3 results
Search Results
Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
- ItemIntegrating data and analysis technologies within leading environmental research infrastructures: Challenges and approaches(Amsterdam [u.a.] : Elsevier, 2021) Huber, Robert; D'Onofrio, Claudio; Devaraju, Anusuriya; Klump, Jens; Loescher, Henry W.; Kindermann, Stephan; Guru, Siddeswara; Grant, Mark; Morris, Beryl; Wyborn, Lesley; Evans, Ben; Goldfarb, Doron; Genazzio, Melissa A.; Ren, Xiaoli; Magagna, Barbara; Thiemann, Hannes; Stocker, MarkusWhen researchers analyze data, it typically requires significant effort in data preparation to make the data analysis ready. This often involves cleaning, pre-processing, harmonizing, or integrating data from one or multiple sources and placing them into a computational environment in a form suitable for analysis. Research infrastructures and their data repositories host data and make them available to researchers, but rarely offer a computational environment for data analysis. Published data are often persistently identified, but such identifiers resolve onto landing pages that must be (manually) navigated to identify how data are accessed. This navigation is typically challenging or impossible for machines. This paper surveys existing approaches for improving environmental data access to facilitate more rapid data analyses in computational environments, and thus contribute to a more seamless integration of data and analysis. By analysing current state-of-the-art approaches and solutions being implemented by world‑leading environmental research infrastructures, we highlight the existing practices to interface data repositories with computational environments and the challenges moving forward. We found that while the level of standardization has improved during recent years, it still is challenging for machines to discover and access data based on persistent identifiers. This is problematic in regard to the emerging requirements for FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) data, in general, and problematic for seamless integration of data and analysis, in particular. There are a number of promising approaches that would improve the state-of-the-art. A key approach presented here involves software libraries that streamline reading data and metadata into computational environments. We describe this approach in detail for two research infrastructures. We argue that the development and maintenance of specialized libraries for each RI and a range of programming languages used in data analysis does not scale well. Based on this observation, we propose a set of established standards and web practices that, if implemented by environmental research infrastructures, will enable the development of RI and programming language independent software libraries with much reduced effort required for library implementation and maintenance as well as considerably lower learning requirements on users. To catalyse such advancement, we propose a roadmap and key action points for technology harmonization among RIs that we argue will build the foundation for efficient and effective integration of data and analysis.
- ItemEndothelial cell spreading on lipid bilayers with combined integrin and cadherin binding ligands(Amsterdam [u.a.] : Elsevier, 2022) Koçer, Gülistan; Albino, Inês M.C.; Verheijden, Mark L.; Jonkheijm, PascalEndothelial cells play a central role in the vascular system, where their function is tightly regulated by both cell-extracellular matrix (e.g., via integrins) and cell–cell interactions (e.g., via cadherins). In this study, we incorporated cholesterol-modified integrin and N-cadherin peptide binding ligands in fluid supported lipid bilayers. Human umbilical vein endothelial cell adhesion, spreading and vinculin localization in these cells were dependent on ligand density. One composition led to observe a higher extent of cell spreading, where cells exhibited extensive lamellipodia formation and a qualitatively more distinct N-cadherin localization at the cell periphery, which is indicative of N-cadherin clustering and a mimic of cell–cell contact formation. The results can be used to reconstitute the endothelial-pericyte interface on biomedical devices and materials.
- ItemEffectiveness of myAirCoach: A mHealth Self-Management System in Asthma(Amsterdam [u.a.] : Elsevier, 2020) Khusial, Rishi J.; Honkoop, Persijn J.; Usmani, Omar; Soares, Marcia; Simpson, Andrew; Biddiscombe, Martyn; Meah, Sally; Bonini, Matteo; Lalas, Antonios; Polychronidou, Eleftheria; Koopmans, Julia G.; Moustakas, Konstantinos; Snoeck-Stroband, Jiska B.; Ortmann, Steffen; Votis, Konstantinos; Tzovaras, Dimitrios; Chung, Kian Fan; Fowler, Stephen; Sont, Jacob K.Background: Self-management programs have beneficial effects on asthma control, but their implementation in clinical practice is poor. Mobile health (mHealth) could play an important role in enhancing self-management. Objective: To assess the clinical effectiveness and technology acceptance of myAirCoach-supported self-management on top of usual care in patients with asthma using inhalation medication. Methods: Patients were recruited in 2 separate studies. The myAirCoach system consisted of an inhaler adapter, an indoor air-quality monitor, a physical activity tracker, a portable spirometer, a fraction exhaled nitric oxide device, and an app. The primary outcome was asthma control; secondary outcomes were exacerbations, quality of life, and technology acceptance. In study 1, 30 participants were randomized to either usual care or myAirCoach support for 3 to 6 months; in study 2, 12 participants were provided with the myAirCoach system in a 3-month before-after study. Results: In study 1, asthma control improved in the intervention group compared with controls (Asthma Control Questionnaire difference, 0.70; P = .006). A total of 6 exacerbations occurred in the intervention group compared with 12 in the control group (hazard ratio, 0.31; P = .06). Asthma-related quality of life improved (mini Asthma-related Quality of Life Questionnaire difference, 0.53; P = .04), but forced expiratory volume in 1 second was unchanged. In study 2, asthma control improved by 0.86 compared with baseline (P = .007) and quality of life by 0.16 (P = .64). Participants reported positive attitudes toward the system. Discussion: Using the myAirCoach support system improves asthma control and quality of life, with a reduction in severe asthma exacerbations. Well-validated mHealth technologies should therefore be further studied. © 2020 The Authors