Fractional-order PID (FOPID) controller is a generalization of standard PID controller using fractional calculus. Compared to PID controller, the tuning of FOPID is more complex and remains a challenge problem. This paper focuses on the design of FOPID controller using chaotic ant swarm (CAS) optimization method. The tuning of FOPID controller is formulated as a nonlinear optimization problem, ...

Cloud computing has spread fast because of its high performance distributed computing. It offers services and access to shared resources to internet users through service providers. Efficient performance of task scheduling in clouds is one of the most important research issues which needs to be focused on. Various task scheduling algorithms for cloud based on metaheuristic techniques have been ...

In this paper an optimal energy and reactive power dispatch problem is solved by using the ant lion optimization (ALO) algorithm considering total cost minimization social welfare maximization (SWM) objectives. Two different market models are proposed in work, i.e., conventional/sequential clearing proposed/simultaneous clearing. each model, two objectives, SWM considered. The conventional (SW)...

The W-Arly-Pendjari (WAP) ecosystem, shared among Benin, Burkina Faso and Niger, represents the last lion stronghold of West Africa. To assess the impact of trophy hunting on lion populations in hunting areas of the WAP, we analyzed trends in harvest rates from 1999 to 2014. We also investigated whether the hunting areas with higher initial hunting intensity experienced steeper declines in lion...

There are many reasons why an animal becomes iconic in human cultures — admiration for certain qualities of the animal, its mere presence in or association with our environment, its utility to our endeavours, and fear of the creature that may even result in its worship. Given the equal status to all forms of life in ancient Indian religions, it is not surprising that “iconic fauna of heritage s...