bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In vitro polyclonal activation of conventional T cells with a CD28 superagonist protects mice from acute graft versus host disease
Authors: Beyersdorf Niklas , Werner Sandra , Wolf Nelli , Hünig Thomas , Kerkau Thomas
Published: April 2015

Upon transplantation of T cells from a CD28 superagonist (CD28‐SA) treated donor into an irradiated allogeneic host, the CD28‐SA‐induced activation and expansion of Treg cells inhibits acute graft versus host disease (aGvHD), while not abrogating the desired graft versus tumor effect. Human peripheral blood CD4+ T cells, however, harbor only very few Treg cells. Therefore, we studied whether polyclonal in vitro prestimulation of conventional, that is Treg‐cell‐depleted, CD4+ T cells of C57BL/6 mice with CD28‐SA‐coated paramagnetic beads is sufficient to protect recipient BALB/c mice from aGvHD. CD28‐SA prestimulation of conventional CD4+ T cells efficiently protected BALB/c recipient mice from aGvHD and CD28‐SA‐stimulated CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were capable of mediating long‐term protection from the BCL1 lymphoma. The recently completed successful phase I testing of the human CD28‐SA TGN1412/TAB08 should greatly facilitate further development of this straightforward method into a novel immunotherapy for patients.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis RpfE promotes simultaneous Th1‐ and Th17‐type T‐cell immunity via TLR4‐dependent maturation of dendritic cells
Authors: Choi Han‐Gyu , Kim Woo Sik , Back Yong Woo , Kim Hongmin , Kwon Kee Woong , Kim Jong‐Seok , Shin Sung Jae , Kim Hwa‐Jung
Published: April 2015

Reciprocal induction of the Th1 and Th17 immune responses is essential for optimal protection against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb); however, only a few Mtb antigens are known to fulfill this task. A functional role for resuscitation‐promoting factor (Rpf) E, a latency‐associated member of the Rpf family, in promoting naïve CD4+ T‐cell differentiation toward both Th1 and Th17 cell fates through interaction with dendritic cells (DCs) was identified in this study. RpfE induces DC maturation by increasing expression of surface molecules and the production of IL‐6, IL‐1β, IL‐23p19, IL‐12p70, and TNF‐α but not IL‐10. This induction is mediated through TLR4 binding and subsequent activation of ERK, p38 MAPKs, and NF‐κB signaling. RpfE‐treated DCs effectively caused naïve CD4+ T cells to secrete IFN‐γ, IL‐2, and IL‐17A, which resulted in reciprocal expansions of the Th1 and Th17 cell response along with activation of T‐bet and RORγt but not GATA‐3. Furthermore, lung and spleen cells from Mtb‐infected WT mice but not from TLR4−/− mice exhibited Th1 and Th17 polarization upon RpfE stimulation. Taken together, our data suggest that RpfE has the potential to be an effective Mtb vaccine because of its ability to activate DCs that simultaneously induce both Th1‐ and Th17‐polarized T‐cell expansion.
Meloxicam prevents COX‐2‐mediated post‐surgical inflammation but not pain following laparotomy in mice
Authors: Roughan J.V. , Bertrand H.G.M.J. , Isles H.M.
Published: April 2015

Background

Inflammation is thought to be a major contributor to post‐surgical pain, so non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly used analgesics. However, compared to rats, considerably less is known as to how successfully these prevent pain in mice.

Methods

A fluorescent COX‐2 selective probe was used for the first time to evaluate the post‐surgical anti‐inflammatory effects of meloxicam, and automated behaviour analyses (HomeCageScan; HCS), the Mouse Grimace Scale (MGS) and body weight changes to assess its pain‐preventative properties. Groups of 8–9 BALB/c mice were subcutaneously injected with saline (0.3 mL) or meloxicam at (1, 5 or 20 mg/kg) 1 h before a 1.5‐cm midline laparotomy. The probe or a control dye (2 mg/kg) was injected intravenously 3 h later. Imaging was used to quantify inflammation at 7, 24 and 48 h following surgery. HCS data and MGS scores were respectively obtained from video recordings and photographs before surgery and 24 h later.

Results

Post‐surgical inflammation was dose dependently reduced by meloxicam; with 5 or 20 mg/kg being most effective compared to saline. However, all mice lost weight, MGS scores increased and behavioural activity was reduced by surgery for at least 24 h with no perceivable beneficial effect of meloxicam on any of these potentially pain‐associated changes.

