On Finding a Subset of Healthy Individuals from a Large Population

In this paper, we derive mutual information based upper and lower bounds on the number of nonadaptive group tests required to identify a given number of "non defective" items from a large population containing a small number of "defective" items. We show that a reduction in the number of tests is achievable compared to the approach of first identifying all the defective items and then picking the required number of non-defective items from the complement set. In the asymptotic regime with the population size $N \rightarrow \infty$, to identify $L$ non-defective items out of a population containing $K$ defective items, when the tests are reliable, our results show that $\frac{C_s K}{1-o(1)} (\Phi(\alpha_0, \beta_0) + o(1))$ measurements are sufficient, where $C_s$ is a constant independent of $N, K$ and $L$, and $\Phi(\alpha_0, \beta_0)$ is a bounded function of $\alpha_0 \triangleq \lim_{N\rightarrow \infty} \frac{L}{N-K}$ and $\beta_0 \triangleq \lim_{N\rightarrow \infty} \frac{K} {N-K}$. Further, in the nonadaptive group testing setup, we obtain rigorous upper and lower bounds on the number of tests under both dilution and additive noise models. Our results are derived using a general sparse signal model, by virtue of which, they are also applicable to other important sparse signal based applications such as compressive sensing.Comment: 32 pages, 2 figures, 3 tables, revised version of a paper submitted to IEEE Trans. Inf. Theor

Computationally Tractable Algorithms for Finding a Subset of Non-defective Items from a Large Population

In the classical non-adaptive group testing setup, pools of items are tested together, and the main goal of a recovery algorithm is to identify the "complete defective set" given the outcomes of different group tests. In contrast, the main goal of a "non-defective subset recovery" algorithm is to identify a "subset" of non-defective items given the test outcomes. In this paper, we present a suite of computationally efficient and analytically tractable non-defective subset recovery algorithms. By analyzing the probability of error of the algorithms, we obtain bounds on the number of tests required for non-defective subset recovery with arbitrarily small probability of error. Our analysis accounts for the impact of both the additive noise (false positives) and dilution noise (false negatives). By comparing with the information theoretic lower bounds, we show that the upper bounds on the number of tests are order-wise tight up to a $\log^2K$ factor, where $K$ is the number of defective items. We also provide simulation results that compare the relative performance of the different algorithms and provide further insights into their practical utility. The proposed algorithms significantly outperform the straightforward approaches of testing items one-by-one, and of first identifying the defective set and then choosing the non-defective items from the complement set, in terms of the number of measurements required to ensure a given success rate.Comment: In this revision: Unified some proofs and reorganized the paper, corrected a small mistake in one of the proofs, added more reference

_Drosophila_ and human transcriptomic data mining provides evidence for therapeutic mechanism of pentylenetetrazole in Down syndrome

Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) has recently been found to ameliorate cognitive impairment in rodent models of Down syndrome (DS). The mechanism underlying PTZ’s therapeutic effect is however not clear. Microarray profiling has previously reported differential expression of genes in DS. No mammalian transcriptomic data on PTZ treatment however exists. Nevertheless, a _Drosophila_ model inspired by rodent models of PTZ induced kindling plasticity has recently been described. Microarray profiling has shown PTZ’s downregulatory effect on gene expression in fly heads. In a comparative transcriptomics approach, I have analyzed the available microarray data in order to identify potential mechanism of PTZ action in DS. I find that transcriptomic correlates of chronic PTZ in _Drosophila_ and DS counteract each other. A significant enrichment is observed between PTZ downregulated and DS upregulated genes, and a significant depletion between PTZ downregulated and DS dowwnregulated genes. Further, the common genes in PTZ downregulated and DS upregulated sets show enrichment for MAP kinase pathway. My analysis suggests that downregulation of MAP kinase pathway may mediate therapeutic effect of PTZ in DS. Existing evidence implicating MAP kinase pathway in DS supports this observation

Systems level analysis of transgenerational spermatogenic inheritance predicts biomarkers and underlying pathways

