cometadata/datacite-rtg-text-other-reclassification-records huggingface dataset:
Möglichkeiten und Grenzen von grossen Nullenergiegebäuden
Creators: name: Hall, Monika
name: Geissler, Achim
Publisher: name: Wiley
Year: 2016
Subjects: BIPV
Nullbilanz
Hochhäuser mit PV-Fassade
Nullenergiegebäude

description: Nullenergiegebäude haben üblicher Weise zwei bis vier Stockwerke. Daher interessiert die Frage, ob auch grosse Gebäude, d.h. Gebäude bis zu 40 Stockwerken, mit langgestrecktem bzw. quadratischem Grundriss genügend Fläche für Photovoltaik zur Verfügung stellen können, so dass eine Nullbilanz für die gesamte Gebäudetechnik (HWLK-Nullbilanz "Nullwärmeenergiegebäude") oder den Gesamtenergiebedarf des Gebäudes (GEB-Nullbilanz "Nullenergiegebäude") im Jahr erreicht werden kann. Auf der Grundlage von Simulationen anhand von vier Basismodellen, je zwei Mehrfamilienhäuser und Verwaltungsbauten, werden die Auswirkungen verschiedener Parameter auf die Nullbilanz analysiert.
Regulation of Nuclear Receptor Esrrb Function by Ncoa3 in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell Pluripotency
Creators: name: Percharde, Michelle
Publisher: name: Imperial College London
Year: 2013

description: The mouse embryonic stem cell (ESC) state depends upon a gene regulatory network centred on Oct4, Sox2 and Nanog (OSN). Notably, these and other key transcription factors (TFs) assemble in large, multi-protein complexes at enhancer loci to drive the high expression of target genes. It remains unclear, however, how each specific TF functions in transcription, and whether each depends on protein-protein interactions with other complexes. Furthermore, little is known about potential coregulators in ESCs that may regulate TF activity. To study the functional importance of TF-cofactor interactions in ESCs, work here was focused on the nuclear receptor Estrogen-related receptor beta (Esrrb). As with the core OSN triad, Esrrb is vital for the maintenance of ESC identity and self-renewal, as well as playing important roles in somatic cell reprogramming. Moreover, Esrrb was recently found to associate with components of the basal transcription machinery, hinting at a specific role for Esrrb in ESC transcription that remains to be characterised. Here, it was investigated how Esrrb function is conferred in ESCs, drawing on established knowledge of the regulation of estrogen-related receptors (ERRs) in somatic contexts. Both on somatic cell targets as well as in ESCs, Esrrb transcriptional activity is found to be absolutely dependent upon its ligand-binding domain (LBD) and AF-2 region. Functionally, inactivating the Esrrb AF-2 region mirrors Esrrb depletion itself, triggering differentiation and preventing Esrrb-dependent enhancement of self-renewal. Critically, Ncoa3 is discovered to be the key coactivator recruited to the Esrrb AF-2 region at ESC target genes. Ncoa3, like Esrrb, is essential for the maintenance of self-renewal and also enhances LIF-independence when stably overexpressed. Furthermore, Ncoa3 is highly upregulated in induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and its depletion inhibits somatic cell reprogramming. Genome-wide Ncoa3 ChIP-sequencing and DNA microarray analysis further demonstrate that Ncoa3 co-operates with Esrrb and the OSN circuitry at active enhancers, driving the expression of self-renewal and germ cell related genes. Finally, Ncoa3 is shown to bind RNA polymerase II in ESCs, and bridges Esrrb via its AF-2 region to the general transcription machinery. This work reveals an integrated model of transcriptional and coactivator control, mediated by Ncoa3, for the maintenance of ESC self-renewal and reprogramming.
Additional file 1 of tRFTars: predicting the targets of tRNA-derived fragments
Creators: name: Xiao, Qiong
name: Gao, Peng
name: Huang, Xuanzhang
name: Chen, Xiaowan
name: Chen, Quan
name: Lv, Xinger
name: Fu, Yu
name: Song, Yongxi
name: Wang, Zhenning
Publisher: name: figshare
Year: 2021
Subjects: subject: Genetics
subject: FOS: Biological sciences

description: Additional file 1: Table S1. Summary of features analyzed in this study that can contribute to tRF-mRNA interaction. Table S2. The number of different kinds of seed type. Table S3. Bases component of positive pairs compared with background. Table S4. Dinucleotide component of positive pairs compared with background. Table S5. P value of features with significant difference between positive group and negative group during training. Table S6. AUC of each fold during model establishment. Table S8. Comparison of tRFTars and other miRNA target predicting models. Table S9. The intersection of targets(SVM-GA model, probabilistic model, conservative model and miRNA target predicting model) for the tRFs (CLASH). Table S10. Validation of the predictions with the data of TCGA. Table S11. The number of pairs in different tumor types. Table S12. Validation of the predictions with the microarray and sequencing data for gastric cancer patients’ tumor tissues and matched non-tumor adjacent tissues from our institution. Table S14. The pairs validated by qRT-PCR. Table S15. List of sequences used in this study. Figure S1. The pipeline of data preparation and SVM-GA model construction. Figure S2. Cumulative distribution curve of the distance of seed sites to the 5' end, 3' end and nearest end. We observed that 3'-UTR sites immediately near the stop codon were less effective compared to sites elsewhere in the 3'-UTR. More sites within the remainder of the 3'-UTR tended to reside near the ends of the UTRs, especially the 5' end. Figure S3. The correlation heatmap of 20 tRFs/miRNAs and mRNAs with the highest frequency among the target gene predictions. Figure S4. Expression levels of predicted target genes were detected in MGC-803 cells after transfection with tRF mimics or mutated tRF mimics by qRT-PCR relative to the NC group.
Micro-environmental models of human exposure to air pollution
Creators: name: Mosler, Gioia
Publisher: name: Imperial College London
Year: 2014

