Feature Selection with Evolving, Fast and Slow Using Two Parallel Genetic Algorithms

Feature selection is one of the most challenging issues in machine learning, especially while working with high dimensional data. In this paper, we address the problem of feature selection and propose a new approach called Evolving Fast and Slow. This new approach is based on using two parallel genetic algorithms having high and low mutation rates, respectively. Evolving Fast and Slow requires a new parallel architecture combining an automatic system that evolves fast and an effortful system that evolves slow. With this architecture, exploration and exploitation can be done simultaneously and in unison. Evolving fast, with high mutation rate, can be useful to explore new unknown places in the search space with long jumps; and Evolving Slow, with low mutation rate, can be useful to exploit previously known places in the search space with short movements. Our experiments show that Evolving Fast and Slow achieves very good results in terms of both accuracy and feature elimination

Jaceosidin protects L929 fibroblast cells by down-regulation of proinflammatory cytokines and attenuation of oxidative stress-induced impairment of cell proliferation and migration

Aim: Oxidative stress has been a significant factor in wound-healing pathophysiology for a long time. Antioxidants, especially natural compounds, have recently been emphasized in instructions for wound healing treatments. Jaceosidin (JACE), a flavone derived from Artemisia princeps, is a potent antioxidant. This study aims to investigate JACE’s anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and its capacity to improve the effects of in vitro wound healing. Methods: Wound healing activities have been tested using cell proliferation and migration in vitro assays in the mouse fibroblast cell line L929. The concentration of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2-0.5 mM) has been used to induce the oxidative stress model. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and nuclear factor (NF-kb) have been investigated as inflammatory indicators. Antioxidant activity has been checked using total antioxidant status (TAS) and total oxidant status (TOS) tests. Results: JACE has significantly increased the proliferation of fibroblasts dose-dependent manner. It has enhanced the cell migration rate of fibroblasts compared with the H2O2 group. JACE at a concentration of 50 and 100 μM has significantly decreased TOS and oxidative stress index (OSI) levels and increased TAS levels. The anti-inflammatory mechanism of JACE has involved down-regulation of the mRNA expressions of the NF-kb  and TNF-α in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusions: JACE has beneficial impacts on fibroblast viability and migration qualities through antioxidative actions and down-regulating proinflammatory cytokines through anti-inflammatory effects to promote wound healing. The present study shows that JACE may help to increase the range of available treatments for wound-healing by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress

Energy Consumption, Carbon Emissions and Global Warming Potential of Wolfberry Production in Jingtai Oasis, Gansu Province, China

During the last decade, China's agro-food production has increased rapidly and been accompanied by the challenge of increasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and other environmental pollutants from fertilizers, pesticides, and intensive energy use. Understanding the energy use and environmental impacts of crop production will help identify environmentally damaging hotspots of agro-production, allowing environmental impacts to be assessed and crop management strategies optimized. Conventional farming has been widely employed in wolfberry (Lycium barbarum) cultivation in China, which is an important cash tree crop not only for the rural economy but also from an ecological standpoint. Energy use and global warming potential (GWP) were investigated in a wolfberry production system in the Yellow River irrigated Jingtai region of Gansu. In total, 52 household farms were randomly selected to conduct the investigation using questionnaires. Total energy input and output were 321,800.73 and 166,888.80 MJ ha−1, respectively, in the production system. The highest share of energy inputs was found to be electricity consumption for lifting irrigation water, accounting for 68.52%, followed by chemical fertilizer application (11.37%). Energy use efficiency was 0.52 when considering both fruit and pruned wood. Nonrenewable energy use (88.52%) was far larger than the renewable energy input. The share of GWP of different inputs were 64.52% electricity, 27.72% nitrogen (N) fertilizer, 5.07% phosphate, 2.32% diesel, and 0.37% potassium, respectively. The highest share was related to electricity consumption for irrigation, followed by N fertilizer use. Total GWP in the wolfberry planting system was 26,018.64 kg CO2 eq ha−1 and the share of CO2, N2O, and CH4 were 99.47%, 0.48%, and negligible respectively with CO2 being dominant. Pathways for reducing energy use and GHG emission mitigation include: conversion to low carbon farming to establish a sustainable and cleaner production system with options of raising water use efficiency by adopting a seasonal gradient water pricing system and advanced irrigation techniques; reducing synthetic fertilizer use; and policy support: smallholder farmland transfer (concentration) for scale production, credit (small- and low-interest credit) and tax breaks

