cometadata/datacite-rtg-text-other-reclassification-records huggingface dataset:
Nanocoating with plant-derived pectins activates osteoblast response in vitro
Creators: name: Folkert, J.
name: Meresta, A.
name: Gaber, T.
name: Miksch, K.
name: Buttgereit, F.
name: Detert, J.
name: Pischon, N.
name: Gurzawska, K.
Publisher: name: Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Year: 2017
Subjects: subject: nanocoatings
subject: osseointegration
subject: osteoblasts
subject: mineralization
subject: Rhamnogalacturonan-I
subject: 600 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften::610 Medizin und Gesundheit

description: Abstract: A new strategy to improve osseointegration of implants is to stimulate adhesion of bone cells, bone matrix formation, and mineralization at the implant surface by modifying surface coating on the nanoscale level. Plant-derived pectins have been proposed as potential candidates for surface nanocoating of orthopedic and dental titanium implants due to 1) their osteogenic stimulation of osteoblasts to mineralize and 2) their ability to control pectin structural changes. The aim of this study was to evaluate in vitro the impact of the nanoscale plant-derived pectin Rhamnogalacturonan-I (RG-I) from potato on the osteogenic response of murine osteoblasts. RG-I from potato pulps was isolated, structurally modified, or left unmodified. Tissue culture plates were either coated with modified RG-I or unmodified RG-I or – as a control – left uncoated. The effect of nanocoating on mice osteoblast- like cells MC3T3-E1 and primary murine osteoblast with regard to proliferation, osteogenic response in terms of mineralization, and gene expression of Runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), alkaline phosphate (Alpl), osteocalcin (Bglap), α-1 type I collagen (Col1a1), and receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (Rankl) were analyzed after 3, 7, 14, and 21 days, respectively. Nanocoating with pectin RG-Is increased proliferation and mineralization of MC3T3-E1 and primary osteoblast as compared to osteoblasts cultured without nanocoating. Moreover, osteogenic transcriptional response of osteoblasts was induced by nanocoating in terms of gene induction of Runx2, Alpl, Bglap, and Col1a1 in a time-dependent manner – of note – to the highest extent under the PA-coating condition. In contrast, Rankl expression was initially reduced by nanocoating in MC3T3-E1 or remained unaltered in primary osteoblast as compared to the uncoated controls. Our results showed that nanocoating of implants with modified RG-I beneficially 1) supports osteogenesis, 2) has the capacity to improve osseointegration of implants, and is therefore 3) a potential candidate for nanocoating of bone implants.
Functional Characteristics of the Naked Mole Rat μ-Opioid Receptor
Creators: name: Busch-Dienstfertig, Melanie
name: Roth, Clarisse A.
name: Stein, Christoph
Publisher: name: Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Year: 2013
Subjects: subject: 600 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften::610 Medizin und Gesundheit

description: While humans and most animals respond to µ-opioid receptor (MOR) agonists with analgesia and decreased aggression, in the naked mole rat (NMR) opioids induce hyperalgesia and severe aggression. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the human mu-opioid receptor gene (OPRM1) can underlie altered behavioral responses to opioids. Therefore, we hypothesized that the primary structure of the NMR MOR may differ from other species. Sequencing of the NMR oprm1 revealed strong homology to other mammals, but exposed three unique amino acids that might affect receptor-ligand interactions. The NMR and rat oprm1 sequences were cloned into mammalian expression vectors and transfected into HEK293 cells. Radioligand binding and 3'-5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) enzyme immunoassays were used to compare opioid binding and opioid- mediated cAMP inhibition. At normalized opioid receptor protein levels we detected significantly lower [3H]DAMGO binding to NMR compared to rat MOR, but no significant difference in DAMGO-induced cAMP inhibition. Strong DAMGO- induced MOR internalization was detectable using radioligand binding and confocal imaging in HEK293 cells expressing rat or NMR receptor, while morphine showed weak or no effects. In summary, we found minor functional differences between rat and NMR MOR suggesting that other differences e.g. in anatomical distribution of MOR underlie the NMR's extreme reaction to opioids.
High throughput sequencing of small RNAs reveals dynamic microRNAs expression of lipid metabolism during Camellia oleifera and C. meiocarpa seed natural drying
Creators: name: Feng, Jin-Ling
name: Yang, Zhi-Jian
name: Chen, Shi-Pin
name: El-Kassaby, Yousry A.
name: Chen, Hui
Publisher: name: BioMed Central
Year: 2017

