cometadata/datacite-rtg-text-other-reclassification-records huggingface dataset:
Inhaled long acting β2 agonists for COPD
Creators: name: Therapeutics Initiative (University Of British Columbia)
Publisher: name: The University of British Columbia
Year: 2023

description: Therapeutics Letter 109 considers Inhaled long acting β2 agonists for COPD. Conclusions: The doses most studied in COPD clinical trials are formoterol 9 and 12 μg twice daily and salmeterol 50 μg twice daily. The four inhaled long acting β2 agonists (indacaterol, formoterol, arformoterol and salmeterol) do not prolong survival or reduce the risk of hospitalization (total serious adverse events) in patients with COPD. Evidence for improvement of symptom scores is of low quality and insufficient to justify long-term use. A subset of patients may derive clinically important symptomatic relief. Such patients can be identified on a case-by-case basis using a short therapeutic trial.
Wireless broadband – An operator perspective
Creators: name: Swadling, Michael
Publisher: name: Swinburne
Year: 2024

description: This paper provides an assessment of wireless BB services drawing on Telstra's experience as an operator. It discusses the evolution of wireless technologies and the drivers for the building of Telstra's Next G® network, including the role devices have played. It also considers the growth of mobile service capability and future trends, such as the growth of both high bandwidth video services and low bandwidth but high volume Machine to Machine or M2M communications. Issues such as latency, interoperability and quality of coverage, and data usage per device are discussed. Finally the development and deployment of portable wireless broadband base stations for use in disaster areas and for locations of temporary increased demand is described.
Emergency department treatment of clinically stable paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.
Creators: name: Kapur, Atul Kumar.
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 2002
Subjects: subject: Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery.

description: Introduction. Optimal management of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF), a common presenting complaint in emergency departments (EDs), remains undetermined. Methods. Six month prospective observational study at three EDs. Patients had clinically stable PAF for less than 48 hours. Conservative (rate control) and aggressive (pharmacologic and/or electrical cardioversion) treatment were analyzed. Results. 169 patients were analyzed, 32 treated conservatively and 137 aggressively. 83.9% of aggressively treated patients converted in the ED, 8.0% were admitted, and 52.3% stayed in sinus rhythm for four weeks. The corresponding proportions for conservative treatment were 34.4%, 37.5%, and 30.0%. There were 15 ED complications (2 rate control, 4 pharmacologic, and 9 electrical), two required admission (one pharmacologic and one electrical). No thromboembolism occurred by four-week follow-up. Conclusions. The results of this study---the first prospective study of ED treatment of PAF---will be used to plan a randomized controlled trial which will compare the two treatments.
Streamlining scientific writing for students: the role of online language simplification tools
Creators: name: Murali, Gokul
name: Akande, Oluwalayomi
name: Raut, Rhea
name: Joseph, Jackson
name: Zhou, Guoli
name: Zubek, John
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2025
Subjects: subject: Biochemistry
subject: Medicine
subject: Sociology
subject: FOS: Sociology
subject: Information Systems not elsewhere classified
subject: Statistics
subject: FOS: Mathematics
subject: Science Policy

description: Professional skills development is crucial in higher education but remains underemphasized in STEM programs. Skills like effective communication and simplifying complex concepts are especially vital for students aspiring to medical careers. Online language simplification tools offer a promising avenue for improving written communication. This study evaluated such a tool with 93 undergraduate science majors at Michigan State University. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three writing feedback groups and tasked with simplifying a scientific abstract for a targeted audience. Results showed that groups using the tool simplified messages more effectively than those with moderate or no feedback (p = .0364 and p = .0775, respectively). Students reported the tool to be intuitive and helpful for identifying scientific jargon and simplifying intrinsic complexity. However, the tool was less effective at addressing contextual complexity, highlighting its limitations. These findings suggest that language simplification tools can play a key role in teaching communication skills in STEM education, but they should be complemented by strategies for addressing broader contextual challenges.
Understanding AMD by analogy: systematic review of lipid-related common pathogenic mechanisms in AMD, AD, AS and GN
Creators: name: Xu, Qinyuan
name: Cao, Sijia
name: Rajapakse, Sanjeeva
name: Matsubara, Joanne A.
Publisher: name: BioMed Central
Year: 2018

description: Rationale: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the leading causes of blindness among the elderly. Due to its complex etiology, current treatments have been insufficient. Previous studies reveal three systems closely involved in AMD pathogenesis: lipid metabolism, oxidation and inflammation. These systems are also involved in Alzheimer’s disease, atherosclerosis and glomerulonephritis. Understanding commonalities of these four diseases may provide insight into AMD etiology. Objectives: To understand AMD pathogenesis by analogy and suggest ideas for future research, this study summarizes main commonalities in disease pathogenesis of AMD, Alzheimer’s disease, atherosclerosis and glomerulonephritis. Methods: Articles were identified through PubMed, Ovid Medline and Google Scholar. We summarized the common findings and synthesized critical differences. Results: Oxidation, lipid deposition, complement activation, and macrophage recruitment are involved in all four diseases shown by genetic, molecular, animal and human studies. Shared genetic variations further strengthen their connection. Potential areas for future research are suggested throughout the review. Conclusions: The four diseases share many steps of an overall framework of pathogenesis. Various oxidative sources cause oxidative stress. Oxidized lipids and related molecules accumulate and lead to complement activation, macrophage recruitment and pathology. Investigations that arise under this structure may aid us to better understand AMD pathology.
Small molecule effects on Hepatitis C Virus
Creators: name: Rakic, Bojana
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 2007
Subjects: subject: Chemistry, Biochemistry.
subject: Biology, Virology.

