Express Prediction Of External Distinctive Features Of Person Using The Program Of Dermatoglyphics For Prediction

The aim of our study was to investigate the current state of computer identification applications, such as artificial neural networks. The material of our study were antroposcopic and anthropometric parameters obtained from 180 male and females aged 18–55 years living in the Ivano-Frankivsk region and belonging to Boiko, Lemko or Hutsul ethno-territorial group. Prints of comb pattern of the toes obtained by scanning with Futronic\u27s FS80 USB2.0 Fingerprint Scanner using the program ftrScanApiEx.exe. followed by the transfer of data to a personal computer. For statistical processing of the obtained data we use STATISTICA 12 from the company StatSoft. Construction of neural networks was carried out using Neural Networks. As a result of our research there was carried out the prediction of anthropometric and antroposcopic parameters (ethno-territorial and gender belonging, etc.) through the use of dermatoglyphic parameters of the hands and feet in 180 people living in the Ivano-Frankivsk region. The proposed method allowed to obtain the results with a forecasts probability 73–90 %. The use of above algorithm of actions allowed a 50 % increase of quality of identification of unknown person for using dermatoglyphic method and 67 % facilitatation of the process of identification (of quantitative and qualitative calculations, determining correlations between parameters) in comparison with previously known manner. Therefore, our proposed method can be used as an express diagnostics of common phenotypic traits of the person (ethno-territorial affiliation, gender, etc.) at admission of mass victims (natural disasters, acts of terrorism, armed conflicts, man-made disasters, etc.), it doesn\u27t not require a long time for conducting, specially trained staff and is inexpensive.Conclusions: The possibility of predicting external-recognizing features of a person such as etno-racial belonging, sex, anthropometric and antroposcopic parameters will allow widely use dermatoglyphic method at the level with other methods in conducting forensic identification of impersonal, fragmented and putrefactive modified corpses

Application of Lattice Boltzmann Method for Surface Runoff in Watershed

Derived from simplifications of the Saint-Venant equations, the kinematic wave model has the ability to describe the behavior of surface runoff in watersheds. This paper aims to obtain the numerical simulation of the flow routing in a natural watershed, by using lattice Boltzmann method. In the computational model, the surface of the basin will be represented by a V-shaped segmented in two lateral planes and one main channel. The simulation considers the effective precipitation flowing on the watershed per unit of width at the exit of each of the planes that represent the surface of the basin. The water flowing from the planes enters the main channel in the form of lateral contribution. Hydrograms of two rain events are obtained, which present the volume drained in the outlet corresponding to the whole basin in each event. Two equilibrium distribution functions were developed by Chapmann-Enskog expansion at time scales and model D1Q3, one suitable for flow on the basin surface and another for the main channel, in order to obtain the variables of interest in each case. The numerical results obtained were compared with the KINEROS2 hydrological model.Peer Reviewe

A model of estrogen-related gene expression reveals non-linear effects in transcriptional response to tamoxifen

SynthSys is a Centre for Integrative Systems Biology (CISB) funded by BBSRC and EPSRC, reference BB/D019621/1.Background: Estrogen receptors alpha (ER) are implicated in many types of female cancers, and are the common target for anti-cancer therapy using selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs, such as tamoxifen). However, cell-type specific and patient-to-patient variability in response to SERMs (from suppression to stimulation of cancer growth), as well as frequent emergence of drug resistance, represents a serious problem. The molecular processes behind mixed effects of SERMs remain poorly understood, and this strongly motivates application of systems approaches. In this work, we aimed to establish a mathematical model of ER-dependent gene expression to explore potential mechanisms underlying the variable actions of SERMs. Results: We developed an equilibrium model of ER binding with 17 beta-estradiol, tamoxifen and DNA, and linked it to a simple ODE model of ER-induced gene expression. The model was parameterised on the broad range of literature available experimental data, and provided a plausible mechanistic explanation for the dual agonism/antagonism action of tamoxifen in the reference cell line used for model calibration. To extend our conclusions to other cell types we ran global sensitivity analysis and explored model behaviour in the wide range of biologically plausible parameter values, including those found in cancer cells. Our findings suggest that transcriptional response to tamoxifen is controlled in a complex non-linear way by several key parameters, including ER expression level, hormone concentration, amount of ER-responsive genes and the capacity of ER-tamoxifen complexes to stimulate transcription (e. g. by recruiting co-regulators of transcription). The model revealed non-monotonic dependence of ER-induced transcriptional response on the expression level of ER, that was confirmed experimentally in four variants of the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. Conclusions: We established a minimal mechanistic model of ER-dependent gene expression, that predicts complex non-linear effects in transcriptional response to tamoxifen in the broad range of biologically plausible parameter values. Our findings suggest that the outcome of a SERM's action is defined by several key components of cellular micro-environment, that may contribute to cell-type-specific effects of SERMs and justify the need for the development of combinatorial biomarkers for more accurate prediction of the efficacy of SERMs in specific cell types.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Director: An Interpreter for Rule-based Programs

