Execution Research Articles

Better Safe than Sorry - Implementing Reliable Health Data Anonymization.

Modern biomedical research is increasingly data-driven. To create the required big datasets, health data needs to be shared or reused, which often leads to privacy challenges. Data anonymization is an important protection method where data is transformed such that privacy guarantees can be provided according to formal models. For applications in practice, anonymization methods need to be integrated into scalable and reliable tools. In this work, we tackle the problem of achieving reliability. Privacy models often involve mathematical definitions using real numbers which are typically approximated using floating-point numbers when implemented as software. We study the effect on the privacy guarantees provided and present a reliable computing framework based on fractional and interval arithmetic for improving the reliability of implementations. Extensive evaluations demonstrate that reliable data anonymization is practical and that it can be achieved with minor impacts on executions times and data utility.

Cross-Border Exchange of Clinical Data Using Archetype Concepts Compatible with the International Patient Summary.

This paper proposes an approach and demonstrates its application for cross-border exchange of clinical documents oriented towards the use of archetype concepts and international patient summary standards adopted in the European Union. A novelty in this approach is the management of native XML instances of an archetype concept in the CEN 13606 standard by means of a native XML database and XML technologies. The computer experiments demonstrate that it is suitable for representing relatively small clinical datasets such as those describing rare diseases like the Acromegaly illness, where the semantic context in the relatively small number of symptoms is practicable to tag in terms of SNOMED-CT terminology codes. Additionally, we demonstrate that the semantically enriched information model can facilitate secondary use of clinical data by visualizing the execution of queries based on standard terminologies. Finally, the compatibility of the information model with the IPS standard enables sharing of clinical data among different information models.

Efficient Protection of Health Data from Sensitive Attribute Disclosure.

Biomedical research has become data-driven. To create the required big datasets, health data needs to be shared or reused out of the context of its initial purpose. This leads to significant privacy challenges. Data anonymization is an important protection method where data is transformed such that privacy guarantees can be provided according to formal models. For applications in practice, anonymization methods need to be integrated into scalable and robust tools. In this work, we focus on the problem of scalability. Protecting biomedical data from inference attacks is challenging, in particular for numeric data. An important privacy model in this context is t-closeness, which has also been defined for attribute values which are totally ordered. However, directly implementing a scalable algorithmic representation of the mathematical definition of the model proves difficult. In this paper we therefore present a series of optimizations that can be used to achieve efficiency in production use. An experimental evaluation shows that our approach reduces execution times of anonymization processes involving t-closeness by up to a factor of two.

Addressing variability in reuse prediction for last-level caches

Last-Level Cache (LLC) represents the bulk of a modern CPU processor's transistor budget and is essential for application performance as LLC enables fast access to data in contrast to much slower main memory. However, applications with large working set size often exhibit streaming and/or thrashing access patterns at LLC. As a result, a large fraction of the LLC capacity is occupied by dead blocks that will not be referenced again, leading to inefficient utilization of the LLC capacity. To improve cache efficiency, the state-of-the-art cache management techniques employ prediction mechanisms that learn from the past access patterns with an aim to accurately identify as many dead blocks as possible. Once identified, dead blocks are evicted from LLC to make space for potentially high reuse cache blocks. In this thesis, we identify variability in the reuse behavior of cache blocks as the key limiting factor in maximizing cache efficiency for state-of-the-art predictive techniques. Variability in reuse prediction is inevitable due to numerous factors that are outside the control of LLC. The sources of variability include control-flow variation, speculative execution and contention from cores sharing the cache, among others. Variability in reuse prediction challenges existing techniques in reliably identifying the end of a block's useful lifetime, thus causing lower prediction accuracy, coverage, or both. To address this challenge, this thesis aims to design robust cache management mechanisms and policies for LLC in the face of variability in reuse prediction to minimize cache misses, while keeping the cost and complexity of the hardware implementation low. To that end, we propose two cache management techniques, one domain-agnostic and one domain-specialized, to improve cache efficiency by addressing variability in reuse prediction.

