cometadata/datacite-rtg-text-other-reclassification-records huggingface dataset:
Metabolic profiling for biomarker discovery in biochemical genetics
Creators: name: Robinette, Steven Lawrence
Publisher: name: Imperial College London
Year: 2013

description: Functional characterization of the phenotypic consequences of genetic variants increasingly constitutes the rate-limiting step in the study of biochemical genetics. This thesis presents the application of metabolic profiling technologies, including Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and Mass Spectrometry (MS), to identify metabolic perturbations resulting from inborn errors of metabolism, congenital diseases affecting the kidney, and animal models of both genetic mutations and renal pathology. In the case of newborn screening for enzyme deficiencies, two mass spectrometric assays, traditional tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) with multiple reaction monitoring and direct injection nanospray high resolution mass spectrometry (ns-HR-MS), were applied to profile dried blood spot (DBS) samples of over 6,000 newborns and identify the metabolic perturbations resulting from 24 congenital disorders of metabolism. To study genetic mutations with more complex phenotypic consequences affecting the kidney, urinary metabolic profiles were evaluated for four congenital kidney diseases. The natural history of cystinosis, showing changes in the urinary profile of cystinosis patients over time and with age, glomerular filtration rate, drug therapy, and transplantation, and a comparison of urinary perturbations seen in these human Mendelian disorders to the perturbations induced by region specific nephrotoxins characterize the urinary metabolic associations with these renal phenotypes. Finally, new computational approaches for analyzing metabolic profiling data are presented and evaluated, including for improving biomarker identification with two-dimensional NMR and increasing metabolomic coverage with high resolution mass spectrometry.Integrating metabolic and genetic diagnostics should enhance understanding of the relationship between genes and health and mechanisms by which genetic variations manifest as inherited disease.
Harmonised ambient air pollution and road traffic noise exposures linked to cardiovascular outcomes in European cohorts
Creators: name: Cai, Yutong
Publisher: name: Imperial College London
Year: 2016

description: Ambient air pollution and traffic-related noise are the two leading environmental risk factors for health in Europe. Associations between long-term exposure to air pollution or noise and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) were not entirely consistent across previous studies in adults. Moreover, noise may confound the relationship between air pollution and CVD, and vice versa. This PhD project was conducted to study the separate and joint effects of both air pollution and noise on 1) CVD blood biochemistry including C-reactive protein, blood lipids and glucose and on 2) incident CVD outcomes. Health and exposures data were harmonised across four European cohorts (EPIC-Oxford, HUNT, LifeLines, UK Biobank), as part of the EU-funded BioSHaRE project. All harmonised data were virtually pooled for individual-level analyses in DataSHIELD, a novel statistical tool to perform a ‘compute to data’ statistical approach. The cross-sectional analyses on biochemistry data generally suggested that both air pollution and noise were significantly associated with adverse changes in markers of systemic inflammation, blood lipids and glucose. The significant association between road traffic noise and C-reactive protein or triglycerides was confounded by air pollution whilst both air pollution and noise were significantly and independently associated with elevated blood glucose levels. Incident analyses suggested a possible increased risk for both particulate matter (PM) and gaseous air pollution on incident cerebrovascular disease but a null association for ischaemic heart disease (IHD). Daytime noise was associated with a non-significantly increased risk for incident IHD but evidence for cerebrovascular disease was inconclusive. Both air pollution and noise effects on CVD outcomes were independent from each other. This PhD study provides some novel evidence of both air pollution and noise on CVD biochemistry and incident CVD outcomes, and is a substantial addition to the current knowledge of cardiovascular health effects of both ambient air pollution and traffic noise.
CCWI2017: F44 'Inline Mobile Water Quality Sensors Deployed for Contamination Intrusion Localization'
Creators: name: Sankary, Nathan
name: Ostfeld, Avi
Publisher: name: The University of Sheffield
Year: 2017
Subjects: subject: 90599 Civil Engineering not elsewhere classified
subject: FOS: Civil engineering

description: The intrusion of an unknown substance within a water distribution system can dramatically disrupt the ability to deliver sufficient quantities of clean water. Although prompt detection can be considered the most important matter to protect public from ingestion of unknown substances, it is equally critical that a managing authority locate the intrusion, and return the network to standard operation. This study investigates the use of previously studied inline mobile water quality sensors in an “on-demand” fashion to localize potential contamination intrusion locations. This study employs mobile sensors to traverse through water distribution system pipes along paths that provide the most new information about potential source location contamination statuses. Using network connectivity, upstream regions of nodes traversed by the mobile sensors are deemed either a feasible or infeasible intrusion region based on the contamination status determined by the mobile sensor. Successively, mobile sensors are input until the region of potential intrusion is smaller than a defined threshold number of network nodes. Results of the mobile sensors employed for contamination intrusion localization are compared to the fixed sensor information. This study represents a preliminary investigation of a simple heuristic method to best deploy mobile water quality sensors for contamination event localization.
Transmission dynamics of dengue in Malaysia
Creators: name: Safian, Nazarudin
Publisher: name: Imperial College London
Year: 2015

