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Machine learning experiments with artificially generated big data from small immunotherapy datasets
Get PDFYesBig data and machine learning result in agile and
robust healthcare by expanding raw data into useful patterns
for data-enhanced decision support. The available datasets are
mostly small and unbalanced, resulting in non-optimal classification when the algorithms are implemented. In this study, five
novel machine learning experiments are conducted to address
the challenges of small datasets by expanding these into big
data and then utilising Random Forests. The experiments are
based on personalised adaptable strategies for both balanced
and unbalanced datasets. Multiple datasets from cryotherapy
and immunotherapy are considered, however, hereby only
immunotherapy is used. In the first experiment, artificially
generated data is presented by increasing the observations of
the dataset, each new data is four-time larger than the previous
one, resulting in better classification. In the second experiment,
the effect of volume on classification is considered based on
the number of attributes. The attributes of each new dataset
are built based on conditional probabilities. It did not make
any difference, in obtained classification, when the number of
attributes is increased to more than 879. In the third simulation
experiment, classes of data are classified manually by dividing
the data into a two-dimensional plane. This experiment is first
performed on small data and then on expanded big data: by
increasing observations, an accuracy of 73.68% is attained. In
the fourth experiment, the visualisation of the enlarged data did
not provide better insights. In the fifth experiment, the impact
of correlations among datasets’ attributes on classification
is observed, however, no improvements in performance are
achieved. The experiments generally improved performance
by comparing the classification results using the original and
artificial data
Multi-stage attack detection: emerging challenges for wireless networks
Get PDFYesMulti-stage attacks (MSAs) are among the most serious threats in cyberspace today. Criminals target big organisations and government critical infrastructures mainly for financial gain. These attacks are becoming more advanced and stealthier, and thus have capabilities to evade Intrusion Detection Systems (IDSs). As a result, the attack strategies used in the attack render IDSs ineffective, particularly because of new security challenges introduced by some of the key emerging technologies such as 5G wireless networks, cloud computing infrastructure and Internet of Things (IoT), Advanced persistent threats (APTs) and botnet attacks are examples of MSAs, these are serious threats on the Internet. This work analyses recent MSAs, outlines and reveals open issues, challenges and opportunities with existing detection methods
A miniaturized triple-band antenna based on square split ring for IoT applications
Get PDFYesThis article presents a miniaturized triple-band antenna for Internet of Things (IoT) applications. The miniaturization is achieved by using a split square ring resonator and half ring resonator. The antenna is fabricated on an FR4 substrate with dimensions of (33 × 22 × 1.6) mm3. The proposed antenna resonates at the frequencies 2.4 GHz, 3.7 GHz, and 5.8 GHz for WLAN and WiMax applications. The obtained −10 dB bandwidth for the three bands of the proposed antenna are 300 MHz, 360 MHz, and 900 MHz, respectively. The measured reflection coefficient values of the proposed antenna corresponding to each resonant frequency are equal to −14.772 dB, −20.971 dB, and −28.1755 dB, respectively. The measured gain values are 1.43 dBi, 0.89 dBi, and 1 dBi, respectively, at each resonant frequency. There is a good agreement between the measured and simulated results, and both show an omnidirectional radiation pattern at each of the antenna resonant frequencies that is suitable for IoT portable devices
How does digital finance affect industrial structure upgrading? Evidence from Chinese prefecture-level cities
Get PDFYesDigital finance is playing an increasingly prominent role in economic development. This paper examines the impact of digital finance on industrial structure upgrading based on panel data from 289 Chinese prefecture-level cities from 2011 to 2020. The paper adopts fixed effects, mediating effects, and spatial econometric models and the findings are as follows. First, digital finance development significantly boosts industrial structure upgrading in Chinese cities. The evidence remains valid after various robustness tests. Second, digital finance and industrial structure upgrading exhibit positive spatial spillover effects. Third, digital finance indirectly affects industrial structure upgrading through innovation, entrepreneurship and the structure of household consumption channels. Fourth, the influence of digital finance is more significant in cities with more developed economies, less financialization and lower income inequality. Finally, among the sub-indicators of digital finance, the breadth of coverage plays the most significant role, inspiring policymakers and financial institutions to speed up the digitization infrastructure in backward areas.This work was supported by the Natural Science Fund of Hunan Province (2022JJ40647)
Photocatalytic Affinity Membranes for The treatment of Dyes Contaminated Wastewater. Fabrication of the photocatalytic affinity membranes, using chemical and electrohydrodynamic processes; electrospinning, and electrospraying, for the efficient removal and degradation of the dyes that are present in the contaminated water
