An evolutionary approach to complex schema matching

The schema matching problem can be defined as the task of finding semantic relationships between schema elements existing in different data repositories. Despite the existence of elaborated graphic tools for helping to find such matches, this task is usually manually done. In this paper, we propose a novel evolutionary approach to addressing the problem of automatically finding complex matches between schemas of semantically related data repositories. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first approach that is capable of discovering complex schema matches using only the data instances. Since we only exploit the data stored in the repositories for this task, we rely on matching strategies that are based on record deduplication (aka, entity-oriented strategy) and information retrieval (aka, value-oriented strategy) techniques to find complex schema matches during the evolutionary process. To demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach, we conducted an experimental evaluation using real-world and synthetic datasets. The results show that our approach is able to find complex matches with high accuracy, similar to that obtained by more elaborated (hybrid) approaches, despite using only evidence based on the data instances.     

Theories of meaning in schema matching: An exploratory study

Schema matching is an important step in database integration. It identifies elements in two or more databases that have the same meaning. A multitude of schema matching methods have been proposed, but little is known about how humans assign meaning to database elements or assess the similarity of meaning of database elements. This paper presents an initial experimental study based on five theories of meaning that compares the effects of seven factors on the perceived similarity of database elements. Implications for schema matching research are discussed and guidance for future research is offered.     

Learning probability distributions in continuous evolutionary algorithms – a comparative review

We present a comparative review of Evolutionary Algorithms that generate new population members by sampling a probability distributionconstructed during the optimization process. We present a unifying formulation for five such algorithms that enables us to characterize them based on the parametrization of the probability distribution, the learning methodology, and the use of historical information.The algorithms are evaluated on a number of test functions in order to assess their relative strengths and weaknesses. This comparative reviewhelps to identify areas of applicability for the algorithms and to guidefuture algorithmic developments.     

基于Pareto最优和限制精英的多目标进化算法

在NSGA-II算法的基础上,提出了一种基于Pareto最优和限制精英的多目标进化算法(LEMOEA)。通过分布函数的引入,限制了精英选取的数量,从而更好地维护了种群多样性。同时给出了一种新的单点复合交叉算子,其不但增大了解的搜索区域,而且增强了算法对解的搜索能力。实验结果表明:LEMOEA比NSGA-II有更好的收敛效果和种群多样性。     

Self-adaptivity for grid applications. An Efficient Resources Selection model based on evolutionary computation algorithms

Over the last few years, the adaptation ability has become an essential characteristic for grid applications due to the fact that it allows applications to face the dynamic and changing nature of grid systems. This adaptive capability is applied within different grid processes such as resource monitoring, resource discovery, or resource selection. In this regard, the present approach provides a self-adaptive ability to grid applications, focusing on enhancing the resources selection process. This contribution proposes an Efficient Resources Selection model to determine the resources that best fit the application requirements. Hence, the model guides applications during their execution without modifying or controlling grid resources. Within the evaluation phase, the experiments were carried out in a real European grid infrastructure. Finally, the results show that not only a self-adaptive ability is provided by the model but also a reduction in the applications’ execution time and an improvement in the successfully completed tasks rate are accomplished.     

Cloud-based evolutionary algorithms: An algorithmic study

This paper presents a cloud-computing based evolutionary algorithm using a synchronous storage service as pool for exchange information among population of solutions. The multi-computer was composed of several normal PCs or laptops connected via Wifi or Ethernet. In this work the effect of how the distributed evolutionary algorithm reached the solution when new PCs was added was tested whether that effect also translates to the algorithmic performance of the algorithm. To this end different (and hard) problems was addressed using the proposed multi-computer, analyzing the effects that the automatic load-balancing and synchronization had on the speed of algorithm successful, and analyzing how the number of evaluation per second increases when the multi-computer includes new nodes. The measure used for the analysis was number of evaluation per second which was increased when the multi-computer includes new nodes. The algorithm solved the proposed problems and it was viable to run it in homogeneous or heterogeneous platforms. The experiments includes two problems and different configuration for the distributed evolutionary algorithm in order to check the results of the algorithm for several rates of information exchange with the selected storage service. Results shows that the system is viable with homogeneous or heterogeneous nodes and there is no significative differences for the synchronous storage services we have tested. But when the problem is harder, and the threads of the algorithm does not stop for each information exchange (migration of individual from one population to another one), the differences of using a specific service became significative in terms of success of the algorithm.     

