Global Optimization Procedure Research Articles

Mechanical impedance of the canine diaphragm

In the paper the equation of motion of the small amplitude transverse forced vibration of a radially prestressed and circularly clamped thin membrane has been developed. The material of the membrane is considered to be homogeneous, isotropic, incompressible and viscoelastic. From the analytical solution of this equation the incremental mechanical impedance of the membrane was derived as a function of frequency, geometrical parameters and incremental viscoelastic coefficients of the material. The parameters of the model were fitted to experimental impedance data using a global optimisation procedure to obtain the incremental viscoelastic moduli of the canine diaphragm. The estimated quasi-static behaviour of the model is shown to be consistent with the results of experimental quasi-static measurements. It is concluded that the incremental viscoelastic moduli of a soft tissue and the stress dependence of these material coefficients can be determined by fitting the parameters of the model to the impedance data of that particular tissue.

The stereochemistry of a four-way DNA junction: a theoretical study

The stereochemical conformation of the four-way helical junction in DNA (the Holliday junction; the postulated central intermediate of genetic recombination) has been analysed, using molecular mechanical computer modelling. A version of the AMBER program package was employed, that had been modified to include the influence of counterions and a global optimisation procedure. Starting from an extended planar structure, the conformation was varied in order to minimise the energy, and we discuss three structures obtained by this procedure. One structure is closely related to a square-planar cross, in which there is no stacking interaction between the four double helical stems. This structure is probably closely similar to that observed experimentally in the absence of cations. The remaining two structures are based on related, yet distinct, conformations, in which there is pairwise coaxial stacking of neighbouring stems. In these structures, the four DNA stems adopt the form of two quasi-continuous helices, in which base stacking is very similar to that found in standard B-DNA geometry. The two stacked helices so formed are not aligned parallel to each other, but subtend an angle of approximately 60 degrees. The strands that exchange between one stacked helix and the other are disposed about the smaller angle of the cross (i.e. 60 degrees rather than 120 degrees), generating an approximately antiparallel alignment of DNA sequences. This structure is precisely the stacked X-structure proposed on the basis of experimental data. The calculations indicate distortions from standard B-DNA conformation that are required to adopt the stacked X-structure; a widening of the minor groove at the junction, and reorientation of the central phosphate groups of the exchanging strands. An important feature of the stacked X-structure is that it presents two structurally distinct sides. These may be recognised differently by enzymes, providing a rationalisation for the points of cleavage by Holliday resolvases.

Tabu search techniques

Tabu Search is a general heuristic procedure for global optimization. Based on simple ideas it has been extremely efficient in getting almost optimal solutions for many types of difficult combinatorial optimization problems. The principles of Tabu Search are discribed and illustrations are given. An example of problem type where the use of Tabu Search has drastically cut down the computational effort is presented; it consists of the learning process of an associative memory represented by a neural network.

Global optimization algorithms for a CAD workstation

This paper describes two new versions of the controlled random search procedure for global optimization (CRS). Designed primarily to suit the user of a CAD workstation, these algorithms can also be used effectively in other contexts. The first, known as CRS3, speeds the final convergence of the optimization by combining a local optimization algorithm with the global search procedure. The second, called CCRS, is a concurrent version of CRS3. This algorithm is intended to drive an optimizing accelerator, based on a concurrent processing architecture, which can be attached to a workstation to achieve a significant increase in speed. The results are given of comparative trials which involve both unconstrained and constrained optimization.

Global optimization by controlled random search

The paper describes a new version, known as CRS2, of the author's controlled random search procedure for global optimization (CRS). The new procedure is simpler and requires less computer storage than the original version, yet it has a comparable performance. The results of comparative trials of the two procedures, using a set of standard test problems, are given. These test problems are examples of unconstrained optimization. The controlled random search procedure can also be effective in the presence of constraints. The technique of constrained optimization using CRS is illustrated by means of examples taken from the field of electrical engineering.