cometadata/datacite-rtg-text-other-reclassification-records huggingface dataset:
WN1316, A Novel Anti-Oxidant Compound for the Treatment of Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON)
Creators: name: Halas, Sohair
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 2016
Subjects: LHON
OS

description: Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON) is a devastating mitochondrial disorder that leads to irreversible blindness. A mutation in the mitochondrial ND4 gene causes the majority of cases. Oxidative stress plays a role in disease pathology. WN1316 is a small molecule compound with potent anti-oxidant properties. Using in vitro and in vivo assays, the effectiveness of WN1316 in the treatment of LHON was tested. In vitro, the neuroprotective effects of WN1316 were tested against the oxidative stressors menadione and H2O2. These studies showed that WN1316 can protect SH-SY5Y neuronal cells and 661W photoreceptor-derived cells from oxidative stress in a concentration-dependent manner. Combination therapies with WN1316 and the X-linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis (XIAP) provided even better protection. In vivo, LHON disease had not progressed sufficiently to assess WN1316 effects on retinal function and axon counts. However we saw some delay in disease progression in the WN1316 group using electron microscopy. These initial studies suggest that WN1316 will be effective in the treatment of LHON, but we need to increase the timeline for disease progression to see the full effects of the compound.
Dual-Channel Software Analysis
Creators: name: Petrescu, Constantin Cezar
Publisher: name: University of Surrey
Year: 2024
Subjects: Dual-Channel Research
Program Analysis
C++ Type Conversions
Call Graphs
Integration Testing

description: The increasing complexity of modern software poses significant challenges for maintenance. For instance, the Chromium browser, an open-source version of Chrome, consists of 27 million lines of code. Developers of such large codebases increasingly rely on software analysis tools to maintain software quality. There is a need for a fundamentally different approach to software analysis that aims to scale to large applications while remaining accurate.
Code consists of two interacting channels: algorithmic channel (code instructions) aimed at machines and natural language channel (identifiers and comments) targeted at human co-developers. Software analysis tools have long focused on improving the algorithmic channel, ignoring intent hints in the natural language channel. Dual-channel approaches can make the software analysis lightweight and scalable using novel representations of program semantics drawn upon the natural language channel. To address this gap, we propose a novel approach to software analysis that harnesses the information in both channels to enhance precision and scalability.
This thesis explores novel forms of program analysis that leverage the accord or discord between the two channels. The precision of the software analysis can be improved with intent hints. We show that dual-channel information can be used to check if explicit type conversions are used judiciously. The discord between identifiers and the types of variables allows our approach to identifying poor programming and naming practices.
Furthermore, we propose an extension of Call Graphs called Natural Call Graphs, whose edges are weighted based on the callee’s importance to the caller. We show that these weights can be used to identify relevant functions missed by testing. The scalability of these approaches is demonstrated by utilising lightweight techniques in their implementation. Natural Call Graphs present a novel perspective over intermediate representation that can minimise the cost of program analysis by guiding analysis to important parts of the application.
Solution of the equation d/dx(pdu/dx)+qu=cu by a solution of the equation d/dx(pdu/dx)+qu=0
Creators: name: Kravchenko, Vladislav V.
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2007
Subjects: subject: Mathematical Physics (math-ph)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences
subject: 30G20, 34A05, 34A30

description: We give a simple solution of the equation d/dx(pdu/dx)+qu=cu whenever a nontrivial solution of d/dx(pdu/dx)+qu=0 is known. The method developed for obtaining this result is based on the theory of pseudoanalytic functions and their relationship with solutions of the stationary two-dimensional Schrodinger equation. The final result, that is the formula for the general solution of the equation d/dx(pdu/dx)+qu=cu has a simple and easily verifiable form.
DNA paternity testing: public perceptions and the influence of gender
Creators: name: Turney, Lyn
name: Gilding, Michael
name: Critchley, Christine
name: Shields, Penelope
name: Bakacs, Lisa
name: Butler, Kerrie-Anne
Publisher: name: Swinburne
Year: 2024

description: This article reports on the findings of the Swinburne National Technology and Society Monitor in relation to public perceptions of DNA paternity testing, with particular reference to the effects of gender. The Monitor included a large-scale random survey and focus groups. Taken together, the survey and focus groups suggest that most Australians are ‘comfortable’ with DNA paternity testing in a variety of contexts. At the same time, this comfort is qualified, conditional upon the knowledge of all parties. It is also tentative, heavily grounded in the media rather than real-life experience. The survey and focus groups suggest that most men and women do not hold different perceptions of DNA paternity testing. There are several important caveats though. First, the focus groups suggest that reliance upon the media as a source of information leads to a ‘gendered perception’ of DNA paternity testing in terms of ‘paternity fraud’ for both men and women. Second, the survey shows that women are significantly more likely to feel comfortable about DNA paternity testing where all parties have agreed to the test, consistent with a concern to establish paternal responsibility and child support. Finally, the focus groups suggest that having a personal stake in DNA paternity testing generates opinions that are polarised on the basis of gender. The gender dynamics of public perceptions on DNA paternity testing are likely to become more important as the tests become more widespread.
A methodology to account for dynamic variability in micro-vibration analysis of satellites
Creators: name: De Lellis, Salvatore
Publisher: name: University of Surrey
Year: 2020

