Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “artificial selection”

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 739 records · Page 41Linked to original sources

Cctionic selectivity of bimolecular membranes in the presence of nystatin and amphotericin B.

Ergosterin or 7-dehydrocholesterin-containing artificial membranes are selectively permeable for cations of alkaline metals in aqueous solutions of nistatin and amphotericine B. Membrane permeability changes spontaneously within several tens of minutes from the cation to the anion one. A decrease of temperature, an increase of medium pH or introduction of dimethylsulphoxide into aqueous solution inhibit, while the addition of calcium accelerate this transition.

Alkanes↗

A selectively deprotectable triazacyclophane scaffold for the construction of artificial receptors.

[reaction: see text]. The synthesis of a triazacylclophane scaffold bearing a set of selectively removable protecting groups is described. This versatile scaffold, which can be linked to a solid support, allows the attachment of three different side chains and can therefore be used for the combinatorial synthesis of libraries of artificial receptor molecules of high structural diversity.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Selective activation of two sites in RNA by acridine-bearing oligonucleotides for clipping of designated RNA fragments.

Artificial enzymes for selective scission of RNA at two designated sites, which are valuable for advanced RNA science, have been prepared by combining lanthanide(III) ion with an oligonucleotide bearing two acridine groups. When these modified oligonucleotides form heteroduplexes with substrate RNA, the two phosphodiester linkages in front of the acridines are selectively activated and preferentially hydrolyzed by lanthanide ion. This two-site RNA scission does not require any specific RNA sequence at the scission sites, and the length of clipped RNA fragment is easily and precisely controllable by changing the distance between two acridine groups in the modified oligonucleotide. The two-site scission is also successful even when the substrate RNA has higher-order structures. By using these two-site RNA cutters, RNA fragments of predetermined length were obtained from long RNA substrates and analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Single nucleotide polymorphisms in homozygous and heterozygous samples were accurately and easily detected in terms of the difference in mass number. Multiplex analyses of in vitro transcripts from human genome were also successful.

Acridines↗

ANVAS: artificial neural variables adaptation system for descriptor selection.

A new algorithm model-oriented for variable selection is presented in this study. It is based on the combination of genetic algorithms (GA) for hyperspace exploration, and counterpropagation artificial neural network (CP ANN) for deriving the fitness score. The proposed method performed very well on both well defined synthetic data sets and real academic data sets.

Algorithms↗

Dynamics of the evolution of learning algorithms by selection.

We study the evolution of artificial learning systems by means of selection. Genetic programming is used to generate populations of programs that implement algorithms used by neural network classifiers to learn a rule in a supervised learning scenario. In contrast to concentrating on final results, which would be the natural aim while designing good learning algorithms, we study the evolution process. Phenotypic and genotypic entropies, which describe the distribution of fitness and of symbols, respectively, are used to monitor the dynamics. We identify significant functional structures responsible for the improvements in the learning process. In particular, some combinations of variables and operators are useful in assessing performance in rule extraction and can thus implement annealing of the learning schedule. We also find combinations that can signal surprise, measured on a single example, by the difference between predicted and correct classification. When such favorable structures appear, they are disseminated on very short time scales throughout the population. Due to such abruptness they can be thought of as dynamical transitions. But foremost, we find a strict temporal order of such discoveries. Structures that measure performance are never useful before those for measuring surprise. Invasions of the population by such structures in the reverse order were never observed. Asymptotically, the generalization ability approaches Bayesian results.

Algorithms↗

Transferrins selectively cause ion efflux through bacterial and artificial membranes.

Serum transferrin, ovotransferrin and lactoferrin constitute the most notable members of the transferrin family. Among their multiple biological functions, they possess an important antibacterial activity. These proteins can permeate the Escherichia coli outer membrane, reaching the inner membrane where they selectively cause permeation of ions, resulting in dissipation of the electrical potential without affecting the pH gradient. Similar results were obtained using artificial liposomes, suggesting a direct action of the proteins on the lipid bilayer, which was mediated by detectable conformational changes in their structures.