Get PDFElectrospinning and electrospraying are electrohydrodynamic processes used for the
fabrication of nano- and microfiber membranes and the deposition of particles on the
membrane. Despite the numerous research papers found in the literature on electrospun
polymers and their application in water treatment, not much is reported on the
functionalization of electrospun nano- or microfibers and the deposition of ceramic
nanoparticles on their surface by electrospraying. The use of these two processes may
increase the efficiency of membranes in removing contaminants. In the present
research, the processes of electrospinning and electrospraying are described and the
factors affecting electrospinning are investigated. All parameters affecting the
production of smooth NFs and NPs are discussed. A literature review of the recent
advances in electrospinning and electrospray applications, as well as the application
of NFs membranes in water treatment, has been described. This research has been
designed based on the knowledge gaps identified in the literature. Detailed
experiments were carried out on the preparation of PAN_P and Cs_P NFs membranes
by electrospinning technique, the NFs membranes were then functionalized with
different functional groups. The membranes were used for removal (Chapter 3) and
degradation (Chapters 4 and 5) of dyes synthetic solutions. In the case of degradation,
the membranes were electrosprayed with TiO2 NPs. All membranes were
characterized by standard spectroscopic, microscopic, surface analytical, and thermal methods. Adsorption of MB, RB, and ST from a synthetic aqueous solution on the
membranes PAN and EA-g-PAN NFs decreased in the order PAN<EA-g-PAN. The
adsorption isotherm for the dyes fitted well with the models of Langmuir and
Freundlich. The values of the correlation coefficient (r2) for Langmuir varied from
0.940 to 0.995 and for Freundlich from 0.941 to 0.998. The slightly increased values of the correlation coefficient in the case of Freundlich indicate that condensation
(physical adsorption) of dyes on the NFs membranes also occurred in addition to the
formation of monolayers.
PAN_P NFs membranes prepared by electrospinning were functionalized with DETA
to produce a functionalized PAN _F NFs membrane. TiO2 NPs synthesized in the
laboratory were anchored to the surface of the PAN_F NFs membrane by electrospray
to prepare PAN _Coa. A second PAN_Co was prepared by embedding TiO2 NPs into
the PAN_P NFs by electrospinning. A similar strategy was also used for the Cs and
TiO2 NPs system. The PAN_Coa NFs membrane was used for the degradation of MO
while the Cs_Coa NFs membrane was used for the degradation of MB. The higher
photocatalytic activity of PAN _Coa NFs membranes (92%, 20 ppm, and 99.5%, 10 ppm) compared to PAN_Co NFs membranes (41.64%) was due to the smaller band
gap, high surface roughness, and large surface area. Also, the higher photocatalytic
activity of the Cs_Coa NFs membrane (89%) compared to TiO2/Cs composite (Cs_Co)
NFs membranes (40%) was due to a balance between the band gap, high surface
roughness, and lower surface area. BET showed that the isotherms and hysteresis were
similar for all NFs membranes, and they were classified as isotherm type IV and
hysteresis H3 (IUPAC), corresponding to mesopores and slit-shaped pores
Kinship practices in Early Iron Age southeast Europe: genetic and isotopic analysis of burials from the Dolge njive barrow cemetery, Dolenjska, Slovenia
Get PDFYesDNA analysis demonstrates that all seven individuals buried in an Early Iron Age barrow at Dolge njive, southeast Slovenia, are close biological relatives. Although group composition does not suggest strict adherence to a patrilineal or matrilineal kinship system, the funerary tradition appears highly gendered, with family links through both the male and female line being important in structuring communities. We explore the implications for our understandings of kinship and funerary practices in Early Iron Age southeast Europe.European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement no 291827; HERA Joint Research Programme which is co-funded by AHRC, AKA, BMBF via PT-DLR, DASTI, ETAG, FCT, FNR, FNRS, FWF, FWO, HAZU, IRC, LMT, MHEST, NWO, NCN, RANNÍS, RCN, VR and The European Community FP7 2007-2013, under the Socioeconomic Sciences and Humanities programme; European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 834087 (COMMIOS). NIH grant GM100233, John Templeton Foundation grant 61220, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and the Allen Discovery Center program, a Paul G. Allen Frontiers Group advised program of the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation
Method of Micro-Sampling Human Dentine Collagen for Stable Isotope Analysis
No full textYesSampling of dentine for stable carbon (δ13 C) and nitrogen (δ15 N) isotope ratios in the direction of tooth growth allows the study of temporal changes to the diet and physiological stress of an individual during tooth formation. Current methods of sampling permanent teeth using 1mm increments provide temporal resolution of six - nine months at best depending on the tooth chosen. While this gives sufficient sample sizes for reliable analysis by mass spectrometry, sectioning the dentine across the incremental structures results in a rolling average of the isotope ratios. A novel method of incremental dentine collagen sampling has been developed to decrease the collagen increment size to 0.35mm along the incremental structures thus reducing averaging and improving the temporal resolution of short-term changes within the δ13 C and δ15 N values.
