296 research outputs found
Life Signs- DNA and warfarin
No full textAs part of our process of following the drug, we interviewed people who research, prescribe, develop apps for and take warfarin. This is the first of a series of short films revealing how people construct knowledge about the medication. This first film features a genetics researcher, Dr Harsh Sheth, who works at Newcastle University and whose ground breaking research could change the way warfarin is prescribed and taken
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Formalizing Gremlin pattern matching traversals in an integrated graph Algebra
No full textGraph data management (also called NoSQL) has revealed beneficial characteristics in terms of flexibility and scalability by differ-ently balancing between query expressivity and schema flexibility. This peculiar advantage has resulted into an unforeseen race of developing new task-specific graph systems, query languages and data models, such as property graphs, key-value, wide column, resource description framework (RDF), etc. Present-day graph query languages are focused towards flex-ible graph pattern matching (aka sub-graph matching), whereas graph computing frameworks aim towards providing fast parallel (distributed) execution of instructions. The consequence of this rapid growth in the variety of graph-based data management systems has resulted in a lack of standardization. Gremlin, a graph traversal language, and machine provide a common platform for supporting any graph computing sys-tem (such as an OLTP graph database or OLAP graph processors). In this extended report, we present a formalization of graph pattern match-ing for Gremlin queries. We also study, discuss and consolidate various existing graph algebra operators into an integrated graph algebra
sj-docx-1-jet-10.1177_15266028221134887 – Supplemental material for Impact of Chronic Kidney Disease on In-Hospital Outcomes of Hospitalizations With Acute Limb Ischemia Undergoing Endovascular Therapy
No full textSupplemental material, sj-docx-1-jet-10.1177_15266028221134887 for Impact of Chronic Kidney Disease on In-Hospital Outcomes of Hospitalizations With Acute Limb Ischemia Undergoing Endovascular Therapy by Harsh P. Patel, Dean Decter, Samarthkumar Thakkar, Mahesh Anantha-Narayanan, Ashish Kumar, Aakash R Sheth, Salman Zahid, Bhavin A. Patel, Toralben Patel, Hiteshkumar Devani, Vrushali Shah, Preet Mayank Doshi, Smit Patel, Mariam Shariff, Devina Adalja, Saraschandra Vallabhajosyula and Rajkumar Doshi in Journal of Endovascular Therapy</p
Overview of Blockchain Technology
No full textA blockchain is distributed, decentralized databaseof records which enables fast reliable transactions without acentralized management overlooking it. The cryptocurrency mayor may not be enthralling in the future but role of blockchaintechnology in various fields of finance and non-finance sectorsshould not be underestimated. In this paper we will provide anoverview on how blockchain works, types of blockchain, and ashort overview of different blockchain platforms
Genetic determinants of response to aspirin and warfarin and development of silicon nanowire based genotyping
No full textPhD ThesisChronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and colorectal cancer are the leading
cause of mortality worldwide. Commonly used drugs such as aspirin and warfarin are shown
to effective at reducing the risk of chronic diseases but have a narrow therapeutic window and
are associated with adverse drug reactions, particularly, hemorrhage. Identification of
pharmacogenetic markers such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that could help
deliver personalized dose could help improve the risk-benefit ratio. Furthermore, development
of a rapid point of care genotyping device consisting of a pharmacogenetic SNP panel for
aspirin and warfarin could help implement personalized medicine in the clinical setting.
Analysis of candidate SNPs in aspirin’s pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic
pathways was carried out to explain variation in aspirin’s colorectal chemopreventive efficacy
using two large population based case-control datasets. Associations and interactions were
tested using logistic regression models and meta-analysis of the 2 datasets. A novel sitespecific
association for rs1799853 (OR=0.73, 95% CI=0.60-0.90, P=0.003) and rs1105879
(OR=1.16, 95% CI=1.02-1.32, P=0.03) with colon cancer risk was observed. Furthermore,
stratification by aspirin use showed increased risk of colorectal cancer in aspirin users but not
in non-users carrying variant allele of the SNPs rs4936367 and rs7112513 in PAFAH1B2
gene and rs2070959 and rs1105879 in UGT1A6 gene (Pinteraction<0.05 for all). These results
provide insight into aspirin’s differential chemopreventive efficacy and the neoplastic
transformation of cells in colon and rectum.
