Improving Exploration And Exploitation Capability Of Harmony Search Algorithm

Harmony Search (HS) is a meta-heuristic algorithm which was first introduced in 2001 and it became a widely used optimization algorithm in various areas in engineering application as well as in water resources planning and management. However, as most meta-heuristic algorithms are, the HS shows a good performance in global search but not as good in local search. This study aims the improvement of both exploration and exploitation capability of the algorithm. The mission has been carried out by changing algorithm operators or parameters in the search process. Several types of Improved Harmony Search (IHS) have been successfully developed resulting better exploiting (local) search. Alternative way is to utilize the superior local search of other models or algorithms. The combined, so called hybrid algorithms can significantly supplement the weak local search aspect of the original HS. A newly developed hybrid algorithm, Smallest Small World Cellular Harmony Search (SSWCHS), is developed and proposed shorter characteristic path length and higher clustering coefficient, resulting good exploration and exploitation efficiency. Application to benchmark functions and design of pipe networks proves the superior performance of the newly developed hybrid algorithm

Current Management and Future Strategies of Gastric Cancer

The overall prognosis of gastric cancer has gradually improved over the past decades with growing awareness of potential carcinogens, surveillance programs and early diagnosis, as well as advances in surgical techniques and multimodality treatments. Nevertheless, the outcome of advanced stage disease still remains poor with currently available treatments, and a worldwide consensus on the standard management thereof has not been established. To improve prognosis and quality of life in gastric cancer patients, both standardization and individualization of managements are imperative. Diagnostic tests and surgical procedures need to be further sophisticated and standardized based on more recent evidences from ongoing and future randomized controlled trials, while comprehensive management should be individualized to each patient. Future challenges lie with how to optimize personalized therapies by deciphering biological complexity of gastric cancer and incorporating molecular biomarkers in clinical practice to forecast prognosis and to guide targeted therapeutics in adjunct to current standards of care

Development of Practical Design Approaches for Water Distribution Systems

The optimal design of water distribution systems (WDSs) should be economical, consider practical field applicability, and satisfy hydraulic constraints such as nodal pressure and flow velocity. However, the general optimal design of a WDSs approach using a metaheuristic algorithm was difficult to apply for achieving pipe size continuity at the confluence point. Although some studies developed the design approaches considering the pipe continuity, these approaches took many simulation times. For these reasons, this study improves the existing pipe continuity search method by reducing the computation time and enhancing the ability to handle pipe size continuity at complex joints that have more than three nodes. In addition to more practical WDSs designs, the approach considers various system design factors simultaneously in a multi-objective framework. To verify the proposed approach, the three well-known WDSs to apply WDS design problems are applied, and the results are compared with the previous design method, which used a pipe continuity research algorithm. This study can reduce the computation time by 87% and shows an ability to handle complex joints. Finally, the application of this practical design technique, which considers pipe continuity and multiple design factors, can reduce the gap between the theoretical design and the real world because it considers construction conditions and abnormal situations.Open access journalThis item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]

Autologous collagen-induced chondrogenesis: From bench to clinical development

Microfracture is a common technique that uses bone marrow components to stimulate cartilage regeneration. However, the clinical results of microfracture range from poor to good. To enhance cartilage healing, several reinforcing techniques have been developed, including porcine-derived collagen scaffold, hyaluronic acid, and chitosan. Autologous collagen-induced chondrogenesis (ACIC) is a single-step surgical technique for cartilage regeneration that combines gel-type atelocollagen scaffolding with microfracture. Even though ACIC is a relatively new technique, literature show excellent clinical results. In addition, all procedures of ACIC are performed arthroscopically, which is increasing in preference among surgeons and patients. The ACIC technique also is called the Shetty–Kim technique because it was developed from the works of A.A. Shetty and S.J. Kim. This is an up-to-date review of the history of ACIC

The Neuroinflammasome in Alzheimer’s Disease and Cerebral Stroke

Aim/Background: This review investigated a patient with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) treated with 4,4’-diaminodiphenyl sulfone (DDS) as a neuroinflammasome competitor. Methods: We monitored AD’s progression through numeric clinical staging (NCS) with a new biomarker. NCS was determined by the presence of AD symptoms and neuropsychiatric (NP) symptoms caused by anti-AD (AAD) drugs (D) as a biomarker. We also monitored the function of DDS for stroke in a no-intake emergency state. Results: By introducing (D), AD’s progression was monitored through NCS staging. AAD side effects and neuropsychiatric symptoms were identified. DDS was stopped in patients with stroke with NCS 6 caused by AAD, and it rapidly proceeded to cerebral infarct. Conclusions: AAD can occasionally exacerbate AD and stroke. DDS can alleviate mild cognitive impairment (MCI), early AD and stroke. We clinically confirmed the role of DDS as a neuroinflammasome competitor after stroke. DDS preserved neuronal survival within 24–55 h in the Seoul Study cohort

