| 1. |
- Alenljung, Beatrice
(författare)
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Envisioning a Future Decision Support System for Requirements Engineering : A Holistic and Human-centred Perspective
- 2008
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Complex decision-making is a prominent aspect of requirements engineering (RE) and the need for improved decision support for RE decision-makers has been identified by a number of authors in the research literature. The fundamental viewpoint that permeates this thesis is that RE decision-making can be substantially improved by RE decision support systems (REDSS) based on the actual needs of RE decision-makers as well as the actual generic human decision-making activities that take place in the RE decision processes. Thus, a first step toward better decision support in requirements engineering is to understand complex decision situations of decision-makers. In order to gain a holistic view of the decision situation from a decision-maker’s perspective, a decision situation framework has been created. The framework evolved through an analysis of decision support systems literature and decision-making theories. The decision situation of RE decision-makers has been studied at a systems engineering company and is depicted in this thesis. These situations are described in terms of, for example, RE decision matters, RE decision-making activities, and RE decision processes. Factors that affect RE decision-makers are also identified. Each factor consists of problems and difficulties. Based on the empirical findings, a number of desirable characteristics of a visionary REDSS are suggested. Examples of characteristics are to reduce the cognitive load, to support creativity and idea generation, and to support decision communication. One or more guiding principles are proposed for each characteristic and available techniques are described. The purpose of the principles and techniques is to direct further efforts concerning how to find a solution that can fulfil the characteristic. Our contributions are intended to serve as a road map that can direct the efforts of researchers addressing RE decision-making and RE decision support problems. Our intention is to widen the scope and provide new lines of thought about how decision-making in RE can be supported and improved.
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| 2. |
- Gao, Jingfang, et al.
(författare)
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RAD50/MRE11/NBS1 proteins in relation to tumour development and prognosis in patients with microsatellite stable colorectal cancer
- 2008
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Ingår i: Histology and Histopathology. - : Histology and Histopathology. - 0213-3911 .- 1699-5848. ; 23:12, s. 1495-1502
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- RAD50/MRE11/NBS1 complex is essential for DNA double-strand break repair and for maintaining genomic integrity. In this study, we immunohistochemically examined MRE11, NBS1 and RAD50 expression in primary CRCs (n = 208), the corresponding distant (n= 41) and adjacent normal mucosa ( n= 130), and lymph node metastases ( n= 26), and investigated their clinicopathological significance in colorectal cancers ( CRCs). We found that the intensity and percentage of MRE11 and NBS1 in primary CRCs were positively correlated with each other and with RAD50 (P < 0.0001). Strong expression of MRE11, NBS1 or combined RAD50/MRE11/NBS1 was related to MSS, positive hMLH1 expression, earlier tumour stage (TNM stage I and II) and favourable survival (P < 0.05). A high percentage of MRE11 expression was associated with less local recurrence and high apoptotic activity (P < 0.05). In MSS CRCs, the expression of MRE11 and NBS1 was stronger than that in normal mucosa (P < 0.05), and strong expression of NBS1 in primary tumour was related to favourable survival of patients in TNM stage I and II (univariate analysis: P = 0.03; multivariate analysis: P = 0.07). In MSI CRCs, neither MRE11 nor NBS1 expression showed differences among normal mucosa, primary tumour and metastasis, or among clinicopathological variables. In conclusion, RAD50/MRE11/NBS1 proteins interacted with each other, which had different clinicopathological significance in MSS and MSI CRCs, and further, each component of the complex might have additional roles. NBS1 might be a prognostic factor for patients with MSS tumour in TNM stage I and II.
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| 3. |
- Kertat, Khadija, et al.
(författare)
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The Gln/Gln genotype of XPD codon 751 as a genetic marker for melanoma risk and Lys/Gln as an important predictor for melanoma progression : A case control study in the Swedish population
- 2008
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Ingår i: Oncology Reports. - : Spandidos Publications. - 1021-335X .- 1791-2431. ; 20:1, s. 179-183
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Xeroderma pigmentosum complementation group D (XPD) is a critical protein in the nucleotide excision repair system for DNA damage. Genetic variations in XPD exert an important effect on the capacity of DNA repair. In this study, we examined Lys751Gln polymorphism at the XPD gene in 244 melanoma patients and 251 healthy individuals (as controls) from the south-eastern region of Sweden. The associations of polymorphism with melanoma risk, as well as with melanoma features and pigment phenotypes of the melanoma patients were analysed. DNA was extracted from the mononuclear cells of venous blood of the melanoma patients and controls. XPD codon 751 was genotyped by the PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism technique. Results showed that there was no difference in the distribution of the XPD codon 751 genotypes between the melanoma patients and healthy controls. However, the Gln/Gln genotype was found to be associated with melanoma risk in the male population. Furthermore, the frequency of the Gln/Gln genotype was significantly higher in the early stages of melanomas, whereas Lys/Gln was more frequent in the later stages and in the patients with melanoma located on intermittently UV-exposed areas. No correlations between the polymorphisms and phenotypes of the patients were found. In conclusion, Gln/Gln was a useful genetic marker for melanoma risk in the males, while Lys/Gln was an important predictor for melanoma progression.