description: Particulate air pollution (PM) has been shown by many studies to cause adverse health effects. Traditionally PM exposure was estimated using ambient concentrations. Lately, studies have revealed that this approach poorly reflects differences between individual’s exposures and as such results in exposure misclassification. This thesis aims to improve personal exposure predictions by building a model (MEPEX model), which takes into account the temporal and spatial variability of ambient PM, as well as visited microenvironments. For the composition of this model, existing approaches for model components were evaluated, compared and developed. A temporally adjusted land-use regression (LUR-adj) model for predictions of ambient PM2.5 and PM10 was built, validated, and compared to estimates from a dispersion model. Ratios were developed to adjust ambient concentrations for cycling and in-bus transport microenvironments. Additionally, modelling approaches for the home indoor microenvironment were compared, using monitoring data. A secondary aim was to evaluate the performance of different approaches for personal exposure assessment by comparing varying levels of model sophistication. Validation of the LUR-adj model showed good model fit (IA > 0.5) and low error (NMSE < 1) for short-term predictions of PM2.5 and PM10 at locations in London. In comparison to predictions of a dispersion model (ADMS-urban), LUR-adj estimates of PM10 produced better results for model performance parameters at the majority of 26 predicted locations. MEPEX model predictions of monitored daily personal exposure for an individual in London resulted in an R2 of 0.439 for PM2.5 and 0.403 for PM10. Predictions using modelled home outdoor concentrations in comparison were lower with R2 of 0.173 for PM2.5 and 0.086 for PM10. These results provide the first quantifiable evidence that personal exposure models of PM2.5 and PM10 can reduce exposure misclassification compared to estimates based only on ambient PM.
Kinetics and mechanisms of Ikaros-mediated transcriptional regulation
Creators: name: Liang, Ziwei
Publisher: name: Imperial College London
Year: 2014

description: The Ikaros family of zinc finger transcription factors is essential for B cell development, and frequently mutated in B cell malignancies. Our lab has previously identified Ikaros target genes in pre-B cells by combining Ikaros ChIP-seq binding data and gene expression profiling. To address the kinetics and mechanisms of Ikaros-mediated transcriptional regulation, I have used an inducible Ikaros system, which allows for the monitoring of cellular and molecular changes during Ikaros-mediated gene silencing at high temporal resolution. Within minutes of Ikaros induction, the Ikaros-regulated model loci Igll1 and Myc showed decreased promoter accessibility and RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) occupancy. These early events were followed by changes in nucleosome composition, including an increased histone H2B/H3 ratio, the deposition of the histone variant H2A.Z, and decreased active histone acetylation marks. Histone deacetylation was not required to initiate down-regulation of Igll1 and Myc transcription, since treatment with the histone deacetylase inhibitor Trichostatin A did not interfere with Ikaros-mediated gene silencing. I next elucidated the mechanistic relationship between the early events of decreased promoter accessibility and decreased RNAPII occupancy. Addition of Triptolide resulted in the removal of RNAPII from the Igll1 and Myc promoters, but did not affect nucleosome occupancy and its regulation mediated by Ikaros. This suggested that Ikaros regulates nucleosome positioning and occupancy directly, and not through effects on RNAPII. Consistent with this hypothesis, Ikaros-mediated gene silencing was delayed by RNAi-mediated knockdown of chromatin remodeler Mi-2β (Chd4), the ATPase subunit of the Mi-2/NuRD complex. Hence, Ikaros-initiated chromatin remodelling was identified as one of the earliest events during Ikaros-mediated gene silencing, and was required for rapid transcriptional down-regulation of Ikaros target genes.
«Sie alle hier sind Gewinner»
Creators: name: Verkuil, Arie Hans
Publisher: name: Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz FHNW
Year: 2017
Subjects: Innovation Unternehmertum

description: Die Entwicklung, die man als Teilnehmerin oder Teilnehmer der «Swiss Innovation Challenge» durchmache, sei genauso wichtig – wenn nicht noch wichtiger – als zum Schluss auf dem Siegerpodest zu stehen. Das sagte Arie Hans Verkuil, Leiter des Instituts für Unternehmensführung an der Hochschule für Wirtschaft FHNW und Jury-Präsident der «Swiss Innovation Challenge» am Donnerstagabend, 16. Februar 2017. «Ihr Erfolg ist auch unser Erfolg», ergänzte er gegenüber den Teilnehmenden des diesjährigen Innovationswettbewerbs von Wirtschaftskammer, Basellandschaftlicher Kantonalbank (BLKB) und Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz (FHNW) am Kick-off-Event in der Hochschule für Gestaltung und Kunst FHNW auf dem Dreispitzareal. Deswegen dürften die Teilnehmenden im Wettbewerbsverlauf «maximal viel Input» erwarten.
Insights into species diversity of the genus Hydropsyche Pictet, 1834 (Hydropsychidae, Trichoptera) from the Lake Kinneret catchment (Israel)
Creators: name: Beermann, Arne J.
name: Uekötter, Laura
name: Leese, Florian
name: Lorenz, Armin W.
name: Hershkovitz, Yaron
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2017
Subjects: subject: Evolutionary Biology
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: 59999 Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: FOS: Earth and related environmental sciences
subject: Ecology
subject: 69999 Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Inorganic Chemistry
subject: FOS: Chemical sciences

