1,324 research outputs found
Measuring Accuracy of Automated Parsing and Categorization Tools and Processes in Digital Investigations
This work presents a method for the measurement of the accuracy of evidential
artifact extraction and categorization tasks in digital forensic
investigations. Instead of focusing on the measurement of accuracy and errors
in the functions of digital forensic tools, this work proposes the application
of information retrieval measurement techniques that allow the incorporation of
errors introduced by tools and analysis processes. This method uses a `gold
standard' that is the collection of evidential objects determined by a digital
investigator from suspect data with an unknown ground truth. This work proposes
that the accuracy of tools and investigation processes can be evaluated
compared to the derived gold standard using common precision and recall values.
Two example case studies are presented showing the measurement of the accuracy
of automated analysis tools as compared to an in-depth analysis by an expert.
It is shown that such measurement can allow investigators to determine changes
in accuracy of their processes over time, and determine if such a change is
caused by their tools or knowledge.Comment: 17 pages, 2 appendices, 1 figure, 5th International Conference on
Digital Forensics and Cyber Crime; Digital Forensics and Cyber Crime, pp.
147-169, 201
Understanding the impact of droughts in the Yarmouk Basin, Jordan: monitoring droughts through meteorological and hydrological drought indices
This article assesses drought status in the Yarmouk Basin (YB), in northern Jordan, using the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), the Standardized Water-Level Index (SWI), and the Percent Departure from Normal rainfall (PDNimd) during the years 1993β2014. The results showed that the YB suffers from frequent and irregular periods of drought as variations in drought intensity and frequency have been observed. The SPI results revealed that the highest drought magnitude of ββ2.34 appeared at Nuaimeh rainfall station in 1991. This station has also experienced severe drought particularly in years 1995, 1999, 2005, and 2012 with SPI values ranging from ββ1.51 to ββ1.59. Some other rainfall stations such as Baqura, Ibbin, Khanasiri, Kharja, Mafraq police, Ramtha, Turra, and Umm Qais have also suffered several periods of drought mostly in 1993. The SWI results show the highest extreme drought events in 2001 in Souf well while other extreme drought periods were observed at Wadi Elyabis well in 1994 and at Mafraq well in 1995. As compared to SPI maps, our SWI maps reflect severe and extreme drought events in most years, negatively impacting the groundwater levels in the study area
Attributing minds to vampires in Richard Mathesonβs I Am Legend
For Palmer (2004, 2010), and other proponents of a cognitive narratology, research into real-world minds in the cognitive sciences provides insights into readersβ experiences of fictional minds. In this article, I explore the application of such research to the minds constructed for the vampire characters in Richard Mathesonβs (1954) science fiction/horror novel I Am Legend. I draw upon empirical research into βmind attributionβ in social psychology, and apply Cognitive Grammar (Langacker, 2008), and its notion of βconstrualβ, as a framework for the application of such findings to narrative. In my analysis, I suggest that readersβ attribution of mental-states to the vampires in Mathesonβs novel is strategically limited through a number of choices in their linguistic construal. Drawing on online reader responses to the novel, I argue that readersβ understanding of these other minds plays an important role in their empathetic experience and their ethical judgement of the novelβs main character and focaliser, Robert Neville. Finally, I suggest that the limited mind attribution for the vampires invited through their construal contributes to the presentation of a βmind styleβ (Fowler, 1977) for this character
Growth and dislocation studies of Ξ²-HMX
Background: The defect structure of organic materials is important as it plays a major role in their crystal growth
properties. It also can play a subcritical role in βhot-spotβ detonation processes of energetics and one such
energetic is cyclotetramethylene-tetranitramine, in the commonly used beta form (Ξ²-HMX).
Results: The as-grown crystals grown by evaporation from acetone show prismatic, tabular and columnar habits, all
with {011}, {110}, (010) and (101) faces. Etching on (010) surfaces revealed three different types of etch pits, two of
which could be identified with either pure screw or pure edge dislocations, the third is shown to be an artifact of
the twinning process that this material undergoes. Examination of the {011} and {110} surfaces show only one type
of etch pit on each surface; however their natural asymmetry precludes the easy identification of their Burgers
vector or dislocation type. Etching of cleaved {011} surfaces demonstrates that the etch pits can be associated with
line dislocations. All dislocations appear randomly on the crystal surfaces and do not form alignments characteristic
of mechanical deformation by dislocation slip.
Conclusions: Crystals of Ξ²-HMX grown from acetone show good morphological agreement with that predicted by
modelling, with three distinct crystal habits observed depending upon the supersaturation of the growth solution.
Prismatic habit was favoured at low supersaturation, while tabular and columnar crystals were predominant at
higher super saturations. The twin plane in Ξ²-HMX was identified as a (101) reflection plane. The low plasticity of
Ξ²-HMX is shown by the lack of etch pit alignments corresponding to mechanically induced dislocation arrays.
