Two optimization techniques as used in a general four compartment first-order system
Life is a continuously changing phenomenon, and the capacity to observe time-dependent processes by nondestructive means (for example, by tracer techniques) provides functional information which cannot be otherwise obtained. The present study deals with the identification of exchange parameters for a general four compartment model in which the tracer in every compartment can exchange with every other compartment. The method of solution is based on two optimization techniques, namely: the Alienor technique and the Gabriel technique. These techniques reduce different unknowns involved in the problem to a single variable theta, with the help of Archimedes ' spiral, thus leading to the global minimum of a functional of single variable theta. Results are compared with those obtained by generalized least squares method in terms of accuracy and computational time. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
compartment exchange parameters alienor technique gabriel technique archimedes' spiral