Utility of clinically validated pharmacogenetic dosing algorithms consisting of three
warfarin dose associated SNPs from the European population needs to tested in the Gujarati
Indians, an Indian sub-population. Dose prediction accuracy of the algorithms was compared
between Gujarati Indian and European population. Mean squared difference of both
pharmacogenetic algorithms was higher in Gujarati Indian compared to European population
(Klein et al 2009, 216.3 v/s 160.7, P=0.05; Gage et al 2008, 170.6 v/s 143.2, P=0.07). Poor
prediction accuracy could be explained by the presence of study subjects requiring dose for
target INR range 2.5-3.5 and low frequency of the VKORC1 rs9923231 variant, which is the
most important genetic determinant of warfarin dosing in Europeans. Therefore, the SNP
panel and dosing algorithms developed from European populations cannot be assumed to
have utility in the Gujarati Indian population.
Finally, to help develop a rapid, point-of care, silicon nanowire (SiNW) based SNP
genotyping device, a panel of isothermal melting probes were designed to genotype three
warfarin dose associated SNPs. Testing of hybridization and washing conditions to have
optimal hybridization kinetics between the probe and target DNA and high target sequence
specificity was carried out using custom designed microarray platform. Accurate genotype
calls for all 3 SNPs in 2 anonymised samples using empirically optimized hybridization and
washing conditions was carried out successfully. Current work highlighted associations
between probe characteristics and hybridization parameters, which would be useful in
designing and testing probes on the SiNW platform.
Identification, validation and testing of clinical utility of population specific
pharmacogenetic markers along with development and deployment of ultra-rapid point of care
genotyping technologies could help deliver personalized risk-benefit ratio for aspirin and
warfarin
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Simplifying Revenue Management
No full textIn this thesis, we study three revenue management problems where we propose simple algorithms with provable guarantees. While online marketplaces provide retailers with tremendous flexibility, they are often large, noisy, have multiple stakeholders, and could be more challenging to characterize. These complexities give rise to a preference for simple, interpretable policies. Further, traditional marketplaces such as brick-and-mortar stores cannot always leverage tools designed for online environments due to physical constraints, higher latency, etc. With these motivations in mind, we develop algorithms for assortment optimization and pricing that are easy to implement in practice and have theoretical justifications for their performance.
In Chapter 1, we consider a dynamic assortment optimization problem where the seller has a fixed inventory of multiple substitutable products to sell over a fixed time horizon. We consider two modifications to the traditional problem. First, we simplify the assortment planning by restricting assortment changes to "product retirements". When a product is retired, it becomes unavailable to all future customers. Second, we assume the seller has flexibility regarding which customers to approach. In each period, the seller chooses which subset of products to retire and selects a customer to visit. The selected customer then receives an option to purchase one of the available products, i.e., non-retired products with positive remaining inventory. We provide two policies for this problem. Our first policy guarantees a constant fraction of the best possible revenue. Our second policy is near-optimal but requires the problem to have a specific structure.
In Chapter 2, we study the fundamental joint pricing and inventory management problem. The optimal policy for the model we consider is known to be an (s, S, p) policy: when the inventory level drops to s units, the seller immediately places an order to replenish the inventory to S units. Specifically, the optimal pricing policy p has a different price for every inventory state. We proposed simple policies requiring no more than three prices and prove that these policies are near-optimal compared to optimal policies which require more prices and are less robust. In particular, when orders cannot be backlogged, we show that a single price is sufficient for good performance.