Contrasting meta-learning and hyper-heuristic research: the role of evolutionary algorithms

The fields of machine meta-learning and hyper-heuristic optimisation have developed mostly independently of each other, although evolutionary algorithms (particularly genetic programming) have recently played an important role in the development of both fields. Recent work in both fields shares a common goal, that of automating as much of the algorithm design process as possible. In this paper we first provide a historical perspective on automated algorithm design, and then we discuss similarities and differences between meta-learning in the field of supervised machine learning (classification) and hyper-heuristics in the field of optimisation. This discussion focuses on the dimensions of the problem space, the algorithm space and the performance measure, as well as clarifying important issues related to different levels of automation and generality in both fields. We also discuss important research directions, challenges and foundational issues in meta-learning and hyper-heuristic research. It is important to emphasize that this paper is not a survey, as several surveys on the areas of meta-learning and hyper-heuristics (separately) have been previously published. The main contribution of the paper is to contrast meta-learning and hyper-heuristics methods and concepts, in order to promote awareness and cross-fertilisation of ideas across the (by and large, non-overlapping) different communities of meta-learning and hyper-heuristic researchers. We hope that this cross-fertilisation of ideas can inspire interesting new research in both fields and in the new emerging research area which consists of integrating those fields.     

Generalizing the notion of schema in genetic algorithms

In this paper we examine some of the fundamental assumptions which are frequently used to explain the practical success which Genetic Algorithms (GAs) have enjoyed. Specifically, the concept of schema and the Schema Theorem are interpreted from a new perspective. This allows GAs to be regarded as a constrained random walk, and offers a view which is amenable to generalization. The minimal deceptive problem (a problem designed to mislead the genetic paradigm) is analyzed in the context provided by our interpretation, where a different aspect of its difficulty emerges.     

An efficient non-dominated sorting method for evolutionary algorithms

We present a new non-dominated sorting algorithm to generate the non-dominated fronts in multi-objective optimization with evolutionary algorithms, particularly the NSGA-II. The non-dominated sorting algorithm used by NSGA-II has a time complexity of O(MN(2)) in generating non-dominated fronts in one generation (iteration) for a population size N and M objective functions. Since generating non-dominated fronts takes the majority of total computational time (excluding the cost of fitness evaluations) of NSGA-II, making this algorithm faster will significantly improve the overall efficiency of NSGA-II and other genetic algorithms using non-dominated sorting. The new non-dominated sorting algorithm proposed in this study reduces the number of redundant comparisons existing in the algorithm of NSGA-II by recording the dominance information among solutions from their first comparisons. By utilizing a new data structure called the dominance tree and the divide-and-conquer mechanism, the new algorithm is faster than NSGA-II for different numbers of objective functions. Although the number of solution comparisons by the proposed algorithm is close to that of NSGA-II when the number of objectives becomes large, the total computational time shows that the proposed algorithm still has better efficiency because of the adoption of the dominance tree structure and the divide-and-conquer mechanism.     

An effective model of multiple multi-objective evolutionary algorithms with the assistance of regional multi-objective evolutionary algorithms: VIPMOEAs

Division of the evolutionary search among multiple multi-objective evolutionary algorithms (MOEAs) is a recent advantage in MOEAs design, particularly in effective parallel and distributed MOEAs. However, most these algorithms rely on such a central (re) division that affects the algorithms’ efficiency. This paper first proposes a local MOEA that searches on a particular region of objective space with its novel evolutionary selections. It effectively searches for Pareto Fronts (PFs) inside the given polar-based region, while nearby the region is also explored, intelligently. The algorithm is deliberately designed to adjust its search direction to outside the region – but nearby – in the case of a region with no Pareto Front. With this contribution, a novel island model is proposed to run multiple forms of the local MOEA to improve a conventional MOEA (e.g. NSGA-II or MOEA/D) running along – in another island. To dividing the search, a new division technique is designed to give particular regions of objective space to the local MOEAs, frequently and effectively. Meanwhile, the islands benefit from a sophisticated immigration strategy without any central (re) collection, (re) division and (re) distribution acts. Results of three experiments have confirmed that the proposed island model mostly outperforms to the clustering MOEAs with similar division technique and similar island models on DTLZs. The model is also used and evaluated on a real-world combinational problem, flexible logistic network design problem. The model definitely outperforms to a similar island model with conventional MOEA (NSGA-II) used in each island.     

