<p>  </p> <p>Infection by Marburgvirus (MARV) or the closely related Ebolavirus (EBOV) results in potentially lethal hemorrhagic fever in humans characterized by uncontrolled viremia, a systemic pro-inflammatory response, and multi-organ failure. Currently, there are no approved countermeasures to treat or prevent MARV infection, which leaves a critical need for development of antiviral therapies. One approach to develop antiviral therapies is exploit a virus’s dependency on the host cell and disrupt critical human-viral interactions. While multiple studies identified host-viral interactions involved in EBOV infection, we are currently limited in our knowledge of host-viral interactions that occur during MARV infection and how these interactions influence the viral replication cycle. Thus, the purpose of this research was to identify and further characterize the biological significance of human-MARV protein-protein interactions that occur during infection.</p> <p>Here, we used genome-wide yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) screens to identify directly interacting human-viral proteins. We identified 431 putative interactions with MARV and used a combination of a novel NanoLuc Y2H assay and confidence criteria to prioritize a final set of 396 interactions. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that the molecular functions of the interacting human genes were significantly enriched in RNA binding, cell adhesion, and cytoskeleton binding. </p> <p>MARV and EBOV have many similarities in their genomic organization, sequence, and protein structures that could facilitate interactions to common host factors during infection. Thus, to identify shared interactions between these related viruses, we compared the MARV interactions to EBOV interactions identified in a parallel Y2H screen. We identified 145 human proteins targeted by both MARV and EBOV. The majority (77%) of shared interactions occurred between homologous viral proteins. Additional bioinformatic analyses comparing MARV and EBOV interactions revealed that these viruses interact with different host factors with similar molecular functions (RNA binding, DNA binding, actin and microtubule binding. Together, these data support the notion that while MARV and EBOV target common host factors there are still differences in protein interactions that support functions specific to each virus. </p> <p>To investigate the biological significance of the identified interactions, we focused on host interactions with the viral matrix protein, VP40. VP40 is a multifunctional protein that facilitates viral assembly and budding from the host cell. Y2H assays using VP40 mutants revealed that the WW-containing host protein MAGI1 interacted with the late domain of VP40. This interaction was validated in mammalian cells using coimmunoprecipitation and GFP complementation assays. Based on multiple reports of WW-containing host proteins interacting with VP40, we predict that the interaction between MAGI1 and VP40 regulates viral budding.</p> <p>In conclusion, the work presented here successfully identified 396 novel human-MARV interactions, which furthers the field’s understanding of host factors involved in MARV infection. Additionally, we identified interactions shared by MARV and EBOV, which could be beneficial in the development of a broad antiviral therapy against filoviruses. Lastly, we validate the interaction between MAGI1 and VP40, which has a potential role in viral budding </p>

The focus of this thesis is on how elderly people make use of digital screens. The study studies how these elderly individuals view their screen time and it highlights how they have adapted to an ever-changing media landscape. The empirical material has been collected through four qualitative interviews where all of the interviewed were 80 years old or older at the time of the interview. Two females and two males were part of the study. The empiricism has been coded, themed and analyzed using the qualitative method of thematic analysis. The analysis is supported by the theoretical framework where uses and gratification theory, affordances and constraints theory and the theory of adoption categories has been applied to the empirical material. The theoretical framework has contributed to understanding why people use different types of media, which affordances and constraints that people see in technologies and what types of adoption categories there are and what that means for the individual. The analysis of the empirical data finds that these older individuals utilize digital screens for various reasons, where the most prominent finds were for relaxation, cognitive fulfillment and to the gratification of affective needs. Smartphones and computers are employed for safety, social interaction and communication while television is used as a tool for escaping daily life and monitoring the world. The study identifies a widespread theme indicating a noticeable enhancement in their everyday life making various tasks easier thanks to digital screens. A social factor becomes evident where the interviewees use digital screens as a utility for keeping contact with friends and family, but also through a reoccurring theme implying that older individuals need a social network that can assist them with unfamiliar technologies that they can not manage themselves.

Achieving the objectives of the Paris Agreements requires actions being taken on different fronts. This study looked into how to visualize a carbon footprint mitigation plan for individuals. The research consisted of designing and implementing a prototype containing visualization of a mitigation plan in the Swedish mobile app DO, a newer type of carbon calculator that uses transaction data to estimate the users' carbon footprints. A user study was then conducted with app users to evaluate the visualization. Findings from the study involved that proper handling of data is important for what a mitigation plan communicates to the user, but that receiving guidance on how to proceed ahead was greatly appreciated regardless. For future research, the visualization of a mitigation plan on small screens could be developed further with the prototype developed for this study as a starting point. It was suggested that such research could revolve around interaction improvements, evaluation with more frequent users, and observing whether a mitigation plan could affect behavior change. / För att uppnå Parisavtalets mål krävs att åtgärder vidtas på olika fronter. Denna studie undersökte hur man kan visualisera en nedtrappningsplan för individers livsstilsrelaterade koldioxidavtryck. Studien bestod av utformning och implementering av en prototyp innehållande visualisering av en nedtrappningsplan i den svenska mobilappen DO, en nyare typ av koldioxidkalkylator som använder transaktionsdata för att uppskatta användarnas koldioxidavtryck. En användarstudie genomfördes sedan med appanvändare för att utvärdera visualiseringen. Resultaten från studien belyste att ordentlig hantering av data är avgörande för vad en nedtrappningsplan kommunicerar till användaren, men att få vägledning om vägen framåt var uppskattat oavsett. För framtida forskning kan visualisering av en nedtrappningsplan på små skärmar utvecklas vidare med prototypen utvecklad för denna studie som utgångspunkt. Det föreslogs att sådan forskning skulle kunna kretsa kring förbättringar av interaktionen, utvärdering med mer frekventa användare och att observera huruvida en nedtrappningsplan kan påverka beteendeförändringar.

