Conversational Swarm Intelligence (CSI) Enables Rapid Group Insights

When generating insights from human groups, conversational deliberation is a key method for exploring issues, surfacing ideas, debating options, and converging on solutions. Unfortunately, real-time conversations are difficult to scale, losing effectiveness in groups above 4 to 7 members. Conversational Swarm Intelligence (CSI) is a new technology that enables large human groups to hold real-time conversations using techniques modeled on the dynamics of biological swarms. Through a novel use of Large Language Models (LLMs), CSI enables real-time dialog among small groups while simultaneously fostering content propagation across a much larger group. This combines the benefits of small-scale deliberative reasoning and large-scale groupwise intelligence. In this study, we engage a group of 81 American voters from one political party in real-time deliberation using a CSI platform called Thinkscape. We then task the group with (a) forecasting which candidate from a set of options will achieve the most national support, and (b) indicating the specific reasons for this result. After only six minutes of deliberation, the group of 81 individuals converged on a selected candidate and surfaced over 400 reasons justifying various candidates, including 206 justifications that supported the selected candidate. We find that the selected candidate was significantly more supported by group members than the other options (p<0.001) and that this effect held even after six minutes of deliberation, demonstrating that CSI provides both the qualitative benefits of conversational focus groups and the quantitative benefits of largescale polling.Comment: Copyright 2023 IEEE. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:2309.1236

Conversational Swarm Intelligence (CSI) Enhances Groupwise Deliberation

Real-time conversational deliberation is a critical groupwise method for reaching decisions, solving problems, evaluating priorities, generating ideas, and producing insights. Unfortunately, real-time conversations are difficult to scale, losing effectiveness as groups grow above 5 to 7 members. Conversational Swarm Intelligence (CSI) is a new technology modeled on the dynamics of biological swarms. It aims to enable networked groups of any size to hold productive real-time deliberations that converge on unified solutions. CSI leverages the power of Large Language Models (LLMs) in a unique and powerful way, allowing real-time dialog among small local groups while simultaneously enabling efficient content propagation across much larger populations. In this way, CSI combines the benefits of small-scale deliberative reasoning and large-scale collective intelligence. In this study, we compare deliberative groups of 48 people using standard online chat to the same sized groups using a prototype chat-based CSI system called Thinkscape. Results show that participants using CSI contributed 51% more content (p<0.001) than those using standard chat, and the deliberations using CSI showed 37% less difference in contribution quantity between the most active vs least active members, indicating more balanced dialog. And finally, a large majority of participants preferred deliberating using the CSI system over standard chat (p<0.05) and re-ported feeling more impactful when doing so (p<0.01). These results suggest that Conversational Swarm Intelligence is a promising technology for enabling large-scale deliberation.Comment: Accepted for publication: 7th International Joint Conference on Advances in Computational Intelligence (IJCACI 2023). Oct 14, 2023. New Delhi, India. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:2309.0322

The unique genomic properties of sex-biased genes: Insights from avian microarray data

In order to develop a framework for the analysis of sex-biased genes, we present a characterization of microarray data comparing male and female gene expression in 18 day chicken embryos for brain, gonad, and heart tissue

From genome to function: the Arabidopsis aquaporins

BACKGROUND: In the post-genomic era newly sequenced genomes can be used to deduce organismal functions from our knowledge of other systems. Here we apply this approach to analyzing the aquaporin gene family in Arabidopsis thaliana. The aquaporins are intrinsic membrane proteins that have been characterized as facilitators of water flux. Originally termed major intrinsic proteins (MIPs), they are now also known as water channels, glycerol facilitators and aqua-glyceroporins, yet recent data suggest that they facilitate the movement of other low-molecular-weight metabolites as well. RESULTS: The Arabidopsis genome contains 38 sequences with homology to aquaporin in four subfamilies, termed PIP, TIP, NIP and SIP. We have analyzed aquaporin family structure and expression using the A. thaliana genome sequence, and introduce a new NMR approach for the purpose of analyzing water movement in plant roots in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: Our preliminary data indicate a strongly transcellular component for the flux of water in roots

Recent investigations of early Roman cameo glass : Part 2. X-ray fluorescence analyses induced by Synchrotron radiation

The elemental composition of 14 Roman cameo glass fragments was measured quantitatively b y X-ray fluorescence analysis induced by synchrotron radiation. The study was intended to learn more about the possible manufacturing techniques of these glasses. In the white cameo decor of nine fragments all belonging to vessels a higher lead oxide concentration was detected compared to the colored body. In contrast, lead oxide is not enhanced in the remaining five fragments from cameo disks or plates. The higher concentrations may be interpreted as flux added to lower the melting temperature of the white cameo layers of the vessels, thus supporting the recent hypothesis that these cameo vessels were manufactured with the help of a mold on a turning wheel, which had not to be used for the production of cameo plates

Comparative genomic hybridization of cancer of the gastroesophageal junction: deletion of 14Q31-32.1 discriminates between esophageal (Barrett's) and gastric cardia adenocarcinomas

