Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Polypharmacy leads to increased risk of drug-drug interactions (DDI’s). In this dissertation, we create a database for quantifying fraction of metabolism (fm) of CYP450 isozymes for FDA approved drugs. A reproducible data collection protocol was developed to extract key information from publicly available in vitro selective CYP enzyme inhibition studies. The fm was then estimated from the curated data. Then, proposed a random control selection approach for nested case-control design for electronical health records (HER) and electronical medical records (EMR) databases. By relaxing the matching by case’s index time restriction, random control dramatically reduces the computational burden compared with traditional control selection approaches. Using the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership gold standard and an EMR database, random control is demonstrated to have better performances as well. Finally, combining epidemiological studies and pharmacokinetic modeling with fm database, we detected and evaluated high-dimensional drug-drug interactions among thirty high frequency drugs. Multi-drug combinations that increased risk of myopathy were identified in the FAERS and EMR databases by a mixture drug-count response model (MDCM) model. Twenty-eight 3-way and 43 4-way DDI’s increased ratio of area under plasma concentration–time curve (AUCR) >2-fold and had significant myopathy risk in both databases. The predicted AUCR of omeprazole in the presence of fluconazole and clonidine was 9.35; and increased risk of myopathy was 6.41 (LFDR = 0.002) in FAERS and 18.46 (LFDR = 0.005) in EMR. We demonstrate that combining health record informatics and pharmacokinetic modeling is a powerful translational approach to detect high-dimensional DDI’s. / 2 years

The purpose of this study is to make an analysis of some factors associated with teacher selection in Texas.

本論文はブロックチェーン技術を用いた，貧弱な情報通信(ICT)環境下での高信頼なデータ管理システムの設計と実装について述べたものである．住民データ管理システムの構築において最も重要な点の一つが，データの信頼性である．データを電子化して記録するときには，特にデータの改ざんが大きな課題になる．従ってデータの改ざんが起こらないこと，少なくとも改ざんされたことを検知することが必須となる．そこで着目したのがブロックチェーン技術である．ブロックチェーンの本質は，改ざんが原理的には不可能ではないが実質的には極めて困難な追記型データベース技術である．そこでその特性を利用して，信頼性の高い住民情報管理用のデータベースを構築できると考えた． / This study investigates the design and implementation of data management system with high level reliability and security by blockchain technology. The data access environment provided by blockchain is highly secure and trustworthy. In blockchain system, some data fragments are grouped into one piece called as blocks, and all blocks are connected to create a chain of blocks in database. When blocks are connected, hash value is used to connect blocks properly. Blockchain technology enables highly secure and reliable data management system under relatively poor ICT environment. For example, developing countries such as African countries do not have sufficient ICT environment. Therefore adopting blockchain technology is suitable for such countries. Based on this consideration, we started to build data management system on the blockchain system. / 博士(工学) / Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering / 同志社大学 / Doshisha University

Record linkage is the process of combining information about a single individual from two or more records. Probabilistic record linkage gives weights to each field that is compared. The decision of whether the records should be linked is then determined by the sum of the weights, or “Score”, over all fields compared. Using methods similar to the simple versus simple most powerful test, an optimal record linkage decision rule can be established to minimize the number of unlinked records when the probability of false positive and false negative errors are specified. The weights needed for probabilistic record linkage necessitate linking a “training” subset of records for the computations. This is not practical in many settings, as hand matching requires a considerable time investment. In 1989, Matthew A. Jaro demonstrated how the Expectation-Maximization, or EM, algorithm could be used to compute the needed weights when fields have Binomial matching possibilities. This project applies this method of using the EM algorithm to calculate weights for head-of-household records from the 1910 and 1920 Censuses for Ascension Parish of Louisiana and Church and County Records from Perquimans County, North Carolina. This project also expands the Jaro's EM algorithm to a Multinomial framework. The performance of the EM algorithm for calculating weights will be assessed by comparing the computed weights to weights computed by clerical matching. Simulations will also be conducted to investigate the sensitivity of the algorithm to the total number of record pairs, the number of fields with missing entries, the starting values of estimated probabilities, and the convergence epsilon value.

No description available.

No description available.