description: Dengue has become one of the most important vector borne diseases endangering human health. The burden of dengue will continue to increase if more effective methods of controlling dengue are not found. Therefore, understanding the transmission dynamics of dengue is important so that efficient and effective control programmes can be developed. I focused my research in Malaysia, particularly Selangor, one of the state with the highest reported dengue incidence. In this thesis, I showed two methods of estimating dengue transmission parameter. First was estimating the force of infection from age-stratified case notification data. Second, using a basic catalytic model, I estimated the force of infection and R0 from the seroprevalence data. Using both methods, my force of infection and R0 estimates for Selangor was comparable with other SE Asia countries. I used the parameters estimated from our data in a model of dengue transmission to assess the potential impact of dengue vaccination in Malaysia. I parameterised my model using the results from the phase 3 clinical trials of the leading vaccine candidate (CYD-TDV). My result shows that for a vaccine with the complex profile of efficacy shown by CYD-TDV, the impact of vaccination is critically hinge on the age of vaccination and the transmission intensity of dengue (R0 ) in the vaccinated population. Our results have shown that as R0 decreases, the optimal age of vaccination increase. My model also shows that vaccination can have a moderate impact on dengue disease incidence, but not sufficient to stop transmission except perhaps in very low transmission settings.
Κανονιστική συμμόρφωση
Creators: name: Κωνστάντιου, Άννα
Publisher: name: Πανεπιστήμιο Πειραιώς
Year: 2022
Subjects: subject: Κανονιστική συμμόρφωση
subject: Κώδικες δεοντολογίας
subject: Εταιρική διακυβέρνηση
subject: Εσωτερικός έλεγχος

description: Η παρούσα διπλωματική με τίτλο «Κανονιστική Συμμόρφωση» αποτελεί μια προσπάθεια καταγραφής των ιδιαίτερων χαρακτηριστικών και της σημασίας της Κανονιστικής Συμμόρφωσης για την επιχείρηση στο σύγχρονο περιβάλλον. Οι επιχειρήσεις σήμερα καλούνται να ανταποκριθούν στις υψηλές απαιτήσεις των νομοθετικών και ρυθμιστικών αρχών αλλά και της ίδιας της κοινωνίας. Η ηθική κουλτούρα αποτελεί πλέον μέρος της στρατηγικής των επιχειρήσεων και ανάγεται σε πρωταρχικής σημασίας παράγοντας για τη διατήρηση της φήμης. Η διασφάλιση της λειτουργίας ενός αποτελεσματικού συστήματος εσωτερικού ελέγχου νομιμότητας αποτελεί όχι μόνο νομική υποχρέωση για τις ρυθμισμένες επιχειρήσεις αλλά αναγκαιότητα για τη διασφάλιση της σταθερότητας, της βιωσιμότητας και της ανάπτυξης όλων των επιχειρήσεων που καλούνται να λειτουργήσουν σε ένα έντονα παγκοσμιοποιημένο ανταγωνιστικό περιβάλλον, με τους κίνδυνους να αυξάνουν συνεχώς. Η λειτουργία της Κανονιστικής Συμμόρφωσης ως μέρος του ευρύτερου μηχανισμού της Εταιρικής Διακυβέρνησης (GRC) και του εσωτερικού ελέγχου, έχει στόχο τη μείωση και τη διαχείριση του κινδύνου μέσω συστήματος κανόνων, αρχών και πολιτικών, που θα διασφαλίζει την προστασία όλων των ενδιαφερομένων μερών και θα συμβαδίζει με τις στρατηγικές της επιχείρησης. Ο ρόλος του Υπεύθυνου Κανονιστικής Συμμόρφωσης που θα καλείται να εξασφαλίσει τη λειτουργία ενός αποτελεσματικού μηχανισμού συμμόρφωσης ανάγεται σε σημαντική θέση μέσα στην επιχείρηση. Εκτός από τις επιχειρήσεις που υπάγονται σε ρύθμιση, για πολλές μεγάλες ιδίως πολυεθνικές επιχειρήσεις, η παρακολούθηση του κανονιστικού πλαισίου και των αλλαγών του και η εκτίμηση του κατά πόσο επηρεάζουν την επιχείρηση, είναι σημαντική πληροφορία για τη διοίκηση και τη διαχείριση του κινδύνου συμμόρφωσης.
Resilience patterns of Swiss adolescents before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. A latent transition analysis
Creators: name: Janousch, Clarissa
name: Anyan, Frederick
name: Morote, Roxanna
name: Hjemdal, Odin
Publisher: name: Routledge
Year: 2022
Subjects: subject: Latent transition analysis
subject: Resilience
subject: Early adolescents
subject: Anxiety
subject: Depression
subject: Protective factors
subject: 370 - Erziehung, Schul- und Bildungswesen

description: This study investigated resilience patterns and predictors of these patterns (i.e. gender and migration background) among Swiss early adolescents in times of COVID-19. A total of 317 pupils participated at two time points. We conducted two separate latent class analyses and a latent transition analysis using mental health issues and protective factors as indicators. The results revealed three groups: resilient (high mental health issues, high protective factors), nonresilient (high mental health issues, low protective factors), and untroubled (low mental health issues, high protective factors). The resilient group was the most stable (91% stability), whereas the untroubled was the least stable (69% stability). Boys were more likely to be part of the untroubled group than the other groups at the second time point. Gender at the first time point and migration background at both time points were nonsignificant as predictors. Findings highlight the importance of group-specific research, health promotion, and interventions.
CCWI2017: F148 'Rusby Wood a Smart Network for Sustainable Discolouration Risk Reduction'
Creators: name: Cook, Dominic
name: Husband, Stewart
Publisher: name: The University of Sheffield
Year: 2017
Subjects: subject: 90599 Civil Engineering not elsewhere classified
subject: FOS: Civil engineering

