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Methods to rank documents in large-scale citation data are increasingly assessed in terms of their ability to identify small sets of expert-selected papers. Here, we propose an algorithm for the accurate identification of milestone papers from citation networks. The algorithm combines an influence propagation process with game theory concepts. It outperforms state-of-the-art metrics in the identification of milestone papers in aggregate citation network data, while potentially mitigating the ranking's temporal bias compared with metrics that have similar milestone identification performance. The proposed method sheds light on the interplay between ranking accuracy and temporal bias. • We transform citation networks into influence propagation networks by reversing the citation relationships. • We propose a novel diffusion-based metric for ranking papers, combining influence propagation and game theory. • Experiments on APS and DBLP datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of our metric in identifying milestone papers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research highlights the underestimated significance of cigarette paper as evidence at crime scenes. The primary objective is to distinguish cigarette paper from similar-looking alternatives, addressing the first research objective. The second objective involves identifying cigarette paper brands using attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy and machine learning (ML) algorithms. Accurate differentiation of cigarette paper from normal paper is emphasized. ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, coupled with principal component analysis (PCA) for dimensionality reduction, is employed for brand identification. Among fifteen ML algorithms compared, the CatBoost classifier excels for both objectives. This research presents a non-destructive, effective method for studying cigarette paper, contributing valuable insights to crime scene investigations. [Display omitted] • Forensic evaluation of cigarette paper utilizing ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and Machine learning algorithms. • Peak characterization and differentiation-distinguishing cigarette paper from other types. • Machine learning algorithm comparison: assessing discrimination across nine cigarette brands. • External validation of the dominant algorithm using unknown samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detecting plagiarism in academic papers is crucial for maintaining academic integrity, preserving the originality of published work, and safeguarding intellectual property. While existing applications excel at text plagiarism detection, they fall short when it comes to image plagiarism. This paper introduces a novel algorithm, named "VIBRANT-WALK," designed to detect image plagiarism in academic manuscripts. The challenge of identifying plagiarized images is formidable, requiring a unique approach. Traditional Computer Vision algorithms, proficient in image similarity tasks, face limitations in determining whether an image has been previously used in an article. To address this, the proposed algorithm leverages a repository of all published article pages, focusing on absolute identicality rather than image similarity. The algorithm comprises two stages. In the first stage, a "Vibrancy Matrix" is created through image preprocessing, aiding in contour determination. The second stage involves pixel-by-pixel comparison with images from published manuscripts. To enhance efficiency, the algorithm initiates comparisons from the pixel with the highest score in the Vibrancy Matrix, followed by pixel comparisons through random walks, significantly reducing complexity. To conduct the study, a custom dataset was compiled from 69 research articles, capturing snapshots of each page and figure. Overall, we present 485 unique test cases where we can test the accuracy and efficiency of the algorithm. The lack of publicly available datasets necessitated this approach. The proposed algorithm outperformed the existing models and algorithms in this field by achieving an overall accuracy of 94.8% on the collated dataset, identifying 460 instances of plagiarism out of the 485 test cases. The algorithm also demonstrated a 100% accuracy rate in avoiding false positives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the exponential growth in the number of academic researchers, it is crucial for editors of scientific journals to identify the highest-quality papers. While several measures exist to evaluate a paper's impact post-publication, the challenge of determining the potential impact of a manuscript during the review process remains an understudied issue. In this paper, we propose a reviewer-reputation ranking algorithm to identify high-quality papers based on paper citations, where a reviewer's reputation is computed from the correlation between their past ratings and the current number of citations received by the papers they have evaluated. During the review process, reviewers with high reputation scores are given more weight to determine the quality of papers. We test the algorithm on an artificial network with 200 reviewers and 600 papers, as well as on the American Physical Society (APS) data set, including in the analysis 308,243 papers and 274,154 mutual citations. We compare our approach with two existing methods, demonstrating that our algorithm significantly outperforms the others in identifying manuscripts with the highest quality. Our findings can help improve the impact of scientific journals, thereby contributing to academic and scientific progress. • We propose an algorithm to identify the papers with the highest quality from a large number of submissions. • We compare our new algorithm with other existing methods of aggregating user ratings in various online services. • We test our algorithm both with an artificial network and with the empirical data of the APS data set. • We show that our algorithm outperforms the other methods in identifying the papers with the highest quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we investigate the performance of message-passing algorithms for the weighted min–max flow (WMMF) problem which was introduced by Ichimori et al. (1980). WMMF was well studied in combinational optimization, as it provides important applications in time transportation problem and the storage management problem. We develop a message-passing algorithm called min–max belief propagation (BP) for determining the optimal solution of WMMF. As the main result of this paper, we prove that for a digraph of size n , BP converges to the optimal solution within O (n 3) time after O (n) iterations if the optimal solution of the underlying min–max flow problem instance is unique. To the best of our knowledge, the fastest polynomial time algorithm for WMMF runs in essentially O (n 6) time among the known algorithms, where n is the number of vertices. On the other hand, it is one of a very few instances where BP is proved correct with fully-polynomial running time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, distributed optimization problem have a wide range of applications in various fields. This paper considers the prescribed-time distributed optimization problem with/without constraints. Firstly, we assume the state of each agent is constrained, and the prescribed-time distributed optimization algorithm with constraints is designed on the basis of gradient projection algorithm and consensus algorithm. Secondly, the constrained distributed optimization problem is transformed into the unconstrained distributed optimization problem, and according to the gradient descent algorithm and consensus algorithm, we also propose the prescribed-time distributed optimization algorithm without constraints. By designing the appropriate objective functions, we prove the multi-agent system can converge to the optimal solution within any prescribed-time, and the convergence time is fully independent of the initial conditions and system parameters. Finally, three simulation examples are provided to verify the validity of the designed algorithms. • For distributed optimization problem with convex constraints, we design an effective prescribed-time distributed algorithm which can guarantee the multi-agent system converge to the optimal solution. • The designed