cometadata/datacite-rtg-text-other-reclassification-records huggingface dataset:
Additional file 1: of COllaborative Shared care to IMprove Psychosis Outcome (COSIMPO): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Creators: name: Oye Gureje
name: Makanjuola, Victor
name: Kola, Lola
name: Bidemi Yusuf
name: Leshawndra Price
name: Oluyomi Esan
name: Bibilola Oladeji
name: Appiah-Poku, John
name: Haris, Benjamin
name: Othieno, Caleb
name: Seedat, Soraya
Publisher: name: Figshare
Year: 2017
Subjects: subject: 69999 Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Developmental Biology
subject: Cancer
subject: Science Policy
subject: 111714 Mental Health
subject: FOS: Health sciences

description: Showing the SPIRIT Checklist for the COSIMPO trial. (DOC 123 kb)
A hierarchical spectral clustering and non-linear dimensionality reduction scheme for detection of prostate cancer from magnetic resonance spectroscopy
Creators: name: Tiwari, Pallavi
Publisher: name: No Publisher Supplied
Year: 2008

description: Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) is a unique non-invasive method which has recently been shown to have great potential in screening of prostate cancer (CaP). MRS provides functional information regarding the concentrations of different biochemicals present in the prostate at single or multiple locations within a rectangular grid of spectra superposed on the structural T2-weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Changes in relative concentration of specific metabolites including choline, creatine and citrate compared to "normal" levels is highly indicative of the presence of CaP. Most previous attempts at developing computerized schemes for automated prostate cancer detection using MRS have been centered on developing peak area quantification algorithms.  These methods seek to obtain area under peaks corresponding to choline, creatine and citrate which is then used to compute relative concentrations of these metabolites. However, manual identification of metabolite peaks on the MR spectra, let alone via automated algorithms, is a challenging problem on account of low SNR, baseline irregularity, peak-overlap, and peak distortion. In this thesis work a novel computer aided detection (CAD) scheme for prostate MRS is presented that integrates non-linear dimensionality reduction (NLDR) with an unsupervised hierarchical clustering algorithm to automatically identify cancerous spectra. The methodology comprises of two specific aims.  Aim 1 is to first automatically localize the prostate region followed in Aim 2 by automated cancer detection on the prostate obtained in Aim 1. In Aim 1, a hierarchical spectral clustering algorithm is used to distinguish between informative and non-informative spectra in order to localize the region of interest (ROI) corresponding to the prostate.  Once the prostate ROI is localized, in Aim 2, a non-linear dimensionality reduction (NLDR) scheme in conjunction with a replicated k-means clustering algorithm is used to automatically discriminate between 3 classes of spectra (normal, CaP, and intermediate tissue classes). Results of qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the methodology over 18 1.5 Tesla (T) in-vivo prostate T2-w and MRS studies obtained from the multi-site, multi-institutional ACRIN trial, for which corresponding histological ground truth of spatial extent of CaP is available, reveal that the CAD scheme has a high detection sensitivity (89.60) and specificity (78.98).  Results further suggest that the CAD scheme has a higher detection accuracy compared to such commonly used MRS analysis schemes as z-score and PCA.
Microfluidic generation of biomaterial gradients for control of neurite outgrowth
Creators: name: Sundararaghavan, Harini
Publisher: name: No Publisher Supplied
Year: 2008

description: Enhancing and directing axon regeneration through an injury site represents a prime goal for therapies following nerve or spinal cord injury. The objective of this thesis is to develop a system to create durotactic and haptotactic gradients with a biomaterial scaffold for control of neural cell behavior. Gradients of mechanical properties and adhesion are generated in a 3D collagen gel using microfluidics. To spatially control the mechanical properties, gradients of genipin - a naturally occurring, cell-tolerated crosslinking agent - are created in 3D through a fibrillar collagen gel using a simple source-sink network. Durotactic gradients of mechanical properties are evaluated by measuring genipin-induced fluorescence, which we demonstrated can be correlated to the rheological properties of the collagen gel. Neurite growth from chick dorsal root ganglia was assayed in gradients and appropriate controls. Neurite growth was biased down a gradient of stiffness of ~60Pa/mm towards a more compliant region, and neurites were significantly longer in this direction than up the gradient and than in uniform conditions without crosslinking. Haptotactic gradients are generated by first grafting laminin derived peptides, IKVAV and YIGSR, onto the collagen backbone using 1-ethyl-3-(3-Dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC). Peptide-grafted collagen solutions are mixed with untreated collagen in the network Neurite outgrowth was enhanced in all laminin peptide-grafted collagen gradient conditions compared to the untreated collagen controls. Neurite growth was more responsive to gradients of YIGSR than IKVAV. Enhanced growth was observed in all YIGSR-grafted conditions with the greatest bias in the steepest gradient of (24.7 ??g/ml/mm). Enhanced growth was also observed in IKVAV-grafted collagen conditions, but stunted growth occurred in collagen with uniform IKVAV presentation, implying IKVAV may be too 'sticky' for neurite outgrowth at the highest concentration studied. Since both peptides are present on the whole-length laminin molecule, the results suggest that gradients of laminin would be sub-optimal because of the contradiction in the response to the two peptides. These results demonstrate that neurite growth can be enhanced and directed by durotactic and haptotactic gradients, and suggest that including a combination of these gradients in regenerative therapies may accelerate nerve and spinal cord regeneration.
Phytochemical profiling, antioxidant potential and cytotoxic activity of Sargassum prismaticum extracts: implications for therapeutic applications
Creators: name: Pal, Sejal
name: Soni, Anjali
name: Patel, Nidhi
name: Sharma, Preeti
name: Siddiqi, Nikhat J.
name: Fatima, Sabiha
name: Sharma, Bechan
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2024
Subjects: subject: Biochemistry
subject: Medicine
subject: Pharmacology
subject: Biotechnology
subject: Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Chemical Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Ecology
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Information Systems not elsewhere classified
subject: Cancer

