Core Methodology Research Articles

Reliability data update using condition monitoring and prognostics in probabilistic safety assessment

Probabilistic safety assessment (PSA) has had a significant role in quantitative decisionmaking by finding design and operational vulnerabilities and evaluating cost-benefit in improving such weak points. In particular, it has been widely used as the core methodology for risk-informed applications (RIAs). Even though the nature of PSA seeks realistic results, there are still “conservative” aspects. One of the sources for the conservatism is the assumptions of safety analysis and the estimation of failure frequency. Surveillance, diagnosis, and prognosis (SDP), utilizing massive databases and information technology, is worth highlighting in terms of its capability for alleviating the conservatism in conventional PSA. This article provides enabling techniques to solidify a method to provide timeand condition-dependent risks by integrating a conventional PSA model with condition monitoring and prognostics techniques. We will discuss how to integrate the results with frequency of initiating events (IEs) and probability of basic events (BEs). Two illustrative examples will be introduced: (1) how the failure probability of a passive system can be evaluated under different plant conditions and (2) how the IE frequency for a steam generator tube rupture (SGTR) can be updated in terms of operating time. We expect that the proposed model can take a role of annunciator to show the variation of core damage frequency (CDF) depending on operational conditions.

Using Synthetic Biology and pClone Red for Authentic Research on Promoter Function: Introductory Biology (identifying new promoters)

Students often memorize the definition of a transcriptional promoter but fail to fully understand the critical role promoters play in gene expression. This laboratory lesson allows students to conduct original research by identifying and characterizing promoters found in prokaryotes. Students start with primary literature, design and clone a short promoter, and test how well their promoter works. This laboratory lesson is an easy way for faculty with limited time and budgets to give their students access to real research in the context of traditional teaching labs that meet once a week for under three hours. The pClone Red Introductory Biology lesson uses synthetic biology methods and makes cloning so simple that we have 100% success rates with first year students. Students use a database to archive their promoter sequences and the performance of the promoter under standard conditions. The database permits synthetic biology researchers around the world to find a promoter that suits their needs and compare relative levels of transcription. The core methodology in this lesson is identical to the core methodology in the companion Genetics lesson by Eckdahl and Campbell. The methods are reproduced in both lessons for the benefit of readers. The two CourseSource lessons provide the detailed information needed to reproduce the pedagogical research results published in CBE Life Sciences Education by Campbell et al., 2014.

Western Blotting: Origin and Ascent of the Species.

Western blotting has survived as an essential tool of the research and clinical laboratory because it has maintained its everyday scientific usefulness while simultaneously evolving as a facile weapon to confront high-content analytical demands of proteomic and diagnostic screening. New approaches for imaging blotted proteins have emerged to complement the core methodology.

Radio reflection imaging of asteroid and comet interiors I: Acquisition and imaging theory

Imaging the interior structure of comets and asteroids can provide insight into their formation in the early Solar System, and can aid in their exploration and hazard mitigation. Accurate imaging can be accomplished using broadband wavefield data penetrating deep inside the object under investigation. This can be done in principle using seismic systems (which is difficult since it requires contact with the studied object), or using radar systems (which is easier since it can be conducted from orbit). We advocate the use of radar systems based on instruments similar to the ones currently deployed in space, e.g. the CONSERT experiment of the Rosetta mission, but perform imaging using data reflected from internal interfaces, instead of data transmitted through the imaging object. Our core methodology is wavefield extrapolation using time-domain finite differences, a technique often referred to as reverse-time migration and proven to be effective in high-quality imaging of complex geologic structures. The novelty of our approach consists in the use of dual orbiters around the studied object, instead of an orbiter and a lander. Dual orbiter systems can provide multi-offset data that illuminate the target object from many different illumination angles. Multi-offset data improve image quality (a) by avoiding illumination shadows, (b) by attenuating coherent noise (image artifacts) caused by wavefield multi-pathing, and (c) by providing information necessary to infer the model parameters needed to simulate wavefields inside the imaging target. The images obtained using multi-offset are robust with respect to instrument noise comparable in strength with the reflected signal. Dual-orbiter acquisition leads to improved image quality which is directly dependent on the aperture between the transmitter and receiver antennas. We illustrate the proposed methodology using a complex model based on a scaled version of asteroid 433 Eros.

