As the complexity of our society and computational resources increases, so does the complexity of the problems that we approach using evolutionary search techniques. There are recent approaches to deal with the problem of scaling evolutionary methods to cope with highly complex difficult problems. Many of these approaches are biologically inspired and share an underlying principle: a problem representation based on basic representational building blocks that interact and self-organize into complex functions or designs. The observation from the central dogma of molecular biology that proteins are the basic building blocks of life and the recent advances in proteomics on analysis of structure, function and interaction of entire protein complements, lead us to propose a unifying framework of thought for these approaches: the proteomics approach. This thesis propose to investigate whether the self-organization of protein analogous structures at the representation level can increase the degree of complexity and ``novelty'' of solutions obtainable using evolutionary search techniques. In order to do so, we identify two fundamental aspects of this transition: (1) proteins interact in a three dimensional medium analogous to a multiset; and (2) proteins are functional structures. The first aspect is foundational for understanding of the second. This thesis analyzes the first aspect. It investigates the effects of using a genome to proteome mapping on evolutionary computation. This analysis is based on a genetic algorithm (GA) with a string to multiset mapping that we call the proportional genetic algorithm (PGA), and it focuses on the feasibility and effectiveness of this mapping. This mapping leads to a fundamental departure from typical EC methods: using a multiset of proteins as an intermediate mapping results in a \emph{completely location independent} problem representation where the location of the genes in a genome has no effect on the fitness of the solutions. Completely location independent representations, by definition, do not suffer from traditional EC hurdles associated with the location of the genes or positional effect in a genome. Such representations have the ability to self-organize into a genomic structure that appears to favor positive correlations between form and quality of represented solutions. Completely location independent representations also introduce new problems of their own such as the need for large alphabets of symbols and the theoretical need for larger representation spaces than traditional approaches. Overall, these representations perform as well or better than traditional representations and they appear to be particularly good for the class of problems involving proportions or multisets. This thesis concludes that the use of protein analogous structures as an intermediate representation in evolutionary computation is not only feasible but in some cases advantageous. In addition, it lays the groundwork for further research on proteins as functional self-organizing structures capable of building increasingly complex functionality, and as basic units of problem representation for evolutionary computation.

Proportional reasoning instruction is prevalent in elementary, secondary, and post-secondary schooling. The concept of proportional reasoning is used in a variety of contexts for solving real-world problems. One of these contexts is the solving of dosage calculation proportional problems in the healthcare field. On the job, nurses perform drug dosage calculations which carry fatal consequences. As a result, nursing students are required to meet minimum competencies in solving proportion problems. The goal of this research is to describe the lived experiences of nurses in connection to their use of proportional reasoning in order to impact instruction of the procedures used to solve these problems. The research begins by clarifying and defining the conceptual field of proportional reasoning. Utilizing Vergnaud*s theory of conceptual fields and synthesizing the differing organizational frameworks used in the literature on proportional reasoning, the concept is organized and explicated into three components: concepts, procedures, and situations. Through the lens of this organizational structure, data from 44 registered nurses who completed a dosage calculation proportion survey were analyzed and connected to the framework of the conceptual field of proportional reasoning. Four nurses were chosen as a focus of in-depth study based upon their procedural strategies and ability to vividly describe their experiences. These qualitative results are synthesized to describe the lived experiences of nurses related to their education and use of proportional reasoning. Procedural strategies that are supported by textbooks, instruction, and practice are developed and defined. Descriptive statistics show the distribution of procedures used by nurses on a five question dosage calculation survey. The most common procedures used are the nursing formula, cross products, and dimensional analysis. These procedures correspond to the predominate procedures found in nursing dosage calculation texts. Instructional implications focus on the transition between elementary and secondary multiplicative structures, the confusion between equality and proportionality, and the difficulty that like quantities present in dealing with proportions.

