Tailor-made Approach Research Articles

Practical regular expression matching free of scalability and performance barriers

Regular expressions (regexes) provide rich expressiveness to specify the signatures of intrusions and are widely used in contemporary network security systems for signature-based intrusion detection. To perform very fast regex matching, deterministic finite automata (DFA) has been the first choice because its time complexity is constant O(1). Unfortunately, DFA often suffers the well known state explosion problem and, consequently, tends to require prohibitive memory overhead in practical applications. To address the problem, a wide variety of DFA compression techniques have been proposed; however, few can keep up with the ever increasing network traffic bandwidth and regex set complexity. This paper proposes that the DFA problem is rooted in regexes (rather than in DFA), i.e., semantic overlapping of regexes, and accordingly presents a complete algorithmic solution PaCC (Partition, Compression, and Combination), that can transform the given large-scale set of complex regexes into a compact and fast matching engine using DFA as its core. PaCC fundamentally defuses state explosion for DFA by partitioning complex regexes into overlapping-free segments. By exploiting the massive repetitiveness among the resulting segments, PaCC can further deflate corresponding DFA in terms of the number of states. Moreover, on the basis of the characteristics of these segments, PaCC takes a tailor-made compression approach and reduces over 96% of the state transitions for the corresponding DFA. In the final matching engine, the combination of DFA and a small relation mapping table, built from segments and their syntagmatic relations, respectively, guarantees high performance and semantic equivalence. Experimental evaluation shows that PaCC produces succinct matching engines with memory usage proportional to the size of the real-world Snort and Bro regex sets, with speeds of up to 1.7Gbps per core on a HP Z220 SFF workstation with a 3.40GHz Intel Core i7-3770.

Social work with youth in social withdrawal: in-home and beyond-home intervention modalities

This article discusses the characteristics and the process of in-home and beyond-home social work intervention with young people suffering from social withdrawal in the form of chronic self-seclusion at home. These young people are characterized by their socially avoidant behaviour and are deprived of the enjoyment of legitimate social status as a student, worker or trainee. As a way of confronting this problem, ‘start where the client is’ – an age-old social work intervention principle – can be read in a literal sense, i.e. taking home as a secure place for rapport-building and initial intervention with the clients to pave the way for further intervention beyond the home setting, both online and offline. Drawing on qualitative interviews with youth clients and social workers, it is argued that adopting a flexible, informal and tailor-made approach to working with youth in silent and invisible disengagement from the rest of society has to take into consideration spatial, relational and organizational dimensions of intervention modalities and possibilities if the goal of youth reengagement is to be achieved.

Cataract Surgery in Patients with Fuchs' Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy: When to Consider a Triple Procedure

To ascertain preoperative and intraoperative factors that predict the need for endothelial keratoplasty (EK) in patients with Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) undergoing cataract surgery.Prospective, observational cohort study.Eighty-nine patients (89 eyes) with FECD who require cataract surgery.One month before cataract surgery, we assessed best-corrected visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, straylight, keratometry, ultrasonic pachymetry, intraocular pressure, 7 corneal features of FECD and cataract density at slit-lamp examination, and corneal backscatter using in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM; Confoscan 4, NIDEK Technologies, Padova, Italy). After surgery, measurements were repeated at 1, 2, and 12 months. We used stepwise binary logistic regression analysis to evaluate 30 preoperative and 5 intraoperative parameters for their ability to predict the postoperative need for EK. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves of the predictive factors were used to identify their optimal cutoff points.Central corneal thickness (CCT) and backscatter at the basal epithelial cell layer (EV).After cataract surgery, 35 (39%) of 89 eyes underwent EK to restore vision. Of all preoperative and intraoperative parameters, only CCT and EV were identified as significant factors, predictive of the need for EK. The area under the ROC curve of EV was significantly higher than that of CCT (P = 0.003), whereas a combination of both factors in a linear discriminant function did not improve the predictive value (P = 0.66). As optimal cutoff points, we chose 1894 scatter units for EV and 630 μm for CCT. Both cutoff points correspond with a specificity of 94% and represent sensitivity of 63% for EV and 40% for CCT.Backscatter at the basal epithelial cell layer measured by IVCM predicts the need for EK after cataract surgery in patients with FECD. As an indicator for the corneal hydration state, the EV improves patient selection for combined cataract surgery and EK. In deciding whether to perform a triple procedure, CCT remains a less effective, but adequate, alternative. Regardless of the predictive factor used, a tailor-made approach is recommended accounting for individuals' expectations.

