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There is increasing focus on applying deep learning methods to electrocardiograms (ECGs), with recent studies showing that neural networks (NNs) can predict future heart failure or atrial fibrillation from the ECG alone. However, large numbers of ECGs are needed to train NNs, and many ECGs are currently only in paper format, which are not suitable for NN training. We developed a fully-automated online ECG digitisation tool to convert scanned paper ECGs into digital signals. Using automated horizontal and vertical anchor point detection, the algorithm automatically segments the ECG image into separate images for the 12 leads and a dynamical morphological algorithm is then applied to extract the signal of interest. We then validated the performance of the algorithm on 515 digital ECGs, of which 45 were printed, scanned and redigitised. The automated digitisation tool achieved 99.0% correlation between the digitised signals and the ground truth ECG (n = 515 standard 3-by-4 ECGs) after excluding ECGs with overlap of lead signals. Without exclusion, the performance of average correlation was from 90 to 97% across the leads on all 3-by-4 ECGs. There was a 97% correlation for 12-by-1 and 3-by-1 ECG formats after excluding ECGs with overlap of lead signals. Without exclusion, the average correlation of some leads in 12-by-1 ECGs was 60–70% and the average correlation of 3-by-1 ECGs achieved 80–90%. ECGs that were printed, scanned, and redigitised, our tool achieved 96% correlation with the original signals. We have developed and validated a fully-automated, user-friendly, online ECG digitisation tool. Unlike other available tools, this does not require any manual segmentation of ECG signals. Our tool can facilitate the rapid and automated digitisation of large repositories of paper ECGs to allow them to be used for deep learning projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In industry, the task of defect classification and defect localization is an important part of defect detection system. However, existing studies only focus on one task and it is difficult to ensure the accuracy of both tasks. This paper proposes a defect detection system based on improved Yolo_v4, which greatly improves the detection ability of minor defects. For K_Means algorithm clustering prianchors question with strong subjectivity, the paper proposes the Density Based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise (DBSCAN) algorithm to determine the number of Anchors. To solve the problem of low detection rate of small targets caused by insufficient reuse rate of low-level features in CSPDarknet53 feature extraction network, this paper proposes an ECA-DenseNet-BC-121 feature extraction network to improve it. And the Dual Channel Feature Enhancement (DCFE) module is proposed to improve the local information loss and gradient propagation obstruction caused by quad chain convolution in PANet networks to improve the robustness of the model. The experimental results on the fabric surface defect detection datasets show that the mAP of the improved Yolo_v4 is 98.97%, which is 7.67% higher than SSD, 3.75% higher than Faster_RCNN, 10.82% higher than Yolo_v4 tiny, and 5.35% higher than Yolo_v4, and the detection speed reaches 39.4 fps. It can meet the real-time monitoring needs of industrial sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruit recognition and location are the premises of robot automatic picking. YOLOv3 has been used to detect different fruits in complex environment. However, for the object with definite features, the complex network structure will increase the computing time and may cause overfitting. Therefore, this paper has carried out a lightweight design for the YOLOv3. This paper proposed an improved T-Net to detect tomato images. Firstly, the T-Net reduces the residual network layers. This paper changed the number of cycles in each group of the residual unit to 1, 2, 2, 1, and 1. Second, two feature layers with different scales are selected according to the features of tomatoes. Meanwhile, the convolutional layer at the neck has been reduced by two layers. Finally, the location and approximate diameter of the ripe tomato are obtained by combining the node information of the Intel D435i camera and T-Net in the Robot Operation System. T-Net obtains mean average precision (mAP) of 99.2%, F1-score of 98.9%, precision of 99.0%, and recall of 98.8% at a detection rate of 104.2 FPS. The proposed T-Net has outperformed the YOLOv3 with 0.4%, 0.1%, and 0.2% increase in precision, mAP, and F1-score. The detection speed of T-Net is 1.8 times faster than YOLOv3. The mean errors of the center coordinates and diameter of the tomato are 8.5 mm and 2.5 mm, respectively. This model provides a method for efficient real-time detection and location of tomatoes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because of the unique imaging mechanism of infrared (IR) sensors, IR images commonly suffer from blurred edge details, low contrast, and poor signal-to-noise ratio. A new method is proposed in this paper to enhance IR image details so that the enhanced images can effectively inhibit image noise and improve image contrast while enhancing image details. First, for the traditional guided image filter (GIF) applied to IR image enhancement is prone to halo artifacts, this paper proposes a detail enhancement guided filter (DGIF). It mainly adds the constructed edge perception and detail regulation factors to the cost function of the GIF. Then, according to the visual characteristics of human eyes, this paper applies the detail regulation factor to the detail layer enhancement, which solves the problem of amplifying image noise using fixed gain coefficient enhancement. Finally, the enhanced detail layer is directly fused with the base layer so that the enhanced image has rich detail information. We first compare the DGIF with four guided image filters and then compare the algorithm of this paper with three traditional IR image enhancement algorithms and two IR image enhancement algorithms based on the GIF on 20 IR images. The experimental results show that the DGIF has better edge-preserving and smoothing characteristics than the four guided image filters. The mean values of quantitative evaluation of information entropy, average gradient, edge intensity, figure definition, and root-mean-square contrast of the enhanced images, respectively, achieved about 0.23%, 3.4%, 4.3%, 2.1%, and 0.17% improvement over the optimal parameter. It shows that the algorithm in this paper can effectively suppress the image noise in the detail layer while enhancing the detail information, improving the image contrast, and having a better visual effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent research has focused on applying blockchain technology to solve security-related problems in Internet of Things (IoT) networks. However, the inherent scalability issues of blockchain technology become apparent in the presence of a vast number of IoT devices and the substantial data generated by these networks. Therefore, in this paper, we use a lightweight consensus algorithm to cater to these problems. We propose a scalable blockchain-based framework for managing IoT data, catering to a large number of devices. This framework utilizes the Delegated Proof of Stake (DPoS) consensus algorithm to ensure enhanced performance and efficiency in resource-constrained IoT networks. DPoS being a lightweight consensus algorithm leverages a selected number of elected delegates to validate and confirm transactions, thus mitigating the performance and efficiency degradation in the blockchain-based IoT networks. In this paper, we implemented an Interplanetary File System (IPFS) for distributed storage, and Docker to evaluate the network performance in terms of throughput, latency, and resource utilization. We divided our analysis into four parts: Latency, throughput, resource utilization, and file upload time and speed in distributed storage evaluation. Our empirical findings demonstrate that our framework exhibits low latency, measuring less than 0.976 ms. The proposed technique outperforms Proof of Stake (PoS), representing a state-of-the-art consensus technique. We also demonstrate that the proposed approach is useful in IoT applications where low latency or resource