description: Managing discolouration customer contacts has never been more important to UK Water Companies, with the Economic Regulator setting strict water quality customer contact targets, imposing large financial penalties if they are exceeded without providing additional funding to facilitate necessary network investment. 19% of discolouration customer contacts can be directly associated with the mobilisation of discolouration material from the trunk main distribution system, but these pipes due to their criticality of supply and size are extremely expensive to clean. This paper presents a practical example demonstrating that with the addition of relatively inexpensive automated flow control, metering and instrumentation, a water supply system can be configured to automatically re condition itself. Five trunk main sections will sequentially run a maximum flow between service reservoirs before returning to normal operating flows. This produces a safety headroom between normal operating flow and the maximum hydraulically available flow this dramatically reduces discolouration risk should an un planned high flow event occur on the network. The system is designed to ‘self check’ whereby sending and receiving reservoir levels and flow pressure and turbidity at strategic points are within set parameters before the reconditioning occurs. In addition, if abnormal flows, pressures or turbidity levels are detected at any time on one of the trunk main sections, the inlet valve on the appropriate receiving reservoir will automatically close. This prevents discoloured water from entering the reservoir allowing the operator time to repair and flush the affected main.
Πρόβλεψη σακχαρώδους διαβήτη με μεθόδους μηχανικής μάθησης
Creators: name: Κολοκυθάς, Κωνσταντίνος
Publisher: name: Πανεπιστήμιο Πειραιώς
Year: 2021
Subjects: subject: Σακχαρώδης διαβήτης
subject: Εξόρυξη δεδομένων
subject: Μηχανική μάθηση
subject: Δυαδική ταξινόμηση

description: Ο σακχαρώδης διαβήτης είναι μία από τις σοβαρότερες ασθένειες σε παγκόσμιο επίπεδο και, εάν δεν διαγνωστεί έγκαιρα, μπορεί να δημιουργήσει σοβαρά προβλήματα υγείας και να αυξήσει τον κίνδυνο της θνησιμότητας. Μάλιστα, οι ασθενείς είναι ιδιαίτερα ευάλωτοι στην ασθένεια του COVID-19. Η χρήση προγνωστικών μεθόδων με τη βοήθεια της εξόρυξης δεδομένων και ιδιαίτερα της Μηχανικής Μάθησης μπορεί να συμβάλει στην έγκαιρη διάγνωση, ώστε να αποφευχθούν οι σοβαρές επιπλοκές στην υγεία των ασθενών. Στην παρούσα διπλωματική εργασία διερευνάται το πρόβλημα της πρόβλεψης του σακχαρώδους διαβήτη βάσει συμπτωμάτων με την βοήθεια αλγόριθμων Μηχανικής Μάθησης για δυαδική ταξινόμηση, με σκοπό τη σύγκρισή τους. Η υλοποίηση έγινε με τη βοήθεια της βιβλιοθήκης scikit-learn της γλώσσας προγραμματισμού Python με ένα συγκεκριμένο σύνολο δεδομένων που διατίθεται δημόσια από το αποθετήριο μηχανικής μάθησης του Πανεπιστημίου της Καλιφόρνια. Το σύνολο δεδομένων αφορά παρατηρήσεις που συλλέχθηκαν από 520 ασθενείς βάσει ερωτηματολογίου, το οποίο περιλαμβάνει τα συχνότερα συμπτώματα της ασθένειας. Οι αλγόριθμοι μηχανικής μάθησης που εφαρμόστηκαν στο σύνολο δεδομένων είναι η λογιστική παλινδρόμηση (Logistic Regression), οι μηχανές υποστήριξης διανυσμάτων (Support Vector Machines), ο απλοϊκός Bayes (Naive Bayes), το πολυεπίπεδο perceptron (Multi-Layer Perceptron) και τα τυχαία δάση (Random Forests). Η σύγκριση των αποτελεσμάτων έγινε με διάφορες μετρικές απόδοσης που αφορούν προβλήματα ταξινόμησης. Τα συγκριτικά αποτελέσματα υποδεικνύουν ως καλύτερο αλγόριθμο για το συγκεκριμένο σύνολο τα τυχαία δάση. Το σχετικό μοντέλο παρουσιάζει τις καλύτερες μετρικές απόδοσης, με το μοντέλο των μηχανών υποστήριξης διανυσμάτων να ακολουθεί.
Development of targeted communication strategies to promote prudent antibiotic usage: needs assessment among the public
Creators: name: Feck, Vanessa
name: Visschers, Vivianne
name: Herrmann, Anne
Publisher: name: Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz FHNW
Year: 2018
Subjects: subject: antibiotic resistance
subject: risk communication
subject: 150 - Psychologie
subject: 610 - Medizin und Gesundheit

description: Background: Public behaviour is a crucial factor to reduce the risk of antibiotic resistance. A better understanding of the public‘s attitudes, knowledge and beliefs regarding antibiotics and antibiotic resistance is required to recommend effective communication strategies to promote a more prudent antibiotic usage as well as the adoption of measures to prevent the spread of resistant bacteria. Method: An online survey was conducted among the Swiss population (N = 1,260). We applied cluster analysis to identify segments based on the respondents‘ demand for and perception of antibiotics. Through multiple ANOVAs, segments were compared on their demographic characteristics, knowledge, as well as on their cultural values and other variables, such as perceived responsibility. Findings: Four segments were identified. They differed significantly on all perception variables and their demand for antibiotics (Fs > 58, ps < .001, ηp2s > .13): (1) Experienced Sceptics reported a low demand and usage of antibiotics, were aware of the risks and had more experience with antibiotic resistance. (2) Knowledgeable Undifferentiated had lots of knowledge about antibiotics, antibiotic resistance and preventive measures but were neither very concerned about antibiotic resistance nor did they perceive many benefits in using antibiotics. (3) Young Unwilling showed little willingness to adopt preventive measures, were younger and rather uncritical regarding antibiotics. (4) Self-Serving Users reported a high demand and usage of antibiotics, perceived a rather low responsibility and held strong egoistic values. Discussion: To promote prudent antibiotic usage, recommendations for communication strategies were developed targeting the different segments‘ needs.
Measuring chemicals with biology : engineering genetic biosensors for chemical analysis
Creators: name: D'Oelsnitz, Simon
name: 0000-0001-7512-9157
Publisher: name: The University of Texas at Austin
Year: 2021
Subjects: Biosensor
Synthetic biology
Metabolic engineering
Biotechnology
Directed evolution