algorithm in this paper can achieve convergence within any prescribed-time, and the convergence time is fully independent of the initial conditions and system parameters. • In this paper, we not only consider the condition that the agents' states are constrained, but also ensure that the multi-agent system can reach the optimal solution within any prescribed-time, which is more practical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A critical aspect of software engineering is Software fault prediction which aims to identify and prevent errors in software systems before their release which can cause failures or issues for its users. Various techniques and tools have been developed to detect software faults, including static code analysis, dynamic testing, and machine learning-based approaches. In past few years, the world has seen a growing interest in the use of ML models for predicting software faults, as they can effectively analyse high dimensional datasets and detect complex patterns which are difficult for human experts to detect. However, developing accurate and reliable software fault detection models requires careful selection of data, feature engineering, and model evaluation. This purpose of this paper is to present a comprehensive analysis of potential applications and future research directions in the field of software fault detection. The study emphasizes the importance of identifying and addressing software faults to ensure the reliability and efficiency of software systems. Additionally, the paper outlines various approaches and techniques that can be employed for effective software fault detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we are interested in algorithms that take in input an arbitrary graph G , and that enumerate in output all the (inclusion-wise) maximal "subgraphs" of G which fulfil a given property Π. All over this paper, we study several different properties Π , and the notion of subgraph under consideration (induced or not) will vary from a result to another. More precisely, we present efficient algorithms to list all maximal split subgraphs, maximal induced cographs and maximal threshold graphs of a given input graph. All the algorithms presented here run in polynomial delay, and moreover for split graphs it only requires polynomial space. In order to develop an algorithm for maximal split (edge-)subgraphs, we establish a bijection between the maximal split subgraphs and the maximal stable sets of an auxiliary graph. For cographs and threshold graphs, the algorithms rely on a framework recently introduced by Conte & Uno (2019) called Proximity Search. Finally we consider the extension problem, which consists in deciding if there exists a maximal induced subgraph satisfying a property Π that contains a set of prescribed vertices and that avoids another set of vertices. We show that this problem is NP-complete for every non-trivial hereditary property Π. We extend the hardness result to some specific edge version of the extension problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper discusses the possibility of increasing the effectiveness of strategic management of research and development activities in higher education institutions. To achieve this goal, the authors proposed an algorithm for selecting competencies, which allows for the distribution of university employees and students among research and development teams in accordance with their individual competencies for carrying out research and development work. The paper covers the problem statement of competence selection, an overview of natural language processing methods for algorithm development, problematic areas of the algorithm, and prospects for its implementation in university management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a novel nature-inspired meta-heuristic algorithm, named Snow Geese Algorithm. It is inspired by the migratory behavior of snow geese and emulates the distinctive "Herringbone" and "Straight Line" shaped flight patterns observed during their migration. The algorithm is structured into three main phases for benchmark testing. In the first phase, the Snow Geese Algorithm's numerical results are compared with those of several classical meta-heuristic algorithms using the same test functions and original data from these algorithms. In the second phase, in order to minimize potential variations during the comparison, all algorithms undergo evaluation on a standardized testing platform. In the third phase, this paper applies the Snow Geese Algorithm to solve four widely recognized engineering optimization problems: the tubular column design, piston lever optimization design, reinforced concrete beam design and car side impact design. These real-world engineering problems serve as test cases to assess Snow Geese Algorithm problem-solving capabilities. The primary objective of the Snow Geese Algorithm is to provide an alternative perspective for tackling complex optimization problems. Please note that the complete source code for the Snow Geese Algorithm is publicly available at https://github.com/stones3421/SGA-project. • Snow Geese Algorithm: A novel meta-heuristic approach inspired by snow geese flight behavior, tackling optimization problems. • Two-stage Strategy: Mimics snow geese exploration and exploitation patterns, setting it apart from traditional methods. • Performance Evaluation: Multiple algorithms are assessed on different problems. • Algorithm Features: Experimental results validate the effectiveness of the Snow Geese Algorithm. • Practical Applications: Snow Geese Algorithm shows potential in engineering optimization, aiding accurate decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The convergence analysis for least-squares finite element methods led to various adaptive mesh-refinement strategies: Collective marking algorithms driven by the built-in a posteriori error estimator or an alternative explicit residual-based error estimator as well as a separate marking strategy based on the alternative error estimator and an optimal data approximation algorithm. This paper reviews and discusses available convergence results. In addition, all three strategies are investigated empirically for a set of benchmarks examples of second-order elliptic partial differential equations in two spatial dimensions. Particular interest is on the choice of the marking and refinement parameters and the approximation of the given data. The numerical experiments are reproducible using the author's software package octAFEM available on the platform Code Ocean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The weighted essentially non-oscillatory technique using a stencil of 2 r points (WENO-2 r) is an interpolatory method that consists in obtaining a higher approximation order from the non-linear combination of interpolants of r + 1 nodes. The result is an interpolant of order 2 r at the smooth parts and order r + 1 when an isolated discontinuity falls at any grid interval of the large stencil except at the central one. Recently, a new WENO method based on Aitken-Neville's algorithm has been designed for interpolation of equally spaced data at the mid-points and presents progressive order of accuracy close to discontinuities. This paper is devoted to constructing a general progressive WENO method for non-necessarily uniformly spaced data and several variables interpolating in any point of the central interval. Also, we provide explicit formulas for linear and non-linear weights and prove the order obtained. Finally, some numerical experiments are presented to check the theoretical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the orbital pursuit strategy for spacecraft swarms, where both pursuers and evaders possess limited delta-v maneuvering capabilities. Given that swarms can consist of numerous members, ranging from dozens to thousands, the swarm-to-swarm problem has significant coupling effects that cannot be solved by merely superimposing one-to-one or few-to-few problems. Otherwise, one would cause a dimension explosion in decision-making space. To avoid this issue, the swarm orbital pursuit problem is divided into two coupled problems: swarm target allocation and orbital maneuver. First, considering the relative orbit state between pursuers and evaders and estimated orbital maneuver costs of pursuit, the swarm target allocation problem is formulated