description: Seaweeds are sources of bioactive compounds with medicinal properties, which make them attractive candidates for natural therapeutic agents. Marine brown algae are known to possess anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, anticancer properties, etc. Present study was carried out to identify the phytochemical constituents, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of Sargassum prismaticum in two different solvents viz., chloroform and methanol. Chloroform was found to be the superior solvent for phenol and flavonoid extraction. Antioxidant activity was determined using DPPH and ABTS assays; however, the methanolic extract demonstrated better antioxidant potential. The highest cell cytotoxicity with an IC50 value of 7.6 ± 0.02 μg/mL was observed in methanolic extract, while the chloroform extract had an IC50 value of 9.6 ± 0.03 μg/mL against U937 cell line. These finding suggest that Sargassum prismaticum possesses potent antioxidant and cytotoxic properties, making it a potential candidate for further study as a novel antioxidant drug source.
The making of a waterfront suburb
Creators: name: Lamarque, Johnelle
Publisher: name: No Publisher Supplied
Year: 2009

description: This dissertation is an ethnographic account of place-making in contemporary America. Here I examine and explicate the process of coastal gentrification underway in a New Jersey community and the form that is emerging from it, what I [call] a waterfront suburb. The construction of this kind of place combines elements of gentrification and suburbanization. I examine the place-making of Highlands, New Jersey, through the narratives that people created around their own experiences and how they imagined others, and through the values and social relations that emerged from and also shaped the borough's physical environment, economics, and histories. Class was a critical indicator of how informants related to the process, as was informants' tenure and geographic location in the borough. Also contributing to the construction of place were the event of a sewage spill that closed nearby commercial clam beds, the borough's recently revised Master Plan, and the everyday events that contributed to a process of coastal gentrification such as experiences with New York City commuter ferry traffic, local businesses and neighborly interactions.     In this research, I further suburbanization and gentrification studies by examining in one geographic locale the overlap and contrasts between those two processes. This advances a recent call to critique the dichotomization of city and suburb. I suggest that the construction of Highlands as a place of leisure and good views, a vacation spot for year-round living by the privileged classes, is a distinguishing feature of the waterfront suburb. While this aspect of the process underway in Highlands could also occur in any number of places inland, the process of coastal gentrification is further distinguished by the marine locale at which it occurs. This is because property rights regarding common pool resources may be more salient here than in inland areas. By examining how participants in the place-making of Highlands engage the coastal and marine environments in their actions and their rhetoric, this work expands the relatively young body of literature on coastal gentrification and proposes a new analytical lens, the waterfront suburb, through which to view the process.
Statistical modeling and inference for multiple temporal or spatial cluster detection
Creators: name: Sun, Qiankun
Publisher: name: No Publisher Supplied
Year: 2008

description: This thesis develops a latent modeling framework and likelihood based inference tool to detect multiple temporal or spatial clusters.Cluster detection is important to researchers from various fields. Practical applications include: biological studies of DNA sequencing, environmental researches, epidemiological studies and surveillance for biological terrorism. The traditional scan statistics procedures have technical difficulties to detect multiple clusters of varying sizes. Some Bayesian approaches have to limitthe potential clusters in cell divisions. A recently proposed stepwise regression method tends to be inefficient in some cases. We utilize some probability distributions to model the latent clusters and mimic the sample data generation process. With model selection techniques, we can obtain an optimal number of total potential clusters. Based on a Monte-Carlo EM algorithm and likelihood based inference, we are able to estimate the associated model parameters, detect significant clusters and identify their locations and sizes. Compared with other procedures, this new approach is intuitive and simple. It is also more efficient and flexible for further extensions.
Additional file 2: Figure S2. of Identification of a RAC/AKT-like gene in Leishmania parasites as a putative therapeutic target in leishmaniasis
Creators: name: RubĂŠn Varela-M
name: Ochoa, Rodrigo
name: Muskus, Carlos
name: Muro, Antonio
name: Mollinedo, Faustino
Publisher: name: Figshare
Year: 2017
Subjects: subject: Biochemistry
subject: 29999 Physical Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: FOS: Physical sciences
subject: Medicine
subject: Microbiology
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Genetics
subject: Evolutionary Biology
subject: Immunology
subject: FOS: Clinical medicine
subject: Developmental Biology
subject: Infectious Diseases
subject: FOS: Health sciences
subject: Virology

