cometadata/datacite-rtg-text-other-reclassification-records huggingface dataset:
Analysis and design of isolated bidirectional DC-DC converter with novel triple phase-shift control
Creators: name: Wu, Kuiyuan
Publisher: name: University of British Columbia
Year: 2012

description: The bidirectional DC-DC converter is widely used in automobiles, energy storage systems, uninterruptible power supplies and aviation power systems. At present, there are three main problems in this area. The first problem concerns stability of the bidirectional converter when parameters change; the second is maintaining high efficiency of the bidirectional converter over wide load range; the third concerns the sensitivity of the efficiency of the bidirectional converter to parameter changes. This thesis presents a new method to determine the stability of the bidirectional converter using the Lyapunov function method under arbitrary parameter changes. As another new contribution, the stability analysis with eigenvalue method is presented when only the input voltage changes. Although these two methods are used in this thesis to determine the stability of bidirectional dual full bridge DC-DC converter with triple phase-shift control, they can be used to determine the stability of other power converters composed of various power switches and controlled with different control methods. A novel triple phase-shift control method is developed in this thesis to make the bidirectional converter operate at high efficiency and make it robust to parameters changes and output power variations. Simulation results illustrate that the novel control method is better than several other commonly used control methods for the bidirectional converter when component parameters and output power change. The working theory of the bidirectional converter with novel triple phase-shift control method is comprehensively described in the thesis. As another new contribution, the maximum output power of the bidirectional converter is analyzed in detail in the thesis. Simulation studies of this project have provided satisfactory results. Conclusions are made on the presented work and possible future directions in continuing the work are indicated.
Festschrift für Alois Thomas : Archäologische, kirchen- und kunsthistorische Beiträge
Creators: name: Zahn, Eberhard
Publisher: name: Trierer Zeitschrift - Archäologie und Kunst des Trierer Landes und seiner Nachbargebiete
Year: 2021

description: Rezension zu: Festschrift für Alois Thomas : Archäologische, kirchen- und kunsthistorische Beiträge. Zur Vollendung des 70. Lebensjahres am 18. Jan. 1966 dargeboten von Freunden und Bekannten. Trier : Bistumsarchiv, 1967. XXXIX, 484 S.
description: Trierer Zeitschrift - Archäologie und Kunst des Trierer Landes und seiner Nachbargebiete, Bd. 31 (1968): Trierer Zeitschrift : für Geschichte und Kunst des Trierer Landes und seiner Nachbargebiete
Unified learning-based lossy and lossless JPEG recompression
Creators: name: Zhang, Jianghui
name: Wang, Yuanyuan
name: Guo, Lina
name: Luo, Jixiang
name: Xu, Tongda
name: Wang, Yan
name: Wang, Zhi
name: Qin, Hongwei
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2023
Subjects: subject: Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition (cs.CV)
subject: Artificial Intelligence (cs.AI)
subject: FOS: Computer and information sciences

description: JPEG is still the most widely used image compression algorithm. Most image compression algorithms only consider uncompressed original image, while ignoring a large number of already existing JPEG images. Recently, JPEG recompression approaches have been proposed to further reduce the size of JPEG files. However, those methods only consider JPEG lossless recompression, which is just a special case of the rate-distortion theorem. In this paper, we propose a unified lossly and lossless JPEG recompression framework, which consists of learned quantization table and Markovian hierarchical variational autoencoders. Experiments show that our method can achieve arbitrarily low distortion when the bitrate is close to the upper bound, namely the bitrate of the lossless compression model. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first learned method that bridges the gap between lossy and lossless recompression of JPEG images.
Association between alcohol use and HIV status: findings from Zambia and Zimbabwe
Creators: name: Musuka, Godfrey
name: Mutenherwa, Farirai
name: Mukandavire, Zindoga
name: Chingombe, Innocent
name: Mapingure, Munyaradzi
Publisher: name: Columbia University
Year: 2018
Subjects: subject: HIV infections
subject: Drinking of alcoholic beverages
subject: Health surveys
subject: Demographic surveys
subject: Statistics
subject: FOS: Mathematics

description: Objective
                To conduct statistical analysis to assess the association between alcohol use and HIV status using Demographic Health Survey data from Zambia (2013–2014) and Zimbabwe (2015–2016).

                Results
                The study showed an association between alcohol use and HIV status using nationally representative population-based surveys. The surveys were conducted among men (15–54 years) and women (15–49 years) in 2013–2014 and 2015–2016 in Zambia and Zimbabwe respectively. HIV prevalence in the two countries was higher among males and females who drank alcohol compared to those who did not. This study reinforces the existing knowledge base on the association between alcohol use and HIV sero-status and calls for further research to explore the causal pathways between alcohol consumption and HIV status.
Andropogon lateralis Nees
Creators: name: Camargo Keller, Victor
name: Lopes Pereira-Silva, Erico Fernando
name: Hardt, Elisa
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2021
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Plantae
Tracheophyta
Liliopsida
Poales
Poaceae
Andropogon
Andropogon lateralis