description: In this thesis, chemical biology approaches were used to study Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) in non-infectious, subgenomic HCV replicon model systems. Specifically, small molecules were used as probes for studying host-virus interactions. Compared to genetic techniques, small molecules are interesting potential therapeutics for HCV because they can diffuse relatively quickly to their targets and also act on proteins after they have been posttranslationally modified. Small molecules are also much easier to deliver to cells. In our first study we looked on the effects of using a small molecule agonists and antagonist of the host receptor, peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha) on the HCV viral life cycle. We found that impaired function of PPARalpha perturbs lipid homeostasis within the cells, causing inhibition of HCV replication. We confirmed this effect by silencing the PPARalpha gene using small interfering (si)RNA molecules. Our next project involved screening a library of abscisic acid (ABA) analogs for anti-HCV activity. ABA is a plant hormone, structurally similar to its counterpart in humans, retinoic acid. We found three ABA analogs that have anti-HCV activity comparable to known HCV inhibitors like lovastatin and 25-hydroxycholesterol. We identified the protein targets for one of the active ABA analogs by performing in-vivo experiments using an inhibitor-based profiling approach with a synthesized rhodamine fluorescent probe. Target identification allowed us to postulate a mechanism by which the ABA analog realizes its anti-HCV activity by interfering with the host protein responsible for both host and HCV protein folding. Finally, we demonstrated anti-HCV activity of the antitumor drug bleomycin (BLM). BLM causes HCV inhibition by directly targeting and degrading the HCV RNA. Although toxic to the host cell due to DNA degradation, we showed that BLM acts much faster on viral RNA located in the cytoplasm than on host DNA located in the nucleus.
Spatial variation of rodenticides and emerging contaminants in blood of raptor nestlings from Germany
Creators: name: Badry, Alexander
name: Schenke, Detlef
name: Brücher, Helmut
name: Treu, Gabriele
Publisher: name: My University
Year: 2022
Subjects: Biomonitoring

description: Wildlife exposures to pest controlling substances have resulted in population declines of many predatory species during the past decades. Many pesticides were subsequently classifed as persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT) and banned on national or global scales. However, despite their risks for non-target vertebrate wildlife, PBT substances such as anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs) are still permitted for use in Europe and have shown to threaten raptors. Whereas risks of ARs are known, much less information is available on emerging agrochemicals such as currently used PPPs and medicinal products (MPs) in higher trophic level species. We expect that currently used PPPs are relatively mobile (vs. lipophilic) as a consequence of the PBT criteria and thus more likely to be present in aqueous matrices. We therefore analyzed blood of 204 raptor nestlings of three terrestrial (red kite, common buzzard, Montagu's harrier) and two aquatic species (white-tailed sea eagle, osprey) from Germany. In total, we detected ARs in 22.6% of the red kites and 8.6% of the buzzards, whereas no Montagu's harriers or aquatic species were exposed prior to sampling. Sigma AR concentration tended to be higher in North Rhine-Westphalia (vs. North-Eastern Germany) where population density is higher and intense livestock farming more frequent. Among the 90 targeted and currently used PPPs, we detected six substances from which bromoxynil (14.2%) was most frequent. Especially Montagu's harrier (31%) and red kites (22.6%) were exposed and concentrations were higher in North Rhine-Westphalia as well. Among seven MPs, we detected ciprofoxacin (3.4%), which indicates that risk mitigation measures may be needed as resistance genes were already detected in wildlife from Germany. Taken together, our study demonstrates that raptors are exposed to various chemicals during an early life stage depending on their sampling location and underpins that red kites are at particular risk for multiple pesticide exposures in Germany. © The Author(s) 2022
Compressed Domain Spatial Adaptation of H264 Videos
Creators: name: Shahabuddin, Sharmeen
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 2010
Subjects: subject: Computer Science.

