Search

The primary objective of this paper is to aid game developers in finding the most suitable pathfinding algorithm for their games. Despite recent advancements in this field, there are few available studies that can be compared due to the absence of a standard benchmark set for weighted environments. This paper presents a new dataset for pathfinding in weighted environments. Furthermore, an investigation was conducted into the impact of node weights on pathfinding speed, and a correlation between them was identified. The complexity added to the maps due to node weights was defined as weight complexity, and two metrics were introduced to estimate it. The weight correlation factor has been identified as the most effective metric for estimating the weight complexity of the map. Another contribution of this paper pertains to the development of a model for estimating the pathfinding speed of algorithms based on weight complexity. This was accomplished through the utilization of the non-linear least squares method, which was applied to create a model for each algorithm, considering both its average search time and weight correlation factor values associated with the map. Finally an overall score metric was developed by using the integral of the models, enabling the evaluation of different algorithms in various scenarios. [Display omitted] • Testing JPSW (weighted jump point search) algorithm search speed. • Introducing the first standardized benchmark for weighted gridmaps. • Introducing a new metric for analyzing gridmap complexity. • Using edge detection techniques for weighted gridmap analysis. • Introducing a scoring system for pathfinding algorithms in weighted environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The challenge of high-dimensional feature selection (FS) lies in the search technique, which needs to consider both minimizing the size of feature subset and maximizing the classification accuracy. Recently, multi-objective evolutionary algorithms (MOEAs) have shown excellent performance in solving FS tasks. However, most existing MOEAs struggle to effectively balance these two conflicting objectives when solving high-dimensional FS tasks. To cover this issue, in this paper, a decomposition-based multi-population evolutionary algorithm is proposed, called MPEA-FS. In the initialization stage, a multi-population generation strategy (MGS) based on feature weights (MGS) was adopted, with each population corresponding to a search subspace, which can improve the algorithm's search ability. During the evolutionary stage, an external population is designed to integrate the excellent feature subsets of multiple populations to achieve knowledge sharing between them. In addition, to reduce the feature dimension, a feature reduction strategy (FRS) is proposed, which can remove unimportant features while maintaining classification accuracy. Extensive experiments are performed on 13 high-dimensional datasets, and the proposed algorithm is compared with 5 state-of-the-art FS methods proposed in the last 3 years on multiple metrics. The experimental results indicate that MPEA-FS can achieve higher classification accuracy on most datasets, and the number of selected features is also competitive. • A decomposition-based multi-population feature selection algorithm is proposed. • The generation of multi-population is based on a novel feature weight method. • Multi-population knowledge sharing strategy based on elite population is proposed. • Evolution operator based on guide vector can correct the feature subset effectively. • Obtained higher classification accuracy and competitive number of features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing the number of lower-level function evaluations (LFEs) is crucial to designing a bilevel evolutionary algorithm (BLEA) for bilevel optimization. Direct neighbor solution transfer (DST) is regularly used in BLEA because it can improve the lower-level search efficiency and reduce the number of LFEs. But this method still faces the challenge of misleading searches to make the algorithm converge to the wrong optimum. This paper proposes a bilevel improved multi-operator differential evolution algorithm (BL-IMODE) for bilevel optimization, which uses the knowledge transfer and adaptive coordinate systems approach. Specifically, this paper proposes a lower-level search knowledge transfer (LLS-KT) and a lower-level (LL) optimal solution distribution information transfer (LLO-DIT) mechanism to implement knowledge transfer. In LLS-KT, transferring LL solutions to the LL optimizer is similar to DST, but the LLS-KT transfers multiple solutions and thus has less possibility of misleading searches than DST. Moreover, the LLO-DIT transfers the LL optimal solution distribution information to the LL optimizer for generating promising offspring solutions. Since this method does not directly transfer LL solutions, it avoids misleading searches. Additionally, the adaptive coordinate systems (ACS) approach is used in two-level optimizers to suit different fitness landscapes and further reduce the number of LFEs. In ACS, three differential evolution mutation operators are produced in two coordinate systems. An adaptive strategy is used to select the suitable differential evolution mutation operator to generate promising offspring solutions in the Eigen coordinate or original coordinate system. Experimental studies on three test suites benchmark problems for comparison with seven state-of-the-art algorithms are conducted. The results show BL-IMODE has a