Influence of network topology and data collection on network inference.

We recently developed an approach for testing the accuracy of network inference algorithms by applying them to biologically realistic simulations with known network topology. Here, we seek to determine the degree to which the network topology and data sampling regime influence the ability of our Bayesian network inference algorithm, NETWORKINFERENCE, to recover gene regulatory networks. NETWORKINFERENCE performed well at recovering feedback loops and multiple targets of a regulator with small amounts of data, but required more data to recover multiple regulators of a gene. When collecting the same number of data samples at different intervals from the system, the best recovery was produced by sampling intervals long enough such that sampling covered propagation of regulation through the network but not so long such that intervals missed internal dynamics. These results further elucidate the possibilities and limitations of network inference based on biological data.

Ptolemaic Mummy Stuffings, 2: A Comic Fragment and Grammatical Text in the Yale Collection (P. CtYBR inv. 5019, 5043)

This is the second installment of a three-part project to publish a group of ten Ptolemaic papyri purchased by Yale’s Beinecke Library in 1998 (acquisition “1998b”), which came to the Beinecke as three hard wads that were apparently the stuffing from the stomach cavity of a mummified animal. This article publishes: (1) P.CtYBR inv. 5019, a fragment of line ends in iambic tetrameter catalectic meter from an unknown comedy; the format suggests that this is a further example of certain type of Ptolemaic writing exercise. (2) P.CtYBR inv. 5043, a fragmentary grammatical text of uncertain import.

Caracterización funcional de la estepa magallánica y su transición a matorral de Mata Negra (Patagonia austral) a partir de imágenes de resolución espacial intermedia

La PPNA es indicadora de la biomasa disponible y se relaciona con la capacidad de carga de los sistemas pastoriles extensivos. Es posible estimarla a partir de índices de vegetación obtenidos de sensores remotos. El objetivo de esta tesis fue caracterizar funcional y estructuralmente una estepa graminosa (Estepa Magallánica Seca-EMS) y una arbustiva ((Matorral de Mata Negra-MMN) de la Patagonia Austral. En 18 sitios se midió cobertura vegetal (2004 y 2010) y biomasa por estratos (2004 y 2005). Se obtuvieron 8 índices de vegetación a partir de imágenes MODIS (resolución 16 días, 250m, 2003-2010). Se caracterizaron las comunidades vegetales (PCA). Se extrajeron los índices en áreas de 3x3 pixeles y correlacionaron con la biomasa y cobertura medidas a campo. Ambas áreas están dominadas por especies perennes con una cobertura de 66 por ciento En MMN la mitad de este valor corresponde a arbustos. La biomasa aérea total fue de aproximadamente 1000 Kg MS/ha en EMS y el triple en MMN, en ambos casos un 33 por ciento corresponde a material verde. Los índices presentan patrones temporales similares entre áreas, con un máximo a fines de octubre, aunque NDVI y RVI mostraron un segundo pico en abril. El MMN posee mayor biomasa pero los índices fueron 20 por ciento menores que EMS. El NDVI caracterizó mejor la vegetación de la EMS, con correlaciones de 0,69, 0,43 y 0,48 con la fracción verde de biomasa total, intercoironal y coironal, respectivamente. Reflejó además el crecimiento otoñal característico de ambientes con régimen isohigro, limitados por temperatura y humedad. Por el contrario, en el MMN, los índices espectrales y los indicadores de biomasa no correlacionaron. Los valores de regresión obtenidos indican que la evaluación de biomasa disponible a partir de sensores remotos es solo posible en uno de los ecosistemas y muestran que para estimar la receptividad, seria necesaria una calibración local de los índices, dado que la estructura de la vegetación modifica los valores espectrales.