efficiency is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to address the challenges of identifying, detecting, and tracking moving objects in video surveillance, this paper emphasizes image-based dynamic entity detection. It delves into the complexities of numerous moving objects, dense targets, and intricate backgrounds. Leveraging the You Only Look Once (YOLOv3) algorithm framework, this paper proposes improvements in image segmentation and data filtering to address these challenges. These enhancements form a novel multi-object detection algorithm based on an improved YOLOv3 framework, specifically designed for video applications. Experimental validation demonstrates the feasibility of this algorithm, with success rates exceeding 60% for videos such as "jogging", "subway", "video 1", and "video 2". Notably, the detection success rates for "jogging" and "video 1" consistently surpass 80%, indicating outstanding detection performance. Although the accuracy slightly decreases for "Bolt" and "Walking2", success rates still hover around 70%. Comparative analysis with other algorithms reveals that this method's tracking accuracy surpasses that of particle filters, Discriminative Scale Space Tracker (DSST), and Scale Adaptive Multiple Features (SAMF) algorithms, with an accuracy of 0.822. This indicates superior overall performance in target tracking. Therefore, the improved YOLOv3-based multi-object detection and tracking algorithm demonstrates robust filtering and detection capabilities in noise-resistant experiments, making it highly suitable for various detection tasks in practical applications. It can address inherent limitations such as missed detections, false positives, and imprecise localization. These improvements significantly enhance the efficiency and accuracy of target detection, providing valuable insights for researchers in the field of object detection, tracking, and recognition in video surveillance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flocking cohesion is critical for maintaining a group's aggregation and integrity. Designing a potential function to maintain flocking cohesion unaffected by social distance is challenging due to the uncertainty of real-world conditions and environments that cause changes in agents' social distance. Previous flocking research based on potential functions has primarily focused on agents' same social distance and the attraction–repulsion of the potential function, ignoring another property affecting flocking cohesion: well depth, as well as the effect of changes in agents' social distance on well depth. This paper investigates the effect of potential function well depths and agent's social distances on the multi-agent flocking cohesion. Through the analysis, proofs, and classification of these potential functions, we have found that the potential function well depth is proportional to the flocking cohesion. Moreover, we observe that the potential function well depth varies with the agents' social distance changes. Therefore, we design a segmentation potential function and combine it with the flocking control algorithm in this paper. It enhances flocking cohesion significantly and has good robustness to ensure the flocking cohesion is unaffected by variations in the agents' social distance. Meanwhile, it reduces the time required for flocking formation. Subsequently, the Lyapunov theorem and the LaSalle invariance principle prove the stability and convergence of the proposed control algorithm. Finally, this paper adopts two subgroups with different potential function well depths and social distances to encounter for simulation verification. The corresponding simulation results demonstrate and verify the effectiveness of the flocking control algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper thoroughly explores the role of object detection in smart cities, specifically focusing on advancements in deep learning-based methods. Deep learning models gain popularity for their autonomous feature learning, surpassing traditional approaches. Despite progress, challenges remain, such as achieving high accuracy in urban scenes and meeting real-time requirements. The study aims to contribute by analyzing state-of-the-art deep learning algorithms, identifying accurate models for smart cities, and evaluating real-time performance using the Average Precision at Medium Intersection over Union (IoU) metric. The reported results showcase various algorithms' performance, with Dynamic Head (DyHead) emerging as the top scorer, excelling in accurately localizing and classifying objects. Its high precision and recall at medium IoU thresholds signify robustness. The paper suggests considering the mean Average Precision (mAP) metric for a comprehensive evaluation across IoU thresholds, if available. Despite this, DyHead stands out as the superior algorithm, particularly at medium IoU thresholds, making it suitable for precise object detection in smart city applications. The performance analysis using Average Precision at Medium IoU is reinforced by the Average Precision at Low IoU (APL), consistently depicting DyHead's superiority. These findings provide valuable insights for researchers and practitioners, guiding them toward employing DyHead for tasks prioritizing accurate object localization and classification in smart cities. Overall, the paper navigates through the complexities of object detection in urban environments, presenting DyHead as a leading solution with robust performance metrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wireless sensor network (WSN) location is a significant research area. In complex environments like forests, inaccurate signal intensity ranging is a major challenge. To address this issue, this paper presents a reliable WSN distance measurement-positioning algorithm for forest environments. The algorithm divides the positioning area into several sub-regions based on the discrete coefficient of the collected signal strength. Then, using the fitting method based on the signal intensity value of each sub-region, the algorithm derives the reference points of the logarithmic distance path loss model and path loss index. Finally, the algorithm locates target nodes using anchor nodes in different regions. Additionally, to enhance the positioning accuracy, weight values are assigned to the positioning result based on the discrete coefficient of the signal intensity in each sub-region. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed WSN algorithm has high precision in forest environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles are useful tools for many applications. However, autonomous path planning for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in unfamiliar environments is a challenging problem when facing a series of problems such as poor consistency, high influence by the native controller of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. In this paper, we investigate reinforcement learning-based autonomous local path planning methods for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles with high autonomous decision-making capability and locally high portability. We propose an autonomous local path planning algorithm based on the TD3 strategy to solve the problem of local obstacle avoidance and path planning in unfamiliar environments using autonomous decision-making of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. The simulation results on Gazebo show that our method can effectively realize the autonomous local path planning task for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, the success rate of path planning with our method can reach 93% under the interference of no obstacles, and 92% in the environment with obstacles. Finally, our method can be used for autonomous path planning of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in unfamiliar environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This special issue contains six revised and extended versions of tool papers that appeared in the proceedings of TACAS 2021, the 27th International Conference on Tools and Algorithms for the Construction and Analysis of Systems. The issue is dedicated to the realization of algorithms in tools and the studies of the application of these tools for analysing hard- and software systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to