A Novel Insertion Solution for the Travelling Salesman Problem

The studypresents theHalfMax InsertionHeuristic (HMIH) as a novel approach to solving theTravelling SalesmanProblem (TSP). The goal is to outperform existing techniques such as the Farthest Insertion Heuristic (FIH) andNearest Neighbour Heuristic (NNH). The paper discusses the limitations of current construction tour heuristics,focusing particularly on the significant margin of error in FIH. It then proposes HMIH as an alternative thatminimizes the increase in tour distance and includes more nodes. HMIH improves tour quality by starting withan initial tour consisting of a ‘minimum’ polygon and iteratively adding nodes using our novel Half Max routine.The paper thoroughly examines and compares HMIH with FIH and NNH via rigorous testing on standard TSPbenchmarks. The results indicate that HMIH consistently delivers superior performance, particularly with respectto tour cost and computational efficiency. HMIH’s tours were sometimes 16% shorter than those generated by FIHand NNH, showcasing its potential and value as a novel benchmark for TSP solutions. The study used statisticalmethods, including Friedman’s Non-parametric Test, to validate the performance of HMIH over FIH and NNH.This guarantees that the identified advantages are statistically significant and consistent in various situations. Thiscomprehensive analysis emphasizes the reliability and efficiency of the heuristic, making a compelling case for itsuse in solving TSP issues. The research shows that, in general, HMIH fared better than FIH in all cases studied,except for a few instances (pr439, eil51, and eil101) where FIH either performed equally or slightly better thanHMIH. HMIH’s efficiency is shown by its improvements in error percentage (δ) and goodness values (g) comparedto FIH and NNH. In the att48 instance, HMIH had an error rate of 6.3%, whereas FIH had 14.6% and NNH had20.9%, indicating that HMIH was closer to the optimal solution. HMIH consistently showed superior performanceacross many benchmarks, with lower percentage error and higher goodness values, suggesting a closer match tothe optimal tour costs. This study substantially contributes to combinatorial optimization by enhancing currentinsertion algorithms and presenting a more efficient solution for the Travelling Salesman Problem. It also createsnew possibilities for progress in heuristic design and optimization methodologies.

Identification and characterization of FpRco1 in regulating vegetative growth and pathogenicity based on T-DNA insertion in Fusarium pseudograminearum

Fusarium pseudograminearum is a devastating pathogen that causes Fusarium crown rot(FCR)in wheat and poses a significant threat to wheat production in terms of grain yield and quality.However,the mechanism by which F.pseudograminearum infects wheat remains unclear.In this study,we aimed to elucidate these mechanisms by constructing a T-DNA insertion mutant library for the highly virulent strain WZ-8A of F.pseudograminearum.By screening this mutant library,we identified nine independent mutants that displayed impaired pathogenesis in barley leaves.Among these mutants,one possessed a disruption in the gene FpRCO1 that is an ortholog of Saccharomyces cerevisiae RCO1,encoding essential component of the Rpd3S histone deacetylase complex in F.pseudograminearum.To further investigate the role of FpRCO1 in F.pseudograminearum,we employed a split-marker approach to knock out FpRCO1 in F.pseudograminearum WZ-8A.FpRCO1 deletion mutants exhibit reduced vegetative growth,conidium production,and virulence in wheat coleoptiles and barley leaves,whereas the complementary strain restores these phenotypes.Moreover,under stress conditions,the FpRCO1 deletion mutants exhibited increased sensitivity to NaCl,sorbitol,and SDS,but possessed reduced sensitivity to H_(2)O_(2)compared to these characteristics in the wild-type strain.RNA-seq analysis revealed that deletion of FpRCO1 affected gene expression(particularly the downregulation of TRI gene expression),thus resulting in significantly reduced deoxynivalenol(DON)production.In summary,our findings highlight the pivotal role of FpRCO1 in regulating vegetative growth and development,asexual reproduction,DON production,and pathogenicity of F.pseudograminearum.This study provides valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying F.pseudograminearum infection in wheat and may pave the way for the development of novel strategies to combat this devastating disease.

