Building trust - from television to the internet : crowds, trust and digital engagement

In the late 1960s, American democracy entered a crisis of trust and declining civic engagement. Policy makers interested in rebuilding trust with the people have often resorted to new communication technologies, but the impact of these technologies is sometimes unclear. The research presented here found that the impact of novel communication technologies is sometimes over-rated and that too much significance has been placed on leadership charisma. Sound strategic and tactical plans are critical to a successful outcome of any trust building activity, as trust is not necessarily created and sustained through the same means. Second, such plans must regularly be revised, and require competent expert support to execute strategic goals. This work concludes that – at all levels of public leadership – a change in thinking about digital technology is required, and that such technologies should be approached as opportunities rather than threats. Such an approach helps identify and deploy creative solutions, and speaks to younger generations who are more likely to embrace new technologies.Public Polic

Konstrukcija laboratorijske opreme za proizvodnju bioplina

The aim of the paper is building of the mini digester for biogas production from energy plants. The basic structure is of welded construction from stainless steel. The mini digester consists of twelve units so that four tests simultaneously with three repetitions can be performed. Each unit consists of an eudiometer, fermenter containing the substrate and a levelling bottle for surplus closing liquid. Other components ensuring correct functioning of the mini digester are the pump and heater with thermostat, the thermometer, barometer, eudiometer clamps. Finally, some measurements with energy plants according DIN 38414 were made.Osnovna namjera istraživanja bila je izgradnja mini digestora za proizvodnju bioplina od energetskih biljaka. Osnovna struktura digestora zavarena je od nehrđajućeg čelika. Mini digestor sastavljen je od dvanaest jedinica, tako da se ujedno mogu izvoditi četiri pokusa sa tri ponavljanja. Svaka jedinica sastavljena je od eudiometra, fermentora, koji sadrži supstrat i nivojne posude za spremanje suvišne tekućine. Drugi sastavni dijelovi koji omogućavaju pravilno funkcioniranje mini digestora su pumpa sa grijaćem i termostatom, termometar, barometar te stezaljke eudiometra. Na kraju smo izveli mjerenja proizvodnje bioplina od energetskih biljaka po standardu DIN 38414

EphB1 recruits c-Src and p52Shc to activate MAPK/ERK and promote chemotaxis

Eph receptors and their ligands (ephrins) play an important role in axonal guidance, topographic mapping, and angiogenesis. The signaling pathways mediating these activities are starting to emerge and are highly cell- and receptor-type specific. Here we demonstrate that activated EphB1 recruits the adaptor proteins Grb2 and p52Shc and promotes p52Shc and c-Src tyrosine phosphorylation as well as MAPK/extracellular signal–regulated kinase (ERK) activation. EphB1-mediated increase of cell migration was abrogated by the MEK inhibitor PD98059 and Src inhibitor PP2. In contrast, cell adhesion, which we previously showed to be c-jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) dependent, was unaffected by ERK1/2 and Src inhibition. Expression of dominant-negative c-Src significantly reduced EphB1-dependent ERK1/2 activation and chemotaxis. Site-directed mutagenesis experiments demonstrate that tyrosines 600 and 778 of EphB1 are required for its interaction with c-Src and p52Shc. Furthermore, phosphorylation of p52Shc by c-Src is essential for its recruitment to EphB1 signaling complexes through its phosphotyrosine binding domain. Together these findings highlight a new aspect of EphB1 signaling, whereby the concerted action of c-Src and p52Shc activates MAPK/ERK and regulates events involved in cell motility

Number of severe bleeding complications according to classification used: Is unified classification of bleeding complications really necessary?

