Smartphones have facilitated tasks in private and work life for its users. In business, employees often should manage sensitive data that unauthorised people cannot access, so some user authentication is needed to perform. Besides the normal user authentication, some employers give the right to access to the sensitive data only if the employees stay in specific locations. That makes sense for those businesses that have various construction sites and offices that are not necessarily located in the same geographical region. In those companies, the employees must be able to perform their tasks from different locations regardless of the available network infrastructure. To protect the data from intruders, this research presents a secure location-based user authentication scheme for mobile application that works offline. This research considers to enable access to the sensitive data using off-the-shelf mobile devices without adding any extra hardware and with no additional information from a fixed infrastructure. This Thesis firstly describes the architecture and attributes of the proposed solution. Then, the techniques used for the design and functionality of the solution are presented. The results of this study reveal that the proposed solution is more suitable for the applications that is used in outdoor locations. Finally, to alleviate the shortcoming of the presented technique for indoor locations, a new method has been discussed and tested. This report is a final Thesis in collaboration with SAAB. The purpose of this research is to examine the best way to protect sensitive data managed by the employees using their smartphones in different workplaces.

In the field of gender based violence prevention more and more emphasis is being put on preventative efforts through attitude change. This study is the result of a minor field study in Rwanda and analyzes the mechanisms that are present during the process of attitude change. The purpose of this study is to isolate the mechanisms within this process. The study applies feminist theory and process tracing though elite interviewing. The analysis is built on 14 interviews with field officers working for the organization Rwanda Men's Resource Center as instructors on a gender based violence prevention program. It was found that attitude change is more likely when participants feel equal and not threatened, as well as when they were able to draw their own conclusions and be agents of their own ideas. Furthermore, when exposed to new ideas concretely through their personal relationship with a trainer, to their spouses, and through take-home exercises, participants gained new insights. To be successful the program required a long term commitment to the subject at hand. Ultimately, this signals that attitude change is a long and continuous process- of which lasting results can be achieved through continued reinforcement.

No description available.

Case-based reasoning solves new problems by re-using the solutions of previously solved similar problems and is popular because many of the knowledge engineering demands of conventional knowledge-based systems are removed. The content of the case knowledge container is critical to the performance of case-based classification systems. However, the knowledge engineer is given little support in the selection of suitable techniques to maintain and monitor the case base. This research investigates the coverage, competence and problem-solving capacity of case knowledge with the aim of developing techniques to model and maintain the case base. We present a novel technique that creates a model of the case base by measuring the uncertainty in local areas of the problem space based on the local mix of solutions present. The model provides an insight into the structure of a case base by means of a complexity profile that can assist maintenance decision-making and provide a benchmark to assess future changes to the case base. The distribution of cases in the case base is critical to the performance of a case-based reasoning system. We argue that classification boundaries represent important regions of the problem space and develop two complexity-guided algorithms which use boundary identification techniques to actively discover cases close to boundaries. We introduce a complexity-guided redundancy reduction algorithm which uses a case complexity threshold to retain cases close to boundaries and delete cases that form single class clusters. The algorithm offers control over the balance between maintaining competence and reducing case base size. The performance of a case-based reasoning system relies on the integrity of its case base but in real life applications the available data invariably contains erroneous, noisy cases. Automated removal of these noisy cases can improve system accuracy. In addition, error rates can often be reduced by removing cases to give smoother decision boundaries between classes. We show that the optimal level of boundary smoothing is domain dependent and, therefore, our approach to error reduction reacts to the characteristics of the domain by setting an appropriate level of smoothing. We introduce a novel algorithm which identifies and removes both noisy and boundary cases with the aid of a local distance ratio. A prototype interface has been developed that shows how the modelling and maintenance approaches can be used in practice in an interactive manner. The interface allows the knowledge engineer to make informed maintenance choices without the need for extensive evaluation effort while, at the same time, retaining control over the process. One of the strengths of our approach is in applying a consistent, integrated method to case base maintenance to provide a transparent process that gives a degree of explanation.

