Understanding privacy leakage concerns in Facebook: A longitudinal case study

This thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel UniversityThis thesis focuses on examining users’ perceptions of privacy leakage in Facebook – the world’s largest and most popular social network site (SNS). The global popularity of this SNS offers a hugely tempting resource for organisations engaged in online business. The personal data willingly shared between online friends’ networks intuitively appears to be a natural extension of current advertising strategies such as word-of-mouth and viral marketing. Therefore organisations are increasingly adopting innovative ways to exploit the detail-rich personal data of SNS users for business marketing. However, commercial use of such personal information has provoked outrage amongst Facebook users and has radically highlighted the issue of privacy leakage. To date, little is known about how SNS users perceive such leakage of privacy. So a greater understanding of the form and nature of SNS users’ concerns about privacy leakage would contribute to the current literature as well as help to formulate best practice guidelines for organisations. Given the fluid, context-dependent and temporal nature of privacy, a longitudinal case study representing the launch of Facebook’s social Ads programme was conducted to investigate the phenomenon of privacy leakage within its real-life setting. A qualitative user blogs commentary was collected between November 2007 and December 2010 during the two-stage launch of the social Ads programme. Grounded theory data analysis procedures were used to analyse users’ blog postings. The resulting taxonomy shows that business integrity, user control, transparency, data protection breaches, automatic information broadcast and information leak are the core privacy leakage concerns of Facebook users. Privacy leakage concerns suggest three limits, or levels: organisational, user and legal, which provide the basis to understanding the nature and scope of the exploitation of SNS users’ data for commercial purposes. The case study reported herein is novel, as existing empirical research has not identified and analysed privacy leakage concerns of Facebook users

Identification of phytochemicals as potential inhibitors against E6 protein of High-Risk Human Papillomavirus 16(HPV 16) via In-Silico Structure-Based Virtual Screening Approach

Background: The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a potentially fatal infection and the most common cause of cancer related feminine mortality around the world, thus requiring the design of anticancer drugs. The E6 oncoprotein is one of the most investigated therapeutic targets for cancer treatment. E6 oncoprotein plays a major role in tumor progression and cell immortalization. The E6 protein leads to the degradation of tumor suppressor protein P53 via interacting with E6 binding protein E6AP. Therefore, inhibiting the E6 protein can be a potential target for HPV.Methods: In this study we performed virtual screening of 2296 phytochemicals library from MPD3 database against E6 protein. Results: Three compounds were picked out as potential inhibitors. These compounds were selected  considering their binding energy and hydrogen bond interactions. Further to verify the stability of the docked complexes 100ns molecular dynamics simulations were carried out.Conclusion: Keeping in view the numerous analyses, we suggest that the potential three compounds could prove relevancy regarding the anti-HPV therapeutic advancements

LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF PYELOPLASTY IN CHILDREN WITH POORLY FUNCTIONING KIDNEYS: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY.

Background: Pediatric pyeloplasty in ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) is indicated in renal impaired drainage or renal function deterioration. The improvement of renal function after pediatric pyeloplasty is still controversial in poorly functioning kidneys. Past studies on poorly functioning kidneys had a variable SRF specification, and these studies often had a limited number of patients so that they did not achieve statistical significance. Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness and long-term results of pyeloplasty in children with poorly functioning kidneys. Method: Patients who underwent pyeloplasty at Department of Urology, Rajendra Institute of Medical Science, Ranchi for last twelve years were the subject of a retrospective data study. Postoperative outcome was the parameter under study. Success was measured by either symptom improvement or better drainage on postoperative Tc-99m DTPA renography, which was performed after two months and then yearly after that. Results: 60 individuals were enrolled in the study, with a mean age of 8.5 years (3 months to 12 years), a male-to-female ratio of 2:1, and poor function on the isotope renogram (31%). The ratio of left to right sides was 1.2:1. All patients had dismembered pyeloplasty procedures. 37 patients (66.8%) underwent laparoscopic pyeloplasty, whereas 23 (33.2%) underwent open surgery. 35 patients had follow-up renograms available; of these, 30 showed improved drainage and no further decline in renal function, while 5 displayed an obstructed pattern; of these, 3 patients had noticeably worsened split function, and the other two underwent a second open pyeloplasty. A mean follow-up of 21.5 months revealed a 91% overall success rate. Conclusion:  In the pediatric age group, pyeloplasty provides satisfactory intermediate results in kidneys with inadequate function

Optimization of hot press forging parameters in direct recycling of aluminium chip (AA 6061)

This study introduces a new approach of direct recycling using the hot press forging process that eliminates the two intermediate processes of cold-compact and pre-heating. This method leads to low energy consumption without intervening the metallurgical processes. In this study, the optimum of machined chips from high speed milling is recycled by hot press forging. The mechanical properties and surface integrity of the different chips were investigated. The performance of recycled aluminium AA 6061 chips in the mechanical and physical properties were compared with the original aluminium billet. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to develop mathematical model of the effects on pre-compaction cycle, holding time and suitable pressure significant to the process. It is hoped that, utilization of primary metal could be fully utilized by direct recycling technique (hot press forging) introduced in this study and at the same time developing a sustainable manufacturing process technology for future needs

APOBEC3G Variant (rs6001417) CG and GG Genotypes and their protective feature against HIV-1 Infection in Pakistani Dwelled Community