Background: To compare the number of severe periprocedural bleeding complications from the total number of bleeding complications associated with diagnostic selective coronary an­giography or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) when using different classifications (TIMI, GUSTO, PLATO, BARC) and to relate these classifications to real hemodynamic status of evaluated patients. Methods: We analyzed data from 106 patients who underwent invasive procedure for ischemic heart disease (selective coronary angiography/PCI) and suffered from any type of bleeding complication. Results: The number of bleeding according to impacts on hemodynamic status and consequent treatment shows that 54.7% of all bleedings did not need any specific therapy. Bleeding leading to death, hemorrhagic shock, hemodynamic instability, administration of blood transfusion, surgical procedure and local treatment occurred in 6.6%, 1.9%, 5.7%, 14.2%, 2.8%, and 14.2%, respectively. The results comparing bleeding classifications demonstrate that the rate of severe bleeding complications may increase up to 4 times when different classifications are used on the same group of patients (TIMI 9.4%, GUSTO 15.1%, PLATO 39.2% and BARC 35.9%). The power of association between severe bleeding determined by these classifications and real hemodynamic compromise using Kendall’s tau-c correlation is –0.4106 (95% CI –0.599 to –0.222), –0.5355 (95% CI –0.718 to –0.353), –0.5513 (95% CI –0.729 to –0.374) and –0.7552 (95% CI –0.897 to –0.612) for TIMI, GUSTO, PLATO and BARC, respectively. Conclusions: The data show significant dependence of percentage of severe periprocedural bleeding complications on selected classification. The strongest association between severe bleeding and real hemodynamic status was found for BARC classification as this classification seems to be promising for future general use

Research & Development Project GIFT AR (DATUM INNOVATE UK) and public output DONATE YOURSELF (HUMAN CELL ATLAS)

As our lives become increasingly virtual AR GIFT (DATUM) offers the opportunity to bring depth to our connected relationships, across time and space. Whether a quick thank you or a special present this platform enables fast and beautiful gift giving within the blended environment of AR (physical and virtual), enabling action on environmental sustainability and yet enhancing and extending the unique intimacy of gifting. AR GIFT (DATUM INNOVATE UK) is a mobile app/web-based gifting platform enabling the user to choose, customise and send an AR gift to a friend/colleague, wherever they are in the world, eliminating unsustainable physical gifting practises. These virtual gifts exist on the platform as AR assets, both ready-made and customisable, which are sent by the gift giver and collected by the recipient at a time and location of the gift givers choice. Each bespoke choice by the gift giver is an intimate act in itself. The platform is responding to the need for intimate gifting (thank yous, get well wishes, birthday greetings or condolences) into our connected world, local to local and local to global, brought to the forefront in our times of global pandemic lockdowns, isolation and quarantine. It is in direct response to the growing need, through social distancing, for deeper remote intimacy interactions, and the post-lockdown requirements for collective and intimate experiences that are conducted in a safe and responsible manner. While at the same time, this platform encourages ethical consumer behaviour and runs alongside the re-opening of sustainable commerce post pandemic. AR GIFT Team - body>data>space (BDS Creative Ltd) Ghislaine Boddington - Creative Director Tadej Vindis - Lead Producer Nick Rothwell - Technical Lead Ivor Diosi - XR Developer The first commission output for AR GIFT is Donate Yourself, an Augmented Reality experience co-created by artist Stacey Pitsillides with Ghislaine Boddington and the body>data>space collective. It blends sound and 3D visuals to spark debates about our organs, tissue and body data, accessed by the public through augmented reality via QR codes. This new work was encountered in several ways. It premiered as a walking tour around the Ouseburn Valley area of Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK (29th October – 30th November). There, on this trail of five locations, you found the Donate Yourself banners and, by scanning the QR codes on these banners with your mobile phone and listening to the audio stories, you will take part in an inspirational journey. The work also was shown in Oxford, London and Cambridge across November / December 2021 and is still touring. The digital objects that you encounter will be seen through your phone imposed on the landscapes behind and, with the audio in your ears, stories of care, trust, immortality, consent and futures will unfold, exploring the important role our bodies play in scientific discovery. Each experience questions how we see our body after death; as a collective source of knowledge for humanity, as a material to explore our biological make up, or even as a way of immortalising ourselves in cells. These AR sound and visual objects examine diverse perspectives on what donating parts of yourself mean to different people. See lungs breathing posthumous digital data, view eyes blooming up above us and neurons radiating from a petri dish, hear the unfolding audio stories as you walk, imposed on the real world around you. What role can our bodies play in scientific discovery? Could we see ourselves as a collection of cells? Does donating organs or tissue make you immortal? This sci-art project shares artistic interpretations of scientific imagery with the audience, from interviews with experts from the Human Cell Atlas research initiative and visual/written data from a series of artists workshops which are expanded through this unique digital experience. Gathered from a range of communities Stacey Pitsillides and body>data>space created this AR experience to help us all consider the legacy of our bodies in this digital age. AR GIFT (DATUM) is created and produced by body>data>space (BDS Creative Ltd). The project was developed as part of DATUM R&D, an Innovate UK funded project with partners ZU-UK (Lead Partner), body>data>space and University of Greenwich (Innovate UK Sustainable Innovation Fund: Round 1 (Temporary Framework) 2020), and in further partnership with CLEI Co-creating Liveness in Embodied Immersion, BHRE Business, Human Rights and Environment, and LETS Law, Emerging Technologies & Science Strategic Research Groups at University of Greenwich. Donate Yourself - co-created by Stacey Pitsillides with body>data>space (2021). A One Cell at a Time commission with the Human Cell Atlas research initiative: The digital AR experience has been designed and co-created between Stacey Pitsillides and the body>data>space team using the b>d>s AR GIFT development project: Ghislaine Boddington (Creative Co-Direction), Tadej Vindis (Project Development and Production), Nick Rothwell (Sound Design and Technical Development) and Ivor Diosi (AR Development and 3D Animation). With research and insights from Holly Standing and Luke Sellers. Donate Yourself is produced for One Cell at a Time by Dominic Smith. Donate Yourself is created as part of the AR GIFT development project at body>data>space, supported by Innovate UK and the University of Greenwich (2021-22)

