Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “hybrid framework”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources

The U22 host gene (UHG): chromosomal localization of UHG and distribution of U22 small nucleolar RNA.

The U22 host gene (UHG) is very unusual because it encodes a spliced, polyadenylated RNA that has little apparent coding capacity and is rapidly degraded. The stable RNA products from this locus are actually encoded within eight different introns of the UHG pre-RNA. These small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) assemble into ribonucleoproteins, some of which have been shown to function in rRNA processing and modification. In order to more fully characterize the locus, we have mapped UHG to chromosome 11q13 by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Radiation hybrid mapping placed this sequence-tagged site with very high probability (lod >19) to chromosome 11, approximately 10.1 cR distal to framework marker WI-8652. We also investigated the possibility that the expression of UHG was subject to genomic imprinting. Several laboratories have shown that non-protein-coding mRNAs are frequently associated with imprinted domains in mammalian cells. We used a novel somatic cell hybrid method to assay parent-of-origin effects in the expression of UHG alleles and found that, unlike XIST, IPW, and H19, this RNA is expressed biparentally. Additional FISH experiments using anti-U22 oligonucleotides revealed that, as with U3, this sno-RNA is localized throughout the nucleolus.

Cell Nucleolus↗

Healing characteristics of hybrid and conventional polytetrafluoroethylene vascular grafts.

The concepts of porosity and healing in vascular grafts are interrelated. The initial phase of healing includes cellular infiltration into the prosthesis followed by tissue ingrowth from perigraft sources. This provides a framework for development of a pseudointima. The microstructure of conventional expanded polytetrafluoroethylene grafts with an average internodal distance of 20 microns or less results in hindered cellular penetration and tissue ingrowth. A new microstructure hybrid polytetrafluoroethylene graft is described that has a high porosity 60 microns average internodal distance on the adventitial surface combined with a fine pore 20 microns average internodal distance on the luminal surface. In addition, tapered through-pore channels provide a direct channel from the adventitia and lumen that allow biologic communication to occur where cells and tissue can penetrate and vaginate. Canine carotid and femoral implant studies were performed to elucidate healing effects of polytetrafluoroethylene graft structure on cellular penetration and tissue ingrowth. Enhanced cellularity and tissue ingrowth were observed in hybrid polytetrafluoroethylene implants compared to implants of conventional expanded polytetrafluoroethylene. Human explants also demonstrate enhanced initial cellular penetration and capillary formation in the hybrid polytetrafluoroethylene graft wall. It is postulated that hybrid polytetrafluoroethylene will result in improved clinical performance as a result of removal of the healing restrictions associated with random microstructure conventional expanded polytetrafluoroethylene vascular grafts.

Aged↗

Molecular phylogeny and biogeography of the marine shrimp Penaeus.

The evolutionary relationships among 13 species representing all six subgenera of the shrimp genus Penaeus were examined using 558 bp of mitochondrial (mt) DNA from the cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene. Analyses of this sequence revealed high genetic divergence between species (d = 8-24%), a finding which contrasts with previous work, which indicated that genetic diversity, based on electrophoretic analysis of allozymes, was extremely low in Penaeus. Three tree-building methods (maximum parsimony, neighbor joining, and maximum likelihood) were concordant in indicating that current subgenera assignments do not reflect evolutionary partitions within the genus Penaeus. While the molecular phylogenies cast doubt on the validity of subgenera, the observed relationships are concordant with biogeographic boundaries across the tropical range of Penaeus. Both the western Atlantic and eastern Pacific contain monophyletic species pairs which cluster together in all analyses. The Indo-Pacific contains a putative basal taxa (P. indicus), the deepest mtDNA lineages, and the highest diversity, including representatives of all three primary lineages observed in Penaeus. These data are consistent with the suggestion by Dall et al. (1990) that Penaeus arose in the Indo-Pacific and radiated eastward and westward to account for the current circumtropical distribution of the genus. This phylogenetic framework for Penaeus will enhance the scientific foundations for wildlife resource management and breeding experiments (hybridization and related manipulations) designed to improve the commercial value of captive strains.

Animals↗

Respiratory rhythm generation in neonatal and adult mammals: the hybrid pacemaker-network model.