Thesis advisor: Eranthie Weerapana / Activity-based protein profiling (ABPP) is a chemical proteomic technique that allows for selective labeling, visualization, and enrichment of the subset of active enzymes in a complex proteome. Given the dominant role of posttranslational modifications in regulating protein function in vivo, ABPP provides a direct readout of activity that is not attained through traditional proteomic methods. The first application of chemical proteomics in C. elegans was used to identify dysregulated serine hydrolase and cysteine-mediated protein activities in the long-lived daf-2 mutant, revealing LBP-3, K02D7.1, and C23H4.2 as novel regulators of lifespan and dauer formation. The tools of ABPP were also utilized in studying protein interactions at the host-pathogen interface of V. cholerae infection, discovering four pathogen-secreted proteases that alter the biochemical composition of the host, decrease the activity of host serine hydrolases, and inhibit bacterial binding by a host-secreted lectin. Lastly, ABPP was used to study the targets of protein arginine deiminases (PADs) using a citrulline-specific activity-based probe (ABP), highlighting its utility in detecting biologically relevant PAD substrates as well as identifying mRNA processing factors as previously unknown targets of PAD. Taken together, these studies demonstrate the ability of ABPP to discover novel protein regulators of physiological and pathological processes. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2016. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Chemistry.

Evidence based practice (EBP) is an educational paradigm that espouses that clinical decision making should be made through the judicious and conscientious use of best evidence. EBP is predicated on a fundamental principle that therapeutic knowledge is appraised and applied into practice with the ethical imperative to use such knowledge for the good of patient care. Despite the ubiquitous nature of EBP in health care little is known about how physiotherapists use this clinical decision making process and it is not clear as to which theoretical frameworks of practice and knowledge paradigms underpin physiotherapists application of EBP. Phenomenology seeks to uncover the internal consciousness of phenomena by describing and exploring the lived experience and explores the relationship between what exists in one’s consciousness and what exists in the objective world. Descriptive phenomenology was used in this thesis to gain an in depth understanding of how twelve physiotherapists applied EBP in the real and complex world of clinical practice with the objective to explore their experiences and to understand the essence of its practice. The findings in this study revealed a complex picture comprising of three separate but interrelated themes. Physiotherapists had developed a personal theory of EBP (Theme 1) that guided their behaviour and comprised of an ontological, epistemological and methodological structure. This theoretical and practice framework was uniquely individual and required a complex set of cognitive processes that included knowledge identification, transformation, translation and implementation in specific client situations and practice contexts (Theme 2: translation into practice). To add to this complexity this framework took place within intrapersonal, social and cultural milieus which influenced behaviour (Theme 3). The study concludes by conceptualising the findings and experiences of physiotherapists into models that could be used to assist educationalists, practitioners and researchers to promote evidence based practice in a pragmatic way.

This thesis presents the results of an investigation into the effects of hygrothermal conditioning on the mechanical properties, and fatigue properties of epoxy based composites reinforced with carbon, glass and Kevlar 49 fibres. Cross-plied laminates (0/90) of these materials of nominal volume o fraction 60% were conditioned by drying at 60°C, by exposure to a 65% RH atmosphere at room temperature and by boiling in water. The effects of conditioning on the tensile and shear strengths and on the tensile fatigue response are discussed. The effects of exposure to an extreme diurnal cycle and to the ultra violet in isolation on the tensile properties are also discussed. The 0/90 tensile properties of the three laminates are relatively little affected by the environmental conditioning except for the case of GRP exposed to boiling water, when corrosion damage to the glass fibres significantly reduces the composite strength, and in the KFRP in which the strength is reduced by complete drying. The +/-45 strengths are more sensitive to the effects of moisture, however, it appears that the optimum strength is obtained after conditioning in the 65% RH environment. Acoustic emission monitoring of the tensile tests shows distinctive differences between KFRP and the two other types of composite and permits the identification of characteristic effects of moisture on the tensile failure mechanisms of all three materials. Tensile fatigue tests have been carried out on the laminates in the 0/90 orientation. The CFRP shows no effect of conditioning on the fatigue behaviour, and in the GRP only the boiling water conditioning affects the results. The tensile fatigue of the KFRP is affected both by boiling and by drying, the latter being the most severe. The fatigue response of the KFRP shows a dramatic down turn at lives in excess of 105 cycles. This effect appears to reflect the ease with which mechanical damage is sustained by the aromatic polyamide fibres. The residual strengths of the laminates after fatiguing is discussed and possible mechanisms for the damage accumulation in the materials during fatiguing are given.

