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O desenvolvimento de uma vacina contra malária causada por P. falciparum é prejudicado pelo alto nível de polimorfismo apresentado pelos antígenos desse parasito. O dimorfismo alélico é um padrão no qual os alelos observados de um gene se encontram divididos em duas famílias. A proteína dimórfica MSP-6 se associa à proteína MSP-1 (também dimórfica) na superfície do merozoíto. Genes de msp-6 de 21 isolados obtidos de pacientes do Brasil, mais 2 isolados da Tanzânia, África, foram seqüenciados para estudo da diversidade nucleotídica e distribuição geográfica dos alelos. As duas famílias possuem distribuição global. Não foi verificada associação entre o dimorfismo de MSP-1 e MSP-6. O gene ortólogo de msp-6 em P. reichenowi, grupo irmão de P. falciparum, foi seqüenciado para estudos evolutivos. Os alelos dimórficos de MSP-6 aparentam ter surgido de uma população ancestral polimórfica, tendo sido mantidos no presente por seleção balanceada. O alto grau de conservação encontrado dentro de cada família alélica torna MSP-6 um potencial alvo de uma vacina contra a malária. / The development of a vaccine against malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum has been hampered by the high level of antigen polymorphism exhibited by this parasite. Allelic dimorphism is a pattern in which every observed allele of a gene is clearly grouped into one of two families. The dimorphic protein MSP-6 forms a complex with MSP-1 (also dimorphic) on merozoite surface. The msp-6 genes were sequenced in isolates obtained from 21 patients from Brazil, plus 2 isolates from Tanzania, Africa, to study nucleotide diversity and geographic distribution of alleles. Both families are globally distributed. Moreover, no association was observed between the MSP-1 and MSP-6 allelic types. Orthologous gene of msp-6 in P. reichenowi, chimpanzee parasite and sister group of P. falciparum, was sequenced for evolutionary studies. Dimorphic alleles of MSP-6 seem to have originated from an ancestral polymorphic population and are maintained by balancing selection. The high degree of conservation observed within each allelic family makes MSP-6 an promising target for vaccine development.

O desenvolvimento de uma vacina contra malária causada por P. falciparum é prejudicado pelo alto nível de polimorfismo apresentado pelos antígenos desse parasito. O dimorfismo alélico é um padrão no qual os alelos observados de um gene se encontram divididos em duas famílias. A proteína dimórfica MSP-6 se associa à proteína MSP-1 (também dimórfica) na superfície do merozoíto. Genes de msp-6 de 21 isolados obtidos de pacientes do Brasil, mais 2 isolados da Tanzânia, África, foram seqüenciados para estudo da diversidade nucleotídica e distribuição geográfica dos alelos. As duas famílias possuem distribuição global. Não foi verificada associação entre o dimorfismo de MSP-1 e MSP-6. O gene ortólogo de msp-6 em P. reichenowi, grupo irmão de P. falciparum, foi seqüenciado para estudos evolutivos. Os alelos dimórficos de MSP-6 aparentam ter surgido de uma população ancestral polimórfica, tendo sido mantidos no presente por seleção balanceada. O alto grau de conservação encontrado dentro de cada família alélica torna MSP-6 um potencial alvo de uma vacina contra a malária. / The development of a vaccine against malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum has been hampered by the high level of antigen polymorphism exhibited by this parasite. Allelic dimorphism is a pattern in which every observed allele of a gene is clearly grouped into one of two families. The dimorphic protein MSP-6 forms a complex with MSP-1 (also dimorphic) on merozoite surface. The msp-6 genes were sequenced in isolates obtained from 21 patients from Brazil, plus 2 isolates from Tanzania, Africa, to study nucleotide diversity and geographic distribution of alleles. Both families are globally distributed. Moreover, no association was observed between the MSP-1 and MSP-6 allelic types. Orthologous gene of msp-6 in P. reichenowi, chimpanzee parasite and sister group of P. falciparum, was sequenced for evolutionary studies. Dimorphic alleles of MSP-6 seem to have originated from an ancestral polymorphic population and are maintained by balancing selection. The high degree of conservation observed within each allelic family makes MSP-6 an promising target for vaccine development.

The thesis deals with the influence of the global financial and economic crisis on the functioning and management of small and medium enterprises in the Czech Republic. In this work the emphasis is based mainly on support from the state, and the European Union and other bodies involved in this problem. In the practical part of the diploma thesis the analysis is held on small business management - the company Pravé hořické trubičky s.r.o. The main emphasis is given to its functionning in times of crisis, and comparison with the industry. The analysis is performed using basic indicators and tools of financial analysis and benchmarking.

