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Enhancement in both energy efficiency and spectral efficiency in cellular networks is made possible by means of an advanced technique called device-to device (D2D) communication. The enhancement of these efficiencies is done by utilizing the cellular user (CU) resources once again to make communication with nearby cellular devices in an effective manner by spectral means. As the D2D communication technology is capable of providing a direct communication link with nearby devices effectively with enhanced spectral efficacy, this approach is considered as an ideal solution for the futuristic cellular communication network. A flexible and reliable relay-assisted communication by means of D2D technology is required that acts as an intermediate relay when the attenuation between the channels across the D2D devices becomes high. The throughput of the system is increased by utilizing D2D communication technology as it uses direct data transmission within cellular devices. When the cellular user is far apart from one another, the data loss in the D2D communication system is minimized with the utilization of the relay. When the channels are good, then the relay nodes (RNs) serve the cellular user. However, it is noted that the D2D systems are affected by issues such as higher consumption of energy and spectral sharing. Also, the sum rate gets degraded as a result of mutual interference between resource-sharing cellular devices in the relay-assisted D2D communication system. The transmission of the data in a traditional relay-assisted D2D communication system is carried out between the D2D receiver (DR) and D2D transmitter (DT) only with the utilization of its own energy by the RN. The issues in relay selection and resource allocation in the conventional joint resource allocation schemes are tackled by executing a scheme for performing the task of optimal relay selection and joint resource allocation. The enhancement of the overall sum rate in the D2D communication is the main motive behind the implemented scheme. This goal is attained along with the minimization of the link rates in the cellular and D2D networks. The ideal selection of the relay and the execution of the joint resource allocation are done with the utilization of a new optimization scheme called the hybrid flow direction with the chameleon swarm algorithm (HFDCSA), in which the flow direction algorithm (FDA) is fused along with chameleon swarm algorithm. This optimal selection of the relays is assisted by considering constraints like the network's sum rate and energy efficiency in the network to achieve high performance. The data obtained from distinct sources are given to the adaptive multi-layer perceptron (AMLP) in which optimal resource allocation and the relay selection are performed with the help of the suggested HFDCSA. The parameters in the MLP are tuned by the same HFDCSA. Finally, the performance validation is conducted in the stage to verify the working of the suggested approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sports image classification is a complex undertaking that necessitates the utilization of precise and robust techniques to differentiate between various sports activities. This study introduces a novel approach that combines the deep neural network (DNN) with a modified metaheuristic algorithm known as novel tuna swarm optimization (NTSO) for the purpose of sports image classification. The DNN is a potent technique capable of extracting high-level features from raw images, while the NTSO algorithm optimizes the hyperparameters of the DNN, including the number of layers, neurons, and activation functions. Through the application of NTSO to the DNN, a finely-tuned network is developed, exhibiting exceptional performance in sports image classification. Rigorous experiments have been conducted on an extensive dataset of sports images, and the obtained results have been compared against other state-of-the-art methods, including Attention-based graph convolution-guided third-order hourglass network (AGTH-Net), particle swarm optimization algorithm (PSO), YOLOv5 backbone and SPD-Conv, and Depth Learning (DL). According to a fivefold cross-validation technique, the DNN/NTSO model provided remarkable precision, recall, and F1-score results: 97.665 ± 0.352%, 95.400 ± 0.374%, and 0.8787 ± 0.0031, respectively. Detailed comparisons reveal the DNN/NTSO model's superiority toward various performance metrics, solidifying its standing as a top choice for sports image classification tasks. Based on the practical dataset, the DNN/NTSO model has been successfully evaluated in real-world scenarios, showcasing its resilience and flexibility in various sports categories. Its capacity to uphold precision in dynamic settings, where elements like lighting, backdrop, and motion blur are prominent, highlights its utility. The model's scalability and efficiency in analyzing images from live sports competitions additionally validate its suitability for integration into real-time sports analytics and media platforms. This research not only confirms the theoretical superiority of the DNN/NTSO model but also its pragmatic effectiveness in a wide array of demanding sports image classification assignments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of advanced technologies like cloud and edge computing has facilitated efficient resource coordination, resulting in improved overall management and widespread applicability. Simultaneously, addressing energy consumption, reliability, and server and communication link failure rates has become a pressing research concern. To address this challenge, an advanced combined-decomposition whale optimization algorithm has been developed. This algorithm utilizes a unique combined-decomposition operator to identify nearly optimal server coalitions, enhancing the quality of service performance. Through a training process at various utilization levels, servers determine their optimal utilization for achieving the maximum energy-to-reliability trade-off ratio. Then, a head server with the highest optimal utilization leads each of these clusters of servers. Unlike other population-based clustering methods, this algorithm incorporates the whale optimization algorithm, extending its exploration and exploitation capabilities beyond other leading scheduling algorithms. The integration of these techniques successfully achieves the dual objective of balancing energy and reliability, addressing existing challenges, and ensuring optimal energy-reliability trade-offs. Simulation experiments using various evaluation metrics demonstrate that the proposed approach enhances energy efficiency by approximately 17 to 35% and reliability by 25 to 55%, all while meeting quality service standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article proposes the use of a leader white shark optimizer (LWSO) with the aim of improving the exploitation of the conventional white shark optimizer (WSO) and solving the economic operation-based load dispatch (ELD) problem. The ELD problem is a crucial aspect of power system operation, involving the allocation of power generation resources to meet the demand while minimizing operational costs. The proposed approach aims to enhance the performance and efficiency of the WSO by introducing a leadership mechanism within the optimization process, which aids in more effectively navigating the complex ELD solution space. The LWSO achieves increased exploitation by utilizing a leader-based mutation selection throughout each generation of white sharks. The efficacy of the proposed algorithm is tested on 13 engineer benchmarks non-convex optimization problems from CEC 2020 and compared with recent metaheuristic algorithms such as dung beetle optimizer (DBO), conventional WSO, fox optimizer (FOX), and moth-flame optimization (MFO) algorithms. The LWSO is also used to address the ELD problem in different case studies (6 units, 10 units, 11 units, and 40 units), with 20 separate runs using the proposed LWSO and other competitive algorithms being statistically assessed to demonstrate its effectiveness. The results show that the LWSO outperforms other metaheuristic algorithms, achieving the best solution for the benchmarks and the minimum fuel cost for the ELD problem. Additionally, statistical tests are conducted to validate the competitiveness of the LWSO algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the growing adoption of cloud computing in both public and private sector enterprises, the industry has experienced rapid expansion. To fully unlock the potential of cloud computing, efficient task scheduling becomes crucial. In cloud computing, task scheduling involves optimizing the allocation of tasks to a diverse range of resources, such as virtual machines, with the goals of reducing makespan, maximizing resource utilization, and minimizing response times. This challenge becomes even more pronounced for large-scale tasks due to the NP-hard nature of the problem. Consequently, the integration of metaheuristic algorithms into task scheduling has emerged as a solution to equitably distribute complex and diverse tasks across limited resources within acceptable timeframes. To enhance the quality of cloud computing services, this research introduces the modified white shark optimizer (mWSO) as an alternative task scheduling technique. The improved variant mWSO boosts the performance of the original WSO by introducing the following three enhancement steps: (1) introduce memory-based WSO to boost the exploitation phase, (2) propose an exploration-exploitation balance phase to enhance the exploration phase, and (3) introduce a control randomization parameter to balance exploration and exploitation properly. The mWSO is subjected to testing on both the global optimization problems from CEC2020 and cloud task scheduling problems. The experimental results of mWSO demonstrate high performance for CEC2020 competition benchmarks compared to other state-of-the-art and recent metaheuristic algorithms. In the case of the task scheduling problem, the mWSO achieved − 0.01 to 13.53% and 0.62–10.42% makespan and energy consumption reduction, respectively, for CEA-Curie workloads. For HPC2N workloads, mWSO achieved 7.27–29.53% makespan reduction and 3.52–26.08% energy savings