description: Nature has evolved incredibly efficient and sustainable technology over millions of years, and we are just now learning how to reprogram it for our needs. In the past century this has been manifested in our ability to create proteins for breaking down and building up chemicals. Common laundry detergents contain a cocktail of enzymes for removing lipids, starches, and sugars from textiles. The pharmaceutical industry is embracing enzymes for more efficient drug synthesis. We are already adopting nature’s solution for chemical manipulation. The next frontier will involve adopting nature’s solution to chemical measurement. All living organisms use proteins, or genetic biosensors, to sense and respond to chemical cues. In the past two decades these natural biosensors have been repurposed for monitoring biomarkers, detecting chemical threats, and screening for improved catalysts. However, just as with enzymes, biosensors from nature oftentimes must be tailored for a desired application. This thesis describes novel methods for engineering genetic biosensors, as well as demonstrations of applications enabled by them, over three independent studies. In the first study, a new evolutionary approach to genetic biosensor design is described and subsequently used to create a series of highly specific sensors for five therapeutic alkaloids. One of these sensors is then used to rapidly evolve a plant methyltransferase enzyme capable of producing tetrahydropapaverine, an immediate precursor to four FDA-approved drugs. Next, the same evolutionary approach is used to create a generalist biosensor responsive to a wide range of otherwise intractable monoterpenes that are commonly used in the fragrance, flavor, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. Finally, the last study describes two separate genetic biosensors engineered to monitor the incorporation of the noncanonical amino acids selenocysteine and L-DOPA. The utility of these sensors is then demonstrated by measuring the incorporation efficiency of thousands of seleno-competent bacterial strains and hundreds of L-DOPA aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases in hours, which would otherwise require months using traditional equipment. Scaling the approaches described herein will facilitate the industrialization of genetic biosensors for next- generation chemical analysis.
CCWI2017: F62 'Using hydraulic models and real time monitoring to provide resilience for Birmingham'
Creators: name: Rimmer, Colin
Publisher: name: The University of Sheffield
Year: 2017
Subjects: subject: 90599 Civil Engineering not elsewhere classified
subject: FOS: Civil engineering

description: The Birmingham Resilience Project aims to deliver a new water supply for customers in Birmingham. The new water source will allow the Elan Valley Aqueduct to be shut down for extended periods so that maintenance on the 100-year-old asset can be completed. The new source will also provide backup during an emergency event. In addition to the new water supply the existing Severn Trent Strategic Grid is required to transfer at least 55 Ml/d into the Birmingham distribution network.
An Analysis of Biomarkers for Epithelial Ovarian Cancer
Creators: name: Wang, Yuepeng
Publisher: name: Imperial College London
Year: 2012

description: Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the leading cause of death from gynaecological malignancies in the UK. Currently, serum CA125 level is the only circulating cancer biomarker routinely used in clinical practice to monitor cancer recurrence and response. However, it has low sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis. Biomarkers for screening, diagnosis, prognosis and outcomes prediction are lacking. There is a clear need to identify such biomarkers to assist clinical decision making and help to elucidate cancer- associated biological processes. The aim of this project was to evaluate the diagnostic, prognostic and predictive value (both surgery and chemotherapy) of circulating proteins in EOC. Data on 41 circulating proteins generated on a multiplex Luminex ELISA platform using plasma was used for biomarker discovery. Subsequent validations were performed using ELISAs, as well as publicly available microarray datasets. This body of work constitutes the following observations: 1) The combination of CA125 and HE4 are confirmed to be the current best performing biomarker for distinguishing EOC from non-EOC; 2) FOLR1 is a potential biomarker for differential diagnosis between borderline tumours of ovary and EOC; 3) Circulating levels of PAI1 active and SDC1 are predictive biomarkers for surgical outcome, and indicate that the biology of tumour-stromal interaction plays a key role in tumour resectability; 4) Circulating SDC1 is also a poor prognostic factor associated with thrombocytosis and PDGF signalling, and low SDC1 levels may predict benefit from anti-angiogenics such as bevacizumab; and 5) High circulating FOLR1 levels are associated with poor prognosis, and may represent a biomarker for patient selection for FOLR1- targetted therapies in development.
Additional file 1 of A paclitaxel and microRNA-124 coloaded stepped cleavable nanosystem against triple negative breast cancer
Creators: name: Chen, Chuanrong
name: Shen, Ming
name: Liao, Hongze
name: Guo, Qianqian
name: Fu, Hao
name: Yu, Jian
name: Duan, Yourong
Publisher: name: figshare
Year: 2021
Subjects: subject: Biophysics
subject: Biochemistry
subject: Space Science
subject: Pharmacology
subject: Chemical Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Cancer
subject: Plant Biology
subject: FOS: Biological sciences