The Multifunctional Sorting Protein PACS-2 Controls Mitophagosome Formation in Human Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells through Mitochondria-ER Contact Sites.

Mitochondria-associated ER membranes (MAMs) are crucial for lipid transport and synthesis, calcium exchange, and mitochondrial functions, and they also act as signaling platforms. These contact sites also play a critical role in the decision between autophagy and apoptosis with far reaching implications for cell fate. Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) apoptosis accelerates atherogenesis and the progression of advanced lesions, leading to atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability and medial degeneration. Though the successful autophagy of damaged mitochondria promotes VSMC survival against pro-apoptotic atherogenic stressors, it is unknown whether MAMs are involved in VSMC mitophagy processes. Here, we investigated the role of the multifunctional MAM protein phosphofurin acidic cluster sorting protein 2 (PACS-2) in regulating VSMC survival following a challenge by atherogenic lipids. Using high-resolution confocal microscopy and proximity ligation assays, we found an increase in MAM contacts as in PACS-2-associated MAMs upon stimulation with atherogenic lipids. Correspondingly, the disruption of MAM contacts by PACS-2 knockdown impaired mitophagosome formation and mitophagy, thus potentiating VSMC apoptosis. In conclusion, our data shed new light on the significance of the MAM modulatory protein PACS-2 in vascular cell physiopathology and suggest MAMs may be a new target to modulate VSMC fate and favor atherosclerotic plaque stability

Identifying the anti-inflammatory response to lipid lowering therapy: a position paper from the working group on atherosclerosis and vascular biology of the European Society of Cardiology

Dysregulated lipid metabolism induces an inflammatory and immune response leading to atherosclerosis. Conversely, inflammation may alter lipid metabolism. Recent treatment strategies in secondary prevention of atherosclerosis support beneficial effects of both anti-inflammatory and lipid-lowering therapies beyond current targets. There is a controversy about the possibility that anti-inflammatory effects of lipid-lowering therapy may be either independent or not of a decrease in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. In this Position Paper, we critically interpret and integrate the results obtained in both experimental and clinical studies on anti-inflammatory actions of lipid-lowering therapy and the mechanisms involved. We highlight that: (i) besides decreasing cholesterol through different mechanisms, most lipid-lowering therapies share anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties, and the anti-inflammatory response to lipid-lowering may be relevant to predict the effect of treatment, (ii) using surrogates for both lipid metabolism and inflammation as biomarkers or vascular inflammation imaging in future studies may contribute to a better understanding of the relative importance of different mechanisms of action, and (iii) comparative studies of further lipid lowering, anti-inflammation and a combination of both are crucial to identify effects that are specific or shared for each treatment strategy