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| 4. |
- Lindström, Tom, 1977-, et al.
(författare)
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Splitting the tail of the displacement kernel shows the unimportance of kurtosis
- 2008
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Ingår i: Ecology. - : Wiley. - 0012-9658 .- 1939-9170. ; 89:7, s. 1784-1790
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Animals disperse in space through different movement behaviors, resulting in different displacement distances. This is often described with a displacement kernel where the long-distance dispersers are within the tail of the kernel. A displacement with a large proportion of long-distance dispersers may have impact on different aspects of spatial ecology such as invasion speed, population persistence, and distribution. It is, however, unclear whether the kurtosis of the kernel plays a major role since a fatter tail also influences the variance of the kernel. We modeled displacement in landscapes with different amounts and configurations of habitats and handled kurtosis and variance separately to study how these affected population distribution and transition time. We conclude that kurtosis is not important for any of these aspects of spatial ecology. The variance of the kernel, on the other hand, was of great importance to both population distribution and transition time. We argue that separating variance and kurtosis can cast new light on the way in which long-distance dispersers are important in ecological processes. Consequences for empirical studies are discussed.
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| 5. |
- Mathiason, Gunnar, et al.
(författare)
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Exploring a Multi-Tiered Whiteboard Infrastructure for Information Fusion in Wireless Sensor Networks
- 2008
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Ingår i: Proceedings of the second Skövde Workshop on Information Fusion Topics. - Skövde : University of Skövde. - 9789163336874 - 9789163336973 ; , s. 63-66
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- It is important for the life time of a wireless sensornetwork (WSN) to reduce the amount of data transferred throughthe network. As a typical approach, sensor data is filtered beforepropagating updates, to a node at the edge of a network, whereit can be fused. Information Fusion inside the network canreduce the amount of data propagated, by fusing data beforeand in propagation, without losing the information value in it. Weexplore infrastructures for distributed fusion, with fusion nodeslocated at strategic nodes inside the network, as an approachof structured distributed fusion for WSNs. We propose aninfrastructure for a white-board approach that uses a distributedreal-time database with virtual full replication. With such anapproach, both raw and fused data are logically available at allnodes and physically available where used, such that only useddata will be propagated and use resources. The actual resourceusage will be relative to the actual demand for data, rather thanto the amount of data published at the white-board. We presentan exploration of such an infrastructure, and points out futurekey research questions for such a white-board approach.
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| 6. |
- Mathiason, Gunnar, et al.
(författare)
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Virtual Full Replication for Scalable and Adaptive Real-Time Communication in Wireless Sensor Networks
- 2008
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Ingår i: Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Sensor Technologies and Applications (SENSORCOMM 2008). - Los Alamitos : IEEE. - 9780769533308 ; , s. 55-64
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Sensor networks have limited resources and often support large-scale applications that need scalable propagation of sensor data to users. We propose a white-board style of communication in sensor networks using a distributed real-time database supporting Virtual Full Replication with Adaptive Segmentation. This allows mobile client nodes to access, transparently and efficiently, any sensor data at any node in the network. We present a two-tiered wireless architecture, and an adaptation protocol, for scalable and adaptive white-board communication in large-scale sensor networks. Sensor value readings at nodes of the sensor tier are published at nodes of the database tier as database updates to objects in a distributed real-time database. The search space of client nodes for sensor data is thus limited to the number of database nodes. With this scheme, we can show scalable resource usage and short adaptation times for several hundreds of database nodes and up to 50 moving clients.
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| 7. |
- Meng, N, et al.
(författare)
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RECK, a novel matrix metalloproteinase regulator
- 2008
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Ingår i: Histology and Histopathology. - : Hernandéz. - 0213-3911 .- 1699-5848. ; 23:8, s. 1003-1010
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Extracellular matrix (ECM) macromolecules are important for creating the cellular environments required during development and morphogenesis of tissues. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of Zn-dependent endopeptidases that collectively are capable of cleaving virtually all ECM substrates, and play an important role in some physiological and pathological processes. MMP activity can be inhibited by some natural and artificial inhibitors. A newly found membrane-anchored regulator of MMPs, the reversion-inducing-cysteine-rich protein with kazal motifs (RECK), is downregulated when the cells undergo a process of malignant transformation, and is currently the subject of considerable research activity because of its specific structure and function. In this review, we have chosen to concentrate our efforts on the structure, function, regulation, and future prospect of RECK in order to provide a new target for prevention and treatment of tumours
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| 8. |
- Montebelli, Alberto, et al.
