Estimating malaria transmission intensity from Plasmodium falciparum serological data using antibody density models.

BACKGROUND: Serological data are increasingly being used to monitor malaria transmission intensity and have been demonstrated to be particularly useful in areas of low transmission where traditional measures such as EIR and parasite prevalence are limited. The seroconversion rate (SCR) is usually estimated using catalytic models in which the measured antibody levels are used to categorize individuals as seropositive or seronegative. One limitation of this approach is the requirement to impose a fixed cut-off to distinguish seropositive and negative individuals. Furthermore, the continuous variation in antibody levels is ignored thereby potentially reducing the precision of the estimate. METHODS: An age-specific density model which mimics antibody acquisition and loss was developed to make full use of the information provided by serological measures of antibody levels. This was fitted to blood-stage antibody density data from 12 villages at varying transmission intensity in Northern Tanzania to estimate the exposure rate as an alternative measure of transmission intensity. RESULTS: The results show a high correlation between the exposure rate estimates obtained and the estimated SCR obtained from a catalytic model (r = 0.95) and with two derived measures of EIR (r = 0.74 and r = 0.81). Estimates of exposure rate obtained with the density model were also more precise than those derived from catalytic models. CONCLUSION: This approach, if validated across different epidemiological settings, could be a useful alternative framework for quantifying transmission intensity, which makes more complete use of serological data

Interaction Design for Metacreative Systems

In this paper, we examine digital creativity as a collective activity performed through socio-technological networks of agency. We introduce metacreation—the automation of creative tasks with machines—as a domain that is usefully examined from a 3rd wave HCI approach. We discuss four general human-computer interaction activities that commonly appear in metacreation: (1) metagenerating form; (2) searching/finding; (3) helping machines learn; and (4) evaluation/iteration. These are not necessarily specific to metacreation, but nevertheless point to particular design considerations in a metacreative context. Four creative interaction design themes are considered in their relation to metacreation: direct manipulation and real-time control; supporting playful interaction and divergent goals; the programmatic design of behaviours, and; managing distributed creativity. We then identify three paradigms of interaction design for metacreation: operation-based interaction, involving the direct manipulation of generative algorithms; request-based interaction, involving the submission of requests to a system that returns results; and ambient interaction, that involves the operation of autonomous metacreative processes in the background. Our discussion of these suggests possible trends for design: an increasingly complex and modular future for networked human-machine digital creativity; an increasing role for request-based metacreative systems where users specify, rather than construct, outcomes; the increasing role of metacreation in ‘prosumer’ content creation; and, consequently, the reduction of labour involved in creating media. The chapter makes clear, we hope, that metacreative practices present unique challenges and opportunities for interaction design

Work-Integrated Learning as an Outcome of Using Action Design Research in Practice

This paper highlights Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) as an outcome of using Action Design Research (ADR) in practice. We argue that ADR is a subtype of Design Science Research (DSR) and a prominent method for facilitating mutually beneficial collaboration between academia and practice. Subsequently, we tie our work around ADR and WIL to the Scandinavian school of IS-research and worker participation, by emphasizing reflective practice on both researcher and practitioner side. We demonstrate this through two empirical cases and four case episodes. Consequently, the cases highlight building, intervention, and evaluation in the areas of civic orientation and county administration. The narrative around each case focuses on ADR-activities that mediate reflection and learning through iterative cycles. Outcomes from the cases are reported as WIL-outcomes and finally, we conclude this paper by briefly suggesting two implications for future relevant research.Peer reviewe