Evolutionary artificial neural networks

Evolutionary artificial neural networks (EANNs) can be considered as a combination of artificial neural networks (ANNs) and evolutionary search procedures such as genetic algorithms (GAs). This paper distinguishes among three levels of evolution in EANNs, i.e. the evolution of connection weights, architectures and learning rules. It first reviews each kind of evolution in detail and then analyses major issues related to each kind of evolution. It is shown in the paper that although there is a lot of work on the evolution of connection weights and architectures, research on the evolution of learning rules is still in its early stages. Interactions among different levels of evolution are far from being understood. It is argued in the paper that the evolution of learning rules and its interactions with other levels of evolution play a vital role in EANNs.     

Suppression of cytogenetic clonal evolution with interferon alfa therapy in patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia

PURPOSE: To investigate whether cytogenetic clonal evolution can be suppressed with interferon alfa (IFN-alpha) therapy in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ninety patients with CML and cytogenetic clonal evolution who received IFN-alpha-based regimens were analyzed. Clonal evolution was defined as the presence of karyotypic abnormalities in addition to the Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome. Patients were evaluated for the suppression of cytogenetic clonal evolution after therapy, the cytogenetic response, and survival. RESULTS: The median age of the population was 39 years (range, 15 to 70 years), median time from diagnosis to clonal evolution 14 months (range, 0 to 145 months), and median percentage of abnormal metaphases 18% (range, 4% to 100%). Fifty six patients (62%) achieved some suppression of cytogenetic clonal evolution; in 41 patients (46%), the suppression was complete. The overall median survival was 51 months, with 43% alive at 5 years. Patients who achieved a complete suppression of cytogenetic clonal evolution had a median survival of 66 months, with 51% alive at 5 years. Characteristics associated with a better response include a lower percentage of abnormal metaphases, time to cytogenetic clonal evolution of 24 months or less, and absence of other features of accelerated disease. A prognostic classification for cytogenetic clonal evolution defined three groups with complete response (CR) rates of 85%, 34%, and 0% (P < .0001) and median survival times of 58, 31, and 30 months, respectively (P=.02). CONCLUSION: Patients with cytogenetic clonal evolution can respond to IFN-alpha therapy, and this response is associated with longer survival. A previously described prognostic model separates patients into subsets with different probabilities of response to IFN-alpha and survival.     

Finite Strain Micromorphic Pressure-Sensitive Plasticity

A finite strain micromorphic pressure-sensitive plasticity model is formulated starting with thermodynamically conjugate stresses and plastic deformation rates in the reduced dissipation inequality, written in the intermediate configuration. Isotropic linear elasticity and nonassociative Drucker–Prager plasticity with cohesion hardening/softening are assumed for the constitutive equations. The reduced dissipation inequality dictates three levels of plastic evolution: (1) evolution of Fp, the plastic part of the deformation gradient; (2) evolution of χp, the plastic part of the microdeformation tensor; and (3) evolution of χp, the covariant derivative of χp. A semi-implicit time integration of the stress and plastic evolution equations is outlined after assuming small elastic deformations and Cartesian coordinates for the current configuration.     

TRIP钢 TMP和热处理过程中的组织演变

介绍了热轧TRIP钢TMP(形变热处理)的精轧阶段(奥氏体未再结晶区变形)、输送台冷却(γ-α两相区的相变)和卷取阶段(贝氏体转变)热轧TRIP钢组织演变的影响因素;冷轧TRIP钢临界区(γ-α区)退火和贝氏体转变区等温处理时的组织演变及其演变过程中TRIP钢残余奥氏体中碳的富集的研究进展。     

Metaphor and psychology: A reply to Gholson and Barker.

Suggests, in reply to the analysis of B. Gholson and P. Barker (see PA, 73:10704), that they may have overlooked a single construct (the underlying metaphor of the psyche) that embodies incommensurable, although not necessarily competing, theories that may distinguish evolution in psychology from that of other sciences. It is contended that while technology, methodology, novelty, and empirical results are factors in the evolution of psychology, the evolution can be measured by changes in metaphor. (6 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Of genes and genomes and the origin of maize

The crop plant maize (corn) is remarkably dissimilar to its recent wild ancestor, teosinte, making it an extremely interesting model for the study of evolution. Investigations into the evolution of maize are currently being performed at the molecular and morphological levels. Three independent lines of research are poised to shed light on the molecular basis of this spectacular transformation: (1) determining the structure and origin of the maize genome; (2) understanding the role of transposable elements in maize evolution; and (3) elucidating the genetic basis for morphological differences between maize and its wild ancestor teosinte.     