An innovative system to increase the longitudinal shear capacity of composite slabs

Steel-concrete composite slabs with profiled steel sheeting are widely used in the execution of floors in steel and composite buildings. The rapid construction process, the elimination of conventional replaceable shuttering and the reduction of temporary support are, in general, considered the main advantages of this structural system. In slabs with the spans currently used, the longitudinal shear resistance commonly provided by the embossments along the steel sheet tends to be the governing design mode. This paper presents an innovative reinforcing system that increases the longitudinal shear capacity of composite slabs. The system is constituted by a set of transversal reinforcing bars crossing longitudinal stiffeners executed along the upper flanges of the steel sheet profiles. This type of reinforcement takes advantage of the high bending resistance of the composite slabs and increases the slab\' s s ductility. Two experimental programmes were carried out: a small-scale test programme – to study the resistance provided by the reinforcing system in detail – and a full-scale test programme to test simply supported and continuous composite slabs – to assess the efficacy of the proposed reinforcing system on the global behaviour of the slabs. Based on the results of the small-scale tests, an equation to predict the resistance provided by the proposed reinforcing system was established. The present study concludes that the resistance and the ductility of composite slabs using the reinforcing system proposed here are significantly increased.

Tillage boundary detection based on RGB imagery classification for an autonomous tractor

In this study, a deep learning-based tillage boundary detection method for autonomous tillage by a tractor was developed, which consisted of image cropping, object classification, area segmentation, and boundary detection methods. Full HD (1920 × 1080) images were obtained using a RGB camera installed on the hood of a tractor and were cropped to 112 × 112 size images to generate a dataset for training the classification model. The classification model was constructed based on convolutional neural networks, and the path boundary was detected using a probability map, which was generated by the integration of softmax outputs. The results show that the F1-score of the classification was approximately 0.91, and it had a similar performance as the deep learning-based classification task in the agriculture field. The path boundary was determined with edge detection and the Hough transform, and it was compared to the actual path boundary. The average lateral error was approximately 11.4 cm, and the average angle error was approximately 8.9o. The proposed technique can perform as well as other approaches; however, it only needs low cost memory to execute the process unlike other deep learning-based approaches. It is possible that an autonomous farm robot can be easily developed with this proposed technique using a simple hardware configuration.

Plant epigenetics: From genomes to epigenomes

Epigenetics is the study of heritable changes in gene expression that occur without a change in the DNA sequence. In recent years, this field has attracted increasing attention as more epigenetic mechanisms affecting gene activity are being discovered. Such processes involve a complex interplay between DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs, notably small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and micro RNAs (miRNAs). Epigenetic regulation is not only important for generating differentiated cell types during plant development, but also in maintaining the stability and integrity of their respective gene expression profiles. Although epigenetic processes are essential for normal development, they can become misdirected which leads to abnormal phenotypes and diseases, especially cancer. Sensing environmental changes and initiating a quick, reversible and appropriate response in terms of modified gene expression is of paramount importance for plants which are sessile autotrophs. Although epigenetic mechanisms help to protect plant cells from the activity of parasitic sequences such as transposable elements, this defense can complicate the genetic engineering process through transcriptional gene silencing. Epigenetic phenomena have economic relevance in the case of somaclonal variation: a genetic and phenotypic variation among clonally propagated plants from a single donor genotype. The success of sequencing projects on model plants has created widespread interest in exploring the epigenome in order to elucidate how plant cell decipher and execute the information stored and encoded in the genome. New high-throughput techniques are making it easier to map DNA methylation patterns on a large scale and results have already provided surprises.

Distributed execution of bioinformatics tools on Apache Spark with ADAM and Cannoli

Distributed execution of bioinformatics tools on Apache Spark with ADAM and Cannoli

There’s Probably a Blackout in Your Television Future: Tracking New Carriage Negotiation Strategies Between Video Content Programmers and Distributors

