ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN EMERGING MARKETS : AN EXAMINATION OF CAUSAL AND EFFECTUAL APPROACHES TO ENTREPRENEURIAL DECISION MAKING

関西学院大

SCADA System Testbed for Cybersecurity Research Using Machine Learning Approach

This paper presents the development of a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system testbed used for cybersecurity research. The testbed consists of a water storage tank's control system, which is a stage in the process of water treatment and distribution. Sophisticated cyber-attacks were conducted against the testbed. During the attacks, the network traffic was captured, and features were extracted from the traffic to build a dataset for training and testing different machine learning algorithms. Five traditional machine learning algorithms were trained to detect the attacks: Random Forest, Decision Tree, Logistic Regression, Naive Bayes and KNN. Then, the trained machine learning models were built and deployed in the network, where new tests were made using online network traffic. The performance obtained during the training and testing of the machine learning models was compared to the performance obtained during the online deployment of these models in the network. The results show the efficiency of the machine learning models in detecting the attacks in real time. The testbed provides a good understanding of the effects and consequences of attacks on real SCADA environmentsComment: E-Preprin

Physicochemical sensitivities of tropical peat to electrokinetic environment

Tropical peat is unconsolidated superficial deposits with high non-crystalline colloid (humus) content, constituting the subsurface of wetland systems. Laboratory experiments were carried out on a very slightly decomposed fibric and a highly decomposed amorphous, undisturbed tropical peat soils, to determine the physicochemical effects on the peats due to electrokinetic (EK) treatment in terms of mechanisms and resulting effects in the presence of peat water. The different specimens were treated for 3, 6, 12, and 20-day periods. A constant electrical potential of 40 V was applied across the specimens. The untreated and treated specimens were tested for liquid limit (LL), undrained shear strength (Su), water content (WC), zeta potential (¥æ), pH, and cation exchange capacity (CEC). The peat water flew from anode to cathode because of the negative charges on the humus. In the vicinity of the anode, the CEC and ¥æ of the specimens decreased, and the Su and LL of the specimens increased because of the acidic conditions, while alkaline conditions at the cathode had an opposite effect. The sensitivity of the amorphous peat to the EK environment was higher than the sensitivity of the fibric peat to the EK environment because of larger quantities of the colloids and quality of the charges. The acid/base distributions in EK soil processing influenced the soil surface charges, which were fully pH-dependent, resulting in the variations of the CEC and ¥æ. The ¥æ variations caused thinning and expanding of the diffuse double layer around the humus particles, and were linked to the flocculation and dispersion of the particles, and subsequently affected the LL and Su of the specimens. The study was found its significance in that it confirmed the relationship between the degree of peat decomposition and the peat sensitivity to the EK treatment

Cost-effectiveness of malaria diagnosis using rapid diagnostic tests compared to microscopy or clinical symptoms alone in Afghanistan

Background Improving access to parasitological diagnosis of malaria is a central strategy for control and elimination of the disease. Malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are relatively easy to perform and could be used in primary level clinics to increase coverage of diagnostics and improve treatment of malaria.<p></p> Methods A cost-effectiveness analysis was undertaken of RDT-based diagnosis in public health sector facilities in Afghanistan comparing the societal and health sector costs of RDTs versus microscopy and RDTs versus clinical diagnosis in low and moderate transmission areas. The effect measure was ‘appropriate treatment for malaria’ defined using a reference diagnosis. Effects were obtained from a recent trial of RDTs in 22 public health centres with cost data collected directly from health centres and from patients enrolled in the trial. Decision models were used to compare the cost of RDT diagnosis versus the current diagnostic method in use at the clinic per appropriately treated case (incremental cost-effectiveness ratio, ICER).<p></p> Results RDT diagnosis of Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum malaria in patients with uncomplicated febrile illness had higher effectiveness and lower cost compared to microscopy and was cost-effective across the moderate and low transmission settings. RDTs remained cost-effective when microscopy was used for other clinical purposes. In the low transmission setting, RDTs were much more effective than clinical diagnosis (65.2% (212/325) vs 12.5% (40/321)) but at an additional cost (ICER) of US$4.5 per appropriately treated patient including a health sector cost (ICER) of US$2.5 and household cost of US$2.0. Sensitivity analysis, which varied drug costs, indicated that RDTs would remain cost-effective if artemisinin combination therapy was used for treating both P. vivax and P. falciparum. Cost-effectiveness of microscopy relative to RDT is further reduced if the former is used exclusively for malaria diagnosis. In the health service setting of Afghanistan, RDTs are a cost-effective intervention compared to microscopy.<p></p> Conclusions RDTs remain cost-effective across a range of drug costs and if microscopy is used for a range of diagnostic services. RDTs have significant advantages over clinical diagnosis with minor increases in the cost of service provision.<p></p&gt

