3,543 research outputs found
Dispelling the Myths Behind First-author Citation Counts
No full textWe conducted a full-scale evaluative citation analysis study of scholars in the XML research field to explore just how different from each other author rankings resulting from different citation counting methods actually are, and to demonstrate the capability of emerging data and tools on the Web in supporting more realistic citation counting methods. Our results contest some common arguments for the continued
use of first-author citation counts in the evaluation of scholars, such as high correlations between author rankings by first-author citation counts and other citation
counting methods, and high costs of using more realistic citation counting methods that are not well-supported by the ISI databases. It is argued that increasingly available digital full text research papers make it possible for citation analysis studies to go beyond what the ISI databases have directly supported and to employ more
sophisticated methods
G-Rank: Unsupervised Continuous Learn-to-Rank for Edge Devices in a P2P Network
No full textRanking algorithms in traditional search engines are powered by enormous training data sets that are meticulously engineered and curated by a centralized entity. Decentralized peer-to-peer (p2p) networks such as torrenting applications and Web3 protocols deliberately eschew centralized databases and computational architectures when designing services and features. As such, robust search-and-rank algorithms designed for such domains must be engineered specifically for decentralized networks, and must be lightweight enough to operate on consumer-grade personal devices such as a smartphone or laptop computer. We introduce G-Rank, an unsupervised ranking algorithm designed exclusively for decentralized networks. We demonstrate that accurate, relevant ranking results can be achieved in fully decentralized networks without any centralized data aggregation, feature engineering, or model training. Furthermore, we show that such results are obtainable with minimal data preprocessing and computational overhead, and can still return highly relevant results even when a user’s device is disconnected from the network. G-Rank is highly modular in design, is not limited to categorical data, and can be implemented in a variety of domains with minimal modification. The results herein show that unsupervised ranking models designed for decentralized p2p networks are not only viable, but worthy of further research.https://github.com/awrgold/G-RankComputer Scienc
A peptide filtering relation quantifies MHC class I peptide optimization
No full textMajor Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) class I molecules enable cytotoxic T lymphocytes to destroy virus-infected or cancerous cells, thereby preventing disease progression. MHC class I molecules provide a snapshot of the contents of a cell by binding to protein fragments arising from intracellular protein turnover and presenting these fragments at the cell surface. Competing fragments (peptides) are selected for cell-surface presentation on the basis of their ability to form a stable complex with MHC class I, by a process known as peptide optimization. A better understanding of the optimization process is important for our understanding of immunodominance, the predominance of some T lymphocyte specificities over others, which can determine the efficacy of an immune response, the danger of immune evasion, and the success of vaccination strategies. In this paper we present a dynamical systems model of peptide optimization by MHC class I. We incorporate the chaperone molecule tapasin, which has been shown to enhance peptide optimization to different extents for different MHC class I alleles. Using a combination of published and novel experimental data to parameterize the model, we arrive at a relation of peptide filtering, which quantifies peptide optimization as a function of peptide supply and peptide unbinding rates. From this relation, we find that tapasin enhances peptide unbinding to improve peptide optimization without significantly delaying the transit of MHC to the cell surface, and differences in peptide optimization across MHC class I alleles can be explained by allele-specific differences in peptide binding. Importantly, our filtering relation may be used to dynamically predict the cell surface abundance of any number of competing peptides by MHC class I alleles, providing a quantitative basis to investigate viral infection or disease at the cellular level. We exemplify this by simulating optimization of the distribution of peptides derived from Human Immunodeficiency Virus Gag-Pol polyprotein
Should All of the LMLK Jars Still be Dated to Hezekiah? Yes!; Andrew G. Vaughn. PhD; February 9, 2015
No full textChronology of the ancient Near East is a constantly recurring problem scholars have been successfully able to resolve concerning various historical periods. The period of the Divided Monarchy, specifically as it relates to the reign of King Hezekiah, has traditionally been attributed with the inception and exclusive-use of lmlk jar handles. The term lmlk, as translated from ancient Hebrew, means to the king, for the king, or belonging to the king. In his lecture, Vaughn presents the arguments against attribution of lmlk storage jars to the period of King Hezekiah\u27s reign, and explores the implications, assumptions, and evidences for claims contrary to this chronological placement.