description: Species identification based on larval stages of aquatic insects in Israel is difficult, given the paucity of taxonomic studies. In order to gain deeper understanding of biological processes in Israel's freshwater ecosystems and to develop a bioindication system, species have to be known and characterised at all life stages. Here, we applied an integrative morphological and genetic approach to characterise caddisflies of the genus Hydropsyche Pictet, 1834 from the Lake Kinneret catchment. Seventeen sites in the Lake Kinneret catchment were sampled in spring/summer 2015 and 2016. For 77 hydropsychid larvae and two adult specimens of H. yahfufah Malicky, 2001, we analysed a 658 bp fragment of the mitochondrial COI gene and compared the results of different genetic species delimitation methods to observed morphological variation. Our results suggest the presence of at least five species. This study is an important first step towards assessing stream biodiversity of a yet largely understudied region and highlights advantages of integrative taxonomic approaches.
Structural and Care Process Improvement of Ward-based Postoperative Care to Optimise Surgical Outcomes
Creators: name: Pucher, Philip
Publisher: name: Imperial College London
Year: 2014

description: Much of the variation seen in surgical outcomes can be explained by differences in the quality of management of post-operative complications and ward-based care. The surgical ward round (WR) is critical to determining post-operative care and serves as the primary point of interaction between clinician and patient. Despite this, it is an area not subject to training or assessment at present. This thesis demonstrates the high degree of variability which exists in the conduct of WRs. It establishes the link between suboptimal patient assessment and increased risk of preventable post-operative complications. These place patients not only at risk of short-term deterioration, but result in reduced long-term survival as well. In order to quantify WR quality, a novel assessment tool has been developed and validated within a simulated environment. Ward simulation is a nascent branch of simulation which has been only preliminarily explored to date. A simulation environment was developed to take advantage of the known benefits of simulation such as controllability, reproducibility, and recordability, whilst maintaining a high level of fidelity and realism. An evidence-based curriculum for surgical WR training was designed and implemented in a simulation-based course. By focusing on structured generic processes of patient assessment and management, this resulted in significant improvement of trainee performance in routine WRs. To ensure standardised and optimum management of specific conditions, checklists have proven themselves to be of great value in a number of surgical and medical disciplines. Surgical complications are common, yet their management often suboptimal. As part of this thesis, evidence-based protocols for the management of the six most common complications were designed and validated. The implementation of these in a simulation-based randomised, controlled trial has resulted in greatly increased adherence to evidence-based standards of care, as well as improved communication and clinician performance. This thesis explores the variance currently present in surgical ward rounds, and the potentially grave consequences of this for patient outcomes. To date, WRs have been one of the last areas of surgical care still dependent on the Halstedian principle of experiential learning alone. The tools have now been developed with which to assess, improve, and standardise critical structures and care processes in the assessment and management of the post-operative surgical patient. Future implementation of these and integration into surgical curricula will benefit clinician training, patient care, and surgical outcomes alike.
Training in advanced laparoscopic surgery
Creators: name: Wyles, Susannah Mary
Publisher: name: Imperial College London
Year: 2013

description: Laparoscopic surgery is an example of a practical technique within medicine that can have a lengthy learning curve to gain competence. A change in NICE guidance in 2006 prompted the development of a National Training Programme (NTP) to train consultant surgeons in laparoscopic colorectal surgery (LCS). Using the NTP and enrolled trainers and trainees as a backbone for the studies within this research, the aim was to address “how” and “who” should be training LCS. A comprehensive search of the literature was performed. Through this, and the application of a qualitative research approach employing interview studies, data were gleaned, items derived, questionnaires developed and using a Delphi consensus technique, item importance determined. From this, three detailed assessment forms (mini-Structured Training Trainer Assessment Report (mini-STTAR) and the STTAR, and GAS form) were created to allow both the trainee and an observer to provide feedback to the trainer regarding their training structure, behaviour, attitudes and role modelling, and also the trainee’s progress to be assessed. A formal analysis of trainer and trainee learning and teaching styles and personality was performed (Honey and Mumford, Staffordshire Evaluation of Teaching Styles (SETS) and 16PF respectively), and the impact of these factors on training outcomes assessed. Detailed questionnaires addressed the trainees’ opinions of different training modalities within courses, and the NTP structure as a whole. The training of advanced laparoscopic surgery was found to best match the educational theory of cognitive apprenticeship. The cadaveric model for LCS training course was thought to be superior to porcine or virtual reality in terms of fidelity and educational value and fidelity. The assessment tools were validated and implemented successfully into the programme. Despite detailed analysis, no single psychometric test could be used to predetermine the good trainers. Overall the NTP in its current format was deemed to be acceptable.
Sozial benachteiligte Eltern und Berufswahl
Creators: name: Neuenschwander, Markus
name: Rösselet, Stephan
Publisher: name: Bundesamt für Sozialversicherungen BSV
Year: 2016
Subjects: Soziale Benachteiligung
Berufswahl
Elternarbeit

