Forensic capabilities for service-oriented architectures

This report describes a framework to provide on-line forensic capabilities to service oriented architecture via Forensic Web Services (FWS) and runtime execution monitoring. The FWS is a new type of web services to be used by other web services (of an independent agency) to securely maintain transactional records of interest between other web services. The framework uses runtime execution monitoring to search the transactional log for interesting (or suspicious) service invocation sequences to recreate non-repudiable evidence of transactional history for use in a court of law.Contract Number: N6600107WR00222Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited

ASIRI: An Ocean–Atmosphere Initiative for Bay of Bengal

Air–Sea Interactions in the Northern Indian Ocean (ASIRI) is an international research effort (2013–17) aimed at understanding and quantifying coupled atmosphere–ocean dynamics of the Bay of Bengal (BoB) with relevance to Indian Ocean monsoons. Working collaboratively, more than 20 research institutions are acquiring field observations coupled with operational and high-resolution models to address scientific issues that have stymied the monsoon predictability. ASIRI combines new and mature observational technologies to resolve submesoscale to regional-scale currents and hydrophysical fields. These data reveal BoB’s sharp frontal features, submesoscale variability, low-salinity lenses and filaments, and shallow mixed layers, with relatively weak turbulent mixing. Observed physical features include energetic high-frequency internal waves in the southern BoB, energetic mesoscale and submesoscale features including an intrathermocline eddy in the central BoB, and a high-resolution view of the exchange along the periphery of Sri Lanka, which includes the 100-km-wide East India Coastal Current (EICC) carrying low-salinity water out of the BoB and an adjacent, broad northward flow (∼300 km wide) that carries high-salinity water into BoB during the northeast monsoon. Atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) observations during the decaying phase of the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) permit the study of multiscale atmospheric processes associated with non-MJO phenomena and their impacts on the marine boundary layer. Underway analyses that integrate observations and numerical simulations shed light on how air–sea interactions control the ABL and upper-ocean processes

FUNCTIONAL OUTCOME MEASURES IN HAEMOPHILIA –A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Background: Haemophilia is an inherited bleeding disorder that results in haemarthrosis leading to chronic arthropathy in those with severe forms of the disease. It causes significant disability and affects a patient’s quality of life. Functional outcome measures enable the healthcare professionals to assess the patients’ ability to carry out activities of daily living providing an important input to the assessment of joint disease. Objectives: This study aims to carry out a systematic review to identify the existing functional outcome measures used in the adult English speaking, haemophiliac population and evaluate these instruments based on their development methodology, measurement properties and other properties. Methods: Both PubMed and Scopus databases were searched to identify suitable outcome measures. Once the search identified the instruments, each instrument was searched to identify the relevant pilot and validation studies. Development methodology of each instrument was summarised. The measurement properties were evaluated using the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) 4-point checklist. These measurement properties included internal consistency, reliability, measurement error, construct validity, criterion validity, content validity and responsiveness. The other properties that were assessed include interpretability, generalisability, precision, conceptual model, measurement model, acceptability, feasibility and burden. Results: There were three main outcome measures used to assess function in the adult haemophiliac population. These were the Haemophilia Activities List (HAL), the Functional Independence Score in Haemophilia (FISH) and the Haemophilia Exercise Project–Test- Questionnaire (HEP-Test-Q). Information on the development of instruments was only well provided in the HAL. However the COSMIN checklist proved that the HAL had not assessed all measurement properties. The FISH and the HEP-Test-Q, did not possess very good methodological quality of its measurement properties. With regards to the other properties, all three instruments were acceptable but interpretability was poor. The HAL and the HEP-Test- Q were precise. The conceptual model instruments assessed function in different forms, whereas the measurement model was treated as a reflective model in all three instruments. The HEP-Test-Q had the most amount of burden in comparison to the other instruments. The main limitation of this study was that the FISH, a performance based instrument was evaluated using the COSMIN checklist that was developed to assess patient reported outcomes. Conclusion: This systematic review suggests that the existing instruments produced to assess function in adult persons with haemophilia have not been adequately validated and that the methodology undertaken for this process consists of certain drawbacks. This suggests that there is scope for a new instrument to assess function in the English speaking adult haemophiliac population