significant advantage over the comparative algorithms. Finally, BL-IMODE is applied to tackle the inverse optimal control problem. • We propose a bilevel improved multi-operator differential evolution algorithm. • We propose a knowledge transfer approach to avoid misleading search. • We propose an adaptive coordinate systems approach to improve search efficiency. • We outperform all existing approaches in most test instances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High dimensional and small samples characterize gene expression data and contain a large number of genes unrelated to disease. Feature selection improves the efficiency of disease diagnosis by selecting a small number of important genes. Unfortunately, existing algorithms do not consider the correlation between features, and search algorithms tend to fall into the local optimal solution in the feature search process. To this end, this paper proposes a feature filter and group evolution hybrid feature selection algorithm (FG-HFS) for high-dimensional gene expression data. Unlike existing algorithms, we propose using spectral clustering to group redundant features into a group. Then, we propose a redundant feature filter algorithm. According to the principle of approximate Markov blanket, grouped feature groups are filtered to delete these redundant features. Among them, filtered features are evenly divided by density according to the feature exponential strategy. Most importantly, we propose using the group evolution multi-objective genetic algorithm to search the filtered feature subsets and evaluate the candidate feature subsets according to the in-group and out-group so as to select the feature subsets with the highest accuracy and the least number. Experimental results show that the average accuracy (ACC) and Matthews correlation coefficient (MCC) indexes of the selected feature subsets (FSs) by the FG-HFS algorithm on 5 gene expression datasets are 92.76% and 88.76%, respectively, which are significantly better than the existing algorithms. In addition, the FSs and ACC/FSs indexes of the FG-HFS algorithm are also better than the existing algorithms, which fully proves the superiority of the FG-HFS algorithm. More importantly, the Wilcoxon and Friedman statistical experiments results show that the feature selection effect of FG-HFS algorithm is significantly better than that of existing algorithms, no matter in pairwise comparison or multiple comparison. • We propose using spectral clustering to group the features so that the in-group feature similarity is extremely high. • We propose a redundant feature filter algorithm since existing algorithms cannot filter redundant features. • we propose using the group evolution multi-objective genetic algorithm to search the filtered feature subsets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the deadlock control and scheduling problem of two-stage assembly permutation flowshop with limited buffers. In such a system, all parts are first processed in a permutation flowshop, then assembled into final products. The objective is to find a feasible schedule, including a manufacturing subschedule and an assembly subschedule, to minimize makespan. Owing to limited buffers, not only may the blocking phenomenon appear in the system operation, but also some manufacturing subschedules may lead to deadlock states, making them unavailable. To obtain a feasible schedule, this work first proposes a deadlock control or an availability detection and amendment (ADA) algorithm to determine whether a manufacturing subschedule is available, and convert unavailable ones to available ones. Then by embedding ADA into a social spider algorithm (SSA), a hybrid social spider algorithm (HSSA) is developed for computing feasible schedules. In HSSA, an improved heuristic search algorithm is proposed to generate a better initial population, and a simplified variable neighborhood search algorithm is designed and incorporated into HSSA to enhance its searching ability. Finally, HSSA is tested on instances, showing its superiority over SSA in performance. The effect of buffer size on the scheduling objective is discussed. • The availability of manufacturing subschedules is determined. • The unavailable subschedules can be transformed into available ones. • A hybrid social spider algorithm is developed for computing feasible schedules. • Using an improved heuristic search algorithm to obtain a better initial population. • The local search ability is enhanced by a simplified variable neighborhood search. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, RRT* algorithm has attracted much attention because of its asymptotic optimization. However, the RRT* algorithm still suffers from slow convergence rate and large randomness of search range. To overcome the shortcomings of this algorithm, this paper proposes UAV trajectory planning based on bi-directional APF-RRT* algorithm with goal-biased. Firstly, goal-biased strategy is used to guide the generation of random sampling points, and two mutually alternating random search trees are established by the bi-directional RRT* algorithm to perform the search, thus increasing the convergence rate of the algorithm. Secondly, the number of iterations is greatly reduced by incorporating an modified artificial potential field method into the bi-directional growth tree. In the process of smoothing the paths, a cubic spline interpolation algorithm is applied to optimize the paths to obtain the best trajectory. The combination of the two algorithms improves the