Video programmers and the satellite and cable operators who distribute theircontent execute contracts for the mutually profitable offering of services toconsumers. However, when programmers and distributors fail to reach closure onnew terms and conditions before the end date of an existing agreement, serviceinterruptions (“blackouts”) occur. Video consumers resent having to pay sizablemonthly subscriptions for content they temporarily cannot view, and bothprogrammers and distributors risk financial injury.Recognizing the mutual harm to all parties, video programmers and so-calledMultichannel Video Programming Distributors (“MVPDs”) usually limit thefrequency and duration of blackouts. Heretofore, MVPDs have been able to pass onto subscribers higher programming costs through increased monthly rates withoutsignificant declines in subscribership. However, the marketplace for videoprogramming has experienced significant change in recent years, calling intoquestion the continuing ability of MVPDs to raise rates annually at percentages wellabove measures of general inflation. Additionally, MVPDs have experiencedunprecedented declines in subscribership and encountered consumer resentment athaving to pay rates, often in excess of $100 monthly, for programming tierscontaining dozens of channels, many of which few subscribers have an interest inviewing.Through cord cutting and cord shaving, increasing numbers of video consumershave abandoned an MVPD subscription or downgraded to a less expensive servicetier to incur lower monthly rates. Video consumers also have shown greater interestin so-called nonlinear content, available as downloadable files and streaming ondemand from new online services, such as Amazon Prime, Hulu, and Netflix, in lieu of conventional live, linear content transmitted by television broadcasters andMVPDs. The marketplace success of nonlinear video content providersdemonstrates the growing willingness of consumers to use broadband networks forover-the-top (“OTT”) access to alternative and competitive sources.This Article identifies significant changes in the video marketplace that willtrigger more frequent and longer blackouts. The Article will explain howmarketplace changes impact the three major sources of video content that MVPDsand broadband networks deliver: (1) broadcast television channels; (2) video contenttargeted for MVPD subscribers, such as that on CNN, ESPN, and HBO; and (3)video, offered on both a linear and nonlinear basis, by new OTT ventures.For broadcast television, this Article shows how current marketplace conditionschallenge the ongoing viability of a legislatively crafted compromise that accordsbroadcasters the option of electing mandatory carriage of their signal by MVPDs (the“must-carry” requirement) in lieu of contractual “retransmission consent”negotiations. Broadcasters secure guaranteed carriage via MVPDs, and MVPDsbenefit by the conferral of a low-cost copyright license to use broadcasters’ content.For competing nonbroadcast video content, MVPDs and the manufacturers ofdevices, such as Roku, which transfer broadband video content to television sets viabroadband networks, negotiate both copyright licenses and delivery rights directlywith video programmers. This group also faces market volatility due to changes inconsumer preferences and the growing array of video content options available.The Article seeks to answer whether video programmers or MVPDs haveoverestimated their own negotiating leverage and, in turn, their ability to securefavorable contractual terms and conditions. Broadcasters historically appear to havegreater leverage, because they have exclusive control over live, “must-see,” linearcontent, such as sporting events. This advantage has motivated most broadcasters toeschew the must-carry option and elect retransmission consent negotiations. TheArticle suggests that a significant increase in blackouts has resulted from reducedopportunities for MVPDs to raise subscription rates without triggering substantialincreases in subscriber migration to other broadband-delivered program options.The Article notes that vertically and horizontally integrated MVPDs, such asAT&T and Comcast, are better situated to tolerate more frequent and lengthyblackouts. These companies can offset the adverse financial impact of MVPDsubscriber churn with blackout-free alternatives, increased subscribership of theirbroadband services and unregulated bundling of services and content for subscriberswilling to upgrade and pay a higher monthly fee. The Article closely examines arecent antitrust enforcement case that approved AT&T’s acquisition of Time Warner,with an eye toward determining whether reviewing courts understood shiftingmarketplace conditions that affect the likelihood for more and longer blackouts.The Article concludes that in the AT&T case, both the district and appellate courtswoefully underappreciated the ability of this widely diversified venture to trigger andtolerate more blackouts in its capacity as an MVPD and broadband access provider,separate and apart from its capacity as the new owner of Time Warner’s “must-see”CNN and HBO content. The courts concluded that AT&T, having largely abandonedits leverage over access to the Time Warner video content, lacked the ability to trigger blackouts. The courts emphasized the long-term carriage agreements TimeWarner had previously negotiated with unaffiliated MVPDs and AT&T’s offer tomaintain content access during arbitration of disputes occurring for seven years aftermerger approval. The courts failed to recognize the significant harm AT&T, in itscapacity as a major national MVPD, could inflict on competition and consumers byincreasing its use of blackouts for negotiating leverage.

Continuous Adjustments and the Reality Test in Managing Complex Projects

The state-of-the-art in the practice of probabilistic network planning for complex construction projects PERT (Program Evaluation Review Technique) is evaluated along the lines of thought of the reality test that was introduced in the workshop “Error in the Sciences”, Lorentz Center, Leiden University, 2011. The conclusion is that the application of the PERT-methodology during project execution can be improved by: including in the planning software the actual durations of the activities as soon as these are finished; monitoring progress by keeping the probability of timely completion just over 50%; and adopting risk ranking for prioritising managerial attention.

The neural basis of hazard perception differences between novice and experienced drivers - An fMRI study.