description: Additional file 1: Figure S1. The synthetic route of mPEG-HA-PC. Figure S2. 1H NMR spectra of mPEG-HA. Figure S3. FTIR spectra of mPEG-HA. Figure S4. FTIR spectra of mPEG-HA-PC in different ratios. Figure S5. The NPs inhibit the migration of MDA-MB-231 cells. Figure S6. Synergistic cytotoxicity of PTX and miR124 on MDA-MB-231 cells.
title: Förderung von Naturbewusstsein trotz Pandemie
title: Neue Wege in der Umwelt- und Nachhaltigkeitsbildung?
titleType: Subtitle
Creators: name: Stahl, William
Publisher: name: Freie Universität Berlin
Year: 2022
Subjects: subject: Naturbewusstsein
subject: Pandemie
subject: Umweltbewusstsein
subject: Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung (BNE)
subject: Umweltbildung
subject: Biodiversität
subject: 300 Sozialwissenschaften::370 Bildung und Erziehung::370 Bildung und Erziehung

description: Welche Auswirkungen hatte die Corona-Pandemie auf die außerschulische Umweltbildung bzw. Bildung für Nachhaltige Entwicklung? Und welche Lösungsansätze entwickelten BildnerInnen, um den Kontakt zu AdressatInnen aufrechtzuerhalten und mit ihren Projekten, trotz Pandemie und Lockdown, Naturbewusstsein und ein Verständnis für biologische Vielfalt zu fördern? Mit einer semiquantitativen Befragung im Frühjahr 2021 unter BildnerInnen in Berlin und Brandenburg wurden diese Fragestellungen anhand diverser Aspekte (z.B. Veränderungen in Nachfrage, Angebot, Lernmerkmalen, ausgelösten Emotionen etc.) untersucht und in dieser Masterarbeit ausgewertet. Dabei konnte eine Förderung von Naturbewusstsein bzw. seiner biodiversitätsspezifischen Teilindikatoren durch die befragten BildnerInnen nachgewiesen werden. Es präsentierte sich ein anpassungsfähiger Bildungsbereich, der einerseits auf die Präsenzlehre und direkte Interaktion der Teilnehmenden (mit der Natur) setzt, der aber auch durch die pandemiebedingten strukturellen Auswirkungen und inhaltliche Veränderungen eine Reihe neuer digitaler Lehrkonzepte (E-Learning) erfolgreich etabliert hatte. Die vielfältigen Lösungsstrategien in Kommunikation, Durchführung und Evaluation von Angeboten könnten auch unter nicht-Pandemiebedingungen zukünftig eine größere (IT- und technikinteressierte) Zielgruppe für das Biodiversitätsthema begeistern.
Genomic structural variation and its impact on the human phenotype
Creators: name: El-Sayed Moustafa, Julia Sarah
Publisher: name: Imperial College London
Year: 2013

description: The impact of genomic structural variation on the human phenotype and the degree to which it contributes to the unexplained heritability of complex disease is of considerable interest, particularly as rapidly rising rates of metabolic disorders have placed increased impetus on identification of genetic factors influencing individual susceptibility to obesity. The work presented in this thesis focusses on the role of genomic structural variants (GSVs) in the modulation of adiposity and pathogenesis of obesity. Common CNVs were investigated in two severe obesity case-control study samples. Eight intragenic and five intergenic CNVs were significantly associated with increased susceptibility to obesity (P<2.0×10-6), eight of which were located within variable number of tandem repeats (VNTRs). Investigation of a complex copy number variable region on 8p21.2 encompassing the dedicator of cytokinesis 5 (DOCK5) gene revealed the presence of two complex VNTRs flanking a common deletion. We have developed a novel VNTR association algorithm, VNTRtest, which we employed to show significant association of the DOCK5 VNTRs with childhood and adult obesity (P=3.7×10-9 and P=3.1×10-3, respectively), as well as independent association between the 3,975bp deletion and obesity (P=1.6×10-3). We have also shown copy number at the multi-allelic salivary amylase gene (AMY1) to be strongly associated with both adiposity and obesity susceptibility, replicating this finding in six Caucasian study samples. Carriers of low versus high copy numbers at AMY1 showed increased risk of obesity (OR [95%CI]=10.50 [5.19-22.53]; P=2.71×10-10). Copy-numbers at this locus were also correlated with serum amylase levels, which also showed inverse correlation with body mass index. Additionally, rare duplications above 500kb were significantly enriched in child and adult obesity (P=8.89×10-3 and P=9.78×10-3, respectively). Functional annotation analysis also revealed enrichment for genes associated with schizophrenia within GSVs identified in obese subjects (P=2.2×10-5). In summary, this thesis presents multiple novel GSV associations with obesity as well as methodology for GSV genotyping and association testing. It is hoped that the work described in this thesis may contribute towards elucidation of the role of genomic structural variation in complex disease.
CCWI2017: F114 'Application of Water Distribution Models in Mains Cleaning- A Case Study'
Creators: name: M.A.M Mansoor
name: E.Bleakley
name: J.Yan
name: K.Vairavamoorthy
Publisher: name: The University of Sheffield
Year: 2017
Subjects: subject: 90599 Civil Engineering not elsewhere classified
subject: FOS: Civil engineering

