Pay-as-you-go data integration for bio-informatics

Scientific research in bio-informatics is often data-driven and supported by numerous biological databases. A biological database contains factual information collected from scientific experiments and computational analyses about areas including genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, microarray gene expression and phylogenetics. Information contained in biological databases includes gene function, structure, localization (both cellular and chromosomal), clinical effects of mutations as well as similarities of biological sequences and structures. In a growing number of research projects, bio-informatics researchers like to ask combined ques- tions, i.e., questions that require the combination of information from more than one database. We have observed that most bio-informatics papers do not go into detail on the integration of different databases. It has been observed that roughly 30% of all tasks in bio-informatics workflows are data transformation tasks, a lot of time is used to integrate these databases (shown by [1]). As data sources are created and evolve, many design decisions made by their creators. Not all of these choices are documented. Some of such choices are made implicitly based on experience or preference of the creator. Other choices are mandated by the purpose of the data source, as well as inherent data quality issues such as imprecision in measurements, or ongoing scientific debates. Integrating multiple data sources can be difficult. We propose to approach the time-consuming problem of integrating multiple biological databases through the principles of ‘pay-as-you-go’ and ‘good-is-good-enough’. By assisting the user in defin- ing a knowledge base of data mapping rules, schema alignment, trust information and other evidence we allow the user to focus on the work, and put in as little effort as is necessary for the integration to serve the purposes of the user. By using user feedback on query results and trust assessments, the integration can be improved upon over time. The research will be guided by a set of use cases. As the research is in its early stages, we have determined three use cases: Homologues, the representation and integration of groupings. Homology is the relationship between two characteristics that have descended, usually with divergence, from a common ancestral characteristic. A characteristic can be any genic, structural or behavioural feature of an organism Metabolomics integration, with a focus on the TCA cycle. The TCA cycle (also known as the citric acid cycle, or Krebs cycle) is used by aerobic organism to generate energy from the oxidation of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. Bibliography integration and improvement, the correction and expansion of citation databases. [1] I. Wassink. Work flows in life science. PhD thesis, University of Twente, Enschede, January 2010

The Anatomy of a Regicide Attempt: Shāhrukh, the Ḥurūfīs, and the Timurid Intellectuals in 830/1426–27

This article provides a contextual analysis of the assassination attempt on the Timurid ruler Shahrukh’s life on 21 February 1427 in Herat. According to the contemporary Timurid chroniclers, Ahmad-i Lur, a Hurufi by profession, tried to kill Shahrukh

Iowa Health Focus, September 2004

Monthly newsletter for the Iowa Department of Public Healt

PROSES PEMBUATAN POROS RANGKA 2 DAN POROS PENGHUBUNG BRENDER PADA MESIN FLAME CUTTING RADIUS

Tujuan dari penyusunan proyek akhir ini adalah untuk membuat poros rangka 2 dan poros penghubung brender, mengindentifikasi bahan yang digunakan, mampu mengindentifikasi mesin-mesin yang digunakan, mengetahui alat-alat yang digunakan, dapat membuat langkah kerja yang sesuai dengan prosedur, mengetahui waktu yang diperlukan pada pembuatan poros rangka 2 dan poros penghubung Brender pada mesin Flame Cutting Radius, dan dapat mengetahui kinerja poros rangka 2 dan poros penghubung brender pada mesin Flame Cutting Radius. Metode yang digunakan dalam pembuatan poros rangka 2 dan poros penghubung brender, yaitu dimulai dari pengidentifikasian jenis dan ukuran bahan yang digunakan, pemilihan mesin yang digunakan, pemilihan alat yang digunakan, penentuan langkah kerja yang akan digunakan, menghitung waktu yang diperlukan, dan mengetahui hasil kinerja poros rangka 2 dan poros penghubung brender pada mesin Flame cutting Radius. Bahan yang digunakan dalam pembuatan poros rangka 2 dan poros penghubunng brender adalah mildsteel(baja lunak) seri ST37 dengan ukuran, untuk poros rangka 2 yaitu Ø12,70x470mm dan untuk poros Penghubung Brender, yaitu Ø12,7x360mm. Mesin yang digunakan adalah gergaji tangan, mesin bubut. Peralatan yang digunakan adalah jangka sorong (Vernier caliper), palu, mistar baja, ragum dan peralatan keselamatan kerja. Sedangkan proses kerja yang digunakan yaitu, proses pemotongan bahan, proses pembubutan, dan proses kerja bangku.Setelah poros dirakit, dan mencoba mengoperasikan mesin Flame Cutting Radius ternyata masih terdapat kelemahan-kelemahan pada saat mesin beroperasi. Kelemahan yang ada sangat berpengaruh pada kinerja Mesin karena saat Mesin beroperasi pada bagian poros masih begetar dikarenakan putaran yang dihasilkan oleh motor DC(Power Window) tidak mampu memutar pulley yang mengerakkan poros. Hasil kinerja dari poros tersebut, poros tidak dapat berfungsi dengan baik seperti yang diharapkan karena poros masih begetar pada saat mesin beroperasi

