Supporting World War I heritage digitisation and presentation through user-centered web design

© 2016 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. Permission from IEEE must be obtained for all other uses, in any current or future media, including reprinting/republishing this material for advertising or promotional purposes, creating new collective works, for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or reuse of any copyrighted component of this work in other works.This paper presents a user-centered website design for a museum, which aims to engage local communities with museum digitisation and encourage residents to access and learn about their World War I (WWI) heritage in town. The interface design of the website follows human computer interaction (HCI) design guidelines and based on the review of existing WWI related websites. Considering the majority of users of the website are elderly people, the website especially provides features to support the elderly users. The website will not only contribute to the museum digital transformation project on WWI, but also improve the connection between the museum and the local community through widening the participation

Resource and thermal management in 3D-stacked multi-/many-core systems

Continuous semiconductor technology scaling and the rapid increase in computational needs have stimulated the emergence of multi-/many-core processors. While up to hundreds of cores can be placed on a single chip, the performance capacity of the cores cannot be fully exploited due to high latencies of interconnects and memory, high power consumption, and low manufacturing yield in traditional (2D) chips. 3D stacking is an emerging technology that aims to overcome these limitations of 2D designs by stacking processor dies over each other and using through-silicon-vias (TSVs) for on-chip communication, and thus, provides a large amount of on-chip resources and shortens communication latency. These benefits, however, are limited by challenges in high power densities and temperatures. 3D stacking also enables integrating heterogeneous technologies into a single chip. One example of heterogeneous integration is building many-core systems with silicon-photonic network-on-chip (PNoC), which reduces on-chip communication latency significantly and provides higher bandwidth compared to electrical links. However, silicon-photonic links are vulnerable to on-chip thermal and process variations. These variations can be countered by actively tuning the temperatures of optical devices through micro-heaters, but at the cost of substantial power overhead. This thesis claims that unearthing the energy efficiency potential of 3D-stacked systems requires intelligent and application-aware resource management. Specifically, the thesis improves energy efficiency of 3D-stacked systems via three major components of computing systems: cache, memory, and on-chip communication. We analyze characteristics of workloads in computation, memory usage, and communication, and present techniques that leverage these characteristics for energy-efficient computing. This thesis introduces 3D cache resource pooling, a cache design that allows for flexible heterogeneity in cache configuration across a 3D-stacked system and improves cache utilization and system energy efficiency. We also demonstrate the impact of resource pooling on a real prototype 3D system with scratchpad memory. At the main memory level, we claim that utilizing heterogeneous memory modules and memory object level management significantly helps with energy efficiency. This thesis proposes a memory management scheme at a finer granularity: memory object level, and a page allocation policy to leverage the heterogeneity of available memory modules and cater to the diverse memory requirements of workloads. On the on-chip communication side, we introduce an approach to limit the power overhead of PNoC in (3D) many-core systems through cross-layer thermal management. Our proposed thermally-aware workload allocation policies coupled with an adaptive thermal tuning policy minimize the required thermal tuning power for PNoC, and in this way, help broader integration of PNoC. The thesis also introduces techniques in placement and floorplanning of optical devices to reduce optical loss and, thus, laser source power consumption.2018-03-09T00:00:00

Sinomenine as a novel analgesic : mechanisms and applications

Chronic pain of various origins is a major health care issue affecting a large patient population, also bring significant social and economic cost on the society. Work presented in this thesis concerns novel methods of treatments for chronic pain using experimental models. Sinomenine is a chemical compound isolated originally from the root of the plant Sinomenium Acutum native to China and Japan. It is an alkaloid, structurally belongs to the morphine family. The root of Sinomenium Acutum, known as Qingteng, has been traditionally used in China as a medical remedy for condition likely to be rheumatism. Sinomenine is currently approved in China as an anti-rheumatic agent for clinical sue. In first part of the thesis, we studied the analgesic effect of sinomenine in chronic experimental pain models of neuropathic and arthritic pain. We showed that sinomenine has significant analgesic effects in rat and mouse models of neuropathic pain as well as in a mouse model (collagen antibody-induced arthritis model, CAIA) of arthritic pain. More importantly, the effect of sinomenine on neuropathic and arthritic pain is maintained upon repeated chronic administration without signs of tolerance or dependence. In the second part of the thesis, we examined the possible application of sinomenine as an analgesic, we showed that combination with sinomenine with gabapentin, a clinically used drug treating neuropathic pain, produced marked synergistic interaction in rat and mouse models of neuropathic pain and such synergism can still be observed upon repeated administration without signs of tolerance and dependence. We can also show a similar synergistic interaction between gabapentin and dextromethorphan, a low affinity non-competitive NMDA antagonist. The work presented in this thesis suggested that sinomenine could be explored as a novel analgesic in treating neuropathic and arthritic pain. The results also showed combination therapy involving sinomenine, gabapentin and dextromethorphan might be useful in the clinic. The potential mechanisms for the effect of sinomenine and its interaction with other analgesics need to be further studied

