Analysis of the human immune response to vaccinia by use of a novel protein microarray suggests that antibodies recognize less than 10% of the total viral proteome

Control of smallpox by mass vaccination was one of the most effective public health measures ever employed for eradicating a devastating infectious disease. However, new methods are needed for monitoring smallpox immunity within current vulnerable populations, and for the development of replacement vaccines for use by immunocompromized or low-responding individuals. As a measure for achieving this goal, we developed a protein microarray of the vaccinia virus proteome by using high-throughput baculovirus expression and purification of individual elements. The array was validated with therapeutic-grade, human hyperimmune sera, and these data were compared to results obtained from individuals vaccinated against smallpox using Dryvax. A high level of reproducibility with a very low background were apparent in repetitive assays that confirmed previously reported antigens and identified new proteins that may be important for neutralizing viral infection. Our results suggest that proteins recognized by antibodies from all vaccinees constituted <10% of the total vaccinia proteome.     

Icon identification in context: the changing role of icon characteristics with user experience

OBJECTIVE: This research examined the relative importance of icon characteristics in determining the speed and accuracy of icon identification. BACKGROUND: Studies to date have focused on the role of one or two icon characteristics when users first experience an icon set. This means that little is known about the relative importance of icon characteristics or how the role of icon characteristics might change as users gain experience with icons. METHODS: Thirty participants carried out an icon identification task over a long series of trials to simulate learning through experience. Icon characteristics investigated included semantic distance, concreteness, familiarity, and visual complexity. RESULTS: Icon characteristics were major determinants of performance, accounting for up to 69% of the variance observed in performance. However, the importance of icon characteristics changed with experience: Semantic distance is crucial initially while icon-function relationships are learned, but familiarity is important later because it has lasting effects on access to long-term memory representations. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that icon concreteness may not be of primary importance when identifying icons and that semantic distance and familiarity may be more important. APPLICATION: Designers need to take into account icon characteristics other than concreteness when creating icons, particularly semantic distance and familiarity. The precise importance of the latter characteristics will vary depending on whether icons are rarely encountered or frequently used.     

Reverse procurement and auctions for consumers

Web-based bid invitation platforms and reverse auctions are increasingly used by consumers for the procurement of goods and services. An empirical examination shows that with B-2-C these procurement methods generate considerable benefits for the consumer:

Learning in the early years: Social interactions around picturebooks,puzzles and digital technologies

This paper develops an approach to thinking about young children, digital technologies and learning, drawing on research literature that relates children’s learning to the use of books, and on literature that discusses the nature of interaction between adults and children and its relationship to children’s learning. An analysis is given of parents and children using devices marketed as supporting young children’s learning, identifying, within the interactions that take place, the adult’s conception of appropriate use, and showing how this influences the nature of adult–child interaction. The findings are then related to literature on social interaction and learning, and discussed in relation to the assumptions that underpin the design of the devices used. The paper suggests that the artefact can influence adult–child interaction via a conception of appropriate use, which relates to traditions or practices with which the adult is familiar but also to the design features of the artefact. It suggests that it may be time to rethink the design of technologies to support young children’s learning.     

Porous methacrylate tissue engineering scaffolds: using carbon dioxide to control porosity and interconnectivity

Porous scaffold structures are used in tissue engineering to provide structural guidance for regenerating tissues. The use of carbon dioxide (CO₂) to create such scaffolds has received some attention in the past but many researchers believe that although CO₂ processing of polymers can lead to porous scaffolds there is limited interconnectivity between the pores. In this study, highly porous (greater than 85%) and well interconnected scaffolds were obtained in which the size, distribution and number of pores could be controlled. This control was achieved by altering the rate of venting from polymer discs saturated with CO₂ under modest temperature and pressure. The polymer used is a blend of poly (ethyl methacrylate) and tetrahydrofurfuryl methacrylate (PEMA/THFMA). This polymer system has shown promise for potential applications in cartilage repair.     

Sustainable Disposal of Domestic Sanitary Waste

The study presented is an example of the assessment of the relative sustainability of either option for disposal of domestic sanitary waste, either via the toilet or via the solid waste route. This required an evaluation of the total (social, economic, environmental, and technical) benefit/cost of implementing and adopting the alternative routes and an assessment of public responsiveness to encouragement to change sanitary waste disposal practices. It illustrates how, even for an apparently straightforward either/or question, the assessment of relative sustainability is complex and the amount of data needed to quantify sustainability indicators is prodigious. The study also provides an appraisal of the effectiveness of public campaigns to reduce waterborne disposal. Important information regarding public attitude and behavior in relation to wastewater systems has been acquired and lessons for ways of encouraging behavioral change to more sustainable ways of living have been gleaned.     

Characterizing and improving HIV/AIDS knowledge among cocaine-dependent outpatients.

The present study was an experimental test of efficacy of a brief education intervention for increasing HIV/AIDS knowledge among cocaine-dependent outpatients. Participants were randomly assigned to an HIV/AIDS education intervention (experimental condition) or a sham intervention (control condition). Control participants were subsequently crossed over to the HIV/AIDS education intervention. Experimental participants had higher scores on tests of HIV/AIDS knowledge after receiving the education intervention than did control participants. Further supporting the intervention's efficacy, control participant scores also increased once participants were crossed over and received the education intervention. Scores at follow-up were lower than at postintervention but remained higher than baseline scores. Results support the intervention's efficacy for increasing HIV/AIDS knowledge among cocaine-dependent outpatients. This intervention is brief, inexpensive, and easily implemented. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Software Process Improvement Problems in Twelve Software Companies: An Empirical Analysis

In this paper we discuss our study of the problems 12 software companies experienced in software development. In total we present qualitative data collected from 45 focus groups that involved over 200 software staff. We look at how different practitioner groups respond to software process improvement problems. We show our classification and analysis of this data using correspondence analysis. Correspondence analysis is a graphical data representation method new to software development research. The aim of the work we present is to develop a more holistic understanding of the problems practitioners are experiencing in their attempts to improve their software processes. Our main finding is that there is an association between a company's capability maturity and patterns of reported problems. Organizational problems are more associated with high maturity companies than with low maturity companies. Low maturity companies are closely linked to problems relating directly to projects such as documentation, timescales, tools and technology. Our findings also confirm differences in practitioner group problems. Senior managers cite problems with goals, culture and politics. Project managers are concerned with timescales, change management, budgets and estimates. Developers are experiencing problems with requirements, testing, documentation, communication, tools and technology. These associations are displayed graphically through correspondence analysis maps.     

Asymptotic Stabilisation of Multiple Input Nonlinear Systems via Sliding Modes

A dynamic feedback controller design method is proposed for multiple input systems. The method uses a novel choice of sliding surface to effect asymptotic linearisation of nonlinear differential input output systems and a class of state space systems. The stability of the overall system, that is a canonical state space form with a dynamic feedback, is analysed with a generalised Lyapunov approach plus an asymptotic analysis in a neighbourhood of the origin. The nonlinear system does not have to be expressed in regular form as is the case in many other sliding mode control approaches. A type of zero dynamics, which are the dynamics of the control, are involved. The resulting dynamic feedback is shown to provide chatter free control if the system is minimum phase with respect to the zero dynamics. The theoretical results are applied to Gas Jet systems with two controls.