Synthetic Genes for Artificial Ants. Diversity in Ant Colony Optimization Algorithms

Inspired from the fact that the real world ants from within a colony are not clones (although they may look alike, they are different from one another), in this paper, the authors are presenting an adapted ant colony optimisation (ACO) algorithm that incorporates methods and ideas from genetic algorithms (GA). Following the first (introductory) section of the paper is presented the history and the state of the art, beginning with the stigmergy and genetic concepts and ending with the latest ACO algorithm variants as multiagent systems (MAS). The rationale and the approach sections are aiming at presenting the problems with current stigmergy-based algorithms and at proposing a (possible - yet to be fully verified) solution to some of the problems ("synthetic genes" for artificial ants). A model used for validating the proposed solution is presented in the next section together with some preliminary simulation results. Some of the conclusions regarding the main subject of the paper (synthetic genes: agents within the MAS with different behaviours) that are closing the paper are: a) the convergence speed of the ACO algorithms can be improved using this approach; b) these "synthetic genes" can be easily implemented (as local variables or properties of the agents); c) the MAS is self-adapting to the specific problem that needs to be optimized

Expression of NM23 in human melanoma progression and metastasis.

NM23 is a putative metastasis-suppressor gene for some human cancers. Here we have studied NM23 expression during melanoma progression using Northern blotting and immunocytochemistry. There was no significant difference in the average amounts of NM23 mRNA between cell lines derived from metastatic and primary melanomas. The level of NM23 mRNA was also determined for three pairs of poorly metastatic parental (P) and their highly metastatic variant (M) cell lines; the ratios for M/P were 1.2, 0.98 and 0.80. Next we used immunocytochemistry to study NM23 protein in normal skin, benign naevi and primary and metastatic melanomas. Melanocytes in all normal skin and benign samples were positive for NM23; however most primary melanomas (7/11) were not stained by the antibody. All metastatic melanoma samples (5/5) were positively stained. Findings were similar with an antiserum reactive with both forms of NM23 (H1 and H2), and with an antibody specific for NM23-H1. No relationship was apparent between NM23 immunoreactivity in primary tumours and their aggressiveness or prognosis. Hence, in contrast to the situation described for murine melanoma, the amount of NM23 mRNA or protein in human melanoma did not correlate inversely with metastasis

Towards the implementation of Computer-Aided Semiosis

Computer-Aided Semiosis (CAS) is a concept coined by a team of researchers a couple of years ago. Since it is a promising domain due to the fact that responds to actual trans-cultural communication needed in the broad-band society - where often the message behind the words does not come clear - the subject ought being inquired more detailed as promised in other papers of the same authors. This interesting idea was inspired from Eco’s theory of communication which states that the receiver "fills the message with significance"; hence it is vital for any communication and is strongly dependent on the cultures involved. In line with Eco’s theory, the research in this area must be trans-disciplinary and anthropocentric. In the intention of narrowing the existing gap between the technological offers and user expectations the macro-architectural feature is that translation will progress from textual, semantically correct, to multimodal, culturally adequate, based on common concepts and "grammar" (rules to combine them into meaningful sentences); thus, this paper will present possible approaches towards the implementation of CAS. Given the fact the ontologies are considered to be the pillars of Semantic Web but also a key tool in implementing CAS, both will be a subject of this paper in the light of finding an implementation solution. The paper is structured on five sections: the first will present the defining aspects of the concept relating it with previous research; the second section will deal with CAS approach and architecture, following with the state of the art regarding ontologies and their relation with Semantic Web. Among the conclusions, one is already noticeable: CAS could not be possible without a trans-cultural ontology

KASCADE-Grande Limits on the Isotropic Diffuse Gamma-Ray Flux between 100 TeV and 1 EeV

KASCADE and KASCADE-Grande were multi-detector installations to measure individual air showers of cosmic rays at ultra-high energy. Based on data sets measured by KASCADE and KASCADE-Grande, 90% C.L. upper limits to the flux of gamma-rays in the primary cosmic ray flux are determined in an energy range of ${10}^{14} - {10}^{18}$ eV. The analysis is performed by selecting air showers with a low muon content as expected for gamma-ray-induced showers compared to air showers induced by energetic nuclei. The best upper limit of the fraction of gamma-rays to the total cosmic ray flux is obtained at $3.7 \times {10}^{15}$ eV with $1.1 \times {10}^{-5}$. Translated to an absolute gamma-ray flux this sets constraints on some fundamental astrophysical models, such as the distance of sources for at least one of the IceCube neutrino excess models.Comment: Published in The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 848, Number 1. Posted on: October 5, 201

KCDC - The KASCADE Cosmic-ray Data Centre

KCDC, the KASCADE Cosmic-ray Data Centre, is a web portal, where data of astroparticle physics experiments will be made available for the interested public. The KASCADE experiment, financed by public money, was a large-area detector for the measurement of high-energy cosmic rays via the detection of air showers. KASCADE and its extension KASCADE-Grande stopped finally the active data acquisition of all its components including the radio EAS experiment LOPES end of 2012 after more than 20 years of data taking. In a first release, with KCDC we provide to the public the measured and reconstructed parameters of more than 160 million air showers. In addition, KCDC provides the conceptional design, how the data can be treated and processed so that they are also usable outside the community of experts in the research field. Detailed educational examples make a use also possible for high-school students and early stage researchers.Comment: 8 pages, accepted proceeding of the ECRS-symposium, Kiel, 201