Complex niches favour rational species

On the whole living things evolve from simpler to more complex forms, though not undirectionally. The evolution of more complex species makes the environment more complex and also makes the evolution of even more complex species possible and more selectable. With the evolution of sentients, species can be classified according to their degree of rationality. A more rational species is one whose behaviour (i.e. of its individual members) is controlled (relatively) more by the reward-penalty system than by the automatic, inflexible, programmed responses. In two reasonable simple models, it is shown that a more complex environment favours the evolution of more rational species. This result partly explains the dramatic speed of evolution based mainly on random mutation and natural selection, a speed doubted by creationists.     

Electro-Oxidation of Concentrated Ce(Ⅲ) at Carbon Felt Anode in Nitric Acid Media

Electro-oxidation of Ce( Ⅲ) to Ce( Ⅳ ) in parallel plate flow type electrolyzer divided with cation exchange membrane was carried out in nitric acid media at carbon felt anode under galvanostatic conditions. Carbon felt was used as an anode for its high specific surface area and high oxygen evolution overpotential. Pt coated Ti plates were used as cathcurrent efficiency (92%) until about 80% of Ce( Ⅲ) was oxidized. Then, oxygen evolution, accompanied by terminal voltage jump, took place, lowering current efficiency. Ce( Ⅲ ) was oxidized up to 90% with current efficiency of 62%. In this mode, strong carbon felt anode oxidation was observed. The wear out of carbon felt was 46% in six consequent runs (6 h of operation). After each run, carbon felt surface had to be renewed with slightly alkaline solution to remove carbon oxidation products and ensure regular operational conditions. When anode surface was blocked, oxygen evolution took place from the beginning of electrolysis due to higher actual current density. The wear out of carbon felt anode could be minimized by means of oxygen evolution prevention. In the case when electrolysis had been stopped before oxygen evolution started (at Ce( Ⅳ ) conversion of about 80% ), the wear out of anode was less than 2% during 6 consequent runs (4 h of operation).     

Hybrid Monte Carlo Simulation of Stress-Induced Texture Evolution with Inelastic Effects

A hybrid Monte Carlo (HMC) approach is employed to quantify the influence of inelastic deformation on the microstructural evolution of polycrystalline materials. This approach couples a time explicit material point method (MPM) for deformation with a calibrated Monte Carlo model for grain boundary motion. A rate-independent crystal plasticity model is implemented to account for localized plastic deformations in polycrystals. The dislocation energy difference between grains provides an additional driving force for texture evolution. This plastic driving force is then brought into a MC paradigm via parametric links between MC and sharp-interface (SI) kinetic models. The MC algorithm is implemented in a parallelized setting using a checkerboard updating scheme. As expected, plastic loading favors texture evolution for grains that have a bigger Schmid factor with respect to the loading direction, and these are the grains most easily removed by grain boundary motion. A macroscopic equation is developed to predict such texture evolution.     

Modern treatments of menorrhagia attributable to dysfunctional uterine bleeding

The adaptive significance of the scrotum and the evolution of the descent of the testicles and epididymis have been a focus of interest among biologists for a long time. In this paper we use three anatomical character states of the scrotum and descensus: (1) testicles descended and scrotal; (2) testicles descended but ascrotal; (3) testicles not descended (testicondy). These states are then mapped on an up to date phylogeny of the Mammalia. Three main points arise out of this mapping procedure: (1) the presence of a scrotum is either primitive in extant Mammalia or primitive within eutherian mammals except Insectivora; (2) evolution has generally proceeded from a scrotal condition to progressively more ascrotal; (3) loss of testicular descensus is less common in mammalian evolution than is loss of the scrotum. In the light of these findings we discuss some current hypotheses regarding the origin and evolution of the scrotum. We find that these are all incomplete in so far as it is not the presence of the scrotum in various mammal groups that requires explaining. Instead, it is the reverse process, why the scrotum has been lost in so many groups, that should be explained. We suggest that the scrotum may have evolved before the origin of mammals, in concert with the evolution of endothermy in the mammalian lineage, and that the scrotum has been lost in many groups because descensus in many respects is a costly process that will be lost in mammal lineages as soon as an alternative solution to the problem of the temperature sensitivity of spermatogenesis is available.     