propose a table tennis target detection (TD) method based on deep learning (DL) and multi-scale feature fusion (MFF) to improve the detection accuracy of the ball in table tennis competition, optimize the training process of athletes, and improve the technical level. In this paper, DL technology is used to improve the accuracy of table tennis TD through MFF guidance. Initially, based on the FAST Region-based Convolutional Neural Network (FAST R-CNN), the TD is carried out in the table tennis match. Then, through the method of MFF guidance, different levels of feature information are fused, which improves the accuracy of TD. Through the experimental verification on the test set, it is found that the mean Average Precision (mAP) value of the target detection algorithm (TDA) proposed here reaches 87.3%, which is obviously superior to other TDAs and has higher robustness. The DL TDA combined with the proposed MFF can be applied to various detection fields and can help the application of TD in real life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The query model (or black-box model) has attracted much attention from the communities of both classical and quantum computing. Usually, quantum advantages are revealed by presenting a quantum algorithm that has a better query complexity than its classical counterpart. In the history of quantum algorithms, the Deutsch algorithm and the Deutsch-Jozsa algorithm play a fundamental role and both are exact one-query quantum algorithms. This leads us to consider the problem: what functions can be computed by exact one-query quantum algorithms? This problem has been addressed in the literature for total Boolean functions and symmetric partial Boolean functions, but is still open for general partial Boolean functions. Thus, in this paper, we continue to characterize the computational power of exact one-query quantum algorithms for general partial Boolean functions. First, we present several necessary and sufficient conditions for a partial Boolean function to be computed by exact one-query quantum algorithms. Second, inspired by these conditions, we discover some new representative functions that can be computed by exact one-query quantum algorithms but have an essential difference from the already known ones. Specially, it is worth pointing out that before our work, the known functions that can be computed by exact one-query quantum algorithms are all symmetric functions and the quantum algorithm used is essentially the Deutsch-Jozsa algorithm, whereas the functions discovered in this paper are generally asymmetric and new algorithms to compute these functions are required. Thus, this expands the class of functions that can be computed by exact one-query quantum algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Privacy preserving utility mining (PPUM) aims to solve the problem of sensitive information leakage in utility pattern mining. In recent years, researchers have proposed algorithms to solve the privacy-preserving problem. However, these algorithms have high side effects, long sanitization time, and computational complexity. Although the FPUTT algorithm reduces the number of database scans, tree construction and traversal still take much time. The paper proposes a fast utility-list dictionary algorithm (FULD). The utility-list dictionary consists of all sensitive items. Through dictionary lookup, sensitive items can be found and modified. In addition, the novel concepts of SINS and tns are proposed to reduce the side effects of the algorithm. In this paper, the experiments show that the FULD algorithm has good performance, such as running time and side effects. The running time of the FULD is 15–20 times shorter than the FPUTT algorithm. It performs well both on sparse and dense datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

These days, cloud computing usage has been increasing with the rapid growth of Internet coverage all over the world to serve as a pay-per-use model using shared computing resources. Internet of Things (IoT) is a growing technology which is used in different applications and it needs cloud computing however the distance between cloud computing resources and the end system in IoT can cause a delay which is intolerable for delay-sensitive applications. Fog computing is a computing resource between cloud computing and end system to reduce the delay for the delay-sensitive applications in IoT. Therefore, load balancing functionality is a significant role to provide the required quality of service (QoS), quality of experience (QoE), and performance. Load balancing can be done based on response time, throughput, energy consumption, and utilization metrics. In this paper, the papers published in Elsevier, ACM, IEEE, Springer and Wiley between 2018 and 2022 have been examined to extract the load-balancing algorithms, system architecture, tools and applications, advantages and disadvantages. This review is useful for those working on load-balancing performance improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fabric defect detection is an important part of the textile industry, aiming at the problems of many types of fabric defects, small size defects and unbalanced samples, an improved YOLOv5 fabric defect detection algorithm, FD-YOLOv5, was proposed. First, the coordinate attention module is embedded in the YOLOv5 backbone network structure to replace the bottleneck structure in the original network model. While reducing the amount of parameters and calculation, it enhances the ability of the network to extract features and improves the model's ability to detect small target defects. Secondly, a smoother Mish activation function is used in the original model convolution structure for model training, which improves the nonlinear expression ability of the model; the SIoU loss function considering the direction of the anchor box is used to improve the convergence speed and detection accuracy of the model. Finally, combining the focal loss and GHM loss functions as the target confidence loss function to solve the problem of sample imbalance in the fabric defect dataset. The experimental results based on the public fabric defect dataset of Aliyun TianChi shows that the mAP@.5 and mAP@.5:.95 of the improved algorithm are 65.1% and 30.4%, respectively, which are 8.3% and 3.2% higher than the original model, respectively, and the parameter amount, calculation amount and weight of the model are reduced by 8.4%, 11.2% and 14.3%, respectively, compared with the original model. Even compared with the state-of-the-art YOLOv7 model, the mAP@.5 value of the proposed model is improved by 6.5%. Although the FPS value is lower than YOLOv7 model, it also achieves a detection speed of 79 frames per second, which can meet the real-time demand. The experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the method in this paper, which can provide a reference for the automatic detection method of fabric defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The classical moving target segmentation (MTS) algorithm in a video can segment the moving targets out by calculating frame by frame, but the algorithm encounters a real-time problem as the data increases. Recently, the benefits of quantum computing in video processing have been demonstrated, but it is still scarce for MTS. In this paper, a quantum moving target segmentation algorithm for grayscale video based on background difference method is proposed, which can simultaneously model the background of all frames and perform background difference to segment the moving targets. In addition, a feasible quantum subtractor is designed to perform the background difference operation. Then, several quantum units, including quantum cyclic shift transformation, quantum background modeling, quantum background difference, and quantum binarization, are designed in detail to establish the complete quantum circuit. For a video containing 2 m frames (every frame is a 2 n × 2 n image with q grayscale levels), the complexity of our algorithm is O (n + q) . This is an exponential speedup over the classical algorithm and also outperforms the existing quantum algorithms. Finally, the experiment on IBM Q demonstrates the feasibility of our algorithm in this noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing uses of algorithm-based decision-making in human resources