description: The main purpose of the project was to remove the biofilms and sediments in the pipe while making sure the network does not experience discolorations. In this project only the preferred material (Plastic, Asbestos Cement, and Ductile Iron) mains were cleaned using two different approaches, namely robust flushing and air scouring. This paper is only concerned with the robust flushing aspect, where mains are cleaned by generating sufficient shear stress. The Prediction of Discolouration in Distribution Systems (PODDS) methodology is used in the flushing design [1]. The main challenge in the design was to clean the mains while maintain the levels of service to the customer and preventing discolouration upstream and maintaining a calm network so that valve operations carried out in the field do not cause pressure surges and isolations in the network. Potential issues faced during the hydraulic design of flushing are highlighted through a case study.
Cardiovascular disease and medication use associated with exposure to aircraft noise, road traffic noise and air pollution in populations living near airports
Creators: name: Floud, Sarah Katherine
Publisher: name: Imperial College London
Year: 2012

description: Noise is a significant environmental problem; epidemiological evidence that noise from road traffic and aircraft may be damaging to health has been increasing. This thesis uses data from the HYENA (HYpertension and Exposure to Noise near Airports) multi-centre study. Earlier HYENA studies suggested that noise exposure increased the risk of hypertension and other risk factors for cardiovascular disease, through blood pressure spikes, reduced night-time dipping of blood pressure and raised morning salivary cortisol. This thesis found that long-term exposure to aircraft noise was associated with increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease and with the use of anti-hypertensive and anxiolytic medication. Road traffic noise was also associated with cardiovascular disease and additionally with antacid use in men. These are new findings with significant implications for public policy. Airports generate road traffic, with associated air pollution increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease. An analysis was therefore undertaken into whether the association between cardiovascular disease and road traffic noise was confounded by air pollution or if there was interaction between the exposures. Mutual confounding by noise and air pollution was found in separate analyses of three countries within HYENA. It is possible that aspects of the home environment, insulation, open windows and room orientation, affect exposure to noise and thus modify health risks. Associations between cardiovascular disease and road traffic noise were found for participants whose rooms faced the road and for those who had sound proofing installed in their home, suggesting the latter is a marker for higher exposure and/or sensitivity to noise. The effect of opening windows on the association between cardiovascular disease and noise was less clear, with an association with aircraft noise but not with road traffic noise.
title: Data Stewardship Maturity Report for GHRSST Level 3P North Atlantic Regional Subskin Sea Surface Temperature from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) on NOAA-19 (GDS version 1)
Creators: name: Lemieux, Paul
Publisher: name: National Centers for Environmental Information (U.S.)
Year: 2021

description: NOAA Technical Information Series NESDIS DSMR-00229
Potential effects of anaesthetics on cancer recurrence following surgery: molecular mechanisms
Creators: name: Benzonana, Laura Lina
Publisher: name: Imperial College London
Year: 2012

description: Patients with solid tumours are likely to undergo surgery during the course of their disease. Surgery and anaesthesia may influence the tumour’s metastatic potential. Certain anaesthetics are shown to induce cellular phenotypic changes via cellular signalling pathways; including the hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) pathway. HIFs are heavily implicated in tumorigenesis and may play an important role in tumour cell proliferation, migration, invasion and angiogenesis (VEGF signalling). In the current thesis I aimed to investigate the potential impact of isoflurane on tumour cell progression and metastatic potential, as well as the potential anti-cancer effects of helium (a potential insuflation gas) in vitro. In a series of experiments, renal and prostate cancer cells were exposed to different anaesthetics and their effects on the metastatic potential of the cells were observed using different techniques such as western blotting, fluorescent immunocytochemistry, MTT assays, trypan blue assay and migration assays. The data derived from my PhD project show that isoflurane anaesthesia results in an increased metastatic potential of renal cell carcinoma and prostate cancer cells by increasing cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. The mechanism partially responsible for this effect has been shown to be the PI3K/HIF pathway. Furthermore helium was shown to have an anti-cancer effect on both cancer cell lines. These findings may have clinical implications for cancer patient care undergoing surgery under anaesthesia. Understanding the role of anaesthetics on growth and metastasis will defiantly shed light to better treatment options for cancer patients.
Additional file 3 of Predictive value of CAC score combined with clinical features for obstructive coronary heart disease on coronary computed tomography angiography: a machine learning method
Creators: name: Ren, Yongkui
name: Li, Yulin
name: Pan, Weili
name: Yin, Da
name: Du, Jie
Publisher: name: figshare
Year: 2023
Subjects: Medicine
Biotechnology
Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
Information Systems not elsewhere classified
Mathematical Sciences not elsewhere classified

description: Additional file 3. Supplementary Table 1. Pre-implant clinical features included in the analysis.
title: Statistische Aufbereitung von Klimaprojektionen
title: Downscaling und multivariate Bias-Adjustierung ; Im Rahmen des BMVI-Expertennetzwerkes entwickelte Verfahren zum Postprocessing von Klimamodelldaten
titleType: Subtitle
Creators: name: Krähenmann, Stefan
name: Walter, Andreas
name: Klippel, Lara
Publisher: name: Freie Universität Berlin
Year: 2022
Subjects: subject: Klimaprojektionsdaten
subject: multivariaten Bias-Adjustierung
subject: 500 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik::550 Geowissenschaften, Geologie::551 Geologie, Hydrologie, Meteorologie

