Equal opportunities: Do shareable interfaces promote more group participation than single users displays?

Computers designed for single use are often appropriated suboptimally when used by small colocated groups working together. Our research investigates whether shareable interfaces–that are designed for more than one user to inter-act with–can facilitate more equitable participation in colocated group settings compared with single user displays. We present a conceptual framework that characterizes Shared Information Spaces (SISs) in terms of how they constrain and invite participation using different entry points. An experiment was conducted that compared three different SISs: a physical-digital set-up (least constrained), a multitouch tabletop (medium), and a laptop display (most constrained). Statistical analyses showed there to be little difference in participation levels between the three conditions other than a predictable lack of equity of control over the interface in the laptop condition. However, detailed qualitative analyses revealed more equitable participation took place in the physical-digital condition in terms of verbal utterances over time. Those who spoke the least contributed most to the physical design task. The findings are discussed in relation to the conceptual framework and, more generally, in terms of how to select, design, and combine different display technologies to support collaborative activities

Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Unravels C. trachomatis Metabolism and Its Crosstalk with the Host Cell

Chlamydia trachomatis is an obligate intracellular bacterium that alternates between two metabolically different developmental forms. We performed fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) of the metabolic coenzymes, reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotides [NAD(P)H], by two-photon microscopy for separate analysis of host and pathogen metabolism during intracellular chlamydial infections. NAD(P)H autofluorescence was detected inside the chlamydial inclusion and showed enhanced signal intensity on the inclusion membrane as demonstrated by the co-localization with the 14-3-3β host cell protein. An increase of the fluorescence lifetime of protein-bound NAD(P)H [τ2-NAD(P)H] inside the chlamydial inclusion strongly correlated with enhanced metabolic activity of chlamydial reticulate bodies during the mid-phase of infection. Inhibition of host cell metabolism that resulted in aberrant intracellular chlamydial inclusion morphology completely abrogated the τ2-NAD(P)H increase inside the chlamydial inclusion. τ2-NAD(P)H also decreased inside chlamydial inclusions when the cells were treated with IFNγ reflecting the reduced metabolism of persistent chlamydiae. Furthermore, a significant increase in τ2-NAD(P)H and a decrease in the relative amount of free NAD(P)H inside the host cell nucleus indicated cellular starvation during intracellular chlamydial infection. Using FLIM analysis by two-photon microscopy we could visualize for the first time metabolic pathogen-host interactions during intracellular Chlamydia trachomatis infections with high spatial and temporal resolution in living cells. Our findings suggest that intracellular chlamydial metabolism is directly linked to cellular NAD(P)H signaling pathways that are involved in host cell survival and longevity

Oxidative damages in tubular epithelial cells in IgA nephropathy: role of crosstalk between angiotensin II and aldosterone

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Inhibition of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) slows down the progression of chronic renal diseases (CKD) including IgA nephropathy (IgAN). Herein, we studied the pathogenetic roles of aldosterone (Aldo) in IgAN.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Human mesangial cells (HMC) was activated with polymeric IgA (pIgA) from IgAN patients and the effects on the expression of RAAS components and TGF-β synthesis examined. To study the roles of RAAS in the glomerulotubular communication, proximal tubular epithelial cells (PTEC) was cultured with conditioned medium from pIgA-activated HMC with eplerenone or PD123319, the associated apoptotic event was measured by the generation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase and reactive oxygen species (ROS).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Polymeric IgA up-regulated the Aldo synthesis and aldosterone synthase expression by HMC. The release of TGF-β by HMC was up-regulated synergistically by AngII and Aldo and this was inhibited by incubation of HMC with losartan plus eplerenone. Cultured PTEC express the mineralocorticoid receptor, but not synthesizing aldosterone. Apoptosis, demonstrated by cleaved PARP expression and caspase 3 activity, was induced in PTEC activated by conditioned medium prepared from HMC cultured with pIgA from IgAN patients. This apoptotic event was associated with increased generation of NADPH oxidase and ROS. Pre-incubation of PTEC with PD123319 and eplerenone achieved complete inhibition of PTEC apoptosis.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our data suggest that AngII and Aldo, released by pIgA activated HMC, served as mediators for inducing apoptosis of PTEC in glomerulo-tubular communications. Crosstalk between AngII and Aldo could participate in determining the tubular pathology of IgAN.</p