description: Background: Camellia species are ancient oilseed plants with a history of cultivation over two thousand years. Prior to oil extraction, natural seed drying is often practiced, a process affecting fatty acid quality and quantity. MicroRNAs (miRNA) of lipid metabolism associated with camellia seed natural drying are unexplored. To obtain insight into the function of miRNAs in lipid metabolism during natural drying, Illumina sequencing of C. oleifera and C. meiocarpa small-RNA was conducted. Results A total of 274 candidate miRNAs were identified and 3733 target unigenes were annotated by performing a BLASTX. Through integrated GO and KEGG function annotation, 23 miRNA regulating 131 target genes were identified as lipid metabolism, regulating fatty acid biosynthesis, accumulation and catabolism. We observed one, two, and four miRNAs of lipid metabolism which were specially expressed in C. Meiocarpa, C. oleifera, and the two species collectively, respectively. At 30% moisture contents, C. meiocarpa and C. oleifer produced nine and eight significant differentially expressed miRNAs, respectively, with high fatty acid synthesis and accumulation activities. Across the two species, 12 significant differentially expressed miRNAs were identified at the 50% moisture content. Conclusions Sequencing of small-RNA revealed the presence of 23 miRNAs regulating lipid metabolism in camellia seed during natural drying and permitted comparative miRNA profiles between C. Meiocarpa and C. oleifera. Furthermore, this study successfully identified the best drying environment at which the quantity and quality of lipid in camellia seed are at its maximum.
Archaeology and Politics of the Bears Ears National Monument in Utah
Creators: name: Lipe, William D.
Publisher: name: Washington State University
Year: 2018
Subjects: Bears Ears National Monument
Archaeology

description: This presentation discusses the state of the Bears Ears National Monument after President Trump reduced its size in 2017. It also discuss the provisions of the 1906 Antiquities Act that allowed President Obama to designate the Bears Ears Monument in 2016 at the end of his last term as President. Also discussed is the emerging power of the tribal coalition that has now been successful in getting the size of the Monument restored by President Biden.
Effect of dsDNA binding to SmD-derived peptides on clinical accuracy in the diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus
Creators: name: Mahler, Michael
name: Waka, Aderajew
name: Hiepe, F.
name: Fritzler, Marvin J.
Publisher: name: Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Year: 2007
Subjects: subject: 600 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften::610 Medizin und Gesundheit

description: Systemic lupus erythematosus is characterized by antibodies to a variety of intracellular self-antigens, such as dsDNA and Sm, and these serve as hallmarks in the diagnosis of systemic autoimmune diseases. Several studies have shown that SmD1 and SmD3 synthetic peptides represent highly functional antigens for autoantibody detection and thus for diagnostic applications. The present study analysed the technical and clinical accuracy of an anti-SmD1 (amino acids 83–119) and an anti-SmD3 (amino acids 108–122) ELISA for the detection of anti-Sm antibodies. Depending on the cut-off value of the SmD1 ELISA, we found a high degree of concordance between the two tests. At an optimized cut-off value of 100 units for SmD1 we found the same clinical sensitivity (12.5%) and specificity (100%) in a group of systemic lupus erythematosus patients (n = 48) and in controls (n = 99). The concordance at this cut-off value was 100% (P < 0.0001; χ2 = 127.61). Using a second panel of sera (n = 65) preselected based on positive anti-Sm results, we confirmed the high degree of concordance between the two assays. Using dsDNA-coated ELISA plates and biotinylated peptides we confirmed the high dsDNA binding properties for SmD1, which were significantly higher than the SmD3-derived peptide. However, no cross-linking of anti-dsDNA antibodies to SmD1 was observed after adding increasing amounts of dsDNA to anti-dsDNA positive, anti-SmD1 negative serum. We therefore conclude that the reported difference in the sensitivity is related to the different cut-off levels and not to the detection of anti-dsDNA antibodies bridged via dsDNA to the SmD1 peptide. Moreover, we found that a subpopulation of anti-Sm antibodies cross-reacted with SmD1 and SmD3. Taken together, the data indicate that both SmD peptide ELISAs represent accurate assays and may be used as important standards for the detection of anti-Sm antibodies.
Playing it SMART: increasing transfer student and URM undergraduate student success through undergraduate research combined with group support
Creators: name: Shemer, Gidi
Publisher: name: Frontiers Media SA
Year: 2024

description: Increasing retention rates in STEM disciplines has been a primary goal among universities in recent years. Special attention has been given to increase STEM retention among underrepresented populations in those fields. However, one group of students that remains understudied but faces specific challenges is the transfer (TR) student population. TR students, and especially those who transfer from community colleges (CC-TR) in the US, often face academic and mental hurdles, loss of a sense of academic belonging, and adjustment challenges, sometime described as the “transfer shock.” Undergraduate research, an experience that has been shown to promote student success, is often not pursued by STEM TR students due to a heavy load in their new 4-year university. We hypothesized that combining summer undergraduate research in STEM labs with intense group activities that focused on group support, development of research-related skills, and promotion of a sense of belonging, would increase rates of research participation after the summer among transfer students. Moreover, we hypothesized that such an intervention would promote student retention and academic success. Our research demonstrates that this intervention, through a summer program in an R1 university, served as a validating experience that increased participation in STEM research after the program, provided the students with academic skills, and improved graduation and STEM retention of TR and URM students. We believe that this intervention may serve as a model to promote student success among transfer and URM students.
The Imperialism of Performative Rationality: Commissions of Inquiry into Britain’s Indentured Labor System, 1836–1918
Creators: name: Cochran, Robert Brently Knarr
Publisher: name: Brandeis University
Year: 2024
Subjects: commission
imperialism
indenture
inquiry
labor systems
South Asians
South Asian studies

