Graphing Meeting Records - An Approach to Visualize Information in a Multi Meeting Context

Purpose – Meeting notes are effective records for participants and a source of information for members who were unable to attend. They act as a reference point to decisions made, to plan next steps, and to identify and track action items. Despite the need for a multi meeting solution (Tucker and Whittaker, 05), meetings are often displayed as separated as well as descriptive documents. The aim of this work is to enhance access to overlapping meeting contents and existing coherences beyond a decoupled description. A visual representation of meeting content can lead to meeting records which are more comprehensible and more time efficient. Furthermore, it enables the depiction of knowledge that is often lost in conventional meeting records. Approach – Our goal was to define a general structure for meeting items, integrating content categories and relations between successive meetings. In this paper, we present a model based approach to visualize meeting content as well as content relations in order to support the preparation, execution and follow-up of meetings. Due to the fact that contents of consecutive meetings refer to each other (Post et al., 04), we consider meetings as a series of events. The resulting model substantiates the transformation of content as well as content relations into a visual form. Value – The proposed solution focuses on the model that is integrated into an interactive visualization. Thus, a novel approach to explore meeting records is provided. The model was proved to be suitable for meeting contents in various use cases. Examining the content in its visual representation across multiple consecutive meetings enhances the identification of any linked information at a glance over even long periods of time. Hence, important pieces of information will not be disregarded. Practical implications – The approach of our multi meeting protocol application is realized as a browser-based implementation that displays data from JSON objects. With this interactive visualization, the user can browse, search, and filter meeting content and get a deeper understanding of topics, their life cycle and relations to other topics. This leads to an overall comprehension of project or business progression that highlights topics that need to be addressed. Thus, the viewer is supported in preparing, executing, and following up meetings successfully and qualified to structure records in order to keep a clean transcript of a meeting

Einfluss der Lebensmittelprozessierung auf die Bioverfügbarkeit von Kupfer: Untersuchungen zur zellulären Kupferaufnahme aus CuSO4 und Melanoidin-Cu-Komplexen

AbstractKupfer gilt als essentielles Spurenelement, da es als struktureller und katalytischer Cofaktor Bestandteil vieler lebenswichtiger Enzyme ist. Andererseits kann jedoch eine exzessive Zufuhr von Kupfer nachfolgend zu irreversiblen Gewebeschäden führen. Um pathophysiologische Erscheinungen zu vermeiden, muss deshalb sowohl die physiologische Kupferhomöostase als auch die Aufnahme von Kupfer aus der Nahrung streng reguliert werden. Obwohl Melanoidine als finale Produkte der thermischen Prozessierung von kohlenhydratreichen Lebensmitteln nachgewiesenermaßen über metallchelatisierende Eigenschaften verfügen, ist ihre Bedeutung für die Resorption von lebensnotwendigen Mineralien und Spurenelementen bisher nur unzureichend geklärt. In der vorliegenden Studie konnte gezeigt werden, dass lebensmittelrelevante Melanoidine über ein revertierbares Kupferbindungsvermögen verfügen. Hierbei konnte ein Zusammenhang zwischen der Menge aus den Maillard-Reaktionsprodukten (MRPs) freisetzbarer Kupferionen und der Hemmung des Cu-sensitiven Enzyms poly (ADP-Ribose) Polymerase 1 nachgewiesen werden. Die Aufnahme der Cu-Ionen aus Melanoidin-Cu Komplexen in humane HCT116-Kolonkarzinomzellen erfolgt im Vergleich zu der anorganischen Verbindung CuSO4 in gleichem Ausmaß, jedoch mit deutlich größerer Geschwindigkeit. Die durchgeführten Genexpressionsanalysen weisen zudem auf Unterschiede in der zellulären Bioverfügbarkeit der aufgenommenen Kupferionen hin. Diese Ergebnisse verdeutlichen, dass Melanoidine als Endprodukte der Maillard-Reaktion regulierend in den Prozess der Kupferaufnahme in intestinalen Zellen eingreifen und thermisch prozessierte Lebensmittel somit als wichtige Modulatoren der Kupferhomöostase angesehen werden müssen

Kosten und Nutzen von biodiversitätsfördernden Maßnahmen am Beispiel Transfermulch im ökologischen Kartoffelanbau

