cometadata/datacite-rtg-text-other-reclassification-records huggingface dataset:
Observers and Robust Output Regulation for Nonlinear Systems
Osservatori e regolazione robusta dell'uscita per sistemi non lineari
Observateurs et régulation de sortie robuste pour des systèmes non linéaires
Creators: name: Astolfi, Daniele <1987>
Publisher: name: Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna
Year: 2016
Subjects: ING-INF/04 Automatica

description: The objective of this thesis is twofold: on one hand, the design of nonliner observers, on the other, the design of internal-model regulators to solve the robust output regulation problem.
In the observer theory a key role is played by the so called high-gain observers. The purpose of the first part of the thesis is to propose novel techniques which allow to overcome or at least to mitigate some of the main drawbacks characterizing this class of observers. Firstly, we study the possibility of writing an observer for multi-input multi-output observable systems in the original coordinates. Then, we propose a novel class of high-gain observers, denoted as ``low-power'', which allows to overcome numerical problems, to avoid the peaking phenomenon and to improve the sensitivity properties to high-frequency measurement noise.
The second part of the thesis addresses the output regulation problem, solved for linear systems during the 70's by Francis and Wonham who coined the celebrated ``internal model principle''. Constructive solutions have also been proposed in the nonlinear framework but under restrictive assumptions that reduce the class of systems to which this methodology can be applied. In this thesis we focus on the output regulation problem in presence of periodic disturbances and we propose a novel approach which allows to consider a broader class of nonlinear systems. With the proposed design the stabilization problem and the regulation problem are substantially decoupled and output regulation is achieved in presence of uncertainties or disturbances, as long as the trajectories of the resulting closed-loop system are bounded.
Physical impairments in Adults with Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH) undergoing Periacetabular osteotomy (PAO): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Creators: name: O'Brien, Michael
name: Jacobsen, JS
name: Semciw, Adam
name: Mechlenburg, I
name: Tønning, LU
name: Stewart, Christopher
name: Heerey, Joshua
name: Kemp, Joanne
Publisher: name: La Trobe
Year: 2023
Subjects: classificationCode: 42
subject: Health sciences
subject: FOS: Health sciences
classificationCode: 4201
subject: Allied health and rehabilitation science
classificationCode: 4207
subject: Sports science and exercise

description: Background Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is a condition associated with hip pain and impairments. Periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) is a common surgical treatment for DDH. Outcomes following PAO have historically been based on radiology or patient reported outcomes, and not physical impairments. Objective To investigate differences in physical impairments in adults with DDH undergoing PAO compared with asymptomatic participants, and to investigate pre-to post-PAO changes in physical impairments. Design Systematic review with meta-analysis Methods A literature search was performed in five databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, Sports Discuss, and PsychINFO), using the PRISMA checklist. Studies were considered eligible if patients were aged 15 years and older, treated with PAO for DDH and if they included a physical impairment outcome measure. Two independent reviewers performed data extraction and assessed methodological quality, using a modified version of the Downs and Black checklist. Results Of 5,017 studies, 24 studies were included with 2190 patients. The methodological quality scores ranged from 39% to 88%. With low level of evidence, meta-analysis showed 58% of patients had a positive anterior impingement test (95%CI: 39-76%), prior to PAO and one to three years after PAO. Five years after PAO, the proportion fell to 17% (95%CI: 11-24%). Prior to PAO, patients with DDH walked with a lower peak hip extension angle, compared to asymptomatic participants (SMD 0.65 (95%CI 0.21-1.10). Best evidence synthesis of non-pooled data showed limited evidence of increased walking velocity, stride length and improved hip flexion and extension moment 18-months post-PAO compared to pre-op. Cadence, hip abduction and hip flexion strength did not change. Conclusion Most patients with DDH have a positive hip impingement test, pre-PAO. Compared to asymptomatic participants, patients with DDH demonstrate physical impairments during walking which appear to improve after surgery. Hip abduction and flexion strength did not change pre-to post-PAO. Level of Evidence 1b.
Validation of high voltage power supplies for the 1-inch photomultipliers of AugerPrime, the Pierre Auger Observatory upgrade
Creators: name: Anastasi, Gioacchino Alex
name: Buscemi, Mario
name: Aglietta, Marco
name: Caruso, Rossella
name: Castellina, Antonella
name: Costa, Salvatore
name: Gallian, Silvano
name: Gorgi, Alessio
name: Guardone, Nunzio
name: Lombardo, Claudio
name: Wheadon, Richard
name: Zampieri, Antonio
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2022
Subjects: subject: Instrumentation and Detectors (physics.ins-det)
subject: High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena (astro-ph.HE)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: In the framework of the upgrade of the Pierre Auger Observatory, a new high voltage module is being employed for the power supply of the 1-inch photomultiplier added to each water-Cherenkov detector of the surface array with the aim of increasing the dynamic range of the measurements. This module is located in a dedicated box near the electronics and comprises a low consumption DC-DC converter hosted inside an aluminum box. All the modules have undergone specific tests to verify their reliability in the extreme environmental conditions of the Argentinian pampa. In this paper, we describe the validation procedure and the facility developed to this aim. The successful results of the tests on the HVPS modules are presented and discussed.
description: 11 pages, 9 figures, published on JINST as technical report
On the potential intermediacy of PhIBr2 as a brominating agent
Creators: name: Tania, Tania
name: Molino, Andrew
name: Sharp-Bucknall, Lachlan
name: Wilson, David
name: Dutton, Jason
Publisher: name: La Trobe
Year: 2023
Subjects: classificationCode: 34
subject: Chemical sciences
subject: FOS: Chemical sciences
classificationCode: 3404
subject: Medicinal and biomolecular chemistry
classificationCode: 3405
subject: Organic chemistry

