B7-H3 and Its Role in Antitumor Immunity

B7-H3 is one of the most recently identified members of the B7/CD28 superfamily of costimulatory molecules serving as an accessory modulator of T-cell response. Recently, B7-H3 expression has been reported in several human cancers indicating an additional function of B7-H3 as a regulator of antitumor immunity. However, its precise physiologic role is still elusive, because both stimulatory and inhibitory capacities have been demonstrated. This paper summarizes the available data on B7-H3 in the regulation of T-cell response focusing on its potential role in antitumor immunity

Online Deliberation in Academia: Evaluating the Quality and Legitimacy of Cooperatively Developed University Regulations

This article focuses on the potential of online participation to enable the cooperative development of norms by affected stakeholders, investigating whether such processes can produce norms of both high quality and legitimacy. To answer this question, we designed, implemented, and evaluated an online norm setting process that goes beyond the scope of those usually described in the literature. Taking as a case study a process to redraft the examination regulations for doctoral degrees at a science faculty of a German university, we show that such instances of online deliberation can integrate the diversity of opinions of all affected stakeholders. The result was a norm that implemented previously controversial external recommendations for doctoral dissertation procedures and that was met with high satisfaction from both those who participated as well as those who remained passive. While we believe that the university context in which this process was conducted is particularly promising for such efforts because of its organization, its members, and the issue that was at stake, we argue that similar conducive conditions exist, for example, for political parties. As such, the findings can be instructive for understanding the potential and limits of successful online participation in other contexts

Expression of the costimulatory molecule B7-H3 is associated with prolonged survival in human pancreatic cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Costimulatory signaling has been implicated as a potential regulator of antitumor immunity in various human cancers. In contrast to the negative prognostic value of aberrant B7-H1 expression by pancreatic cancer cells, the role of B7-H3 is still unknown. Therefore, we investigated the expression pattern and clinical significance of B7-H3 expression in human pancreatic cancer.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>B7-H3 expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 68 patients with pancreatic cancer who underwent surgical tumor resection. Expression data was correlated with clinicopathologic features and with the number of tumor-infiltrating T cells.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>B7-H3 expression was significantly upregulated in pancreatic cancer compared to normal pancreas (p < 0.05). In 60 of 68 examined tumors B7-H3 protein was detectable in pancreatic cancer cells. Patients with high tumor B7-H3 levels had a significantly better postoperative prognosis than patients with low tumor B7-H3 levels (p = 0.0067). Furthermore, tumor B7-H3 expression significantly correlated with the number of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells (p = 0.018).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We demonstrate for the first time that B7-H3 is abundantly expressed in pancreatic cancer and that tumor-associated B7-H3 expression significantly correlates with prolonged postoperative survival. Our findings suggest that B7-H3 might play an important role as a potential stimulator of antitumor immune response in pancreatic cancer.</p

Effects of ocean sprawl on ecological connectivity: impacts and solutions

The growing number of artificial structures in estuarine, coastal and marine environments is causing “ocean sprawl”. Artificial structures do not only modify marine and coastal ecosystems at the sites of their placement, but may also produce larger-scale impacts through their alteration of ecological connectivity - the movement of organisms, materials and energy between habitat units within seascapes. Despite the growing awareness of the capacity of ocean sprawl to influence ecological connectivity, we lack a comprehensive understanding of how artificial structures modify ecological connectivity in near- and off-shore environments, and when and where their effects on connectivity are greatest. We review the mechanisms by which ocean sprawl may modify ecological connectivity, including trophic connectivity associated with the flow of nutrients and resources. We also review demonstrated, inferred and likely ecological impacts of such changes to connectivity, at scales from genes to ecosystems, and potential strategies of management for mitigating these effects. Ocean sprawl may alter connectivity by: (1) creating barriers to the movement of some organisms and resources - by adding physical barriers or by modifying and fragmenting habitats; (2) introducing new structural material that acts as a conduit for the movement of other organisms or resources across the landscape; and (3) altering trophic connectivity. Changes to connectivity may, in turn, influence the genetic structure and size of populations, the distribution of species, and community structure and ecological functioning. Two main approaches to the assessment of ecological connectivity have been taken: (1) measurement of structural connectivity - the configuration of the landscape and habitat patches and their dynamics; and (2) measurement of functional connectivity - the response of organisms or particles to the landscape. Our review reveals the paucity of studies directly addressing the effects of artificial structures on ecological connectivity in the marine environment, particularly at large spatial and temporal scales. With the ongoing development of estuarine and marine environments, there is a pressing need for additional studies that quantify the effects of ocean sprawl on ecological connectivity. Understanding the mechanisms by which structures modify connectivity is essential if marine spatial planning and eco-engineering are to be effectively utilised to minimise impacts

What Creates Listening Online? Exploring Reciprocity in Online Political Discussions with Relational Content Analysis