description: Alignment of the catalytic domains of the distinct RAC/AKT-like proteins present in Leishmania spp. and Trypanosoma spp. parasites. Multiple sequence alignment was performed using the ClustalW program. The accession numbers of the UniProt sequences analyzed here are as follows: L. braziliensis ( A4HI35 ), L. panamensis (A0A0F6QP47), L. mexicana ( E9B0K7 ), L. major ( Q4Q7M5 ), L. donovani (India) (S6CXR4) (this work), L. donovani (Nepal) ( E9BLH8 ), L. infantum ( A4I5B1 ), T. cruzi (Q4D6D3), T. brucei (Q584T1), T. vivax (G0TWP8). The distinct conserved subdomains of the catalytic domain are indicated by Roman numerals (I-XI). Asterisks indicate identity and small dots represent similarity (DOCX 18 kb)
Mean-risk portfolio optimization problems with risk-adjusted measures
Creators: name: Miller, Naomi Liora
Publisher: name: No Publisher Supplied
Year: 2008

description: We consider the problem of optimizing a portfolio of finitely many assets whose returns are described by a joint discrete distribution. We formulate the mean-risk model, using as risk functions the semi deviation and weighted deviation from quantile. Using representation theorems from convex analysis, we write the portfolio problem equivalently as a zero-sum matrix game, and provide convex optimization techniques for its solution. A new set of risk-adjusted probability measures is derived from the optimal saddle point solution of the game. The risk-adjusted probability measures can be used to evaluate portfolio performance. An illustrative example is provided in which these measures are derived for a portfolio of 200 assets, and are used to evaluate a market portfolio and optimal risk-averse portfolio. The results suggest the mean-risk portfolio is more robust than a market portfolio. We extend the above mean-risk model to the two-stage portfolio problem, where there are two investment periods and the option to rebalance in between. The resulting model is a two-stage stochastic programming problem, with mean-risk objectives in each stage. First and second stage risk-adjusted probability measures are derived in a similar fashion to the one investment period problem. Using as risk functions semi deviation and weighted deviation from quantile in both stages, we calculate the risk adjusted measures in a numerical example with 100 assets. These measures are used to evaluate a two-stage market portfolio and optimal risk-averse portfolio. We extend the cutting-plane and multi-cut algorithms for solving linear two-stage stochastic problems to the two-stage mean-risk portfolio problem. The two-stage portfolio problem is also formulated as one large linear program. We provide an illustrative example, where a two-stage portfolio problem with risk functions semi deviation and weighted deviation from quantile is solved, using these two methods and the simplex method. The performance of these three methods is compared for solving the portfolio problem. On large examples, the extended cutting-plane and multi-cut plane algorithms solve where the linear program fails.
Learning on Riemannian manifolds for interpretation of visual environments
Creators: name: Tuzel, Cuneyt Oncel
Publisher: name: No Publisher Supplied
Year: 2008

description: Classical machine learning techniques provide effective methods for analyzing data when the parameters of the underlying process lie in a Euclidean space. However, various parameter spaces commonly occurring in computer vision problems violate this assumption. We derive novel learning methods for parameter spaces having Riemannian manifold structure and present several practical applications for scene analysis. The mean shift algorithm on Lie groups is a generalization of the mean shift procedure which is also an unsupervised learning technique for vector spaces. The derived procedure can be used to cluster data points which form a matrix Lie group. We present an application of the new algorithm for multiple 3D rigid motion estimation problem from noisy point correspondences in the presence of outliers. The approach performs simultaneous estimation of all the motions and does not require prior specification of the number of motion groups.We present a novel geometric framework to learn a supervised classification model for data points lying on a connected Riemannian manifold. The structure of the classifier is an additive model, where the weak learners are trained on the tangent spaces of the manifold. The derived algorithm is applied to pedestrian detection problem which is known to be among the hardest examples of the detection tasks.We describe a regression model where the response parameters form a Lie group. The model is utilized for affine tracking problem where the motion is estimated as a parameter of the image observations. We present generalization of the learning model to build an invariant object detector from an existing pose dependent detector. The proposed model can accurately detect objects in various poses, where the size of the search space is only a fraction compared to the existing detection methods.The other contributions of the thesis include a novel region descriptor and an online learning algorithm for estimating background statistics of a scene which are utilized for several challenging problems such as matching, tracking, texture classification and low frame rate tracking.
Nano-self-assembly in Mn-based spinels through solid state process
Creators: name: Zhang, Chenglin
Publisher: name: No Publisher Supplied
Year: 2008

