How Do Astronomers Share Data? Reliability and Persistence of Datasets Linked in AAS Publications and a Qualitative Study of Data Practices among US Astronomers

We analyze data sharing practices of astronomers over the past fifteen years. An analysis of URL links embedded in papers published by the American Astronomical Society reveals that the total number of links included in the literature rose dramatically from 1997 until 2005, when it leveled off at around 1500 per year. The analysis also shows that the availability of linked material decays with time: in 2011, 44% of links published a decade earlier, in 2001, were broken. A rough analysis of link types reveals that links to data hosted on astronomers'' personal websites become unreachable much faster than links to datasets on curated institutional sites. To gauge astronomers'' current data sharing practices and preferences further, we performed in-depth interviews with 12 scientists and online surveys with 173 scientists, all at a large astrophysical research institute in the United States: the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, in Cambridge, MA. Both the in-depth interviews and the online survey indicate that, in principle, there is no philosophical objection to data-sharing among astronomers at this institution. Key reasons that more data are not presently shared more efficiently in astronomy include: the difficulty of sharing large data sets; over reliance on non-robust, non-reproducible mechanisms for sharing data (e.g. emailing it); unfamiliarity with options that make data-sharing easier (faster) and/or more robust; and, lastly, a sense that other researchers would not want the data to be shared. We conclude with a short discussion of a new effort to implement an easy-to-use, robust, system for data sharing in astronomy, at theastrodata.org, and we analyze the uptake of that system to-date.     

Effect of IL‐1β, PGE2, and TGF‐β1 on the expression of OPG and RANKL in normal and osteoporotic primary human osteoblasts

The RANKL/RANK/OPG pathway is essential for bone remodeling regulation. Many hormones and cytokines are involved in regulating gene expression in most of the pathway components. Moreover, any deregulation of this pathway can alter bone metabolism, resulting in loss or gain of bone mass. Whether osteoblasts from osteoporotic and nonosteoporotic patients respond differently to cytokines is unknown. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of interleukin (IL)‐1β, proftaglandin E₂ (PGE₂), and transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1) treatments on OPG and RANKL gene expression in normal (n = 11) and osteoporotic (n = 8) primary osteoblasts. OPG and RANKL mRNA levels of primary human osteoblastic (hOB) cell cultures were assessed by real‐time PCR. In all cultures, OPG mRNA increased significantly in response to IL‐1β treatment and decreased in response to TGF‐β1 whereas PGE₂ treatment had no effect. RANKL mRNA levels were significantly increased by all treatments. Differences in OPG and RANKL responses were observed between osteoporotic and nonosteoporotic hOB: in osteoporotic hOB, the OPG response to IL‐1β treatment was up to three times lower (P = 0.009), whereas that of RANKL response to TGF‐β1 was five times higher (P = 0.002) after 8 h of treatment, as compared with those in nonosteoporotic hOBs. In conclusion, osteoporotic hOB cells showed an anomalous response under cytokine stimulation, consistent with an enhanced osteoclastogenesis resulting in high levels of bone resorption. J. Cell. Biochem. 110: 304–310, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Cellular transplants in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients: an observational study

Background aimsCytotherapy is a promising option for neurodegenerative disease treatment. Because of the fatal prognosis and imperative need for effective treatment, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients request this therapy before its effectiveness has been verified. The increase in clinics offering cytotherapies but providing little scientific information has prompted considerable medical tourism. We present an observational study of Spanish ALS patients receiving cytotherapy, analyzing the experiences arising from the treatment (TX) and considering two progression markers, FVC and ALSFRS-R.MethodsTwelve ALS patients with a mean age of 48.6 years (SD 12.8) received cytotherapy 26.9 months (SD 15.8) after clinical onset. ALSFRS-R and FVC at TX were 32.3 (SD 6.8) and 63.4% (SD 15.3), respectively. TX involved transplants of olfactory ensheathing cells in three patients, and autologous mesenchymal stromal cells in the remainder.ResultsOne patient died 33 months post-TX after surviving for 49 months. Five required mechanical non-invasive home ventilation 7.4 months post-TX. Two required invasive ventilation 13 months post-TX. Five patients needed gastrostomy feeding 23.3 months post-TX. Survival between clinical onset and the study end date was 50 months (SD 17.2). No significant adverse events or changes in the decline of FVC and ALSFRS-R compared with the disease's natural history were observed.ConclusionsOur observations suggest that these therapies do not halt the course of the disease. Cytotherapy cannot yet be considered a curative treatment for ALS.     