Unsere sozioökonomische Bewertung von Maßnahmen zur Förderung der biologischen Vielfalt in Agrarökosystemen ergab für das Beispiel Transfer-Mulchen bei Kartoffeln, dass trotz hoher Kosten der Nutzen unter den Rahmenbedingungen des ökologischen Landbaus überwiegen könnte

Rab31 expression levels modulate tumor-relevant characteristics of breast cancer cells

BACKGROUND: Rab proteins constitute a large family of monomeric GTP-binding proteins that regulate intracellular vesicle transport. Several Rab proteins, including rab31, have been shown to affect cancer progression and are related with prognosis in various types of cancer including breast cancer. Recently, the gene encoding rab31 was found to be overexpressed in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer tissue. In a previous study we found a significant association of high rab31 mRNA expression with poor prognosis in node-negative breast cancer patients. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the impact of rab31 (over)-expression on important aspects of tumor progression in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: Breast cancer cells displaying low (MDA-MB-231) or no (CAMA-1) endogenous rab31 expression were stably transfected with a rab31 expression plasmid. Batch-transfected cells as well as selected cell clones, expressing different levels of rab31 protein, were analyzed with regard to proliferation, cell adhesion, the invasive capacity of tumor cells, and in vivo in a xenograft tumor model. Polyclonal antibodies directed to recombinantly expressed rab31 were generated and protein expression analyzed by immunohistochemistry, Western blot analysis, and a newly developed sensitive ELISA. RESULTS: Elevated rab31 protein levels were associated with enhanced proliferation of breast cancer cells. Interestingly, weak to moderate overexpression of rab31 in cell lines with no detectable endogenous rab31 expression was already sufficient to elicit distinct effects on cell proliferation. By contrast, increased expression of rab31 in breast cancer cells led to reduced adhesion towards several extracellular matrix proteins and decreased invasive capacity through Matrigel(TM). Again, the rab31-mediated effects on cell adhesion and invasion were dose-dependent. Finally, in a xenograft mouse model, we observed a significantly impaired metastatic dissemination of rab31 overexpressing MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells to the lung. CONCLUSIONS: Overexpression of rab31 in breast cancer cells leads to a switch from an invasive to a proliferative phenotype as indicated by an increased cell proliferation, reduced adhesion and invasion in vitro, and a reduced capacity to form lung metastases in vivo

Patient Age, Sex, and Inflammatory Bowel Disease Phenotype Associate With Course of Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is an orphan hepatobiliary disorder associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We aimed to estimate the risk of disease progression based on distinct clinical phenotypes in a large international cohort of patients with PSC. METHODS: We performed a retrospective outcome analysis of patients diagnosed with PSC from 1980 through 2010 at 37 centers in Europe, North America, and Australia. For each patient, we collected data on sex, clinician-reported age at and date of PSC and IBD diagnoses, phenotypes of IBD and PSC, and date and indication of IBD-related surgeries. The primary and secondary endpoints were liver transplantation or death (LTD) and hepatopancreatobiliary malignancy, respectively. Cox proportional hazards models were applied to determine the effects of individual covariates on rates of clinical events, with time-to-event analysis ascertained through Kaplan-Meier estimates. RESULTS: Of the 7121 patients in the cohort, 2616 met the primary endpoint (median time to event of 14.5 years) and 721 developed hepatopancreatobiliary malignancy. The most common malignancy was cholangiocarcinoma (n = 594); patients of advanced age at diagnosis had an increased incidence compared with younger patients (incidence rate: 1.2 per 100 patient-years for patients younger than 20 years old, 6.0 per 100 patient-years for patients 21-30 years old, 9.0 per 100 patient-years for patients 31-40 years old, 14.0 per 100 patient-years for patients 4150 years old, 15.2 per 100 patient-years for patients 51-60 years old, and 21.0 per 100 patient-years for patients older than 60 years). Of all patients with PSC studied, 65.5% were men, 89.8% had classical or large-duct disease, and 70.0% developed IBD at some point. Assessing the development of IBD as a time-dependent covariate, Crohn's disease and no IBD (both vs ulcerative colitis) were associated with a lower risk of LTD (unadjusted hazard ratio [HR], 0.62; PPeer reviewe

The BH3 mimetic ABT-737 increases treatment efficiency of paclitaxel against hepatoblastoma