description: Transition-metal oxides characterized with anisotropic d-orbital electrons are subject to intense discussion in strongly correlated electron systems, ranging from colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) to high temperature superconductivity (HTSC). The orbital degree of freedom often underpins complex physical properties and a variety of extraordinary phenomena while coupling with charge, spin and lattice. In this thesis, we demonstrate a fascinating example of orbital-related physical properties in Mn-based spinels. The strong octahedral preference of Jahn-Teller ions Mn3+ results in simultaneous chemical and structural phase separation into Mn-poor (cubic) and Mn-rich (tetragonal) regions, forming two types of rectangular nanorods with cross section checkerboard-like (CB). Because of the pioneering discovery of checkerboards in the nonmagnetic ZnMnxGa1-xO4, we chose to study two magnetic spinel systems: (1) Mg(MnxFe1-x)O4, where unfortunately only poorly-ordered magnetic nano CBs were observed; and (2) Mn-doped CoFe2O4, the nano CBs with distinct magnetic properties and tunable sizes achieved here are highly ordered,  exhibiting a nearly ideal architecture for the patterned perpendicular recording medium. The evolution of such compositional separation and topological nanoscale ordering is reasonably understood based on a three dimensional (3D) phase-field microelasticity (PFM) model.
Dynamics and asymptotic behaviors of biochemical networks
Creators: name: Wang, Liming
Publisher: name: No Publisher Supplied
Year: 2008

description: The purpose of this dissertation is to study the dynamics and asymptotic behaviors of biochemical networks using a "modular'' approach. New mathematics is motivated and developed to analyze modules in terms of the number of steady states and the stability of the steady states.One of the main contributions of the thesis is to extend Hirsch's generic convergence result from monotone systems to systems "close'' to monotone usinggeometric singular perturbation theory. A monotone system is a dynamical system for which the comparison principle holds, that is, "bigger'' initial states lead to "bigger'' future states. In monotone systems, every net feedback loop is positive. On the other hand, negative feedback loops are important features of many systems, since they are required for adaptation and precision. We show that, provided that these negative loops act at a comparatively fast time scale, the generic convergence property still holds.This is an appealing result, which suggests that monotonicity has broader implications than previously thought. One particular application of great interest is that of double phosphorylation dephosphorylation cycles. Other recurring modules in biochemical networks are also analyzed in detail.For systems without time scale separation, we study the global stability of one special class of systems, called monotone tridiagonal systems with negativefeedback. The key technique is to rule out periodic orbits using the theory of second compound matrices. We also investigate the effect of diffusion on the stability of a constant steady state for systems with more general structures represented by graphs. This work extends the passivity-based stability criterion developed by Arcak and Sontag to reaction diffusion equations.Upon assembling different modules, the dynamics of individual modules might be affected. One particular effect is called "retroactivity'' in the systems biology literature. We propose designs and conditions under which the retroactivity can be attenuated.
Molecular and morphological systematics of Libelluloidea (Odonata: Anisoptera) and Dictyoptera
Creators: name: Ware, Jessica Lee
Publisher: name: No Publisher Supplied
Year: 2008

description: Libelluloidea are highly successful dragonflies with unique behavior and life histories. The systematics of Libelluloidea (Odonata: Anisoptera) has historically been in conflict, with little agreement about the number of families that are comprised in this large, heterogeneous group. For my PhD thesis, I have assembled the most comprehensive molecular and morphological libelluloid dataset to date, in an attempt to revise and simplify libelluloid taxonomy, and to answer questions about the evolutionary history of the group. I ran Bayesian and parsimony analyses to recover phylogenetic hypotheses with which I explore the success of Libelluloidea. Divergence estimation, a method by which nodes of a tree are dated, was first explored under different evolutionary models for a subset of libelluloid taxa in order to determine whether treatment of hydrogen-bonded ribosomal nucleotides affected the age of divergence estimates. Using methodology based on these results, I was able to estimate divergence dates and diversification rates for the first large-scale dating analysis of dragonflies. On a smaller scale, I also completed a study of Syncordulia, a vulnerable genus of endemic South African libelluloid dragonflies whose systematics was not yet confirmed. Additional studies of phylogenetic methodology were undertaken in my thesis work for another large and heterogeneous group, the Dictyoptera (Mantodea, Blattodea and Isoptera). In this study, the effect of outgroup selection was determined using a broad, comprehensive taxon set for which we had both molecular and morphological data. These results suggest that the evolution of sociality, on which much of the recent discussion in dictyopteran systematics has focused, cannot be reliably determined when different outgroups recover dramatically conflicting topologies.
Additional file 1: of Self-admission to inpatient treatment in psychiatry: lessons on implementation
Creators: name: Strand, Mattias
name: Gustafsson, Sanna
name: Bulik, Cynthia
name: Hausswolff-Juhlin, Yvonne Von
Publisher: name: Figshare
Year: 2017
Subjects: subject: 80699 Information Systems not elsewhere classified
subject: FOS: Computer and information sciences
subject: Developmental Biology
subject: Cancer
subject: Computational Biology

description: Interview guide. An English transcription of the interview guide used in the study (DOCX 16Â kb)
Developing microcomposite pharmaceutical materials using dense gas technique
Creators: name: Wu, Ke
Publisher: name: No Publisher Supplied
Year: 2008

