Programming the Navier-Stokes computer: An abstract machine model and a visual editor

The Navier-Stokes computer is a parallel computer designed to solve Computational Fluid Dynamics problems. Each processor contains several floating point units which can be configured under program control to implement a vector pipeline with several inputs and outputs. Since the development of an effective compiler for this computer appears to be very difficult, machine level programming seems necessary and support tools for this process have been studied. These support tools are organized into a graphical program editor. A programming process is described by which appropriate computations may be efficiently implemented on the Navier-Stokes computer. The graphical editor would support this programming process, verifying various programmer choices for correctness and deducing values such as pipeline delays and network configurations. Step by step details are provided and demonstrated with two example programs

A visual programming environment for the Navier-Stokes computer

The Navier-Stokes computer is a high-performance, reconfigurable, pipelined machine designed to solve large computational fluid dynamics problems. Due to the complexity of the architecture, development of effective, high-level language compilers for the system appears to be a very difficult task. Consequently, a visual programming methodology has been developed which allows users to program the system at an architectural level by constructing diagrams of the pipeline configuration. These schematic program representations can then be checked for validity and automatically translated into machine code. The visual environment is illustrated by using a prototype graphical editor to program an example problem

The Conception of Human Nature in Robert M Maciver's Sociological Theory.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Boston UniversityWhat is the nature of man? An adequate answer to this question would provide important clues to an understanding of the critical personal and social issues facing the contemporary world. Philosophers, educators, theologians, and others have long sought to comprehend human nature; but today there is still need for more research on the question. The problem proposed for this dissertation was to investigate the writings of Robert M. Maciver for the purpose of determining and describing his conception of human nature. A contributory part of the problem was to make an analysis of certain representative sociological, philosophical, and theological conceptions of human nature and compare them with the views of Maciver in order to sharpen the issues. The representative expressions of human nature are those made by Charles H. Cooley, George H. Mead, Edgar S. Brightman, and Reinhold Niebuhr. [TRUNCATED

Doctor of Philosophy

dissertationRapidly evolving technologies such as chip arrays and next-generation sequencing are uncovering human genetic variants at an unprecedented pace. Unfortunately, this ever growing collection of gene sequence variation has limited clinical utility without clear association to disease outcomes. As electronic medical records begin to incorporate genetic information, gene variant classification and accurate interpretation of gene test results plays a critical role in customizing patient therapy. To verify the functional impact of a given gene variant, laboratories rely on confirming evidence such as previous literature reports, patient history and disease segregation in a family. By definition variants of uncertain significance (VUS) lack this supporting evidence and in such cases, computational tools are often used to evaluate the predicted functional impact of a gene mutation. This study evaluates leveraging high quality genotype-phenotype disease variant data from 20 genes and 3986 variants, to develop gene-specific predictors utilizing a combination of changes in primary amino acid sequence, amino acid properties as descriptors of mutation severity and Naïve Bayes classification. A Primary Sequence Amino Acid Properties (PSAAP) prediction algorithm was then combined with well established predictors in a weighted Consensus sum in context of gene-specific reference intervals for known phenotypes. PSAAP and Consensus were also used to evaluate known variants of uncertain significance in the RET proto-oncogene as a model gene. The PSAAP algorithm was successfully extended to many genes and diseases. Gene-specific algorithms typically outperform generalized prediction tools. Characteristic mutation properties of a given gene and disease may be lost when diluted into genomewide data sets. A reliable computational phenotype classification framework with quantitative metrics and disease specific reference ranges allows objective evaluation of novel or uncertain gene variants and augments decision making when confirming clinical information is limited

MS

thesisAnalysis of organic acids in urine is a valuable tool in the diagnosis of the inborn errors of metabolism known as organic acidurias. This test is commonly ordered in newborns with symptoms such as lethargy, failure to thrive, hepatic failure, and suspected familial disorders. A drawback of published methods is the overwhelming amount of data to examine for each patient, prior to the final laboratory report. Physicians will wait as long as two weeks for these time critical results. The goal of this research was to develop and export system to automate the process of screening for metabolic disorders of urine organic acids. The Xaminer® pattern recognition software (ThermoFinnigan, San Jose, CA) was adapted to predict and identify patterns of urine organic acid disorders. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) full scan spectra of organic acids were used to build the pattern match library and train the software to recognized methylmalonic aciduria (MMA) and associated vitamin B12 deficiency, as well as, a subset of fatty acid oxidation defects (FAOD), including medium chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD) deficiency. Patient data files were de-identified and reprocessed using the expert system. The expert system results were compared to the original laboratory findings. From a total of 2573 samples, the original laboratory findings were 20 positives for MMA and 29 positives for FAOD. The Xaminer software identified 17 of the 20 MMA positives, plus 4 additional candidate samples that matched the search pattern criteria. The software found 26 of the 29 FAOD positives. Five additional samplers found to be candidates for FAOD. Software analysis time averaged less than 10 seconds per sample. This expert system can use pattern recognition of full scan GC-MS data to aid in patient screening for MMA and fatty acid oxidation disorders. The performance of Xaminer shows promise for refining or expanding the reference library to include other metabolic disorders as well

The Role of Normative Political Ideology in Consumer Behavior

This study of African-American consumers living in a large racially segregated midwestern city adds to extant theory on ideology in consumer behavior by considering the role of normative political ideology in provisioning. The specific roles of traditional black liberal and black nationalist political ideologies are discussed. We conclude that normative political ideology is central to understanding shopping as an expression of social and political relations between households confronting attenuated access to goods and services, ranging from housing to food, in a setting stratified by gender, race, and class. Beyond the specifics of this demographic group and setting, we suggest contemporary consumption in the United States is a primary arena in which political ideology is expressed and constructed