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The primary goal of current chemotherapy in hepatoblastoma (HB) is reduction of tumour volume and vitality to enable complete surgical resection and reduce risk of recurrence or metastatic disease. Drug resistance remains a major challenge for HB treatment. In some malignancies inhibition of anti-apoptotic pathways using small BH3 mimetic molecules like ABT-737 shows synergistic effects in combination with cystotoxic agents in vitro. Now we analysed toxicology and synergistic effects of this approach in HB cells and HB xenografts.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Viability was monitored in HB cells (HUH6 and HepT1) and fibroblasts treated with paclitaxel, ABT-737 and a combination of both in a MTT assay. HUH6 xenotransplants in NOD/LtSz-scid IL2Rγnull mice (NSG) were treated accordingly. Tumour volume and body weight were monitored. Xenografted tumours were analysed by histology and immunohistochemistry (Ki-67 and TUNEL assay).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>ABT-737 reduced viability in HUH6 and HepT1 cells cultures at concentrations above 1 μM and also enhanced the cytotoxic effect of paclitaxel when used in combination. Thereby paclitaxel could be reduced tenfold to achieve similar reduction of viability of tumour cells. In contrast no toxicity in fibroblasts was observed at the same regiments. Subcutaneous HB (HUH6) treated with paclitaxel (12 mg/kg body weight, n = 7) led to delayed tumour growth in the beginning of the experiment. However, tumour volume was similar to controls (n = 5) at day 25. Combination treatment with paclitaxel and ABT-737 (100 mg/kg, n = 8) revealed significantly 10 fold lower relative tumour volumes compared to control and paclitaxel groups. Paclitaxel dependent toxicity was observed in this mice strain.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our results demonstrate enhancement of chemotherapy by using modulators of apoptosis. Further analyses should include improved pharmacological formulations of paclitaxel and BH3 mimetics in order to reduce toxicological effects. Sensitising HB to apoptosis may also render resistant HB susceptible to established chemotherapy regimens.</p

Metabolic and Hormonal Changes After Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass and Sleeve Gastrectomy: a Randomized, Prospective Trial

BACKGROUND: The mechanisms of amelioration of glycemic control early after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) or laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) are not fully understood. METHODS: In this prospective, randomized 1-year trial, outcomes of LRYGB and LSG patients were compared, focusing on possibly responsible mechanisms. Twelve patients were randomized to LRYGB and 11 to LSG. These non-diabetic patients were investigated before and 1 week, 3 months, and 12 months after surgery. A standard test meal was given after an overnight fast, and blood samples were collected before, during, and after food intake for hormone profiles (cholecystokinin (CCK), ghrelin, glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), peptide YY (PYY)). RESULTS: In both groups, body weight and BMI decreased markedly and comparably leading to an identical improvement of abnormal glycemic control (HOMA index). Post-surgery, patients had markedly increased postprandial plasma GLP-1 and PYY levels (p > 0.05) with ensuing improvement in glucose homeostasis. At 12 months, LRYGB ghrelin levels approached preoperative values. The postprandial, physiologic fluctuation returned, however, while LSG ghrelin levels were still markedly attenuated. One year postoperatively, CCK concentrations after test meals increased less in the LRYGB group than they did in the LSG group, with the latter showing significantly higher maximal CCK concentrations (p > 0.012 vs. LRYGB). CONCLUSIONS: Bypassing the foregut is not the only mechanism responsible for improved glucose homeostasis. The balance between foregut (ghrelin, CCK) and hindgut (GLP-1, PYY) hormones is a key to understanding the underlying mechanisms

Twenty-three unsolved problems in hydrology (UPH) – a community perspective

This paper is the outcome of a community initiative to identify major unsolved scientific problems in hydrology motivated by a need for stronger harmonisation of research efforts. The procedure involved a public consultation through on-line media, followed by two workshops through which a large number of potential science questions were collated, prioritised, and synthesised. In spite of the diversity of the participants (230 scientists in total), the process revealed much about community priorities and the state of our science: a preference for continuity in research questions rather than radical departures or redirections from past and current work. Questions remain focussed on process-based understanding of hydrological variability and causality at all space and time scales. Increased attention to environmental change drives a new emphasis on understanding how change propagates across interfaces within the hydrological system and across disciplinary boundaries. In particular, the expansion of the human footprint raises a new set of questions related to human interactions with nature and water cycle feedbacks in the context of complex water management problems. We hope that this reflection and synthesis of the 23 unsolved problems in hydrology will help guide research efforts for some years to come