Analysis of the fitness landscape for the class of combinatorial optimisation problems

Anatomy of the fitness landscape for a group of well known combinatorial optimisation problems is studied in this research and the similarities and the differences between their landscapes are pointed out. In this research we target the analysis of the fitness landscape for MAX-SAT, Graph-Colouring, Travelling Salesman and Quadratic Assignment problems. Belonging to the class of NP-Hard problems, all these problems become exponentially harder as the problem size grows. We study a group of properties of the fitness landscape for these problems and show what properties are shared by different problems and what properties are different. The properties we investigate here include the time it takes for a local search algorithm to find a local optimum, the number of local and global optima, distance between local and global optima, expected cost of found optima, probability of reaching a global optimum and the cost of the best configuration in the search space. The relationship between these properties and the system size and other parameters of the problems are studied, and it is shown how these properties are shared or differ in different problems. We also study the long-range correlation within the search space, including the expected cost in the Hamming sphere around the local and global optima, the basin of attraction of the local and global optima and the probability of finding a local optimum as a function of its cost. We believe these information provide good insight for algorithm designers

Effect of Music on Postoperative Pain in Patients Under Open Heart Surgery

Background: Music, as a non-pharmacological and inexpensive nursing intervention, can be used easily as a complementary technique in reducing pain along with other methods. While some studies have demonstrated pain to decrease after music, others found music to be ineffective on pain. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of music on postoperative pain in patients under open heart surgery. Patients and Methods: A quasi-experimental study was performed on 60 patients under open heart surgery referred to ICU of Shahid Beheshti hospital in Kashan city. Patients were randomly divided into two groups including experimental and control groups. Patients in music group listened to nonverbal music for 30 minutes after surgery by headphones. The control group did not receive any intervention other than routine care. Before and after intervention, pain intensity was measured and recorded by visual analog scale in two groups. Data was analyzed using Chi-Square and t-tests. Results: Before intervention, the mean of pain intensity was 6.32 ± 0.21 and 6.10 ± 0.21 for experimental and control groups, respectively; and the difference was not significant (P = 0.21). After intervention, the mean of pain intensity was 3.11 ± 0.12 and 5.81 ± 0.38 for experimental and control groups, respectively; and the difference was significant (P = 0.04). Conclusions: Listening to the relaxant music can reduce postoperative pain. It is suggested that relaxant music be used as a complementary method in patients in order to reduce prospective pain

Berberine reinforces Sertoli cells niche and accelerates spermatogonial stem cells renewal in experimentally-induced varicocele condition in rats

Abstract Background Varicocele is present in 10–20% of the male infertile population. Purpose: Present study was done to demonstrate the reinforcing effect of berberine (BBR), as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, on Sertoli cells-related niche and spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) self-renewal in experimentally-induced VCL condition. Study design 50 mature male Wistar rats were divided into control, control-sham, non-treated VCL-induced, 50 mg kg−1 and 100 mg kg−1 BBR-treated VCL-induced groups. Methods The Leydig and Sertoli cells distribution and Leydig cells steroidogenic activity, expression of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), proto-oncogene Rearranged during Transfection (c-RET) receptor, Ets variant gene 5 (Etv5) and B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)/lymphoma 6, member B (Bcl-6b) at mRNA and protein levels were analyzed. The mRNA integrity and DNA fragmentation were assessed. Finally, the serum levels of testosterone, inhibin B and testicular total antioxidant capacity, total thiol molecules, catalase, and malondialdehyde were evaluated. Results Observations revealed that, the BBR significantly enhanced VCL-reduced Leydig and Sertoli cells population, maintained Leydig–Sertoli cells network, enhanced GDNF, c-RET Etv5 and Bcl6b expression, up-regulated testicular antioxidant and endocrine status. Conclusion The BBR by boosting Leydig–Sertoli cells network up-regulates the GDNF, Etv5 and Bcl-6b expression/synthesis in SSCs, which in turn improves SSCs self-renewal activities. Thus, the BBR could be considered as an appropriate agent for antioxidant therapy of VCLs. However, more studies with bigger sample number and focus on BBR-induced effects on other genes involving in the self-renewal process are needed to have more deterministic results. Keywords Varicocele Berberine Spermatogonial stem cells Self-renewa