The state of the art in societal impact assessment for security research

This paper sets out a structured methodology for conducting a societal impact assessment (SIA) of security research and security measure implementation. It first provides an overview of the need for and role of SIA, then presents an account of the existing impact assessment methodologies that have influenced this guide. The paper then describes the core methodology based upon an iterative approach to six key sectors of impact, then provides analytical questions for use in this process, before setting out a step-by-step process guideline. This guideline includes guidance on identifying stakeholders and incorporating best practice in impact assessment. Guidance on the content of an SIA report is then provided. The paper concludes with recommendations as how to best embed such a methodology within the broader security research process. The methodology has particular relevance for security research conducted within the EU.

Bioinformatics Algorithms

This is a Computer Science book on a family of algorithms underlying the core methodology of current research and development in Bioinformatics. It provides detailed descriptions of the basic techniques of modern text-analysis research from the point of view of their application in Genomics and Phylogeny. Since it is mainly devoted to algorithms derived from suffix trees and suffix arrays, it needs to be complemented with additional, application-specific readings in order to use the techniques described in novel applications. The book has a strong orientation towards Computer Science, but should be easy to follow for any competent reader.

Environment and development: achievements and challenges in climate economics

The economic analysis of the natural environment and of economic development encompasses most complex topics and issues. Accordingly, many contributions in the field are either cross-disciplinary or very detailed and broad in perspective. The core methodology of economics is different, however. Economic models are generally used to drastically reduce complexity and to look at a low number of analytical relationships. This allows for analysis of the basic mechanics of the problems in a concise manner and for the derivation of closed-form model solutions. There are of course seminal contributions using the procedure, e.g., Hotelling (1931) and Dasgupta and Heal (1974). But for the crucial issue of climate change the profession appears to be somewhat reluctant to push strongly for constructing a stringent analytical framework; the field is still dominated by relatively complex integrated assessment models. These yield many important insights but, in certain cases, provide contradicting results and sometimes lack intuition. Hence, climate economic models providing closed-form solutions on future growth and optimum climate policy appear to be warranted.

Partial matching of 3D cultural heritage objects using panoramic views

In this paper, we present a method for partial matching and retrieval of 3D objects based on range image queries. The proposed methodology addresses the retrieval of complete 3D objects using range image queries that represent partial views. The core methodology relies upon Bag-of-Visual-Words modelling and enhanced Dense SIFT descriptor computed on panoramic views and range image queries. Performance evaluation builds upon standard measures and a challenging 3D pottery dataset originating from the Hampson Archaeological Museum collection.

The Health Technology Assessment Environment in Mainland China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan—Implications for the Evaluation of Diabetes Mellitus Therapies

BackgroundDiabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with a significant global economic and humanistic burden. The condition presents a real challenge in Asia, which accounts for more than 60% of individuals with DM globally. Health technology assessment (HTA) is a field of scientific research used to inform policy and clinical decision making relating to the introduction and diffusion of health technologies. ObjectivesThis article, examines the present use and predicted evolution of HTA with respect to pricing and reimbursement of drugs in mainland China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. It makes specific reference to important assessment considerations for DM therapies, which should assist key stakeholders in choosing which data to capture, and what approaches to use, to help quantify the value of treatment. MethodsThe findings are informed by two Advisory Board discussions, a literature review, and the authors’ personal experience. ResultsHTA already has a key role in South Korea and Taiwan, with current systems undergoing important changes. In contrast, in mainland China and Japan, HTA is not yet formally utilized, although this appears likely to change. Several elements are important for HTA to be meaningful and impactful for DM therapies, including a clear, transparent analytical framework for HTA that includes all relevant costs and outcomes; availability of local DM epidemiologic, economic, and quality-of-life data; acceptance of modeling as a core methodology; availability of real-life patient data; and recognition of specific evidence requirements associated with biosimilars. HTA has the potential to assist payors in making informed decisions about the coverage of DM medications.

Ethnographic Evidence of an Emerging Transnational Arts Practice?: Perspectives on U.K. and Mexican Participatory Artists' Processes for Catalysing Change, and Facilitating Health and Flourishing.

