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Accelerated Evolution: NSGA-III & Tree Based Nondominated Sorting
Get PDFGenetic algorithms (GAs) are a unique subset of optimization algorithms that are widely used in solving multi-objective engineering design optimization problems. Although a large number of GAs exist in literature, with many available in Python and C/C++ libraries, new algorithms are still needed to continuously improve the solution quality and/or computational efficiency. In the previously developed optimization software GimOPT [1], the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II) [2] was implemented with a dominance-tree based sorting technique [3] that offers great computational efficiency over other implementations. In this research, NSGA-III [4] was implemented into GimOPT using the dominance-tree based sorting algorithm. The speedup of this implementation in plain C++ was evaluated by comparing it to existing libraries such as pymoo for NSGA-II and NSGA-III, and the solution quality of GimOPT\u27s NSGA-II and NSGA-III were compared using benchmark problems. The results showed that this implementation of NSGA-III offers significant improvement on the computational speed of pymoo and simultaneously bolsters solutional quality in comparison to GimOPT\u27s NSGA-II. This new implementation of NSGA-III will relieve researchers of prior computational restraints and empower them to tackle new and difficult multi- and many-objective optimization problems.
References
[1] H. Fang, M.F. Horstemeyer (2006). A generic optimizer interface for programming-free optimization systems. Advances in Engineering Software, 37(6), 360-369. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advengsoft.2005.10.002)
[2] K. Deb, A. Pratab, S. Agarwal, T. Meyarivan (2002). A fast and elitist multi-objective genetic algorithm: NSGA-II. IEEE Transactions on Evolutionary Computation, 6(2), 182-197. (https://doi.org/10.1109/4235.996017)
[3] H. Fang, Q. Wang, Y. Tu, M.F. Horstemeyer (2008). An efficient non-dominated sorting method for evolutionary algorithms. Evolutionary Computation, 16(3), 355-384. (https://doi.org/10.1162/evco.2008.16.3.355)
[4] K. Deb, H. Jain (2014). An Evolutionary Many-Objective Optimization Algorithm Using Reference-Point-Based Nondominated Sorting Approach, Part I: Solving Problems with Box Constraints. IEEE Transactions on Evolutionary Computation, 18(4), 577-601. (https://doi.org/10.1109/TEVC.2013.2281535
Curcumin promotes the inhibition IRS-1 s1101 phosphorylation while restoring insulin signaling and phosphorylation of PRAS 40 and RPS6.
Get PDFThe search for natural compounds that elicit medicinal effects has increased over the years as synthetic compounds often carry adverse side effects. p300, an acetyltransferase protein recently found to negatively impact the insulin signaling pathway when overexpressed, has often been targeted in research using a synthetic compound called C646. However, curcumin, a natural compound, has been shown to also inhibit p300. Curcumin has been theorized as a potential treatment for diabetes, however the connection between its ability to inhibit the excessive expression of p300 seen when consuming a high fat diet and its ability to restore insulin signaling has never been tied together until now. We hypothesize that curcumin inhibits p300 as effectively as C646 does, resulting in a decrease in the phosphorylation of IRS-1 s1101, a posttranslational modification that is enhanced in the presence of p300. We cultured HepG2 cells and starved them before stimulating them with insulin for 30min, then insulin combined with palmitic acid and glucose. The cells were then treated with either C646 or curcumin for 16hrs. Samples were collected and subjected to an SDS PAGE and western blot before they were analyzed. Our results revealed that curcumin effectively reduced the inhibitory s1101 phosphorylation comparable to C646. This positive effect by curcumin was followed by the phosphorylation of down stream targets, PRAS 40 and RPS6, while C464 did not show this similar added outcome. Curcumin’s effect in the insulin pathway is not isolated to increasing Glu 4 expression alone but also preventing the negative regulation of IRS-1 subjected by over expressed p300 which enhances the phosphorylation of s1101 by kinases such as S6K-1. While most metabolic ailments could be deterred by a change in lifestyle, people are not disciplined enough to put in the work and would rather take a drug or supplement. Thus, truly understanding what we are consuming and exactly how it affects our body is essential
The Gamble for America: Why General Charles Cornwallis Decided to Attack Virginia in 1781
Get PDFAfter the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, General Charles Cornwallis was able to gain a minor victory against Nathanael Greene but had suffered great losses during the battle. Instead of making the cautious decision to retreat to Charleston, Cornwallis decided to make an ambitious attack into Virginia. While this offense was met with initial success, his army was ultimately destroyed at the Siege of Yorktown, thereby causing Britain to lose the War for America. This research seeks to understand why Cornwallis made the risky decision to move into Virginia at this late stage of the war. This study will utilize a qualitative historical analysis framework to examine primary source material, particularly letters sent by Cornwallis and a treatise made by Cornwallis in 1783 to justify his actions during the war. This study will also utilize secondary source material, such as books and journal articles, to gain a proper understanding of the historical context surrounding Cornwallis’ mindset. After examining these sources, this study finds that the underlying reasons for Cornwallis\u27 attack on Virginia were his ambitious personality, which caused him to make aggressive actions, his lack of respect for his commanding officer, Sir Henry Clinton, and his insistence on using 18th-century Enlightenment military doctrine. This research also seeks to gain a deeper understanding behind the strategic failures that led to the British defeat in the American Revolution
Imitation, The Sincerest Form of Flattery: Whether the Unauthorized Use of a Trademark After the Termination of a Franchise Constitutes Counterfeiting?