Incidence rates have risen rapidly for esophageal and gastric cardia adenocarcinomas. These cancers, arising at and around the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ), share a poor prognosis. In contrast, there is no consensus with respect to clinical staging resulting in possible adverse effects on treatment and survival. The goal of this study was to provide more insight into the genetic changes underlying esophageal and gastric cardia adenocarcinomas. We have used comparative genomic hybridization for a genetic analysis of 28 adenocarcinomas of the GEJ. Eleven tumors were localized in the distal esophagus and related to Barrett's esophagus, and 10 tumors were situated in the gastric cardia. The remaining seven tumors were located at the junction and could not be classified as either Barrett-related, or gastric cardia. We found alterations in all 28 neoplasms. Gains and losses were distinguished in comparable numbers. Frequent loss (> or = 25% of all tumors) was detected, in decreasing order of frequency, on 4pq (54%), 14q (46%), 18q (43%), 5q (36%), 16q (36%), 9p (29%), 17p (29%), and 21q (29%). Frequent gain (> or = 25% of all tumors) was observed, in decreasing order of frequency, on 20pq (86%), 8q (79%), 7p (61%), 13q (46%), 12q (39%), 15q (39%), 1q (36%), 3q (32%), 5p (32%), 6p (32%), 19q (32%), Xpq (32%), 17q (29%), and 18p (25%). Nearly all patients were male, and loss of chromosome Y was frequently noted (64%). Recurrent high-level amplifications (> 10% of all tumors) were seen at 8q23-24.1, 15q25, 17q12-21, and 19q13.1. Minimal overlapping regions could be determined at multiple locations (candidate genes are in parentheses): minimal regions of overlap for deletions were assigned to 3p14 (FHIT, RCA1), 5q14-21 (APC, MCC), 9p21 (MTS1/CDKN2), 14q31-32.1 (TSHR), 16q23, 18q21 (DCC, P15) and 21q21. Minimal overlapping amplified sites could be seen at 5p14 (MLVI2), 6p12-21.1 (NRASL3), 7p12 (EGFR), 8q23-24.1 (MYC), 12q21.1, 15q25 (IGF1R), 17q12-21 (ERBB2/HER2-neu), 19q13.1 (TGFB1, BCL3, AKT2), 20p12 (PCNA), 20q12-13 (MYBL2, PTPN1), and Xq25. The distribution of the imbalances revealed similar genetic patterns in the three GEJ tumor groups. However, loss of 14q31-32.1 occurred significantly more frequent in Barrett-related adenocarcinomas of the distal esophagus, than in gastric cardia cancers (P = 0.02). The unclassified, "pure junction" group displayed an intermediate position, suggesting that these may be in part gastric cardia tumors, whereas the others may be related to (short-segment) Barrett's esophagus. In conclusion, this study has, fist, provided a detailed comparative genomic hybridization-map of GEJ adenocarcinomas documenting new genetic changes, as well as candidate genes involved. Second, genetic divergence was revealed in this poorly understood group of cancers

Societal Adaptation to Decadal Climate Variability in the United States

The search for evidence of decadal climatic variability (DCV) has a very long history. In the past decade, a research community has coalesced around a series of roughly biennial workshops that have emphasized description of past DCV events; their causes and their teleconnections responsible for droughts, floods, and warm and cold spells around the world; and recently, the predictability of DCV events. Researchers studying climate change put great emphasis on prospective impacts, but the DCV community has yet to do so. To begin rectifying this deficiency, a short but ambitious workshop was convened in Waikoloa, near Kona, Hawaii, from 26-28 April 2007. This workshop, sponsored by the Center for Research on the Changing Earth System (CRCES), NOAA, the U.S. Geological Survey, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, brought together climatologists and sectoral specialists representing agriculture, water resources, economics, the insurance industry, and developing country interests

Genomic profiling by DNA amplification of laser capture microdissected tissues and array CGH.

Comparative genomic hybridization by means of BAC microarrays (array CGH) allows high-resolution profiling of copy-number aberrations in tumor DNA. However, specific genetic lesions associated with small but clinically relevant tumor areas may pass undetected due to intra-tumor heterogeneity and/or the presence of contaminating normal cells. Here, we show that the combination of laser capture microdissection, phi29 DNA polymerase-mediated isothermal genomic DNA amplification, and array CGH allows genomic profiling of very limited numbers of cells. Moreover, by means of simple statistical models, we were able to bypass the exclusion of amplification distortions and variability prone areas, and to detect tumor-specific chromosomal gains and losses. We applied this new combined experimental and analytical approach to the genomic profiling of colorectal adenomatous polyps and demonstrated our ability to accurately detect single copy gains and losses affecting either whole chromosomes or small genomic regions from as little as 2 ng of DNA or 1000 microdissected cells

The CRCES Workshop on Decadal Climate Variability

Author Posting. © American Meteorological Society, 2006. This article is posted here by permission of American Meteorological Society for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 87 (2006): 1223–1225, doi:10.1175/BAMS-87-9-1223.The importance of decadal climate variability (DCV) research is being increasingly recognized, including by international research programs such as the World Climate Research Program (WCRP) and the U.S. National Research Council. This brief article (workshop presentations available online at www.DecVar.org/auditorium.php) summarizes a consensus view of a research community workshop attended by approximately 45 scientists. Gaps in our knowledge of DCV and its societal impacts were identified, as were areas of needed research and anticipated benefits of research. It is a major challenge to implement recommendations of this and other such workshops on climate research in this era of declining earth science budgets. Therefore, a phased implementation is recommended, with highest priority recommendations outlined in a sidebar to this summary