description: Nominal operability of satellites can be significantly affected by low level vibrations in the range of micro-g generated by on board mechanisms. These are referred to as micro-vibrations and can considerably jeopardise the regular functioning of very high precision sensors. Hence, it is essential to study their features in terms of characterisation and analysis, which are greatly affected by structural uncertainties due, among other causes, to the manufacturing and assembly tolerances. In this thesis the variability of micro-vibrations arising from structural uncertainties is targeted, through the implementation of a macroscopic approach that is able to take into account different sources of structural uncertainties. In particular the work done in this doctorate is split into two main areas. First the characterisation of micro-vibration sources is studied; these include all the devices on board the spacecraft that can generate micro-vibrations. A methodology to investigate the effects of manufacturing defects on the dynamics of reaction wheels is described, by focusing on the frequency domain representation of their disturbance. Through this approach, it is possible to define a group of nominally-identical devices by means of a single disturbance input matrix. Such achievement can be beneficial in space applications as it allows an easier assessment of micro-vibrations on the spacecraft. Second, the issue of structural uncertainty is addressed in terms of transmission path from the source to the receiver. The focus here is shifted towards the development of an analysis methodology that can target the issue of structural uncertainties by satisfying the stringent computational requirements for aerospace applications. In particular, the main achievement obtained in this thesis stays in the development of an uncertainty quantification methodology that can be used to provide an estimation of perturbation parameters used in the Craig-Bampton Stochastic Method.
Coach Burnout in Relation to Perfectionistic Cognitions and Self-Presentation
Creators: name: Hassmén, Peter
name: Lundkvist, Erik
name: Flett, Gordon L.
name: Hewitt, Paul L. (Paul Louis)
name: Gustafsson, Henrik
Publisher: name: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
Year: 2020

description: Coaching athletes is highly rewarding yet stressful, especially at the elite level where media, fans, and sponsors can contribute to an environment that, if not well-managed by the coach, can lead to burnout. Coaches who display perfectionistic tendencies, such as striving for flawlessness, may be particularly vulnerable—even more so if they are overly critical of themselves and have a tendency to ruminate over their performance, or if they are attempting to convey an image of faultlessness, or both. A total of 272 coaches completed a battery of inventories assessing burnout, perfectionistic thoughts, and the tendency for perfectionistic self-presentation. All variables correlated significantly: coaches with higher scores on exhaustion scored higher both on perfectionistic thoughts and self-presentation. However, when three subscales of perfectionistic self-presentation were considered separately, lower and nonsignificant correlations emerged. We believe that this can be explained by the heterogeneous group of coaches participating in this study. Whereas all coaches may at times ruminate privately—self-oriented perfectionism—about their perceived failure to perform to expectations, not all may feel the pressure to present themselves to others as faultless—a more socially prescribed perfectionism. This finding warrants further investigation, preferably comparing coaches at different levels of public scrutiny.
Optimum Decision Policy for Gradual Replacement of Conventional Power Sources by Clean Power Sources
Creators: name: Parsa, Maryam
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 2013
Subjects: Optimization
Conventional and Renewable Energy Sources
Optimal Control Theory
Mathematical Models
Pontryagin Minimum Principle

description: With the increase of world population and industrial growth of developing countries, demand for energy, in particular electric power, has gone up at an unprecedented rate over the last decades. To meet the demand, electric power generation by use of fossil fuel has increased enormously thereby producing increased quantity of greenhouse gases. This contributes more and more to atmospheric pollution, which climate scientists believe can adversly affect the global climate, as well as health and the welfare of the world population. In view of these issues, there is global awareness to look for alternate sources of energy such as natural gas, hydropower, wind, solar, geothermal and biomass. It is recognized that this requires replacement of existing infrastructure with new systems, which cannot be achieved overnight. Optimal control theory has been widely used in diverse areas of physical sciences, medicine, engineering and economics. The main motivation of this thesis is to use this theory to find the optimum strategy for integration of all currently available renewable energy sources with the existing electric power generating systems. The ultimate goal is to eliminate fossil fuels. Eight main energy sources namely, Coal, Petroleum, Natural Gas, Conventional Hydro, Wind, Solar, Geothermal and Biomass are considered in a dynamic model. The state of the dynamic model represents the level of energy generation from each of the sources. Different objective functions are proposed in this thesis. These range from meeting the desired target level of power generation from each of the available sources at the end of a given plan period, to reducing the implementation and investment costs; from minimizing the production from polluted energy sources to meeting the electricity demand during a whole plan period. Official released data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration have been used as a case study. Based on real life data and the mathematics of optimal control theory, we present an optimal policy for integration of renewable energy sources to the national power grid.
Life Cycle Assessment for Carbon Fibre manufacture
Creators: name: Fitzgerald, Amy
Publisher: name: University of Surrey
Year: 2024
Subjects: Carbon fibre
Environmental impact
Fibre manufacture
Composite recycling
Global warming potential