description: Andropogon lateralis Nees Figure 17C Identification. Perennial tussock grass, 0.40–1.75 m height. Leaf-blades linear, glabrous or hairy, 7–35 cm long and 0.2–0.4 cm wide, ligulate. It is identified by its inflorescence with 2–10 flower branches conjugated or sub-digitate, 3.5–6.0 cm long, pilose, with aristulate spikelets. Remarks. Unusual grass, occurring mainly on sites with high moisture. Brazilian range. Midwest, North (AM state), Northeast (MA state), South and Southeast (except ES state) regions. Material examined. BRAZIL – São Paulo • Franco da Rocha, Parque Estadual do Juquery; 23°20′17″S, 046°41′40″W; 10 Jan. 2018; collection number vck158; HUFABC2134.
description: Published as part of Camargo Keller, Victor, Lopes Pereira-Silva, Erico Fernando & Hardt, Elisa, 2021, High richness, new occurrences, and threatened species in a savanna grassland remnant in the largest Brazilian metropolis, pp. 507-549 in Check List 17 (2) on pages 519-523, DOI: 10.15560/17.2.507
Additional file 3 of Effect of pharmacological treatment on outcomes of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: an updated systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Creators: name: Lin, Yaowang
name: Cai, Zhigang
name: Yuan, Jie
name: Liu, Huadong
name: Pang, Xinli
name: Chen, Qiuling
name: Tang, Xinzheng
name: Geng, Qingshan
name: Dong, Shaohong
Publisher: name: figshare
Year: 2022
Subjects: subject: Biochemistry
subject: Medicine
subject: Pharmacology
subject: Chemical Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Cancer
subject: Infectious Diseases
subject: FOS: Health sciences

description: Additional file 3. Heterogeneity of the network meta-analysis.
title: Evaluation of Western Canadian Cow-calf Producers’ Attitudes Toward Cattle Handling, Perspectives on Cattle Welfare and Handling Training, and the Relationship Between Handling Training and Attitudes- A Mixed Method Approach
Creators: name: Lutevele, Nathanael Herry
Publisher: name: Graduate Studies
Year: 2024
Subjects: subject: Low-stress cattle handling
subject: Cow-calf, welfare
subject: Survey
subject: Attitude
subject: Qualitative research
subject: Interview
subject: Beef
subject: Human-animal relationship
subject: Veterinary Science

description: Handlers' attitudes towards cattle and handling influence their handling behaviors. Among the best ways to improve handler’ attitudes and behaviours and positively influence cattle welfare and productivity is through cognitive-behavioural training. This thesis aimed to evaluate the attitudes and perspectives of Western Canadian cow-calf handlers regarding cattle handling and its impact on welfare. It also explored their involvement in handling training, perspectives on training, motivations and barriers to attendance, and how training influenced attitudes. The first study (Chapter 2) interviewed fifteen cow-calf handlers from Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan to explore their views on cattle welfare, handling, and motivations to improve welfare. It also explored their perspectives on handling training and motivations and barriers to participation. Thematic analysis revealed seven themes: four related to cattle welfare, including their understanding of its complexity, the impact of handling on welfare, drivers for implementing welfare (public and consumer welfare concerns, sense of responsibility, and profitability); and three related to handling and training emphasizing the benefits of low-stress handling and the need for practical, farm-based training. The second study (Chapter 3) surveyed 118 cow-calf handlers to evaluate their handing attitudes, welfare assessment strategies, and participation in handling training. It also evaluated the influence of handling training on handlers’ attitudes. Respondents had a good attitude toward cattle and handling; they agreed on the importance of handling knowledge, patience, and proper handling techniques, and disagreed with aggressive handling practices. Key welfare assessment indicators were body condition score and general health. Economic returns and a sense of responsibility motivated welfare improvement. The relationship between handling training modality and handlers’ attitudes was inconsistent, with untrained respondents displaying positive and negative attitude indexes comparable to those of trained respondents. In conclusion, Western Canadian cow-calf handlers have a good understanding of animal welfare, hold positive attitudes toward handing, recognize the benefits of handing training, and are motivated to participate in such training. They prefer hands-on training that focuses on improving safety and addressing handling challenges. Training should emphasize the importance of patience and focus on modifying attitudes and behaviours. Furthermore, offering training locally at low cost can help increase handler participation.
The observable prestellar phase of the IMF
Creators: name: Padoan, Paolo
name: Nordlund, AAke
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2011
Subjects: subject: Astrophysics of Galaxies (astro-ph.GA)
subject: Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics (astro-ph.CO)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: The observed similarities between the mass function of prestellar cores (CMF) and the stellar initial mass function (IMF) have led to the suggestion that the IMF is already largely determined in the gas phase. However, theoretical arguments show that the CMF may differ significantly from the IMF. In this Letter, we study the relation between the CMF and the IMF, as predicted by the IMF model of Padoan and Nordlund. We show that 1) the observed mass of prestellar cores is on average a few times smaller than that of the stellar systems they generate; 2) the CMF rises monotonically with decreasing mass, with a noticeable change in slope at approximately 3-5 solar masses, depending on mean density; 3) the selection of cores with masses larger than half their Bonnor-Ebert mass yields a CMF approximately consistent with the system IMF, rescaled in mass by the same factor as our model IMF, and therefore suitable to estimate the local efficiency of star formation, and to study the dependence of the IMF peak on cloud properties; 4) only one in five pre-brown-dwarf core candidates is a true progenitor to a brown dwarf.
description: ApJ Letters, accepted
Polygenic analysis of inflammatory disease variants and effects on microglia in the aging brain
Creators: name: Felsky, Daniel
name: Patrick, Ellis
name: Schneider, Julie A.
name: Mostafavi, Sara
name: Gaiteri, Chris
name: Patsopoulos, Nikolaos
name: Bennett, David A.
name: De Jager, Philip Lawrence
Publisher: name: Columbia University
Year: 2018
Subjects: Genomics
Alzheimer's disease
Microglia
Inflammation
Nervous system--Diseases
Natural immunity
Nervous system--Degeneration--Molecular aspects