This article reports new ethnographic research exploring community-based, participatory arts practice in Northern England and Mexico City. Noting the value of an ethnographic approach, the study investigated whether commonalities discovered in practitioners' approaches are significant enough to constitute a generalisable participatory arts methodology, transcending significant contextual differences, and recognisable across national boundaries. Shared characteristics emerged in practitioners' modes of engagement with groups, and strategies for catalysing change; clear convergences from which a core methodology in community-based participatory arts for change is distilled. It suggests the opening of liminal spaces in which participants can reflect, rehearsing fresh ways of engaging in transformative dialogues in relation to the world in which they live. This article presents the study findings as a grounded characterisation of 'participatory arts practice': a complex but potentially powerful mechanism, in use within numerous community health projects, and evident in diverse settings, despite little or no exchange of ideas between practitioners.

Careful science? Bodywork and care practices in randomised clinical trials.

Concern about obesity has prompted numerous public health campaigns that urge people to be more physically active. The campaigns often include normative statements and attempt to impose restrictions on individuals' lives without considering the complexities of daily life. We suggest that broadening the focus to reflect everyday practices would foster better targeted public health campaigns. This article is based on our participation in FINE, a multidisciplinary Danish research project. The core methodology of FINE was a randomised controlled trial in which 61 moderately overweight men were put into different exercise groups. In this article we analyse the scientific work of the trial as representing entangled processes of bodywork, where data are extracted and objectified bodies are manipulated and care practices address the emotional, social and mundane aspects of the participants' everyday lives. Care practices are an inherent part of producing scientific facts but they are removed from the recognised results of scientific practice and thus from common public health recommendations. However, knowledge about the strategic use of care practices in lifestyle interventions is important for public health initiatives and future efforts should incorporate this aspect.

Temperature-Dependent Power Flow

In conventional power flow, the system branch resistances are assumed to be constant despite the fact that they are sensitive to temperature, and therefore to branch loading and losses. When the accurate calculation of losses is important, temperature correction of branch resistance can improve the accuracy of the power flow calculation. This paper introduces a temperature-dependent power flow algorithm: a novel approach which integrates an estimate of branch temperatures and resistances with the conventional power flow equations. This methodology relies on the creation of a set of coupled temperature and power flow equations which are solved using the Newton-Raphson solution method for nonlinear equations. The core methodology is developed first, then extended via several decoupling techniques.

Chemotherapy (gemcitabine, docetaxel plus gemcitabine, doxorubicin, or trabectedin) in inoperable, locally advanced, recurrent, or metastatic uterine leiomyosarcoma: a clinical practice guideline.

Does chemotherapy-that is, gemcitabine, gemcitabine plus docetaxel, doxorubicin, or trabectedin-improve clinical outcomes in women with inoperable, locally advanced, recurrent, or metastatic uterine leiomyosarcoma (lms)? Is there a difference in the tumour response rate to chemotherapy between recurrent pelvic disease and extrapelvic metastases in the target patients? This guideline was developed by Cancer Care Ontario's Program in Evidence-Based Care, the Sarcoma Disease Site Group (dsg), and the Gynecologic Cancer dsg. The core methodology was the systematic review. The medline and embase databases (2004 to June 2011), the Cochrane Library, main guideline Web sites, and relevant annual meeting abstracts (2005-2010) were searched. Internal and external reviews were conducted, with final approval by the dsgs and the Program in Evidence-Based Care. Based on currently available evidence from the medical literature (four single-arm phase ii studies, one arm of a randomized controlled trial, and one abstract), doxorubicin alone, gemcitabine alone, or gemcitabine plus docetaxel may be treatment options in first- or second-line therapy (or both) for women with inoperable, locally advanced, recurrent, or metastatic uterine lms. Hematologic toxicity is common and should be monitored, and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor should be considered when gemcitabine plus docetaxel is used. Other toxicities, such as neurotoxicity, pulmonary toxicity, and cardiovascular toxicity should be monitored. No recommendation is made for or against the use of trabectedin in the targeted patients. No data were available concerning differences in response in recurrent pelvic disease or extrapelvic metastases, or concerning quality of life.

Screening High-Risk Populations for Lung Cancer: Guideline Recommendations

The aim of this practice guideline was to develop evidence-based recommendations for screening high-risk populations for lung cancer. The guideline was developed using the methods of Cancer Care Ontario's Program in Evidence-Based Care. The core methodology of the Program in Evidence-Based Care's guideline development process is systematic review. A systematic review had recently been completed by a collaboration of the American Cancer Society, the American College of Chest Physicians, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. The evidence from that systematic review formed the basis of the recommendations, which were reviewed, and amended where necessary, by clinical experts in the fields of medical and radiation oncology, radiology, lung disease, and population health. The systematic review included eight randomized controlled trials and 13 single-arm studies evaluating screening with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) in patients at risk for lung cancer. One large randomized trial reported a statistically significant reduction in lung cancer mortality with LDCT at 6 years compared with chest radiography. The practice guideline recommendations generally align with the parameters of the National Lung Screening Study. Deviations were described and justified by the guideline working group. The recommendations support screening persons at high-risk for lung cancer with advice for determining a positive result on LDCT, appropriate follow-up, and optimal screening interval. The benefits of screening high-risk populations for lung cancer with LDCT outweigh the harms if screening is implemented in a strictly controlled manner.