Enhancing hydrogen evolution and oxidation kinetics through oxygen insertion into nickel lattice

Nickel-based materials,including metallic Ni and Ni oxide,have been widely studied in the exploration of non-precious-metal hydrogen electrocatalysts,but neither pure Ni nor NiO is ideal for the hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)and hydrogen oxidation reaction(HOR).In this paper,an oxygen insertion strategy was applied on nickel to regulate its hydrogen electrocatalytic performance,and the oxygen-inserted nickel catalyst was successfully obtained with the assistance of tungsten dioxide support(denoted as O-Ni/WO_(2)).The partial insertion of oxygen in Ni maintains the face-centered cubic arrangement of Ni atoms,simultaneously expanding the lattice and increasing the lattice spacing.Consequently,the adsorption strength of^(*)H and^(*)OH on Ni is optimized,thus resulting in superior electrocatalytic performance of0-Ni/WO_(2)in alkaline HER/HOR.The Tafel slope of O-Ni/WO_(2)@NF for HER is 56 mV dec^(-1),and the kinetic current density of O-Ni/WO_(2)for HOR reaches 4.85 mA cm^(-2),which is ahead of most currently reported catalysts.Our proposed strategy of inserting an appropriate amount of anions into the metal lattice could provide more possibilities for the design of high-performance catalysts.

Production of Light Fraction-Based Pyrolytic Fuel from Spirulina platensis Microalgae Using Various Low-Cost Natural Catalysts and Insertion

The use of catalysts has significantly enhanced the yield and quality of in-situ pyrolysis products.However,there is a lack of understanding regarding pyrolysis approaches that utilize several low-cost natural catalysts(LCC)and their placement within the reactor.Therefore,this study aims to examine the effects of various LCC on the insitu pyrolysis of spirulina platensis microalgae(SPM)and investigate the impact of different types of catalysts.We employed LCCsuch as zeolite,dolomite,kaolin,and activated carbon,with both layered and uniformlymixed LCCSPM placements.Each experiment was conducted at a constant temperature of 500℃for 60 min.The resulting pyrolytic liquids(bio-oil)and syngas were analyzed using a Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry(GC-MS)analyzer to determine the distribution of hydrocarbon compounds.The experimental results indicated that the presence of catalysts significantly influenced the mass yield productivity of liquid fuels and syngas.Activated carbon and zeolite were preferred among the four catalysts for producing liquid fuels(22.4 and 18.6 wt%)when layered and uniformly mixed,respectively.Kaolin with a layered mixture with SPM was more suitable for the production of light fractions(C_(5)–C_(12)),achieving approximately 95.7%peak area,while zeolite with a uniform mixture produced the highest light fraction at about 86.3%peak area.All catalysts except kaolin significantly increased the aromatic compounds in the liquid fuels.Although the amount of oxygenated hydrocarbons in the bio-oil remained relatively high,the final hydrocarbon composition was highly comparable to conventional fuels such as gasoline-88,which has a C_(5)–C_(12)hydrocarbon distribution of approximately 88.1%peak area.Regarding the syngas products,all catalysts except activated carbon successfully converted nitromethane compounds into tetranitromethane hydrocarbons,with activated carbon predominantly yielding nitromethane compounds.

An efficient method for constructing a random insertional mutant library for forward genetics in Nannochloropsis oceanica

Insertional mutation,phenotypic evaluation,and mutated gene cloning are widely used to clone genes from scratch.Exogenous genes can be integrated into the genome during non-homologous end joining(NHEJ)of the double-strand breaks of DNA,causing insertional mutation.The random insertional mutant library constructed using this method has become a method of forward genetics for gene cloning.However,the establishment of a random insertional mutant library requires a high transformation efficiency of exogenous genes.Many microalgal species show a low transformation efficiency,making constructing random insertional mutant libraries difficult.In this study,we established a highly efficient transformation method for constructing a random insertional mutant library of Nannochloropsis oceanica,and tentatively tried to isolate its genes to prove the feasibility of the method.A gene that may control the growth rate and cell size was identified.This method will facilitate the genetic studies of N.oceanica,which should also be a reference for other microalgal species.

