Bioinformatics service reconciliation by heterogeneous schema transformation

This paper focuses on the problem of bioinformatics service reconciliation in a generic and scalable manner so as to enhance interoperability in a highly evolving field. Using XML as a common representation format, but also supporting existing flat-file representation formats, we propose an approach for the scalable semi-automatic reconciliation of services, possibly invoked from within a scientific workflows tool. Service reconciliation may use the AutoMed heterogeneous data integration system as an intermediary service, or may use AutoMed to produce services that mediate between services. We discuss the application of our approach for the reconciliation of services in an example bioinformatics workflow. The main contribution of this research is an architecture for the scalable reconciliation of bioinformatics services

Perceptions of stress and its impact on burnout depending on job status

Previous research has found that stress is a key contributor to burnout, and the causes of stress include job demands, lack of resources, and personality traits (Bakker et al., 2014). Although most research on burnout has focused on employed populations, with work demands and resources contributing to burnout, college students may also be susceptible to burnout from their academic demands (Pisarik, 2009). Several studies have focused on the ways in which motivational dispositions can affect student burnout (Duran et al., 2006; Pisarik, 2009). However, there is a lack of research examining how perceptions of stressors can affect burnout. Particularly, viewing stress as a sign of achievement and stress as a competition (Jennings, 2017) could have some major implications for student burnout. The present study will investigate the relationship between stress as achievement and stress as competition and both social and academic burnout among college students. Because job demands have a positive relationship with burnout (Lee & Ashforth, 1996), the study also compares job status (e.g. full-time, part-time) of students as an additional stressor beyond academic demands. We examine how job status impacts the relationship between both types of stress perceptions and burnout. Our specific hypotheses are that: 1) stress as achievement has a positive relationship with burnout, 2) stress as competition has a positive relationship with burnout, and 3) these relationships are stronger depending when students are also employed. Data was collected via an in-person survey, which was a component of a larger daily diary study, of 134 college students at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Collection occurred during the final three weeks of the Fall 2018 semester, prior to final exams. The measures in the study included demographics, background information on individual differences, health behaviors, coping strategies, and the different perceptions of stress. Students were recruited through SONA, which offers extra credit for students taking Psychology courses that participate in research studies. Students had to complete the in-person background survey, and were then briefed on the expectations for the daily diary study. Analyses for this study are focused on data provided in the background study and are ongoing. Results will be prepared prior to the RCIO conference

The importance of history, A realist interpretation of Polish foreign policy in the European Union

In this study I analyse Polish foreign policy since it became a member of the European Union. This period, 2004-2007, has been characterized by some controversial decisions by the Polish government, creating an image of Poland among the other European member states as an ?awkward partner?. Taking Thomas Pedersen's conception of cooperative hegemony as a point of departure, I aim to deliver a coherent, causal explanation for this ?behaviour?. Pedersen's framework takes historical experiences as causal in shaping state rational interests. As a result of my analysis I present a picture that history does not only matter, but can even explain why, when, how and what history determines actual political processes

The vicinal difluoro motif : the synthesis and conformation of erythro- and threo-diastereoisomers of 1,2-difluorodiphenylethanes, 2,3-difluorosuccinic acids and their derivatives

Background: It is well established that vicinal fluorines (RCHF-CHFR) prefer to adopt a gauche rather than an anti conformation when placed along aliphatic chains. This has been particularly recognised for 1,2-difluoroethane and extends to 2,3-difluorobutane and longer alkyl chains. It follows in these latter cases that if erythro and threo vicinal difluorinated stereoisomers are compared, they will adopt different overall conformations if the fluorines prefer to be gauche in each case. This concept is explored in this paper with erythro- and threo- diastereoisomers of 2,3-difluorosuccinates. Results: A synthetic route to 2,3-difluorosuccinates has been developed through erythro- and threo- 1,2-difluoro-1,2-diphenylethane which involved the oxidation of the aryl rings to generate the corresponding 2,3- difluorosuccinic acids. Ester and amide derivatives of the erythro- and threo- 2,3-difluorosuccinic acids were then prepared. The solid and solution state conformation of these compounds was assessed by X-ray crystallography and NMR. Ab initio calculations were also carried out to model the conformation of erythro- and threo- 1,2-difluoro-1,2-diphenylethane as these differed from the 2,3-difluorosuccinates. Conclusion: In general the overall chain conformations of the 2,3-difluorosuccinates diastereoisomers were found to be influenced by the fluorine gauche effect. The study highlights the prospects of utilising the vicinal difluorine motif (RCHF-CHFR) as a tool for influencing the conformation of performance organic molecules and particularly tuning conformation by selecting specific diastereoisomers (erythro or threo).Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Women Empowerment Externalities of the 2004 Moroccan Moudawana Reform: Intrafamily Bargaining and Educational Attainment

In order to evaluate the potential human capital externalities of women empowerment and more equitable Moudawana (personal status law) policies in the North Africa region, I use 2 countries as case studies, each with different Moudawana regimes. I compare Morocco, which had a significant Moudawana reform in 2004, to Egypt, whose Moudawana is far more inequitable. Using difference-in-difference analysis on survey data, I compare educational attainment in Morocco and Egypt. I support this with descriptive statistics about women empowerment in Morocco. The results suggest that the Moudawana reform may increase women empowerment and lead to increased educational attainment

A systematic review of the relationship between behavioral and psychological symptoms (BPSD) and caregiver well-being

Background: Behavioural and psychological symptoms in dementia (BPSD) are important predictors of institutionalisation as well as caregiver burden and depression. Previous reviews have tended to group BPSD as one category with little focus on the role of the individual symptoms. This review investigates the role of the individual symptoms of BPSD in relation to the impact on different measures of family caregiver wellbeing. Methods: Systematic review and meta-analysis of articles published in English between 1980 and December 2015 reporting which BPSD affect caregiver wellbeing. Article quality was appraised using the Downs and Black Checklist (1998). Results: 40 medium and high quality quantitative articles met the inclusion criteria, 16 were suitable to be included in a meta-analysis of mean distress scores. Depressive behaviours were the most distressing for caregivers followed by agitation/aggression and apathy. Euphoria was the least distressing. Correlation coefficients between mean total behaviour scores and mean distress scores were pooled for 4 studies. Irritability, aberrant motor behaviour and delusions were the most strongly correlated to distress, disinhibition was the least correlated. Conclusion: The evidence is not conclusive as to whether some BPSD impact caregiver wellbeing more than others. Studies which validly examined BPSD individually were limited, and the included studies used numerous measures of BPSD and numerous measures of caregiver wellbeing. Future research may benefit from a consistent measure of BPSD, examining BPSD individually, and by examining the causal mechanisms by which BPSD impact wellbeing by including caregiver variables so that interventions can be designed to target BPSD more effectively