into three coupled sub-problems, i.e., target allocation order, target allocation for sub-swarms, and target allocation for individuals. These sub-problems are solved by the presented double-layer contract net protocol algorithm to maximize task completion efficiency. Then, the orbital maneuver problem is decomposed into two coupled problems to maximize pursuit benefits, i.e., long-range rendezvous, and close-distance game maneuvers. For the long-range rendezvous, the optimal Lambert algorithm is developed to efficiently obtain the discrete optimal pursuit time and corresponding orbital transfer maneuver. To address close-distance games more proficiently, a hybrid orbital maneuver algorithm, combining the proximal policy optimization and the Lambert algorithm is proposed. Finally, comparison simulations verified the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method. • Satellite swarm pursuit problem is transformed to the coupled problem with swarm target allocation and orbital maneuvers. • Swarm target allocation is formulated as a coupled problem with target order, allocations for subgroups and individuals. • An improved DLCNP algorithm is proposed to pursue a reasonable target allocation solution for higher task efficiency. • Optimal Lambert algorithm is developed to obtain the optimal maneuver strategyfor long-range rendezvous. • A hybrid algorithm combining PPO and the Lambert algorithm is presented to get closed-loop control for close-distance games. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] In medical image segmentation, it is often necessary to collect opinions from multiple experts to make the final decision. This clinical routine helps to mitigate individual bias. However, when data is annotated by multiple experts, standard deep learning models are often not applicable. In this paper, we propose a novel neural network framework called Multi-rater Prism (MrPrism) to learn medical image segmentation from multiple labels. Inspired by iterative half-quadratic optimization, MrPrism combines the task of assigning multi-rater confidences and calibrated segmentation in a recurrent manner. During this process, MrPrism learns inter-observer variability while taking into account the image's semantic properties and finally converges to a self-calibrated segmentation result reflecting inter-observer agreement. Specifically, we propose Converging Prism (ConP) and Diverging Prism (DivP) to iteratively process the two tasks. ConP learns calibrated segmentation based on multi-rater confidence maps estimated by DivP, and DivP generates multi-rater confidence maps based on segmentation masks estimated by ConP. Experimental results show that the two tasks can mutually improve each other through this recurrent process. The final converged segmentation result of MrPrism outperforms state-of-the-art (SOTA) methods for a wide range of medical image segmentation tasks. The code is available at https://github.com/WuJunde/MrPrism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To enhance solution accuracy and training efficiency in neural network approximation to partial differential equations, partitioned neural networks can be used as a solution surrogate instead of a single large and deep neural network defined on the whole problem domain. In such a partitioned neural network approach, suitable interface conditions or subdomain boundary conditions are combined to obtain a convergent approximate solution. However, there has been no rigorous study on the convergence and parallel computing enhancement on the partitioned neural network approach. In this paper, iterative algorithms are proposed to enhance parallel computation performance in the partitioned neural network approximation. Our iterative algorithms are based on classical additive Schwarz domain decomposition methods. For the proposed iterative algorithms, their convergence is analyzed under an error assumption on the local and coarse neural network solutions. Numerical results are also included to show the performance of the proposed iterative algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we introduce two accelerated primal-dual methods tailored to address linearly constrained composite convex optimization problems, where the objective function is expressed as the sum of a possibly nondifferentiable function and a differentiable function with Lipschitz continuous gradient. The first method is the accelerated linearized augmented Lagrangian method (ALALM), which permits linearization to the differentiable function; the second method is the accelerated linearized proximal point algorithm (ALPPA), which enables linearization of both the differentiable function and the augmented term. By incorporating adaptive parameters, we demonstrate that ALALM achieves the O (1 / k 2) convergence rate and the linear convergence rate under the assumption of convexity and strong convexity, respectively. Additionally, we establish that ALPPA enjoys the O (1 / k) convergence rate in convex case and the O (1 / k 2) convergence rate in strongly convex case. We provide numerical results to validate the effectiveness of the proposed methods. • We extend a class of Nesterov's accelerated scheme for solving unconstrained optimization problems to handle composite convex optimization with linear constraints. • Propose an accelerated linearized augmented Lagrangian method (ALALM) with a linear convergence rate for the strongly convex case. • An accelerated linearized proximal point algorithm (ALPPA) is proposed for both convex and strongly convex cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solution of sparse linear complementarity problem (LCP) has been widely discussed in many applications. In this paper, we consider the ℓ p regularization problem with nonnegative constraint for sparse LCP, and propose algorithms based on the iterative reweighted method to approach a sparse solution of the LCP, and then show the convergence to the stationary point of ℓ p regularization problem. Numerical results on simulated data exhibit an excellent performance of the proposed algorithms on approaching a sparse solution of the LCP. Finally, we apply this method to the frictional and frictionless contact problems. The numerical experiments demonstrate that the contact problems can be efficiently solved by the proposed algorithm. • The ℓ p regularization problem with nonnegative constraint is proposed for sparse LCP. • The iterative reweighted algorithms are proposed with convergence guarantees. • Different merit functions for LCP are discussed in numerical experiments. • Numerical simulations demonstrate the superiority of proposed algorithms. • Application to contact problem exhibits the effectiveness of proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel view synthesis (NVS) of urban scenes enables the exploration of cities virtually and interactively, which can further be used for urban planning, navigation, digital tourism, etc. However, many current NVS methods require a large amount of images from known views as input and are sensitive to intrinsic and extrinsic camera parameters. In this paper, we propose a new unified framework for NVS of urban scenes with fewer required views via the integration of scene priors and the joint optimization of camera parameters under an geometric constraint along with NeRF weights. The integration of scene priors makes full use of the priors from the neighbor reference views to reduce the number of required known views. The joint optimization can correct the errors in camera parameters, which are usually derived from algorithms like Structure-from-Motion (SfM), and then further improves the quality of the generated novel views. Experiments show that our method achieves about 25. 375 dB and 25. 