cometadata/datacite-rtg-text-other-reclassification-records huggingface dataset:
A Unique Mathematical Derivation of the Fundamental Laws of Nature Based on a New Algebraic-Axiomatic (Matrix) Approach
Creators: name: Zahedi, Ramin
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2015
Subjects: subject: General Physics (physics.gen-ph)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: In this article, as a new mathematical approach to origin of the basic laws of nature, using a new algebra-axiomatic matrix formalism based on the ring theory and Clifford algebras , "it is shown that certain mathematical forms of fundamental laws of nature, including laws governing the fundamental forces of nature (represented by a set of two definite classes of general covariant massive field equations, with new matrix formalisms), are derived uniquely (& completely) from only a very few axioms"; where in agreement with the rational Lorentz group, it is also basically assumed that the components of relativistic energy-momentum can only take rational values. Based on the definite mathematical formalism of this axiomatic approach, along with the C, P and T symmetries (represented by the corresponding quantum matrix operators) of the fundamentally derived field equations, it is concluded that the universe could be realized solely with the (1+2) and (1+3)-dimensional space-times. Moreover, it is shown that the (1+3)-dimensional cases of derived two classes of field equations, represent respectively new massive forms of bispinor fields of spin-2, and spin-1 particles; and (1+2)-dimensional cases of these equations represent (asymptotically) new massive forms of bispinor fields of spin-3/2 and spin-1/2 particles, respectively. On this basis, following certain forms of the gauge symmetries of these derived fields, along with the known elementary particles, eight new elementary particles including a spin-3/2 fermion, two chargeless leptons, two chargeless quarks, and three spin-1 (massive) bosons are predicted uniquely by this axiomatic matrix approach. As a particular result, based on the definite formulation of derived field equations, it has also been concluded that magnetic monopoles cannot exist in nature.
description: 83 Pages. Presented article at "The 21st International Conference on General Relativity and Gravitation, Columbia University, New York, USA, 2016". CERN Document-Record: 1980381, 2015. https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1997/3/4/67/
Issues in the estimation of mis-specified models of fractionally integrated processes
Creators: name: Martin, Gael M
name: Nadarajah, K.
name: Poskitt, Donald S
Publisher: name: Monash University
Year: 2022
Subjects: Econometric and statistical methods
Econometrics not elsewhere classified

description: We provide a comprehensive set of new results on the impact of mis-specifying the short run dynamics in fractionally integrated processes. We show that four alternative parametric estimators - frequency domain maximum likelihood, Whittle, time domain maximum likelihood and conditional sum of squares - converge to the same pseudo-true value under common mis-specification, and that they possess a common asymptotic distribution. The results are derived assuming a completely general parametric specification for the short run dynamics of the estimated (mis-specified) fractional model, and with long memory, short memory and antipersistence in both the model and the true data generating process accommodated. As well as providing new theoretical insights, we undertake an extensive set of numerical explorations, beginning with the numerical evaluation, and implementation, of the (common) asymptotic distribution that holds under the most extreme form of mis-specification. Simulation experiments are then conducted to assess the relative finite sample performance of all four mis-specified estimators, initially under the assumption of a known mean, as accords with the theoretical derivations. The importance of the known mean assumption is illustrated via the production of an alternative set of bias and mean squared error results, in which the estimators are applied to demeaned data. The paper concludes with a discussion of open problems.
Salivary Secretory Leukocyte Protease Inhibitor and Oral Candidiasis in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1-Infected Persons
Creators: name: Caplan, D. J.
name: Chattopadhyay, A.
name: Slade, G. D.
name: Patton, L. L.
name: Tien, H.-C.
name: Gray, L. R.
name: Shugars, D. C.
Publisher: name: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Libraries
Year: 2004

description: Oropharyngeal candidiasis, typically caused by Candida albicans, is the most common oral disease associated with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection. Secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI), a 12-kDa antiprotease, suppresses the growth of C. albicans in vitro. To determine whether the mucosal protein plays a role in protecting oral tissues against fungal infection, we conducted a cross-sectional study investigating the oral and systemic health and salivary SLPI levels in 91 dentate HIV-1-infected adults receiving medical care in the southeastern United States. Participants with a self-reported history of clinical oropharyngeal candidiasis during the previous 2 years constituted the test group (n = 52), while the comparison group (n = 39) had no oropharyngeal candidiasis during that period. Data collected from medical records, oral examination, and SLPI enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay quantitation of whole saliva were analyzed by t test, analysis of variance, linear regression, and unconditional logistic regression. The test group had a significantly higher mean salivary SLPI level than the comparison group (1.9 μg/ml versus 1.1 μg/ml, P < 0.05). Linear regression modeling identified CD4 cell count and history of oropharyngeal candidiasis as key predictors of salivary SLPI and revealed a significant interaction (P < 0.05) between immunosuppression (CD4 cell count below 200 cells/μl) and positive history of oropharyngeal candidiasis in predicting salivary SLPI level. By logistic regression modeling, a salivary SLPI level exceeding 2.1 μg/ml, low CD4 count, antiretroviral monotherapy, and smoking were key predictors of oropharyngeal candidiasis. These data support a key role for SLPI in the oral mucosal defense against C. albicans. The antimicrobial mucosal protein may serve as an indicator of previous oropharyngeal candidiasis infection among immunosuppressed persons.
title: Η εξέλιξη των δαπανών στα νοσοκομεία πριν και μετά την πανδημία: Η περίπτωση του Παναρκαδικού Νοσοκομείου Τρίπολης
title: The evolution of expenditure in hospitals before and after the pandemic: The case of the Panarcadian hospital of Tripolis
titleType: AlternativeTitle
Creators: name: Γιαννοπούλου, Αθανασία
Publisher: name: Πανεπιστήμιο Δυτικής Αττικής
Year: 2022
Subjects: Πανδημία
Νοσοκομεία
Οικονομικά στοιχεία
Covid-19
Δαπάνες υγείας
Ποιότητα υπηρεσιών υγείας
Κρίσεις στην υγεία

