Science Foundation Ireland

About: Science Foundation Ireland is a nonprofit organization based out in Dublin, Ireland. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Silage & Agile software development. The organization has 192 authors who have published 127 publications receiving 3219 citations.

Algorithms for hierarchical clustering: an overview

Abstract: We survey agglomerative hierarchical clustering algorithms and discuss efficient implementations that are available in R and other software environments. We look at hierarchical self-organizing maps and mixture models. We review grid-based clustering, focusing on hierarchical density-based approaches. Finally, we describe a recently developed very efficient (linear time) hierarchical clustering algorithm, which can also be viewed as a hierarchical grid-based algorithm. This review adds to the earlier version, Murtagh F, Contreras P. Algorithms for hierarchical clustering: an overview, Wiley Interdiscip Rev: Data Mining Knowl Discov 2012, 2, 86–97. WIREs Data Mining Knowl Discov 2017, 7:e1219. doi: 10.1002/widm.1219 This article is categorized under: Algorithmic Development > Hierarchies and Trees Technologies > Classification Technologies > Structure Discovery and Clustering

Transient cyclical methylation of promoter DNA

Abstract: Methylation of CpG dinucleotides is generally associated with epigenetic silencing of transcription and is maintained through cellular division. Multiple CpG sequences are rare in mammalian genomes, but frequently occur at the transcriptional start site of active genes, with most clusters of CpGs being hypomethylated. We reported previously that the proximal region of the trefoil factor 1 (TFF1, also known as pS2) and oestrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) promoters could be partially methylated by treatment with deacetylase inhibitors, suggesting the possibility of dynamic changes in DNA methylation. Here we show that cyclical methylation and demethylation of CpG dinucleotides, with a periodicity of around 100 min, is characteristic for five selected promoters, including the oestrogen (E2)-responsive pS2 gene, in human cells. When the pS2 gene is actively transcribed, DNA methylation occurs after the cyclical occupancy of ERalpha and RNA polymerase II (polII). Moreover, we report conditions that provoke methylation cycling of the pS2 promoter in cell lines in which pS2 expression is quiescent and the proximal promoter is methylated. This coincides with a low-level re-expression of ERalpha and of pS2 transcripts.

Agile practices reduce distance in global software development

Abstract: This article explores how agile practices can reduce three kinds of “distance” – temporal, geographical, and sociocultural – in global software development (GSD). On the basis of two in-depth case studies, specific Scrum and eXtreme Programming (XP) practices are found to be useful for reducing communication, coordination, and control problems that have been associated with GSD.

Sensor and Sensor Fusion Technology in Autonomous Vehicles: A Review

Abstract: With the significant advancement of sensor and communication technology and the reliable application of obstacle detection techniques and algorithms, automated driving is becoming a pivotal technology that can revolutionize the future of transportation and mobility. Sensors are fundamental to the perception of vehicle surroundings in an automated driving system, and the use and performance of multiple integrated sensors can directly determine the safety and feasibility of automated driving vehicles. Sensor calibration is the foundation block of any autonomous system and its constituent sensors and must be performed correctly before sensor fusion and obstacle detection processes may be implemented. This paper evaluates the capabilities and the technical performance of sensors which are commonly employed in autonomous vehicles, primarily focusing on a large selection of vision cameras, LiDAR sensors, and radar sensors and the various conditions in which such sensors may operate in practice. We present an overview of the three primary categories of sensor calibration and review existing open-source calibration packages for multi-sensor calibration and their compatibility with numerous commercial sensors. We also summarize the three main approaches to sensor fusion and review current state-of-the-art multi-sensor fusion techniques and algorithms for object detection in autonomous driving applications. The current paper, therefore, provides an end-to-end review of the hardware and software methods required for sensor fusion object detection. We conclude by highlighting some of the challenges in the sensor fusion field and propose possible future research directions for automated driving systems.

A persistent problem. Traditional gender roles hold back female scientists.

Abstract: Women hold less than 15% of the full professorships in Europe, even though more than half of the European student population is female (EU, 2006). In the light of this, there are contrasting views about the future of women in academic research. Some analysts perceive an intractable gender gap at the higher levels of academia owing to the lower success rate of women at every step up the career ladder; others expect the gap to close over time, although it might take many years for equality to be achieved. A meta‐analysis of 21 studies has shown that men have a statistically significant (7%) higher chance of receiving grants than women (Bornmann, 2007; Bornmann et al , 2007). We have noticed that female applicants have had a consistently lower success rate when applying for the European Molecular Biology Organization's (EMBO) Long‐Term Fellowships (LTFs) and Young Investigator Programme (YIP)—in which success rate is measured as the proportion of awards given to applicants of each sex. In this study, we investigated various aspects of how a scientist's gender influences selection processes and careers. > Women hold less than 15% of the full professorships in Europe, even though more than half of the European student population is female… EMBO has been monitoring its selection processes for fellowships and awards with regard to gender for some time (Gannon et al , 2001; http://www.embo.org/gender/publications.html). Gender disaggregated statistics for the EMBO LTF programme are available from 1996 onwards and, on average, the success rate of women has been 20% lower than that of men. This difference has persisted despite the selection committees' awareness of and stated commitment to gender equality, and despite the fact that EMBO has received an almost equal number of applications from men and women in recent years. It is EMBO's policy that the only …