Artificial neural network study of whole-cell bacterial bioreporter response determined using fluorescence flow cytometry.

Genetically engineered bioreporters are an excellent complement to traditional methods of chemical analysis. The application of fluorescence flow cytometry to detection of bioreporter response enables rapid and efficient characterization of bacterial bioreporter population response on a single-cell basis. In the present study, intrapopulation response variability was used to obtain higher analytical sensitivity and precision. We have analyzed flow cytometric data for an arsenic-sensitive bacterial bioreporter using an artificial neural network-based adaptive clustering approach (a single-layer perceptron model). Results for this approach are far superior to other methods that we have applied to this fluorescent bioreporter (e.g., the arsenic detection limit is 0.01 microM, substantially lower than for other detection methods/algorithms). The approach is highly efficient computationally and can be implemented on a real-time basis, thus having potential for future development of high-throughput screening applications.

Reaching the Heart of the University : Libraries and the Future of OER

University libraries are well positioned to run or support OER production and publication operations. Many university libraries already have the technical, service, and policy infrastructure in place that would provide economies of scale for nascent and mature OER projects. Given a number of aligning factors, the University of Michigan (U-M) has an excellent opportunity to integrate Open.Michigan, its OER operation, into the University Library. This paper presents the case for greater university library involvement in OER projects generally, with U-M as a case study.

Open Learning Network : the evidence of OER impact

Much of the initial work on Open Educational Resources (OER) has inevitably concentrated on how to produce the resources themselves and to establish the idea in the community. It is now eight years since the term OER was first used and more than ten years since the concept of open content was described and a greater focus is now emerging on the way in which OER can influence policy and change the way in which educational systems help people learn. The Open University UK and Carnegie Mellon University are working in partnership on the OLnet (Open Learning Network), funded by The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation with the aims to search out the evidence for use and reuse of OER and to establish a network for information sharing about research in the field. This means both gathering evidence and developing approaches for how to research and understand ways to learn in a more open world, particularly linked to OER, but also looking at other influences.

What do academic libraries have to do with Open Educational Resources? Theme : Long term sustainability of open education projects first steps to start up

This paper will discuss the possible roles of academic libraries in promoting, supporting, and sustaining institutional Open Educational Resource initiatives. It will note areas in which libraries or librarians have skills and knowledge that intersect with some of the needs of academic staff and students as they use and release OERs. It will also present the results of a brief survey of the views of some OER initiatives on the current and potential role of academic libraries.

E-MOVE project : a case of successfulcooperation of European academic librariesof distance teaching universities

El Library and Learning Support Working Group (LLSWG) ��s una xarxa europea de professionals de biblioteca i de la informaci�� i educadors dins de l'Associaci�� Europea d'Universitats d'Ensenyament (EADTU). EADTU ��s l'organitzaci�� que representa tant les universitats obertes i d'ensenyament a dist��ncia com els consorcis nacionals d'institucions d'ensenyament superior actius en els camps d'educaci�� de dist��ncia i e-learning. El 2005 l'Associaci�� Europea d'Universitats d'Ensenyament de Dist��ncia (EADTU) presentava a la Comissi�� Europea una proposta de projecte sobre Mobilitat Virtual anomenada E-MOVE. El projecte inclo��a, entre d'altres, un paquet de treball referent a biblioteca i suport a l'aprenentatge al context de mobilitat virtual. Aquest fou desenvolupat pel LLSWG de l'EADTU.

COINE Project : Cultural Objects in Networked Environments

La idea subjacent al Projecte de Recerca i Desenvolupament COINE ��s permetre a la gent contar les seves pr��pies hist��ries. COINE pret��n proporcionar les eines necess��ries per crear estructuradament, un entorn basat en el World Wide Web, que permeti compartir continguts. Els resultats del Projecte ajudaran al desenvolupament d'est��ndards per a la implantaci�� i la recuperaci�� estructurades de recursos digitals en entorns en xarxa distribu��da. El Projecte de COINE s'inici�� el mar�� de 2002 i finalitz�� l'agost de 2004. Avui en dia estem al WorkPackage 5 on estem construint el Sistema, el programari i les interf��cies. COINE pret��n cobrir la gamma m��s ��mplia possible d'usuaris potencials, des d'organitzacions de patrimoni cultural i institucions de qualsevol mida (principalment biblioteques, arxius i museus) fins a individus de qualsevol edat sense habilitats en l'��s de les TIC, o a grups petits de ciutadans. Els usuaris no utilitzaran nom��s COINE com a eina de cerca, sin�� que contribuiran amb el seu propi contingut.