Programs interacting with users via natural language interfaces generally require more sophisticated control structures than those needed by programs interacting with users through less flexible mechanisms. This paper describes our development of Director, an interpreter (inference engine) for rule-based programs. Providing an efficient combination of forward and backward chaining, heuristic and user control of inference, and ready access to portions of its internal structure, Director facilitates the construction of systems with natural language interfaces as well as other rule-based systems in which queries are expensive

Thermal degradation of Cross-Linked Polyisoprene and Polychloroprene

Polyisoprene and polychloroprene have been cross-linked either in solution or in solid state using free radical initiators. In the comparable experimental conditions higher cross-linking density was observed in the solid state process. Independent of the cross-linking method, polychloroprene tended to give a higher gel content and cross-link density than does polyisoprene. Infrared characterization of the cross-linked materials showed cis-trans isomerization occurred in the polyisoprene initiated by benzoyl peroxide, whereas no isomerization was found in the samples initiated by dicumyl peroxide. Polyisoprene does not cross-link by heating in a thermal analyzer, whereas polychloroprene easily undergoes cross-linking in such conditions. Infrared spectroscopy showed that in the case of polyisoprene, rearrangements occur upon heating which lead to the formation of terminal double bonds, while polychloroprene loses hydrogen chlorine which leads to a conjugated structure. There is apparently some enhancement of the thermal and thermal oxidative stability of polyisoprene because of the cross-linking. Cross-linked polychloroprene is less thermally stable than the virgin polymer. Cross-linking promotes polymers charring in the main step of weight loss in air, which leads to enhanced transitory char

Theoretical study of Van der Waals complexes of Al atom with N2

Al–~N2) x Van der Waals complexes have recently been produced in molecular beam experiments and studied with threshold laser photoionization.1 The ionization potential measured for the Al–N2 complex (46 821 cm21 ), combined with Al atom ionization potential (48 279 cm21 ) and Al1–N2 dissociation energy measured by Bouchard and McMahon (19246175 cm21 ) 2 leads to the estimation of the Al–N2 complex binding energy at 4666175 cm21 ~Ref. 1!. The purpose of our study is to estimate the Al–N2 and Al1–N2 binding energies using theoretical calculations and to compare them with the experimental results

Processing facial expressions of emotion: upright vs. inverted images

We studied discrimination of briefly presented upright vs. inverted emotional facial expressions (FEs), hypothesizing that inversion would impair emotion decoding by disrupting holistic FE processing. Stimuli were photographs of seven emotion prototypes, of a male and female poser (Ekman and Friesen, 1976), and eight intermediate morphs in each set. Subjects made speeded Same/Different judgments of emotional content for all upright (U) or inverted (I) pairs of FEs, presented for 500 ms, 100 times each pair. Signal Detection Theory revealed the sensitivity measure d′ to be slightly but significantly higher for the upright FEs. In further analysis using multidimensional scaling (MDS), percentages of Same judgments were taken as an index of pairwise perceptual similarity, separately for U and I presentation mode. The outcome was a 4D “emotion expression space,” with FEs represented as points and the dimensions identified as Happy–Sad, Surprise/Fear, Disgust, and Anger. The solutions for U and I FEs were compared by means of cophenetic and canonical correlation, Procrustes analysis, and weighted-Euclidean analysis of individual differences. Differences in discrimination produced by inverting FE stimuli were found to be small and manifested as minor changes in the MDS structure or weights of the dimensions. Solutions differed substantially more between the two posers, however. Notably, for stimuli containing elements of Happiness (whether U or I), the MDS structure showed signs of implicit categorization, indicating that mouth curvature – the dominant feature conveying Happiness – is visually salient and receives early processing. The findings suggest that for briefly presented FEs, Same/Different decisions are dominated by low-level visual analysis of abstract patterns of lightness and edge filters, but also reflect emerging featural analysis. These analyses, insensitive to face orientation, enable initial positive/negative Valence categorization of FEs

Simulation of the two-dimensional flow of the initiation channel of the Itaipu hydroelectric power plant by the lattice Boltzmann method

