La familia de dípteros Rhiniidae (Diptera: Oestroidea) se encuentra distribuida fundamentalmente en las areas tropicales y subtropicales de las regiones Afrotropical, Australiana, Oriental y Paleártica. Tradicionalmente era considerada con el rango taxonómico de subfamilia de la familia Calliphoridae. No obstante, estudios filogenéticos recientes, basados en el análisis de caracteres morfológicos y moleculares, evidencian que Calliphoridae no es un grupo monofilético. Esto provocó diversos cambios sistemáticos, considerando a los rhiniidos con el rango taxonómico de familia independiente. Actualmente, se reconocen casi 400 especies de Rhiniidae agrupadas en dos subfamilias y 30 géneros. La región Afrotropical alberga la mayor diversidad de rhiniidos a nivel mundial, con un total aproximado de 170 especies comprendidas en 5 géneros de la subfamilia Rhiniinae y 11 de Cosmininae. Existe muy poca información sobre la diversidad, biología y distribución geográfica de la familia Rhiniidae. El ciclo biológico y en particular los hábitos y morfología larvaria es desconocido para la mayoría de las especies. La mayor parte del conocimiento se limita a unas pocas especies restringidas a enclaves geográficos muy concretos. En general, se conoce que tienen una fuerte asociación ecológica a ambientes naturales, que los adultos frecuentan flores por lo que se cree que son importantes polinizadores y que algunas especies parecen tener una estrecha relación con termitas. En cuanto al estudio de su diversidad y taxonomia, desde los años setenta muy pocas investigaciones se han realizado en relación a Rhiniidae en la región Afrotropical, por lo cual el conocimiento del grupo se encuentra desactualizado. Además, su identificación morfológica, en muchos casos, depende exclusivamente de la terminalia masculina y por lo tanto muchos ejemplares femeninos permanecen sin identificar o inadecuadamente identificados. El objetivo general de esta tesis doctoral es contribuir y actualizar el conocimiento de la familia Rhiniidae en la región Afrotropical, a través del estudio de su diversidad, taxonomía y filogenia en la región, con especial énfasis en Sudáfrica. Para ello, en primer lugar se realizó un estudio taxonómico y de la diversidad de la familia en Sudáfrica, país que a nivel mundial se considera como un hot-spot de biodiversidad. Se examinaron más de 4.000 especímenes de Rhiniidae depositados en colecciones entomológicas de África, Europa y los Estados Unidos. Se generó una lista actualizada de las especies presentes en el país, así como se revisó el estatus taxonómico de las mismas. Adicionalmente, se generaron mapas de distribución histórica y fotografías de alta resolución del habitus para la mayoría de las especies estudiadas. Entre los resultados más importantes que se han obtenido destacan nueve citas nuevas para el país, para un total de 73 especies de Rhiniidae, alrededor de 15 nuevas especies a ser descritas en trabajos futuros y la compilación de información bionómica novedosa para varias especies (Capítulo I). Posteriormente profundizamos dentro de la familia con la revisión taxonómica del género Fainia Zumpt, 1958, exclusivo de la región Afrotropical. Este género incluye siete especies descritas, pero el estatus taxonómico de algunas de ellas es controvertido. Se realizó un estudio morfológico de la terminalia masculina de las especies descritas, junto a la revisión de su respectivo material tipo disponible, para así aclarar el estatus taxonómico de sus especies. De esta forma, se aportan nuevas herramientas de identificación para el género, tales como claves de identificación para ambos sexos, redescripciones, y fotografías de alta resolución de la morfología general del adulto y terminalia masculina, así como nuevas sinonimias. Este estudio se complementó con la homogenización y actualización de la nomenclatura morfológica utilizada para la familia Rhiniidae, así como con la proposición de posibles sinapomorfias para la diagnosis de las dos subfamilias actuales Cosmininae y Rhiniinae (Capítulo II). Finalmente, empleamos herramientas moleculares con el fin de corroborar las identificaciones basadas en morfología, asociar los morfotipos femeninos a sus masculinos conspecíficos, explorar las relaciones filogenéticas entre géneros y especies, y generar la primera biblioteca de códigos de barras de ADN (CO1) para las especies de Rhiniidae. Para ello, generamos fragmentos de códigos de barras de ADN (CO1) de 138 especímenes de Rhiniidae. Para inferir los límites entre especies y su monofilia se utilizaron árboles de Inferencia Bayesiana y Máxima Verosimilitud. Esto se complementó con las variaciones genéticas intraespecíficas e interespecíficas reconstruidas con distancias por pares utilizando el modelo de sustitución de nucleótidos de Kimura-dos-parámetros (K2P) y la delimitación de especies mediante el análisis ABGD. La mayoría de las especies delimitadas a nivel morfológico se lograron recuperar como monofiléticas. Se determinaron entre 65 y 68 posibles especies de Rhiniidae presentes en nuestro estudio, así como 31 morfotipos femeninos se vincularon con éxito a sus machos conspecíficos (Capítulo III). Esta investigación demuestra la importancia de revisar las colecciones entomológicas para mejorar el conocimiento de la diversidad y de usar la información que aportan las etiquetas de los especímenes como un valioso recurso de datos para interpretar: ocurrencia temporal y espacial, preferencias ambientales y asociaciones con plantas u otros organismos como termitas, que a su vez son relevantes para estudios de biología de la conservación, polinización e interacciones ecológicas. Además, los códigos de barras de ADN mostraron eficiencia como medio complementario para la revisión taxonómica de Rhiniidae; sin embargo, entre especies muy similares a nivel morfológico no tuvo el éxito esperado, lo que sugiere una posible divergencia evolutiva reciente y la necesidad de realizar más estudios moleculares. / Parcialmente financiada por H2020 Research and Innovation Staff Exchange Programme of the European Commission (RISE), project 645636: ‘Insect-plant relationships: insights into biodiversity and new applications’ (FlyHigh).