Andrew G. Vaughn (PhD 1996, Princeton Theological Seminary) has been, and currently is, part of various archaeological projects taking place in Syro-Palestine. Vaughn is the author, editor, and contributor to various books, articles, and volumes related ancient Near Eastern archaeology and biblical studies. In addition to his archaeological experience and publishing record, Vaughn also previously served as a Fulbright Fellow in the Institute of Archaeology at Tel Aviv University. Presently, Vaughn serves as Executive Director for the American Schools of Oriental Research, based out of Boston University.https://knowledge.e.southern.edu/arch_museum_lectures/1028/thumbnail.jp
Oral ingestion of Streptococcus thermophilus does not affect mucositis severity or tumor progression in the tumor-bearing rat
No full textPreventative or adjunctive agents for the amelioration of small intestinal chemotherapy-induced mucositis are not currently available for clinical use. We have previously demonstrated that oral ingestion of Streptococcus thermophilus (TH-4) partially attenuated chemotherapy-induced mucositis in the rat. Here we assess the effects of TH-4 on small intestinal damage and tumor progression in tumor-bearing rats with experimentally-induced mucositis. Female Dark Agouti tumor-bearing (mammary adenocarcinoma) rats (n = 36; 139 ± 1 g) had small intestinal damage induced via the administration of methotrexate (MTX). Rats were administered MTX; (1.5 mg/kg intramuscular) or saline at 0 and 24 h; with daily gavage administration of TH-4 (109 cfu/mL) or skim milk from -48 to +96 h post-MTX. Rats were allocated to groups (n=9): saline control, TH-4 control, MTX control or TH-4+MTX. The non-invasive 13C-sucrose breath test (SBT) was conducted prior to tumor inoculation, pre-MTX (-24 h) and prior to sacrifice (96 h) to monitor gut function. At sacrifice small intestinal segments were excised and assessed for sucrase and myeloperoxidase activity as well as histological damage. Irrespective of TH-4 treatment, MTX-treated rats had a significant decrease in bodyweight, SBT levels, sucrase and myeloperoxidase activity, and histological damage score (p 0.05) but failed to alleviate mucositis indices. Although TH-4, at a dose of 109 cfu/mL, yielded neither protection nor amelioration of chemotherapy-induced mucositis, progression of mammary adenocarcinoma was unaffected.Katie L. Tooley, Gordon S. Howarth, Kerry A. Lymn, Andrew Lawrence and Ross N. Butle
Betacellulin promotes growth of the gastrointestinal organs and effects a diuresis in normal rats
No full textBetacellulin is a relatively new member of the epidermal growth factor peptide family, however, its function remains poorly defined. We investigated its physiological effects in rats implanted with pumps to deliver vehicle or recombinant rat betacellulin [46 µg/day] for 7 days. At kill, blood and gastrointestinal tissues were collected for determinations of betacellulin levels, proliferation (bromodeoxyuridine-BrdU incorporation) and growth. Plasma betacellulin levels were increased 8-fold compared to vehicle, whilst serum insulin, body weight and food intake were decreased by 32, 15 and 9%, respectively. Water intake, urine and faecal output and small intestinal weight were respectively increased by 36, 78, 47 and 24%. Ileal and proximal colonic crypt depths were increased by 25 and 51% although the BrdU labelling index was unaffected. Betacellulin stimulated gastro-intestinal growth, the increased responsiveness of the terminal ileum and colon suggesting therapeutic potential in disease conditions in which ileal or colonic re-growth is desirable. Betacellulin further stimulated a diuresis suggesting an additional role in fluid homeostasis.Gordon S. Howarth, Susan E. P. Bastian, Andrew J. Dunbar and Chris Goddar
Wnt blockade with Dickkopf reduces intestinal crypt fission and intestinal growth in infant rats
