Authentication of Fingerprint Scanners

To counter certain security threats in biometric authentication systems, particularly in portable devices (e.g., phones and laptops), we have developed a technology for automated authentication of fingerprint scanners of exactly the same type, manufacturer, and model. The technology uses unique, persistent, and unalterable characteristics of the fingerprint scanners to detect attacks on the scanners, such as detecting an image containing the fingerprint pattern of the legitimate user and acquired with the authentic fingerprint scanner replaced by another image that still contains the fingerprint pattern of the legitimate user but has been acquired with another, unauthentic fingerprint scanner. The technology uses the conventional authentication steps of enrolment and verification, each of which can be implemented in a portable device, a desktop, or a remote server. The technology is extremely accurate, computationally efficient, robust in a wide range of conditions, does not require any hardware modifications, and can be added (as a software add-on) to systems already manufactured and placed into service. We have also implemented the technology in a demonstration prototype for both area and swipe scanners

Mechanical Models with Interval Parameters

In this paper we consider modelling of composite material with inclusions where the elastic material properties of both matrix and inclusions are uncertain and vary within prescribed bounds. Such mechanical systems, involving interval uncertainties and modelled by finite element method, can be described by parameter dependent systems of linear interval equations and process variables depending on the system solution. A newly developed hybrid interval approach for solving parametric interval linear systems is applied to the considered model and the results are compared to other interval methods. The hybrid approach provides very sharp bounds for the process variables - element strains and stresses. The sources for overestimation when dealing with interval computations are demonstrated. Based on the element strains and stresses, we introduce a definition for the values of nodal strains and stresses by using a set-theoretic approach

AUDIT: MONITORING OF SIDE EFFECTS USING GASS (GLASGOW ANTIPSYCHOTIC SIDE-EFFECT SCALE)

Background: Anti-psychotics are often prescribed off-licence for personality and affective disorders. The aim of this audit was to identify patients on specific wards within St Andrews Hospital and to determine how many of the Glasgow Antipsychotic Side- Effect Scale (GASS) forms had been completed as per policy. Methods: Thirteen patients of Dr Boris Iankov, Consultant Psychiatrist within the adolescent service at St Andrews, were identified. Their records were subsequently reviewed in order to determine how many had completed GASS forms. Results: It was found only 31% of patients had completed the GASS forms. The remaining patients were supported to do so. As a result 92% of patients are compliant with the policy. Recommendations: The suitability of the form for adolescents was brought into question due to the sensitive nature of certain side effects. Furthermore the form should be completed routinely on admission and at regular intervals

Economic Growth in European Regions: Divergence within Convergence

Studuji konvergenci a divergenci v regionech EU v letech 2000-2018. Používám údaje o HDP na obyvatele a modelované reálné výdaje v rámci režimů podpory EU regionů z členských zemí EU na úrovni členění NUTS2. Na toto nastavení aplikuji model β-konvergence. Ukazuji, že celková disperze regionů se od roku 2003 téměř bez přerušení zvyšuje. Pokud zahrnu fixní efekty v rámci jednotlivých zemí, rozptyl HDP na obyvatele se v letech 2000-2010 v průměru snižuje. Tento výsledek není zcela v souladu s regresní analýzou složených temp růstu a logaritmického počátečního HDP na obyvatele. Tento nesoulad je však vysvětlitelný vstupem nových regionů a prolínáním jednotlivých skupin regionů v roce 2018. Zjistil jsem, že členské země EU se od sebe navzájem liší, ale regiony v rámci jednotlivých zemí konvergují k průměru zemí. Další analýza ukazuje, že konvergence je robustní vůči zahrnutí regionálních charakteristik a podpory EU. Mé výsledky ukazují, že politika soudržnosti EU je při podpoře konvergence regionů EU úspěšná pouze částečně. Klíčová slova: β-konvergence, regionální politika EU, politika soudržnosti, HDP na obyvatele.CERGEFakulta sociálních vědFaculty of Social Science

Parameterization of stochastic multiscale triads

We discuss applications of a recently developed method for model reduction based on linear response theory of weakly coupled dynamical systems. We apply the weak coupling method to simple stochastic differential equations with slow and fast degrees of freedom. The weak coupling model reduction method results in general in a non-Markovian system; we therefore discuss the Markovianization of the system to allow for straightforward numerical integration. We compare the applied method to the equations obtained through homogenization in the limit of large timescale separation between slow and fast degrees of freedom. We numerically compare the ensemble spread from a fixed initial condition, correlation functions and exit times from a domain. The weak coupling method gives more accurate results in all test cases, albeit with a higher numerical cost

AUDIT: MONITORING OF SIDE EFFECTS USING GASS (GLASGOW ANTIPSYCHOTIC SIDE-EFFECT SCALE)

Background: Anti-psychotics are often prescribed off-licence for personality and affective disorders. The aim of this audit was to identify patients on specific wards within St Andrews Hospital and to determine how many of the Glasgow Antipsychotic Side- Effect Scale (GASS) forms had been completed as per policy. Methods: Thirteen patients of Dr Boris Iankov, Consultant Psychiatrist within the adolescent service at St Andrews, were identified. Their records were subsequently reviewed in order to determine how many had completed GASS forms. Results: It was found only 31% of patients had completed the GASS forms. The remaining patients were supported to do so. As a result 92% of patients are compliant with the policy. Recommendations: The suitability of the form for adolescents was brought into question due to the sensitive nature of certain side effects. Furthermore the form should be completed routinely on admission and at regular intervals