Treatment of benign rectal stricture caused by repeated anal insertion by endoscopy and balloon dilation:A case report

BACKGROUND Benign rectal strictures can be categorized as primary(disease-related)and secondary(surgical anastomosis-related).Secondary strictures arise from surgical complications,whereas primary strictures have diverse etiologies,including various inflammatory conditions.Benign strictures are usually managed by surgery and endoscopy.We present an unusual etiology of benign rectal stricture caused by the repeated insertion of foreign objects into the rectum for sexual purposes,resulting in rectal injury and subsequent chronic inflammation.CASE SUMMARY A 53-year-old man presented to the outpatient clinic of the Colorectal Surgery Department with symptoms of chronic constipation and bloody stools.The patient previously experienced rectal injury due to foreign object insertion for sexual purposes.Colonoscopy revealed benign circumferential narrowing of the rectum.He underwent treatment by endoscopic argon plasma coagulation and balloon dilation and follow-up as an outpatient for 4 months.A colonoscopy at the end of the follow-up period revealed no evidence of rectal stricture relapse.CONCLUSION A history of rectal injury,followed by chronic inflammation,should be considered in patients with benign rectal strictures.Management with endoscopic argon plasma coagulation and balloon dilation can prevent the need for surgical resection of benign rectal strictures.

Velamentous Cord Insertion: Interest of Antenatal Diagnosis and Review of the Literature

Velamentous insertion of the umbilical cord corresponds to the insertion of the cord directly on amniotic membranes. It is a rare situation whose frequency varies from 0.5% to 1.69% of single pregnancies. It must be diagnosed during the morphological ultrasound of the 2nd trimester, actively looking for the association with a vasa previa, due to the risk of fetal haemorrhagic threat. We report an antenatal diagnosis of velamentous cord insertion and its management with literature review.

Genetic Analysis of a Small Grain Mutant Induced by T-DNA Insertion in Rice

[Objective] The aim of this study is to understand the genetic characteristics of a grain shape mutant and its possible role in genetic improvement of grain yield in rice. [Method] On the basis of the collection of T-DNA tag lines, the progeny of homozygous plants carrying T-DNA insertion were screened for mutants with mutated phenotypes. The genetic analysis of the mutant and test for the linkage between the mutated phenotype and the T-DNA insertion were carried out to determine its genetic characteristics. [Result] In the present study, a grain shape mutant induced by T-DNA insertion in rice was identified, which showed small grain. Genetic analysis of the mutant showed that the two types of phenotype, normal and small grain in the segregating populations derived from the T-DNA heterozygotes, fit the ratio of 3∶1. Test for Basta resistance showed that all the mutants were resistant while the normal plants segregated for resistant and susceptible by the ratio of 2∶1. The results indicated that the mutant phenotype cosegregated with Bar gene. The small grain mutant caused by T-DNA insertion was confirmed by PCR amplification aiming at T-DNA. [Conclusion] The grain shape mutant is useful for isolation of the tagged gene and genetic improvement in rice.

Needle Steering for Robot-Assisted Insertion into Soft Tissue:A Survey

Needle insertion is a common surgical procedure used in diagnosis and treatment.The needle steering technologies make continuous developments in theoretical and practical aspects along with the in-depth research on needle insertion.It is necessary to summarize and analyze the existing results to promote the future development of theories and applications of needle insertion.Thus,a survey of the state of the art of research is presented on algorithms of needle steering techniques,the surgical robots and devices.Based on the analysis of the needle insertion procedure,the concept of needle steering is defined as a kinematics problem,which is to place the needle at the target and avoid the obstacles.The needle steering techniques,including the artificial potential field method and the nonholonomic model,are introduced to control the needles for improving the accuracy.Based on the quasi-static thinking,the virtual spring model and the cantilever-beam model are developed to calculate the amount of needle deflection and generate the needle path.The phantoms instead of the real tissue are used to verify the models mentioned in most of the experimentations.For the desired needle trajectories,the image-guided robotic devices and some novel needles are presented to achieve the needle steering.Finally,the challenges are provided involving the controllability of the long flexible needle and the properties of soft tissue.The results and investigations can be used for further study on the precision and accuracy of needle insertion.

