Ubiquitous computing: Anytime, anyplace, anywhere?

Computers are ubiquitous, in terms that they are everywhere, but does this mean the same as ubiquitous computing? Views are divided. The convergent device (one-does-all) view posits the computer as a tool through which anything, and indeed everything, can be done (Licklider & Taylor, 1968). The divergent device (many-do-all) view, by contrast, offers a world where microprocessors are embedded in everything and communicating with one another (Weiser, 1991). This debate is implicitly present in this issue, with examples of the convergent device in Crook & Barrowcliff's paper and in Gay et al's paper, and examples of the divergent devices in Thomas & Gellersen's paper and Baber's paper. I suspect both streams of technology are likely to co-exist

Modulation of the Gastrointestinal Immune Environment by Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factors (MIF) and Helminth-Derived Cytokine Homologues of MIF

Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF) is a pleotropic cytokine first discovered over 50 years ago. MIF and many MIF-like proteins contain an evolutionarily conserved proline residue that confers an enigmatic tautomerase activity. Mammalian MIF proteins also contain an additional oxidoreductase domain whose activity is abrogated by substitution of two critical cysteine residues at position 57 and 60. MIF is secreted constitutively by intestinal epithelial cells and is highly upregulated when barrier function is compromised such as in the case of inflammatory bowel diseases. MIF homologues are also secreted by many parasitic organisms, one of which is the intestinal helminth, Trichinella spiralis. T. spiralis secretes vast quantities of MIF upon entering the gastrointestinal tract though to date the biological relevance of T. spiralis derived MIF in modulating host responses is undetermined. In this study the generation MIF proteins and mutants devoid of enzymatic sites enabled the analysis of MIF’s role within the intestinal immune environment including the transcriptomic assessment of ex vivo intestinal explants and primary macrophages. Recombinant WT and tautomerase deficient proteins generated as part of this body of work modulated TLR-4 mediated NF-kB activation in the presence of LPS in a HEK and HT29 cell model indicating that MIF can modulate epithelial driven immune responses via a master regulator. Consistent with this, ex vivo studies utilising murine intestinal explants revealed that murine and Trichinella derived MIF homologues modulate cytokines such as IL-6, TNF-a and IL-22 to drive distinct immune responses. In addition, the modulation of IL-22 and TNF-a was highly dependent on the presence of the tautomerase site for Mm-MIF-1 and Ts-MIF-1, respectively. Likewise, analysis of cytokine profiles from MIF treated macrophages in the presence of TLR4 ligand, LPS, confirmed MIF’s role in modulating immune responses. Further characterization of BMDM macrophages using RNA seq technologies demonstrated that MIF homologues, and in particular, the tautomerase site, modulate the macrophage transcriptome priming cells for two discrete responses upon pattern recognition receptor (PRR) activation. Mm-MIF-1 treated BMDM macrophages downregulated several genes associated with the TNF-a processing and secretion, ADAM28, Trp63 and Rab27b. Conversely, the parasite-derived Ts-MIF-1 upregulated genes responsible for cell cycle regulation, differentiation and cellular architecture such as IGFBP2, BMP3, BMP7 and several Krt genes. Overall, the data presented in this thesis provides clear evidence of discrete roles for murine and parasite-derived MIF in modulating innate immune responses and demonstrates that, while the activity of the tautomerase site is context dependent, loss of the enzymatic activity leads to dysregulation MIF responses

Mixed-type functional differential equations: A numerical approach

This is a PDF version of a preprint submitted to Elsevier. The definitive version was published in Journal of computational and applied mathematics and is available at www.elsevier.comThis preprint discusses mixed-type functional equations

An algorithm to detect small solutions in linear delay differential equations

This is a PDF version of a preprint submitted to Elsevier. The definitive version was published in the Journal of computational and applied mathematics and is available at www.elsevier.comThis preprint discusses an algorithm that provides a simple reliable mechanism for the detection of small solutions in linear delay differential equations.This article was submitted to the RAE2008 for the University of Chester - Applied Mathematics

Characterising small solutions in delay differential equations through numerical approximations

This paper discusses how the existence of small solutions for delay differential equations can be predicted from the behaviour of the spectrum of the finite dimensional approximations.Manchester Centre for Computational Mathematic

Closed-Flux Solutions to the Constraints for Plane Gravity Waves

The metric for plane gravitational waves is quantized within the Hamiltonian framework, using a Dirac constraint quantization and the self-dual field variables proposed by Ashtekar. The z axis (direction of travel of the waves) is taken to be the entire real line rather than the torus (manifold coordinatized by (z,t) is RxR rather than $S_1$ x R). Solutions to the constraints proposed in a previous paper involve open-ended flux lines running along the entire z axis, rather than closed loops of flux; consequently, these solutions are annihilated by the Gauss constraint at interior points of the z axis, but not at the two boundary points. The solutions studied in the present paper are based on closed flux loops and satisfy the Gauss constraint for all z.Comment: 18 pages; LaTe

Shape Control for Experimental Continuation

An experimental method has been developed to locate unstable equilibria of nonlinear structures quasi-statically. The technique involves loading a structure by application of either a force or a displacement at a main actuation point, while simultaneously controlling the overall shape using additional probe points. The method is applied to a shallow arch, and unstable segments of its equilibrium path are identified experimentally for the first time. Shape control is a fundamental building block for the experimental---as opposed to numerical---continuation of nonlinear structures, which will significantly expand our ability to measure their mechanical response.Comment: Updated Figure 6 experimental results with correct calibration factor for linear transducer. Updated Figure 6 finite element results with correct load multiplier for half-model. Updated paper text to reflect these changes. 5 pages, 6 figure

Bacterial cross-contamination between the dental clinic and laboratory during prosthetic treatment

Prosthetic treatment involves various stages in construction. This may result in cross-contamination between the dental clinic and laboratory. According to results obtained from the study, recommendations were made so as to reduce as much as possible cross-contamination, making a safer environment for the dental team and patient.peer-reviewe

Bacterial atmospheric contamination during routine dental activity

Routine dental procedures cause atmospheric bacterial contamination in the dental clinic and laboratory. This environmental hazard, quantified by the Air Microbial Index, was shown in our study to be directly related to aerosol creating instruments and ventilation.peer-reviewe

Analytical and numerical investigation of mixed-type functional differential equations

NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Journal of computational and applied mathematics. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Journal of computational and applied mathematics, 234 (2010), doi: 10.1016/j.cam.2010.01.028This journal article is concerned with the approximate solution of a linear non-autonomous functional differential equation, with both advanced and delayed arguments