Acceso a la Biblioteca de la UOC por medio de la telefon��a m��vil

La Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, va comen��ar al febrer del 2000, a oferir part dels continguts del Campus Virtual per mitj�� del WAP de primera generaci��.

Recolecta : resultados y balance de su actividad 2009

Recolecta sorgeix sota els auspicis de la Fundaci��n para la Ciencia y la Tecnolog��a (FECYT) i la Red Bibliotecas Universitarias Espa��ola (REBIUN) amb l'objectiu d'impulsar i coordinar la creaci�� d'una infraestructura a nivell nacional de dip��sits digitals interoperables segons est��ndards internacionals i actuar com a ag��ncia nacional respecte a la infraestructura global de dip��sits digitals cient��fics com a part integrant de l'Espai Europeu de Recerca.Es presentaran els resultats i balan�� de la seva activitat 2009 en el marc del Conveni Rebiun / Fecyt 2008-2009.

The Network Company in Catalonia : ICT, Productivity, Competitiveness, Salaries and Performance in Catalonia's Companies. Research report (synthesis document)

Resum en angl��s del projecte de recerca L'empresa xarxa a Catalunya. TIC, productivitat, competitivitat, salaris i beneficis a l'empresa catalana t�� com a objectiu principal constatar que la consolidaci�� d'un nou model estrat��gic, organitzatiu i d'activitat empresarial, vinculat amb la inversi�� i l'��s de les TIC (o empresa xarxa), modifica substancialment els patrons de comportament dels resultats empresarials, en especial la productivitat, la competitivitat, les retribucions dels treballadors i el benefici. La contrastaci�� emp��rica de les hip��tesis de treball l'hem feta per mitj�� de les dades d'una enquesta a una mostra representativa de 2.038 empreses catalanes. Amb la perspectiva de l'impacte de la inversi�� i l'��s de les TIC no s'aprecia una relaci�� directa entre els processos d'innovaci�� digital i els resultats de l'activitat de l'empresa catalana. En aquest sentit, hem hagut de segmentar el teixit productiu catal�� per a buscar les organitzacions en qu�� el proc��s de coinnovaci�� tecnol��gica digital i organitzativa ��s m��s present i en qu�� la intensitat de l'��s del coneixement ��s un recurs molt freq��ent per a poder copsar impactes rellevants en els principals resultats empresarials. Aix�� ��s aix�� perqu�� l'economia catalana, avui, presenta una estructura productiva dual.

Schooling in the Network Society : Internet in Primary and Secondary Education. Research report (synthesis document)

Aquest projecte t�� la intenci�� d'identificar i analitzar els efectes de la introducci�� d'Internet a les escoles catalanes (educaci�� prim��ria i secund��ria). L'objectiu ��s posar de manifest la manera com s'utilitza la xarxa en aquest ��mbit i en quina mesura contribueix a l'aparici��, en els centres educatius, d'una nova cultura adaptada a les necessitats de la societat xarxa. Amb aquest prop��sit, aquest projecte desplega les seves l��nies d'an��lisi per a fer atenci�� al proc��s d'incorporaci�� d'Internet, principalment, en tres direccions: la pr��ctica pedag��gica, les formes d'organitzaci�� i gesti�� dels centres educatius i la seva vinculaci�� amb la comunitat i el territori. Aquesta investigaci�� ha estat desenvolupada pel grup de recerca ENS (Education and Network Society). Amb una perspectiva comparativa, el treball d'aquest grup vol contribuir, sobre la base de dades emp��riques, a interpretar la transformaci�� de l'��mbit educatiu no universitari en els par��metres que estableix, avui dia, la nostra societat.

Internet and the Catalan Universities Network. Research report (synthesis document)

El desenvolupament de les tecnologies de la informaci�� i la comunicaci�� (TIC) durant els darrers quaranta anys del segle XX i la seva incorporaci�� en els diferents ��mbits de l'activitat humana ens porten a plantejar-nos, al comen��ament del segle XXI, quines s��n les transformacions profundes que acompanyen aquests fets i quines s��n les conseq����ncies que, com a m��nim a curt termini, comporten. El focus d'aquest projecte ��s l'an��lisi dels processos de transformaci�� de la vida acad��mica universit��ria en l'��mbit catal��, la seva vinculaci�� amb la realitat actual i les repercussions que els processos esmentats tenen en la societat en general. De manera m��s espec��fica, l'objectiu ��s, en primer lloc, explorar amb una perspectiva global la incorporaci�� d'Internet a les universitats catalanes i, en segon lloc, analitzar els processos de canvi que aquest fet comporta en els processos de formaci�� i recerca de la Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV). Aquest informe presenta els resultats de tres estudis concrets, cadascun dels quals t�� uns objectius, una metodologia i una discussi�� particulars: Configuraci�� de la xarxa d'universitats catalanes: connexi�� f��sica i projectes compartits, Pres��ncia de les universitats catalanes a Internet, i Estudi de cas: la URV.