Remarques sur l'utilisation de l'approche évolutionniste en psychologie.

Discusses some of the claims belonging to the synthetic theory of evolution. In addition, the practicability of the synthetic evolutionist approach is underscored. Ultimately, it is imperative that psychologists regard evolutionary interpretations more critically. Psychologists are also encouraged to join the present debate concerning the synthetic theory of evolution. (English abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Validity of Uniform Flow Hypothesis in One-Dimensional Morphodynamic Models

Local-uniform-flow (LUF) hypothesis is a simplification of the governing equations describing river morphodynamics, which is needed to determine the evolution of the bed profile and bed-material composition in the case of large time and space scales. This paper presents a rigorous analysis of the full one-dimensional river hydrodynamic and morphodynamic mathematical model compared to its LUF approximation. The analysis establishes two criteria to assess the validity of the LUF hypothesis: (1) a criterion for rivers in equilibrium and (2) a criterion for evolving rivers (i.e., in nonequilibrium). The first criterion is based on the concept of the morphological box. Variations of the river bed longer than the box length are adequately reproduced by the LUF hypothesis, whereas only spatially averaged values are resolved within the box. The second criterion is based on the concept of an evolution window. Temporal variations represented by wave periods larger than the evolution window can be adequately reproduced by the LUF hypothesis, whereas variations with shorter periods are averaged within this window. The minimum size of morphological box and evolution window that limit the error introduced by the LUF hypothesis increases when the Froude number decreases. Further, the minimum size of the evolution window increases for decreasing sediment concentration and increasing mixing layer thickness (i.e., for larger bed forms). The LUF hypothesis is therefore best applied to small mountain rivers for which both the minimum size of the morphological box and the evolution window is relatively small, so that spatial and temporal variations can be resolved in more detail. Applications using the LUF hypothesis for large watersheds (including the lowland portion of the fluvial network) are possible, but are limited to simulations over larger spatial and temporal intervals.     

LTR retrotransposons and the evolution of eukaryotic enhancers

Since LTR retrotransposons and retroviruses are especially prone to regional duplications and recombination events, these viral-like systems may be especially conducive to the evolution of closely spaced combinatorial regulatory motifs. Using the Drosophila copia LTR retrotransposon as a model, we show that a regulatory region contained within the element's untranslated leader region (ULR) consists of multiple copies of an 8 bp motif (TTGTGAAA) with similarity to the core sequence of the SV40 enhancer. Naturally occurring variation in the number of these motifs is correlated with the enhancer strength of the ULR. Our results indicate that inter-element selection may favor the evolution of more active enhancers within permissive genetic backgrounds. We propose that LTR retroelements and perhaps other retrotransposons constitute drive mechanisms for the evolution of eukaryotic enhancers which can be subsequently distributed throughout host genomes to play a role in regulatory evolution.     

Runaway ornament diversity caused by Fisherian sexual selection

Fisher's runaway process of sexual selection is potentially an important force generating character divergence between closely related populations. We investigated the evolution of multiple female preferences by Fisher's runaway process. There are two outcomes of runaway. The first is the evolution of mate preference to a stable equilibrium. This evolution occurs if the benefits of mate choice are sufficiently large relative to the cost of choice. Alternatively, mate preferences evolve cyclically. The rate and pattern of cyclic evolution depends primarily on the individual cost of choice and epistasis in the joint cost of choice. If there are small differences in natural selection (e.g., predation risk) between populations, cyclic evolution quickly leads to divergence in mate preferences and sexual ornaments and so to sexual isolation.     