description: A gigantic amount of multimedia contents is readily available for an ever growing consumer base at present due to advances in video coding technology and standardization along with rapid improvements of storage capacity and computing power. However, today's pervasive media environment which includes heterogeneous terminals and networks presents a serious obstacle in achieving seamless access to these contents. Storing individual content in several formats taking into account a wide variety of possible user preferences and resource constraints or adapting the content on the fly by cascaded decoding/re-encoding is not at all suitable for real-time applications. In this thesis, an innovative spatial adaptation technique for H.264/AVC videos is presented that adapts videos in the compressed domain without decoding/re-encoding them. The proposed adaptation strategy encodes each video frame into several slices according to the proposed slicing strategies. The adaptation process can reduce video size by cropping individual frames by dropping the undesired slices prior to transmitting that video to the clients. In order to ensure codec independence, structured metadata-based adaptation utilizing MPEG21 generic Bitstream Syntax Description (gBSD) is used to perform adaptation operations. The adaptation process is completely transparent to the client as the adapted video-stream is H.264 standard compliant. A prototype is developed for the proposed scheme. The performance results of the prototype are presented in this thesis. The results show that the proposed spatial adaptation scheme is very suitable and effective for adaptation of both pre-recorded and live video streams.
Datasets employed for and detailed results derived from the regression models from Grouping behaviour impacts on the parasitic pressure and squamation of sharks
Creators: name: Ferrón, Humberto G.
name: Palacios-Abella, Jose F.
Publisher: name: The Royal Society
Year: 2022
Subjects: subject: Ecology
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: 60102 Bioinformatics
subject: FOS: Computer and information sciences
subject: 60801 Animal Behaviour
subject: 10202 Biological Mathematics
subject: FOS: Mathematics

description: The evolution of grouping behaviour involves a complex trade-off of benefits and costs. Among the latter, an increase in the risk of parasitic transmission is a well-documented phenomenon that has likely promoted the evolution of defensive mechanisms in aquatic vertebrates. Here, we explore the relationship between grouping behaviour, parasitic richness (∼parasitic pressure), and the evolution of potential defensive traits in the squamation of sharks through phylogenetic, standard and zero-inflation regression models. Our results demonstrate that sharks that frequently aggregate show increased parasitic pressure, which may constitute an agent of selection. Accordingly, their squamation is characterized by large-scale crown insertion angles and low-scale coverage, which are interpreted as traits that compromise parasite attachment and survival. These traits are less evident in regions of the body and ecological groups that are subjected to high abrasive stress or increased drag. Thus, the squamation of sharks responds to a compromise between various functions, where protective and hydrodynamic roles prevail over the rest (e.g. ectoparasitic defence and bioluminescence aiding). This work establishes a quantitative framework for inferring parasitic pressure and social interaction from squamation traits and provides an empirical basis from which to explore these phenomena through early vertebrate and chondrichthyan evolution.
Towards new recommendations to reduce the burden of alcohol-induced hypertension in the European Union
Creators: name: Rehm, Juergen
name: Anderson, Peter
name: Prieto, Jose Angel Arbesu
name: Armstrong, Iain
name: Aubin, Henri-Jean
name: Bachmann, Michael
name: Kreutz, Reinhold [U.A.]
Publisher: name: Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Year: 2017
Subjects: subject: 600 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften::610 Medizin und Gesundheit

description: Background Hazardous and harmful alcohol use and high blood pressure are central risk factors related to premature non-communicable disease (NCD) mortality worldwide. A reduction in the prevalence of both risk factors has been suggested as a route to reach the global NCD targets. This study aims to highlight that screening and interventions for hypertension and hazardous and harmful alcohol use in primary healthcare can contribute substantially to achieving the NCD targets. Methods A consensus conference based on systematic reviews, meta-analyses, clinical guidelines, experimental studies, and statistical modelling which had been presented and discussed in five preparatory meetings, was undertaken. Specifically, we modelled changes in blood pressure distributions and potential lives saved for the five largest European countries if screening and appropriate intervention rates in primary healthcare settings were increased. Recommendations to handle alcohol-induced hypertension in primary healthcare settings were derived at the conference, and their degree of evidence was graded. Results Screening and appropriate interventions for hazardous alcohol use and use disorders could lower blood pressure levels, but there is a lack in implementing these measures in European primary healthcare. Recommendations included (1) an increase in screening for hypertension (evidence grade: high), (2) an increase in screening and brief advice on hazardous and harmful drinking for people with newly detected hypertension by physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals (evidence grade: high), (3) the conduct of clinical management of less severe alcohol use disorders for incident people with hypertension in primary healthcare (evidence grade: moderate), and (4) screening for alcohol use in hypertension that is not well controlled (evidence grade: moderate). The first three measures were estimated to result in a decreased hypertension prevalence and hundreds of saved lives annually in the examined countries. Conclusions The implementation of the outlined recommendations could contribute to reducing the burden associated with hypertension and hazardous and harmful alcohol use and thus to achievement of the NCD targets. Implementation should be conducted in controlled settings with evaluation, including, but not limited to, economic evaluation.
Impact of Proximity and Management Interventions on Knowledge Transfer in Technology-based Mergers and Acquisitions
Creators: name: Lin, Chen Dong
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 2010
Subjects: subject: Business Administration, Management.