Transgenerational spermatogenic inheritance of adult male acquired CNS gene expression characteristics has recently been discovered using a Drosophila systems model. In this novel mode of inheritance, transcriptomic alteration induced by the neuroactive drug pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) has been found to leak to future generations. Here, the available microarray gene expression data pertaining to CNS and/or testis of exposed F0 and the resulting F1 and F2 generations has been pooled and analyzed in an unbiased manner at four levels, namely, biological processes and pathways, protein interactome networks, miRNA-targets, and microarray expression profile similarities. Enrichment for processes related to translation, energy metabolism, cell proliferation, cell differentiation, secretion, central nervous system development, germ cell development, gamete generation, wing development, nutrition etc. was observed. Also, ribosome, oxidative phosphorylation and, to a lesser extent, wingless signaling pathway showed overrepresentation. In the proteomic interactome map, the cell cycle gene Ras85D exhibited overinteraction. In miRNA-target network, the fly transgenerational genes showed overrepresentation of mir-315 targets. Transcriptomic matching revealed overlap of transgenerational set with genes related to epigenetic drug treatment, stem cells, Myc targets and miRNA targets. Many of the findings were consistent with the existing epigenetic evidence in complex mammalian traits. Converging evidence suggests that ribosomal RNA and proteins may serve as candidate biomarkers of transgenerational environmental effect. A compelling systems biology frame-work integrative of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance is suggested. Nutrient, circulating peptide hormone, Myc, Wnt, and stem cell signaling pathways constitute the frame-work. The analysis has implications in explaining missing heritability in complex traits including common human disorders. The fly model offers an excellent opportunity to understand somatic and germline communication, and epigenetic memory formation and its retention across generations in molecular details

Some experimental investigation on effect of light and vibration on nano coated piezo for energy harvesting

PZT is a promising piezoelectric ceramic material which has a wide range of applications in a variety of fields such as acoustic sensors and transducers, electrical switches, medical instrumentation, artificial sensitive skin in robotics, automotive detection on roads, nondestructive testing , structural health monitoring and as a biocompatible material. In this research a cantilever based multi energy harvester was developed to maximize the power output of PZT sensor. Nano mixtures containing graphene, ferrofluid nanoparticle (FNP) and ZnO nano particles were used to enhance the piezoelectric and photovoltaic output of the sensor. The samples were tested under different energy conditions to observe the behavior of nano coated PZT film under multi energyconditions (vibration and light). Composition of the ZnO and FNP was changed by weight in order to achieve the optimal composition of the nano mixture. Light energy, vibration energy, combined effect of light and vibration energy were used to explore the behavior of the sensor. The sensor with 1% Epoxy, 40% ZnO and 59% FNP achieved a maximum power output of 9404.28 μWatt/sec with vibration only from 65-400Hz. The sensor with 1% Epoxy, 5% graphene 40% ZnO and 54% FNP achieved a maximum power output of 13279.23 μWatt/sec when under the combined effect of light (3780 lumens) and vibrationenergy (65-400Hz). This was nearly 3 times more power output than the pure PZT sensor

Gender differences in a Drosophila transcriptomic model of chronic pentylenetetrazole induced behavioral deficit

A male Drosophila model of locomotor deficit induced by chronic pentylenetetrazole (PTZ), a proconvulsant used to model epileptogenesis in rodents, has recently been described. Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) ameliorate development of this behavioral abnormality. Time-series of microarray profiling of heads of male flies treated with PTZ has shown epileptogenesis-like transcriptomic perturbation in the fly model. Gender differences are known to exist in neurological and psychiatric conditions including epileptogenesis. We describe here the effects of chronic PTZ in Drosophila females, and compare the results with the male model. As in males, chronic PTZ was found found to cause a decreased climbing speed in females. In males, overrepresentation of Wnt, MAPK, TGF-beta, JAK-STAT, Cell communication, and Dorso-Ventral axis formation pathways in downregulated genes was previously described. Of these, female genes showed enrichment only for Dorso-Ventral axis formation. Most significant, ribosomal pathway was uniquely overrepresented in genes downregulated in females. Gender differences thus exist in the Drosophila model. Gender neutral, Dorso-Ventral axis formation may be considered as the candidate causal pathway in chronic pentylenetetrazole induced behavioral deficit. Prior evidence of developmental mechanisms in epileptogenesis underscores the usefulness of fly model. Gender specific pathways may provide a lead for understanding brain dimorphism in neuropsychiatric disorders

A comprehensive assessment of minimum quantity lubrication machining from quality, production, and sustainability perspectives