In this paper, an innovative cooperative navigation method is proposed for multiple Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs) based on online target position measurements. These noisy position measurement signals are used to estimate the target's velocity for non-maneuvering targets or the target's velocity and acceleration for maneuvering targets. The estimator's tracking capability is physically constrained due to the target's kinematic limitations and therefore is potentially improvable by designing a higher performance estimator. An H-infinity filter is implemented to increase the robustness of the estimation accuracy. The performance of the robust estimator is compared to a Kalman filter and the results illustrate more precise estimation of the target's motion in compensating for surrounding noises and disturbances. Furthermore, an adaptive guidance algorithm, based on the seeker's field-of-view and linear region, is used to deliver the pursuer to the maneuvering target. The initial guidance algorithm utilizes the velocity pursuit guidance law because of its insensitivity to target motion; while the terminal guidance algorithm leverages the acceleration estimates (from the H-infinity filter) to augment the proportional navigation guidance law for increased accuracy in engaging maneuvering targets. The main objective of this work is to develop a robust estimator/tracker and an adaptive guidance algorithm which are directly applicable UAVs.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Background: Tobacco use is associated with an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD). 14% of the incidence of AD is associated with various types of tobacco exposure. Additional real-world evidence is warranted to reveal the association between tobacco use and AD in age/gender-specific subpopulations. Method: In this thesis, the relationships between diagnoses related to tobacco use and diagnoses of AD in gender- and age-specific subgroups were investigated, using health information exchange data. The non-parametric Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate the incidence of AD. Furthermore, the log-rank test was used to compare incidence between individuals with and without tobacco related diagnoses. In addition, we used semi-parametric Cox models to examine the association between tobacco related diagnoses and diagnoses of AD, while adjusting covariates. Results: Tobacco related diagnosis was associated with increased risk of developing AD comparing to no tobacco related diagnosis among individuals aged 60-74 years (female hazard ratio [HR] =1.26, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07 – 1.48, p-value = 0.005; and male HR =1.33, 95% CI: 1.10 - 1.62, p-value =0.004). Tobacco related diagnosis was associated with decreased risk of developing AD comparing to no tobacco related diagnosis among individuals aged 75-100 years (female HR =0.79, 95% CI: 0.70 - 0.89, p-value =0.001; and male HR =0.90, 95% CI: 0.82 - 0.99, p-value =0.023). Conclusion: Individuals with tobacco related diagnoses were associated with an increased risk of developing AD in older adults aged 60-75 years. Among older adults aged 75-100 years, individuals with tobacco related diagnoses were associated with a decreased risk of developing AD.

Part A of two Project Reports; Part B can be found at http://hdl.handle.net/11375/17660 / <p> The recent development of a technique for the synthesis of the molecule 5-(¹⁸F) fluoro-dopa has opened a vast field of research into the study of the intracerebral metabolism. In order to take full advantage of this new tracer compound it will be necessary to use an imaging system which will be capable of providing three dimensional information concerning the rapid changes in activity as the ¹⁸F travels through the brain. This report describes the results os investigations into a possible design for a device which would be capable of this type of dynamic imaging. The design in question employs multiwire proportional chambers (MWPC) as detectors of the .511 MeV gamma rays which result from the annihilation of the positron emitted in the decay of ¹⁸F. </p> <p> For comparison purposes, a breif review of various other types of positron tomographic systems which are presently in use or under development is presented. This review emphasises the resolution, data aquisition speed, and instalation cost for each of these designs. </p> <p> In order to eliminate the need for costly research into the various design aspects of multiwire proportional chambers for use with positron annihilation radiation, the design presented here relies exclusively on methods and designs developed and proven feasible by other groups. These are incorporated into a system to suit the present needs. </p> <p> The design presented uses two pairs of 50x50 cm² MWPC's at 180° to each other and separated by approximately 50 cm. The chambers utilize electromagnetic delay-line readout techniques for the anode and wound bi-filar cathode planes. They are filled with a "magic gas" mixture at a slightly positive pressure. The effeciency of the chambers for .511 MeV photons is increased by employing "sandwich" type converters. Signals from the detectors are transfered to a small computer where they are stored for later tomographic reconstruction off-line. </p> <p> On the basis of the working designs from which the present design has been drawn, one would expect the positron camera to have a sensitivity of better than 1000 counts/second-microcurie. The total costs of development and construction leading up to a working device suitable for clinical use, not including the cost of a dedicated computer, are estimated to be less than seventy five thousand dollars. </p> / Thesis / Master of Engineering (ME)

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