EFSIS: Ensemble Feature Selection Integrating Stability

Ensemble learning that can be used to combine the predictions from multiple learners has been widely applied in pattern recognition, and has been reported to be more robust and accurate than the individual learners. This ensemble logic has recently also been more applied in feature selection. There are basically two strategies for ensemble feature selection, namely data perturbation and function perturbation. Data perturbation performs feature selection on data subsets sampled from the original dataset and then selects the features consistently ranked highly across those data subsets. This has been found to improve both the stability of the selector and the prediction accuracy for a classifier. Function perturbation frees the user from having to decide on the most appropriate selector for any given situation and works by aggregating multiple selectors. This has been found to maintain or improve classification performance. Here we propose a framework, EFSIS, combining these two strategies. Empirical results indicate that EFSIS gives both high prediction accuracy and stability.Comment: 20 pages, 3 figure

Concept mapping and other formalisms as mindtools for representing knowledge

We seek to provide an alternative theoretical perspective on concept mapping (a formalism for representing structural knowledge) to that provided by Ray McAleese in this issue of ALT-J (auto-monitoring). We begin with an overview of concept maps as a means of describing a learner's knowledge constructs, and then discuss a broader class of tools, Mindtools, of which concept maps are a member. We proceed by defining Mindtools as formalisms for representing knowledge, and further elaborate on concept maps as a formalism for representing a particular kind of knowledge: structural knowledge. We then address McAleese's use of the term auto-monitoring and some of the steps in his model of concept maps. Finally, we describe some limitations of concept mapping as a formalism and as a cognitive learning strategy

Myocardial protection by insulin at reperfusion requires early administration and is mediated via Akt and p70s6 kinase cell-survival signaling

The "metabolic cocktail" comprising glucose-insulin-potassium administrated at reperfusion reduces infarct size in the in vivo rat heart. We propose that insulin is the major component mediating this protection and acts via Akt prosurvival signaling. This hypothesis was studied in isolated perfused rat hearts (measuring infarct size to area of risk [%]) subjected to 35 minutes regional myocardial ischemia and 2 hours reperfusion. Insulin administered at the onset of reperfusion attenuated infarct size by 45% versus control hearts (P<0.001). Insulin-mediated cardioprotection was found to be independent of the presence of glucose at reperfusion. Moreover, the cell survival benefit of insulin is temporally dependent, in that insulin administration from the onset of reperfusion and maintained for either 15 minutes or for the duration of reperfusion reduced infarct size. In contrast, protection was abrogated if insulin administration was delayed until 15 minutes into reperfusion. Pharmacological inhibition of both upstream and downstream signals in the Akt prosurvival pathway abolished the cardioprotective effects of insulin. Here coadministration of insulin with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor lavendustin A, the phosphatidylinositol3-kinase (PI3-kinase) inhibitor wortmannin, and mTOR/p70s6 kinase inhibitor rapamycin abolished cardioprotection. Steady-state levels of activated/phosphorylated Akt correlated with insulin administration. Finally, downstream prosurvival targets of Akt including p70s6 kinase and BAD were modulated by insulin. In conclusion, insulin administration at reperfusion reduces myocardial infarction, is dependent on early administration during reperfusion, and is mediated via Akt and p70s6 kinase dependent signaling pathway. Moreover, BAD is maintained in its inert phosphorylated state in response to insulin therapy

For Richer or Poorer: The Warren Court\u27s Relationship to Socioeconomic Class

The U.S. Constitution does not enshrine socioeconomic rights. Why does this matter? Many argue that socioeconomic rights have value in and of themselves because they secure certain minimum conditions of human dignity, but socioeconomic rights also have instrumental value because abject material deprivation often makes traditional political and civil rights meaningless. In this thesis, I explore the relationship between U.S. constitutional law and socioeconomic rights through an analysis of the Warren Court’s decisions regarding socioeconomic class. In Chapter 1, I present existing literature on socioeconomic rights, socioeconomic rights in the American context, and what many scholars see as the Warren Court’s exceptional role in advancing the recognition of constitutional socioeconomic rights. In Chapter 2, I closely examine five Warren Court cases that implicated socioeconomic class and, possibly, socioeconomic rights, and I identify three distinct rights-based arguments related to socioeconomic class advanced by the Court. In Chapter 3, I argue that the Warren Court did not, in fact, come very close to the recognition of constitutional socioeconomic rights but, rather, pursued another important goal, guaranteeing the worth of political and civil rights for people of low socioeconomic class. I also invoke Dworkin’s concept of law as integrity, arguing that an accurate understanding of the Warren Court’s relationship to socioeconomic class shows that the Warren Court advanced integrity in the law. Ultimately, this thesis seeks to correct what I argue are misunderstandings of the Warren Court’s legacy as it relates to rights