description: No description supplied
Renewable Energy Electrification Investment Prospect for Sizu Island, Tanzania
Creators: name: Kyessi, Michael
name: Tarimo, Kelvin
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2025
Subjects: CEPS framework
MicrogridsPy Tool
RAMP Tool

description: Presentation on Renewable Energy Based Technological Solution for Electrification of Sizu Island, Ukerewe District, Mwanza region,Tanzania.

The study assessed renewable energy (RE) electrification investment prospects for Sizu Island using the CEPS framework. This involved developing scenarios and exploring between two distinct RE technology solutions to identify the least and optimal investment requirements.
title: Landslide Occurrence Decision Tree Model for Western Washington Featuring Precipitation
Creators: name: McDaniel, Emily
Publisher: name: George Mason University
Year: 2015
Subjects: subject: Landslide
subject: GIS
subject: Decision tree
subject: Classification
subject: Precipitation

description: Landslides pose threats not only to infrastructure around the world but also to local communities. One particularly susceptible area is the Northern Cascades Mountains in the state of Washington in the United States. This study aimed to produce a J48 decision tree model using WEKA software that accurately predicts landslides in this area by validating the predictions against those historically documented landslides in this region. The unique aspect of this study was the use of precipitation in three of the nine independent variables used to generate the classification decision tree model. Besides precipitation, other independent variables included slope, elevation, land cover type, land cover change, soil series type, and bedrock type. A historical landslide event occurrence layer posed as the dependent variable classifier in the model. First, testing subsets of instances allowed an optimal model to be created with the highest kappa statistic of 0.84 and a classification accuracy of 92%. Next, this model identified the most influential factors causing landslides by using ‘information gain’ statistics in WEKA. Average precipitation, elevation, and soil type were determined as being most influential, while surprisingly land cover and land cover change were the least. Lastly, the model’s false positive instances indicated areas of potential future landslides throughout the region. Because an accurate model was created, decision tree classification models were verified as an effective way for landslides to be predicted.
Livestock production land and conservation areas play a complementary role in the conservation of a critically endangered grassland bird
Creators: name: Nugent, Daniel
name: Baker-Gabb, David
name: Antos, M
name: Collins, Luke
name: Green, Peter
name: Morgan, John
Publisher: name: La Trobe
Year: 2023
Subjects: classificationCode: 31
subject: Biological sciences
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
classificationCode: 3103
subject: Ecology

description: In many parts of the world, livestock production and biodiversity conservation are important land uses of native grasslands in agricultural landscapes. Approaches to managing grasslands typically differ between production farms and conservation areas as they have different goals. Such differences may have consequent effects on the spatial and temporal habitat suitability for grassland fauna. In semi-arid grasslands of south-eastern Australia, the critically endangered Plains-wanderer (Pedionomus torquatus) is a grassland habitat-specialist bird that can occur on land managed for livestock production and conservation, but it is unclear if, and when, habitat suitability is affected in each land-use type. Here, we investigate how land-use type (livestock production, conservation) and rainfall (preceding accumulated rainfall) affect habitat suitability for the Plains-wanderer using 11 years of bird occurrence and remotely sensed habitat structure data. We found habitat suitability for the Plains-wanderer was driven by an interaction between land use and rainfall, with conservation areas supporting larger areas of preferred habitat structure during dry periods but less during wet periods. By contrast, Plains-wanderers were more likely to occur on livestock production farms during wet periods. We speculate this is because higher grazing pressure on livestock production farms was able to limit biomass accumulation and, hence, maintain more areas of preferred habitat structure. Our findings show that land used for livestock production can complement conservation areas by providing preferred habitat for the Plains-wanderer during climatic periods that promote grass growth. Furthermore, we highlight that land use and climate are important temporal drivers of grassland dynamics, and approaches to biodiversity conservation should consider how patterns of habitat suitability may shift across landscapes over time. Strategic, landscape-scale planning and effective agri-environmental initiatives will be critical to the future of grassland birds such as the Plains-wanderer.
title: Ancestral Affiliation and the Production of Social Identity: Investigations of Mortuary Practices among Persistent Hunter-Gatherers in Archaic Indian Knoll, Kentucky
Creators: name: Rodan, Rebecca
Publisher: name: George Mason University
Year: 2021
Subjects: subject: Hunter-gatherers
subject: Biodistance
subject: Indian Knoll
subject: Biological anthropology
subject: Mortuary anthropology
subject: Archaic

