Review of Immunoinformatic approaches to in-silico B-cell epitope prediction

In this paper, the current state of in-silico, B-cell epitope prediction is discussed. Recommendations for improving some of the approaches encountered are outlined, along with the presentation of an entirely novel technique, which uses molecular mechanics for epitope classification, evaluation and prediction

Orbital photogalvanic effects in quantum-confined structures

We report on the circular and linear photogalvanic effects caused by free-carrier absorption of terahertz radiation in electron channels on (001)-oriented and miscut silicon surfaces. The photocurrent behavior upon variation of the radiation polarization state, wavelength, gate voltage and temperature is studied. We present the microscopical and phenomenological theory of the photogalvanic effects, which describes well the experimental results. In particular, it is demonstrated that the circular (photon-helicity sensitive) photocurrent in silicon-based structures is of pure orbital nature originating from the quantum interference of different pathways contributing to the absorption of monochromatic radiation.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, two culumne

Estudio comparativo de técnicas para la detección automática de patrones interictales en señal de EEG de pacientes epilépticos

La epilepsia es una afección neurológica grave que condiciona la calidad de vida de las personas que sufren de ella. Una de las labores de los neurólogos y neurofisiólogos consiste en revisar los Video-EEG de los pacientes epilépticos para analizar la semiología de las crisis epilépticas así como el patrón EEG crítico y los periodos intercríticos que se caracterizan por la aparición de descargas epileptiformes paroxísticas con frecuencia variable. Los registros pueden durar desde minutos hasta días, y la tarea de análisis del EEG por parte del especialista resulta lenta y agotadora. Frente esta problemática es deseable conseguir un programa de detección de eventos relevantes en el EEG que permita acortar el tiempo de análisis de los registros. El presente artículo se centra en definir un primer paso hacia el desarrollo de una aplicación que permita la detección de descargas epileptiformes interictales (DEI) de tipo punta en señales EEG de pacientes epilépticos. El objetivo es realizar un estudio comparativo entre dos métodos de detección: Filtros adaptados y la Transformada Wavelet Continua (CWT) evaluando los resultados con el parámetro de área bajo la curva (AUC) y la curva ROC. Los resultados muestran que el uso de la CWT es más eficiente a la hora de detectar puntas dentro de señales EEG que el Filtro adaptado. A pesar de los buenos resultados obtenidos, es necesario verificar ambos métodos con nuevos registros de datos y mejorar los procesos de automatización para conseguir un programa de detección fiable

Gender and participation: critical reflection on Zenzeleni Networks in Mankosi, South Africa

This paper unveils the complexity of gender dynamics by reflecting on lessons learned in Zenzeleni Networks and provides a different perspective to notions of “participation” by asking “who participates and how?” The paper employs a feminist conceptual framework, particularly social constructionist theory and intersectionality, to understand women’s participation and experience, analyzing multi-layered and intersecting structural injustices that marginalize women’s choices, empowerment, scope for agency, and sense of ownership. In-depth interviews and focus group discussions gathered information from women living in Mankosi and women who are working for Zenzeleni Networks, respectively. Results show that gendered power dynamics of the community were reproduced within Zenzeleni Networks. Although women play a key role in the everyday operationalization of Zenzeleni Networks, their role has been considered part of their domestic duties, which results in misrecognition and underrepresentation of their work.CONFINE Integrated Project FIRE #288535 Telkom, Cisco and Aria Technologies via the Telkom Centre of Excellence (CoE) programme

Human-centred computer architecture: redesigning the mobile datastore and sharing interface

This dissertation develops a material perspective on Information & Communication Technologies and combines this perspective with a Research through Design approach to interrogate current and develop new mobile sharing interfaces and datastores. through this approach I open up a line of inquiry that connects a material perspective of information with everyday sharing and communication practices as well as with the mobile and cloud architectures that increasingly mediate such practices. With this perspective, I uncover a shifting emphasis of how data is stored on mobile devices and how this data is made available to apps through sharing interfaces that prevent apps from obtaining a proper handle of data to support fundamentally human acts of sharing such as giving. I take these insights to articulate a much wider research agenda to implicate, beyond the sharing interface, the app model and mobile datastore, data exchange protocols, and the Cloud. I formalise the approach I take to bring technically and socially complex, multi-dimensional and changing ideas into correspondence and to openly document this process. I consider the history of the File abstraction and the fundamental grammars of action this abstraction supports (e.g. move, copy, & delete) and the mediating role this abstraction – and its graphical representation – plays in binding together the concerns of system architects, programmers, and users. Finding inspiration in the 30 year history of the file, I look beyond the Desktop to contemporary realms of computing on the mobile and in the Cloud to develop implications for reinvigorated file abstractions, representations, and grammars of actions. First and foremost, these need to have a social perspective on files. To develop and hone such a social perspective, and challenge the assumption that mobile phones are telephones – implying interaction at a distance – I give an interwoven account of the theoretical and practical work I undertook to derive and design a grammar of action – showing – tailored to co-present and co-located interactions. By documenting the process of developing prototypes that explore this design space, and returning to the material perspective I developed earlier, I explore how the grammars of show and gift are incongruent with the specific ways in which information is passed through the mobile’s sharing interface. This insight led me to prototype a mobile datastore – My Stuff – and design new file abstractions that foreground the social nature of the stuff we store and share on our mobiles. I study how that stuff is handled and shared in the Cloud by developing, documenting, and interrogating a cloud service to facilitate sharing, and implement grammars of actions to support and better align with human communication and sharing acts. I conclude with an outlook on the powerful generative metaphor of casting mobile media files as digital possessions to support and develop human-centred computer architecture that give people better awareness and control over the stuff that matters to them

Using software product line engineering to construct products with different certification levels - An Industrial Action Research Study

Background: Software product line engineering (SPLE) is used to derive multiple products from a common platform and has many industry examples of its benefits such as reduced development cost and decreased time to market. However, there is no research to our knowledge on how well it functions with agile development when there is a need to create both safety-critical products and non safety-critical products. The regulatory difference between these two is that the safety-critical products require certification to be sold. Aim: This thesis investigates which SPLE variability approaches can be used to differentiate code associated to a safety-critical and a non safety-critical product. The research was done at the company 1928 Diagnostics, with the goal of finding the most suitable variability approach for the company and how this might affect their business, architecture, process and organization. Method: We investigate variability approaches by looking at current SPLE literature and by using an action research methodology. The data is collected through interviews, focus groups, a mockup of a chosen variability approach and discussions at the company. Results: We identify five variability approaches that can support differentiation: design patterns, components, preprocessor, parameter-based and version control. We found that the most suitable variability approach for 1928 Diagnostics was components. From the evaluation of the mockup we found that potential effects primarily would be related to the architecture and the assistance it could provide to the process later. Finally, we present a methodology for how to derive the most suitable variability approach

Investigation of different hydrogels for nucleus replacement : a biomechanical study

Hydrogels are considered promising for disc regeneration strategies. However, it is currently unknown whether the destruction of the natural interface between nucleus and surrounding structures caused by nucleotomy and an inadequate annulus closure diminishes the mechanical competence of the disc. To clarify these mechanisms and to evaluate whether hydrogels are able to restore the biomechanical behaviour of the disc a combined in vivo and in vitro and approach was used