description: Τα τελευταία χρόνια, οι κοινωνικές και οικονομικές αλλαγές στην Ελλάδα έχουν αλλάξει σημαντικά το περιβάλλον του συστήματος υγειονομικής περίθαλψης. Ως εκ τούτου, σε ένα συνεχώς μεταβαλλόμενο περιβάλλον, η παρουσίαση της υγείας ως βασικού παράγοντα της οικονομικής και κοινωνικής ανάπτυξης θα πρέπει να είναι ένας από τους κύριους στόχους των κρατών με κοινωνικό χαρακτήρα που αναπτύσσονται σωστά. Ο τομέας της υγειονομικής περίθαλψης είναι ένας από τους πιο σημαντικούς τομείς,με χαρακτηριστικό τη κοινωνική του φύση η οποία δίνει το δικαίωμα σε όλους τους πολίτες να έχουν πρόσβαση στο σύστημα υγειονομικής περίθαλψης. Η παρούσα πτυχιακή εργασία στοχεύει στην ανάδειξη των επιπτώσεων της πανδημίας στον τομέα της υγείας και την ανάπτυξη των δαπανών για την υγεία στην Ελλάδα. Η επίτευξη των παραπάνω στόχων πραγματοποιείται μέσα από τέσσερα κεφάλαια που αναλύουν θέματα σχετικά με την πανδημία και τις επιπτώσεις της στο σύστημα υγείας. Το Κεφάλαιο 1 αναλύει τους βασικούς παράγοντες που σχετίζονται με την πανδημία, συμπεριλαμβανομένων των συνθηκών, των σταδίων, των βασικών χαρακτηριστικών, των αιτιών της και της ανάκαμψης στα πιο σημαντικά στάδια της οικονομικής κρίσης. Το Κεφάλαιο 2 αναλύει δεδομένα από το σύστημα υγείας. Συγκεκριμένα, θα εφαρμοστεί μια εννοιολογική προσέγγιση που θα εξηγεί τους βασικούς στόχους, στόχους του συστήματος υγείας, τα χαρακτηριστικά τους, τη μορφή τους, τις βασικές πηγές χρηματοδότησης και την ανάλυση του εθνικού συστήματος υγείας. Στο Κεφάλαιο 3, πραγματοποιείται ένας παραλληλισμός μεταξύ των οικονομικών δεδομένων και του συστήματος υγείας. Ειδικότερα, εξετάζεται η σχέση πανδημίας με την υγεία, η κρίση που περνά το σύστημα, το αντίκτυπο της πανδημίας σε όλα τα επίπεδα υγείας, το ελληνικό σύστημα υγείας, οι αδυναμίες του ελληνικού συστήματος, η απειλή του συστήματος σε επίπεδο κοινωνικής αλληλεγγύης. Το Κεφάλαιο 4 περιγράφει τα βασικά στοιχεία των δαπανών υγειονομικής περίθαλψης στην Ελλάδα και διεθνώς όπως, δαπάνες υγειονομικής περίθαλψης ως ποσοστό των συνολικών δαπανών, κοινωνικές δαπάνες ως ποσοστό του ΑΕΠ, δαπάνες υγειονομικής περίθαλψης ως ποσοστό και φαρμακευτικές δαπάνες. Τα συμπεράσματα ολοκληρώνονται με την υποβολή υποβληθέντων συμπερασμάτων και εισηγήσεων.
Reconstructing equation of state of dark energy with principal component analysis
Creators: name: Liu, Zhi-E
name: Qin, Hao-Feng
name: Zhang, Jie
name: Zhang, Tong-Jie
name: Yu, Hao-Ran
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2015
Subjects: subject: Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics (astro-ph.CO)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: We represent a nonparametric method to reconstruct the equation of state for dark energy directly from observational Hubble parameter data. We use principal component analysis (PCA) to extract the signal from data with noise. Moreover, we modify Akaike information criterion (AIC) to guarantee the quality of reconstruction and avoid over-fitting simultaneously. The results show that our method is robust in reconstruction of dark energy equation of state. Although current observational Hubble parameter data alone can not give a strong constraint yet, our results indicate that future observations can significantly improve the quality of the reconstruction.
description: 22 pages, 5 figures, Matches the published version in Physics of the Dark Universe. Journal reference: Physics of the Dark Universe, Volume 26, article id. 100379 (2019)
New Orientations: Touch in Women's Experimental Writing
Creators: name: Coy-dibley, Isabelle
Publisher: name: University of Westminster
Year: 2020