description: This thesis explores the utilization of the Archaic cemetery at Indian Knoll (ca. 4600-3500 BP) in Kentucky as a persistent mortuary landscape. Reconstructing mortuary practices and population structure among hunter-gatherers helps explain the formation of persistent places through identities affiliated with the ancestral dead. Grave good presence and absence as well as burial location within the midden was recorded. To analyze population structure, buccolingual and mesiodistal measurements were collected for each permanent tooth present for the sample. An R-matrix evaluated within-group phenotypic variation for the full sample and within temporal layers of the midden. Mantel’s partial correlation tests were employed to evaluate the relationship between biological and spatial distance within the total cemetery and between occupational layers. Phenotypic variation increased between the Deep (oldest) and Mid-Shell (intermediate) midden layers and decreased between the Mid-Shell and Low Shell (youngest) midden layers. Grave good usage became more inclusive between the Deep and Mid-Shell midden occupation, then decreased between the Mid-Shell and Low Shell midden. There were no significant correlations between biological and spatial distances. These results suggest that the social structure of the site moved from a more restricted, closely related group to a more diverse population, with a contraction in this diversity during the latest occupational phase. Burial proximity was likely a symbolic social strategy aimed at preserving the site as a persistent landscape through maintenance of social memory via adjacency to ancestral occupants.
Ablation of CD8+ T cell recognition of an immunodominant epitope in SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants BA.1, BA.2 and BA.3
Creators: name: Swaminathan, Srividhya
name: Lineburg, Katie E
name: Panikkar, Archana
name: Raju, Jyothy
name: Murdolo, Lawton
name: Szeto, Christopher
name: Crooks, Pauline
name: Le Texier, Laetitia
name: Rehan, Sweera
name: Dewar-Oldis, Michael
name: Barnard, Peter
name: Ambalathingal, George R
name: Neller, Michelle A
name: Short, Kirsty R
name: Gras, Stephanie
name: Khanna, Rajiv
name: Smith, Corey
Publisher: name: La Trobe
Year: 2023
Subjects: classificationCode: 32
subject: Biomedical and clinical sciences
classificationCode: 3204
subject: Immunology
subject: FOS: Clinical medicine

description: The emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant has raised concerns of escape from vaccine-induced immunity. A number of studies have demonstrated a reduction in antibody-mediated neutralization of the Omicron variant in vaccinated individuals. Preliminary observations have suggested that T cells are less likely to be affected by changes in Omicron. However, the complexity of human leukocyte antigen genetics and its impact upon immunodominant T cell epitope selection suggests that the maintenance of T cell immunity may not be universal. In this study, we describe the impact that changes in Omicron BA.1, BA.2 and BA.3 have on recognition by spike-specific T cells. These T cells constitute the immunodominant CD8+ T cell response in HLA-A*29:02+ COVID-19 convalescent and vaccinated individuals; however, they fail to recognize the Omicron-encoded sequence. These observations demonstrate that in addition to evasion of antibody-mediated immunity, changes in Omicron variants can also lead to evasion of recognition by immunodominant T cell responses.
Kinematic Studies of the Go/No-Go Task as a Dynamic Sensorimotor Inhibition Task for Assessment of Motor and Executive Function in Stroke Patients: An Exploratory Study in a Neurotypical Sample
Creators: name: Lamp, Gemma
name: Molina, Rosa Maria Sola
name: Hugrass, Laila
name: Beaton, Russell
name: Crewther, David
name: Crewther, Sheila
Publisher: name: La Trobe
Year: 2023
Subjects: classificationCode: 3209
subject: Neurosciences
subject: FOS: Clinical medicine
classificationCode: 52
subject: Psychology
subject: FOS: Psychology
classificationCode: 5201
subject: Applied and developmental psychology
classificationCode: 5202
subject: Biological psychology

description: Inhibition of reaching and grasping actions as an element of cognitive control and executive function is a vital component of sensorimotor behaviour that is often impaired in patients who have lost sensorimotor function following a stroke. To date, there are few kinematic studies detailing the fine spatial and temporal upper limb movements associated with the millisecond temporal trajectory of correct and incorrect responses to visually driven Go/No-Go reaching and grasping tasks. Therefore, we aimed to refine the behavioural measurement of correct and incorrect inhibitory motor responses in a Go/No-Go task for future quantification and personalized rehabilitation in older populations and those with acquired motor disorders, such as stroke. An exploratory study mapping the kinematic profiles of hand movements in neurotypical participants utilizing such a task was conducted using high-speed biological motion capture cameras, revealing both within and between subject differences in a sample of healthy participants. These kinematic profiles and differences are discussed in the context of better assessment of sensorimotor function impairment in stroke survivors.
title: Neuroscience Research in Spatial Navigation Using Robotic Animals
Creators: name: Sutton, Nate
Publisher: name: George Mason University
Year: 2020
Subjects: subject: Spatial Memory
subject: Neural Networks
subject: Grid Cells

