Hybrid Taguchi-Harmony Search Algorithm for Solving Engineering Optimization Problems

Harmony search algorithm have recently gained a lot of attention from the optimization research community. In this paper, an improved harmony search algorithm is introduced to solve engineering optimization problems. To demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed approach, it is applied to an engineering design and manufacturing optimization problem taken from the literature. The results obtained by the new hybrid harmony search approach for the case studies are compared with a hybrid genetic algorithm, scatter search algorithm, genetic algorithm, feasible direction method and handbook recommendation. The results of case studies show that the proposed optimization approach is highly competitive and that can be considered a viable alternative to solve design and manufacturing optimization problems

Comparison of metaheuristic optimization algorithms for solving constrained mechanical design optimization problems

Determining the solution for real mechanical design problems is a challenging task when using the newly developed and efficient swarm intelligence algorithms. There are so many difficulties to be addressed, including but not limited to mixed decision variables, diverse constraints, inherent errors, conflicting objectives, and numerous locally optimal solutions. This work analyzes the behavior of nine metaheuristic algorithms, namely, salp swarm algorithm (SSA), multi-verse optimizer (MVO), moth-flame optimizer (MFO), atom search optimi-zation (ASO), ecogeography-based optimization (EBO), queuing search algorithm (QSA), equilibrium optimizer (EO), evolutionary strategy (ES) and hybrid self-adaptive orthogonal genetic algorithm (HSOGA). The efficiency of these algorithms is evaluated on eight mechanical design problems using the solution quality and convergence analysis, which verifies the wide applicability of these algorithms to real-world application problems

RADIOTHERAPY WITH OR WITHOUT TEMOZOLOMIDE IN ELDERLY GLIOBLASTOMA PATIENTS: PERFORMANCE OR AGE AS A SURROGATE?

Advances in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Crohns and Colitis Foundations National Clinical and Research Conference -- DEC 09-12, 2010 -- Hollywood, FLWOS: 000285082400182

Nigella sativa relieves the deleterious effects of ischemia reperfusion injury on liver

AIM: To determine whether Nigella sativa prevents hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury to the liver

Evaluation of 8-Hydroxy-2 '-Deoxyguanosine Concentration and Antioxidant Enzyme Activities in Bladder Cancer Patients

Objective: Oxidant/antioxidant balance has been suggested as an important factor for initiation and progression of cancer. The purpose of this study was to examine 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) level which is a marker of oxidative DNA damage, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities as antioxidant enzymes, in serum of urinary bladder cancer, and to determine relations between measured parameters and tumor characteristics such as histological grade, local invasion and tumor size. Material and Methods: Forty patients with urinary bladder cancer were included in the study. Blood samples were collected just before the resection. Serum levels of 8-OHdG were measured with a competitive ELISA kit, SOD and GPx activities were measured by spectrophotometric kits, GST activity was determined by spectrophotometric assay. Results: There was no significant difference between patient and control groups for serum 8-OHdG level and GPx activity. However serum SOD activity was significantly lower (P<0.001) and GST activity was significantly higher (P<0.001) in the patient group as compared to control group. Tumor size found to be negatively correlated with GST activity (r: -0.43, P < 0.01). Conclusion: Data show that serum level of 8-OHdG does not have a prognostic potential for urinary bladder cancer. Antioxidant balance is disturbed in these patients however changes in antioxidant enzyme activities does not have a prognostic value. The most promising antioxidant enzyme is GST because of its negative association with tumor size