description: The present study proposes a conceptual framework for investigation of how various dimensions of proximity (i.e. geographical, cognitive, organizational) and management interventions influence knowledge transfer and innovation in technology M&A This research objective is achieved through a qualitative multiple case study, which included three M&A cases involving technology-based companies. Evidence supports the links between various dimensions of proximity and knowledge transfer, and subsequently, between knowledge transfer and innovation. The study also confirms the importance of management interventions, especially in retaining key employees to preserve and transfer knowledge. The study contributes to the literature by illuminating the relationship between various dimensions of proximity and M&A knowledge transfer, which so far has not been well researched and established by prior studies, and by providing a new perspective to view cognitive proximity. In addition, it provides directions for managerial practices to select M&A partners and to manage post-M&A knowledge transfer.
title: Drug-eluting stents in clinical routine
title: a 1-year follow-up analysis based on German health insurance administrative data from 2008 to 2014
titleType: Subtitle
Creators: name: Jeschke, Elke
name: Searle, Julia
name: Günster, Christian
name: Baberg, Henning Thomas
name: Dirschedl, Peter
name: Levenson, Benny
name: Malzahn, Jürgen
name: Mansky, Thomas
name: Möckel, Martin
Publisher: name: Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Year: 2017
Subjects: subject: 600 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften::610 Medizin und Gesundheit

description: Objectives To describe the use of drug-eluting stents (DESs) in the largest population of statutory health insurance members in Germany, including newly developed bio-resorbable vascular scaffolds (BVSs), and to evaluate 1-year complication rates of DES as compared with bare metal stents (BMSs) in this cohort. Design Routine data analysis of statutory health insurance claims data from the years 2008 to 2014. Setting The German healthcare insurance Allgemeine Ortskrankenkasse covers approximately 30% of the German population and is the largest nationwide provider of statutory healthcare insurance in Germany. Participants and interventions We included all patients with a claims record for a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with either DES or BMS and additionally, from 2013, BVS. Patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) were excluded. Main outcome measure: major adverse cerebrovascular and cardiovascular event (MACCE, defined as mortality, AMI, stroke and transient ischaemic attack), bypass surgery, PCI and coronary angiography) at 1 year after the intervention. Results A total of 243 581 PCI cases were included (DES excluding BVS: 143 765; BVS: 1440; BMS: 98 376). The 1-year MACCE rate was 7.42% in the DES subgroup excluding BVS and 11.29% in the BMS subgroup. The adjusted OR for MACCE was 0.72 (95% CI 0.70 to 0.75) in patients with DES excluding BVS as compared with patients with BMS. In the BVS group, the proportion of 1-year MACCE was 5.0%. Conclusion The analyses demonstrate a lower MACCE rate for PCI with DES. BVSs are used in clinical routine in selected cases and seem to provide a high degree of safety, but data are still sparse.
Exploring user-to-role delegation in role-based access control
Creators: name: Qiu, Wei
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 2006
Subjects: subject: Computer Science.

description: Mechanisms must be provided to protect resources from attackers when users request access to resources in network environments. Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) formulates that access decisions are based on the roles that individual users have as members of a system. In RBAC, there are role hierarchies in which a senior role inherits the permissions of a junior role. In order to allow a junior role to perform one or more tasks of a senior role, various delegation models have been proposed in the literature, including Role-Based Access Control Model (RBAC96), Role-Based Delegation Model (RBDM0), Attribute-Based Delegation Model (ABDM), Role-Based Delegation Model 2000 (RDM2000) and Permission-Based Delegation Model (PBDM). The main work of this thesis presents a flexible conceptual delegation model called User-to-Role Delegation Model (URDM), which is based on RDM2000. URDM supports role hierarchy, single-step delegation and simultaneous delegation by introducing a new delegation relation. Four situations are addressed when URDM is involved. We also implement a web application named University Delegation Management System (UDMS) for URDM. At the end of the thesis, we make some generalizations to the area of role-based delegation in access control and present directions for future research.
Levels and temporal trends of Trifluoroacetate (TFA) in archived plants: evidence for increasing emissions of gaseous TFA precursors over the last decades
Creators: name: Freeling, Finnian
name: Hoffmann, Gabriele
name: Scheurer, Marco
name: Koschorreck, Jan
Publisher: name: My University
Year: 2022
Subjects: Biomonitoring
Umweltprobenbank

description: Trifluoroacetate (TFA) is a highly mobile and persistent compound that occurs ubiquitously in the environment. Results from previous studies suggested an increase in the atmospheric deposition of TFA in the Northern Hemisphere starting in the 1990s. Due to its physicochemical properties, TFA can be efficiently taken up and accumulated by vascular plants. Consequently, plants could serve as a biomonitoring tool to evaluate the presence of TFA in the terrestrial environment. This is the first study which describes the concentrations and temporal trends of TFA in biota by analyzing archived leaf samples of various tree species from the German Environmental Specimen Bank (observation period: 1989-2020). Samples from different locations of the same species were each in a similar concentration range. The highest concentrations (up to ca. 1000 mikrog/kg dry weight) were found in Lombardy poplar (Populus nigra "Italica") leaves. A statistically significant positive trend in the TFA concentration within the study period was found for most species/sites, which is likely the result of both bioaccumulation as well as increasing emissions of gaseous TFA precursors over the last three decades. These results contribute to the current discussion on the regulation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to protect human and environmental health. Quelle: www.pubs.acs.org
A comparison of EEG activity in adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and normal controls while performing tasks that require attention.
Creators: name: De Jong, Michael David.
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 2000
Subjects: subject: Psychology, Psychobiology.

