Control Regions (control + regions)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Applying fuzzy logic and genetic algorithms to enhance the efficacy of the PID controller in buffer overflow elimination for better channel response timeliness over the Internet

CONCURRENCY AND COMPUTATION: PRACTICE & EXPERIENCE, Issue 7 2006
Wilfred W. K. Lin
Abstract In this paper two novel intelligent buffer overflow controllers: the fuzzy logic controller (FLC) and the genetic algorithm controller (GAC) are proposed. In the FLC the extant algorithmic PID controller (PIDC) model, which combines the proportional (P), derivative (D) and integral (I) control elements, is augmented with fuzzy logic for higher control precision. The fuzzy logic divides the PIDC control domain into finer control regions. Every region is then defined either by a fuzzy rule or a ,don't care' state. The GAC combines the PIDC model with the genetic algorithm, which manipulates the parametric values of the PIDC as genes in a chromosome. The FLC and GAC operations are based on the objective function . The principle is that the controller should adaptively maintain the safety margin around the chosen reference point (represent by the ,0' of ) at runtime. The preliminary experimental results for the FLC and GAC prototypes indicate that they are both more effective and precise than the PIDC. After repeated timing analyses with the Intel's VTune Performer Analyzer, it was confirmed that the FLC can better support real-time computing than the GAC because of its shorter execution time and faster convergence without any buffer overflow. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Widespread disruption of genomic imprinting in adult interspecies mouse (Mus) hybrids

GENESIS: THE JOURNAL OF GENETICS AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 3 2005
Wei Shi
Abstract Mammalian interspecies hybrids exhibit parent-of-origin effects in that offspring of reciprocal matings, even though genetically identical, frequently exhibit opposite phenotypes, especially in growth. This was also observed in hybridization with the genus Mus. These parent-of-origin effects suggested that imbalance in the expression of imprinted genes, which are expressed differentially, depending on their transmission through the maternal or paternal germline, and/or differential loss-of-imprinting (LOI) could underlie these opposite growth phenotypes in reciprocal mammalian hybrids. Here we report that tissue-specific LOI occurs in adult Mus hybrids. Contrary to expectations, LOI patterns were not consistent with a direct influence of altered expression levels of imprinted genes on growth. Bisulfite sequencing revealed that reactivation of maternal alleles of Peg3 and Snrpn in specific tissues was accompanied by partial demethylation at their potential imprinting control regions. We propose that abnormal reprogramming after fertilization and during preimplantation development is in part responsible for hybrid dysgenesis, for which a strong epigenetic basis has been demonstrated. genesis 43:100,108, 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Has private participation in water and sewerage improved coverage?

JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, Issue 3 2009
Empirical evidence from Latin America
Abstract Introducing private sector participation (PSP) into the water and sewerage sectors is difficult and controversial. Empirical studies on its effects are scant and generally inconclusive. Case studies tend to find improvements following privatisation, but they suffer from selection bias and it is difficult to generalise their results. To explore empirically the effects of private sector participation on coverage, we assemble a new dataset of connections to water and sewerage services at the city and province level based on household surveys in Argentina, Bolivia and Brazil. The household surveys, conducted over a number of years, allow us to compile data before and after the introduction of private sector participation as well as from similar (control) regions did not privatise. Our analysis reveals that, in general, the share of households connected to piped water and sewerage improved following the introduction of private sector participation, consistent with the case study literature. We also find, however, that the share of households connected similarly improved in the control regions, suggesting that private sector participation, per se, may not have been responsible for those improvements. Results are similar when looking only at the poorest households. The share of poor households connected to piped water and sewerage increased similarly in areas both with and without private sector participation, suggesting that,in terms of connections at least,private sector participation did not harm the poor. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


The application of Tet repressor in prokaryotic gene regulation and expression

MICROBIAL BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 1 2008
Ralph Bertram
Summary Inducible gene expression based upon Tet repressor (tet regulation) is a broadly applied tool in molecular genetics. In its original environment, Tet repressor (TetR) negatively controls tetracycline (tc) resistance in bacteria. In the presence of tc, TetR is induced and detaches from its cognate DNA sequence tetO, so that a tc antiporter protein is expressed. In this article, we provide a comprehensive overview about tet regulation in bacteria and illustrate the parameters of different regulatory architectures. While some of these set-ups rely on natural tet -control regions like those found on transposon Tn10, highly efficient variations of this system have recently been adapted to different Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Novel tet -controllable artificial or hybrid promoters were employed for target gene expression. They are controlled by regulators expressed at different levels either in a constitutive or in an autoregulated manner. The resulting tet systems have been used for various purposes. We discuss integrative elements vested with tc-sensitive promoters, as well as tet regulation in Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria for analytical purposes and for protein overproduction. Also the use of TetR as an in vivo biosensor for tetracyclines or as a regulatory device in synthetic biology constructs is outlined. Technical specifications underlying different regulatory set-ups are highlighted, and finally recent developments concerning variations of TetR are presented, which may expand the use of prokaryotic tet systems in the future. [source]


Cytochrome b sequences of ancient cattle and wild ox support phylogenetic complexity in the ancient and modern bovine populations