description: Eltern beeinflussen die Berufswahl ihrer Kinder. Diese übernehmen daher oft den beruflichen Status ihrer Eltern. Eine Studie untersuchte, wie sich das Risiko sozialer Vererbung in benachteiligten Familien senken lässt und welche Faktoren die Eltern befähigen, ihre Kinder bei der Berufswahl zu unterstützen.
Explorative Fallstudie zum Einsatz des Resilienztrainings „Lueg zu dir“. 10 Schritte für psychische Gesundheit in der Praxis
Creators: name: Hiltbrunner, Liv
Publisher: name: Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz FHNW
Year: 2018

description: Jugendliche sind vielfältigen Risiken und Belastungen ausgesetzt. Vor diesem Hintergrund erfährt die Resilienz in der Prävention und Gesundheitsförderung ein zunehmendes Interesse. In der vorliegenden Fallstudie werden anhand einer zusammenfassenden sowie inhaltlich strukturierenden qualitativen Inhaltsanalyse die Fragen behandelt, wie Berufsbildungsverantwortliche (BBV) und ihre Auszubildenden, das Resilienztraining „Lueg zu dir“ in der Praxis anwenden, welche Erfolgsfaktoren und Barrieren sich dabei herausgestellt haben und welche subjektive Wirkung des Trainings auf die Resilienz der Auszubildenden wahrgenommen wird. Dazu wurden mit 13 BBV eine Focus-Group und mit 4 BBV und 4 Auszubildenden Interviews durchgeführt. Als wichtigste Erfolgsfaktoren werden der geringe Zeitaufwand, die zielgruppenspezifische Anpassung sowie das Gefühl von Entspannung und Freude während der Bearbeitung genannt. Die zentralsten Erfolgsbarrieren sind die Unsicherheit bezüglich der Thematisierung der psychischen Gesundheit und die diesbezügliche konkrete Vorgehensweise in Gesprächen. Durch das Training konnte subjektiv eine Wirkung auf die Resilienz der Auszubildenden wahrgenommen werden.
Artikelparadigmen. Form, Funktion und syntaktisch-semantische Analyse von definiten Determinierern im Schweizerdeutschen
Creators: name: Studler, Rebekka
Publisher: name: Universität Zürich
Year: 2011
Subjects: subject: Artikelsystem im Schweizerdeutschen
subject: Definite Determinierer
subject: Generative Syntax
subject: Nominalphrasenstruktur
subject: Funktionale Kategorien
subject: 400 - Sprache, Linguistik
subject: 430 - Deutsch

description: Viele Dialekte des Schweizerdeutschen verfügen über drei Paradigmen für standarddeutsches der, die, das: einen reduzierten Artikel de, d, s, einen vollen Artikel dä, di, das und ein proximales Demonstrativum dää, die, daas. Die vorliegende Arbeit ist dem Nachweis gewidmet, dass sich die drei Paradigmen nicht nur in ihrer Form, sondern auch in ihrer semantischen Funktion und in ihrer syntaktischen Analyse unterscheiden – und dass für die schweizerdeutschen Daten von einer starken Korrelation zwischen Morphologie, Semantik und Syntax ausgegangen werden kann. Hierfür werden im ersten Teil der Arbeit die morphologische Ausgestaltung der Paradigmen und die semantische Funktion von definiten Determinierern referiert. Anhand der Grammatiken zu den schweizerdeutschen Dialekten und verschiedener Datenkorpora wird aufgezeigt, dass eine Morphologie-Semantik-Korrelation besteht, insofern jedes Paradigma prototypisch für eine der drei semantischen Funktionen (Bezug auf Wissen, Bezug auf Text, Bezug auf Welt) verwendet wird. Zudem lässt sich zeigen, dass diejenigen Fälle, die aus diesem Raster fallen (insbesondere Modifikationsstrukturen mit Relativsätzen), nicht willkürliche Abweichungen darstellen, sondern dass die Artikelsetzung auch in diesen Kontexten strikten semantischen Bedingungen unterliegt. Im zweiten Teil wird eine semantisch-syntaktische Analyse im Rahmen der Generativen Syntax vorgestellt, die den eruierten semantisch-syntaktischen Merkmalsstrukturen der drei Paradigmen Rechnung trägt, indem in der Nominalphrase drei funktionale Kategorien für die drei relevanten Merkmale, i.e. [DEF] für Definitheit, [ANAPH] für Anaphorizität und [Dx] für Deixis angenommen werden.
This cycle, here, this one
Creators: name: Allen, Jamie
name: Sobecka, Karolina
Publisher: name: Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz FHNW
Year: 2019
Subjects: subject: circulation
subject: carbon cycle
subject: lecture performance
subject: 700 - Künste und Unterhaltung