description: Carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites have excellent specific properties, which allow for tailorable design options, especially where weight is a key requirement. This can result in improved product sustainability, such as reduced fuel burn. Industrial environmental impact metrics are presented as a function of weight, i.e. energy intensity (MJ/kg) and global warming potential (kg CO2eq./kg), whereby carbon fibre (CF) does not compare favourably with steel and aluminium. Unless a holistic impact of the product lifecycle is considered, decisions based on these metrics alone can inhibit their selection during early design and product development.Life cycle assessment (LCA) offers a comprehensive approach to communicate the environmental impact (EI) for a given system to customers, governments and wider stakeholders. However, the current state of the art for CFRP composites can be incomplete, unreliable and confusing. Complicating the issue is the increasing range of sources for fibre precursors, the diverse subsequent processing options, their management in use and, ultimately, the pathways and options for their recovery, reuse or disposal. Furthermore, the growing ubiquity of composite products means this urgently needs to be addressed by the sector.This research sets out the current landscape for the use of LCA for CFRP composites focussing on identifying the existing gaps in knowledge and proposes a strategy to reduce the levels of uncertainty and variation in life cycle inventory (LCI) data for LCAs for CFRP composites. Using a range of manufacturing data from industrial and academic sources, a parametric model has been developed to calculate the EI of CF manufacture from polyacrylonitrile (PAN), accompanied by a set of alternative material and production scenarios that drive divergent outcomes. Consequentially, this approach presents a series of environmental data for CF production differentiated according to specified parameters, demonstrating the requirement for more detailed classification of CF types when discussed in terms of EI.Concurrently, recognising that waste streams of CF or CFRP composite can be feedstock for CF product manufacture, another challenge for LCA concerns modelling the end of life (EOL) phase. This research also considered scenarios at this stage and initiates a framework for LCA on EOL processing options, identifying the specific barriers to the realisation of an effective supply chain for CF remanufacture.
Identification and Targeting of Collagen in the Capsule of Rat Knees with Immobilization-Induced Flexion Contractures
Creators: name: Wong, Kayleigh
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 2015
Subjects: Contractures
Collagenase
Rat
Collagen

description: Immobility causes joint contractures, loss in range of motion (ROM), notably in elderly and bed-ridden patients. In a rat knee immobilization flexion contracture (FC) model, the posterior capsule contributes to irreversible limitation of ROM. Through microarray, extracellular matrix and collagen pathways were identified as differentially expressed in the posterior capsule of knees with FC. We hypothesized that intra-articular injection of collagenases in rats with knee FC will interfere with collagen in the capsule and allow increased ROM. After four weeks of hind-limb immobilization, rats develop knee FC; two weeks of remobilization with collagenase treatment showed increased ROM compared to buffer injected knees of 8.043° (p-value=0.046). Histological analysis of knee sections revealed changes in collagen content of the extracellular matrix in posterior capsule. In vitro incubation of rat capsules with collagenases confirmed changes in collagen. Along with current rehabilitation methods, treatment with collagenase may augment ROM recovery from knee joint contractures.
Bidirectional Attention for Text-Dependent Speaker Verification
Creators: name: Fang, Xin
name: Gao, Tian
name: Zou, Liang
name: Ling, Zhenhua
Publisher: name: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
Year: 2020

description: Automatic speaker verification provides a flexible and effective way for biometric authentication. Previous deep learning-based methods have demonstrated promising results, whereas a few problems still require better solutions. In prior works examining speaker discriminative neural networks, the speaker representation of the target speaker is regarded as a fixed one when comparing with utterances from different speakers, and the joint information between enrollment and evaluation utterances is ignored. In this paper, we propose to combine CNN-based feature learning with a bidirectional attention mechanism to achieve better performance with only one enrollment utterance. The evaluation-enrollment joint information is exploited to provide interactive features through bidirectional attention. In addition, we introduce one individual cost function to identify the phonetic contents, which contributes to calculating the attention score more specifically. These interactive features are complementary to the constant ones, which are extracted from individual speakers separately and do not vary with the evaluation utterances. The proposed method archived a competitive equal error rate of 6.26% on the internal “DAN DAN NI HAO” benchmark dataset with 1250 utterances and outperformed various baseline methods, including the traditional i-vector/PLDA, d-vector, self-attention, and sequence-to-sequence attention models.
The Politics of Information: Examining the Conflict Between WikiLeaks and the US Government
Creators: name: Armstrong, Esther Raelene
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 2015
Subjects: WikiLeaks
Government
Politics
Transparency
Membership categorization analysis