description: The focus of this review is neuroscience research using robots programmed to navigate spatial environments using methods based on animal cognition. The use of cognition-based methods in robot navigation has multiple translational applications such as self-driving cars, and robots that handle hostile, dull, dangerous, and dirty activities. The use of robots for testing spatial cognition neural theories can provide advantages in accumulating real-world environment data, obtaining a diversity of test environments, and being able to directly reuse test environments where animal neural recordings were captured. Multiple types of neurons encode separate properties of space that are used in navigation activities, e.g., using information around one’s body to determine position while comparing that to a goal path (path integration). Research producing better knowledge of brain spatial processing mechanisms with those cell types helps inform the design of algorithms for navigation in robots. A type of advance that has been made in neural algorithm design was the inclusion of conjunctive cells modeling. The cells combine and compress sensory information in cells, e.g., visual landmarks, odors, sounds, touch, for neural computational efficiency gains. A type of challenge in navigation is simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM), which is a problem that has attracted widespread attention in the field of computer vision. An innovative approach toward SLAM that is based on rodent cognition is named RatSLAM. It uses an attractor network algorithm to process spatial information cues to understand environments, allowing the navigation to be robust to ambiguous spatial landmark information and path integration errors. RatSLAM has been expanded on with features such as merging information between robot rats toward their common objective of understanding spatial environments. Integration of advanced forms of neuromorphic hardware, for instance, International Business Machines’ (IBM) Neurosynaptic System, into robots designed for navigation enables computational efficiency gains. Research with robots designed with navigation algorithms based on neural cognition has been advanced by studies investigating multiple factors involved in the activity of navigation. Several research projects have used discoveries learned from the fields of robotic navigation and neuroscience to create new investigations that improved the state of spatial navigation science.
Organophosphate Insecticide Toxicity in Neural Development, Cognition, Behaviour and Degeneration: Insights from Zebrafish
Creators: name: Neylon, Jeremy
name: Fuller, Jarrad
name: Van-Der-Poel, Christopher
name: Church, Jarrod
name: Dworkin, Sebastian
Publisher: name: La Trobe
Year: 2023
Subjects: classificationCode: 30
subject: Agricultural, veterinary and food sciences
classificationCode: 3001
subject: Agricultural biotechnology
subject: FOS: Agricultural biotechnology

description: Organophosphate (OP) insecticides are used to eliminate agricultural threats posed by insects, through inhibition of the neurotransmitter acetylcholinesterase (AChE). These potent neurotoxins are extremely efficacious in insect elimination, and as such, are the preferred agricultural insecticides worldwide. Despite their efficacy, however, estimates indicate that only 0.1% of organophosphates reach their desired target. Moreover, multiple studies have shown that OP exposure in both humans and animals can lead to aberrations in embryonic development, defects in childhood neurocognition, and substantial contribution to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Motor Neurone Disease. Here, we review the current state of knowledge pertaining to organophosphate exposure on both embryonic development and/or subsequent neurological consequences on behaviour, paying particular attention to data gleaned using an excellent animal model, the zebrafish (Danio rerio).
Working from home during the COVID 19 pandemic: a longitudinal examination of employees’ sense of community and social support and impacts on self-rated health
Creators: name: Graham, Melissa
name: Lambert, Katrina
name: Weale, Victoria
name: Stuckey, Margaret
name: Oakman, Jodi
Publisher: name: La Trobe
Year: 2023
Subjects: classificationCode: 42
subject: Health sciences
subject: FOS: Health sciences
classificationCode: 4202
subject: Epidemiology
classificationCode: 4203
subject: Health services and systems
classificationCode: 4206
subject: Public health

description: Background: The COVID 19 pandemic resulted in the introduction of public health measures including mandated and recommended work from home orders to reduce transmission. This provided a unique opportunity to examine sense of community and social support within the workplace and self-rated general health. This paper examines employees’ workplace sense of community and social support across one year of the COVID 19 pandemic and associated self-rated general health. Methods: Analysis of longitudinal data (October 2020, May 2021, and November 2021) from the Employees Working from Home study conducted in Victoria, Australia during the COVID 19 pandemic was undertaken. Trajectory analyses were used to describe workplace sense of community and social support over time. Multinomial logistic regression was used to determine the associations between demographics, gender, caring responsibilities, and group membership based on the Growth Mixture Modelling. Generalised Mixed Models were used to measure effects of sense of community and social support on self-rated health. Results: Increasing sense of community and social support in the workplace resulted in increased self-rated health. Trajectory analysis found two stable and distinct groups for sense of community. Social support varied with time; however, trajectory membership was not dependent on gender or caring responsibilities and had no relationship with return to the office. Conclusion: Sense of community and social support in the workplace are important determinants of employees’ health, and as such, workplace strategies to improve sense of community and social support are required not only for employees working from home, but also those who have returned to the office, particularly as hybrid work arrangements become more common.
Rethinking housing affordability to advocate the design for health and wellbeing
Creators: name: Elghandour, Aya
name: Hadjri, Karim
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2023

description: Poster presented at the 21st ISQOLS Annual Conference, Rotterdam, the Netherlands, 21-25 August 2023.