The Leadership Experience of Academic Chief Nurse Administrators in the State of Georgia During the COVID-19 Pandemic Upon Return to Campus After Full Virtual Instruction: A Qualitative Study

The impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic has been rated as the highest factor of intent to leave the profession in nurses serving in a leadership role. During the pandemic, crisis leadership swept across academia partly because nursing academia was not prepared for the rapid transition to virtual instruction. The reopening of nursing programs, while pandemic restrictions were still required, caused unprecedented disruptions and stress for academic leaders. One-third of nursing faculty anticipate retirement within the next two years. With the present burnout and shortage of nursing academia leaders, there was a need to explore the lived experience of academic chief nurse administrators (ACNAs) to illuminate the phenomena of crisis leadership during the pandemic and the effects of the pandemic on nursing academic leadership. The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experience of ACNAs in pre-licensure nursing programs (PLNPs) who returned to campus after full virtual instruction due to the pandemic. This qualitative study utilized descriptive phenomenology through Husserlian phenomenology with Colaizzi’s method of data analysis as the philosophical and methodological framework. The sample included ACNAs in the state of Georgia who had been serving in their role since the onset of the pandemic, held a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or above, were a registered nurse (RN), and served in a PLNP that went to full virtual instruction during the pandemic. One-on-one semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven participants. Interviews were completed via Zoom®. Four themes emerged: ACNA Leadership and Challenges During a Pandemic on Campus; Navigating Leadership Challenges and Obstacles During an Ongoing Pandemic on Campus; Managing Support and Work-Life Balance; and Reflection and Moving Forward as an ACNA Leader. This study illuminated ACNAs\u27 leadership experiences during a global pandemic, when they were confronted with experiences no one had seen before. The results highlighted ACNAs\u27 strengths and weaknesses. ACNAs can use these results to determine the professional development needed to improve their weaknesses and utilize their strengths to mentor other, and future, ACNAs. Furthermore, this study’s results can help current and future ACNAs understand the importance of having mentorship and leadership tools for future crises

A systematic review of association between organic environmental pollutants and testicular cancer

Objective There is an increasing incidence of testicular cancer in the world, which cannot be explained by factors as increasing life expectancy as this type of cancer typically affects young men. Particularly in certain countries that also score high on the Human Development Index (HDI) the incidence of testicular cancer is high, and as countries increase the HDI so does the incidence of testicular cancer. It is hypothesized that something introduced in the environment may induce with testicular cancer, like organic environmental pollutants. The research question for this review was articulated as: “A systematic review of association between organic environmental pollutants and testicular cancer” Methods A systematic literature in PubMed search was conducted on the 23rd of October 2019. The search involved articles published the last ten years. Inclusion criteria were articles reviewing the effects organic environmental pollutants have on cell mechanisms that could be linked to the development of testicular cancer, or incidents that could be linked to exposure. Articles involving cancer treatment, or other effects organic environmental pollutants have on human health were excluded. After sorting out the relevant articles there were a total of 28 articles to be used in this systematic review. Results After a selection process the literature search yielded 20 articles that were included in this research, most of which were reviews. The articles presented conflicting conclusions, while some supported the hypothesis of an association between organic environmental pollutants and testicular cancer, others did not imply association. Conclusion There has been done too little research on this field to conclude whether organic environmental pollutants have a causal effect on the development of testicular cancer. However, some articles suggested that there could be an association. Especially cell studies demonstrated an effect of organic environmental pollutants on cell components. Further research on the field of environmental pollutants and the development of testicular cancer is therefore needed