description: In 2010 WikiLeaks released a number of secret and classified documents that contained information pertaining to the United States government. Since then, WikiLeaks and the United States government have been engaged in a rhetorical battle over the circulation of information. Using membership categorization analysis (MCA) as an analytical technique this thesis answers the following research question: what form(s) of politics are made possible as the result of the social orders produced by both WikiLeaks’ and the United States government’s public discourse on the circulation of information? After analyzing a sample of the related discourse, it became clear that the disagreement between WikiLeaks and the United States government is much greater than different views on the distribution of, and access to, information. Rather, the major issue is that the discourses produced by representatives of both organizations constitute two similar and yet somehow opposing social orders. The social orders produced result in different forms of politics and democracy. In turn, this involves each side thinking differently about transparency, the public, the government, the law, and the media.
An Online Compassion Focused Therapy Intervention for Mothers: A feasibility study
Creators: name: BUTCHER, HOLLIE LOUISE
Publisher: name: University of Surrey
Year: 2022

description: The pressure on mothers to be perfect and devoted caregivers is known as the ‘motherhood myth’ and can have detrimental effects on mothers’ wellbeing. While these negative consequences are commonly referred to as ‘maternal guilt’, both in psychological literature and more informally, the ‘motherhood myth’ is also likely eliciting experiences of shame and self-criticism. Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) is an effective intervention for those who experience high levels of shame and self-criticism, so has the potential to be beneficial for mothers. The main focus of the present study was to investigate the feasibility and acceptability of an online 4-week CFT intervention for mothers of neurotypical children aged 3-6 years old. It also investigated mothers’ views about the difficulty, importance, and necessity of the different stages of CFT interventions, as well as changes in mothers’ self-reported levels of compassion pre- versus post-intervention. Ninety-nine mothers agreed to take part in the intervention but only three completed all four modules, suggesting that the intervention trialled in its current form was not feasible and acceptable for the mothers who showed initial interest. The three mothers who did complete the intervention showed some clinically significant and reliable changes and provided positive feedback. Feedback from mothers about the importance and necessity of different stages of CFT suggest all components of the intervention were useful to support with the understanding and application of self-compassion. Results are discussed in the context of study limitations and provide directions for future research, which could have important clinical implications for mothers’ levels of shame and self-criticism and the associated negative consequences of these.
Loss-resilient Coding of Texture and Depth for Free-viewpoint Video Conferencing
Creators: name: Macchiavello, Bruno
name: Dorea, Camilo
name: Hung, Edson M.
name: Cheung, Gene
name: Tan, Wai-tian
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2013
Subjects: subject: Multimedia (cs.MM)
subject: FOS: Computer and information sciences

description: Free-viewpoint video conferencing allows a participant to observe the remote 3D scene from any freely chosen viewpoint. An intermediate virtual viewpoint image is commonly synthesized using two pairs of transmitted texture and depth maps from two neighboring captured viewpoints via depth-image-based rendering (DIBR). To maintain high quality of synthesized images, it is imperative to contain the adverse effects of network packet losses that may arise during texture and depth video transmission. Towards this end, we develop an integrated approach that exploits the representation redundancy inherent in the multiple streamed videos a voxel in the 3D scene visible to two captured views is sampled and coded twice in the two views. In particular, at the receiver we first develop an error concealment strategy that adaptively blends corresponding pixels in the two captured views during DIBR, so that pixels from the more reliable transmitted view are weighted more heavily. We then couple it with a sender-side optimization of reference picture selection (RPS) during real-time video coding, so that blocks containing samples of voxels that are visible in both views are more error-resiliently coded in one view only, given adaptive blending will erase errors in the other view. Further, synthesized view distortion sensitivities to texture versus depth errors are analyzed, so that relative importance of texture and depth code blocks can be computed for system-wide RPS optimization. Experimental results show that the proposed scheme can outperform the use of a traditional feedback channel by up to 0.82 dB on average at 8% packet loss rate, and by as much as 3 dB for particular frames.
Clinical Prediction Rule for the Development of New Onset Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation After Cardiac Surgery
Creators: name: Tran, Diem
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 2013
Subjects: atrial fibrillation
postoperative complications
cardiac surgery
clinical prediction rule

description: This project set out to derive a prediction rule based on preoperative clinical variables to identify patients with high risk of developing atrial fibrillation following cardiac surgery. Methods: Prospectively collected data from a perioperative database was corroborated with chart review to identify eligible patients who had non-emergent surgery in 2010. Details on 28 preoperative variables were collected and significant predictors (p<0.2) were inserted into multivariable logistic regression and recursive partitioning. Results: 305 (30.5%) of 999 patients developed new onset postoperative atrial fibrillation. Eleven variables were significantly associated with atrial fibrillation, however, both final models included only three: left atrial dilatation, mitral valve disease and age. Bootstrapping with 5000 samples confirmed that both final models provide consistent predictions. Coefficients from the logistic regression model were converted into a simple seven point predictive score. Conclusions: This simple risk score can identify patients at higher risk of developing atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery.
Risk, trust and cutting edge technologies: a study of Australian attitudes
Creators: name: Farquharson, Karen
name: Critchley, Christine
Publisher: name: Swinburne
Year: 2024