Quantifying the financial impact of climate change on Australian local government roads

Published: 11 January 2017Australia’s 560 Councils are responsible for assets worth approximately $270 billion, many of which have a life span >50 years and so will be affected by climate change. Maintenance and replacement of Council infrastructure is guided by principles, models and tools in the International Infrastructure Management Manual that currently do not allow for climate change impacts or the likely flow-on effects to asset and financial management. This paper describes a financial simulation model developed to calculate the financial impacts of climate change on three major asset classes of importance to Australian Councils: hotmix sealed, spray sealed and unsealed roads. The research goes beyond previous studies of climate change impacts on roads in that it provides a location specific toolkit that is designed to assist councils in their asset management and planned maintenance programmes. Two categories of inputs are required for the model: climate inputs, relating specifically to baseline temperature and rainfall distributions and climate change parameters for temperature and rainfall; and engineering inputs, relating specifically to the three road types and the key parameters of their performance and useful lives over the scenario period. The baseline distributions are then shifted mathematically within the model by the mean change as projected by a selected Global Climate Model (GCM) scenario. Outputs of the model are the historical baseline climate variable distributions and the climate change (CC) impacts on road performance are in the form of changes to the useful life of the asset and associated changes in asset resurfacing and rehabilitation costs. Ten case study local councils in southern Australia are examined. Using IPCC AR4 scenarios, the results suggest that the incremental impact of climate change on all three types of road infrastructure modelled will be generally low. There are small cost reductions over the period for all road types as a result of the expected drying and warming trends in the climate.Jacqueline Balston, Steven Li, Ivan Iankov, Jon Kellett and Geoff Well

Nano-indentation investigations of the mechanical properties of thin tio2, wo3 and their composites layers, deposited by spray pyrolysis

The aim of the present work is to determine the indentation hardness (HIT) and indentation modulus (EIT) of pure TiO2 and WO3 thin films, as well as thin films composed of different TiO2 and WO3 proportions and deposited by spray pyrolysis on a stainless-steel (OC 404) substrate. Since the HIT and EIT of the films are properties expected to depend on the phase-chemical composition, morphology, structure and their changes when increasing the WO3 content in the TiO2-WO3 composite film, the correlation between the mechanical and structural properties is also addressed. The obtained results show that HIT and EIT strongly depend on the concentration of the co-deposited WO3. The determined values of HIT and EIT noticeably decrease (in comparison with HIT and EIT of the pure (100 %) TiO2 layer) when very low concentrations of WO3 (up to 2.5 % of W) are co-deposited. At higher concentrations of the co-deposited WO3 (more than 2.5 % of W), the HIT and EIT values increase almost linearly with an increase of the WO3 in the precursor. The observed non-proportional behavior of HIT and EIT is associated with specific changes of the structure and a development of defects in the deposited TiO2-WO3 composite phase, as well as with the increase in the amount of the formed separate WO3 phase (with increasing of WO3 (H2W3O12) in the working solution) surrounded by solitary TiO2 particles

Delivery of Oncolytic Reovirus by Cell Carriers

Oncolytic virus therapy is a rapidly expanding branch of cancer immunotherapy and represents a genuine opportunity to improve currently available treatment options. However, as single agents oncolytic viruses have shown only moderate clinical benefit and many challenges remain before their full potential is realized. Central to this is the efficient delivery of the virus to the tumor site and potentiation of the antitumor immune response. This chapter describes the loading of oncolytic reovirus onto monocytes which act as carriers for delivery of the virus to the tumor site and, as antigen presenting cells, may also thereby potentiate the development of an adaptive antitumor immune response

Cancer Screening by Systemic Administration of a Gene Delivery Vector Encoding Tumor-Selective Secretable Biomarker Expression

Cancer biomarkers facilitate screening and early detection but are known for only a few cancer types. We demonstrated the principle of inducing tumors to secrete a serum biomarker using a systemically administered gene delivery vector that targets tumors for selective expression of an engineered cassette. We exploited tumor-selective replication of a conditionally replicative Herpes simplex virus (HSV) combined with a replication-dependent late viral promoter to achieve tumor-selective biomarker expression as an example gene delivery vector. Virus replication, cytotoxicity and biomarker production were low in quiescent normal human foreskin keratinocytes and high in cancer cells in vitro. Following intravenous injection of virus >90% of tumor-bearing mice exhibited higher levels of biomarker than non-tumor-bearing mice and upon necropsy, we detected virus exclusively in tumors. Our strategy of forcing tumors to secrete a serum biomarker could be useful for cancer screening in high-risk patients, and possibly for monitoring response to therapy. In addition, because oncolytic vectors for tumor specific gene delivery are cytotoxic, they may supplement our screening strategy as a “theragnostic” agent. The cancer screening approach presented in this work introduces a paradigm shift in the utility of gene delivery which we foresee being improved by alternative vectors targeting gene delivery and expression to tumors. Refining this approach will usher a new era for clinical cancer screening that may be implemented in the developed and undeveloped world