This paper describes GRAF-ANT (Graphical Framework for Ant Colony Optimization), an objectoriented C# framework for developing ant colony systems that we have developed. While developing this framework, abstractions that are necessary for ant colony optimization algorithms were analyzed, as well as the features that their implementing classes should have. During creation of these classes, sever...

The Arabidopsis AINTEGUMENTA (ANT) gene, which encodes an APETALA2 (AP2)-like transcription factor, controls plant organ cell number and organ size throughout shoot development. ANT is thus a key factor in the development of plant shoots. Here, we have found that ANT plays an essential role in conferring salt tolerance in Arabidopsis. ant-knockout mutants presented a salt-tolerant phenotype, wh...

This paper introduces one of the most profound Swarm Intelligence-based approaches, namely Ant Colony Optimization (ACO). The different operators in ACO and their effect on the quality of solution are briefly discussed. The ACO algorithms variants like Ant System (AS), Elitist Ant System (EAS), Rankbased Ant System (ASrank), Min-Max based Ant System (MMAS) are detailed. The paper puts forth a s...

We have used the metaphor of ant colonies to define "the Ant system", a class of distributed algorithms for combinatorial optimization. To test the Ant system we used the travelling salesman problem. In this paper we analyze some properties of Ant-cycle, the up to now best performing of the ant algorithms we have tested. We report many results regarding its performance when varying the values o...

As a swarm-based optimization heuristic, the Ant System (AS) was proposed to deal with Traveling Salesman Problem (TSP). Classifified as constructive approach, AS inspired by ants’ social behavior.In Practice, its implementation reveals three basic variants that exploit two operating models: fifirst “natural” model, where ants move and update pheromones, consideration of distances between towns...