(This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No 956082)
A survey of certain aspects of teacher education in some church-related colleges and universities in Texas
Creators: name: Evans, Leslie Paul, 1911-
Publisher: name: The University of Texas at Austin
Year: 1948
Subjects: subject: Teachers
subject: Texas
subject: Teacher training
subject: Teacher education
subject: Christian universities
subject: Christian colleges
subject: Church-related colleges
subject: Church-related universities
subject: History
subject: Faculty
subject: Curricula
subject: Church college students
subject: Teachers--Training of--Texas
subject: Christian universities and colleges--Texas--History
subject: Christian universities and colleges--Texas--Faculty
subject: Christian universities and colleges--Curricula--Texas
subject: Church college students--Texas

description: Although the present study is primarily interested in investigating the church-related college from the standpoint of its training program for the students who will enter the ranks of teaching personnel for the public schools of Texas, the study has been made upon the premise that the entire institution is the responsible agent for the type of graduate or ex-student who emerges from the college. While most of the colleges have education departments that are in most instances doing an effective type of training in their professional courses, it is feared that these departments are still maintained largely to meet the certificating requirements of the State Department of Education rather than to provide adequate professional education for teachers. Without trying to raise a controversial question relative to the purpose of professional courses in the college curriculum of any institution either public or private, it is the purpose of this study to treat this aspect of the training program as an integral part of the whole curriculum. In order to bring attention to the more salient aspects of teacher education as found in the church-related college in Texas, the present study has the following objectives: 1. To present certain historical and institutional characteristics of the church-related college that might be significant for a proper understanding of their contribution to the education of teachers for the public schools. 2. To survey according to certain generally recognized methods and techniques the personal and professional character of the faculties found in the church-related colleges of Texas. 3. To portray as accurately as possible certain aspects of the student personnel enrolled in undergraduate courses in education in the church-related colleges. 4. To discover certain curriculum and professional education trends found in these institutions. 5. To summarize the general aspects of teacher education in these institutions as revealed by the information presented relative to their educational programs
Impact of the first year of the “This Girl Can” physical activity and sport mass media campaign in Australia
Creators: name: Bauman, A
name: McNeil, Nicola
name: Nicholson, Matthew
name: O'Halloran, Paul
name: Seal, Emma-Louise
name: Randle, Erica
name: Stukas, Arthur
Publisher: name: La Trobe
Year: 2023
Subjects: classificationCode: 42
subject: Health sciences
subject: FOS: Health sciences
classificationCode: 4202
subject: Epidemiology
classificationCode: 4203
subject: Health services and systems
classificationCode: 4206
subject: Public health

description: Introduction: Addressing gender inequalities in physical activity is an important public health goal. A major campaign, ‘This Girl Can’ (TGC) was conducted by Sport England from 2015, and TGC was licenced in 2018 by VicHealth in Australia for development and use in a 3-year mass media campaign. The campaign was adapted through formative testing to Australian conditions and implemented within the state of Victoria. The purpose of this evaluation was to assess the initial population impact of the first wave of the TGC-Victoria. Methods: We assessed campaign impact using serial population surveys, with the target population being women living in Victoria who were not meeting the current physical activity guidelines. Two surveys were carried out before the campaign (October 2017 and March 2018), and the post-campaign survey immediately following the first wave of TGC-Victoria mass media (May 2018). Analyses were primarily on the cohort sample of 818 low-active women followed across all three surveys. We measured campaign effects using campaign awareness and recall, and self-report measures of physical activity behaviour and perceptions of being judged. Changes in perceptions of being judged and in reported physical activity were assessed in relation to campaign awareness over time. Results: Overall, TGC-Victoria campaign recall increased from 11.2% pre-campaign to 31.9% post-campaign, with campaign awareness more likely among younger and more educated women. There was a slight increase of 0.19 days in weekly physical activity following the campaign. Feeling that being judged was a barrier to physical activity declined at follow up, as did the single item perceptions of feeling judged (P < 0.01). Feeling embarrassed decreased, and self-determination increased, but exercise relevance, theory of planned behaviour and self-efficacy scores did not change. Conclusions: The initial wave of the TGC-Victoria mass media campaign showed reasonably high levels of community awareness and encouraging decreases in women feeling judged whilst being active, but these did not yet translate into overall physical activity gains. Further waves of the TGC-V campaign are in progress to reinforce these changes and further influence the perception of being judged among low-active Victorian women.
Tackling Noisy Clients in Federated Learning with End-to-end Label Correction
Creators: name: Jiang, Xuefeng
name: Sun, Sheng
name: Li, Jia
name: Xue, Jingjing
name: Li, Runhan
name: Wu, Zhiyuan
name: Xu, Gang
name: Wang, Yuwei
name: Liu, Min
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2024
Subjects: subject: Machine Learning (cs.LG)
subject: Artificial Intelligence (cs.AI)
subject: FOS: Computer and information sciences

