Evolving an open e-governance index for network societies

The Open e-Governance Index (OeGI) is a framework for measuring open e-governance, developed and tested in four Asian countries in 2012. This report discusses the second phase of OeGI project, which examined whether the framework was applicable to countries outside Asia. It describes the concept and methodology of the OeGI and provides an overview of its use in Colombia, Indonesia, Pakistan, the Philippines and Uganda. Open e-governance is about how state and non-state actors use information and communications technologies (ICTs) to steer society collectively. The OeGI project defines open e-governance as the presence of: • meshed e-government: the ability of government to provide integrated, citizencentric online services • e-participation channels: the existence of digital channels for public engagement that complement existing face-to-face or traditional media-led interactions • digital inclusion: the presence of policies and programmes that support the public’s wider use of ICTs for development • civil society use of ICTs: the use of ICTs by non-state actors to promote their interests in the public sphere • an open legal and policy ecosystem: the extent of access among the general public to information and knowledge, and government recognition of the right to free expression and rights over personal communication, cultural freedom and the use of local languages. This framework was used to assess e-governance in five countries. This revealed that while there is progress towards open e-governance, there are dimensions that need to be strengthened. For example, while there is a great demand for online participation among citizens, there are many policies and programmes that governments need to undertake before this can happen. Further, norms for transparency and accountability are critical in ensuring that national ICT systems can be used for political and socio-economic progress.DFIDSidaUSAIDOmidyar Networ

Similar IgE binding patterns in Gulf of Mexico and Southeast Asian shrimp species in US shrimp allergic patients

[Extract] Shellfish allergy (SA) is a leading cause of food-induced anaphylaxis1 and one of the most common causes of adult-onset food allergy worldwide, with 1%–3% of the United States (US) population affected.2-4 Nearly half (45%) of US adults with SA report utilizing emergency services for SA symptoms over their lifetime,2 remaining at-risk for lethal allergic reactions. Several allergenic proteins have been identified across shellfish species, including tropomyosin (TM), arginine kinase (AK), myosin light chain (MLC), sarcoplasmic calcium-binding protein (SCP), hemocyanin, troponin C, and triosephosphate isomerase.5 (Table 1.) However, there are a large number of shrimp allergens that have been detected, but not yet characterized.6 The allergens of major importance in SA are the muscle proteins TM and AK. TM, the major allergen with specific-IgE antibodies in ≤90% of SA patients, is associated with severe clinical reactivity. AK is a pan-allergen with cross-reactivity with crustaceans and cephalopods.

Mars Science Helicopter Conceptual Design

Robotic planetary aerial vehicles increase the range of terrain that can be examined, compared to traditional landers and rovers, and have more near-surface capability than orbiters. Aerial mobility is a promising possibility for planetary exploration as it reduces the challenges that difficult obstacles pose to ground vehicles. The first use of a rotorcraft for a planetary mission will be in 2021, when the Mars Helicopter technology demonstrator will be deployed from the Mars 2020 rover. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory and NASA Ames Research Center are exploring possibilities for a Mars Science Helicopter, a second-generation Mars rotorcraft with the capability of conducting science investigations independently of a lander or rover (although this type of vehicle could also be used assist rovers or landers in future missions). This report describes the conceptual design of Mars Science Helicopters. The design process began with coaxial-helicopter and hexacopter configurations, with a payload in the range of two to three kilograms and an overall vehicle mass of approximately twenty kilograms. Initial estimates of weight and performance were based on the capabilities of the Mars Helicopter. Rotorcraft designs for Mars are constrained by the dimensions of the aeroshell for the trip to the planet, requiring attention to the aircraft packaging in order to maximize the rotor dimensions and hence overall performance potential. Aerodynamic performance optimization was conducted, particularly through airfoils designed specifically for the low Reynolds number and high Mach number inherent in operation on Mars. The final designs show a substantial capability for science operations on Mars: a 31 kg hexacopter that fits within a 2.5 m diameter aeroshell could carry a 5 kg payload for 10 min of hover time or over a range of 5 km

Clinical management of seafood allergy

Seafood plays an important role in human nutrition and health. A good patient workup and sensitive diagnostic analysis of IgE antibody reactivity can distinguish between a true seafood allergy and other adverse reactions generated by toxins or parasites contaminating ingested seafood. The 2 most important seafood groupings include the fish and shellfish. Shellfish, in the context of seafood consumption, constitutes a diverse group of species subdivided into crustaceans and mollusks. The prevalence of shellfish allergy seems to be higher than that of fish allergy, with an estimate of up to 3% in the adult population and fin fish allergy prevalence of approximately 1%. Clinical evaluation of the seafood-allergic patient involves obtaining a detailed history and obtaining in vivo and/or in vitro testing with careful interpretation of results with consideration of cross-reactivity features of the major allergens. Oral food challenge is useful not only for the diagnosis but also for avoiding unnecessary dietary restrictions. In this review, we highlight some of the recent reports to provide solid clinical and laboratory tools for the differentiation of fish allergy from shellfish allergy, enabling best treatment and management of these patients

