306 research outputs found
Applications of machine learning in pervasive systems
No full textShakshuki, EM (corresponding author), Acadia Univ, Jodrey Sch Comp Sci, Wolfville, NS, Canada.
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Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor Induces Inflammation and Predicts Spinal Progression in Ankylosing Spondylitis
No full textObjective: To investigate the role of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in the pathogenesis of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods: Patients who met the modified New York criteria for AS were recruited for the study. Healthy volunteers, rheumatoid arthritis patients, and osteoarthritis patients were included as controls. Based on the annual rate of increase in modified Stoke AS Spine Score (mSASSS), AS patients were classified as progressors or nonprogressors. MIF levels in serum and synovial fluid were quantitated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Predictors of AS progression were evaluated using logistic regression analysis. Immunohistochemical analysis of ileal tissue was performed to identify MIF-producing cells. Flow cytometry was used to identify MIF-producing subsets, expression patterns of the MIF receptor (CD74), and MIF-induced tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production in the peripheral blood. MIF-induced mineralization of osteoblast cells (SaOS-2) was analyzed by alizarin red S staining, and Western blotting was used to quantify active Î2-catenin levels. Results: Baseline serum MIF levels were significantly elevated in AS patients compared to healthy controls and were found to independently predict AS progression. MIF levels were higher in the synovial fluid of AS patients, and MIF-producing macrophages and Paneth cells were enriched in their gut. MIF induced TNF production in monocytes, activated Î2-catenin in osteoblasts, and promoted the mineralization of osteoblasts. Conclusion: Our findings indicate an unexplored pathogenic role of MIF in AS and a link between inflammation and new bone formation
Radiographic Progression in Ankylosing Spondylitis
No full textAxial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the spine and sacroiliac joints (SIJs) with an unknown etiology. The spectrum of axSpA is thought to start from a pre-radiographic stage and may progress to radiographic sacroiliitis over time. Some axSpA patients may develop structural damage because of new bone formation in the spine which are known as syndesmophytes. These structures may limit spinal mobility and can contribute to the functional impairment, which is a well-known complication of axSpA. In this thesis, through three manuscripts, we studied different aspects of radiographic progression in axSpA. The first study focused on the characteristics of axSpA patients who had non-diagnostic SIJs at baseline and progressed to radiographic axSpA. The second study aimed to address progression rates and factors predictive of spinal progression in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). In the third study we investigated the effect of spinal structural damage on spinal mobility in AS.M.Sc
Radiographic Progression in Ankylosing Spondylitis
No full textAxial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the spine and sacroiliac joints (SIJs) with an unknown etiology. The spectrum of axSpA is thought to start from a pre-radiographic stage and may progress to radiographic sacroiliitis over time. Some axSpA patients may develop structural damage because of new bone formation in the spine which are known as syndesmophytes. These structures may limit spinal mobility and can contribute to the functional impairment, which is a well-known complication of axSpA. In this thesis, through three manuscripts, we studied different aspects of radiographic progression in axSpA. The first study focused on the characteristics of axSpA patients who had non-diagnostic SIJs at baseline and progressed to radiographic axSpA. The second study aimed to address progression rates and factors predictive of spinal progression in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). In the third study we investigated the effect of spinal structural damage on spinal mobility in AS.M.Sc
A microsimulation-based analysis for driving behaviour modelling on a congested expressway
No full textRecently, simulation models have been widely used around the world to evaluate the performance of different traffic facilities and management strategies for efficient and sustainable transportation systems. One of the keys factors for ensuring the reliability of the models in reflecting local conditions is the calibration and validation of microsimulation models. The majority of the existing calibration efforts focus is on the experimental designs of driver behaviour and lane-changing parameters. Towards this end, this paper describes the necessary procedure for the calibration and validation of a microscopic model using the VISSIM software, during peak hours. The procedure is applied on Muscat Expressway in the Sultanate of Oman. The calibration parameters and the measure-of-effectiveness are identified by using multi-parameter sensitivity analysis. The optimum values for these parameters are obtained by minimising errors between simulated data and field data. In our proposed model, we used traffic volume and travel speed for model calibration, as well as average travel time for validation of the calibrated model. The achieved results showed that driving characteristics significantly impacted the merging/diverging traffic flow ratio in the merging area, the link length and the distance between on-ramps and off-ramps, as well as the percentage of heavy vehicles. The results also showed that having both the advanced merging and cooperative lane-change settings active, along with safety distance reduction factor, necessary lane change, minimum headway (front/rear), and emergency stop, had a significant influence on simulation precision, especially at on-ramps and off-ramps. Finally, our proposed model can be utilized as a base for future traffic strategy analysis and intelligent transportation systems evaluation to help decision makers with long-term and sustainable development decisionsFarrag, SG (corresponding author), Hasselt Univ, Transportat Res Inst, Hasselt, Belgium.