management have drawn considerable attention from different stakeholders. While prior literature mainly focused on stakeholders directly related to HR decisions (e.g., employees), this paper pertained to a third-party observer perspective and investigated how consumers would respond to companies' adoption of algorithm-based HR decision-making. Through five experimental studies, we showed that the adoption of algorithm-based (vs. human-based) HR decision-making could induce consumers' unfavorable ethicality inferences of the company (study 1); because implementing a calculative and data-driven approach (i.e. algorithm-based) to make employee-related decisions violates the deontological principles of respectful employee treatment (study 2). However, this effect was attenuated when consumers had high (vs. low) power distance beliefs (study 3); the algorithm served as assistance (vs. replacement) for human decisions (study 4); or the adoption was framed as employee-oriented (vs. company-oriented) motivated (study 5). Our findings suggested that consumers are aversive to algorithm-based HR decision-making because it is deontologically problematic regardless of its decision quality (i.e. accuracy). This paper contributes to the extant understanding of stakeholders' responses to algorithm-based HR decision-making and consumers' attitudes toward algorithm users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problem of finding a maximum size matching in a graph (known as the maximum matching problem) is one of the most classical problems in computer science. Despite a significant body of work dedicated to the study of this problem in the data stream model, the state-of-the-art single-pass semi-streaming algorithm for it is still a simple greedy algorithm that computes a maximal matching, and this way obtains 1 / 2 -approximation. Some previous works described two/three-pass algorithms that improve over this approximation ratio by using their second and third passes to improve the above mentioned maximal matching. One contribution of this paper continues this line of work by presenting new three-pass semi-streaming algorithms that work along these lines and obtain improved approximation ratios of 0.6111 and 0.5694 for triangle-free and general graphs, respectively. Unfortunately, a recent work Konrad and Naidu (Approximation, randomization, and combinatorial optimization. Algorithms and techniques, APPROX/RANDOM 2021, August 16–18, 2021. LIPIcs, vol 207, pp 19:1–19:18, 2021. https://doi.org/10.4230/LIPIcs.APPROX/RANDOM.2021.19) shows that the strategy of constructing a maximal matching in the first pass and then improving it in further passes has limitations. Additionally, this technique is unlikely to get us closer to single-pass semi-streaming algorithms obtaining a better than 1 / 2 -approximation. Therefore, it is interesting to come up with algorithms that do something else with their first pass (we term such algorithms non-maximal-matching-first algorithms). No such algorithms were previously known, and the main contribution of this paper is describing such algorithms that obtain approximation ratios of 0.5384 and 0.5555 in two and three passes, respectively, for general graphs. The main significance of our results is not in the numerical improvements, but in demonstrating the potential of non-maximal-matching-first algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introduction of a multi-population structure in differential evolution (DE) algorithm has been proven to be an effective way to achieve algorithm adaptation and multi-strategy integration. However, in existing studies, the mutation strategy selection of each subpopulation during execution is fixed, resulting in poor self-adaptation of subpopulations. To solve this problem, a dynamic multi-strategy integrated differential evolution algorithm based on reinforcement learning (RLDMDE) is proposed in this paper. By employing reinforcement learning, each subpopulation can adaptively select the mutation strategy according to the current environmental state (population diversity). Based on the population state, this paper proposes an individual dynamic migration strategy to "reward" or "punish" the population to avoid wasting individual computing resources. Furthermore, this paper applies two methods of good point set and random opposition-based learning (ROBL) in the population initialization stage to improve the quality of the initial solutions. Finally, to evaluate the performance of the RLDMDE algorithm, this paper selects two benchmark function sets, CEC2013 and CEC2017, and six engineering design problems for testing. The results demonstrate that the RLDMDE algorithm has good performance and strong competitiveness in solving optimization problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address the issues of poor detection accuracy and the large number of target detection model parameters in existing AGV monocular vision location detection algorithms, this paper presents an AGV vision location method based on Gaussian saliency heuristic. The proposed method introduces a fast and accurate AGV visual detection network called GAGV-net. In the GAGV-net network, a Gaussian saliency feature extraction module is designed to enhance the network's feature extraction capability, thereby reducing the required output for model fitting. To improve the accuracy of target detection, a joint multi-scale classification and detection task header are designed at the stage of target frame regression to classification. This header utilizes target features of different scales, thereby enhancing the accuracy of target detection. Experimental results demonstrate a 12% improvement in detection accuracy and a 27.38 FPS increase in detection speed compared to existing detection methods. Moreover, the proposed detection network significantly reduces the model's size, enhances the network model's deployability on AGVs, and greatly improves detection accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared with aeromagnetic total-field data, aeromagnetic vertical gradient field data contain less low-frequency information. In this paper, a continuation conversion filtering algorithm is proposed to filter out part of the low-frequency information of the aeromagnetic total-field data so that these data can be better compared with the total-field data obtained from aeromagnetic gradient data conversion. We discuss the feasibility of single aeromagnetic vertical gradient measurement in areas where it is inconvenient to erect base stations. We design a simple model and a complex model with a background field and random noise to analyze the conversion effect. The model analysis shows that the effect of applying the algorithm depends heavily on the selection of upward continuation height. The magnetization intensity of the background field also affects the selection of continuation height. When the magnetization intensity of the background field is weak, the continuation height chosen is the same as the buried depth of the background field. If the magnetization intensity of the background field is strong, then the higher the continuation height, the better the effect will be. The conclusion of the model analysis is applied to the analysis of the measured aeromagnetic data. In addition, we can conclude that the effect on total-field data of conversion by the continuation conversion filtering algorithm is better than that of conversion from the aeromagnetic vertical gradient data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep learning shows great potential in low-light image enhancement, which can improve image brightness and contrast while keeping image natural. However, due to the lack of prior knowledge extracted manually or excessive amplification of noise, these methods result in poor quality of enhanced images. To solve these challenging problems, this paper proposes a dual-branch grayscale image enhancement network based on dense residual and attention mechanism. Low-light grayscale image is used as input. Firstly, features that fuse deep and shallow information are extracted through dense residual convolution branch network; secondly, texture features are extracted through U-Net branch network combined with attention mechanism; then the extracted features are integrated, and finally luminance is adjusted by a brightness