512 dB in average in terms of peak signal-to-noise (PSNR) on synthetic and real data, respectively. It outperforms popular state-of-the-art methods (i.e., BungeeNeRF and MegaNeRF) by about 2– 4 dB in PSNR. Notably, our method achieves better or competitive results than the baseline method with only one third of the known view images required for the baseline. The code and dataset are available at https://github.com/Dongber/PriNeRF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Real-time control systems of macro-micro manipulators commonly confront time-delay challenges to achieve high precision and synchronization performance, because macro and micro subsystems always have significant difference mainly in mechanical inertia. In this paper, a self-designed PC-based real-time controller utilized in laser on-the-fly processing is introduced as a study case of macro-micro systems. A dynamic time-delay compensation method for this case is proposed based on efficient fuzzy-model prediction and special data compression/extension algorithm. This method takes account of the practical time-delay fluctuation and has capability of adjusting the compensator adaptively rather than fixing the compensator as a constant, compared with the conventional static compensation. Experimental results show that, after applying the dynamic compensation, the process error caused by time-delay is eliminated from 1.059 mm to 0.001 mm, while the quality of synchronization appears even better than the static compensation with the error of 0.014 mm. Besides, the proposed method is computationally optimized, and the extra load of real-time kernel merely fluctuates within 3 % of the total computation performance capacity. • Time-delay affects synchronization performance badly in macro-micro control system. • Real-time fuzzy-model prediction is utilized to compensate time-delay dynamically. • Control data is redistributed after compensation by compression/extension algorithm. • The method improves process precision efficiently and suits broad industrial practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study a class of nonconvex and nonsmooth fractional optimization problem, where the numerator of which is the sum of a nonsmooth and nonconvex function and a relative smooth nonconvex function, while the denominator is relative weakly convex nonsmooth function. We propose a Bregman proximal subgradient algorithm for solving this type of fractional optimization problems. Under moderate conditions, we prove that the subsequence generated by the proposed algorithm converges to a critical point, and the generated sequence globally converges to a critical point when the objective function satisfies the Kurdyka-Łojasiewicz property. We also obtain the convergence rate of the proposed algorithm. Finally, two numerical experiments illustrate the effectiveness and superiority of the algorithm. Our results give a positive answer to an open problem proposed by Bot et al. [14]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose a novel rank-adaptive higher-order orthogonal iteration (RA-HOOI) algorithm to solve the fixed-accuracy low multilinear-rank approximation of tensors. On the one hand, RA-HOOI relies on a greedy strategy to expand the subspace, which avoids computing the full SVD of the matricization of the input tensor. On the other hand, the new rank-adaptive strategy introduced in the RA-HOOI algorithm enables the obtained truncation to be more accurate. A series of numerical experiments related to synthetic and real-world tensors are carried out to show that the proposed RA-HOOI algorithm is comparable to state-of-the-art methods in terms of both accuracy and efficiency and performs better in certain situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose a second-order adaptive DLN algorithm with different subdomain variable time steps for the 3D closed-loop geothermal system. Theoretically, the stability and convergence of the algorithm in the case of variable time steps are analyzed. In numerical experiments, the DLN algorithm is combined with an adaptive algorithm to verify not only its effectiveness and second-order convergence under any arbitrary sequence of time steps but also to improve computational efficiency. We overcome the difficulty of 3D programming, and verify the applicability and accuracy of the proposed algorithm by simulating the flow characteristics and heat transfer of the closed-loop geothermal system with 3D convection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a novel non-convex fractional-order image denoising model is proposed to suppress the staircase effect produced by the TV model while maintaining a neat contour. The model combines ℓ q (0 < q < 1) quasi-norm and fractional-order regularization, and employs a diffusion coefficient with a faster convergence rate to preserve more image edges and details. Additionally, an adaptive regularization parameter is designed to adjust the denoising performance of the algorithm. To obtain the optimal approximate solution of the model, an enhanced primal-dual algorithm is adopted and the complexity and convergence of the algorithm are theoretically analyzed. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated through numerical experiments. • A new non-convex FOTV model is proposed. • A new diffusion coefficient is introduced to retain more edge details of the image. • The existing primal-dual algorithm is improved, and the convergence of this algorithm is analyzed. • An adaptive regularization parameter is designed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explains the construction of a novel augmented hunger games search algorithm using a logarithmic spiral opposition-based learning technique. The proposed algorithm (LsOBL-HGS) is used as an efficient tool for both function optimization and controller design. To assess the performance of the algorithm for function optimization, benchmark functions from the CEC2017 test suite were employed and comparisons were made with available and good performing algorithms. In terms of controller design, the proposed LsOBL-HGS algorithm was utilized to design a FOPID controlled magnetic ball suspension system. Comparative assessments were also performed for FOPID controller design, as well using other state-of-the-art methods reported for the magnetic ball suspension system. The results showed that the proposed LsOBL-HGS algorithm has good capability for FOPID controller design employed in a magnetic ball suspension system as it provided an improvement of more than 13 % in terms of the transient response-related parameters and more than 34 % in terms of bandwidth compared to the best-reported approach used for comparisons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Fast, reliable signature generation, blockchain storage, and video verification. • Our method detects video forgery on any file, anytime, anywhere, by anyone. • Insignificant additional storage requirements with respect to video size. • Withstands attacks: collisions, key substitutions, side-channels, chosen messages. • Aids real-time devices, e.g., phones, CCTV, serving legal, police, medical inquiries. Within the field of forensic science, video integrity is an essential component that ensures the validity and dependability of visual evidence that is essential for court cases. Maintaining the integrity of justice in a time when digital modification tools are easily accessible requires making sure that video recordings are unaltered. Video footage is carefully inspected by forensic analysts who use advanced tools to look for indications of manipulation or change. This paper presents a novel, lightweight approach for verifying the integrity of video data. The proposed method utilizes the blockchain and the Edwards Curve Digital Signature Algorithm, coupled with the BLAKE2b hash function. Signatures are generated for video clips with a predetermined size called video segments and stored in blocks chronologically. The signature of the previous block is stored in the current block to add another layer of security. At the time of validation, these signatures are verified. Experimental results show that the proposed method outperforms state-of-the-art methods in both speed and security. Our method is capable of identifying any type of forgery on any video file, by anyone, at any given moment, with insignificant additional storage requirements. Furthermore, our security analysis shows that our method is resilient against various types of attacks, including collision attacks, key substitution attacks, side-channel attacks, and chosen message attacks. The proposed lightweight video integrity verification method is better suited for use in resource constrained devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, based on the Lagrange multiplier method, we construct a maximum principle preserving scheme for the time-fractional Allen-Cahn equation of 2- α (0 < α < 1) order. The correction energy of this scheme is increased by a term compared to the original energy, which is O (τ α). We prove that our scheme is unconditionally stable related to the corrected energy and verify the convergence, maximum principle, and energy conservation properties of the algorithm through numerical examples. We also find that the larger the α , the faster the evolution of the time-fractional Allen-Cahn equation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we provide a tetrahedra-free algorithm to compute low-cardinality quadrature rules with a given degree of polynomial exactness, positive weights and interior nodes on a polyhedral element with arbitrary shape. The key tools are the notion of Tchakaloff discretization set and the solution of moment-matching equations by Lawson-Hanson iterations for NonNegative Least-Squares. Several numerical tests are presented. The method is implemented in Matlab as open-source software. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we devise a stochastic extragradient-like algorithm incorporated with inertial terms, which requires a single projection onto our feasible set and employs a stochastic approximation version of an Armijo-type line search scheme along a feasible direction, for solving pseudomonotone stochastic variational inequalities. In the algorithm, two different stepsize strategies are employed to update steplength sequences without using the prior knowledge of the Lipschitz constant of involved operators. In the process of the stochastic approximation, we iteratively reduce the variance of stochastic errors. The almost sure convergence, the complexity analysis, and rates are provided in a dimensional space under reasonable conditions. Finally, some numerical experiments with graphical illustrations are reported to demonstrate the applicability and the efficiency of our algorithm in comparison with some projection type methods in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diffeomorphic registration is a widely used technique for finding a smooth and invertible transformation between two coordinate systems, which are measured using template and reference images. The point-wise volume-preserving constraint det ⁡ (∇ φ (x)) = 1 is effective in some cases, but may be too restrictive in others, especially when local deformations are relatively large. This can result in poor matching when enforcing large local deformations. In this paper, we propose a new bi-variant diffeomorphic image registration model that introduces a soft constraint on the Jacobian equation det ⁡ (∇ φ (x)) = f (x) > 0. This allows local deformations to shrink and grow within a flexible range 0 < κ m < det ⁡ (∇ φ (x)) < κ M. The Jacobian determinant of transformation is explicitly controlled by optimizing the relaxation function f (x). To prevent deformation folding and improve the smoothness of the transformation, a positive constraint is imposed on the optimization of the relaxation function f (x) , and a regularizer is used to ensure the smoothness of f (x). Furthermore, the positivity constraint ensures that f (x) is as close to one as possible, which helps to achieve a volume-preserving transformation on average. We also analyze the existence of the minimizer for the variational model and propose a penalty-splitting algorithm with a multilevel strategy to solve this model. Numerical experiments demonstrate the convergence of the proposed algorithm and show that the positivity constraint can effectively control the range of relative volume without compromising the accuracy of the registration. Moreover, the proposed model generates diffeomorphic maps for large local deformations and outperforms several existing registration models in terms of performance. • A novel bi-variant diffeomorphic image registration model with relaxed Jacobian determinant constraints is proposed. • The existence of the minimizer for the variational model is proved. • A penalty splitting algorithm with a multilevel strategy is designed to solve the new model. • Numerical experiments show that the proposed algorithm is convergent and the new model has good performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Software-based technical indicators have been widely used for the stock market forecasting, aiming to predict market direction. Even though many algorithms for the software based technical indicators are presented, there are almost no hardware implementations reported in the literature. In this paper, the hardware implementation is presented for three commonly used technical indicators: Moving Average Convergence/Divergence (MACD), Relative Strength Index (RSI), and Aroon. Latency evaluation is conducted for Bitcoin and Ethereum within a single-day timeframe, utilizing the Xilinx Zynq-7000 programmable SoC XC7Z020-CLG484-1 platform. Additionally, various hardware/software (HW/SW) partitioning strategies are explored to leverage the flexibility of software alongside the performance advantages of hardware via the Zynq SoC platform. The results show that the best performing technical indicator is MACD with a speedup of 30 times over its software only counterpart. Furthermore, a hybrid design integrating multiple technical indicators is proposed, pairing MACD with RSI due to their competitive throughput values, differing by only 0.38 microseconds. This hybrid approach capitalizes on the parallel processing capabilities of hardware, enabling multiple systems to operate simultaneously. • Proposed SoC framework boosts HFT system efficiency. • HW/SW partitioning on Zynq-7000 SoC enhances flexibility. • MACD, RSI, Aroon indicators implemented for forecasting. • MACD outperforms others on ZYNQ SoC, 30x faster than software. • MACD and RSI combination optimal for hybrid designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earth observation satellite (EOS) scheduling is critical for improving the performance of Earth observation system. Most of the existing studies on satellite observation scheduling problems focus on static tasks and real-time dynamic tasks also known as emergency tasks while few attempts have been made for common dynamic tasks yet. The common dynamic tasks are characterized by uncertain arrival times and delayable observations while the emergency tasks require immediate observations. The number of common dynamic tasks is rapidly increasing with the expansion of satellite observation applications, which poses great challenges to EOS observation scheduling. To address this issue, this paper investigates the satellite observation scheduling problem with common dynamic tasks. Firstly, a centralized onboard dynamic scheduling framework based on a periodic-triggered rolling horizontal optimization (RHO) strategy is proposed and a novel two-stage mathematical model is established for the periodic rescheduling problem. Secondly, we propose a low-complexity onboard periodic rescheduling algorithm (OPR), which consists of a greedy-based task allocation algorithm, a pointer network (Ptr-network) based task scheduling algorithm and an iterative local search algorithm. In the greedy-based task allocation algorithm, we define a Task-EOS Fitness Indicator (TEFI) and each task is greedily allocated to the EOS with maximum TEFI. In the Ptr-network based task scheduling algorithm, the allocated task sets of all EOSs are fed into the Ptr-network in parallel to generate the observation scheduling result. Afterward, an iterative local search algorithm is proposed to further improve the quality of the observation scheduling result. Finally, extensive experiments are conducted to demonstrate the superiority of the OPR algorithm for the satellite observation scheduling problem with common dynamic tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A k -class domination coloring (k -cd-coloring) is a partition of the vertex set of a graph G into k independent sets V 1 , ... , V k , where each V i is dominated by some vertex u i of G. The least integer k such that G admits a k -cd-coloring is called the cd-chromatic number, χ c d (G) , of G. A subset S of the vertex set of a graph G is called a subclique in G if d G (x , y) ≠ 2 for every x , y ∈ S. The cardinality of a maximum subclique in G is called the subclique number, ω s (G) , of G. In this paper, we present algorithms to compute an optimal cd-coloring and a maximum subclique of (i) trees with time complexity O (n) and (ii) co-bipartite graphs with time complexity O (n 2. 