51 research outputs found
Fuzzy integral-based rule aggregation in fuzzy logic
No full textThe fuzzy inference system has been tuned and revamped many times over and applied to numerous domains. New and improved techniques have been presented for fuzzification, implication, rule composition and defuzzification, leaving rule aggregation relatively underrepresented. Current FIS aggregation operators are relatively simple and have remained more-or-less unchanged over the years. For many problems, these simple aggregation operators produce intuitive, useful and meaningful results. However, there exists a wide class of problems for which quality aggregation requires nonditivity and exploitation of interactions between rules. Herein, the fuzzy integral, a parametric non-linear aggregation operator, is used to fill this gap. Specifically, recent advancements in extensions of the fuzzy integral to “unrestricted” fuzzy sets, i.e., subnormal and non-convex, makes this now possible. The roles of two extensions, gFI and the NDFI, are explored and demonstrate when and where to apply these aggregations, and present efficient algorithms to approximate their solutions
A clustering approach to industrial network intrusion detection.
No full textProceedings of the 2016 Information Security Research and Education (INSuRE) Conference (INSuRECon-16). The inaugural INSuREcon Conference was held on September 30, 2016. The conference was held virtually using Cisco Webex online meeting and video conferencing software. Five papers were accepted out of 8 submissions. During the conference, each paper was presented by an author at the conference and the audience was provided the opportunity to ask questions of the presenter
Reading acts of narrative appropriation: four instances of fraudulent memoir
No full textPhDThis thesis examines acts of narrative appropriation, the telling of purportedly‘authentic’ life stories by those for whom the stories are not theirs to tell. This
misuse or subversion of genre - the discipline of historical writing and the category
of autobiography - becomes a means for cultural, social and political dissimulation,
and the analysis focuses both on the act: the event, trespass, or ‘theft’ of another’s
life story, and on the cultural meaning that this event reveals. These narrative acts
are approached theoretically through discussions of what it means to be an author, a
reader, and through the consideration of literary and social genre, category and form.
In exploring identities at particular risk of appropriation, this thesis shows how
fraudulent appropriated narratives affect our reading of the world, and in turn
influence our perception of already marginalized social groups. My primary
examples include prostitution ‘narratives’, Native North American ‘memoir,’ and
fraudulent Holocaust survivor ‘testimony,’ with each text providing decoded
evidence of ‘genre-bending’ exhibiting a social and political intent. These works
seek to be read as authentic personal narratives, as autobiography, and that is how
they have been presented to the reader. However, they are imposters – fictional tales
desiring the elevated status of historical authenticity and willing to bend the rules
and contracts of genre to achieve their end. Here the appearance of authenticity is
achieved through the use of cultural and social ‘myth,’ or perceptions of cultural
identity, and as such its fraudulent construction is first and foremost a social act,
with a social and economic motivation. As this thesis concludes, these texts are
most successful when their own political and social ideologies echo and confirm that
of the readership; when their subjects, the fraudulent ‘I’ at the center of the text is
also a performative elaboration of cultural belief
A Clustering Approach to Industrial Network Intrusion Detection
Get PDFIndustrial control system (ICS) networks and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system networks are less likely to be within a strict closed network environment, which increases the likelihood of cyber-attacks. Over the last decade, intrusion detection has become an additional security measure for ICS and SCADA system networks to help prevent and minimize loss that may be sustained from cyber-attacks. ICS and SCADA network communication is typically repetitive and deterministic, which allows normal activity to be more easily modeled on the behavior of system specific events. Given this deterministic behavior, an unsupervised anomaly-based intrusion detection system may provide increased performance over the more typical misuse detection method. We propose an unsupervised machine learning approach for the implementation of a network IDS in power system applications. The approach would supplement a more complex IDS by quantifying the degree by which an event is an attack, given network data states, to improve intrusion detection and minimize false alarm rates. The clustering approach contains four key processes: data preprocessing, unsupervised learning (cluster analysis), generating features from clusters, and classifying states using the Mamdani fuzzy inference system. Data sets from a simulated power distribution system are used to illustrate the impact of the proposed approach
Next-Generation Sequencing: Application in Liver Cancer—Past, Present and Future?