description: Recently, federated learning (FL) has achieved wide successes for diverse privacy-sensitive applications without sacrificing the sensitive private information of clients. However, the data quality of client datasets can not be guaranteed since corresponding annotations of different clients often contain complex label noise of varying degrees, which inevitably causes the performance degradation. Intuitively, the performance degradation is dominated by clients with higher noise rates since their trained models contain more misinformation from data, thus it is necessary to devise an effective optimization scheme to mitigate the negative impacts of these noisy clients. In this work, we propose a two-stage framework FedELC to tackle this complicated label noise issue. The first stage aims to guide the detection of noisy clients with higher label noise, while the second stage aims to correct the labels of noisy clients' data via an end-to-end label correction framework which is achieved by learning possible ground-truth labels of noisy clients' datasets via back propagation. We implement sixteen related methods and evaluate five datasets with three types of complicated label noise scenarios for a comprehensive comparison. Extensive experimental results demonstrate our proposed framework achieves superior performance than its counterparts for different scenarios. Additionally, we effectively improve the data quality of detected noisy clients' local datasets with our label correction framework. The code is available at https://github.com/Sprinter1999/FedELC.
description: To appear in ACM CIKM'24 full research paper track
Applying Staged Event-Driven Access Control to Combat Ransomware
Creators: name: McIntosh, Timothy
name: Kayes, A S M
name: Chen, Yi-Ping Phoebe
name: Ng, Alex
name: Watters, Paul
Publisher: name: La Trobe
Year: 2023
Subjects: classificationCode: 46
subject: Information and computing sciences
classificationCode: 4604
subject: Cybersecurity and privacy
classificationCode: 4606
subject: Distributed computing and systems software

description: The advancement of modern Operating Systems (OSs), and the popularity of personal computing devices with Internet connectivity, have facilitated the proliferation of ransomware attacks. Ransomware has evolved from executable programs encrypting user files, to novel attack vectors including fileless command scripts, information exfiltration and human-operated ransomware. Many anti-ransomware studies have been published, but many of them assumed newer ransomware variants only performed file encryption, were similar to existing variants, and often did not consider those novel attack vectors. We have defined an updated ransomware threat model to include those novel attack vectors, and redefined false positives and false negatives in the context of ransomware mitigation. We proposed to apply both program-centric and user-centric access control to combat ransomware, but only delegate access control decisions that users are capable of making to users, while enforcing non-negotiable access control decisions by OS and software developers. We have designed a Staged Event-Driven Access Control (SEDAC) approach to incorporate both program-centric and user-centric access control measures, and demonstrated a prototype on Windows OS. Our prototype was able to intercept more types of ransomware attack vectors than existing proposals. We hope to convince OS and software architects to incorporate our design to better combat ransomware.
Learning with Digital Agents: An Analysis based on the Activity Theory
Creators: name: Dolata, Mateusz
name: Katsiuba, Dzmitry
name: Wellnhammer, Natalie
name: Schwabe, Gerhard
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2024
Subjects: subject: Human-Computer Interaction (cs.HC)
subject: Artificial Intelligence (cs.AI)
subject: FOS: Computer and information sciences

description: Digital agents are considered a general-purpose technology. They spread quickly in private and organizational contexts, including education. Yet, research lacks a conceptual framing to describe interaction with such agents in a holistic manner. While focusing on the interaction with a pedagogical agent, i.e., a digital agent capable of natural-language interaction with a learner, we propose a model of learning activity based on activity theory. We use this model and a review of prior research on digital agents in education to analyze how various characteristics of the activity, including features of a pedagogical agent or learner, influence learning outcomes. The analysis leads to identification of IS research directions and guidance for developers of pedagogical agents and digital agents in general. We conclude by extending the activity theory-based model beyond the context of education and show how it helps designers and researchers ask the right questions when creating a digital agent.
description: Authors manuscript accepted for publication in Journal of Management Information Systems
Including a Technical Factor with Physical and In-Game Movement Factors Improves Model Sensitivity When Evaluating Draft Outcome in Elite-Junior Australian Rules Football
Creators: name: Jennings, Jacob
name: Wundersitz, Daniel
name: Sullivan, Courtney
name: Cousins, Stephen
name: Kingsley, Michael
Publisher: name: La Trobe
Year: 2023
Subjects: classificationCode: 350405
subject: Sport and leisure management
classificationCode: 42
subject: Health sciences
subject: FOS: Health sciences
classificationCode: 4207
subject: Sports science and exercise