description: Through the analysis of women's experimental writing, this thesis examines the significance of touch in exceeding individual and social boundaries, contending that touch has the radical potential to elicit transformation. This thesis explores the way in which touch materialises throughout the experimental works of Audre Lorde, Anaïs Nin, Marguerite Duras, Monique Wittig, and Kathy Acker, arguing that experimental writing facilitates an affective language of touch and sensation that resists and moves beyond societally gendered, racialised, and compulsory heterosexualised constructs of tactile relations. By doing so, this research gestures toward the queer nature of touch to exceed normative frameworks and boundaries posed by conventional language, illuminating, in the readings of these experimental texts, new orientations for thinking through the radical potentials of touch, as a site of resistance that disrupts conventional modes of relation. Within these experimental texts, a politics of touch materialises both thematically and contextually, as well as through the experimental form itself, that operates as a site of counter politics to mainstream ideas of sexual relations. By engaging with contemporary feminist studies that take up issues of touch, such as Sara Ahmed's Queer Phenomenology: Orientations, Objects, Others (2006), this thesis proposes that touch functions as an 'orientation device' that informs what it means to be in relation to another. Touch has radical potentialities for transformation through its ability to orientate, reorientate and disorientate the subjects' bodies. Touch, therefore, precipitates change when bodies no longer follow the lines that have previously orientated them, but instead envision new orientations.
Characterization of Genetic and Phenotypic Diversity of Invasive Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae
Creators: name: Farley, M. M.
name: Muhlemann, K.
name: Campos, J.
name: Erwin, A. L.
name: Golomb, M.
name: Smith, A. L.
name: Bonthuis, P. J.
name: Satola, S. W.
name: Henderson, F. W.
name: Crook, D. W.
name: Mhlanga-Mutangadura, T.
name: van Alphen, L.
name: Unrath, W. C. T.
name: Nelson, K. L.
name: Geelhood, J. L.
name: Jacobs, R. F.
name: Morlin, G.
Publisher: name: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Libraries
Year: 2005

description: The ability of unencapsulated (nontypeable) Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) to cause systemic disease in healthy children has been recognized only in the past decade. To determine the extent of similarity among invasive nontypeable isolates, we compared strain R2866 with 16 additional NTHi isolates from blood and spinal fluid, 17 nasopharyngeal or throat isolates from healthy children, and 19 isolates from middle ear aspirates. The strains were evaluated for the presence of several genetic loci that affect bacterial surface structures and for biochemical reactions that are known to differ among H. influenzae strains. Eight strains, including four blood isolates, shared several properties with R2866: they were biotype V (indole and ornithine decarboxylase positive, urease negative), contained sequence from the adhesin gene hia, and lacked a genetic island flanked by the infA and ksgA genes. Multilocus sequence typing showed that most biotype V isolates belonged to the same phylogenetic cluster as strain R2866. When present, the infA-ksgA island contains lipopolysaccharide biosynthetic genes, either lic2B and lic2C or homologs of the losA and losB genes described for Haemophilus ducreyi. The island was found in most nasopharyngeal and otitis isolates but was absent from 40% of invasive isolates. Overall, the 33 hmw-negative isolates were much more likely than hmw-containing isolates to have tryptophanase, ornithine decarboxylase, or lysine decarboxylase activity or to contain the hif genes. We conclude (i) that invasive isolates are genetically and phenotypically diverse and (ii) that certain genetic loci of NTHi are frequently found in association among NTHi strains.
Comparison of Immune Responses to Gonococcal PorB Delivered as Outer Membrane Vesicles, Recombinant Protein, or Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus Replicon Particles
Creators: name: Johnston, R. E.
name: Davis, N. L.
name: Van Dam, C. N.
name: Zhu, W.
name: Chen, C.-j.
name: Sparling, P. F.
name: Thomas, C. E.
Publisher: name: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Libraries
Year: 2005

