scholarly journals Computing with Metabolic Machines

10.29007/t48n ◽  
2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudio Angione ◽  
Giovanni Carapezza ◽  
Jole Costanza ◽  
Pietro Lio ◽  
Giuseppe Nicosia
Keyword(s):  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Robustness Analysis ◽  
First Year ◽  
Processing Unit ◽  
Biochemical Pathway ◽  
Gene Set ◽  
Executable Code ◽  
Sensitivity Analysis Method ◽  
Unicellular Organisms ◽  
Computational Element

If Turing were a first-year graduate student interested in computers,he would probably migrate into the field of computational biology. During his studies, he presenteda work about a mathematical and computational model of the morphogenesis process, in which chemical substancesreact together. Moreover, a protein can be thought of as a computational element, i.e. a processing unit, able totransform an input into an output signal. Thus, in a biochemical pathway, an enzyme reads the amount of reactants (substrates)and converts them in products. In this work, we consider the biochemical pathway in unicellular organisms (e.g. bacteria) as a living computer, and we are able to program it in order to obtain desired outputs.The genome sequence is thought of as an executable code specified by a set of commands in a sort of ad-hoc low-level programming language. Each combination of genes is coded as a string of bits $y \in \left \{ 0 , 1 \right \}^L$, each of which represents a gene set. By turning off a gene set, we turn off the chemical reaction associated with it. Through an optimal executable code stored in the ``memory'' of bacteria, we are able to simultaneously maximise the concentration of two or more metabolites of interest.Finally, we use the Robustness Analysis and a new Sensitivity Analysis method to investigate both the fragility of the computation carried out by bacteria and the most important entities in the mathematical relations used to model them.

scholarly journals Habits, preferences and culinary skills of first-year students at the university of Huelva

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gema López Nieves ◽  
Elena Sosa Cordobés ◽  
Almudena Garrido Fernández ◽  
Gabriel Travé González ◽  
Francisca María García-Padilla
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Eating Habits ◽  
First Year ◽  
Arithmetic Means ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
The University ◽  
Dieta Mediterranea ◽  
Dieta Mediterránea

Introducción: Los estudiantes universitarios se encuentran en un periodo crítico para el desarrollo y consolidación de estilos de vida futuros. El objetivo fue conocer los hábitos alimentarios, preferencias alimentarias y habilidades culinarias del alumnado de primer curso de las distintas titulaciones de la Universidad de Huelva.Material y Método: Estudio descriptivo transversal durante el año académico 2015-2016 de una muestra final de 756 alumnos. La adherencia a la Dieta Mediterránea se ha medido a través del cuestionario KIDMED. El resto de variables se han recogido mediante un cuestionario ad hoc. El análisis de datos se realizó mediante el PSPP, calculándose medias, desviaciones típicas y porcentajes para el análisis descriptivo, prueba de Chi-cuadrado y ANOVA para el análisis relacional.Resultados: El 20,4% del alumnado tiene un nivel óptimo de adherencia a la Dieta Mediterránea, frente al 65,3% que posee un nivel medio y un 14,3% bajo. Los alimentos preferidos son pollo (62,2%), pasta (58,2%), cerdo (50,4%) y las patatas fritas (45,9%). Entre los alimentos que saben preparar están la pasta, (93,8%), patatas con huevo (90.2 %), pizza precocinada (88.7 %), zumo (86.1 %) y carne a la plancha (85.8 %).Conclusiones: La dieta de los estudiantes onubenses es muy similar a la de otras poblaciones universitarias estudiadas. Se encontró preferencia por las carnes y alimentos ricos en glúcidos, en detrimento de la fruta y la verdura. Se observó un déficit en las habilidades culinarias, lo cual podría explicar el deterioro del patrón alimentario de éstos y orientar futuras intervenciones. Introduction: Students attending university are at a critical period for the development and consolidation of future lifestyles. The objective of this study was to know the eating habits, food preferences and culinary skills of first-year students on different degree courses at the University of Huelva.Material and Method: Cross-sectional descriptive study in academic year 2015-2016 of a sample of 756 students. Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet was measured by the KIDMED questionnaire. The rest of the variables were measured by an ad hoc questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using the PSPP programme, calculating arithmetic means, standard deviations and percentages for the descriptive analysis, with Chi-square test and ANOVA for the relational analysis.Results: 20.4% of students have an optimal level of adherence to the Mediterranean Diet, compared to 65.3% % with an average level and 14.3% with low adherence. Favourite foods cited were chicken (62.2%), pasta (58.2%), pork (50.4%) and chips (45.9%). The types of food the students knew how to prepare included pasta (93.8%), egg and chips (90.2%), precooked pizza (88.7%), fruit juices (86.1%) and grilled meat (85.8%).Conclusions: Huelva university students diet is very similar to that of other university populations studied. We found a preference for meat and foods rich in carbohydrates, to the detriment of fruit and vegetables. A lack of culinary skills was observed, which could explain the deterioration in eating habits; this is a pointer to future interventions.