Background: APOBEC3G (Apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing enzyme, catalytic polypeptide-like 3G) gene is one of the genetic host factors, have been linked with HIV-1 AIDS predisposing and protection in different residence populations. The investigation of genetic marker (APOBEC3G) variant (rs6001417) CC, CG and GG genotypes in Pakistan.Methods: The extraction of DNA, the DNA Rapid Salting-out method was used. Then the observed DNA with electrophoresis technique referred for quantitative real-time PCR to identify the APOBEC3G variant rs6001417 genotypes and Taq Man genotyping.  Results: Three genotypes of rs6001417 (CC, CG and GG) were compared both in HIV-1 infected patients and healthy control groups (p=0.73, p=0.007, p=0.01 respectively). The rs6001417 CG and GG genotype demonstrated a significant involvement in both the healthy and infected individuals and portraying possible protective effect against HIV-1 infection with predictive value of 36.43% and 13.57% respectively.Conclusion: APOBEC3G (rs6001417) CG and GG genotypes may have a protective feature in the progression of HIV-1 infection and we may use this as a preliminary predictive marker in the country for HIV-1 infected individuals as well.Keywords: HIV-1; APOBEC3G; Predictive marker; Predictive value; Real-time PC

Exploring the Injury Severity Risk Factors in Fatal Crashes with Neural Network

A better understanding of circumstances contributing to the severity outcome of traffic crashes is an important goal of road safety studies. An in-depth crash injury severity analysis is vital for the proactive implementation of appropriate mitigation strategies. This study proposes an improved feed-forward neural network (FFNN) model for predicting injury severity associated with individual crashes using three years (2017–2019) of crash data collected along 15 rural highways in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). A total of 12,566 crashes were recorded during the study period with a binary injury severity outcome (fatal or non-fatal injury) for the variable to be predicted. FFNN architecture with back-propagation (BP) as a training algorithm, logistic as activation function, and six number of hidden neurons in the hidden layer yielded the best model performance. Results of model prediction for the test data were analyzed using different evaluation metrics such as overall accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity. Prediction results showed the adequacy and robust performance of the proposed method. A detailed sensitivity analysis of the optimized NN was also performed to show the impact and relative influence of different predictor variables on resulting crash injury severity. The sensitivity analysis results indicated that factors such as traffic volume, average travel speeds, weather conditions, on-site damage conditions, road and vehicle type, and involvement of pedestrians are the most sensitive variables. The methods applied in this study could be used in big data analysis of crash data, which can serve as a rapid-useful tool for policymakers to improve highway safety

Male predominant association with Apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing enzyme, catalytic polypeptide-like 3G variants (rs6001417, rs35228531, rs8177832) predict protection against HIV-1 infection

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, it is a global health concern mainly lead to acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). There are numerous limitations of this infection particularly in the form of host factors which may limit and interfere HIV-1 replication. The most notable host factors which hinder HIV-1 DNA propagation is the apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing enzyme, catalytic polypeptide- like 3G (APOBEC3G). Any genetic polymorphism of this substantial host factor may impact the host susceptibility pattern to HIV viral infection in different part of the world. The aim of this study to examine genetic variants (rs6001417, rs35228531, rs8177832) effecting HIV-1 infection.Method: Three variants of APOBEC3G gene polymorphism were genotyped while using RT-PCR method. Frequency distribution of these genotypes was evaluated in both the HIV-1 and healthy group.Results: The rs6001417 CG (p = 0.03) and rs35228531 CT (p = 0.01) genotypes were found as protective elements, while rs35228531 TT (p = 0.02) and rs8177832 AA (p = 0.03) genotypes had shown susceptibility against the HIV-1 infection. Our data suggest, rs35228531 CT (p = 0.003) and rs8177832 AA (P = <0.001) genotypes have predominant incidences in HIV-1 male population than healthy control.Conclusion: We predict rs6001417 CG, rs35228531 CT as protective and rs35228531 TT, rs8177832 AA genotypes as a predisposing tool, against the HIV-1 infection in a section of Pakistani population. In addition, male gender was found predominantly high in both protective genotype rs35228531 CT (p = 0.003) and predisposing genotype rs8177832 AA (p = <0.001). The predominant contribution may help the patient to be predict about the status of HIV infection, however, extra efforts are required to study larger cohort of patients to better elucidate the association

Expression level of serum Interleukin-37 in Rheumatoid Arthritis patients and its correlation with Disease Activity Score

Background: Interleukin-37 (IL-37) is a member of IL-1 cytokine family. IL-37 immunosuppresses the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis via down-regulating pro-inflammatory cytokines. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the expression level of IL-37 in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and its correlation with the disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS-28).Methods: In the current study, forty-six RA patients, having a ratio of 19 males and 27 females, and twenty healthy controls (11 males and 9 females) were included. DAS-28 was measured on the basis of patients’ clinical observations of the tender and swollen joints, physical examination and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). ESR was measured according to the Westergren method. Serum IL-37 level was measured by ELISA. Depending upon the DAS28 calculations the patients were divided in four groups as; 19 in remission, 6 had mild disease activity, 6 were in moderate state and 15 patients were found with severe disease activity.Results: Serum IL-37 levels were found markedly raised in RA patients (mean = 862.6) than in healthy individuals (mean ± SD = 4.4 ± 1.74 pg/ml). Further, our results suggest that level of IL-37 increased significantly from mild (mean ± SD = 829.17 ± 61.40 pg/ml) to moderate (mean ± SD = 1307.5 ± 165.1 pg/ml) and severe (mean ± SD = 1607 ± 86.8 pg/ml) disease prognosis.Conclusion: Thus we conclude, IL-37 has a positive correlation with DAS28 and thus has a potential role in RA pathogenesis. Keywords: Interleukin 37, rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune disorder, inflammation, disease activity scor