description: Background
                The role of the innate immune system in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and neurodegenerative disease susceptibility has recently been highlighted in genetic studies. However, we do not know whether risk for inflammatory disease predisposes unaffected individuals to late-life cognitive deficits or AD-related neuropathology. We investigated whether genetic risk scores for seven immune diseases and central nervous system traits were related to cognitive decline (nmax = 1601), classical AD neuropathology (nmax = 985), or microglial density (nmax = 184).

                Methods
                Longitudinal cognitive decline, postmortem amyloid and tau neuropathology, microglial density, and gene module expression from bulk brain tissue were all measured in participants from two large cohorts (the Rush Religious Orders Study and Memory and Aging Project; ROS/MAP) of elderly subjects (mean age at entry 78 +/− 8.7 years). We analyzed data primarily using robust regression methods. Neuropathologists were blind to clinical data.

                Results
                The AD genetic risk scores, including and excluding APOE effects, were strongly associated with cognitive decline in all domains (min Puncor = 3.2 × 10− 29). Multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson’s disease, and schizophrenia risk did not influence cognitive decline in older age, but the rheumatoid arthritis (RA) risk score alone was significantly associated with microglial density after correction (t146 = − 3.88, Puncor = 1.6 × 10− 4). Post-hoc tests found significant effects of the RA genetic risk score in multiple regions and stages of microglial activation (min Puncor = 1.5 × 10− 6). However, these associations were driven by only one or two variants, rather than cumulative polygenicity. Further, individual MS (Pone-sided
Implications of the LHCb Evidence for Charm CP Violation
Creators: name: Isidori, Gino
name: Kamenik, Jernej F.
name: Ligeti, Zoltan
name: Perez, Gilad
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2011
Subjects: subject: High Energy Physics - Phenomenology (hep-ph)
subject: High Energy Physics - Experiment (hep-ex)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: The LHCb collaboration recently announced preliminary evidence for CP violation in D meson decays. We discuss this result in the context of the standard model (SM), as well as its extensions. In the absence of reliable methods to evaluate the hadronic matrix elements involved, we can only estimate qualitatively the magnitude of the non-SM tree level operators required to generate the observed central value. In the context of an effective theory, we list the operators that can give rise to the measured CP violation and investigate constraints on them from other processes.
description: 7 pages, 3 figures; minor corrections, conclusions unchanged
title: Probabilistic Causal Data Modeling of Barriers to Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities in Canada
Creators: name: Zakir, Mouri
Publisher: name: Graduate Studies
Year: 2024
Subjects: subject: Accessibility barriers
subject: persons with disabilities
subject: inclusive smart city
subject: exploratory factor analysis
subject: structural equation modeling
subject: causal reasoning
subject: Bayesian networks
subject: statistical hypotheses testing
subject: synthetic data generation
subject: Public and Social Welfare
subject: Education--Technology
subject: Artificial Intelligence
subject: Statistics
subject: FOS: Mathematics
subject: Social Structure and Development

description: This thesis addresses the pressing social issue of accessibility for persons with disabilities by creating AI models using the national survey data, with a methodological two step process. The contributions of this thesis include (a) a causal reasoning framework aiming to provide an understanding of the prevalence of barriers and challenges faced by persons with disabilities when accessing federal services and facilities; and (b) network-based approach that utilizes empirical data to provide a holistic assessment of the causality among demographic features (e.g. age, gender, type of disability) and accessibility. The statistical method utilizes Structural Equation Modeling supported by Exploratory Factor Analysis. For causal probabilistic modeling, Bayesian Networks are employed as a straightforward and compact way to interpret knowledge representation. This causal reasoning approach analyzes the nature and frequency of encountering barriers based on data to understand the risk factors contributing to pressing accessibility issues. Furthermore, to evaluate the network performance and overcome data limitation, synthetic data generation techniques are applied to create and validate artificial data built on real-world knowledge. The proposed framework aims to provide reasoning to understand the prevalence of physical, social, communication or technological barriers encountered by persons with disabilities in their daily lives. This thesis contributes to identifying areas for prioritization in facilitating accessibility regulation and practices to build an inclusive society.
Anthaenantia lanata Benth.
Creators: name: Camargo Keller, Victor
name: Lopes Pereira-Silva, Erico Fernando
name: Hardt, Elisa
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2021
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Plantae
Tracheophyta
Liliopsida
Poales
Poaceae
Anthaenantia
Anthaenantia lanata