Ultrastructure and cytochemistry of the integument of Modiolicola gracilis,parasitic copepod in mussel gills (Mytilus galloprovincialis and Mytilus edulis)

Of mussels taken from the Ebro Delta River (E. Spain), 3% have a nonmodified copepod, Modiolicola gracilis, in the gill tissues. The cuticle of different segments of the body has an epicuticle with two layers, which show external microvilli-like projections. Weakly positive reactivity to the PTA technique has been detected in the external region. The procuticle has the helicoidal architecture of the chitinous tegument in arthropods, whereas the cuticle shows discontinuities in the regions of ducts in tegumental glands. The integument is comprised of three types of cells. Epidermal cells are flat with numerous mitochondria. Muscle cells show well-developed mitochondria with several longitudinally distributed cristae. A third and secretory cell shows a well-developed rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complex in the basal zone. Its apical portion is full of secretory granules. Through the cuticle, these integumental glands open directly to the cuticular surface via a short duct coated by epicuticle. The composition and specializations of this complex cuticular architecture differ markedly from those shown by an endoparasitic copepod detected in the digestive gland of the mussel. It does not appear that the specializations detected in the cuticle of M. gracilis lead to any histopathological alteration in host tissues. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Merging two eDNA metabarcoding approaches and citizen-science-based sampling to facilitate fish community monitoring along vast Sub-Saharan coastlines

The coastline of Sub-Saharan Africa hosts highly diverse fish communities of great conservation value, which are also key resources for local livelihoods. However, many costal ecosystems are threatened by overexploitation and their conservation state is frequently unknown due to their vast spatial extent and limited monitoring budgets. Here, we evaluated the potential of citizen science-based eDNA surveys to alleviate such chronic data deficiencies and assessed fish communities in Mozambique using two 12S metabarcoding primer sets. Samples were either collected by scientific personnel or trained community members and results from the two metabarcoding primers were combined using a new data merging approach. Irrespective of the background of sampling personnel, a high average fish species richness was recorded (38 ± 20 OTUs per sample). Individual sections of the coastline largely differed in the occurrence of threatened and commercially important species, highlighting the need for regionally differentiated management strategies. A detailed comparison of the two applied primer sets revealed an important trade-off in primer choice with MiFish primers amplifying a higher number of species but Riaz primers performing better in the detection of threatened fish species. This trade-off could be partly resolved by applying our new data-merging approach, which was especially designed to increase the robustness of multiprimer assessments in regions with poor reference libraries. Overall, our study provides encouraging results but also highlights that eDNA-based monitoring will require further improvements of, for example, reference databases and local analytical infrastructure to facilitate routine applications in Sub-Saharan Africa.     

Fate and composition of cytopiasmic droplet of hamster epididymal spermatozoa

Observations on sperm maturation in the hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) epididymis revealed that the cytoplasmic droplet migrates from the proximal position of the sperm flagellum to the end of the midpiece. This process begins in the testis or vas efferens and ends in the cauda region of the epididymis. A study of different regions of the epididymis and vas deferens demonstrated that the cytoplasmic droplet is not released from the sperm into the luminal fluid. An ultrastructural study of the cytoplasmic droplet demonstrated changes in its morphology as its position moved distally along the midpiece. Membranous components called saccules or vesicles, believed to be remnants of the Golgi apparatus present in the cytoplasmic droplet, changed their morphology during the migration process. Inclusion bodies within vesicles were released to the lumen at the levels of the cauda epididymis and the vas deferens. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.