On untwinned {010} faces, two types of dislocations exist, pure edge dislocations with b = [010] and pure screw
dislocations with b = [010]. On twinned (010) faces, a third dislocation type exists and it is proposed that these pits
are associated with pure screw dislocations with b = [010]
Timing and minimal access surgery for sciatica: a summary of two randomized trials
Scientific Assessment and Innovation in Neurosurgical Treatment Strategie
Potassium homeostasis and management of dyskalemia in kidney diseases: conclusions from a Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) Controversies Conference
Potassium disorders are common in patients with kidney disease, particularly in patients with tubular disorders and low glomerular filtration rate. A multidisciplinary group of researchers and clinicians met in October 2018 to identify evidence and address controversies in potassium management. The issues discussed encompassed our latest understanding of the regulation of tubular potassium excretion in health and disease; the relationship of potassium intake to cardiovascular and kidney outcomes, with increasing evidence showing beneficial associations with plant-based diet and data to suggest a paradigm shift from the idea of dietary restriction toward fostering patterns of eating that are associated with better outcomes; the paucity of data on the effect of dietary modification in restoring abnormal serum potassium to the normal range; a novel diagnostic algorithm for hypokalemia that takes into account the ascendency of the clinical context in determining cause, aligning the educational strategy with a practical approach to diagnosis; and therapeutic approaches in managing hyperkalemia when chronic and in the emergency or hospital ward. In sum, we provide here our conference deliberations on potassium homeostasis in health and disease, guidance for evaluation and management of dyskalemias in the context of kidney diseases, and research priorities in each of the above areas
Telomere disruption results in non-random formation of de novo dicentric chromosomes involving acrocentric human chromosomes
Copyright: Β© 2010 Stimpson et al.Genome rearrangement often produces chromosomes with two centromeres (dicentrics) that are inherently unstable because of bridge formation and breakage during cell division. However, mammalian dicentrics, and particularly those in humans, can be quite stable, usually because one centromere is functionally silenced. Molecular mechanisms of centromere inactivation are poorly understood since there are few systems to experimentally create dicentric human chromosomes. Here, we describe a human cell culture model that enriches for de novo dicentrics. We demonstrate that transient disruption of human telomere structure non-randomly produces dicentric fusions involving acrocentric chromosomes. The induced dicentrics vary in structure near fusion breakpoints and like naturally-occurring dicentrics, exhibit various inter-centromeric distances. Many functional dicentrics persist for months after formation. Even those with distantly spaced centromeres remain functionally dicentric for 20 cell generations. Other dicentrics within the population reflect centromere inactivation. In some cases, centromere inactivation occurs by an apparently epigenetic mechanism. In other dicentrics, the size of the alpha-satellite DNA array associated with CENP-A is reduced compared to the same array before dicentric formation. Extrachromosomal fragments that contained CENP-A often appear in the same cells as dicentrics. Some of these fragments are derived from the same alpha-satellite DNA array as inactivated centromeres. Our results indicate that dicentric human chromosomes undergo alternative fates after formation. Many retain two active centromeres and are stable through multiple cell divisions. Others undergo centromere inactivation. This event occurs within a broad temporal window and can involve deletion of chromatin that marks the locus as a site for CENP-A maintenance/replenishment.This work was supported by the Tumorzentrum Heidelberg/Mannheim grant (D.10026941)and by March of Dimes Research Foundation grant #1-FY06-377 and NIH R01 GM069514
Should Research Ethics Encourage the Production of Cost-Effective Interventions?
This project considers whether and how research ethics can contribute to the provision of cost-effective medical interventions. Clinical research ethics represents an underexplored context for the promotion of cost-effectiveness. In particular, although scholars have recently argued that research on less-expensive, less-effective interventions can be ethical, there has been little or no discussion of whether ethical considerations justify curtailing research on more expensive, more effective interventions. Yet considering cost-effectiveness at the research stage can help ensure that scarce resources such as tissue samples or limited subject popula- tions are employed where they do the most good; can support parallel efforts by providers and insurers to promote cost-effectiveness; and can ensure that research has social value and benefits subjects. I discuss and rebut potential objections to the consideration of cost-effectiveness in research, including the difficulty of predicting effectiveness and cost at the research stage, concerns about limitations in cost-effectiveness analysis, and worries about overly limiting researchersβ freedom. I then consider the advantages and disadvantages of having certain participants in the research enterprise, including IRBs, advisory committees, sponsors, investigators, and subjects, consider cost-effectiveness. The project concludes by qualifiedly endorsing the consideration of cost-effectiveness at the research stage. While incorporating cost-effectiveness considerations into the ethical evaluation of human subjects research will not on its own ensure that the health care system realizes cost-effectiveness goals, doing so nonetheless represents an important part of a broader effort to control rising medical costs
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