Programmable LDEP technology to fabricate versatile master molds for PDMS continuous-flow microfluidic applications

This paper presents an innovative versatile method aiming at rapid fabrication of a master for polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) molding. This technology is relying on liquid dielectrophoresis electromechanical microfluidic transduction for programmable ultraviolet (UV) glue manipulation. It enables formation of the master in a tailor-made approach, avoiding the need of micromachined structures unlike in conventional methods. The principle is simple: UV glue, while in liquid phase, is actuated onto an array of electrodes patterned on a Si substrate and cured afterward by UV exposure. The silicon chip and the glue microstructures defined atop of it then play the role of a master for PDMS molding. The glue microstructures’ shape is hemispherical which is of high interest for many microfluidic applications. This concept is assessed and validated with two different PDMS chip replica designs, both of them illustrating representative applications in continuous microfluidic: a T-junction design for inflow droplet generation and a “Quake” type valve. Lastly, this protocol has shown to be recyclable since the UV glue microstructures once formed can be easily removed by immersion in an acetone bath, such as the chip is reset and can be reprogrammed afterward to build another glue channels geometry.

LPV Identification of Wind Turbine Rotor Vibrational Dynamics Using Periodic Disturbance Basis Functions

This brief presents an identification experiment performed on the coupled dynamics of the edgewise bending vibrations of the rotor blades and the in-plane motion of the drivetrain of three-bladed wind turbines. These dynamics vary with rotor speed, and are subject to periodic wind flow disturbances. This brief demonstrates that this time-varying behavior can be captured in a linear parameter-varying (LPV) model with the rotor speed as the scheduling signal, and with additional sinusoidal inputs that are used as basis functions for the periodic wind flow disturbances. By including these inputs, the predictor-based LPV subspace identification approach (LPV PBSIDopt) was tailored for wind turbine applications. Using this tailor-made approach, the LPV model is identified from data measured with the three-bladed Controls Advanced Research Turbine (CART3) at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's National Wind Technology Center.

Heavy Atom Effect Driven Organic Phosphors and Their Luminescent Lanthanide Metal-Organic Frameworks.

This investigation demonstrates the heavy atom effect (HAE) concept in developing new organic phosphors and engineering the excited-state energy levels in lanthanide metal ion suprastructures. This was accomplished by coupling two independent energy-transfer photophysical processes: enhancing the electronic population in the excited triplet state through intersystem crossing (ISC) and transferring the triplet energy to the excited state of the lanthanide ions. A new series of iodo-substituted carboxylic ligands were synthesised through a tailor-made approach and complexes with Eu3+ ions to give one- and three-dimensional metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). Single-crystal structures of the europium complexes revealed the formation of a 1D linear coordination polymer for the monocarboxylate ligand and 3D MOFs for the dicarboxylate ligand. The HAE quenches the S1 →S0 transition (self-fluorescence) in these ligands and promotes S1 →T processes for building enhanced excited triplet electronic states. Single-crystal structures of iodo-substituted complexes proved that the ligand molecules were held together by strong π stacking. The π stack restricted vibration relaxation and, as a result, these ligands turned into white or yellowish solid-state organic phosphors. In Eu3+ ion complexes, the solid-state phosphorescence of the ligands was completely quenched and the triplet excitation energy was channelled into ligand-to-metal energy transfer. Thus, the current approach opens up a new strategy for designing luminescent MOFs based on the HAE principle by controlling the excited-state energy levels.

