Incorporating a metropolis method in a distribution estimation using Markov random field algorithm.

Markov Random Field (MRF) modelling techniques have been recently proposed as a novel approach to probabilistic modelling for Estimation of Distribution Algorithms (EDAs)[34, 4]. An EDA using this technique, presented in [34], was called Distribution Estimation using Markov Random Fields (DEUM). DEUM was later extended to DEUMd [32, 33]. DEUM and DEUMd use a univariate model of probability distribution, and have been shown to perform better than other univariate EDAs for a range of optimization problems. This paper extends DEUMd to incorporate a simple Metropolis method and empirically shows that for linear univariate problems the proposed univariate MRF models are very effective. In particular, the proposed DEUMd algorithm can find the solution in O(n) fitness evaluations. Furthermore, we suggest that the Metropolis method can also be used to extend the DEUM approach to multivariate problems

Solving the Ising spin glass problem using a bivariate EDA based on Markov random fields.

Markov Random Field (MRF) modelling techniques have been recently proposed as a novel approach to probabilistic modelling for Estimation of Distribution Algorithms (EDAs). An EDA using this technique was called Distribution Estimation using Markov Random Fields (DEUM). DEUM was later extended to DEUMd. DEUM and DEUMd use a univariate model of probability distribution, and have been shown to perform better than other univariate EDAs for a range of optimization problems. This paper extends DEUM to use a bivariate model and applies it to the Ising spin glass problems. We propose two variants of DEUM that use different sampling techniques. Our experimental result show a noticeable gain in performance

Impact of climate change on WASH services: a case from Nepal

Nepal is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change, water-induced disasters and hydrometeorological extreme events such as droughts, landslides and floods. A recent study conducted in Nepal on the impact of climate change on WASH revealed reduced yield, decreasing rainfall trend, change in rainfall pattern, increasing temperature, and high vulnerability water supply and sanitation schemes to risks. As per users’ perception, yield of water sources reduced by 40% on average while analysis of secondary data revealed over 50% reduction in yield. This forced the communities to resort to different adaptive mechanisms including use of alternate/additional sources (28%), and introducing controlled water distribution mechanism (21%). Of the 49 schemes thoroughly assessed, 75% schemes have resorted to alternate sources to cope with the reduced yield. This paper will share the major findings from the study and highlight community led coping mechanisms to deal with climate induced changes

Transient Flow from a Partially Penetrating Well Installed in a Single Leaky Aquifer of Limited Thickness

A transient semi-analytical solution using integral transform techniques was developed to deal with well hydraulics of a draining! recharging partially penetrating well installed in a single leaky aquifer of limited thickness under ponded conditions. Flow equation is solved by incorporating Neumann type boundary conditions using Laplace transformation, Finite Fourier Cosine transformation, and modified Bessel functions. Applicability of the developed solution is shown using reasonable assumed data. Response of hydraulic head distribution with change in ponding heads was performed after selecting the suitable placement of the screen within the limited thick aquifer. Analyses showed that the well with screen placed in the centre of the isotropic aquifer was more efficient than well with screen positioned other than centre. It also revealed that the hydraulic head distribution was increasing with time and ponding depth. Developed solution was validated with the Hantush\u27s standard solution

Effectiveness of the tubewell screens in Punjab-a case study

A market survey in four districts of Punjab to evaluate the effectiveness of the well screens used by the farmers was conducted. Except a few cases, the percentage open area of the screens was found to be less than 10 percent, against the desirable value of 16-20 percent

Porcine cholecyst derived extracellular matrix (p-CEM) for reconstruction of full thickness skin wounds in rats

An acellular cholecyst derived extracellular matrix (p-CEM) of porcine origin was prepared using anionic biological detergent. Healing potential of (p-CEM) was compared with commercially available collagen sheet (b-CS) and open wound (C) in full-thickness skin wounds in rats. Thirty six clinically healthy adult Sprague Dawley rats of either sex were randomly divided into three equal groups. Under general anesthesia, a full-thickness skin wound (20?20mm2) was produced on the dorsum of each rat. The defect in group I was kept as open wound and was taken as control. In group II, the defect was repaired with commercially available collagen sheet (b-CS). In group III, the defect was repaired with cholecyst derived extracellular matrix of bovine origin (p-CEM). Healing was evaluated on the basis of wound contraction, gross, hematological, immunological and histopathological observations. On critical analysis of the observed parameters it was found that p-CEM has healing potential and shown better healing response than commercially available collagen sheet to reconstruct full thickness skin wounds in rats.Scopu

Bubaline Cholecyst Derived Extracellular Matrix for Reconstruction of Full Thickness Skin Wounds in Rats

An acellular cholecyst derived extracellular matrix (b-CEM) of bubaline origin was prepared using anionic biological detergent. Healing potential of b-CEM was compared with commercially available collagen sheet (b-CS) and open wound (C) in full thickness skin wounds in rats. Thirty-six clinically healthy adult Sprague Dawley rats of either sex were randomly divided into three equal groups. Under general anesthesia, a full thickness skin wound (20 ? 20 mm2) was created on the dorsum of each rat. The defect in group I was kept as open wound and was taken as control. In group II, the defect was repaired with commercially available collagen sheet (b-CS). In group III, the defect was repaired with cholecyst derived extracellular matrix of bovine origin (b-CEM). Planimetry, wound contracture, and immunological and histological observations were carried out to evaluate healing process. Significantly (P < 0.05) increased wound contraction was observed in b-CEM (III) as compared to control (I) and b-CS (II) on day 21. Histologically, improved epithelization, neovascularization, fibroplasia, and best arranged collagen fibers were observed in b-CEM (III) as early as on postimplantation day 21. These findings indicate that b-CEM have potential for biomedical applications for full thickness skin wound repair in rats.Scopu

The Markov Network Fitness Model

Fitness modelling is an area of research which has recently received much interest among the evolutionary computing community. Fitness models can improve the efficiency of optimisation through direct sampling to generate new solutions, guiding of traditional genetic operators or as surrogates for a noisy or long-running fitness functions. In this chapter we discuss the application of Markov networks to fitness modelling of black-box functions within evolutionary computation, accompanied by discussion on the relationship betweenMarkov networks andWalsh analysis of fitness functions.We review alternative fitness modelling and approximation techniques and draw comparisons with the Markov network approach. We discuss the applicability of Markov networks as fitness surrogates which may be used for constructing guided operators or more general hybrid algorithms.We conclude with some observations and issues which arise from work conducted in this area so far