description: In the wake of chattel slavery's abolition and the early termination of apprenticeship, sugar planters and government officials collaborated to create a new system of bound labor in which hundreds of thousands of Asian men and women, known as “coolies” or girmityas, were transported to Britain’s tropical colonies as indentured laborers. Throughout the system’s existence, imperial and colonial governments appointed various commissions of inquiry, themselves a centuries-old British political tradition, to investigate this racialized labor system and address recurring allegations of abuses. These inquiries frequently did lead to legislative reforms of the system. However, they also functioned to negotiate with and defuse humanitarianism, as means of performing good governance, as public performances to resolve colonial social dramas, and as political tools attempting to quell dissent. I investigate the nature and functions of commissions of inquiry into indenture in colonies such as Mauritius, British Guiana, and Fiji from the 1830s until and even beyond the system's abolition in 1917. By drawing upon official reports, governmental and personal correspondence, published memoirs, pamphlets, and newspapers, I investigate the investigators and ask how, and to what end, the practical performance of rational inquiry functioned in its colonial contexts. In so doing, I reconstruct the events surrounding each commission in detail and explore how these commissions originated and operated, then demonstrate how such inquiries – together with the reforms they stimulated and the colonial knowledge they created – legitimated and sustained a system of racialized dependent labor in a post-emancipation empire of professedly free labor and free trade. My work thus contributes to the fields of British imperial history and the history of Asian indenture by demonstrating the contested nature of imperial governance, the involvement of humanitarian organizations in maintaining empire, and the role of scandal and inquiry in sustaining systems of racialized inequality and exploitation.
A relational basis for program construction by parts.
Creators: name: Frappier, Marc.
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 1995
Subjects: subject: Computer Science.

description: Program construction by parts consists of tackling a complex specification one component at a time, developing a partially defined solution for each component, then combining the partial solutions into a global solution for the aggregate specification. This method is desirable whenever the specification at hand is too complex to be grasped in all its detail. It is feasible whenever the specification at hand is structured as an aggregate of clearly defined subspecifications--where each subspecification represents a simple functional requirement. Our approach is based on relational specifications, whereby a specification is described by a binary relation. The set of relational specifications is naturally ordered by the refinement ordering, which provides a lattice-like structure. The join of two specifications S and $S\sp\prime$ is the specification that carries all the functional features of S and all the functional features of $S\sp\prime$. Complex specifications are naturally structured as the join of simpler subspecifications. On this basis, we have defined a language where specifications and programs can be represented. This language can represent specifications and programs can be represented. This language can represent specifications (structured as joins), programs (structured by means of traditional Pascal-like control structures) and intermediate designs (by means of a mixture of specification constructs and program constructs). Also, we have provided a set of rules for transforming a specification into a program, by changing a representation in this language from a specification structuring into a program structuring. The transformations we propose are correctness preserving in the sense that they map one representation into a more refined representation.
Native American Programs Newsletter, 2022
Creators: name: Washington State University Native American Programs
Publisher: name: Washington State University
Year: 2022
Subjects: Native North Americans

description: Newsletter includes: Message from NASS Director; Semester in Review; Tribal Relations/Recruitment; Tribal Nation Building Leadership Program (TNBL) & New Beginnings for Tribal Students (NBTS) Research; TNBL Student Spotlight; Welcome Dr. Ryan Booth; Upcoming Programs; Pre-Health Tutoring Services
Vocabulary comprehension of advanced ESL learners in academic reading: A collective case study
Creators: name: Kim, Heuwon
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 2003
Subjects: subject: Education, Language and Literature.

description: This study explored ESL speakers' vocabulary comprehension of unfamiliar words. The researcher examined the ways the participants dealt with unfamiliar vocabulary, factors that influenced their vocabulary comprehension strategies, and word retention rates. For data collection, the participants' vocabulary sizes were measured. Also, they were asked to record unfamiliar words that they encountered. Two interviews were also carried out. Finally, a vocabulary achievement test was given. The findings may help ESL practitioners more effectively facilitate the second language vocabulary development of their students. First, practitioners should be more aware of individual learner differences and similarities in vocabulary comprehension approaches. Second, they can guide their learners to be aware of the benefits of thematically related extensive reading in vocabulary learning. Consciousness-raising about the importance of vocabulary knowledge in text comprehension will increase learner attention to unknown words in text comprehension. Finally, practitioners can guide their learners to be aware of their own learning strategies.
Use of Non-Saccharomyces Yeasts for Reducing the Ethanol Contents of Red Wine
Creators: name: Aplin, Jesse Joshua
Publisher: name: Washington State University
Year: 2019
Subjects: Ethanol