Background: Clonal competition in cancer describes the process in which the progeny of a cell clone supersedes or succumbs to other competing clones due to differences in their functional characteristics, mostly based on subsequently acquired mutations. Even though the patterns of those mutations are well explored in many tumors, the dynamical process of clonal selection is underexposed. Methods: We studied the dynamics of clonal competition in a BcrAbl-induced leukemia using a γ-retroviral vector library encoding the oncogene in conjunction with genetic barcodes. To this end, we studied the growth dynamics of transduced cells on the clonal level both in vitro and in vivo in transplanted mice. Results: While we detected moderate changes in clonal abundancies in vitro, we observed monoclonal leukemias in 6/30 mice after transplantation, which intriguingly were caused by only two different BcrAbl clones. To analyze the success of these clones, we applied a mathematical model of hematopoietic tissue maintenance, which indicated that a differential engraftment capacity of these two dominant clones provides a possible explanation of our observations. These findings were further supported by additional transplantation experiments and increased BcrAbl transcript levels in both clones. Conclusion: Our findings show that clonal competition is not an absolute process based on mutations, but highly dependent on selection mechanisms in a given environmental context.

Background: Clonal competition in cancer describes the process in which the progeny of a cell clone supersedes or succumbs to other competing clones due to differences in their functional characteristics, mostly based on subsequently acquired mutations. Even though the patterns of those mutations are well explored in many tumors, the dynamical process of clonal selection is underexposed. Methods: We studied the dynamics of clonal competition in a BcrAbl-induced leukemia using a γ-retroviral vector library encoding the oncogene in conjunction with genetic barcodes. To this end, we studied the growth dynamics of transduced cells on the clonal level both in vitro and in vivo in transplanted mice. Results: While we detected moderate changes in clonal abundancies in vitro, we observed monoclonal leukemias in 6/30 mice after transplantation, which intriguingly were caused by only two different BcrAbl clones. To analyze the success of these clones, we applied a mathematical model of hematopoietic tissue maintenance, which indicated that a differential engraftment capacity of these two dominant clones provides a possible explanation of our observations. These findings were further supported by additional transplantation experiments and increased BcrAbl transcript levels in both clones. Conclusion: Our findings show that clonal competition is not an absolute process based on mutations, but highly dependent on selection mechanisms in a given environmental context.

