Pierce-Engel hybrid expansions

Pierce and Engel expansions are representations of numbers between 0 and 1 as sums of unitary fractions (of alternating signs in the case of Pierce) whose denominators are built multiplicatively, choosing the successive factors greedily. We show some results for Pierce expansions, and investigate the idea of hybrid expansions, which are built similarly but without regard to the signs of the terms

Source Code Comment Classification Artificial Intelligence

Source code comment classification is an important problem for future machine learning solutions. In particular, supervised machine learning solutions that have largely subjective data labels but are difficult to obtain the labels for. Machine learning problems are problems largely because of a lack of data. In machine learning solutions, it is better to have a large amount of mediocre data than it is to have a small amount of good data. While the mediocre data might not produce the best accuracy, it produces the best results because there is much more to learn from the problem. In this project, data was collected from student comment code in computer science classes. This data was then sorted based on various tools in order to create automated source code classification. Various data categorization and sorting methods were explored, ultimately resulting in a process where assigned letter grade was used as a sorting label. Using python, CommentLabeler, and SortAndUnique tools were developed in order to automate the manual source code labeling process. State retention and error checking were also features that were added to streamline the process further. The most important takeaway from this experience was that the amount of data is much more important than quality. In fact, mediocre data will provide better results with regard to machine learning because there is room for improvement and it proves machine learning as a solution

ICD Evolution and Implementation of ICD-10 System

The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) system has great Public Health significance in the sense that it is extremely effective in capturing public health diseases and is implemented across various health organizations through information systems. The ICD is the world’s standard tool to capture mortality and morbidity data. It organizes and codes health information that is used for statistics and epidemiology, health care management, allocation of resources, monitoring and evaluation, research, primary care, prevention, reimbursement and treatment. It helps to provide a picture of the general health situation of countries and populations. Users of the system include physicians, nurses, other providers, researchers, health information management professionals and coders, health information technology professionals, policy-makers, insurers and patient organizations. The ICD system is highly important because it provides a common language for reporting and monitoring disease, which allows the world to compare and share data in a consistent and standard way. As the change from ICD-9 to ICD-10 happens, it will be more important than ever that all users are properly up on the system, it is implemented correctly and users are trained accordingly

5-MODIFIED LIPOPHILIC G-QUADRUPLEXES: STRUCTURAL STUDIES AND APPLICATIONS AS SCAFFOLDS FOR [2+2] PHOTOCYCLOADDITIONS

Guanosine self-assembly is a powerful tool for constructing nanostructures and materials with intriguing properties. Guanosine’s nucleobase has a hydrogen bond donor and acceptor face that in the presence of an appropriate templating cation can self-assemble to form larger G-quadruplex structures. Through the addition of a nonpolar solubilizing group on the 2, 3, or 5 position of guanosine’s ribose sugar, the G-quadruplex may be formed in organic solvents. Not surprisingly, any modification made to the guanine nucleobase can have a substantial effect on the self-assembly of the G-quadruplex core. These alterations can significantly alter or destroy the ability of the guanine base to form larger H-bond structures. For this reason, a major target for the synthetic modification of the G-quadruplex is the ribose sugar. Modifications to the sugar can be used to add new functionality or groups capable of modulating the G-quadruplexes stability and structure. The 5-position is easily esterified and is an ideal target for incorporating new functionality to the G-quadruplex, not not much was known about how esterification of the 5-position of guanosine impacted self-assembly. In this thesis, a series of 5-modified aryl esters of guanosine were synthesized G 21-G 25, comprising either activating or de-activating substituents on the aromatic rings, to systematically investigate how the addition of an ester to the 5- position of guanosine affects the self-assembly G-quadruplex. The identity of the 5-aryl ester was found to have a direct impact on the molecularity (how many Gs are in each assembly) and stability of the G-quadruplexes. The information gained from these experiments was applied to rationally design a new G-quadruplex capable of templating a [2+2] photocycloaddition reaction. With an increased knowledge of how modifications to the 5-position affect the structural integrity of the G-quadruplex, we applied this information to rationally design a new G-quadruplex system capable of templating a [2+2] photocycloaddition reaction. To achieve this goal a series of 5-cinnamate esters G 26-G 29 were synthesized and studied. Each derivative G 26- G 29 when self-assembled into a G-quadruplex an photoirradiated underwent a photocycloadditon reaction ins high yields with good stereoselectivity. These same compounds when disassembled only underwent trans-cis photoisomerization. Highlighting the need for the G-quadruplex self-assembly