Latent cluster analysis of ALS phenotypes identifies prognostically differing groups

BACKGROUND Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a degenerative disease predominantly affecting motor neurons and manifesting as several different phenotypes. Whether these phenotypes correspond to different underlying disease processes is unknown. We used latent cluster analysis to identify groupings of clinical variables in an objective and unbiased way to improve phenotyping for clinical and research purposes. METHODS Latent class cluster analysis was applied to a large database consisting of 1467 records of people with ALS, using discrete variables which can be readily determined at the first clinic appointment. The model was tested for clinical relevance by survival analysis of the phenotypic groupings using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS The best model generated five distinct phenotypic classes that strongly predicted survival (p<0.0001). Eight variables were used for the latent class analysis, but a good estimate of the classification could be obtained using just two variables: site of first symptoms (bulbar or limb) and time from symptom onset to diagnosis (p<0.00001). CONCLUSION The five phenotypic classes identified using latent cluster analysis can predict prognosis. They could be used to stratify patients recruited into clinical trials and generating more homogeneous disease groups for genetic, proteomic and risk factor research

The growth of the oceanic boundary layer during the COARE intensive observational period: Large Eddy simulation results

A principal goal of the Tropical Ocean Global Atmosphere (TOGA) Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere Response Experiment (COARE) is to gain an understanding of the processes that control mixing in the upper 100 m of the western tropical Pacific warm pool. The warm pool is an important heat reservoir for the global ocean and is responsible for many of the observed climatic changes associated with El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events. This water mass is highly sensitive to mixed-layer processes that are controlled by surface heat, salinity, and momentum fluxes. During most of the year, these fluxes are dominated by solar heating and occasional squalls that freshen the top of the mixed layer and force shallow mixing of about 10-20 m. From November to April, the usual weather pattern is frequently altered by westerly wind bursts that are forced by tropical cyclones and intraseasonal oscillations. These wind bursts generate a strong eastward surface current and can force mixing as deep as 100 m over a period of days. Observations from the intensive observation period (IOP) in COARE indicate that mixed-layer deepening is accompanied by strong turbulence dissipation at the mixed layer base. A short westerly wind burst occurred during the first leg of TOGA-COARE, and lasted about 4-5 days. During this period, the maximum winds were about 10 m s{sup -1}, and the resulting eastward surface flow was about 0.5 m s{sup -1}. The strength of this event was somewhat weaker than a typical westerly wind burst, but the mixed-layer structure and growth are similar to the more vigorous wind bursts discussed

Eco-geographic survey of wild species of Vigna in Sri Lanka

The ceo-geographic survey of plant genetic resources is essential for effective in situ and ex situconservation of plant genetic resources. Results of eco-geographic survey could be used to predictnew areas for survey and to assist in the formulation of collection and conservation priorities. An ecogeographicsurvey was conducted in Sri Lanka during August 2005 to February 2006 in some protectedareas and other target areas of Sri Lanka to locate wild species of Vigna, map their localities, identifythreatened areas and find out suitable locations for in-situ conservation.Habitats and taxonomic characteristics data were recorded. Locations of wild spices of Vigna werenoted by using Global Positioning System (GPS). The distribution of six wild species of Vigna occurringin Sri Lanka is depicted in the maps. GPS data were analyzed by Flora map distribution modelling andprobable localities of Vigna wild species were mapped. Six species of Vigna recorded by the surveyare distributed from 0 MSL to 1630 m MSL. However, V stipulacea, V trilobata and V aridicolawere found only lower latitudes (0 to 130 m MSL) and V dalzilliana and V trinervia are limited tohigher elevation (790m to 1630m MSL). Vigna radiata var. sublobata was found only in one locationDambana in Badulla district. V stipulacea, and V trilobata are mostly found near sea shore and Varidicola is found in inland dry areas. Difference in leaf shape of V trilobata is observed in differentpopulations. The probable areas that were identified using flora map modelling are located in Puttalam,Polonnaruwa, Ampara, Kurunagala and Batticola districts. Surveys in these areas are needed toidentify new populations ofwild Vigna species.