Under flera generationer har människan försökt tolka relationen mellan bild och ljud. Finns det en vetenskaplig koppling mellan ljusets frekvens och ljudets frekvens? Kan man uppleva båda modaliteter samtidigt? En liten procent av jordens befolkning kan uppleva denna symbios av modaliteter, en sinnenas union där hjärnan korskopplar två eller flera sinnen, denna funktionsvariation kallas för synestesi. Den digitala utvecklingen har möjliggjort denna korskoppling där man med nummer som material kan gestalta synestesi och skapa och uppleva flera modaliteter i symbios. Detta kandidatarbete syftar på att med hjälp av kinesonisk interaktion undersöka relationen mellan kropp, bild och ljud, hur man med kroppen som verktyg kan sammanväva och skapa bild och ljud samtidigt på ett naturligt och organiskt sätt. Genom etnografiska observationer, fokusgrupper och frågeformulär har vi undersökt olika funktioner som kan bidra till känslan av att ljudet känns naturligt till kroppsliga rörelser och visuell stimuli. Genom agentiell realism har vi sedan förankrat vår kunskap och de beslut vi tagit som designers för att presentera det ramverk vi föreslår för att skapa en multimodal upplevelse där kropp, ljud och bild möts. / For generations humans have strived to interpret the relationships between picture and sound. Is there a scientific connection between the lightwave-spectrum and the sound-frequency domain? Is it possible to experience both modalities at once? A fraction of the population can experience a symbiosis of these modalities, a union of the senses where the brain cross connects two or more, seemingly unrelated senses. This variation of sensory function is known as synesthesia. The rapid development in digital media has enabled this cross connection through numbers, creating a form of art where sound triggers or generates visual elements or vice versa. This bachelor thesis is aimed towards examining the relationship between picture, sound, bodily interaction and how we can weave these modalities together to create visual and sonic elements in real time in a natural and organic fashion through the concept of kinesonic interaction. We have through ethnographic observation, focus groups and questionnaires examined various functions which contributes to the sensation of embodied sound, retaining a natural feeling towards the body movements and visual cues. We’ve anchored our research, knowledge and decisions as designers in agential realism to present a framework which we suggest creates an intertwining multimodal experience where body, sound and picture meet.

Apresenta-se os resultados de estudo de coorte em um assentamento rural no Acre, Brasil, onde 509 indivíduos contribuíram com 489,7 pessoas-ano de seguimento. A incidência de malária por Plasmodium vivax e Plasmodium falciparum foi de 30,0/100 e 16,3/100 pessoas-ano, respectivamente. A morbidade por malária se associou fortemente ao desmatamento e agropecuária e diminuiu após 5 anos de residência no local; além disso ocorreram conglomerados espaciais significantes de casos de malária vivax e falciparum em áreas de ocupação recente. Não houve associação entre alótipos do receptor FcgRIIa, promotor Duffy ou anticorpos contra a PvMSP-1, e malária no seguimento. As respostas humorais e celulares foram mais freqüentes contra as porções C- e N-terminal da PvMSP-1 respectivamente, porém sem relação com as variantes de PvMSP-1 infectantes. O espectro clínico dos episódios de malária foi variado; enquanto cefaléia, febre e mialgia foram sintomas freqüentes, 29,4% dos episódios eram assintomáticos. Os resultados mostram que a aquisição de imunidade clínica é adquirida em áreas de baixa transmissão e que mudanças ambientais causadas nos assentamentos rurais perpetuam a transmissão de malária. Estes achados são de extrema importância para o controle da malária na Amazônia. / Here a cohort study in a frontier settlement in Acre, Brazil, where 509 subjects contributed 489.7 person-years of follow-up, is described. Incidence rates for Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum malaria were 30.0/100 and 16.3/100 person-years at risk, respectively. Malaria morbidity was strongly associated with land clearing and farming, and decreased after 5 years of local residence. Besides, there was significant spatial clustering of vivax and falciparum malaria in areas of recent occupation. No significant association was found between FcgRIIa allotype, Duffy promoter type or presence of antibodies against PvMSP-1 and malaria in the follow-up. Humoral and cellular responses were more common against the C- and N-terminal portions of PvMSP-1 respectively, but did not match the PvMSP-1 variants found in infecting parasites. The clinical spectrum of malaria episodes varied widely; while headache, fever and myalgia were the most frequent symptoms, 29.4% of the episodes were asymptomatic. The results show that clinical immunity is acquired under low malaria transmission and environmental changes occurring in the settlements perpetuate malaria transmission. These findings are of utmost importance for malaria control in the Amazon.