description: Micronized particulate pharmaceutical materials prepared using dense gas antisolvent precipitation is of great advantage over traditional micronization techniques in terms of particle size distribution and reproducibility. Our work shows that spherical particles with different degrees of agglomeration can be produced under mild operating conditions. These results stimulate further studies on the structure-property relationship of the precipitates.Preliminarily, we performed dense gas antisolvent precipitation on a number of polymers of pharmaceutical interest, including poly(DTE carbonate) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) with different molecular weights. We explored the effect of experimental conditions on the particle size and morphology. For poly (desamino tyrosyl-tyrosine alkyl ester carbonate) [poly(DTE carbonate)], its microparticles with controlled size could be applied in the field of tissue engineering, which could facilitate better exertion of the biochemical functions of this biodegradable polymer. On the other hand, PVPs are common excipients widely used in pharmaceutical formulation development. Physicochemical properties of both types of polymers provide flexibility of their application. Their precipitation by dense gas as antisolvent provided informative data for subsequent experiment of forming solid dispersions.Solid dispersions were prepared by precipitation of PVP with several pharmaceutical compounds using dense gas carbon dioxide as antisolvent. We focused on the morphology and particle size control of the products for the first two model drugs, prednisolone and its acetate salt, and then we prepared solid dispersions of a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, piroxicam. Microcrystals or microspheres were formed where the drug was amorphously dispersed in the polymeric matrix, with drug loadings dependent on initial drug-polymer weight ratios. The existence of interaction between the drug and polymer was confirmed through characterization of their physicochemical properties. The dissolution profiles of solid dispersions showed significant improvement in the dissolution rate of piroxicam compared with their corresponding physical mixtures and plain drug. These results manifest the great potential of this dense gas technique in improving bioavailability of water-insoluble pharmaceutical substances.
Axisymmetric simulation of circular concrete-filled double-skin steel tubular short columns incorporating outer stainless-steel tube
Creators: name: Le, Tuan Trung
name: Vipulkumar Patel
name: Liang, Qing Quan
name: Huynh, Phat
Publisher: name: La Trobe
Year: 2020
Subjects: subject: 90599 Civil Engineering not elsewhere classified
subject: FOS: Civil engineering

description: A concrete-filled double-skin steel tubular (CFDST) column incorporating an outer stainless-steel tube and a high-strength inner carbon steel tube exhibits high corrosion resistance and load-carrying capacity. This paper presents the axisymmetric analysis technique for simulating the structural response of short circular CFDST columns loaded concentrically. The double-skin confinement mechanism for modellinng the sandwiched concrete is explored and implemented in the analysis. The significant strain hardening response of stainless steel in axial compression is recognized in the analysis technique. The benefits of axisymmetric analysis over the full three-dimensional simulation are highlighted for the analysis of a member which is symmetric about its rotation vertical axis. The comparison of axisymmetric analysis results is made with the experimental results given in the previous independent studies. The parametric investigation on the structural response of CFDST columns is performed by means of using the verified axisymmetric model. The analysis results indicate that the inner tube diameter-to-thickness ratio less than 40 should be selected to prevent its local buckling from occurring and the inner tube should have yield stress higher than the 0.2% proof strength of the outer stainless steel tube. The outer stainless-steel with proof stress of 195 MPa should be filled with high-strength concrete of 120 MPa to ensure the strain compatibility. Liang’s design model closely estimates the ultimate axial strengths of the CFDST columns composed of an outer stainless-steel tube and a high-strength inner carbon steel tube.
Additional file 1: of A series of N-of-1 trials to assess the therapeutic interchangeability of two enalapril formulations in the treatment of hypertension in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Creators: name: Chalachew Alemayehu
name: Mitchell, Geoffrey
name: Aseffa, Abraham
name: Clavarino, Alexandra
name: McGree, James
name: Nikles, Jane
Publisher: name: Figshare
Year: 2017
Subjects: subject: Medicine
subject: Sociology
subject: FOS: Sociology
subject: 69999 Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Science Policy

description: SPIRIT 2013 Checklist: recommended items to address in a clinical trial protocol and related documents. (DOCX 50 kb)
Trusted application centric ad hoc network
Creators: name: Xu, Gang
Publisher: name: No Publisher Supplied
Year: 2008

