Dual binding of an antibody and a small molecule increases the stability of TERRA G-quadruplex.

In investigating the binding interactions between the human telomeric RNA (TERRA) G-quadruplex (GQ) and its ligands, it was found that the small molecule carboxypyridostatin (cPDS) and the GQ-selective antibody BG4 simultaneously bind the TERRA GQ. We previously showed that the overall binding affinity of BG4 for RNA GQs is not significantly affected in the presence of cPDS. However, single-molecule mechanical unfolding experiments revealed a population (48%) with substantially increased mechanical and thermodynamic stability. Force-jump kinetic investigations suggested competitive binding of cPDS and BG4 to the TERRA GQ. Following this, the two bound ligands slowly rearrange, thereby leading to the minor population with increased stability. Given the relevance of G-quadruplexes in the regulation of biological processes, we anticipate that the unprecedented conformational rearrangement observed in the TERRA-GQ-ligand complex may inspire new strategies for the selective stabilization of G-quadruplexes in cells.H.M. acknowledges support from NSF CHE-1026532. The Balasubramanian lab is supported by programme funding from Cancer Research UK.This is the final published version. It first appeared at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/anie.201408113/abstract;jsessionid=BB18FC03F2AF0C3EB95EC57CCBDB3DB9.f01t01

Methods for Detecting High-Frequency Oscillations in Ongoing Brain Signals: Application to the Determination of Epileptic Seizure Onset Zones

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder with varied expression. Patients with focal onset seizures that are resistant to medications can benefit from ablative surgery. However, localization of the seizure onset zone (SOZ) and characterization of propagation to secondary areas can be challenging. The present study aimed at developing the appropriate signal processing methodology to detect bursts of interictal high-frequency oscillations (HFOs), as a possible signature of the SOZ, in patients with drug-resistant partial epilepsy. Additionally, invasive interictal and ictal intracranial electroencephalography (iEEG) data and non-invasive electromagnetic source imaging with magnetoencephalography (MEG) data from three subjects were analyzed. We developed a novel algorithm that extracts HFO bursts from the envelope of iEEG and MEG traces in the [80-300] Hz range. Clusters of HFO events across multichannel iEEG traces were subsequently analyzed to investigate their relative time delays and to infer possible propagation patterns during the interictal period and episodes of ictal onset (iEEG only). The location of iEEG electrodes sustaining the HFO bursts were labeled with respect to the chronometry of the local HFOs. The recording site bearing the smallest rank was labeled as the lead generator of HFO discharges. The aim of using MEG traces was essentially to determine probable SOZ locations non-invasively by extending the results obtained with iEEG. We proposed a new metric referred to as `spiking index\u27 that was computed at each cortical site in the vicinity of iEEG electrode locations (iEEG and MEG data were obtained for the same patients: iEEG was considered as the standard of reference for MEG results). The sensitivity and specificity of the HFO detector operating from ongoing brain traces were evaluated. Our results indicate that higher values of spiking index and higher rates of HFOs corresponded to brain regions that were identified independently as the SOZ by an expert clinician and as determined by the location and extent of the cortical resection that freed the patients from the seizures. Interictal and ictal iEEG HFO localization showed good concordance with the location of resected areas. The use of interictal data only, if used for surgical planning, would reduce the time required for making decisions regarding the resection of cortex and improve the chances of success of surgery in making patients become seizure-free. Obtaining iEEG data is invasive, with possible risks to the patients, and requires an expensive procedure. Another fundamental disadvantage of iEEG is that the implanted electrode grids and strips needed to cover the supposed abnormal cortical areas for proper determination of the SOZ. Our results indicate that the spiking index and rate map obtained from MEG source maps may provide a non-invasive alternative for determination of the SOZ and may provide greater accuracy to the placement of the implantable electrodes, and eventually avoid an invasive exploratory procedure before surgery

TOWARDS AN ORGANIZATIONALLY SENSIBLE HR RISK ASSESSMENT IN ACADEMIC LIBRARIES: A CASE OF A UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