Dapsone is an anticatalysis for Alzheimer's disease exacerbation

Brain inflammation generally accelerates neurodegeneration. Alzheimer's disease (AD) triggers an innate immune response by activating a cytosolic DNA sensor cyclic-GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)/stimulator of interferon genes (STING) signaling pathway. Our study investigated patients with leprosy and AD. They were treated with dapsone (4,4′-diaminodiphenyl sulfone, DDS) as a neuroinflammasome competitor and cGAS/STING pathway inhibitor. Four groups were defined: Treatment (T) 1: DDS prescribed AD diagnosed, T 2: DDS prescribed AD undiagnosed, T 3 DDS unprescribed AD diagnosed, and T 4: DDS unprescribed AD undiagnosed. Dapsone effects on AD can be clearly distinguished according to dapsone presence or absence. T1:T3 proved that the incidence of AD was significantly reduced by dapsone. T2:T3 proved that the prevalence of AD was significantly high without dapsone. T1:T4 proved that the prevalence decreased when taking dapsone. Our study demonstrates that dapsone can prevent AD exacerbation and may represent a preventive therapeutic option for exacerbated AD

Optimal Pipe Size Design for Looped Irrigation Water Supply System Using Harmony Search: Saemangeum Project Area

Water supply systems are mainly classified into branched and looped network systems. The main difference between these two systems is that, in a branched network system, the flow within each pipe is a known value, whereas in a looped network system, the flow in each pipe is considered an unknown value. Therefore, an analysis of a looped network system is a more complex task. This study aims to develop a technique for estimating the optimal pipe diameter for a looped agricultural irrigation water supply system using a harmony search algorithm, which is an optimization technique. This study mainly serves two purposes. The first is to develop an algorithm and a program for estimating a cost-effective pipe diameter for agricultural irrigation water supply systems using optimization techniques. The second is to validate the developed program by applying the proposed optimized cost-effective pipe diameter to an actual study region (Saemangeum project area, zone 6). The results suggest that the optimal design program, which applies an optimization theory and enhances user convenience, can be effectively applied for the real systems of a looped agricultural irrigation water supply

Optimal Pipe Size Design for Looped Irrigation Water Supply System Using Harmony Search: Saemangeum Project Area

Water supply systems are mainly classified into branched and looped network systems. The main difference between these two systems is that, in a branched network system, the flow within each pipe is a known value, whereas in a looped network system, the flow in each pipe is considered an unknown value. Therefore, an analysis of a looped network system is a more complex task. This study aims to develop a technique for estimating the optimal pipe diameter for a looped agricultural irrigation water supply system using a harmony search algorithm, which is an optimization technique. This study mainly serves two purposes. The first is to develop an algorithm and a program for estimating a cost-effective pipe diameter for agricultural irrigation water supply systems using optimization techniques. The second is to validate the developed program by applying the proposed optimized cost-effective pipe diameter to an actual study region (Saemangeum project area, zone 6). The results suggest that the optimal design program, which applies an optimization theory and enhances user convenience, can be effectively applied for the real systems of a looped agricultural irrigation water supply

Dual priming oligonucleotide system for the multiplex detection of respiratory viruses and SNP genotyping of CYP2C19 gene

Successful PCR starts with proper priming between an oligonucleotide primer and the template DNA. However, the inevitable risk of mismatched priming cannot be avoided in the currently used primer system, even though considerable time and effort are devoted to primer design and optimization of reaction conditions. Here, we report a novel dual priming oligonucleotide (DPO) which contains two separate priming regions joined by a polydeoxyinosine linker. The linker assumes a bubble-like structure which itself is not involved in priming, but rather delineates the boundary between the two parts of the primer. This structure results in two primer segments with distinct annealing properties: a longer 5′-segment that initiates stable priming, and a short 3′-segment that determines target-specific extension. This DPO-based system is a fundamental tool for blocking extension of non-specifically primed templates, and thereby generates consistently high PCR specificity even under less than optimal PCR conditions. The strength and utility of the DPO system are demonstrated here using multiplex PCR and SNP genotyping PCR