Get PDFThis note examines whether the unauthorized use of a trademark after the termination of a franchise constitutes counterfeiting. Currently, the Sixth Circuit and Ninth Circuit of the United States are divided in answering this question. The Sixth Circuit held that a franchisee’s use of a franchisor’s trademark following the termination of a franchise does not constitute a counterfeit mark under the Lanham Act. However, the Ninth Circuit held that a licensee’s use of a licensor’s certification mark following the termination of the license does constitute a counterfeit mark. While certification marks and trademarks differ in name, the core purpose of each remains the same: to prevent public confusion. Thus, the question remains: is a former franchise’s continued unauthorized use of a franchise’s trademark counterfeiting? This note adopts the holding of the Ninth Circuit: a counterfeit mark exists when a non-genuine mark is registered with the Principal Register for use on the same goods, the Registered mark was in use, and the use of the mark was unauthorized; thus, the unauthorized continued use of a franchise’s trademark constitutes counterfeiting. Though the Sixth Circuit did not correctly apply the Lanham Act, they identified eight criteria for evaluating the likelihood of confusion, a central element of a counterfeiting claim. Therefore, the unauthorized use of a trademark after the termination of a franchise constitutes counterfeiting and can be determined by applying eight criteria from the Sixth Circuit
Exodus 20:13 & The American Civil War: The Etymological Importance of ‘Kill’
Get PDFTranslating the Bible from Hebrew into the living English language has allowed word choice in translations to impact historical events. The American Civil War serves as a case study where the word choice of biblical translation led to questions of faith and duty among Christians. The etymological debate during the Civil War over ‘kill’ in Exodus 20:13 directly affected Civil War-era Americans, causing documented crises of faith among soldiers. The King James Version was carried into war by Civil War soldiers with the Hebrew word ratsach, translated as kill instead of the more accurate English translation of murder, allowing for confusion among soldiers and non-theologians. Investigation into the etymology of kill reveals a Biblical connection through Swiss German and Hebrew that established the usage of kill as a synonym for murder in English. This study also reveals that the timeframe in which kill as a synonym for murder fell out of primary usage in English corresponds with the timing of the Civil War. Understanding the etymological root of ‘kill’ in Exodus 20:13 through the Civil War establishes the necessity of English Biblical translations to reflect the current English of the reader due to English’s status as a living and evolving language
Nurse Preceptors’ Perceptions Of Their Effectiveness When Precepting Students: A Transcendental Research Proposal
Get PDFNursing students in their last two years of baccalaureate nursing school spend over fifty percent of their learning at clinical sites under the guidance and supervision of a nurse preceptor. The effectiveness of nurse preceptors in mentoring students affects students\u27 well-being, intent to stay in the profession, ability to pass the NCLEX exam, and mental health. The perceptions of preceptors on their effectiveness are unknown. Preceptors are often chosen for their skilled abilities at the bedside, but they often lack the support and training to become skilled nurse teachers. Institutional factors from the hospital or the school of nursing often impact the nurse preceptors\u27 ability to be as effective in their role as they desire. Understanding the preceptor\u27s perception of effectiveness could help shape recruiting and hiring policies, shape professional development initiatives, and provide crucial details on what supports, and educational endeavors preceptors identify may be essential to facilitate their effectiveness. This transcendental phenomenological study investigated registered nurse preceptors\u27 perceptions of their effectiveness when precepting senior baccalaureate nursing students in clinical rotations. Additionally, barriers to the preceptor\u27s effectiveness are identified. Results from this study will highlight crucial details on what support, training, and incentives preceptors desire. This information could spur changes that help increase satisfaction and retention rates in the role, which could benefit student nurses and positively impact patient care
Student Attendance: Influence of Football Promotions
Get PDFBackground: Liberty University Athletics seeks to encourage students to attend home football games. Football games are a time of community and fan interaction. The problem that this study is seeking to look at is low student attendance. College students must balance their schoolwork and their social life. Promotional items are one strategy that the Fan Experience team uses to persuade students to attend. We wanted to take a closer look at how different promotions affected student attendance. Methods: We ran a Regression on the student attendance data that we receive from Liberty University Athletic Department. Results: The results showed that that there was no statistical significance between games that had functional promotion items versus the games that did not. Conclusions: Liberty Athletics can use these results to find other ways to increase student attendance and promote unity and the cheering on of fellow classmates. More research is required to identify what impacts student attendance
