain amplifier. Temperature dependence of the mentioned configurations is also analyzed. Maximum spectral dependence of EDFA gain with respect to temperature is obtained for SS EDFA design while smaller spectral dependence of gains is obtained for both DS and GF DS L-EDFA configurations. It is observed that the maximum temperature dependence is in the range of 1570-1580 nm band for all configurations. It has also been found that for all configurations, reducing the temperature has greater effect than raising the temperature on EDFA gain. The overall results show that a temperature independent L-band configuration has not been possible. However, for some signal wavelengths, the erbium-doped fiber (EDF) lengths at which the gain is temperature independent are observed.