Context based clearing procedure: A niching method for genetic algorithms

AbstractIn this paper we present CBC (context based clearing), a procedure for solving the niching problem. CBC is a clearing technique governed by the amount of heterogeneity in a subpopulation as measured by the standard deviation. CBC was tested using the M7 function, a massively multimodal deceptive optimization function typically used for testing the efficiency of finding global optima in a search space. The results are compared with a standard clearing procedure. Results show that CBC reaches global optima several generations earlier than in the standard clearing procedure. In this work the target was to test the effectiveness of context information in controlling clearing. A subpopulation includes a fixed number of candidates rather than a fixed radius. Each subpopulation is then cleared either totally or partially according to the heterogeneity of its candidates. This automatically regulates the radius size of the area cleared around the pivot of the subpopulation

Paragenesis and Geochronology of the Nopal I Uranium Deposit, Mexico

Uranium deposits can, by analogy, provide important information on the long-term performance of radioactive waste forms and radioactive waste repositories. Their complex mineralogy and variable elemental and isotopic compositions can provide important information, provided that analyses are obtained on the scale of several micrometers. Here, we present a structural model of the Nopal I deposit as well as petrography at the nanoscale coupled with preliminary U-Th-Pb ages and O isotopic compositions of uranium-rich minerals obtained by Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS). This multi-technique approach promises to provide ''natural system'' data on the corrosion rate of uraninite, the natural analogue of spent nuclear fuel

Effect of different treatments on germination of Romi red grape seeds

Germination of seeds required a stratification period either at cold (5 ± 1 °C) or warm (18 ± 1 °C) conditions. Besides, production of normal seedlings (seedlings with plumule) needed stratification of at least 60 d. Cold stratification treatments increased pronouncedly the percentages of seed germination and normal seedlings when seeds were first subjected to warm stratification conditions. Soaking the seeds in IAA, IBA or Ethrel at different concentrations before sowing failed completely to produce normal seedlings. Conversely, the best results with respect to germination i;ercentage and normal seedlings were obtained with GA-, especially at 5000 ppm, followed by thiourea and kinetin. Applying GA3 to seeds immediately before stratification was more effective than adding it after stratification.Der Einfluß verschiedener Behandlungsbedingungen auf die Samenkeimung bei der Rebsorte Romi redDie Samen der Rebsorte Romi red keimten nur nach Stratifikation, entweder unter Kälte- oder unter Wärmebedingungen (5 ± 1 °C bzw. 18 ± 1 °C). Normale Sämlinge, d. h. solche mit Plumula, entwickelten sich nur bei einer Stratifikationsdauer von mindestens 60 d. Durch Kaltstratifikation wurde der Anteil keimender Samen und normaler Sämlinge bedeutend erhöht, wenn die Samen zuvor warmstratifiziert worden waren. Das Einweichen der Samen vor der Aussaat in unterschiedlichen Konzentrationen von IAA, IBA oder Ethrel förderte die Bildung normaler Sämlinge in keiner Weise. Umgekehrt wurden im Hinblick auf die Samenkeimung und die Bildung normaler Sämlinge die besten Ergebnisse mit GA3, vor allem in der Konzentration von 5000 ppm erzielt; auch Thioharnstoff und Kinetin zeigten einen positiven Einfluß. GA3-Behandlung der Samen unmittelbar vor der Stratifikation war wirksamer als danach

The prognostic significance of minimal residual disease in adult Egyptian patients with precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia

AbstractBackgroundMinimal residual disease (MRD) studies in adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) give highly significant prognostic information superior to other standard criteria as age, gender and total leucocytic count (TLC) in distinguishing patients at high and low risk of relapse.ObjectivesWe aimed to determine the value of MRD monitoring by flowcytometry (FCM) in predicting outcome in adult Precursor ALL patients.Patients and methodsBone marrow (BM) samples were analyzed by 4-color FCM collected at diagnosis and after induction therapy (MRD1) to correlate MRD positivity with disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS).ResultsStudy included 57 adult ALL patients (44 males and 13 females) with a median age of 22years (18–49). DFS showed no significant difference with age, gender and initial TLC (p=0.838, 0.888 and 0.743, respectively). Cumulative DFS at 2years was 34% for B-lineage ALL (n: 35) and 57% for T-lineage ALL (n: 18) (p=0.057). Cumulative DFS at 2years was 7% for MRD1 positive (high risk, HR) versus 57% for MRD1 negative patients (Low risk, LR) (p<0.001). Cumulative DFS at 2years was 29% for HR patients (n: 26) versus 55% for LR (n: 27) according to GMALL classification (p=0.064). Cumulative OS did not differ according to age, gender and TLC (p=0.526, 0.594 and 0.513, respectively). Cumulative OS at 2years was 36% for B ALL (n: 39) versus 77% for TALL (n: 18) (p=0.016) and was 49% for Philadelphia chromosome (Ph) negative patients versus 0% for Ph-positive patients (p<0.001). Regarding MRD1, OS at 2years was 18% for MRD1 HR (n: 17) versus 65% for MRD1 LR (n: 38) (p<0.001). OS was 35% for high-risk patients (n: 30) and 62% for low-risk patients (n: 27) classified according to GMALL risk stratification (p=0.017).ConclusionMRD by FCM is a strong independent predictor of outcome in terms of DFS and OS and is a powerful informative parameter in guiding individual treatment in ALL patients

Estimating landscape irrigated areas and potential water conservation at the rural-urban interface using remote sensing and GIS

Research goals were to analyze patterns of urban landscape water use, assess landscape water conservation potential, and identify locations with capacity to conserve. Methodological contributions involved acquiring airborne multispectral digital images over two urban cities which were processed, classified, and imported into a GIS environment where landscaped area were extracted and combined with property and water billing data and local evapotranspiration rates to calculate landscape irrigation applications exceeding estimated water needs. Additional analyses were conducted to compare classified aerial images to ground-measured landscaped areas, landscaped areas to total parcel size, water use on residential and commercial properties, and turf areas under tress when they were leafed out and bare. Results verified the accuracy and value of this approach for municipal water management, showed more commercial properties applied water in excess of estimated needs compared to residential ones, and that small percentages of users accounted for most of the excess irrigatio