混合量子差分进化算法及应用

量子进化算法基于量子旋转门更新量子比特状态影响了算法搜索性能．提出一种差分进化（DE）与和声搜索（Hs）相结合更新量子比特状态的混合量子差分进化算法（HQDE）．该方法采用实数量子角形式编码染色体,设计一种由差分进化计算更新量子位状态的量子差分进化算法（QDE）和一种由和声搜索更新量子位状态的量子和声搜索（QHS）,并相互机制融合,采用两种不同进化策略共同作用产生种群新量子个体以克服常规算法中早熟及收敛速度慢等缺陷;在此基础上,算法还引入量子非门算子对当前最劣个体以一定概率选中的量子比特位进行变异操作增强算法跳出局部最优解能力．理论分析证明该算法收敛于全局最优解．0／1背包问题及旅行商问题实例测试结果验证了该方法有效性．     

遗传算法在软件项目管理中的应用及研究

遗传算法（genetic algorithms,GAs）因其能适应任意限制条件和目标问题,被普遍应用在各种调度优化问题中,但是针对于特定的软件项目管理问题和环境,没有系统的研究和分析.通过对传统调度问题中遗传算法的研究,结合软件项目管理的特点,提出和比较了基于任务和基于时间轴的两种模型,以及GA编码和算子的设计.并通过与其他启发式算法上的性能比较实验,确认了GA在软件项目管理问题中的优势.     

Parallelism and evolutionary algorithms

This paper contains a modern vision of the parallelization techniques used for evolutionary algorithms (EAs). The work is motivated by two fundamental facts: 1) the different families of EAs have naturally converged in the last decade while parallel EAs (PEAs) are still lack of unified studies; and 2) there is a large number of improvements in these algorithms and in their parallelization that raise the need for a comprehensive survey. We stress the differences between the EA model and its parallel implementation throughout the paper. We discuss the advantages and drawbacks of PEAs. Also, successful applications are mentioned and open problems are identified. We propose potential solutions to these problems and classify the different ways in which recent results in theory and practice are helping to solve them. Finally, we provide a highly structured background relating to PEAs in order to make researchers aware of the benefits of decentralizing and parallelizing an EA     

An experimental study of adaptive control for evolutionary algorithms

In this paper, we investigate how adaptive operator selection techniques are able to efficiently manage the balance between exploration and exploitation in an evolutionary algorithm, when solving combinatorial optimization problems. We introduce new high level reactive search strategies based on a generic algorithm's controller that is able to schedule the basic variation operators of the evolutionary algorithm, according to the observed state of the search. Our experiments on SAT instances show that reactive search strategies improve the performance of the solving algorithm.     

Matching and scheduling algorithms for minimizing execution timeand failure probability of applications in heterogeneous computing

In a heterogeneous distributed computing system, machine and network failures are inevitable and can have an adverse effect on applications executing on the system. To reduce the effect of failures on an application executing on a failure-prone system, matching and scheduling algorithms which minimize not only the execution time but also the probability of failure of the application must be devised. However, because of the conflicting requirements, it is not possible to minimize both of the objectives at the same time. Thus, the goal of this paper is to develop matching and scheduling algorithms which account for both the execution time and the reliability of the application. This goal is achieved by modifying an existing matching and scheduling algorithm. The reliability of resources is taken into account using an incremental cost function proposed in this paper and the new algorithm is referred to as the reliable dynamic level scheduling algorithm. The incremental cost function can be defined based on one of the three cost functions developed here. These cost functions are unique in the sense that they are not restricted to tree-based networks and a specific matching and scheduling algorithm. The simulation results confirm that the proposed incremental cost function can be incorporated into matching and scheduling algorithms to produce schedules where the effect of failures of machines and network resources on the execution of the application is reduced and the execution time of the application is minimized as well     

An overview of evolutionary algorithms: practical issues and common pitfalls

An overview of evolutionary algorithms is presented covering genetic algorithms, evolution strategies, genetic programming and evolutionary programming. The schema theorem is reviewed and critiqued. Gray codes, bit representations and real-valued representations are discussed for parameter optimization problems. Parallel Island models are also reviewed, and the evaluation of evolutionary algorithms is discussed.     

时空视角下的动态多目标进化算法研究综述

现实中的多目标优化问题会随着时间或环境的变化而发生改变,因此在全周期优化过程中,环境变化检测和算法响应是求解动态多目标优化问题的两大关键步骤,为此重点对动态多目标进化算法方面的研究进行总结.为有效求解动态多目标优化问题,大量追踪性能优良的动态多目标进化算法在近20年里被提出,但是很少有文献从时空角度对已有研究进行分析和报道,鉴于此,从该视角对动态多目标进化算法研究进行综述.首先介绍动态多目标优化的基本概念、问题和性能指标;然后从时空视角对近5年提出的动态多目标进化算法研究进行分别介绍;最后列出目前动态多目标进化算法方面研究存在的一些挑战,并对未来研究进行展望.