Electroosmotic phenomena in organic soils

Organic soils or peat represent an accumulation of disintegrated plant remains which have been preserved under condition of incomplete aeration and high water content. In order to develop a fundamental understanding of electroosmotic phenomena in peat, initially microelectrophoresis studies were carried out to conceptualize the electrokinetic phenomena. Then electroosmosis experiments were conducted on rigid cube samples containing 0.0001 M NaCl-water saturated peat. The open-anode and open-cathode systems were employed to the soil samples. Distilled Water (DW) were used as anolyte and catholyte. The experiments were carried out via applications of diffrent DC electrical potentials. The results of microelectrophoresis study showed changes of zeta potential due to the effect of HCl and NaOH. The correlations between zeta potential and pH were found. The negative charge of peat is high pH dependent and the surface charge was dropped to zero at pH around 3. The high degree of decomposition resulted in the higher zeta potential in peat. It was also experimentally found that the electroosmotic flow in peat is feasible. The direction of electroosmotic flows were from the anode to cathode

Cost-effectiveness of malaria diagnosis using rapid diagnostic tests compared to microscopy or clinical symptoms alone in Afghanistan.

BACKGROUND: Improving access to parasitological diagnosis of malaria is a central strategy for control and elimination of the disease. Malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are relatively easy to perform and could be used in primary level clinics to increase coverage of diagnostics and improve treatment of malaria. METHODS: A cost-effectiveness analysis was undertaken of RDT-based diagnosis in public health sector facilities in Afghanistan comparing the societal and health sector costs of RDTs versus microscopy and RDTs versus clinical diagnosis in low and moderate transmission areas. The effect measure was 'appropriate treatment for malaria' defined using a reference diagnosis. Effects were obtained from a recent trial of RDTs in 22 public health centres with cost data collected directly from health centres and from patients enrolled in the trial. Decision models were used to compare the cost of RDT diagnosis versus the current diagnostic method in use at the clinic per appropriately treated case (incremental cost-effectiveness ratio, ICER). RESULTS: RDT diagnosis of Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum malaria in patients with uncomplicated febrile illness had higher effectiveness and lower cost compared to microscopy and was cost-effective across the moderate and low transmission settings. RDTs remained cost-effective when microscopy was used for other clinical purposes. In the low transmission setting, RDTs were much more effective than clinical diagnosis (65.2% (212/325) vs 12.5% (40/321)) but at an additional cost (ICER) of US$4.5 per appropriately treated patient including a health sector cost (ICER) of US$2.5 and household cost of US$2.0. Sensitivity analysis, which varied drug costs, indicated that RDTs would remain cost-effective if artemisinin combination therapy was used for treating both P. vivax and P. falciparum. Cost-effectiveness of microscopy relative to RDT is further reduced if the former is used exclusively for malaria diagnosis. In the health service setting of Afghanistan, RDTs are a cost-effective intervention compared to microscopy. CONCLUSIONS: RDTs remain cost-effective across a range of drug costs and if microscopy is used for a range of diagnostic services. RDTs have significant advantages over clinical diagnosis with minor increases in the cost of service provision. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under identifier NCT00935688

Prolonged, Low-Dose Anti-Thymocyte Globulin, Combined with CTLA4-Ig, Promotes Engraftment in a Stringent Transplant Model

