26 research outputs found
Comparative Analysis of Blind Detectors in a Cluster-Based Cooperative Spectrum Hole Detection
Full text linkPrevention of authorized users from interference determine the accurate detection of Spectrum Hole (SH) is of great importance in a Spectrum Shearing Network (SSN). However, multipath fading and shadowing affect the accurate detection of SH resulting in interference. Cluster-Based Cooperative Spectrum Hole Detection (CBCSHD) used to address this problem depends on detector and number of clusters. Hence, comparative analysis of blind detectors in CBCSHD is carried out to evaluate its performance with various blind detectors and number of clusters. The CBCSHD is carried out using six Cognitive Users (CUs) that jointly carry out detection of SH and each of the CUs performs local sensing using Eigenvalue Detector (EVD), Energy Detector (ED) and Cyclostationary Detector (CD). The CUs form clusters to reduce reporting overhead between CUs. The local sensing results from individual user are combined at the Cluster Head (CH) using majority fusion rule. The performance of each of the detectors in CBCSHD is evaluated using Probability of Detection (PD) and Sensing Time (ST). PD values of 0.7661, 0.7160 and 0.6229 are obtained at SNR of 4 dB for ED, CD and EVD, respectively, while ST values of 3.0707, 3.7163 and 4.0907 s are obtained for ED, CD and EVD, respectively. The results obtained show that ED has the highest detection rate, followed by CD, while EVD shows the worst detection rate
Breaking barriers: using the behavior change wheel to develop a tailored intervention to overcome workplace inhibitors to breaking up sitting time
Full text link© The Author(s). 2019. Background: The workplace is a prominent domain for excessive sitting. The consequences of increased sitting time include adverse health outcomes such as cardiovascular disease and poor mental wellbeing. There is evidence that breaking up sitting could improve health, however, any such intervention in the workplace would need to be informed by a theoretical evidence-based framework. The aim of this study was to use the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW) to develop a tailored intervention to break up and reduce workplace sitting in desk-based workers. Methods: The BCW guide was followed for this qualitative, pre-intervention development study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 office workers (26–59years, mean age 40.9 [SD=10.8] years; 68% female) who were purposively recruited from local council offices and a university in the East of England region. The interview questions were developed using the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). Transcripts were deductively analysed using the COM-B (Capability, Opportunity, Motivation – Behaviour) model of behaviour. The Behaviour Change Technique Taxonomy Version 1 (BCTv1) was thereafter used to identify possible strategies that could be used to facilitate change in sitting behaviour of office workers in a future intervention. Results: Qualitative analysis using COM-B identified that participants felt that they had the physical Capability to break up their sitting time, however, some lacked the psychological Capability in relation to the knowledge of both guidelines for sitting time and the consequences of excess sitting. Social and physical Opportunity was identified as important, such as a supportive organisational culture (social) and the need for environmental resources (physical). Motivation was highlighted as a core target for intervention, both reflective Motivation, such as beliefs about capability and intention and automatic in terms of overcoming habit through reinforcement. Seven intervention functions and three policy categories from the BCW were identified as relevant. Finally, 39 behaviour change techniques (BCTs) were identified as potential active components for an intervention to break up sitting time in the workplace. Conclusions: The TDF, COM-B model and BCW can be successfully applied through a systematic process to understand the drivers of behaviour of office workers to develop a co-created intervention that can be used to break up and decrease sitting in the workplace. Intervention designers should consider the identified BCW factors and BCTs when developing interventions to reduce and break up workplace sitting
DataSheet1_GC-MS chemical profiling, antioxidant, anti-diabetic, and anti-inflammatory activities of ethyl acetate fraction of Spilanthes filicaulis (Schumach. and Thonn.) C.D. Adams leaves: experimental and computational studies.docx
No full textIntroduction: This study aimed to investigate the chemical profile of GC-MS, antioxidant, anti-diabetic, and anti-inflammatory activities of the ethyl acetate fraction of Spilanthes filicaulis leaves (EFSFL) via experimental and computational studies.Methods: After inducing oxidative damage with FeSO4, we treated the tissues with different concentrations of EFSFL. An in-vitro analysis of EFSFL was carried out to determine its potential for antioxidant, anti-diabetic, and anti-inflammatory activities. We also measured the levels of CAT, SOD, GSH, and MDA.Results and discussion: EFSFL exhibited anti-inflammatory properties through membrane stabilizing properties (IC50 = 572.79 μg/ml), proteinase inhibition (IC50 = 319.90 μg/ml), and inhibition of protein denaturation (IC50 = 409.88 μg/ml). Furthermore, EFSFL inhibited α-amylase (IC50 = 169.77 μg/ml), α-glucosidase (IC50 = 293.12 μg/ml) and DPP-IV (IC50 = 380.94 μg/ml) activities, respectively. Our results indicated that induction of tissue damage reduced the levels of GSH, SOD, and CAT activities, and increased MDA levels. However, EFSFL treatment restores these levels to near normal. GC-MS profiling shows that EFSFL contains 13 compounds, with piperine being the most abundant. In silico interaction of the phytoconstituents using molecular and ensembled-based docking revealed strong binding tendencies of two hit compounds to DPP IV (alpha-caryophyllene and piperine with a binding affinity of −7.8 and −7.8 Kcal/mol), α-glucosidase (alpha-caryophyllene and piperine with a binding affinity of −9.6 and −8.9 Kcal/mol), and to α-amylase (piperine and Benzocycloheptano[2,3,4-I,j]isoquinoline, 4,5,6,6a-tetrahydro-1,9-dihydroxy-2,10-dimethoxy-5-methyl with a binding affinity of −7.8 and −7.9 Kcal/mol), respectively. These compounds also presented druggable properties with favorable ADMET. Conclusively, the antioxidant, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory activities of EFSFL could be due to the presence of secondary metabolites.</p