description: Anthaenantia lanata (Kunth) Benth. Figure 17E Identification. Perennial tussock grass, 0.15–1.1 m height. Characterized by its leaf-blades glabrous, or sometimes hairy, plane and convolute, 7–60 cm long and 0.1–0.5 cm wide, with a clear and conspicuous central vein. Spikelets in a typical panicle, 8–20 cm long, with scattered hairs.
description: Published as part of Camargo Keller, Victor, Lopes Pereira-Silva, Erico Fernando & Hardt, Elisa, 2021, High richness, new occurrences, and threatened species in a savanna grassland remnant in the largest Brazilian metropolis, pp. 507-549 in Check List 17 (2) on page 523, DOI: 10.15560/17.2.507
Additional file 4 of Effect of pharmacological treatment on outcomes of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: an updated systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Creators: name: Lin, Yaowang
name: Cai, Zhigang
name: Yuan, Jie
name: Liu, Huadong
name: Pang, Xinli
name: Chen, Qiuling
name: Tang, Xinzheng
name: Geng, Qingshan
name: Dong, Shaohong
Publisher: name: figshare
Year: 2022
Subjects: subject: Biochemistry
subject: Medicine
subject: Pharmacology
subject: Chemical Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Cancer
subject: Infectious Diseases
subject: FOS: Health sciences

description: Additional file 4. Indirectness of the network meta-analysis.
title: Flow Visualization of Oxidizer Injection in a Hybrid Rocket Motor Using Safe Propellant Analogues
Creators: name: Nelson, William
Publisher: name: Graduate Studies
Year: 2024
Subjects: subject: Engineering--Mechanical

description: Hybrid propulsion systems warrant further investigation due to their inherent safety and performance benefits. Testing and evaluation of high-performance cryogenic oxidizers for use in hybrid motors is uncommon as a result of the complexities of working with cryogenic fluids and the safety concerns of working with oxidizers. Liquid nitrogen (LN2) is a safe analogue for liquid oxygen used for testing cryogenic systems, but retains cryogenic complexity and requires separate pressurization. Self-pressurizing oxidizers stored as a superheated liquid, such as nitrous oxide (N2O) and its safe-testing analogue carbon dioxide (CO2), have seen widespread use resulting from the simplicity of not requiring added pressurization. An experiment to compare the injection characteristics of superheated CO2, subcooled CO2, and LN2 was performed to evaluate if superheated liquids can be used as an analogue for the flow visualization investigation of cryogenic subcooled liquids. High-speed imaging and shadowgraphy techniques were used for imaging the injected atomization patterns for nine test cases, a combination of the three tested fluids with three different step distances. These images were analyzed based on the reduction of brightness due to the blockage of light from the injected fluid to determine if spray patterns and recirculation zone formation were comparable. It was determined that CO2 in varied phase-states could be used in place of cryogenic liquids depending on the region of interest. Jet formation of LOX was found to be closely emulated by both saturated and externally-pressurized CO2, whereas recirculation visualization of LOX was found to be emulated by externally-pressurized CO2. However, CO2 was found to be unsuitable for the investigation of LOX behaviour within the fuel grain center bore.
Arthropogon villosus Nees
Creators: name: Camargo Keller, Victor
name: Lopes Pereira-Silva, Erico Fernando
name: Hardt, Elisa
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2021
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Plantae
Tracheophyta
Liliopsida
Poales
Poaceae
Arthropogon
Arthropogon villosus

description: Arthropogon villosus Nees Figure 17G Identification. Perennial tussock grass, 40–90 cm height. Leaf–blades linear, glabrous or hirsute, 12–20 cm long, 0.6–0.8 cm wide, ligulate. Distinguished by its open panicle, 7–10 cm long, containing hairy spikelets with apical awn 3.5–5.0 mm long. Remarks. An unusual species on the native grassland, occurring mainly over the shallow and rocky soil. Brazilian range. Midwest, North (PA state), Northeast (BA and CE states), South (PR state) and Southeast (except ES and RJ states) regions. Material examined. BRAZIL – São Paulo • Franco da Rocha, Parque Estadual do Juquery; 23°20′17″S, 046° 41′40″W; 21 Oct. 2017; collection number vck110; HUFABC1981.
description: Published as part of Camargo Keller, Victor, Lopes Pereira-Silva, Erico Fernando & Hardt, Elisa, 2021, High richness, new occurrences, and threatened species in a savanna grassland remnant in the largest Brazilian metropolis, pp. 507-549 in Check List 17 (2) on page 523, DOI: 10.15560/17.2.507
The Emergency Relief of Chemical Reactors
Creators: name: Proctor, Phillip
Publisher: name: London South Bank University
Year: 1991