Effects of pH and Ionic Strength on Aggregation of Surfactants and Preservatives in Biologic Drug Formulations
Get PDFMulti-injection biologic drugs, such as insulin, must be formulated with different excipients to remain stable and sterile. In particular, use of nonionic surfactants and small molecule preservatives increases drug stability and prevents antimicrobial contamination, respectively. Nonionic surfactants or preservatives on their own are well soluble in water and cause no aggregation. However, when combined, aggregation occurs creating adverse turbidity and instability. Previous work shows that preservatives such as phenol in combination with the surfactants such as poloxamer 188 (P188) result in micelle formation and ultimately unstable turbidity. This occurs at concentrations well below the solubility limits of each individual material. In this project we hope to understand how solvent properties, including pH and other ionic effects, may increase or suppress aggregation of surfactants and preservatives. We will alter the solvent conditions by changing buffer identity, concentration, and pH in various combinations of nonionic surfactants and preservatives commonly used in biologic drug formulations. Specifically, we will test combinations of the surfactants P188, polysorbate 20, and polysorbate 80, with the preservatives phenol and benzyl alcohol, under an array of solvent conditions. This will allow us to determine how aggregation is affected by changes in relation to buffer identity. We will analyze samples visually and with ultraviolet-visible light spectrophotometry, with the eventual goal of detailed structural characterization using small angle scattering. Our results will enhance understanding of the relationship between surfactants and preservatives which will allow for further research of biologic drug stability when both classes of excipients are needed
Challenges of a changing environment: Urban development impacts a population of Eastern Box Turtles
Get PDFThe Eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina) is a terrestrial turtle, which lives in woodlands. Populations of these turtles are threatened by drastic changes to their environment, such as development projects. This is what happened to a population of box turtles in downtown Lynchburg, VA. We have been researching this population since 1999 using a capture-mark-recapture method. The population was undisturbed until 2020 when a large portion of the study site was timbered for urban development, reducing the size of the habitat from 11 to 2.2 ha. We hypothesize that if the population of box turtles in the post-development forest remnant is viable, then population characteristics, such as home range and density, should be similar to those from the pre-development population as well as those from the literature. We used the shell notch method to mark turtles, and several were monitored with radio telemetry to calculate population size, survival rate, density, and home range size. There was a decrease in population size from 169 to 83 turtles, pre-development to post development, as well as a decrease in home range size from 8622 to 2342 m2, while turtle density increased from 15 to 37 per ha. Some turtles successfully migrated from the timbered portion of the original study site to the forest remnant, resulting in increased density and potentially reducing home range sizes. Multiple juvenile turtles were found for the first time in the remnant population in 2024, indicating successful recruitment despite carapace length data suggesting an aging population. Our research has brought understanding on how box turtles are affected by urban development, which typically reduces and degrades the amount of habitable space for the turtles. Further research needs to be done on how to mitigate the effects of urban development on this species
Tackling Violent Extremism and Terrorism in Ghana: Interventions of the State
Get PDFThe West African sub-region appears to be at crossroads, in tackling the spread of violent extremism and terrorism within the Sahel region. The spread of terrorist cells and their activities continues to pose a threat to the stability of the region. The concerted efforts of some West African states to tackle violent extremism and terrorism continues to expose the vulnerabilities of member states. Despite, the drafting of policy frameworks such as the Accra Initiative on terrorism, Economic Community of West African States counter-terrorism strategy implementation plan and the African Union Convention on the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism, the spread of violent extremism and terrorism in West African keep increasing. The spate of insecurity has triggered various state led security agencies to tighten security within the northern borders of Ghana, whilst gathering intelligence data and security breaches across its porous borders. This discussion paper qualitatively seeks to take stock of work done by state actors examining the interventions of some Ministries, Departments and Agencies in tackling violent extremism and terrorism in Ghana