Employees can be a resource of sustained success and a competitive advantage in any orgnisation, reliant on skilled workforce. However, dearth of trained labour force to drive the manpower requirement of local industries has become a long lasting burden in some small counties. These countries do not have adequate professional advancement opportunities for librarians and support staff to become professionals or paraprofessionals due to lack of openings for specialist education in the field of librarianship. Thus, human resource risks in libraries of such countries are comparatively higher. It is therefore needed to identify and assess the severity and impact of HR risks to mitigate the future burdens with a set of carefully planned HR management practices, which can positively increase the risk resilience. Due to less professional educational opportunities, economic downturn and outflow of educated personnel in Fiji, employers have been unable to recruit and retain suitably qualified professionals and paraprofessionals specially for academic libraries. All universities have hired many librarians from foreign countries and some universities have employed untrained manpower for paraprofessional work. Consequently, this research also tried to identify HR threats and vulnerabilities related to the Department of Library services in the Fiji National University (FNU) with the objective of directing the opted library for a possible risk mitigation plan. The study used qualitative methods by exercising semi-structured interviews for a sample of 25 professionals and paraprofessionals in the library. The research identified HR risks, their prevailing circumstances, library operation and its relationship with these HR risks, and finally to address what could be improved. Nevertheless, the management of HR risk will be continuing and its connotation will be unique and richer because of the Library is a part of a larger autonomous venture. It is therefore found that HR risks are bound to overall management of the university to cause a profound and extensive impact

Localization of the Epileptogenic Foci in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex: A Pediatric Case Report

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a rare disorder of tissue growth and differentiation, characterized by benign hamartomas in the brain and other organs. Up to 90% of TSC patients develop epilepsy and 50% become medically intractable requiring resective surgery. The surgical outcome of TSC patients depends on the accurate identification of the epileptogenic zone consisting of tubers and the surrounding epileptogenic tissue. There is conflicting evidence whether the epileptogenic zone is in the tuber itself or in abnormally developed surrounding cortex. Here, we report the localization of the epileptiform activity among the many cortical tubers in a 4-year-old patient with TSC-related refractory epilepsy undergoing magnetoencephalography (MEG), electroencephalography (EEG), and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). For MEG, we used a prototype system that offers higher spatial resolution and sensitivity compared to the conventional adult systems. The generators of interictal activity were localized using both EEG and MEG with equivalent current dipole (ECD) and minimum norm estimation (MNE) methods according to the current clinical standards. For DTI, we calculated four diffusion scalar parameters for the fibers passing through four ROIs defined: (i) at a large cortical tuber identified at the right quadrant, (ii) at the normal appearing tissue contralateral to the tuber, (iii) at the cluster formed by ECDs fitted at the peak of interictal spikes, and (iv) at the normal appearing tissue contralateral to the cluster. ECDs were consistently clustered at the vicinity of the large calcified cortical tuber. MNE and ECDs indicated epileptiform activity in the same areas. DTI analysis showed differences between the scalar values of the tracks passing through the tuber and the ECD cluster. In this illustrative case, we provide evidence from different neuroimaging modalities, which support the view that epileptiform activity may derive from abnormally developed tissue surrounding the tuber rather than the tuber itself

