Sameh Kessentini

• Ph.D.
• Maître-assistant at University of Sfax

The main objective of this work is to bring to light the generalized Gamcon distributions from different perspectives. We first suggest them as a new family of conjugate priors to the Wishart shape parameter. The law of the first kind presents the conjugate prior for the Wishart distribution with a known scale parameter. The generalized Gamcon dist...

The main objective of this technical report is to provide graphical representations of the stability areas or fitting equations to assist practitioners in setting metaheuristic parameters. We give a short overview of each studied metaheuristic. We start with PSO, binary PSO, artificial bee colony (ABC), and gravitational search algorithm (GSA). Oth...

Solving binary-real problems with bio-inspired algorithms is an active research matter. However, the efficiency of the employed algorithm varies drastically by tailoring the governing equations or just by adopting “more adequate” parameter setting. Within this framework, we aim to improve the parameter setting of the binary particle swarm optimizat...

Surface plasmon resonance sensors (SPR) using copper for sensitive parts are a competitive alternative to gold and silver. Copper oxide is a semiconductor and has a non-toxic nature. The unavoidable presence of copper oxide may be of interest as it is non-toxic, but it modifies the condition of resonance and the performance of the sensor. Therefore...

The artificial bee colony (ABC) is a population-based optimization algorithm that mimics the foraging behavior of honeybees. Here, we focus on the parameter setting that ensures the ABC algorithm stability. Therefore, this paper introduces a matrix-iterative model, taking into account the coupling within bees. Moreover, the model considered the dif...

The performance of the Gravitational Search Algorithm (GSA) depends on the gravitational constant G, which controls the balance of exploration and exploitation abilities. Improving the setting of this parameter has attracted many researchers. In this paper, we analyzed the GSA stability using the von Neumann stability criterion. First, we modeled t...

We focus on some statistical facets of the Riesz probability distribution that could replace and exceed the Wishart in many application fields. First, the maximum likelihood (ML) estimators of both Riesz parameters are derived using two approaches. The first one yields an equation solved using an algorithm alternating the Cholesky decomposition wit...

Fitting optical properties of metals is of great interest for numerical methods in electromagnetism, especially finite difference time domain (FDTD). However, this is a tedious task given that theoretical models used usually fail to interlink perfectly with the experimental data. However, in this paper, we propose a method for fitting the relative...

The Riesz probability distribution was introduced in 2001 as an extension of the Wishart one. Although the Wishart distribution was investigated in many engineering applications, the Riesz applicability seems to be forsaken. This can be explained by the lack of studies offering statistical models and algorithms dealing with this distribution. Withi...

The removal of the synthetic dye Bismarck Brown Y (BBY) has been investigated by electro-Fenton process, using a RVC cathode to electrogenerate in situ hydrogen peroxide and regenerate ferrous ions as catalyst. The optimization of the process has been performed using Doehlert designs and the BBY removal, after 30 min, has been used as analytical re...

Gold is one of the most widely used metals for building up plasmonic devices. Although slightly less efficient than silver for producing sharp resonance, its chemical properties make it one of the best choices for designing sensors. Sticking gold on a silicate glass substrate requires an adhesion layer, whose effect has to be taken into account. Tr...

We report on the spectral dependence of the SERS amplification in randomly distributed gold nanoparticle arrays grown by electron beam evaporation, covered with a thin shell of SiO2. Experiments carried out with six different laser lines highlight a remarkable red-shift between the optimal excitation wavelength (785 nm) and the localized plasmon re...

We focus on improving the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) of dimer nanoantenna by tailoring the shape of the coupled nanoantennas extremities from rounded to straight or slanted ones. A numerical model based on the discrete dipole approximation method—taking into account periodicity, adhesion layer, and roughness—is first validated by comp...

The purpose of this study is to get more efficient gold nanocages for photothermal therapy (PTT) of cancer. Therefore a numerical maximization of the absorption efficiency (generating heat) is achieved. Two therapeutic cases (using visible and infrared laser) are considered. The optimization leads to an improved absorption of the nanocages compared...

The plasmonic nanostructures are widely used to design sensors with improved capabilities. The position of the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) is part of their characteristics and deserves to be specifically studied, according to its importance in sensor tuning, especially for spectroscopic applications. In the visible and near infra-red...

The metaheuristic approach has become an important tool for the optimization of design in engineering. In that way, its application to the development of the plasmonic based biosensor is apparent. Plasmonics represents a rapidly expanding interdisciplinary field with numerous transducers for physical, biological and medicine applications. Specific...

The fabrication process of nanodevices is continually improved. However, most of the nanodevices, such as biosensors present rough surfaces with mean roughness of some nanometers even if the deposition rate of material is better and better controlled. The effect of roughness on performance of biosensors was fully addressed for plane biosensors and...

The purpose of this study is to get more efficient gold nanoparticles, for necrosis of cancer cells, in photothermal therapy. Therefore a numerical maximization of the absorption efficiency of a set of nanoparticles (nanorod, nanoshell and hollow nanosphere) is proposed, assuming that all the absorbed light is converted to heat. Two therapeutic cas...

The sensitivity of the metallic nanoparticles strongly depends on the geometrical features (size and shape). Within this perspective, the objective of this study is to depict the impact of some geometrical features on the optical properties of a specific biosensor in the visible range to ensure high signal enhancement. The considered biosensor cons...

In this paper the Evolutionary Method (EM) and the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), which are based on competitiveness and collaborative algorithms respectively, are investigated for plasmonic design. Actually, plasmonics represents a rapidly expanding interdisciplinary field with numerous devices for physical, biological and medicine application...

The optimization of the coated metallic nanoparticles and nanoshells is a current challenge for biological applications, especially for cancer photothermal therapy, considering both the continuous improvement of their fabrication and the increasing requirement of efficiency. The efficiency of the coupling between illumination with such nanostructur...

In this paper, we optimize the size parameters of hollow nanospheres and nanoshells used in cancer photothermal therapy and we focus on two practical therapy cases: the visible range for shallow cancer and the near infrared for deep cancer. For this, we consider analytical models: the Mie theory for coated spheres. The investigated optimization met...

In this paper, we optimize the size parameters of hollow nanospheres and nanoshells used in cancer photothermal therapy and we focus on two practical therapy cases: the visible range for shallow cancer and the near infrared for deep cancer. For this, we consider analytical models: the Mie theory for coated spheres. The investigated optimization met...

To improve Particle swarm optimization (PSO) ability to explore new areas without delaying the algorithm convergence, a novel strategy is proposed which consists of choosing the best behavior while the new computed position of particle exceeds the search space. The strategy is tested and compared with conventional ones using adaptive PSO algorithm....

The metaheuristic approach has become an important tool for the optimization of design in engineering. In that way, its application to the development of the plasmonic based biosensor is apparent. Plasmonics represents a rapidly expanding interdisciplinary field with numerous transducers for physical, biological and medicine applications. Specific...

In this paper, we develop a mathematical model of a horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT) with flexible tower and blades. The model describes the flapping flexures of the tower and blades, and takes into account the nacelle pitch angle and structural damping. The eigenvalue problem is solved both analytically and numerically using the differential qu...