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Minimalist Approach (minimalist + approach)
Selected AbstractsThe European Union in Nice: A Minimalist Approach to a Historic ChallengeGOVERNMENT AND OPPOSITION, Issue 2 2001Karlheinz Neunreither First page of article [source] RelACCS-FP: A Structural Minimalist Approach to Fingerprint DesignCHEMICAL BIOLOGY & DRUG DESIGN, Issue 5 2008Ye Hu The design and evaluation of structural key-type fingerprints is reported that consist of only 10,30 substructures isolated from randomly generated fragment populations of different classes of active compounds. To identify minimal sets of fragments that carry substantial compound class-specific information, fragment frequency calculations are applied to guide fingerprint generation. These compound class-directed and extremely small structural fingerprints push the design of so-called mini-fingerprints to the limit and are the shortest bit string fingerprints reported to date. For the application of relative frequency-based activity class characteristic substructure fingerprints, a bit density-dependent similarity metric is introduced that makes it possible to adjust similarity coefficients for individual compound classes and balance the recall of active compounds with database selection size. In similarity search trials, these small compound class-directed fingerprints enrich active compounds in relatively small database selection sets and approach or exceed the performance of widely used structural fingerprints of much larger size and higher complexity. [source] The ,New Minimalist Approach' to Private-Sector Development: A Critical AssessmentDEVELOPMENT POLICY REVIEW, Issue 4 2006Tilman Altenburg Recent literature on private-sector development emphasises the need to establish a ,level playing field' and tends to disregard selective supportive interventions. The most commonly highlighted elements are administrative simplification and effective property rights policies, with business services largely left to private providers - what we call the ,new minimalist approach' (NMA). However, the NMA is based on certain unrealistic assumptions and is barely backed by empirical evidence. A range of complementary public policies is needed to create competitive sectors and overcome internal constraints, especially in small-scale economies. [source] A minimalist approach to the effects of density-dependent competition on insect life-history traitsECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 4 2002Philip Agnew Abstract ,1. Due to its effects on the phenotypic and genotypic expression of life-history traits, density-dependent competition is an important factor regulating the growth of populations. Specifically for insects, density-dependent competition among juveniles is often associated with increased juvenile mortality, delayed maturity, and reduced adult size. 2. The aim of the work reported here was to test whether the established phenotypic effects of density-dependent competition on life-history traits could be reproduced in an experimental design requiring a minimal number of individuals. Larvae of the mosquito Aedes aegypti were reared at densities of one, two, or three individuals per standard Drosophila vial and in six different conditions of larval food availability. This design required relatively few individuals per independent replicate and included a control treatment where individuals reared at a density of one larva per vial experienced no density-dependent interactions with other larvae. 3. Increased larval densities or reduced food availability led to increased larval mortality, delayed pupation, and the emergence of smaller adults that starved to death in a shorter time (indicating emergence with fewer nutritional reserves). 4. Female mosquitoes were relatively larger than males (as measured by wing length) but males tended to survive for longer. These differences increased as larval food availability increased, indicating the relative importance of these two traits for the fitness of each sex. The role of nutritional reserves for the reproductive success of males was highlighted in particular. 5. This minimalist approach may provide a useful model for investigating the effects of density-dependent competition on insect life-history traits. [source] Data-driven identification of group dynamics for motion prediction and controlJOURNAL OF FIELD ROBOTICS (FORMERLY JOURNAL OF ROBOTIC SYSTEMS), Issue 6-7 2008Mac Schwager A distributed model structure for representing groups of coupled dynamic agents is proposed, and the least-squares method is used for fitting model parameters based on measured position data. The difference equation model embodies a minimalist approach, incorporating only factors essential to the movement and interaction of physical bodies. The model combines effects from an agent's inertia, interactions between agents, and interactions between each agent and its environment. Global positioning system tracking data were collected in field experiments from a group of 3 cows and a group of 10 cows over the course of several days using custom-designed, head-mounted sensor boxes. These data are used with the least-squares method to fit the model to the cow groups. The modeling technique is shown to capture overall characteristics of the group as well as attributes of individual group members. Applications to livestock management are described, and the potential for surveillance, prediction, and control of various kinds of groups of dynamic agents are suggested. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] A review of guidelines on benign prostatic hyperplasia and lower urinary tract symptoms: are all guidelines the same?BJU INTERNATIONAL, Issue 9 2003J. Irani The Clinical Practice Guidelines on BPH/LUTS are examined by authors from London and Poitiers. They found in their review of the literature that the overall and methodological quality of such guidelines varies widely. They acknowledge the difficulties in developing careful guidelines, but suggest a formal appraisal of quality and methods, as these are the ones more likely to help urologists in decision-making. There are three papers on the prevalence of symptoms relating to lower tract conditions. The first examines male urinary incontinence in four European centres, the second nocturia and its effect on quality of life and sleep in a US community sample, and a further paper describes the prevalence diagnosis and treatment of prostatitis in Italy. A study from Sydney describes the authors use of the Inflow intra-urethral device for managing acontractile bladders in female patients. They found that the device provides an effective method of bladder drainage, with an acceptable side-effect profile and a significant improvement in quality of life. OBJECTIVE To compare overall and methodological quality with content in national and supra-national Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) on benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), as the purpose of CPGs is to reduce unwanted variation in practice and improve patient care by setting agreed standards based on the best available evidence. METHODS An electronic search was used to identify Internet-based national and supra-national CPGs on BPH and LUTS available in 2001. Two independent assessors analysed the content and appraised the methodological quality of the CPGs using an existing and validated instrument (St. George's Hospital Medical School Health Care Evaluation Unit Appraisal Instrument) comprising 37 items grouped into three broad areas, i.e. rigour of development, context and content, and clinical application. RESULTS Eight CPGs were suitable for appraisal; there was much variation in overall and methodological quality. There was agreement that a patient history and physical examination (including a digital rectal examination) should be used in all symptomatic men. In addition, patients' symptoms should be assessed using a validated symptom score, e.g. the International Prostate Symptom Score. There was considerable variation in the number and type of diagnostic tests recommended for routine assessment. CPGs scoring low on the appraisal instrument (indicating poor overall and methodological quality) were more likely to recommend more diagnostic tests than those scoring high. There was general agreement between the guidelines on the treatment of BPH/LUTS and the importance of the patient's involvement in making management decisions. Guideline quality was independent of local health resources and publication year. CONCLUSION The overall and methodological quality of CPGs on BPH/LUTS varies considerably. There appears to be an inverse relationship between guideline quality and the number of diagnostic tests recommended for routine assessment. Using CPGs of high quality may prevent men with BPH/LUTS being exposed to tests of doubtful utility. Although this may reduce both resource use and exposure to potential harm, moving to a more minimalist approach to diagnosis may itself be potentially harmful to patients. [source] Measuring the prevalence of childhood obesity: a minimalist approach may be the best optionCHILD: CARE, HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 2 2006J. N. Rao First page of article [source] The ,New Minimalist Approach' to Private-Sector Development: A Critical AssessmentDEVELOPMENT POLICY REVIEW, Issue 4 2006Tilman Altenburg Recent literature on private-sector development emphasises the need to establish a ,level playing field' and tends to disregard selective supportive interventions. The most commonly highlighted elements are administrative simplification and effective property rights policies, with business services largely left to private providers - what we call the ,new minimalist approach' (NMA). However, the NMA is based on certain unrealistic assumptions and is barely backed by empirical evidence. A range of complementary public policies is needed to create competitive sectors and overcome internal constraints, especially in small-scale economies. [source] Adaptationism for Human Cognition: Strong, Spurious or Weak?MIND & LANGUAGE, Issue 1 2005Scott Atran This strategy seems best when there is evidence of homology. Weak adaptationists don't assume that complex organic (including cognitive and linguistic) functioning necessarily or primarily represents task-specific adaptation. This approach to cognition resembles physicists' attempts to deductively explain the most facts with fewest hypotheses. For certain domain-specific competencies (folkbiology) strong adaptationism is useful but not necessary to research. With group-level belief systems (religion) strong adaptationism degenerates into spurious notions of social function and cultural selection. In other cases (language, especially universal grammar) weak adaptationism's ,minimalist' approach seems productive. [source] | |||||||||||||