Bildebehandling og Autonomi

Abstrakt. Denne bachelor oppgaven omhandler utvikling og implementering av programvare for en undervanns robot (ROV), som tar i bruk blide behandling og data syn for å utføre autonome oppgaver. Dette gjøres som en en del av et tverrfaglig prosjekt i student organisasjonen UiS Subsea. ROV-en er bygd med mål om å delta i MATE ROV World Championship, som holdes i Colorado, USA, den 20-24. juni 2023. Denne bachelor oppgaven beskriver hvordan kamera-strømmer mottas på topside systemet, fra ROV-en, hvordan bilde behandling blir brukt til å løse autonome oppgaver, hvordan programmet implementeres i et brukergrensesnitt (GUI) og hvordan kjøre kommandoer sendes ned til ROV-en. Et modulært system har blitt laget, som mottar flere kamera strømmer, utfører autonome oppgaver og sender styre kommandoer. Programmet er blitt implementert inn i en GUI og testet på land. Tydelige definerte bildebehandlings oppgaver er gitt ut av MATE. Alle oppgavene er løst, utenom 3D modellering. Programmet er testet på land og oppfører seg som ønsket. Derimot, er ikke programmene testet i vann. Grunnen til dette er at ROV-en ikke var ferdigstilt i tide for vår gruppe å teste programmene våre. Testing og forbedring av programmet vill fortsette i forberedelser til MATE. Grunnet leveringsfristen for bachelor oppgaven, blir ikke dette inkludert i denne rapporten. Se vår GitHub repository for koden: https://github.com/UiS-Subsea/Bachelor_Bildebehandling Se GUI gruppens GitHub repository for implementeringen av vår kode inn i deres kode: https://github.com/UiS-Subsea/Bachelor_GUIAbstract. This bachelor’s thesis is about creating and implementing a software program on an underwater robot (ROV), that utilizes image processing and computer vision to perform autonomous tasks. This is done as part of an interdisciplinary project in the student organization UiS Subsea. The ROV is built with the purpose of competing in the MATE ROV World Championship, which is held in Colorado, USA, on the 20-24th of June 2023. This thesis describes how camera feeds are received on the topside system, from the ROV, how image processing is utilized to solve autonomous tasks, the implementation of the program into a graphical user interface (GUI), and the sending of driving commands down to the ROV. Additionally, an attempt was made to use computer vision to create a 3D model of a coral head. A modular program has been made, receiving multiple camera feeds, performing autonomous tasks, and sending driving commands. This program was implemented into a GUI, and tested on land. Clearly defined image-processing tasks were given by MATE. All of them were solved except for 3D modeling. The program was tested on land and behaved as intended. However, the programs were not tested in water. This was due to the ROV not being finished in time for our group to test our programs. Testing and improving the program will continue in preparation for MATE. Due to the submission date for the bachelor’s thesis, this will not be included in this paper. See our GitHub repository for the code: https://github.com/UiS-Subsea/Bachelor_Bildebehandling See the GUI group’s repository for our code implemented into their code: https://github.com/UiS-Subsea/Bachelor_GU

Bildebehandling og Autonomi

Abstrakt. Denne bachelor oppgaven omhandler utvikling og implementering av programvare for en undervanns robot (ROV), som tar i bruk blide behandling og data syn for å utføre autonome oppgaver. Dette gjøres som en en del av et tverrfaglig prosjekt i student organisasjonen UiS Subsea. ROV-en er bygd med mål om å delta i MATE ROV World Championship, som holdes i Colorado, USA, den 20-24. juni 2023. Denne bachelor oppgaven beskriver hvordan kamera-strømmer mottas på topside systemet, fra ROV-en, hvordan bilde behandling blir brukt til å løse autonome oppgaver, hvordan programmet implementeres i et brukergrensesnitt (GUI) og hvordan kjøre kommandoer sendes ned til ROV-en. Et modulært system har blitt laget, som mottar flere kamera strømmer, utfører autonome oppgaver og sender styre kommandoer. Programmet er blitt implementert inn i en GUI og testet på land. Tydelige definerte bildebehandlings oppgaver er gitt ut av MATE. Alle oppgavene er løst, utenom 3D modellering. Programmet er testet på land og oppfører seg som ønsket. Derimot, er ikke programmene testet i vann. Grunnen til dette er at ROV-en ikke var ferdigstilt i tide for vår gruppe å teste programmene våre. Testing og forbedring av programmet vill fortsette i forberedelser til MATE. Grunnet leveringsfristen for bachelor oppgaven, blir ikke dette inkludert i denne rapporten. Se vår GitHub repository for koden: https://github.com/UiS-Subsea/Bachelor_Bildebehandling Se GUI gruppens GitHub repository for implementeringen av vår kode inn i deres kode: https://github.com/UiS-Subsea/Bachelor_GUIAbstract. This bachelor’s thesis is about creating and implementing a software program on an underwater robot (ROV), that utilizes image processing and computer vision to perform autonomous tasks. This is done as part of an interdisciplinary project in the student organization UiS Subsea. The ROV is built with the purpose of competing in the MATE ROV World Championship, which is held in Colorado, USA, on the 20-24th of June 2023. This thesis describes how camera feeds are received on the topside system, from the ROV, how image processing is utilized to solve autonomous tasks, the implementation of the program into a graphical user interface (GUI), and the sending of driving commands down to the ROV. Additionally, an attempt was made to use computer vision to create a 3D model of a coral head. A modular program has been made, receiving multiple camera feeds, performing autonomous tasks, and sending driving commands. This program was implemented into a GUI, and tested on land. Clearly defined image-processing tasks were given by MATE. All of them were solved except for 3D modeling. The program was tested on land and behaved as intended. However, the programs were not tested in water. This was due to the ROV not being finished in time for our group to test our programs. Testing and improving the program will continue in preparation for MATE. Due to the submission date for the bachelor’s thesis, this will not be included in this paper. See our GitHub repository for the code: https://github.com/UiS-Subsea/Bachelor_Bildebehandling See the GUI group’s repository for our code implemented into their code: https://github.com/UiS-Subsea/Bachelor_GU