Conclusions

Although meloxicam prevented inflammation, even large doses did not prevent post‐laparotomy pain possibly arising due to a range of factors, including, but not limited to inflammation. MGS scoring can be applied by very naïve assessors and so should be effective for cage‐side use.
Electrocatalytic Determination of Hydroxylamine in the Presence of Thiosulfate in Water and Wastewater Samples Using a Nanostructure Modified Carbon Paste Electrode
Authors: Shabani‐Nooshabadi Mehdi , Tahernejad‐Javazmi Fahimeh
Published: April 2015

In this research, we report the preparation of a high sensitive voltammetric sensor for electrocatalytic determination of hydroxylamine (HX) in the presence of thiosulfate (TS). We describe the synthesis and characterization of CdO nanoparticles (CdO/NPs) with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) methods. At an optimum condition, the two peaks are separated ca. 0.58 and 0.92 V for HX and TS at the surface of the proposed sensor. Square wave voltammetry (SWV) of HX exhibited two linear dynamic ranges with a detection limit (3σ) of 0.06 µmol L−1. The propose sensor was used for determination of HX in water samples.
Leukemic progenitor cells are susceptible to targeting by stimulated cytotoxic T cells against immunogenic leukemia‐associated antigens
Authors: Schneider Vanessa , Zhang Lu , Rojewski Markus , Fekete Natalie , Schrezenmeier Hubert , Erle Alexander , Bullinger Lars , Hofmann Susanne , Götz Marlies , Döhner Konstanze , Ihme Susann , Döhner Hartmut , Buske Christian , Feuring‐Buske Michaela , Greiner Jochen
Published: April 2015

Leukemic stem cells (LSC) might be the source for leukemic disease self‐renewal and account for disease relapse after treatment, which makes them a critical target for further therapeutic options. We investigated the role of cytotoxic T‐lymphocytes (CTL) counteracting and recognizing LSC. Leukemia‐associated antigens (LAA) represent immunogenic structures to target LSC. We enriched the LSC‐containing fraction of 20 AML patients and hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) of healthy volunteers. Using microarray analysis and qRT‐PCR we detected high expression of several LAA in AML cells but also in LSC. PRAME (p = 0.0085), RHAMM (p = 0.03), WT1 (p = 0.04) and Proteinase 3 (p = 0.04) showed significant differential expression in LSC compared with HSC. PRAME, RHAMM and WT1 are furthermore also lower expressed on leukemic bulk. In contrast, Proteinase 3 indicates a higher expression on leukemic bulk than on LSC. In colony forming unit (CFU) immunoassays, T cells stimulated against various LAA indicated a significant inhibition of CFUs in AML patient samples. The LAA PRAME, RHAMM and WT1 showed highest immunogenic responses with a range up to 58‐83%. In a proof of principle xenotransplant mouse model, PRAME‐stimulated CTL targeted AML stem cells, reflected by a delayed engraftment of leukemia (p = 0.0159). Taken together, we demonstrated the expression of several LAA in LSC. LAA‐specific T cells are able to hamper LSC in immunoassays and in a mouse model, which suggests that immunotherapeutic approaches have the potential to target malignant stem cells.
Alterations of TMEM16a allostery in human retinal microarterioles in long‐standing hypertension
Authors: Gui Dongmei , Li Yanfeng , Chen Xiaolong
Published: April 2015

We hypothesized that the calcium‐activated chloride channel (CACC) transmembrane member 16A (TMEM16A) ionic mechanism may be a general mechanism in remodeling of vascular smooth muscles, including the retina. These vascular remodeling may have a critical impact on retinal ischemia during chronic hypertension. In this study, we examined TMEM16A protein interactions with calmodulin and CaMKIIδ likely cause efflux of chloride, thus resulting in increased vascular resistance by increasing vascular wall tone in long‐standing hypertension. Control experiments were performed in static concentrations of calcium and using the specific TMEM16A inhibitor T16Ainh‐A01 [2‐[(5‐ethyl‐1,6‐dihydro‐4‐methyl‐6‐oxo‐2‐pyrimidinyl)thio]‐N‐[4‐(4‐methoxyphenyl)‐2‐thia zolyl]acetamide]. The results of our study provide preliminary evidence that CACC shows altered pharmacologic and biochemical properties in retinal vessel in long‐standing hypertension.© 2015 IUBMB Life, 2015 67(5):348–354, 2015
Genetic changes in influenza A(H3N2) viruses circulating during 2011 to 2013 in northern India (Lucknow)
Authors: Jain Amita , Dangi Tanushree , Jain Bhawana , Singh Ajay Kumar , Singh J. V. , Kumar Rashmi
Published: April 2015

Genetic variability in the hemagglutinin (HA1) and the neuraminidase (NA) genes of influenza viruses results in the emergence of new strains which differ in pathogenicity and severity. The present study was undertaken for genotypic characterization of the HA1 and NA genes of the influenza A(H3N2) strains, detected during the 2011–2013. A total of fifty five influenza A(H3N2) positive samples [2011 (n = 20), 2012 (n = 4) and 2013 (n = 31)] were studied. The 824 bp segment of HA1 gene and 931 bp segment of NA gene were amplified and sequenced by Big‐Dye terminator kit on ABI3130, Genetic analyzer. Molecular and phylogenetic analysis was done by MEGA 5.05 software and PhyML program (v3.0). Mutations were determined by comparing the deduced amino acid sequences of study strains with that of 2009–2013 vaccine strains. The studied influenza A(H3N2) strains showed 98.1–99.6% similarity in HA1 and NA amino acid sequences with the influenza A/Victoria/361/2011 vaccine strain. Four mutations in the HA1 amino acid sequences (T128A, R142G, L157S and N278K) and three unique mutations in the NA amino acid sequences [D251V, S315G and V313A] were found. These mutations were observed only in strains from the year 2013 (cluster II). None of the strains showed the presence of mutations, N294S and R292K, markers of oseltamivir resistance. In conclusion, Lucknow strains have accumulated the significant number of mutations in the antigenic sites of the HA and the NA coding sequences and continue to be evolving from the 2013 vaccine strain [A/Victoria/361/2011], however, mutations specific for oseltamivir resistance were not detected. J. Med. Virol. 87:1268–1275, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Curation and policy issues in collaborative research data management communities: Perspectives from key stakeholders
Authors: Luesebrink Michael , Huang Hong , Bogdan Kristin , Salo Dorothea , Thomas Charles , West Jevin , Wilson Lizabeth (Betsy)
Published: April 2015