A proposed staging system for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive loss of upper and lower motor neurons, with a median survival of 2–3 years. Although various phenotypic and research diagnostic classification systems exist and several prognostic models have been generated, there is no staging system. Staging criteria for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis would help to provide a universal and objective measure of disease progression with benefits for patient care, resource allocation, research classifications and clinical trial design. We therefore sought to define easily identified clinical milestones that could be shown to occur at specific points in the disease course, reflect disease progression and impact prognosis and treatment. A tertiary referral centre clinical database was analysed, consisting of 1471 patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis seen between 1993 and 2007. Milestones were defined as symptom onset (functional involvement by weakness, wasting, spasticity, dysarthria or dysphagia of one central nervous system region defined as bulbar, upper limb, lower limb or diaphragmatic), diagnosis, functional involvement of a second region, functional involvement of a third region, needing gastrostomy and non-invasive ventilation. Milestone timings were standardized as proportions of time elapsed through the disease course using information from patients who had died by dividing time to a milestone by disease duration. Milestones occurred at predictable proportions of the disease course. Diagnosis occurred at 35% through the disease course, involvement of a second region at 38%, a third region at 61%, need for gastrostomy at 77% and need for non-invasive ventilation at 80%. We therefore propose a simple staging system for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Stage 1: symptom onset (involvement of first region); Stage 2A: diagnosis; Stage 2B: involvement of second region; Stage 3: involvement of third region; Stage 4A: need for gastrostomy; and Stage 4B: need for non-invasive ventilation. Validation of this staging system will require further studies in other populations, in population registers and in other clinic databases. The standardized times to milestones may well vary between different studies and populations, although the stages themselves and their meanings are likely to remain unchanged

The risk to relatives of patients with sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a neurodegenerative disease of motor neurons with a median survival of 2 years. Most patients have no family history of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, but current understanding of such diseases suggests there should be an increased risk to relatives. Furthermore, it is a common question to be asked by patients and relatives in clinic. We therefore set out to determine the risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis to first degree relatives of patients with sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis attending a specialist clinic. Case records of patients with sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis seen at a tertiary referral centre over a 16-year period were reviewed, and pedigree structures extracted. All individuals who had originally presented with sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, but who subsequently had an affected first degree relative, were identified. Calculations were age-adjusted using clinic population demographics. Probands (n = 1502), full siblings (n = 1622) and full offspring (n = 1545) were identified. Eight of the siblings and 18 offspring had developed amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The unadjusted risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis over the observation period was 0.5% for siblings and 1.0% for offspring. Age information was available for 476 siblings and 824 offspring. For this subset, the crude incidence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis was 0.11% per year (0.05–0.21%) in siblings and 0.11% per year (0.06–0.19%) in offspring, and the clinic age-adjusted incidence rate was 0.12% per year (0.04–0.21%) in siblings. By age 85, siblings were found to have an 8-fold increased risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, in comparison to the background population. In practice, this means the risk of remaining unaffected by age 85 dropped from 99.7% to 97.6%. Relatives of people with sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis have a small but definite increased risk of being affected

Spatial variability of mixing in the Southern Ocean

Author Posting. © American Geophysical Union, 2005. This article is posted here by permission of American Geophysical Union for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Geophysical Research Letters 32 (2005): L18603, doi:10.1029/2005GL023568.Strain variance from standard hydrographic profiles in the southern hemisphere oceans shows that turbulent mixing is vertically and spatially non-uniform. In the South Atlantic, Indian and South Pacific Oceans, enhanced diffusivities are found over rough topography. Consistent with internal tide generated mixing, the water column diffusivity returns to background levels 500 m to 1000 m off the sea floor. In the Southern Ocean, enhanced diffusivities throughout the entire water column below 1500 m are found in the Antarctic Circumpolar Current over complex topography. Differences in the vertical extent of enhanced diffusivity profiles in the Antarctic Circumpolar Current between the parameterizations based on tidal models and topography and of the present estimate of strain variance imply that elevated vertical diffusivity profiles in the Southern Ocean are due to the interaction between the mean geostrophic current and bottom topography.BMS was supported by the Ocean and Climate Change Institute at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution