Development of an Operational Process for Continuous Delivery

This project, sponsored by Barclays Bank PLC, focused on improving the continuous deployment process and developing the guideline for onboarding new applications for the Prime Financing group. We identified that Jenkins is the better tool for Prime Financing, and explored and created a few plugins, which could enhance the use of Jenkins and provide management information system details. Our recommendations aim to eliminate manual steps within the continuous delivery process and save time on adopting new applications

Angelo Gordon: Loan Data Governance

The purpose of this project was to build a quick, intuitive, customizable reconciliation tool for Angelo, Gordon & Co. The current tool was strong in functionality but weak in user interface. New reconciliations took weeks of setup and generated hard-to-read reports. Further, every report cost money. We worked closely with the sponsor to develop an extremely intuitive and user-friendly tool that is free to use, and only take minutes to create new, large reconciliations

Development of an Operational Process for Continuous Delivery

This project, sponsored by Barclays Bank PLC, focused on improving the continuous deployment process and developing the guideline for onboarding new applications for the Prime Financing group. We identified that Jenkins is the better tool for Prime Financing, and explored and created a few plugins, which could enhance the use of Jenkins and provide management information system details. Our recommendations aim to eliminate manual steps within the continuous delivery process and save time on adopting new applications

Usability and Design of Personal Wearable and Portable Devices for Thermal Comfort

Conference paperPersonal comfort is important in the design of objects and environments. However, as comfort is a subjective experience, it is a very difficult aspect to design for. This paper presents an interrogation into the design for human thermal comfort, in particular the design of personal devices for use in shared work environments. The findings of two user studies are presented, in which wearable and portable, off-the-shelf personal heating and cooling devices were deployed in the field to explore the interaction with and use of these devices in everyday settings with the aim to uncover key aspects and requirements for the design of such devices. We found that functionality and affordances, i.e. the design for versatility, appropriation and mobility, as well as control, availability, effectiveness and efficiency of use were most important. Furthermore, individual preferences, foremost the preference for on-body versus off-body heating and cooling, and aspects related to wearable design of the devices, such as aesthetics, materiality, comfort of wear, mobility and unobtrusiveness, also need to be taken into account.This research was supported by the Media & Arts Technology Programme at the School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science, Queen Mary University of London, an EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training (EP/G03723X/1)

Assessing Comfort in Open-Plan Offices on Campus – Which Comfort Parameters Matter?

PosterComfort is a highly individual and adaptive process, which is influenced by a multitude of environmental and social factors. In the scope of a pilot study, we conducted an online survey among PhD students, most of whom have desk spaces assigned in open-plan offices on campus, to uncover issues affecting their comfort from an individual perspective based on quantitative as well as qualitative information. We found that social aspects were cited most often as positive qualities of the workplace, whereas environmental factors were most often cited as sources of discomfort, with thermal and acoustic discomfort as well as matters of cleanliness leading the way. Participants indicated that some of these parameters also influenced their use or avoidance of their workplace, which reflected in their frequency of use and the use of other places to work. We consequently identified decision making processes based on indoor environmental quality parameters taking place in the choice of a work place as a possible area for further investigation, which could include looking at activity and work patterns alongside individual preferences.This work is supported by the Media & Arts Technology Programme, an EPSRC Doctoral Training Centre at Queen Mary University of London (EP/G03723X/1)

Evaluation of the Algorithms and Parameterizations for Ground Thawing and Freezing Simulation in Permafrost Regions

Ground thawing and freezing depths (GTFDs) strongly influence the hydrology and energy balances of permafrost regions. Current methods to simulate GTFD differ in algorithm type, soil parameterization, representation of latent heat, and unfrozen water content. In this study, five algorithms (one semiempirical, two analytical, and two numerical), three soil thermal conductivity parameterizations, and three unfrozen water parameterizations were evaluated against detailed field measurements at four field sites in Canada’s discontinuous permafrost region. Key findings include: (1) de Vries’ parameterization is recommended to determine the thermal conductivity in permafrost soils; (2) the three unfrozen water parameterization methods exhibited little difference in terms of GTFD simulations, yet the segmented linear function is the simplest to be implemented; (3) the semiempirical algorithm reasonably simulates thawing at permafrost sites and freezing at seasonal frost sites with site-specific calibration. However, large interannual and intersite variations in calibration coefficients limit its applicability for dynamic analysis; (4) when driven by surface forcing, analytical algorithms performed marginally better than the semiempirical algorithm. The inclusion of bottom forcing improved analytical algorithm performance, yet their results were still poor compared with those achieved by numerical algorithms; (5) when supplied with the optimal inputs, soil parameterizations, and model configurations, the numerical algorithm with latent heat treated as an apparent heat capacity achieved the best GTFD simulations among all algorithms at all sites. Replacing the observed bottom temperature with a zero heat flux boundary condition did not significantly reduce simulation accuracy, while assuming a saturated profile caused large errors at several sites

Genetic Selection of Low Fertile Onchocerca volvulus by Ivermectin Treatment

Onchocerca volvulus is the causative agent of onchocerciasis, or “river blindness”. Ivermectin has been used for mass treatment of onchocerciasis for up to 18 years, and recently there have been reports of poor parasitological responses to the drug and evidence of drug resistance. Drug resistance has a genetic basis. In this study, genetic changes in β-tubulin, a gene associated with ivermectin resistance in nematodes, were seen in parasites obtained from the patients exposed to repeated ivermectin treatment compared with parasites obtained from the same patients before any exposure to ivermectin. Furthermore, the extent of the genetic changes was dependent on the level of ivermectin treatment exposure. This genetic selection was associated with a lower reproductive rate in the female parasites. The data indicates that this genetic selection is for a population of O. volvulus that is more tolerant to ivermectin. This selection could have implications for the development of ivermectin resistance in O. volvulus and for the ongoing onchocerciasis control programmes. Monitoring for the possible development and spread of ivermectin resistance, as part of the control programmes, should be implemented so that any foci of resistant parasites can be treated by alternative control measures

Fungal Origins of the Bicyclo[2.2.2]diazaoctane Ring System of Prenylated Indole Alkaloids

Over eight different families of natural products, consisting of nearly seventy secondary metabolites, which contain the bicyclo[2.2.2]diazaoctane ring system, have been isolated from various Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Malbranchea species. Since 1968, these secondary metabolites have been the focus of numerous biogenetic, synthetic, taxonomic, and biological studies, and, as such, have made a lasting impact across multiple scientific disciplines. This review covers the isolation, biosynthesis, and biological activity of these unique secondary metabolites containing the bridging bicyclo[2.2.2]diazaoctane ring system. Furthermore, the diverse fungal origin of these natural products is closely examined and, in many cases, updated to reflect the currently accepted fungal taxonomy