WormBase: A modern Model Organism Information Resource

WormBase (https://wormbase.org/) is a mature Model Organism Information Resource supporting researchers using the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as a model system for studies across a broad range of basic biological processes. Toward this mission, WormBase efforts are arranged in three primary facets: curation, user interface and architecture. In this update, we describe progress in each of these three areas. In particular, we discuss the status of literature curation and recently added data, detail new features of the web interface and options for users wishing to conduct data mining workflows, and discuss our efforts to build a robust and scalable architecture by leveraging commercial cloud offerings. We conclude with a description of WormBase\u27s role as a founding member of the nascent Alliance of Genome Resources

Rule Managed Reporting in Energy Controlled Wireless Sensor Networks

This paper proposes a technique to extend the network lifetime of a wireless sensor network, whereby each sensor node decides its network involvement, based on energy resources and the information in each message (ascertained through a system of rules). Results obtained from the simulation of an industrial monitoring scenario have shown that a considerable increase in the lifetime and connectivity can be obtained

Energy Harvesting and Management for Wireless Autonomous Sensors

Wireless autonomous sensors that harvest ambient energy are attractive solutions, due to their convenience and economic benefits. A number of wireless autonomous sensor platforms which consume less than 100?W under duty-cycled operation are available. Energy harvesting technology (including photovoltaics, vibration harvesters, and thermoelectrics) can be used to power autonomous sensors. A developed system is presented that uses a photovoltaic module to efficiently charge a supercapacitor, which in turn provides energy to a microcontroller-based autonomous sensing platform. The embedded software on the node is structured around a framework in which equal precedent is given to each aspect of the sensor node through the inclusion of distinct software stacks for energy management and sensor processing. This promotes structured and modular design, allowing for efficient code reuse and encourages the standardisation of interchangeable protocols

Resource Aware Sensor Nodes in Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless sensor networks are continuing to receive considerable research interest due, in part, to the range of possible applications. One of the greatest challenges facing researchers is in overcoming the limited network lifetime inherent in the small locally powered sensor nodes. In this paper, we propose IDEALS, a system to manage a wireless sensor network using a combination of information management, energy harvesting and energy monitoring, which we label resource awareness. Through this, IDEALS is able to extend the network lifetime for important messages, by controlling the degradation of the network to maximise information throughput

Energy managed reporting for wireless sensor networks

In this paper, we propose a technique to extend the network lifetime of a wireless sensor network, whereby each sensor node decides its individual network involvement based on its own energy resources and the information contained in each packet. The information content is ascertained through a system of rules describing prospective events in the sensed environment, and how important such events are. While the packets deemed most important are propagated by all sensor nodes, low importance packets are handled by only the nodes with high energy reserves. Results obtained from simulations depicting a wireless sensor network used to monitor pump temperature in an industrial environment have shown that a considerable increase in the network lifetime and network connectivity can be obtained. The results also show that when coupled with a form of energy harvesting, our technique can enable perpetual network operatio

Crosstalk of VEGF and Notch pathways in tumour angiogenesis: therapeutic implications.

Angiogenesis is regulated by a number of angiogenic factors through many signalling pathways. The VEGF pathway and Notch signalling are perhaps two of the most important mechanisms in regulation of embryonic vascular development and tumour angiogenesis. Blockade of the VEGF pathway effectively inhibits tumour angiogenesis and growth in preclinical models. The successes in phase III trials have added anti-VEGF agents to standard cancer therapy in several major cancers. A recent flurry of findings indicate that DLL4/Notch signalling decreases angiogenesis by suppressing endothelial tip cell formation; importantly, blockade of DLL4/Notch signalling strikingly increases non-productive angiogenesis but significantly reduces the growth of VEGF-sensitive and VEGF-resistant tumours. The VEGF pathway interplays at several levels with DLL4/Notch signalling in vasculature. VEGF induces DLL4/Notch signalling while DLL4/Notch signalling modulates the VEGF pathway. DLL4 and VEGF emerge to be the yin and yang of angiogenesis. Combination therapy by blocking DLL4/Notch and VEGF pathways synergistically inhibits tumour growth in preclinical models. Thus, targeting the DLL4/Notch pathway, though still at an early stage, may lead to exciting new therapies for clinical application

Efficient Irrigation for Water Conservation in the Rio Grande Basin

The Rio Grande Basin Initiative began in 2001 aimed at improving irrigation and water use efficiencies, and meeting present and future water demands throughout the Basin in Texas and New Mexico

Dietary patterns, insulin sensitivity and inflammation in older adults.

Background/objectivesSeveral studies have linked dietary patterns to insulin sensitivity and systemic inflammation, which affect risk of multiple chronic diseases. The purpose of this study was to investigate the dietary patterns of a cohort of older adults, and to examine relationships of dietary patterns with markers of insulin sensitivity and systemic inflammation.Subjects/methodsThe Health, Aging and Body Composition (Health ABC) Study is a prospective cohort study of 3075 older adults. In Health ABC, multiple indicators of glucose metabolism and systemic inflammation were assessed. Food intake was estimated with a modified Block food frequency questionnaire. In this study, dietary patterns of 1751 participants with complete data were derived by cluster analysis.ResultsSix clusters were identified, including a 'healthy foods' cluster, characterized by higher intake of low-fat dairy products, fruit, whole grains, poultry, fish and vegetables. In the main analysis, the 'healthy foods' cluster had significantly lower fasting insulin and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance values than the 'breakfast cereal' and 'high-fat dairy products' clusters, and lower fasting glucose than the 'high-fat dairy products' cluster (P≤0.05). No differences were found in 2-h glucose. With respect to inflammation, the 'healthy foods' cluster had lower interleukin-6 than the 'sweets and desserts' and 'high-fat dairy products' clusters, and no differences were seen in C-reactive protein or tumor necrosis factor-α.ConclusionsA dietary pattern high in low-fat dairy products, fruit, whole grains, poultry, fish and vegetables may be associated with greater insulin sensitivity and lower systemic inflammation in older adults