A fission-fusion origin for life

To develop a comprehensive 'cells-first' approach to the origin of life, we propose that protocells form spontaneously and that the fission and fusion of these protocells drives the dynamics of their evolution. The fitness criterion for this evolution is taken to be the the stability (conservation) of domains in the protocellular membrane as determined by non-covalent molecular associations between the amphiphiles of the membrane and a subset of the macromolecules in the protocell. In the presence of a source of free energy the macromolecular content of the protocell (co-)evolves as the result of (domain-dependent) membrane-catalysed polymerisation of the prebiotic constituents delivered to the protocell by fusion. The metabolism of the cell therefore (co-)evolves on a rugged fitness landscape. We indicate how domain evolution with the same fitness criterion can potentially give rise to coding. Membrane domains may therefore provide the link between protocells and the RNA/DNA-world.     

Compatibilité initiale et compatibilité-processus chez les jeunes couples non mariés.

To verify the respective influence of initial and of process compatibility on the development of the couple relationship among young, unmarried, childless couples, the Couple Interaction Assessment Scale was used to analyze and describe their mode of resolving 20 sets of problems together, each dealing with significant issues of their relationship. Results do not confirm that initial compatibility influences the evolution of the couple relationship at the time of follow-up. Findings do indicate, however, that process compatibility influences the evolution of the relationship. For experimental Ss, the fact of participating in a research project about young couples did not affect the evolution of their couple relationship. (30 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Electro-Oxidation of Concentrated Ce（ Ⅲ ） at Carbon Felt Anode in Nitric Acid Media

Ceriumiswidelyusedinindustry,mainlyinthe formofceria(CeO2),asamaterialforceramic,cata lysts,polishingpowdersandsoon.Inmetallurgyceri umhasbeenusedassulfidecontrollingadditivefor steelandotheralloys.Itsabundanceinvariousminer als,inwhichCebeisaccompaniedbyotherrare earths,makesCeoneofthecheapestRE[1].Ce(Ⅲ),incontrasttootherbasicallytrivalentREions,canbe oxidizedtorelativelystableCe(Ⅳ)statethathas quitedifferentchemicalproperties.Tetravalentcerium isusedasanoxidizingagentinorganicsynthesis…     

以阵列二氧化钛纳米棒为载体制备一体化析氧电极

以碳纸为支撑体,氯铱酸为前体,利用二氧化钛纳米棒阵列作为载体,采用浸渍-热分解法成功制备IrO₂-TiO₂/C一体化析氧电极.通过扫描电镜 (SEM)、XRD、XPS和电化学方法——循环伏安 (CV)、交流阻抗 (EIS) 等手段,研究载体形貌对析氧电极性能的影响.结果表明:二氧化钛载体能有效抑制支撑体碳纸在高电位下的腐蚀,当电压为2.4 V时,极化电流才仅为13.2 mA/cm2,一体化析氧电极积分电荷由87.2 mC/cm2增至178.5 mC/cm2,电极电化学反应阻抗由3.13 Ω·cm2降低到1.62 Ω·cm2,极大地提高了析氧电极的接触面积和催化剂的电催化活性.      

Experimental telemanipulation in endoscopic surgery

Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) is a clonal disease of bone marrow, citogenetically characterized by the presence of the Philadelphia chromosome (Ph). Additional anomalies in the Ph cromosome have been found during the evolution of CML. This paper will show evidence of cytogenetic abnormalities during the evolution of CML in this region, and its correlation with clinical evolution. 55 samples of bone marrow, 81.3% (45/55) in chronic phase (CP), 12.7% (7/55) in an accelerated phase (AP), and 5.4% (3/55) in blastic phase (BP) were received. In 12/45 patients in CP the karyotype was repeated at least once a year during the evolution of their illness. 9/12 presented the Ph chromosome as a single anomaly at the moment of diagnosis; the other 3 presented a distinct anomaly. 4/9 presented additional abnormalities moving to the stages AP or BP between 4-8 months after initial discovery. 7/10 patients referred in AP or BP presented additional abnormalities in the Ph chromosome. It is evident that the chromosome study of each patient with CML must be carried out at least once a year in order to detect chromosomal abnormalities in addition to the Ph chromosome. Thus, a greater therapeutic control of the disease is possible.