QueRIE: Collaborative Database Exploration

Interactive database exploration is a key task in information mining. However, users who lack SQL expertise or familiarity with the database schema face great difficulties in performing this task. To aid these users, we developed the QueRIE system for personalized query recommendations. QueRIE continuously monitors the user’s querying behavior and finds matching patterns in the system’s query log, in an attempt to identify previous users with similar information needs. Subsequently, QueRIE uses these “similar” users and their queries to recommend queries that the current user may find interesting. In this work we describe an instantiation of the QueRIE framework, where the active user’s session is represented by a set of query fragments. The recorded fragments are used to identify similar query fragments in the previously recorded sessions, which are in turn assembled in potentially interesting queries for the active user. We show through experimentation that the proposed method generates meaningful recommendations on real-life traces from the SkyServer database and propose a scalable design that enables the incremental update of similarities, making real-time computations on large amounts of data feasible. Finally, we compare this fragment-based instantiation with our previously proposed tuple-based instantiation discussing the advantages and disadvantages of each approach

Memory consolidation — Mechanisms and opportunities for enhancement

Abstract Memory consolidation is the process by which relevant information is selected and transferred from a short-term, fragile state, into a stable, longer term domain from which it can be recalled. Effective memory underpins our ability to carry out everyday activities. When memory consolidation fails, such as in Alzheimer’s disease, the consequences can be devastating. Understanding the neurobiology of memory will help develop treatments for patients with memory loss. Here we describe the myriad processes involved in memory consolidation, including cholinergic and dopaminergic neurotransmission predominantly in hippocampal networks. We discuss established therapies as well as potential novel strategies for boosting cognition. Future approaches to enhancement of memory consolidation include not only pharmacological and neurosurgical treatments, but also lifestyle interventions — for example, modifications to sleep, exercise and diet.</jats:p

Outcome of adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia receiving the MRC UKALL XII protocol: a tertiary care centre experience

Introduction:Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is a heterogeneous group of lymphoid neoplasm resulting from the proliferation of malignant lymphoid cells. We aimed to study the outcome of adult Patients with ALL receiving the Medical Research Council UKALL XII protocol. Methods: This was a retrospective study conducted at Aga Khan University Hospital from January 2001 to December 2008. The medical records of all adult Patients were reviewed and analysed for clinical, morphological and immunological features at presentation and impact on treatment outcomes. Multivariate analysis and survival studies were performed using Kaplan-Meier statistics. Results: The total number of Patients was 54, with a male to female ratio of 3.4:1 and a median age of 28 years. Common presenting symptoms were fever (n is 49) and bleeding (n is 14). 38 Patients had haemoglobin less than 10 gms/dl, 21 had white blood cell (WBC) count of 50 x 10E9/L or more, and 35 had lactate dehyrogenase more than 1,000 IU. Morphologically, FAB-L2 was the commonest subtype, with 38 Patients with B-ALL and eight with T-ALL. Multivariate analysis showed that age above 30 years, male gender, WBC count above 50 x 10E9/L and T-ALL subtype were independent risk factors for poor survival. 46 (85 percent) Patients achieved complete remission. The median survival was 12.3 months. At the end of five years, 16 Patients were alive, two were alive with disease and 14 were in complete remission. Conclusion: Overall survival and relapse rates in our study were comparable to those reported internationally

Effects of vitamin A overdose on rat’s organs involved in immunity and vitamin A storage

Vitamin A overdose is a common occurrence due to food fortification and ingestion of vitamin A supplements. Vitamin A is a nutrient that possesses known and potential effects on general health and the immune response. This research work is an in vivo investigation of the effects of administration of vitamin A above dietary requirements on some organs involved in immunity, vitamin A storage, and metabolism in healthy male rats. A total of 60 young adult male Wistar rats were equally divided into three groups. Rats in the two test groups were orally administered with vitamin A at different concentrations (8000 and 15 000 IU kg−1 body weight) for 21 days, while the control rats did not receive any supplementation. Weekly body weights and weights of the liver, kidney, spleen, and thymus were measured. Histological evaluations were carried out on the liver, kidney, thymus, and Peyer’s patches. Findings show that vitamin A did not significantly affect body and organs’ weights, except for a significant decrease of spleen weights for both experimental groups. Vitamin A was found to lead to some changes in the histology of the tested organs. This is the first study of its kind and sets a base for future studies

