Machine Learning Models for Network Intrusion Detection and Authentication of Smart Phone Users

A thesis presented to the faculty of the Elmer R. Smith College of Business and Technology at Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science by S. Sareh Ahmadi on November 18, 2019

Redefining effect size interpretations for psychotherapy RCTs in depression

Introduction: Effect sizes are often used to interpret the magnitude of a result and in power calculations when planning research studies. However, as effect size interpretations are context-dependent, Jacob Cohen’s suggested guidelines for what represents a small, medium, and large effect are unlikely to be suitable for a diverse range of research populations and interventions. Our objective here is to determine empirically-derived effect size thresholds associated with psychotherapy randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in depression by calculating the effect size distribution. Methods: We extracted effect sizes from 366 RCTs provided by the systematic review of Cuijpers and colleagues (2020) on psychotherapy for depressive disorders across all age groups. The 50th percentile effect size, as this represents a medium effect size, and the 25th (small) and 75th (large) percentile effect sizes were calculated to determine empirically-derived effect size thresholds. Results: After adjusting for publication bias, 0.27, 0.53, and 0.86 represent small, medium, and large effect sizes, respectively, for psychotherapy treatment for depressive disorders. Discussion: The effect size distribution for psychotherapy treatment of depression indicates that observed effect size thresholds are larger than Cohen’s suggested effect size thresholds (0.2, 0.5, and 0.8). These results have implications for the interpretation of study effects and the planning of future studies via power analyses, which often use effect size thresholds.publishedVersio

Modular integration of a 3 DoF F/T sensor for robotic manipulators

Robot assisted surgery and minimally invasive robotic surgery inherently entail that the hands of the surgeon indirectly interact with the patient tissues and organs even if the operator is out of the affected body. Hence, transferring sensor information from the inside of the patient to the outside of the surgeon may certainly improve the perception of the robotic enduser. To this aim – within the EU framework of the STIFF-FLOP project (STIFFness controllable Flexible and Learnable Manipulator for Surgical Operations), we developed a novel design of miniaturized and magnetic resonance compatible sensors for force and torque real-time measurements in robotic surgery. The sensor design has a hollow shape, whose geometry allows its integration and embedding within snake-like surgical robots and modular devices. According to typical requirements and specifications of a surgical procedure, the sensor operates in a range of force and torque of 0-5 N and 0-5 N⋅cm, respectively. Due to a customized tool and calibration procedure, an error of less than 15% of sensor range can be obtained. This novel transducer may advance force and haptic feedback in robot assisted and minimally invasive surgeries

Three-Axis Fiber-Optic Body Force Sensor for Flexible Manipulators

This paper proposes a force/torque sensor structure that can be easily integrated into a flexible manipulator structure. The sensor's ring-like structure with its hollow inner section provides ample space for auxiliary components, such as cables and tubes, to be passed through and, hence, is very suitable for integration with tendon-driven and fluid-actuated manipulators. The sensor structure can also accommodate the wiring for a distributed sensor system as well as for diagnostic instruments that may be incorporated in the manipulator. Employing a sensing approach based on optical fibers as done here allows for the creation of sensors that are free of electrical currents at the point of sensing and immune to magnetic fields. These sensors are inherently safe when used in the close vicinity of humans and their measuring performance is not impaired when they are operated in or nearby machines, such as magnetic resonance imaging scanners. This type of sensor concept is particularly suitable for inclusion in instruments and robotic tools for minimally invasive surgery. This paper summarizes the design, integration challenges, and calibration of the proposed optical three-axis force sensor. The experimental results confirm the effectiveness of our optical sensing approach and show that after calibrating its stiffness matrix, force and momentum components can be determined accurately

Egg-Derived Tri-Peptide IRW Exerts Antihypertensive Effects in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

Background: There is a growing interest in using functional food components as therapy for cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension. We have previously characterized a tri-peptide IRW (Ile-Arg-Trp) from egg white protein ovotransferrin; this peptide showed anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor properties in vitro. Given the pathogenic roles played by angiotensin, oxidative stress and inflammation in the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR), we tested the therapeutic potential of IRW in this well-established model of hypertension. Methods and Results: 16–17 week old male SHRs were orally administered IRW at either a low dose (3 mg/Kg BW) or a high dose (15 mg/Kg BW) daily for 18 days. Blood pressure (BP) and heart rate were measured by telemetry. Animals were sacrificed at the end of the treatment for vascular function studies and measuring markers of inflammation. IRW treatment attenuated mean BP by ~10 mmHg and ~40 mmHg at the low- and high-dose groups respectively compared to untreated SHRs. Heart rate was not affected. Reduction in BP was accompanied by the restoration of diurnal variations in BP, preservation of nitric oxide dependent vasorelaxation, as well as reduction of plasma angiotensin II, other inflammatory markers and tissue fibrosis. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate anti-hypertensive effects of IRW in vivo likely mediated through ACE inhibition, endothelial nitric oxide synthase and anti-inflammatory properties