description: This thesis is a report of research into the emergency relief of chemical reactors. The work determines the UK view of the AIChE DIERS project, and compares and contrasts the DIERS methodology with other methods available to the UK chemical industry. The work consists of investigations on three experimental reactive systems, to assess the sensitivity, practical limitations, reliability and, the reproducibility of data from the vent sizing package with regard to the determination of the vent size requirements of chemical reactors. The work also compares the vent sizing package with other existing "state of the art" calorimetric methods for determining runaway reaction data. As a result of the investigation a cheaper alternative instrument, known as the Reactor Vent Sizing Calorimeter (RVSC), for medium and small sized UK chemical manufacturers has been developed and tested for two example reactive systems. The results from these systems have been compared with those determined for the "Vent Sizing Package" and, other existing calorimetric methods to assess the suitability of the new instrument for vent sizing requirements. The main conclusions drawn in this thesis are:- a) The "Vent Sizing Package" has several design and operational drawbacks which lead to wide variations in the data obtained and the subsequent determined vent sizes. b) Traditional vent sizing methods seldom consider the existence of two-phase vent line flow and invariably provide vent sizes insufficient to deal with its occurrence. c) The newly developed alternative instrument, RVSC, is cheaper, easier to operate and easier to maintain when compared to the existing "Vent Sizing Package" and can be considered as a viable alternative to existing commercial vent sizing packages. a) The RVSC is capable of studying fast reactions and those which produce large amounts of non-condensible gases. e) The repeatability of the runaway data is improved with the RVSC. £) Reactions involving addition of reagents can be studied with the new RVSC as well as investigation of inhibition and quenching.
Axonopus aureus P. Beauv.
Creators: name: Camargo Keller, Victor
name: Lopes Pereira-Silva, Erico Fernando
name: Hardt, Elisa
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2021
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Plantae
Tracheophyta
Liliopsida
Poales
Poaceae
Axonopus
Axonopus aureus

description: Axonopus aureus P. Beauv. Figure 18A Identification. Perennial tussock grass with short rhizomes, 30–70 cm height. Leaf-blades linear, apex acute, 6–15 cm long and 0.2–0.3 cm wide. It is recognized by its inflorescence with 2–7 sub-digitate racemes, 5–9 cm long, covered with golden trichomes. Remarks. Species with individuals in small clusters scattered across the native grassland, mainly over the shallow and rocky soils. Brazilian range. Midwest, North, Northeast (except AL, CE, PI and RN states), South, and Southeast regions. Material examined. BRAZIL – São Paulo • Franco da Rocha, Parque Estadual do Juquery; 23°20′33″S, 046° 40′42″W; 6 Mar. 2018; collection number vck248; HUFABC2092.
description: Published as part of Camargo Keller, Victor, Lopes Pereira-Silva, Erico Fernando & Hardt, Elisa, 2021, High richness, new occurrences, and threatened species in a savanna grassland remnant in the largest Brazilian metropolis, pp. 507-549 in Check List 17 (2) on page 523, DOI: 10.15560/17.2.507
title: Time-resolved Resting-state fMRI of Brain States Associated with Drug-resistant Epilepsy
Creators: name: Rashnavadi, Tahereh
Publisher: name: Schulich School of Engineering
Year: 2024
Subjects: subject: Functional MRI
subject: Brain Networks
subject: Functional Connectivity
subject: Clustering
subject: Epilepsy
subject: Engineering--Biomedical
subject: Computer Science

description: This thesis presents a novel analytical framework for time-resolved analysis of resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data with the aim of elucidating brain patterns of aberrant activity in individuals with drug-resistant epilepsy. Specifically, a dynamic functional connectivity analysis method is first used to determine the temporal dynamics of brain activity, followed by two unsupervised machine learning algorithms, k-means and hierarchical clustering, to identify patterns of activity that define temporarily stable brain states. The limitations of these algorithms are addressed with supportive techniques, leading to an integrated framework that combines dynamic connectivity analysis with machine learning based clustering. The approach is first validated using simulated resting-state fMRI data, comparing two dynamic connectivity analysis methods: sliding-window cross-correlation (SWC) and a newly developed technique. Performance is assessed in terms of successfully detecting state transitions and their timings. The framework is then applied to fMRI data obtained from a small group of individuals with frontal lobe epilepsy (FLE) patients as well as control participants, focusing on the somatomotor and default mode networks (DMN); consistent results are obtained across clustering methods. Finally, the analysis is applied to a larger group of individuals with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) who underwent simultaneous resting-state fMRI and intracranial EEG (iEEG), with a focus on the DMN and its interaction with five other major networks. The relationship between the occurrences of iEEG-recorded interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs) and occupied brain state is examined to better understand how IED activity impacts brain network activity. The findings of this thesis demonstrate the analytical framework’s potential to enhance the detection and characterization of brain state transitions associated with epilepsy, offering a valuable tool for better identification of seizure foci and improving our understanding of the brain network dynamics associated with drug-resistant epilepsy.
The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer consensus statement on immunotherapy for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
Creators: name: Brahmer, Julie R.
name: Govindan, Ramaswamy
name: Anders, Robert A.
name: Antonia, Scott J.
name: Sagorsky, Sarah
name: Davies, Marianne J.
name: Dubinett, Steven M.
name: Ferris, Andrea
name: Gandhi, Leena
name: Garon, Edward B.
name: Hellmann, Matthew D.
name: Hirsch, Fred R.
name: Malik, Shakuntala
name: Neal, Joel W.
name: Papadimitrakopoulou, Vassiliki A.
name: Rimm, David L.
name: Schwartz, Lawrence H.
name: Sepesi, Boris
name: Yeap, Beow Y.
name: Rizvi, Naiyer A.
name: Herbst, Roy S.
Publisher: name: Columbia University
Year: 2018
Subjects: Cancer--Immunotherapy
Lungs--Cancer
Medicine
Consensus (Social sciences)