description: Yeasts isolated from Washington vineyards were investigated for their abilities to reduce alcohol contents of red wines. An initial evaluation of carbohydrate and nitrogen utilization was conducted in high sugar (>300 g/L glucose and fructose) grape musts using four non-Saccharomyces yeasts (Candida californica, Metschnikowia pulcherrima, Meyerozyma caribbica, and Wickerhamomyces anomalus). When inoculated into Syrah grape must six days prior to S. cerevisiae, non-Saccharomyces yeasts influenced concentrations of glycerol and volatile aromas, and lower concentrations of ethanol were observed in ferments with C. californica and Mt. pulcherrima. In a broader screening, 16 species of non-Saccharomyces yeasts were investigated for their ability to metabolize sugar without ethanol production when inoculated into Merlot must (310 g/L glucose and fructose) six days before S. cerevisiae without and with added oxygen. Five species (Mt. chrysoperlae, Mt. pulcherrima, My. guilliermondii, Pichia kluyveri, and P. membranifaciens) produced wines with significantly less ethanol without excessive acetic acid accumulation. When inoculated into Merlot must containing less sugar (266 g/L glucose and fructose) three days prior to S. cerevisiae, dry wines (?? 2 g/L glucose and fructose) with significantly less ethanol were obtained using Mt. pulcherrima and My. guilliermondii. Synthetic media sequentially inoculated with Mt. pulcherrima then S. cerevisiae, which contained 2.4 to 3.0% less ethanol than cultures fermented with S. cerevisiae alone, confirmed lower ethanol production by Mt. pulcherrima. Conducting larger-scale fermentations (100 L) with unsterilized Merlot grape musts, wines with Mt. pulcherrima contained 0.9% v/v less ethanol than wines inoculated solely with S. cerevisiae. Finally, sensory evaluations were conducted on Merlot wines fermented under winery conditions with Mt. pulcherrima or My. guilliermondii yeasts. Mt. pulcherrima generated wines with 1.1% v/v less ethanol than wines fermented only with S. cerevisiae which were characterized by 'estery' and fruit-associated aromas and flavors. While My. guilliermondii did not affect ethanol content, wines fermented with this yeast exhibited 'berry' and 'woody' aromas and/or flavors with heightened astringency. Overall, this research demonstrates the potential to produce wines with lower alcohol content without compromising wine quality using Mt. pulcherrima isolated from Washington vineyards.
An ecological analysis of residential break and enter in Ottawa: The pilot project.
Creators: name: Ingram, Paul K.
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 1989
Subjects: subject: Sociology, Criminology and Penology.

description: Summary. The main objective of this thesis was to provide specific knowledge of residential break and enters in Ottawa and Vanier from which various policies and strategies could be developed by the Ottawa Police Force to combat this crime. This thesis acted as a test pilot project. An areal study of residential break and enter was conducted to focus on the patterns of distribution of this crime throughout the cities of Ottawa and Vanier. The areal analysis identified clusters of offences within the city and an ecological analysis of these clusters, involving such objective measures as demographic, socio-economic, and living conditions were used to demonstrate their evironmental correlates. Proximity to an offender and affluence of the area were identified as factors associated with the break and enter rates during this test period. The third and final objective of this thesis involved recommendations for changes to and introduction of new strategies for combating residential break and enter. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)
IT’S ON YOU! THE DEVELOPMENT AND ASSESSMENT OF AN INSTAGRAM-BASED SOCIAL NORMS MESSAGE TO INCREASE BYSTANDER INTERVENTION AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS
Creators: name: Couto Fazio De Albuquerque Lira, Leticia
Publisher: name: Washington State University
Year: 2024
Subjects: bystander intervention
sexual violence
social media

description: Health messaging can be a successful tool in encouraging pro-social behavior, such as bystander intervention in sexual violence situations. This dissertation explored the development of a social media message to encourage bystander intervention among college students using multiple theoretical frameworks: social norms approach and bystander intervention barriers. After the development of these messages, an experiment was conducted to assess the effect of the messages on attitudes, perceived norms, efficacy, intentions to intervene, and intentions to take responsibility as they relate to bystander intervention. The experiment conditions were four: a norms-based condition, a behavior-based condition, a combination condition, and a control condition. The norms-based condition had an effect on perceived norms and intentions to intervene. The combination condition had an effect on intentions to intervene. These results have implications for our current understanding of bystander intervention models and message development to encourage bystander intervention in sexual violence situations among college students.
Update over de voortgang en resultaten Wikipedian-in-Residence project van de Koninklijke Bibliotheek en het Nationaal Archief - 19-02-2014
Creators: name: Janssen, Olaf
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2024
Subjects: progress report
Wikipedian in Residence
GLAM
Olaf Janssen
Koninklijke Bibliotheek
KB, national library of the Netherlands
Wikipedia
Wikimedia
GLAMwiki
National Archives of the Netherlands
Nationaal Archief

description: Nederlands: Update over de voortgang en resultaten van het Wikipedian-in-Residence project van de Koninklijke Bibliotheek en het Nationaal Archief dd 19-2-2014

 