Bildebehandling og Autonomi

Abstrakt. Denne bachelor oppgaven omhandler utvikling og implementering av programvare for en undervanns robot (ROV), som tar i bruk blide behandling og data syn for å utføre autonome oppgaver. Dette gjøres som en en del av et tverrfaglig prosjekt i student organisasjonen UiS Subsea. ROV-en er bygd med mål om å delta i MATE ROV World Championship, som holdes i Colorado, USA, den 20-24. juni 2023. Denne bachelor oppgaven beskriver hvordan kamera-strømmer mottas på topside systemet, fra ROV-en, hvordan bilde behandling blir brukt til å løse autonome oppgaver, hvordan programmet implementeres i et brukergrensesnitt (GUI) og hvordan kjøre kommandoer sendes ned til ROV-en. Et modulært system har blitt laget, som mottar flere kamera strømmer, utfører autonome oppgaver og sender styre kommandoer. Programmet er blitt implementert inn i en GUI og testet på land. Tydelige definerte bildebehandlings oppgaver er gitt ut av MATE. Alle oppgavene er løst, utenom 3D modellering. Programmet er testet på land og oppfører seg som ønsket. Derimot, er ikke programmene testet i vann. Grunnen til dette er at ROV-en ikke var ferdigstilt i tide for vår gruppe å teste programmene våre. Testing og forbedring av programmet vill fortsette i forberedelser til MATE. Grunnet leveringsfristen for bachelor oppgaven, blir ikke dette inkludert i denne rapporten. Se vår GitHub repository for koden: https://github.com/UiS-Subsea/Bachelor_Bildebehandling Se GUI gruppens GitHub repository for implementeringen av vår kode inn i deres kode: https://github.com/UiS-Subsea/Bachelor_GUIAbstract. This bachelor’s thesis is about creating and implementing a software program on an underwater robot (ROV), that utilizes image-processing and computer vision to perform autonomous tasks. This is done as part of an interdisciplinary project in the student organization UiS Subsea. The ROV is built with the purpose of competing in the MATE ROV World Championship, which is held in Colorado, USA, on the 20-24th of June 2023. This thesis describes how camera feeds are received on the topside system, from the ROV, how image processing is utilized to solve autonomous tasks, the implementation of the program into a graphical user interface (GUI), and the sending of driving commands down to the ROV. Additionally, an attempt was made to use computer vision to create a 3D model of a coral head. A modular program has been made, receiving multiple camera feeds, performing autonomous tasks, and sending driving commands. This program was implemented into a GUI, and tested on land. Clearly defined image-processing tasks were given by MATE. All of them were solved except for 3D modeling. The program was tested on land and behaved as intended. However, the programs were not tested in water. This was due to the ROV not being finished in time for our group to test our programs. Testing and improving the program will continue in preparation for MATE. Due to the submission date for the bachelor’s thesis, this will not be included in this paper. See our GitHub repository for the code: https://github.com/UiS-Subsea/Bachelor_Bildebehandling See the GUI group’s repository for our code implemented into their code: https://github.com/UiS-Subsea/Bachelor_GU