direction of new node generation and reduces the path cost. Finally, the algorithm of this paper is compared with Informed-RRT*, Bi-RRT* and improved P-RRT* algorithms, and it enhances the search performance of the growing tree. • The extension of the RRT* can reduce the convergence time. • The implementation of improved APF to decrease redundancy points. • Combination with goal-biased strategy to obtain higher quality sampling. • Generating smoother path optimized by cubic spline to lessen vertices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Meta-evolutionary Selection of Constituents in Ensemble DE (MeSCEDE) framework is proposed in this paper to automate the design of high-level multi-population ensemble Differential Evolution (DE) algorithms. The automated design of high-level multi-population ensemble DE algorithms involves both automated selection of constituent DE algorithms for the ensemble and automated configuration of ensemble related parameters. Grammatical Evolution has been used as the meta-evolutionary algorithm in MeSCEDE to search the space of design choices so as to evolve effective ensemble design(s) for given problem(s). The simulation experiments carried out in this paper involve applying MeSCEDE to evolve ensemble DE designs for solving 30-dimensional CEC'17 benchmark functions. The effectiveness of the evolved designs are validated on 30 and 50-dimensional CEC'14 functions as well as on 22 real-world problem instances from CEC'11 benchmark suite. The MeSCEDE evolved designs have exhibited a competitive performance against state-of-the-art ensemble DE algorithms. In addition, the potential of MeSCEDE has been demonstrated against irace , a state-of-the-art algorithm configurator. All simulation experiments reiterate the potential of MeSCEDE towards evolving effective and robust ensemble DE designs. • Automated design of ensemble differential evolution (DE) algorithm is presented. • The proposed approach is Meta-evolutionary Selection of Constituents in Ensemble DE. • The approach uses grammatical evolution as the meta evolutionary algorithm. • The approach is demonstrated on CEC'17, CEC'14 and CEC'11 benchmark suites. • Relieves the practitioners from the difficult task of algorithm configuration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a metaheuristic algorithm called PID-based search algorithm (PSA) is proposed for global optimization. The algorithm is based on an incremental PID algorithm that converges the entire population to an optimal state by continuously adjusting the system deviations. PSA is mathematically modeled and implemented to achieve optimization in a wide range of search spaces. PSA is used to solve CEC2017 benchmark test functions and six constrained problems. The optimization performance of PSA is verified by comparing it with seven metaheuristics proposed in recent years. The Kruskal-Wallis, Holm and Friedman tests verified the superiority of PSA in terms of statistical significance. The results show that PSA can be better balanced exploration and exploitation with strong optimization capability. Source codes of PSA are publicly available at https://ww2.mathworks.cn/matlabcentral/fileexchange/131534-pid-based-search-algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, an energy efficiency study has been carried out through the moment values of a quadrotor applied in the position control with the differential evolution algorithm (DE), which is under the evolutionary algorithms among meta-heuristic algorithms particle swarm optimization (PSO) which is among swarm-based algorithms and gravity search algorithm (GSA) among physics-based algorithms and charged system search (CSS) algorithm, which are all well-known in the literature. The efficient use of energy in electrically powered flying mechanisms is important in terms of completing its task. The aim of this study is to obtain proportional–integral–derivative (PID) coefficients that minimize the energy consumption caused by quadrotor moments. First of all, 12 PID coefficients calculated with traditional Ziegler Nicholes, and trying-error methods for the control of the quadrotor have been trained with DE, PSO, GSA and CSS algorithms and their cost values have been found for this problem. In the study, optimum PID coefficients have been found separately with each algorithm and torque data giving energy efficiency have been obtained by applying them to the state equations. Although the cost minimization convergence value obtained from DE does not look good compared to other algorithms, it has been observed that the moment values of the obtained PID coefficients in the control program are lower. In the study, it has been shown that the PID coefficients obtained from DE reach the target with approximately less energy than the maximum-moment value of the PSO, which provides the closest moment value. It can be thought that this value contributes to energy consumption in each orbital movement of the quadrotor. The simulation results show that the coefficients obtained from DE provide better energy efficiency and are superior to other algorithms compared in terms of energy efficiency. • PID coefficients for quadrotor control are optimized with DE,PSO,CSS,GSA algorithms • The torque values to be applied to each motor were adjusted with these coefficients • The total force applied with DEPID in the z direction is smaller than others • DEPID consumes less energy than the other algorithms in the paper [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, an energy efficiency study has been