[email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected], SG (corresponding author), Hasselt Univ, Transportat Res Inst, Hasselt, Belgium.
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Acknowledgment scheme using cloud for node networks with energy-aware hybrid scheduling strategy
No full textCloud computing is attracting a lot of traffic on the Internet. Due to the distributed nature of the ad hoc networks, there is no clear path for the communication between nodes. Additionally, there is no centralized or master node to guide the rest of the nodes in the distributed networks. Since the networks are continually expanding, it is vital to mention that there is a substantial increase in the number of attacks. As such, we became interested to consider monitoring the wireless network using cloud. This way, we will be able to deal with varies attacks and to provide better guidance for the networks. In this paper, we propose a new approach for acknowledgement scheme, using a one hop cloud technology, called Cloud Acknowledgement Scheme. This approach strengthens the wireless network by introducing cloud as a monitoring tool as well as to act as a leader node. An efficient cloud provisioning needs a better scheduling scheme. Towards this end, this paper is proposing a new approach to support the short-lived nature of acknowledgment packets in an efficient manner. Our proposed approach constitutes of two developed algorithms that act as one. These scheduling algorithms help to accomplish the purpose of cloud acknowledgment scheme. It is also important and significant to consider the cloud's awareness of energy consumption to reduce the impact on the environment. Towards this end, monitoring energy consumption is achieved by assigning priorities on the given tasks and balancing the performance and the energy of the cloud. The proposed approach is demonstrated and proved as working models using simulations. The results suggest that our proposed approach has the potential to alternate other existing acknowledgement schemes.Kaja, S (corresponding author), Acadia Univ, Wolfville, NS, Canada.
[email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]
Change in Social Capital – a Case Study of Collective Rice Farming Practice in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam
No full textThis paper describes how the social capital of rice farmers of the Mekong delta of Vietnam - manifested in the tradition of collective farming practice, changed from the 1940s to 1990s. The reason this collective rice farming had existed for decades, irrespective of critical events that challenged its continuation, was the co-existence of two key factors – high need for collective farming to ensure subsistence, and the availability of a closely knit social network that facilitated the exchange of labor. Despite its longevity, the practice of a cohesive and spontaneous collective farming, particularly in terms of labor exchange and labor participation in farming activities, was not maintained under the influence of agrarian reforms which aimed to improve rural livelihood. Land reform resulted in individual rice farming, making mobilization for spontaneous collective action, at the community level quite challenging. The assessment arose in the context of the need to mobilize collective action for implementation of a Community Trap Barrier System (CTBS), an ecologically-based rodent pest management system. It is concluded that successful restoration of social capital in the form of collective farming practices at the field level may depend on government intervention strategies at both local and national policy levels.social capital, rice, Mekong, farming practice, agrarian reform
Indiscriminate Shooting
No full textDrawing of members of a militia group using machine guns and helicopters to attack a village in Darfur.https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/darfuri_drawings/1350/thumbnail.jp
Radiographic Progression in Ankylosing Spondylitis: From Prognostication to Disease Modification
No full textPurpose of ReviewPain, functional limitation, and spinal damage are the three main domains that have significant impact on various aspects of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA).Recent FindingsSeveral randomized controlled trials (RCTs) showed a beneficial effect of non-steroid ant-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and biologic treatments on pain and function. The effect of available treatments on spinal damage is still of interest and is being studied.SummaryIn this article, we review the literature on radiographic progression in axSpA. We discuss the natural course of spinal progression, predictors of spinal damage, and the effect of lifestyle changes and medications on radiographic progression in axSpA
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