over the compared metaheuristics. The statistical validity of the performance is also verified using Wilcoxon's rank-sum test. The experimental results and comparison analysis reveal the consistent and better performance of the proposed mWSO to solve optimization problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diffuse horizontal irradiance (DHI) forecasts are critical for adopting solar photovoltaic technology. Yet, they can lack reliability given the limited and uncertain meteorological data available for desert areas. This research develops a new sine cosine dipper throated optimization (SCDTO) technique, targeting DHI prediction even given such data constraints. SCDTO uniquely hybridizes sine cosine metaheuristics, adept at exploration, with dipper throat optimization, providing focused exploitation. This hybridization aims to create a robust ensemble model capable of delivering reliable DHI predictions despite climatic uncertainty. The ensemble model, employing various input combinations, was rigorously evaluated across multiple meteorological stations. The SCDTO algorithm exhibited remarkable performance improvements, yielding substantial reductions exceeding 93% in root mean squared error and 98% in mean absolute error at key stations in Morocco, including Tan-Tan, Zagora, Erfoud, and Oujda. Comparative analyses against established optimization algorithms consistently underscored the superior predictive capabilities of SCDTO. Visualizations, including box plots and histograms, demonstrated SCDTO's efficacy in minimizing prediction errors, particularly for Tan-Tan, Zagora, and Erfoud stations. Also, statistical validation through one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) further affirmed the significance of the proposed SCDTO method. Therefore, this hybrid metaheuristic optimization enables more accurate DHI predictions from limited meteorological data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a novel hybrid optimization method to solve the resource allocation problem for multi-target multi-sensor tracking of drones. This hybrid approach, the Improved Prairie Dog Optimization Algorithm (IPDOA) with the Genetic Algorithm (GA), utilizes the strengths of both algorithms to improve the overall optimization performance. The goal is to select a set of sensors based on norms of weighted distances cost function. The norms are the Euclidean distance and the Mahalanobis distance between the drone location and the sensors. The second one depends on the predicted covariance of the tracker. The Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) is used for state estimation with proper clutter and detection models. Since we use Multi-objects to track, the Joint Probability Distribution Function (JPDA) estimates the best measurement values with a preset gating threshold. The goal is to find a sensor or minimum set of sensors that would be enough to generate high-quality tracking based on optimum resource allocation. In the experimentation simulated with Stone Soup, one radar among five radars is selected at every time step of 50-time steps for 200 tracks distributed over 20 different ground truths. The proposed IPDOA provided optimum solutions for this complex problem. The obtained solution is an optimum offline solution that is used to select one or more sensors for any future flights within the vicinity of the 5 radars. Environment and conditions are assumed to be similar in future drone flights within the radars' defined zone. The IPDOA performance was compared with the other 8 metaheuristic optimization algorithms and the testing showed its superiority over those techniques for solving this complex problem. The proposed simulated model can find the most relevant sensor(s) capable of generating the best quality tracks based on weighted distance criteria (Euclidean and Mahalanobis). That would cut down the cost of operating extra sensors and then it would be possible to move them to other vicinity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurately predicting potential evapotranspiration (PET) is crucial in water resource management, agricultural planning, and climate change studies. This research aims to investigate the performance of two machine learning methods, the adaptive network-based fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) and the deep belief network (DBN), in forecasting PET, as well as to explore the potential of hybridizing the ANFIS approach with the Snake Optimizer (ANFIS-SO) algorithm. The study utilized a comprehensive dataset spanning the period from 1983 to 2020. The ANFIS, ANFIS-SO, and DBN models were developed, and their performances were evaluated using statistical metrics, including R2, R adj 2 , NSE, WI, STD, and RMSE. The results showcase the exceptional performance of the DBN model, which achieved R2 and R adj 2 values of 0.99 and NSE and WI scores of 0.99 across the nine stations analyzed. In contrast, the standard ANFIS method exhibited relatively weaker performance, with R2 and R adj 2 values ranging from 0.52 to 0.88. However, the ANFIS-SO approach demonstrated a substantial improvement, with R2 and R adj 2 values ranging from 0.94 to 0.99, suggesting the value of optimization techniques in enhancing the model's capabilities. The Taylor diagram and violin plots with box plots further corroborated the comparative analysis, highlighting the DBN model's superior ability to closely match the observed standard deviation and correlation and its consistent and low-variance predictions. The ANFIS-SO method also exhibited enhanced performance in these visual representations, with an RMSE of 0.86, compared to 0.95 for the standard ANFIS. The insights gained from this study can inform the selection of the most appropriate modeling technique, whether it be the high-precision DBN, the flexible ANFIS, or the optimized ANFIS-SO approach, based on the specific requirements and constraints of the application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today's many giant sectors including energy, industry, tourism, and agriculture should closely track the variation trends of solar radiation to take more benefit from the sun. However, the scarcity of solar radiation measuring stations represents a significant obstacle. This has prompted research into the estimation of global solar radiation (GSR) for various regions using existing climatic and atmospheric parameters. While prediction methods cannot supplant the precision of direct measurements, they are invaluable for studying and utilizing solar energy on a global scale. From this point of view, this paper has focused on predicting daily GSR data in three provinces (Afyonkarahisar, Rize, and Ağrı) which exhibit disparate solar radiation distributions in Türkiye. In this context, Gradient-Based Optimizer (GBO), Harris Hawks Optimization (HHO), Barnacles Mating Optimizer (BMO), Sine Cosine Algorithm (SCA), and Henry Gas Solubility Optimization (HGSO) have been employed to model the daily GSR data. The algorithms were calibrated with daily historical data of five input variables including sunshine duration, actual pressure, moisture, wind speed, and ambient temperature between 2010 and 2017 years. Then, they were tested with daily data for the 2018 year. In the study, a series of statistical metrics (R2, MABE, RMSE, and MBE) were employed to elucidate the algorithm that predicts solar radiation data with higher accuracy. The prediction results demonstrated that all algorithms achieved the highest R2 value in Rize province. It has been found that SCA (MABE of 0.7023 MJ/m2, RMSE of 0.9121 MJ/m2, and MBE of 0.2430 MJ/m2) for Afyonkarahisar province and GBO (RMSE of 0.8432 MJ/m2, MABE of 0.6703 MJ/m2, and R2 of 0.8810) for Ağrı province are the most effective algorithms for estimating GSR data. The findings indicate that each of the metaheuristic algorithms tested in this paper has the potential to predict daily GSR data within a satisfactory error range. However, the GBO and SCA algorithms provided the most accurate predictions of daily GSR data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study employed meta-heuristic clustering algorithms to determine the source and mechanism of groundwater salinization in Quebec's Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean (SLSJ) region, utilizing hydrogeochemical (38 inorganic constituents, including minor, major, and trace elements) and isotopic data (δ18O and δ2H). A total of 382 groundwater and precipitation samples were examined. Among the meta-heuristic algorithms, Artificial Bee Colony K-Means (ABCKM), Differential Evolution K-Means (DEKM), Harmony Search K-Means (HSKM), Particle Swarm Optimization K-Means (PSOKM), and Genetic K-Means (GKM) were used and investigated, and finally, PSOKM displayed superior performance and was chosen for further investigation. Analysis of diverse plots and hydrogeochemical modeling unveiled the impact of the Laflamme Sea invasion on groundwater chemistry. PSOKM1, PSOKM4, and PSOKM5 exhibited notable carbonate and silicate dissolution, with PSOKM4 demonstrating predominant carbonate dissolution. Cation exchange was identified through binary plots and Chloro Alkaline Index (CAI), with reverse cation exchange predominantly observed in most PSOKM4 samples, while positive values suggested direct cation exchange in other clusters. Spatial dynamics analysis using HFE-D indicated that salinization occurs as groundwater flows through crystalline bedrock aquifers, resulting in a transition from HCO3− dominance in PSOKM4 to Cl− dominance in the remaining clusters. Interaction between groundwater and rock along this path facilitated a transformation towards a Na-Cl end-member. The closely aligned stable isotopes with the Global Meteoric Water Line (GMWL) indicated a blend of meteoric water and seawater as the groundwater source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nano-phytoremediation is a novel green technique to remove toxic pollutants from the environment. In vitro regenerated Ceratophyllum demersum (L.) plants were exposed to different concentrations of chromium (Cr) and exposure times in the presence of titania nanoparticles (TiO2NPs). Response surface methodology was used for multiple statistical analyses like regression analysis and optimizing plots. The supplementation of NPs significantly impacted