Investigating SSH Research and Publication Practices in Disciplinary and Institutional Contexts. A Survey-Based Comparative Approach in Two Universities

In this paper, we comparatively analyze, present and discuss the results from a survey on increasing the visibility of research achievements in the social sciences and humanities (SSH) that was carried out at the University of Vienna (Austria) and the University of Navarra (Spain) in 2016 and 2017. Covering four major topics—searching and finding literature, publishing, the visibility of research, and the assessment of research outputs—we ask the following questions: are there disciplinary differences to be identified, and how do they present themselves in the two institutional contexts? Discussing the results, we showcase how disciplinary and institutional traditions and contexts are important factors that influence research and publication practices in the SSH. Our results indicate that the practices of searching and finding literature as well as publication practices and behavior are shaped by disciplinary traditions and epistemic cultures. On the contrary, assessment and valuation of research outputs are influenced by institutional and national contexts in which SSH research is organized and carried out

Enhancement of CD4 and CD8 immunity by anti-CD137 (4-1BB) monoclonal antibodies during hepatitis C vaccination with recombinant adenovirus

The induction of protective or therapeutic cellular immunity against hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a difficult goal. In a previous work we showed that immunization with a recombinant adenovirus encoding HCV-NS3 (RAdNS3) could partially protect mice from challenge with a vaccinia virus encoding HCV antigens. We sought to investigate whether systemic administration of an immunostimulatory monoclonal antibody directed against the lymphocyte surface molecule CD137 could enhance the immunity elicited by RAdNS3. It was found that treatment with anti-CD137 mAb after the administration of a suboptimal dose of RAdNS3 enhanced cytotoxic and T helper cell responses against HCV NS3. Importantly, the ability of RAdNS3 to induce protective immunity against challenge with a recombinant vaccinia virus expressing HCV proteins was markedly augmented. Thus, combination of immunostimulatory anti-CD137 mAb with recombinant adenoviruses expressing HCV proteins might be useful in strategies of immunization against HCV

A fusion protein between streptavidin and the endogenous TLR4 ligand EDA targets biotinylated antigens to dendritic cells and induces T cell responses in vivo

The development of tools for efficient targeting of antigens to antigen presenting cells is of great importance for vaccine development. We have previously shown that fusion proteins containing antigens fused to the extra domain A from fibronectin (EDA), an endogenous TLR4 ligand, which targets antigens to TLR4-expressing dendritic cells (DC), are highly immunogenic. To facilitate the procedure of joining EDA to any antigen of choice, we have prepared the fusion protein EDAvidin by linking EDA to the N terminus of streptavidin, allowing its conjugation with biotinylated antigens. We found that EDAvidin, as streptavidin, forms tetramers and binds biotin or biotinylated proteins with a ~ 2.6 × 10−14 mol/L. EDAvidin favours the uptake of biotinylated green fluorescent protein by DC. Moreover, EDAvidin retains the proinflammatory properties of EDA, inducing NF-κβ by TLR4-expressing cells, as well as the production of TNF-α by the human monocyte cell line THP1 and IL-12 by DC. More importantly, immunization of mice with EDAvidin conjugated with the biotinylated nonstructural NS3 protein from hepatitis C virus induces a strong anti-NS3 T cell immune response. These results open a new way to use the EDA-based delivery tool to target any antigen of choice to DC for vaccination against infectious diseases and cancer

Short-term local expression of a PD-L1 blocking antibody from a self-replicating RNA vector induces potent antitumor responses

Immune checkpoint blockade has shown anti-cancer efficacy, but requires systemic administration of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), often leading to adverse effects. To avoid toxicity, mAbs could be expressed locally in tumors. We developed adeno-associated virus (AAV) and Semliki Forest virus (SFV) vectors expressing anti-programmed death ligand 1 (aPDL1) mAb. When injected intratumorally in MC38 tumors, both viral vectors led to similar local mAb expression at 24 h, diminishing quickly in SFV-aPDL1-treated tumors. However, SFV-aPDL1 induced >40% complete regressions and was superior to AAV-aPDL1, as well as to aPDL1 mAb given systemically or locally. SFV-aPDL1 induced abscopal effects and was also efficacious against B16-ovalbumin (OVA). The higher SFV-aPDL1 antitumor activity could be related to local upregulation of interferon-stimulated genes because of SFV RNA replication. This was confirmed by combining local SFV-LacZ administration and systemic aPDL1 mAb, which provided higher antitumor effects than each separated agent. SFVaPDL1 promoted tumor-specific CD8 T cells infiltration in both tumor models. In MC38, SFV-aPDL1 upregulated co-stimulatory markers (CD137/OX40) in tumor CD8 T cells, and its combination with anti-CD137 mAb showed more pronounced antitumor effects than each single agent. These results indicate that local transient expression of immunomodulatory mAbs using non-propagative RNA vectors inducing type I interferon (IFN-I) responses represents a potent and