Research on the Construction of Postgraduate Academic Morality

The construction of postgraduate academic morality is a problem that all postgraduates must face. There are some problems in the construction of postgraduate academic morality, such as insufficient academic integrity, insufficient academic norms and insufficient academic spirit. After analyzing the reasons of academic morality, academic evaluation, academic supervision and academic self-discipline, the academic morality of postgraduates is promoted to develop deeper, broader and more comprehensive. We must strengthen moral education, improve the evaluation system, strengthen moral supervision, cultivate moral self-discipline, and strictly punish the system to improve the academic moral level of graduate students

State Generation Method for Humanoid Motion Planning Based on Genetic Algorithm

A new approach to generate the original motion data for humanoid motion planning is presented in this paper. And a state generator is developed based on the genetic algorithm, which enables users to generate various motion states without using any reference motion data. By specifying various types of constraints such as configuration constraints and contact constraints, the state generator can generate stable states that satisfy the constraint conditions for humanoid robots. To deal with the multiple constraints and inverse kinematics, the state generation is finally simplified as a problem of optimizing and searching. In our method, we introduce a convenient mathematic representation for the constraints involved in the state generator, and solve the optimization problem with the genetic algorithm to acquire a desired state. To demonstrate the effectiveness and advantage of the method, a number of motion states are generated according to the requirements of the motion

Localization and Regulation of the N Terminal Splice Variant of PGC-1α in Adult Skeletal Muscle Fibers

The transcriptional coactivator peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α) regulates expression of genes for metabolism and muscle fiber type. Recently, a novel splice variant of PGC-1α (NT-PGC-1α, amino acids 1–270) was cloned and found to be expressed in muscle. Here we use Flag-tagged NT-PGC-1α to examine the subcellular localization and regulation of NT-PGC-1α in skeletal muscle fibers. Flag-NT-PGC-1α is located predominantly in the myoplasm. Nuclear NT-PGC-1α can be increased by activation of protein kinase A. Activation of p38 MAPK by muscle activity or of AMPK had no effect on the subcellular distribution of NT-PGC-1α. Inhibition of CRM1-mediated export only caused relatively slow nuclear accumulation of NT-PGC-1α, indicating that nuclear export of NT-PGC-1α may be mediated by both CRM1-dependent and -independent pathways. Together these results suggest that the regulation of NT-PGC-1α in muscle fibers may be very different from that of the full-length PGC-1α, which is exclusively nuclear

Modeling and Solving Resource Constrained Project Scheduling Problems with Remanufacturing Activities

Resource constrained project scheduling problem (RCPSP) is one of the most important problems in industrial engineering and production management. Owing to environmental concerns, companies are paying more attention to the remanufacturing of end-of-life products. In this thesis, a mathematical model is developed considering remanufacturing activities in resource constrained project scheduling problem. The mathematical model considers recycle rate in multiple operation modes and several components of cost, including bonus, penalty, and others. A set of project network instance are generated using RanGen1 for evaluation. To solve the model, a three-stage heuristic method is developed in CPLEX 12.8 environment. Result shows that proposed method can reach a close-to-optimal solution within acceptable time limit

Isolation, Structural Elucidation and Structure-Activity Studies of Natural Products From Regional Plants of the Asteraceae.