carried out through the moment values of a quadrotor applied in the position control with the differential evolution algorithm (DE), which is under the evolutionary algorithms among meta-heuristic algorithms particle swarm optimization (PSO) which is among swarm-based algorithms and gravity search algorithm (GSA) among physics-based algorithms and charged system search (CSS) algorithm, which are all well-known in the literature. The efficient use of energy in electrically powered flying mechanisms is important in terms of completing its task. The aim of this study is to obtain proportional–integral–derivative (PID) coefficients that minimize the energy consumption caused by quadrotor moments. First of all, 12 PID coefficients calculated with traditional Ziegler Nicholes, and trying-error methods for the control of the quadrotor have been trained with DE, PSO, GSA and CSS algorithms and their cost values have been found for this problem. In the study, optimum PID coefficients have been found separately with each algorithm and torque data giving energy efficiency have been obtained by applying them to the state equations. Although the cost minimization convergence value obtained from DE does not look good compared to other algorithms, it has been observed that the moment values of the obtained PID coefficients in the control program are lower. In the study, it has been shown that the PID coefficients obtained from DE reach the target with approximately less energy than the maximum-moment value of the PSO, which provides the closest moment value. It can be thought that this value contributes to energy consumption in each orbital movement of the quadrotor. The simulation results show that the coefficients obtained from DE provide better energy efficiency and are superior to other algorithms compared in terms of energy efficiency. • PID coefficients for quadrotor control are optimized with DE,PSO,CSS,GSA algorithms • The torque values to be applied to each motor were adjusted with these coefficients • The total force applied with DEPID in the z direction is smaller than others • DEPID consumes less energy than the other algorithms in the paper [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We introduce a multidimensional multiblock clustering (MDMBC) algorithm in this paper. MDMBC can generate overlapping clusters with similar values along clusters of dimensions. The parsimonious binary vector representation of multidimensional clusters lends itself to the application of efficient meta-heuristic optimization algorithms. In this paper, a hill-climbing (HC) greedy search algorithm has been presented that can be extended by several stochastic and population-based meta-heuristic frameworks. The benefits of the algorithm are demonstrated in a bi-clustering benchmark problem and in the analysis of the Leiden higher education ranking system, which measures the scientific performance of 903 institutions along four dimensions of 20 indicators representing publication output and collaboration in different scientific fields and time periods. • Multiblock clustering algorithm generates overlapping clusters along clusters of dimensions. • Generalized parsimonious binary vector-based representation for higher-dimensions. • The proposed algorithms are demonstrated via an open multidimensional dataset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An improved Crow Search Algorithm (VMCSA) is proposed. • Two effective position updating strategies are introduced into CSA. • The performance of VMCSA is verified by comparison with some excellent peers. • An effective image segmentation method based on VMCSA is proposed. • VMCSA is tested on standard benchmark and COVID-19 image segmentation problems. COVID-19 is pervasive and threatens the safety of people around the world. Therefore, now, a method is needed to diagnose COVID-19 accurately. The identification of COVID-19 by X-ray images is a common method. The target area is extracted from the X-ray images by image segmentation to improve classification efficiency and help doctors make a diagnosis. In this paper, we propose an improved crow search algorithm (CSA) based on variable neighborhood descent (VND) and information exchange mutation (IEM) strategies, called VMCSA. The original CSA quickly falls into the local optimum, and the possibility of finding the best solution is significantly reduced. Therefore, to help the algorithm avoid falling into local optimality and improve the global search capability of the algorithm, we introduce VND and IEM into CSA. Comparative experiments are conducted at CEC2014 and CEC'21 to demonstrate the better performance of the proposed algorithm in optimization. We also apply the proposed algorithm to multi-level thresholding image segmentation using Renyi's entropy as the objective function to find the optimal threshold, where we construct 2-D histograms with grayscale images and non-local mean images and maximize the Renyi's entropy on top of the 2-D histogram. The proposed segmentation method is evaluated on X-ray images of COVID-19 and compared with some algorithms. VMCSA has a significant advantage in segmentation results and obtains better robustness than other algorithms. The available extra info can be found at https://github.com/1234zsw/VMCSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An improved Crow Search Algorithm (VMCSA) is proposed. • Two effective position updating strategies are introduced into CSA. • The performance of VMCSA is verified by comparison with some excellent peers. • An effective