A Modified Real-Coded Genetic Algorithm Considering with Fitness-based Variability

A genetic algorithm (GA) is a search algorithm based on the mechanism of natural genetics. In various GAs, a real-coded GA (RCGA) employing individuals represented by real valued-genes has been proposed to solve the optimization problem in the continuous searching space. However, the conventional RCGA yields ineffective searches due to insufficient genetic diversity in the selection process. In this paper, we propose a modified RCGA with variability operator maintaining the genetic diversity of the population. In the proposed method, a variability term is newly added to the individuals selected by the ordinary selection. The degree of the variability is decided considering the fitness value of the individual. The searching performance of the proposed method is better than the conventional methods. The effectiveness and the validity of the proposed method are verified by applying it to optimization problems of continuous benchmark functions and signal sources localization

Characteristics of physical activity during beginner-level group tennis lessons and the effect daily activity

Kawakami R., Yamakawa S., Konda S., et al. Characteristics of physical activity during beginner-level group tennis lessons and the effect daily activity. Scientific Reports 14, 249 (2024); https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-46843-0.Tennis is a popular leisure sport, and studies have indicated that playing tennis regularly provides many health benefits. We aimed to clarify the characteristics of physical activity during beginner-level group tennis lessons and daily physical activity of the participants. Physical activity was measured using an accelerometer sensor device for four weeks, including the 80-min duration tennis lessons held twice a week. Valid data were categorized for tennis and non-tennis days. The mean physical activity intensity during the tennis lesson was 3.37 METs. The mean ratio of short-bout rest periods to the tennis lesson time in 90 and 120 s was 7% and 4%, respectively. The mean physical activity intensity was significantly higher (p < 0.0001) and the duration of vigorous-intensity physical activity (VPA) was increased in 76% of participants on days with tennis lessons compared to without tennis lessons. Beginner-level tennis lesson has characteristics of less short-bout rest physical activity than previously reported competitive tennis match and increased the duration of VPA in daily activity compared to without tennis lessons, suggesting that beginner-level tennis lessons contribute physical activity of health benefits

Treatment strategy changes for inflammatory bowel diseases in biologic era: results from a multicenter cohort in Japan, Far East 1000

Abstract Many molecular targeted agents, including biologics, have emerged for inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), but their high prices have prevented their widespread use. This study aimed to reveal the changes in patient characteristics and the therapeutic strategies of IBD before and after the implementation of biologics in Japan, where the unique health insurance system allows patients with IBD and physicians to select drugs with minimum patient expenses. The analysis was performed using a prospective cohort, including IBD expert and nonexpert hospitals in Japan. In this study, patients were classified into two groups according to the year of diagnosis based on infliximab implementation as the prebiologic and biologic era groups. The characteristics of therapeutic strategies in both groups were evaluated using association analysis. This study analyzed 542 ulcerative colitis (UC) and 186 Crohn’s disease (CD). The biologic era included 53.3% of patients with UC and 76.2% with CD, respectively. The age of UC (33.9 years vs. 38.8 years, P < 0.001) or CD diagnosis (24.3 years vs. 31.9 years, P < 0.001) was significantly higher in the biologic era group. The association analysis of patients with multiple drug usage histories revealed that patients in the prebiologic era group selected anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α agents, whereas those in the biologic era group preferred biologic agents with different mechanisms other than anti-TNF-α. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that both patient characteristics and treatment preferences in IBD have changed before and after biologic implementation