Bacteria↗

Degradation of myoglobin by polymeric artificial metalloproteases containing catalytic modules with various catalytic group densities: site selectivity in peptide bond cleavage.

Mononuclear, dinuclear, and tetranuclear artificial metalloproteases were prepared by attaching respective catalytic modules containing the Cu(II) complex of cyclen (Cu(II)Cyc) to a derivative of cross-linked polystyrene. The polymeric artificial metalloproteases effectively cleaved peptide bonds of myoglobin (Mb) by hydrolysis. The proteolytic activity increased considerably as the catalytic group density was raised: the ratio of k(cat)/K(m) was 1:13:100 for the mono-, di-, and tetranuclear catalysts. In the degradation of Mb by the dinuclear catalyst, two pairs of intermediate proteins accumulated. One of the two initial cleavage sites leading to the formation of the protein fragments is identified as Gln(91)-Ser(92) and the other is suggested as Ala(94)-Thr(95). On the basis of a molecular modeling study by using the X-ray crystallographic structure of Mb, the site-selectivity is attributed to anchorage of one Cu(II)Cyc unit of the catalytic module to a heme carboxylate of Mb. The high site selectivity for the initial cleavage of a protein substrate and mechanistic analysis of the catalytic action are unprecedented for polymeric artificial enzymes.

Animals↗

Variation in artificial heart acceleration and sound production with prosthetic valve selection in vitro.

In an attempt to explore methods to reduce total artificial heart (TAH) acceleration and sound production, in vitro measurements of TAH acceleration and sound were made when using a variety of prosthetic valves in a test ventricle. A miniature, uniaxial, high fidelity accelerometer was glued to the housing of a UTAH-100 left ventricle adjacent to the inflow and outflow ports and parallel to the axis of diaphragm excursion. A miniature, high fidelity contact microphone was glued to the opposite side of the ventricular housing between the inflow and outflow ports. Data was collected over a range of heart rates, ventricular filling volumes and control modes while using tilting disc valves (TDV) and polymer trileaflet valves (PTV). For both valve types, the peak systolic acceleration impulse was lower (approximately equal to 50%) when the ventricle was fully rather than partially filled and the peak diastolic acceleration impulse was lower (approximately equal to 50%) when the ventricle was fully rather than partially ejected. The magnitude of the acceleration with PTVs was approximately equal to 20x less than the TDVs (0.5 to 2.2 g vs. 10 to 49g). The magnitude of the sound production was also considerably less with the PTVs (28 to 49 db vs. 50 to 64 db). Diastolic acceleration and sound production was approximately twice the systolic value for the TDVs; the reserse was true for PTV sound production. These data demonstrate the substantial reduction in TAH impulse acceleration and sound production by selecting PTVs over TDSs. With PTVs, the TAH impulse acceleration is the same as the natural heart. Consequently, this ability to lower TAH acceleration and sound production to the level of the natural heart may lead to a reduction in component wear, patient discomfort and other undesirable consequences of TAH implantation.

Aorta↗

The relevance of searching for effects under a clinical-trial lamppost: a key issue.

In economic evaluations of new medical technologies, analysts often need to use data from randomized controlled trials. Trials are designed to achieve high internal validity; however, their selected populations and often highly artificial environments may imply low external validity. Thus, the use of trial data in an economic evaluation may bias the results, since economic evaluation is concerned not with theoretical capability in a trial but with likely performance in the practice environment. This paper indicates both the probable bias of one aspect of artificiality in the trial environment--selected populations--and a method of adjusting the analysis so that results will be more likely to reflect actual practice. The judicious use of extra-trial information can be used to correct the biases of clinical trials.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