The purpose of the report is to analyse how automatic identification technology affects traceability, and then analyse the effects of automatic identification technology on inventory management. This report is based on the research questions "How can barcodes and RFID affect inventory management?" and "What advantages and disadvantages can automatic identification technologies lead to in warehousing?". In order to answer the report's purpose and research questions, a case study was conducted. The company is a manufacturing company and is active in the chemical industry. The company is categorized as a large company located in western Sweden. Two challenges for the company are to reduce the number of incorrect deliveries and improve the inventory accuracy. These problems are due to the fact that activities in the company's warehouse are done manually. The consequence is reduced inventory efficiency and a risk for dissatisfied customers. During the 2017 fiscal year 45 non-conformances were registered, some of which derives from incorrect deliveries. Empirical data was collected through interviews, observations and internal documents. The case study consists of a process mapping in which the company's processes and activities have been mapped. To obtain a better basis for analysis, a literature study of earlier research was conducted in the field of traceability and automatic identification technologies. A summary of the literature study is found in the theoretical framework. The theoretical framework includes traceability, automatic identification and data capture (AIDC), barcodes and radio frequency identification (RFID).The results shows which activities in the process mapping that identification technologies can be applied to and what effects an application may lead to. It appears that the identification technologies have similar effects on inventory management as they both result in automated product identification and automated transfer of information. These effects in combination with an integration with the ERP-system can lead to increased inventory efficiency with fewer incorrect deliveries and improved inventory accuracy. The company is recommended to implement AIDC, however the study shows that further research needs to be carried out to investigate what kind of barcodes or RFID is most beneficial. / Rapportens syfte är att undersöka hur identifieringsteknik påverkar spårbarhet, för att därefter undersöka vilka effekter en tillämpning av identifieringsteknik kan leda till inom lagerhållning. Denna rapport utgår från frågeställningarna “Hur kan streckkoder och RFID påverka lagerhållning?” och “Vilka för- och nackdelar kan automatisk identifieringsteknik inom lagerhållning leda till?”.För att besvara rapportens syfte och frågeställning genomfördes en fallstudie. Fallföretaget är ett tillverkande företag och är verksamt inom kemiindustrin. Företaget kategoriseras som ett storföretag med säte i Västsverige. Två utmaningar för företaget är att minska antalet felaktiga leveranser och förbättra precisionen i lagersaldot. Dessa problem är en följd av att aktiviteter i företagets lagerhållning sker manuellt. Konsekvensen är en försämrad lagereffektivitet och risk för missnöjda kunder. Under verksamhetsåret 2017 registrerades 45 avvikelser, där en del av dessa kan härledas till felaktiga leveranser. Empiriskt material insamlades genom intervjuer, observationer och dokumentstudier. Fallstudien består av en processkartläggning där företagets processer och aktiviteter kartlagts. För att få ett bättre underlag för analys så genomfördes en litteraturstudie av tidigare forskning inom ämnesområdena spårbarhet och automatisk identifieringsteknik. En sammanställning av litteraturstudien återfinns i det teoretiska ramverket. Det teoretiska ramverket innefattar spårbarhet, automatisk identifierings- och datafångstteknik (AIDC), streckkoder och radiofrekvensidentifiering (RFID). Resultatet visar vilka aktiviteter i processkartläggningen där identifieringsteknik kan tillämpas samt vilka effekter en tillämpning kan medföra. Det framkommer att streckkoder och RFID har liknande effekter på lagerhållningen då de båda medför automatiserad produktidentifiering och automatiserad informationsöverföring. Om streckkoder eller RFID integreras med affärssystemet kan det medföra en högre lagereffektivitet med färre felaktiga leveranser och ett mer korrekt lagersaldo. Företaget rekommenderas att implementera en teknik för produktidentifiering. Däremot visar studien att fortsatt forskning behöver genomföras för att undersöka vilken typ av streckkoder eller RFID som är mest gynnsamt.

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to focus on the challenges with the implementation of technical solutions for automation of warehouse operations for the movement and tracking of goods. Additionally, the focus is on the similarities and differences between the identified challenges in theory and practice. MethodologyThis study employs a qualitative research strategy with a cross-sectional research design. A qualitative analysis of the challenges for the automation of warehouse operations is done, with the help of semi-structured interviews of 9 different companies.TheoryThe theory chapter starts with an introduction of warehouse management systems (WMS) and the differentiation between the main and supportive warehouse processes, whereby the focus is drawn on the supportive processes. The supportive processes are differentiated into the movement and tracking of goods. For the movement of goods automated guided vehicles (AGVs), Automated forklifts and Automated conveyor systems are analyzed. For the tracking of goods Barcodes, QR-Codes and RFID technology is examined. These two areas are also analyzed regarding their identified challenges. AnalysisThe analysis is based on the identification of the challenges from theory and empirical data for the tracking and movement of goods within a warehouse. Therefore, the empirical perceived challenges are processed and merged together. Afterwards, the theoretical and empirical identified challenges are compared for each of the technical solutions for automation for the movement and tracking of goods. Additionally, a comparison between the degrees of importance of the perceived challenges is drawn.Conclusion Technical solutions for automation for the movement and tracking of goods perceived in theory and practice are analyzed in this thesis. The conclusion of this study is that there are differences and similarities between the challenges for the movement and tracking of goods. Regarding the movement of goods, theory is more directed to see challenges after the implementation in contrast to the focus of practice on the pre-implementation challenges. For the tracking of goods, the perceived challenges in practice are more about the usage and not as technical oriented as the theory.