Association between two common transitions of H2BFWT gene and male infertility: a case�control, meta, and structural analysis

H2BFWT is one of the testis‐specific histones that plays a fundamental role in spermatogenesis, and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in this gene may result in male infertility. This study aimed to investigate the association between −9C>T and 368A>G transitions of H2BFWT gene and male infertility through a case–control, meta‐analysis, and a bioinformatics approach. In this case–control study, 490 subjects including 240 idiopathic infertile men and 250 healthy controls were included. The −9C>T and 368A>G SNPs genotyping were performed by a PCR–RFLP method. To find eligible studies for meta‐analysis, we searched valid scientific databases. The odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were estimated to find the strength of these associations. Furthermore, the influences of two common transitions on the molecular features of H2BFWT were assessed by in silico tools. Our case–control data revealed that −9C>T is not associated with male infertility. But, there was a significant association between 368A>G and male infertility. In the meta‐analysis, five eligible studies were included. Our data revealed significant associations between −9C>T, 368A>G, and male infertility in overall and stratified analyses. Moreover, structural analysis showed that 368A>G could affect the protein structure (SNAP prediction: non‐neutral, score: 42, expected accuracy: 71%; SIFT prediction: deleterious, score: −2.55), while −9C>T may affect the binding nucleotide in the promoter region. Based on these findings, two aforementioned polymorphisms were associated with increased risk of male infertility. However, studies with larger sample size and different ethnicities are needed to obtain more accurate conclusions

The protective effect of coenzyme Q10 and berberine on sperm parameters, with and without varicocelectomy in rats with surgically induced varicoceles

The current study aimed to investigate the protective effects of coenzyme Q10 (Co Q10) and berberine (BB) with and without varicocelectomy on sperm parameters in postoperative varicocele rats. For the current purpose, a total of 60 mature male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control (n = 6 rats), control-sham (n = 6 rats), and experimental (n = 6 rats) groups. The animals in the experimental groups were undergone experimental varicocele, and simple laparotomy was performed in control-sham group. The experimental group was subdivided into the following groups 60 days after varicocele (VCL) induction: non-treated VCL-induced rats (n = 6 rats), VCL-induced rats administered 100 mg (kg per day) BB (n = 6 rats), VCL-induced rats administered Co Q10 75 mg (kg per day) (n = 6 rats), VCL-induced rats administered 100 mg (kg per day) BB + Co Q10 75 mg (kg per day) (n = 6 rats), varicocelectomy rats (n = 6 rats), varicocelectomy rats administered 100 mg (kg per day) BB (n = 6 rats), varicocelectomy rats administered Co Q10 75 mg (kg per day) (n = 6 rats), varicocelectomy rats administered 100 mg (kg per day) BB + Co Q10 75 mg (kg per day) (n = 6 rats). Following 60 days, the animals were euthanized and sperm parameters were evaluated. Non-treated VCL-induced animals indicated a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in sperm parameters and a significant (P < 0.05) increase in sperm DNA damage compared to control and control-sham groups. Insignificant changes were found between control and control-sham groups. Meanwhile, each treatment group showed a remarkable (P < 0.05) increase in sperm parameters as well as a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in sperm DNA damage. Based on current results, BB and Co Q10 alone and/or together could improve sperm parameters and reduce sperm DNA damage in varicocele-induced rats compared to control and control-sham groups. Varicocelectomy alone will improve sperm parameters, but this recovery will be greater when combined with Co Q10 and BB. © 2018, Springer-Verlag London Ltd., part of Springer Nature

Evaluation of the serum sex hormones levels and alkaline phosphatase activity in rats� testis after administering of berberine in experimental varicocele