The explosion of scientific data in recent years has resulted in the need to compile, store and globally share this research information with the multi‐disciplinary communities of science. This has resulted in research data management communities that are responsible for curating data within institutional repositories. This panel is sponsored by the SIG Scientific and Technical Information to initiate a discussion addressing data curation issues as they pertain to collaborative research data management communities within the current institutional research environment from the perspective of key stakeholders. The panel objective encompasses an examination of contemporary curation practices and data management policy issues that impact the initiation and implementation of research data management plans for scientific researchers. In addition it will explore the role that institutional repositories play in the extraction, preservation, and storage of research data while providing access to data sharing in the global scientific research communities. The panel will be comprised of key institutional stakeholders, which include university administrators, information professionals, and research scientists.
Public places, private lives: Balancing of privacy and freedom of expression in the United Kingdom
Authors: Newell Bryce Clayton
Published: April 2015

The rights of privacy and expression often conflict. Case law from the United Kingdom suggests that the incorporation of the European Convention on Human Rights into domestic law has spurred the growth of domestic privacy law at the expense of the rights of the press to free expression and, in line with prior theory, has also granted greater political authority to courts and judges tasked with balancing privacy and expression in domestic legal disputes. These shifts in privacy case law may also suggest that incorporation has increased opportunities for participatory democratic governance by the citizenry, at least through enhanced access to judicial remedies for privacy violations and the enforcement of Convention rights, as interpreted by the European Court of Human Rights.
Dealing with the long tail: Providing uniformity to compound tags
Authors: Syn Sue Yeon
Published: April 2015

In using social tags, it has been a challenge to deal with the long tail of the tag distribution. A good portion of tag distribution includes compound tags. Based on the observation that the various forms of compound tags exist in a tag data set, this study tests a way to process various compound tag forms into a uniformed form. The tag uniformity process is introduced with the decomposition algorithm by identifying forms of compound tags. With the tag uniformity process, this study explores the potential of better use of social tags by reducing tag noise and shortening the long tail of the tag distribution. In addition, it is expected that the uniformity process will enhance the effectiveness of the measurements for tag use such as tag frequency. The results demonstrate that the tag uniformity process can successfully shorten the long tail and make the tag frequency precise as a measurement. Although the uniformity process may not solve all the issues related to the long tail, it can be implicated for improving tag analysis and services using tags. The benefits and limitations as well as potential implications of the tag uniformity process for tag analysis and use are discussed.
File synchronization and sharing: User practices and challenges
Authors: Capra Robert , Vardell Emily , Brennan Kathy
Published: April 2015

In this paper, we present results of qualitative analysis of interviews with 16 university faculty regarding their use of file synchronization and sharing technologies in their work and personal lives. We identify key problems and considerations that influence file synchronization and sharing practices, and describe commonly used strategies. Our findings show that while behaviors have evolved as technology changes, users continue to make extensive use of familiar patterns of access, including automated and manual methods. We identified several factors that influence users’ choice of methods for synchronization, including privacy and security concerns, data size, institutional policies, and knowledge of systems. We present insights about how boundaries and data separation affect synchronization practices, and about specific synchronization issues users faced when collaborating. Our findings extend research on personal and group information management practices and provide insight for the design of synchronization and sharing systems.
The karamanlidika digital library project: Connecting karamanlides memories
Authors: Aytac Selenay
Published: April 2015

The purpose of this paper is to outline how an international initiative to connect Karamanlides cultural heritage could be pursued by using digital library technologies. The Karamanlides, also known as the Karamanli people, are those who spoke Ottoman Turkish and wrote in Greek characters in Asia Minor (Anatoli) during the rule of the Ottoman Empire. The first step of the research was to identify the available digital Karamanlides cultural artifacts via social media tools and pinpoint the useful metadata. The next step focused on the analysis of these user generated metadata derived from user uploaded images. Findings suggested that these unique cultural artifacts have been scattered all over the World Wide Web and lack descriptive metadata. Conceptual framework for the proposed digital library project will be discussed.
Exploring alternativity of institutional repositories to subscription resources based on users’ accesses log
Authors: Chen Kuang‐hua , Huang Chien‐chih
Published: April 2015