Counter-ion insertion of chloride in Mn3O4 as cathode for dual-ion batteries: A new mechanism of electrosynthesis for reversible anion storage

Irreversible reductive insertion of Zn2+transforms Mn3O4 such that the resulting Zn0.2Mn3O4 exhibits highly reversible storage properties of chloride ions,thus rendering Zn0.2Mn3O4 an excellent cathode of aqueous dual-ion batteries.With Zn2+trapped,Zn0.2Mn3O4 delivers the chloride-storage capacity over 200 mAh/g at an average potential of 1.6 V vs Zn2+/Zn by reversibly forming a new ionic compound equivalent to Zn0.2Mn3O4Cl1.7.Electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance results suggest chloride as the primary charge carrier in the reversible oxidative anion insertion.The Mn3O4 anion-hosting cathode couples with Zn metal anode in a full-cell dual-ion battery,demonstrating stable cycling in practical pouch cells with an energy density of 150 Wh/kg based on the mass of both electrodes.

Path-Based Timing Optimization by Buffer Insertion with Accurate Delay Model

An algorithm of path based timing optimization by buffer insertion is presented.The algorithm adopts a high order model to estimate interconnect delay and a nonlinear delay model based on look up table for gate delay estimation.And heuristic method of buffer insertion is presented to reduce delay.The algorithm is tested by industral circuit case.Experimental results show that the algorithm can optimize the timing of circuit efficiently and the timing constraint is satisfied.

Fine-Grain Sleep Transistor Insertion for Leakage Reduction

A fine-grain sleep transistor insertion technique based on our simplified leakage current and delay models is proposed to reduce leakage current. The key idea is to model the leakage current reduction problem as a mixed-integer linear programming （MLP） problem in order to simultaneously place and size the sleep transistors optimally. Because of better circuit slack utilization, our experimental results show that the MLP model can save leakage by 79.75%, 93.56%, and 94.99% when the circuit slowdown is 0%, 3%, and 5%, respectively. The MLP model also achieves on average 74.79% less area penalty compared to the conventional fixed slowdown method when the circuit slowdown is 7%.

Parallel EOI algorithm with different insertion schemes

A parallel embedding overlapped iterative (EOI) algorithm about classicimplicit equations with asymmetric Saul'yev schemes (CIS-EOI) to solve one-dimensional diffusionequations is discussed to improve the properties of the segment classic implicit iterative (SCII)algorithm. The structure of CIS-EOI method is given and the stability of scheme and convergence ofiteration are proved by matrix method. The property of gradual-approach convergence is alsodiscussed. It has been shown that the convergent rate is faster and the property of gradual-approachconvergence also becomes better with the increasing of the net point in subsystems than with theSCII algorithm. The simulation examples show that the parallel iterative algorithm with a differentinsertion scheme CIS-EOI is more effective.

Effective Laparoscopic Catheter Insertion Technique for Peritoneal Dialysis Using Specially Designed Trocar:22 Years Multi-Center Retrospective Study of 804 Patients

Introduction: Literature reveals several peritoneal dialysis laparoscopic catheter insertion techniques developed to improve long-term results for treatment chronic kidney failure with the technic of peritoneal dialysis. The purpose of the study is evaluation of developed and recommended minimally invasive laparoscopic technic for chronic peritoneal dialysis catheter placement using specially constructed trocar. Materials and Methods: Retrospective study included 804 patients in 10 departments of surgery. Surgical and non surgical complications related to PD catheter placement were analysed: bleeding, dialysate leak, early SSI, peritonitis, catheter tip migration, catheter obstruction, omental wrapping and visceral perforations. Available software (Microsoft? Excel for Windows 10, MedCalc, Mariakerke, Belgium) was used for statistical analysis (presented as percentages, mean ± SD or median). Conclusions: The presented technique with specially constructed trocar is a simple and effective procedure with fewer complications comparing to literature. The advantages of this method include long rectus sheath tunnel with the deep cuff placed pre-peritoneally, the small size of the entrance into the peritoneum and accurate position and control of catheter tip in the pelvis.