description: Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) have been reported to have electroencephalographic (EEG) abnormalities in the form of increased levels of theta band activity and lower than normal levels of beta band activity. The purpose of the present study was to determine if these abnormalities can also be observed in adults with ADHD. There were 32 control subjects, 25 subjects with ADHD of the primarily hyperactive type (ADHDhy), and 17 subjects with ADHD of the primarily inattentive type (ADHDpi). For the purposes of analysis, the ADHDhy and ADHDpi groups were combined to form a CLINICAL group. The subjects were right handed males and females between the ages of 20 and 50 years of age. During the study, EEG activity was recorded from 19 electrode sites while subjects sat with their eyes open and eyes closed, and while they performed a variety of tasks including: the Tests of Variability of Attention (TOVA), a reading task, a mental rotation task, a selective attention task, and a listening task. The results of the discriminant function analyses produced functions that correctly classified an average of 60 out of 74 of the control and ADHD subjects during the TOVA, listening, and selective attention tasks (p < .0005). An ANOVA of inter-hemispheric activity revealed that only the ADHDpi group were significantly different from the control group with more right than left hemispheric activity in the delta band during the mental rotation task (p < .006). A paired t-test analysis of inter-hemispheric activity showed that both the ADHDhy and ADHDpi groups had different percentage levels of right and left hemispheric activity (p < .005) during the performance of the eyes closed, T.O.V.A., mental rotation, and reading tasks; there were no significant differences in the control group in any of these comparisons. A MANOVA of regional (frontal, central, posterior, left temporal, and right temporal) activity revealed statistically significant differences in the theta/beta ratio during the eyes closed condition for the ADHDhy group with a higher ratio in the frontal region and right temporal area (p < .006). The results suggest that the differences between normal and ADHD children continues into adulthood but that the magnitude of the differences is reduced. A dysfunction in EEG activity caused by a maturational lag is supported by the results of this study. Based on the results of the analyses, recommendations are made as to which frequency bands and electrode sites should be targeted for use in neurotherapy.
Transfer of regulatory T cells into abortion-prone mice promotes the expansion of uterine mast cells and normalizes early pregnancy angiogenesis
Creators: name: Woidacki, Katja
name: Meyer, Nicole
name: Schumacher, Anne
name: Goldschmidt, Alexandra
name: Maurer, Marcus
name: Zenclussen, Ana Claudia
Publisher: name: Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Year: 2015
Subjects: subject: 600 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften::610 Medizin und Gesundheit
subject: 500 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik::570 Biowissenschaften; Biologie

description: Implantation of the fertilized egg depends on the coordinated interplay of cells and molecules that prepare the uterus for this important event. In particular, regulatory T cells (Tregs) are key regulators as their ablation hinders implantation by rendering the uterus hostile for the embryo. In addition, the adoptive transfer of Tregs can avoid early abortion in mouse models. However, it is still not defined which mechanisms underlie Treg function during this early period. Cells of the innate immune system have been reported to support implantation, in part by promoting angiogenesis. In particular, uterine mast cells (uMCs) emerge as novel players at the fetal- maternal interface. Here, we studied whether the positive action of Tregs is based on the expansion of uMCs and the promotion of angiogenesis. We observed that abortion-prone mice have insufficient numbers of uMCs that could be corrected by the adoptive transfer of Tregs. This in turn positively influenced the remodeling of spiral arteries and placenta development as well as the levels of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1). Our data suggest an interplay between Tregs and uMCs that is relevant for the changes required at the feto-maternal interface for the normal development of pregnancy.
Multivariate non-parametric tests of trend in the presence of missing data.
Creators: name: Park, Jincheol.
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 2000
Subjects: subject: Statistics.

description: When testing for trend one may be interested in either a monotone trend or a step trend. The former assumes that the population shifts monotonically over time without specifing when the shift occurrs. The latter assumes that the observations recorded before some specific time belong to a different population from the one recorded after that time. Our interest will be focused on tests for monotone trend. There exist parametric as well as nonparametric methods, univariate and multi-variate, to test for monotone trend. Practically, it occurs more often than not that some portion of the collected data are missing. There is at present a way to analyze incomplete data in the univariate case. In this work, we introduce nonparametric multivariate test statistics to test for monotone trend in the presence of missing data and deduce some corresponding asymptotic properties. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)
Clinical and attentional effects of acute nicotine treatment in Tourette syndrome.
Creators: name: Howson, Anne L.
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 2001
Subjects: subject: Psychology, Clinical.