5). This improves O (n 3) algorithms by Shalu et al. (2017, 2020). In addition, we prove tight upper bounds for the subclique number of the class of (i) P 5 -free graphs and (ii) double-split graphs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most dangerous threats in WSNs is botnet attacks, in which attackers use mutual communications between IoT devices to launch large-scale malicious activities. In this regard, developments in the field of effective and reliable means of defence against this type of threat, in particular, reliable methods for detecting, identifying, and countering botnet attacks, are becoming increasingly important and relevant. This paper presents a comprehensive study that applies machine learning techniques, namely Random Forest and XGBoost, to identify botnet attacks on IoT effectively. These algorithms are analyzed, compared, and shown to be highly effective in detecting complex patterns indicative of botnet activity, thus achieving a significant improvement in IoT security. The conducted research aims to make a useful contribution to the problem of securing WSNs and IoT in general. The results of the study demonstrated high accuracy in detecting attacks with an accuracy of 99.18% for XGBoost and Random Forest showed an accuracy of 99.21%. Thus, it was shown that the significance of applying machine learning techniques such as Random Forest and XGBoost can be one of the key approaches in combating botnet attacks and securing the IoT. The results of the work emphasize the promising application of machine learning techniques for effective defense against cyber threats and highlight the importance of further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intellectual analysis of small and middle-sized datasets through machine learning tools presents challenges in various application domains. Existing methods fail to provide sufficient accuracy, and their utilization is accompanied by a range of issues during data analysis. This paper proposes the improvement of the input doubling method for middle-sized data analysis. The existing method employs an augmentation procedure where the augmented data sample increases quadratically. This imposes several limitations on the method's usage for middle-sized data analysis. The authors propose enhancing this method by introducing an additional clustering procedure during data augmentation. The training algorithms and application methods are described, and a visualization of the main steps of its operation is provided. Modeling is performed on two medium-sized datasets. Optimal parameters for the improved method are selected, demonstrating its high efficiency. Specifically, significant reductions in the volumes of augmented datasets (8-9 times for both datasets respectively) are achieved, accompanied by substantial reductions in the training procedure duration of the method (more than 100 and 260 times for both datasets respectively), while maintaining high accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• OCR-detected characters or words in an image require line segmentation to reunite into word or sentence. • Projection based line segmentation cannot be applied to Chinese historical texts. • Columns in Chinese historical texts exhibit a sub-divided column format. • Adjacent character detection (ACD) algorithm can deal with the unique column structure. • Performance of ACD algorithm as a post-processing of OCR is discussed. In recent times, the advent of AI-based optical character recognition (OCR) has garnered significant attention in the realm of digital text conversion. However, it is imperative to note that OCR solely identifies individual characters or words, and lacks the ability to reunite them into cohesive units such as words or sentences. Consequently, the manual sorting of them to establish the appropriate reading order has emerged as a bottleneck. In this paper, we present an algorithm termed adjacent character detection (ACD), designed to serve as a post-processing of OCR, facilitating automatic digital text conversion. The algorithm involves line segmentation through a quad-ACD scan (up-down-down-up), allowing it to consecutively discern characters within a column based on their adjacency relations. Conventional projection profile analyses have struggled to effectively partition the distinct internal structure of Chinese historical text, where two annotation columns often subdivide from a single body column. In contrast, our ACD algorithm employs an approach, reuniting adjacent characters rather than fragmenting the entire text into isolated entities. Additionally, ACD algorithm enabled body/annotation classification for OCR-detected characters based on the pattern analysis of its quad scan. This cumulative information empowers the conversion of digital text in a desired reading order. To assess the efficacy of the proposed algorithm, a set of ground-truth OCR result was subjected to rigorous testing, culminating in a reading order accuracy of 98.6%. Noteworthy robustness was also demonstrated in the face of misaligned columns, experimentally induced by applying tilt, warp, and wavy noises to the original digital images. Lastly, the algorithm was integrated with two pre-developed OCR models, resulting in a reading order accuracy of 97.7%. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes a parareal approach based on fractional-step methods for the nonstationary Navier-Stokes equations. As an efficient parallel computing framework, the coarse propagator often determines the performance of the parareal algorithm. We present a parareal algorithm using the fractional-step method, a very efficient time discrete scheme for the Naiver-Stokes equations, as the coarse propagator for the Navier-Stokes equations. Then we give the specific stability and convergence analysis of this specific parareal algorithm. Finally, numerical experiments are done to show efficiency and illustrate the theoretical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two key challenges in optimal control include efficiently solving high-dimensional problems and handling optimal control problems with state-dependent running costs. In this paper, we consider a class of optimal control problems whose running costs consist of a quadratic on the control variable and a convex, non-negative, piecewise affine function on the state variable. We provide the analytical solution for this class of optimal control problems as well as a Hopf-type representation formula for the corresponding Hamilton-Jacobi partial differential equations. Finally, we propose efficient numerical algorithms based on our Hopf-type representation formula, convex optimization algorithms, and min-plus techniques. We present several high-dimensional numerical examples, which demonstrate that our algorithms overcome the curse of dimensionality. We also describe a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) implementation of our numerical solver whose latency scales linearly in the spatial dimension and that achieves approximately a 40 times speedup compared to a parallelized central processing unit (CPU) implementation. Thus, our numerical results demonstrate the promising performance boosts that FPGAs are able to achieve over CPUs. As such, our proposed methods have the potential to serve as a building block for solving more complicated high-dimensional optimal control problems in real-time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, elliptic control problems with the integral constraint on the gradient of the state and the box constraint on the control are considered. The optimality conditions for the problem are proved. To numerically solve the problem, a finite element duality-based inexact majorized accelerated block coordinate descent (FE-dABCD) algorithm is proposed. Specifically, both the state and the control are discretized by piecewise linear functions. An inexact majorized ABCD algorithm is employed to solve the discretized problem via its dual, which is a multi-block unconstrained convex optimization problem, but the primal variables are also generated in each iteration. Thanks to the inexactness of the FE-dABCD algorithm, the subproblems at each iteration are allowed to be solved inexactly. For the smooth subproblem, we use the preconditioned generalized minimal residual (GMRES) method to solve it. For the two nonsmooth subproblems, one of them has a closed form solution through introducing an appropriate proximal term, and another one is solved by the line search Newton's method. Based on these efficient strategies, we prove that our proposed FE-dABCD algorithm enjoys O (1 k 2 ) iteration complexity. Moreover, to make the algorithm more efficient and further reduce its computation cost, based on the mesh-independence of ABCD method, we propose an FE-dABCD algorithm with a warm-start strategy (wFE-dABCD). Some numerical experiments are done and the numerical results show the efficiency of the FE-dABCD algorithm and wFE-dABCD algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Dynamics of multi-layer membrane structure with elastic spacers is studied. • An optimization criterion to eliminate the crossing modes is proposed. • The optimal spacer positions are calculated by Particle Swarm Optimizer algorithm. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the dynamics of space membrane structures. However, existing research primarily focuses on single-layer membrane structures, leaving a significant research gap in the study of multi-layer structures with elastic spacers. To address this gap, this paper studies the dynamics and interlayer spacing accuracy of multi-layer membrane structures with elastic spacers. Specifically, the research focuses on the placement optimization of elastic spacers. A novel optimization criterion for the elastic spacers has been proposed, and the Particle Swarm Optimizer (PSO) algorithm has been utilized to calculate the optimal spacers positions. Results show that optimally placed elastic spacers can eliminate the crossing modes and improve the interlayer spacing accuracy during vibration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dynamic Mode Decomposition (DMD) is an equation-free method that aims at reconstructing the best linear fit from temporal datasets. In this paper, we show that DMD does not provide accurate approximation for datasets describing oscillatory dynamics, like spiral waves, relaxation oscillations and spatio-temporal Turing instability. Inspired by the classical "divide and conquer" approach, we propose a piecewise version of DMD (pDMD) to overcome this problem. The main idea is to split the original dataset in N submatrices and then apply the exact (randomized) DMD method in each subset of the obtained partition. We describe the pDMD algorithm in detail and we introduce some error indicators to evaluate its performance when N is increased. Numerical experiments show that very accurate reconstructions are obtained by pDMD for datasets arising from time snapshots of certain reaction-diffusion PDE systems, like the FitzHugh-Nagumo model, a λ - ω system and the DIB morpho-chemical system for battery modeling. Finally, a discussion about the overall computational load and the future prediction features of the new algorithm is also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the contemporary era, technology plays a significant role in our daily lives. Consequently, there is a growing emphasis on securing information transmitted across networks. To meet this need, numerous cryptographic systems have been developed to enhance security. The distinguishing factor among these systems lies in their capability to uphold fundamental criteria for information security, including authentication confidentiality and integrity. This paper introduces a method involving the use of DNA and lightweight cryptography[1-2-3]. This method utilizes for the encryption and decryption of data using DNA sequence and the SIMON cryptographic system—a symmetric encryption algorithm specifically designed for simplicity and efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clustering and routing algorithms are critical to collecting and processing data sensed by nodes of wireless sensor networks deployed in various missions including environmental monitoring, tracking, and rescue operations. In this paper, a clustering algorithm is presented for wireless sensor networks with balanced cluster size resulting in energy efficiency. The algorithm is based on forming clusters using topology of the network and routing aggregated data from each cluster head to the base station. The cluster formation phase involves using tree-based traversals on the underlying sensor network graph. Using simulations, it is demonstrated that clusters of similar sizes are obtained for networks of varying sensor radii. It is demonstrated that the time to death of the first node of this clustering algorithm is superior to well-known clustering algorithm for random networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the multi-parameter time fractional radially symmetric anomalous diffusion model used in porous media with initial singularity is considered. Both the direct numerical solution problem and the multi-parameter identification inverse problem are studied. Given the singularity in the initial time, a stable numerical scheme on nonuniform grid mesh is derived by using the L 2 − 1 σ method. To conduct the multi-parameter inversion problem, a novel hybrid Black Widow Optimization and Cuckoo Search (BWOCS) algorithm is proposed to combine the advantages of both the BWO algorithm and the CS algorithm, in order to improve the convergence speed and to achieve high-accuracy optimal results. Numerical examples are given to verify the efficiency and accuracy of the proposed numerical scheme and parameter inversion algorithm. Results show that the nonuniform grid L 2 − 1 σ scheme is efficient to deal with the time fractional radially symmetric anomalous diffusion problem with initial singularity, and the hybrid BWOCS algorithm has high precision and well convergence speed, compared with both the BWO and CS algorithms, which can be extended to other fractional inverse problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cognitive radio network (CRN) is getting growing interest of the researchers due to its wide applicability for spectrum sharing with massive number of active devices in Internet of Things (IoT). In existing schemes, a large part of the spectrum may remain underutilized which was assigned to service providers as primary users (PU). Secondary user (SU) may be the alternative to use the spectrum. The main challenge is that SU keeps on sending the packets in an incremental manner until a free channel is found in real conditions. It results in excessive communication and packet loss. This paper presents an efficient tree-centric approach where a centralized base-station maintains a tree of available channels and intelligently allocate to the SUs as per the real-time availability of channels. It analyzes for the effective usage of these channels by the SUs. It also manages the authenticated SUs to avoid any interference due to the hidden node problem. A number of extensive simulations are performed using network simulator. The existing instantaneous approaches require 10 to 12 attempts to send request for acquiring free channel with an average delay of 315 ms, the Hybrid-P1 and Hybrid-P2 approaches consumed 4 requests each with a delay of 128 ms to 135 ms. Our proposed CDC mechanism achieves a channel access mostly in 1 to 2 requests with an average delay of about 72 ms. Results are extracted from the trace files that prove the dominance of proposed scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Honey badger algorithm (HBA) is a recent swarm-based metaheuristic algorithm that excels in simplicity and high exploitation capability. However, it suffers from some limitations including weak exploration capacity and an imbalance between exploration and exploitation. In this paper, an improved honey badger algorithm called ODEHBA is proposed to improve the performance of basic HBA. Firstly, an improved orthogonal opposition-based learning technique is employed to assist population in escaping local optimum. Secondly, differential evolution is utilized to ensure the enrichment of population diversity and to enhance convergence speed. Finally, the exploration capability of ODEHBA is boosted by an equilibrium pool strategy. To validate the efficacy of proposed ODEHBA, it is compared with 13 well-known metaheuristic algorithms on CEC2022 benchmark test sets. Friedman test and Wilcoxon rank-sum test are utilized to assess the performance of ODEHBA. Furthermore, three engineering design problems and Internet of Vehicles (IoV) routing problem are applied to validate the capability