Current study was aimed to investigate the protective effect of berberine (BB) on the serum gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), inhibin B (INHB), testosterone (T) and alkaline phosphatase (Alk-p) activity in the testis of experimental varicocele-induced animals. For the current objective, 30 mature-male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control (n = 6 rats), control-sham (n = 6 rats) and experimental groups (n = 18 rats). The animals in the experimental groups were undergone experimental varicocele and simple laparotomy was conducted in control-sham group. 60 days after varicocele (VCL) induction the experimental group subdivided into: non-treated VCL-induced and 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg BB-treated groups (intra-peritoneally). Following 60 days, the animals were euthanized and serum levels of testosterone and testicular activity of alkaline phosphatase were measured. Non-treated VCL-induced animals indicated a significant (P < 0.05) reduction in serum levels of T and INHB and a remarkable (P < 0.05) increase in GnRH, FSH, LH and Alk-p activity compared to control and control-sham groups. Insignificant changes were found between control and control-sham groups. Meanwhile, each BB administered group showed a remarkable (P < 0.05) increase in serum levels of T and INHB and a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in GnRH, FSH, LH and alkaline phosphatase activity in testis tissue. According to the current findings, BB by increasing serum levels of testosterone and INHB increases the testicular endocrine capacity and protects Leydig cell against inflammatory and oxidant injury of varicocele. In addition, BB by inhibiting GnRH, FSH, LH and alkaline phosphatase activity, regulate the levels of serum sex hormones in experimental varicocele and reduces varicocele-induced inflammatory reactions. © 2019, Institute of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University

BacHBerry: BACterial Hosts for production of Bioactive phenolics from bERRY fruits

BACterial Hosts for production of Bioactive phenolics from bERRY fruits (BacHBerry) was a 3-year project funded by the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) of the European Union that ran between November 2013 and October 2016. The overall aim of the project was to establish a sustainable and economically-feasible strategy for the production of novel high-value phenolic compounds isolated from berry fruits using bacterial platforms. The project aimed at covering all stages of the discovery and pre-commercialization process, including berry collection, screening and characterization of their bioactive components, identification and functional characterization of the corresponding biosynthetic pathways, and construction of Gram-positive bacterial cell factories producing phenolic compounds. Further activities included optimization of polyphenol extraction methods from bacterial cultures, scale-up of production by fermentation up to pilot scale, as well as societal and economic analyses of the processes. This review article summarizes some of the key findings obtained throughout the duration of the project

Berberine ameliorates experimental varicocele-induced damages at testis and sperm levels; evidences for oxidative stress and inflammation

The present study was performed to show the ameliorative effect of berberine (BBR), as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, against experimental varicocele (VCL)-induced molecular and histological damages. For this purpose, 50 mature Wistar rats were divided into control, control-sham, VCL-sole, 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg BBR-treated VCL-induced groups. The tissue levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), nitric oxide (NO), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and gluthatione peroxidase (GSH-px) as well as the mRNA levels of testicular CuZn SOD, MnSOD, EC-SOD and GSH-px were evaluated. The serum concentration of testosterone and germ cells mRNA damage were analysed. Finally, the sperm viability, motility, DNA integrity and chromatin condensation were analysed. Observations revealed that, the BBR significantly downregulated VCL-increased IL-6, TNF-α and NO levels, upregulated the CuZn SOD, MnSOD, EC-SOD and GSH-px mRNA level, decreased testicular MDA content, enhanced serum testosterone level and ameliorated testicular TAC, SOD and GSH-px levels. The animals in BBR-treated groups exhibited diminished mRNA damage versus non-treated VCL-induced group. The BBR has significantly (p < 0.05) improved sperm parameters. In conclusion, the BBR by promoting testicular antioxidant potential and by downregulating inflammatory reactions fairly promotes spermatogenesis and upregulates the sperm quality. © 2018 Blackwell Verlag Gmb

Maximum satisfiability: anatomy of the fitness landscape for a hard combinatorial optimisation problem

The fitness landscape of MAX-3-SAT is investigated for random instances above the satisfiability phase transition. This paper includes a scaling analysis of the time to reach a local optimum, the number of local optima, the expected probability of reaching a local optimum as a function of its fitness, the expected fitness found by local search and the best fitness, the probability of reaching a global optimum, the size and relative positions of the global optima, the mean distance between the local and global optima, the expected fitness as a function of the Hamming distance from an optimum and their basins of attraction. These analyses show why the problem becomes hard for local search algorithms as the system size increases. The paper also shows how a recently proposed algorithm can exploit long-range correlations in the fitness landscape to improve on the state-of-the-art heuristic algorithms