description: This study examines the relationship between trust and public attitudes towards new technologies in Australia. Using data from the 2003 and 2004 Swinburne National Technology and Society Monitors, we ask: does the trustworthiness of the key institutions and people behind new technologies have an impact on how comfortable people are with new technologies? Our analysis shows that, for the majority of Australians, levels of trust in science are predictive of levels of comfort with new technologies, and the relationship is particularly strong for biological technologies, including stem cell research. We also found a positive relationship for the majority of respondents between trust in government, business and media and comfort with technologies. We expected that Australians would be more trusting of public than private institutions, and that their levels of trust in institutions might vary across different demographic groups, in particular gender, religiosity, and occupational category. We found evidence to support these expectations.
A bidirectional dual-comb ring laser for simple and robust dual-comb spectroscopy
Creators: name: Ideguchi, Takuro
name: Nakamura, Tasuku
name: Kobayashi, Yohei
name: Goda, Keisuke
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2015
Subjects: subject: Optics (physics.optics)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: Fourier-transform spectroscopy is an indispensable tool for analyzing chemical samples in scientific research as well as chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Recently, its measurement speed, sensitivity, and precision have been shown to be significantly enhanced by using dual frequency combs. However, wide acceptance of this technique is hindered by its requirement for two frequency combs and active stabilization of the combs. Here we overcome this predicament with a Kerr-lens mode-locked bidirectional ring laser that generates two frequency combs with slightly different pulse repetition rates and a tunable yet highly stable rate difference. This peculiar lasing principle builds on a slight difference in optical cavity length between two counter-propagating lasing modes due to Kerr lensing. Since these combs are produced by the one and same laser cavity, their relative coherence stays passively stable without the need for active stabilization. To show its utility, we demonstrate broadband dual-comb spectroscopy with the single laser.
Enhancing Cardiomyogenesis In Stem Cells With the Use of Small Molecules
Creators: name: Bosiljcic, Neven
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 2016
Subjects: Stem cell
cardiomyogenesis
molecular biology

description: Cardiovascular diseases contribute a large amount of morbidity and mortality in developing and developed countries all around the world. In conditions such as the myocardial infarction, a significant amount of cardiomyocytes die leading to an impaired function of the heart. One promising method for replacing these cardiomyocytes would be with the use of cardiomyocytes derived from embryonic stem cells. However, a large number of cardiomyocytes and a highly efficient method for obtaining cardiomyocytes are needed. Using the principles of small molecule treatment to induce differentiation in a serum-free based differentiation protocol, I have demonstrated that the induction of canonical Wnt signalling via CHIR 99021, and subsequent addition of bone morphogenetic protein 4 was best able to induce cardiomyogenesis in mouse embryonic stem cells. While improvements in efficiency are still required, the manipulation of the Wnt and BMP4 signalling pathways hold great promise in improving cardiomyogenesis in mESCs.
A thesis of clinical research and practice: Part A: Interpersonal emotion regulation between those with Body Dysmorphic Disorder and their significant others: A theoretical review, Part B: ‘Cheering on from the side-lines’; The perceived impact of romantic partner’s commentary and behaviour on women’s appearance anxiety, Part C: Summary of clinical practice and assessments
Creators: name: Lumsdale, Gemma
Publisher: name: University of Surrey
Year: 2023

description: Appearance anxiety and related mental health difficulties such as Body Dysmorphic
description: Disorder (BDD) are commonplace and debilitating. At least half of individuals with
description: BDD do not note a significant improvement in their symptoms following evidence-based
description: treatment (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy; CBT). Research has begun to
description: highlight the role significant others can play in the development, maintenance, or
description: even reduction of mental health difficulties, yet targeting these processes is not
description: central to CBT. Targeting interpersonal processes more directly in CBT could be the
description: missing ingredient for those who do not recover following this treatment. As a result,
description: researchers must explore the impact of significant others, such as romantic partners,
description: on individuals’ mental health difficulties, in more detail. This is with the hope that this
description: information can provide readers with information about how to support their loved
description: ones with their difficulties, and about how clinical practice could be improved for
description: those suffering. The first paper consists of a theoretical review that outlines research
description: into and proposes a model that explains interpersonal emotion regulation between
description: those with BDD and their significant others. The second paper outlines a qualitative
description: study on women’s perceptions of their romantic partner’s commentary and behaviour
description: and whether this impacts their appearance anxiety. Overall, the research points
description: towards the important role significant others can play in reducing or maintaining
description: individuals’ mental health difficulties associated with appearance. Therefore, we
description: would advise that clinicians remain curious about the impact of significant others on
description: an individual’s difficulties, include significant others in, and target interpersonal
description: processes in treatment, when required.
Towards Transformational Leadership: The Nexus of Emergency Management Systems in Canada
Creators: name: Caro, Denis HJ
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 2016