description: Tourette Syndrome (TS) is characterized primarily by multiple motor and vocal tics. Additionally cognitive deficits, such as problems with attention, may also exist, in those both with and without co-morbid Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Although neuroleptics, which block dopamine receptors, are often the treatment of choice for TS, insufficient symptomatic control often requires the use of increased doses. In addition, undesirable side effects can occur at high doses of neuroleptics, including detrimental effects on attention and concentration. Nicotine has been reported to effectively potentiate neuroleptic-induced catalepsy in rats and, when combined with neuroleptics, to reduce motor and vocal tics in TS patients. However, reported acute and sustained (i.e. up to 8 weeks) nicotine-induced improvements in tic symptomatology in TS patients have come from case reports, open and single blind studies. Nicotine alone has been shown to improve attention and cognition in both normal and neuropsychiatric populations. This double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design study investigated the comparative efficacy, both acute and sustained, of placebo and a single test dose of transdermal nicotine patch (TNP) on clinical symptoms of TS (i.e. tics), evaluative ratings (by parents) of attention and maladaptive behaviours, as well as event-related potential (ERP) and behavioural performance measures extracted from a degraded stimulus continuous performance task (DS-CPT) of sustained attention. Twenty-three children and adolescents with TS (with and without co-morbid ADHD), aged 8--17, who were taking conventional neuroleptics (i.e. dopamine D-2 receptor antagonists) were entered into the study. Adjunctive nicotine, relative to placebo, failed to significantly alter tic symptomatology in either the acute (i.e. 4 hours post-treatment) or follow-up (i.e. 1 week post treatment) conditions. At follow-up but not at acute assessment, parents reported non-specific improvements in attention, and performance was found to have improved on Coding, a visuomotor task measuring freedom from distractibility, following nicotine treatment. Nicotine had a limited effect on area measures of the P300 component of the ERP, by preventing area decrements seen following placebo treatment. However, other performance measures on the DS-CPT, including accuracy and speed of responding, and P300 amplitude and latency measures, failed to identify any significant effects of nicotine relative to placebo. Given the lack of initial significant effects of a single dose challenge of nicotine and the side effect profile of the TNP, the clinical use of adjunctive nicotine in neuroleptically treated children and adolescents with TS appears premature.
Ngara broadband access system for rural and regional areas
Creators: name: Collings, Iain B.
name: Suzuki, Hajime
name: Robertson, David
Publisher: name: Swinburne
Year: 2024

description: Multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) systems have been proposed as a solution for increasing bandwidth efficiency in wireless networks. In this paper we describe a new approach to MU-MIMO for rural and regional areas that we have developed and implemented. The proposed system has achieved six-user MU-MIMO with 12 Mb/s per user data rate in each direction (uplink and downlink, ie. symmetric) over a single 7 MHz channel in an actual rural environment for the first time in the world. The system is in fact capable of providing 50 Mb/s symmetric broadband access for up to 12 simultaneous users over a 28 MHz channel from a single access point. The key aspects of the new system are a synchronisation technology, an access point multi antenna design, an accurate channel estimation and feedback algorithm, and a low computational complexity implementation of crucial signal processing components.
Neuroprotective effects of overexpression of the inhibitor of apoptosis proteins in the quinolinic acid model of excitotoxic injury.
Creators: name: Lee, Christopher James.
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 2000
Subjects: subject: Health Sciences, Pharmacology.

description: Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder which results in the selective loss of the medium spiny neurons in the striatum. The neuropathological and behavioural deficits of HD can be modeled in rats by injection of the NMDA receptor agonist quinolinic acid (2,3 pyridine decarboxylate; QA) directly into the striatum. The first aim of this study was to examine whether intrastriatal QA injections result in neurons dying by apoptosis as assessed by caspase activation. Animals were intrastriatally injected with QA and striatal brain sections processed for several apoptotic markers. Recently, a novel family of inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) proteins have been identified and subsequently shown to attenuate cell death induced by a variety of apoptotic triggers in vitro. The goal of the second study was to determine whether adenovirally-mediated overexpression of the IAPs resulted in protection against QA-induced degeneration. The goal of the third study was to determine whether neurons saved by overexpression of the IAPs were still functional. In a third study, animals were intrastriatally injected with recombinant adenoviral constructs containing either xiap, naip, or lacZ one week prior to QA injections (120 nmol). (Abstract shortened by UMI.)
Modern Trends in Data Warehousing: Embracing Cloud-based Solutions and Real-time Analytics
Creators: name: Blessing, Elisha
name: Stephen, Mike
name: Mohamed, Saleh
Publisher: name: figshare
Year: 2025
Subjects: classificationCode: 451906
subject: Indigenous data and data technologies
classificationCode: 460501
subject: Data engineering and data science
classificationCode: 460601
subject: Cloud computing