scholarly journals Socrative in Higher Education: Game vs. Other Uses

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fátima Faya Cerqueiro ◽  
Ana Martín-Macho Harrison
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Mobile Application ◽  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
First Year ◽  
Perceived Satisfaction ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Faculty Of Education ◽  
Reading Activity ◽  
First Year University

The integration of clickers in Higher Education settings has proved to be particularly useful for enhancing motivation, engagement and performance; for developing cooperative or collaborative tasks; for checking understanding during the lesson; or even for assessment purposes. This paper explores and exemplifies three uses of Socrative, a mobile application specifically designed as a clicker for the classroom. Socrative was used during three sessions with the same group of first-year University students at a Faculty of Education. One of these sessions—a review lesson—was gamified, whereas the other two—a collaborative reading activity seminar, and a lecture—were not. Ad-hoc questionnaires were distributed after each of them. Results suggest that students welcome the use of clickers and that combining them with gamification strategies may increase students’ perceived satisfaction. The experiences described in this paper show how Socrative is an effective means of providing formative feedback and may actually save time during lessons.

scholarly journals Psychological Wellbeing in Adolescents with Leukaemia: A Comparative Study with Typical Development Peers

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Tremolada ◽  
Livia Taverna ◽  
Ilaria Tamara Chiavetta ◽  
Sabrina Bonichini ◽  
Maria Caterina Putti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
Psychological Wellbeing ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
First Year ◽  
Cognitive Problems

There is still little research on psychological wellbeing, life satisfaction and reported problems in preadolescents and adolescents under therapy for leukaemia, and also little research comparing them with their healthy peers. The present study aims to analyse the life satisfaction, hope, psychological wellbeing and reported problems’ intensity in patients aged 8-18 during the first year of therapy, to identify those more at risk and to compare their reports with matched healthy peers. After the parental written consent signature, a battery of self-reported questionnaires was administered during hospitalisation or day hospital admissions post 6 months and post 12 months from the diagnosis. Younger patients (aged 8–13 years) were more at risk than older ones in their problems’ intensity and psychological symptoms; females and Acute Myeloid Leukaemia patients reported lower current life satisfaction perceptions; hope was associated with lower depression symptoms and mood problems. Healthy peers have a better perception of current life, but reported a lower hope score, more anxiety symptoms and more cognitive problems than patients. The first 6 months were more critical for patients’ psychological health. The clinical aim was to identify the patients more at risk in order to prepare ad hoc psychological interventions.

scholarly journals Analysis of Fear Post COVID in First-Year Students after the Incorporation to the Classroom: Descriptive Study in University Students of Health Sciences

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 1621
Author(s):  
Pablo A. Cantero-Garlito ◽  
Marta Rodríguez-Hernández ◽  
Esther Moraleda-Sepúlveda ◽  
Begoña Polonio-López ◽  
Félix Marcos-Tejedor
Keyword(s):  
Ad Hoc ◽  
University Teaching ◽  
First Year ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
School Year ◽  
Social Restriction ◽  
University Population ◽  
Face To Face Learning ◽  
Spanish Universities

Background: After the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, social restriction measures were implemented, among them, the adaptation of university teaching to online modality until the end of the 2019–2020 school year in order to stop the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. At the beginning of the 2020–2021 school year, the Spanish universities opted for face-to-face teaching. To that end, different special measures and adaptations were implemented in higher education facilities, aimed at minimizing the risk of infection and ensuring safe face-to-face learning. The objective was to explore and describe the level of fear of first-year students after the start of in-person classes in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The sample was 185 first-year students who were evaluated on the first day of class. For that purpose, an ad-hoc questionnaire was administered to collect demographic information and to find the level of fear and concern. The Fear of COVID-19 Scale was used to assess the severity of the participants’ fear of the pandemic situation. Results: The results indicate that participating university population does not report fear of the virus, but they describe various psychosomatic characteristics, such as increased pulse rate and heart palpitations (p = 0.008) and insomnia (p = 0.05) when they think about infection with coronavirus. Nevertheless, when data are disaggregated by gender, we observe differences specifically in women (83.2%), such as fear (p = 0.006) and sweaty hands when they think of the virus (p = 0.023). Conclusions: Incoming university freshmen do not express concern or fear of potential infection with COVID-19, but they are concerned about family transmission after beginning face-to-face classes.