description: Porin (PorB) is a major outer membrane protein produced by all Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains and has been a focus of intense interest as a vaccine candidate. In this study, the immunogenicity of PorB in mice was investigated after several immunization regimens. Outer membrane vesicles (OMV), recombinant renatured PorB (rrPorB), and PorB-expressing Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) virus replicon particles (PorB VRP) were delivered intranasally (i.n.) or subcutaneously (s.c.) into the dorsal area or the hind footpad in three-dose schedules; the PorB VRP-immunized mice were given a single additional booster dose of rrPorB in Ribi adjuvant. Different delivery systems and administration routes induced different immune responses. Mice immunized s.c. with rrPorB in Ribi had the highest levels of PorB-specific serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Surprisingly, there was an apparent Th1 bias, based on IgG1/IgG2a ratios, after immunization with rrPorB in Ribi in the footpad while the same vaccine given in the dorsal area gave a strongly Th2-biased response. PorB VRP-immunized mice produced a consistent Th1 response with a high gamma interferon response in stimulated splenic lymphocytes and very low IgG1/IgG2a ratios. Immunization by OMV delivered i.n. was the only regimen that resulted in a serum bactericidal response, and it generated an excellent mucosal IgA response. Serum from mice immunized with rrPorB preferentially recognized the surface of whole gonococci expressing a homologous PorB, whereas serum from PorB VRP-immunized mice had relatively low whole-cell binding activity but recognized both heterologous and homologous PorB equally. The data resulting from this direct comparison suggested that important aspects of the immune response can be manipulated by altering the form of the antigen and its delivery. This information coupled with an understanding of protective antigonococcal immune responses will enable the design of the optimal vaccine for N. gonorrhoeae.
Infinitely many nonradial singular solutions of $Δu+e^u=0$ in $\mathbb{R}^N\backslash\{0\}$, $4\le N\le 10$
Creators: name: Miyamoto, Yasuhito
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2015
Subjects: subject: Analysis of PDEs (math.AP)
subject: FOS: Mathematics
subject: Primary: 35J61, 35R01, Secondary: 70K05, 35B08

description: We construct countably infinitely many nonradial singular solutions of the problem \[ Δu+e^u=0\ \ \textrm{in}\ \ \mathbb{R}^N\backslash\{0\},\ \ 4\le N\le 10 \] of the form \[ u(r,σ)=-2\log r+\log 2(N-2)+v(σ), \] where $v(σ)$ depends only on $σ\in \mathbb{S}^{N-1}$. To this end we construct countably infinitely many solutions of \[ Δ_{\mathbb{S}^{N-1}}v+2(N-2)(e^v-1)=0,\ \ 4\le N\le 10, \] using ODE techniques.
description: 15 pages
Regime switching panel data models with interative fixed effects
Creators: name: Cheng, Tingting
name: Gao, Jiti
name: Yan, Yayi
Publisher: name: Monash University
Year: 2022
Subjects: Econometric and statistical methods
Econometrics not elsewhere classified

description: In this paper, we introduce a regime switching panel data model with interactive fixed effects. We propose a maximum likelihood estimation method and develop an expectation and conditional maximization algorithm to estimate the unknown parameters. Simulation results show that the algorithm works well in finite samples. The biases of the maximum likelihood estimators are negligible and the root mean squared errors of the maximum likelihood estimators decrease with the increase of either cross-sectional units N or time periods T.
Demonstration of Factor H-Like Protein 1 Binding to Treponema denticola, a Pathogen Associated with Periodontal Disease in Humans
Creators: name: McDowell, J. V.
name: Stamm, L.
name: Gordon, D. L.
name: Lankford, J.
name: Sadlon, T.
name: Marconi, R. T.
Publisher: name: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Libraries
Year: 2005

description: Treponema denticola is an important contributor to periodontal disease. In this study we investigated the ability of T. denticola to bind the complement regulatory proteins factor H and factor H-like protein 1 (FHL-1). The binding of these proteins has been demonstrated to facilitate evasion of the alternative complement cascade and/or to play a role in adherence and invasion. Here we demonstrate that T. denticola specifically binds FHL-1 via a 14-kDa, surface-exposed protein that we designated FhbB. Consistent with its FHL-1 binding specificity, FhbB binds only to factor H recombinant fragments spanning short consensus repeats (SCRs) 1 to 7 (H7 construct) and not to SCR constructs spanning SCRs 8 to 15 and 16 to 20. Binding of H7 to FhbB was inhibited by heparin. The specific involvement of SCR 7 in the interaction was demonstrated using an H7 mutant (H7AB) in which specific charged residues in SCR 7 were replaced by alanine. This construct lost FhbB binding ability. Analyses of the ability of FHL-1 bound to the surface of T. denticola to serve as a cofactor for factor I-mediated cleavage of C3b revealed that C3b is cleaved in an FHL-1/factor I-independent manner, perhaps by an unidentified protease. Based on the data presented here, we hypothesize that the primary function of FHL-1 binding by T. denticola might be to facilitate adherence to FHL-1 present on anchorage-dependent cells and in the extracellular matrix.
A priori estimates for relativistic liquid bodies
Creators: name: Oliynyk, Todd A.
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2015
Subjects: subject: Analysis of PDEs (math.AP)
subject: General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology (gr-qc)
subject: Mathematical Physics (math-ph)
subject: FOS: Mathematics
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: We demonstrate that a sufficiently smooth solution of the relativistic Euler equations that represents a dynamical compact liquid body, when expressed in Lagrangian coordinates, determines a solution to a system of non-linear wave equations with acoustic boundary conditions. Using this wave formulation, we prove that these solutions satisfy energy estimates without loss of derivatives. Importantly, our wave formulation does not require the liquid to be irrotational, and the energy estimates do not rely on divergence and curl type estimates employed in previous works.
description: Corrected some typos and misprints in the published version
Wild Character Varieties, points on the Riemann sphere and Calabi's examples
Creators: name: Boalch, Philip
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2015
Subjects: subject: Algebraic Geometry (math.AG)
subject: Differential Geometry (math.DG)
subject: Representation Theory (math.RT)
subject: FOS: Mathematics