DuMPLING is a newly developed high-throughput method to study singlecellphenotypes in a pooled and barcoded library using a microfluidicchip. The chip enables parallel biophysical measurements of singlecells, after which in-situ genotyping connects the cells to a certainstrain of the library. The method has been previously applied with abarcoded library, where genotyping was performed on barcodes presenton high copy number plasmids. In this project, I apply and developthe Rolling Circle Amplification method to amplify the signal frombarcodes present on the E. coli chromosome. A small librarycontaining three different chromosomal barcodes is investigated. Veryhigh efficiency of signal generation is achieved for the firstbarcode, good efficiency is achieved for the second, and no signal isachieved for the third. Genotyping is also successfully performed ona strain with two different barcodes present on the chromosome. Thegenotyping method described herein can be applied to screen foradditional barcodes that may be incorporated in a larger library thatin turn can be used to ask important biological questions, forexample using the high throughput DuMPLING method.

The goal of this thesis was to create a system for visual data transmition using bar codes. It focuses mainly on the protection of the system against abuse. A mechanism was designed for the data transmition itself and the various security concepts. The most appropriate bar code for data transmition was selected on the basis of the analysis.

This master's thesis analyzes and designs implementation of the system for handheld devices like Motorola MC1000. These devices will be used for retrieving information from remote workplace. Data is transformed through SQL database and XML interface by using other parts of the system into economical software, where invoices are created, items are accounted or other operations could be done. This economical software provides some tables like products, warehouses and other information needed for the operation. Best use of the system is in warehouses of companies where products are identified by barcodes, which can be read by handheld device. One can create various documents using this system like conveyances, issue cards, receive cards etc. The next level, which is economical software, is responsible for processing of documents. The whole system is made-to-measure for software Pohoda from Stormware s.r.o. Nevertheless it can be used with another economical, accounting or similar software without any problem.

The objective of this thesis is to provide a survey of document digitalization and to analyse the market of companies outsourcing the document digitalization. The first part of the thesis decribes the technology of scannig and the methods of document recognition and data minig. It also decribes the systems of barcodes used to identify documents. Furthermore, this thesis includes the principles of document saving and electronic (digital) signature issues from the viewpoint of Czech legislation. Its contribution lies in analysing the companies dealing with outsourcing of the document digitalization and in the view of a company using these services. A brief outlook to the future regarding this topic is included as well.

It is desirable to modify the spectral signature of a surface, particularly in the infrared (IR) region of the electromagnetic spectrum. To alter the surface signature in the IR, two methods are investigated: thin film application and antenna array application. The former approach is a common and straightforward incorporation of optically-thin film coatings on the surface designated for signature modification. The latter technique requires the complex design of a periodic array of passive microantenna elements to cover the surface in order to modify its signature. This technology is known as frequency selective surface (FSS) technology and is established in the millimeter-wave spectral regime, but is a challenging technology to scale for IR application. Incorporation of thin films and FSS antenna elements on a surface permits the signature of a surface to be changed in a deterministic manner. In the seminal application of this work, both technologies are integrated to comprise a circuit-analog absorbing IR FSS. The design and modeling of surface treatments are accomplished using commercially-available electromagnetic simulation software. Fabrication of microstructured antenna arrays is accomplished via microlithographic technology, particularly using an industrial direct-write electron-beam lithography system. Comprehensive measurement methods are utilized to study the patterned surfaces, including infrared spectral radiometry and Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry. These systems allow for direct and complementary spectral signature measurements--the radiometer measures the absorption or emission of the surface, and the spectrometer measures its transmission and reflection. For the circuit-analog absorbing square-loop IR FSS, the spectral modulation in emission is measured to be greater than 85% at resonance. Other desirable modifications of surface signature are also explored; these include the ability to filter radiation based on its polarization orientation and the ability to dynamically tune the surface signature. An array of spiral FSS elements allows for circular polarization conditioning. Three techniques for tuning the IR FSS signature via voltage application are explored, including the incorporation of a pn junction substrate, a piezoelectric substrate and a liquid crystal superstrate. These studies will ignite future explorations of IR FSS technology, enabling various unique applications.