In a biochemical systematic study of the plant family Asteraceae combined with a search for bioactive natural products, the isolation and structural elucidation of secondary metabolites from seven plant species is reported. Investigation of the roots of Solidago canadensis provided six known and one new clerodane diterpenes related to kolavenic acid and five known matricaria ester-type polyacetylenes. The roots and aerial parts of Solidago rugosa afforded the known diterpenes kolavenol, hardwickiic acid, ($-$)-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid, (+)-manool, (+)-3$\beta$-hydroxymanool, manoyl oxide and ent-abietic acid and the new labdane diterpene, (+)-18-tigloyloxymanool, plus four new ent-abietane diterpenes. The isolation of two new and eight known eudesmane-type sesquiterpene cinnamates, and benzyl 2,6-dimethoxybenzoate from the roots of Brintonia discoidea (syn. Solidago discoidea) is reported. The roots of Chrysoma pauciflosculosa (syn. Solidago pauciflosculosa) provided the known polyacetylenes cis,cis- and cis,trans-matricaria esters, a mixture of two isomeric epoxides of matricaria ester, and two known triterpenes, epifriedelinol and friedelin. In addition, the ubiquitous 2,6-dimethoxybenzoquinone and a new benzotropolone were found. The roots of Erigeron philadelphicus afforded, besides the above four polyacetylenes, two isomeric matricaria lactones. The roots of giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida) afforded thiarubrine B and its related thiophene, as well as a new 1,2-dithia-3,5-cyclohexadiene derivative, 3-(pent-3-yn-1-ynyl)-6-(3,4-epoxy-but-1-ynyl)-1,$2$ -dithiacyclohexa-3,5-diene. The stems of A. trifida gave, besides $\beta$-cubebene and $\alpha$-farnesene, two carotane-type sesquiterpenes, the known lasidiol angelate (1$\alpha$-angeloyloxycarotol) and the new 1$\alpha$-(2\sp\prime-methylbutyroyloxy)-carotol, plus 2,6-dimethoxybenzoquinone and hexadecanal. The aerial parts of Liatris ohlingerae afforded five known and two new heliangolide-type sesquiterpene lactones related to liscunditrin and four known triterpenes, taraxasterol, pseudo-taraxasterol and their acetates. The detailed structure elucidation using spectroscopic methods and chemical transformations is described. In order to demonstrate structure-activity relationships, a series of chemical transformations on sesquiterpene lactones were performed. Epoxidation of costunolide yielded 1,10-epoxycostunolide, parthenolide, and the cyclization products santamarin, reynosin, magnolialide and a 1,4-epoxyeudesmenolide. Reduction of santamarin afforded 11,13-dihydrosantamarin and an eudesmen-triol, while reduction of reynosin provided 11,13-dihydroreynosin and two eudesman-triols. The acid-catalyzed transformation of dihydroparthenolide in methanol afforded two guaianolide derivatives. These sesquiterpenes were tested against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and M. avium and the structure-activity relationships among sesquiterpene lactones are discussed. Polyacetylenes from S. canadensis, C. pauciflosculosa and E. philadelphicus also exhibited significant activity against these two strains of mycobacteria

Genomic landscape of local prostate cancer in Sardinia population

Race and ethnicity are risk factors for prostate cancer. In the United States, African American men have the highest rate of mortality followed by Caucasians, and Asian Americans. The effects of race and ethnicity on prostate cancer are also reflected in different frequencies of ETS family fusion in different groups. ETS family fusions is the most common alteration in prostate cancer of Caucasian men at a frequency of ~50%, however, they are lower in African Americans and Chinese at 20-30%. Most of the genomic prostate cancer studies are focused on cohorts of European ancestry, leaving minority groups underrepresentation. Furthermore, in racial mixing, the ethnic contribution to risk is unclear. Sardinia population is an isolated Mediterranean population, and a purported refuge population of Neolithic ancestry with much lower incidence of prostate cancer than that in mainland Europe. Here, we conducted a genomic prostate cancer genomic study on a Sardinia cohort diagnosed with local prostate cancer. We identified a novel germline risk mutation ARSD-G320D occurring in 53 percent of the patients, somatic UGT family amplifications which occurred in 20% the patients, a novel in-frame fusion BTBD7-SLC2A5 occurred in 12 % of the patients. In addition, we pointed out that IRF8 deletion at 16q24.2 is a candidate driver in prostate cancer and patients with IRF8 deletion have worse prognosis. Our data revealed similarities and disparities in genomic alterations of prostate cancer between Sardinians and other ethnic groups. As well we have conducted a study based on Chinese prostate cancer cohort and have seen greater molecular disparities from TCGA cohort than in the Sardinian prostate cancer cohort. In Chinese cohort we have identified 37 genes significantly mutated and 20 of them have not implicated in prostate cancer in Caucasian and reveals a set of genomic markers that may inform the ethnic disparities