Caracterización funcional de la estepa magallánica y su transición a matorral de Mata Negra (Patagonia austral)a partir de imágenes de resolución espacial intermedia

La PPNA es indicadora de la biomasa disponible y se relaciona con la capacidad de carga de los sistemas pastoriles extensivos. Es posible estimarla a partir de índices de vegetación obtenidos de sensores remotos. El objetivo de esta tesis fue caracterizar funcional y estructuralmente una estepa graminosa (Estepa Magallánica Seca-EMS)y una arbustiva ((Matorral de Mata Negra-MMN)de la Patagonia Austral. En 18 sitios se midió cobertura vegetal (2004 y 2010)y biomasa por estratos (2004 y 2005). Se obtuvieron 8 índices de vegetación a partir de imágenes MODIS (resolución 16 días, 250m, 2003-2010). Se caracterizaron las comunidades vegetales (PCA). Se extrajeron los índices en áreas de 3x3 pixeles y correlacionaron con la biomasa y cobertura medidas a campo. Ambas áreas están dominadas por especies perennes con una cobertura de 66 por ciento En MMN la mitad de este valor corresponde a arbustos. La biomasa aérea total fue de aproximadamente 1000 Kg MS/ha en EMS y el triple en MMN, en ambos casos un 33 por ciento corresponde a material verde. Los índices presentan patrones temporales similares entre áreas, con un máximo a fines de octubre, aunque NDVI y RVI mostraron un segundo pico en abril. El MMN posee mayor biomasa pero los índices fueron 20 por ciento menores que EMS. El NDVI caracterizó mejor la vegetación de la EMS, con correlaciones de 0,69, 0,43 y 0,48 con la fracción verde de biomasa total, intercoironal y coironal, respectivamente. Reflejó además el crecimiento otoñal característico de ambientes con régimen isohigro, limitados por temperatura y humedad. Por el contrario, en el MMN, los índices espectrales y los indicadores de biomasa no correlacionaron. Los valores de regresión obtenidos indican que la evaluación de biomasa disponible a partir de sensores remotos es solo posible en uno de los ecosistemas y muestran que para estimar la receptividad, seria necesaria una calibración local de los índices, dado que la estructura de la vegetación modifica los valores espectrales.

Dinámica de la vegetación en áreas pastoreadas del extremo austral de la provincia fitogeográfica del monte

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Análisis de necesidades tecnoeducativas: estado del arte de las TIC en el medio educativo de la macro región sur-austral

El trabajo que se presenta corresponde a un análisis comparativo, respecto de la inserción de las TIC en el proceso de formación en la macro región sur-austral chilena, el estudio se orienta bajo un análisis de carácter cualitativo en el que se verifican aspectos tales como infraestructura, capacitación de profesores, aplicaciones en matemáticas, entre otros. Los resultados muestran que la inserción de las TIC en el medio educativo de la región se ha incrementado levemente, sin embargo, aún es insipiente la inserción de estas en el trabajo de los alumnos en el aula, la falta de perfeccionamiento de los profesores y la ausencia en la malla curricular de una asignatura exclusiva de informática para los estudiantes. Respecto a la aplicación de las TICs, los profesores de Matemática señalan aplicarlas en un 60%, en sus procedimientos didácticos, mientras que los alumnos(as), señalan que ello ocurre en un 16%, siendo uno de los software más utilizado en matemática por profesores y alumnos el Gaphmatic, seguido por el Derive, aunque el uso de estas herramientas debiese aumentar. Este estudio ha dejado de manifiesto una mejora en la inserción de las TICs en educación y en especial en educación matemática, observándose un mayor avance en los establecimientos educacionales de dependencia particular.

The development of an advanced ship evacuation simulation software product and associated large scale testing facility for the collection of human shipboard behaviour data

When designing a new passenger ship or modifying an existing design, how do we ensure that the proposed design and crew emergency procedures are safe from an evacuation point of view? In the wake of major maritime disasters such as the Herald of Free Enterprise and the Estonia and in light of the growth in the numbers of high density, high-speed ferries and large capacity cruise ships, issues concerned with the evacuation of passengers and crew at sea are receiving renewed interest. In the maritime industry, ship evacuation models offer the promise to quickly and efficiently bring evacuation considerations into the design phase, while the ship is "on the drawing board". maritimeEXODUS-winner of the BCS, CITIS and RINA awards - is such a model. Features such as the ability to realistically simulate human response to fire, the capability to model human performance in heeled orientations, a virtual reality environment that produces realistic visualisations of the modelled scenarios and with an integrated abandonment model, make maritimeEXODUS a truly unique tool for assessing the evacuation capabilities of all types of vessels under a variety of conditions. This paper describes the maritimeEXODUS model, the SHEBA facility from which data concerning passenger/crew performance in conditions of heel is derived and an example application demonstrating the models use in performing an evacuation analysis for a large passenger ship partially based on the requirements of MSC circular 1033.

