A genetic algorithm for a global optimization problem arising in the detection of gravitational waves

The detection of gravitational waves is a long-awaited event in modern physics and, to achieve this challenging goal, detectors with high sensitivity are being used or are under development. In order to extract gravitational signals emitted by coalescing binary systems of compact objects (neutron stars and/or black holes), from noisy data obtained by interferometric detectors, the matched filter technique is generally used. Its computational kernel is a box-constrained global optimization problem with many local solutions and a highly nonlinear and expensive objective function, whose derivatives are not available. To tackle this problem, we designed a real-coded genetic algorithm that exploits characteristic features of the problem itself; special attention was devoted to the choice of the initial population and of the recombination operator. Computational experiments showed that our algorithm is able to compute a reasonably accurate solution of the optimization problem, requiring a much smaller number of function evaluations than the grid search, which is generally used to solve this problem. Furthermore, the genetic algorithm largely outperforms other global optimization algorithms on significant instances of the problem.     

Approximating a class of combinatorial problems with rational objective function

In the late seventies, Megiddo proposed a way to use an algorithm for the problem of minimizing a linear function a ₀ + a ₁ x ₁ + . . . + a _n x _n subject to certain constraints to solve the problem of minimizing a rational function of the form (a ₀ + a ₁ x ₁ + . . . + a _n x _n )/(b ₀ + b ₁ x ₁ + . . . + b _n x _n ) subject to the same set of constraints, assuming that the denominator is always positive. Using a rather strong assumption, Hashizume et al. extended Megiddo’s result to include approximation algorithms. Their assumption essentially asks for the existence of good approximation algorithms for optimization problems with possibly negative coefficients in the (linear) objective function, which is rather unusual for most combinatorial problems. In this paper, we present an alternative extension of Megiddo’s result for approximations that avoids this issue and applies to a large class of optimization problems. Specifically, we show that, if there is an α-approximation for the problem of minimizing a nonnegative linear function subject to constraints satisfying a certain increasing property then there is an α-approximation (1/α-approximation) for the problem of minimizing (maximizing) a nonnegative rational function subject to the same constraints. Our framework applies to covering problems and network design problems, among others.     

Development of special optical fibers for evanescent-wave chemical sensing

The paper summarizes results achieved in the Institute of Radio Engineering and Electronics in the field of investigation and fabrication of novel fiber-optic structures for evanescent-wave chemical sensing. Several approaches for increasing the evanescent-wave sensitivity of multimode silica optical fibers to gaseous and liquid chemicals are shown. These approaches make use of the decrease of the core diameter in sectorial and capillary sectorial fibers, modification of trajectories of optical rays in the cores of inverted-graded-index fibers, tailoring of the refractive index of porous layers applied on silica cores, an output mode filter preventing the detection of rays propagating at low axial angles or fibers bent in single or multiple turns. Presented at the 1st Czech-Chinese Workshop “Advanced Materials for Optoelectronics”, Prague, Czech Republic, June 13–17, 1998. This work was supported by the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic (projects No. 102/96/0939 and No. 102/98/1358) and by joint project No. 4104 of AS CR and CNRS, France.     

Novel pulsed switched power supply for a fast field cycling NMR spectrometer

In this paper, we outline the operating principles of a pulsed switched power supply for a fast field-cycling nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer. The power supply uses a variant of a four-quadrant chopper with a duty cycle that defines the average output current. With this topology only two semiconductors are necessary to drive hundreds of amperes with an output power of several kilowatts. The output current ripple has a well-defined shape that can be reduced to acceptable values by a careful design of the semiconductors' controlling circuits and drivers. A power supply prototype was tested with a home build air-core magnet operating with fields between 0 and 0.21 T. The system is computer controlled using pulse generator and data acquisition PC cards, and specific user-friendly home-developed software. A comparative proton relaxometry study in two well-known liquid crystal compounds 5CB and MBBA was performed to check the reproducibility of the T1 measurements.     

Optoelectronic,Aggregation, and Redox Properties of Double-Rotor Boron Difluoride Hydrazone Dyes

We develop the chemistry of boron difluoride hydrazone dyes (BODIHYs) bearing two aryl substituents and explore their properties. The low-energy absorption bands (λ_max=427–464 nm) of these dyes depend on the nature of the N-aryl groups appended to the BODIHY framework. Electron-donating and extended π-conjugated groups cause a redshift, whereas electron-withdrawing groups result in a blueshift. The title compounds were weakly photoluminescent in solution and strongly photoluminescent as thin films (λ_PL=525–578 nm) with quantum yields of up to 18 % and lifetimes of 1.1–1.7 ns, consistent with the dominant radiative decay through fluorescence. Addition of water to THF solutions of the BODIHYs studied causes molecular aggregation which restricts intramolecular motion and thereby enhances photoluminescence. The observed photoluminescence of BODIHY thin films is likely facilitated by a similar molecular packing effect. Finally, cyclic voltammetry studies confirmed that BODIHY derivatives bearing para-substituted N-aryl groups could be reversibly oxidized (E_ox1=0.62–1.02 V vs. Fc/Fc⁺) to their radical cation forms. Chemical oxidation studies confirmed that para-substituents at the N-aryl groups are required to circumvent radical decomposition pathways. Our findings provide new opportunities and guiding principles for the design of sought-after multifunctional boron difluoride complexes that are photoluminescent in the solid state.     