No description available.

<p>Vibrating screens are industrial machines used to sort aggregates through their high rotational accelerations. Utilized in mining operations, they are able to screen dozens of tonnes of material per hour. To enhance maintenance and troubleshooting, this thesis introduces a vibration based condition monitoring system capable of observing machine operation. Using acceleration data collected from remote parts of the machine, software continuously detects for abnormal operation triggered by fault conditions. Users are to be notified in the event of a fault and be provided with relevant information.</p> <p>Acceleration data is acquired from a set of sensor devices that are mounted to specified points on the vibrating screen. Data is then wirelessly transmitted to a centralized unit for digital signal processing. Existing sensor devices developed for a previous project have been upgraded and integrated into the monitoring system. Alternative communication technologies and the utilized Wi-Fi network are examined and discussed.</p> <p>The condition monitoring system's hardware and software was designed following engineering principles. Development produced a functional prototype system, implementing the monitoring process. The monitoring technique utilizes signal filtering and processing to compute a set of variables that reveal the status of the machine. Decision making strategies are then employed as to determine when a fault has occurred.</p> <p>Testing performed on the developed monitoring system has also been documented. The performance of the prototype system is examined as different fault scenarios are induced and monitored. Results and descriptions of virtual simulations and live industrial experiments are presented. The relationships between machine faults and detected fault signatures are also discussed.</p> / Master of Applied Science (MASc)

<p>Vibrating screens are mechanical machines used to sort granulated materials based on their particle size. Utilized in the mining industry, these machines can sort tonnes of materials per hour. In the past, McMaster University developed sensor devices that measure and transmit vibration data of these machines to a central data acquisition unit for analysis, tuning, and maintenance purposes. In this thesis, I present the development of two new software systems that are used to process, manage, and present the information gained from these measurements. The first system, the offline vibration analysis software, is used to analyze the vibration data in both time and frequency domain, and presents the measured and calculated data in textual and graphical forms. The second system, the online vibration analysis software, is used by vibrating screens manufacturers and their customers to gather and manage vibration data collected from their vibrating screens by utilizing a central storage. The development process of these systems followed an iterative and incremental approach with continuous feedback from stakeholders. It included extensive requirements gathering to define a model, in terms of data representation, that captures the business logic and practices of the industry. Furthermore, it used standard architectures such as Model View Controller (MVC) and advanced technologies such as Object Relationship Mapping (ORM) for data access to increase flexibility and maintainability. Finally, comprehensive unit testing and thorough security risks evaluation were conducted in order to ensure that these systems are secure and bug free.</p> / Master of Applied Science (MASc)

This diploma thesis deals with the design of hydraulic cleaning machine of fine screens located in the supply channel of small hydropower plant. The part of this thesis is also the design of hydraulic circuit and strength analysis using finite element method. The thesis also deals with the optimal debris removal. The thesis is attached by drawing documentation of selected parts of the mechanism.

Rare earth elements consist of 15 lanthanides, Y and Sc. They are currently very important materials in many industrial branches (metalurgy, pollishing). One of these options is the usage as the compound of phosphors in electronic devices (television and computer displays. Because of their manufacturing cost, options of recovery from waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) are investigated. This thesis deals with compoud elements of phosphors from displays of type CRT (cathode ray tube) and plasma TV. The 37 samples of phosphors from different displays were taken and processed for study of the compoud elements. Phosphors were separated to 4 subgroups in accordance with the corresponding type of displays: black-and-white CRT television displays (CRT_CB), color CRT television displays (TV_B), color PC displays (PC_B) and monochromatic PC displays (PC_M). The study was carry out by multiple features analysis that combined the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), the inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), the resistance furnace with infrared detector (RF-IF) and the atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). Based on the results of this analysis, main elements and potentionally hazardous elements of phosphors subgroup were defined. Concentration of rare...