scholarly journals Headteacher Preparation in Mzuzu, Malawi, Africa

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 119
Author(s):  
Nathalis Wamba
Keyword(s):  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Religious Affiliation ◽  
International Study ◽  
Political Influence ◽  
Specific Pattern ◽  
First Year ◽  
Prior Record ◽  
Interview Guide ◽  
The University ◽  
Service Experiences

<p>The purpose of this researcher was to examine the in-service experiences of seven headteachers in Luwinga ward in Mzuzu, Malawi, and the challenges they encountered in their first year on the job. A modified version of the questionnaire and interview guide developed by the members of the International Study of the Preparation of Principals at the University of Calgary, Canada was used to conduct this study. The collected data were clustered, coded, analyzed and interpreted. The findings suggest that opportunities for pre-service and in-service headteacher training in Mzuzu are almost nonexistent. Training is ad hoc, idiosyncratic and does not seem to follow a specific pattern. Criteria for the selection of headteachers include a successful record of teaching, prior record of leadership in school or outside, religious affiliation, a university certificate or degree and last but not least political influence. In the last section, the author offers recommendations.</p>

Importancia de la credibilidad de las fuentes mediáticas en materia de drogas | Importance of the credibility of media sources on drugs

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
José A. García Del Castillo ◽  
Mónica Gázquez Pertusa ◽  
Álvaro García Del Castillo-López
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Mass Media ◽  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Information Source ◽  
General Information ◽  
First Year ◽  
Important Place ◽  
On Line ◽  
Socialization Agents ◽  
Medios De Comunicacion

Resumen Los medios de comunicación han alcanzado en nuestra sociedad una importancia capital como agentes de socialización de primer orden, hasta el punto de que lo que no aparece en ellos se invisibiliza para la opinión pública. En el caso de las drogodependencias suelen ser la principal fuente de información, especialmente para la gente joven, por lo que su capacidad de influencia es determinante. En este sentido, los medios de comunicación no sólo transmiten noticias sino que representan una poderosa herramienta para transmitir conocimientos en materia de drogas. Sin embargo, la visión parcial o “descontextualizada” que ofrecen los medios de comunicación sobre el consumo de drogas y la falta de rigor con la que suelen exponer la información provoca una desinformación en los receptores y un deterioro en la credibilidad que se le otorga a este tipo de informaciones. Este estudio piloto se llevó a cabo con una muestra de 115 estudiantes universitarios de primer curso del Grado de Psicología. Se utilizó un cuestionario construido ad hoc con el objeto de sondear el nivel de información que tienen los jóvenes sobre las distintas sustancias de abuso, junto con el grado de credibilidad otorgado a las diversas fuentes de información que con mayor frecuencia consultan para obtener información general o sobre drogas. Fue administrado on-line. Se utilizó un diseño de corte transversal y descriptivo. Entre las conclusiones podemos destacar que no existe ningún medio que reúna suficiente credibilidad y confiabilidad en la información, como para alcanzar proporciones significativas.Palabras claveMedios de comunicación, drogodependencias, grado de credibilidad, información, jóvenes.AbstractMass media has reached a very important place in our society as first order socialization agents, to the point that if something doesn’t appear in them, it’s invisible to public opinion. In drug issue, they’re usually used as principal information source, especially for young people, consequently his influence capability is determinant. In this sense mass media not only inform about news, they represent a powerful tool in the knowledge transmission of drug issue. However, the partial or “out of context” vision that media offers about drug consumption and the lack of rigor in the information exposure are responsible for a disinformation in recipients and a deterioration of the credibility in this kind of information. This pilot study was done with a sample of 115 university students at first year of Psychology. A questionnaire ad hoc was used to measure the young people information level about different abuse substances and credibility related to information sources that they usually consult to obtain general information about drugs. This questionnaire was administrated on-line. A descriptive and transversal design was used. In conclusion, we can emphasize that doesn’t exist any media with enough credibility and reliability in information with significant results.Keywords Mass media; drug addiction; level of credibility; information; youngs.

scholarly journals Development of Nomophobia Profiles in Education Students through the Use of Multiple Correspondence Analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (21) ◽  
pp. 8252
Author(s):  
Clemente Rodríguez-Sabiote ◽  
José Álvarez-Rodríguez ◽  
Daniel Álvarez-Ferrandiz ◽  
Felix Zurita-Ortega
Keyword(s):  
Data Analysis ◽  
Quantitative Data ◽  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Multiple Correspondence Analysis ◽  
First Year ◽  
Education Students ◽  
Student Profile ◽  
The Third ◽  
Quantitative Data Analysis ◽  
Second Year