Primary hyperoxaluria type 1: practical and ethical issues

Primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1) is a rare inborn error of glyoxylate metabolism of autosomal recessive inheritance, leading to progressive systemic oxalate storage (named 'oxalosis') with a high rate of morbidity and mortality, as well as an unacceptable quality of life for most patients. The adverse outcome, however, is partly due to issues that can be overcome. First, the diagnosis of PH is often delayed due to a general lack of knowledge of the disease among physicians. This accounts specifically for patients with pyridoxine sensitive PH, a group that is paradoxically most easy to treat. Second, lack of adherence to a strict conduction of conservative treatment and optimal urological management may enhance an adverse outcome of the disease. Third, specific techniques to establish PH1 and specific therapies are currently often not available in several low-resources countries with a high prevalence of PH. The management of patients with advanced disease is extremely difficult and warrants a tailor-made approach in most cases. Comprehensive programs for education of local physicians, installation of national centers of expertise, European support of low-resources countries for the management of PH patients and intensified international collaboration on the management of current patients, as well as on conduction of clinical studies, may further improve outcome of PH.

Material efficiency: from top-down steering to tailor-made governance

Material efficiency is one of the major challenges facing our society in the twenty-first century. Research can help to understand how we can make the transition towards a material-efficient society. This study focuses on the role of the government in such transition processes. Use is made of literature in the field of public administration and innovation literature, particularly transition management. On the basis of three Dutch examples (plastics, e-waste and bio-energy), the complex system change towards a material-efficient society will be reflected upon. These case studies underline the need for a tailor-made governance approach instead of a top-down government approach to enhance material efficiency in practice. The role of the government is not restricted to formulating policies and then leaving it up to other actors to implement these policies. Instead, it is a continuous interplay between the different actors during the whole implementation process. As such, the government's role is to steer the development in the desired direction and orchestrate the process from beginning to end. In order to govern with a better compass, scientifically underpinned guiding principles and indicators are needed. This is a challenge for researchers both in public administration and in transition management.

Systemic Spatial Decision Support Systems: An integrated, computer‐aided tool for biodiversity conservation

In the last decades, biodiversity is facing many threats related to the expansion and development of human populations. With the aim of mainstreaming conservation together with sustainable development, several conflicting necessities related to the economic, social, environmental and institutional objectives of the society have to be balanced within complex decision-making contexts. Conventional approaches hardly cope with these demands, and therefore conceptual models are required for understanding ecosystems form and functions and how human activities impact on them. International organisations committed to conservation and development initiatives have recognised the importance and effectiveness of an integrated, participative and adaptive approach to ecosystem management. In this perspective, computerised tools to facilitate an overall view and support informed and aware decisions are required. The Systemic Spatial Decision Support System, here presented, is a comprehensive tool for a holistic, multi-scale, spatially explicit and tailor-made approach to such complex decisional environments. The core methodology builds upon several years of experience in international conservation and development projects supported by the Italian Development Cooperation, and is complemented by an ad hoc, easily customisable software shell. Its characteristics provide an ideal framework for an effective administration of biodiversity conservation initiatives, as well as for training and consolidating expert knowledge.