description: "It is that which at this instant, issuing out of a labyrinthine tangle of yeses and no’s, makes my hand run along a certain path on the paper, mark it with these volutes that are signs: a double snap, up and down, between two levels of energy, guides this hand of mine to impress on the paper this dot, here, this one. – Primo Levi, “Carbon,” from The Periodic Table (1975) If there is a universe in every word, each atom also creates its own narrative. In this performance lecture spanning a contemporary history of its composition, markets and capture, a literary cycle of Carbon is developed in moving image, text and diagram. The use and abuse of cycles as models of exchange and circulation are examined for their appropriateness and applicability, and new models are proposed for our relationship to this building block of life, petrocultures and capitalism. Karolina Sobecka and Jamie Allen present a cyclical discussion in six elements for element number six. The lecture will include a hands-on element: we will ask the audience to re-draw the carbon cycle, based on their personal experiences."
Studies on electrical properties of microwave assisted synthesis of NiO/YSZ composites for high - performance anode in solid oxide fuel cell
Creators: name: E. Satheeshkumar
name: P. Anbarasi
name: K. Ilango
name: P. Prabunathan
name: P. Manohar
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2017
Subjects: subject: Biophysics
subject: Biochemistry
subject: Space Science
subject: 29999 Physical Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: FOS: Physical sciences
subject: Medicine
subject: Biotechnology
subject: 39999 Chemical Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: FOS: Chemical sciences

description: NiO/Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia (YSZ) composites which is widely used as anode in solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) has been prepared using microwaveassisted combustion technique. Different concentrations of NiO has been added to determine the optimum loading. From the XRD results, it was clear that there was no formation of secondary phases in the product. Further, the obtained microstructure and electrical properties of the NiO/YSZ (NYZ) composite material was almost the same as that obtained through other methods of synthesis. However, it was attained in a shorter duration and at low cost, which is an added advantage of this process. This research opens up a new horizon for the synthesis of novel ceramic electrode materials for SOFC application using microwaves.
Structural insights into a versatile macrocyclic family based on 2,5-diphenyl[1,3,4]oxadiazole: a combined X-ray diffraction and computational study
Creators: name: Paoli, Paola
name: Rossi, Patrizia
name: Ambrosi, Gianluca
name: Formica, Mauro
name: Fusi, Vieri
name: Giorgi, Luca
name: Micheloni, Mauro
name: Macedi, Eleonora
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2017
Subjects: subject: Biophysics
subject: Space Science
subject: 39999 Chemical Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: FOS: Chemical sciences
subject: 69999 Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: 80699 Information Systems not elsewhere classified
subject: FOS: Computer and information sciences

description: By means of X-ray diffraction analysis the solid state structure of the diprotonated species of the ligand L1_Me (9,12-Dimethyl-9,12,27,28-tetraaza-15,18-dithia-29-oxatetracyclo[24.2.1.02,7.020,25]-enneicosa-2,4,6,20,22,24,26,281-octaene), a macrocycle containing a mixed sulfur-nitrogen set of donor atoms decorated with the PPD signaling group, and of its dinuclear platinum complex was investigated . The information retrieved were used as starting point for a deep computational study. Then, with the aim to get hints for the design of possibly improved strictly related receptors, the molecular modeling study was extended to the all-nitrogen ligand L2_H which, at variance with L1_Me, has four nitrogen atoms as donors. Finally, to complete the modeling investigation we design the related ligands L1_H, L2_Me and L3_H on which computational studies were performed. The aim was to investigate and try to rationalise the parameters affecting the overall shape of the host-guest adducts.
Standard finite elements for the numerical resolution of the elliptic Monge–Ampère equation: Aleksandrov solutions
Creators: name: Awanou, Gerard
Publisher: name: University of Illinois at Chicago
Year: 2022
Subjects: Uncategorized

description: We prove a convergence result for a natural discretization of the Dirichlet problem of the elliptic Monge-Ampere equation using finite dimensional spaces of piecewise polynomial C1 functions. Discretizations of the type considered in this paper have been previously analyzed in the case the equation has a smooth solution and numerous numerical evidence of convergence were given in the case of non smooth solutions. Our convergence result is valid for non smooth solutions, is given in the setting of Aleksandrov solutions, and consists in discretizing the equation in a subdomain with the boundary data used as an approximation of the solution in the remaining part of the domain. Our result gives a theoretical validation for the use of a non monotone finite element method for the Monge-Ampere equation.
Ideological congruence over government mandates under majoritarian and proportional representation electoral systems
Creators: name: Ferland, Benjamin
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2017
Subjects: Neuroscience
Biotechnology
Cancer
Science Policy

description: The existing literature on ideological congruence has typically looked at congruence immediately after elections when governments are formed. This article goes beyond that comparative static approach by examining changes in citizen-government ideological congruence between two fixed points in time, namely at the beginning and end of government mandates. Building on a veto player approach and dynamics of party competition under majoritarian and proportional representation (PR) electoral systems, the results indicate, first, that government positions are more stable in between elections, as the number of parties and their ideological distance increase in cabinet. Second, it appears that single-party and homogeneous coalition governments decrease ideological congruence between elections under low levels of polarisation, while they increase congruence under very high levels of polarisation. Third, it was found that governments under majoritarian systems slightly decrease congruence between elections while congruence stays stable on average under PR systems. The different levels of party system polarisation across majoritarian and PR electoral systems mostly explain this difference.
Exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals and other hormone-related variables, DNA methylation, and breast cancer
Creators: name: Van Veldhoven, Catharina Maria
Publisher: name: Imperial College London
Year: 2014