description: Zusammenfassung: Klimaprojektionsdaten liegen originär auf einem Gitter vor, das für die Ableitung von Anpassungsmaßnahmen an den Klimawandel vor Ort zu grob ist. Zudem sind Klimaprojektionsdaten eventuell mit systematischen Ungenauigkeiten (Bias) behaftet, die insbesondere bei der Analyse schwellenwertbezogener Indizes die Ergebnisse verfälschen können. In diesem Bericht wird ein Verfahren zur multivariaten Bias-Adjustierung vorgestellt und bewertet. Multivariat bedeutet in diesem Zusammenhang, dass korrelierte Variablen gemeinsam adjustiert werden, was die Korrelation zwischen solchen Variablen erhält und insbesondere in der Klimafolgenforschung von enormer Wichtigkeit ist. Es schließt sich die Vorstellung eines statistischen Verfahrens zur Generierung von höheren räumlichen Auflösungen der Modelldaten (Downscaling) an. Hierbei wird die originäre Modellauflösung von ~ 11 km x 11 km unter Zuhilfenahme einer Hauptkomponentenanalyse (Principal Component Analysis), der Ermittlung statistischer Beziehungen zwischen den originären Modelldaten und der ermittelten Hauptkomponenten und der Anwendung dieser Beziehungen auf hochauflösende Daten, zur Generierung eines Datensatz mit einer Zielauflösung von 5 km x 5 km genutzt. Die Methode wurde im Rahmen des BMVI-Expertennetzwerkes „Wissen – Können – Handeln“ entwickelt und auf ein Ensemble von Klimaprojektionsdaten angewendet. Die Ergebnisse liefern wesentliche Beiträge in diesem Ressortforschungsprogramm, im Rahmen der Klimawirkungs- und Risikoanalyse 2021 und im Kontext der Deutschen Anpassungsstrategie an den Klimawandel sowie für Beratungsleistungen des Deutschen Wetterdienstes..
Firmengründer müssen als Person überzeugen
Creators: name: Winistörfer, Norbert
Publisher: name: Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz FHNW
Year: 2016
Subjects: Firmengründung
Startup
Firmenkonkurs
Unternehmertyp
Firmeninsolvenzen
Selbständigkeit

description: Firmengründer benötigen nicht nur eine geniale Geschäftsidee, um sich erfolgreich im Markt etablieren und behaupten zu können. Sie müssen vor allem als Person überzeugen und eine unternehmerische Persönlichkeit aufweisen. Der Artikel zeigt, welche persönliche Eigenschaften ein Unternehmerty benötigt, damit aus seinem Traum von einem eigenen Business am Schluss kein Alptraum wird.
The evolving role of imaging in colorectal liver metastasis treatment planning and prognostication
Creators: name: Tam, Henry
Publisher: name: Imperial College London
Year: 2015

description: While a plethora of new imaging techniques are being investigated as adjuncts or improvement to existing imaging tests, most of these novel techniques take many years before they are validated for clinical use. The aims of this thesis, which is focused on patients with colorectal liver metastases, were three-folds: (1) to evaluate whether the use of liver specific contrast enhanced MRI with diffusion-weighted MRI improves the surgical management of these patients compared with conventional CT, (2) to evaluate whether imaging tests used in routine clinical practice, such as 18-Flurodeoxyglucode (FDG) PET/CT and diffusion-weighted MRI (DW-MRI), yield predictive and prognostic information in this clinical setting and (3) to evaluate the use of conventional MRI and DW-MRI in identifying the effects of malignancy on the adjacent liver parenchyma and also treatment-related complications of the hepatic parenchyma. The studies undertaken showed that although the use of liver specific contrast enhanced MRI with DW-MRI has a higher diagnostic sensitivity compared with CT, its use did not significantly alter management in the majority. When assessing colorectal liver metastases using DW-MRI, the pre-treatment lesion ADC values may predict response to treatment although this requires further validation. Using FDG PET-CT imaging, we showed that higher pre-treatment standardized uptake value (SUV) predicted for shorter patient progression free survival. Using a combination of diffusion-weighted MR imaging and T1-weighted MRI, we described a novel MRI diagnostic sign of hepatic injury from malignant biliary obstruction, which was corroborated with serum alanine transferase (ALT) derangements. In a separate evaluation, we found that although the sign of sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS) on gadoxetic acid enhanced MRI was frequently observed in patients receiving oxaliplatin chemotherapy, it was infrequently associated with significant long term hepatic veno-occlusive disease.As FDG-PET/CT and diffusion-weighted MRI are becoming more main-stream in clinical practice, these techniques will play an increasingly role in the management of colorectal liver metastases.
Additional file 4 of Predictive value of CAC score combined with clinical features for obstructive coronary heart disease on coronary computed tomography angiography: a machine learning method
Creators: name: Ren, Yongkui
name: Li, Yulin
name: Pan, Weili
name: Yin, Da
name: Du, Jie
Publisher: name: figshare
Year: 2023
Subjects: Medicine
Biotechnology
Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
Information Systems not elsewhere classified
Mathematical Sciences not elsewhere classified

description: Additional file 4. Supplementary Table 2. Comparasions bwtween the test cohort and the training cohort.
Technology acceptance of four digital learning technologies (classroom response system, classroom chat, e‑lectures, and mobile virtual reality) after three months’ usage
Creators: name: Sprenger, David
name: Schwaninger, Adrian
Publisher: name: Open University of Catalonia
Year: 2021
Subjects: E-learning
Digital learning technologies
Technology acceptance
Perceived ease of use
Perceived usefulness
Behavioral intention
Classroom response system
Classroom chat
E-lectures
Mobile virtual reality