English:  Progress report (in Dutch) on the Wikipedian-in-Residence project of the national library and national archives of the Netherlands dd 19-2-2014
Negotiated resilience
Creators: name: Harris, Leila
name: Chu, Eric
name: Ziervogel, Gina, 1975-
Publisher: name: The University of British Columbia
Year: 2019

description: Resilience thinking has been roundly critiqued for not accounting for the political – and inherently power-laden – structures that shape decision-making. In light of the range of critiques as well as the increasing global momentum around resilience thinking, this paper develops the concept of ‘Negotiated Resilience.’ The concept highlights processes of negotiation to situate, ground, and operationalize ‘resilience.’ The concept puts particular accent on the procedural orientation of resilience – it is not something that ‘exists’ and that we can uniformly define, rather it is a process that requires engagement with diverse actors and interests, both in specific places and across scales. Negotiation also inevitably entails contestation and an ongoing consideration of diverse options and trade-offs. We suggest that when considering the inherent complexities of resilience, we would do better to explicitly theorize, analyze, and speak to these negotiations.
Central effects of peripheralley administered AT(1)-receptor blockers.
Creators: name: Zhang, Jing.
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 2001
Subjects: subject: Health Sciences, Pharmacology.

description: We investigated in Wistar rats (1) the effectiveness of peripheral administration of two AT1-receptor blockers (losartan and embusartan) to cause central AT1-receptor blockade, and (2) whether chronic peripheral treatment with losartan or embursartan can exert sufficient central effects to prevent the central effects of ouabain and sodium. In the first set of experiments, losartan or embursartan at 30 and 100 mg/kg were administered subcutaneously (sc) as a single dose or 1 dose daily for 6 days. The BP responses to intracerebroventricular (icv) injection of Ang II, icv infusion of Na +-rich aCSF (0.3 M NaCl) and intravenous (iv) injection of Ang II were then measured. In the second set of experiments, losartan or embusartan (both at 100mg/kg/day) were given se once daily for 16 days. Ouabain or sodium-rich aCSF were given in these groups of rats by osmotic minipump for 13--14 days. The mean arterial pressure (MAP) at rest and in response to air stress, and icv injection of guanabenz (75 mug/7.5 mul, and 25 mug/2.5 mul), Ang II (30 ng/3 mul) and ouabain (0.5 mug/2 mul) at a 10 minutes interval were then measured. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)
The effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on the cognitive neuroscience of ADHD
Creators: name: Sellick, Laura Alice
Publisher: name: Swinburne
Year: 2024

description: This thesis explored the effects of supplementation with essential fatty acids on cognitive performance, cardiovascular function, and brain activation in young adults with and without ADHD. While no overall cognitive differences were detected after supplementation, differences were measured between the two time points, with EPA-rich supplementation leading to more improvements than DHA-rich supplementation. This is contextualised using the theory of neural efficiency, in which people work smarter not harder. This thesis provides further evidence for the theory of neural efficiency, demonstrated through the differences in neural activity while completing the Stroop task between ADHD participants and control participants.
Application of a mean field theory of magnetic alloys to fcc iron-nickel.
Creators: name: Dube, Myriam.
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 1994
Subjects: subject: Chemistry, Inorganic.

description: We present a local moment mean field theory for atomically disordered magnetic alloys. In this model, the level of approximation regarding atomic environment can be decreased gradually. The method applied to one-dimensional alloys at several levels of approximation. The results for the sample average spin indicate a convergence as the level of approximation is decreased. Other interesting results for 1D alloys are obtained and discussed. The method is also applied to the fcc Fe-Ni alloy series, with only three free parameters, the exchange integrals $\rm J\sb{Fe-Fe},\ J\sb{Fe-Ni}$ and $\rm J\sb{Ni-Ni}.$ Although the most extreme behavior of the purely magnetic properties of the Fe rich alloys is not reproduced, deviations from the behavior of normal ferromagnetic alloys are predicted, and the order of magnitude of the calculated paraprocess susceptibility is in agreement with experimental data. Considering the simplicity of the model, our results indicate that a more realistic local moment model (as opposed to a more complicated model based on itinerant electron ferromagnetism) could reproduce the purely magnetic properties of fcc Fe-Ni. Some suggestions to render the model more realistic for fcc Fe-Ni are provided. Finally, a simple approach to include magnetocrystalline coupling to the model is suggested, which could be used to explain Invar behavior in fcc Fe-Ni alloys.
Media processing and retrieval model for multimedia documents databases.
Creators: name: Hirzalla, Nael B.
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 1998
Subjects: subject: Engineering, Electronics and Electrical.

description: Typically, multimedia applications involve thousands of hours of video, images, audio, text and graphics that need to be stored, retrieved and manipulated in a large multimedia database. There is therefore an important need for novel techniques and systems which provide an efficient retrieval facility of the voluminous information stored in the multimedia database. Such a facility will consist of a query language, a query user interface, a data structure, indexing and finally content searching algorithms. Our interests focus on the first four components of such system. In this thesis, we propose a multimedia query specification language that can be used to fully describe a multimedia segment that needs to be received from a database. We designed an object-oriented database schema that can integrate the logical, temporal and spatial information of a multimedia document. We also proposed an algorithm to index a video by detecting camera breaks and coarse camera operations which will then be used as indices. Moreover, we discussed how to index interactive multimedia documents where undetermined user actions are involved, by proposing a temporal model that has the capability to represent interactive multimedia document scenarios. Indices that represent possible user actions and reactions are then extracted from the model and used to index such documents. Finally, we designed a simple and friendly query user interface on top of the proposed language, in which users can fully describe graphically a multimedia segment.
An epidemiological investigation into long-term health care utilisation and rates of premature mortality in child sex abuse survivors
Creators: name: Guha, Ahona
Publisher: name: Swinburne
Year: 2024