We review a new unified model of respiratory rhythm generation - the hybrid pacemaker-network model. This model represents a comprehensive synthesis of cellular and network mechanisms that can theoretically account for rhythm generation in different functional states, from the most reduced states in the neonatal nervous system in vitro to the intact adult system in vivo. The model incorporates a critical neuronal kernel consisting of a network of excitatory neurons with state-dependent, oscillatory bursting or pacemaker properties. This kernel, located in the pre-Bötzinger complex of the ventrolateral medulla, provides a rudimentary pacemaker network mechanism for generating an inspiratory rhythm, revealed predominately in functionally reduced states in vitro. In vivo the kernel is embedded in a larger network that interacts with the kernel via inhibitory synaptic connections that provide the dynamic control required for the evolution of the complete pattern of inspiratory and expiratory network activity. The resulting hybrid of cellular pacemaker and network properties functionally endows the system with multiple mechanisms of rhythm generation. New biophysically realistic mathematical models of the hybrid pacemaker-network have been developed that illustrate these concepts and provide a computational framework for investigating interactions of cellular and network processes that must be analyzed to understand rhythm generation.

Animals↗

Preparation and characterization of unique inorganic-organic hybrid mesoporous materials incorporating arenetricarbonyl complexes [-C6H4M(CO)3-] (M = Cr, Mo).

Unique inorganic-organic hybrid mesoporous materials incorporating arenetricarbonyl complexes [-C6H4M(CO)3-] (M = Cr, Mo) within their mesoporous frameworks have been successfully prepared by a simple CVD treatment of the phenylene-bridged organosilica mesoporous materials with metal hexacarbonyls [M(CO)6] (M = Cr, Mo). FT-IR and UV-vis investigations revealed that the arenetricarbonyl complexes exist stably even at temperatures above 473 K under vacuum.

Journal Article↗

Fullerene in a metal-organic matrix: design of the electronic structure.

We present a theoretical study of a new hybrid compound, where the C60 molecules are encapsulated in a recently discovered metal-organic framework (MOF). Being placed in a rigid skeleton, the fullerene molecules form a cubic crystal, while the intermolecular distance of the fullerenes is tuned by the choice of appropriate organic linkers of the MOF structure. The resulting C60 crystal shows a density of conduction states considerably higher than any of the fullerene crystals considered so far, which is a key factor influencing the transition temperature of the superconducting state. This constitutes a new approach of tuning the density of states of a fullerene crystal.

Journal Article↗

Hemoglobin Neapolis, beta 126(H4)Val----Gly: a novel beta-chain variant associated with a mild beta-thalassemia phenotype and displaying anomalous stability features.

A novel beta-chain, beta 126(H4)Val----Gly, electrophoretically silent, was detected by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography in three unrelated families from Naples (Southern Italy) and accounted for about 30% of the total beta-chains. The amino acid substitution was detected by HPLC fingerprint. The eight heterozygous patients showed hematologic and biosynthetic alterations of mild beta-thalassemia type. The hemoglobin variant showed abnormal stability features. It was unstable in the heat stability and isopropanol precipitation tests, but did not cause a hemolytic syndrome in vivo and was stable in a time-course experiment of biosynthesis in vitro. DNA polymerase chain reaction direct sequencing of the mutated gene from 135 nt upstream of the cap site to 106 nt downstream of the polyadenylation site showed only the beta 126 GTG----GGG mutation, which was confirmed in the other patients by allele-specific oligonucleotide hybridization. The mutation was found to be associated with a type II beta-globin framework and restriction fragment length polymorphism haplotype V. The novel variant was named hemoglobin Neapolis.

Base Sequence↗

Molecular basis of genetic disease and molecular methods.

Nucleic acid testing is possible because of the physical and biomechanical properties of DNA and RNA such as hybridization, which also form the basis for the physiologic role of nucleic acids. The entire framework of genetic analysis involves the nucleotide sequence of genes, intragenic structure, supragene organization, and mapping of genes onto chromosomes. Genetic diseases are the consequence of mutations affecting one to many nucleotides. Such genetic alterations are detectable by several special assays for examining nucleic acids that are now common in genetic laboratories.

Chromosome Mapping↗

A high-resolution physical map of human chromosome 11.

