953 research outputs found

    NASA EVM Overview and Case Study

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    The presentation gives an overview of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Earned Value Management (EVM) structure. We briefly talk about the current EVM high-level policies within NASA and the EVM governing structure. It touches on the roles and responsibilities of EVM Focal Points within the Agency. We will also discuss the approach that MSFC followed in implementing EVM and better data analysis within the Habitat Holding Racks (HHR) Project. We will address the approach used at the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) to effectively equip and support MSFC projects in applying a sound EVM and data analysis process. In addition, we will show metrics associated with the HHR project before and after the implementation of EVM on the project. We will discuss the monthly report, using sample data, that the project manager used each month to assess the performance of the project. The data received from EVM helped create a solid method for assessing the project s performance. The use of EVM data analysis can be an effective and efficient tool in today s environment with increasing workloads and downsizing workforces. EVM provides project managers with information that can be used in the decision making process

    Human MicroRNA (miR-20b-5p) Modulates Alzheimer’s Disease Pathways and Neuronal Function, and a Specific Polymorphism Close to the \u3cem\u3eMIR20B\u3c/em\u3e Gene Influences Alzheimer’s Biomarkers

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    Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with loss of cognitive, executive, and other mental functions, and is the most common form of age-related dementia. Amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) contributes to the etiology and progression of the disease. Aβ is derived from the amyloid-β precursor protein (APP). Multiple microRNA (miRNA) species are also implicated in AD. We report that human hsa-miR20b-5p (miR-20b), produced from the MIR20B gene on Chromosome X, may play complex roles in AD pathogenesis, including Aβ regulation. Specifically, miR-20b-5p miRNA levels were altered in association with disease progression in three regions of the human brain: temporal neocortex, cerebellum, and posterior cingulate cortex. In cultured human neuronal cells, miR-20b-5p treatment interfered with calcium homeostasis, neurite outgrowth, and branchpoints. A single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) upstream of the MIR20B gene (rs13897515) associated with differences in levels of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Aβ1-42 and thickness of the entorhinal cortex. We located a miR-20b-5p binding site in the APP mRNA 3′-untranslated region (UTR), and treatment with miR-20b-5p reduced APP mRNA and protein levels. Network analysis of protein-protein interactions and gene coexpression revealed other important potential miR-20b-5p targets among AD-related proteins/genes. MiR-20b-5p, a miRNA that downregulated APP, was paradoxically associated with an increased risk for AD. However, miR-20b-5p also reduced, and the blockade of APP by siRNA likewise reduced calcium influx. As APP plays vital roles in neuronal health and does not exist solely to be the source of “pathogenic” Aβ, the molecular etiology of AD is likely to not just be a disease of “excess” but a disruption of delicate homeostasi

    Beyond the culture effect on credibility perception on microblogs

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    We investigated the credibility perception of tweet readers from the USA and by readers from eight Arabic countries; our aim was to understand if credibility was affected by country and/or by culture. Results from a crowd-sourcing experiment, showed a wide variety of factors affected credibility perception, including a tweet author's gender, profile image, username style, location, and social network overlap with the reader. We found that culture determines readers' credibility perception, but country has no effect. We discuss the implications of our findings for user interface design and social media systems

    Comparing research investment to United Kingdom institutions and published outputs for tuberculosis, HIV and malaria: A systematic analysis across 1997-2013

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    Background: The "Unfinished Agenda" of infectious diseases is of great importance to policymakers and research funding agencies that require ongoing research evidence on their effective management. Journal publications help effectively share and disseminate research results to inform policy and practice. We assess research investments to United Kingdom institutions in HIV, tuberculosis and malaria, and analyse these by numbers of publications and citations and by disease and type of science. Methods: Information on infection-related research investments awarded to United Kingdom institutions across 1997-2010 were sourced from funding agencies and individually categorised by disease and type of science. Publications were sourced from the Scopus database via keyword searches and filtered to include only publications relating to human disease and containing a United Kingdom-based first and/or last author. Data were matched by disease and type of science categories. Investment (United Kingdom pounds) and publications were compared to generate an 'investment per publication' metric; similarly, an 'investment per citation' metric was also developed as a measure of the usefulness of research. Results: Total research investment for all three diseases was £1.4 billion, and was greatest for HIV (£651.4 million), followed by malaria (£518.7 million) and tuberculosis (£239.1 million). There were 17,271 included publications, with 9,322 for HIV, 4,451 for malaria, and 3,498 for tuberculosis. HIV publications received the most citations (254,949), followed by malaria (148,559) and tuberculosis (100,244). According to UK pound per publication, tuberculosis (£50,691) appeared the most productive for investment, compared to HIV (£61,971) and malaria (£94,483). By type of science, public health research was most productive for HIV (£27,296) and tuberculosis (£22,273), while phase I-III trials were most productive for malaria (£60,491). According to UK pound per citation, tuberculosis (£1,797) was the most productive area for investment, compared to HIV (£2,265) and malaria (£2,834). Public health research was the most productive type of science for HIV (£2,265) and tuberculosis (£1,797), whereas phase I-III trials were most productive for malaria (£1,713). Conclusions: When comparing total publications and citations with research investment to United Kingdom institutions, tuberculosis research appears to perform best in terms of efficiency. There were more public health-related publications and citations for HIV and tuberculosis than other types of science. These findings demonstrate the diversity of research funding and outputs, and provide new evidence to inform research investment strategies for policymakers, funders, academic institutions, and healthcare organizations.Infectious Disease Research Networ