Cr in water and Cr removal (%), whereas NP × exposure time (T) statistically regulated all output parameters. The Firefly metaheuristic algorithm and the random forest (Firefly-RF) machine learning algorithms were coalesced to optimize hyperparameters, aiming to achieve the highest level of accuracy in predicted models. The R2 scores were recorded as 0.956 for Cr in water, 0.987 for Cr in the plant, 0.992 for bioconcentration factor (BCF), and 0.957 for Cr removal through the Firefly-RF model. The findings illustrated superior prediction performance from the random forest models when compared to the response surface methodology. The conclusion is drawn that metal-based nanoparticles (NPs) can effectively be utilized for nano-phytoremediation of heavy metals. This study has uncovered a promising outlook for the utilization of nanoparticles in nano-phytoremediation. This study is expected to pave the way for future research on the topic, facilitating further exploration of various nanoparticles and a thorough evaluation of their potential in aquatic ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The execution of a project is often distributed among multiple sites. The planning of such a project includes selecting a specific site for the execution of each of the project's activities and allocating the available resource units to the execution of these activities over time. While some resource units are available at a certain site only, others can be moved across sites. Given the spatial distance between sites, transportation times arise if a resource unit must be transported from one site to another or if the output of an activity must be transported to another site. This planning problem has been introduced in recent literature as the multi-site resource-constrained project scheduling problem. We present a continuous-time model and devise a matheuristic for this planning problem. The continuous-time model uses, among others, binary variables to impose a sequence between activities assigned to the same resource units. In the matheuristic, the binary restrictions on these variables are initially relaxed and iteratively restored for the subset of activities scheduled in the current iteration. We compare the performance of the continuous-time model and the matheuristic to the performance of a discrete-time model and several metaheuristics from the literature using two sets of test instances from the literature. Both the continuous-time model and the matheuristic derive on average superior solutions in shorter average running times than the reference approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a modern classification of load balancing strategies in cloud computing is presented that can help researchers and practitioners to better understand and select the most appropriate algorithms for their specific needs. Our classification covers three main types of load balancing algorithms including static heuristics, dynamic heuristics, and metaheuristic algorithms. We thoroughly evaluate each type of techniques and identify their respective benefits and drawbacks. Static heuristics are easy to implement and require minimal computational resources, but may yield suboptimal allocations due to significant workload variations. Dynamic heuristics are more adaptable but may incur higher overhead costs due to frequent updates. Metaheuristic algorithms offer highly optimized solutions but may be computationally expensive and not always guarantee optimal results. In addition to offering a framework for understanding various load balancing algorithms, our classification can help researchers and practitioners select the most suitable algorithm for their specific needs and constraints. By taking into account factors such as workload variability, resource availability, and computational limitations, users can choose an algorithm that optimally addresses their requirements, while simultaneously minimizing overhead costs and enhancing efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides six metaheuristic algorithms, namely Fast Cuckoo Search (FCS), Salp Swarm Algorithm (SSA), Dynamic control Cuckoo search (DCCS), Gradient-Based Optimizer (GBO), Northern Goshawk Optimization (NGO), Opposition Flow Direction Algorithm (OFDA) to efficiently solve the optimal power flow (OPF) issue. Under standard and conservative operating settings, the OPF problem is modeled utilizing a range of objectives, constraints, and formulations. Five case studies have been conducted using IEEE 30-bus and IEEE 118-bus standard test systems to evaluate the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed algorithms. A performance evaluation procedure is suggested to compare the optimization techniques' strength and resilience. A fresh comparison methodology is created to compare the proposed methodologies with other well-known methodologies. Compared to previously reported optimization algorithms in the literature, the obtained results show the potential of GBO to solve various OPF problems efficiently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Image segmentation techniques play a vital role in aiding COVID-19 diagnosis. Multi-threshold image segmentation methods are favored for their computational simplicity and operational efficiency. Existing threshold selection techniques in multi-threshold image segmentation, such as Kapur based on exhaustive enumeration, often hamper efficiency and accuracy. The whale optimization algorithm (WOA) has shown promise in addressing this challenge, but issues persist, including poor stability, low efficiency, and accuracy in COVID-19 threshold image segmentation. To tackle these issues, we introduce a Latin hypercube sampling initialization-based multi-strategy enhanced WOA (CAGWOA). It incorporates a COS sampling initialization strategy (COSI), an adaptive global search approach (GS), and an all-dimensional neighborhood mechanism (ADN). COSI leverages probability density functions created from Latin hypercube sampling, ensuring even solution space coverage to improve the stability of the segmentation model. GS widens the exploration scope to combat stagnation during iterations and improve segmentation efficiency. ADN refines convergence accuracy around optimal individuals to improve segmentation accuracy. CAGWOA's performance is validated through experiments on various benchmark function test sets. Furthermore, we apply CAGWOA alongside similar methods in a multi-threshold image segmentation model for comparative experiments on lung X-ray images of infected patients. The results demonstrate CAGWOA's superiority, including better image detail preservation, clear segmentation boundaries, and adaptability across different threshold levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a bit-level cryptographic model for encrypting medical signals, patient information, clinical data, and images of various modalities. The model has utilized chaotic maps due to properties like non-periodicity, nonlinearity, ergodicity, deterministic, unpredictable, and sensitive to the initial conditions. Three chaotic maps are employed in a chained sequence at different levels of the model to elevate the randomness and provide uniform key distribution with larger key space. Also, the self-adaptive bald eagle search optimization algorithm has been employed to enhance the properties of chaotic maps by optimizing the initialization and control parameters. The cyclic redundancy check approach is involved to detect any change in the data during the transmission at the receiver side along with circular shift to make encrypted data resilient of differential attack. Therefore, the encryption model boosts the unpredictability, security, and protection against a wide range of threats. The encryption model performance efficiency is demonstrated using different types of security analysis to show resistance against statistical, entropy, differential, cropping, and brute-force attacks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gazelle optimization algorithm (GOA) is an iterative optimization method inspired by the agile movements of gazelles, employing adaptive step sizes and velocity adjustments for rapid convergence in continuous search spaces. However, GOA tends to lack diversity, leading to issues like local minima trapping and premature convergence. This paper addresses these limitations by introducing dynamic opposition-based learning (OBL) and incorporating a balanced sine-control-logistic chaotic mapping system, resulting in the improved GOA (IGOA). Dynamic OBL accelerates the search process, improving learning and selecting superior candidate solutions, while chaotic mapping in chaotic local search widens ranges for exploration and local optima escape. Evaluating IGOA against seven algorithms, including GOA and others, across 31 general test functions, the results consistently showcase IGOA's superior efficiency in achieving solutions closest to optima, early convergence, and hit rate when compared to alternative algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Topology control is a significant research problem when it comes to designing energy-efficient wireless sensor networks (WSNs). It is a metric for evaluating network service quality. To ensure the quality of network services, it is critical to provide energy-efficient sensor node scheduling in order to extend the network's lifespan. In this paper, we propose an energy-aware scheduling protocol (ESP)-based hybrid metaheuristic technique for minimizing the amount of energy consumption and ensuring sufficient coverage for the monitored area while maximizing the network lifespan for WSNs. The ESP consists of two phases: distributed clustering and sensor node scheduling. The clustering phase implements the DBSCAN clustering algorithm with slide modification to cluster the sensor nodes in the area of interest into clusters of nodes, and the efficient periodic cluster head election approach is proposed based on criteria such as remaining energy, number of neighbors, and distance for each node in the cluster. This clustering is only performed at the beginning to group the nodes into clusters. Then, only the cluster head election will be done every period. In the scheduling phase, we model the scheduling optimization problem using three objectives: reducing the