Relationship between Burnout, Cardiovascular Risk Factors, and Inflammatory Markers: A Protocol for Scoping Review
No full textBackground: Burnout is increasingly being recognized as a contributory factor to the erosion of a positive psychological state. Studies have examined the relationship between burnout and various inflammatory markers such as IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-alpha. Burnout is also associated with increased systemic inflammation along a continuum of symptom severity. This protocol is for a scoping review looking at the link between burnout, inflammatory markers, and cardiovascular risks or diseases. Methods: This study will be based on the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines/checklists and the report of the review will be based on the same guideline. The study seeks to address the following principal questions. (i) What are the relevant inflammatory biomarkers that mediate cardiovascular risk factors in burnout? (ii) How do inflammatory biomarkers mediate cardiovascular risk factors in burnout? The outputs obtained from the literature search will be deduplicated using the Rayyan software. Results: We would create table summaries of findings to inform a narrative synthesis of the evidence from the papers included. Conclusion: The review article would help to concisely synthesize the available evidence on the relationship between burnout, inflammatory markers, and cardiovascular diseases
Profiling the antidiabetic potential of GC–MS compounds identified from the methanolic extract of <i>Spilanthes filicaulis</i>: experimental and computational insight
No full textThis study examines the nutritional composition, phytochemical profiling, and antioxidant, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory potential of a methanolic extract of Spilanthes filicaulis leaves (MESFL) via in vitro, ex vivo, and in silico studies. In vitro antioxidant, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory activities were examined. In the ex vivo study, liver tissues were subjected to FeSO4-induced oxidative damage and treated with varying concentrations of MESFL. MESFL contains a reasonable amount of nitrogen-free extract, moisture, ash content, crude protein, and fat, with a lesser amount of crude fiber. According to GC–MS analysis, MESFL contains ten compounds, the most abundant of which are 13-octadecenal and Ar-tumerone. In this study, MESFL demonstrated anti-inflammatory activities via membrane stabilizing properties, proteinase inhibition, and inhibition of protein denaturation (IC50 = 72.75 ± 11.06 µg/mL). MESFL also strongly inhibited both α-amylase (IC50 = 307.02 ± 4.25 µg/mL) and α-glucosidase (IC50 = 215.51 ± 0.47 µg/mL) activities. Our findings also showed that FeSO4-induced tissue damage decreased the levels of GSH, SOD, and CAT activities while increasing the levels of MDA. In contrast, treatment with MESFL helped to restore these parameters to near-normal levels, which signifies that MESFL has great potential to address complications from oxidative stress. Furthermore, the in silico interaction of the GCMS-identified phytochemicals with the active sites of α-amylase and α-glucosidase via molecular and ensembled-based docking displayed strong binding affinities of Ar-tumerone and 4-hydroxy-3-methylacetophenone to α-amylase and α-glucosidase, respectively. Taken together, the biological activities of MESFL might be a result of the effects of these secondary metabolites. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma</p
Improving the detection of intrusion in vehicular ad-hoc networks with modified identity-based cryptosystem
Full text linkVehicular ad-hoc networks (VANETs) are wireless-equipped vehicles that form networks along the road. The security of this network has been a major challenge. The identity-based cryptosystem (IBC) previously used to secure the networks suffers from membership authentication security features. This paper focuses on improving the detection of intruders in VANETs with a modified identity-based cryptosystem (MIBC). The MIBC is developed using a non-singular elliptic curve with Lagrange interpolation. The public key of vehicles and roadside units on the network are derived from number plates and location identification numbers, respectively. Pseudo-identities are used to mask the real identity of users to preserve their privacy. The membership authentication mechanism ensures that only valid and authenticated members of the network are allowed to join the network. The performance of the MIBC is evaluated using intrusion detection ratio (IDR) and computation time (CT) and then validated with the existing IBC. The result obtained shows that the MIBC recorded an IDR of 99.3% against 94.3% obtained for the existing identity-based cryptosystem (EIBC) for 140 unregistered vehicles attempting to intrude on the network. The MIBC shows lower CT values of 1.17 ms against 1.70 ms for EIBC. The MIBC can be used to improve the security of VANETs
The kinomes of apicomplexan parasites