Tailor-made right ventricular imaging

Right ventricular (RV) performance has a major role in the clinical status and prognosis of patients with congenital heart disease, especially in patients with a systemic right ventricle such as patients with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (TGA) or with TGA corrected by a Mustard or Senning operation. Quantification of RV function is challenging for several reasons. Especially in echocardiography, the anterior position of the right ventricle in the chest causes near-field artifacts, which may preclude visualisation of the RV apex. Also, the complex morphology of the right ventricle makes an estimation of volumes based on two-dimensional (2D) measurements unreliable. Thirdly, exact delineation of the thin and highly trabecularised RV wall is difficult. Several modalities are available to assess RV function, of which cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) and echocardiography are most frequently used in clinical practice. CMR is considered the standard of reference, yet CMR is more costly and less widely available than echocardiography. RV volume measurements by 2D echocardiography correlate poorly with CMR [1]. Strain and strain-rate imaging provides an accurate, yet indirect, assessment of RV myocardial performance [2]. Three-dimensional echocardiography provides more accurate RV volume measurements than 2D echocardiography, yet compared with CMR it consistently underestimates RV volume [3–5]. This is probably due to incomplete depiction of the right ventricle. Also, in 3D echocardiography image quality was insufficient in approximately one fourth of patients [3–5]. CMR, on the other hand, is contraindicated in patients with a defibrillator or an MRI-unsafe pacemaker. Therefore, in the present issue, Winter and colleagues studied whether CT may be an alternative to CMR for the determination of RV volumes and function in TGA patients with a contraindication to CMR [6]. They studied 35 TGA patients; of these patients 20 underwent CMR to measure RV volumes and ejection fraction. In the remaining 15 patients, in whom CMR was contraindicated due to the presence of a pacemaker or defibrillator, RV volumes and ejection fraction were determined by CT. The authors found that the intra- and interobserver variability of RV volumes and ejection fraction measured with CT were higher compared with those with CMR. However, except for RV stroke volume these differences in variability were not statistically significant. Although the current study provides no direct intra-patient comparison between CMR and CT, previous studies demonstrated adequate correlation of RV volumes and function measured with 64-slice CT and those with CMR [7]. However, the more limited temporal resolution of 16-slice CT resulted in a systemic over-estimation of RV end-systolic volume [8]. As also addressed by Winters et al., CT is associated with radiation and iodine contrast material. The radiation dose of 14 mSv in the current study is substantial, especially for relatively young patients who are likely to receive additional examinations and treatments associated with radiation. In a 20-year-old subject, a radiation dose of 14 mSv confers an approximately 0.2 % (men) to 0.5 % (women) lifetime attributable risk of cancer [9]. The risk of cancer associated with a radiation dose of 14 mSv is 1.8 (men) to 3.2 (women) times higher for a 20-year-old subject compared with a 60-year-old subject of the same sex [9]. As discussed in more detail by Winters et al., presumed pacemaker- and defibrillator-related contraindications are predominantly theoretical and further research addressing CMR compatibility is warranted. MRI-safe pacemakers may prove valuable in patients with congenital heart disease. However, leads in the right ventricle may yield substantial artifacts in both CT and MRI, although current studies do not report preclusion of accurate RV measurements with CT in patients with a pacemaker. Obviously, for those patients depending on CT for RV imaging, strategies to reduce radiation dose are warranted. Dose-modulation protocols, in which tube current is reduced during less essential phases of the cardiac cycle, may reduce the radiation dose as has been demonstrated for retrospectively gated CT coronary angiography. Also, technical advances in newer generation CT scanners, such as more detector rows to enable scanning of the entire heart within one gantry rotation and improved detector sensitivity, may lead to a further reduction in radiation dose. Also, the amount of iodine contrast may be reduced with dual-energy scanners, as was recently shown for CT pulmonary angiography [10]. On the positive side, CT angiography can visualise the pulmonary arteries and aorta more accurately than CMR, which may prove valuable in clinical decision making in TGA patients. As supported by the study by Winters et al., a tailor-made approach for the individual patient is essential. Currently, in our opinion, CMR and 3D echocardiography remain the modalities of choice for RV imaging. However, in patients with contraindications to CMR and poor echocardiographic image quality, CT seems a valid alternative. Future technological advances may reduce the health risks associated with CT, while CT angiography provides potentially valuable additional information.

Tailor-made scenario planning for local adaptation to climate change

This paper presents a tailor-made scenario approach for climate change adaptation planning, which emphasises involvement of stakeholders in the development of socioeconomic scenarios and relates to the planning situation and interest of the planning entity. The method was developed and tested in case studies in three different sectors in Sweden (the health sector, the tourism sector and water resource management). The result of the case studies is that the tailor-made scenario approach facilitated the engagement of the local planning body in climate change adaptation and helped them to analyse consequences and possible solutions in a structured way. However, the scenarios that emerged mainly focused on socioeconomic drivers on which the planning body had a large impact or drivers that can be influenced through cooperation with other actors at the local or regional level. While this result underlines the need for local stakeholder involvement in scenario processes, it also indicates a local bias that could be remedied by a stronger representation of national and global perspectives in the scenario development process. Finally, we discuss how a “bottom-up” approach could be combined with a “consistency” approach, which points towards a possible way forward to a hybrid methodology that is compatible with the scenario framework currently being developed in connection to the fifth assessment report of the IPCC.

