Fitness landscape theory is a mathematical framework for numerical analysis of search algorithms on combinatorial optimization problems. We study a representation of fitness landscape as a weighted directed graph. We consider out forest and in forest structures in this graph and establish...

The application of evolution-inspired strategies to hardware design and circuit self-configuration leads to the concept of evolvable hardware (EHW). EHW refers to self-configuration of electronic hardware by evolutionary/genetic algorithms (EA and GA, respectively). Unconventional circuits, for...

In this paper we propose a statistical physics approach to experimental results on bacterial mutations (Escherichia coli). We get scaling laws that describe some generic traits and suggest some features of the underlying dynamical structure for the considered evolution process. Our main...

The idea of agents exploring a fitness landscape in which they seek to move from 'fitness valleys' to higher 'fitness peaks' has been presented by Kauffman in the NK and NKCS models. The NK model addresses single species while the NKCS extension illustrates coevolving species on coupled fitness...

The heights of energy barriers separating two (macro-)states are useful for estimating transition frequencies. In non-degenerate landscapes the decomposition of a landscape into basins surrounding local minima connected by saddle points is straightforward and yields a useful definition of...

A mathematical model of genetic microevolution is presented. The model stands for a population of genotypes evolving in the genotypic space. Its dynamics is governed by a master evolution equation which takes into account both the presence of a fluctuating fitness landscape and genotypic...

The impact of private equity firms on employment in their portfolio companies is a controversial topic widely discussed in academia and in practice in recent years. A large body of research has resulted from this debate. The studies are focused on different aspects of employment and are based on...