Institutional repository (IR) has been widely deployed in a lot of universities and research institutions. Researchers all over the world share their research outputs in an open‐access way. Not only does it speed up the dissemination of scholarly information, but it can also decrease the cost in acquiring commercial databases. This article investigates whether IRs are the viable alternative to subscription resources. The primary result shows that the satisfaction rate is 8.255% based on 124,357 real users’ experiences. Furthermore, the different institutional repositories demonstrated their capability to complement each other in fulfilling the users’ access requests. The promising end result suggests that future studies should include more types of open‐access repositories.
Identifying search patterns in an image‐based digital library
Authors: Han Hyejung , Wolfram Dietmar
Published: April 2015

Three months of clickstream transaction log data for an image‐based digital library were analyzed for patterns in user session behavior. After extensive log cleaning of the data files, k‐means cluster analysis was applied using selected session‐related statistics. The outcomes reveal largely uniform session behaviors (97.37%) consisting of a limited number of actions, with a higher number of queries than other session types, but little browsing of individual results. Given the specialized nature of the digital collections within the studied system, most searchers appear to engage in purposeful, directed searching. The remaining session clusters represent higher degrees of browsing over a longer time with fewer queries per session. The session behaviors for this environment are markedly different than those revealed by transaction log studies of other information retrieval environments.
Exploring cultural differences in language usage: The case of negation
Authors: Stoytcheva Svetlozara , Cohen Dov , Blake Catherine
Published: April 2015

Prior research suggests that speakers of Asian languages are more likely to use negation than English speakers. Our goal in this work is to explore this theory using empirical data from news stories. Specifically, we used natural language processing to compare negation usage in two newspapers: the New York Times and Xinhua News (English Edition). Overall, negation represents 0.55% of typed dependencies in the New York Times (versus 0.18% in Xinhua News). Additionally, 9.28% of sentences and 86.56% of articles in the New York Times contain one or more instances of negation (compared to 3.33% of sentences and 24.94% of articles in Xinhua News). In contrast to the prevalent theory, negation is approximately three times more common in the New York Times than in Xinhua News (English Edition).
Data narratives: Increasing scholarly value
Authors: Pouchard Line , Barton Amy , Zilinski Lisa
Published: April 2015

Data narratives or data stories have emerged as a new form of the scholarly communication focused on data. In this paper, we explore the potential value of data narratives and the requirements for data stories to enhance scholarly communication. We examine three types of data stories that form a continuum from the less to the more structured: the DataONE data stories, the Data Curation Profiles, and the Data Descriptors from the journal Scientific Data. We take the position that these data stories will increase the value of scholarly communication if they are linked to the datasets and to the publications that describe results, and have instructional value.
Closing the app gap: From plan to project I
Authors: McDowell Kate , Stevenson Deborah , Mabbott Cass
Published: April 2015

Our Closing the App Gap research project, examines the use of tablets, apps, and e‐books in public libraries as a tool against summer reading loss in primary‐grades children in underserved communities. Children in low‐income families are less likely to meet important reading milestones, and they are particularly likely to suffer from summer reading loss, the setback of skills over the long summer vacation. As we already know, this loss can be addressed by summer reading programs in public libraries.

Additionally, as digital media grows in importance, the resource disparity between affluent families and lower‐income families becomes even more pronounced, with a digital divide effect that shapes the experience of emergent readers. One 2011 study indicated that 55% of children eight and younger from families earning $75k or more per year have access to a smartphone, iPod/phone, or tablet, while in families earning $30,000 or less, only 22% of children have similar access. With apps a growing part of the educational landscape, increased access is advantageous.

This approach brings new tools in the fight against summer reading loss, enhances technological literacy, and mitigates the effect of the digital divide on children in lower‐income families. Our poster will discuss the various aspects of our research, including: our greatest challenges, the creation of a model that can help other public libraries use apps and tablets with children, our proposed multi‐site project that builds on what we've learned, and the potential ramifications of closing the digital divide and improving literacy for every child.
Connecting collections and cultures by creating a community of children's librarians around early literacy storytimes
Authors: Campana Kathleen , Brouwer Marin , Urban Ivette Bayo , Mills J. Elizabeth , Capps Janet , Feldman Erika , Burnett Kathleen
Published: April 2015

Communities of practice are important tools for professional development, encouraging peer‐to‐peer learning and knowledge creation. This study, which is part of a three‐year Institute for Museum and Library Services National Leadership Research Grant, examined children's librarians’ perceptions of a community of practice they created during an extended online, interactive training program. The librarians shared both positive and negative perceptions of the community that was created during the training. Through the interviews it became apparent that while creating a community of practice the librarians made connections between their collections and shared their library cultures.
Understanding what personal information items make categorization difficult
Authors: Oh Kyong Eun , Belkin Nicholas J.
Published: April 2015