description: We will give several descriptions of some basic examples of wild character varieties, including a discussion of links to work of Sibuya, Calabi and Euler, amongst others.
description: 23 pages. v5: terminology regarding Stokes filtrations adjusted, better reflecting the analogy with Hodge structures, as in arXiv:1903.12612 (v4 is closest to the published version)
Haemophilus ducreyi Outer Membrane Determinants, Including DsrA, Define Two Clonal Populations
Creators: name: Elkins, C.
name: Leduc, I.
name: White, C. D.
name: Harris, C.
name: Olsen, B.
name: Jeter, C.
Publisher: name: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Libraries
Year: 2005

description: The Haemophilus ducreyi outer membrane component DsrA (for ducreyi serum resistance A) is necessary for complete resistance to normal human serum (NHS). When DsrA expression in 19 temporally and geographically diverse clinical isolates of H. ducreyi was examined by Western blotting, 5 of the strains expressed a different immunotype of the DsrA protein (DsrAII) than the well-characterized prototypical strain 35000HP (DsrAI). The predicted DsrA proteins expressed by the DsrAII strains were 100% identical to each other but only 48% identical to that of strain 35000HP. In addition to the DsrAII protein, class II strains also expressed variant forms of other outer membrane proteins (OMPs) including NcaA (necessary for collagen adhesion A), DltA (ducreyi lectin A), Hlp (H. ducreyi lipoprotein), major OMP, and/or OmpA2 (for OMP A2) and synthesized a distinct, faster-migrating lipooligosaccharide. Based on these data, strains expressing DsrAI were termed class I, and those expressing DsrAII were termed class II. Expression of dsrAII from strain CIP 542 ATCC in the class I dsrAI mutant FX517 (35000HP background), which does not express a DsrA protein, rendered this strain resistant to 50% NHS. This demonstrates that DsrAII protein is also critical to serum resistance. Taken together, these results indicate that there are two clonal populations of H. ducreyi. The implications of two classes of H. ducreyi strains differing in important antigenic outer membrane components are discussed.
Modelling time-varying income elasticities of health care expenditure for the OECD
Creators: name: Casas, Isabel
name: Gao, Jiti
name: Xie, Shangyu
Publisher: name: Monash University
Year: 2022
Subjects: Econometric and statistical methods
Econometrics not elsewhere classified

description: Income elasticity dynamics of health expenditure is considered for the OECD and the Eurozone over the period 1995-2014. This paper studies a novel non-linear cointegration model with fixed effects, controlling for cross-section dependence and unobserved heterogeneity. Most importantly, its coefficients can vary over time and its variables can be non-stationary. The resulting asymptotic theory is fundamentally different with a faster rate of convergence to similar kernel smoothing methodologies. A fully modified kernel regression method is also proposed to reduce the asymptotic bias. Results show a steep increase in the income elasticity for the OECD and a small increase for the Eurozone.
Interactions of OspA Monoclonal Antibody C3.78 with Borrelia burgdorferi within Ticks
Creators: name: Gipson, C. L.
name: de Silva, A. M.
Publisher: name: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Libraries
Year: 2005

description: The Borrelia burgdorferi outer surface protein A (OspA) vaccine induces antibodies that prevent transmission from the tick to the host. Here we describe studies with an OspA monoclonal antibody (C3.78) to understand the mechanism by which antibodies entering the tick block Borrelia transmission. Host complement in the tick's blood meal did not contribute to protection because the antibody was equally effective whether infected ticks fed on normal or complement-deficient mice. Antibody-mediated cross-linking of bacteria or cross-linking of OspA molecules was not required for protection because C3.78 Fab′ fragments were as effective as whole antibody molecules. At low C3.78 concentrations, transmission was blocked despite the presence of many live spirochetes within the tick, confirming that clearance of Borrelia organisms was not required to block transmission. We propose that OspA antibody binding to the surface of spirochetes blocks transmission by a mechanism that does not require bacterial killing.
Matrix models and a proof of the open analog of Witten's conjecture
Creators: name: Buryak, Alexandr
name: Tessler, Ran J.
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2015
Subjects: subject: Symplectic Geometry (math.SG)
subject: Mathematical Physics (math-ph)
subject: FOS: Mathematics
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: In a recent work, R. Pandharipande, J. P. Solomon and the second author have initiated a study of the intersection theory on the moduli space of Riemann surfaces with boundary. They conjectured that the generating series of the intersection numbers satisfies the open KdV equations. In this paper we prove this conjecture. Our proof goes through a matrix model and is based on a Kontsevich type combinatorial formula for the intersection numbers that was found by the second author.
description: v5: a step in the proof of Proposition 4.1, pointed by Jan Troost, is made more clear; 27 pages
African Politics in the Digital Age: A Study of Political Party-Social Media Campaign Strategies in Ghana
Creators: name: Asante, James
Publisher: name: University of Westminster
Year: 2020

