Particle flow code (PFC) is a typical discrete element method (DEM) that is commonly used to simulate the mechanical behaviour of granular materials. However, the micro-parameters should be calibrated ...

Self-report questionnaires must be psychometrically sound, but also brief and efficient to avoid participant nonresponse and fatigue, especially in the health and prevention sciences. Meta-heuristics ...

Scientists found that ants and other natural systems use optimization algorithms similar to those used by engineered systems, including the Internet. These algorithms invest incrementally more ...