description: Child sex abuse (CSA) is a recognised social issue that has been associated with a plethora of adverse outcomes for victims, including high rates of mental health health difficulties, elevated risk of suicide, physical health difficulties and higher rates of health service utilisation. This thesis investigates the rates of healthcare utilisation for physical and mental health difficulties, rates of use of psychotropic medication and rates of mortality in a sample of adult CSA survivors. The findings increase our understanding of the level and type of care CSA survivors require and assist us with screening individuals who may be most at risk of developing adverse outcomes.
Establishment of a voluntary electronic Chlamydia trachomatis laboratory surveillance system in Germany, 2008 to 2014
Creators: name: Dudareva-Vizule, S.
name: Haar, K.
name: Sailer, A.
name: Jansen, K.
name: Hamouda, O.
name: Wisplinghoff, H.
name: Tiemann, C.
name: Pape, E.
name: Bremer, V.
Publisher: name: Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Year: 2017
Subjects: subject: 600 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften::610 Medizin und Gesundheit

description: Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infections are not reportable in Germany and limited data on prevalence are available. CT screening has been offered free of charge to pregnant women since 1995 and to all women under 25 years since 2008. For symptomatic women and men, diagnostic testing is covered by statutory health insurance. We describe the establishment of a nationwide, laboratory-based, voluntary sentinel that electronically collects information on all performed CT tests with test results, test reason and patient information. The sentinel represents one third of all performed CT tests in Germany. In the period from 2008 to 2014, 3,877,588 CT tests were reported, 93% in women. Women aged 20–24 years and men aged 25–29 years were the most frequently tested age groups. The overall proportion of positive tests (PPT) among women was 3.9% and among men 11.0%. The highest PPT among women was in the age groups 15–19 (6.8%) and 20–24 years (5.9%), and among men in the age groups 20–24 (19.2%), 15–19 (15.4%) and 25–29 years (14.8%). The PPT for CT was high among women and men younger than 25 years. Prevention is urgently needed. Monitoring of CT infection in Germany should be continued.
The globular cluster system of NGC 4526
Creators: name: Chevalier, Leonie
Publisher: name: Swinburne
Year: 2024

description: The thesis, "The globular cluster system of NGC 4526" focuses on the globular cluster system of the lenticular galaxy NGC 4526. Globular clusters are some of the oldest objects we observe in galaxies and are thought to preserve a footprint of their parent galaxy's formation. A galaxy can have tens of thousands of globular clusters. Globular clusters have also been used to infer dark matter masses of galaxies. We found that an unusually high fraction (80%) of metal-poor globular clusters and a high dark matter fraction. We propose that this particular galaxy most likely formed through a series of minor mergers.
Preferences for oral and injectable PrEP among qualitative sub-study participants in HPTN 084
Creators: name: Hosseinipour, Mina C.
name: Tsidya, Mercy
name: Delany-Moretlwe, Sinead
name: Shoen, Marie
name: Chitukuta, Miria
name: Etima, Juliane
name: Bula, Agatha
name: HPTN 084 study Team
name: Makhale, Lerato
name: Kemigisha, Doreen
name: Tolley, Elizabeth E.
name: Namey, Emily
name: Ndimande-Khoza, Nomhle
Publisher: name: Public Library of Science
Year: 2024

description: Background HPTN 084 compared the safety and efficacy of long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB) to daily oral TDF/FTC for prevention of HIV-1 in uninfected African women. Like a similar trial in MSM/TGW (HPTN 083), the trial was stopped early for efficacy, expediting the need to consider introduction strategies for different populations. We examine survey and qualitative data from a four-country sub-study to examine oral and injectable PrEP acceptability and considerations for CAB access among African women. Methods Participants completed baseline and follow-up surveys on HIV risk perception, sexual behavior. product acceptability and adherence during the blinded trial. Additionally, up to two in-depth interviews each with 73 sub-study participants explored product use and trial-related experiences, during the blinded and unblinded study periods. Using survey data, we classified participants as: engaged in female sex work (FSW), having multiple non-transactional partners, or monogamous. A study statistician identified participants’ assigned study arm. We followed a thematic analysis process to read transcripts, develop a codebook and apply codes in NVivo to transcripts with intermittent intercoder reliability checks; using Excel matrices to explore differences across risk categories and study arms. Findings Participants overwhelmingly preferred injections to pills, appreciating the ease, convenience, and privacy of a long-acting formulation. Many participants described challenges with contraceptive and/or study pill adherence, impeded by late night work, unexpected travel, or heavy drinking. Women in the TDF/FTC arm were more likely to describe side effects, compared to those in the CAB arm. Pain also varied widely by study arm. When considering post-trial access to CAB, limited PrEP knowledge, cost and concerns around stigma and poor service quality were potential access barriers. Conclusion Women’s desire for privacy and ease of use outweighed injectable concerns, resulting in a strong preference for CAB. Cost and accessibility will need to be addressed by implementation programs.
Helping Family Forest Owners Protect Cultural Resources
Creators: name: PERLEBERG, ANDREW BLAINE
name: Hanley, Donald Philip
name: Freed, James R
Publisher: name: WSU Division of Student Affairs, Equity, and Diversity
Year: 2008