Modifying LnHPDO3A Chelates for Improved T1 and CEST MRI Applications

The new ligand HPDO3MA [(R,R,R,R)-10-(2-hydroxypropyl)-α,α′,α′′-trimethyl-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7-triacetic acid] was designed to combine and optimize the chemical properties of the macrocyclic ligands HPDO3A and DOTMA. The presence of the methyl groups on the acetic pendant arms of HPDO3A is expected to rigidify the structure of the ligand and favor an increase of the kinetic inertness of the Ln complexes. ¹H NMR spectra of Eu(HPDO3MA) displayed the presence of two pairs of diastereoisomers: SAP (square antiprismatic) and TSAP (twisted square antiprismatic) isomers (56 and 44 %, respectively). In addition, ¹H and ¹⁷O relaxometric NMR studies of Gd(HPDO3MA) showed approximately a 10 % increase in relaxivity and a faster water exchange rate with respect to Gd(HPDO3A). Moreover, a detailed chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) characterization of Yb(HPDO3MA) displayed a sensitivity about two times larger than that of Yb(HPDO3A) both in phantom and in cell labeling experiments. Finally, the kinetic inertness of Yb(HPDO3MA) was measured to be twice as high as that of Yb(HPDO3A), with a dissociation half-life at physiological pH of about 2500 years.     

Interaction between asymmetrical damping and geometrical nonlinearity in vehicle suspension systems improves comfort

Nonlinear Dynamics - This work explores the role of asymmetrical damping and geometrical nonlinearities in the suspension system of a simplified vehicle model in order to improve comfort. Improving...     

Optoelectronic Properties of Carbon-Bound Boron Difluoride Hydrazone Dimers

The creation of dimeric boron difluoride complexes of chelating N-donor ligands is a proven strategy for the enhancement of the optoelectronic properties of fluorescent dyes. We report dimers based on the boron difluoride hydrazone (BODIHY) framework, which offer unique and sometimes unexpected substituent-dependent absorption, emission, and electrochemical properties. BODIHY dimers have low-energy absorption bands (λ_max=421 to 479 nm, ϵ=17 200 to 39 900 m ⁻¹ cm⁻¹) that are red-shifted relative to monomeric analogues. THF solutions of these dimers exhibit aggregation-induced emission upon addition of water, with emission enhancement factors ranging from 5 to 18. Thin films of BODIHY dimers are weakly emissive as a result of the inner-filter effect, attributed to intermolecular π-type interactions. BODIHY dimers are redox-active and display two one-electron oxidation and two one-electron reduction waves that strongly depend on the N-aryl substituents. These properties are rationalized using density-functional theory calculations and X-ray crystallography experiments.     

Lactoferrin and Its Derived Peptides: An Alternative for Combating Virulence Mechanisms Developed by Pathogens

Due to the emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens, it is necessary to develop options to fight infections caused by these agents. Lactoferrin (Lf) is a cationic nonheme multifunctional glycoprotein of the innate immune system of mammals that provides numerous benefits. Lf is bacteriostatic and/or bactericidal, can stimulate cell proliferation and differentiation, facilitate iron absorption, improve neural development and cognition, promote bone growth, prevent cancer and exert anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory effects. Lactoferrin is present in colostrum and milk and is also produced by the secondary granules of polymorphonuclear leukocytes, which store this glycoprotein and release it at sites of infection. Lf is also present in many fluids and exocrine secretions, on the surfaces of the digestive, respiratory and reproductive systems that are commonly exposed to pathogens. Apo-Lf (an iron-free molecule) can be microbiostatic due to its ability to capture ferric iron, blocking the availability of host iron to pathogens. However, apo-Lf is mostly microbicidal via its interaction with the microbial surface, causing membrane damage and altering its permeability function. Lf can inhibit viral entry by binding to cell receptors or viral particles. Lf is also able to counter different important mechanisms evolved by microbial pathogens to infect and invade the host, such as adherence, colonization, invasion, production of biofilms and production of virulence factors such as proteases and toxins. Lf can also cause mitochondrial and caspase-dependent regulated cell death and apoptosis-like in pathogenic yeasts. All of these mechanisms are important targets for treatment with Lf. Holo-Lf (the iron-saturated molecule) can contain up to two ferric ions and can also be microbicidal against some pathogens. On the other hand, lactoferricins (Lfcins) are peptides derived from the N-terminus of Lf that are produced by proteolysis with pepsin under acidic conditions, and they cause similar effects on pathogens to those caused by the parental Lf. Synthetic analog peptides comprising the N-terminus Lf region similarly exhibit potent antimicrobial properties. Importantly, there are no reported pathogens that are resistant to Lf and Lfcins; in addition, Lf and Lfcins have shown a synergistic effect with antimicrobial and antiviral drugs. Due to the Lf properties being microbiostatic, microbicidal, anti-inflammatory and an immune modulator, it represents an excellent natural alternative either alone or as adjuvant in the combat to antibiotic multidrug-resistant bacteria and other pathogens. This review aimed to evaluate the data that appeared in the literature about the effects of Lf and its derived peptides on pathogenic bacteria, protozoa, fungi and viruses and how Lf and Lfcins inhibit the mechanisms developed by these pathogens to cause disease.