The neural mechanisms underlying hazard perception are poorly understood as to how experience leads to better driving skills. In this study we used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine experience-related changes in brain activation during hazard perception task between novice and aged drivers. Additionally, region of interest (ROI) and seed-to-voxel analyses were conducted to examine experience-related functional connectivity changes during visual attention and saliency networks between novice (n=15, age 22.13 ± 3.38 years years) and experienced (n=16, age 41.44 ± 5.83 years) drivers. Experienced drivers had significantly lower hazard perception reaction time (1.32 ± 1.09 s) and miss rates (11.42 ± 8.36 %) compared to the novice (3.58 ± 1.45 s and 39.67 ± 15.72 %, respectively). Blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) activation increased in occipital, parietal and frontal areas when executing hazard perception task in both groups. In general, during the task execution, experienced drivers showed greater activation in the occipital lobe, supramarginal gyrus (SMG), right anterior insular cortex (AIC), anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and cerebellar regions compared to the novice drivers indicating more efficient visual attention and decision-making process during hazard perception task. Seed based functional analyses during the hazard perception task revealed greater connectivity between the ACC and the entire salience network (visual attention network) in the experienced group. Additionally, ACC had higher functional connectivity with the right frontal eye field (FEF), bilateral intraparietal sulcus (IPS) and lateral occipital areas in the experienced group. Our results suggest that better hazard perception in the experienced drivers is due to increase in the activation of executive attention regions and higher functional connectivity between bilateral occipital cortices and salience network. In conclusion, better hazard perception is highly dependent on emotional awareness, perception of motion velocity, spatial representation of the environment and executing control.

A robust execution scheme for Ethereum blockchain application services

A robust execution scheme for Ethereum blockchain application services

REKAYASA PINTU GESER OTOMATIS DENGAN MENGGUNAKAN SENSOR PASSIVE INFRA RED (PIR)

Along with the rapid development of the times, in everyday life in the field of technology. This has encouraged humans to create and innovate in the field of technology to create a tool that can facilitate human activities. The door is something that is insulated inside the house and outside the home. The door in general as access into and out of the house or outside the home. Generally the door is opened manually by sliding because opening and closing the door does not take up much space for the mechanism of opening and closing the door so that most doors are opened with a manual mechanism. Current technological developments have also affected the door open and close system so that the door can be opened and closed automatically by using the Passive Infra Red Sensor (PIR).This simulation tool consists of a DC motor controller circuit and a sensor that is regulated by a microcontroller system with the input sensor. In a DC motor controller circuit, the direction of rotation and speed is regulated by the motor driver. As for the sensor circuit, it is used as a motion detector. For the microcontroller as a controller, selected from the type of Arduino Uno with Arduino programming. In the process of control, the sliding door will move to open and close the door either or not move according to PIR sensor input. The control system that is designed here only uses two commands at regular intervals in a single program execution, both the calling and the intended purpose of the user.

Islamophobia dan Tindakan terhadap Minoritas Muslim oleh Pemerintah dan Kelompok 969 di Myanmar Tahun 2012-2016

ABSTRACT Islamophobia has become a global phenomenon since 9/11. It is not only happened in the West but spread around the world following the War on Terror policy. This article explains the influences of Islamophobia upon the rise of Buddhist Nationalism in Myanmar with its insecurity towards Moslem minorities within the country. As a rational response against Islamophobia, a number Buddhist extremists, such as 969, execute violent attacks towards Moslem minorities especially Moslem Rohingya. Patron-client relationship between the Government and Buddhist community make the violence even worse. In the end, Islamophobia and the rise of Buddhist Nationalism in Myanmar cause a prejudice, violence, discrimination, and exclusion towards all Muslim Minorities within the country. Keywords: islamophobia, the rise of Buddhist nationalism, patron-client, prejudice, exclusion, discrimination, violence, Myanmar, moslem minorities

IPC-based Dynamic SM management on GPGPU for Executing AES Algorithm

IPC-based Dynamic SM management on GPGPU for Executing AES Algorithm

A Research on the Formulation and Execution of the 2nd Medium- and Long-Term Development Plan for Public Libraries in Cheongju City

A Research on the Formulation and Execution of the 2nd Medium- and Long-Term Development Plan for Public Libraries in Cheongju City

Detecting Child Autism Using Classification Techniques.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a brain development disorder that restricts a person's communication abilities and social interaction capabilities from natural growth. In this paper, we have applied various supervised classification techniques to detect the presence of child autism. Our findings show that the Sequential Minimal Optimization (SMO) classifier performs best to detect ASD cases with the highest accuracy and minimum execution time and error rate. We also identify the most dominant features in dectecting child autism.

Geotechnical study of a landslide reactivation in clay soils (central Piedmont, NW Italy).