Cholinergic Activation of M2 Receptors Leads to Context-Dependent Modulation of Feedforward Inhibition in the Visual Thalamus

The temporal dynamics of inhibition within a neural network is a crucial determinant of information processing. Here, the authors describe in the visual thalamus how neuromodulation governs the magnitude and time course of inhibition in an input-dependent way

Organizing risk: organization and management theory for the risk society

Risk has become a crucial part of organizing, affecting a wide range of organizations in all sectors. We identify, review and integrate diverse literatures relevant to organizing risk, building on an existing framework that describes how risk is organized in three ‘modes’ – prospectively, in real-time, and retrospectively. We then identify three critical issues in the existing literature: its fragmented nature; its neglect of the tensions associated with each of the modes; and its tendency to assume that the meaning of an object in relation to risk is singular and stable. We provide a series of new insights with regard to each of these issues. First, we develop the concept of a risk cycle that shows how organizations engage with all three modes and transition between them over time. Second, we explain why the tensions have been largely ignored and show how studies using a risk work perspective can provide further insights into them. Third, we develop the concept of risk translation to highlight the ways in the meanings of risks can be transformed and to identify the political consequences of such translations. We conclude the paper with a research agenda to elaborate these insights and ideas further

Forurensingssituasjonen i Karmsundet i 2008 med vekt på påvirkning fra Hydro Aluminium Karmøy. Metaller, PAH og klorerte forbindelser i vannmasser, blåskjell, torsk, krabbe og sedimenter.

Hydro Aluminium Karmøy har tatt initiativ til undersøkelser for å oppdatere forurensingssituasjonen i området, særlig påvirkningen knyttet til PAH. Undersøkelsen omfatter imidlertid også PCB og utvalgte metaller. Resultatene viser at PAH-forurensningen har avtatt i de siste 20 årene, men fremdeles er Karmsundet påvirket av disse forbindelsene i en slik grad at Vanndirektivets grenseverdier kan være overskredet. Det var generelt lave verdier av PCB og metaller i sedimentene, men betydelig forurensning av PAH. Blåskjell fra området hadde forhøyede verdier av PAH. Dette gjelder særlig i nærområdet til Hydro Aluminium Karmøy. Konsentrasjonene faller imidlertid raskt både nordover og sydover i Karmsundet. Torsk fra Karmsundet hadde betydelig høyere verdier av PAH-metabolitter i gallen sammenlignet med torsk fra mer upåvirkede kystlokaliteter. Det viser at fisken fra Karmsundet var tydelig eksponert for PAH, særlig den fra området ved Høgevarde. Innholdet av PCB7 i lever fra torsk samlet i Karmsundet var rundt eller svakt over SFTs grenseverdi for ubetydelig forurenset. Det samme var tilfelle for andre klorerte forbindelser som HCB, lindan og nedbrytningsprodukter av DDT. Innholdet av PAH-forbindelsen benzo(a)pyren i skallinnmat av krabbe var under Mattilsynets grenseverdi for sjømat på 10 µg benzo(a)pyren/kg våtvekt

Forslag til stasjonsnett for miljøgifter i ferskvann - basisovervåkning. Proposed network of stations for surveillance monitoring of freshwaters under the EU Water Framework Directive

Statens Forurensningstilsyn

RiverPOP: Measuring concentrations of persistent organic pollutants and trace metals in Norwegian rivers RiverPOP: Måle konsentrasjoner av persistente organiske forurensende stoffer og metaller i norske elver

A performance evaluation of a range of techniques for the measurement of the concentration of persistent organic pollutants and trace metals was undertaken in the Drammenselva River in 2008. This work focussed on techniques that have the potential to substantially improve the reliability and limits of detection of such measurements. Passive sampling techniques were employed to measure dissolved contaminant concentrations while continuous flow centrifugation, time-integrative suspended particulate matter sampling and large volume water sampling were conducted to measure contaminants associated with the particulate phase. Contaminant limits of detection were in the low pg L-1 range and agreement between the different methods was observed. Following further improvements, these methods may become a vital part of the RID monitoring programme for the evaluation of riverine fluxes of contaminants