(författare)
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On Cognition as Dynamical Coupling : An Analysis of Behavioral Attractor Dynamics
- 2008
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Ingår i: Adaptive Behavior. - : Sage Publications. - 1059-7123 .- 1741-2633. ; 16:2-3, s. 182-195
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The interaction of brain, body, and environment can result incomplex behavior with rich dynamics, even for relatively simpleagents. Such dynamics are, however, often difficult to analyze.In this article, we explore the case of a simple simulated roboticagent, equipped with a reactive neurocontroller and an energylevel, which the agent has been evolved to recharge. A dynamicalsystems analysis shows that a non-neural internal state (energylevel), despite its simplicity, dynamically modulates the behavioralattractors of the agent—environment system, such thatthe robot's behavioral repertoire is continually adapted toits current situation and energy level. What emerges is a dynamic,non-deterministic, and highly self-organized action selectionmechanism, originating from the dynamical coupling of four systems(non-neural internal states, neurocontroller, body, and environment)operating at very different timescales.
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| 9. |
- Olson, Maria, 1969-
(författare)
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Från nationsbyggare till global marknadsnomad : Om medborgarskap i svensk utbildningspolitik under 1990-talet
- 2008
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- I den här avhandlingen är intresset riktat mot svensk utbildningspolitik och medborgarskap. I tider av globalisering, och med ett etablerat svenskt medlemskap i Europeiska unionen, har det nationella policyskapandet kring utbildningens medborgardanande funktion hamnat under ökat tryck. I studien undersöks hur detta hanteras i svensk utbildningspolitik under 1990-talet, en tid som utmärker sig genom betydande förändringar på utbildningsområdet i Sverige. Frågan är, mera precist, vilken riktning för skolans, enligt lag befästa, uppdrag att fostra demokratiska medborgare som utstakas i svensk utbildningspolitik vid denna tid.Genom att fästa vikt vid mål, visioner och motiv som formuleras i utbildningspolitiska 1990-talstexter klarläggs förståelser av medborgarskap som karaktäriserar svensk utbildningspolitik under denna tid. Även en bredare historisk analys görs, ur vilken historiska målsättningar med skolans medborgarfostran som föregår 1990-talets framträder. Studiens syfte är kritiskt. Förståelserna granskas utifrån vad de innesluter och vad de utesluter, vilka möjliga konsekvenser de kan tänkas få för olika individer och grupper i samhället, och om det finns öppningar för tänkbara alternativ.Studien visar på två historiska skiften vad gäller medborgarskapets innehåll och mening i det inhemska policyskapandet. Det första skiftet äger rum under 1990-talets tidiga del. Då bryts en etablerad samhällsbyggande medborgarroll upp, till förmån för andra mera marknadsorienterade medborgarroller. Under 1990-talets senare del, då marknadsorienteringen förstärks i neoliberal riktning, sker ett andra skifte; en historiskt vedertagen gemenskapstanke – nationen – bryts upp som grund för medborgerlig gemenskap. Denna tanke ersätts av en annan som är globaliseringsinriktad, vilken visar sig ha andra inne- och uteslutande mekanismer för olika individer och samhällsgrupper. Utifrån dessa forskningsrön tecknas avslutningsvis några konturer till ett alternativt sätt att tänka kring medborgarskap och gemenskap. Detta alternativ tar form i ambitionen att, i högre grad än vad som blir synligt i svensk utbildningspolitik, resonera kring möjligheter för ett medborgarskap bortom förhandstecknade indelningsgrunder för ett “vi”.Språk som politisk och samhällelig förändringskraft ges en central betydelse i avhandlingen. I analysen av texternas tal om skolans medborgarfostrande roll undersöks pågående politiska motsättningar när det gäller att vinna tal- och tolkningsföreträde till skolans fostransmål. Utgångarna av dessa motsättningar belyses genom tre områden för medborgarfostran som urskilts som centrala; ett politiskt, ett kulturellt samt ett ekonomi- och arbetslivsriktat. Genom dessa har rådande medborgarskapsdiskurser tagit form, ur vilka de utbildningspolitiska förståelserna av medborgarskap gestaltas och diskuteras.
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| 10. |
- Rambusch, Jana
(författare)
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Situated Play
- 2008
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This thesis addresses computer game play activities from the perspective of embodied and situated cognition. From such a perspective, game play can be divided into the physical handling of the game and the players' understanding of it. Game play can also be described in terms of three different levels of situatedness "high-level" situatedness, the contextual "here and now", and "low-level" situatedness. Moreover, theoretical and empirical implications of such a perspective have been explored more in detail in two case studies.
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