908 research outputs found
Combining case based reasoning with neural networks
This paper presents a neural network based technique for mapping problem situations to problem solutions for Case-Based Reasoning (CBR) applications. Both neural networks and
CBR are instance-based learning techniques, although neural nets work with numerical data and CBR systems work with symbolic data. This paper discusses how the application scope of both paradigms could be enhanced by the use of hybrid concepts. To make the use of neural networks possible, the problem's situation and solution features are transformed into continuous features, using techniques similar to CBR's definition of similarity metrics. Radial Basis Function (RBF) neural nets are used to create a multivariable, continuous input-output mapping. As the mapping is continuous, this technique also provides generalisation between cases, replacing the domain specific
solution adaptation techniques required by conventional CBR. This continuous representation also allows, as in
fuzzy logic, an associated membership measure to be output with each symbolic feature, aiding the prioritisation of various possible solutions. A further advantage is that, as the RBF neurons are only active in a limited area of the input space, the solution can be accompanied by local estimates of accuracy, based on the sufficiency of the cases present in that area as well as the results measured during testing. We describe how the application of this technique could be of benefit to the real world problem of sales advisory systems, among others
Combining case based reasoning with neural networks
This paper presents a neural network based technique for mapping problem situations to problem solutions for Case-Based Reasoning (CBR) applications. Both neural networks and
CBR are instance-based learning techniques, although neural nets work with numerical data and CBR systems work with symbolic data. This paper discusses how the application scope of both paradigms could be enhanced by the use of hybrid concepts. To make the use of neural networks possible, the problem's situation and solution features are transformed into continuous features, using techniques similar to CBR's definition of similarity metrics. Radial Basis Function (RBF) neural nets are used to create a multivariable, continuous input-output mapping. As the mapping is continuous, this technique also provides generalisation between cases, replacing the domain specific
solution adaptation techniques required by conventional CBR. This continuous representation also allows, as in
fuzzy logic, an associated membership measure to be output with each symbolic feature, aiding the prioritisation of various possible solutions. A further advantage is that, as the RBF neurons are only active in a limited area of the input space, the solution can be accompanied by local estimates of accuracy, based on the sufficiency of the cases present in that area as well as the results measured during testing. We describe how the application of this technique could be of benefit to the real world problem of sales advisory systems, among others
NGC 4138 - A Case Study in Counterrotating Disk Formation
The Sa(r) galaxy NGC 4138 has been recently found to contain an extensive
counterrotating disk which appears to be still forming. Up to a third of the
stars in the disk system may be on retrograde orbits. A counterrotating ring of
H II regions, along with extended counterrotating H I gas, suggests that the
retrograde material has been recently acquired in the gas phase and is still
trickling in. Using numerical simulations, we have attempted to model the
process by which the counterrotating mass has been accreted by this galaxy. We
investigate two possibilities: continuous retrograde infall of gas, and a
retrograde merger with a gas-rich dwarf galaxy. Both processes are successful
in producing a counterrotating disk of the observed mass and dimensions without
heating up the primary significantly. Contrary to our experience with a
fiducial cold, thin primary disk, the gas-rich merger works well for the
massive, compact primary disk of NGC 4138 even though the mass of the dwarf
galaxy is a significant fraction of the mass of the primary disk. Although we
have restricted ourselves mainly to coplanar infall and mergers, we report on
one inclined infall simulation as well. We also explore the possibility that
the H-alpha ring seen in the inner half of the disk is a consequence of
counterrotating gas clouds colliding with corotating gas already present in the
disk and forming stars in the process.Comment: To appear in ApJ, 21 pages, LaTeX (aaspp4) format, 17 figs (gzipped
tar file) also available at ftp://bessel.mps.ohio-state.edu/pub/thakar/cr2/
or at http://www-astronomy.mps.ohio-state.edu/~thakar
Running a distributed virtual observatory: US Virtual Astronomical Observatory operations
Operation of the US Virtual Astronomical Observatory shares some issues with
modern physical observatories, e.g., intimidating data volumes and rapid
technological change, and must also address unique concerns like the lack of
direct control of the underlying and scattered data resources, and the
distributed nature of the observatory itself. In this paper we discuss how the
VAO has addressed these challenges to provide the astronomical community with a
coherent set of science-enabling tools and services. The distributed nature of
our virtual observatory-with data and personnel spanning geographic,
institutional and regime boundaries-is simultaneously a major operational
headache and the primary science motivation for the VAO. Most astronomy today
uses data from many resources. Facilitation of matching heterogeneous datasets
is a fundamental reason for the virtual observatory. Key aspects of our
approach include continuous monitoring and validation of VAO and VO services
and the datasets provided by the community, monitoring of user requests to
optimize access, caching for large datasets, and providing distributed storage
services that allow user to collect results near large data repositories. Some
elements are now fully implemented, while others are planned for subsequent
years. The distributed nature of the VAO requires careful attention to what can
be a straightforward operation at a conventional observatory, e.g., the
organization of the web site or the collection and combined analysis of logs.
Many of these strategies use and extend protocols developed by the
international virtual observatory community.Comment: 7 pages with 2 figures included within PD
Recommended from our members
Is endoanal, introital or transperineal ultrasound diagnosis of sphincter defects more strongly associated with anal incontinence?
INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Our aim was to explore the association between anal incontinence (AI) and persistent anal sphincter defects diagnosed with 3D endoanal (EAUS), introital (IUS) and transperineal ultrasound (TPUS) in women after obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASI) and study the association between sphincter defects and anal pressure. METHODS: We carried out a cross-sectional study of 250 women with OASI recruited during the period 2013-2015. They were examined 6-12 weeks postpartum or in a subsequent pregnancy with 3D EAUS, IUS and TPUS and measurement of anal pressure. Prevalence of urgency/solid/liquid AI or flatal AI and anal pressure were compared in women with a defect and those with an intact sphincter (diagnosed off-line) using Chi-squared and Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: At a mean of 23.6 (SD 30.1) months after OASI, more women with defect than those with intact sphincters on EAUS had AI; urgency/solid/liquid AI vs external defect: 36% vs 13% and flatal AI vs internal defect: 27% vs 13%, p < 0.05. On TPUS, more women with defect sphincters had flatal AI: 32% vs 13%, p = 0.03. No difference was found on IUS. Difference between defect and intact sphincters on EAUS, IUS and TPUS respectively was found for mean [SD] maximum anal resting pressure (48 [13] vs 55 [14] mmHg; 48 [12] vs 56 [13] mmHg; 50 [13] vs 54 [14] mmHg) and squeeze incremental pressure (33 [17] vs 49 [28] mmHg; 37 [23] vs 50 [28] mmHg; 36 [18] vs 50 [30] mmHg; p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Endoanal ultrasound had the strongest association with AI symptoms 2 years after OASI. Sphincter defects detected using all ultrasound methods were associated with lower anal pressure
AN EXHAUSTIVE REVIEW ON EMERGING DRUG TARGETS OF TUBERCULOSIS WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON CELL WALL SYNTHESIS
Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the top 10 causes of mortality and morbidity. Worldwide, yet, it has been over 60 years since a novel drug was introduced in market to treat the disease exclusively. Increased number of drug resistant TB cases has prompted the search for novel potent anti-TB drug. Mycobacterial cell wall has unique structure which provides integrity to the cell. The future development of new potent anti-TB drug targets is associated with the synthesis of various cell wall constituents; the structural and genetic information about mycobacterial cell wall envelope is now available. In the present review, we have focused on prospective drug targets that can be optimum triumph for successful drug candidate
Formation of Massive Counterrotating Disks in Spiral Galaxies
We present results of numerical simulations of the formation of a massive
counterrotating gas disk in a spiral galaxy. Using a hierarchical tree gravity
solver combined with a sticky-particle gas dissipation scheme for our
simulations, we have investigated three mechanisms: episodic and continuous gas
infall, and a merger with a gas-rich dwarf galaxy. We find that both episodic
and continuous gas infall work reasonably well and are able to produce a
substantial gas counterrotating disk without upsetting the stability of the
existing disk drastically, but it is very important for the gas to be
well-dispersed in phase-space and not form concentrated clumps prior to its
absorption by the disk galaxy. The initial angular momentum of the gas also
plays a crucial role in determining the scale length of the counterrotating
disk formed and the time it takes to form. The rate of infall, i.e. the mass of
gas falling in per unit time, has to be small enough to preclude excessive
heating of the preexisting disk. It is much easier in general to produce a
smaller counterrotating disk than it is to produce an extensive disk whose
scale length is similar to that of the original prograde disk.
A gas-rich dwarf merger does not appear to be a viable mechanism to produce a
massive counterrotating disk, because only a very small dwarf galaxy can
produce a counterrotating disk without increasing the thickness of the existing
disk by an order of magnitude, and the time-scale for this process is
prohibitively long because it makes it very unlikely that several such mergers
can accumulate a massive counterrotating disk over a Hubble time.Comment: Accepted by ApJ, 22 pages, uuencoded compressed Postscript. 18
Figures (compressed Postscript) available from anonymous ftp at
ftp://bessel.mps.ohio-state.edu/pub/thakar/cr1/figs.ps.Z A complete
(text+figs) compressed PostScript preprint is also available at
ftp://bessel.mps.ohio-state.edu/pub/thakar/cr1/pp.ps.g
Dose-adapted post-transplant cyclophosphamide for HLA-haploidentical transplantation in Fanconi anemia.
We developed a haploidentical transplantation protocol with post-transplant cyclophosphamide (CY) for in vivo T-cell depletion (TCD) using a novel adapted-dosing schedule (25 mg/kg on days +3 and +4) for Fanconi anemia (FA). With median follow-up of 3 years (range, 37 days to 6.2 years), all six patients engrafted. Two patients with multiple pre-transplant comorbidities died, one from sepsis and one from sepsis with associated chronic GVHD. Four patients without preexisting comorbidities and early transplant referrals are alive with 100% donor chimerism and excellent performance status. We conclude that adjusted-dosing post-transplant CY is effective in in vivo TCD to promote full donor engraftment in patients with FA
Data Mining the SDSS SkyServer Database
An earlier paper (Szalay et. al. "Designing and Mining MultiTerabyte
Astronomy Archives: The Sloan Digital Sky Survey," ACM SIGMOD 2000) described
the Sloan Digital Sky Survey's (SDSS) data management needs by defining twenty
database queries and twelve data visualization tasks that a good data
management system should support. We built a database and interfaces to support
both the query load and also a website for ad-hoc access. This paper reports on
the database design, describes the data loading pipeline, and reports on the
query implementation and performance. The queries typically translated to a
single SQL statement. Most queries run in less than 20 seconds, allowing
scientists to interactively explore the database. This paper is an in-depth
tour of those queries. Readers should first have studied the companion overview
paper Szalay et. al. "The SDSS SkyServer, Public Access to the Sloan Digital
Sky Server Data" ACM SIGMOND 2002.Comment: 40 pages, Original source is at
http://research.microsoft.com/~gray/Papers/MSR_TR_O2_01_20_queries.do
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