Showing papers by "King Abdullah University of Science and Technology published in 2008"

An SV-GMR Needle Sensor-Based Estimation of Volume Density of Magnetic Fluid inside Human Body

Abstract: A spin-valve giant magneto-resistive (SV-GMR) sensor of needle-type configuration is reported to estimate the volume density of magnetic fluid inside human body. The magnetic fluid is usually injected into human body to kill cancerous cell using hyperthermia-based treatment. To control the heat treatment, a good knowledge of temperature is very much essential. The SV-GMR-based needle-type sensor is used to measure the magnetic flux density of the magnetic fluid inside the human body from which the temperature is estimated. The needle-type sensor provides a semi-invasive approach of temperature determination.

Bidirectional Gene Pairs in the Human Genome

Abstract: Bidirectional gene pairs, also called head-to-head gene pairs, are defined as two genes on different strands with adjacent 5′-ends. They are transcribed divergently in a variety of coordinated fashion. The region between a bidirectional gene pair is designated as a putative bidirectional promoter, which is suggested to coordinately regulate the expression of the pair. The closely located bidirectional gene pairs and their bidirectional promoters were recently found to be enriched in the human genome. Despite substantial interests in these gene pairs and their expression regulation through bidirectional promoters, their biological significance is not well understood. Furthermore, it is of particular interest to know when and how the bidirectional gene arrangement evolved. Here the current understanding of these pairs is reviewed: bidirectional gene pairs may have great biological significance, and the bidirectional gene arrangement has evolved during the evolution of vertebrates leading to mammals by relocation of existing genes. Key Concepts: Closely located bidirectional gene pairs are enriched in the human genome. Bidirectional gene pairs show correlated expression pattern. Bidirectional gene pairs tend to have basic function in cells such as DNA repair. Bidirectional promoters lack TATA boxes and are enriched in CpG islands. Specific transcription factors are overrepresented in bidirectional promoters. Bidirectional genes pairs tend to transcribe actively. Bidirectional gene arrangement has evolved during the evolution of vertebrates leading to mammals by relocation of existing genes. Detailed mechanisms of bidirectional transcription and the evolutionary forces that shaped the bidirectional arrangement in the human genome remain to be elucidated. Keywords: genome organisation; coexpression; promoter; neighbouring gene pair; genome evolution

Evolutionary Computing in Engineering Design

Abstract: aBstract This chapter presents an overview of the application of evolutionary computing for engineering design. An optimal design may be defined as the one that most economically meets its performance requirements. Optimisation and search methods can assist the designer at all stages of the design process. The past decade has seen a rapid growth of interest in stochastic search algorithms, particularly those inspired by natural processes in physics and biology. Impressive results have been demonstrated on complex practical optimisation of several schools of evolutionary computation. Evolutionary computing unlike conventional technique, have the robustness for producing variety of optimal solutions in a single simulation run, giving wider options for engineering design practitioners to choose from. Despite limitations, the act of finding the optimal solution for optimisation problems has shown a substantial improvement in terms of reducing optimisation process time and cost as well as increasing accuracy. The chapter aims to provide an overview of the application of evolutionary computing techniques for engineering design optimisation and the rational behind why industries and researchers are in favor of using it. It also presents the techniques application trend rise in the past decade.