This study examined personal information items that are difficult to categorize, and how people deal with these information items. For this research study, 18 participants were asked to keep a diary over a week and record diary entries whenever they decided to save or organize any electronic personal information items. Then, two post‐diary semi‐structured interviews were conducted to ask questions about how they organized their information items and why they made such decisions based on the diary they kept. Interviews were analyzed by using a grounded theory approach. The results show that the information items that are ambiguous or anomalous are difficult to categorize. Participants dealt with ambiguous or anomalous information items by categorizing them into one of their existing categories, placing them into a miscellaneous category or revising the existing organizational structure. Since personal information items that are difficult to categorize directly influence the time and effort needed to organize personal information, it is important to understand what kind of personal information items makes personal information organization difficult. In particular, the results of this research study have practical implications in developing interfaces and applications that help organizing personal information items effectively. This study also helps us further understand categorization, information organizing behavior, and personal information management.
Mapping the temporal evolution of scientific community structures
Authors: Velden Theresa , Yu Kan , Yan Shiyan , Lagoze Carl
Published: April 2015

We present results from tracking the temporal evolution of community structures within a research specialty. This extends our previous work in which we generated static community maps that combine co‐author networks and direct citation networks derived from 20‐years of publications in the research specialty. Here, we explore how the temporal evolution of these maps can be used to provide insights into the historical evolution of a field as well as extract more accurate snapshots of the community structures at a given point in time. Such time resolved mappings are an important component in our mixed method approach that integrates network analysis with ethnographic field studies to investigate field‐specific communication and collaboration behaviors in scientific communities (Velden & Lagoze 2013). Evaluating these maps in qualitative interviews with field experts will be the next step in our research.
Privacy and control in online social profiles: Toward a typology of users
Authors: Burkell Jacquelyn , Fortier Alexandre
Published: April 2015

This poster uses Q methodology to investigate subjective perspectives on privacy of and control over social network profiles. Earlier research using interview and focus group techniques suggests that the default conception of online social networks is as public spaces where there is little or no expectation of control over content or distribution. This conception, however, applies largely to information posted by others, and participants frame their own online participation in different ways. The current study explicitly investigates these different subjective perspectives. The results suggest three different user profiles or privacy orientations: one group views their online profiles as spaces for social display, but exert control over content and audience; a second group treats their profiles as spaces for open social display, exercising little control over either content or audience; and a third group views social network profiles as places to post personal information to a controlled audience. These different perspectives lead to different privacy needs and expectations.
Examining data sharing and data reuse in the dataone environment
Authors: Murillo Angela P.
Published: April 2015

The Data Observation Network for Earth (DataONE), a U.S. NSF DataNet Partner, seeks to provide cyberinfrastructure for “open, persistent, robust, and secure access to…earth science observational data”. Scientists participating in DataONE are able to deposit, search, and reuse data available through various DataONE tools. The research presented in this poster‐paper reports on two studies examining data sharing and reuse in the DataONE environment. The two studies include 1) a profiling data assessment that examines the data and metadata being deposited into the DataONE system for data sharing, and 2) a pilot think‐aloud study that examines what factors influence decisions regarding data reuse. From the profiling data assessment, preliminary results indicate that data being deposited into the DataONE for sharing have three specific types of metadata available including a) dataset, b) access, and c) additional metadata. Results also indicated that there is variation regarding the robustness and completeness of information. Additionally, through the think‐aloud study results indicated that particular aspects the metadata information was useful for decision‐making regarding reuse of data for scientists, while other metadata aspects were described as not useful. The results section provide specific details of these findings and demonstrate how these two studies examine both data sharing and reuse within the DataONE environment.
Exploiting latent content based features for the detection of static SMS spams
Authors: Karami Amir , Zhou Lina
Published: April 2015

As the use of mobile phones grows, spams are becoming increasingly common in mobile communication such as SMS, calling for research on SMS spam detection. Existing detection techniques for SMS spams have been mostly adapted from those developed for other contexts such as emails and the web without taking into account some unique characteristics of SMS. Additionally, spamming tactics is constantly evolving, making existing methods for spam detection less effective. In this research, we propose to exploit latent content based features for the detection of static SMS spams. The efficacy of the proposed features is empirically validated using multiple classification methods. The results demonstrate that the proposed features significantly improve the performance of SMS spam detection.
Health information without borders: Foreign‐trained health professionals and labor market integration
Authors: Komlodi Anita , Caidi Nadia , Abrao Aline Lima
Published: April 2015

Foreign‐trained health professionals (doctors, nurses, physical therapists, and others) arrive in the US and Canada every year to find a professional environment that is often unwelcoming and complex. In this work‐in‐progress poster we explore the experiences and information behavior of these professionals as they search for health‐ and career‐related information to integrate into their new professional environments. Results from this research can in the future support the design of information resources and services to better serve foreign‐trained health professionals.
Influence and provocation: Understanding relationships within a thematic research collection
Authors: Audenaert Neal , McGrew Timothy J. , Kocmoud Christopher
Published: April 2015

In this poster, we present two interfaces for visualizing the relationships between ideas, issues and scholarship within a thematic research collection and discuss a graph‐based data model for representing those ideas. These interfaces are intended to support collection understanding and exploration for non‐specialist users within the context of a collection of 2000 historical documents spanning 300 years. The research question that drives the design of these tools is how to represent the deeply internalized conceptual framework acquired by a scholar over decades of study and communicate that information to non‐specialists effectively.
Unravelling the proteome of degenerative human mitral valves
Authors: Tan Hwee Tong , Lim Teck Kwang , Richards Arthur Mark , Kofidis Theodoros , Teoh Kristine Leok‐Kheng , Ling Lieng H. , Chung Maxey C. M.
Published: April 2015