No full textHepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is the third most deadly malignancy worldwide characterized by phenotypic and molecular heterogeneity. In the past two decades, advances in genomic analyses have formed a comprehensive understanding of different underlying pathobiological layers resulting in hepatocarcinogenesis. More recently, improvements of sophisticated next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies have enabled complete and cost-efficient analyses of cancer genomes at a single nucleotide resolution and advanced into valuable tools in translational medicine. Although the use of NGS in human liver cancer is still in its infancy, great promise rests in the systematic integration of different molecular analyses obtained by these methodologies, i.e., genomics, transcriptomics and epigenomics. This strategy is likely to be helpful in identifying relevant and recurrent pathophysiological hallmarks thereby elucidating our limited understanding of liver cancer. Beside tumor heterogeneity, progress in translational oncology is challenged by the amount of biological information and considerable “noise” in the data obtained from different NGS platforms. Nevertheless, the following review aims to provide an overview of the current status of next-generation approaches in liver cancer, and outline the prospects of these technologies in diagnosis, patient classification, and prediction of outcome. Further, the potential of NGS to identify novel applications for concept clinical trials and to accelerate the development of new cancer therapies will be summarized
Managerial discretion and optimal financing policies with cash flow uncertainty
Get PDFBuilding on the work of Stulz (1990), this paper analyzes the impact of managerial discretion on optimal leverage within an agency cost model of corporate financing. Under the assumption that stockholders do not know with certainty the mean of the cash flow distribution, we argue that leverage fails to control for the amount of cash the manager can misappropriate in personal projects. We develop a model of a firm’s value maximization problem that predicts that as expected earnings uncertainty increases the firm will decrease its optimal level of borrowing. In a second part, we test this proposition on a panel of non–financial UK firms, by investigating the determinants of firms’ performance and allowing for endogeneity of capital structure decisions. The estimates confirm that earnings uncertainty, as measured by the volatility in monthly consensus forecasts of individual companies’ earnings per share, negatively affects corporate leverage. Furthermore, new empirical support is found to the agency cost view that corporate performance is positively correlated with leverage when poorly managed firms are selected.
Mismatch-based delayed thrombolysis: a meta-analysis
Get PDF<p><b>Background and Purpose</b>: Clinical benefit from thrombolysis is reduced as stroke onset to treatment time increases. The use of "mismatch" imaging to identify patients for delayed treatment has face validity and has been used in case series and clinical trials. We undertook a meta-analysis of relevant trials to examine whether present evidence supports delayed thrombolysis among patients selected according to mismatch criteria.</p>
<p><b>Methods</b>: We collated outcome data for patients who were enrolled after 3 hours of stroke onset in thrombolysis trials and had mismatch on pretreatment imaging. We selected the trials on the basis of a systematic search of the Web of Knowledge. We compared favorable outcome, reperfusion and/or recanalization, mortality, and symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage between the thrombolyzed and nonthrombolyzed groups of patients and the probability of a favorable outcome among patients with successful reperfusion and clinical findings for 3 to 6 versus 6 to 9 hours from poststroke onset. Results are expressed as adjusted odds ratios (a-ORs) with 95% CIs. Heterogeneity was explored by test statistics for clinical heterogeneity, I2 (inconsistency), and L’Abbé plot.</p>
<p><b>Results</b>: We identified articles describing the DIAS, DIAS II, DEDAS, DEFUSE, and EPITHET trials, giving a total of 502 mismatch patients thrombolyzed beyond 3 hours. The combined a-ORs for favorable outcomes were greater for patients who had successful reperfusion (a-OR=5.2; 95% CI, 3 to 9; I2=0%). Favorable clinical outcome was not significantly improved by thrombolysis (a-OR=1.3; 95% CI, 0.8 to 2.0; I2=20.9%). Odds for reperfusion/recanalization were increased among patients who received thrombolytic therapy (a-OR=3.0; 95% CI, 1.6 to 5.8; I2=25.7%). The combined data showed a significant increase in mortality after thrombolysis (a-OR=2.4; 95% CI, 1.2 to 4.9; I2=0%), but this was not confirmed when we excluded data from desmoteplase doses that were abandoned in clinical development (a-OR=1.6; 95% CI, 0.7 to 3.7; I2=0%). Symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage was significantly increased after thrombolysis (a-OR=6.5; 95% CI, 1.2 to 35.4; I2=0%) but not significant after exclusion of abandoned doses of desmoteplase (a-OR=5.4; 95% CI, 0.9 to 31.8; I2=0%).</p>
