Harmony search HS method is an emerging metaheuristic optimization algorithm. In this paper, an improved harmony search method based on differential mutation operator IHSDE is proposed to deal with the optimization problems. Since the population diversity plays an important role in the behavior of evolution algorithm, the aim of this paper is to calculate the expected population mean and varian...

For any integer s ≥ 0, we derive a combinatorial interpretation for the family of sequences generated by the recursion (parameterized by s) hs(n) = hs(n − s − hs(n − 1)) + hs(n − 2− s − hs(n − 3)), n > s + 3, with the initial conditions hs(1) = hs(2) = · · · = hs(s+2) = 1 and hs(s+3) = 2. We show how these sequences count the number of leaves of a certain infinite tree structure. Using this int...

BACKGROUND High-sensitivity troponin I (hs-TnI) and troponin T (hs-TnT) are moderately correlated and independently related to outcome in atrial fibrillation (AF). Rate controlling therapy has been shown to reduce hs-TnT, however the potential impact on hs-TnI levels, and whether this differs from the effects on hs-TnT, has not been investigated previously. METHODS Sixty patients with stable,...

Using French data, we show that ELIE performs rather weakly when it comes to addressing the issue of poverty. Yet, eliminating poverty is also a valid normative property of any redistribution mechanism. We suggest combining ELIE with another redistributive solution aimed specifically at alleviating poverty: the personal allowance mechanism (Leroux, 2004 and 2007). We argue that ELIE and the per...

BACKGROUND Nebulized hypertonic saline (HS) treatment is unavailable to large populations worldwide. OBJECTIVES To determine the bacterial contamination and electrolyte concentrations in homemade (HM-HS) vs. pharmacy made (PM-HS). METHODS We conducted three double-blind consecutive trials: 50 boiled-water homemade 3%-HS (B-HM-HS) bottles and 50 PM-HS. The bottles were cultured after 48 hour...

The Harmony Search (HS) method is an emerging meta-heuristic optimization algorithm. In this paper, we propose two modified HS methods to deal with the unimodal and multi-modal optimization problems. The first modified HS method is based on the fusion of the HS and Differential Evolution (DE) technique, namely, HS-DE. The DE is employed here to optimize the members of the HS memory. The second ...

Human serum (HS) has been reported to induce aggregation of human eyelid adipose-derived stem cells (HEACs) during high-density culture in vitro. The present study focused on the role of cell adhesion molecules and gelatinases during HS-induced aggregation of HEACs. HS-induced aggregation occurred between 9-15 days of culture. Cells aggregated by HS medium (HS-agg) showed stronger expression of...

A hybrid metaheuristic approach by hybridizing harmony search (HS) and firefly algorithm (FA), namely, HS/FA, is proposed to solve function optimization. In HS/FA, the exploration of HS and the exploitation of FA are fully exerted, so HS/FA has a faster convergence speed than HS and FA. Also, top fireflies scheme is introduced to reduce running time, and HS is utilized to mutate between firefli...

Hibiscus syriacus, a woody ornamental plant with great economic value, is vulnerable to salinity. Hence, its cultivation in saline areas severely restricted. Although grafting H. syriacus onto hamabo rootstock can greatly improve syriacus’s salt resistance, the photosynthetic response of and stress remains largely unknown. To address this question, self-rooted (Hs), self-grafted (Hs/Hs), hamabo...