A CERIF‐based schema for recording research impact

PurposeThe need for a more structured methodology than currently exists for describing the impact of academic research is widely acknowledged. The most widely used research information standard, CERIF, does not currently allow the encoding of research impact in a structured way: this project devised and tested an extension to CERIF to address this omission. The paper seeks to discuss these points.Design/methodology/approachThe core methodology of the project is a series of extensions to the CERIF model to encode “impact statements”, indicators of impact and measures as evidence for them. These can be linked to persons, organisational units or research outputs. This model is supported by a small semantic taxonomy of indicators and measures. The model was tested by evaluating it against current information environments, and by assessing its compatibility with CERIF and non‐CERIF compliant current research information systems.FindingsDespite some concerns expressed about the validity of reducing qualitative evidence of impact to atomistic measures, and about a general paucity of such data in existing systems, the model tested well against working environments. It offers the potential for reducing workloads and more continuous assessment of research impact within its stakeholder communities.Originality/valueNo substantive methodology for encoding impact statements existed in CERIF prior to this project. In addition, the atomistic, quantifiable approach to describing impact is relatively unexplored in the higher education community, but offers substantial advantages. The work is of relevance to research managers, developers, system designers and metadata specialists.

Method in the Madness: Three Moments in Nietzsche's philosophy — An Exposition

This article provides an anatomisation of Nietzsche's philosophical system. That might seem strange, given that Nietzsche rejected system building as a viable approach to political philosophy, but the author will seek to demonstrate that — through the whirlwind of cryptic aphorism and myth-building metaphor which categorise Nietzsche's corpus — one can discern in outline a series of fundamental categories which are rationally entwined in a core methodology: the method in the madness. Having revealed the structures and fundamental logic of the Nietzschean philosophy at the ‘genetic’ level, and by locating its overall framework in the Pre-Socratic tradition — in particular Parmenides — the author will go on to reveal the manner in which this core methodology was filtered through the forms and categories of social existence in the latter part of 19th century Europe, in particular the tensions between a rapidly developing industrial proletariat and an increasingly reticent and fearful bourgeoisie. In a bravura conclusion, the author hopes to demonstrate that, contrary to Walter Kaufmann — and much contemporary scholarship also — it is, in fact, both legitimate and necessary to regard Nietzsche's philosophy as a vivid expression of ‘proto-fascism’.

Evidence-based guideline recommendations on low-dose rate brachytherapy in patients with low- or intermediate-risk prostate cancer

The Genitourinary Cancer Disease Site Group (GU DSG) and Cancer Care Ontario's Program in Evidence-Based Care (PEBC) in Ontario, Canada developed a guideline on low-dose rate brachytherapy (LDR-BT) in patients with early-stage low-grade prostate cancer in 2001. The current updated guideline focuses on the research questions regarding the effect of LDR-BT alone, the effect of LDR-BT with external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) and the selection of an isotope. This guideline was developed by using the methods of the Practice Guidelines Development Cycle and the core methodology was a systematic review. MEDLINE and EMBASE (from January 1996 to October 2011), the Cochrane Library, main guideline websites, and main annual meeting abstract websites specific for genitourinary diseases were searched. Internal and external reviews of the draft guideline were conducted. The draft guideline was developed according to a total of 10 systematic reviews and 55 full text articles that met the pre-planned study selection criteria. The quality of evidence was low to moderate. The final report reflects integration of the feedback obtained through the internal review (two oncologists and a methodologist) and external review (five target reviewers and 48 professional consultation reviewers) process, with final approval given by the GU DSG and the PEBC. THE MAIN RECOMMENDATIONS ARE: (1) For patients with newly diagnosed low-risk or intermediate-risk prostate cancer who require or choose active treatment, LDR-BT alone is a treatment option as an alternative to EBRT alone or RP alone; and (2) I-125 and Pd-103 are each reasonable isotope options.