<p><b>Conclusions</b>: Delayed thrombolysis amongst patients selected according to mismatch imaging is associated with increased reperfusion/recanalization. Recanalization/reperfusion is associated with improved outcomes. However, delayed thrombolysis in mismatch patients was not confirmed to improve clinical outcome, although a useful clinical benefit remains possible. Thrombolysis carries a significant risk of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage and possibly increased mortality. Criteria to diagnose mismatch are still evolving. Validation of the mismatch selection paradigm is required with a phase III trial. Pending these results, delayed treatment, even according to mismatch selection, cannot be recommended as part of routine care.</p>
Physical activity in preschoolers
Get PDFSummary:
The health benefits of physical activity are clearly established. Physical activity is also thought to be
beneficial for children, although morbidity and mortality are established only later in life. One of the
most important benefits of physical activity is maintaining a healthy weight and it thus contributes to
prevent the development of obesity. However, physical activity is also thought to be related to both
aerobic fitness, a strong predictor of cardiovascular disease, and to different motor skills. As there is a
gap on research investigating those relationships in preschool children, cross-sectional and longitudinal
analyses were done to examine children’s physical activity behaviours and their correlates. In addition,
it was analysed if physical activity is associated with socio-cultural characteristics. Finally, the
effects of a physical activity intervention on adiposity and fitness were evaluated, especially in preschoolers
of migrant or low educated families.
This research is based on the Ballabeina Study, a multidimensional lifestyle intervention study aimed
at reducing BMI and increasing fitness in preschool children. The cluster-randomized trial was conducted
in German and French speaking regions in Switzerland with a high prevalence of migrant
populations. The intervention targeted four lifestyle behaviours during one school year: an increase in
physical activity, a balanced nutrition, sufficient sleep and a reduction in media use.
In the cross-sectional analyses, substantial differences in physical activity and in adiposity were found
between the German and French speaking part of Switzerland. On the other hand, parental sociocultural
characteristics (migrant status or educational level) had less impact on physical activity and
adiposity. The cross-sectional analyses also revealed a relationship between physical and body fat,
aerobic fitness and motor skills. The cross-sectional analyses also revealed a relationship between
physical and body fat, aerobic fitness and motor skills. The longitudinal analyses also showed an association
of baseline physical activity with prospective changes in aerobic fitness and in motor skills,
but not in body fat. These findings contribute to the current understanding of the relationships of physical
activity with fitness and adiposity and strengthen the benefits of being active from early childhood.
The intervention led to improvements in aerobic fitness, but not in BMI, the two primary outcomes. It
also led to improvements in body fat and agility. In view of the substantial decrease in children’s fitness
and the increase in obesity over the last 20 years, the improvements in aerobic fitness and in
body fat in favor of the intervention group are most relevant. Moreover, children of migrant or low educated
parents benefitted equally from the intervention compared to their respective counterparts.
These results are encouraging, as these children have been less accessible in previous interventions.
Thus, using strategies to target a multicultural population might represent a promising approach to
reduce body fat and increase fitness in these high-risk groups. In conclusion, Ballabeina is an intensive
intervention, but offers an effective school-based intervention program to reduce body fat and
increase fitness in preschool children.
Physical activity in preschoolers. ---------- Zusammenfassung:
Der gesundheitliche Nutzen von körperlicher Aktivität ist unbestritten. Dies gilt auch für Kinder, auch
wenn sich die positiven Effekte meist erst im späteren Leben zeigen. Körperliche Aktivität ist wichtig,
um ein gesundes Körpergewicht zu halten und dadurch einen Beitrag zur Übergewichtsprävention zu
leisten. Körperliche Aktivität scheint aber auch mit aerober Ausdauer, einem wichtigen Einflusswert für
kardiovaskuläre Krankheiten, und mit motorischen Fertigkeiten assoziiert zu sein. Da diese Zusammenhänge
im Vorschulalter noch nicht ausreichend untersucht worden sind, haben wir die körperliche
Aktivität von Vorschulkindern und dessen Wechselbeziehungen mit Adipositas und Fitness genauer
unter die Lupe genommen. Zudem haben wir untersucht, inwiefern körperliche Aktivität und Adipositas
mit sozio-kulturellen Faktoren assoziiert sind. Schlussendlich haben wir auch die Effekte einer schulbasierten
Intervention in Bezug auf Adipositas und Fitness evaluiert, speziell bei Kindern aus Familien
mit Migrationshintergrund oder tiefem Bildungsniveau.
