GeneaQuilts: a system for exploring large genealogies

GeneaQuilts is a new visualization technique for representing large genealogies of up to several thousand individuals. The visualization takes the form of a diagonally-filled matrix, where rows are individuals and columns are nuclear families. After identifying the major tasks performed in genealogical research and the limits of current software, we present an interactive genealogy exploration system based on GeneaQuilts. The system includes an overview, a timeline, search and filtering components, and a new interaction technique called Bring & Slide that allows fluid navigation in very large genealogies. We report on preliminary feedback from domain experts and show how our system supports a number of their tasks.     

Examining the influence of service quality and secondary influence on the behavioural intention to change internet service provider

Although the broadband market has considerably matured, follow-up research on the continued adoption of broadband is yet to be conducted. The aim of this research was therefore to investigate empirically the influence of service quality and secondary influence on consumers’ behavioural intention to change from their existing internet service provider (ISP) to an alternative service provider. The investigation focuses upon broadband household consumers within the UK. The study was conducted using a postal survey; a self-administered questionnaire was sent to 1600 households and a total of 358 completed replies were obtained. The results suggest that both service quality and secondary influence were significantly correlated to consumers’ behavioural intentions to change ISP. The implications of these findings are presented, followed by a discussion of the limitations of this research and future research directions.     

Radius-aware approximate blank node matching using signatures

In the linked open data cloud, the biggest open data graph that currently exists, a remarkable percentage of data are unnamed resources, also called blank nodes. Several fundamental tasks, such as graph isomorphism checking and RDF data versioning, require computing a map between the sets of blank nodes of two graphs. This map aims at minimizing the delta size, i.e. the number of change operations that are required to make the graphs isomorphic. Computing the optimal map is NP-Hard in the general case, and various approximation algorithms have been proposed. In this work, we propose a novel radius-aware signature-based algorithm that is not restricted to the direct neighborhood of the compared blank nodes. Contrary to the older algorithms, the proposed algorithm manages to decrease the deviation from the optimal solution even for graphs that contain connected blank nodes in large and dense structures. The conducted experiments over real and synthetically generated datasets (including datasets from the Billion Triple Challenge 2012 and 2014) show the significantly smaller deltas. For isomorphism checking (simple RDF equivalence), with a wise configuration of radius, the proposed algorithm achieves optimality for \(100\,\%\) of the datasets, while in non-isomorphic datasets the deltas are on average 50–75 % smaller than those of the previous algorithms. Finally, the trade-off between radius, deviation from the optimum and time efficiency is analyzed.     

A natural language model for managing TV-Anytime information in mobile environments

The TV-Anytime standard describes the structures of categories of digital TV program metadata, as well as user profile metadata for TV programs. We describe a natural language (NL) model for the users to interact with the TV-Anytime metadata and preview TV programs from their mobile devices. The language utilises completely the TV-Anytime metadata specifications (upper ontologies), as well as domain-specific ontologies. The interaction model does not use clarification dialogues, but it uses the user profiles as well as TV-Anytime metadata information and ontologies to rank the possible responses in case of ambiguities. We describe implementations of the model that run on a PDA and on a mobile phone, and manage the metadata on a remote TV-Anytime-compatible TV set. We present user evaluations of the approach. Finally, we propose a generalised implementation framework that can be used to easily provide NL interfaces for mobile devices for different applications and ontologies.     

5G for the Support of Public Safety Services

Wireless Personal Communications - The Internet of Things (IoT) is the most recent Internet evolution that integrates many smart devices, such as constrained devices, smart tablets, smart vehicles,...     

Techno-economic comparison of MIMO and DAS cost models in 5G networks

Wireless Networks - High communicational standards have been set for the 5G mobile networks. Therefore, it is of great importance that technological solutions that include all the significant...     

Quercus ilex L.: A rich source of polyacylated flavonoid glucosides

From the methanolic extract of Quercus ilex leaves a series of acylated flavonol glucosides were identified, among them five new naturally occurring compounds. The constituents, which were all p-coumaroyl glucosides of kaempferol, were characterised either as pure compounds or as inseparable, complicated mixtures of cis and trans isomers. Their complete structure elucidation was done by 2D NMR (COSY, HSQC, HMBC, ROESY) and HPLC-DAD-MS analyses. 2D NMR spectral data allowed the discrimination between different isomers. Quantitative analysis of the methanolic extract of the plant revealed that it is a rich source of acylated flavonoid glucosides (1.22%). Under the experimental conditions chosen HPLC-DAD-MS analyses showed that cis isomers are less polar than trans isomers and their detailed identification, the first in the literature so far, could serve as a tool for the detailed characterisation of analogous isomers by HPLC-DAD-MS in other complicated plant extracts.     

α-Helices in the Type III Secretion Effectors: A Prevalent Feature with Versatile Roles

Type III Secretion Systems (T3SSs) are multicomponent nanomachines located at the cell envelope of Gram-negative bacteria. Their main function is to transport bacterial proteins either extracellularly or directly into the eukaryotic host cell cytoplasm. Type III Secretion effectors (T3SEs), latest to be secreted T3S substrates, are destined to act at the eukaryotic host cell cytoplasm and occasionally at the nucleus, hijacking cellular processes through mimicking eukaryotic proteins. A broad range of functions is attributed to T3SEs, ranging from the manipulation of the host cell’s metabolism for the benefit of the bacterium to bypassing the host’s defense mechanisms. To perform this broad range of manipulations, T3SEs have evolved numerous novel folds that are compatible with some basic requirements: they should be able to easily unfold, pass through the narrow T3SS channel, and refold to an active form when on the other side. In this review, the various folds of T3SEs are presented with the emphasis placed on the functional and structural importance of α-helices and helical domains.