description: Digital technologies have gained much popularity in education thanks to the cost efficiency they gain through scalability. While the acceptance of some of these new digital technologies has been investigated, there are few direct comparisons. The most established model for measuring acceptance is the technology acceptance model, which can predict the behavioral intention to use the technology. We compared four digital learning technologies (e-lectures, classroom response system, classroom chat, and mobile virtual reality) in terms of their technology acceptance. The classroom response system had the highest level of acceptance. It was closely followed by e-lectures, then the classroom chat and then mobile virtual reality. The students evaluated all tools favorably before and after usage, except for mobile virtual reality, which saw a substantial drop in perceived usefulness and behavioral intention after 3 months’ usage.
Investigating Fibroblast Growth Factor 19 expression in primary and secondary bile acid diarrhoea
Creators: name: Nolan, Jonathan David
Publisher: name: Imperial College London
Year: 2016

description: Introduction: Bile acid diarrhoea (BAD) results from excess bile acids (BA) in the colon. Most BAs are reabsorbed at the terminal ileum. Increased colonic BA occur secondary to ileal disease or resection (common in Crohn’s disease [CD]) leading to BA malabsorption and secondary BAD (SBAD). Primary BAD (PBAD) occurs in the absence of overt ileal disease or malabsorption. The peptide FGF19 is produced from enterocytes in response to BA absorption and is a negative regulator of BA synthesis. Defects in FGF19 production may underlie the excess faecal BA loss observed in PBAD. Aim: This thesis reports studies testing the following hypotheses: (1) Ileal FGF19 expression is altered in both CD and PBAD; (2) Serum FGF19 is a diagnostic marker of BAD in CD; (3) Stimulating FGF19 with a BA analogue in patients with SBAD will have beneficial symptomatic effects. Methods: Groups of patients underwent fasting blood sampling or ileal biopsies during colonoscopy. Serum FGF19 was measured and biopsies were studied for expression of FGF19 transcripts and other genes before and after incubation with BA. RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis and RT-PCR were used for relative quantification of gene expression. A genotype study on a candidate SNP in the DIET1 gene was performed on a cohort of PBAD patients. Results: Serum FGF19 levels were lower in CD patients with ileal resection, or diarrhoea or active disease. FGF19 transcripts were strongly induced by BAs in ileal explants but were lower in CD compared to controls. Baseline and BA-stimulated ileal FGF19 expression were related to measures of faecal BA loss. The DIET1 variant was associated with FGF19 levels. An open-label, pilot trial of the BA analogue, Obeticholic acid (OCA), in patients with SBAD produced variable changes in FGF19 levels and symptomatic improvement. Conclusion: This work increases awareness of FGF19 and dysregulated BA homeostasis in the pathophysiology of certain chronic diarrhoeal diseases. FGF19 holds promise in guiding therapy for BAD
Οι ισχνές εβραϊκές κοινότητες στη μεταπολεμική Ελλάδα και οι μεταξύ τους σχέσεις: πολιτικές και κοινωνικές διαδικασίες
Creators: name: Μοτορίνος, Ιάσων Χρήστου
Publisher: name: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Year: 2024
Subjects: Εβραϊκές Κοινότητες
Μεταπολεμική Ιστορία των Eλλήνων Εβραίων
Μετά το Ολοκαύτωμα
Jewish Communities
Post-war History of Greek Jews
After Shoah

description: Η παρούσα διπλωματική εργασία διερευνά τις σχέσεις των εβραϊκών κοινοτήτων μεταξύ τους και με το Κ.Ι.Σ. μετά τον Δεύτερο Παγκόσμιο Πόλεμο. Με βάση τη μελέτη αρχειακού υλικού που προέρχεται από τις επιστολές μεταξύ των κοινοτικών φορέων που φυλάσσονται στο Ιστορικό Αρχείο της Ισραηλιτικής Κοινότητας Θεσσαλονίκης, αλλά και τον μεταπολεμικό ελληνοεβραϊκό τύπο, αναδεικνύονται οι βασικές όψεις της εβραϊκής διακοινοτικής επικοινωνίας τα πρώτα μεταπολεμικά χρόνια. Ειδικότερα, διερευνώνται οι τρόποι με τους οποίους είχε επηρεάσει τη θεσμική και κοινοτική οργάνωση του ελληνικού εβραϊσμού η εμπειρία της Shoah, καθώς και τα πολιτικά και κοινωνικά ζητήματα που ενεργοποίησαν τις διαβουλεύσεις μεταξύ των κοινοτικών φορέων την πρώτη μεταπολεμική δεκαετία. Παράλληλα, σκιαγραφείται η ιστορική συγκυρία στην οποία εγγραφόταν η μεταπολεμική εβραϊκή εμπειρία και παρουσιάζονται οι βασικές πολιτικές και κοινωνικές παράμετροι που επηρέαζαν τη ζωή των Ελλήνων Εβραίων μετά τη Shoah
description: This thesis explores the relations formed between Jewish communities, as well as those between the Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece (CBJG) and the Jewish communities, after World War II. Drawing on archival documents, originating in letters between the community bodies -now kept in the Historical Archive of the Jewish Community of Thessaloniki- as well as in in the post-war Greek-Jewish press, the dissertation demonstrates the prominent aspects of the Jewish inter-communal communication in the early post-war years. In particular, it explores the ways in which the Shoah experience affected the institutional and communal organization of Greek Jewry, and the political and social issues that raised consultations among communal bodies during the first post-war decade. Additionally, it outlines the historical context in which the post-war Jewish experience was shaped, and presents the basic political and social parameters that influenced the life of Greek Jews after the Shoah