A Tailor-Made Approach to Fiscal Supervision: An Evaluation of Horizontal Monitoring

In 2011, the Netherlands State Secretary for Finance established an independent Committee to evaluate the “horizontal monitoring” programme of the Tax Administration. The Committee, of which the authors were members, analysed opportunities and risks, measured the results and success of horizontal monitoring and made recommendations for future development.

Polymers from Amino acids: Development of Dual Ester-Urethane Melt Condensation Approach and Mechanistic Aspects

A new dual ester-urethane melt condensation methodology for biological monomers-amino acids was developed to synthesize new classes of thermoplastic polymers under eco-friendly and solvent-free polymerization approach. Naturally abundant L-amino acids were converted into dual functional ester-urethane monomers by tailor-made synthetic approach. Direct polycondensation of these amino acid monomers with commercial diols under melt condition produced high molecular weight poly(ester-urethane)s. The occurrence of the dual ester-urethane process and the structure of the new poly(ester-urethane)s were confirmed by (1)H and (13)C NMR. The new dual ester-urethane condensation approach was demonstrated for variety of amino acids: glycine, β-alanine, L-alanine, L-leucine, L-valine, and L-phenylalanine. MALDI-TOF-MS end group analysis confirmed that the amino acid monomers were thermally stable under the melt polymerization condition. The mechanism of melt process and the kinetics of the polycondensation were studied by model reactions and it was found that the amino acid monomer was very special in the sense that their ester and urethane functionality could be selectively reacted by polymerization temperature or catalyst. The new polymers were self-organized as β-sheet in aqueous or organic solvents and their thermal properties such as glass transition temperature and crystallinity could be readily varied using different l-amino acid monomers or diols in the feed. Thus, the current investigation opens up new platform of research activates for making thermally stable and renewable engineering thermoplastics from natural resource amino acids.

Editorial [Hot Topic: Tailor-Made Solutions and Multidirectional Approach in the Combat of Degenerative Pathologies (Executive Guest Editor: Anna Karewicz)

Editorial [Hot Topic: Tailor-Made Solutions and Multidirectional Approach in the Combat of Degenerative Pathologies (Executive Guest Editor: Anna Karewicz)

Current and Future Anatomical and Functional Imaging Approaches to Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma

After establishing a biochemical diagnosis, pheochromocytomas and extra-adrenal paragangliomas (PPGLs) can be localized using different anatomical and functional imaging modalities. These include computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) using 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine or 111In-DTPA-pentetreotide, and positron emission tomography (PET) using 6-[18F]-fluorodopamine (18F-FDA), 6-[18F]-fluoro-l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (18F-DOPA), and 2-[18F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose. We review the currently available data on the performance of anatomical imaging, SPECT, and PET for the detection of (metastatic) PPGL as well as parasympathetic head and neck paragangliomas. We show that there appears to be no 'gold-standard' imaging technique for all patients with (suspected) PPGL. A tailor-made approach is warranted, guided by clinical, biochemical, and genetic characteristics. In the current era of a growing number of PET tracers, PPGL imaging has moved beyond tumor localization towards functional characterization of tumors.

Memory training interventions require a tailor-made approach: Commentary on McDaniel and Bugg