(1) Background: Nomophobia is a recent behavioural addiction phenomenon. The present study proposes the objective of determining levels of nomophobia in students of Education. In addition, it seeks to find evidence regarding whether cross-tabulating variables produces statistically significant differences and to examine whether the contemplated variables, together with nomophobia levels, can be used to generate a student profile. (2) Methods: A total of 510 students (M = 20.69 years) participated in this study. For the collection of information, we developed a Likert-type ad hoc scale of nomophobia. The quantitative data analysis programmes SPSS v.25 (IBM, Armonk, NY, USA), STATA.v.15 (StatCorp, Spring, TX, USA) and jamovi v.1.2 (The jamovi project, Sidney, Australia) were used to analyse information collected by the previously described scale. (3) Results: The study concludes the existence of three main levels of correspondence. The first is formed by students with a low level of nomophobia. It is associated with students undertaking the first year of a Master’s degree who are older than 24, and in this case, gender does not play a discriminating role. The second describes students with moderate nomophobia. It is associated with females, the degree titles of Pedagogy and Primary Education, undertaking the first or second year of degree study and ages of between 21 and 24. Finally, the third level of correspondence is formed by students with high nomophobia. It is related to the same characteristics as those previously mentioned but ages typically ranging between 17 and 20.

scholarly journals Towards a gold standard for benchmarking gene set enrichment analysis

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ludwig Geistlinger ◽  
Gergely Csaba ◽  
Mara Santarelli ◽  
Marcel Ramos ◽  
Lucas Schiffer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Enrichment Analysis ◽  
Gene Set Enrichment Analysis ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Expression Data ◽  
Rna Seq ◽  
Gene Set Enrichment ◽  
Gene Set ◽  
Gene Sets ◽  
Enrichment Methods

AbstractBackgroundAlthough gene set enrichment analysis has become an integral part of high-throughput gene expression data analysis, the assessment of enrichment methods remains rudimentary and ad hoc. In the absence of suitable gold standards, evaluations are commonly restricted to selected data sets and biological reasoning on the relevance of resulting enriched gene sets. However, this is typically incomplete and biased towards the goals of individual investigations.ResultsWe present a general framework for standardized and structured benchmarking of enrichment methods based on defined criteria for applicability, gene set prioritization, and detection of relevant processes. This framework incorporates a curated compendium of 75 expression data sets investigating 42 different human diseases. The compendium features microarray and RNA-seq measurements, and each dataset is associated with a precompiled GO/KEGG relevance ranking for the corresponding disease under investigation. We perform a comprehensive assessment of 10 major enrichment methods on the benchmark compendium, identifying significant differences in (i) runtime and applicability to RNA-seq data, (ii) fraction of enriched gene sets depending on the type of null hypothesis tested, and (iii) recovery of the a priori defined relevance rankings. Based on these findings, we make practical recommendations on (i) how methods originally developed for microarray data can efficiently be applied to RNA-seq data, (ii) how to interpret results depending on the type of gene set test conducted, and (iii) which methods are best suited to effectively prioritize gene sets with high relevance for the phenotype investigated.ConclusionWe carried out a systematic assessment of existing enrichment methods, and identified best performing methods, but also general shortcomings in how gene set analysis is currently conducted. We provide a directly executable benchmark system for straightforward assessment of additional enrichment methods.Availabilityhttp://bioconductor.org/packages/GSEABenchmarkeR

scholarly journals Constraining classifiers in molecular analysis: invariance and robustness

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (163) ◽  
pp. 20190612
Author(s):  
Ludwig Lausser ◽  
Robin Szekely ◽  
Attila Klimmek ◽  
Florian Schmid ◽  
Hans A. Kestler
Keyword(s):  
Ad Hoc ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Robustness Analysis ◽  
Molecular Classification ◽  
Support Vector ◽  
Complexity Classes ◽  
Invariance Properties ◽  
Standard Linear ◽  
Concept Classes ◽  
Microarray Datasets

Analysing molecular profiles requires the selection of classification models that can cope with the high dimensionality and variability of these data. Also, improper reference point choice and scaling pose additional challenges. Often model selection is somewhat guided by ad hoc simulations rather than by sophisticated considerations on the properties of a categorization model. Here, we derive and report four linked linear concept classes/models with distinct invariance properties for high-dimensional molecular classification. We can further show that these concept classes also form a half-order of complexity classes in terms of Vapnik–Chervonenkis dimensions, which also implies increased generalization abilities. We implemented support vector machines with these properties. Surprisingly, we were able to attain comparable or even superior generalization abilities to the standard linear one on the 27 investigated RNA-Seq and microarray datasets. Our results indicate that a priori chosen invariant models can replace ad hoc robustness analysis by interpretable and theoretically guaranteed properties in molecular categorization.

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