Degenerative mitral valve disease (DMVD), which includes the syndromes of mitral valve prolapse (MVP) and flail leaflet, is a common valvular condition which can be complicated by mitral regurgitation and adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Although several genetic and other studies of MVP in dog models have provided some information regarding the underlying disease mechanisms, the proteins and molecular events mediating human MVP pathogenesis have not been unraveled. In this study, we report the first large‐scale proteome profiling of mitral valve tissue resected from patients with MVP. A total of 1134 proteins were identified, some of which were validated using SWATH‐MS and western blotting. GO annotation of these proteins confirmed the validity of this proteome database in various cardiovascular processes. Among the list of proteins, we found several structural and extracellular matrix proteins, such as asporin, biglycan, decorin, lumican, mimecan, prolargin, versican, and vinculin, that have putative roles in the pathophysiology of MVP. These proteins could also be involved in the cardiac remodeling associated with mitral regurgitation. All MS data have been deposited in the ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD000774 (http://proteomecentral.proteomexchange.org/dataset/PXD000774).
Cellular plates with auxetic rectangular perforations
Authors: Slann Alex , White William , Scarpa Fabrizio , Boba Katarzyna , Farrow Ian
Published: April 2015

The work describes a cellular structure configuration with a rectangular perforation topology exhibiting auxetic (negative Poisson's ratio) in‐plane behaviour. The rectangular voids used in this structure produce a rigid rotating squares effect. Changes in the sizing parameters of aspect ratio, intercell spacing, and number of unit cells are made through non‐dimensional modelling. The effects on the key properties of in‐plane Poisson's ratio, Young's modulus and shear modulus are investigated. Through numerical modelling and experimental testing the auxetic behaviour is confirmed, with increased negative Poisson's ratio values in comparison to rhomboidal patterns of perforations available in open literature.
Control of extended defects in cast multicrystalline silicon using polycrystalline template
Authors: Prakash Ronit R. , Jiptner Karolin , Chen Jun , Miyamura Yoshiji , Harada Hirofumi , Sekiguchi Takashi
Published: April 2015

Extended defects were controlled using polycrystalline silicon as a template for cast‐growth of multicrystalline silicon. At the initial stage of growth, small randomly oriented grains with a high density of random type grain boundaries were obtained. With growth, the grain size increased and the fraction of random grain boundaries decreased. Electrical activity of defects was investigated and it was found that with growth, network of small angle grain boundaries became the most electrically active defects. This network of small angle grain boundaries were found to have a tilt angle less than 3° and were mainly found in elongating grains. The density of these highly electrically active grain boundaries increased with growth. This can be attributed to propagation and agglomeration of dislocations into small angle grain boundaries. The high density of random grain boundaries in this ingot may suppress dislocation propagation between grains, however they do not intersect elongating grains enabling dislocation propagation in elongated grains. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
A Robust Portfolio Optimization Approach to System of System Architectures
Authors: Davendralingam Navindran , DeLaurentis Daniel. A.
Published: April 2015

The realization of military capability as a System of Systems (SoS), presents significant development challenges across technical, operational and programmatic dimensions. In particular, tools for deciding how to form and evolve SoS which consider performance and risk are lacking. This research leverages tools from financial engineering and operations research perspectives in portfolio optimization to assist decision making in this setting. Our approach facilitates evolutions of SoS architecture through a framework that supports architecture selection at a given decision‐epoch of the evolutionary process. The approach models hierarchies of interdependent systems as generic nodes on a network that, subject to connectivity and compatibility constraints, work cohesively to fulfill overarching capability objectives. A robust portfolio algorithm is employed to address inherent real world issues of data uncertainty, inter‐nodal performance and developmental risk. A naval warfare scenario illustrates application of the method to find “portfoliosˮ of systems from a candidate list of available systems. Results show how the framework effectively reduces the combinatorial complexity of tradespace exploration (e.g., connectivity rules, feasibility of solutions, optimality of solutions) by allowing the optimization problem to handle the mathematically intensive aspects of the decision‐making process. As a result, human decision‐makers can focus on choosing the appropriate weights for risk aversion in making final decisions.
Computational Biology in microRNA
Authors: Li Yue , Zhang Zhaolei
Published: April 2015