description: Digital media is transforming politics. It has made it imperative for political stakeholders to come up with new strategies that respond to challenges triggered by the new digital communication platforms. Equally, the technological developments have affected communication processes and strategies in transitional political contexts, with varying impacts on democratic governance, political participation and forms of deliberation for citizens. However, the actual impact of social media on political processes remains debatable. Many issues emerge including not only how communications technologies revitalise campaign techniques but also how they influence actors, organisations and reorient political campaigning environments. In Africa, it is important to ask in specific contexts how the new technologies are reconfiguring the relationship between the rulers and the ruled, between politicians and the electorate. In particular, how has digital media facilitated new forms of political communications to individuals and groups? Has it gone beyond geography, class, gender, language or race? What has been the specific impact on campaign strategies, and their process and impact on electoral politics in countries such as Ghana, an emerging democracy? Through a case study, this research has explored the changing dynamics of election campaigning in Ghana in the context of social media. By examining the influence of Facebook, Twitter Instagram and other Social Network Sites (SNSs) for political campaigning, the research produces an original analysis of digital political communication, organization and mobilization, among others, as they are deployed by the main political parties, namely, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP), with a focus on the 2012 and 2016 elections. The study has adopted a qualitative research methodology, based on in-depth interviews (formal and informal), focus group discussions, as well as informal observation techniques, which were applied to gather original evidence. The main findings are that social media is implicated in political campaigns in multiple ways, with its ability to change, and are dependent on the availability of resources and policy frameworks that regulate and streamline their usages. The study shows how the campaign process is also implicated by political organizations, actors and voters, rather than just by the technologies. The research has uncovered the role of offline/digital ‘serial callers’, those quasi political communicators hired by political parties to influence political campaigning. Challenges and limitations notwithstanding, the research provides an invaluable insight into the relationship between the use of social media for political communication and its ramifications for democratization in Ghana. It contributes original insights on the shifts and impact of political communication within the African context.
Pluripotent stem cell assays: Modalities and applications for predictive developmental toxicity
Creators: name: Piersma, Aldert H.
name: Baker, Nancy C.
name: Daston, George P.
name: Flick, Burkhard
name: Fujiwara, Michio
name: Knudsen, Thomas B.
name: Spielmann, Horst
name: Suzuki, Noriyuki
name: Tsaioun, Katya
name: Kojima, Hajime
Publisher: name: Freie Universität Berlin
Year: 2022
Subjects: subject: Developmental toxicity
subject: Predictive toxicology
subject: Embryonic stem cell test
subject: Teratogenesis
subject: 500 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik::570 Biowissenschaften; Biologie::570 Biowissenschaften; Biologie

description: This manuscript provides a review focused on embryonic stem cell-based models and their place within the landscape of alternative developmental toxicity assays. Against the background of the principles of developmental toxicology, the wide diversity of alternative methods using pluripotent stem cells developed in this area over the past half century is reviewed. In order to provide an overview of available models, a systematic scoping review was conducted following a published protocol with inclusion criteria, which were applied to select the assays. Critical aspects including biological domain, readout endpoint, availability of standardized protocols, chemical domain, reproducibility and predictive power of each assay are described in detail, in order to review the applicability and limitations of the platform in general and progress moving forward to implementation. The horizon of innovative routes of promoting regulatory implementation of alternative methods is scanned, and recommendations for further work are given.
AutoVis: Enabling Mixed-Immersive Analysis of Automotive User Interface Interaction Studies
Creators: name: Jansen, Pascal
name: Britten, Julian
name: Häusele, Alexander
name: Segschneider, Thilo
name: Colley, Mark
name: Rukzio, Enrico
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2023
Subjects: subject: Human-Computer Interaction (cs.HC)
subject: FOS: Computer and information sciences

description: Automotive user interface (AUI) evaluation becomes increasingly complex due to novel interaction modalities, driving automation, heterogeneous data, and dynamic environmental contexts. Immersive analytics may enable efficient explorations of the resulting multilayered interplay between humans, vehicles, and the environment. However, no such tool exists for the automotive domain. With AutoVis, we address this gap by combining a non-immersive desktop with a virtual reality view enabling mixed-immersive analysis of AUIs. We identify design requirements based on an analysis of AUI research and domain expert interviews (N=5). AutoVis supports analyzing passenger behavior, physiology, spatial interaction, and events in a replicated study environment using avatars, trajectories, and heatmaps. We apply context portals and driving-path events as automotive-specific visualizations. To validate AutoVis against real-world analysis tasks, we implemented a prototype, conducted heuristic walkthroughs using authentic data from a case study and public datasets, and leveraged a real vehicle in the analysis process.
Resveratrol induces the production of reactive oxygen species, interferes with the cell cycle, and inhibits the cell migration of bladder tumour cells with different TP53 status
Creators: name: Almeida, Tamires Cunha
name: Melo, André Sacramento
name: Lima, Ana Paula Braga
name: Branquinho, Renata Tupinambá
name: da Silva, Glenda Nicioli
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2022
Subjects: subject: Biophysics
subject: Biochemistry
subject: Medicine
subject: Cell Biology
subject: Genetics
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Molecular Biology
subject: Biotechnology
subject: Chemical Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Developmental Biology
subject: Cancer
subject: Hematology

