Several real-world optimization problems are dynamic and involve a number of objectives. Different researches using evolutionary algorithms focus on these characteristics, but few works investigate problems that are both dynamic and many-objective. Although widely investigated in formulations with multiple objectives, the evolutionary approaches are still challenged by the dynamic multiobjective optimization problems defining a relevant research topic. Some models have been proposed specifically to attack them as the well-known DNSGA-II and MS-MOEA algorithms, which have been extensively investigated on formulations with two or three objectives. Recently, the D-MEANDS algorithm was proposed for dynamic many-objective problems (DMaOPs). In a previous work, D-MEANDS was confronted to DNSGA-II and MS-MOEA solving dynamic many-objective scenarios of the knapsack problem: up to six objectives with five changes or four objectives with ten changes. In this work, we evaluate the behavior of such algorithms in instances up to eight objectives and twenty environmental changes. These enabled us to better understand D-MEANDS weak points which led us to the proposition of D-MEANDS-MD. The proposal offers a better balance between memory and diversity. We also included a more recent MOEA in this comparison: the DDIS-MOEA/D-DE. From the results obtained using 27 instances of the dynamic multiobjective knapsack problem, D-MEANDS-MD showed promise for solving discrete DMaOPs compared with the others.

The diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) has improved with the search of novel antigens; however, their performance is limited when samples from VL/human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-coinfected patients are tested. In this context, studies conducted to identify more suitable antigens to detect both VL and VL/HIC coinfection cases should be performed. In the current study, phage display was performed using serum samples from healthy subjects and VL, HIV-infected and VL/HIV-coinfected patients; aiming to identify novel phage-exposed epitopes to be evaluated with this diagnostic purpose. Nine non-repetitive and valid sequences were identified, synthetized and tested as peptides in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay experiments. Results showed that three (Pep2, Pep3 and Pep4) peptides showed excellent performance to diagnose VL and VL/HIV coinfection, with 100% sensitivity and specificity values. The other peptides showed sensitivity varying from 50.9 to 80.0%, as well as specificity ranging from 60.0 to 95.6%. Pep2, Pep3 and Pep4 also showed a potential prognostic effect, since specific serological reactivity was significantly decreased after patient treatment. Bioinformatics assays indicated that Leishmania trypanothione reductase protein was predicted to contain these three conformational epitopes. In conclusion, data suggest that Pep2, Pep3 and Pep4 could be tested for the diagnosis of VL and VL/HIV coinfection.

Pintoi peanut is a warm-season perennial legume that shows promise as a forage crop for the southeastern United States, however, little is known about the proper methods of weed management during establishment for this species. The objective of this study was to determine the ability of pintoi peanut to tolerate applications of PRE and POST herbicides during the year of and year after planting. The effects of herbicide treatments on percentage of visual estimates of injury and stand counts of pintoi peanut were investigated at Ona and Marianna, FL, in 2015 and 2016. All PRE herbicides did not result in significant injury or stand reduction. Pintoi peanut’s tolerance to POST herbicides was higher when plants were emerged for at least 2 wk prior to herbicide application. Stands of pintoi peanut that were planted the previous year appear to tolerate all herbicides examined in this work, except sulfosulfuron. Results of this study indicate that at the year of planting pintoi peanut is tolerant to PRE applications of pendimethalin, imazethapyr, and imazapic. Pintoi peanut appears to tolerate applications of 2,4-D, carfentrazone, imazapic and imazethapyr the year after planting at the rates utilized in this study. Future research should evaluate the effects of multiple herbicide applications and tank-mixes to obtain satisfactory weed control and selectivity in pintoi peanut swards.