description: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounting for over 85% of all cases. Until recently, chemotherapy – characterized by some benefit but only rare durable responses – was the only treatment option for patients with NSCLC whose tumors lacked targetable mutations. By contrast, immune checkpoint inhibitors have demonstrated distinctly durable responses and represent the advent of a new treatment approach for patients with NSCLC. Three immune checkpoint inhibitors, pembrolizumab, nivolumab and atezolizumab, are now approved for use in first- and/or second-line settings for selected patients with advanced NSCLC, with promising benefit also seen in patients with stage III NSCLC. Additionally, durvalumab following chemoradiation has been approved for use in patients with locally advanced disease. Due to the distinct features of cancer immunotherapy, and rapid progress in the field, clinical guidance is needed on the use of these agents, including appropriate patient selection, sequencing of therapies, response monitoring, adverse event management, and biomarker testing. The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) convened an expert Task Force charged with developing consensus recommendations on these key issues. Following a systematic process as outlined by the National Academy of Medicine, a literature search and panel voting were used to rate the strength of evidence for each recommendation. This consensus statement provides evidence-based recommendations to help clinicians integrate immune checkpoint inhibitors into the treatment plan for patients with NSCLC. This guidance will be updated following relevant advances in the field.
title: Academic Integrity Leadership in Chilean Universities: Insights from Policy Analysis and Leaders’ Narratives
Creators: name: Moya Figueroa, Beatriz Antonieta
Publisher: name: Werklund School of Education
Year: 2024
Subjects: subject: Ethics
subject: Academic Integrity
subject: Higher education
subject: Institutional Integrity
subject: Leadership
subject: Organizational Integrity Leadership
subject: Policy
subject: Policy Analysis
subject: Institutional culture
subject: Quality assurance
subject: Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
subject: Narrative Inquiry
subject: Chile
subject: Education--Higher

description: Interest in safeguarding academic integrity in higher education worldwide has grown with emerging challenges, such as the unethical use of artificial intelligence. In response, scholars have called for understanding academic integrity as a teaching and learning issue to be addressed at a systems level; however, this endeavour requires academic integrity leadership context-sensitive insights. Likewise, calls for equity, diversity, inclusion, decolonization, and Indigenization require advancing understanding of the multiplicity of perspectives in the field. In this dissertation, I address these gaps with three manuscripts focusing on academic integrity in Chile. Acknowledging the critical role of policy, I led a qualitative research design of Hispanic South American education institutions’ (n = 10) academic integrity policies, identifying strengths and improvement areas and recommendations for the region through the lens of the five core elements of exemplary academic integrity policy: access, approach, responsibility, detail, and support (Manuscript 1). I also conducted a qualitative research design centred on Chilean universities (n = 43) using the five core elements of exemplary academic integrity to identify suggestions for the national context (Manuscript 2). The policy analyses showed difficulties in gaining access to documents, a prevalence of the punitive approach, a focus on students’ responsibility to uphold academic integrity, broad definitions regarding academic misconduct definitions (detail), and the lack of reference to support systems. These analyses paved the way for exploring leadership practice in three Chilean universities by studying the narratives of academic integrity educational leaders (n = 17) through a qualitative research design using the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) leadership dimensions and narrative analysis (Manuscript 3). Chilean leaders made meaning of their academic integrity leadership roles by creating new infrastructures for advancing academic integrity. These leaders’ interpretations shed light on their developing practices, recommendations for further improvement, and context-sensitive insights concerning academic integrity leadership in Chile. Policy analyses and exploring leaders’ narratives set the ground for developing eighteen questions for leaders underpinning recommendations for academic integrity’s promotion in Chile. These questions also push the current understanding of three core elements of exemplary academic integrity: access, responsibility, and support.
Regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism by hepatic leptin signalling
Creators: name: Huynh, Frank Khan
Publisher: name: University of British Columbia
Year: 2012