Secure Authentication Using Click Draw Based Graphical Password Scheme

Graphical passwords are an alternative to alphanumeric passwords in which users click on images to authenticate themselves rather than type alphanumeric strings. We have developed one such system, called Secure Authentication using Click Draw Based graphical password scheme, and evaluated it with human users. Secure Authentication using Click Draw Based graphical password scheme, including USAbility and security evaluations, and implementation considerations. An important USAbility goal for knowledge-based authentication systems is to support users in selecting passwords of higher security, in the sense of being from an expanded effective security pace. We use the sequence of multiple images along with a dummy image and alsoa pattern on any single image to influence user choice in click draw based graphical passwords, encouraging users to select more random, and hence more difficult to guess patterns

Concept study of microgrid dispatch strategy for solar thermal power plant with thermal storage

Complex grid systems have been gradually replaced by smaller and simpler grid systems called Microgrids. Integration of a solar thermal power generation systems into Microgrids open a new horizon of renewable energy power generation to achieve the supply and demand balance of electricity. Microgrid dispatch strategy is a control method of energy balance between power generation and electricity consumption. A thermal storage integrated into the system buffers the intermittency of solar radiation used as the heat source of the power generation system. The daily starting time for the power generation is determined by the dispatch strategy in search of minimum power from the conventional grid and maximum electricity generation from the solar thermal power generation system. In the simulation stage, the heat energy available for power generation and amount of thermal energy saved in the thermal storage is calculated at each time step using measured solar radiation data as the heat source and load profile data as the consumption required. Based on the simulation result, the power generation starting time for the next day is determined. The effectiveness of the proposed dispatch strategy is demonstrated by obtaining the best starting time and identifying minimum power requiredfrom the conventional grid. The power supply from the conventional grid is reduced by 10% by applying the proposed methodology

Methodologies and tools for OSS: current state of the practice

Over the years, the Open Source Software (OSS) development has matured and strengthened, building on some established methodologies and tools. An understanding of the current state of the practice, however, is still lacking. This paper presents the results of a survey of the OSS developer community with a view to gain insight of peer review, testing and release management practices, along with the current tool sets used for testing, debugging and, build and release management. Such an insight is important to appreciate the obstacles to overcome to introduce certification and more rigour into the development process. It is hoped that the results of this survey will initiate a useful discussion and allow the community to identify further process improvement opportunities for producing better quality software

Sex-specific roles of cellular inflammation and cardiometabolism in obesity-associated depressive symptomatology.

BackgroundObesity and depression are complex conditions with stronger comorbid relationships among women than men. Inflammation and cardiometabolic dysfunction are likely mechanistic candidates for increased depression risk, and their prevalence differs by sex. Whether these relationships extend to depressive symptoms is poorly understood. Therefore, we analyzed sex in associations between inflammation and metabolic syndrome (MetS) criteria on depressive symptomatology. Specifically, we examined whether sex positively moderates the relationship between depressive symptoms and inflammation among women, and whether MetS has parallel effects among men.MethodsDepressive symptoms, MetS, and inflammation were assessed in 129 otherwise healthy adults. Depressive symptoms were assessed using Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-Ia). Monocyte inflammation regulation (BARIC) was quantified using flow cytometry measurement of TNF-α suppression by β-agonist. Moderation effects of sex on associations between BARIC, MetS criteria, and BDI were estimated using two-way ANOVA and linear regression, adjusting for BMI, and by sex subgroup analyses.ResultsObese individuals reported more depressive symptoms. Sex did not formally moderate this relationship, though BDI scores tended to differ by BMI among women, but not men, in subgroup analysis. Poorer inflammation control and higher MetS criteria were correlated with somatic depressive symptoms. Sex moderated associations between MetS criteria and somatic symptoms; among men, MetS criteria predicted somatic symptoms, not among women. Subgroup analysis further indicated that poorer inflammation control tended to be associated with higher somatic symptoms in women.ConclusionsThese results indicate that obesity-related inflammation and MetS factors have sex-specific effects on depressive symptoms in a non-clinical population. Although pathophysiological mechanisms underlying sex differences remain to be elucidated, our findings suggest that distinct vulnerabilities to depressive symptoms exist between women and men, and highlight the need to consider sex as a key biological variable in obesity-depression relationships. Future clinical studies on comorbid obesity and depression should account for sex, which may optimize therapeutic strategies