Thinking the Unthinkable: A Library Without a Public Catalog

Two years ago Utrecht University Library (UUL) in the Netherlands decided to focus on delivery instead of discovery. Based on international studies, users statistics, and surveys, UUL concluded that library discovery tools have become less relevant because users find their research and teaching material increasingly outside the framework of the library. This conclusion had major implications for both UUL and its users. In 2012 UUL decided to shut down the discovery system Omega, custom‐made for finding electronic material owned by its library, and—more important—not to implement another library discovery service. After nine months of preparation, on September 1, 2013, Omega closed. Recently UUL decided to close its own public library catalog too. Instead, the library advises users to find their material via alternative general or subject specific discovery tools. This paper hopes to encourage libraries to rethink and evaluate their efforts on discovery and delivery. The principle idea while doing this should be that it does not matter where users find their material. What matters is that they can use the relevant material they find

Dynamic clamp with StdpC software

Dynamic clamp is a powerful method that allows the introduction of artificial electrical components into target cells to simulate ionic conductances and synaptic inputs. This method is based on a fast cycle of measuring the membrane potential of a cell, calculating the current of a desired simulated component using an appropriate model and injecting this current into the cell. Here we present a dynamic clamp protocol using free, fully integrated, open-source software (StdpC, for spike timing-dependent plasticity clamp). Use of this protocol does not require specialist hardware, costly commercial software, experience in real-time operating systems or a strong programming background. The software enables the configuration and operation of a wide range of complex and fully automated dynamic clamp experiments through an intuitive and powerful interface with a minimal initial lead time of a few hours. After initial configuration, experimental results can be generated within minutes of establishing cell recording

Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy: Considerations from in Silico Experiments

Objective: Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is associated with remodeling of gap junctions and also, although less well-defined, down-regulation of the fast sodium current. The gap junction remodeling and down-regulation of sodium current have been proposed as contributors to arrhythmogenesis in ARVC by slowing conduction. The objective of the present study was to assess the amount of conduction slowing due to the observed gap junction remodeling and down-regulation of sodium current. Methods: The effects of (changes in) gap junctional conductance, cell dimensions, and sodium current on both longitudinal and transversal conduction velocity were tested by simulating action potential propagation in linear strands of human ventricular cells that were either arranged end-to-end or side-by-side. Results: A 50% reduction in gap junction content, as commonly observed in ARVC, gives rise to an 11% decrease in longitudinal conduction velocity and a 29% decrease in transverse conduction velocity. A down-regulation of the sodium current through a 50% decrease in peak current density as well as a −15 mV shift in steady-state inactivation, as observed in an experimental model of ARVC, decreases conduction velocity in either direction by 32%. In combination, the gap junction remodeling and down-regulation of sodium current result in a 40% decrease in longitudinal conduction velocity and a 52% decrease in transverse conduction velocity. Conclusion: The gap junction remodeling and down-regulation of sodium current do result in conduction slowing, but heterogeneity of gap junction remodeling, in combination with down-regulation of sodium current, rather than gap junction remodeling per se may be a critical factor in arrhythmogenesis in ARVC

Developing a Public Transportation Application for the Elderly

The purpose of this study was to develop a public transportation application, to assess the prevalence of public transportation among older adults in Turku and to describe the conditions and physical functions these older adults. A prototype application for older adults was developed and tested. Data gathered from Turku healthcare study consisting of 75-year-old participants was used to assess prevalence and conditions of the passengers. This data shows that most older adults in Turku use public transportation and their health status is good. Good health status, female gender, and not using a car turned out to be significant factors increasing the possibility for older adults to use public transportation. The testing of the prototype seems to indicate that current public transportation application used in Turku does not manage as well as the prototype. Prototype’s minimalistic design with vertically structured interface and clear page titles seems to function better compared to the official application’s design. Test group brought up that their reasons to not use public transportation applications are caused by the perceived complexity of technology and the lack of perceived usefulness which led to frustration

StdpC: a modern dynamic clamp

With the advancement of computer technology many novel uses of dynamic clamp have become possible. We have added new features to our dynamic clamp software StdpC (“Spike timing-dependent plasticity Clamp”) allowing such new applications while conserving the ease of use and installation of the popular earlier Dynclamp 2/4 package. Here, we introduce the new features of a waveform generator, freely programmable Hodgkin–Huxley conductances, learning synapses, graphic data displays, and a powerful scripting mechanism and discuss examples of experiments using these features. In the first example we built and ‘voltage clamped’ a conductance based model cell from a passive resistor–capacitor (RC) circuit using the dynamic clamp software to generate the voltage-dependent currents. In the second example we coupled our new spike generator through a burst detection/burst generation mechanism in a phase-dependent way to a neuron in a central pattern generator and dissected the subtle interaction between neurons, which seems to implement an information transfer through intraburst spike patterns. In the third example, making use of the new plasticity mechanism for simulated synapses, we analyzed the effect of spike timing-dependent plasticity (STDP) on synchronization revealing considerable enhancement of the entrainment of a post-synaptic neuron by a periodic spike train. These examples illustrate that with modern dynamic clamp software like StdpC, the dynamic clamp has developed beyond the mere introduction of artificial synapses or ionic conductances into neurons to a universal research tool, which might well become a standard instrument of modern electrophysiology

Constructions of Adolescent Identities within Hogwarts Houses in the Harry Potter Novels by J. K. Rowling

The main purpose of this thesis is to examine how four adolescent characters of four different houses in J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books series’ Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry construct their identities. These characters are Hermione Granger, Luna Lovegood, Nymphadora Tonks and Draco Malfoy. The aim is to find out whether their identities conform with the characteristics the Sorting Hat imposes on each house. Comprehensive pictures of the identities are formed by establishing what is valuable to them in life and what identity statuses the characters have. I do this with the help of psychoanalytic identity theories by Erik Erikson and James Marcia as well as ideas of philosopher Charles Taylor. The analysis clearly shows some narratives, such as helping friends and fighting for justice, were common to all characters. Every character conformed to the features of their house well. There was, however, a distinction between the female and male character when identity statuses were concerned. The young females had achieved identities whereas the male did not. Also, Draco’s values differed from that of the females, which suggests his life has fundamentally been different from the others. Future research could focus on solely one character, the most notable female character of the series Hermione Granger for instance, with the aim of understanding her influence on young readers. A more detailed assessment of her identity as a young female role model for adolescents constructing their own identities could, for instance, be a fruitful area of future research

Standing on Hallowed Ground: Should the Federal Judiciary Monitor Executive Violations of the Establishment Clause

This Note argues that the Seventh Circuit reached the correct result. However, there is little logic in continuing to limit Establishment Clause adjudications to plaintiffs who can show injury-in-fact or, absent such injury, plaintiffs who can claim the allegedly unconstitutional act was an exercise of the Taxing and Spending Clause. Instead, because the Establishment Clause is a unique structural restraint which separates the government from organized religion4 and prohibits government support of religion that divides the political process along religious lines, this Note concludes that standing to sue for Establishment Clause violations should be extended to acts of any government power