Nonlinearity arising from noncooperative transcription factor binding enhances negative feedback and promotes genetic oscillations

We study the effects of multiple binding sites in the promoter of a genetic oscillator. We evaluate the regulatory function of a promoter with multiple binding sites in the absence of cooperative binding, and consider different hypotheses for how the number of bound repressors affects transcription rate. Effective Hill exponents of the resulting regulatory functions reveal an increase in the nonlinearity of the feedback with the number of binding sites. We identify optimal configurations that maximize the nonlinearity of the feedback. We use a generic model of a biochemical oscillator to show that this increased nonlinearity is reflected in enhanced oscillations, with larger amplitudes over wider oscillatory ranges. Although the study is motivated by genetic oscillations in the zebrafish segmentation clock, our findings may reveal a general principle for gene regulation.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figure

Osobnost brenda destinacije i predviđanje ponašajnih namjera turista: primjer grada Splita

U fokusu rada dva su fenomena koja su, iako donekle neobična, relativno uvriježena u općoj literaturi o ponašanju potrošača i upravljanju klasičnim brendovima – percepcija osobnosti brenda te samoprocjena podudarnosti između osobnosti pojedinca i osobnosti brenda. U okviru rada te se fenomene razmatra u kontekstu istraživanja ponašanja turista i marketinga mjesta, odnosno turističke destinacije. Kada je riječ o destinacijskim brendovima, percepcija osobnosti brenda odnosi se na viđenje toga kakva bi destinacija bila kad bi bila osoba, tj. procjenu skupa ljudskih osobina povezanih s destinacijom. Procjena samo-podudarnosti pak podrazumijeva izjašnjavanje osobe o tome koliko je njezina osobnost sukladna percipiranoj osobnosti destinacije. Online istraživanjem u kojem su sudjelovali mlađi domaći posjetitelji grada Splita (N = 263) ispitana je struktura percipirane osobnosti grada Splita te je analizirana uloga koju percepcija osobnosti destinacije i procjena samo-podudarnosti imaju u predviđanju ponašajnih namjera turista (preporuka i ponovni posjet). Rezultati pokazuju da sudionici u najvećoj mjeri doživljavaju Split kao lijep, opušten i veseo, a u najmanjoj mjeri kao radišan, glamurozan i zapadni. Oni sudionici koji osobnost Splita doživljavaju pozitivnijom te svoju osobnost procjenjuju sukladnijom osobnosti Splita skloniji su tome da drugima preporuče posjet Splitu od onih sudionika koji se ne smatraju sličnima Splitu te ga općenito doživljavaju negativnijim. Ponovni posjet predviđa samo percepcija osobnosti destinacije, pri čemu je vjerojatnije da se u Split vrate one osobe koje njegovu osobnost vide pozitivnijom. U okviru rasprave o nalazima istaknute su osnovne metodološke zamjerke ovom i sličnim istraživanjima te navedene neke smjernice za buduća istraživanja i praksu. (IN ENGLISH: This paper focuses on two phenomena that are quite unusual, but relatively often present in the literature about consumer behaviour and traditional brand management – brand personality and self-congruity. Here they are examined within the framework of tourists’ behaviour and destination management. Consequently, brand personality relates to the perception of destination as if it were a person, i.e. the assessment of a set of human characteristics associated with the destination. Self-congruity stands for the assessment of the congruence between one’s personality and destination’s personality. Online research on the sample of young domestic tourists of the city of Split (N = 263) examined the structure of the perceived destination personality of Split, and explored the role that the perceived destination personality and self-congruity have in predicting tourists’ behavioural intentions (recommendation and return). The participants mostly perceived Split as beautiful, relaxed and cheerful, and the least as hard-working, glamorous and western. Those participants who assessed the personality of Split more positively and estimated their personality to correspond more to the personality of Split, had greater tendency to recommend Split, in comparison to those participants who did not see themselves to be similar to Split and assessed its personality more negatively. The intention to return was only predicted by the perceived destination personality, with those participants seeing the personality of Split more positively being more likely to visit again. The discussion section includes some observations on the methodological shortcomings of this and similar studies, as well as some guidelines for the forthcoming research and practice.

SUNGLASSES AS A FASHION ACCESSORY

U ovom radu prikazati će se povijest sunčanih naočala, kako su one zapravo nastale te kako su se razvijale u skladu sa modnom industrijom. Također, biti će vidljiv njihov značaj u današnjem svijetu, status koji su pridavale nositelju kso i sam način na koji su se razvijale sukladno s društvom. Vidjet ćemo kako je kulturna scena, a ponajprije film, pridonijela popularnosti određenih modela sunčanih naočala. Također, objasniti će se put osnutka i napretka nekih od najvažnih proizvođača sunčanih naočala u svijetu te način na koji se industrija naočala širila i usavršavala do današnjeg dana. Kako su sunčane naočale postale neizbježan modni dodatak i potreba suvremenog čovjeka opisati će se kroz sljedeće odlomke.This thesis discusses the history of sunglasses and how they actually came about and developed in line with fashion industry. Also, it will show their significance in the present world and how they developed in accordance with society, but it will also reveal the status that they have attributed to the bearer. We will see how the cultural scene, primarily the film, contributed to the popularity of certain models of sunglasses. It will also explain the path of the establishment and progress of some of the most important Sunglasses manufacturers in the world and the way the sunglasses industry has expanded and refined to this day. In the following sections it will be described how sunglasses became the inevitable fashion accessory and the need for a contemporary man