description: Determining characteristics that define talent is critical for recruitment and player development. When developing predictive models, sensitivity is important, as it describes the ability of models to identify players with draft potential (true positives). In the current literature, modelling is limited to a small number of selected variables, and model sensitivity is often poor or unreported. The aim of this study was to determine how a technical factor combined with physical and in-game movement factors affects position-specific model sensitivity when evaluating draft outcome in an elite-junior National Australia Bank (NAB) League population. Physical, in-game movement, and technical involvement data were collated from draft-eligible (18th year) participants in the under 18 boys NAB League competition (n = 465). Factors identified through parallel analysis were used in binomial regression analyses. Models using factor combinations were developed to predict draft success for all-position, nomadic, fixed-position, and fixed&ruck players. Models that best characterised draft success were all-position (physical and technical: specificity = 97.2%, sensitivity = 36.6%, and accuracy = 86.3%), nomadic (physical and technical: specificity = 95.5%, sensitivity = 40.7%, and accuracy = 85.5%), fixed (physical: specificity = 96.4%, sensitivity = 41.7%, and accuracy = 86.6%), and fixed&ruck (physical and in-game movement: specificity = 96.3%, sensitivity = 41.2%, and accuracy = 86.7%). Including a technical factor improved sensitivity in the all-position and nomadic models. Physical factors and physical and in-game movement yielded the best models for fixed-position and fixed&ruck players, respectively. Models with improved sensitivity should be sought to assist practitioners to more confidently identify the players with draft potential.
Making sense of AI systems development
Creators: name: Dolata, Mateusz
name: Crowston, Kevin
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2024
Subjects: subject: Software Engineering (cs.SE)
subject: FOS: Computer and information sciences

description: We identify and describe episodes of sensemaking around challenges in modern AI-based systems development that emerged in projects carried out by IBM and client companies. All projects used IBM Watson as the development platform for building tailored AI-based solutions to support workers or customers of the client companies. Yet, many of the projects turned out to be significantly more challenging than IBM and its clients had expected. The analysis reveals that project members struggled to establish reliable meanings about the technology, the project, context, and data to act upon. The project members report multiple aspects of the projects that they were not expecting to need to make sense of yet were problematic. Many issues bear upon the current-generation AI's inherent characteristics, such as dependency on large data sets and continuous improvement as more data becomes available. Those characteristics increase the complexity of the projects and call for balanced mindfulness to avoid unexpected problems.
description: Author's manuscript accepted for publication at IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering
Who are Australia's young heavy drinkers? A cross-sectional population study
Creators: name: Callinan, Sarah
name: Torney, Alexandra
name: Livingston, Michael
name: Caluzzi, Gabriel
name: Pennay, Amy
Publisher: name: La Trobe
Year: 2023
Subjects: classificationCode: 42
subject: Health sciences
subject: FOS: Health sciences
classificationCode: 4202
subject: Epidemiology
classificationCode: 4203
subject: Health services and systems
classificationCode: 4206
subject: Public health

description: OBJECTIVE: In light of the recent declines in youth drinking, the socio-demographic correlates of (1) annual total alcohol consumption (volume) and (2) monthly single occasion risky drinking among underage young people (14-17-year-olds) and young adults (18-24-year-olds) were examined. METHODS: Cross-sectional data were drawn from the 2019 National Drug Strategy Household Survey (n=1,547). Multivariable negative binomial regression analyses identified the socio-demographic correlates of total annual volume and monthly risky drinking. RESULTS: Those who spoke English as first language reported higher total volume and rates of monthly risky drinking. Not being in school predicted total volume for 14-17-year-olds, as did having a certificate/diploma for 18-24-year-olds. Living in affluent areas predicted a greater total volume for both age groups, and risky drinking for 18-24-year-olds. Young men in regional areas and working in labour and logistics reported higher total volume than young women in the same groups. CONCLUSIONS: There are important differences among young heavy drinkers related to gender, cultural background, socio-economic status, education, regionality and work industry. IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH: Prevention strategies that are sensitively tailored towards high risk groups (e.g. young men in regional areas and working in trade and logistics) may be of public health benefit.
Transformational Mentoring Experiences for First Nations Young People: A Scoping Review
Creators: name: McMahon, Mishel
name: Chisholm, Michael
name: Yenara, Aldara
name: Garling, Tanya
name: Vogels, Werner
name: Van-Vuuren, Julia
name: Modderman, Corina
Publisher: name: La Trobe
Year: 2023
Subjects: classificationCode: 44
subject: Human society
classificationCode: 4407
subject: Policy and administration
classificationCode: 4409
subject: Social work
classificationCode: 45
subject: Indigenous studies

