Listing items for categories "Student resources, CV-related, Open-source, DOS, Academic paper":

This project aims to provide a convenient, easy and fast way to include bar-graphs and bar-charts of various kinds into web pages.

The approach taken utilises only coloured tables and JavaScript to achieve the goal, i.e. no images are used. An object-oriented JavaScript library handles the insertion of bar-charts into any HTML page. The graphs can be static or animated, and the animation can be controlled by the user in an interactive fashion.

I was teaching the computer lab and tutorial clases for
CSE2305 - Object-Oriented Software Engineering (Spring semester 2006).
The unit mainly concentrated on object oriented programming using C++.

I was teaching the problem class seminars for
FIT1002 - Computer programming (Spring semester 2007).
This is an introductory unit on computer programming in Java for first year students.

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Analytical models show that high-dimensional fitness landscapes form “holey” rather than “rugged” topographies, but the implications of this finding for biological and artificial life systems remain largely unexplored. One of the reasons for this gap can be attributed to serious difficulties in the implementation of individual-based holey fitness landscape (HFL) models. Here, we introduce a method for simulating HFLs in spatially explicit individual-based models that overcomes these difficulties. We examine how the HFL changes predictions for the maintenance of genetic diversity in the face of migration. Previous models suggest that ecologically-based reproductive isolation will rapidly collapse under migration. Our results indicate that an underlying HFL can often maintain diversity in this situation. Hybrid species emerge frequently when HFL genetics are simulated, but are usually doomed to extinction because of small population sizes. However, hybridisation can also lead to novel adaptations and potentially the exploitation of new ecological niches. More generally, the results imply that HFL genetics should not be neglected in studies of adaptation and diversity.

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Premature convergence is a persisting problem in evolutionary optimisation, in particular – genetic algorithms. While a number of methods exist to approach this issue, they usually require problem specific calibration or only partially resolve the issue, at best by delaying the premature convergence of an evolving population. Analytical models in biology show that resiliently diverse populations evolve on high-dimensional fitness landscapes with “holey” rather than “rugged” topographies, but the implications for artificial evolutionary systems remain largely unexplored. Here I show how holey fitness landscapes (HFLs) can be incorporated in an evolutionary algorithm and use this approach to investigate the ability of HFLs to maintain genetic diversity in an evolving population. The results indicate that an underlying HFL can counteract premature genetic convergence and sustain diversity. They also suggest that HFL may provide a flexible mechanism for dynamic creation and maintenance of subpopulations that concentrate their evolutionary search in different regions of the solution space. Finally, I discuss on-going work on using the HFL model in optimisation problems.

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A genetic algorithm (GA) is utilised to discover known and novel PROSITE-like sequence templates that can be used to classify the sub-cellular location of eukaryotic proteins. While traditional machine learning techniques present a black-box approach to this problem, the current method explicitly represents the discovered localisation motifs. A combined multi-class location classifier is presented and compared to other techniques based on genetic programming. Without consideration of additional structural information the presented method outperforms the alternative techniques.

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We provide a brief overview of the use of FLs in evolutionary biology and introduce an FL model suitable for individual-based models of species evolution. Our model combines different features of several analytic FL models used in evolutionary biology. Our new model overcomes several difficulties encountered with previous FL models, particularly arbitrary divergence thresholds. We discuss the difficulties encountered during the implementation of our model and how we have overcome these. We present a detailed numerical analysis of the proposed family of FLs that will inform future work based on our FL model.

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We describe a process, Dual Phase Evolution (DPE), which is a widespread mechanism by which systems evolve. The process occurs in systems that switch between two phases: a balance phase and a variation phase. In DPE, processes drive systems to settle in a “balance” phase, but external stimuli can flip the system into a temporary “variation” phase, in which rapid change occurs on all scales. The system gradually returns to a new balance phase, often with different structure than formerly. We argue that the system occurs in many natural systems and show how it results from landscape connectivity in both evolution and long-term forest change. We describe how it underlies certain optimization algorithms, and can be implemented to improve the performance of existing optimization methods. Finally, we present simulation experiments that show how DPE may play a role in creating cliques, clusters, modules and other kinds of order within social networks.

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In this study, we describe an evolutionary mechanism – Dual Phase Evolution (DPE) – and argue that it plays a key role in the emergence of internal structure in complex adaptive systems (CAS). Our DPE theory proposes that CAS exhibit two well-defined phases – selection and variation – and that shifts from one phase to the other are triggered by external perturbations. We discuss empirical data which demonstrates that DPE processes play a prominent role in species evolution within landscapes and argue that processes governing a wide range of self-organising phenomena are similar in nature. In support, we present a simulation model of adaptive radiation in landscapes. In the model, organisms normally exist within a connected landscape in which selection maintains them in a stable state. Intermittent disturbances (such as fires, commentary impacts) flip the system into a disconnected phase, in which populations become fragmented, freeing up areas of empty space in which selection pressure lessens and genetic variation predominates. The simulation results show that the DPE mechanism may indeed facilitate the appearance of complex diversity in a landscape ecosystem.

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Recent studies suggest that macro-evolutionary patterns such as punctuated equilibrium may be generated by a process termed Dual Phase Evolution (DPE). According to the DPE hypothesis, evolution in landscapes exhibits two phases – selection and variation. Disturbances such as mass extinctions can flip the landscape from selection to variation phases. Similar processes occur in a wide range of artificial, natural and social complex systems. Here, we show that mass extinctions induce DPE in a simulation model of adaptive radiation. The model is based on a previous model of adaptive radiation which did not incorporate Dual Phase Evolution. Results confirm that mass extinctions caused by external disturbances can trigger periods of rapid species turnover and adaptive radiation (variation phases), which are followed by long periods without innovation (selection phases). Our simulations also show that the spatial configuration of disasters leading to mass extinctions strongly influences whether and to what extent such disasters are capable of inducing evolutionary variation phases.

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In this article we aim to analyse some of the advances in security of communication since this discipline evolved and to pinpoint the main problems. We then introduce a modern attempt to solve some of these problems, in particular the key distribution problem, by using the theory of quantum mechanics to construct a communication system that automatically detects eavesdropping. We examine some of the implications of quantum mechanics relevant to this field and then introduce a selection of communication protocols based on them. Finally we examine how secure these protocols are and identify their potential weaknesses.

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While I was in the Oberstufe in Hamburg, students doing their Abitur were allowed to undertake a special academic project in one of their two intensive course subjects. Such project is called Facharbeit.

I attended the "Oberstufe" of the Gymnasium Tonndorf in Hamburg (Germany) from 1997 to 1999. Before entering the Obersufe (A-Levels-years) I have been at that school for 2 more years - starting in '95. Previous to that I have attended several other schools in different cities.

Abitur

For my Abitur I did two intensive courses: Mathematics and Informatics (i.e. Computer Science) and 9 basic courses. The list of those courses can be found below.

I took written examinations in Maths, Informatics and Russian language; and an oral examination in Philosophy.

I have studied computer science at the University College London from October 2000 to June 2004. I graduated as a Master of Science (MSci) with a 1st class Honours degree. I have received a prize for "Outstanding graduating student performance" as well as several other prizes.

Studying Computer Science at UCL was a great experience and I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in the subject. UCL is a great university.

I was teaching the problem class seminars for
1007 - Introduction to Programming Principles (Autumn term 2004).
If you are one of my students and have any questions, do not hesitate to get in touch.