In Chapter 3, we analyze assortment optimization and pricing with opaque products. An opaque product is one for which only partial information is available to the buyer at the time of purchase. When a customer selects the opaque product, the seller can fulfill the purchase using any of the offered products. Opaque products can help sellers boost total sales. We propose simple policies for assortment optimization with provable constant factor guarantees, which are near-optimal in numerical experiments. We also provide upper bounds for the advantage of selling opaque products
Schema Correspondences between Objects
No full textIn a multi-database system, schematic conflicts between two objects are usually of interest only when the objects have some semantic similarity. In this paper we try to reconcile the schematic and semantic perspectives. We introduce a uniform formalism called schema correspondences to represent structural similarities between the objects. We represent the semantic similarities between the objects using the concept of semantic proximity. We show how the reconciliation is achieved by illustrating the association of the schema correspondence(s) with and as component(s) of the semantic proximity. We also provide a data model independent semantic taxonomy on the basis of the semantic proximity defined. We then enumerate and classify the schematic and data conflicts. The association between the schema correspondences and semantic proximity helps represent the possible semantic similarities between two objects having these conflicts. One representation of uncertain information using semantic proximity as the basis is explored. Issues of inconsistent information are also discussed in the framework of semantic proximity.Technical report DCS-TR-30
Semantics-based Information Brokering: A step towards realizing the Infocosm
No full textThe rapid advances in computer and communication technologies, and their merger, is leading to a global information market place. It will consist of federations of very large number of information systems that will cooperate to varying extents to support the users' information needs. We propose an architecture which may facilitate meeting these needs. It consists of three main components: information providers, information brokers and information consumers. We also propose an approach to information brokering. We discuss two of it's tasks: information resource discovery, which identities relevant information sources for a given query, and query processing, which involves the generation of appropriate mapping from relevant but structurally heterogeneous objects. Query processing consists of information focusing and information correlation.
While the access-based search, and syntactic and hierarchical information organization has been adequate in the past, information brokering in presence of huge digital libraries or millions of information sources will likely require semantics and information-content based search and structuring of information. Our approach is based on: semantic proximity, which represents semantic similarities based on the context of comparison, and schema correspondences which are used to represent structural mappings and are associated with the context. The context of comparison of the two objects is the primary vehicle to represent the semantics for determining semantic proximity. Specifically, we use a context to capture the semantics in terms of the meaning and/or the use of an object. Using a partial context representation, we capture the assumptions in the intended use of the objects and the intended meaning of the user query. Information focusing is supported by subsequent context comparison. The same mechanism can be used to support information resource discovery. Context comparison leads to changes in schema correspondences that are used to support information correlation.Technical report DCS-TR-30
Caste and democracy: the politics of exclusion and inclusion
No full textDer Verfasser spricht zwei Aspekte in der Debatte um das Kastensystem in Indien an. Der erste Aspekt betrifft das Kastensystem als Mechanismus sozialer Exklusion. Das Kastensystem muss als sakralisierte Machtstruktur verstanden werden, bei der die Vererbung des Kastenstatus dazu führt, dass sich diese Struktur selbst reproduziert. Kasten bilden gleichzeitig ein Netzwerk ethnischer Gemeinschaften, sie sind aber flexibel genug, um neue Bevölkerungsgruppen (Einwanderer) und neue Berufsgruppen integrieren zu können. Die dominante Position der Kongresspartei war das Ergebnis des gelungenen Versuchs, Kastenpolitik und nationalistische Ideologie zu verknüpfen. Mit ihrer Politik der "affirmative action" leistete sie einen Beitrag zur Politisierung der Kasten und zur gleichzeitigen Entritualisierung der Beziehung der Kasten untereinander. An die Stelle der rituellen Hierarchie geschlossener Statusgruppen tritt ein offenes System sozialer Schichtung, in dem beispielsweise die Zugehörigkeit zu den neuen Mittelschichten Mitgliedern aller Kasten offen steht. Die demokratische Politik hat insgesamt zu einer Säkularisierung des Kastensystems geführt. (ICE)"Caste is the most intensively and widely studied South Asian institution and there is no need to reiterate the established wisdom here. The author wishs to focus on, rather attempt to reformulate, some propositions on caste in terms that can facilitate a more direct and precise understanding of the contemporary structures of social exclusion in India. Before he proceeds with this exercise two important, even if obvious, points need to be underlined. First, while many new forms of exclusion are indeed structurally integral to the caste system, there also are those unrelated to caste as well as the ones representing a combination of caste and non-caste elements. Second, in making of a social policy for combating exclusion, it is crucial to take account of both, the changed political-cultural context of exclusion (modernity, nation-state and democracy) and the ideological and structural changes that have occurred in the caste-system itself (Sheth 2002)." (excerpt
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