A formal semantics for Molecular Interaction Maps

In the present work, we describe a possible formal semantics for Molecular Interaction Maps (MIMs), which are standard diagrams, used by biologists to depict interactions at molecular level within a cell environment. First we describe MIM notation in details, then we describe the Calculi of Looping Sequences (CLS), a family of formal languages which models biological systems, whose semantics is a transition systems. Finally, we give a possible formal semantics in CLS for MIMs

Model Checking Classes of Metric LTL Properties of Object-Oriented Real-Time Maude Specifications

This paper presents a transformational approach for model checking two important classes of metric temporal logic (MTL) properties, namely, bounded response and minimum separation, for nonhierarchical object-oriented Real-Time Maude specifications. We prove the correctness of our model checking algorithms, which terminate under reasonable non-Zeno-ness assumptions when the reachable state space is finite. These new model checking features have been integrated into Real-Time Maude, and are used to analyze a network of medical devices and a 4-way traffic intersection system.Comment: In Proceedings RTRTS 2010, arXiv:1009.398

A Rewriting-Logic-Based Technique for Modeling Thermal Systems

This paper presents a rewriting-logic-based modeling and analysis technique for physical systems, with focus on thermal systems. The contributions of this paper can be summarized as follows: (i) providing a framework for modeling and executing physical systems, where both the physical components and their physical interactions are treated as first-class citizens; (ii) showing how heat transfer problems in thermal systems can be modeled in Real-Time Maude; (iii) giving the implementation in Real-Time Maude of a basic numerical technique for executing continuous behaviors in object-oriented hybrid systems; and (iv) illustrating these techniques with a set of incremental case studies using realistic physical parameters, with examples of simulation and model checking analyses.Comment: In Proceedings RTRTS 2010, arXiv:1009.398

Inflammatory effects of atazanavir/ritonavir versus darunavir/ritonavir in treatment naïve, HIV-1-infected patients

Background: Limited studies have compared the impact of different antiretroviral regimens on soluble markers of inflammation with discordant results. Methods: In this prospective study, treatment naïve HIV-1-infected patients were included if they started their current regimen with atazanavir/ritonavir (ATV/r) (N = 73, Group 1) or darunavir/ritonavir (DRV/r) (N = 85, Group 2) plus tenofovir/emtricitabine. The analysis of IL-6, MCP-1, sCD163, VCAM-1, ox-LDL, and adiponectine was performed on two stored plasma samples, the first prior to antiretroviral therapy initiation and the second one year after initiation. Results: The results of our analysis show a difference in ox-LDL between the two groups with higher mean (SD) values in ATV/r based group 608.5 ± 137.4 versus 519.1 ± 119.6 in DRV/r group, after controlling for baseline levels of ox-LDL as well as other potential confounding factors controlled by means of matching design or linear regression modelling. Conclusions: Our analysis provides further data examining the association between the modulation of vascular inflammatory and of activation markers with specific protease inhibitors-based treatments over one year of exposure to these drugs. The data show little evidence for an association, supporting the notion that antiretroviral regimens has generally poor efficiency in downregulating these soluble markers

The Emerging Challenge of Pain in Systemic Sclerosis: Similarity to the Pain Experience Reported by Sjőgren's Syndrome Patients

: In order to evaluate the importance of pain in systemic sclerosis (SSc), the characteristics of pain reported by patients with SSc were analyzed and compared with the characteristics of pain reported by patients with primary Sjőgren's syndrome (pSS). Pain was reported by 56 patients (80%) in a group of 70 patients with SSc and by 25 patients (78%) in a group of 32 patients with pSS. Pain severity was assessed by the Pain Rating Index (PRI) and the Present Pain Intensity (PPI) of the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) and by values obtained by a visual analog scale (VAS) indicating the intensity of pain felt in the moment of the examination and the intensity of pain felt in the week preceding the moment of the examination. No significant difference was detected in the comparison of mean values of pain indices between patients with SSc and patients with pSS and in the comparison among subgroups of patients with SSc. The data indicate that pain is a frequent and important cause of suffering in SSc as in other chronic diseases. The association of different methods may be especially useful to obtain a careful evaluation of pain in clinical research

Proceedings of the Fifth Italian Conference on Computational Linguistics CLiC-it 2018

On behalf of the Program Committee, a very warm welcome to the Fifth Italian Conference on Computational Linguistics (CLiC-­‐it 2018). This edition of the conference is held in Torino. The conference is locally organised by the University of Torino and hosted into its prestigious main lecture hall “Cavallerizza Reale”. The CLiC-­‐it conference series is an initiative of the Italian Association for Computational Linguistics (AILC) which, after five years of activity, has clearly established itself as the premier national forum for research and development in the fields of Computational Linguistics and Natural Language Processing, where leading researchers and practitioners from academia and industry meet to share their research results, experiences, and challenges