description: The field of data warehousing has witnessed significant advancements in recent years, driven by the increasing need for organizations to efficiently manage and analyze vast amounts of data. This abstract provides an overview of the modern trends in data warehousing, focusing on the adoption of cloud-based solutions and real-time analytics. Cloud-based solutions have emerged as a game-changer in the data warehousing landscape. Organizations are increasingly embracing cloud platforms, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud, to store, manage, and process their data. Cloud-based data warehousing offers several advantages, including scalability, flexibility, and cost-efficiency. It allows organizations to dynamically scale their storage and computing resources based on demand, eliminating the need for upfront infrastructure investments. Additionally, cloud-based solutions provide seamless integration with other cloud services, enabling organizations to leverage advanced analytics tools, machine learning, and artificial intelligence capabilities.
Gold mineralization at the Campbell Mine, Red Lake greenstone belt, Uchi subprovince, Ontario.
Creators: name: Tarnocai, Charles A.
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 2001
Subjects: subject: Geology.

description: The Campbell mine is located in the eastern part of the Red Lake greenstone belt, Uchi Subprovince. Auriferous veins are parallel to S2, and are termed foliation parallel auriferous veins (NW striking, SW dipping). Auriferous veins also occur in shear zones which are oblique to the regional NW trending foliation (foliation-oblique deformation zones). These auriferous veins occur proximal to the F2 fold hinges. The deformation zones are typically meters to 10's of meters wide, and are characterized by more intense foliation development, and abundant carbonate veins and veinlets. Progressive D2 shortening resulted in a late D2 decollement along the southwestern limb of the Balmer synform, cutting and offsetting auriferous mineralization. Several stages of hydrothermal activity are recognized in the Campbell mine area. Subsequent Au mineralization occurs in quartz veins and quartz + arsenopyrite hydrothermal breccias within quartz + carbonate veins; thus most of the Au mineralization overprints pre-existing quartz + carbonates within the D2 shear zones. Native gold from amphibolite facies domains contains significant Ag, precluding that it formed by the thermal decomposition of aurostibite. Therefore, the spatial variations in occurrence of Au phases reflect the deposition of Au during the peak metamorphism. Higher metamorphic grade rocks are extended westward along the auriferous shear zones, suggesting heat transfer along shear zones by hydrothermal fluids. This suggests a magmatic heat source to the east for auriferous hydrothermal activity. Hence, Au mineralization likely took place during the emplacement of the marginal phase of the Trout Lake batholith. The lack of Type II inclusions in high Au grade breccias is interpreted as a result of the selective loss of H2O following phase separation. Phase separation is probably the most important mechanism for the mineralization of high Au grades (>500 g/t Au) at the mine. The gold-related wallrock alteration at the Campbell Mine is similar to that in other Archean Au deposits hosted by lower amphibolite facies mafic rocks, such as the Coolgardie goldfields (Knight et al., 2000) and the Norseman district deposits (Mueller, 1992). The P-T conditions for the auriferous hydrothermal activity at many Archean lode-type deposits define a low P and high T path. The path indicates much higher temperatures than the Archean geotherm, suggesting either a contribution of heat from contemporaneous magmas to auriferous fluids, or rapid transfer of heat from deep levels. For syn-metamorphic Au deposits, the data support a magmatic heat source. This is in accord with the low P/high T conditions of the metamorphism accompanying the Au deposits. For post-peak metamorphic deposits, the data suggest transport of heat from a source external to the greenstone sequence. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)
Biota monitoring and the Water Framework Directive-can normalization overcome shortcomings in sampling strategies?
Creators: name: Fliedner, Anette
name: Rüdel, Heinz
name: Teubner, Diana
name: Koschorreck, Jan
name: Buchmeier, Geogia
name: Lowis, Jaqueline
name: Heiss, Christiane
name: Wellmitz, Jörg
Publisher: name: My University
Year: 2016
Subjects: EG-Wasserrahmenrichtlinie
Hexachlorbenzol
Perfluoroctansulfonsäure
Umweltprobenbank

description: We compare the results of different monitoring programs regarding spatial and temporal trends of priority hazardous substances of the European Water Framework Directive (WFD). Fish monitoring data for hexachlorobenzene (HCB), mercury (Hg), and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) sampled in German freshwaters between the mid-1990s and 2014 were evaluated according to the recommendations of the 2014 adopted WFD guidance document on biota monitoring, i.e., normalization to 5 % lipid content (HCB) or 26 % dry mass (Hg, PFOS) and adjustment to trophic level (TL) 4. Data of the German Environmental Specimen Bank (ESB) (annual pooled samples of bream) were compared to monitoring data of the German federal states (FS), which refer to individual fish of different species. Significant decreasing trends (p < 0.01) were detected for Hg in bream (Abramis brama) sampled by both, the ESB and the FS between 1993 and 2013 but not for FS samples comprising different fish species. Data for HCB and PFOS were more heterogeneous due to a smaller database and gave no consistent results. Obviously, normalization could not compensate differences in sampling strategies. The results suggest that the data treatment procedure proposed in the guidance document has shortcomings and emphasize the importance of highly standardized sampling programs in trend monitoring or whenever results between sites have to be compared. Quelle: www.springer.com
Dopaminergic Neurodegeneration in the Mouse Is Associated with Decrease of Viscoelasticity of Substantia Nigra Tissue
Creators: name: Hain, Elisabeth G.
name: Klein, Charlotte
name: Munder, Tonia
name: Braun, Juergen
name: Riek, Kerstin
name: Mueller, Susanne
name: Sack, Ingolf
Publisher: name: Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Year: 2016
Subjects: subject: 600 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften::610 Medizin und Gesundheit

