Bridging basic science and clinical research - The EASL Monothematic Conference on Translational Research in Viral Hepatitis.

The EASL Monothematic Conference on Translational Research in Viral Hepatitis brought together a group of leading scientists and clinicians working on both, basic and clinical aspects of viral hepatitis, thereby building bridges from bench to bedside. This report recapitulates the presentations and discussions at the conference held in Lyon, France on November 29-30, 2013. In recent years, great advances have been made in the field of viral hepatitis, particularly in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The identification of IL28B genetic polymorphisms as a major determinant for spontaneous and treatment-induced HCV clearance was a seminal discovery. Currently, hepatologists are at the doorstep of even greater advances, with the advent of a wealth of directly acting antivirals (DAAs) against HCV. Indeed, promising results have accumulated over the last months and few years, showing sustained virological response (SVR) rates of up to 100% with interferon-free DAA combination therapies. Thus, less than 25years after its identification, HCV infection may soon be curable in the vast majority of patients, highlighting the great success of HCV research over the last decades. However, viral hepatitis and its clinical complications such as liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain major global challenges. New therapeutic strategies to tackle hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis D virus (HDV) infection are needed, as current therapies have undeniable limitations. Nucleoside/nucleotide analogues (NUC) can efficiently control HBV replication and reduce or even reverse liver damage. However, these drugs have to be given for indefinite periods in most patients to maintain virological and biochemical responses. Although sustained responses off treatment can be achieved by treatment with (pegylated) interferon-α, only about 10-30% of patients effectively resolve chronic hepatitis B. It was the goal of this conference to review the progress made over the last years in chronic viral hepatitis research and to identify key questions that need to be addressed in order to close the gap between basic and clinical research and to develop novel preventive and treatment approaches for this most common cause of liver cirrhosis and HCC.

Audit report of Iowa State University of Science and Technology, Ames, Iowa, and its discretely presented component unit as of and for the years ended June 30, 2013 and 2012

Audit report of Iowa State University of Science and Technology, Ames, Iowa, and its discretely presented component unit as of and for the years ended June 30, 2013 and 2012

Implementing statistical learning methods through Bayesian networks. Part 1: a guide to Bayesian parameter estimation using forensic science data

As a thorough aggregation of probability and graph theory, Bayesian networks currently enjoy widespread interest as a means for studying factors that affect the coherent evaluation of scientific evidence in forensic science. Paper I of this series of papers intends to contribute to the discussion of Bayesian networks as a framework that is helpful for both illustrating and implementing statistical procedures that are commonly employed for the study of uncertainties (e.g. the estimation of unknown quantities). While the respective statistical procedures are widely described in literature, the primary aim of this paper is to offer an essentially non-technical introduction on how interested readers may use these analytical approaches - with the help of Bayesian networks - for processing their own forensic science data. Attention is mainly drawn to the structure and underlying rationale of a series of basic and context-independent network fragments that users may incorporate as building blocs while constructing larger inference models. As an example of how this may be done, the proposed concepts will be used in a second paper (Part II) for specifying graphical probability networks whose purpose is to assist forensic scientists in the evaluation of scientific evidence encountered in the context of forensic document examination (i.e. results of the analysis of black toners present on printed or copied documents).

Support for a colleague

As collaborators of Anders Pape Møller, we were shocked and surprised to read that he was accused of data fabrication ("Ecologists roiled by misconduct case," G. Vogel, F. Proffitt, R. Stone, News of the Week, 30 Jan., p. 606). We have never had cause to be concerned about any aspect of our collaborations with Møller. He is an amazing scientist, and his great organizational skills are a model for how to be productive in the face of competing time demands. Most of us are capable of much more than we actually accomplish, but we lack the dedication and self-discipline to follow through like Anders Møller. This is the secret of his phenomenal effectiveness that has been so puzzling to the scientific community. His achievements may have caused negative responses from some of his competitors. We would like to see a full, objective, and independent inquiry into the allegations. Our experience tells us that Anders Møller has an exceptionally complete focus on any task at hand, be it fieldwork, data analysis, or paper writing; this, combined with more than a little natural talent, is sufficient to explain his exceptional productivity. We have worked with him on a variety of projects, including collecting data, sometimes under arduous conditions, and in all our dealings with him, his behavior has been beyond reproach. We would ask colleagues to restrain from further public condemnation until such time as any allegations have been proven beyond doubt.

Science in Western Islam. The circulation of knowledge in Mediterranean region

La Mediterrània ha estat gresol de la circulació d¿idees i persones des de fa mil·lennis. Durant l¿edat mitjana, però, el moviment més rellevant va ser, tal vegada, el que es va produirentre l¿Orient (Maixriq) i l¿Occident (Magrib) islàmics. Els viatges d¿estudis, íntimament units a les prescripcions religioses,varen convertir els científics musulmans en membres especialment actius en la difusió dels coneixements i dels avenços ques¿anaven adquirint a la capital de l¿imperi, Bagdad. Lluny de ser mers «transportistes» de la ciència, el nivell cultural assolit durantl'edat d'or abbassí els va convertir en un dels clímaxs intel·lectuals de la història. Al principi, tot i restar en un discret segonpla, els científics del nord d¿Àfrica i, especialment, els científicsd'al-Andalus varen tenir un paper essencial en la transmissióde la ciència oriental cap a una Europa que en va recollir el testimoni.Per això l¿aportació de la cultura araboislàmica és un esglaó sense el qual és impossible entendre la ciència posterior.Els camps conreats foren diversos: medicina, agronomia,òptica... però l¿àmbit que presidí la ciència fou, sens dubte,l¿astronomia (relacionada, al seu torn, amb les matemàtiques i la geografia). Els noms dels astrònoms més rellevants (desd¿al-Khwarizmi fins a Azarquiel) i les fites que varen assolir justifiquen que fossin coneguts per un públic ampli. Malgrat tot, continuen essent uns grans desconeguts.

Science-täydennyskoulutusohjelman merkitystä tutkittiin Pohjois-Karjalassa : Luokanopettajien tarpeet ovat yksilölliset ja suhteessa uraan

Summary: Research methodology and its development in the study of the relationship between a teacher's practical theory and teaching practices