Abstract
In this paper, a different Fiber Loop Mirror (FLM) configuration with two circulators is presented. This configuration is demonstrated and characterized for sensing applications. This new design concept was used for strain and torsion discrimination. For strain measurement, the interference fringe displacement has a sensitivity of (0.576 +/- 0.009) pm.mu epsilon(-1). When the FFT (Fast Fourier Transformer) is calculated and the frequency shift and signal amplitude are monitored, the sensitivities are (-2.1 +/- 0.3) x 10(-4) nm(-1) mu epsilon(-1) and (4.9 +/- 0.3) x 10(-7) mu epsilon(-1), respectively. For the characterization in torsion, an FFT peaks variation of (-2.177 +/- 0.002) x 10(-12) nm(-1)/degrees and an amplitude variation of (1.02 +/- 0.06) x 10(-3)/degrees are achieved. This configuration allows the use of a wide range of fiber lengths and with different refractive indices for controlling the free spectral range (FSR) and achieving refractive index differences, i.e., birefringence, higher than 10(-2), which is essential for the development of high sensitivity physical parameter sensors, such as operating on the Vernier effect. Furthermore, this FLM configuration allows the system to be balanced, which is not possible with traditional FLMs.

Abstract
Metaheuristic optimization algorithms are increasingly used to reach near-optimal solutions for complex and large-scale problems that cannot be solved in due time by exact methods. Metaheuristics’ performance is, however, deeply dependent on their effective configuration and fine-tuning to align the algorithm’s search process with the specific characteristics of the problem that is being solved. Although the literature already offers some solutions for automatic algorithm configuration, these are usually either algorithm-specific or problem-specific, thus lacking the capability of being used for diverse metaheuristic models or diverse optimization problems. This work proposes a new approach for the automatic optimization of metaheuristic algorithms’ parameters based on a multi-agent system approach. The proposed model includes an automated fine-tuning process, which is used to optimize a given function in an algorithm- and problem-agnostic manner. Results show that the proposed model is able to achieve better optimization results than standard metaheuristic algorithms, with a negligible increase in the required execution time. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

Abstract

Abstract

Abstract
Incidental visualizations are meant to be seen at-a-glance, on-the-go, and during short exposure times. They will always appear side-by-side with an ongoing primary task while providing ancillary information relevant to those tasks. They differ from glanceable visualizations because looking at them is never their major focus, and they differ from ambient visualizations because they are not embedded in the environment, but appear when needed. However, unlike glanceable and ambient visualizations that have been studied in the past, incidental visualizations have yet to be explored in-depth. In particular, it is still not clear what is their impact on the users' performance of primary tasks. Therefore, we conducted an empirical online between-subjects user study where participants had to play a maze game as their primary task. Their goal was to complete several mazes as quickly as possible to maximize their score. This game was chosen to be a cognitively demanding task, bound to be significantly affected if incidental visualizations have a meaningful impact. At the same time, they had to answer a question that appeared while playing, regarding the path followed so far. Then, for half the participants, an incidental visualization was shown for a short period while playing, containing information useful for answering the question. We analyzed various metrics to understand how the maze performance was impacted by the incidental visualization. Additionally, we aimed to understand if working memory would influence how the maze was played and how visualizations were perceived. We concluded that incidental visualizations of the type used in this study do not disrupt people while they played the maze as their primary task. Furthermore, our results strongly suggested that the information conveyed by the visualization improved their performance in answering the question. Finally, working memory had no impact on the participants' results.

Abstract
The share of renewable generation is growing worldwide, increasing the complexity of the grids operation to maintain its stability and balance. This leads to an increased need for designing new electricity markets (EMs) suited to this new reality. Simulation tools are widely used to experiment and analyze the potential impacts of new solutions, such as novel EM designs and power flow analysis and validation. This work introduces two web services for EMs' simulation and study, in addition to power flow evaluation and validation, namely the Elec-tricity Market Service (EMS) and Power Flow Service (PFS). EMS enables the simulation of two auction-based algorithms and the execution of three wholesale EMs. PFS creates and evaluates electrical grids from the transmission to distribution grids. Being published as web services facilitates their integration with other ser-vices, systems, or software agents. Combining them allows for the simulation of EMs from wholesale to local markets and testing if the results are compatible with a specific grid. This article presents a detailed description of each service and a case study of an electricity trading community participating in the MIBEL day-ahead market through an aggregator to reduce their energy bills. The results demonstrate the accuracy and usefulness of the proposed services.