image segmentation method based on VMCSA is proposed. • VMCSA is tested on standard benchmark and COVID-19 image segmentation problems. COVID-19 is pervasive and threatens the safety of people around the world. Therefore, now, a method is needed to diagnose COVID-19 accurately. The identification of COVID-19 by X-ray images is a common method. The target area is extracted from the X-ray images by image segmentation to improve classification efficiency and help doctors make a diagnosis. In this paper, we propose an improved crow search algorithm (CSA) based on variable neighborhood descent (VND) and information exchange mutation (IEM) strategies, called VMCSA. The original CSA quickly falls into the local optimum, and the possibility of finding the best solution is significantly reduced. Therefore, to help the algorithm avoid falling into local optimality and improve the global search capability of the algorithm, we introduce VND and IEM into CSA. Comparative experiments are conducted at CEC2014 and CEC'21 to demonstrate the better performance of the proposed algorithm in optimization. We also apply the proposed algorithm to multi-level thresholding image segmentation using Renyi's entropy as the objective function to find the optimal threshold, where we construct 2-D histograms with grayscale images and non-local mean images and maximize the Renyi's entropy on top of the 2-D histogram. The proposed segmentation method is evaluated on X-ray images of COVID-19 and compared with some algorithms. VMCSA has a significant advantage in segmentation results and obtains better robustness than other algorithms. The available extra info can be found at https://github.com/1234zsw/VMCSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We focus on the order picking process optimization in the RMFS. • An integrated order and robot scheduling optimization problem is studied. • A mixed-integer non-linear programming model is formulated. • Some managerial implications for warehouses managers are proposed. The Robotic Mobile Fulfillment System (RMFS) is a parts-to-picker warehouse system where robots are used to fetch inventory goods from the storage area and transport them to the workstation. To improve the overall performance of the order picking process, this paper investigates an integrated order and robot scheduling optimization problem. We formulate this problem as a mixed-integer non-linear programming (MINLP) model with an objective of minimizing the total cost, containing the transportation cost of robots, the cost of loading and unloading operation, the incentive cost, and the penalty cost. And a Variable Neighborhood Search algorithm is presented to solve the MINLP model. Numerical experiments are conducted on 30 test cases based on real-world data to validate effectiveness of the proposed model and algorithm. Results show that the formulated model contribute to cost saving, and the proposed algorithm not only solves the model within a reasonable CPU time, but also yields near-optimal solutions with about 0.67% relative gap. Moreover, the study find that the reasonable robot configuration has a significant impact on the overall system performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Proposes Tri-Staged Feature Selection (TFS) for multi-class heterogeneous datasets. • Initial features are selected using Kruskal Wallis Test. • Refinement of obtained features using Memetic Algorithm with local beam search. • Final feature set refinement using Cuckoo search algorithm for better classification. • Experiments conducted on 12 real datasets for validation of proposed method. Classification algorithms and their preprocessing operations usually performs on feature selection on homogeneous or heterogeneous attributes, binary or multi-class labels separately. Only very few methods attempt to perform feature selection on datasets with heterogeneous multi-class attributes. In order to bridge this gap with better classification performance, the paper proposes a Tri-staged Feature Selection (TFS) methodology which performs (i) Feature selection using Kruskal Wallis test (ii) Refinement of feature selection using a new Memetic Algorithm with local beam search and genetic algorithm operations and (iii) Further refinement of feature selection using Cuckoo Search algorithm. Proper tradeoff between both exploration and exploitation is maintained in the proposed method. The experimental results on 12 datasets show that the proposed method is better than that of state-of-the-art methods used for feature selection in terms of multi-class accuracy, hamming loss, ranking loss, normalized coverage and convergence rate for multi-class heterogeneous datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A generalized decoupling metaheuristic RBDO framework is proposed. • A particle's memory saving strategy is developed to provide effective guidance. • A new adaptive fractional-order equilibrium optimizer algorithm is developed. • Numerical and engineering examples illustrate the superiority of the proposed algorithm. Reliability-based design optimization (RBDO) algorithm is to minimize the objective under the probabilistic factors. While gradient-based and classical evolutionary RBDO algorithms provide promising performance on simple optimization problems, they are likely to perform poorly on challenging problems, including the multimodal functions, discrete design spaces, non-differential problems, etc. This paper proposes a unified framework to improve the performance of existing RBDO algorithms for complex