Training needs and recommendations for Citizen Science participants, facilitators and designers

In this report, we aimed to systematise and elaborate on the ideas discussed during the COST Action WG2 workshop “Systematic review on training requirements and recommendations for Citizen Science” that took place in Riga on 12-13th November 2018. Building on the input from the workshop participants’ broad range of different perspectives and expertise in citizen science and education, we compiled a list of training needs for project participants, project facilitators and project designers in citizen science and categorised them into core, operational and engagement needs. Based on our experience we discussed challenges that may need to be considered when designing training in citizen science. We then addressed the needs by formulating recommendations and pointing out available resources that have been proven to be useful in our own citizen science research and practice. While we acknowledge that these training needs and training recommendations may not be complete, we believe that our approach from needs to recommendations can act as a helpful working model when designing training and the list of resources provides a starting point to delve deeper into the topic and good training examples to build on. We invite the community to provide further insights into training needs and recommendations and to contribute further resources to the listThis is an open access publication. The attached file is the published version of the article

Interactome mapping provides a network of neurodegenerative disease proteins and uncovers widespread protein aggregation in affected brains

Interactome maps are valuable resources to elucidate protein function and disease mechanisms. Here, we report on an interactome map that focuses on neurodegenerative disease (ND), connects ∼5,000 human proteins via ∼30,000 candidate interactions and is generated by systematic yeast two-hybrid interaction screening of ∼500 ND-related proteins and integration of literature interactions. This network reveals interconnectivity across diseases and links many known ND-causing proteins, such as α-synuclein, TDP-43, and ATXN1, to a host of proteins previously unrelated to NDs. It facilitates the identification of interacting proteins that significantly influence mutant TDP-43 and HTT toxicity in transgenic flies, as well as of ARF-GEP(100) that controls misfolding and aggregation of multiple ND-causing proteins in experimental model systems. Furthermore, it enables the prediction of ND-specific subnetworks and the identification of proteins, such as ATXN1 and MKL1, that are abnormally aggregated in postmortem brains of Alzheimer's disease patients, suggesting widespread protein aggregation in NDs

Computational solutions for omics data

High-throughput experimental technologies are generating increasingly massive and complex genomic data sets. The sheer enormity and heterogeneity of these data threaten to make the arising problems computationally infeasible. Fortunately, powerful algorithmic techniques lead to software that can answer important biomedical questions in practice. In this Review, we sample the algorithmic landscape, focusing on state-of-the-art techniques, the understanding of which will aid the bench biologist in analysing omics data. We spotlight specific examples that have facilitated and enriched analyses of sequence, transcriptomic and network data sets.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant GM081871

TiC-TiB2 composites : A review of phase relationships, processing and properties

Original article can be found at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/ Copyright Elsevier [Full text of this article is not available in the UHRA]Ceramic-matrix composites (CMCs) based on TiC-TiB2 have attracted enormous interest during recent years because, in comparison to singlephase ceramics, they exhibit superior properties including high hardness, good wear resistance and high fracture toughness. This paper begins with a review of the TiC-TiB2 equilibrium system and its possible influence on the processing and properties of the composite. The application of TiC-TiB2 composites has been limited due to the fact that they have been difficult to process. Much of the research effort has therefore focused on the synthesis, processing and fabrication of TiC-TiB2 and is based primarily on self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) and its derivatives, high-energy milling and sintering. The performance of SHS under the application of pressure has been the subject of particular investigation. These developments are the main subject of this review that also takes into account the resulting effects on the microstructure and the mechanical properties of TiC-TiB2. The influence of the reaction parameters like reactant composition, reactant particle size and green density on the microstructure and properties is also reported.Peer reviewe