This paper analyses potential of Software as a Service (SaaS) model in small and medium enterprises (SME). SaaS model is rapidly expanding trend between software delivery models. The first chapter describes evolution of software delivery models, which peaks in the most recent "Software as a Service" model. It analyses key features of SaaS in qualitative, technological and legal dimensions. The first chapter also mentions assesment methods for IT investments. This chapter introduces basic theoretical framework for next chapters. Next chapter focuses on category of small and medium enterprises. It defines main macroeconomic indicators and organizational specifics of SMEs. This chapter also presents results of research into reasons for and against the use of applications with SaaS model in small and medium enterprises. Last chapter selects the most common software categories used by small and medium enterprises. For each category it analyses and describes current state of the SaaS market. After analysing the market situation, it selects broad range of applications for each category. Using multi-dimensional approach it recommends three products best suited for SMEs. For all categories it maps potential of the three recommended products. These three products are then thoroughly compared with each other using extended set of criteria. The chapter ends with a summary of possibilities offered by these applications to SMEs.

Apresenta-se os resultados de estudo de coorte em um assentamento rural no Acre, Brasil, onde 509 indivíduos contribuíram com 489,7 pessoas-ano de seguimento. A incidência de malária por Plasmodium vivax e Plasmodium falciparum foi de 30,0/100 e 16,3/100 pessoas-ano, respectivamente. A morbidade por malária se associou fortemente ao desmatamento e agropecuária e diminuiu após 5 anos de residência no local; além disso ocorreram conglomerados espaciais significantes de casos de malária vivax e falciparum em áreas de ocupação recente. Não houve associação entre alótipos do receptor FcgRIIa, promotor Duffy ou anticorpos contra a PvMSP-1, e malária no seguimento. As respostas humorais e celulares foram mais freqüentes contra as porções C- e N-terminal da PvMSP-1 respectivamente, porém sem relação com as variantes de PvMSP-1 infectantes. O espectro clínico dos episódios de malária foi variado; enquanto cefaléia, febre e mialgia foram sintomas freqüentes, 29,4% dos episódios eram assintomáticos. Os resultados mostram que a aquisição de imunidade clínica é adquirida em áreas de baixa transmissão e que mudanças ambientais causadas nos assentamentos rurais perpetuam a transmissão de malária. Estes achados são de extrema importância para o controle da malária na Amazônia. / Here a cohort study in a frontier settlement in Acre, Brazil, where 509 subjects contributed 489.7 person-years of follow-up, is described. Incidence rates for Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum malaria were 30.0/100 and 16.3/100 person-years at risk, respectively. Malaria morbidity was strongly associated with land clearing and farming, and decreased after 5 years of local residence. Besides, there was significant spatial clustering of vivax and falciparum malaria in areas of recent occupation. No significant association was found between FcgRIIa allotype, Duffy promoter type or presence of antibodies against PvMSP-1 and malaria in the follow-up. Humoral and cellular responses were more common against the C- and N-terminal portions of PvMSP-1 respectively, but did not match the PvMSP-1 variants found in infecting parasites. The clinical spectrum of malaria episodes varied widely; while headache, fever and myalgia were the most frequent symptoms, 29.4% of the episodes were asymptomatic. The results show that clinical immunity is acquired under low malaria transmission and environmental changes occurring in the settlements perpetuate malaria transmission. These findings are of utmost importance for malaria control in the Amazon.

This thesis presents the work of adding support for a communications protocol in a space application. The work is a part of KTHs MIST (MIniature STudent Satellite) project which aims at sending an experimental satellite into space. Each experiment on the satellite is designed as a subsystem. These subsystems need to be able to communicate with the main computer on the satellite in order to transfer the results of the experiments down to earth. In efforts prior to the current thesis, a special communications protocol has been specified to solve this problem. That protocol is called MSP (MIST Space Protocol). This paper describes the efforts to add support for MSP to two of the satellite’s experiments. These two experiments are called SiC in Space and Piezo-LEGS. However, since Piezo-LEGS is incompatible with the I2C bus in which MSP runs on top of, it must communicate through the SiC experiment. Which parts of the protocol that need to be supported by each experiment are defined. The result of the work is that the experiments can communicate with the main computer through the MSP protocol. / Denna kandidatuppsats beskriver arbetet med att implementera MSP protokollet för de två experimenten SiC och Piezo-LEGS. Syftet med MIST projektet är att skicka upp en experimentsatellit i omloppsbanan runt jorden. I satelliten finns ett antal experiment. De två experiment som arbetet ar fokuserat på är ”SiC in Space” och ”Piezo-LEGS”. SiC-experimentets syfte är att man ska göra mätningar på en kiselkarbid (SiC) transistor i rymdens vacuum. Syftet med Piezo-LEGS experimentet är att man vill mäta hur prestandan för en piezoelektrisk motor påverkas i rymden. Inom MIST-projektet har ett kommunikationsprotokoll som kallas MSP utvecklats för kommunikation mellan satellitens huvuddator och experimenten. I detta arbete har MSP protokollet implementerats för experimenten SiC och Piezo-LEGS Eftersom Piezo-LEGS experimentet är inte kompatibel med I2C bussen som används av MSP protokollet, utan istället använder sig utav ASCII-kommandon via RS-485, måste MSP kommandona översättas till ASCII-kommandon utav SiC.