description: While Aboriginal youth mentoring has been used as a teaching process for thousands of years and the tradition continues, little attention has been paid to documenting what elements make learning experiences transformational. As part of the evaluation of the Aldara Yenara mentoring program, this Aboriginal-led scoping review examined literature about transformational mentoring programs from Canada, Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand to understand their key elements and provide guidance for future research and practice. The use of relational mapping was applied in an attempt to locate literature written by Aboriginal scholars including grey literature. Twenty-seven documents were reviewed including 20 from the peer-reviewed literature and seven acquired through the relational mapping. A total of 13 met the inclusion criteria, predominantly written by non-Aboriginal authors. Four distinct themes emerged and informed our narrative synthesis. Absent in this material, largely neither led nor owned by Aboriginal people, was any reference to connection to Country as central to Aboriginal transformational healing programs. Without Aboriginal leadership, communication and processes in these programs, there was a failure to draw on Aboriginal understandings of healing spaces. From here on in, research and practice in this area must be Aboriginal-led to ensure deeper, Aboriginal-informed understandings for First Nations transformational mentoring programs.
A common allele of HLA is associated with asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection
Creators: name: Augusto, Danillo G
name: Murdolo, Lawton
name: Chatzileontiadou, Dimitra
name: Sabatino, Joseph J
name: Yusufali, Tasneem
name: Peyser, Noah D
name: Butcher, Xochitl
name: Kizer, Kerry
name: Guthrie, Karoline
name: Murray, Victoria W
name: Pae, Vivian
name: Sarvadhavabhatla, Sannidhi
name: Beltran, Fiona
name: Gill, Gurjot S
name: Lynch, Kara L
name: Yun, Cassandra
name: Maguire, Colin T
name: Peluso, Michael J
name: Hoh, Rebecca
name: Henrich, Timothy J
name: Deeks, Steven G
name: Davidson, Michelle
name: Lu, Scott
name: Goldberg, Sarah A
name: Kelly, J Daniel
name: Martin, Jeffrey N
name: Vierra-Green, Cynthia A
name: Spellman, Stephen R
name: Langton, David J
name: Dewar-Oldis, Michael
name: Smith, Corey
name: Barnard, Peter
name: Lee, Sulggi
name: Marcus, Gregory M
name: Olgin, Jeffrey E
name: Pletcher, Mark J
name: Maiers, Martin
name: Gras, Stephanie
name: Hollenbach, Jill A
Publisher: name: La Trobe
Year: 2023
Subjects: classificationCode: 32
subject: Biomedical and clinical sciences
classificationCode: 3204
subject: Immunology
subject: FOS: Clinical medicine
classificationCode: 3207
subject: Medical microbiology
classificationCode: 4202
subject: Epidemiology

description: Studies have demonstrated that at least 20% of individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 remain asymptomatic1-4. Although most global efforts have focused on severe illness in COVID-19, examining asymptomatic infection provides a unique opportunity to consider early immunological features that promote rapid viral clearance. Here, postulating that variation in the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) loci may underly processes mediating asymptomatic infection, we enrolled 29,947 individuals, for whom high-resolution HLA genotyping data were available, in a smartphone-based study designed to track COVID-19 symptoms and outcomes. Our discovery cohort (n = 1,428) comprised unvaccinated individuals who reported a positive test result for SARS-CoV-2. We tested for association of five HLA loci with disease course and identified a strong association between HLA-B*15:01 and asymptomatic infection, observed in two independent cohorts. Suggesting that this genetic association is due to pre-existing T cell immunity, we show that T cells from pre-pandemic samples from individuals carrying HLA-B*15:01 were reactive to the immunodominant SARS-CoV-2 S-derived peptide NQKLIANQF. The majority of the reactive T cells displayed a memory phenotype, were highly polyfunctional and were cross-reactive to a peptide derived from seasonal coronaviruses. The crystal structure of HLA-B*15:01-peptide complexes demonstrates that the peptides NQKLIANQF and NQKLIANAF (from OC43-CoV and HKU1-CoV) share a similar ability to be stabilized and presented by HLA-B*15:01. Finally, we show that the structural similarity of the peptides underpins T cell cross-reactivity of high-affinity public T cell receptors, providing the molecular basis for HLA-B*15:01-mediated pre-existing immunity.
Better Locally Private Sparse Estimation Given Multiple Samples Per User
Creators: name: Ma, Yuheng
name: Jia, Ke
name: Yang, Hanfang
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2024
Subjects: subject: Machine Learning (stat.ML)
subject: Machine Learning (cs.LG)
subject: Methodology (stat.ME)
subject: FOS: Computer and information sciences

description: Previous studies yielded discouraging results for item-level locally differentially private linear regression with $s^*$-sparsity assumption, where the minimax rate for $nm$ samples is $\mathcal{O}(s^{*}d / nm\varepsilon^2)$. This can be challenging for high-dimensional data, where the dimension $d$ is extremely large. In this work, we investigate user-level locally differentially private sparse linear regression. We show that with $n$ users each contributing $m$ samples, the linear dependency of dimension $d$ can be eliminated, yielding an error upper bound of $\mathcal{O}(s^{*2} / nm\varepsilon^2)$. We propose a framework that first selects candidate variables and then conducts estimation in the narrowed low-dimensional space, which is extendable to general sparse estimation problems with tight error bounds. Experiments on both synthetic and real datasets demonstrate the superiority of the proposed methods. Both the theoretical and empirical results suggest that, with the same number of samples, locally private sparse estimation is better conducted when multiple samples per user are available.