description: Resveratrol is a polyphenolic compound whose antitumor activity has been demonstrated in several types of cancer. However, there are few studies on its molecular mechanisms of action in bladder cancer. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate resveratrol activity in bladder tumour cells with different TP53 gene status. Cytotoxicity, cell proliferation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, cell migration, mutagenicity, and CDH1, CTNNBIP1, HAT1, HDAC1, MYC, and SMAD4 gene expression were evaluated. An increase in ROS after resveratrol treatment was accompanied by reduced cell viability and proliferation in all cell lines. In TP53 wild-type cells, the inhibition of cell migration was accompanied by CDH1 and SMAD4 modulation. In TP53 mutated cells, cell migration inhibition with CDH1 and CTNNB1P1 upregulation was observed. In conclusion, resveratrol has antiproliferative effect in bladder tumour cells and its mechanism of action occurred through ROS production, interference with cell cycle, and inhibition of cell migration, independent of TP53 status.
Approximations of the Sum of States by Laplace's Method for a System of Particles with a Finite Number of Energy Levels and Application to Limit Theorems
Creators: name: Łapiński, Tomasz M.
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2015
Subjects: subject: Probability (math.PR)
subject: FOS: Mathematics
subject: 41A60, 41A63, 60F05, 82B20

description: We consider a generic system composed of a fixed number of particles distributed over a finite number of energy levels. We make only general assumptions about system's properties and the entropy. System's constraints other than fixed number of particles can be included by appropriate reduction of system's state space. For the entropy we consider three generic cases. It can have a maximum in the interior of system's state space or on the boundary. On the boundary we can have another two cases. There the entropy can increase linearly with increase of the number of particles and in the another case grows slower than linearly. The main results are approximations of system's sum of states using Laplace's method. Estimates of the error terms are also included. As an application, we prove the law of large numbers which yields the most probable state of the system. This state is the one with the maximal entropy. We also find limiting laws for the fluctuations. These laws are different for the considered cases of the entropy. They can be mixtures of Normal, Exponential and Discrete distributions. Explicit rates of convergence are provided for all the theorems.
description: 23 pages
Killing of dsrA Mutants of Haemophilus ducreyi by Normal Human Serum Occurs via the Classical Complement Pathway and Is Initiated by Immunoglobulin M Binding
Creators: name: Cade, W.
name: Elkins, C.
name: Ram, S.
name: Rice, P.
name: Nepluev, I.
name: Afonina, G.
name: Abdullah, M.
Publisher: name: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Libraries
Year: 2005

description: Previously, we showed that serum resistance in Haemophilus ducreyi type strain 35000HP required expression of the outer membrane protein DsrA because the isogenic dsrA mutant FX517 is highly serum susceptible. In this study, we confirmed this finding by construction of additional serum-susceptible dsrA mutants in more recently isolated serum-resistant strains. We also demonstrated that killing of dsrA mutants required an intact classical complement cascade but not the alternative or mannan-binding lectin pathways. Between 5- and 10-fold more purified human immunoglobulin M (IgM) but not IgG was deposited onto dsrA mutant FX517 than onto parent strain 35000HP, consistent with IgM initiation of the classical cascade. Depletion of IgM, but not IgG, from complement-intact serum inhibited killing of FX517. As predicted from the amounts of IgM bound, more of the individual complement components were bound by FX517 than by parent strain 35000HP. Examination of the binding of negative regulators of complement as an explanation for serum resistance indicated that parent strain 35000HP bound more C4 binding protein and vitronectin than FX517 but not factor H. However, the degree and pattern of complement component binding observed suggested that IgM binding to the serum-susceptible mutant FX517 was responsible for the activation of the classical pathway and the observed killing of FX517 as opposed to binding of negative regulators of complement by the serum-resistant parent. We speculate that an undefined neo-epitope, possibly carbohydrate, is exposed in the dsrA mutant that is recognized by naturally occurring bactericidal IgM antibodies present in human sera.
High dimensional semiparametric moment restriction models
Creators: name: Dong, Chaohua
name: Gao, Jiti
name: Linton, Oliver
Publisher: name: Monash University
Year: 2022
Subjects: Econometric and statistical methods
Econometrics not elsewhere classified

description: We consider nonlinear moment restriction semiparametric models where both the dimension of the parameter vector and the number of restrictions are divergent with sample size and an unknown smooth function is involved. We propose an estimation method based on the sieve generalized method of moments (sieve-GMM). We establish consistency and asymptotic normality for the estimated quantities when the number of parameters increases modestly with sample size. We also consider the case where the number of potential parameters/covariates is very large, i.e., increases rapidly with sample size, but the true model exhibits sparsity. We use a penalized sieve GMM approach to select the relevant variables, and establish the oracle property of our method in this case. We also provide new results for inference. We propose several new test statistics for the over-identification and establish their large sample properties. We provide a simulation study and an application to data from the NLSY79 used by Carneiro et al. [14].
Eugenia uniflora L. seed and pulp extracts: phytochemical profile, cytotoxic potential, antitumoral activity, and α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition capacity
Creators: name: Borsoi, Felipe Tecchio
name: da Silva Rosa Bonadiman, Beatriz
name: Marafon, Filomena
name: de Oliveira Fischer, Doralice Lobato
name: Bagatini, Margarete Dulce
name: Kempka, Aniela Pinto
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2022
Subjects: subject: Biochemistry
subject: Space Science
subject: Medicine
subject: Cell Biology
subject: Molecular Biology
subject: Pharmacology
subject: Chemical Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Immunology
subject: FOS: Clinical medicine
subject: Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Information Systems not elsewhere classified
subject: Cancer
subject: Hematology
subject: Plant Biology
subject: FOS: Biological sciences