CRISPR screens identify gene targets at breast cancer risk loci

Background: Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified > 200 loci associated with breast cancer risk. The majority of candidate causal variants are in noncoding regions and likely modulate cancer risk by regulating gene expression. However, pinpointing the exact target of the association, and identifying the phenotype it mediates, is a major challenge in the interpretation and translation of GWAS. Results: Here, we show that pooled CRISPR screens are highly effective at identifying GWAS target genes and defining the cancer phenotypes they mediate. Following CRISPR mediated gene activation or suppression, we measure proliferation in 2D, 3D, and in immune-deficient mice, as well as the effect on DNA repair. We perform 60 CRISPR screens and identify 20 genes predicted with high confidence to be GWAS targets that promote cancer by driving proliferation or modulating the DNA damage response in breast cells. We validate the regulation of a subset of these genes by breast cancer risk variants. Conclusions: We demonstrate that phenotypic CRISPR screens can accurately pinpoint the gene target of a risk locus. In addition to defining gene targets of risk loci associated with increased breast cancer risk, we provide a platform for identifying gene targets and phenotypes mediated by risk variants.Natasha K. Tuano, Jonathan Beesley, Murray Manning, Wei Shi, Laura Perlaza, Jimenez, Luis F. Malaver, Ortega, Jacob M. Paynter, Debra Black, Andrew Civitarese, Karen McCue, Aaron Hatzipantelis, Kristine Hillman, Susanne Kaufmann, Haran Sivakumaran, Jose M. Polo, Roger R. Reddel, Vimla Band, Juliet D. French, Stacey L. Edwards, David R. Powell, Georgia Chenevix, Trench, and Joseph Rosenblu

Chromatin interactome mapping at 139 independent breast cancer risk signals

Funder: National Breast Cancer Foundation; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100001026Funder: University of Queensland; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100001794Abstract: Background: Genome-wide association studies have identified 196 high confidence independent signals associated with breast cancer susceptibility. Variants within these signals frequently fall in distal regulatory DNA elements that control gene expression. Results: We designed a Capture Hi-C array to enrich for chromatin interactions between the credible causal variants and target genes in six human mammary epithelial and breast cancer cell lines. We show that interacting regions are enriched for open chromatin, histone marks for active enhancers, and transcription factors relevant to breast biology. We exploit this comprehensive resource to identify candidate target genes at 139 independent breast cancer risk signals and explore the functional mechanism underlying altered risk at the 12q24 risk region. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate the power of combining genetics, computational genomics, and molecular studies to rationalize the identification of key variants and candidate target genes at breast cancer GWAS signals

Chromatin interactome mapping at 139 independent breast cancer risk signals

Funder: National Breast Cancer Foundation; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100001026Funder: University of Queensland; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100001794Abstract: Background: Genome-wide association studies have identified 196 high confidence independent signals associated with breast cancer susceptibility. Variants within these signals frequently fall in distal regulatory DNA elements that control gene expression. Results: We designed a Capture Hi-C array to enrich for chromatin interactions between the credible causal variants and target genes in six human mammary epithelial and breast cancer cell lines. We show that interacting regions are enriched for open chromatin, histone marks for active enhancers, and transcription factors relevant to breast biology. We exploit this comprehensive resource to identify candidate target genes at 139 independent breast cancer risk signals and explore the functional mechanism underlying altered risk at the 12q24 risk region. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate the power of combining genetics, computational genomics, and molecular studies to rationalize the identification of key variants and candidate target genes at breast cancer GWAS signals

A randomised trial of the effect of postal reminders on attendance for breast screening

This study was supported financially by National Cancer Screening Programmes. Stephen Duffy contributed to this study as part of the programme of the Policy Reminders and breast screening attendance BRITISH JOURNAL OF CANCER www.bjcancer.com | DOI:10.1038/bjc.2015.451 175 Research Unit in Cancer Awareness, Screening and Early Diagnosis, which receives funding for a research programme from the Department of Health Policy Research Programme, grant number 106/0001. It is a collaboration between researchers from seven institutions (Queen Mary University of London, UCL, King’s College London, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Hull York Medical School, Durham University and Peninsula Medical School