The static and fatigue properties of advanced epoxy-based composites reinforced with carbon, glass or aromatic polyamide (Kevlar-49) fibres have been measured for a range of different loading and environmental conditions. Cross-plied laminates were tested in tension in the 0/90 and +/-45° orientations and also under flexural loading. The laminates were similar, except for the type of fibre. The effects of environmental exposure were assessed by preconditioning test specimens to equilibrium by either drying at 60°C, storage at 65%RH at ambient temperature or boiling in water. Moisture absorption was through the resin alone for CFRP and GRP and by additional absorption by the fibres for KFRP. Fatigue testing revealed that the tensile performance in the 0/90 orientation is strongly dependent on the level of cyclic strain. 0/90 CFRP has excellent fatigue and environmental resistance but GRP exhibits a steep fatigue curve and the static and low cycle fatigue strengths are both reduced by boiling. The fatigue strength of 0/90 KFRP is reduced by drying, more so than by boiling, and in all conditions the stress/log-life curves are characterised by a downward curvature or 'knee'. Tensile preloads do not significantly affect the residual fatigue properties or the equilibrium levels of moisture uptake, although extensive damage involving cracking in both longitudinal and transverse plies may lead to increased absorption rates. A tendency for Kevlar fibres to split or 'defibrillate' plays an important role in most failures of KFRP. It limits the shear strength and causes flexural failures to occur at the compression surface at low stress levels. 0/90 CFRP also fails at the compression surface in flexure but GRP fails at the tensile surface, the environmental fatigue performance resembling that under axial tensile loading. The +/-45° tensile and low cycle fatigue strengths are sensitive to the effects of conditioning, all laminates exhibiting optimum performance after conditioning at 65%RH, although generally these effects become insignificant at long lives.

Thesis (MPH) -- University of Limpopo, 2010. / Background Namibia is one of the country most affected by HIV/AIDS epidemic in the world and in Sub¬Sahara Africa with an adult prevalence of 19,7 %, and 210.000 people estimated to be living with HIV/AIDS at the end of 2003. The Caprivi region adult prevalence in adult pregnant wom~n is estimated at 43%. The health care services are overstrained with patients and home-based care (HBC) is seen a possible solution. The scale up of HBC and expansion of coverage to patients has lessened the burden of public hospitals to deal with all these chronically ill patients. The challenges that volunteers are facing impact in the quality of care people living with HIV I AIDS receive. Objectives This study assessed the utilization of home-based care service, knowledge and perception of People living with HIV and AIDS (PL WHA) toward home-based care services. The views of volunteers towards home-based care service are also reported. Methods This is a qualitative study that utilized Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) for the home-based care-givers and in-depth interview with the clients accessing antiretroviral treatment at Katima State Hospital. A total of four focus group discussions were organized with care-givers comprising 31 adult participants (15 males and 16 females) and 18 in-depth interviews were conducted with the people living with HIV and AIDS accessing antiretroviral treatment (ART) at Katima State Hospital. All FGDs were tape recorded and one-to-one interview was hand written. Result The study demonstrates that most of the participants have positive attitudes toward utilization of HBC service. However, few people are still afraid to disclose their health status. In general, the community participation has tremendously reduced stigmatization. The self-reported health status by the HBC givers in order to have access to nutrition support may have played a role in reducing the stigma associated with HIV and thus increased the number of people utilizing the HBC service. The HIV -positive participants valued the assistance received from the volunteers and volunteers appreciate the training received to enable them to undertake their duties with more confidence. The dress code of volunteers when visiting patients was perceived to disclose HIV status but did not influence patient attitude to access the service. Conclusion The improvement in community knowledge about HIV and HBC service has enhanced the positive attitude toward utilization of home-based care service which has consequently reduced the stigma associated with HIV. Advocacy is required to improve the working condition of volunteer care-givers home-based care by policy markers. The collaboration between different stakeholders will advance and sustain the HBC service in focusing on prevention of HIV infection.

acase@tulane.edu / Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the United States and is major cause of infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease, and ectopic pregnancy among women. Despite decades of screening women for Ct, rates continue to increase among them in high prevalent areas such as New Orleans. A pilot study in New Orleans found approximately 11% of 14-24 year old of African Americans (AAs) were infected with Ct. Our goal is to mathematically model the impact of different interventions for AA men resident in New Orleans on the general rate of Ct among women resident at the same region. We create and analyze mathematical models such as multi-risk and continuous-risk compartmental models and agent-based network model to first help understand the spread of Ct and second evaluate and estimate behavioral and biomedical interventions including condom-use, screening, partner notification, social friend notification, and rescreening. Our compartmental models predict the Ct prevalence is a function of the number of partners for a person, and quantify how this distribution changes as a function of condom-use. We also observe that although increased Ct screening and rescreening, and treating partners of infected people will reduce the prevalence, these mitigations alone are not sufficient to control the epidemic. A combination of both sexual partner and social friend notification is needed to mitigate Ct. / 1 / Asma Aziz Boroojeni