description: Introduction Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the world and environmental factors such as endocrine disrupting chemicals, as well as reproductive and hormone-related factors play a crucial role in the development of this disease. In order to assess causal pathways between these exposures and disease initiation, biomarkers based on DNA methylation measurements can be used. Methods The potential association between global and locus-specific DNA methylation and breast cancer risk was investigated in two prospective European nested case-control studies. The HM450 array was used to generate epigenomic profiles of archived blood samples, collected from study participants before the onset of disease in 324 matched case-control pairs. The association between endocrine disrupting chemicals measured in blood samples (n=368), reproductive and hormone-related variables assessed by questionnaire (n=324), and hormone levels measured in blood(n=36), and DNA methylation was studied. The meet-in-the-middle approach was applied to identify DNA methylation markers related to both exposures and disease endpoint. Results Global hypomethylation was observed among breast cancer cases compared with controls and locus-specific analyses identified 26 CpGs whose DNA methylation was associated with breast cancer. Cadmium exposure was associated with DNA methylation at 62 CpGs but most associations did not survive adjustment for smoking status. In addition, numerous reproductive and hormone-related variables, as well as the hormones D4 and testosterone were associated with DNA methylation, and three potential meet-in-the-middle candidates were observed. Discussion Despite the relatively low power, results indicated that genome-wide hypomethylation among breast cancer cases may serve as a biomarker for disease risk. More research with bigger sample sizes is needed to disentangle the potential effect of cadmium and smoking on DNA methylation and to further explore possible effects of reproductive and hormone-related factors, as well as hormone levels, on DNA methylation. It is of interest to investigate what the biological consequences of these changes in methylation are.
Investigating the regulation of cohesin dynamics during meiotic prophase in C. elegans
Creators: name: Crawley, Oliver
Publisher: name: Imperial College London
Year: 2014

description: The physical linking of sister chromatids after S-phase is known as sister chromatid cohesion (SCC) and is largely provided by the cohesin complex. The coordinated loss of SCC at anaphase onset is essential for correct chromosome segregation, a process mediated by proteolysis of the kleisin subunit of cohesin. In addition, during mitotic prophase of most organisms a large portion of cohesin is removed from chromosomes by a non-proteolytic pathway that depends on the conserved protein WAPL. Cohesin is also known to reload and SCC is re-established in response to DSBs after mitotic S-phase. During meiosis, SCC is similarly established during S-phase, but is then released in two steps during the sequential meiotic divisions. Also, unlike mitosis, multiple cohesin complexes with divergent functions exist in meiosis. Whether cohesin is dynamically associated with chromosomes during meiotic prophase and how this may be regulated was not known. Thus, the key aims of this project were to determine if WAPL mediates cohesin removal during meiotic prophase, and to find out if meiotic cohesin complexes display turnover on prophase chromosomes of the nematode C. elegans. Alternative meiosis-specific kleisins (REC-8, COH-3, and COH-4) define the different complexes present during worm meiosis. I show here that WAPL-1 limits the association of COH-3/4 complexes with meiotic prophase chromosomes, which severely limits their cohesive function. REC-8 complexes on the other hand are not affected much by WAPL-1. I show that loss of WAPL-1 affects the structure of axial elements and disrupts chromosome segregation and DSB repair. I also demonstrate by FRAP live imaging that there is significant turnover of cohesin on meiotic prophase chromosomes. Dynamic turnover of COH-3 is much greater that REC-8, as predicted by the different sensitivity to WAPL-1 of REC-8 and COH-3 cohesin complexes. These findings demonstrate that cohesin is actively removed and reloaded during meiotic prophase. Dysregulation of these processes could be relevant for human fertility, since SCC exhaustion over time is thought to contribute to the decline in fertility with increased maternal age.
Quality of survival: a new concept framework to assess the quality of prolonged life in cancer
Creators: name: Fallowfield, Lesley
name: E. Nadler
name: I. Gilloteau
name: M. Greaney
name: A. Gater
name: L. Orsini
name: M. Subar
name: G. H. Lyman
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2017
Subjects: subject: Medicine
subject: Biotechnology
subject: 59999 Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: FOS: Earth and related environmental sciences
subject: 69999 Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Cancer
subject: Science Policy

description: Background: Improved cancer care means that more patients are surviving longer, but there is a need to examine how well patients survive. We conducted an exploratory analysis of a new conceptual framework termed ‘quality of survival’ (QoS) that delineates the quality of patients’ experience. Methods: This project included an electronic database search to investigate the survivorship landscape and to create a visual QoS map and semi-structured interviews with patients (n = 35), clinicians (n = 40), and payers (n = 7) to support the QoS map. QoS was discussed in the context of two tumor types, metastatic non-small cell lung cancer and metastatic melanoma. Results: Despite increased long-term survival, no specific definition of QoS exists. Patients reported many impacts that affect QoS, clinicians viewed QoS as relevant to treatment decisions, and payers felt it could help communicate different aspects relevant to the patient. Four interconnected QoS dimensions were developed (quality of life, survival, side effects, and economic impact), which vary in importance along the care continuum. Conclusion: QoS is a patient-centric concept that could help decision-making and patient communication. The QoS map could provide a framework to monitor patient experience and help patients frame what treatment attribute is most important to them at any point in the cancer continuum.
Nicastrin as a novel therapeutic target in breast cancer
Creators: name: Filipovic, Aleksandra
Publisher: name: Imperial College London
Year: 2011