No / Research studies report that there are a growing number of falsified educational certificates being produced by dishonest job seekers and higher education applicants across the world. Technological development in the image-processing domain makes editing the document so simple that any individual can perform this kind of forgery without having high-level skills in image editing. Most national governments have put in place stringent policies and procedures to verify and authenticate academic documents. However, due to the amount of human intervention in the process, the efficiency of such measures is debatable. Such systems leave open the possibility that unethical insiders may engage in forgery. In addition, the process of document verification and authentication consumes substantial amounts of time and money. Existing systems of document attestation do not provide a simple and instant way of verifying the authenticity of certificates from transcript level onward. In response to the above issues, this project proposes a prototype model for digitally managing and attesting the academic records using permissioned blockchain technology. By this method, the block-chaining of a student record begins from the time of admission to the Higher Education Institute (HEI) and continues to record the academic progress until graduation, having the graduation details stored as the last block in the chain. The whole blockchain of the student record will remain in the system with the participants enabling any indirect stakeholder to verify the details instantly based on the hash code or QR code. Additional privileges will be provided for direct stakeholders such as (here in Oman) the Ministry of Manpower and the Ministry of Higher Education to access further details of the certificate-holder. The system includes the student as a stakeholder and also as a participant to ensure transparency for her/his academic records.

The journey for my thesis wanted to be romantic and fantastic like our lives. We can maintain daily life in any given day with short compositions of memories. Every time you think about a moment, the memory reveals a different color and odor. The memory cam improve and become more romantic in its recollections as it becomes more significant in our lives. I think that architecture has the similar logic with life. In the beginning we don't know what to expect. As our experiences grow, the images we absorb and imagine blink with the poetry of sense and imagination. The true image comes alive in a moment. In order to have such short and meaningful moments in architecture, I interpreted and adopted notions from the book "Air and Dream: Imagination of Movement." by Gaston Bachelard (1884-1962). Dynamic Imagination was the key to my exploration. I dreamed and flew through the air with his poems and ideas.Watercolor was the main media I used to explore the moments of understanding between Bachelard and myself. Drawings and images from Bruno Taut and Yves Klein inspired me and lifted me higher and higher. Louis Sullivan was a nice guest to join in my journey and keep me close to the ground. Most of all, after struggling with material and structure, I could convert my imaginary space for oneric flight into a place to reside. Sun and moon, river and wind, fairytales from my mother, these things came together to finally give birth to my project. Now I am telling you about a building, which is located in Georgetown, in Washington DC. It is a place to record your voice, to write and read letters from your friends and to store personal belongings with the letters. / Master of Architecture

Yes / Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the potential of using primary care optometry data to support ophthalmic public health, research and policy making. Methods: Suppliers of optometric electronic patient record systems (EPRs) were interviewed to gather information about the data present in commercial software programmes and the feasibility of data extraction. Researchers were presented with a list of metrics that might be included in an optometric practice dataset via a survey circulated by email to 102 researchers known to have an interest in eye health. Respondents rated the importance of each metric for research. A further survey presented the list of metrics to 2000 randomly selected members of the College of Optometrists. The optometrists were asked to specify how likely they were to enter information about each metric in a routine sight test consultation. They were also asked if data were entered as free text, menus or a combination of these. Results: Current EPRs allowed the input of data relating to the metrics of interest. Most data entry was free text. There was a good match between high priority metrics for research and those commonly recorded in optometric practice. Conclusions: Although there were plenty of electronic data in optometric practice, this was highly variable and often not in an easily analysed format. To facilitate analysis of the evidence for public health purposes a UK based minimum dataset containing standardised clinical information is recommended. Further research would be required to develop suitable coding for the individual metrics included. The dataset would need to capture information from all sectors of the population to ensure effective planning of any future interventions.

Published Article / In response to the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) epidemic in the country, the South African Government started with the provisioning of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) in the public health sector. Monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of the ART programme is of the utmost importance. The current patient information system could not supply the required information to manage the rollout of the ART programme. A data warehouse, consisting of several data marts, was developed that integrated several disparate systems related to HIV/AIDS/ART into one system. It was, however, not possible to trace a patient across all the data marts in the data warehouse. No unique identifiers existed for the patient records in the different data marts and they also had different structures. Record linkage in conjunction with a mapping process was used to link all the data marts and in so doing identify the same patient in all the data marts. This resulted in a longitudinal patient record of an ART patient that displayed all the treatments received by the patient in all public health care facilities in the province.