description: Within the State of Washington, over 90,000 families own at least 4.2 million acres of forest land. The Washington State University Extensions assists land owners recognize and protect the many types of cultural resources that may found be on their forest lands. To support such efforts, the WSU Extensions collaborate with diverse groups and individuals while also offering field days, workshops, and other educational resources to land owners.
Evaluating Sphingosine and its Analogues as Potential Alternatives for Aggressive Lymphoma Treatment
Creators: name: Bode, Constantin
name: Berlin, Max
name: Röstel, Franziska
name: Teichmann, Bianca
name: Gräler, Markus H.
Publisher: name: Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Year: 2014
Subjects: subject: 600 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften::610 Medizin und Gesundheit

description: Ceramide (Cer) and sphingosine (Sph) interfere with critical cellular functions relevant for cancer progression and cell survival. While Cer has already been investigated as a potential drug target for lymphoma treatment, information about the potency of sphingosine is scarce. The aim of this study therefore was to evaluate Sph and its synthetic stereoisomer L-threo- sphingosine (Lt-Sph) as potential treatment options for aggressive lymphomas. Methods: Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) cell lines were incubated with Sph and Lt-Sph and consequently analysed by flow cytometry (FACS), enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), liquid chromatography coupled to triple- quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS), electron microscopy, and Western blot. Results: Sph induced cell death and blocked cell growth independently of S1P receptors in different DLBCL cell lines. Three different modes of Sph- mediated cell death were observed: Apoptosis, autophagy, and protein kinase C (PKC) inhibition. Generation of pro-apoptotic Cer accounted only for a minor portion of the apoptotic rate. Conclusion: Sph and its analogues could evolve as alternative treatment options for aggressive lymphomas via PKC inhibition, apoptosis, and autophagy. These physiological responses induced by different intracellular signalling cascades (phosphorylation of JNK, PARP cleavage, LC3-II accumulation) identify Sph and analogues as potent cell death inducing agents.
Holocaust Memorialization: When the Individual Meets the Political and Becomes Communal
Creators: name: Shapiro, Matt Benjamin Max
Publisher: name: Brandeis University
Year: 2024

description: Collective memory inspires images of commonality to produce a cohesive nation. However, collective memory, like all memory, is fallible. People often choose to remember certain aspects of a historical event, while forgetting others, in order to fit memory into their own established political narratives. As a result, national memories change over time by exchanging accuracy, seen as the hallmark of memory, for emotional significance. This thesis conducts a comparative study on Holocaust memorialization. Examining how Holocaust memory was developed and preserved differently in Israel and the United States, the two places that took in the most Jews in the war’s aftermath, depicts how influential a country’s core political beliefs are in influencing the psychological processes of memory and social group unity. To do this, I delve into each country’s national Holocaust memorial, which is intertwined and profoundly influences the societal essence of each location. This paper shows how one tragic event, in the not yet so distant past, can so quickly take contrasting routes in how it is remembered. As the responsibility of carrying on the legacy of the Holocaust’s atrocities becomes increasingly more critical and challenging as time goes on, making this quest as relevant as ever, I suggest the important role of education in allowing for a needed balance between individually experienced memory and a politically constructed one. Only when successfully striking this delicate balance between the adaptable and immovable aspects of communal memory, can a more permanent national unity be formed. 
Pre- and post-therapy functional MRI connectivity in severe acute brain injury with suppression of consciousness: a comparative analysis to epilepsy features
Creators: name: Boerwinkle, Varina L.
name: Duran, Erika A.
name: Cediel, Emilio G.
name: Laux, Jeffrey
name: Robinson, Belfin
name: Leggio, Olivia
name: Reuther, William
Publisher: name: Frontiers Media SA
Year: 2024