The cost and effectiveness of surfactant replacement therapy at Johannesburg Hospital, November 1991-December 1992.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of surfactant replacement therapy (SRT) on the outcome of hyaline membrane disease (HMD) and to assess the cost implications of a policy of selective administration of artificial surfactant. DESIGN: The short-term outcome of 103 newborns ventilated for HMD (61 selected for SRT according to initial and/or ongoing oxygen requirements) was compared with that of a historical control group of 173 infants ventilated for HMD before the introduction of SRT. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mortality and morbidity of HMD including death, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, pneumothorax, pulmonary haemorrhage, patent ductus arteriosus and intraventricular haemorrhage. RESULTS: There were significant demographic differences between the treatment and control groups (black patients 74% v. 28%, P < 0.0001; unbooked mothers 72% v. 15%, P < 0.0001) as well as evidence of more severe lung disease in the treatment group (pressor support 44% v. 27%, P < 0.005; and paralysis during ventilation 38% v. 25%, P < 0.005). Pneumothorax was reduced in the SRT group (7% v. 17%, P < 0.01). There were no significant differences between the two groups in the incidence of BPD or mortality. The use of SRT added to the total cost of treating a patient ventilated for HMD. CONCLUSION: The selective use of SRT had the effect of converting severe disease into moderate disease rather than achieving maximal benefit in all cases of HMD through routine use of the product. A policy of restricting use may result in cost savings where resources are limited.

Cost Savings↗

Genetic algorithm applied to the selection of factors in principal component-artificial neural networks: application to QSAR study of calcium channel antagonist activity of 1,4-dihydropyridines (nifedipine analogous).

A QSAR algorithm, principal component-genetic algorithm-artificial neural network (PC-GA-ANN), has been applied to a set of newly synthesized calcium channel blockers, which are of special interest because of their role in cardiac diseases. A data set of 124 1,4-dihydropyridines bearing different ester substituents at the C-3 and C-5 positions of the dihydropyridine ring and nitroimidazolyl, phenylimidazolyl, and methylsulfonylimidazolyl groups at the C-4 position with known Ca(2+) channel binding affinities was employed in this study. Ten different sets of descriptors (837 descriptors) were calculated for each molecule. The principal component analysis was used to compress the descriptor groups into principal components. The most significant descriptors of each set were selected and used as input for the ANN. The genetic algorithm (GA) was used for the selection of the best set of extracted principal components. A feed forward artificial neural network with a back-propagation of error algorithm was used to process the nonlinear relationship between the selected principal components and biological activity of the dihydropyridines. A comparison between PC-GA-ANN and routine PC-ANN shows that the first model yields better prediction ability.

Algorithms↗

Transport of small, middle, and large molecular weight substances in a dual filtration artificial kidney.

Theoretical calculations based on in vitro transport characteristics of membranes presently used in long-term clinical evaluation of a SElective DUal Filtration ARtificial Kidney (SEDUFARK) show that the system is comparable with hemofiltration in removal of urea and creatinine, and for substances greater than 15,000 daltons. Removal of middle molecular weight substances with SEDUFARK treatment is smaller or in the same region as conventional hemodialysis using cuprophane dialyzers. Analysis of G-15 chromatograms from the different in vivo SEDUFARK compartments confirmed these results, hence indicating that uremic serum contain substances larger than the middle molecular weight range which act toxic on a biological test system.

Chromatography, Gel↗

A short-term divergent selection for resistance to Teladorsagia circumcincta in Romanov sheep using natural or artificial challenge.

This experiment was conducted to assess the efficiency of selection on the basis of response to artificial challenges in order to breed sheep resistant to natural infection. A short-term divergent selection process was designed to estimate the genetic parameters of these two traits. Two flocks, including 100 Romanov ram lambs each, were challenged in 1990 when they were 6 months old. One flock received three artificial infections with 20 000 third-stage Teladorsagia circumcincta larvae, at intervals of 7 weeks. Faecal egg counts (FEC) were performed on Days 22, 25 and 28 post infection (p.i.) and the animals were drenched on Day 28 p.i. The other flock was grazed for 5 months on a pasture contaminated with the same species. Faecal samples were taken from the lambs at similar ages. About 5 rams with the lowest FEC and 5 with the highest FEC were selected in each flock and mated with unselected ewes. Their offspring (200 animals) were challenged in 1992, half in the same way as their sires, and the other half by the other method. Because of a drought in the summer of 1990, it was necessary to repeat part of the experiment, and in 1992 the 5 and 8 rams with the lowest and highest FEC, respectively, were selected from the offspring challenged on the pasture in 1992 and were mated with unselected ewes. Their progeny (about 80 animals) were challenged in 1994, half by natural infection, half by artificial infection. The mean FEC of the flock increased from the first to the third artificial infection. The natural infection was highly variable in different years, reflecting the difficulty of assessing resistance using this mode of challenge. Genetic parameters were estimated using animal models and REML solutions. The repeatabilities of the FEC following artificial and natural infection were 0.49 and 0.70 respectively within a period of one week, and 0.22 and 0.41 respectively for periods separated by intervals of 7 weeks; the heritabilities of the single egg count were 0.22 and 0.38 respectively. The genetic correlation was 0.87: the FEC recorded under natural or artificial infection appear to depend on the same genetic potential.

