Size-Exclusion Chromatography Separation Reveals That Vesicular and Non-Vesicular Small RNA Profiles Differ in Cell Free Urine

Urinary extracellular vesicles (EVs) and their RNA cargo are a novel source of biomarkers for various diseases. We aimed to identify the optimal method for isolating small (<200 nm) EVs from human urine prior to small RNA analysis. EVs from filtered healthy volunteer urine were concentrated using three methods: ultracentrifugation (UC); a precipitation-based kit (PR); and ultrafiltration (UF). EVs were further purified by size-exclusion chromatography (SEC). EV preparations were analysed with transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Western blotting, nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) and an Agilent Bioanalyzer Small RNA kit. UF yielded the highest number of particles both before and after SEC. Small RNA analysis from UF-concentrated urine identified two major peaks at 10–40 nucleotides (nt) and 40–80 nt. In contrast, EV preparations obtained after UC, PR or SEC combined with any concentrating method, contained predominantly 40–80 nt sized small RNA. Protein fractions from UF+SEC contained small RNA of 10–40 nt in size (consistent with miRNAs). These data indicate that most of the microRNA-sized RNAs in filtered urine are not associated with small-sized EVs, and highlights the importance of removing non-vesicular proteins and RNA from urine EV preparations prior to small RNA analysis.     

Discrete emotions predict changes in cognition, judgment, experience, behavior, and physiology: A meta-analysis of experimental emotion elicitations.

Our purpose in the present meta-analysis was to examine the extent to which discrete emotions elicit changes in cognition, judgment, experience, behavior, and physiology; whether these changes are correlated as would be expected if emotions organize responses across these systems; and which factors moderate the magnitude of these effects. Studies (687; 4,946 effects, 49,473 participants) were included that elicited the discrete emotions of happiness, sadness, anger, and anxiety as independent variables with adults. Consistent with discrete emotion theory, there were (a) moderate differences among discrete emotions; (b) differences among discrete negative emotions; and (c) correlated changes in behavior, experience, and physiology (cognition and judgment were mostly not correlated with other changes). Valence, valence–arousal, and approach–avoidance models of emotion were not as clearly supported. There was evidence that these factors are likely important components of emotion but that they could not fully account for the pattern of results. Most emotion elicitations were effective, although the efficacy varied with the emotions being compared. Picture presentations were overall the most effective elicitor of discrete emotions. Stronger effects of emotion elicitations were associated with happiness versus negative emotions, self-reported experience, a greater proportion of women (for elicitations of happiness and sadness), omission of a cover story, and participants alone versus in groups. Conclusions are limited by the inclusion of only some discrete emotions, exclusion of studies that did not elicit discrete emotions, few available effect sizes for some contrasts and moderators, and the methodological rigor of included studies. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Learning about violence against women in research methods: A comparison to traditional pedagogy.

The current study examined whether a community-engaged class in undergraduate psychology research methods was able to educate students about violence against women without sacrificing acquisition of research methods knowledge. We compared student outcomes in a traditional research methods course to those in a community-engaged research methods course. Students in the community-engaged course completed a research project on violence against women that was informed by the research needs of community partners. Drawing on pre- and post-assessments, we determined that students in both community-engaged and traditional courses showed significant increases in knowledge of research methods core concepts. In addition, students in the community-engaged course showed significant increases in knowledge about violence against women and beliefs about their ability to conduct engaged research in the future. Thus, the community-engaged course offered an opportunity to teach students about violence against women using engaged-learning practices without sacrificing acquisition of core research methods knowledge, relative to the comparison class. This study demonstrates that integrating trauma topics (in this case, violence against women) into the existing curriculum is a viable route to educating undergraduate students about trauma. Implications for incorporating trauma and community engagement into undergraduate curricula are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Residual Strength of Impact-Damaged CFRP Used to Strengthen Concrete Structures

Although previous research has demonstrated the improvement in performance of reinforced concrete structures enhanced with externally applied carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRP), the effect of transverse impact damage on the strength of the CFRP enhancements is unknown, and no guidelines have been provided that describe which impact events warrant CFRP repair or replacement. The impact events, such as dropped tools, collisions, and low-speed projectiles may cause critical damage to the epoxy matrix and fibers that is undetectable through visual inspection. The purpose of this research is to provide insight into the level of transverse impact needed to initiate critical damage in wet layup CFRP enhancements, which will serve as a guideline for inexpensive and immediate damage assessments. To simulate a variety of impact events, impactors (tups) of different sizes and shapes were dropped from several heights. The impacts were performed with a guided drop-weight apparatus, designed to achieve free-fall behavior. The results show that impacts that only cause indention of the FRP surface do not significantly affect the tensile strength, but impacts that cause crushing of the epoxy (seen as whitish areas) can indicate as much as a 63% residual tensile strength. Furthermore, for the test conditions considered, tests showed that impacts with a peak impact pressure greater than 21?MPa (3,000?psi) reduced the tensile strength of the CFRP.     

Response of double angle and shear endplate connections at elevated temperatures

Double angle and shear endplate connections are considered simple-beam end framing connections designed to carry gravity loads only. However, during a fire event, additional thermal induced axial forces might develop in the beam and cause failure of the connection. This paper presents the results of finite element (FE) simulations on double angle and shear endplate connections assemblies in fire. FE simulations are validated against experimental results of double angle and shear endplate connections at elevated temperature. A detailed comparison of the variation of the axial force during the heating and cooling phases of a fire is made between the two connections covering the following parameters: load ratio, beam length, and double angle and shear endplate thickness and location. The results can help future design guidelines to account for the thermal induced forces and deformations in double angle and shear endplate connections during a fire.     

Safety effects of unsignalized superstreets in North Carolina

Arterials across the United States are experiencing far too many collisions. Agencies tasked with improving these arterials have few available effective solutions. Superstreets, called restricted crossing u-turns by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), are part of a menu of unconventional arterial intersection designs that may provide a promising solution. Up to this point, there is little valid information available on the safety effects of superstreets, as study results have been from basic analyses that only account for traffic volume changes. The purpose of this research was to determine the safety effects of the unsignalized superstreet countermeasure on existing arterials in North Carolina.     

Simulating residential demand response: Improving socio-technical assumptions in activity-based models of energy demand

Demand response is receiving increasing interest as a new form of flexibility within low-carbon power systems. Energy models are an important tool to assess the potential capability of demand side contributions. This paper critically reviews the assumptions in current models and introduces a new conceptual framework to better facilitate such an assessment. We propose three dimensions along which change could occur, namely technology, activities and service expectations. Using this framework, the socio-technical assumptions underpinning ‘bottom-up’ activity-based energy demand models are identified and a number of shortcomings are discussed. First, links between appliance usage and activities are not evidence-based. We propose new data collection approaches to address this gap. Second, aside from thermal comfort, service expectations, which can be an important source of flexibility, are under-represented and their inclusion into demand models would improve their predicative power in this area. Finally, flexibility can be present over a range of time scales, from immediate responses, to longer term trends. Longitudinal time use data from participants in demand response schemes may be able to illuminate these. The recommendations of this paper seek to enhance the current state-of-the-art in activity-based models and to provide useful tools for the assessment of demand response.