number of uncovered zones, minimizing the number of active sensors, and selecting the active sensor nodes with the maximum remaining energy. This scheduling optimization model is solved using a hybrid metaheuristic algorithm. When the genetic algorithm's operators were added to the regular Cuckoo algorithm, the balance between exploration and exploitation abilities was improved even more. The algorithms were able to search a larger area. Extensive simulation experiments were conducted using the OMNeT++ network simulator. The results show that the proposed ESP protocol introduces better performance in terms of coverage ratio, active sensor ratio, energy consumption, network lifespan, and execution time compared to other existing techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes the Love Evolution Algorithm (LEA), a novel evolutionary algorithm inspired by the stimulus–value–role theory. The optimization process of the LEA includes three phases: stimulus, value, and role. Both partners evolve through these phases and benefit from them regardless of the outcome of the relationship. This inspiration is abstracted into mathematical models for global optimization. The efficiency of the LEA is validated through numerical experiments with CEC2017 benchmark functions, outperforming seven metaheuristic algorithms as evidenced by the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and the Friedman test. Further tests using the CEC2022 benchmark functions confirm the competitiveness of the LEA compared to seven state-of-the-art metaheuristics. Lastly, the study extends to real-world problems, demonstrating the performance of the LEA across eight diverse engineering problems. Source codes of the LEA are publicly available at https://ww2.mathworks.cn/matlabcentral/fileexchange/159101-love-evolution-algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a novel hyper-heuristic algorithm termed evolutionary multi-mode slime mold optimization (EMSMO) for addressing continuous optimization problems. The architecture of a typical hyper-heuristic algorithm comprises two main components: the high-level component and the low-level component. The low-level component contains a set of low-level heuristics (LLHs) and intrinsic problem attributes, while the high-level component manipulates the LLHs to construct the sequence of heuristics. Inspired by the foraging behaviors of slime mold, we designed four easy-implemented search strategies including the search for food, approach food, wrap food, and re-initialization as the LLHs for the low-level component. In the high-level component, we adopt an improvement-based probabilistic selection function that contains two metrics: (1) the probability of improvement and (2) the normalized improvement. The selection function cooperates with the roulette wheel strategy to construct the optimization sequence. To evaluate the performance of our proposal, we implement comprehensive numerical experiments on CEC2013 benchmark functions and three engineering optimization problems. Six classic or advanced evolutionary algorithms and three hyper-heuristic algorithms are applied as competitor algorithms to evaluate the competitiveness of EMSMO. Experimental and statistical results show that EMSMO has broad prospects for solving continuous optimization problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The software-defined network paradigm, ensembled with a wireless sensor network, has emerged as a promising phenomenon to enable multi-tasking, re-configuration, and scalability. Termed the software-defined wireless sensor network (SDWSN), it divides the network into two planes: data and control. The data plane consists of software-defined sensor nodes (SDSN) that sense monitoring activity and generate data. On the other hand, the control plane has controller/control Nodes (CN) which collect data from SDSN, perform data aggregation, and then transmit toward the sink node. These CNs consume more amount of energy as compared to SDSNs as they perform multiple tasks. Following this scenario, this paper proposes an energy-efficient multi-objective optimization approach to solve the CNs placement problem through a meta-heuristic algorithm by considering the nodes' location, energy, and load distribution. This paper presents a particle swarm optimization-based controller placement and re-placement (PSO-CPR) algorithm for SDWSN. The PSO-CPR elects SDSNs to become CN based on their distance, residual energy, and capacity in the network. Moreover, the placement of a CN rotates within the cluster to avoid its failure and balance energy consumption. The simulation results show improved CN placement with respect to the state-of-the-art algorithms in terms of average delay by 23.5–37.4%, energy consumption by 18.6–32.6%, and probabilistic load distribution by 17.7–54.1%. Moreover, the comparative study also indicates that PSO-CPR achieve promising result by reducing packet loss by 14.4–27.5% and network re-clustering period by 32.3–68.3% and enhance the network lifetime by 22.6–42.5%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Differential evolution (DE) is among the best evolutionary algorithms for global optimization. However, the basic DE has several shortcomings, like the slow convergence speed, and it is more likely to be stuck at local optima. Additionally, DE's performance is sensitive to its mutation strategies and control parameters for mutation and crossover. In this scope, we present in this paper three mechanisms to overcome DE limitations. First, two novel mutations called DE/mean-current/2 and DE/best-mean-current/2 are proposed and integrated in the DE algorithm, and they have both exploration ability and exploitation trend. On the other hand, to avoid being trapped in local minima of hard functions, a new exploration operator has been proposed called Weibull flight based on the Weibull distribution. Finally, new adapted control parameters based on the Weibull distribution are integrated. These parameters contribute to the optimization process by adjusting mutation scale and alleviating the parameter setting problem often encountered in various metaheuristics. The efficacy of the proposed algorithms called meanDE, MDEW, AMDE, and AMDEW is validated through intensive experimentations using classical tests, some challenging tests, the CEC2017, CEC2020, the most recent CEC2022, four constraint engineering problems, and the data clustering problem. Moreover, comparisons with several popular, recent, and high-performance optimization algorithms show a high effectiveness of the proposed algorithms in locating the optimal or near-optimal solutions with higher efficiency. The experiments clearly indicate the effectiveness of the new mutations compared to the standard DE mutations. Moreover, the proposed Weibull flight has a great capacity to deal with the hard composition functions of CEC benchmarks. Finally, the use of adapted control parameters for the mutation scale helps overcome the parameter setting problem commonly encountered in various metaheuristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the ever-growing electricity consumption and environmental anxiety with the predominant usage of conventional fuels in power plants, it is crucial to explore suitable alternatives to address these issues. Renewable energy sources (RESs) have emerged as the preferred choice for meeting energy requirements due to their minimal pollution. This study proposes a new idea to minimize operational costs and achieve the most cost-effective grid with minimum cost. Meanwhile, the transportation sector is gradually replacing conventional fossil-cars with electric ones, specifically plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), which have gained significant consideration. These vehicles can join to the main grid and engage in energy exchange through grid-to-vehicle (G2V) and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technologies. Additionally, the concept of microgrid (MG) is proposed to optimize the potential of PEVs through smart infrastructure. Using the V2G capability, the operating costs are reduced, providing opportunities to incorporate PEVs into the network. Therefore, effective operation of MGs becomes highly significant. This paper suggests management of a MG consisting of PEVs and RESs. The approach utilizes a stochastic programming technique called unscented transformation (UT). The problem is addressed as a single-objective stochastic optimization problem with the aim of minimizing the operation cost. The proposed approach employs the hybrid whale optimization algorithm and pattern search (HWOA–PS) to solve the stochastic problem. The obtained outcomes are compared with those of other approaches to validate its effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on optimizing the laser cladding process parameters of WC/Inconel 625 composite on a low-carbon steel substrate. This process aims to improve industrial parts' wear and corrosion properties in corrosive and high-temperature environments. Laser power, laser cladding speed, powder-feeding rate, and WC content percentage were process input parameters, each at three levels. The dilution ratio and micro-hardness of samples were considered as process responses. Taguchi orthogonal arrays were employed for experimental design, and the results were analyzed using signal-to-noise ratio and analysis of variance. A linear regression model was developed to understand the relationship between process parameters and responses. In addition, two-objective optimization of the process parameters using the second-generation non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II), and a hybrid algorithm based on the multi-objective whale optimization algorithm (MOWOAGA) were carried out to determine the optimal parameters that minimize the dilution ratio and maximize the cladding hardness. The results showed that the laser power and the powder-feeding rate have the most excellent effect on the dilution ratio. In contrast, WC content percentage and powder-feeding rate strongly affect micro-hardness. Based on the applied meta-heuristic algorithms and confirmed by experimental tests, the laser power of 370 W, laser cladding speed of 4 mm/s, powder-feeding rate of 8 g/min, and WC content percentage of 20.5% are the most optimal process