In March 2015, exceptional meteoric events occurred in southern Piedmont caused a remarkable rise of the rivers water level of the Tanaro Basin with flooding and many landslides. The engineering geological study reported here, concerns a triggering of a previous landslide occurred in 1982 in the hills, shaped in the marine sedimentary succession (Lugagnano Clay, lower Pliocene) of the southern Asti Reliefs, near San Martino Alfieri village. Detailed geological, morphological and topographic surveys of this landslide, with the aim to recognize the morphological features linked to the previous landslide and those connected to the triggering of it, have been carried out. The reactivation of the landslide was highlighted by the presence of a main scarp with minor escarpments and tracks. The mechanism activation of the main landslide is due to a rotational movement. To define the engineering geological model of the landslide body, standard cone penetration tests. rotary drilling borings with S.P.T. and geotechnical laboratory tests were performed. Through surveys, both main slip surface and deep-water seepage have been detected. In details, failure mechanism in OC clays was caused by: a) rapid increase in the bulk density or volume weight during rainfall events; b) rise of interstitial pressures along the sliding surface with reduction of normal stress and consequent reduction of the shear strength along this surface (progressive failure); c) reduction of cohesion and friction angle, due to clay softening. The results of the study have highlighted the need, as a primary factor of slopes consolidation, to install sub-horizontal drainage pipes in order both to avoid subsoil imbibition and to control the changes of interstitial pressure. The consolidation works focused on the construction of containment structures with deep consolidation and the execution of drainage works in the landslide area.

Construction and application of cluster nursing measures for urinary retention after gynecological tumor radical operation

Objective To develop cluster nursing measures for urinary retention after gynecological tumor radical operation, and explore the prevention methods of urinary retention after gynecological tumor radical operation. Methods We established a gynecological rehabilitation nursing team, retrieved domestic and foreign literature, conducted a Meta-analysis on the key measures to effectively treat urinary retention, and designed and developed a set of cluster nursing measures for urinary retention after radical gynecological tumor surgery. A controlled trail was conducted in this study. Totally 54 patients treated in the gynecological ward of the First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University from January 2016 to June 2017 were selected as the control group, while another 52 patients treated from July 2017 to August 2018 were selected as the experimental group. Patients in the control group received routine gynecological nursing, while patients in the experimental group received cluster nursing based on routine nursing. Data were collected using an observation record form, which included observations of patients' practice and limb mobility effects. The execution time and frequency of urinary interruption training, pelvic floor muscle function training, ankle pump exercise and thoraco-abdominal gymnastics, and the reasons for not using them, drinking test at extubation and intermittent clean self catheterization (CISC) . Data were processed and analyzed using SPSS 21.0. Results One out of the 52 patients in the experimental group had urinary retention, accounting for an incidence rate of 1.92%, delayed extubation occurred in 2 cases, with a total complication rate of 5.77% (3/52) ; while 5 out of the 54 patients in the control group had urinary retention, accounting for an incidence rate of 9.26%, delayed extubation occurred in 6 cases, with a total complication rate of 20.37% (11/54) . There was a statistically significant difference in the incidence of complications between the two groups (P<0.05) . Conclusions The cluster nursing measures are a combination of multiple effective measures, and the clinical application results have shown that they can effective prevent the occurrence of urinary retention after gynecological tumor radical surgery. Key words: Gynecological oncology; Urinary retention; Cluster nursing; Meta-analysis

A Study on Medical Students Perceptions and Opinions of Faculty Power Point Presentations Used During Lecture

Background: As the time advances, many faculty members are using different varieties of power point presentations or other methods of teaching to the students. The main aim of the study to collect the perceptions and opinions of the students to further improvement plans execution in the institute. Objectives: 1. To find the perceptions and opinions of medical students about faculty power point presentations during lecture. Materials and Methods: The present institutional based cross sectional study was conducted at Alluri Sita Ramaraju Academy of Medical Sciences, Eluru, Andhra Pradesh, during the period from June 2016 to July A total of 125 students were selected by simple random method. Study importance, observation of power point contents of clinical, pre and paramedical teaching departments faculty presentations observed by the students for the last one month. Results were analysed and necessary statistical tests like proportions and chi square tests were applied. Results: In pre and para clinical Departments, out of 125 respondents, 96/125 (76.8%) were given response as audio visual aids (A/V) were clear as agreed. About 14/125 (11.2%) were given response as A/V aids were clear as disagreed and 12% were given response as average in pre and para clinical teaching department presentations. In clinical departments, 12.8% (16/125) were given response as average and remaining 20% (25/125) were given response as disagree for the content of A/V aids were clear. Only 42.4% of faculty used combination T/L method in addition to power point presentations. Conclusions: The preference of students for these teaching aids may vary from subject to subject and also influenced by the commonest mode of teaching aid used in the department. very less proportion of the students opined that lecture delivered as interesting as strongly agree. In addition, there may be need of training of teachers pertaining to use of these A-V aids and newer technologies for better understanding .