adjustment module to output an enhanced grayscale image. In addition, a joint loss function is designed to measure the network training loss from brightness, texture, contrast and noise. A large number of quantitative and qualitative experiments on LOL and VE-LOL datasets show that the proposed method improves Peak Signal to Noise Ratio Index and Structural Similarity Index by 19.65 - 59.76% and 5.61 - 85.53%, respectively, compared with EnlightenGAN, KinD++, RUAS, LLFlow, etc. The proposed method is superior to the most famous methods, thanks to the deep feature extraction and fusion capability of dense residual convolutional network and texture extraction capability of U-Net network combined with attention mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is about the opposite of judgement and calculation. This opposition has been a traditional anchor of critiques concerned with the rise of AI decision making over human judgement. Contrary to these approaches, it is argued that human judgement is not and cannot be replaced by calculation, but that it is human judgement that contextualises computational structures and gives them meaning and purpose. The article focuses on the epistemic structure of algorithms and artificial neural networks to find that they always depend on human judgement to be related to real life objects or purposes. By introducing the philosophical concept of judgement, it becomes clear that the property of judgement to provide meaning and purposiveness is based on the temporality of human life and the ambiguity of language, which quantitative processes lack. A juxtaposition shows that calculations and clustering can be used and referred to in more or less prejudiced and reflecting as well as opaque and transparent ways, but thereby always depend on human judgement. The paper clearly asserts that the transparency of AI is necessary for their autonomous use. This transparency requires the explicitness of the judgements that constitute these computational structures, thereby creating an awareness of the conditionality of such epistemic entities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

They give fixed parameter tractable algorithms for the problem parameterized by various structural parameters. The authors give a greedy loop-free algorithm for the exhaustive generation, a successor algorithm that runs in constant amortized time, among other algorithms, as well as results for the fixed spin generalization of this problem. IWOCA (International Workshop on Combinatorial Algorithms) is an annual conference series covering all aspects of combinatorial algorithms. [Extracted from the article]

Edge computing enables portable devices to provide smart applications, and the indoor positioning technique offers accurate location-based indoor navigation and personalized smart services. To achieve the high positioning accuracy, an indoor positioning algorithm based on particle filter requires a large number of sample particles to approximate the probability density function, which leads to the additional computational cost and high fusion delay. Focusing on real-time and accurate positioning, an edge computing-enabled green multi-source fusion indoor positioning algorithm called APFP is proposed based on adaptive particle filter in this paper. APFP considers both pedestrian dead reckoning (PDR) signals in mobile terminals and the received signal strength indication (RSSI) of Bluetooth, and effectively merges the error-free accumulation of trilateral positioning and the accurate short-range positioning of PDR, which enables mobile terminals adaptively perform particle filter to reduce the computing time and power consumption while ensuring positioning accuracy simultaneously. Detailed experimental results show that, compared with the traditional particle filter algorithm and the map-constrained algorithm, the proposed APFP reduces fusion computing cost by 59.89% and 54.37%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a weakly-supervised structural surface crack detection algorithm that can detect the crack area in an image with low data labeling cost. The algorithm consists of a convolutional neural networks Vgg16-Crack for classification, an improved and optimized class activation map (CAM) algorithm for accurately reflecting the position and distribution of cracks in the image, and a method that combines superpixel segmentation algorithm simple linear iterative clustering (SLIC) with CAM for more accurate semantic segmentation of cracks. In addition, this paper uses Bayesian optimization algorithm to obtain the optimal parameter combination that maximizes the performance of the model. The test results show that the algorithm only requires image-level labeling, which can effectively reduce the labor and material consumption brought by pixel-level labeling while ensuring accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sensorless control method of permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) based on adaptive super-twisting algorithm sliding mode observer (STASMO) is proposed in this paper. The traditional sliding mode observer (SMO) algorithm has the problem of inherent high-frequency chattering due to the use of switching function. The phase delay will be caused by using low-pass filter to deal with the problem of high-frequency buffeting. In this paper, the chattering of the system is effectively suppressed by combining the super-twisting algorithm and the SMO algorithm. The chattering suppression ability of the algorithm is further improved by adding an adaptive coefficient associated with speed in front of the higher-order integral term of the observer. At the same time, the speed and rotor position information are extracted by normalized phase-locked loop (PLL), which avoids the use of low-pass filter and phase compensation module. In order to overcome the influence of the change of motor parameters on the control system, an online estimation method of motor parameters is proposed. The values of stator resistance and stator inductance are estimated online in real time, and the estimated values are fed back to the SMO, which improves the system performance and estimation accuracy. Through simulations and experiments, it is proved that the proposed algorithm can effectively suppress high-frequency chattering, effectively improve the estimation performance of PMSM sensorless control system, and obtain more accurate speed and rotor position information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryptographic technology can effectively defend against malicious attackers to attack sensitive and private information. The core of cryptographic technology is cryptographic algorithm, and the cryptographic algorithm identification is the premise of in-depth analysis of cryptography. In the cryptanalysis of unknown cryptographic algorithm, the primary task is to identify the cryptographic algorithm used in the encryption and then carry out targeted analysis. With the rapid growth of Internet data, the increasing complexity of communication environment, and the increasing number of cryptographic algorithms, the single-layer identification scheme of cryptographic algorithm faces great challenges in terms of identification ability and stability. To solve these problems, on the basis of existing identification schemes, this paper proposes a new cluster division scheme CMSSBAM-cluster, and then proposes a multi-layer composite identification scheme of cryptographic algorithm using a composite structure. The scheme adopts the method of cluster division and single division to identify various cryptographic algorithms. Based on the idea of ensemble, the scheme uses the hybrid random forest and logistic regression (HRFLR) model for training, and conducts research on a data set consisting of 1700 ciphertext files encrypted by 17 cryptographic algorithms. In addition, two ensemble learning models, hybrid gradient boosting decision tree and logistic regression (HGBDTLR) model and hybrid k-neighbors and random forest (HKNNRF) model are used as controls to conduct controlled experiments in this paper. The experimental results show that multi-layer composite identification scheme of cryptographic algorithm based on HRFLR model has an accuracy rate close to 100% in the cluster division stage, and the identification results are higher than