MicroRNA (miRNA) is a class of small endogenous noncoding RNA species, which regulate gene expression post‐transcriptionally by forming imperfect base‐pair at the 3′ untranslated regions of the messenger RNAs. Since the 1993 discovery of the first miRNA let‐7 in worms, a vast number of studies have been dedicated to functionally characterizing miRNAs with a special emphasis on their roles in cancer. A single miRNA can potentially target ∼400 distinct genes, and there are over a 1000 distinct endogenous miRNAs in the human genome. Thus, miRNAs are likely involved in virtually all biological processes and pathways including carcinogenesis. However, functionally characterizing miRNAs hinges on the accurate identification of their mRNA targets, which has been a challenging problem due to imperfect base‐pairing and condition‐specific miRNA regulatory dynamics. In this review, we will survey the current state‐of‐the‐art computational methods to predict miRNA targets, which are divided into three main categories: (1) sequence‐based methods that primarily utilizes the canonical seed‐match model, evolutionary conservation, and binding energy; (2) expression‐based target prediction methods using the increasingly available miRNA and mRNA expression data measured for the same sample; and (3) network‐based method that aims identify miRNA regulatory modules, which reflect their synergism in conferring a global impact to the biological system of interest. We hope that the review will serve as a good reference to the new comers to the ever‐growing miRNA research field as well as veterans, who would appreciate the detailed review on the technicalities, strength, and limitations of each representative computational method. WIREs RNA 2015, 6:435–452. doi: 10.1002/wrna.1286

This article is categorized under:

Regulatory RNAs/RNAi/Riboswitches > Regulatory RNAs
Assembly, Structures, and Properties of a Series of Metal‐Organic Coordination Polymers Derived from a Semi‐rigid Bis‐pyridyl‐bis‐amide Ligand
Authors: Wang Xiu‐Li , Sha Xiao‐Ting , Liu Guo‐Cheng , Chen Nai‐Li , Gong Chun‐Hua , Qu Yun
Published: April 2015

Four metal‐organic coordination polymers [Cd(4‐bpcb)1.5Cl2(H2O)] (1), [Cd(4‐bpcb)0.5(mip)(H2O)2]·3H2O (2), [Co(4‐bpcb)(oba)(H2O)2] (3), and [Ni(4‐bpcb)(oba)(H2O)2] (4) [4‐bpcb = N,N′‐bis(4‐pyridinecarboxamide)‐1, 4‐benzene, H2mip = 5‐methylisophthalic acid, and H2oba = 4, 4′‐oxybis(benzoic acid)] were synthesized under hydrothermal conditions and characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, elemental analyses, IR spectroscopy, powder X‐ray diffraction, and TG analysis. In complex 1, two Cl– anions serve as bridges to connect two Cd‐(μ1‐4‐bpcb) subunits forming a dinuclear unit, which are further linked by μ2‐bridging 4‐bpcb to generate 1D zigzag chain. Complex 2 shows a 2D 63 network constructed by [Cd‐mip]n zigzag chains and μ2‐bridging 4‐bpcb ligands. Complexes 3 and 4 are isostructural 2D (4, 4) grid networks derived from [M‐oba]n (M = Co, Ni) zigzag chains and [M‐(4‐bpcb)]n linear chains. The 1D chains for 1 and the 2D networks for 2–4 are finally extended into 3D supramolecular architectures by hydrogen bonding interactions. The roles of dicarboxylates and central metal ions on the assembly and structures of the target compounds were discussed. Moreover, the thermal stabilities, photoluminescent properties, and photocatalytic activities of complexes 1–4 and the electrochemical properties of complexes 3 and 4 were investigated.
A Research Note on Time With Children in Different- and Same-Sex Two-Parent Families
Authors: Prickett Kate C. , Martin-Storey Alexa , Crosnoe Robert
Published: April 2015

Public debate on same-sex marriage often focuses on the disadvantages that children raised by same-sex couples may face. On one hand, little evidence suggests any difference in the outcomes of children raised by same-sex parents and different-sex parents. On the other hand, most studies are limited by problems of sample selection and size, and few directly measure the parenting practices thought to influence child development. This research note demonstrates how the 2003–2013 American Time Use Survey (n = 44,188) may help to address these limitations. Two-tier Cragg’s Tobit alternative models estimated the amount of time that parents in different-sex and same-sex couples engaged in child-focused time. Women in same-sex couples were more likely than either women or men in different-sex couples to spend such time with children. Overall, women (regardless of the gender of their partners) and men coupled with other men spent significantly more time with children than men coupled with women, conditional on spending any child-focused time. These results support prior research that different-sex couples do not invest in children at appreciably different levels than same-sex couples. We highlight the potential for existing nationally representative data sets to provide preliminary insights into the developmental experiences of children in nontraditional families.
Hotelling revisits the lab: equilibration in continuous and discrete time
Authors: Kephart Curtis , Friedman Daniel
Published: April 2015

We investigate experimentally the impact of continuous time on a four-player Hotelling location game. The static pure strategy Nash equilibrium (NE) consists of firms paired-up at the first and third quartiles of the linear city. In a repeated simultaneous move (discrete time) treatment, we largely replicate previous findings in which subjects fail to converge to the NE. However, in asynchronous move (continuous time) treatments we see clear convergence towards the NE.
Physiological phenotyping of dementias using emotional sounds
Authors: Fletcher Phillip D. , Nicholas Jennifer M. , Shakespeare Timothy J. , Downey Laura E. , Golden Hannah L. , Agustus Jennifer L. , Clark Camilla N. , Mummery Catherine J. , Schott Jonathan M. , Crutch Sebastian J. , Warren Jason D.
Published: April 2015

Introduction

Emotional behavioral disturbances are hallmarks of many dementias but their pathophysiology is poorly understood. Here we addressed this issue using the paradigm of emotionally salient sounds.