description: Mobile Ad hoc Networks (MANETs) have been evolving from a closed system, where all mobile nodes are configured and controlled by a central authority (e.g., disaster scene networks and sensor systems), to an open system, where the nodes are anonymous andheterogeneous (e.g., vehicular ad hoc networks). This transition makes trust establishment a challenging problem for MANETs because in the new open environment it is difficult (1) to guarantee trustworthiness of the MANET applications executed onremote nodes, i.e., the lack of trusted behavior, (2) to ensure fair and secure communication between multiple network nodes, i.e., the lack of trusted communication, and (3) to authenticate network nodes, i.e., the lack of trusted identity.In this dissertation, we exploit low-cost trusted hardware and the application-centric nature of MANETs to address the lack of trust problems in MANETs. We present the design, implementation, and evaluation of four systems: (i) a service-aware trusted execution monitor (Satem), which guarantees trusted code execution across application transactions; (ii) a distributed method to create a protected MANET, which shields all network member nodes from being attacked; (iii) a distributed network communication policy enforcement mechanism, which ensures secure and cooperative communication between network participants; and (iv) a locality driven key management architecture, which authenticates network node identities. The main conclusion of this dissertation is that the emerging low cost trusted hardware combined with the application centric nature of MANETs can be exploited toprovide solutions to the problem of lack of trust in MANETs, which would otherwise be impossible.
A systems biology approach for assessing corticosteroid activity
Creators: name: Yang, Eric H.
Publisher: name: No Publisher Supplied
Year: 2008

description: Glucocorticosteroids are endogenous hormones that are produced in the adrenal gland and are responsible for the regulation of glucose metabolism. However, corticosteroids are also utilized therapeutically for the suppression of the immune system as well as the treatment of inflammation. Despite their immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory role, long term use of corticosteroids is problematic due to severe side effects. Deciphering  a comprehensive mechanism of corticosteroid activity might offer valuable clues for mitigating the adverse side effects.To accomplish this task we have leveraged high throughput experimental methods such as mRNA microarrays as well as a new technique for measuring transcription factor activity based on a novel technology, namely the Living Cell Array. However, due to the large amount of information which is generated by these methods, it is imperative that automated methods be developed to identify the critical pieces of information present in the large amount of data generated. Our primary focus was on characterizing the dynamics of transcriptional response and to further isolate relevant regulatory structures.Our analysis is based on in vivo (liver) measurements of a rat model as well as hepatocyte cultures in the living cell array. Major findings of this work suggest that the anti-inflammatory effect of corticosteroids appear to be a transient phenomenon under a sustained infusion of corticosteroids, whereas the metabolic effects of corticosteroids appear to be ongoing in concordance with sustained stimuli via the drug. Furthermore, it is suggested that the monomeric form or the glucocorticosteroid receptor was active. Specifically, given the consensus sequence associated with the dimeric form of the corticosteroid receptor, there is evidence that a monomeric form of the glucocorticosteroid will bind, and more importantly cause the transcription of said gene. Finally, evidence is obtained that the anti-inflammatory effects of corticosteroids aside from being transient are regulated by a feedback loop.A model of corticosteroid activity is finally proposed which utilizes two separate and active forms of the glucocorticosteroid receptor. The advantage of this model over the currently accepted one is that it is able to replicate the response of the system to corticosteroids with a very simple mechanistic explanation. The model recreates both the response of the host to an injection as well as infusion of corticosteroid, as well as the circadian variation of gene expression due to the circadian oscillations of endogenous corticosteroid levels.
From Instantaneous to Predictive Control: A More Intuitive and Tunable MPC Formulation for Robot Manipulators
Creators: name: Ubbink, Johan
name: Viljoen, Ruan
name: Aertbeliën, Erwin
name: Decré, Wilm
name: De Schutter, Joris
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2024
Subjects: subject: Robotics (cs.RO)
subject: FOS: Computer and information sciences

description: Model predictive control (MPC) has become increasingly popular for the control of robot manipulators due to its improved performance compared to instantaneous control approaches. However, tuning these controllers remains a considerable hurdle. To address this hurdle, we propose a practical MPC formulation which retains the more interpretable tuning parameters of the instantaneous control approach while enhancing the performance through a prediction horizon. The formulation is motivated at hand of a simple example, highlighting the practical tuning challenges associated with typical MPC approaches and showing how the proposed formulation alleviates these challenges. Furthermore, the formulation is validated on a surface-following task, illustrating its applicability to industrially relevant scenarios. Although the research is presented in the context of robot manipulator control, we anticipate that the formulation is more broadly applicable.
description: Accepted for the IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters
Experimental Investigation of the Rotational Behaviour of Apex Connections in Cold-Formed Steel Portal Frames
Creators: name: Desnerck, Pieter
name: Becque, Jurgen
name: Guo, Jia
name: Crawforth, Richard
Publisher: name: Apollo - University of Cambridge Repository
Year: 2024

description: An experimental campaign was set up to investigate the rotational stiffness and capacity of four different types of apex connections for use in cold-formed steel portal frames. Type A connections were constructed by bolting only the channel webs to a central bracket and provided a benchmark configuration. These connections were observed to fail by cross-sectional instability immediately adjacent to the first line of bolts. Type B connections featured additional bolts in the top flanges of the rafter channels. This configuration successfully moved the location of failure away from the connection and resulted in a modest increase in the rotational stiffness of 12%. Type C connections contained an additional haunch to accommodate bottom flange bolts. A more significant increase in rotational stiffness of 44% over the Type A connections was achieved. Type D connections also contained a bottom haunch and benefitted from a direct connection between bracket and channel top and bottom flanges. The rotational stiffness exceeded that of the Type A connections by 73%. However, the connection became prone to lateral-torsional buckling of the connection bracket.
"The Effectiveness of a Structured Teaching Programme on Knowledge Regarding Preventive Measures of Uterine Prolapse Among Multiparous Women"
Creators: name: Dr. Manoj Prajapati
Publisher: name: BIJNR
Year: 2023

description: Abstract

A study titled “A study to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured teaching programme on knowledge regarding preventive measures of uterine prolapse among multiparous women in a selected hospital at Indore” was conducted to:

Assess the pre-test and post-test knowledge scores regarding preventive measures of uterine prolapse among multiparous women.