New Synonymies and Combinations for New World Pselaphinae (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae)

The following new synonymies and new combinations for Pselaphinae of North and Central America are documented: Anarmodius aequinoctialis (Motschulsky) (Trichonyx), New Comb.; Anthylarthron cornutum (Brendel) (= Anthylarthron curtipenne Casey, New Syn.); Aporhexius robustus (Motschulsky) (Euplectus), New Comb.; Batrisodespunctlfrons Casey (= Batrisodes appalachianus Casey, New Syn.); Batrisodes ionae (LeConte) (= Batrisodes caseyt Blatchley, New Syn.); Batrisodes clypeonotus (Brendel) (= Batrisodes kahli Bowman, New Syn.); Batrisodes lineaticollis (Aube) (= Batrisus globosus LeConte, New Syn.); Brachygluta corniventris (Motschulsky) (Bryaxts), New Comb., (= Bryaxts illinoiensis Brendel, New Syn.); Cedius ziegleri LeConte (= Cedius robustus Casey, New Syn.); Conoplectus simplex (Motschulsky) (Rhexius), New Comb., jun. syn. of Conoplectus canaliculatus (LeConte), New Syn.; Ctenisodes Raffray (= Pilopius Casey, New Syn.); Cylindrarctus ludovicianus (Brendel) (= Cylindrarctus comes Casey, New Syn.; Dalmosanus Park (= Pygmactium Grigarick and Schuster, New Syn.); Decarthron consanguineum (Motschulsky) (Bryaxis), New Comb.; Decarthron formiceti (LeConte) (= Decarthron rayi Park, = Decarthron seriepunctatum Brendel, New Syns.); Decarthron velutinum (LeConte), New Status (= D. formiceti, Park, 1958); Decarthron marinum Brendel (= Decarthron diversum Park, New Syn.); Decarthron robustum (Motschulsky) (Metaxis), New Comb.; Euphalepsus Reitter (= Barada Raffray, = Tetrasemus Jeannel, New Syns.), in subtribe Baradina; Eupsentus dilatatus Motschulsky (= Eupsenius rufus LeConte, New Syn.); Eurhexius canaliculatus (Motschulsky) (Trichonyx), New Comb. (= Eurhexius zonalis Park, New Syn.); Harmophola adusta (Motschulsky) (Euplectus), New Comb.; Iteticus cylindricus (Motschulsky) (Batrisus), New Comb.; Nisaxis Casey (=Dranisaxa Park, New Syn.); Oropus strtatus (LeConte) (=Oropus keeni Casey and O. brevipennis Casey, New Syns.); Panaramecia tropicalis (Motschulsky) (Euplectus), New Comb. (= Panaramecia zvilliamsi Park, New Syn.); Phamisus Aube, (= Canthoderus Motschulsky, New Syn.); Pselaptus oedipus (Sharp) (Bryaxis, Cryptorhinula), New Comb.; Pselaphus bellax Casey (= Pselaphus ulkei Bowman, New Syn); Reichenbachia intacta (Sharp) (= Bryaxis sarcinaria Schaufuss, New Syn.); Reichenbachia pruinosa (Motschulsky) (Bryaxis), New Comb., (= Bryaxis macrura Motschulsky, = Reichenbachia bterigi Park, New Syns.); Reichenbachia rubricunda (Aube) (= Bryaxis gemmifer LeConte, New Syn.); Trimicerus Motschulsky, (= Batrybraxis Reitter, New Syn.); Trimicerus corn?gera (Motschulsky) (Bryaxis), New Comb. (= Batrybraxis panamensis Park, New Syn.); Trimicerus pacificus Motschulsky (= Batrybraxis bowmani Park, New Syn.); Trimiomelba dubia (LeConte) (= Trimium americanum Motschulsky, = Trimium convexulum LeConte, = Trimiomelba laevis Casey, New Syns.); Tyrus humeralis (Aube) (= Tyrus consimilis Casey, New Syn.); Tyrus semiruber Casey (= Tyrus humeralis of authors); Tyrus cortidnus Casey (= Tyrus carinifer Casey, New Syn.); Xybarida trimioides (Sharp) (Bryaxis, Cryptorhinula), New Comb. Lectotype designations: Batrisus ionae LeConte; Batrisus globosus LeConte; Bryaxis consangu?nea Motschulsky; Bryaxis corniventris Motschulsky; Bryaxis pruinosa Motschulsky; Metaxis robusta Motschulsky; Rhextus simplex Motschulsky; Trimium americanum LeConte; Tyrus consimilis Casey. New species and genera: Cylindrarctus semin?le Chandler, New Species (= Cylindrarctus comes, Chandler, 1988); Motschtyrus pilosus (Motschulsky) (Tychus), Panama, New Genus, New Comb