description: This qualitative research study explores the leadership challenges in emergency management systems in Canada. Complex adaptive systems theory forms the theoretical paradigmatic perspective of emergency events, such as mass emergencies, disasters and catastrophes. Thematic analysis of a key informant study of emergency leaders identified twelve key leadership capabilities. From the grounded theory methodological approach, a theory of transformational emergency systems leadership emerged and is posited. The findings and implications are discussed in light of theoretical implications for humanistic and technologically driven leadership; inter-sectorial collaborative networks; adaptive learning and training of future emergency leaders; and future international emergency management research.
Dynamical method in algebra: Effective Nullstellensätze
Creators: name: Coste, Michel
name: Lombardi, Henri
name: Roy, Marie-Françoise
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2017
Subjects: subject: Algebraic Geometry (math.AG)
subject: Logic (math.LO)
subject: FOS: Mathematics
subject: 03F65, 06F15, 12J10, 12J15, 18B25

description: We give a general method for producing various effective Null and Positivstellensätze, and getting new Positivstellensätze in algebraically closed valued fields and ordered groups. These various effective Nullstellensätze produce algebraic identities certifying that some geometric conditions cannot be simultaneously satisfied. We produce also constructive versions of abstract classical results of algebra based on Zorn's lemma in several cases where such constructive version did not exist. For example, the fact that a real field can be totally ordered, or the fact that a field can be embedded in an algebraically closed field. Our results are based on the concepts we develop of dynamical proofs and simultaneous collapse.
Le traduzioni di letteratura inglese in Italia dal 1943 ai primi anni sessanta. Una ricognizione preliminare.
Creators: name: Sullam, Sara
Publisher: name: Università degli Studi di Milano
Year: 2012

description: Come si configura il campo di ricezione della letteratura inglese novecentesca nell’Italia del secondo dopoguerra? Quali sono le linee di continuità con la stagione dell’entre deux guerres e quali i fattori di innovazione?
description: ENTHYMEMA, N° 7 (2012)
Optimal control policies for evolutionary dynamics with environmental feedback
Creators: name: Paarporn, Keith
name: Eksin, Ceyhun
name: Weitz, Joshua S.
name: Wardi, Yorai
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2018
Subjects: subject: Systems and Control (eess.SY)
subject: FOS: Electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering

description: We study a dynamical model of a population of cooperators and defectors whose actions have long-term consequences on environmental "commons" - what we term the "resource". Cooperators contribute to restoring the resource whereas defectors degrade it. The population dynamics evolve according to a replicator equation coupled with an environmental state. Our goal is to identify methods of influencing the population with the objective to maximize accumulation of the resource. In particular, we consider strategies that modify individual-level incentives. We then extend the model to incorporate a public opinion state that imperfectly tracks the true environmental state, and study strategies that influence opinion. We formulate optimal control problems and solve them using numerical techniques to characterize locally optimal control policies for three problem formulations: 1) control of incentives, and control of opinions through 2) propaganda-like strategies and 3) awareness campaigns. We show numerically that the resulting controllers in all formulations achieve the objective, albeit with an unintended consequence. The resulting dynamics include cycles between low and high resource states - a dynamical regime termed an "oscillating tragedy of the commons". This outcome may have desirable average properties, but includes risks to resource depletion. Our findings suggest the need for new approaches to controlling coupled population-environment dynamics.
description: Initial submission version to CDC 2018
Un romanzo d’addio. "Giovanni e le mani" di Franco Fortini
Creators: name: Daino, Luca
Publisher: name: Università degli Studi di Milano
Year: 2012

description: L‟articolo ha per oggetto l‟unico romanzo scritto da Franco Fortini, Giovanni e le mani, apparso a stampa nel 1948. Guida l‟analisi la persuasione che il libro, al contrario di quanto si è soliti rite-nere, non occupi nella produzione fortiniana una posizione periferica, o peggio ambiguamente contradditoria; svolge, invece, una funzione disvelante rispetto a una fase cruciale, come è l‟immediato dopoguerra, all‟interno della carriera del suo autore. Tale efficacia ermeneutica si dispiega se il romanzo viene interrogato in stretta relazione con l‟attività anteriore – ossia quella giovanile, risalente al periodo prebellico e fiorentino –, e soltanto ricordando che è nato in con-comitanza con la cesura, intellettuale e nel contempo esistenziale, sopravvenuta nell‟itinerario di Fortini con l‟abbandono della fede cristiana a favore dell‟utopia marxista.
description: ENTHYMEMA, N° 7 (2012)
Médiation entre l’usager et l’image : Une étude exploratoire de l’utilisation des métadonnées par les professionnels
Creators: name: Léonard, Mariane
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 2015
Subjects: repérage d’images
métadonnées
médiation
professionnels