The development of a highly reliable physical map with landmark sites spaced an average of 100 kbp apart has been a central goal of the Human Genome Project. We have approached the physical mapping of human chromosome 11 with this goal as a primary target. We have focused on strategies that would utilize yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) technology, thus permitting long-range coverage of hundreds of kilobases of genomic DNA, yet we sought to minimize the ambiguities inherent in the use of this technology, particularly the occurrence of chimeric genomic DNA clones. This was achieved through the development of a chromosome 11-specific YAC library from a human somatic cell hybrid line that has retained chromosome 11 as its sole human component. To maximize the efficiency of YAC contig assembly and extension, we have employed an Alu-PCR-based hybridization screening system. This system eliminates many of the more costly and time-consuming steps associated with sequence tagged site content mapping such as sequencing, primer production, and hierarchical screening, resulting in greater efficiency with increased throughput and reduced cost. Using these approaches, we have achieved YAC coverage for >90% of human chromosome 11, with an average intermarker distance of <100 kbp. Cytogenetic localization has been determined for each contig by fluorescent in situ hybridization and/or sequence tagged site content. The YAC contigs that we have generated should provide a robust framework to move forward to sequence-ready templates for the sequencing efforts of the Human Genome Project as well as more focused positional cloning on chromosome 11.

Chimera↗

A conceptual and psychometric framework for distinguishing categories and dimensions.

An important, sometimes controversial feature of all psychological phenomena is whether they are categorical or dimensional. A conceptual and psychometric framework is described for distinguishing whether the latent structure behind manifest categories (e.g., psychiatric diagnoses, attitude groups, or stages of development) is category-like or dimension-like. Being dimension-like requires (a) within-category heterogeneity and (b) between-category quantitative differences. Being category-like requires (a) within-category homogeneity and (b) between-category qualitative differences. The relation between this classification and abrupt versus smooth differences is discussed. Hybrid structures are possible. Being category-like is itself a matter of degree; the authors offer a formalized framework to determine this degree. Empirical applications to personality disorders, attitudes toward capital punishment, and stages of cognitive development illustrate the approach.

Capital Punishment↗

Search for virus nucleic acid sequences in postmortem human brain tissue using in situ hybridization technology with cloned probes: some solutions and results on progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis tissue.

In order to obtain a useful and readily applicable in situ hybridization (ISH) protocol for progressive central nervous system (CNS) diseases of unknown etiology that are possibly due to persistent viral infection, known and well described diseases were studied, namely, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE). The procedures described were validated by confirming results obtained by other investigators using histology, immunocytochemistry, electron microscopy, and ISH. A number of frequently encountered problems of tissue preparation are addressed as well as techniques to reduce autoradiography exposure times. A multi-staged specific, sensitive, reliable, and valid procedure for detection of viral genomes, mRNA and proteins is approached. Formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) brain material from six patients who died with PML and one patient who died from SSPE were studied using ISH with a tritium-labeled cloned JC virus DNA probe and a measles-cloned nucleocapsid (NC) gene cDNA probe, respectively. This report constitutes a methodological framework as well as a detailed neuropathological analysis of identified brain cell populations within which in situ hybridization was detected. In early PML lesions, swollen nuclei or oligodendrocytes were the predominant cells labeled, whereas older lesions revealed increased numbers of reactive and bizarre hypertrophic astrocytes hybridized at the outer periphery of the demyelinated lesions. The hybridization varied greatly in intensity in different cells. Intense hybridization was noted very rarely in microglial cells, including rod cells and rarely in venular pericytes, intravascular mononuclear cells, or in vascular endothelial cells. These results, considered together with previous findings, indicate that in PML the viral infection runs different courses in the various cells: in astrocytes the viral genome persists for a long time inducing pathological changes in some cells. In oligodendrocytes the infection rapidly lyses the cells. There was a good correlation between chromatic changes observable in routinely stained sections and virus presence. In addition, in situ hybridization using a measles-NP-cloned probe in white matter from FFPE SSPE brain is presented confirming earlier results in SSPE cryopreserved brain.

Adult↗

Bayesian spatio-temporal approach for EEG source reconstruction: conciliating ECD and distributed models.

