Citizen science for cuneiform studies

This paper examines the potential applications of Citizen Science and Open Linked Data within a critical Web Science framework. Described here is a work-inprocess concerning an interdisciplinary, multiinstitutional project for the digitization, annotation and online dissemination of a large corpus of written material from ancient Mesopotamia. The paper includes an outline of the problems presented by a large, heterogeneous and incomplete dataset, as well as a discussion of the potential of Citizen Science as a potential solution, combining both technical and social aspects. Drawing inspiration from other successful Citizen Science projects, the current paper suggests a process for capturing and enriching the data in ways which can address not only the challenges of the current data set, but also similar issues arising elsewhere on the wider Web

Predicting the distribution of Eastern Grey Kangaroos by remote sensing assessment of food resources.

This study demonstrates how the distribution of animals can be described using remotely sensed data at a scale in the order of square kilometers. Kangaroo distribution has been monitored at regional scales using aerial surveys and detailed field study. This study attempts to fill the gap between local and regional scales by using Landsat derived vegetation characteristics to provide animal distribution details at local scale. Field surveys of Eastern Grey kangaroos and vegetation biomass were undertaken at the Warrumbungle National Park, New South Wales, Australia. The distribution and abundance of kangaroos and plant biomass were compared with remotely sensed vegetation characteristics taken from Landsat TM imagery. The distribution of green, short (< 5cm) blade grass biomass (the preferred kangaroo food resource) was patchy and positively correlated with kangaroo density and Landsat spectral bands 1, 2, 3 and a principal component combination of bands 1-7 (excluding band 6). Total population density was positively correlated with blade grass biomass and Landsat band 3. The dispersion of kangaroos within habitats was patchy, even though the Landsat image defined habitats as being homogeneous. This study clearly demonstrates the value of Landsat data to environmental management in the past and present

Towards understanding the design of dual-modal MR/fluorescent probes to sense zinc ions

A series of gadolinium complexes were synthesised in order to test the design of dual-modal probes that display a change in fluorescence or relaxivity response upon binding of zinc. A dansyl-DO3ATA gadolinium complex [GdL1] displayed an increase and a slight blue-shift in fluorescence in the presence of zinc; however, a decrease in relaxation rate was observed. Consequently, the ability of the well-known zinc chelator, BPEN, was assessed for relaxivity response when conjugated to the gadolinium chelate. The success of this probe [GdL2], lead to the inclusion of the same zinc-probing moiety alongside a longer wavelength emitting fluorophore, rhodamine [GdL3], to arrive at the final iteration of these first generation dual-modal zinc-sensing probes. The compounds give insight into the design protocols required for the successful imaging of zinc ions

Lanthanide(III) complexes of rhodamine-DO3A conjugates as agents for dual-modal imaging

Two novel dual-modal MRI/optical probes based on a rhodamine-DO3A conjugate have been prepared. The bis aqua-Gd(III) complex Gd.L1 and mono aqua-Gd(III) complex Gd.L2 behave as dual-modal imaging probes (r1 = 8.5 and 3.8 mM-1s-1 for Gd.L1 and Gd.L2 respectively; λex = 560 nm and λem = 580 nm for both complexes). The rhodamine fragment is pH sensitive and upon lowering of pH an increase in fluorescence intensity is observed as the spirolactam ring opens to give the highly fluorescent form of the molecule. The ligands are bimodal when coordinated to Tb(III) ions, inducing fluorescence from both the lanthanide center and the rhodamine fluorophore, on two independent time-frames. Confocal imaging experiments were carried out to establish the localization of Gd.L2 in HEK cells. Co-localisation with MitoTracker® Green confirmed that Gd.L2 compartmentalizes in the mitochondria. Gd.L2 was also evaluated as an MRI probe for imaging tumors in BALB/c nude mice bearing M21 xenografts. A 36.5% decrease in T1 within the tumor was observed 30 minutes post injection showing that Gd.L2 is preferentially up taken in the tumor. Gd.L2 is the first small molecule MR/fluorescent dual-modal imaging agent to display an off-on pH switch upon its preferential uptake within the more acidic micro-environment of tumor cells

Toward a transformed system to address child abuse and family violence in New Zealand