RBDO problems. Our framework is based on three new strategies: generalized decoupling evolutionary and metaheuristic RBDO framework, particle's memory saving strategy, and adaptive fractional-order equilibrium optimizer algorithm. The proposed algorithm is characterized by a decoupling strategy to enable the parallel operation of the inner reliability computation and outer deterministic optimization, a particle's memory saving strategy to provide effective guidance from the previous iteration, and the adaptive fractional-order equilibrium optimizer algorithm to enhance the search efficiency and global convergence capacity. To evaluate the performance of the proposed algorithm, a wide range of experiments are conducted on different types of use cases. The experimental results demonstrate that our algorithm provides superior performance over other comparative algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feature selection techniques have been presented to allow us to choose a small subset of the original components' relevant features by removing irrelevant or redundant features. Feature selection is essential for many reasons such as simplification, performance, computational efficiency, and quality interpretability. Owing to the importance mentioned above, many researchers have proposed and developed many algorithms to solve the feature selection problem. Although these approaches produce useful results, they possess some shortcomings like inadequate feature reduction. In this paper, a novel feature selection algorithm based on the crow search algorithm is presented. The algorithm uses dynamic awareness probability to keep the balance between the local and global search processes. Moreover, a novel neighborhood assigning strategy has been introduced to optimize the local search. Considering the best-selected features in each iteration helps attain more benefits in global search. The main superiority of the proposed algorithm is the significant feature reduction along with retaining the accuracy. Compared to enhanced crow search algorithm, the proposed algorithm has improved the feature reduction metric and fitness metric by 27.12% and 5.16%, respectively, while losing the accuracy metric by only 0.53%. Several popular UCI datasets have been employed to evaluate the proposed feature selection algorithm. The experimental results show that the proposed algorithm outperformed other feature selection algorithms in state-of-the-art related works regarding feature reduction and accuracy. • Improve the balance between the local and global search. • Introducing a new neighborhood concept for improving the local search. • Proposing a new method to search more purposeful during exploration. • Increasing convergence rate using chaos. • Being pioneer in reducing the dataset volume. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Hybridized Crow search algorithm (CSA) and Artificial Bee Colony (ABC). • Used three mechanisms to improve CSA and ABC known as FRCSA-ABC. • Tested on benchmark and Combined Heat and Economic Dispatch problems. • Validated its search capability and robustness in cost-effectiveness. • Conducted non-parametrical tests to prove its efficient optimization. This paper attempts to obtain optimal generation scheduling for Combined Heat and Power Economic Dispatch (CHPED) problems and seeking a possible solution for the global optimization of test systems. As such, a Fuzzy adaptive Ranking- based Crow Search Algorithm (FRCSA) is amalgamated with modified Artificial Bee Colony (ABC). The proposed algorithm (FRCSA-ABC) has been integrated with three mechanisms in order to achieve competitive results effectively. The first mechanism uses the Fuzzy logic Inference System (FIS) to tune dynamically the parameters of flight length (fl) and awareness probability (CAP) of each crow. The second mechanism emerges from a natural phenomenon known as proximate optimality principle (POP) which reveals that better individuals will often have beneficial information and more probabilities to select and guide other individuals. This observation leads to the feasibility-based Ranking Crow Search Algorithm (RCSA) which generates a new food source from the chosen higher rankings of parent food sources. The third mechanism integrates the two modified global search phases of ABC with a local search phase of FRCSA to ensure promising performance. During the evaluation process, this mechanism investigates the aging level of the individual's best solution (p best) in order to choose an appropriate search phase in FRCSA and two modified phases of ABC. The performance of the algorithm is tested on four CHPED test systems, 23 well-known benchmark functions, and test suit of CEC2017. The results obtained are compared with its variants as well as with existing different approaches to validate its optimal search efficiency. Further, non-parametric statistical tests such as pair-wise and multiple comparisons tests are adapted to establish the supremacy of the FRCSA-ABC. The seminal aspect of this intended algorithm is that it can achieve cost-effectiveness conforming to meticulous global convergence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Investigated a large-scale heterogeneous container loading problem. • Considered weight limits and suspension constraints in this problem. • Integrated ALNS and heuristic packing algorithm for the presented problem. • Performed experiments on real-world instances. • Verified the superiority of HALNS by comparing with existing methods. This paper aims to