description: Nicastrin is an essential component of the gamma-secretase (GS) enzyme complex, required for its synthesis and recognition of substrates for proteolytic cleavage. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether nicastrin has a prognostic value or the potential as a therapeutic target in breast cancer. Tissue microarrays (TMAs) (n = 1050), and breast cancer cell line analyses confirmed that nicastrin expression was upregulated in breast cancer compared to normal breast cells. In TMA patient samples, high nicastrin expression was observed in 47.5% of cases and correlated with worse breast cancer specific survival in the ERα negative cohort. Transient and stable gene silencing of nicastrin in vitro, resulted in the disruption of the GS complex activity and a decrease in Notch1 cleavage. Nicastrin silencing in invasive MDA-MB-231 and HCC1806 cells resulted in the loss of vimentin expression and a reduction in cell invasion, which was concomitant with the formation of cell-cell junctions, as well as cellular repolarisation. In a population of breast cancer cells harbouring the cancer stem cell phenotype (CD44+/CD24-), nicastrin depletion abrogated expression of the epithelial to mesenchymal (EMT) markers, vimentin, SIP1 and Snail. Furthermore, nicastrin overexpression in the non-malignant MCF10A breast cells increased expression of other GS components, Notch activation, vimentin expression and invasive capacity. These data indicate that nicastrin can function to maintain the EMT transition during breast cancer progression. We have developed anti-nicastrin polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies and have shown that they are able to decrease the invasive and proliferative capacity of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells in vitro. In order to dissect the role of nicastrin within the GS complex from its presumed GS-independent signaling role in breast cancer cells, we have performed gene array analyses and identified a subset of genes that are nicastrin-dependent and are not affected by silencing of the Notch receptors. The data presented in this thesis therefore support our hypothesis that an antagonising monoclonal antibody could be suitable to inhibit nicastrin as a potential therapeutic target in invasive breast cancer.
FOXM1 in breast cancer and drug resistance
Creators: name: Millour, Julie
Publisher: name: Imperial College London
Year: 2012

description: Endocrine agents have become the primary adjuvant treatment for breast cancer. In addition to endocrine therapy, cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agents have also been frequently used in the neoadjuvant and adjuvant settings, to reduce tumour size prior to surgery or to reduce the chance of relapse or metastasis. However, patients can be resistant to endocrine and chemotherapeutic agents, or become resistant after long term treatment. In this study, I investigated the role and the regulation of FOXM1 in the sensitivity and resistance to the endocrine agent, tamoxifen, and the cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agent, epirubicin. Firstly, I demonstrated that tamoxifen repressed FOXM1 expression in sensitive but not in tamoxifen resistant breast cancer cell lines. In MCF-7 cells, FOXM1 protein and mRNA expression levels were regulated by ER-ligands, and depletion of ERα by RNA interference down-regulated FOXM1 expression. Importantly, ectopic expression of FOXM1 abrogated the cell cycle arrest mediated by the anti-oestrogen tamoxifen, and conferred tamoxifen resistance to MCF-7 cells. In contrast, silencing of FOXM1 in tamoxifen resistant cells abolished oestrogen-induced MCF-7 cell proliferation and overcame acquired tamoxifen resistance. Secondly, FOXM1 expression analysis in epirubicin resistant MCF-7 cells showed a higher level compared with MCF-7 cells. In addition, epirubicin treatment down-regulated FOXM1 expression in MCF-7, but FOXM1 protein level remained constant in epirubicin resistant MCF-7 cells. I established that p53 repressed FOXM1 expression in MCF-7 cells, while this protein is lost in the MCF-7 epirubicin resistant cells. I also found that ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) was overexpressed at protein and mRNA levels in epirubicin resistant MCF-7 compared with MCF-7 cells, and that ATM depletion strongly decreased FOXM1 expression. Epirubicin treatment increased DNA damage levels in MCF-7 cells while this remained constant in similarly treated epirubicin resistant MCF-7 cells, suggesting a higher level of DNA repair in these cells. Taken together, these results indicate that deregulation of FOXM1 may contribute to resistance to endocrine and cytotoxic agents through its involvement in cell proliferation and DNA repair.
Modelling dengue infection dynamics and the impact of control measures
Creators: name: Clapham, Hannah Eleanor
Publisher: name: Imperial College London
Year: 2012

description: Dengue is a vector-borne disease found across much of the world, with an increasing number of cases annually. This thesis explores the dynamics of dengue infection within an individual, and the possible impact of this at a population level. I use mathematical modelling and statistical analysis, tightly coupled with data, as a way of tying together the important components and processes during infection. I model the virus and immune dynamics, capturing the differences between individuals, disease severity and primary/secondary disease (with a focus on hypothesised secondary mechanisms). Within the immune dynamics I concentrate on antibody, looking at the role of antibody in limiting infection. Within this framework I also consider the impact on these dynamics of an antiviral. The final section of this thesis brings together this closer consideration of virus dynamics and considers their impact at a population level. Using data from biting experiments I am able to characterise the “infectivity” of an individual over time, how this varies between individuals and groups (as above), and how this compares to previous transmission modelling assumptions. In terms of control I look at how this “infectivity” is altered by antivirals and by wolbachia infected mosquitoes.
Space and time modelling of intra-urban air pollution
Creators: name: Tang, Ho Kin Robert
Publisher: name: Imperial College London
Year: 2014