Design–material transition threshold of ribbon kirigami

\ua9 2024 The AuthorsThe ribbon kirigami pattern has garnered significant attention over the past decade because of its interesting geometric and mechanical properties such as extreme elongation and high ductility, making it a viable choice for various applications such as developing medical devices and flexible electronics. Despite the promising prospects of this type of morphing structure, its deformation mechanism and sensitivity to materials properties and geometric parameters have remained largely unexplored. Here we take a computational approach to studying the deformation process and ductility of a typical ribbon kirigami metastructure. To this end, the deformation process is divided into various stages. We demonstrate the existence of a certain threshold of the process at which the deformation behavior starts to be dominated by the properties of the constituent material, after the initial geometric-design-dominated stages. This turning point, called the design–material transition (DMT) threshold, determines a key limit in the deformation capacity of such metastructures for practical applications. Based on the introduced deformation mechanism, an elongation prediction model is derived for the metastructure, followed by conducting experiments to validate the accuracy of the model. Furthermore, a genetic algorithm and an interior-point method are utilized to develop an efficient algorithm for the optimization of the geometric parameters of the kirigami pattern. We anticipate that the findings of this study open a path to engineering functional kirigami patterns for the design and fabrication of highly ductile shape-shifting structures

Асинхронный электропривод механизма передвижения козлового крана

Объектом исследования является электропривод двухдвигательный механизма козлового крана его передвижения. В процессе работы провели исследования электропривода двухдвигательного частотно-регулируемого. По результатам исследования была обоснована адекватность имитационных моделей, так же получены параметры настройки данной системы которая обеспечивает синхронизации скоростей при работе вращения двух приводов и при изменении нагрузки.Object of investigation is electric drive of two-motor mechanism of goat crane of its movement. In the process of operation, studies of electric drive of two-engine frequency-controlled were carried out. Based on the results of the study, the adequacy of simulation models was justified, as well as settings of this system were obtained, which provides synchronization of speeds during operation of rotation of two drives and at change of loa

Beneficial Effects of Simulated Gastro-Intestinal Digests of Fried Egg and Its Fractions on Blood Pressure, Plasma Lipids and Oxidative Stress in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

Background: We have previously characterized several antihypertensive peptides in simulated digests of cooked eggs and showed blood pressure lowering property of fried whole egg digest. However, the long-term effects of this hydrolysate and its fractions on blood pressure are not known. Therefore, the objectives of the study were to determine the effects of long term administration of fried whole egg hydrolysate and its fractions (i.e. egg white and egg yolk) on regulation of blood pressure and associated factors in cardiovascular disease such as plasma lipid profile and tissue oxidative stress. Methods and Results: We used spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), an animal model of essential hypertension. Hydrolysates of fried egg and its fractions were prepared by simulated gastro-intestinal digestion with pepsin and pancreatin. 16–17 week old male SHRs were orally administered fried whole egg hydrolysate, non-hydrolyzed fried whole egg, egg white hydrolysate or egg yolk hydrolysates (either defatted, or not) daily for 18 days. Blood pressure (BP) and heart rate were monitored by telemetry. Animals were sacrificed at the end of the treatment for vascular function studies and evaluating plasma lipid profile and tissue oxidative stress. BP was reduced by feeding fried whole egg hydrolysate but not by the nonhydrolyzed product suggesting a critical role for in vitro digestion in releasing anti-hypertensive peptides. Egg white hydrolysate and defatted egg yolk hydrolysate (but not egg yolk hydrolysate) also had similar effects. Reduction in BP was accompanied by the restoration of nitric oxide (NO) dependent vasorelaxation and reduction of plasma angiotensin II. Fried whole egg hydrolysate also reduced plasma levels of triglyceride although it was increased by the non-hydrolyzed sample. Additionally the hydrolyzed preparations attenuated tissue oxidative stress. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that fried egg hydrolysates exert antihypertensive effects, improve plasma lipid profile and attenuate tissue oxidative stress in vivo