Ariel - Volume 11 Number 3

Executive Editors Ellen Feldman Leonardo S. Nasca, Jr. Business Managers Barbara L. Davies Martin B. Getzow News Editor Hugh A. Gelabert Features Editor Aaron D. Bleznak CAHS Editor Joan M. Greco Editorial Page Editor Samuel Markind Photography Editor Todd Demmy Sports Editor Paul F. Mansfiel

Spermicidal Activity of the Safe Natural Antimicrobial Peptide Subtilosin

Bacterial vaginosis (BV), a condition affecting millions of women each year, is primarily caused by the gram-variable organism Gardnerella vaginalis. A number of organisms associated with BV cases have been reported to develop multidrug resistance, leading to the need for alternative therapies. Previously, we reported the antimicrobial peptide subtilosin has proven antimicrobial activity against G. vaginalis, but not against the tested healthy vaginal microbiota of lactobacilli. After conducting tissue sensitivity assays using an ectocervical tissue model, we determined that human cells remained viable after prolonged exposures to partially-purified subtilosin, indicating the compound is safe for human use. Subtilosin was shown to eliminate the motility and forward progression of human spermatozoa in a dose-dependent manner, and can therefore be considered a general spermicidal agent. These results suggest subtilosin would be a valuable component in topical personal care products aimed at contraception and BV prophylaxis and treatment

Protective Microbiota: From Localized to Long-Reaching Co-Immunity

Resident microbiota do not just shape host immunity, they can also contribute to host protection against pathogens and infectious diseases. Previous reviews of the protective roles of the microbiota have focused exclusively on colonization resistance localized within a microenvironment. This review shows that the protection against pathogens also involves the mitigation of pathogenic impact without eliminating the pathogens (i.e., “disease tolerance”) and the containment of microorganisms to prevent pathogenic spread. Protective microorganisms can have an impact beyond their niche, interfering with the entry, establishment, growth, and spread of pathogenic microorganisms. More fundamentally, we propose a series of conceptual clarifications in support of the idea of a “co-immunity,” where an organism is protected by both its own immune system and components of its microbiota

Bacterial vaginosis biofilms: challenges to current therapies and emerging solutions

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common genital tract infection in women during their reproductive years and it has been associated with serious health complications, such as preterm delivery and acquisition or transmission of several sexually transmitted agents. BV is characterized by a reduction of beneficial lactobacilli and a significant increase in number of anaerobic bacteria, including Gardnerella vaginalis, Atopobium vaginae, Mobiluncus spp., Bacteroides spp. and Prevotella spp.. Being polymicrobial in nature, BV etiology remains unclear. However, it is certain that BV involves the presence of a thick vaginal multi-species biofilm, where G. vaginalis is the predominant species. Similar to what happens in many other biofilm-related infections, standard antibiotics, like metronidazole, are unable to fully eradicate the vaginal biofilm, which can explain the high recurrence rates of BV. Furthermore, antibiotic therapy can also cause a negative impact on the healthy vaginal microflora. These issues sparked the interest in developing alternative therapeutic strategies. This review provides a quick synopsis of the currently approved and available antibiotics for BV treatment while presenting an overview of novel strategies that are being explored for the treatment of this disorder, with special focus on natural compounds that are able to overcome biofilm-associated antibiotic resistance.Research on BV biofilms in NC laboratory is supported by funding from the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) strategic project of unit UID/BIO/04469/2013. DM and JC acknowledge the FCT fellowships SFRH/BD/87569/2012 and SFRH/BD/93963/2013 respectively. NC is an Investigador FCT