On the Simulations of Evolution-Communication P Systems with Energy without Antiport Rules for GPUs

In this report, we present our initial proposal on simulating computations on a restricted variant of Evolution-Communication P system with energy (ECPe system) which will then be implemented in Graphics Processing Units (GPUs). This ECPe sys- tems variant prohibits the use of antiport rules for communication. Several possible levels of parallelizations for simulating ECPe systems computations on GPUs are emphasized. Our work is based on a localized matrix representation for the mentioned variant given in a previous literature. Our proposal employs a methodology for forward computing also discussed in the said literature.Junta de Andalucía P08-TIC04200Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación TIN2009–1319

A GPU Simulation for Evolution-Communication P Systems with Energy Having no Antiport Rules

Evolution-Communication P system with energy (ECPe systems) is a cell- like variant P system which establishes a dependence between evolution and communi- cation through special objects, called `energy,' produced during evolution and utilized during communication. This paper presents our initial progress and e orts on the im- plementation and simulation of ECPe systems using Graphics Processing Units (GPUs). Our implementation uses matrix representation and operations presented in a previous work. Speci cally, an implementation of computations on ECPe systems without antiport rules is discussed.Junta de Andalucía P08-TIC-04200Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación TIN2012-3743

Scale Up Multilingualism in Health Emergency Learning : Developing an Automated Transcription and Translation Tool

World Health Organization's (WHO) emergency learning platform OpenWHO provided by Hasso Plattner Institut (HPI) delivered online learning in real-time and in multiple languages during the COVID-19 pandemic. The challenge was to move from manual transcription and translation to automated to increase the speed and quantity of materials and languages available. TransPipe tool was introduced to facilitate this task. We describe the TransPipe development, analyze its functioning and report key results achieved. TransPipe successfully connects existing services and provides a suitable workflow to create and maintain video subtitles in different languages. By the end of 2022, the tool transcribed nearly 4,700 minutes of video content and translated 1,050,700 characters of video subtitles. Automated transcription and translation have enormous potential as a public health learning tool, allowing the near-simultaneous availability of video subtitles on OpenWHO in many languages, thus improving the usability of the learning materials in multiple languages for wider audiences.publishedVersionPeer reviewe

Sacrificial crystal templating of hyaluronic acid-based hydrogels

Natural tissues have intricate structures organized in a hierarchical fashion over multiple length scales (Å to cm). These tissues commonly incorporate pores as a key feature that may regulate cell behavior. To enable the development of tissues scaffolds with biomimetic pore structures, it is important to investigate methods to impart pores to biomaterials, such as the use of novel sacrificial porogens. Here we report the use of sacrificial crystals to impart pores to biopolymer hydrogels (based on a methacrylated hyaluronic acid derivative) with macroscopic crystal templated pores embedded within them. The pore structure was investigated using microscopy (cryoSEM and confocal), and the specific sacrificial porogen used was found not only to impact the pore structure, but also swelling and mechanical properties. Such templated hydrogels have prospects for application as instructive tissue scaffolds (where the pore structure controls cell alignment, migration, etc.)

Observations from three years of online pandemic learning response on OpenWHO

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Sacrificial crystal templated hyaluronic acid hydrogels as biomimetic 3D tissue scaffolds for nerve tissue regeneration

Pores are key features of natural tissues and the development of tissues scaffolds with biomimetic properties (pore structures and chemical/mechanical properties) offers a route to engineer implantable biomaterials for specific niches in the body. Here we report the use of sacrificial crystals (potassium dihydrogen phosphate or urea) that act as templates to impart pores to hyaluronic acid-based hydrogels. The mechanical properties of the hydrogels were analogous to the nervous system (in the Pascal regime), and we investigated the use of the potassium dihydrogen phosphate crystal-templated hydrogels as scaffolds for neural progenitor cells (NPCs), and the use of urea crystal-templated hydrogels as scaffolds for Schwann cells. For NPCs cultured inside the porous hydrogels, assays for the expression of Nestin are inconclusive, and assays for GFAP and BIII-tubulin expression suggest that the NPCs maintain their undifferentiated phenotype more effectively than the controls (with glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and BIII-tubulin expression at ca. 50% relative to the chemically/mechanically equivalent not templated control hydrogels). For Schwann cells cultured within these hydrogels, assays for the expression of S100 protein or Myelin basic protein confirm the expression of both proteins, albeit at lower levels on the templated hydrogels (ca. 50%) than on the chemically/mechanically equivalent not templated control hydrogels. Such sacrificial crystal templated hydrogels represent platforms for biomimetic 3D tissue scaffolds for the nervous system

Harnessing technology to respond to the global demand for learning during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic generated an unprecedented global demand for learning about the disease and how to manage it. This paper draws on theWorld Health Organization (WHO)'s experience of COVID-19 knowledge-transfer to a worldwide audience of millions of learners registered on OpenWHO, WHO's massive open online course platform. It aims to illustrate the technological solutions that WHO, in collaboration with the Hasso Plattner Institute (HPI), OpenWHO's platform provider, employed in response to the unique challenges this surge in demand for learning engendered. Data on OpenWHO use, including geographic patterns and certificate attainment, were extracted from OpenWHO's internal and external reporting systems. Descriptive analysis was employed to identify trends and compare OpenWHO use with COVID-19 caseload in each WHO region. Data on the OpenWHO system load were obtained from the OpenWHO load balancer (HAProxy). The OpenWHO team responded to the need for trustworthy, evidence-based knowledge on COVID-19 via three main avenues: increased scale, targeting the needs of affected and underserved communities, and prioritising multilingualism. Each approach brought novel problems, which WHO and HPI leveraged their collaboration to meet by employing technology. This included increasing server bandwidth, expanding support teams, adding new language capabilities, and deploying functions to streamline workflows and boost learner experience. In doing so, the ability to effectively and efficiently harness technology became a critical step towards empowering learning's life-saving potential during the COVID-19 pandemic.publishedVersionPeer reviewe

Convocation

Program listing performers and works performe

Responding to Global Learning Needs during a Pandemic : An Analysis of the Trends in Platform Use and Incidence of COVID-19

On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) to be a pandemic. As a result, the OpenWHO.org online platform, which serves as WHO’s learning hub for emergencies, was tested for the first time on its core purpose of scaling up trusted public health information in a global emergency. This descriptive study examines and documents the WHO learning response in the early months of the pandemic by comparing epidemiological information and OpenWHO.org use in the countries with the highest COVID-19 cases. Statistical datasets from OpenWHO.org and WHO’s COVID-19 dashboard were overlaid for the period 11 March–22 May 2020. During this period, for most of the 24 countries with the highest COVID-19 cases, platform use showed a corresponding trend. Courses published in the official languages spoken in these countries were well utilized, indicating a need to produce materials in languages spoken by affected communities. Of the countries with the highest number of users on OpenWHO, only half were top users of the platform before the pandemic. The existence of an established online platform for health emergencies assisted WHO in massively and quickly scaling up the dissemination of essential learning materials for COVID-19publishedVersionPeer reviewe