Improved Whale Optimization Algorithm Based on Inertia Weights for Solving Global Optimization Problems

Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA) is a new kind of swarm-based optimization algorithm that mimics the foraging behavior of humpback whales. WOA models the particular hunting behavior with three stages: encircling prey, bubble-net attacking, and search for prey. In this work, we proposed a new linear decreasing inertia weight with a random exploration ability (LDIWR) strategy. It also compared with the other three inertia weight WOA (IWWOA) methods: constant inertia weight (CIW), linear decreasing inertia weight (LDIW), and linear increasing inertia weight (LIIW) by adding fixed or linear inertia weights to the position vector of the reference whale. The four IWWOAs are tested with 23 mathematical and theoretical optimization benchmark functions. Experimental results show that most of IWWOAs outperform the original WOA in terms of solution accuracy and convergence rate when solving global optimization problems. Accordingly, the LDIWR strategy produces a better balance between exploration and exploitation capabilities for multimodal functions

Communication-efficient three-party protocols for authentication and key agreement

AbstractEncrypted key exchange (EKE) authentication approaches are very important for secure communicating over public networks. In order to solve the security weaknesses three-party EKE, Yeh et al. [H.T. Yeh, H.M. Sun, T. Hwang, Efficient three-party authentication and key agreement protocols resistant to password guessing attacks, Information Science and Engineering 19 (6) (2003) 1059–1070.] proposed two secure and efficient three-party EKE protocols. Based on the protocol developed by Yeh et al., two improved EKE protocols for authentication and key agreement are proposed in this study. The computational costs of the proposed protocols are the same as those of the protocols of Yeh et al. However, the numbers of messages in the communication are fewer than those of the protocols of Yeh et al. Furthermore, the round efficient versions of our proposed protocols are also described

Gene Transfer of Pro-opiomelanocortin Prohormone Suppressed the Growth and Metastasis of Melanoma: Involvement of ␣-Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone-Mediated Inhibition of the Nuclear Factor B/Cyclooxygenase-2 Pathway

ABSTRACT Pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) is a prohormone of various neuropeptides, including corticotropin, ␣-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (␣-MSH), and ␤-endorphin (␤-EP) . POMC neuropeptides are potent inflammation inhibitors and immunosuppressants and may exert opposite influences during tumorigenesis. However, the role of POMC expression in carcinogenesis remains elusive. We evaluated the antineoplastic potential of POMC gene delivery in a syngenic B16-F10 melanoma model. Adenovirus-mediated POMC gene delivery in B16-F10 cells increased the release of POMC neuropeptides in cultured media, which differentially regulated the secretion of pro-and anti-inflammatory cytokines in lymphocytes. POMC gene transfer significantly reduced the anchorage-independent growth of melanoma cells. Moreover, pre-or post-treatment with POMC gene delivery effectively retarded the melanoma growth in mice. Intravenous injection of POMC-transduced B16-F10 cells resulted in reduced foci formation in lung by 60 to 70% of control. The reduced metastasis of POMC-transduced B16-F10 cells could be attributed to their attenuated migratory and adhesive capabilities. POMC gene delivery reduced the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression and prostaglandin (PG) E 2 synthesis in melanoma cells and tumor tissues. In addition, application of NS-398, a selective COX-2 inhibitor, mimicked the antineoplastic functions of POMC gene transfer in melanoma. The POMC-mediated COX-2 down-regulation was correlated with its inhibition of nuclear factor B (NFB) activities. Exogenous supply of ␣-MSH inhibited NFB activities, whereas application of the ␣-MSH antagonist growth hormone-releasing peptide-6 (GHRP-6) abolished the POMC-induced inhibition of NFB activities and melanoma growth in mice. In summary, POMC gene delivery suppresses melanoma via ␣-MSH-induced inhibition of NFB/COX-2 pathway, thereby constituting a novel therapy for melanoma. POMC is a multifunctional polycistronic gene located on human chromosome 2p23.3. POMC is a 31 kDa prohormone that is processed into various neuropeptides, including corticotropin, melanotropins (␣-, ␤-, and ␥-MSH), lipotropins, and ␤-endorphin (␤-EP

Macropinocytosis: Possible Mechanisms of Cellular Entry of Arginine-Rich Intracellular Delivery Peptides

Endocytosis, which plays a key role in many different species, is the process that cells take up extracellular materials through plasma membranes. Protein transduction domains (PTDs), also called cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs), are small peptides and contain a large amount of basic amino acids. Several PTDs, including arginine-rich intracellular delivery (AID) peptides, were found to be responsible for cellular uptake of macromolecules. In our previous studies, AID peptides have been proven to either covalently transport proteins or noncovalently internalize proteins, DNAs or RNAs into animal or plant cells. The mechanisms by which PTD enter cells are still in vigorous debate. Our studies indicated that the possible mechanisms of AID peptide-mediated cellular entry might involve a combination of multiple internalization pathways, including at least macropinocytosis. Furthermore, our recent reports demonstrated for the first time that AID peptides could rapidly and efficiently deliver proteins into animal and plant cells in both covalent and noncovalent protein transductions (CNPT) synchronously. Therefore, investigations of cellular uptake mediated by AID peptides facilitate our understanding of endocytosis in more details and reveal nonclassically endocytic pathways

Additional file 1 of Using social media data in diabetes care: bridging the conceptual gap between health providers and the network population

Additional file 1: Supplementary Table S1. The keywords related to the AADE7 aspects. Supplementary Table S2. The sentiment scores of Sentiment analysis. Supplementary Table S3. The content of the other four aspects. Supplementary Figure S1. Word cloud analysis of the top three aspects of interest

Gateway selection and clustering in multi-interface wireless mesh networks considering network reliability and traffic

This work considers the gateway selection and clustering problem in a multi-interface wireless mesh network. The evolved reliability and traffic-aware gateway selection scheme is here introduced to increase the performance in terms of throughput. There are 2 main phases in the proposed idea. In the first step, some Internet Gateway Candidates are selected from the mesh nodes in the network, based on the network traffic. Then, in the second step, using the path tracing method, the best of these candidates are selected as Internet gateways. Moreover, to decrease the network energy consumption, a refined evolved reliability and traffic-aware gateway selection scheme is also proposed whose effect in simulation is shown. A clustering method is later proposed exploiting the genetic algorithm to give priority to the nodes with the shortest hop to connect to the cluster head. Simulation results demonstrate how our gateway selection and clustering scheme outperforms 2 successful approaches in terms of throughput and network energy consumption