    The impact of inflammation and acute phase activation in cancer cachexia

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    The development of cachexia in the setting of cancer or other chronic diseases is a significant detriment for patients. Cachexia is associated with a decreased ability to tolerate therapies, reduction in ambulation, reduced quality of life, and increased mortality. Cachexia appears intricately linked to the activation of the acute phase response and is a drain on metabolic resources. Work has begun to focus on the important inflammatory factors associated with the acute phase response and their role in the immune activation of cachexia. Furthermore, data supporting the liver, lung, skeletal muscle, and tumor as all playing a role in activation of the acute phase are emerging. Although the acute phase is increasingly being recognized as being involved in cachexia, work in understanding underlying mechanisms of cachexia associated with the acute phase response remains an active area of investigation and still lack a holistic understanding and a clear causal link. Studies to date are largely correlative in nature, nonetheless suggesting the possibility for a role for various acute phase reactants. Herein, we examine the current literature regarding the acute phase response proteins, the evidence these proteins play in the promotion and exacerbation of cachexia, and current evidence of a therapeutic potential for patients

    Observation of associated production of a ZZ boson with a DD meson in the~forward region

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    A search for associated production of a ZZ boson with an open charm meson is presented using a data sample, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0fb1.0\,\mathrm{fb}^{-`} of proton--proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 7\,TeV, collected by the LHCb experiment. %% Seven candidate events for associated production of a ZZ boson with a D0D^0 meson and four candidate events for a ZZ boson with a D+D^+ meson are observed with a combined significance of 5.1standard deviations. The production cross-sections in the forward region are measured to be σZμ+μ ⁣,D0=2.50±1.12±0.22pb\sigma_{Z\rightarrow\mu^+\mu^-\!,D^0} = 2.50\pm1.12\pm0.22pb σZμ+μ ⁣,D+=0.44±0.23±0.03pb,\sigma_{Z\rightarrow\mu^+\mu^-\!,D^+} = 0.44\pm0.23\pm0.03pb, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic.Comment: 18 pages, 2 figure

    Measurements of the B+B^+, B0B^0, Bs0B_s^0 meson and Λb0\Lambda_b^0 baryon lifetimes

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    Measurements of bb-hadron lifetimes are reported using pppp collision data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0fb1^{-1}, collected by the LHCb detector at a centre-of-mass energy of 77Tev. Using the exclusive decays B+J/ψK+B^+\to J/\psi K^+, B0J/ψK(892)0B^0\to J/\psi K^*(892)^0, B0J/ψKS0B^0\to J/\psi K^0_{\rm S}, Λb0J/ψΛ\Lambda_b^0\to J/\psi \Lambda and Bs0J/ψϕB^0_s\to J/\psi \phi the average decay times in these modes are measured to be τB+J/ψK+\tau_{B^+\to J/\psi K^+} = 1.637±1.637 \pm 0.004 ±\pm 0.003 ps, τB0J/ψK(892)0\tau_{B^0\to J/\psi K^*(892)^0} = 1.524±1.524 \pm 0.006 ±\pm 0.004 ps, τB0J/ψKS0\tau_{B^0\to J/\psi K^0_{\rm S}} = 1.499±1.499 \pm 0.013 ±\pm 0.005 ps, τΛb0J/ψΛ\tau_{\Lambda_b^0\to J/\psi \Lambda} = 1.415±1.415 \pm 0.027 ±\pm 0.006 ps and τBs0J/ψϕ\tau_{B^0_s\to J/\psi \phi} = 1.480±1.480 \pm 0.011 ±\pm 0.005 ps, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. These represent the most precise lifetime measurements in these decay modes. In addition, ratios of these lifetimes, and the ratio of the decay-width difference, ΔΓd\Delta\Gamma_d, to the average width, Γd\Gamma_d, in the B0B^0 system, ΔΓd/Γd=0.044±0.025±0.011\Delta \Gamma_d/\Gamma_d = -0.044 \pm 0.025 \pm 0.011, are reported. All quantities are found to be consistent with Standard Model expectations.Comment: 28 pages, 4 figures. Updated reference
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