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Performing joint analysis of gene expression datasets from different experiments can present challenges brought on by multiple factors—differences in equipment, protocols, climate etc. "Cross-study normalization" is a general term for transformations aimed at eliminating such effects, thus making datasets more comparable. However, joint analysis of datasets from different species is rarely done, and there are no dedicated normalization methods for such inter-species analysis. In order to test the usefulness of cross-studies normalization methods for inter-species analysis, we first applied three cross-study normalization methods, EB, DWD and XPN, to RNA sequencing datasets from different species. We then developed a new approach to evaluate the performance of cross-study normalization in eliminating experimental effects, while also maintaining the biologically significant differences between species and conditions. Our results indicate that all normalization methods performed relatively well in the cross-species setting. We found XPN to be better at reducing experimental differences, and found EB to be better at preserving biological differences. Still, according to our in-silico experiments, in all methods it is not possible to enforce the preservation of the biological differences in the normalization process. In addition to the study above, in this work we propose a new dedicated cross-studies and cross-species normalization method. Our aim is to address the shortcoming mentioned above: in the normalization process, we wish to reduce the experimental differences while preserving the biological differences. We term our method as CSN, and base it on the performance evaluation criteria mentioned above. Repeating the same experiments, the CSN method obtained a better and more balanced conservation of biological differences within the datasets compared to existing methods. To summarize, we demonstrate the usefulness of cross-study normalization methods in the inter-species settings, and suggest a dedicated cross-study cross-species normalization method that will hopefully open the way to the development of improved normalization methods for the inter-species settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In online shopping, user perspectives transit dynamically from abstract categories to concrete subcategories within a short period. We propose a perspective-estimation system that estimates the dynamic, short-term perspectives of users by inferring a hierarchy of categories based on their actions. The proposed system analyzes the wish list rankings of users and their operational histories to extract the categories emphasized at that moment. It then employs formal concept analysis to infer the hierarchical structure of categories, thereby visualizing the dynamic short-term perspective. In experiments involving 57 participants, the proposed method rates its match with user perspectives on a seven-point scale, achieving an average score of 4.84, outperforming the feature estimation method using latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA), which scored 4.36. The statistical significance was confirmed through the Wilcoxon rank-sum test with a statistic W=4.80 and a p-value of 1.56×10-6. Compared with LDA, the proposed system is statistically significant in terms of the degree of agreement with the perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resource quality is an important concept in ecology and evolution that attempts to capture the fitness benefits a resource affords to an organism. Yet "quality" is a multivariate concept, potentially affected by many variables pertaining to the resource, its surroundings, and the resource chooser. Researchers often use a small number of proxy variables to simplify their estimation of resource quality, but without vetting their proxies against a wider set of potential quality estimators this approach risks overlooking potentially important characteristics that can explain patterns of resource use in their study systems. Here we used Neolamprologus multifasciatus, a group‐living cichlid fish that utilizes empty snail shells as shelter resources, to examine how shells were used by, and partitioned among, group members in relation to a range of attributes, including shell size, intactness, texture, spatial position, and usage by heterospecifics. This approach generated a comprehensive picture of what characteristics contribute to the attractiveness and quality of each shell resource, confirming the importance of two previously proposed shell characteristics, size and intactness, but highlighting the influences of other unexplored variables, including shell spatial position and usage by heterospecifics. We also present a generally applicable "resource attractiveness index" as a means to estimate resource quality based on resource choice data. This index incorporates information from any number of resource characteristics and is of particular use when researchers wish to quantify resource value, but many characteristics jointly contribute to the value and attractiveness of the resource. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the generalized linear model (GLM) setup, the information matrix depends on the unknown parameters of the model. In such a situation, an experimenter has to adopt the approach of finding local optimal designs i.e. first guess the best value for the parameters and then calculate the optimal designs [see Chernoff (1953)]. In this paper, locally R-optimal designs for the Poisson regression model with two parameters including intercept are discussed. The R-optimality criterion has been proposed in the literature as an alternative to the most frequently used D-optimality criterion when the experimenter wishes to minimize the volume of the confidence region for unknown parameters based on Bonferroni t-intervals [see Dette (1997)]. The necessary and sufficient conditions of this optimality criterion are confirmed through the equivalence theorem [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Youth healthcare has an important role in promoting a healthy lifestyle in young children in order to prevent lifestyle-related health problems. To aid youth healthcare in this task, a new lifestyle screening tool will be developed. The aim of this study was to explore how youth healthcare professionals (YHCP) could best support parents in improving their children's lifestyle using a new lifestyle screening tool for young children. Methods: We conducted four and seven focus groups among parents (N = 25) and YHCP (N = 25), respectively. Two main topics were addressed: the experiences with current practice of youth healthcare regarding lifestyle in young children, and the requirements for the lifestyle screening tool to be developed. The focus groups were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using an inductive approach. Results: Both parents and YHCP indicated that young children's lifestyles are often discussed during youth healthcare appointments. While parents felt that this discussion could be more in-depth, YHCP mainly needed clues to continue the discussion. According to parents and YHCP, a new lifestyle screening tool for young children should be easy to use, take little time and provide courses of action. Moreover, it should be attractive to complete and align with the family concerned. Conclusions: According to parents and YHCP, a new lifestyle screening tool for young children could be useful to discuss specific lifestyle topics in more detail and to provide targeted advice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of a novel disorazole C1 analogue is described, and its biological activity as a cytotoxic compound is reported. Based on our convergent and flexible route to the disorazole core, we wish to report a robust strategy to synthesize a non-symmetrical disorazole in which we couple one half of the molecule containing the naturally occurring oxazole heterocycle and the second half of the disorazole macrocycle containing a thiazole heterocycle. This resulted in a very unusual non-symmetrical disorazole C1 analogue containing two different heterocycles, and its biological activity was studied. This provided exciting information about SAR (structure-activity-relationship) for this highly potent class of antitumor compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Investigaciones Historicas is the property of Universidad de Valladolid, Facultad de Filosofia y Letras and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Iuris Tantum is the property of Investigaciones y Estudios Superiores, AC and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Two independent sources report that Prince Lev intended to gain power in Kraków by force in 1280. The first is the Ruthenian Galician-Volhynian Chronicle, the second is the Latin text which is the common basis of the Dzierzwa Chronicle and the Annals of Traska. Researchers have wrongly considered this detail to be reliable. In both sources, Prince Lev is portrayed in a bad light and the plan to illegally seize power in Kraków is taken as one piece of evidence for Lev's wickedness. It seems much more likely, therefore, that the authors of these sources had malicious intent, and Lev's aspiration to control Krakow was falsely attributed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Fotocinema is the property of Revista Fotocinema and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The letter charts my relationship to geography through a letter to Donald Deskin Jr. From Black geographer junior scholar to pioneering Black geographer, this letter uses Black geographies as an analytic to think through Black geographical knowledge, practice and kinship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "Editorial" reports on various offers and topics in the field of mathematics. It mentions, among other things, the Mathematical Research Institute Oberwolfach, the network European Women in Mathematics, and the National MINT Forum e. V. Suggestions for combating the shortage of teachers in the mathematical field are discussed, and Sylvia Wenmackers' work on the philosophy of mathematics is presented. It also covers lighter topics such as mathematical discoveries in Münster and stories from mathematics. The article concludes with good wishes for the summer and a call to gather strength and inspiration for the second half of 2024. [Extracted from the article]

TAX BitsThe perfect schemeA tax-free dreamAn audit notice and you want to screamI wish I'd used my head back then.With him I ranThe Shelter ManInto the fire from the frying panI wish I'd used my head back then.More bad news.Tax Court Blues.Tails you loseI was really a dummkopfWhen it's too goodTo be true, wouldI'd asked more questions like I know you shouldI've learned my lessonAnd I wish I'd used my head back then.By Robert S. Steinberg, Law Offices of Robert S. Steinberg, Palmetto Bay, FL [Extracted from the article]

Copyright of Praxis Filosófica is the property of Universidad del Valle and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)