Bubble curtains offer a potential solution for hindering downstream migrating fish from passing through the turbines of hydropower plants, by instead guiding them to a safe passage. Compared to the conventional method of using low-inclined bar racks close to the turbine intake, bubble curtains are considerably cheaper, especially for large scale hydropower plants. In this work bubble curtains are evaluated through an experimental parametric study, mainly regarding two quantities, defined here as the overall bubble coverage of the background, as well as the occurrence of large tears in the curtain. The examined parameters cover the design of the device that generates the bubbles, the positioning of the device, as well as the flow condition of the water. The bubble curtain was filmed with underwater cameras and image analysis was performed using image segmentation in MATLAB. Results indicate that the total air flow should be chosen high, around 200-500 nl/min/m. The number of holes the air is distributed across is of little importance, except in the area closest to the air outlets, where permanent tears may occur inbetween holes if the distance is to great. Smaller holes (&lt;1mm) are preferable to larger holes (&gt;1 mm), but the difference is small compared to the effect of the total air flow. In flowing water, a smaller angle of attack against the current is better based on the defined quantities, but it will also result in a longer and therefore more expensive device. The bubble curtain should not be placed where mean water velocities exceed 0,75 m/s, since it will result in an inclination with the current close to that of bar racks designed to guide fish towards the surface. Furthermore, at these water velocities some fish may have difficulties following the curtain, due to their limited swimming capabilities.

Submitted by Filipe dos Santos (fsantos@pucsp.br) on 2017-01-12T17:49:39Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Igor Maximiliano de Jesus.pdf: 1462580 bytes, checksum: 762296286c79d4ae726917047f847b33 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-01-12T17:49:39Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Igor Maximiliano de Jesus.pdf: 1462580 bytes, checksum: 762296286c79d4ae726917047f847b33 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-12-12 / Fundação São Paulo - FUNDASP / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Recent technological launchings show us an important change in the relation between media and body, announcing a communicational quotidian no longer based on screen hegemony. Body increasingly acquires centrality in the digital communication and senses which did not receive proper attention, such as touch, are more and more requested by the technological advances that have been developed and researched in the past years. Cognitive changes brought about by this encounter are profound and yet not really thoroughly known. Before such a problem, technologies that presently inaugurate and announce this communicational moment are the unit of analysis – touchscreens, virtual reality releases, projects like Cicret Bracelet, Soli, Jacquard, and specific cases such as the one of cyborg Evgeny Chereshnev. They are all analysed with a view to testing the hypothesis that the inherent biopolitics in the sense of touch is the key to understanding the above-mentioned cognitive changes that mark out behaviour and subjectivity, since it is clear that the new relevance of this sensory dimension has been triggered by touchscreen technologies and taken forward by the World without the Screens that we currently know (Katz, 2015a). The objective pursued is to identify the cognitive and sociocultural aspects that come to light due to our intimate contact with digital media, as well as to reflect on the approximation between technologies and body, from the perspective of the relevance of touch in contemporary communication. The significance of this investigation is given by the transition moment that we find ourselves in towards a world where screens get closer and closer to body – a phenomena that also occurs when we observe the functioning of other emerging digital technologies. In order to theoretically support what we propose we rely on the works of Carr (2011), Cranny-Francis (2013), Greiner and Katz (2001, 2005, 2010, 2015), Katz (2015a, 2015b), Manovich (2013), Mandary and Metzinger (2016), Montagu (1988), Rose (2014), and others, according to a methodology that takes into account a literature review and essentially qualitative data / Os recentes lançamentos tecnológicos mostram-nos uma mudança importante na relação entre mídias e corpo, anunciando um cotidiano comunicacional não mais pautado na hegemonia das telas. O corpo adquire, cada vez mais, centralidade na comunicação digital e sentidos aos quais não era dada devida atenção, como o tato, passaram a ser gradativamente mais requisitado pelos avanços tecnológicos que vêm sendo pesquisados e desenvolvidos nos últimos anos. As mudanças cognitivas originadas desse encontro são profundas e ainda não totalmente conhecidas. Diante desse problema, tem-se como objeto as tecnologias que vêm inaugurando e anunciando esse momento comunicacional – as telas touchscreen, lançamentos em realidade virtual, projetos como o Cicret Bracelet, Soli e Jacquard e casos específicos, como o do ciborgue Evgeny Chereshnev. O objeto é analisado com vistas a testar a hipótese de que a biopolítica inerente ao tato é a chave para compreender os referidos câmbios cognitivos que dimensionam o comportamento e a subjetividade, uma vez que é clara a nova relevância que essa dimensão sensória adquiriu desde a popularização das tecnologias touchscreen e que vem sendo levada adiante pelas tecnologias que caracterizam o Mundo sem as Telas que conhecemos hoje (Katz, 2015a). O objetivo é identificar os aspectos cognitivos e socioculturais que vêm à tona em razão de nosso íntimo contato com as mídias digitais e também refletir sobre a aproximação da tecnologia com o corpo a partir da relevância do tato no âmbito da comunicação contemporânea. A necessidade de realizar esta investigação justifica-se pelo momento de transição que começamos a atravessar em direção a um mundo no qual as telas estarão cada vez mais junto do corpo – fenômeno que também ocorre quando observamos o funcionamento de outras emergentes tecnologias digitais. Para fundamentar teoricamente o que aqui se propõe, serão convocados autores como Carr (2011), Cranny-Francis (2013), Greiner e Katz (2001, 2005, 2010, 2015), Katz (2015a, 2015b), Manovich (2013), Mandary e Metzinger (2016), Montagu (1988), Rose (2014), dentre outros, segundo uma metodologia pautada na revisão bibliográfica e que lida essencialmente com dados qualitativos