The collection and analysis of pre-evacuation times derived from evacuation trials and their application to evacuation modelling

This paper presents data relating to occupant pre-evacuation times from university and hospital outpatient facilities. Although the two occupancies are entirely different, they do employ relatively similar procedures: members of staff sweep areas to encourage individuals to evacuate.However the manner in which the dependent population reacts to these procedures is quite different. In the hospital case, the patients only evacuated once a member of the nursing staff had instructed them to do so, while in the university evacuation, the students were less dependent upon the actions of the staff, with over 50% of them evacuating with no prior prompting. In addition, the student pre-evacuation time was found to be dependent on their level of engagement in various activities.

The collection of pre-evacuation times from evacuation trials involving a Hospital Outpatient area and a University Library facility

This paper presents data relating to occupant pre-evacuation times from a university and a hospital outpatient facility. Although the two structures are entirely different they do employ relatively similar procedures: members of staff sweeping areas of the structure to encourage individuals to evacuate. However, the manner in which the dependent population reacts to these procedures is quite different. In the hospital case the patients only evacuated once a member of the nursing staff had instructed them to do so while in the university evacuation the students were less dependent upon the actions of the staff with over 50% of them evacuating with no prior prompting. Although this data may be useful in a variety of areas, it was collected primarily for use within evacuation models.

Data collection in support of the modelling of naval vessels

Evacuation analysis of passenger and commercial shipping can be undertaken using computer-based simulation tools such as maritimeEXODUS. These tools emulate human shipboard behaviour during emergency scenarios; however it is largely based around the behaviour of civilian passengers and fixtures and fittings of merchant vessels. If these tools and procedures are to be applied to naval vessels there is a clear requirement to understand the behaviour of well-trained naval personnel interacting with the fixtures and fittings that are exclusive to warships. Human factor trials using Royal Navy training facilities were recently undertaken to collect data to improve our understanding of the performance of naval personnel in warship environments. The trials were designed and conducted by staff from the Fire Safety Engineering Group (FSEG) of the University of Greenwich on behalf of the Sea Technology Group (STG), Defence Procurement Agency. The trials involved a selection of RN volunteers with sea-going experience in warships, operating and traversing structural components under different angles of heel. This paper describes the trials and some of the collected data.

Collection and analysis of pre-evacuation time data collected from evacuation trials conducted in library facilities in Brazil

Two evacuation trials were conducted within Brazilian library facilities by FSEG staff in January 2005. These trials represent one of the first such trials conducted in Brazil. The purpose of these evacuation trials was to collect pre-evacuation time data from a population with a cultural background different to that found in western Europe. In total some 34 pre-evacuation times were collected from the experiments and these ranged from 5 to 98 seconds with a mean pre-evacuation time of 46.7 seconds

Methodologies employed in the collection, retrieval and storage of human factors information derived from first hand accounts of survivors of the WTC disaster of 11 September 2001

This article provides a broad overview of project HEED (High-rise Evacuation Evaluation Database) and the methodologies employed in the collection and storage of first-hand accounts of evacuation experiences derived from face-to-face interviews of evacuees from the World Trade Center (WTC) Twin Towers complex on September 11, 2001. In particular, the article describes the development of the HEED database. This is a flexible research tool which contains qualitative type data in the form of coded evacuee experiences along with the full interview transcripts. The data and information captured and stored in the HEED database is not only unique, but provides a means to address current and emerging issues relating to human factors associated with the evacuation of high-rise buildings