Bio-inspired enhancement of reputation systems for intelligent environments

Providing security to the emerging field of ambient intelligence will be difficult if we rely only on existing techniques, given their dynamic and heterogeneous nature. Moreover, security demands of these systems are expected to grow, as many applications will require accurate context modeling. In this work we propose an enhancement to the reputation systems traditionally deployed for securing these systems. Different anomaly detectors are combined using the immunological paradigm to optimize reputation system performance in response to evolving security requirements. As an example, the experiments show how a combination of detectors based on unsupervised techniques (self-organizing maps and genetic algorithms) can help to significantly reduce the global response time of the reputation system. The proposed solution offers many benefits: scalability, fast response to adversarial activities, ability to detect unknown attacks, high adaptability, and high ability in detecting and confining attacks. For these reasons, we believe that our solution is capable of coping with the dynamism of ambient intelligence systems and the growing requirements of security demands

Download full PDF issue-Jefferson Translations, Vol. 4, No. 1, Winter 2009

This issue includes the announcement of a prestigious $11.6M grant to study heart failure, a recap of the Center for Translational Medicine\u27s 4th Annual Symposium, an update on hematology research in blood clots, a visit with Dr. Cheung the Nephrology Chief, faculty news, and the Leon Peris award winner

The Edna McConnell Clark Foundation's Tropical Disease Research Program: A 25-Year Retrospective Review 1976-1999

Documents and details the foundation's commitment to the program from its inception, and provides an analysis of its successes until the completion of the program in 1999

Progress Notes

https://scholarlyworks.lvhn.org/progress_notes/1254/thumbnail.jp

Religion and healthcare in the European Union : policy issues and trends

92 p. ; 24 cm.Libro ElectrónicoThe impact of religious doctrine on the law, policy and practice of healthcare is becoming increasingly significant for a whole range of issues – from euthanasia to fertility treatment; from belief-based exemption from performing abortion for doctors to the medication and dietary needs of religious patients; from organ donation to contraception; from circumcision to suicide. The relationship between religion and healthcare has a long history of evoking tension and debate in Europe. While developments in medical technologies and techniques question the religious beliefs of policy-makers, practitioners and patients across the European Union, research into the legal and policy responses by EU member states on such issues remains underdeveloped. The challenge of health policy, which is common across the European Union, is to balance fundamental human rights such as the right to equality, the right to health and the right to freedom of religion while adhering to secular principles. This report aims to map out the major issues at stake and to initiate a broader discussion on how the religious needs of the community, religious doctrine and religious practices across the European Union affect public health policy.Preface: The ‘Religion and Democracy in Europe’ initiative 7 About the authors 8 Introduction 9 Background 9 Purpose and conceptual framework 10 Terms, scope, methodology and structure 13 Summary of recommended main policy questions for further development 16 1 The legal and policy context in the European Union 17 1.1 European Union law 17 1.2 National law and policy 18 2 The influence of religion on national healthcare policy development 21 2.1 Conflict of duty in health‑service provision 22 2.1.1 Does national healthcare policy permit belief‑based exemption? 23 2.1.2 Scope and limits of belief‑based exemption in healthcare 23 2.1.3 Safeguards 27 2.2 Euthanasia 27 2.2.1 Active euthanasia 29 2.2.2 Passive euthanasia 30 2.2.3 Conflict of duty and safeguards related to euthanasia 32 2.3 Belief‑based patient decisions 34 2.3.1 Organ transplant and donation 34 2.3.2 Refusal of medical treatment 36 2.4 Emerging policy trends and outstanding policy questions 413 Healthcare policy and religious diversity 43 3.1 Healthcare policy and accommodating religious needs in hospitals 45 3.1.1 Religious assistance and faith space 45 3.1.2 Medication and dietary needs 47 3.1.3 The sex of the health practitioner and hospital clothing 48 3.1.4 After‑death issues: post‑mortem and burial 49 3.2 Healthcare policy and accommodating religion outside hospitals 50 3.2.1 Training of healthcare professionals 50 3.2.2 Substance abuse 52 3.3 Emerging policy trends and outstanding policy questions 53 4 Religion and sexual and reproductive healthcare 56 4.1 Contraception, HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases 56 4.1.1 The influence of religion on contraception policy 57 4.1.2 The influence of religion on HIV/AIDS education and prevention policies 58 4.1.3 The4.1.3 The influence of religion on other STD policy 60 4.2 Abortion and sterilization 61 4.2.1 Some religious positions on abortion 61 4.2.2 National policy positions 62 4.2.3 Safeguards when abortion is denied 63 4.2.4 Sterilization 65 4.3 Fertility treatment and reproductive techniques 65 4.4 Circumcision 68 4.5 Female genital mutilation 70 4.6 Emerging policy trends and outstanding policy questions 71 5 Religion and mental healthcare 73 5.1 The European policy context and the influence of religious institutions 74 5.2 The influence of religion on mental illness 77 5.2.1 Diagnosis of mental illness 77 5.2.2 Treatment of mental illness 78 5.3 Emerging policy trends and outstanding policy questions 82 Conclusion 84 Appendix A Roundtable participants 86 Appendix B Belief‑based exemption from healthcare provision 87 Appendix C National policy on euthanasia in some EU states 88 Appendix D National policy on abortion in some EU states 8