T h e a rti cle pres ent s m i nim u m q uanti ty l ub ri cati o n (MQ L ) machini ng o f T i- 6 Al -4V in a co l lect ive fr amew o r k o f mul ti ple ob j e ct i ve s - qu al it y (su rfa ce ro ug hness ) , enviro nm ental f ri e ndli ne ss (specifi c cutt i n g ener gy, t o o l w e ar, and o i l co nsumpt ion), and pr o duct io n (mat e rial r em o val ra t e and too l wear ). In o ne o f the f i r st o f i ts ki nd , t h e pr op ose d app ro ach uses c utt i n g fl uid p ara m eter s (oil qu ant it y in the o il +air m i x t ur e, air pr essu re, and pr op or t ion o f o i l at the r ake and f l an k f ace) alo ng w it h machini ng par amet e rs i n m ult i-ob j e ct i ve met a -heur i sti c o pti mi zati o n. T h e i nve st igat ion r evea l s t h at the thr ee o b j e c t ives a re dist inct functi o ns o f pr oce ss i np ut s . T hu s, f ocus o n o ne o f t h e o bjecti ve s - q uali ty , pr o ducti o n, and e nvi r onmental as pect s - h ampers t h e o t he rs. A r easo nab l e b alance be t ween the thre e a spect s ca n b e a chi eve d thr ou gh sim ult a neo us o pt im iz ati o n. Pre ci s e co nt r ol o ver cut ti ng f l uid par amet e rs, esp eci all y t h e o i l pr o po rti o n at r ak e and flank f ace, i s a m ajo r factor that helps in im pr o v i ng enviro nm ental fr i end l iness and p ro ducti vit y. T h e findi ng s o f the i nvest i g at ion w il l be use ful fo r pr epar i ng a gui d el ine fo r si mul taneo us select i o n of machi ning and cu t ti ng flui d par amet e rs fo r e cono mi c a nd enviro nm ental vi a ble m anu fact u re o f q uali ty pr o duct s

Effect of altitude and seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) on soil properties in dry temperate region of Himachal Pradesh

Seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) is an ecologically and economically important plant species used for the enhancement of soil fertility, prevention of soil erosion and production of food and medicinal products in mountain ecosystem. Altitude and landuse are the major factors which conditions the nutrient status of soil. In the study six different altitudes (3390 m, 3520 m, 3560 m, 3615 m, 3790 m and 4040 m) above sea level in dry temper-ate region of Himachal Pradesh and three land use pattern viz., (seabuckthorn forest, willow forest and wasteland) were selected for the study and their impact was investigated on soil fertility. Soil properties such (pH, organic car-bon, available macronutrients N, P, K, S and exchangeable cations Ca, Mg) were determined following the standard procedures. The values of soil available nutrients under seabuckthorn varied as pH (8.2 to 7.8), organic carbon (1.05 to 2.35 per cent) N (125 to 205 kg ha-1), P (15 to 31 kg ha-1), K (94 to 284 kg ha-1), S (28 to 53 kg ha-1), ex-changeable Ca (8.56 to 10.20 cmol (p+) kg-1) and Mg (2.3 to 3.6 cmol (p+) kg-1), respectively. The soil nutrients in seabuckthorn forest were found much higher than willow forest and wasteland, especially organic carbon and availa-ble N contents. Soil nutrients were found to increase with increasing altitude and decrease with increasing soil depth. The results concluded that Hippophae rhamnoides had significant effects (p < 0.05) on soil nutrient conditions. Hence our study indicates that seabuckthorn has a big potential for soil conservation, ecological sustainability and restoration of Himalayan ecosystem

Effect of Geometrical Parameters on Nonlinear Soil-Structure Interaction Behavior of Plane Frame-Soil System

The analysis of soil-structure interaction problem is affected by various structural parameters and behavior of the soil mass. The nonlinear soil behavior plays a vital role in the redistribution of the forces in superstructure. Consequently, the forces in the frame members significantly get altered due to differential settlement of the soil mass. The study of interaction behavior due to these parameters requires the use of finite element method. The physical modeling of the interaction system is achieved by use of variety of elements. The unbounded domain of the soil mass is discretized with coupled finite-infinite elements and proper location of truncation boundary is established. The structural parameters like relative stiffness of columns and beams, type of connections between beams and columns, bay width, storey height, number of storeys, number of bays, type of soils, loading conditions and many other factors have significant influence on interaction behaviour of building frame-soil system. The present study investigates the effect of change of bays and storeys on the linear and nonlinear interaction behaviour of plane frame-soil system and the forces in the frame members, vertical settlements and contact pressures below foundation beam have been evaluated. The constitutive law of nonlinear behaviour of the soil mass is modeled using hyperbolic model. The effect of these parameters on differential settlement of soil mass is also discussed