those of the other two models in both the cluster division and single division stages. In the last layer of cluster division, the identification accuracy of ECB and CBC encryption modes in block cryptosystem is significantly higher than that of the other two classification models by 35.2% and 36.1%. In single division, the identification accuracy is higher than HGBDTLR with a maximum of 9.8%, and higher than HKNNRF with a maximum of 7.5%. At the same time, the scheme proposed in this paper has significantly improved the identification effect compared with the single division identification accuracy of 17 cryptosystem directly and the 17 classification accuracy of 5.9% compared with random classification, which indicates that multi-layer composite identification scheme of cryptographic algorithm based on HRFLR model has significant advantages in the accuracy of identifying multiple cryptographic algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve the complexity of the chaotic system and ensure the relevant security indicators of the cryptographic algorithm, a new chaotic image encryption algorithm based on dynamic DNA coding and RNA computing is proposed. In this paper, we first construct a four-dimensional hyperchaotic system with more complex dynamics and then use the plaintext-related keystream generated by the hyperchaotic system to dynamically DNA encode the plaintext image, then perform RNA coding conversion and amino acid substitution box generation, and finally use an improved replacement sequence generator to generate pseudo-random sequences for replacement operations to generate the final ciphertext image. Theoretical analysis and simulation results show that the proposed algorithm has excellent performance in security indicators such as key space, the number of pixels change rate, the number average changing intensity, entropy, clipping attack, noise attack, and chosen plaintext attack. Therefore, the algorithm has higher security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a bidirectional feature fusion pyramid (B-FPN) Single Shot Multiple Frame Detector (SSD) algorithm. First, a bidirectional feature pyramid (B-FPN) structure is constructed, which realizes the bidirectional fusion of the feature layers and improves the accuracy of detection. Second, we introduce coordinate attention (CA) to focus on the important channel features while preserving their location information, thereby increasing the focus on the important information. Finally, optimizing the loss function speeds up the convergence of the model and further improves the detection accuracy of the network. The experimental results show that on the VOC2007 dataset, the mAP of the algorithm in this paper is 76.48%, which is 3.52% higher than that of the SSD algorithm. On the COCO 2017 dataset, the mAP of the proposed algorithm is 3.85% higher than that of the SSD algorithm. Compared with other mainstream target detection algorithms, the algorithm in this paper has certain advantages in detection accuracy, and can also achieve satisfactory results in detection speed. Finally, the accuracy of foreign object recognition in the special environment of iron ore transportation is 98.26%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recommendation system is an important module of many online systems. As one of the mainstream methods in the current recommendation system, the recommendation algorithm based on graph neural network can not only learn the cooperation signal between nodes, but also detect the nonlinear high-order information in node interaction. However, like the traditional collaborative filtering algorithm, the collaborative filtering method based on graph neural network only depends on the interaction information of existing users and projects, and the recommendation effect is poor in the scenario of sparse data. Although incorporating item attributes as auxiliary information into the recommendation algorithm can alleviate this problem to a certain extent, directly using the item attributes that users browse to construct user embedded vectors cannot contain users' implicit preferences. Therefore, this paper constructs a user–user network based on the interaction information between users and projects, analyzes it by using community detection, divides user groups with common interests, mines the potential attributes of users, and designs a collaborative filtering recommendation algorithm based on community detection and graph neural network. The research on two large real data sets shows that our method is superior to the standard recommendation method and the latest collaborative filtering recommendation method based on graph neural network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The wide use of the term Cognitive Reserve (CR) is in need of a clear and shared definition of its concept and of the development of new tools, quick and easy to use and updated for the people of today. This study describes the online short CRIq (s-CRIq), the new shorter version of the CRIq, following an item analysis revision, and compares the data distribution of different samples. Methods: The s-CRIq was administered online to 435 people while another 440 filled out the s-CRIq in self-administration. A further 588 participants had been administered the original paper-and-pencil long CRIq and 344 the online long CRIq. Results: The major difference in the databases of s-CRIq versus the long versions is an increased score in education and in leisure activity. However, the density distributions of the total score of CRI in the 4 databases share 64% of their areas, and at least two of them share 84%. Conclusion: The s-CRIq proved to be a simple and easy-to-administer tool. Similarly, to the original version, the s-CRIq is freely available on the web, and it is our hope that it will be of fruitful use for researchers and clinicians alike. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The task offloading of mobile edge computing (MEC) is to find proper edge or cloud resources for the execution tasks to efficiently utilize resources and meet different user's requirements. However, it is difficult for task offloading when the number of tasks and resources providers increases and to optimize multiple objectives while satisfying users' requirements. In this paper, a new multi-objective strategy based on the biogeography-based optimization (BBO) algorithm is proposed for MEC offloading to satisfied users' multiple requirements (the execution time, energy consumption and cost). In this strategy, a time-energy consumption model and a cost model are constructed for task offloading firstly. Based on these models, the BBO algorithm is introduced into task offloading for MEC to solve the problem of multi-objective optimization. Compared with the traditional strategies, the offloading strategy based on BBO decreases the average task completion time by an average of 25.03%, and compared with the technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution (TOPSIS) strategy, the BBO offloading strategy proposed in this paper reduces energy consumption 75% and cost by 36.9%. The proposed strategy can well solve the problem of multi-objective optimization in the task offloading for MEC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The real-time path planning of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in dynamic environments with moving threats is a difficult problem. To solve this problem, this paper proposes a time-based rapidly exploring random tree (time-based RRT*) algorithm, called the hierarchical rapidly exploring random tree algorithm based on potential function lazy planning and low-cost optimization (HPO-RRT*). The HPO-RRT* algorithm can guarantee path homotopy optimality and high planning efficiency. This algorithm uses a hierarchical architecture comprising a UAV perception system, path planner, and path optimizer. After the UAV perception system predicts moving threats and updates world information, the path planner obtains the heuristic path. First, the path planner uses the bias sampling method based on the artificial potential field function proposed in this paper to guide sampling to improve the efficiency and quality of sampling. Then, the tree is efficiently extended by the improved time-based lazy collision checking RRT* algorithm to obtain the heuristic path. Finally, a low-cost path optimizer quickly optimizes the heuristic path directly to optimize the path while avoiding additional calculations. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm outperforms the three existing advanced algorithms in terms of addressing the real-time path-planning problem of UAVs in a dynamic environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of recent papers raises worries about the manipulative potential of algorithmic transparency (to wit, making visible the factors that influence an algorithm’s output). But while the concern is apt and relevant, it is based on a fraught understanding of manipulation. Therefore, this paper draws attention to the ‘indifference view’ of manipulation, which explains better than the ‘vulnerability view’ why algorithmic transparency has manipulative potential. The paper also raises pertinent research questions for future studies of manipulation in the context of algorithmic transparency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have recently witnessed the rapid development of several emerging technologies, including the internet of things, which lead to a high interest in wireless sensor networks. Tiny sensor nodes are now important parts of a large number of complex systems, with numerous applications, including military, environment monitoring, and surveillance and body area sensor networks. A wireless sensor network builds the core part for IoT. Besides this, lifetime maximization is the biggest challenge in the wireless sensor network. Also, In a wireless sensor network, it is difficult to find an optimal node deployment approach that would minimize costs, be robust to node failures, decrease computing overhead and communication, and maintain a high degree of coverage and network connectivity. There is numerous literature addressed this challenge which is discussed in this paper; still there are lot many challenges yet to be addressed. Considering this scenario, in this paper, we propose a scheduled-based node deployment algorithm using Firefly Optimization (FA) to offer a circumstance where we have a group of target points that satisfy p-coverage and sensor nodes that satisfy q-connectivity, with subject to the selection of the optimal number of a sensor node that has the highest energy and minimum distance. The multiple parameters as no. of sensor nodes, distance, survivability factors, coverage, and connectivity of the sensor nodes are considered for designing the fitness function. A comprehensive statistical analysis is done using the simulation results to prove the proposed scheme's efficiency with other existing state-of-the-art methods under various p-coverage and q-connectivity configurations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The latent block model is used to simultaneously rank the rows and columns of a matrix to reveal a block structure. The algorithms used for estimation are often time consuming. However, recent work shows that the log-likelihood ratios are equivalent under the complete and observed (with unknown labels) models and the groups posterior distribution to converge as the size of the data increases to a Dirac mass located at the actual groups configuration. Based on these observations, the algorithm Largest Gaps is proposed in this paper to perform clustering using only the marginals of the matrix, when the number of blocks is very small with respect to the size of the whole matrix in the case of binary data. In addition, a model selection method is incorporated with a proof of its consistency. Thus, this paper shows that studying simplistic configurations (few blocks compared to the size of the matrix or very contrasting blocks) with complex algorithms is useless since the marginals already give very good parameter and classification estimates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the computation of the Lerch transcendent by means of the Gauss-Laguerre formula. An a priori estimate of the quadrature error, that allows to compute the number of quadrature nodes necessary to achieve an arbitrary precision, is derived. Exploiting the properties of the Gauss-Laguerre rule and the error estimate, a truncated approach is also considered. The algorithm used and its Matlab implementation are reported. The numerical examples confirm the reliability of this approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present a continuous-time algorithm with a dynamic event-triggered communication (DETC) mechanism for solving a class of distributed convex optimization problems that satisfy a metric subregularity condition. The proposed algorithm addresses the challenge of limited bandwidth in multi-agent systems by utilizing a continuous-time optimization approach with DETC. Furthermore, we prove that the distributed event-triggered algorithm converges exponentially to the optimal set, even without strong convexity conditions. Finally, we provide a comparison example to demonstrate the efficiency of our algorithm in communication resource-saving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The location planning of relief distribution centres (DCs) is crucial in humanitarian logistics as it directly influences the disaster response and service to the affected victims. In light of the critical role of facility location in humanitarian logistics planning, the study proposes a two-stage relief distribution location problem. The first stage of the model determines the minimum number of relief DCs, and the second stage find the optimal location of these DCs to minimize the total cost. To address a more realistic situation, restrictions are imposed on the coverage area and capacity of each DCs. In addition, for optimally solving this complex NP-hard problem, a novel two-phase algorithm with exploration and exploitation phase is developed in the paper. The first phase of the algorithm i.e., exploration phase identifies a near-optimal solution while the second phase i.e. exploitation phase enhances the solution quality through a close circular proximity investigation. Furthermore, the comparative analysis of the proposed algorithm with other well-known algorithms such as genetic algorithm, pattern search, fmincon, multistart and hybrid heuristics is also reported and computationally tested from small to large data sets. The results reveal that the proposed two-phase algorithm is more efficient and effective when compared to the conventional metaheuristic methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) is a widely employed screening tool for the severity of cognitive impairment. Among the MMSE items, the pentagon copying test (PCT) requires participants to accurately replicate a sample of two interlocking pentagons. While the PCT is traditionally scored on a binary scale, there have been limited developments of granular scoring scale to assess task performance. In this paper, we present a novel three-stage algorithm, called Quantification of Interlocking Pentagons (QIP) which quantifies PCT performance by computing the areas of individual pentagons and their intersection areas, and a balance ratio between the areas of the two individual pentagons. The three stages of the QIP algorithm include: (1) detection of line segments, (2) unraveling of the interlocking pentagons, and (3) quantification of areas. A set of 497 PCTs from 84 participants including their baseline and follow-up PCTs from the Rush Memory and Aging Project was selected blinded about their cognitive and clinical status. Analysis of the quantified data revealed a significant inverse relationship between age and balance ratio (beta = − 0.49, p = 0.0033), indicating that older age was associated with a smaller balance ratio. In addition, balance ratio was associated with perceptual speed (r = 0.71, p = 0.0135), vascular risk factors (beta = − 3.96, p = 0.0269), and medical conditions (beta = − 2.78, p = 0.0389). The QIP algorithm can serve as a useful tool for enhancing the scoring of performance in the PCT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High precision is a very important index in target tracking. In order to improve the prediction accuracy of target tracking, an optimized Kalman filter approach based on improved Gray Wolf algorithm (IGWO-OKF) is proposed in this paper. Since the convergence speed of traditional Gray Wolf algorithm is slow, meanwhile, the number