Advancing the Nation’s Health: A Guide to Public Health Research Needs, 2006-2015

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which includes the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, is recognized as a lead federal agency for protecting the health and safety of people at home and abroad, providing credible information to enhance health decisions, and promoting health through strong partnerships. Research is the foundation of CDC’s success and enables CDC to develop, improve and disseminate evidence-based interventions, programs, and decision support to improve health (Figure I-1). The primary focus of CDC’s research is to fill gaps in knowledge necessary to accomplish the agency’s Health Protection Goals (Chapter II), but it must also be CDC’s core public health mission and be responsive to new opportunities, threats, and future health needs. A recent analysis indicates that the evidence base to support much of public health practice has not kept pace with the growing requirements, and much more research is needed to demonstrate the best methods that support effective public health practices.https://www.cdc.gov/od/science/quality/docs/AdvancingTheNationsHealth.pd

Factors Influencing African American Mothers’ Adoption of Baby-Friendly Practices: Results of a Mixed-Methods Study

Purpose: The purpose of this dissertation was to explore southeastern United States (U.S.) rural-dwelling African American Mothers’ barriers and facilitators to adoption of Baby-Friendly practices and associated breastfeeding decisions. First, an integrative review was conducted to determine the impact in the U.S. of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) on early infant health and breastfeeding outcomes. Next, a mixed-methods study was conducted to explore barriers and facilitators to Baby-Friendly practice adoption for southeastern U.S. rural-dwelling African American mothers. Finally, a directed content analysis approach was used to explore themes of maternal perceptions of Baby-Friendly practices and breastfeeding experiences based upon concepts from the BFHI using the Social Ecologic Model (SEM). Problem: In the U.S., low rates of breastfeeding persist despite evidence that breast milk serves as optimal infant nutrition and provides protection from illnesses and diseases (APHA, 2007; Brenner & Buescher, 2011; CDC, 2014; DHHS, 2011; WHO, 2009). African American mothers and low-income mothers have historically had low rates of breastfeeding initiation, duration, and exclusivity, yet little is known about factors contributing to this trend (CDC, 2014; Labbok, Taylor, & Nickel, 2013; DHHS, 2011; VanDevanter, Gennaro, Budin, Calalang-Javiera, & Nguyen, 2014). The BFHI is a World Health Organization (WHO) and United Children’s Fund (UNICEF) sponsored curriculum to establish supportive environments and educational services that enhance mothers’ initial breastfeeding experiences and to influence maternal decisions to initiate and maintain breastfeeding (APHA, 2007; CDC, 2013; Philipp & Radford, 2006; Saadeh, 1996, 2012; WHO, 2009). A review of the research literature revealed no published studies that explored southeastern U.S. rural-dwelling African American mothers’ perceptions of barriers and facilitators to adoption of Baby-Friendly practices, including associated breastfeeding decisions (Munn, Newman, Mueller, Phillips, & Taylor, 2016). The specific aims of this dissertation were: Aim 1: To determine the impact in the U.S. of the BFHI on early infant health and breastfeeding outcomes using an integrative review of the literature. Aim 2: To determine factors influencing southeastern U.S. rural-dwelling African American mothers\u27 adoption of Baby-Friendly practices and associated breastfeeding decisions using a convergent parallel mixed-methods design. Aim 3: To explore the influence of barriers and facilitators to maternal adoption of Baby- Friendly practices, maternal perceptions, and experiences on breastfeeding decisions using a descriptive qualitative approach and directed content analysis with a group of both urban- and rural-dwelling southeastern U.S. African American mothers in a regional hospital serving a rural population. Design and Theoretical Basis: A convergent parallel mixed-methods study design, informed by the SEM (McLeroy, Bibeau, Steckler, & Glanz, 1988) guided the collection of quantitative and qualitative data during a designated two-month time-period. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected and analyzed separately, then converged to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the barriers and facilitators to maternal adoption of Baby-Friendly practices for the study population. Findings: Mothers who were African American and rural-dwelling had greater odds for non-adoption of Baby-Friendly practices relative to other groups (ORs = 5, 10 respectively, p-values ≤ 0.01). Mothers who received a lactation consult and had moderate or completed skin-to-skin contact had greater odds for adoption of Baby-Friendly practices relative to other groups (both OR ≥ 17.5, p-values \u3c0.05). Directed content analysis revealed six themes: maternal desire to breastfeed, infant state, maternal state, milk supply concerns, provider support, and access to breastfeeding equipment and support services. Convergence of quantitative and qualitative data provided descriptive explanation of predictors of maternal adoption of Baby-Friendly practices and offered a comprehensive depiction of barriers and facilitators to participation in Baby- Friendly practices and successful breastfeeding for the population. Conclusions: While lack of breastfeeding information, support, and equipment access hindered breastfeeding success, the presence of breastfeeding information, support, participation in maternal/infant bonding practices, and early breastfeeding increased maternal desire to breastfeed and resulted in greater breastfeeding success. These findings provide information for health care providers to effectively tailor Baby-Friendly practice implementation among rural dwelling and African American mothers and to increase their infant bonding and breastfeeding success