Full text linkProtein phosphorylation plays a fundamental role in the biology of apicomplexan parasites. Many apicomplexan protein kinases are substantially different from their mammalian orthologues, and thus constitute a landscape of potential drug targets. Here, we integrate genomic, biochemical, genetic and evolutionary information to provide an integrated and up-to-date analysis of twelve apicomplexan kinomes. All kinome sequences are available through the Kinomer database
Performance Enhancement of Decode and Forward Relaying Network in a Log- normal Fading Channel using Diversity Technique
Full text linkThe demand for wireless communication services is increasing daily due to several emerging applications of wireless communication system. However, the services provided by wireless communication is affected by obstruction along the path of propagation resulting in scattering of signal at the receiver. Decode and Forward (DF) relaying network used in addressing the problem also suffer from signal outage at the destination due to inability of relay to decode the transmitted signal at the relay node. Hence, in this paper, performance enhancement of DF relaying network is proposed using Time Diversity (TD) at the source with hybrid Threshold Combiner and Equal Gain Combiner (TC-EGC) at the destination. The various copies of the transmitted signal are received at the DF relay node to carry out relay selection by selecting relay with signal strength greater than the set threshold of 3 dB. The selected relays decode and re-encode the received signal before been propagated to the destination. The various copies of the signal received at the destination with varying paths ‘L’ (2, 3 and 4) are combined using TC-EGC. Mathematical expressions of Outage Probability (OP) and Bit Error Rate (BER) for the proposed technique are derived using Probability Density Function (PDF) of the signal received. The proposed DF technique is simulated using MATLAB R2018a and validated using OP and BER by comparing with the conventional DF cooperative relaying network. The proposed technique improved the performance of conventional DF cooperative relaying network with reduced BER and OP
Modelo de referência para o relatório final da auditoria independente baseado na abordagem de expectations gap
Full text linkTese (doutorado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro Tecnológico. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia de Produção.O presente trabalho teve como objetivo estruturar um modelo de referência para o Relatório dos Auditores Independentes, tendo em vista a eficácia na comunicação com os usuários. Este modelo foi constituído a partir da expansão do modelo normativo vigente, em que se considerou, adicionalmente aos itens técnico-teóricos da estrutura-padrão de relatório, as descrições explicativas dos elementos constitutivos dos estudos de expectations gap (uma das abordagens teóricas da auditoria contábil independente). Para investigar a eficácia do Modelo de Referência enquanto instrumento de comunicação com os usuários, desenvolveu-se um estudo de caráter exploratório com uma amostra composta por 106 participantes, por intermédio da aplicação de questionários, subdivididos de acordo com o questionário a que foram submetidos (Modelo de Referência versus Modelo Normativo), sendo a seleção para submissão dada aleatoriamente. Dos dados obtidos na pesquisa resultam dois agrupamentos, com representação de valores obtidos pela pontuação das respostas dos participantes da pesquisa, os quais foram submetidos a um 'Teste-T para duas amostras independentes'. Dentre outras coisas, os resultados obtidos no estudo empírico sinalizam que, em média, os participantes da pesquisa submetidos ao Modelo de Referência proposto neste trabalho demonstram compreensão mais adequada sobre a atividade de auditoria, do que os participantes da pesquisa submetidos ao Modelo Normativo de relatório de auditoria previsto pela norma vigente NBC TA 700 (evidências obtidas tanto com as questões de compreensibilidade quanto com as de expectativas dos usuários). Isto, também, se verifica na questão da percepção destes pesquisados sobre a utilidade do serviço de auditoria. Assim, os resultados deste trabalho são sugestivos para a inferência de que a estrutura do modelo proposto é mais eficaz na comunicação com os usuários do que a do modelo utilizado atualmente.This study aimed to design a reference model for the Auditor's report, with a view to effective communication with users. This model was constructed from the expansion of the existing regulatory model, it was considered, in addition to items of technical and theoretical structurestandard reporting, explanatory descriptions of the constituent elements of the expectations gap studies (one of theoretical approaches to accounting audit independent). To investigate the effectiveness of the Reference Model as a tool for communicating with users, we developed an exploratory study with a sample of 106 participants, through questionnaires, subdivided according to the questionnaire that were submitted (Reference Model versus Normative model), and selection for submission given randomly. From the data obtained in the research result two groups, with representation of values obtained by the score of the responses of survey participants, which were subjected to a 'T-test for two independent samples'. Among other things, the results obtained in the empirical study indicate that, on average, the respondents submitted to the Reference Model proposed in this paper show more adequate understanding of the audit activity, the participants submitted the survey report to the Regulatory Model audit provided by the existing standard ISA 700 (evidence obtained both with issues of comprehensibility and with the expectations of users). This, too, there is the question of the perception of respondents about the usefulness of the audit service. Thus, the present results are suggestive for the inference that the structure of the model is more effective in communicating with users of the model used today