parameters that lead to micro-hardness of 397 Vickers and dilution percentage of 2.5%. This research guides selecting, controlling, and optimizing WC/Inconel 625 composite laser cladding process parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a jellyfish search algorithm (JSA)-based offline method to design a DC voltage controller of AC/DC front-end converter (FEC) in a doubly fed induction generator (DFIG)-based wind energy conversion system (WECS). First, a multi-objective tuning problem is formulated using a full-order converter model to achieve maximum utilization of converter parameters in controller design. Next, a normalized mono-objective problem is developed using a utopia-tracking approach to reduce the computational complexity in design. Finally, the mono-objective problem is solved using JSA to enhance the controller performance by obtaining optimal gain values for the controller. A comparative study is performed with other metaheuristic optimization techniques to justify the use of JSA in this application. The results confirm that the accuracy of the JSA-based approach is higher, whereas the execution time of the method is lower than the other methods. Furthermore, to validate the performance of the proposed approach, a DFIG-based WECS is modeled and simulated using OPAL-RT real-time simulator. A grid voltage-oriented vector control is used as the overall control algorithm for the FEC. Unlike the conventional pole-zero cancellation method, the proposed approach provides no voltage overshoot during voltage development. Compared to the published literature, it also ensures 40.65% lesser voltage deviation without any overcurrent, irrespective of wind speed and load variations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the environment's instability, to reduce inconsistent power supply it is preferable to connect two or more RES in a grid. Harmonics and other power quality issues are introduced into the distribution grid as a result of integrating these Hybrid Renewable Energy Storage (HRES) with nonlinear loads, which is a significant concern for the utility and the consumers, respectively. With the use of the Unified Power Quality Conditioner (UPQC), power quality problems such as voltage interruptions, actual power, and reactive power can be reduced. For optimal operation of the series and shunt compensator of UPQC, the outputs of the converters are controlled by PWM signals, which are optimally tuned by controllers implemented with updated algorithms. An optimized Hybrid metaheuristic-assisted collateral controller comprising of fractional-order proportional integral derivative (FOPID) controller cum (proportional integral (PI) controller for the enhancement of the Three-Phase HRES system-based Distribution Grid integrated with UPQC is developed in this paper. The UPQC reduces the harmonics that non-linear loads feed into the power supply and power quality concerns. The DC link voltage regulation and controller optimization are achieved with the optimal tuning of gain parameters, fractional orders and weight parameters using a hybrid Metaheuristic Algorithm named Amplified Slime Mould with WildeBeest Herd Optimization (ASM-WHO) Algorithm. The proposed system is developed in MATLAB Simulink to compare the effectiveness of compensation for voltage sags and surges and total harmonic distortion (THD) to more traditional approaches, UPQC with PI controller, FOPID-PI controller, FOPID-PI with Chicken Swarm Optimization (CSO), SOA, SMA, and WHO optimization. The settling time for the proposed FOPID-PI controller with ASM –WHO is 147.27 s, which is 1.7%, 13.78%, 1.338% and 13.66% better than the controller without optimization, the proposed collateral controller method with either SOA or CSO or SMA, WHO optimization and PI controller respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper developed a new and efficient approach, the metaheuristic optimisation approach based on the Kalman filter (KF), to accurately identify the infinite impulse response (IIR) system coefficients. A recently developed metaheuristic optimisation technique called the manta-ray foraging optimisation (MRFO) algorithm has been employed to solve the proper parameters tuning exertion of KF. The problem of achieving better unknown state estimations by the conventional KF is closely connected with decent prior information about the noise statistics (measurement and process noise). However, the statistics mentioned above depend on the types of applications and process dynamics. The use of insufficiently known priori filter statistics would reduce the precision of the estimated filter or sometimes lead to a practical divergence of the filter. To alleviate this problem, the proposed technique initially produces optimally tuned KF parameters using the MRFO algorithm, and then the conventional KF method estimates the coefficients of the IIR model using the optimised KF parameters obtained at the beginning. The simulation studies have been carried out on three distinct order benchmark IIR systems (both same and reduced-order), and two prominent IIR applications called direct current (DC) motor and fractional order digital differentiator (FODD) using the proposed method. The overall identification results demonstrate that the proposed MRFO-KF technique significantly improves performance metrics over competing techniques, such as basic KF, other employed metaheuristic-based KF schemes and recently reported state-of-the-art algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the intricate integration and synchronization of supplier selection with the optimal scheduling of multi-mode resource-constrained projects, which is a genuine and complex challenge prevalent in the construction industry, by proposing new multi-objective mathematical modeling considering various items. Within this context, a multifaceted network of concurrent projects (multi-project) is examined with different suppliers' resources (multi-supplier) to minimize the overall projects' delay times and associated costs. The mathematical model formulation also incorporates diverse implementation modes (multi-mode) and the time value of money (TVM). To use and unravel the complexities of the proposed model, two distinct algorithms, including a multi-objective whale optimization algorithm (WOA) based on the Pareto archive and the well-known non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II), are employed. The algorithms were subjected to a comparative analysis of several sample problems and evaluated against multi-objective criteria, including quality metric (QM), diversity metric (DM), spacing metric (SM), number of solutions (NOS), mean Ideal distance (MID), and computational time. The evaluation reveals that the tailored multi-objective WOA outperforms NSGA-II, exhibiting greater solution precision and diversity. The WOA demonstrates an enhanced ability to efficiently explore the problem's feasible solution space, albeit at the increased computational time to pinpoint optimal solutions. Notably, the validity and practicality of the proposed model and method were field-tested within the context of construction projects in Iran, with the obtained results juxtaposed against the real-world data. The comparative analysis indicates that implementing the scheduling approach and solution methodology espoused by the multi-objective WOA led to significant improvements, with financial gains of up to 6% and time savings reaching 16%. Overall, this research substantiates the proposed model and algorithms' benefits in reducing project costs and delays, offering valuable insights for construction industry practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to the growing demand for sophisticated engineering applications, this study introduces a novel lattice metamaterial inspired by the lotus root shape, designed to simultaneously possess energy absorption and vibration mitigation properties. A lattice structure composed of 3×3×3 unit cells was developed and numerically analyzed to evaluate its energy absorption and vibration isolation capabilities. The proposed structure was fabricated using additive manufacturing technique and subjected to experimental testing to validate the numerical findings. Notably, the addition of struts to the lattice structure yields low-frequency vibration mitigation features. Furthermore, a comprehensive exploration of geometric parameters through numerical and experimental analysis provides valuable insights for tailoring the structure's performance. A graded lattice metamaterial is designed to further enhance energy absorption and vibration mitigation performance. The findings of this study suggest an effective approach for designing multifunctional metamaterial structures capable of addressing diverse engineering challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to adapt to the changing and personalized market demand, the traditional single-type mass production manufacturing mode is gradually changing to multi-species small batch personalized custom production, flexible manufacturing in machinery manufacturing occupies an increasingly important position. However, complexity, uncertainty, multi-objective and multi-constraints are the problems faced by production scheduling in flexible manufacturing workshop, which restricts the intelligent transformation of enterprises. This paper takes an assembly shop as the research object, and carries out research on assembly line balancing and multi-automatic guided vehicle (AGV) scheduling problems in shop production. Firstly, for the multi-objective assembly line balancing problem with fluctuating demand, the relevant assembly line model is established by changing only the number of workstations and replanning the boundary, and an improved multi-objective whale optimization algorithm is proposed to reduce the rebalancing cost of the assembly line. Secondly, the multi-AGV dynamic scheduling problem with corresponding scheduling objective weights according to the current number of AGVs is analyzed, and a mathematical model is established to maximize the value of the objective function by considering a variety of factors under the premise of meeting the production requirements of the assembly line. Then, a scheduling rule selection method based on neural network and knowledge base is