Position and complications of pedicle screw insertion with or without image-navigation techniques in the thoracolumbar spine:a meta-analysis of comparative studies

Computer-navigated pedicle screw insertion is applied to the thoracic and lumbar spine to attain high insertion accuracy and a low rate of screw-related complications.However,some in vivo and in vitro studies have shown that no advantages are gained with the use of navigation techniques compared to conventional techniques.Additionally,inconsistent conclusions have been drawn in various studies due to different population characteristics and methods used to assess the accuracy of screw placement.Moreover,it is not clear whether pedicle screw insertion with navigation techniques decreases the incidence of screw-related complications.Therefore,this study was sought to perform a meta-analysis of all available prospective evidence regarding pedicle screw insertion with or without navigation techniques in human thoracic and lumbar spine.We considered in vivo comparative studies that assessed the results of pedicle screw placement with or without navigation techniques.PubMed,Ovid MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched.Three published randomized controlled trials（RCTs） and nine retrospective comparative studies met the inclusion criteria.These studies included a total of 732 patients in whom 4,953 screws were inserted.In conclusion,accuracy of the position of grade I,II,III and IV screws and complication rate related to pedicle screw placement were significantly increased when navigation techniques were used in comparison to conventional techniques.Future research in this area should include RCTs with well-planned methodology to limit bias and report on validated,patient-based outcome measures.

Does flexible small-diameter colonoscope reduce insertion pain during colonoscopy?

AIM It is well known that colonoscopy can bedifficult due to abdominal pain induced duringcolonoscope insertion,if sedative agents are notgiven.Recently,an extra-flexible,small-diameter colonoscope(CF-SV,Olympus Inc.,Japan)was developed in order to improve safetyand comfort.The aim of this study was toaccess the usefulness of the CF-SV.METHODS One hundred patients undergoingsigmoidoscopy were recruited and colonoscopywas performed by one experiencedcolonoscopist.First,a routine-type colonoscope(CF-2301)was inserted into the colon withoutsedation.When the patient complained ofabdominal pain(even if mild),the scope wasnot advanced further and was withdrawn afterthe anatomic location of its tip was determinedfluoroscopically.Then,the CF-SV was inserteduntil it reached the cecun or the site whereabdominal pain occurred.Previous abdominalsurgery and abdominal disease were consideredas unfavorable factors(UF)and the relationshipbetween abdominal pain and UF,age and genderwere investigated.Furthermore,the colonicinsertion pressures in 36 patients with abdominalpain were measured with a force gauge.RESULTS Thirty-four cases(34%)felt no painwith the CF-2301 and successful pancolon-0scopies to the cecum were performed.Sixty-six cases(66%)complained of abdominal pain.The procedure was painless for 47% of men and24% of women,respectively.The CF-2301 scopefailed to reach the sigmoid-descending colon junctions in 59(89.4%)of the 66 patientscomplaining of abdominal pain.However,CF-SVreached proximal area in 94.9% of those whofailed with CF-2301.The median pressure forpain-inducing was 700 g/cm^2.CONCLUSION Unsedated patients with UFwere prone to complain of pain when thestandard-type CF-2301 scope was used.Thenewly developed extra-flexible CF-SV is usefulfor the aged and for those with UF or being proneto suffer from abdominal pain.Sedative agentsmay be unnecessary if this new type ofcolonoscope is used.

Studies on rice seed quality through analysis of a large- scale T-DNA insertion population

A rice （Oryza sativa） T-DNA insertion population, which included more than 63 000 independent transgenic lines and 8 840 identified flanking sequence tags （FSTs） that were mapped onto the rice genome, was developed to systemi- cally study the rice seed quality control. Genome-wide analysis of the FST distribution showed that T-DNA insertions were positively correlated with expressed genes, but negatively with transposable elements and small RNAs. In addition, the recovered T-DNAs were preferentially located at the untranslated region of the expressed genes. More than 11 000 putative homozygous lines were obtained through multi-generations of planting and resistance screening, and measurement of seed quality of around half of them, including the contents of starch, amylose, protein and fat, with a nondestructive near-infrared spectroscopy method, identified 551 mutants with unique or multiple altered param- eters of seed quality. Analysis of the corresponding FSTs showed that genes participating in diverse functions, including metabolic processes and transcriptional regulation, were involved, indicating that seed quality is regulated by a complex network.