Executive Summary. Sichtbarkeitssteigerung in den Geistes-, Sozial- und Kulturwissenschaften (GSK)

Dieser Report gibt einen Überblick über die Befragung zur Sichtbarkeitssteigerung in den Geistes-, Sozial- und Kulturwissenschaften (GSK), die 2016 an der Universität Wien durchgeführt wurde. Diese richtete sich an das wissenschaftliche Personal aller dieser Disziplinen zugeordneten Fakultäten. Die Teilnehmenden wurden zu folgenden Themenbereichen befragt: Suchen und Finden; Publizieren; Sichtbarkeit; Einschätzung von Forschungsleistungen (Publikationen). Die in diesem Kontext durchgeführte Befragung diente der Erhebung der unterschiedlichen Publikationskulturen in diesen Disziplinen und stellt somit die Basis für eine Optimierung der notwendigen Infrastruktur und Serviceangebote gemäß den geäußerten Bedürfnissen der befragten Forschenden dar

Sichtbarkeit und Open Access in den GSK

Sichtbarkeit und Einschätzung von Forschungsleistung in den Geistes-, Sozial- und Kulturwissenschaften (GSK) ist gegenwärtig international ein topaktuelles Thema. 2016 erfolgte an der Universität Wien zu dieser Thematik eine Onlinebefragung, die auch mehrere Open Access spezifische Fragestellungen enthielt. Die Teilnehmenden waren aufgefordert, nach welchen Kriterien wählen Sie Zeitschriften aus, in denen Sie publizieren, den Bekanntheitsgrad der Open Access Policy der Universität Wien sowie ihre bisherigen Erfahrungen mit verschiedenen Open Access Modellen (Green, Gold und Hybrid) anzugeben. Im Vortrag werden die Ergebnisse sowie abgeleitete Empfehlungen kurz vorgestellt. Eine systematische Kenntnis der Spezifika in den jeweiligen Wissenskulturen ist erforderlich, um bedarfsgerechte Maßnahmen und Services für die Forschenden zu entwickeln

Sichtbarkeitssteigerung in den Geistes-, Sozial- und Kulturwissenschaften (GSK)

Der Tabellenteil zum Report gibt einen detaillierten Überblick über die Befragung zur Sichtbarkeitssteigerung in den Geistes-, Sozial- und Kulturwissenschaften (GSK), die 2016 an der Universität Wien durchgeführt wurde. Diese richtete sich an das wissenschaftliche Personal aller diesen Disziplinen zugeordneten Fakultäten. Die Teilnehmenden wurden zu folgenden Themenbereichen befragt: Suchen und Finden; Publizieren; Sichtbarkeit; Einschätzung von Forschungsleistungen (Publikationen). Die in diesem Kontext durchgeführte Befragung diente der Erhebung der unterschiedlichen Publikationskulturen in diesen Disziplinen und stellt somit die Basis für eine Optimierung der notwendigen Infrastruktur und Serviceangebote gemäß den geäußerten Bedürfnissen der befragten Forschenden dar

Investigating SSH Research and Publication Practices in Disciplinary and Institutional Contexts. A Survey-Based Comparative Approach in Two Universities

In this paper, we comparatively analyze, present and discuss the results from a survey on increasing the visibility of research achievements in the social sciences and humanities (SSH) that was carried out at the University of Vienna (Austria) and the University of Navarra (Spain) in 2016 and 2017. Covering four major topics—searching and finding literature, publishing, the visibility of research, and the assessment of research outputs—we ask the following questions: are there disciplinary differences to be identified, and how do they present themselves in the two institutional contexts? Discussing the results, we showcase how disciplinary and institutional traditions and contexts are important factors that influence research and publication practices in the SSH. Our results indicate that the practices of searching and finding literature as well as publication practices and behavior are shaped by disciplinary traditions and epistemic cultures. On the contrary, assessment and valuation of research outputs are influenced by institutional and national contexts in which SSH research is organized and carried out