of gray wolves and the choice of the maximum number of iterations has a great influence on the algorithm, a nonlinear control parameter combination adjustment strategy is proposed. An improved Grey Wolf Optimization algorithm (IGWO) is formed by determining the best combination of adjustment parameters through the fastest iteration speed of the algorithm. The improved Grey Wolf Optimization algorithm (IGWO) is formed, and the process noise covariance matrix and observation noise covariance matrix in Kalman filter are optimized by IGWO. The proposed approach is applied into. The experiment results show that the proposed IGWO-OKF approach has low error, high accuracy and good prediction effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a fusion algorithm based on the enhanced RRT* TEB algorithm. The enhanced RRT* algorithm is utilized for generating an optimal global path. Firstly, proposing an adaptive sampling function and extending node bias to accelerate global path generation and mitigate local optimality. Secondly, eliminating path redundancy to minimize path length. Thirdly, imposing constraints on the turning angle of the path to enhance path smoothness. Conducting kinematic modeling of the mobile robot and optimizing the TEB algorithm to align the trajectory with the mobile robot's kinematics. The integration of these two algorithms culminates in the development of a fusion algorithm. Simulation and experimental results demonstrate that, in contrast to the traditional RRT* algorithm, the enhanced RRT* algorithm achieves a 5.8% reduction in path length and a 62.5% decrease in the number of turning points. Utilizing the fusion algorithm for path planning, the mobile robot generates a superior, seamlessly smooth global path, adept at circumventing obstacles. Furthermore, the local trajectory meticulously conforms to the kinematic constraints of the mobile robot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ongoing research endeavors are exploring the potential of artificial intelligence to enhance the efficiency of wireless communication systems. Nevertheless, complex computational mechanisms, such as those inherent in neural networks, are not optimally suited for applications where the reduction of computational intricacy is of paramount importance. The rise in Bluetooth-enabled devices has led to the widespread adoption of Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) in various IoT applications, primarily due to its low power consumption. For specific applications, such as lost and found tags which operate on small batteries, it's especially important to further reduce power usage. With the objective of achieving low power consumption by optimally selecting channels and advertisement intervals, this paper introduces a parameter selection method derived from the Multi-Armed Bandit (MAB) algorithm, a technique known for addressing human decision-making challenges. In this study, we evaluate our proposed method using simulations in diverse environments. The outcomes indicate that, without compromising much on reliability, our approach can reduce power consumption by up to 40% based on the wireless surroundings. Additionally, when this method was implemented on an actual BLE device, it demonstrated effectiveness in reducing power consumption by about 35% in real environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the ethical and legal challenges encountered during the GATEKEEPER Project and how these challenges informed the development of a comprehensive framework for future Large-Scale Pilot (LSP) projects. GATEKEEPER is a LSP Project with 48 partners conducting 30 implementation studies across Europe with 50,000 target participants grouped into 9 Reference Use Cases. The project underscored the complexity of obtaining ethical approval across various jurisdictions with divergent regulations and procedures. Through a detailed analysis of the issues faced and the strategies employed to navigate these challenges, this study proposes an ethical and legal framework. This framework, derived from a comparative analysis of ethical application forms and regulations, aims to streamline the ethical approval process for future LSP research projects. By addressing the hurdles encountered in GATEKEEPER, the proposed framework offers a roadmap for more efficient and effective project management, ensuring smoother implementation of similar projects in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are a series of challenges in microgrid transactions, and blockchain technology holds the promise of addressing these challenges. However, with the increasing number of users in microgrid transactions, existing blockchain systems may struggle to meet the growing demands for transactions. Therefore, this paper proposes an efficient and secure blockchain consensus algorithm designed to meet the demands of large-scale microgrid electricity transactions. The algorithm begins by utilizing a Spectral clustering algorithm to partition the blockchain network into different lower-level consensus set based on the transaction characteristics of nodes. Subsequently, a dual-layer consensus process is employed to enhance the efficiency of consensus. Additionally, we have designed a secure consensus set leader election strategy to promptly identify leaders with excellent performance. Finally, we have introduced an authentication method that combines zero-knowledge proofs and key sharing to further mitigate the risk of malicious nodes participating in the consensus. Theoretical analysis indicates that our proposed consensus algorithm, incorporating multiple layers of security measures, effectively withstands blockchain attacks such as denial of service. Simulation experiment results demonstrate that our algorithm outperforms similar blockchain algorithms significantly in terms of communication overhead, consensus latency, and throughput. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquila Optimization (AO) is a recently proposed meta-heuristic algorithm, which has been proved to be more competitive than other meta-heuristic algorithms in function optimization and practical applications. However, when solving more complex optimization problems, AO still has the shortcomings of local optimal stagnation and low solving accuracy. To overcome these shortcomings, an improved Aquila Optimization algorithm (IAO) is proposed in this paper. During the initialization of IAO population, a hybrid chaotic mapping mechanism was introduced to initialize the population, improving both the population diversity and the uniformity of the population distribution. The elite dimensional lens imaging learning strategy is introduced for elite individual to improve the optimization quality of the algorithm as elite individual has more useful information than ordinary individuals. Then the probabilistic jump mechanism of simulated annealing algorithm is used to select the position update mode to balance local development and global search. The experimental results on the CEC2005 test function verify the viability and effectiveness of IAO. IAO is used to the multi-threshold segmentation problem based on symmetric cross entropy to demonstrate its capacity to resolve practical optimization problems. The segmentation performance on different reference images shows that IAO has good segmentation performance in most cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The idea of predicting links in multiplex networks has gained increasing interest in recent years. In this paper, we propose a comprehensive framework which benefits from the structural information of auxiliary layers to predict links on a target layer of multiplex networks. Specifically, we assume that the likelihood of the existence of a link between two nodes is determined by the contributions from both the nodes' neighbors on the target layer and their counterparts' neighbors on a manually network generated by auxiliary layers. The final likelihood matrix is acquired by an iterative algorithm. In addition, we show advantages of our methods for predicting links on sparse and dense networks as well as on networks with assortative and disassortative structural layers. The effectiveness of the proposed methods are evaluated through extensive experiments on real-world multiplex networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]