Clinicopathological significance of B-cell-specific Moloney murine leukemia virus insertion site 1 expression in gastric carcinoma and its precancerous lesion

AIM： To explore the relation between B-cell-specific Moloney murine leukemia virus insertion site 1 （Bmi-1） expression and the clinicopathological features of gastric carcinoma （GC）.METHODS： Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of Bmi-1 and ki-67. Doublelabeling staining was used to display the distribution of Bcl-2^＋/ki-67 cells in 162 cases of GC and its matched normal mucosa and precancerous lesion.RESULTS： The positive rate of Bmi-1 expression in GC（52.5%） was significantly higher than that in normal gastric mucosa （21.6%, X^2 = 33.088, P 〈 0.05）. The Bmi-1 expression in GC was closely related with the Lauren＇s and Borrmann＇s classification and clinicalstage （X^2 = 4.400, 6.122 and 11.190, respectively, P〈 0.05）. The expression of ki-67 was related to the Borrmann＇s classification （X^2 = 13.380, P 〈 0.05）.Bcl-2 expression was correlated with the Lauren＇s classification （Z2 = 4.725, P 〈 0.05）, and the Bmi-1 expression both in GC （rk = 0.157, P 〈 0.05） and inintestinal metaplasia （rk = 0.270, P 〈 0.05）.CONCLUSION： Abnormal Bmi-1 expression in GCmay be involved in cell proliferation, apoptosis andcancerization. This marker can objectively indicate theclinicopathological characteristics of GC.

Engineering Microneedle Patches for Improved Penetration:Analysis,Skin Models and Factors Affecting Needle Insertion

Transdermal microneedle(MN)patches are a promising tool used to transport a wide variety of active compounds into the skin.To serve as a substitute for common hypodermic needles,MNs must pierce the human stratum corneum(~10 to 20μm),without rupturing or bending during penetration.This ensures that the cargo is released at the predetermined place and time.Therefore,the ability of MN patches to sufficiently pierce the skin is a crucial requirement.In the current review,the pain signal and its management during application of MNs and typical hypodermic needles are presented and compared.This is followed by a discussion on mechanical analysis and skin models used for insertion tests before application to clinical practice.Factors that affect insertion(e.g.,geometry,material composition and cross-linking of MNs),along with recent advancements in developed strategies(e.g.,insertion responsive patches and 3D printed biomimetic MNs using two-photon lithography)to improve the skin penetration are highlighted to provide a backdrop for future research.

A CIN-like TCP transcription factor(LsTCP4)having retrotransposon insertion associates with a shift from Salinas type to Empire type in crisphead lettuce(Lactuca sativa L.)

To improve several agronomic traits in crisphead lettuce(Lactuca sativa L.)under high-temperature growth conditions,we investigated the correlation among those traits in multiple cultivars and performed genetic mapping of their causal genes.In a field cultivation test of Empire type(serrated leaf)and Salinas type(wavy leaf)cultivars,Empire type cultivars showed increased tipburn susceptibility and late bolting compared with Salinas type cultivars.We attempted genetic mapping of leaf shape and bolting time by ddRAD-seq using the F2 population derived from a cross between‘VI185’(Empire type)and‘ShinanoGreen’(Salinas type).These analyses suggested that both traits are controlled by a single locus in LG5.Genotyping of 51 commercial lettuce cultivars with a tightly linked marker(LG5_v8_252.743Mbp)at this locus showed an association between its genotype and the serrated leaf phenotype.By further fine mapping and transcriptome analysis,a gene encoding putative CIN-like TCP transcription factor was determined to be a candidate gene at this locus and was designated as LsTCP4.An insertion of retrotransposable element was found in the allele of‘VI185’,and its transcript level in the leaves was lower than that in‘ShinanoGreen’.Because shapes of leaf epidermal cells in‘VI185’were similar to those in the TCP family mutant of Arabidopsis thaliana,the leaf shape phenotype was likely caused by reduced expression of LsTCP4.Furthermore,because it is known that the TCP family protein also controls flowering time via interaction with FT in A.thaliana,it was highly possible that LsTCP4 gave pleiotropic effects on both leaf shape and bolting time in lettuce.