Characterizing the cortical activity sources of electroencephalography (EEG)/magnetoencephalography data is a critical issue since it requires solving an ill-posed inverse problem that does not admit a unique solution. Two main different and complementary source models have emerged: equivalent current dipoles (ECD) and distributed linear (DL) models. While ECD models remain highly popular since they provide an easy way to interpret the solutions, DL models (also referred to as imaging techniques) are known to be more realistic and flexible. In this paper, we show how those two representations of the brain electromagnetic activity can be cast into a common general framework yielding an optimal description and estimation of the EEG sources. From this extended source mixing model, we derive a hybrid approach whose key aspect is the separation between temporal and spatial characteristics of brain activity, which allows to dramatically reduce the number of DL model parameters. Furthermore, the spatial profile of the sources, as a temporal invariant map, is estimated using the entire time window data, allowing to significantly enhance the information available about the spatial aspect of the EEG inverse problem. A Bayesian framework is introduced to incorporate distinct temporal and spatial constraints on the solution and to estimate both parameters and hyperparameters of the model. Using simulated EEG data, the proposed inverse approach is evaluated and compared with standard distributed methods using both classical criteria and ROC curves.

Algorithms↗

Functional perovskite hybrid of polyacetylene ammonium and lead bromide: Synthesis, light emission, and fluorescence imagining.

A highly photoresponsive perovskite hybrid containing an electroactive organic component (H1) was fabricated. A disubstituted polyacetylene (PA) with a hidden amino functionality (P3) was synthesized, hydrolysis and quaternization of which afforded the desired PA ammonium salt (P5). Mixing P5 with lead bromide readily yielded H1, which was stable, soluble, and film-forming. The inorganic framework induced the polymer chains to align in an ordered fashion, which helped to populate the chain segments with long conjugation lengths. The hybrid emitted a blue light (457 nm) in a high quantum yield (62%), thanks to the enhanced electronic conjugation, the weakened interaction between the layer-segregated chains, and the efficient energy transfer from the inorganic sheets to the organic layers. P3 exhibited a half-discharge time as short as approximately 0.7 s, representing the first example of an efficient photoconductive disubstituted PA. While stable to normal light illumination, H1 was rapidly bleached upon exposure to high-power UV irradiation, enabling facile generation of two-dimensional luminescent photopatterns. After the UV irradiation, the emissions of P9 and P9/H12 were enhanced and weakened, respectively, proving that the inorganic perovskite framework works as a photocatalyst for accelerating the bleaching process of the conjugated PA chains.

Journal Article↗

MAGMA: a multiagent architecture for metaheuristics.

In this work, we introduce a multiagent architecture called the MultiAGent Metaheuristic Architecture (MAGMA) conceived as a conceptual and practical framework for metaheuristic algorithms. Metaheuristics can be seen as the result of the interaction among different kinds of agents: The basic architecture contains three levels, each hosting one or more agents. Level-0 agents build solutions, level-1 agents improve solutions, and level-2 agents provide the high level strategy. In this framework, classical metaheuristic algorithms can be smoothly accommodated and extended. The basic three level architecture can be enhanced with the introduction of a fourth level of agents (level-3 agents) coordinating lower level agents. With this additional level, MAGMA can also describe, in a uniform way, cooperative search and, in general, any combination of metaheuristics. We describe the entire architecture, the structure of agents in each level in terms of tuples, and the structure of their coordination as a labeled transition system. We propose this perspective with the aim to achieve a better and clearer understanding of metaheuristics, obtain hybrid algorithms, suggest guidelines for a software engineering-oriented implementation and for didactic purposes. Some specializations of the general architecture will be provided in order to show that existing metaheuristics [e.g., greedy randomized adaptive procedure (GRASP), ant colony optimization (ACO), iterated local search (ILS), memetic algorithms (MAs)] can be easily described in our framework. We describe cooperative search and large neighborhood search (LNS) in the proposed framework exploiting level-3 agents. We show also that a simple hybrid algorithm, called guided restart ILS, can be easily conceived as a combination of existing components in our framework.

Journal Article↗

A contiguous 3-Mb sequence-ready map in the S3-MX region on 21q22.2 based on high- throughput nonisotopic library screenings.

Progress in complete genomic sequencing of human chromosome 21 relies on the construction of high-quality bacterial clone maps spanning large chromosomal regions. To achieve this goal, we have applied a strategy based on nonradioactive hybridizations to contig building. A contiguous sequence-ready map was constructed in the Down syndrome congenital heart disease (DS-CHD) region in 21q22.2, as a framework for large-scale genomic sequencing and positional candidate gene approach. Contig assembly was performed essentially by high throughput nonisotopic screenings of genomic libraries, prior to clone validation by (1) restriction digest fingerprinting, (2) STS analysis, (3) Southern hybridizations, and (4) FISH analysis. The contig contains a total of 50 STSs, of which 13 were newly isolated. A minimum tiling path (MTP) was subsequently defined that consists of 20 PACs, 2 BACs, and 5 cosmids covering 3 Mb between D21S3 and MX1. Gene distribution in the region includes 9 known genes (c21-LRP, WRB, SH3BGR, HMG14, PCP4, DSCAM, MX2, MX1, and TMPRSS2) and 14 new additional gene signatures consisting of cDNA selection products and ESTs. Forthcoming genomic sequence information will unravel the structural organization of potential candidate genes involved in specific features of Down syndrome pathogenesis.

Chromosome Mapping↗

Candidate gene database and transcript map for peach, a model species for fruit trees.

Peach (Prunus persica) is a model species for the Rosaceae, which includes a number of economically important fruit tree species. To develop an extensive Prunus expressed sequence tag (EST) database for identifying and cloning the genes important to fruit and tree development, we generated 9,984 high-quality ESTs from a peach cDNA library of developing fruit mesocarp. After assembly and annotation, a putative peach unigene set consisting of 3,842 ESTs was defined. Gene ontology (GO) classification was assigned based on the annotation of the single "best hit" match against the Swiss-Prot database. No significant homology could be found in the GenBank nr databases for 24.3% of the sequences. Using core markers from the general Prunus genetic map, we anchored bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clones on the genetic map, thereby providing a framework for the construction of a physical and transcript map. A transcript map was developed by hybridizing 1,236 ESTs from the putative peach unigene set and an additional 68 peach cDNA clones against the peach BAC library. Hybridizing ESTs to genetically anchored BACs immediately localized 11.2% of the ESTs on the genetic map. ESTs showed a clustering of expressed genes in defined regions of the linkage groups. [The data were built into a regularly updated Genome Database for Rosaceae (GDR), available at (http://www.genome.clemson.edu/gdr/).].

Breeding↗

Learning generative models of natural images.

This work proposes an unsupervised learning process for analysis of natural images. The derivation is based on a generative model, a stochastic coin-flip process directly operating on many disjoint multivariate Gaussian distributions. Following the maximal likelihood principle and using the Potts encoding, the goodness-of-fit of the generative model to tremendous patches randomly sampled from natural images is quantitatively expressed by an objective function subject to a set of constraints. By further combination of the objective function and the minimal wiring criterion, we achieve a mixed integer and linear programming. A hybrid of the mean field annealing and the gradient descent method is applied to the mathematical framework and produces three sets of interactive dynamics for the learning process. Numerical simulations show that the learning process is effective for extraction of orientation, localization and bandpass features and the generative model can make an ensemble of a sparse code for natural images.

Learning↗

The professional identity of the nurse: concept analysis and development.

The aim of this paper is to highlight the concept of professional identity of the nurse in order to promote theoretical clarity and examine implications for nursing practice. A modification of the hybrid model for concept development was followed. Accordingly, the theoretical analysis of conceptualizations and corresponding theoretical frameworks were combined with empirical data gathered from the field, from semi-structured interviews with eight registered nurses. The sampling was strategic and continuous. Personal and interpersonal dimensions and socio-historical aspects of the concept were found in the literature review as well as in the interview data. Attributes, antecedents and consequences of professional identity of the nurse in relation to the identified dimensions were stated. The analysis ends with a comprehensive description of the concept. Further, the relations to the concepts of self-esteem, self-image, professionalism and professional self-image, as well as professional function and roles of the nurse, are outlined. Finally, the importance of the developed concept is discussed, and suggestions for further research are presented.

Humans↗