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NeoGen
03-08-2006, 01:50 AM
Now that we have a forum section for it and all, here's a more presentable project introduction thread. :)

What is MalariaControl.net?
Simulation models of the transmission dynamics and health effects of malaria are an important tool for malaria control. They can be used to determine optimal strategies for delivering mosquito nets, chemotherapy, or new vaccines which are currently under development and testing.

Such modeling is extremely computer intensive, requiring simulations of large human populations with a diverse set of parameters related to biological and social factors that influence the distribution of the disease.

The Swiss Tropical Institute has developed a computer model for malaria epidemiology and harnessed its in-house PC capacity, about 40 machines, to do preliminary studies. But far more computing power is required to validate such models and to adequately simulate the full range of interventions and transmission patterns relevant for malaria control in Africa.

This is why MalariaControl.net has been created - to harness the volunteer computing power of thousands of people around the world, to help improve the ability of researchers to predict, and hence control, the spread of malaria in Africa.
(source text (http://africa-at-home.web.cern.ch/africa%2Dat%2Dhome/malariacontrol.htm))

- What can you do to help?
- Join the MalariaControl.net project (http://www.malariacontrol.net/) and volunteer your unused CPU cycles for the good of mankind, to help erradicate this disease off the African continent, and off the World for that matter!

How to join the project
- Currently the project is in Beta stage, and only accepting up to 500 participants. To check if account creation is open, click the following link:
http://www.malariacontrol.net/create_account_form.php
If you are still able to create an account, then afterwards join our Team here:
http://www.malariacontrol.net/team_display.php?teamid=36
If not, then you will have to wait until they finish their beta stage cycle and enter full production. It shouldn't take long. In the meantime you can help other projects that are also in need of computing power. :roll:
EDIT: Beta stage account creation is closed... :cry:

http://img424.imageshack.us/img424/4408/mcnet7tv.th.jpg (http://img424.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mcnet7tv.jpg)
This is a sample image of the MalariaControl.net screensaver. It shows a 3D surface chart with age/time/infecciousness in the axis while the background cycles between day and night. And also, there's alot of mosquitos (malaria carriers?) flying around all over.

- Applications are available for Windows and Linux, and current workunits are fairly small, taking only around 1 hour on an XP 2000+.


Join us and help the World get rid of this plague!! :D

PcManiac
03-08-2006, 04:33 AM
I have made this one my primary project! go AMDusers :!:

NeoGen
03-08-2006, 04:46 AM
Now if they only updated the stats more often... :roll:

PcManiac
03-08-2006, 04:51 AM
I agree, the projects are rather small, but the granted credit just keeps on pending :(

NeoGen
03-09-2006, 12:15 AM
Well... no more accounts people! :-(

Who is in, is in, who is out... will have to wait.