Executive Summary Introduction The Glenn Inquiry (TGI) has contracted Institute of Environmental Science and Research Limited (ESR) to bring together the relevant experience and expertise to collaboratively model a transformed system to address child abuse and neglect (CAN) and family violence (FV) in New Zealand. Our approach We have treated the task of reducing FV and CAN as a ‘wicked problem’1; that is, reducing FV and CAN is a problem that cannot be solved once and for all, and is not a matter of simply applying expert knowledge. The methods used in this project have been chosen because they are appropriate for working with wicked problems: stakeholder engagement, systems thinking and inter-disciplinary analysis. In this report, we refer to both CAN and FV. We recognise that, for some purposes, dealing with CAN requires particular strategies and treatment; however, the purpose of this report is to develop a transformed system that will reduce both CAN and other forms of FV. While the underlying causes of CAN and other FV may be considered independently, and some responses to each form of abuse will need to be particular, this report proposes a wider system of responses that will enable targeted interventions for each form of abuse. We use the term ‘family violence’ in this report in the sense it has come to be understood in Aotearoa, and is used in Te Rito: New Zealand Family Violence Prevention Strategy. In this use, FV includes intimate partner violence, child abuse and neglect, elder abuse, inter-sibling abuse and parental abuse. The project consisted of four work-streams: A review of the international and national literature on what would constitute a high performing system to address CAN and FV, including a review of New Zealand’s current approach with a focus on government legalisation, policies and initiatives; Qualitative modelling of the system dynamics associated with the existing way in which New Zealand has responded to CAN and FV; A secondary (sociological) analysis of suggestions for system improvement from the People’s Report; and, Developing a systemic model of a transformed system through collaborative workshops with sector experts

Tuning the relaxation rates of dual-mode T?/T? nanoparticle contrast agents: a study into the ideal system

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an excellent imaging modality. However the low sensitivity of the technique poses a challenge to achieving an accurate image of function at the molecular level. To overcome this, contrast agents are used; typically gadolinium based agents for T? weighted imaging, or iron oxide based agents for T? imaging. Traditionally, only one imaging mode is used per diagnosis although several physiological situations are known to interfere with the signal induced by the contrast agents in each individual imaging mode acquisition. Recently, the combination of both T? and T? imaging capabilities into a single platform has emerged as a tool to reduce uncertainties in MR image analysis. To date, contradicting reports on the effect on the contrast of the coupling of a T? and T? agent have hampered the application of these specialised probes. Herein, we present a systematic experimental study on a range of gadolinium-labelled magnetite nanoparticles envisioned to bring some light into the mechanism of interaction between T? and T? components, and advance towards the design of efficient (dual) T? and T? MRI probes. Unexpected behaviours observed in some of the constructs will be discussed. In this study, we demonstrate that the relaxivity of such multimodal probes can be rationally tuned to obtain unmatched potentials in MR imaging, exemplified by preparation of the magnetite-based nanoparticle with the highest T? relaxivity described to date

Investigating the impact of HIV infection on ILC3s in human lymph nodes.

Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.People living with HIV (PLWH) develop extensive fibrosis and collagen deposition throughout their lymphoid tissues not reversed by antiretroviral therapy (ART). Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) play essential roles in tissue homeostasis and repair, however, no studies exist on ILCs in lymph nodes (LNs) during HIV infection. We hypothesized that ILCs are modulated by HIV infection and are involved in the subsequent immune responses. We obtained fresh celiac, cystic, bile, falciform, common hepatic and mesenteric LNs immediately after gastrointestinal surgery from patients recruited from areas in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa – home to the highest HIV prevalence in the world. LNs from PLWH receiving ART exhibited extensive collagen deposition compared to uninfected controls characteristic of HIV-infected LN pathology. Single-cell transcriptional profiling revealed activation of the dominant ILC3 subset during HIV infection, suggesting ILC3s are directly involved in the HIV immune response. HIV-infected LNs expressed more heterogenous ILC3 subsets, including ‘ex-ILC3s’. We found signatures suggesting that HIV infection induces terminal differentiation of homeostatic ILC3 populations, whereby an ex-ILC3 population becomes distinct and may contribute to a type 1 immune response. Since HIV infection leads to sustained inflammation in LNs, this terminal differentiation and emergence of ex-ILC3s may be irreversible. Moreover, we found elevated levels of TGF production by ILC3s during HIV infection which may suggest that these cells play a role in fibrosis formation, directly or indirectly, through fibroblast-induced collagen deposition. Here, I performed the first singlecell analysis of ILCs in HIV-infected LNs and identified ILC3s as potential contributors to LN fibrosis, a major pathological consequence of HIV infection that warrants further investigatio