description: Incidences of obesity and type 2 diabetes have risen worldwide at alarming rates. While there is an undeniable correlation between obesity and type 2 diabetes, a clear mechanistic link between these two conditions has not been fully elucidated. The adipocyte-derived hormone leptin may play a role linking obesity and type 2 diabetes. Leptin can regulate body weight through its effects on the brain to decrease food intake and increase energy expenditure, but these effects are disrupted in obesity. Interestingly, leptin also has effects on glucose and lipid metabolism independent of its effects on body weight, so it is possible that disrupted leptin signalling during obesity can also perturb glucose and lipid metabolism, leading to symptoms associated with type 2 diabetes. Since the liver plays a critical role in integrating and controlling glucose and lipid metabolism, it was hypothesized that leptin resistance in the liver could play a role in the development of diabetic symptoms. To investigate this hypothesis, three complementary mouse models were used to help identify the role of leptin signalling specifically in the liver. It was found that in lean mice, hepatic leptin resistance results in increased insulin sensitivity in the liver, leading to reduced hepatic glucose output but also increased lipid accumulation and secretion of larger, more triglyceride-rich very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) particles without an increase in total plasma triglycerides. In obese, hyperinsulinemic mice lacking hepatic leptin signalling, the effects of lost leptin signalling on triglyceride metabolism were exacerbated, resulting in decreased triglyceride clearance and elevated plasma triglycerides compared to controls. These effects on plasma triglycerides were reversed when hepatic leptin signalling was restored in a mouse model of total leptin resistance. Collectively, these data reveal a possible role for hepatic leptin resistance in the development of diabetic symptoms during obesity.
Demand-Pull Creation, Public Officer's Endorsement, and Consumer Willingness-to-Pay for Nutritious Iron Beans in Rural and Urban Rwanda
Creators: name: Adewale Oparinde
name: Murekezi, Abdoul
name: Birol, Ekin
name: Lister Katsvairo
Publisher: name: Gates Open Research
Year: 2019

description: Demand-Pull Creation, Public Officer's Endorsement, and Consumer Willingness-to-Pay for Nutritious Iron Beans in Rural and Urban Rwanda
Stochastic delocalization of finite populations
Creators: name: Geyrhofer, Lukas
name: Hallatschek, Oskar
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2012
Subjects: subject: Populations and Evolution (q-bio.PE)
subject: Statistical Mechanics (cond-mat.stat-mech)
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: Heterogeneities in environmental conditions often induce corresponding heterogeneities in the distribution of species. In the extreme case of a localized patch of increased growth rates, reproducing populations can become strongly concentrated at the patch despite the entropic tendency for population to distribute evenly. Several deterministic mathematical models have been used to characterize the conditions under which localized states can form, and how they break down due to convective driving forces. Here, we study the delocalization of a finite population in the presence of number fluctuations. We find that any finite population delocalizes on sufficiently long time scales. Depending on parameters, however, populations may remain localized for a very long time. The typical waiting time to delocalization increases exponentially with both population size and distance to the critical wind speed of the deterministic approximation. We augment these simulation results by a mathematical analysis that treats the reproduction and migration of individuals as branching random walks subject to global constraints. For a particular constraint, different from a fixed population size constraint, this model yields a solvable first moment equation. We find that this solvable model approximates very well the fixed population size model for large populations, but starts to deviate as population sizes are small. The analytical approach allows us to map out a phase diagram of the order parameter as a function of the two driving parameters, inverse population size and wind speed. Our results may be used to extend the analysis of delocalization transitions to different settings, such as the viral quasi-species scenario.
A journey through Cyberium: creating user stories for a dystopic world to teach Requirements Engineering
Creators: name: Bernardo, João
name: Frota, João
name: Pessoa, Thais
name: Pessoa, Marcela Savia
name: Conte, Tayana
Publisher: name: figshare
Year: 2025
Subjects: classificationCode: 461202
subject: Empirical software engineering

description: Teaching Requirements Engineering (RE) is challenging, as it involves dealing with the complexity and abstraction of technical and business problems. Students need to learn how to properly identify requirements, document them, validate them, and communicate with various stakeholders, such as clients and technical teams, to understand what needs to be done. Traditional teaching methods often fail to engage students, making bridging theoretical concepts with practical applications difficult. This paper presents the Game Design Storytelling (GDS) process as a framework to gamify educational experiences in RE. GDS integrates narrative-based game elements with learning objectives, offering a structured approach to create interactive and engaging lessons. We applied GDS in an RE class focused on creating user stories using a dystopian narrative set in a fictional world called "Cyberium." Students were challenged to solve complex problems by developing user stories within this immersive environment. The results indicate that the gamified lesson increased student engagement and facilitated the understanding of technical concepts. The professor reported greater student interest in completing the gamified activity, and the feedback from students was positive, with some stating it was the "best class" they had in their undergraduate program, highlighting the relevance of narrative and interactivity for learning.
Axonopus marginatus Chase
Creators: name: Camargo Keller, Victor
name: Lopes Pereira-Silva, Erico Fernando
name: Hardt, Elisa
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2021
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Plantae
Tracheophyta
Liliopsida
Poales
Poaceae
Axonopus
Axonopus marginatus

