Programvare for autonome arbeidende undervannsfartøy - Plattformuavhengig innlasting av dynamiske programvarebibliotek under kjøretid

Det geometriske modelleringsprogrammet GeoMOD, tilbyr funksjonalitet for visualisering og styring av geometriske modeller. Programmet skal kunne knyttes opp mot roboters aktuatorer og brukes som styresystem. Undervannsfartøy (ROV) er en spesielt aktuell gruppe roboter i den sammenheng. Det er et mål at fartøy som benytter GeoMOD som styringssystem skal kunne arbeide autonomt. Programmet må derfor være i stand til å laste inn programtillegg basert på øyeblikkelige behov. Dette kravet danner grunnlaget for en sentral problemstilling i vår masteroppgave: Plattformuavhengig innlasting av dynamiske programvarebibliotek under kjøretid. For å løse dette problemet, har vi studert statiske og dynamiske programvarebibliotekers virkemåter i Linux og Windows. Besvarelsen drøfter byggeprosessen rundt disse bibliotektypene i de to operativsystemene, samt linking til statiske bibliotek og teknikker for å laste inn C++-baserte dynamiske bibliotek ved hjelp av C-funksjonene dlopen i Linux og LoadLibrary i Windows. Med dette som bakteppe, gikk vi videre med programvareutviklingsrammeverket Qts verktøy for plattformuavhengig innlasting av bibliotek: QLibrary samler plattformspesifikke C-funksjoner for dynamisk innlasting i én felles klasse, og tilbyr disse gjennom et sett metoder som automatisk tilpasses gjeldende plattform. Når biblioteket er lastet inn, kan QLibrary brukes til å nå bibliotekets symboler. QPluginLoader baserer seg på QLibrary, men tilbyr utviklere tilgang til et rotkomponent-objekt i det innlastede biblioteket, en egenskap som ble helt sentral i vår løsning. Vårt arbeid er et bidrag i en årelang prosess. Å benytte fornuftige designmønstre og programvarearkitekturer er essensielt for effektiv og solid programvare. Arkitektonisk baserer programmet seg først og fremst på Model-view-controller, som separerer presentasjon av data fra selve dataene. Videre har vi benyttet extensibility pattern for å gjøre programmet tilbøyelig for programtillegg, samt abstract factory pattern i kombinasjon med C++-templates for å opprette objekter basert på kildekode fra de innlastede programtilleggene. Prosjektets lange livsløp har resultert i en hel del arbeid knyttet til portering fra eldre Qt-versjoner. Store deler av den utdaterte funksjonaliteten har kunnet erstattes med nye funksjoner direkte, men en del funksjonalitet har måttet implementeres på ny. Dette gjelder blant annet design av nye brukergrensesnitt. Ved prosjektovertakelse fungerte programmet bare i Linux. Under hele prosessen har plattformuavhengighet vært et hovedmål, og programmet fungerer nå også i Windows-operativsystemet med en operativ filutforsker

Current issues in medically assisted reproduction and genetics in Europe: research, clinical practice, ethics, legal issues and policy. European Society of Human Genetics and European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology.

In March 2005, a group of experts from the European Society of Human Genetics and European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology met to discuss the interface between genetics and assisted reproductive technology (ART), and published an extended background paper, recommendations and two Editorials. Seven years later, in March 2012, a follow-up interdisciplinary workshop was held, involving representatives of both professional societies, including experts from the European Union Eurogentest2 Coordination Action Project. The main goal of this meeting was to discuss developments at the interface between clinical genetics and ARTs. As more genetic causes of reproductive failure are now recognised and an increasing number of patients undergo testing of their genome before conception, either in regular health care or in the context of direct-to-consumer testing, the need for genetic counselling and preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) may increase. Preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) thus far does not have evidence from randomised clinical trials to substantiate that the technique is both effective and efficient. Whole-genome sequencing may create greater challenges both in the technological and interpretational domains, and requires further reflection about the ethics of genetic testing in ART and PGD/PGS. Diagnostic laboratories should be reporting their results according to internationally accepted accreditation standards (International Standards Organisation - ISO 15189). Further studies are needed in order to address issues related to the impact of ART on epigenetic reprogramming of the early embryo. The legal landscape regarding assisted reproduction is evolving but still remains very heterogeneous and often contradictory. The lack of legal harmonisation and uneven access to infertility treatment and PGD/PGS fosters considerable cross-border reproductive care in Europe and beyond. The aim of this paper is to complement previous publications and provide an update of selected topics that have evolved since 2005

Tobacco use induces anti-apoptotic, proliferative patterns of gene expression in circulating leukocytes of Caucasian males

Abstract Background Strong epidemiologic evidence correlates tobacco use with a variety of serious adverse health effects, but the biological mechanisms that produce these effects remain elusive. Results We analyzed gene transcription data to identify expression spectra related to tobacco use in circulating leukocytes of 67 Caucasian male subjects. Levels of cotinine, a nicotine metabolite, were used as a surrogate marker for tobacco exposure. Significance Analysis of Microarray and Gene Set Analysis identified 109 genes in 16 gene sets whose transcription levels were differentially regulated by nicotine exposure. We subsequently analyzed this gene set by hyperclustering, a technique that allows the data to be clustered by both expression ratio and gene annotation (e.g. Gene Ontologies). Conclusion Our results demonstrate that tobacco use affects transcription of groups of genes that are involved in proliferation and apoptosis in circulating leukocytes. These transcriptional effects include a repertoire of transcriptional changes likely to increase the incidence of neoplasia through an altered expression of genes associated with transcription and signaling, interferon responses and repression of apoptotic pathways

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Abstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Mutations of complement lectin pathway genes MBL2 and MASP2 associated with placental malaria

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