ANIMAL GENETICS, Issue 5 2009
F. Stock
Summary Mitochondrial DNA has been the traditional marker for the study of animal domestication, as its high mutation rate allows for the accumulation of molecular diversity within the time frame of domestic history. Additionally, it is exclusively maternally inherited and haplotypes become part of the domestic gene pool via actual capture of a female animal rather than by interbreeding with wild populations. Initial studies of British aurochs identified a haplogroup, designated P, which was found to be highly divergent from all known domestic haplotypes over the most variable portion of the D-loop. Additional analysis of a large and geographically representative sample of aurochs from northern and central Europe found an additional, separate aurochs haplotype, E. Until recently, the European aurochs appeared to have no matrilinear descendants among the publicly available modern cattle control regions sequenced; if aurochs mtDNA was incorporated into the domestic population, aurochs either formed a very small proportion of modern diversity or had been subsequently lost. However, a haplogroup P sequence has recently been found in a modern sample, along with a new divergent haplogroup called Q. Here we confirm the outlying status of the novel Q and E haplogroups and the modern P haplogroup sequence as a descendent of European aurochs, by retrieval and analysis of cytochrome b sequence data from twenty ancient wild and domesticated cattle archaeological samples. [source]


Mitochondrial diversity of native pigs in the mainland South and South-east Asian countries and its relationships between local wild boars

ANIMAL SCIENCE JOURNAL, Issue 4 2008
Kazuaki TANAKA
ABSTRACT In this study, we analyzed DNA sequence of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control regions on the 130 native domestic pigs and eight wild boars in the mainland South and South-east Asian countries including Bhutan, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam. Forty-four haplotypes were found in the 138 individuals, 41 were in the domestic and four were in wild boars. Only one haplotype was shared by domestic and wild population in Bhutan. In other cases, mtDNA of wild boars did not show close affinity to that of the domestic pigs in the same location, indicating that the native domestic pigs in these countries did not originate in the present habitat. Phylogenetic analyzes of mtDNA haplotypes recapitulated several major clusters identified in other studies, but 11 haplotypes were grouped in a new cluster we named MTSEA. In most cases, more than one lineage group were present in a sampling station, indicating that the present indigenous domestic pigs may have multiple origins. The MTSEA haplotypes were present in relatively high frequencies in domestic pigs in the mountainous area of mainland South-east Asia (Cambodia and Laos), with a few found in Myanmar and Bhutan. The distributions of MTSEA haplotypes are in great conformity with the distribution of present-day Mon-Khmer language and indicated the existence of yet another independent domestication. The D2 haplotypes that distribute high frequency (almost 100%) throughout the Chinese breeds were dominant in Bhutan, Myanmar, and Vietnam. These results suggest an existence of human-mediated dispersal of domestic pigs from north to the south during the historical expansion of Sino-Tibetan and Tai peoples. The D3 haplotypes previously reported in north India were found in sympatric domestic and wild pigs in Bhutan. The D3 haplotype is an important proof of independent domestication event and/or great gene flow between wild and domestic pigs in the foot of Himalaya. [source]


High-Level Expression of Proteins in Mammalian Cells Using Transcription Regulatory Sequences from the Chinese Hamster EF-1, Gene

BIOTECHNOLOGY PROGRESS, Issue 3 2004
Jennifer Running Deer
High-level expression of a recombinant protein in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells typically requires the laborious and time-consuming procedure of stepwise gene amplification. We hypothesized that use of transcription control regions from a highly expressed gene in CHO cells to drive expression of a gene of interest might reduce the requirement for gene amplification. To this end, we cloned a 19 kb DNA fragment containing the Chinese hamster elongation factor-1, (EF-1,) gene, as well as 12 kb of 5, flanking sequence and 4 kb of 3, flanking sequence. Expression vectors containing 5, and 3, flanking sequences from the Chinese hamster EF-1, (CHEF1) gene were constructed and, after insertion of six different reporter genes, transfected into CHO cells. For comparison, CHO cells were also transfected with the same six reporter genes inserted into commercial vectors utilizing either the immediate early promoter from cytomegalovirus (CMV) or the human EF-1, promoter. The striking result from these studies was that average expression levels from pooled, stable transfectants of CHEF1 vectors were 6- to 35-fold higher than expression levels from commercial vectors that utilize the CMV or the human EF-1, promoters. We also used a CHEF1 vector to express a secreted and a membrane-bound protein in stably transfected non-CHO cell lines. CHEF1-driven expression of secreted alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) in three of four cell lines tested (HEK 293, K562, L1.2, and HCT 116) was 13- to 280-fold greater than that from a commercial vector employing the CMV promoter. After transfection of four different cell lines of hematopoietic origin (K562, L1.2, JY, and Jurkat), the CHEF1 vector was found to express the chemokine receptor CCR4 at >10-fold higher levels than that driven from a commercial vector utilizing the CMV promoter. Results from these experiments suggest that the CHEF1 vectors will be useful for high-level protein expression not only in CHO cells, but also in a variety of other mammalian cell lines. [source]