description: Avec la popularité grandissante de la mise en ligne d’images, il importe de se questionner sur le processus de repérage dans le but d’améliorer les résultats. En ce qui concerne notre recherche, nous nous intéressons au repérage d’images par un professionnel dans le contexte d’un service référence. Notre étude tente de comprendre comment les professionnels effectuant le service de référence dans un musée ou une université qui font de la recherche d’images ou d’informations sur une image utilisent les métadonnées associées à ces dernières. La collecte de données a été effectuée grâce à trois méthodes : un journal de bord, une entrevue semi-dirigée et une observation. Même si notre étude est de type exploratoire, il a été possible d’affirmer que les professionnels ont un rôle de médiateur important et que le type d’établissement dans lequel ils travaillent a une incidence sur la nature du rôle de médiateur. Les résultats de la collecte de données prouvent que la sélection de l’outil pour le repérage dépend du type d’établissement. Par ailleurs, la formulation de la recherche est étroitement liée avec les termes présents dans la requête de l’usager et cette étape détermine le niveau de médiation des professionnels. L’examen de l’usage des métadonnées par les professionnels a démontré que les éléments identifiés comme utiles varient selon le type de requêtes.
Learning How to Listen: A Temporal-Frequential Attention Model for Sound Event Detection
Creators: name: Shen, Yu-Han
name: He, Ke-Xin
name: Zhang, Wei-Qiang
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2018
Subjects: subject: Sound (cs.SD)
subject: Audio and Speech Processing (eess.AS)
subject: FOS: Computer and information sciences
subject: FOS: Electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering

description: In this paper, we propose a temporal-frequential attention model for sound event detection (SED). Our network learns how to listen with two attention models: a temporal attention model and a frequential attention model. Proposed system learns when to listen using the temporal attention model while it learns where to listen on the frequency axis using the frequential attention model. With these two models, we attempt to make our system pay more attention to important frames or segments and important frequency components for sound event detection. Our proposed method is demonstrated on the task 2 of Detection and Classification of Acoustic Scenes and Events (DCASE) 2017 Challenge and achieves competitive performance.
description: 5 pages, to be submitted to ICASSP 2019
Roadside acoustic sensors to support vulnerable pedestrians via their smartphone
Creators: name: Khalili, Masoomeh
name: Ghatee, Mehdi
name: Teimouri, Mehdi
name: Bejani, Mohammad Mahdi
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2018
Subjects: subject: Signal Processing (eess.SP)
subject: FOS: Electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering

description: We propose a new warning system based on smartphones that evaluates the risk of motor vehicle for vulnerable pedestrian (VP). The acoustic sensors are embedded in roadside to receive vehicles sounds and they are classified into heavy vehicle, light vehicle with low speed, light vehicle with high speed, and no vehicle classes. For this aim, we extract new features by Mel-frequency Cepstrum Coefficients (MFCC) and Linear Predictive Coefficients (LPC) algorithms. We use different classification algorithms and show that MLP neural network achieves at least 96.77% in accuracy criterion. To install this system, directional microphones are embedded on roadside and the risk is classified there. Then, for every microphone, a danger area is defined and the warning alarms have been sent to every VPs smartphones covered in this danger area.
description: 7 Pages, 8 Figures, 4 Tables
Supplementary document for Unsupervised feature learning and clustering of particles imaged in raw holograms using an autoencoder - 5429088.pdf
Creators: name: Liu, Zonghua
name: Thevar, Thangavel
name: Takahashi, Tomoko
name: Burns, Nicholas
name: Yamada, Takaki
name: Sangekar, Mehul
name: Lindsay, Dhugal
name: Watson, John
name: Thornton, Blair
Publisher: name: Optica Publishing Group
Year: 2025
Subjects: Uncategorized

description: TeX archive
L’antifédéralisme dans les colonies de l’Amérique du Nord britannique (1763–1867) : Analyse contextuelle d’un discours invisible
Creators: name: Gilbert, Marie-Christine
Publisher: name: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Year: 2015
Subjects: Fédéralisme
Antifédéralisme
Histoire constitutionnelle