Democratic governments frequently use online tools to include large numbers of citizens in participation processes. Against the backdrop of deliberative theories, such initiatives are subject to normative needs. This article examines the equality of participation. Previous research has mainly focused on equality in terms of access to, and voice within, deliberation processes. However, much less is known about the factors that influence the distribution of reciprocity in online political discussions. Proposing a theoretical distinction between simple replying and deliberative reciprocity, this study addresses the question: What obstructs or promotes deliberative reciprocity online? Drawing on previous online communication research, we assume that communication style, gender and users’ activity are important predictors of simple replying and deliberative reciprocity. Results of a relational quantitative content analysis indicate that in order to receive deliberative reciprocity users should ask questions, propose arguments, be humorous, have a critical attitude and use a male user name. Storytelling and expressions of emotions show no significant associations with deliberative reciprocity

Design Matters! An Empirical Analysis of Online Deliberation on Different News Platforms

Ever since the Internet has provided easy access to online discussion, advocates of deliberative democracy have hoped for an improved public sphere. This article investigates which particular platform features promote deliberative debate online. We assume that moderation, asynchronous discussion, a well-defined topic, and the availability of information enhance the level of deliberative quality of user comments. A comparison between different types of news platforms that differ in terms of design (a news forum, news websites, and Facebook news pages) shows that deliberation (measured as rationality, reciprocity, respect, and constructiveness) differs significantly between platforms. We find that the news forum yields the most rational and respectful debate. While user comments on news websites are only slightly less deliberative, Facebook comments perform poorly in terms of deliberative quality. However, comments left on news websites and on Facebook show particularly high levels of reciprocity among users

Deliberation follows Design. Eine Analyse der Einflüsse des Plattformdesigns auf die Qualität von Nutzerkommentaren zu Nachrichtenartikeln [Deliberation follows Design. An Analysis of the Impact of Platform Design on the Quality of User Comments about News Articles]

In den letzten 20 Jahren haben Nachrichtenmedien vielfach mit den interaktiven Potenzialen des Internets experimentiert. Die kommunikativen Möglichkeiten des Web 2.0 ermöglichen Rezipienten, direkt auf die journalistischen Inhalte zu reagieren und mit anderen Rezipienten in Austausch zu treten (Neuberger 2009). Damit führen Nutzerkommentare zu einer graduellen Auflösung des klassischen Sender-Empfänger-Schemas, indem neben Journalisten nun auch Nutzer in eine medienvermittelte Öffentlichkeit integriert werden (Ziegele/Johnen/Bickler/Jakob/Setzer/Schnauber 2013). Neben der strukturellen Koppelung von Massen- und interpersonaler Kommunikation bietet die Kommentarfunktion auch die Möglichkeit zur Anschlusskommunikation (Lee/Jang 2010; Reich 2011; Trost/Schwarzer 2012). Aktuelle Studien zeigen, dass etwa 10 Prozent der deutschen Internetnutzer wöchentlich kommentieren. Fast ein Drittel tut dies monatlich (Newman/Fletcher/Kalogeropoulos/Levy/Kleis Nielson 2017; Ziegele/Köhler/Weber 2017)

Online-Partizipation jenseits klassischer Deliberation: Eine Analyse zum Verhältnis unterschiedlicher Deliberationskonzepte in Nutzerkommentaren auf Facebook-Nachrichtenseiten und Beteiligungsplattformen (Online Participation Beyond Classic Deliberation: An Analysis Concerning the Relation Between Different Deliberation Concepts in User Comments on Facebook News Pages and Participation Platforms)

Deliberation setzt klassischerweise voraus, dass Positionen argumentativ und in respektvoller Weise aufeinander bezogen und verteidigt werden. Andere Konzepte von Deliberation schließen außerdem Narrationen, Emotionen und Humor ein. Während beide, klassische und inklusive Konzepte, gute Argumente für ihre Sichtweise vorgestellt haben, bleiben die Beziehungen zwischen den unterschiedlichen Deliberationsmerkmalen unklar. Der Beitrag untersucht, inwieweit sich einzelne Merkmale klassischer und inklusiver Deliberationskonzepte gegenseitig ausschließen oder ergänzen. Eine quantitative Inhaltsanalyse von Nutzerkommentaren auf Facebook und Beteiligungsplattformen zeigt, dass Humor nicht mit Begründungen und Respekt einhergeht, negative Emotionen ebenfalls zusammen mit Respektlosigkeiten auftreten, wogegen positive Emotionen und Narration mit Reziprozität und Respekt einhergehen. Der Vergleich zwischen verschiedenen Plattformen zeigt, dass Merkmale klassischer und inklusiver Deliberationskonzepte vor allem in den Beteiligungsplattformen zusammen auftreten

Linking News Value Theory With Online Deliberation : How News Factors and Illustration Factors in News Articles Affect the Deliberative Quality of User Discussions in SNS’ Comment Sections

Previous research suggests that distinct characteristics of news articles, such as their news factors, account for the different participation rates in comment sections as well as the degree of interactivity among the discussants. In this study, this assumption is tested in the Facebook environment and extended to the analysis of how news factors (i.e., event characteristics) and illustration factors (i.e., characteristics resulting from a specific journalistic editing) of news articles predict the inclusiveness of discussions, as well as the occurrence of civility, rationality, and deliberative interactivity in user comments. A content analysis of 619 news articles and 11,218 related user comments on nine nation-wide Facebook news pages reveals that the news factors controversy, latent conflict, contravention, obtrusiveness, and impact particularly account for specific discussion qualities. The results also show that the illustration factors emotional language/visualizations, slant, and conversational prompts affect the deliberative quality of the discussions.</p