The Importance of Being Constrained: Dealing with Infeasible Solutions in Differential Evolution and Beyond.

We argue that results produced by a heuristic optimisation algorithm cannot be considered reproducible unless the algorithm fully specifies what should be done with solutions generated outside the domain, even in the case of simple bound constraints. Currently, in the field of heuristic optimisation, such specification is rarely mentioned or investigated due to the assumed triviality or insignificance of this question. Here, we demonstrate that, at least in algorithms based on Differential Evolution, this choice induces notably different behaviours in terms of performance, disruptiveness, and population diversity.

Genome-Wide Association Studies for Milk Somatic Cell Score in Romanian Dairy Cattle.

Mastitis is one of the most frequently encountered diseases in dairy cattle, negatively affecting animal welfare and milk production. For this reason, contributions to understanding its genomic architecture are of great interest. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified multiple loci associated with somatic cell score (SCS) and mastitis in cattle.

Modeling the development of the post-natal mouse thymus in the absence of bone marrow progenitors.

Many mathematical models have been published with the purpose of explaining aspects of T-cell development in the thymus. In this manuscript we adapted a four-compartment model of the thymus and used a range of mathematical approaches with the aim of explaining the dynamics of the four main thymocyte populations in the mouse thymus, from the emergence of the first fetal thymocyte until the death of the animal. At various pre-natal and post-natal stages we investigated experimentally the number and composition of thymocytes populations, their apoptosis and proliferation, along with data from literature, to create and validate the model.

Insights into the mechanisms of thymus involution and regeneration by modeling the glucocorticoid-induced perturbation of thymocyte populations dynamics.

T-cells develop in the thymus and based on CD4 and CD8 expressions there are four main thymocyte populations in a normal mouse thymus. Currently, there are several mathematical models that describe the dynamics of thymocyte populations in a normal thymus, but only a few of them model the transient perturbation of their homeostasis. Our aim is to model the perturbation in the dynamics of each thymocyte population which is induced by the administration of a glucocorticoid, i.

Exploratory analysis of medical coding practices: the relevance of reported data quality in obstetrics-gynaecology.

We aimed at identifying a suitable data analysis approach to investigate potential patterns in the current medical coding in obstetrics and perinatal care. We processed the data reported for 2006 in DRG files from three Romanian university clinics of obstetrics-gynaecology and found substantial differences in the coding practices. Based on the evidence we found with a poor usage of the coding instruments, we concluded that using objective methods and quantifiable measures in analyzing the medical coding could help putting things into the right perspective and bring support for the need for formal education of medical record administrators and coders where such programmes do not exist, e.