Eficiencia de costes en la agricultura orgánica: comparación entre familias productoras de pasas orgánicas y convencionales en Turquía

The paper uses data envelopment analysis to compute overall technical and input-specific technical efficiency measures of conventional and organic raisin-producing households in Turkey. The questionnaires were applied to fourty-four organic and thirty-eight conventional producers determined by stratified random sampling. For each household group the average cost efficiency and technical efficiency coefficients are determined to be 0.712 and 0.862 for organic households, while 0.844 and 0.903 for the conventional group. According to the coefficients calculated for individual and different returns to scale, it can be stated that conventional households are on average more efficient relative to their own technology.El documento utiliza análisis de envolvimiento de datos para calcular medidas de rendimiento de técnicas específicas y técnicas de conjunto en familias productoras de pasas orgánicas y convencionales en Turquía. Los cuestionarios se aplicaron a 44 productores orgánicos y a 38 productores convencionales determinados por un método estratificado de muestreo al azar. Mediante el análisis de los resultados por grupos, se determinó que la media de eficiencia por coste y el coeficiente de eficiencia técnica para el grupo orgánico fueron de 0,712 y 0,862 respectivamente, y para el grupo convencional fue de 0,844 y 0,903 respectivamente. Según los coeficientes calculados por individuo y diferentes respuestas de la escala, se puede afirmar que las familias productoras convencionales son de media más eficientes en relación a su propia tecnología

Purposes: A Case Study on Pamukkale Natural Preservation Area

The present study aims to appreciate the economic value that might be added in case the Pamukkale Natural Preservation Area is used for recreational purposes. A survey study was conducted on totally 584 visitors who checked in Pamukkale Preservation Area in the period of June 2016 - June 2017. In the Individual travel cost method, poisson regression and negative binomial regression analysis were employed; total consumer surplus values were estimated as 33 Billion and 37 Billion, respectively. In the Regional travel cost method, multiple linear regression analysis was employed and total consumer surplus value was estimated as 71 Billion (sic). In the Contingent valuation method, the logistic regression analysis was employed and total willingness to pay was estimated as 30 Billion (sic). Recreational economic value of the Pamukkale Natural Preservation Area, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, was estimated by both methods as about 30 Billion (sic) and 71 Billion (sic), respectively.C1 [Gundogmus, Mehmet Erdemir] Adnan Menderes Univ, IIBF, Isletme Bolumu, Aydin, Turkey.[Kalfa, Veli Riza] Pamukkale Univ, Honaz Meslek Yuksekokulu, Finans Bankacilik & Sigortacilik Bolumu, Denizli, Turkey

Cost efficiency on organic farming: a comparison between organic and conventional raisin-producing households in Turkey

The paper uses data envelopment analysis to compute overall technical and input-specific technical efficiency measures of conventional and organic raisin-producing households in Turkey. The questionnaires were applied to fourty-four organic and thirty-eight conventional producers determined by stratified random sampling. For each household group the average cost efficiency and technical efficiency coefficients are determined to be 0.712 and 0.862 for organic households, while 0.844 and 0.903 for the conventional group. According to the coefficients calculated for individual and different returns to scale, it can be stated that conventional households are on average more efficient relative to their own technology

A study of the ethical sensitivity of physicians in Turkey

In order to prepare bioethics and clinical ethics courses for clinicians in Turkey, we needed to know the attitudes of physicians when placed in ethically difficult care situations. We presented four cases to 207 physicians who are members of the Physicians' Association in Kocaeli, Turkey. Depending on the decisions they made in each case, we determined whether they were aware of the ethical aspects of the cases and the principles they chose as a basis for their decisions. We aimed to gain information about their ethical tendencies and moral sensitivity