Die Grundlage dieser Forschungsarbeit bildet die Ballabeina Studie, eine in der Schweiz durchgeführte
Interventionsstudie bei Kindergartenkindern. Diese cluster-randomisierte Studie wurde in Regionen
mit einem hohen Ausländeranteil in der Deutschschweiz sowie in der Romandie durchgeführt. Ziel der
Studie war, den BMI zu senken und die aerobe Fitness zu verbessern. Die vier wichtigsten Elemente
der Intervention waren: eine Erhöhung der täglichen Aktivität, eine ausgewogene Ernährung, genügend
Schlaf und eine Reduktion des Medienkonsums.
Die Querschnittuntersuchungen zeigten, dass körperliche Aktivität mit Körperfett, Ausdauer und motorischen
Fertigkeiten assoziiert war. Dabei stellten wir bedeutende Unterschiede in Bezug auf körperliche
Aktivität und Adipositas zwischen der Deutschen und Französischen Schweiz fest. Auf der anderen
Seite schienen elterliche Merkmale wie Migrationshintergrund oder Bildungsniveau weniger Einfluss
auf diese Parameter zu haben. In den Längsschnittuntersuchungen konnten wir einen Zusammenhang
zwischen körperlicher Aktivität und Verbesserungen in der Fitness aufzeigen, jedoch nicht
beim Körperfett. Diese Erkenntnisse entsprechen früher gefundenen Zusammenhänge von körperlicher
Aktivität, Adipositas und Fitness und unterstreichen somit die Wichtigkeit, bereits im frühen Kindesalter
körperlich aktiv zu sein.
Die Intervention führte zu einer Verbesserung der aeroben Fitness, nicht aber zu einer Reduktion des
BMI’s. Zusätzlich erzielten wir eine Abnahme des Körperfetts und eine Verbesserung bei den motorischen
Fertigkeiten. Da die Fitness bei Kindern über die letzten 20 Jahren stetig abgenommen und das
Übergewicht stetig zugenommen hat, sind diese positiven Resultate besonders wichtig. Darüber hinaus
konnten Kinder aus Familien mit Migrationshintergrund oder tiefem Bildungsniveau ebenso viel
von der Intervention profitieren wie alle anderen Kindern. Dies ist besonders betonenswert, da diese
Kinder in früheren Interventionen weniger erreicht werden konnten. Der Ansatz, eine multikulturelle
Population einzubeziehen, stellt einen vielversprechenden Lösungsansatz dar, um Übergewicht und
Fitness auch bei benachteiligten Kindern zu verbessern. Schlussfolgernd kann gesagt werden, dass
Ballabeina ein intensives, aber erfolgreiches schulbasiertes Interventionsprogramm darstellt, mit welchem
Körperfett und Fitness von Kindergartenkindern verbessert werden kann
The why's the limit: curtailing self-enhancement with explanatory introspection
No full textSelf-enhancement is linked to psychological gains (e.g., subjective well-being, persistence in adversity) but also to intrapersonal and interpersonal costs (e.g., excessive risk taking, antisocial behavior). Thus, constraints on self-enhancement may sometimes afford intrapersonal and interpersonal advantages. We tested whether explanatory introspection (i.e., generating reasons for why one might or might not possess personality traits) constitutes one such constraint. Experiment 1 demonstrated that explanatory introspection curtails self-enhancement. Experiment 2 clarified that the underlying mechanism must (a) involve explanatory questioning rather than descriptive imagining, (b) invoke the self rather than another person, and (c) feature written expression rather than unaided contemplation. Finally, Experiment 3 obtained evidence that an increase in uncertainty about oneself mediates the effect
Does foreign portfolio investment reach small listed firms ?
Get PDFUsing a unique dataset, the author examines the impact of foreign portfolio investment on the capital issuance behavior of small listed firms. The author finds that foreign portfolio investment is associated with an increased probability of small firm security issuance in all nations, regardless of property rights development. Evidence suggests the mechanism by which this occurs is a freeing up of capital in domestic markets when large firms utilize the foreign investment directly. Debt levels in nations where property rights are more developed increase, suggesting that foreign portfolio investment may reach small firms through the banking channel as well as capital markets in these nations.Debt Markets,Access to Finance,Economic Theory&Research,Emerging Markets,Investment and Investment Climate
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