solve the large-scale heterogeneous container loading problem (HCLP), which is an extensive form of the multiple container loading problem, in a limited time. The target is to choose a set of containers of different sizes to accommodate all products and minimize the wasted space rate. Although the heterogeneous container selection problem is a general problem in the logistics industry, few related studies have been conducted. This study also considers some practical constraints, such as weight limits and suspension constraints. A hybrid adaptive large neighborhood search (HALNS) algorithm, which includes a set of original destroy-repair operators, especially for heterogeneous container selection problems, and integrates a heuristic packing algorithm, is proposed to solve the problem in an acceptable time. To verify the efficiency of the proposed algorithm, computational experiments on real-world instances from a multinational logistics company are performed, and the results are compared with those of other existing algorithms. The results indicate that the proposed algorithm outperforms other algorithms for the HCLP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Male infertility is a disease that affects approximately 7% of men. Sperm morphology analysis (SMA) is one of the main diagnosis methods for this problem. However, manual SMA is an inexact, subjective, non-reproducible, and hard to teach process. Therefore, in this paper, we introduce a novel automatic SMA technique that is based on the neural architecture search algorithm, named Genetic Neural Architecture Search (GeNAS). For this purpose, we used a collection of images termed MHSMA dataset, which contains 1540 sperm images that have been collected from 235 patients with infertility problems. In detail, GeNAS consists of a special genetic algorithm that acts as a meta-controller which explores the constrained search space of plain convolutional neural network architectures. Every individual of this genetic algorithm is a convolutional neural network trained to predict morphological deformities in different segments of human sperm (head, vacuole, and acrosome). The fitness of each individual is calculated by a novel proposed method, named GeNAS Weighting Factor (GeNAS-WF). This technique is specially designed to evaluate the fitness of neural networks which, during their learning process, validation accuracy highly fluctuates. To speed up the algorithm, a hashing method is practiced to save each trained neural architecture fitness, so we could reuse them during fitness evaluation. In terms of running time and computational power, our proposed architecture search method is far more efficient than most of the other existing neural architecture search algorithms. Moreover, whereas most of the existing neural architecture search algorithms are designed to work well with well-prepared benchmark datasets, the overall paradigm of GeNAS is specially designed to address the challenges of real-world datasets, particularly shortage of data and class imbalance. In our experiments, the best neural architecture found by GeNAS has reached an accuracy of 91.66%, 77.33%, and 77.66% in the vacuole, head, and acrosome abnormality detection, respectively. In comparison to other proposed algorithms for MHSMA dataset, GeNAS achieved state-of-the-art results. • A novel neural architecture search based on Genetic Algorithm. • A novel neural architecture encoding for exploration of search space. • A specific Crossover and Mutation operations for neural architecture search. • Work on imbalanced datasets, low resolution images, and non-stained sperms. • State-of-the-art accuracy & Real-time sperm morphological analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Enhance EO algorithm using ReliefF algorithm and the local search strategy. • Propose new feature selection method based on a hybridization RBEO-LS method. • Evaluate RBEO-LS using 16 UCI datasets and 10 high dimensional biological datasets. • Results show superiority of RBEO-LS among other state-of-the-art methods. Feature selection (FS) is an important task in any classification process and aims to choose the smallest features number that yields higher classification accuracy. FS can be formulated as a combinatorial NP-hard problem for which robust metaheuristics are used as efficient wrapper-based FS approaches. However, when applied for high dimensional datasets that present large features number and few samples, the effectiveness of such wrapper-metaheuristics degraded, and their computation costs increased. To tackle this problem, we propose in this paper a hybrid FS approach based on the ReliefF filter method and a novel metaheuristic Equilibrium Optimizer (EO). The proposed method, called RBEO-LS, is composed of two phases. In the first phase, the ReliefF algorithm is used as a preprocessing step to assign weights for features, which estimate their relevance to the classification task. In the second phase, the binary EO (BEO) is used as a wrapper search approach. The features are ranked according to their weights and are used for the initialization of the BEO population. We embedded the BEO with a local search strategy to improve its performance by adding relevant features and removing redundant ones from the features subset guided by the features ranking and the Pearson coefficient correlation. The performance of the developed algorithm has been evaluated on sixteen UCI datasets and ten high dimensional biological datasets. The UCI datasets contain a high number of samples and a small