McDaniel and Bugg (2012) discuss whether memory training nterventions might have value for older adults’ everyday memry functioning and how this might be improved. The starting oint of their argument is that there is little evidence showing that emory training produces transfer in general or leads to benefits n non-trained everyday memory challenges in particular. They rgue that most available data counter a ‘generalist assumption’ hich assumes that training a specific cognitive faculty (e.g., longerm memory) will improve performance in a wide range of lab nd everyday life tasks requiring this faculty. Instead of going this oute, in order to facilitate transfer to everyday life, McDaniel and ugg suggest to (a) focus on everyday memory challenges (such as rospective memory or face-name associations) and (b) explicitly rain for transfer by enabling older adults to (learn how to) adapt nd generalize the strategies they have acquired during training e.g., via training general strategies such as elaboration, varying raining material, giving homework, or providing metacognitive nowledge on how memory works). We want to applaud the authors of this target article for idenifying key issues in current memory training research and for uggesting several interesting ways that future research on and pplication of memory interventions certainly should and will folow. In our commentary, we will briefly describe some thoughts elated to two main steps of the target article’s rationale. First, e fully agree with the problem analysis: previous and current

Investment Obstacles in the Manufacturing Sector in FYR Macedonia: Do the Subsector Specifics Matter?

We provide clear insights into the key foreign direct investment obstacles for the manufacturing sector in FYR of Macedonia, an EU candidate country. The survey results, based on data for 79 manufacturing companies, revealed that the investors in this particular sector perceive the bureaucratic and administrative constraints, corruption and bribery, and the lack of law enforcement as three major investment obstacles. Furthermore, we found that the perception of the investment obstacles largely differ depending on the industry the companies operate in, the country of origin, and the export orientation. Therefore, we recommend a tailor-made approach in pursuing the national investment promotion policies and strategies.

Small bowel preservation for intestinal transplantation: a review

Intestinal transplantation has become the therapy of choice for patients with intestinal failure and life-threatening complications from total parenteral nutrition. Results, however, remain inferior as compared with other transplant types with the quality of the organ graft as the most important factor of outcome after transplantation. The intestine is extremely sensitive to ischemia. Unfortunately, a relatively long ischemic preservation period is inevitable. The current standard in organ preservation [cold storage (CS) with University of Wisconsin solution] was developed for kidney/liver preservation and is suboptimal for the intestinal graft despite good results for other organs. This review aimed at appraising the results from the use of previously applied and recently developed preservation solutions and techniques to identify key areas for improvement. As the studies available do not reveal the most effective method for intestinal preservation, an optimal strategy will result from a synergistic effect of different vital elements identified from a review of published material from the literature. A key factor is the composition of the solution using a low-viscosity solution to facilitate washout of blood, including amino acids to improve viability, impermeants and colloids to prevent edema, and buffer for pH-homeostasis. Optimizing conditions include a vascular flush before CS and luminal preservation. The most effective composition of the luminal solution and a practical, clinically applicable optimal technique are yet to reach finality. Short-duration oxygenated arterial and/or luminal perfusion have to be considered. Thus, a tailor-made approach to luminal preservation solution and technique need further investigation in transplant models and the human setting to develop the ultimate technique meeting the physiologic demands of the intestinal graft during preservation.

Reconstructing and assessing the evaluation logic of the Dutch Closed Criminal Cases Evaluation Commission: report of a meta-evaluation

In this paper, we offer an account of the meta-evaluation of a special administrative arrangement, the Dutch Closed Criminal Cases Evaluation Commission (Dutch acronym: CEAS). The CEAS is a provisional evaluation institution meant to investigate alleged missteps during criminal investigation and prosecution, which may have caused the conviction of an innocent person We developed a tailor-made approach to reconstruct the commission's ‘evaluation logic’; this is illustrated by reconstructing the activities of a selection committee and two investigative subcommittees of the CEAS. Subsequently, we applied a set of criteria to assess among others the timeliness, independence and transparency of the commission's work. We offer a number of conclusions and recommendations, particularly with regard to future (meta-)evaluation research.

Cáncer de recto: qué pacientes se benefician de la radioterapia

The prognosis of patients with rectal cancer has improved in recent years, particularly as regards the lower probability of local recurrence. These positive results are obtained through correct preoperative staging and an adequate surgical resection of the affected lesion, as well as a multidisciplinary therapeutic approach. Based on the available scientific evidence, our aim is to clarify the framework in which options for the right therapy can be taken, especially in relation to the preoperative staging and its limitations, with regards to radiotherapy and its indications. We also emphasize the need of a tailor-made approach for each case.