113,058 research outputs found
Semantic-based publish/subscribe for M2M
The number of connected devices is expected to soar
in the coming years, each one of them collects and distributes
real-world information though various systems. As the number
of such connected devices grows, it becomes increasingly difficult
to store and share all these new sources of information. Several
context representation schemes try to standardize this information, however none of them have been widely adopted. Publish/
subscribe paradigm has proven to be an adequate abstraction
for large scale information dissemination, but none of current
variations is well suited for context information. In a previous
publication we addressed these challenges, however our solution
has some drawbacks: poor scalability and semantic extraction.
The aim of this paper is twofold. First, we discuss an efficient
way to deal with representation schemes diversity and propose a
d-dimensional context organization model. Second, we propose
a semantic-based publish/subscribe system that is well suited
for M2M scenarios. Our evaluation shows that
d-dimensional
organization model outperforms our previous solution in both
speed and space requirements
Extraction of Transcript Diversity from Scientific Literature
Transcript diversity generated by alternative splicing and associated mechanisms contributes heavily to the functional complexity of biological systems. The numerous examples of the mechanisms and functional implications of these events are scattered throughout the scientific literature. Thus, it is crucial to have a tool that can automatically extract the relevant facts and collect them in a knowledge base that can aid the interpretation of data from high-throughput methods. We have developed and applied a composite text-mining method for extracting information on transcript diversity from the entire MEDLINE database in order to create a database of genes with alternative transcripts. It contains information on tissue specificity, number of isoforms, causative mechanisms, functional implications, and experimental methods used for detection. We have mined this resource to identify 959 instances of tissue-specific splicing. Our results in combination with those from EST-based methods suggest that alternative splicing is the preferred mechanism for generating transcript diversity in the nervous system. We provide new annotations for 1,860 genes with the potential for generating transcript diversity. We assign the MeSH term âalternative splicingâ to 1,536 additional abstracts in the MEDLINE database and suggest new MeSH terms for other events. We have successfully extracted information about transcript diversity and semiautomatically generated a database, LSAT, that can provide a quantitative understanding of the mechanisms behind tissue-specific gene expression. LSAT (Literature Support for Alternative Transcripts) is publicly available at http://www.bork.embl.de/LSAT/
Preservation Methods Differ in Fecal Microbiome Stability, Affecting Suitability for Field Studies.
Immediate freezing at -20°C or below has been considered the gold standard for microbiome preservation, yet this approach is not feasible for many field studies, ranging from anthropology to wildlife conservation. Here we tested five methods for preserving human and dog fecal specimens for periods of up to 8 weeks, including such types of variation as freeze-thaw cycles and the high temperature fluctuations often encountered under field conditions. We found that three of the methods-95% ethanol, FTA cards, and the OMNIgene Gut kit-can preserve samples sufficiently well at ambient temperatures such that differences at 8 weeks are comparable to differences among technical replicates. However, even the worst methods, including those with no fixative, were able to reveal microbiome differences between species at 8 weeks and between individuals after a week, allowing meta-analyses of samples collected using various methods when the effect of interest is expected to be larger than interindividual variation (although use of a single method within a study is strongly recommended to reduce batch effects). Encouragingly for FTA cards, the differences caused by this method are systematic and can be detrended. As in other studies, we strongly caution against the use of 70% ethanol. The results, spanning 15 individuals and over 1,200 samples, provide our most comprehensive view to date of storage effects on stool and provide a paradigm for the future studies of other sample types that will be required to provide a global view of microbial diversity and its interaction among humans, animals, and the environment. IMPORTANCE Our study, spanning 15 individuals and over 1,200 samples, provides our most comprehensive view to date of storage and stabilization effects on stool. We tested five methods for preserving human and dog fecal specimens for periods of up to 8 weeks, including the types of variation often encountered under field conditions, such as freeze-thaw cycles and high temperature fluctuations. We show that several cost-effective methods provide excellent microbiome stability out to 8 weeks, opening up a range of field studies with humans and wildlife that would otherwise be cost-prohibitive
GREEND: An Energy Consumption Dataset of Households in Italy and Austria
Home energy management systems can be used to monitor and optimize
consumption and local production from renewable energy. To assess solutions
before their deployment, researchers and designers of those systems demand for
energy consumption datasets. In this paper, we present the GREEND dataset,
containing detailed power usage information obtained through a measurement
campaign in households in Austria and Italy. We provide a description of
consumption scenarios and discuss design choices for the sensing
infrastructure. Finally, we benchmark the dataset with state-of-the-art
techniques in load disaggregation, occupancy detection and appliance usage
mining
Participatory Ecosystem Management Planning at Tuzla Lake (Turkey) Using Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping
A participatory environmental management plan was prepared for Tuzla Lake,
Turkey. Fuzzy cognitive mapping approach was used to obtain stakeholder views
and desires. Cognitive maps were prepared with 44 stakeholders (villagers,
local decisionmakers, government and non-government organization (NGO)
officials). Graph theory indices, statistical methods and "What-if" simulations
were used in the analysis. The most mentioned variables were livelihood,
agriculture and animal husbandry. The most central variable was agriculture for
local people (villagers and local decisionmakers) and education for NGO &
Government officials. All the stakeholders agreed that livelihood was increased
by agriculture and animal husbandry while hunting decreased birds and wildlife.
Although local people focused on their livelihoods, NGO & Government officials
focused on conservation of Tuzla Lake and education of local people.
Stakeholders indicated that the conservation status of Tuzla Lake should be
strengthened to conserve the ecosystem and biodiversity, which may be
negatively impacted by agriculture and irrigation. Stakeholders mentioned salt
extraction, ecotourism, and carpet weaving as alternative economic activities.
Cognitive mapping provided an effective tool for the inclusion of the
stakeholders' views and ensured initial participation in environmental planning
and policy making.Comment: 43 pages, 4 figure
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