or medium number of features. The biological datasets present a high number of features with few samples. The results demonstrate that the use of the ReliefF algorithm and the local search strategy improves the performance of the EO algorithm. The results also show the superiority of the RBEO-LS, among other state-of-the-art approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes AutoGCOP, a new general framework for automated design of local search algorithms. In a recently established General Combinatorial Optimisation Problem (GCOP) model, the problem of algorithm design itself is defined as a combinatorial optimisation problem. AutoGCOP defines a general framework to optimise the composition of elementary algorithmic components as decision variables in GCOP. By modelling various well-known local search meta-heuristics within a general framework, AutoGCOP supports automatic design of new novel algorithms which may be highly different from those manually designed in the literature. Within the consistent AutoGCOP framework, various elementary algorithmic components are analysed for solving the benchmark vehicle routing problem with time window constraints and different characteristics. Furthermore, two learning models based on reinforcement learning and Markov chain are investigated to learn and enhance the compositions of algorithmic components towards the automated design of search algorithms. The Markov chain model presents superior performance learning the compositions of algorithmic components during the search, demonstrating its effectiveness designing new algorithms automatically. • A framework for automated design of local search algorithms. • Various local search algorithms are modelled within the framework. • The vehicle routing problems are used as the domain problem. • Performance of elementary algorithmic components is analysed. • Two learning models based on reinforcement learning and Markov chain are compared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moth–Flame Optimization (MFO) algorithm is widely used to solve real parameter global optimization problems. However, the original MFO algorithm has some problems. First, the global search ability of the algorithm is insufficient due to the lack of high-quality flames or the lack of diversity of the population. Moreover, due to the reduction of the number of flames mechanism and the simple transverse orientation flight mode of moths, the algorithm is easy to fall into local optimum. To overcome these difficulties, a new MFO called ODSFMFO is proposed in this paper, which consists of an improved flame generation mechanism based on Opposition-Based Learning (OBL) and Differential Evolution (DE) algorithm, and an enhanced local search mechanism based on Shuffled Frog Leaping Algorithm (SFLA) and death mechanism. The ODSFMFO firstly obtains a high-quality population through opposition-based learning, then enhances the diversity of the population through differential evolution algorithm, to improve the global search ability of the algorithm, and then, employs an improved shuffled frog leaping algorithm as a local search algorithm, and uses the death mechanism to eliminate the individuals with low fitness value, which not only make the algorithm easy to jump out of the local optimum, but also further improve the convergence speed. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm, the ODSFMFO and other fourteen well-known optimization algorithms are tested and compared on 28 benchmark tasks of CEC 2013 and 30 benchmark tasks of CEC 2017. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm obtains better results compared with other competitive algorithms. • An improved flame generation mechanism of MFO is proposed. • A new updating mechanism of SFLA is proposed to improve the local search ability. • The SFLA and death mechanism are applied in combination to MFO. • ODSFMFO is better than 14 compared algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A human mental search is used for cross entropy-based image thresholding. • For improved performance, four modifications are applied on HMS algorithm. • The performance of our algorithm is evaluated based on a variety of metrics. • The obtained results indicate a very competitive performance. The minimum cross-entropy (MCIT) is introduced as a multi-level image thresholding approach, but it suffers from time complexity, in particular, when the number of thresholds is high. To address this issue, this paper proposes a novel MCIT-based image thresholding based on improved human mental search (HMS) algorithm, a recently proposed population-based metaheuristic algorithm to tackle complex optimisation problems. To further enhance the efficacy, we improve HMS algorithm, IHMSMLIT, with four improvements, including, adaptively selection of the number of mental searches instead of randomly selection, proposing one-step k-means clustering for region clustering, updating based on global and personal experiences, and proposing a random clustering strategy. To assess our proposed algorithm, we conduct an extensive set of experiments with several state-of-the-art and the most recent approaches on a benchmark set of images and in terms of several criteria including objective function, peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR), feature similarity index (FSIM), structural similarity index (SSIM), and stability analysis. The obtained results apparently demonstrate the competitive performance of our proposed algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]