Acute T-Cell-Driven Inflammation Requires the Endoglycosidase Heparanase-1 from Multiple Cell Types

It has been accepted for decades that T lymphocytes and metastasising tumour cells traverse basement membranes (BM) by deploying a battery of degradative enzymes, particularly proteases. However, since many redundant proteases can solubilise BM it has been difficult to prove that proteases aid cell migration, particularly in vivo. Recent studies also suggest that other mechanisms allow BM passage of cells. To resolve this issue we exploited heparanase-1 (HPSE-1), the only endoglycosidase in mammals that digests heparan sulfate (HS), a major constituent of BM. Initially we examined the effect of HPSE-1 deficiency on a well-characterised adoptive transfer model of T-cell-mediated inflammation. We found that total elimination of HPSE-1 from this system resulted in a drastic reduction in tissue injury and loss of target HS. Subsequent studies showed that the source of HPSE-1 in the transferred T cells was predominantly activated CD4⁺ T cells. Based on bone marrow chimeras, two cellular sources of HPSE-1 were identified in T cell recipients, one being haematopoiesis dependent and the other radiation resistant. Collectively our findings unequivocally demonstrate that an acute T-cell-initiated inflammatory response is HPSE-1 dependent and is reliant on HPSE-1 from at least three different cell types.     

Assessing the reliability of the M5-120 on Amazon’s mechanical Turk

Amazon’s online service, Mechanical Turk (MTurk) has become a popular option for data collection among social scientists. Early work (Buhrmester, Kwang, & Gosling, 2011) indicated that data collection through MTurk was faster and less expensive than traditional collection methods (undergraduate human subject pool), as well as being reliable when administered at different dates. Building on their work, we sought to extend this investigation of reliability to a larger measure. For the current research we chose a 120-item measure of personality. After collecting data through MTurk, it was determined that our MTurk sample had strong test–retest reliability, indicating that they did not significantly change between administration dates.     

Further Towards a Triadic Calculus Part 1

This paper, presented in two parts, attempts to augment an initial formulation of a calculus for triadas by Warren McCulloch and Roberto Moreno-Diaz, published as Quarterly Progress Report No. 84 (QPR 84), from the Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, January 15, 1967, pp. 335–346.     

Special issue introduction: Psychology, politics, and public policy.

As evidenced by the eclecticism of this collection of essays, the history of psychology is ripe with possibilities for additional research into the interplay of politics and public policy on the development of the discipline and its practice. After all, as this collection makes clear, a more complete rendering of the history of psychology must make sense of the profession’s longstanding immersion in politics and public policy—indeed, of its being as much a political and policymaking project as an intellectual one. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Self‐Assembly of Mechanoplasmonic Bacterial Cellulose–Metal Nanoparticle Composites

Nanocomposites of metal nanoparticles (NPs) and bacterial nanocellulose (BC) enable fabrication of soft and biocompatible materials for optical, catalytic, electronic, and biomedical applications. Current BC–NP nanocomposites are typically prepared by in situ synthesis of the NPs or electrostatic adsorption of surface functionalized NPs, which limits possibilities to control and tune NP size, shape, concentration, and surface chemistry and influences the properties and performance of the materials. Here a self‐assembly strategy is described for fabrication of complex and well‐defined BC–NP composites using colloidal gold and silver NPs of different sizes, shapes, and concentrations. The self‐assembly process results in nanocomposites with distinct biophysical and optical properties. In addition to antibacterial materials and materials with excellent senor performance, materials with unique mechanoplasmonic properties are developed. The homogenous incorporation of plasmonic gold NPs in the BC enables extensive modulation of the optical properties by mechanical stimuli. Compression gives rise to near‐field coupling between adsorbed NPs, resulting in tunable spectral variations and enhanced broadband absorption that amplify both nonlinear optical and thermoplasmonic effects and enables novel biosensing strategies.     

A fully automated calibration method for an optical see-through head-mounted operating microscope with variable zoom and focus

Ever since the development of the first applications in image-guided therapy (IGT), the use of head-mounted displays (HMDs) was considered an important extension of existing IGT technologies. Several approaches to utilizing HMDs and modified medical devices for augmented reality (AR) visualization were implemented. These approaches include video-see through systems, semitransparent mirrors, modified endoscopes, and modified operating microscopes. Common to all these devices is the fact that a precise calibration between the display and three-dimensional coordinates in the patient's frame of reference is compulsory. In optical see-through devices based on complex optical systems such as operating microscopes or operating binoculars-as in the case of the system presented in this paper-this procedure can become increasingly difficult since precise camera calibration for every focus and zoom position is required. We present a method for fully automatic calibration of the operating binocular Varioscope M5 AR for the full range of zoom and focus settings available. Our method uses a special calibration pattern, a linear guide driven by a stepping motor, and special calibration software. The overlay error in the calibration plane was found to be 0.14-0.91 mm, which is less than 1% of the field of view. Using the motorized calibration rig as presented in the paper, we were also able to assess the dynamic latency when viewing augmentation graphics on a mobile target; spatial displacement due to latency was found to be in the range of 1.1-2.8 mm maximum, the disparity between the true object and its computed overlay represented latency of 0.1 s. We conclude that the automatic calibration method presented in this paper is sufficient in terms of accuracy and time requirements for standard uses of optical see-through systems in a clinical environment.     

Identifying FMRI model violations with lagrange multiplier tests

The standard modeling framework in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is predicated on assumptions of linearity, time invariance and stationarity. These assumptions are rarely checked because doing so requires specialized software, although failure to do so can lead to bias and mistaken inference. Identifying model violations is an essential but largely neglected step in standard fMRI data analysis. Using Lagrange multiplier testing methods we have developed simple and efficient procedures for detecting model violations such as nonlinearity, nonstationarity and validity of the common double gamma specification for hemodynamic response. These procedures are computationally cheap and can easily be added to a conventional analysis. The test statistic is calculated at each voxel and displayed as a spatial anomaly map which shows regions where a model is violated. The methodology is illustrated with a large number of real data examples.     

Very Low Degree of Energetic Disorder as the Origin of High Mobility in an n‐channel Polymer Semiconductor

Charge transport is investigated in high‐mobility n‐channel organic field‐effect transistors (OFETs) based on poly{[N,N′‐bis(2‐octyldodecyl)‐naphthalene‐1,4,5,8‐bis(dicarboximide)‐2,6‐diyl]‐alt‐5,5′‐(2,2′‐bithiophene)} (P(NDI2OD‐T2), Polyera ActivInk? N2200) with variable‐temperature electrical measurements and charge‐modulation spectroscopy. Results indicate an unusually uniform energetic landscape of sites for charge‐carrier transport along the channel of the transistor as the main reason for the observed high‐electron mobility. Consistent with a lateral field‐independent transport at temperatures down to 10 K, the reorganization energy is proposed to play an important role in determining the activation energy for the mobility. Quantum chemical calculations, which show an efficient electronic coupling between adjacent units and a reorganization energy of a few hundred meV, are consistent with these findings.