Este artigo analisa a capacidade do método do reticulado de Boltzmann (LBM) com múltiplos tempos de relaxamento (MRT) na simulação do escoamento em problemas práticos de engenharia. O estudo de caso abordado refere-se ao primeiro trecho do canal de iniciação, que faz parte do canal da piracema, localizado no Usina Hidrelétrica de Itaipu. O canal de iniciação possui obstáculos submersos distribuídos de uma margem até a outra, com o objetivo de reduzir a velocidade da água e permitir a ocorrência do ciclo da piracema. As equações governantes do escoamento são as equações de águas rasas, que serão resolvidas por meio do LBM-MRT. Utilizou-se condições de contorno adequadas para escoamento em canal, vazão e altura da água constante na entrada e saída, respectivamente. Devido às características do problema que pretende-se simular, incorporou-se ao código computacional uma técnica de simulação em grandes escalas (LES - Large Eddy Simulation) a qual permite obter resultados mais próximos do comportamento real do escoamento. Além disso, avalia-se a estabilidade da simulação em todos os pontos da malha para cada passo de tempo e, juntamente com a propriedade da consistência do LBM, obtém-se a convergência da solução. A simulação fornece a profundidade, velocidades nas direções {\textstyle x} e {\textstyle y} , e a magnitude da vorticidade da água.This paper analyzes the ability of the Lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) with multiple relaxation times (MRT) in the simulation of flow in practical engineering problems. The case study covered refers to the first section of the initiation channel, which is part of the piracema channel, located in the Itaipu Hydroelectric Power Plant. The initiation channel has submerged obstacles distributed from one margin to the other, in order to reduce water velocity and allow the piracema cycle to occur. The governing equations of flow are the shallow water equations, which will be solved through the LBM-MRT. The non-slip bounce-back scheme was used on walls and obstacles, constant discharge at the inlet and fixed depth at the outlet of the channel. Due to the characteristics of the problem to be simulated, a large eddy simulation (LES) technique was incorporated into the computational code, which allows to obtain results that are closer to the actual behavior of the flow. In addition, the stability of the simulation at all points of the mesh is evaluated for each step of time and, together with the property of the consistency of the LBM, the convergence of the solution is obtained. The simulation provides the depth, velocities in the x and y directions, and the magnitude of water vorticity.Peer Reviewe

Two-dimensional numerical simulation of channel flow with submerged obstacles using the lattice Boltzmann method

Apresenta-se a simulação numérica bidimensional do escoamento de água em um canal retangular com chicanas submersas distribuídas alternadamente nas suas margens. As equações governantes do escoamento são as equações de águas rasas, que serão resolvidas por meio do método do reticulado de Boltzmann (LBM) com múltiplos tempos de relaxamento (MRT). Utilizou-se condições de contorno adequadas para escoamento em canal, vazão e altura da água constante na entrada e saída, respectivamente. Devido às características do problema que pretende-se simular, incorporou-se ao código computacional uma técnica de simulação em grandes escalas (LES - Large Eddy Simulation) a qual permite obter resultados mais próximos do comportamento real do escoamento. Além disso, avalia-se a estabilidade da simulação em todos os pontos da malha para cada passo de tempo e, juntamente com a propriedade da consistência do LBM, obtém-se a convergência da solução. A simulação fornece a profundidade, velocidades nas direções {\textstyle x} e {\textstyle y} , e a magnitude da vorticidade da água.A two-dimensional numerical simulation of the water flow in a rectangular channel with submerged obstacles distributed alternately along its banks is presented. The governing equations of flow are the shallow water equations, which will be solved by the Boltzmann lattice method (LBM) with multiple relaxation times (MRT). The non-slip bounce-back scheme was used on walls and obstacles, constant discharge at the inlet and fixed depth at the outlet of the channel. Due to the characteristics of the problem to be simulated, a large eddy simulation (LES) technique was incorporated into the computational code, which allows to obtain results that are closer to the actual behavior of the flow. In addition, the stability of the simulation at all points of the mesh is evaluated for each step of time and, together with the property of the consistency of the LBM, the convergence of the solution is obtained. The simulation provides the depth, velocities in the x and y directions, and the magnitude of water vorticity.Peer Reviewe

Automated four-dimensional long term imaging enables single cell tracking within organotypic brain slices to study neurodevelopment and degeneration.

Current approaches for dynamic profiling of single cells rely on dissociated cultures, which lack important biological features existing in tissues. Organotypic slice cultures preserve aspects of structural and synaptic organisation within the brain and are amenable to microscopy, but established techniques are not well adapted for high throughput or longitudinal single cell analysis. Here we developed a custom-built, automated confocal imaging platform, with improved organotypic slice culture and maintenance. The approach enables fully automated image acquisition and four-dimensional tracking of morphological changes within individual cells in organotypic cultures from rodent and human primary tissues for at least 3 weeks. To validate this system, we analysed neurons expressing a disease-associated version of huntingtin (HTT586Q138-EGFP), and observed that they displayed hallmarks of Huntington's disease and died sooner than controls. By facilitating longitudinal single-cell analyses of neuronal physiology, our system bridges scales necessary to attain statistical power to detect developmental and disease phenotypes