description: The biomechanical properties of brain tissue are altered by histopathological changes due to neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's disease (PD). Such alterations can be measured by magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) as a non- invasive technique to determine viscoelastic parameters of the brain. Until now, the correlation between histopathological mechanisms and observed alterations in tissue viscoelasticity in neurodegenerative diseases is still not completely understood. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate (1) the validity of MRE to detect viscoelastic changes in small and specific brain regions: the substantia nigra (SN), midbrain and hippocampus in a mouse model of PD, and (2) if the induced dopaminergic neurodegeneration and inflammation in the SN is reflected by local changes in viscoelasticity. Therefore, MRE measurements of the SN, midbrain and hippocampus were performed in adult female mice before and at five time points after 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridin hydrochloride (MPTP) treatment specifically lesioning dopaminergic neurons in the SN. At each time point, additional mice were utilized for histological analysis of the SN. After treatment cessation, we observed opposed viscoelastic changes in the midbrain, hippocampus and SN with the midbrain showing a gradual rise and the hippocampus a distinct transient increase of viscous and elastic parameters, while viscosity and–to a lesser extent—elasticity in the SN decreased over time. The decrease in viscosity and elasticity in the SN was paralleled by a reduced number of neurons due to the MPTP-induced neurodegeneration. In conclusion, MRE is highly sensitive to detect local viscoelastic changes in specific and even small brain regions. Moreover, we confirmed that neuronal cells likely constitute the backbone of the adult brain mainly accounting for its viscoelasticity. Therefore, MRE could be established as a new potential instrument for clinical evaluation and diagnostics of neurodegenerative diseases.
Char combustion in a packed bed reactor.
Creators: name: Ryan, Jennifer S.
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 2000
Subjects: subject: Engineering, Chemical.

description: This study reports on overfeed packed bed char combustion experiments and modelling. Experimental results are used to verify the assumptions of an existing char combustion simulation. The computer model uses finite volume discretization methods to predict temperature and concentration profiles for packed bed char combustion. Also, the behaviour of ash in a packed bed is explored and incorporated into the model by accounting for the effect of ash on such properties as bed void fraction and heat and mass transfer processes. The effects of air flow rate and bed depth on the burning rate, the bed temperature and gas concentrations are also examined. Experiments were performed in a reactor 23 cm in diameter and 20 cm high. Thermocouples measured bed temperatures and a water-cooled probe sampled bed gases. Gas samples were analysed for CO2, CO and O2 using a gas chromatograph. The fuel was foundry coke with a particle diameter in the 1 cm size range. Experiments were run for bed heights ranging from 5 to 15 cm and air flow rates of 191 to 520 kg/m2hr. Comparison of the experimental bed profiles and burning rates with model predictions shows good agreement, indicating that the model can reliably predict packed bed char combustion. Species concentrations are shown to be only dependent on bed depth; whereas the burning rate is a function of both the bed depth and air flow rate. The data also show that the ash properties are highly dependent on the operating conditions; since the model predictions are very sensitive to the ash properties, a relationship between ash properties and temperature needs to be developed and included in the model. More research is also needed on the CO2 reduction reaction parameters and pore diffusion model and the oxidation kinetics in the ash layer.
When Veterinarians Support Canine Therapy: Bidirectional Benefits for Clinics and Therapy Programs
Creators: name: Binfet, John-Tyler, 1964-
name: Silas, Haley J.
name: Longfellow, Sean W.
name: Widmaier-Waurechen, Katrina
Publisher: name: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
Year: 2019

description: This paper proposes a mutually beneficial model of collaboration between veterinarians and canine therapy programs. Veterinarians and the clinics for whom they work routinely establish collaborations with multiple and varied stakeholders. This might include a laboratory for processing samples and the corresponding courier company needed to deliver samples to the lab or a partnership with a local dog rescue organization for whom discounted rates are offered. One community partnership that stands to benefit both the clinic and the community agency, is for veterinarians to work in tandem with a local canine-assisted therapy program. The benefits to such an alliance are multifold and address aspects of veterinary medicine including client recruitment, community education, and access to a network of devoted dog enthusiasts.