무선 메시 네트워크의 라우팅 성능 개선 연구

현재 WMN은 다중 홉 라우팅을 통한 무선 네트워크 서비스 제공의 핵심방안으로 연구되고 있다. WMN은 MANET을 위하여 제안된 프로토콜들을 적용하여 빠르게 구축할 수 있다는 장점이 있다. 하지만 다중 네트워크 및 다중 채널의 지원, 망의 구조 등에서 MANET과 차이가 있으며 특히 네트워크 계층의 라우팅 프로토콜의 경우 MANET의 라우팅 프로토콜을 그대로 적용할 경우 성능저하의 한 원인이 될 수 있다. 다양한 MANET 라우팅 프로토콜 중 이동노드의 성능 및 네트워크 자원의 제약을 고려해 볼 때 AODV가 가장 적합하다고 할 수 있으나 네트워크의 확장 시에 경로결정 지연시간이 길어지는 단점이 있다. 본 논문에서는 AODV의 이러한 단점을 개선하기 위하여 메시 라우터와 메시 클라이언트를 라우팅 계층으로 구분 하고 메시 클라이언트의 경로설정 메시지의 방송을 지역화하여 WMN의 구조에 적합하도록 변경된 방안을 제시한다. WMN is considered as a core methodology to provide mobile wireless network service with multi-hop routing feature. It has a merit that can be easily deployed by utilization of protocols for MANET. However, it has differences in supporting multiple networks and channels, network architecture, and so on. Especially, in case of routing protocols, to apply them intactly to WMN can be a cause of low performance because of do not moving mesh routers. AODV seems like suitable for WMN among the various routing protocols for MANET. However, it has a defect in scalability. In this paper, an enhanced AODV routing method for WMN was proposed. The proposed method was designed to be suitable to the architecture of WMN by use of layering and localizing the broadcasting domain.

High-intensity focused ultrasound for prostate cancer: a practice guideline

The aim of this practice guideline was to develop evidence-based recommendations for clinicians on the use of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) in patients with localized prostate cancer. The guideline was developed using the methods of Cancer Care Ontario's Program in Evidence-Based Care (PEBC). The core methodology of the PEBC's guideline development process is systematic review. A comprehensive literature search was undertaken to identify high-quality studies, reviews and other practice guidelines on the use of HIFU in prostate cancer. The evidence formed the basis of the recommendations, which were reviewed and amended where necessary, by clinical experts in medical and radiation oncology and urology. The literature review yielded limited evidence. No randomized controlled trials or meta-analyses comparing HIFU with currently accepted management approaches were identified. The body of evidence is primarily based on data from case series. Internal feedback was provided by the PEBC Genitourinary Disease Site Group membership and the Report Approval Panel. External peer review included targeted review by clinical experts specifically requested to comment on the guideline, and professional consultation through an online survey of health care professionals. HIFU is currently not recommended as an alternative to accepted curative treatment approaches for localized prostate cancer.

Close-Out Risk Evaluation (CORE): A New Risk Management Approach for Central Counterparties

This paper introduces the CORE methodology for managing risk of multi-market central-counterparties. CORE generalizes the classical SPAN method of stress scenarios by incorporating explicitly market liquidity of listed instruments and modeling the liquidity pro file of OTC instruments and the liquidation-by-auction mechanism. In the presence of liquidity constraints, there is a difference between unrealized ex ante mark-to-market losses, say, on the date of default, and realized losses after liquidation is concluded. This leads us to formulate an optimal liquidation strategy for portfolios under stress-scenarios and liquidity constraints. We formulate this problem as the maximization of an objective function which involves a sequence of potential transient losses (realized and mark-to-market) along the liquidation period. The objective function is designed to minimize transient losses and thus reduce funding liquidity requirements for the CCP along the liquidation period; it is shown to be robust with respect to liquidation-by-auction assumptions and to liquidity constraints.Computationally, we formulate CORE as a Linear Programming problem under linear constraints, which can be solved using high-performance large-scale optimization packages such as CPLEX and GUROBI. We illustrate the computation of the CORE strategy on a series of sample portfolios and compare the anticipated gains in reserve capital due to CORE for the di fferent examples. Preliminary tests indicate that improvements of between 20 and 60% can be realized by applying optimal liquidation schedules which match instruments with common risk factors according to their liquidity profiles in the liquidation process.