Using large-scale perturbations in gene network reconstruction

Background: Recent analysis of the yeast gene network shows that most genes have few inputs, indicating that enumerative gene reconstruction methods are both useful and computationally feasible. A simple enumerative reconstruction method based on a discrete dynamical system model is used to study how microarray experiments involving modulated global perturbations can be designed to obtain reasonably accurate reconstructions. The method is tested on artificial gene networks with biologically realistic in/out degree characteristics.Results: It was found that a relatively small number of perturbations significantly improve inference accuracy, particularly for low-order inputs of one or two genes. The perturbations themselves should alter the expression level of approximately 50-60% of the genes in the network.Conclusions: Time-series obtained from perturbations are a common form of expression data. This study illustrates how gene networks can be significantly reconstructed from such time-series while requiring only a relatively small number of calibrated perturbations, even for large networks, thus reducing experimental costs

Order fulfillment in high variety production environments

Providing high levels of product variety and product customization is challenging for many companies. This paper presents a new classification of production and order fulfillment approaches available to manufacturing companies that offer high variety and/or product customization. Six categories of approaches are identified and described. An important emerging approach - open pipeline planning – is highlighted for high variety manufacturing environments. It allows a customer order to be fulfilled from anywhere in the system, enabling greater responsiveness in Build-to-Forecast systems. The links between the open pipeline approach, decoupling concepts and postponement strategies are discussed and the relevance of the approach to the volume automotive sector is highlighted. Results from a simulation study are presented illustrating the potential benefits when products can be reconfigured in an open pipeline system. The application of open pipeline concepts to different manufacturing domains is discussed and the operating characteristics of most relevance are highlighted. In addition to the automotive, sectors such as machinery and instrumentation, computer servers, telecommunications and electronic equipment may benefit from an open pipeline planning approach. When properly designed these systems can significantly enhance order fulfillment performance

An Experimental Study of the Aerodynamics of Exposed Wheels

Imperial Users onl

It Takes Leadership to Build a Village: A Portrait of a Public School Community That Is Closing the Achievement Gap

This case study explored a high-achieving elementary school on Chicago’s far South Side that fosters academic success for its African American students who come from predominately low-income homes. Tyler School serves a demographic group that historically underperforms. Yet multiple measures of evaluating student achievement indicate that Tyler is an exceptional school. The research question driving this study is this: How does the school’s administrative team at Tyler School create conditions that support student achievement? Secondary questions explore the school\u27s climate, teachers\u27 qualifications, curriculum, and the other factors that contribute to student success. Interviews with administrators, teachers, and parents, as well as observations of staff meetings served as the primary methods of inquiry. A review of the school’s improvement plan and School Report Card supplemented the data collection. Research revealed that under the administrators\u27 leadership, Tyler School features these inter-related conditions that support success: a warm, positive, inclusive, and optimistic culture where relationships between administrators, teachers, parents, and students thrive; highly qualified teachers; and a rigorous curriculum. Through the administrators’ resourcefulness and perseverance, some structural features at Tyler are comparable to those at schools serving affluent Caucasian students. Curricular materials and technological resources are up-to-date. The results of this dissertation, that a complex matrix of inter-related iv supports underscores student achievement at a high-performing school serving low-income African American students reinforces the findings of the Effective Schools Movement and other research on demographically similar high-achieving schools. Contributing to this body of research is essential since national accountability-based education reform efforts have proven unsuccessful in closing the achievement gap. Documenting how schools such as Tyler operate, and disseminating that data, will support dedicated administrators and educators at low-income, low-performing schools to transform their schools by implementing best practices from real-life school success stories

Creation of A Health and Wellness and Self Care Tool for Mothers of Infants Requiring a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Stay

Purpose: Despite occupational therapy’s established role in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in providing family centered intervention, mothers continue to report lack of readiness to discharge home and emotional distress while in the NICU and upon discharge home. Occupational therapists have the unique skillset to promote engagement in meaningful activities and facilitate overall health and wellness for mother’s during and after their NICU stay. Method: A qualitative survey was distributed to a convenience sample of fifteen participants to identify emotional experiences in the NICU, how these experiences impact each mother fulfilling her role as a primary caretaker, and the perception of each mothers’ self-care needs being met during the NICU stay. A thematic analysis analytic approach was used to identify themes. Results: Key themes of supports and barriers were identified, and a health and wellness tool was created to meet the self-care needs of future mothers of infants requiring a NICU stay. Two participants who completed the qualitative survey then evaluated the health and wellness tool through focused interviews and reported the tool is something they would have liked incorporated into their plan of care and that appears to meet their selfcare needs. Conclusion: There is an opportunity for occupational therapists to incorporate this health and wellness self-care tool into future family centered practice in the NICU in order to address the emotional needs of the mother and assist them in fulfilling their role as a primary caretaker

The Effect of Financial Derivatives on the Financial Performance of Firms in the Financial Sector in Ghana

This paper provides evidence on the impact of financial derivatives on the performance of firms in the financial sector in Ghana. Secondary data on financial derivatives, controlled business risks and business performance in terms of return on investment are used for the period 2011-2015. Data are sourced from 23 randomly selected financial firms in Accra, Ghana. A quantitative research technique is used to test four hypotheses. A strong positive correlation between financial derivatives and controlled business risks is found, r (92) = .703, p < .05. Also, there is a strong positive correlation between financial derivatives and business performance in terms of ROI, r (92) = .961, p = .000. This means that the financial performance of businesses improves largely when they trade in financial derivatives. Financial derivatives significantly predict business performance at 5% significance level (t = 32.87, p = .000), where they account for 92.3% of the variation in business performance. Financial firms would, therefore, have to give priority to financial derivatives and their management to boost financial growth. Keywords: Financial derivatives, business risks, financial firms, financial performanc