No full textObjectivesIntestinal crypt fission peaks during infancy. In human and experimental familial polyposis coli, increased crypt fission is due to activation of Wnt/β-catenin signalling, but the molecular basis of crypt fission during intestinal growth has not been examined. The aim of this project was to investigate whether crypt fission and intestinal growth are affected by experimental blockade of the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway.MethodsHooded Wistar rats were given either the Wnt inhibitor, dickkopf (30 and 100 ng), daily or vehicle control intraperitoneally from days 11 to 15 and were killed at day 16. Intestinal morphometry was used to measure villous area, crypt area, percentage of crypt fission, and crypt mitotic count. Intestinal stem cells were assessed by expression of real time-polymerase chain reaction for Lgr5 (a stem cell marker), and the number of β-catenin-expressing crypts by immunostaining was determined after 100-ng dickkopf treatment.ResultsDickkopf at 30 and 100 ng/day reduced villous area to 71% (P = 0.013) and 29% (P ConclusionsWe conclude that intestinal crypt fission during infancy is mediated by Wnt signalling. It is possible that local treatment with Wnt agonists could be used to increase intestinal growth.Fauser, Jane K.; Donato, Rino P.; Woenig, Joshua A.; Proctor, Simon J.; Trotta, Andrew P.; Grover, Phulwinder K.; Howarth, Gordon S.; Penttila, Irmeli A.; Cummins, Adrian G
A portrait of the system: Criminal justice trends
No full textThe 6th edition Reader is a collection of primarily introductory level readings and aimed at any course with either a primary or secondary focus on the criminal justice system. In addition to exploring key and controversial topics, the text gives voice to participants from all aspects of the criminal justice system. These include readings from a judge, a defense attorney, a crown attorney, probation officer, police officer, as well as a life prisoner. It also offers essays on current issues in criminal justice and encourages students to debate and think critically about hot topics such as racial discrimination in the criminal court system or plea-bargaining. All returning chapters have been extensively revised and there are nine new readings, including a reading on Race, Ethnicity, and Criminal Justice Statistics by Alwasco-Owusu-Bempah and Paul Millar, and Indigenous Incarceration in Canada, by Andrew Reid and Julian V. Roberts. Additionally, there is a new foreword written by The Honorable Patrick Healy, from the Quebec Court of Appeal in Canada, to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the Reader.book chapterDC Author's celebration 2022Published
Assessing Oregon's local news & information ecosystem 2022
No full textRegina Lawrence, Courtney Tabor, Michelle Nicolosi, and Andrew DeVigal.Title from PDF cover (viewed on November 2, 2022)."A 2022 Agora Journalism Center report."This archived document is maintained by the State Library of Oregon as part of the Oregon Documents Depository Program. It is for informational purposes and may not be suitable for legal purposes.Includes bibliographical references.Mode of access: Internet from the Oregon Government Publications Collection.Text in English
A New Framework for the Citation Indexing Paradigm
No full textA new citation indexing paradigm is proposed: the cascading citation indexing framework (c2IF, for short). It improves the way research publications are assessed for their impact in promoting science and technology. Given a collection of articles and their citation graph, citations are considered at the (article, author) level. Each one article is uniquely identified by means of the Digital Object Identifier (DOI, http://www.doi.org). To identify each one author uniquely, a Universal Author Identifier (UAI) scheme is established. In addition to the citations directly made to a given (article, author) pair, citation paths that target each one citing article are also considered. The granularity of the paradigm is further increased by introducing the concept of the chord, whereby a citation path of length one co-exists with paths of length two or higher, involving the same source- and target- articles. The c2IF output emerges in the form
of a medal standings table, analogous to the one that ranks teams at athletic events: when two (article, author) pairs receive the same number of (direct) citations, the one that is cited by more popular articles (i.e. articles that comprise targets to a larger number of paths in the citation graph), is assigned a higher rank value
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