Animals↗

Application of ab initio theory to QSAR study of 1,4-dihydropyridine-based calcium channel blockers using GA-MLR and PC-GA-ANN procedures.

The usefulness of the quantum chemical descriptors, calculated at the level of the RHF theory using 6-31G basis set for QSAR study of 1,4-dihydropyridine-based calcium channel antagonist was examined. A data set containing 45 dihydropyridine derivatives with known activity was used. Multiple linear regressions combined with genetic algorithm for variable selection and an artificial neural network model combined with principal component analysis for dimension reduction and genetic algorithm for factor selection (PC-GA-ANN) were employed. Some multiparametric MLR equations with good statistical quality were obtained for different classes of dihydropyridine derivatives. The resulting equations suggest that the electronic properties of the atoms belonging to the backbone of the molecules as well as the conformation of the molecules affect the binding of these molecules with their receptor. In the PC-GA-ANN, The principal components of the descriptors data matrix were used as the input of the neural network and then genetic algorithm was applied to select the most relevant set of principal components. Two ANN models with five selected principal components were obtained. These models, which have high statistical qualities, can predict the activity of the molecules with prediction errors lower than +/-5%.

Algorithms↗

Counter-propagation artificial neural network as a tool for the independent variable selection: structure-mutagenicity study on aromatic amines.

The counter-propagation artificial neural network (CP ANN) technique was applied for the independent variable selection and for structure-mutagenic potency modeling on a set of 95 aromatic and heteroaromatic amines with biological activity investigated experimentally by an in vitro assay. The molecular structures were represented by 275 independent variables classified as topostructural, topochemical, geometrical and quantum-chemical descriptors. As a result of the neural network modeling, the following descriptors were found to be the most important for structure-activity relationship: 5 chi -path connectivity index of order h = 5, 3chibC-bond cluster connectivity index of order h = 3, J(B)-Balaban's J index based on bond types, SHSNH2-electrotopological state index values for atoms, phia-flexibility index (kappa p1 x kappa p2/nvx), IC0-mean information content or complexity of a graph based on the 0 order neighborhood of vertices in a hydrogen-filled graph and ELUMO. The leave one out (LOO) method was used in order to test and select the models for mutagenicity prediction. The statistical parameters for the 7-descriptors model are R(Model) = 0.96 and Rcv = 0.85, respectively. In the next step, the number of variables was reduced and the 4-descriptors model was found (R(Model) = 0.95 and Rcv = 0.85) and classified as the best one.

Algorithms↗

Genetic selection of meiotic and mitotic recombinant yeast artificial chromosomes.

We have developed a genetic screen for the isolation of larger or smaller recombinant yeast artificial chromosomes derived from overlapping YACs. Integration plasmids were used to modify the TRP1 and URA3 auxotrophic markers present respectively on the left and right vector arms of one of the parental YACs. Diploids containing the two parental YACs were studied through meiosis and mitosis. Tetrad analysis revealed the presence of meiotic recombinant YACs at a frequency comparable with what is expected for yeast DNA (about 3 kb/cM). More direct genetic selection of diploids on -TRP-LYS synthetic media in the presence of 5-fluoro-orotic acid (5-FOA), led to the isolation of mitotic recombinant YACs at a high frequency. Analysis of these yeast cells by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, confirmed the loss of both parental artificial chromosomes, and the specific retention of a larger or smaller recombinant YAC.

Animals↗