description: Exposures to air pollution have adverse effects on health. Traditionally, epidemiological studies used monitoring data to investigate the relationship between air pollution and health. In recent decades, modelling tools have been developed to predict pollutant concentrations for population exposure assessments. Whilst gradual improvements have been made to these techniques, such as dispersion and land use regression (LUR), results have exhibited spatial inconsistencies at times. The processes involved are often time- and data- consuming, and outputs generally do not account for short-term variations in pollution. Improving model prediction capabilities can avoid exposure misclassifications, and provide better estimates for health risk assessment. The aim of this project is to increase the accuracy and efficiency of current exposure modelling techniques to capture spatial and temporal variability of urban air pollution. As part of this study, air pollution models were developed in a GIS framework for London for PM10, NOX and NO2, using dispersion, LUR, hybrid and Bayesian statistical methods. Predictors derived from traffic, land use, population datasets were incorporated in a geographical information system for modelling. For the first time, newly available city-wide datasets were used to extract enhanced geographical variables, including building height/ area, street canyon and detailed urban green space, which may have significant influence on pollution in local dispersion environment. Developed models were cross-validated and compared to concentrations obtained from routine monitoring network. LUR models were found to have higher prediction capabilities over other techniques, providing accurate explanations of spatial variability in urban air pollution. Significant improvements in model performance were seen with addition of buildings and street configuration variables, particularly for traffic-related pollutants. LUR require less computational demands than conventional dispersion methods; therefore can be easily applied over large urban areas. Introducing Bayesian statistical techniques has enabled spatio-temporal predictions which accounted uncertainties, allowing detection of pollution trends and episodes.
Der Faktor Veränderungsbereitschaft im Change Management
Creators: name: Stöckli, Fabienne
Publisher: name: Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz FHNW
Year: 2021
Subjects: Change Management
Veränderungsbereitschaft
Widerstand
Partizipation
Kommunikation

description: In der vorliegenden Arbeit werden zwei Forschungsfragen behandelt. Die erste Frage untersucht, welche Anforderungen die Kestenholz Automobil AG benötigt, um einen erfolgreichen Change in eine digitale Arbeitswelt zu gestalten. Bei der zweiten Forschungsfrage geht es darum, inwiefern Veränderungsbereitschaft für Digitalisierungsmassnahmen unter den Mitarbeitenden der Kestenholz Automobil AG vertreten ist. Hierfür wurde ein auf Fachliteratur basierender Fragebogen zur Erfassung der Veränderungsbereitschaft für Digitalisierungsmassnahmen entwickelt. Der Fragebogen wurde auf Literatur basierenden Hypothesen wissenschaftlich geprüft, wobei diese mehrheitlich bestätigt werden konnten. Die Forschungsergebnisse weisen darauf hin, dass einige Facetten der Veränderungsbereitschaft unter den Mitarbeitenden vorhanden sind. Dennoch zeigt sich Handlungsbedarf, um diese auf ein optimales Niveau zu bringen. Dazu werden praxisrelevante Lösungsvorschläge für die Erhöhung der Veränderungsbereitschaft und dadurch die erfolgreiche Durchführung des Change-Projekts generiert.
Geführt selbstgeführt. Über den Wunsch von Führungskräften in der planenden Bauwirtschaft nach sich selbst führenden Mitarbeitenden und wie diese Selbstführung mittels Best Practices gefördert werden kann
Creators: name: Schläppi, Michael
Publisher: name: Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz FHNW
Year: 2018
Subjects: planende Bauwirtschaft
Self-Leadership
Empowering-Leadership
Leader-Member-Exchange
LMX
Mixed Methods

description: Die planende Bauwirtschaft befindet sich im Wandel. Als Begleiterscheinung dieses Wandels äussern Führungskräfte in der Praxis oft den Wunsch nach selbstständigeren Mitarbeitenden. Ziel der vorliegenden Masterarbeit war die Ursächlichkeit dieses Wunsches zu klären, zu prüfen, ob Selbstführung den geeigneten Lösungsansatz darstellt sowie selbstführungsförderliche Best Practices zu erarbeiten. Mittels sequenziell erklärendem Mixed Methods Design wurde mittels Screening eine passende Stichprobe bestimmt. In zwei anschliessenden qualitativen Studien wurden N=34 Führungskräfte und Mitarbeitende in sieben Architektur-Elektroplanungs- und HLKS-Büros mittels episodischen Interviews befragt. Die Interviews wurden durch eine zusammenfassende und eine extrahierende qualitative Inhaltsanalyse ausgewertet. Die Resultate zeigen, dass aufgrund des hohen Konkurrenzdruckes die Führungskräfte zu wenig Zeit für Führungsaufgaben haben und diese deshalb an die Mitarbeitenden delegieren möchten. Selbstführung fördert so langfristig die zeitliche Reaktionsfähigkeit der Führungskräfte. Schliesslich wurde ein Praxishandbuch mit Best Practices zur Förderung der Selbstführung erarbeitet.