This study presents data for a MicroMill-assisted sampling method that allows for sampling at 0.35mm width x 1mm depth increments following the incremental growth pattern of dentine. A NewWave MicroMill was used to sample the demineralised dentine section of modern donated human third molars from Sudan and compared to data from the same teeth using the 1mm incremental sectioning method 2 from Beaumont et al. (2013).
The δ13 C and δ15 N isotopic data showed an increased temporal resolution, with each increment providing data for two-four months of dentine formation.
The data show the potential of this method for studying dietary reconstruction, nutritional stress, and physiological change with greater temporal resolution potentially to seasonal level and with less attenuation of the δ13 C and δ15 N values than was previously possible from human dentine
Welfare gains from international trade and renewable energy demand: Evidence from the OECD countries
No full textYesThis paper uses a new measure of international trade, i.e. the international trade potential index, to measure the welfare gains from trade across countries. The measure is based on the import shares of countries in their gross domestic products. It is observed that gains from international trade are low in prosperous economies, but they are larger in poorer economies. Then, the paper investigates the impact of the index of international trade potential on renewable energy consumption in the unbalanced panel dataset of 36 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development member countries from 1966 to 2016. The novel evidence is that international trade potential is positively related to renewable energy consumption. It is also found that per capita income, per capita carbon dioxide emissions, and energy prices increase the demand for renewable energy.The authors acknowledge the financial support from the Philosophy & Social Science Fund of Tianjin City, China (Award #: TJYJ20-012)
Expressing Identity, Experiencing Belonging, and Everyday Life in Heavy Metal Music
No full textWhen heavy metal fans traverse through their everyday life, they are faced
with countless opportunities to engage in social interactions with others. Such
interactions question, establish, and strengthen fans’ heavy metal identities
whilst providing them with a sense of community and belonging through
engaging with others who also share a preference for heavy metal music. This
thesis is built on a qualitative research approach, complimented by an insider
and ethnographic orientation in order to explore identity expression, the feeling
of belonging and community, everyday life processes, and the role of heavy
metal music in the everyday life of heavy metal fans. Through social
interactions based on shared musical preference, heavy metal fans are able
to meaningfully engage with others through which communal affiliations are
strengthened and reinforced. Despite mainstream, and largely negative
attitudes towards heavy metal, the music provides a safety net for listeners
and is a driving force in their experience of the reciprocal relationship between
personal identity and group membership and community. Due to the deep
connection listeners have with heavy metal, the music becomes something
which fans are able to call theirs alone
Intermittent PI3Ko inhibition sustains anti-tumor immunity and curbs irAEs
Get PDFYesPhosphoinositide 3-kinase δ (PI3Kδ) has a key role in lymphocytes, and inhibitors
that target this PI3K have been approved for treatment of B cell malignancies1–3.
Although studies in mouse models of solid tumours have demonstrated that PI3Kδ
inhibitors (PI3Kδi) can induce anti-tumour immunity4,5, its effect on solid tumours in
humans remains unclear. Here we assessed the effects of the PI3Kδi AMG319 in
human patients with head and neck cancer in a neoadjuvant, double-blind,
placebo-controlled randomized phase II trial (EudraCT no. 2014-004388-20). PI3Kδ
inhibition decreased the number of tumour-infiltrating regulatory T (Treg) cells and
enhanced the cytotoxic potential of tumour-infiltrating T cells. At the tested doses
of AMG319, immune-related adverse events (irAEs) required treatment to be
discontinued in 12 out of 21 of patients treated with AMG319, suggestive of systemic
effects on Treg cells. Accordingly, in mouse models, PI3Kδi decreased the number of
Treg cells systemically and caused colitis. Single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis
revealed a PI3Kδi-driven loss of tissue-resident colonic ST2 Treg cells, accompanied
by expansion of pathogenic T helper 17 (TH17) and type 17 CD8+ T (TC17) cells,
which probably contributed to toxicity; this points towards a specific mode of action
for the emergence of irAEs. A modified treatment regimen with intermittent dosing of
PI3Kδi in mouse models led to a significant decrease in tumour growth without
inducing pathogenic T cells in colonic tissue, indicating that alternative dosing
regimens might limit toxicity.Research Development Fund Publication Prize Award winner, May 2022