Methods

Pupil responses and affective valence ratings for nonverbal sounds of varying emotional salience were assessed in patients with behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) (n = 14), semantic dementia (SD) (n = 10), progressive nonfluent aphasia (PNFA) (n = 12), and AD (n = 10) versus healthy age‐matched individuals (n = 26).

Results

Referenced to healthy individuals, overall autonomic reactivity to sound was normal in Alzheimer's disease (AD) but reduced in other syndromes. Patients with bvFTD, SD, and AD showed altered coupling between pupillary and affective behavioral responses to emotionally salient sounds.

Discussion

Emotional sounds are a useful model system for analyzing how dementias affect the processing of salient environmental signals, with implications for defining pathophysiological mechanisms and novel biomarker development.
Elaboración de estaciones para el examen clínico objetivo estructurado (ECOE)
Authors: Trejo-Mejía Juan Andrés , Blee-Sánchez Glenda , Peña-Balderas Jorge
Published: April 2015

Esta pauta describe los elementos para elaborar una estación del examen clínico objetivo estructurado (ECOE), especialmente una estación procedimental de interrogatorio o exploración física y se presenta un ejemplo para darle mayor objetividad.
Simulación en Educación Médica
Authors: Dávila-Cervantes Andrea
Published: April 2015

La simulación en la Educación Médica ha presentado un desarrollo importante a nivel mundial, ésta se ha convertido en una herramienta mediante la cual se favorece la adquisición de habilidades clínicas previo al contacto real con el paciente y fomenta la seguridad para éste, mediante la realización de destrezas para disminuir la posibilidad de errores o complicaciones en la realización de procedimientos. Los avances en la tecnología de la simulación han creado un cambio en el paradigma de la educación y se ha dirigido la atención en la adquisición de competencias y habilidades necesarias para la práctica médica. Las aplicaciones de la simulación son múltiples y cuentan con un potencial ilimitado, la mayoría de las experiencias involucran el entrenamiento de habilidades y la adquisición del conocimiento cognitivo. La simulación en la Educación Médica sirve como plataforma para la Educación Médica Continua, ésta provee a los profesionales en la salud la oportunidad para conocer nuevos avances y procedimientos, favorece la exploración de diversas áreas con deficiencia en competencias y provee de poderosas herramientas de intervención para mejorar las habilidades que requieren mayor entrenamiento. En este artículo se ofrece un panorama conceptual respecto a la simulación, se describe el desarrollo, las características de la misma, las ventajas que ofrece esta herramienta educativa y se analizan los diversos estudios que se están realizando en este campo.
Dynamics of laser-induced bubble pairs
Authors: Han Bing , Köhler Karsten , Jungnickel Kerstin , Mettin Robert , Lauterborn Werner , Vogel Alfred
Published: April 2015

The interaction of two laser-induced bubbles in bulk water is investigated. The strength and direction of the emerging liquid jets can be controlled by adjusting the relative bubble positions, the time difference between bubble generation, and the laser pulse energies determining the bubble sizes. Experimental and numerical studies are performed for millimetre-sized bubble pairs. Taking bubbles of equal energy, a maximum jet velocity is found for close anti-phase bubbles, i.e. when the second bubble is produced at the maximum volume of the first one and the bubble walls are almost touching and not merging. Under these conditions, one bubble produces a fast jet with a peak velocity of about$150~\text{m}~\text{s}^{-1}$that reaches a distance into the surrounding liquid of at least three times the maximum bubble radius. Collapse of the other bubble results in a slow jet of large mass that rapidly converts into a ring vortex. Correspondingly, the interaction with adjacent structures is dominated either by localized jet impact or by shear stresses extending over a larger area. Furthermore, interactions between micrometre-sized bubble pairs are investigated numerically to understand and predict how the effects of the physical parameters on bubble dynamics would change when the bubbles become smaller. The results are discussed with respect to micropumping and opto-injection.
NARRATIVES OF DEATH IN RURAL MALAWI IN THE TIME OF AIDS
Authors: Ashforth Adam , Watkins Susan
Published: April 2015

The key to understanding the experience of AIDS mortality lies in the stories that people tell each other about those they know who are suspected to have died from AIDS. We use a unique set of texts produced by rural Malawians reporting everyday conversations in their communities. These texts, drawn from the online archive of the Malawi Journals Project, consist of several thousand instances of ordinary people telling each other stories in the ordinary course of their lives. They are a form of insider ethnography, accounts of everyday life written by people immersed in the lives of their communities. Through analysis of these texts, we show that narratives of death are predicated upon the question ‘Who is to blame?’ We argue that a micropolitics of blame arises from practices of narrating death and shapes individual and collective responses to the epidemic. When we pay attention to the details of the production and exchange of these stories, we can see how the fact that narratives of death are predicated upon the question of blame both expresses and produces a desire for justice, both for the righting of wrongs through retributive punishment and for the restoration of harmonious social relations among the living. This desire for justice, we argue, is a central feature of the social impact of AIDS.