Evaluate the effectiveness of a structured teaching programme.

Identify the association between pre-test knowledge scores and selected demographic variables.

The conceptual framework for the study was based on Ludwig von Bertalanffy’s theory. A quasi-experimental approach with a one-group pre-test post-test design was adopted. A total of 120 multiparous women were selected using a purposive sampling method. Data was collected through a structured interview schedule. The findings revealed that the structured teaching programme significantly increased knowledge among multiparous women.

The post-test knowledge scores were significantly higher than the pre-test scores (p < 0.05). The mean pre-test score was 13.22, and the mean post-test score was 19.82, with a mean difference of 6.62. Significant associations were observed between pre-test knowledge scores and selected demographic variables such as education, occupation, and income.

The study concluded that structured teaching programmes are effective in improving knowledge regarding uterine prolapse prevention among multiparous women.
Elachista amamii Parenti 1983
Creators: name: Sruoga, Virginijus
name: Kaila, Lauri
name: Rocienė, Agnė
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2019
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Elachistidae
Elachista
Elachista amamii

description: Elachista amamii Parenti, 1983
Material examined
THAILAND • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Loei Province, Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary; 700–900 m; 8–14 Oct. 1984; Karsholt, Lomholdt and Nielsen leg.; ZMUC 2072, 2107 • 8 ♂♂, 1 ♀; Chieng Mai Province, Chieng Mai; 325 m; 15–30 Oct. 1984; Karsholt, Lomholdt and Nielsen leg.; ZMUC 1501, 1502, 2108 to 2112, 2502 • ♂; Lampang, Muban Phichai; 18°18ʹ15ʺ N, 99°31ʹ06ʺ E; 23 Sep. 2014; M.J. Pellinen leg.; MZH VS1/ 21.11.18.
Distribution
Japan (Parenti 1983), Taiwan (Sugisima 2005a).
Remarks
Elachista amamii is illustrated by Parenti (1983) and Sugisima (2005a). It belongs to the Elachista praelineata species group as defined by Kaila (1999b). It is similar to E. brachyplectra Meyrick, 1921, which has a more southern distribution (Sri Lanka, Indonesia). Elachista amamii can be separated from it by the absence of the digitate process in E. brachyplectra (Sruoga 2005).
description: Published as part of Sruoga, Virginijus, Kaila, Lauri & Rocienė, Agnė, 2019, The Elachistinae (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea, Elachistidae) of Thailand, with description of eight new species, pp. 1-34 in European Journal of Taxonomy 574 on page 8, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2019.574, http://zenodo.org/record/3530401
Higher order conditional inference using parallels with approximate Bayesian techniques
Creators: name: Zhang, Juan
Publisher: name: No Publisher Supplied
Year: 2008

description: I consider parametric models with a scalar parameter ofinterest and multiple nuisance parameters. The likelihood ratio statistic is frequently used in statistical inference. The standard normal approximation to the likelihood ratio statistic generally has error of order O(n-1/2), where "n" denotes the sample size. When "n" is small, the normal approximation may not be adequate to do accurate inference. In practice, the true error is more important than asymptotic order. The intention of this study is to find an approximation which is relatively easy to apply, but which is accurate under small sample size settings. Saddlepoint approximations are well-known for higher order accuracy properties and remarkably good relative error properties. There are several saddlepoint approximations. I look for one that is flexible inapplication while keeping a satisfactory convergence rate.I evaluate, via Monte Carlo, the accuracies of several saddlepoint approximations, and of some classical methods, when these approximations are used to approximate p-values for hypotheses about a scalar parameter. Based on the results, I find that DiCiccio and Martin's (1993) approximations are interesting and deserve more research. Approximations of DiCiccio and Martin (1993) involve exploiting the parallels between Bayesian and frequentist inference, and can be constructed from general log-likelihood functions with relatively easy calculation, while keep the accuracy property.Two difficulties arise in the application of these approximations. One is the instability around a singularity. The other and far more significant is the construction of the prior density functions utilized in these approximations. These prior density functions arealso called matching priors.To make DiCiccio and Martin's (1993) approximations applicable in practice, I successfully resolve the above two problems. I remove the instability and fix the numerical difficulties in applying these approximations. The matching prior is the solution to a first order partial differential equation. The solution of this equation isnon-trivial under the general parametrization. I use a procedure to solve the equation numerically given any initial conditions.As a conclusion, I suggest the use of DiCiccio and Martin's (1993) approximations with the construction procedure and the correction that I provide in this thesis.
Additional file 1 of Categorisation of polyphonic musical signals by using modularity community detection in audio-associated visibility network
Creators: name: Dirceu Melo
name: Inacio Fadigas
name: Hernane De Barros Pereira
Publisher: name: Figshare
Year: 2017
Subjects: subject: Space Science
subject: Genetics
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Sociology
subject: FOS: Sociology
subject: 69999 Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified

description: Additional information. (PDF 451 kb)
Gussevia asota Kritsky, Thatcher & Boeger 1989
Creators: name: Tripathi, Amit
name: Matey, Chawan
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2023
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Platyhelminthes
Monogenea
Dactylogyridea
Ancyrocephalidae
Gussevia
Gussevia asota

description: Gussevia asota Kritsky, Thatcher & Boeger, 1989
Type host and locality: Astronotus ocellatus (Agassiz 1831) (Perciformes: Cichlidae); Janauac Lake, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil and an aquarium in Pocatello, Idaho, United States.
Present host and locality: Astronotus ocellatus (Agassiz 1831) (Perciformes: Cichlidae); Aquarium shops in Lucknow (26.8467° N, 80.9462° E), New Delhi (28.6139° N, 77.2090° E), and Kolkata (22.5726° N, 88.3639° E); July 2020 to October 2021.
Site of infection: Gills
Infection parameters: Prevalence: 100% (12 out of 12 A. ocellatus examined); Intensity: 30.16 ± 9.70 (18-48, n=12).
Vouchers deposited: 4 specimens stained with Horen’s and Gomori’s trichrome and mounted on glass slides in DPX (Smithsonian Institution; USNM 1679191-94).
DNA sequences deposited: GenBank: 28S, ON614225
description: Published as part of Tripathi, Amit & Matey, Chawan, 2023, Monogenea on exotic Indian freshwater fish. 5. First report of pathogenic Gussevia asota (Platyhelminths) from Oscar Astronotus ocellatus (Agassiz 1831) (Perciformes: Cichlidae), pp. 52-64 in Zootaxa 5231 (1) on pages 53-54, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5231.1.4, http://zenodo.org/record/7571538
Additional file 3: of Effect of intra-pregnancy nonsurgical periodontal therapy on inflammatory biomarkers and adverse pregnancy outcomes: a systematic review with meta-analysis
Creators: name: Silva, Helbert Da
name: Stefani, Cristine
name: Nilce De Santos Melo
name: Lima, Adriano De Almeida De
name: Rösing, Cassiano
name: Porporatti, André
name: Canto, Graziela
Publisher: name: Figshare
Year: 2017
Subjects: subject: Biochemistry
subject: Medicine
subject: Microbiology
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Cell Biology
subject: Molecular Biology
subject: Pharmacology
subject: Immunology
subject: FOS: Clinical medicine
subject: Developmental Biology
subject: Science Policy

description: Appendix II presents the excluded articles and reasons for exclusion. Excluded articles and reasons for exclusion (n = 24). List of articles that did not fulfill the eligibility criteria in phase 2. (DOC 46 kb)
Automated detection and containment of stealth attacks on the operating system kernel
Creators: name: Baliga, Arati
Publisher: name: No Publisher Supplied
Year: 2009

description: The operating system kernel serves as the root of trust for all applications running on the computer system. A compromised system can be exploited by remote attackers stealthily, such as exfiltration of sensitive information, wasteful usage of the system's resources, or involving the system in malicious activities without the user's knowledge or permission. The lack of appropriate detection tools allows such systems to stealthily lie within the attackers realm for indefinite periods of time. Stealth attacks on the kernel are carried out by malware commonly known as rootkits. The goal of the rootkit is to conceal the presence of the attacker on the victim system. Conventionally, kernel rootkits modified the kernel to achieve stealth, while most functionality was provided by accompanying user space programs. The newer kernel rootkits achieve the malice and stealth solely by modifying kernel data. This dissertation explores the threat posed by both types of kernel rootkits and proposes novel automated techniques for their detection and containment. Our first contribution is an automated containment technique built using the virtualization architecture. This technique counters the ongoing damage done to the system by the conventional kernel rootkits. It is well suited for attacks that employ kernel or user mode stealth but provide most of the malicious functionality as user space programs. Our second contribution is to identify a new class of stealth attacks on the kernel, which do not exhibit explicit hiding behavior but are stealthy by design. They achieve their malicious objectives by solely modifying data within the kernel. These attacks demonstrate that the threat posed to kernel data is systemic requiring comprehensive protection.Our final contribution is a novel automated technique that can be used for detection of such stealth data-centric attacks. The key idea behind this technique is to automatically identify and extract invariants exhibited by kernel data structures during a training phase. These invariants are used as  specifications of data structure integrity and are enforced during runtime. Our technique could successfully detect all rootkits that were publicly available. It could also detect more recent stealth attacks developed by us or proposed byother recent research literature.