Semantic representation of monogenean haptoral Bar image annotation

Background Digitised monogenean images are usually stored in file system directories in an unstructured manner. In this paper we propose a semantic representation of these images in the form of a Monogenean Haptoral Bar Image (MHBI) ontology, which are annotated with taxonomic classification, diagnostic hard part and image properties. The data we used are basically of the monogenean species found in fish, thus we built a simple Fish ontology to demonstrate how the host (fish) ontology can be linked to the MHBI ontology. This will enable linking of information from the monogenean ontology to the host species found in the fish ontology without changing the underlying schema for either of the ontologies. Results In this paper, we utilized the Taxonomic Data Working Group Life Sciences Identifier (TDWG LSID) vocabulary to represent our data and defined a new vocabulary which is specific for annotating monogenean haptoral bar images to develop the MHBI ontology and a merged MHBI-Fish ontologies. These ontologies are successfully evaluated using five criteria which are clarity, coherence, extendibility, ontology commitment and encoding bias Conclusions In this paper, we show that unstructured data can be represented in a structured form using semantics. In the process, we have come up with a new vocabulary for annotating the monogenean images with textual information. The proposed monogenean image ontology will form the basis of a monogenean knowledge base to assist researchers in retrieving information for their analysis

Decision-Support Framework for Location Planning of New Markets in the Retail Industry

Location selection can be a complex decision involving several factors at various levels and a good location can be a source of competitive advantage for the firm. Retail Location planning is still in its nascent stage within India, which has become the target of many international retailers, due to the huge potential it offers. A list of location determinants that affect retail location selection at the regional (city) and intra-city (trading area) levels is developed. The regional determinant are evaluated and analysed for twenty cities (with highest average household incomes) in India. The analysis is based on a combination of Factor-Rating and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and scenario analysis. The megacity - Delhi (tied with Mumbai), boomtown - Surat and, niche city - Chandigarh were seen as the top-performing cities within their categories. The top-performing niche city - Chandigarh - is chosen for the intra-city analysis (due to the time constraint) although all the four cities mentioned above are recommended for intra-city analysis. The intra-city analysis is based on a combination of Geographic Information System (GIS), Factor-Rating and AHP. The trading areas within Chandigarh are compared across the three dimensions of cost, quality and target population and ‘Industrial and Business Park’ is recommended as the most favourable trading area for site-selection. A detailed discussion explains the reusable conceptual framework for retail location planning developed as part of this study. The data collection process at the regional level was an extensive exercise. Reliable indicators were chosen from various authentic sources, for the qualitative location selection factors within the study. Due to data availability issues at the intra-city level, primary data sources such as surveys and interviews have been used. Due to similar issues around data availability, a set of factors that can be explored further have been recommended

Structure determination of an anti-HIV-1 Fab 447-52D–peptide complex from an epitaxially twinned data set

Separation of two individual lattices within an epitaxially twinned data set allowed the crystal structure of the V3-specific neutralizing antibody 447-52D in complex with a V3 peptide (UG1033) to be determined. The structure confirms that the neutralization breadth of Fab 447-52D is likely to be attributable to the extensive focus on main-chain hydrogen-bond interactions with the peptide that permit the recognition of a range of V3 sequences

Study investigating the role of skeletal muscle mass estimation in metastatic spinal cord compression

Background Age-related loss of functional muscle mass is associated with reduced functional ability and life expectancy. In disseminated cancer, age-related muscle loss may be exacerbated by cachexia and poor nutritional intake, increasing functional decline, morbidity and accelerate death. Patients with spinal metastases frequently present for decompressive surgery with decision to operate based upon functional assessment. A subjective assessment of physical performance has, however, been shown to be a poor indicator of life expectancy in these patients. We aimed to develop an objective measure based upon lean muscle mass to aid decision making, in these individuals, by investigating the association between muscle mass and 1-year survival. Methods Muscle mass was calculated as total psoas area (TPA)/ vertebral body area (VBA), by two independent blinded doctors from CT images, acquired within 7 days of spinal metastases surgery, at the mid L3 vertebral level. Outcome at 1 year following surgery was recorded from a prospectively updated metastatic spinal cord compression database. Results 86 patients were followed for 1 year, with an overall mortality of 39.5 %. Mortality rates at 1 year were significantly high among patients in the lowest quartile of muscle mass, compared with those in the highest quartile (57.1 vs 23.8 %, p = 0.02). Conclusion Death within 1 year in individuals with spinal metastases is related to lean muscle mass at presentation. Assessment of lean muscle mass may inform decision to operate in patients with spinal metastases

Engineering of combination particles for improved therapeutic efficacy

EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Decision-Support Framework for Location Planning of New Markets in the Retail Industry

Location selection can be a complex decision involving several factors at various levels and a good location can be a source of competitive advantage for the firm. Retail Location planning is still in its nascent stage within India, which has become the target of many international retailers, due to the huge potential it offers. A list of location determinants that affect retail location selection at the regional (city) and intra-city (trading area) levels is developed. The regional determinant are evaluated and analysed for twenty cities (with highest average household incomes) in India. The analysis is based on a combination of Factor-Rating and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and scenario analysis. The megacity - Delhi (tied with Mumbai), boomtown - Surat and, niche city - Chandigarh were seen as the top-performing cities within their categories. The top-performing niche city - Chandigarh - is chosen for the intra-city analysis (due to the time constraint) although all the four cities mentioned above are recommended for intra-city analysis. The intra-city analysis is based on a combination of Geographic Information System (GIS), Factor-Rating and AHP. The trading areas within Chandigarh are compared across the three dimensions of cost, quality and target population and ‘Industrial and Business Park’ is recommended as the most favourable trading area for site-selection. A detailed discussion explains the reusable conceptual framework for retail location planning developed as part of this study. The data collection process at the regional level was an extensive exercise. Reliable indicators were chosen from various authentic sources, for the qualitative location selection factors within the study. Due to data availability issues at the intra-city level, primary data sources such as surveys and interviews have been used. Due to similar issues around data availability, a set of factors that can be explored further have been recommended

Preface

Current Biomedical Databases are independently administered in geographically distinct locations, lending them almost ideally to adoption of intelligent data management approaches. This book focuses on research issues, problems and opportunities in Biomedical Data Infrastructure identifying new issues and directions for future research in Biomedical Data and Information Retrieval, Semantics in Biomedicine, and Biomedical Data Modeling and Analysis. The book will be a useful guide for researchers, practitioners, and graduate-level students interested in learning state-of-the-art development in biomedical data management

Data intensive computing for biodiversity

This book is focused on the development of a data integration framework for retrieval of biodiversity information from heterogeneous and distributed data sources. The data integration system proposed in this book links remote databases in a networked environment, supports heterogeneous databases and data formats, links databases hosted on multiple platforms, and provides data security for database owners by allowing them to keep and maintain their own data and to choose information to be shared and linked. The book is a useful guide for researchers, practitioners, and graduate-level students interested in learning state-of-the-art development for data integration in biodiversity

Advances in Biomedical Infrastructure 2013

Current Biomedical Databases are independently administered in geographically distinct locations, lending them almost ideally to adoption of intelligent data management approaches. This book focuses on research issues, problems and opportunities in Biomedical Data Infrastructure identifying new issues and directions for future research in Biomedical Data and Information Retrieval, Semantics in Biomedicine, and Biomedical Data Modeling and Analysis. The book will be a useful guide for researchers, practitioners, and graduate-level students interested in learning state-of-the-art development in biomedical data management