description: Severe acute brain injury (SABI) with suppressed consciousness is a major societal burden, with early prognosis being crucial for life-and-death treatment decisions. Resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) is promising for prognosis and identifying epileptogenic activity in SABI. While established for SABI prognosis and seizure networks (SzNET) identification in epilepsy, the rs-fMRI use for SzNET detection in SABI is limited. This study compared evolution of SzNET and resting-state networks (RSN) pre-to-post treatment in SABI and epilepsy, hypothesizing that changes would align with clinical evolution. Therapies included epilepsy surgery for the epilepsy group and antiseizure medication for the SABI group. Independent component analysis (ICA) was used to identify SzNET and RSNs in all rs-fMRI. High-frequency BOLD (HF-BOLD), an ICA power spectrum-based index, quantified RSN and SzNET changes by the patient. Confidence intervals measured HF-BOLD changes pre-to-post-therapy. Baseline HF-BOLD and HF-BOLD changes were compared using linear-mixed models and interaction tests. Five SABI and ten epilepsy patients were included. SzNET were identified in all SABI's pre-therapy rs-fMRI. The clinical changes in SABI and epilepsy were consistent with rs-fMRI findings across groups. HF-BOLD reduced in the epilepsy group RSN post-therapy (−0.78, 95% CI −3.42 to −0.33), but the evidence was insufficient to determine an HF-BOLD reduction in SABI patients or SzNET. The HF-BOLD change trend in pre-to-post epilepsy surgery scans paralleled the clinical improvement, suggesting that the power spectrum may quantify the degree of abnormality on ICA-derived networks. Despite limitations such as small sample sizes, this exploratory study provides valuable insights into network dysfunction in SABI and epilepsy.
title: historiography, typology and numerology
Creators: name: Black, Kirsty
Publisher: name: Goldsmiths, University of London
Year: 2008

description: My thesis examines the ways in which David Jones was influenced by medieval literature and thought whilst composing his long poem, The Anathemata. Although several critics have acknowledged Jones's interest in medieval culture, none has analysed the full extent of the medieval contribution to the poem. My thesis suggests that it is far greater than has previously been thought, and has in fact determined the form and the overall structure of the poem. The thesis reviews the existing literature concerning The Anathemata, particularly that offering an analysis of the medievalism in the text, or a suggested structure for the poem, and examines the flaws in the structural models proposed to date. The thesis then assesses the impact of various aspects of medieval thought, including historiography, typology and numerology, on Jones's writing. The extent to which such thoughts were mediated through Jones's acquaintance with and reading of contemporary historians is also analysed. Medieval sources range from the genres of chronicle, history and vita, through drama and romance to individual authors such as Malory and Chaucer. These sources are traced in two ways: through an analysis of The Anathemata itself, in which borrowings from medieval literature are apparent through textual allusions and imagery; and through a thorough examination of the contents of Jones's library, which reveals that Jones derived a strong understanding of the medieval perspective from critical and historical works as well as from primary texts. The central tenet of the thesis is that this medieval perspective was a dominant influence in the 'shaping' of the text, defining not only the content of the fragments that comprise The Anathemata but also offering Jones an established pattern, a 'shape in words', for the composition of the work from those fragments. The conclusion to my thesis reconciles the perception of a recognisable structure with Jones's statement that the work 'was not planned', by showing that the organisation of the eight fragments into a tripartite structure which contains and unifies the disparate parts is more plausible than existing explanations of the poem's structure. The tripartite structure proposed by my thesis has a significance that reinforces the theme of the poem, is derived from the same medieval sources as the content and demonstrates the fidelity of Jones's vision.
Impact of Different Agricultural Waste Biochars on Maize Biomass and Soil Water Content in a Brazilian Cerrado Arenosol
Creators: name: Speratti, Alicia B.
name: Johnson, Mark S.
name: Martins Sousa, Heiriane
name: Nunes Torres, Gilmar
name: Guimarães Couto, Eduardo
Publisher: name: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
Year: 2019

description: Arenosols in the Brazilian Cerrado are increasingly being used for agricultural production, particularly maize. These sandy soils are characterized by low soil organic matter, low available nutrients, and poor water-holding capacity. For this reason, adding biochar as a soil amendment could lead to improved water and nutrient retention. A greenhouse experiment was carried out using twelve biochars derived from four feedstocks (cotton husks, swine manure, eucalyptus sawmill residue, sugarcane filtercake) pyrolized at 400, 500 and 600 °C and applied at 5% w/w. The biochars’ effect on maize biomass was examined, along with their contribution to soil physical properties including water retention, electrical conductivity (EC), and grain size distribution. After six weeks, maize plants in soils with eucalyptus and particularly filtercake biochar had higher biomass compared to those in soils with cotton and swine manure biochars. The latter’s low biomass was likely related to excessive salinity. In general, our biochars showed potential for increasing θ in sandy soils compared to the soil alone. Filtercake and eucalyptus biochars may improve soil aeration and water infiltration, while applying cotton and swine manure biochars at levels <5% to avoid high salinity could contribute to improved soil water retention in Cerrado Arenosols.
The Role of Language Skills in Interactive Social Book Search Sessions
Creators: name: Gäde, Maria
name: Hall, Mark
Publisher: name: Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Year: 2016
Subjects: subject: Social Book Searching
subject: Casual Leisure Behaviour
subject: Multilingual Information Access
subject: Interface Design
subject: 020 Bibliotheks- und Informationswissenschaften

description: When searching for books, people frequently have to deal with content that is in a language different from their own. However, research on multilingual systems has generally focused on the user interface's language rather than the content language. In this paper, we describe and compare early results from the multilingual aspects in the Interactive Social Book Search (iSBS) task at CLEF 2014 and 2015. A preliminary analysis of usage patterns for native English and non-native English speakers indicates an in influence of language skills on search behaviour during goal-oriented and casual leisure tasks. Based on previous experiences and results, strengths and challenges of IIR studies are discussed.