Background: Despite significant nephrotoxicity, calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) remain the cornerstone of immunosuppression in solid organ transplantation. We, along with others, have reported tolerogenic properties of anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG, Thymoglobulin®), evinced by its ability both to spare Tregs from depletion in vivo and, when administered at low, non-depleting doses, to expand Tregs ex vivo. Clinical trials investigating B7/CD28 blockade (LEA29Y, Belatacept) in kidney transplant recipients have proven that the replacement of toxic CNI use is feasible in selected populations. Methods: Rabbit polyclonal anti-murine thymocyte globulin (mATG) was administered as induction and/or prolonged, low-dose therapy, in combination with CTLA4-Ig, in a stringent, fully MHC-mismatched murine skin transplant model to assess graft survival and mechanisms of action. Results: Prolonged, low-dose mATG, combined with CTLA4-Ig, effectively promotes engraftment in a stringent transplant model. Our data demonstrate that mATG achieves graft acceptance primarily by promoting Tregs, while CTLA4-Ig enhances mATG function by limiting activation of the effector T cell pool in the early stages of treatment, and by inhibiting production of anti-rabbit antibodies in the maintenance phase, thereby promoting regulation of alloreactivity. Conclusion: These data provide the rationale for development of novel, CNI-free clinical protocols in human transplant recipients

The Impact of High Performance Work System (HPWS) on Employee Productivity as Related to Organizational Identity and Job Engagement

High-performance work systems (HPWS) are designed to improve the effectiveness and productivity of employees. In addition, the utilization of this system can reduce costs for the organization, while still creating value for employees. Organizations benefit from creating human resource (HR) systems that increase value to all stakeholders. Factors of HPWS investigated are organizational identity, job engagement, employee creativity, employee voice, and employee proactive behavior. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between HPWS, organizational identity, job engagement, creativity, and employee voice and its impact on employees and organizational performance.The researcher applied quantitative research questions; the data was gathered from web-based surveys emailed to 450 employees which 319 surveys questionnaires were returned. Subsequently, random selection of fully completed surveys was selected to be analyzed. The study establishes the existence of correlations between high performance work systems, organizational identity, employee creativity, and employee proactive behavior. This shows that application of HPWS would enhance employee productivity and organizational performance. Keywords: high-performance work system, HPWS, job engagement, organizational identity, employee voice, employee proactive behavior, employee creativity, human resource theorie

Investigating the Association Between Vitamin D and Anti-Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies in Hypothyroid Iraqi Patients

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between vitamin D quantities and anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies (anti-TPO) in Iraqi hypothyroidism patients and healthy individuals, using statistical analyses including the Cs-T, t-test, and P-values.Methods: This study collected samples from hypothyroidism patients and healthy individuals as the control group. Statistical analyses were conducted using the Cs-T, t-test, and P-values to compare the results of vitamin D quantities and anti-TPO levels between the two groups.Results: The study found no statistically significant difference in the number of AA and AC genotypes between the two groups (p = 0.21 at a significance level of 0.05). However, a significant difference was observed in the quantity of CC, CT, and TT genotypes (p = 0.02). The mean vitamin D levels in healthy individuals were significantly different from those with thyroid gland conditions (p = 0.010), and there was a significant difference in the mean anti-TPO levels in the serum of healthy individuals and individuals with thyroid disorders (p < 0.0001). The correlation coefficient suggested a converse relationship between vitamin D concentration and anti-TPO concentration in both healthy individuals and those with autoimmune-thyroid conditions

Antibacterial Activities of Volatile oils from mentha Piperia Against Growth of Pathogenic Bacteria

The study included the extraction of volatile oil from Mentha piperita which was 1.3 % in the leaves and flowers . Volatile oil of the Mentha piperita leaves had special aromatic odour, pale yellow color, slightly pungent taste . The specific gravity and refractive index were (0.9794) and ( 1.464) respectively. The inhibition activity of the Mentha piperita Volatile oil extracts were studied on some pathogenic microorganisms like Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, Proteus sp, and Klebsiella pneumoniae . The result showed that the volatile oil had an inhibition effect on the growth of all microorganisms, and it gave the higher inhibition effect on the growth of S. aureus in which the inhibition zone reached to 25 mm. also the inhibition zoon on the growth of K. pneumoniae was 20 mm.and it was 17 mm. on the growth of Salmonella.typhi , while the effect was slight on the growth of Proteus sp and E. coli 12,10 mm. respectively. The minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the volatile oil extract of the Mentha .piperita leaves, were determined. The value of (MIC, MBC) of Staph. aureus was 0.625 , 1.25 % and the value for (MIC, MBC) of K. pneumoniae? Salmonella typhi were 1.25 , 2.5 % for each of them, while the value of (MIC, MBC) of Proteus sp , E. coli were 2.5 , 5 % respectively