description: L’histoire du fédéralisme au Canada est connue, mais il en va autrement de sa critique dont nous n’avons en général que des évocations parenthétiques et marginales. Or, aux États-Unis, et depuis peu en Europe, ce domaine a fait l’objet d’études approfondies. De cet exercice de réflexion est né un concept théorique : l’antifédéralisme. Présenté de la sorte, il renvoie aux langages politiques utilisés par les opposants qui critiquent ou rejettent la structure fédérale. Plus encore, il fait référence à un projet politique qui s’inscrit dans un débat d’idées. Dans la présente thèse, nous démontrons que le fédéralisme canadien est confronté à ce type de langage en empruntant les voies du contextualisme de l’École de Cambridge. La preuve de son existence étant sa récurrence dans des textes et des contextes distincts, nous concluons donc qu’il existe un antifédéralisme canadien. Aussi les interventions des opposants ne sont-elles pas futiles ; elles puisent, comme aux États-Unis, une part importante de leurs principes dans des courants de pensée antérieurs, notamment le républicanisme.
La teoria critica di Umberto Eco: La critica dell’ideologia e la guerriglia semiologica
Creators: name: Desogus, Paolo
Publisher: name: Università degli Studi di Milano
Year: 2012

description: Attraverso nozioni chiave ed esempi concreti, il testo mostra lo stretto rapporto tra analisi e critica nella semiotica echiana degli anni Settanta. In questo quadro, la riflessione prende in esame due elementi decisivi degli studi di Eco, l'analisi dell'ideologia e la pratica di opposizione, chiamata guerriglia semiologica, tesa a ribaltare nei processi comunicativi il rapporto gerarchico e di consenso passivo tra il mittente e il destinatario. Lo scopo dell'articolo è dunque quello di dimostrare che la semiotica non è soltanto una teoria descrittiva, ma è anche una pratica, volta a smontare e a cortocircuitare i meccanismi ideologici e persuasivi del segno.
description: ENTHYMEMA, N° 7 (2012)
Molecular contrast on phase-contrast microscope
Creators: name: Toda, Keiichiro
name: Tamamitsu, Miu
name: Horisaki, Ryoichi
name: Ideguchi, Takuro
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2018
Subjects: subject: Optics (physics.optics)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: An optical microscope enables image-based findings and diagnosis on microscopic targets, which is indispensable in many scientific, industrial and medical settings. Majority of microscope users are accustomed to standard benchtop microscopes, but it fails to give molecular contrast of the specimen which otherwise requires expensive specialized instruments to measure, accompanied by chemical or optical damages to the sample and/or slow imaging speed. Here, we report on a simple optical instrument, comprising of a semiconductor amplitude-modulated mid-infrared quantum cascade laser, that is attached to a standard microscope to deliver the additional molecular contrast of the specimen on top of its conventional microscopic image. We attach this instrument, termed molecular-contrast unit, to a standard phase-contrast microscope, and demonstrate high-speed label-free molecular-contrast phase-contrast imaging of biological cells under low-power optical illumination. Our simple molecular-contrast unit can empower existing standard microscopes of various users, by delivering a convenient accessibility to the molecular world.
Return to the Grindhouse: Tarantino and the modernization of 1970s Exploitation Films
Creators: name: Platz, Jenny
Publisher: name: Università degli Studi di Milano
Year: 2012

description: Exploitation films from the 1970s and early 80s such as Foxy Brown (Jack Hill, 1974) and Switchblade Sisters (Jack Hill, 1975) were the first films to allow women to actively control the narrative and course of events in a film. Men become secondary characters who had no or little control over the course of events in these films. Because the films were made during the rapidly changing social climate of the 1970s, the films also became a barometer in their treatment of female characters of social mores. Director Quentin Tarantino’s films Death Proof (2007), Kill Bill I and II (2003 and 2004), Jackie Brown (1997), and Inglourious Basterds (2009) attempt to modernize the active women from exploitation films of the 1970s, reworking the female characters’ mobilization against typical gender roles, and attributing her with the abilities to compete, and even challenge men in a patriarchic society.However, Tarantino’s films mostly fail to progress beyond the trappings of the classic exploitation films of the 1970s, still relying heavily on the excessive display of female bodies, and subjugating women to the male camera and spectator gaze. In Tarantino’s attempt to remove female characters from the gender restraints of most Hollywood films, he creates the female action star, and inadvertently reverses the work of classic exploitation films by limiting the traits strong women are able to possess. By contrast, the female leads of 1970s exploitation films, although still heavily sexualized, are able to be physically powerful while retaining their feminine identifications as a wives, mothers, lovers, and beauty queens. Tarantino’s portrayal of strong women is more limited, however when strong sexuality and typical feminine traits are not connected to the powerful female characters. Instead female sexuality and feminine appearances are shown as weaknesses that contribute to the female characters’ deaths or lack of individuality. Tarantino allows one other female character, a strong warrior who takes on an action star role and becomes powerful through her rejection of feminine traits.
description: ENTHYMEMA, N° 7 (2012)
Compresenza di ethne e culture diverse nella Sicilia occidentale. Per una nuova prospettiva storica
Creators: name: Ampolo, Carmine
Publisher: name: Aristonothos. Scritti per il Mediterraneo antico
Year: 2012

description: Forthcoming.
description: Aristonothos. Scritti per il Mediterraneo antico, No 7 (2012): Convivenze etniche, scontri e contatti di culture in Sicilia e Magna Grecia