proposed to determine the optimal combination of scheduling rules for different system states. Finally, a simulation analysis of an assembly workshop example is carried out to verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method in solving the assembly line balancing problem and the multi-AGV scheduling problem, which improves the manufacturing efficiency and the resilience of the workshop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The RIME optimization algorithm (RIME) represents an advanced optimization technique. However, it suffers from issues such as slow convergence speed and susceptibility to falling into local optima. In response to these shortcomings, we propose a multi-strategy enhanced version known as the multi-strategy improved RIME optimization algorithm (MIRIME). Firstly, the Tent chaotic map is utilized to initialize the population, laying the groundwork for global optimization. Secondly, we introduce an adaptive update strategy based on leadership and the dynamic centroid, facilitating the swarm's exploitation in a more favorable direction. To address the problem of population scarcity in later iterations, the lens imaging opposition-based learning control strategy is introduced to enhance population diversity and ensure convergence accuracy. The proposed centroid boundary control strategy not only limits the search boundaries of individuals but also effectively enhances the algorithm's search focus and efficiency. Finally, to demonstrate the performance of MIRIME, we employ CEC 2017 and CEC 2022 test suites to compare it with 11 popular algorithms across different dimensions, verifying its effectiveness. Additionally, to assess the method's practical feasibility, we apply MIRIME to solve the three-dimensional path planning problem for unmanned surface vehicles. Experimental results indicate that MIRIME outperforms other competing algorithms in terms of solution quality and stability, highlighting its superior application potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data categorization is a top concern in medical data to predict and detect illnesses; thus, it is applied in modern healthcare informatics. In modern informatics, machine learning and deep learning models have enjoyed great attention for categorizing medical data and improving illness detection. However, the existing techniques, such as features with high dimensionality, computational complexity, and long-term execution duration, raise fundamental problems. This study presents a novel classification model employing metaheuristic methods to maximize efficient positives on Chronic Kidney Disease diagnosis. The medical data is initially massively pre-processed, where the data is purified with various mechanisms, including missing values resolution, data transformation, and the employment of normalization procedures. The focus of such processes is to leverage the handling of the missing values and prepare the data for deep analysis. We adopt the Binary Grey Wolf Optimization method, a reliable subset selection feature using metaheuristics. This operation is aimed at improving illness prediction accuracy. In the classification step, the model adopts the Extreme Learning Machine with hidden nodes through data optimization to predict the presence of CKD. The complete classifier evaluation employs established measures, including recall, specificity, kappa, F-score, and accuracy, in addition to the feature selection. Data related to the study show that the proposed approach records high levels of accuracy, which is better than the existing models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Software Defined Network (SDN) which is labeled as a new network archetype that decouples the data plane and control plane is capable to solve today's network problems and improve network performance. Yet, among numerous challenges and research openings in software-defined networks, Controller Placement Problem (CPP) is supposed to be the most vital issue which can directly affect the whole network's performance. In this thesis, we deliver a comprehensive review of various metaheuristic CPP-optimized models in SDNs. In this regard, we propose a methodology named Ant Colony Optimization Controller Placement (ACO-CP), to solve the optimal controller location. Ant Colony Optimization is a population-based meta-heuristic algorithm proposed for the optimal location of the controllers, which takes a precise set of the objective function and returns the best potentially location out of the possible set of locations. The objective function is defined by considering, the average and maximum controller-to-controller, switch-to-controller latency, and load balance. By comparing the network performance our proposed algorithm, provides better performance compared with Pareto Simulated Annealing and k-medoid method, Specially on its overall global latency and controller-to-controller latency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhancing aerodynamic efficiency is vital for optimizing aircraft performance and operational effectiveness. It enables greater speeds and reduced fuel consumption, leading to lower operating costs. Hence, the implementation of Gurney flaps represents a promising avenue for improving airfoil aerodynamics. The optimization of Gurney flaps holds considerable ramifications for improving the lift and stall characteristics of airfoils in aircraft and wind turbine blade designs. The efficacy of implementing Gurney flaps hinges significantly on its design parameters, namely, flap height and mounting angle. This study attempts to optimize these parameters using a design optimization framework, which incorporates training a Radial Basis Function surrogate model based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) data from two-dimensional (2D) Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) simulations. The Cuckoo search algorithm is then employed to obtain the optimal design parameters and compared with other competing optimization algorithms. The optimized Gurney flap configuration shows a notable improvement of 10.28% in C l / C d , with a flap height of 1.9%c and a flap mounting angle of −58 ∘ . The study highlights the effectiveness of the proposed design optimization framework and furnishes valuable insights into optimizing Gurney flap parameters. The comparison of metaheuristic algorithms serves to enhance the study's contribution to Gurney flap design optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantum-dot Cellular Automata (QCA) is an emerging nanotechnology that explores the potential of using quantum effects to build compact and energy-efficient computational devices. The hardware attacks on QCA primarily target understanding the physical structure and operation of these nanotechnological circuits. The circuits like cryptographic processors hold sensitive data that needs protection from third-party attacks. Logic locking is a hardware protection technique that adds additional gates to the original circuits to prevent circuits from these attacks. In this work, a new logic locking approach is proposed for QCA based circuits. The new configurable logic gate or key gate is introduced for logic locking. This gate can be configured to either wire or inverter based on key gate inputs. Further, the metaheuristic optimization based optimal key gate placement algorithm proposed to achieve higher security with minimum key gate placement. The proposed approach is verified in QCA benchmark circuits using QCA-Designer. Results shows that the proposed achieves maximum security with minimal gate replacements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cloud data centers face various challenges, such as high energy consumption, environmental impact, and quality of service (QoS) requirements. Dynamic virtual machine (VM) consolidation is an effective approach to address these challenges, but it is a complex optimization problem that involves trade-offs between energy efficiency and QoS satisfaction. Moreover, the workload patterns in cloud data centers are often non-stationary and unpredictable, which makes it difficult to model them. In this paper, we propose a new method for dynamic VM consolidation that optimizes both energy efficiency and QoS objectives. Our approach is based on Markov chains and the artificial feeding birds (AFB) algorithm. Markov chains are used to model the resource utilization of each individual VM and PM based on the changes that happen in workload data. AFB algorithm is a metaheuristic optimization technique that mimics the behavior of birds in nature. We modify the AFB algorithm to suit the characteristics of the VM placement problem and to provide QoS-aware and energy-efficient solutions. Our approach also employs an online step detection method to capture variations in workload patterns. Furthermore, we introduce a new policy for VM selection from overloaded hosts, which considers the abrupt changes in the utilization processes of the VMs. The proposed algorithms are evaluated extensively using the CloudSim Toolkit with real workload data. The proposed system outperforms evaluation policies in multiple metrics, including energy consumption, SLA violations, and other essential metrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reliable and timely prediction of the shield tunneling path is essential to avoid deviation and successfully complete a tunneling project. This study presents a reinforcement learning-based new optimal model for improving the forecasting accuracy of the shield tunneling path and alleviating shield drivers' over-reliance on their practical experience. This model integrates the Q-learning network with a metaheuristic gray wolf algorithm to explore and exploit the implicit information of the shield machine through Q-Table. The proposed method is applied to a field tunneling case with data collected from a real tunneling scenario in Tianjin City, China. The model is also evaluated using various numerical benchmark approaches and compared to a deep learning method. The results show that the proposed model produces an accurate prediction with a root-mean-square error of 0.539 and correlation coefficient of 0.925 for pitch values. A sensitivity analysis indicated that the thrust force and the buried depth have a significant influence on the prediction of shield tunneling trajectory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Image enhancement is a vital process that serves as a tool for improving the quality of a lot of real-life applications. Fractional calculus can be utilized in enhancing images using fractional order kernels, adding more controllability to the system, due to the flexible choice of the fractional order parameter, which adds extra degrees of freedom. The proposed system merges two fractional order kernels which helps in image enhancement techniques, and the contribution of this work is based on the study of how to optimize this process. The optimization of the two fractional kernels was done using the neural network optimization algorithm (NNA) to utilize the best order for the two kernels. In this paper, three fractional kernels are studied to highlight the performance of image enhancement using fractional kernels against different metrics. Furthermore, three different combinations of two kernels are combined and studied to enhance the metrics score by utilizing two different fractional orders for each kernel. Various optimization algorithms are used to obtain the optimum fractional order for both single and combined kernels. Using the constrained NNA, the evaluation metrics of the image enhancement show a 33% increase in measure of enhancement metric (EME), 21% increase in contrast, and 4% increase in average gradient compared to the best-achieved metrics by the literature while keeping the similarity metric above 0.75. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Providing a reusable methodology for the evaluation of covering array generation utilities and apply it to a corpus of such tools, obtaining an overview of supported features and constraints, performance, output size, file formats, and practical considerations that may ease or hinder adoption. Analysis of supported capabilities, input and output formats, and constraints, followed by an experimental evaluation of eight covering array generation tools, two of which were provided in updated versions, against a corpus of 295 publicly available benchmark models in six categories, producing arrays of strength two to six. Capabilities, particularly constraint support, vary widely amongst competitors. Metaheuristic algorithms, commonly focused on postoptimization, tend to produce small arrays at the cost of performance. Approaches based on the In-Parameter-Order paradigm offer a good balance between speed and output size that may prove conducive to real-world adoption. The choice of a covering array generation utility should be based on specific requirements related to the use case. Nevertheless, our evaluation identifies some candidates – CAgen, ACTS, and APPTS – which lead the field in terms of overall score. Others, such as PICT, offer unique features; however, a lack of standardization may lead to vendor lock-in. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In today's world, agricultural production and operation activities generate a lot of data. As a result, computer-aided agriculture applications have become a hot topic in the study, with various machine learning (ML) algorithms being used to classify agricultural data. This paper presents a comparative study consisting of a combination of ML algorithms with meta-heuristic algorithms for feature selection to improve the classification capability of ML algorithms by finding the features that significantly impact accuracy. We have used six different meta-heuristic algorithms for feature selection. Experiments are conducted on four different agricultural datasets with five classification models. To understand the effect of proposed models, the selected features are fed into the ML algorithms. The results prove that combining ML and meta-heuristic algorithms achieves higher classification accuracy with fewer features on agricultural datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, cloud computing is widely used in various fields and is booming day by day with different services offered to users according to their needs and contracts. However, this has brought many challenges and constraints that organizations must to be aware of and address to fully harness its power. In practice, the most important issue that has gained significant influence in improving system performances is task scheduling. Unfortunately, it is commonly known that this problem is NP-hard and the use of both heuristics and metaheuristics is required to obtain near optimal solutions but in a reasonable amount of computation time. Despite the fact that several studies have been published in the literature, there are still interesting and relevant questions to be addressed. For instance, when it comes to the stagnation phenomenon of local solutions and the premature convergence of the search process, it is crucial to execute the exploration and exploitation stages carefully as improperly performed stages may result in inefficient task mapping solutions. Consequently, to overcome the limitations of existing techniques in terms of local optimality trap and immature convergence, a novel hybrid optimization algorithm is proposed to deal with multi-objective task scheduling in heterogeneous IaaS cloud environments. It is based on the combination of the pollination behavior of flowers with the search exploration capability of the grey wolf optimizer strategy. In addition, it makes use of the evolutionary algorithms crossover operators to strike a good balance between exploring new solutions and exploiting the already discovered ones. Based on the CloudSim framework, different test-bed scenarios and both synthetic and standard workload traces were considered to assess the performance of the proposed algorithm by evaluating its objective function in terms of four optimization criteria, namely time makespan, resource utilization, degree of imbalance and throughput. Our proposal was compared to the well-known optimization-based scheduling techniques in the literature, like TSMGWO, GGWO, LPGWO and FPA approach. The obtained results corroborate the merits of the new designed hybrid algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The escalating demand for sustainable and environmentally friendly energy sources has driven substantial growth in renewable energy adoption across residential and industrial sectors. To effectively meet this demand, the development of efficient and sustainable renewable energy conversion methods is crucial, with inverters playing a pivotal role in achieving this objective. While researchers strive to enhance inverter power handling capabilities and reduce output harmonic contents, the incorporation of additional power electronic switches and peripheral devices presents challenges such as increased circuit cost, complexity, and size. Additionally, the utilization of high-frequency switching techniques for achieving low output harmonics results in elevated switching losses and electromagnetic interference, adversely affecting sensitive electronic devices. This research introduces a novel approach to address these issues through the introduction of a reduced switch multilevel inverter topology. Unlike existing systems, the proposed topology employs a reduced number of power electronic switches and direct current sources to generate a stable output voltage waveform. Operating in a symmetric mode, the topology achieves a nine-level output voltage with enhanced harmonic elimination capabilities. A multiple-stepped selective harmonic elimination (SHE-PWM) switching control technique, employing a 1/3/3/1 distribution ratio, is utilized to extend the harmonic elimination range from 3 to 7 lower-order harmonics. To optimize the switching angles required for the proposed topology, the moth flame optimization (MFO) algorithm is employed and compared with particle swarm optimization (PSO) and whale optimization algorithms (WOA). The MFO algorithm exhibits faster convergence to the global optima, achieving an optimal fitness value of 3.322e−08 at 0.78 modulation points. This results in total harmonic distortion values of 0.7%, 0.757%, and 1.069% for MFO, PSO, and WOA, respectively, with corresponding total losses of 71.609W, 71.794W, and 79.792W. The proposed inverter topology is simulated using PSIM software and experimentally verified using a typhoon HIL-402 hardware-in-the-loop testing device. The simulation and experimental results provide compelling evidence for the superior performance of the MFO algorithm compared to PSO and WOA in achieving improved inverter performance. The proposed topology, in conjunction with the MFO algorithm, presents a promising solution for efficient and sustainable renewable energy conversion, thereby contributing to the advancement of renewable energy technologies in both residential and industrial settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The maximum power point tracking (MPPT) mechanism is one of the important components of a solar photovoltaic system (SPS). For efficient working of the SPS, the MPPTs must be flexible to adapt to any change in irradiance level, as the output from the Solar PV system majorly depends on the level of irradiance present at a geographical location. This study deals with the scope of improvement in artificial neural network (ANN) by incorporating the metaheuristic tuning. The modified version of ANN MPPT controller has been developed with the help of a novel Horse herd optimization (HHO) algorithm that strategically optimizes the weights of the neural network. The systematic implementation and comparison of different versions of ANN MPPT controller have been performed, taking into account different scenarios like dynamically changing irradiance levels and several cases of partial shading condition. For the training of the neural network, the irradiance and temperature dataset has been collected from the NASA website. The analysis of the results has been done using parameters like fill factor, maximum power tracked, percentage mismatch power loss and efficiency, which shows that the ANN MPPT controller tuned with HHO algorithm tracks maximum power and attains maximum efficiency under various considered scenarios. Further, the EN50530 MPPT efficiency test has been performed under the fast- and slow-changing irradiance level to compare the efficacy of different algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electric vehicles (EVs) have been heavily used to minimize the worldwide pollution. Battery storage system is the most important and expensive system in these vehicles. An accurate battery management system (BMS) must be applied to monitor and control the battery states. From these measurements, the residual useful life (RUL) is estimated to avoid any further safety issue which can destroy the battery system or vehicle, or harm the passengers. Many features are required to be measured to estimate the battery states and then estimate the RUL such as battery voltage, current, and temperature according to the time. These measurements are taken using embedded system, and the measured data are stored in data files. Artificial neural networks (ANNs), long short-term memory (LSTM), support vector regressors (SVRs), random forest (RF), and boosting methods have been implemented to estimate the battery RUL. Moreover, many optimization algorithms such as particle swarm optimizer (PSO) and whale optimization algorithm (WOA) are integrated with the extreme learning machine (ELM) to estimate the battery RUL. The root mean square error (RMSE) is considered the main factor that has been used to judge which algorithm is more accurate than the other. It is found that both PSO-ELM and WOA-ELM supersede the machine learning tools, where the RMSE values are 1.46% and 1.51%, respectively. These values are 2.24%, 2.25%, 2.74%, 2.84%, and 3.56% LightGBM, random forest, AdaBoost, XGBoost, and CatBoost algorithms, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybridizing renewable energy sources with electric vehicles is more important to maintain a clean and emission-less environment. Electric vehicles (EVs) are incorporated into the curtailed incentive-based demand response program (CIBDR) and microgrid system to minimize thermal and transaction costs. In this study, a novel choice-based decision-making mechanism (CBDMM) is proposed. In CBDMM, charging and discharging of EVs power are generated based on the availability of renewable, pricing and state of charge. The objective of the proposed work is to minimize the grid burden by minimizing the thermal, transaction cost and maximizing the customer benefits. To test the effectiveness of the proposed work, three case studies (three, six, and ten units) are considered. A modified whale optimization algorithm (MWOA) is proposed to satisfy the power balance constraints. When incorporating electric vehicles into the system, thermal and transaction cost is reduced by 2.108% and 13.5%, respectively. At the same customer, incentives are increased to 2.49%, and objectives are satisfied. Scheduling interval is used over a 24-h period. Ethereum and ganache used to write the smart contract and validate the transaction, respectively. Metamask is used to verify and view the status of complete transaction. The energy transaction between EVs and the grid is achieved using blockchain technology by hashing mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the advancement of technology, the metaverse, as the future of the Internet, has gained popularity. As a result, numerous opportunities have been created, and the tourism industry is eager to take advantage of them. While it is critical to understand how the metaverse can influence tourism, tourists also need to be aware of its benefits. Therefore, this study is undertaken to empirically investigate the factors influencing the adoption of the metaverse due to its perceived benefits. To operationalise the constructs, qualitative methodology was performed. Subsequently, the source data were collected from 315 tourists, and the analysis was performed using quantitative methodology. The findings reveal that by virtually visiting hotels and other resources before making a reservation, the metaverse offers new sources of travel inspiration. The booking process is made more enjoyable and engaging by the metaverse. Metaverse-enabled enhanced travel inspiration and booking experiences lead to an increase in booking volume. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An important and realistic class of scheduling problems is considered in this paper: the total earliness and tardiness minimization in the blocking flowshop, where there is no intermediate buffer between machines. Blocking occurs when a completed item or product remains on the machine until the next machine is available. We proposed a new hybrid evolutionary algorithm: the Genetic Iterated Greedy Algorithm (GIGA). In our innovative solution approach, a genetic algorithm presents a hybrid crossover based on the Iterated Greedy metaheuristic. The hybrid crossover considers the Hamming distance as an indicator of the diversity of the current population. In the first generations, the crossover will adopt larger values for the destruction parameter, and this value is gradually reduced throughout the search process. Our proposal is compared to four competitive metaheuristics reported for earliness and tardiness flowshop. Two performance indicators are considered: the Average Relative Percentage Deviation (ARPD) and the Success Rate (SR). Based on the statistical analysis of the computational experimentation, our GIGA outperformed all the implemented algorithms of the literature with statistical significance. Concerning the performance indicators, GIGA achieved ARPD = 0.02% and SR = 83.5%, pointing to the superiority of the proposed solution approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within an uncertain environment and following carbon trade policies, this study uses the Extended Exergy Accounting (EEA) method for coal supply chains (SCs) in eight of the world's most significant coal consuming countries. The purpose is to improve the sustainability of coal SCs in terms of Joules rather than money while considering economic, environmental, and social aspects. This model is a multi-product economic production quantity (EPQ) with a single-vendor multi-buyer with shortage as a backorder. Within the SC, there are some real constraints, such as inventory turnover ratio, waste disposal to the environment, carbon dioxide emissions, and available budgets for customers. For optimization purposes, three recent metaheuristic algorithms, including Ant Lion Optimizer, Lion Optimization Algorithm, and Whale Optimization Algorithm, are suggested to determine a near-optimum solution to an "exergy fuzzy nonlinear integer-programming (EFNIP)." Moreover, an exact method (GAMS) is employed to validate the results of the suggested algorithms. Additionally, sensitivity analyses with different percentages of exergy parameters, such as capital, labor, and environmental remediation, are done to gain a deeper understanding of sustainability improvement in coal SCs. The results showed that sustainable coal SC in the USA has the lowest fuzzy total exergy, while Poland and China have the highest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After each blasting operation in surface mines, undesirable environmental impacts, such as air-blast (AB) and ground vibration, are inevitable. Therefore, minimizing and controlling these impacts are crucial in order to reduce environmental problems. This study presents new and practical advanced machine learning methods for AB prediction using 62 datasets gathered from four quarry sites in Malaysia. The developed models were constructed based on the boosted regression tree (BRT) and least-squares support vector machine (LSSVM), improved with three metaheuristic algorithms: the gray wolf optimizer (GWO), genetic algorithm (GA), and artificial bee colony (ABC). Six hybrid models, namely BRT–GA, BRT–ABC, BRT–GWO, LSSVM–GA, LSSVM–ABC, and LSSVM–GWO models, were developed and their performances were evaluated using metrics such as R-squared correlation and other methods like the Taylor diagram and quantile–quantile plots. To provide a better assessment of the models' performances, the dataset were categorized into training and testing parts. The results demonstrated that, among the six hybrid models, the LSSVM–GWO model provided the highest efficiency in the testing part while the BRT–GWO model had the best accuracy but the performance of BRT–GWO was the best in the training part. In other words, the BRT hybrid models had the best performance in training, and LSSVM hybrid models in the testing part. The results indicate the effectiveness of combining GWO with LSSVM and BRT models to predict AB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of a robust optimization control technique, which can handle numerous nonlinear system problems, is one of the most challenging aspects of science production. In this study, hybrid intelligent Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) control approach based on the Imperialist Competitive Algorithm (ICA), and an adaptive Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model is proposed to solve the efficiency optimization problem of Photovoltaic (PV) systems, which are considered as one of the most demanded source energy in the world. Consequently, a comparison between various metaheuristic algorithms based ANN including, Particle Swarm Optimization, Grey Wolf Optimization, and Whale Optimization Algorithm, is made for four distinct PV panel architectures to prove the effectiveness of the suggested approach in the optimization process based ICA technique, and in the training phase based three training algorithms namely, Bayesian Regularization (BR), Levenberg Marquardt (LM), and Scaled Conjugate Gradient (SCG). Accordingly, the obtained outcomes have proven that the ICA–ANN approach-based BR algorithm outperformed in three of four cases the other techniques by reaching an accuracy that can go up to 99.9994%. In the second part of this study, the evaluation of the obtained findings confirmed that our proposed model was able to track the Maximum Power Point (MPP) faster with a response time between 1.9 and 9.6 ms, and efficiency higher than 99.9652%, which is can up to 99.9984%, and it has shown excellent remarkable stability compared to the Perturb & Observe, Incremental Conductance, and the most applied metaheuristic-based MPPT techniques that we have used to conduct the optimization performance comparison. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]