of ODEHBA. The simulation results demonstrate that ODEHBA excels in solving complex numerical problems, engineering design, and IoV routing problems. This holds significant practical implications for cost reduction and improved resource utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medical images acquired at different institutions have different data distributions due to varying scanners, imaging protocols, or patient cohorts. Thus, normalizing samples before using them to train the Deep Learning (DL) models is an essential task. Scholars have used various normalization methods to normalize mammograms. However, which normalization method works best on mammograms and if it can help training generalize the DL model has not been analyzed in the literature. This paper presents a comparative analysis of commonly used normalization methods, such as scaling, Contrast Limited Adaptive Histogram Equalization (CLAHE), and Z-score normalization on mammograms for breast mass segmentation tasks. We trained the Attention Unet model on INbreast and the subset of the Cohort of Screen-Aged Women dataset (CSAW-S). We performed cross-dataset analysis on trained models to investigate how normalization methods helped train robust models to handle diverse datasets. Our results suggest that the normalizing method of input data affects the segmentation model's performance. We achieved the best scores with the Z-score normalization closely followed by CLAHE. However, further investigation suggests that the normalization method's performance may depend on the variability of mammograms in the dataset. Results of cross-dataset analysis suggest the importance of choosing the normalization method for consistent DL model performance. To our knowledge, this study represents the first systematic analysis of the performance of prevalent normalization techniques on a diverse dataset of mammogram images. The insights gained from our experiments can guide the selection of normalization methods for improved mass segmentation accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to address two significant challenges of Deep Learning(DL) model generation, high computational cost involved during the training phase and data interpretability from high dimensional data. The computational cost is curbed using centralized as well as distributed matrix factorization technique known as CUR decomposition. CUR decomposition has the advantage of reducing the dimensions of the dataset without data transformation and minimal information loss. Though Singular Value De-composition(SVD) is the best matrix decomposition technique with least reconstruction error, it transforms the data and hence the original data cannot be interpreted from the decomposed matrices while applying DL technique. So CUR decomposition is leveraged to reduce the number of features in high-dimensional data while preserving the essential information. Extensive experimental analysis is conducted to evaluate and compare the performance of CUR and SVD techniques based on reconstruction error and time complexity in centralized as well as distributed setting. The results exhibit that CUR outperforms SVD in terms of computational efficiency, especially in a distributed setting where the decomposition time for CUR was a fraction compared to SVD. At the same time DL models generated from this reduced dataset exhibit comparable accuracy with the original high dimensional dataset as well as reduced dataset obtained through SVD. This work also enhances the accessibility of the CUR algorithm to users, for which an application is developed that enables users to execute the algorithm on any dataset. The user-friendly interface of the application facilitates the upload of datasets, configuration of desired decomposition rank, and execution of the algorithm with a single click. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Techniques for classifying data using data mining are now a day prevalent in agriculture. The method of classifying seeds involves grouping various seed varieties according to their morphological characteristics. To accomplish categorization of the typical Charotar region (generally comprising Anand and Kheda districts of the Gujarat State of India) Gujarat Wheat (GW) varieties (TRITICUM – AESTIVUM) viz. GW 273, GW 496, GW 322, LOK-1, and GDW 1255 (TRITICUM – DURUM), Weka Explorer was used. The features used are area, perimeter, solidity, aspect ratio, major and minor axis of seed kernel, Hue, Saturation, Value, and SF1 (empirical). Features reduction was done using Information Gain (IG) and its modified version Gain Ratio (GR). This paper compares performance of Tree based data mining algorithms in classifying wheat varieties. For classification we used purely tree-based machine learning algorithms viz. J48, Random Forest, Hoeffding Tree, Logistic Model Tree (LMT), and REPTree. LMT- logistics regression method gives higher accuracy 96.4% compared to other classifiers. Hoeffding Tree classifiers stood second with 96% accuracy. For validation 10-fold cross validation was used. By reducing the number of folds in cross validation performance of most algorithms decreased except J48. The percentage of correctly classified instance increased for all algorithms when features were selected by GR except for J48. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat exchanger network (HEN) synthesis is a vibrant research field in process system engineering, with substantial contributions to energy conservation and emissions reduction initiatives. The optimal design of a heat exchanger network is not an easy task due to the abundance of local optima in the solution space caused by the non-linear, non-convex, and discontinuous nature of the problem. Generally, several heuristic algorithms employ a greedy evolutionary mechanism, optimize through greedily accepting the decrease in the objective function, and converge to obtain the optimal solution. The Random Walk algorithm has a simple evolutionary mechanism, is prone to mutation, and exhibits high flexibility. However, the algorithm's inherent persistent greediness in searching restrict the scope of the search. Thus, this paper proposes an anti-greedy concept based on the Random Walk method to serve as the basis of a new synthesis approach called the Anti-greedy Random Walk algorithm. Two strategies are proposed in the algorithm, which broaden the solution domain by slowing down rapid unit reduction and accepting imperfect solutions, respectively. One strategy is to thoroughly search for the integer and continuous variables of the HEN problem by covering a much larger search space. Another is to escape the local extrema and move forward to discover more possibilities. Quantitative data demonstrates the algorithm's ability to avoid the local extrema and enhance the search effectiveness. Three different scales of classical cases are used in this work and the obtained results are superior to the published ones. [Display omitted] • An improved Random Walk algorithm is presented for heat exchanger network synthesis. • Two anti-greedy strategies are proposed from an objective and structural perspective. • Both integer and continuous variables are explored by covering a larger search space. • Three benchmark cases were solved with better results than previously literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We address the problem of Multi-Source Domain Adaptation (MSDA), which trains a neural network using multiple labeled source datasets and an unlabeled target dataset, and expects the trained network to well classify the unlabeled target data. The main challenge in this problem is that the datasets are generated by relevant but different joint distributions. In this paper, we propose to address this challenge by estimating and minimizing the mutual information in the network latent feature space, which leads to the alignment of the source joint distributions and target joint distribution simultaneously. Here, the estimation of the mutual information is formulated into a convex optimization problem, such that the global optimal solution can be easily found. We conduct experiments on several public datasets, and show that our algorithm statistically outperforms its competitors. Video and code are available at https://github.com/sentaochen/Mutual-Information-Estimation-and-Minimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]