Toxoplasma gondii: further studies on the subpellicular network

The association of the pellicle with cytoskeletal elements in Toxoplasma gondii allows this parasite to maintain its mechanical integrity and makes possible its gliding motility and cell invasion. The inner membrane complex (IMC) resembles the flattened membrane sacs observed in free-living protozoa and these sacs have been found to associate with cytoskeletal proteins such as articulins. We used immunofluorescence microscopy to characterise the presence and distribution of plateins, a sub-family of articulins, in T. gondii tachyzoites. A dispersed labelling of the whole protozoan body was observed. Electron microscopy of detergent-extracted cells revealed the presence of a network of 10 nm filaments distributed throughout the parasite. These filaments were labelled with anti-platein antibodies. Screening the sequenced T. gondii genome, we obtained the sequence of an IMC predicted protein with 25% identity and 42% similarity to the platein isoform alpha 1 present in Euplotes aediculatus, but with 42% identity and 55% similarity to that found in Euglena gracilis, suggesting strong resemblance to articulins.

Social network measures for "nosduocentered" networks, their predictive power on performance

Our purpose in this article is to define a network structure which is based on two egos instead of the egocentered (one ego) or the complete network (n egos). We describe the characteristics and properties for this kind of network which we call ���nosduocentered network���, comparing it with complete and egocentered networks. The key point for this kind of network is that relations exist between the two main egos and all alters, but relations among others are not observed. After that, we use new social network measures adapted to the nosduocentered network, some of which are based on measures for complete networks such as degree, betweenness, closeness centrality or density, while some others are tailormade for nosduocentered networks. We specify three regression models to predict research performance of PhD students based on these social network measures for different networks such as advice, collaboration, emotional support and trust. Data used are from Slovenian PhD students and their s

Brain network analysis of patients with Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

Patients with Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (TLE) suffer from widespread subtle white matter abnormalities and abnormal functional connectivity extending beyond the affected lobe, as revealed by Diffusion Tensor MR Imaging, volumetric and functional MRI studies. Diffusion Spectrum Imaging (DSI) is a diffusion imaging technique with high angular resolution for improving the mapping of white matter pathways. In this study, we used DSI, connectivity matrices and topological measures to investigate how the alteration in structural connectivity influences whole brain structural networks. Eleven patients with right-sided TLE and hippocampal sclerosis and 18 controls underwent our DSI protocol at 3T. The cortical and subcortical grey matters were parcellated into 86 regions of interest and the connectivity between every region pair was estimated using global tractography and a connectivity matrix (the adjacency matrix of the structural network). We then compared the networks of patients and controls using topological measures. In patients, we found a higher characteristic path length and a lower clustering coefficient compared to controls. Local measures at node level of the clustering and efficiency showed a significant difference after a multiple comparison correction (Bonferroni). These significant nodes were located within as well outside the temporal lobe, and the localisation of most of them was consistent with regions known to be part of epileptic networks in TLE. Our results show altered connectivity patterns that are concordant with the mapping of functional epileptic networks in patients with TLE. Further studies are needed to establish the relevance of these findings for the propagation of epileptic activity, cognitive deficits in medial TLE and outcome of epilepsy surgery in individual patients.

A genome-wide significant linkage for severe depression on chromosome 3: the depression network study.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to find loci for major depression via linkage analysis of a large sibling pair sample. Method: The authors conducted a genome-wide linkage analysis of 839 families consisting of 971 affected sibling pairs with severe recurrent major depression, comprising waves I and II of the Depression Network Study cohort. In addition to examining affected status, linkage analyses in the full data set were performed using diagnoses restricted by impairment severity, and association mapping of hits in a large case-control data set was attempted. Results: The authors identified genome-wide significant linkage to chromosome 3p25-26 when the diagnoses were restricted by severity, which was a maximum LOD score of 4.0 centered at the linkage marker D3S1515. The linkage signal identified was genome-wide significant after correction for the multiple phenotypes tested, although subsequent association mapping of the region in a genome-wide association study of a U.K. depression sample did not provide significant results. Conclusions: The authors report a genome-wide significant locus for depression that implicates genes that are highly plausible for involvement in the etiology of recurrent depression. Despite the fact that association mapping in the region was negative, the linkage finding was replicated by another group who found genome-wide-significant linkage for depression in the same region. This suggests that 3p25-26 is a new locus for severe recurrent depression. This represents the first report of a genome-wide significant locus for depression that also has an independent genome-wide significant replication.