description: Axonopus marginatus (Trin.) Chase Figure 18C Identification. Perennial tussock grass, 30–60 cm height. Leaf-blades linear, apex sub-acute, densely covered with hairs, 6–30 cm long, 0.2–0.8 cm wide. Characterized by its inflorescence with 2–11 sub-digitate branches, 4–11 cm long, concentrated on the apex and covered with silvery, yellowish, or brown trichomes. Remarks. A unusual species in the native grassland. Brazilian range. Midwest, North (except AC and AP states), Northeast, South (except RS state) and Southeast regions. Material examined. BRAZIL – São Paulo • Franco da Rocha, Parque Estadual do Juquery; 23°20′17″S, 046°41′40″W; 4 Nov. 2016; collection number vck11; HUFABC1877.
description: Published as part of Camargo Keller, Victor, Lopes Pereira-Silva, Erico Fernando & Hardt, Elisa, 2021, High richness, new occurrences, and threatened species in a savanna grassland remnant in the largest Brazilian metropolis, pp. 507-549 in Check List 17 (2) on page 527, DOI: 10.15560/17.2.507
title: Impact of Hydrate Dissociation on the Stiffness and Strength of Hydrate Bearing Sands
Creators: name: Ayebazibwe, Derrick
Publisher: name: Schulich School of Engineering
Year: 2024
Subjects: subject: soil
subject: stability-curve
subject: testing
subject: triaxial
subject: resonant column
subject: gas-hydrates
subject: geotechnical
subject: Engineering--Civil
subject: Geotechnology
subject: Geochemistry
subject: FOS: Earth and related environmental sciences
subject: Applied Sciences

description: The escalating global energy demand has propelled the exploration of unconventional energy resources, notably natural gas hydrates. These ice-like compounds, abundant in permafrost and marine sediments, harbor vast quantities of methane, a potent energy source. However, conventional methods for recovering methane gas from natural hydrate bearing sand (HBS) deposits requires dissociation of the hydrate, which has an impact on the mechanical stiffness and strength of the HBS. The safe and efficient production of methane from HBS reservoirs hinges on a comprehensive understanding of the intricate relationship between hydrate dissociation, hence reduction in hydrate saturation, and the mechanical behavior of the host sediments. This thesis investigates the impact of hydrate dissociation on the small-strain stiffness and shear strength of laboratory-synthesized methane hydrate-bearing sands. The excess gas method was employed to form methane hydrates within the sand specimens, simulating the conditions prevalent in many natural gas hydrate reservoirs. During hydrate formation and subsequent dissociation, resonant column tests were conducted to evaluate the changes in small strain stiffness and damping ratio that occurred. Triaxial shear compression tests were then conducted on each specimen, once a known volume of hydrate had been dissociated, to obtain their unique stress-strain response which was compared to the typical stress strain plot of intact hydrate bearing sand prepared exactly the same way and the stress strain plot of hydrate free host sands. The research findings reveal that hydrate formation significantly enhances the stiffness and strength of the sand, but dissociation, regardless of the method, leads to a substantial reduction in both properties. Notably, thermal stimulation causes a more rapid degradation of both mechanical properties compared to depressurization for the same degree of hydrate dissociation. The study also elucidates the distinct mechanisms governing the mechanical response of HBS during dissociation, highlighting the critical changes in hydrate morphology as thermal stimulation progresses that impact mechanical behaviour of HBS that undergoes thermal induced dissociation. The insights gained from this research contribute to a deeper understanding of the complex interplay between hydrate dissociation and the geomechanical behavior of HBS, providing a valuable foundation for the development of predictive models and the formulation of effective strategies for the safe and sustainable production of methane from hydrate reservoirs.
A Model Independent Method to Study Dark Matter induced Leptons and Gamma rays
Creators: name: Luo, Mingxing
name: Wang, Liucheng
name: Zhu, Guohuai
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2011
Subjects: subject: High Energy Physics - Phenomenology (hep-ph)
subject: High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena (astro-ph.HE)
subject: Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics (astro-ph.IM)
subject: High Energy Physics - Theory (hep-th)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: By using recent data, we directly determine the dark matter (DM) induced $e^\pm$ spectrum at the source from experimental measurements at the earth, without reference to specific particle physics models. The DM induced gamma rays emitted via inverse Compton scattering are then obtained in a model independent way. However the results depend on the choice of the astrophysical $e^\pm$ background, which is not reliably known. Nevertheless, we calculate, as an illustration, the fluxes of gamma rays from the Fornax cluster in the decaying DM scenario with various astrophysical $e^\pm$ backgrounds. Without any assumptions on details of the DM model, the predictions turn out to be either in disagreement with or only marginally below the upper limits measured recently by the Fermi-LAT Collaboration. In addition, these DM induced ICS gamma rays in the GeV range are shown to be almost independent of choices of cosmic ray propagation model and of DM density profile, when a given astrophysical $e^\pm$ background is assumed. This provides a strong constraint on decaying DM scenario as the gamma rays may be produced in other processes besides inverse Compton scattering, such as the bremsstrahlung and neutral pion decays.
description: 14 pages, 5 figures, Latex, to match the published version