description: In this study, phytochemical profiling, cytotoxic potential, antitumoral activity, and α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition capacity of extracts of seed and pulp of Eugenia uniflora L. fruits were investigated. The extracts were obtained using a cellulase complex and the phenolic compounds were quantified. The cytotoxic potential and antitumoral activity were evaluated using peripheral blood mononuclear cells and melanoma-type tumor cells, respectively. The α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition capacity was determined. For all extracts, the compounds identified and quantified were salicylic acid, protocatechuic acid, gallic acid and, myricitrin. For extract of pulp, ellagic and p-coumaric acids were also identified and quantified. The extracts do not show cytotoxicity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Extract of seed was able to decrease cell viability in melanoma-type tumor cells within 24 h of exposure. The concentration 5 µg mL−1 of extracts inhibited 7.73% of α-amylase and 15.34% of α-glucosidase. The Pitanga extracts presents substances with biological activities.
A DltA Mutant of Haemophilus ducreyi Is Partially Attenuated in Its Ability To Cause Pustules in Human Volunteers
Creators: name: Katz, B. P.
name: Elkins, C.
name: Spinola, S. M.
name: Fortney, K. R.
name: Leduc, I.
name: Janowicz, D.
Publisher: name: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Libraries
Year: 2006

description: Haemophilus ducreyi produces two outer membrane proteins, called DltA (H. ducreyi lectin A) and DsrA (H. ducreyi serum resistance A), that contribute to the ability of the organism to evade complement-mediated serum killing. In contrast to their isogenic parent strain, 35000HP, the DsrA mutant FX517 exhibits 0% survival in 50% normal human serum and the DltA mutant FX533 exhibits 23% survival. Compared to 35000HP, FX517 does not cause pustule formation in human volunteers. To test whether DltA was required for virulence in humans, seven volunteers were experimentally infected with 35000HP and FX533. Four subjects were inoculated with fixed doses of 35000HP (101 CFU or 130 CFU) at three sites on one arm and escalating doses of FX533 (range, 46 CFU to 915 CFU) at three sites on the other arm. Pustules only developed at mutant-injected sites at doses nearly twofold higher than that of the parent, suggesting that FX533 was partially attenuated. Three subjects were inoculated with similar doses of the parent (67 CFU) and mutant (104 CFU) at three sites. Pustules formed at five of nine parent sites and one of nine mutant sites. Overall, the papule and pustule formation rates for 35000HP and FX533 were similar for the trial. However, for the five subjects who received similar doses of the parent and mutant, pustules developed at 7 of 15 sites (46.7%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 16.9% to 76.5%) inoculated with the parent and at 1 of 15 (6.7%; 95% CI, 0.1% to 18.4%) sites inoculated with the mutant (P = 0.043). We concluded that the DltA mutant was attenuated in its ability to cause disease at doses similar to that of the parent.
MOESM1 of Risk of atrial fibrillation in persons with type 2 diabetes and the excess risk in relation to glycaemic control and renal function: a Swedish cohort study
Creators: name: Shilan Seyed Ahmadi
name: Ann-Marie Svensson
name: Pivodic, Aldina
name: Rosengren, Annika
name: Lind, Marcus
Publisher: name: figshare
Year: 2020
Subjects: subject: Medicine
subject: 69999 Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Marine Biology
subject: Science Policy
subject: 111714 Mental Health
subject: FOS: Health sciences

description: Additional file 1: Table S1. Cox regression for time to atrial fibrillation-overall, men and women. Table S2. Adjusted hazard ratios for atrial fibrillation and 95% confidence intervals for time-updated mean HbA1c categories, albuminuria categories and eGFR categories versus the reference group examined by Cox regression–Men. Table S3. Adjusted hazard ratios for atrial fibrillation and 95% confidence intervals for time-updated mean HbA1c categories, albuminuria categories and eGFR categories versus the reference group examined by Cox regression–Women. Table S4. Adjusted hazard ratios for atrial fribrillation and 95% confidence intervals for time-updated mean HbA1c categories together with albuminuria and eGFR versus the reference group examined by Cox regression–Men. Table S5. Adjusted hazard ratios for atrial fibrillation and 95% confidence intervals for time-updated mean HbA1c categories together with albuminuria and eGFR versus the reference group examined by Cox regression–Women. Table S6. The impact of time-updated mean HbA1c categories on time to first atrial fibrillation using Cox regression analysis among type 2 diabetes patients–Men. Table S7. The impact of time-updated mean HbA1c categories on time to first atrial fibrillation using Cox regression analysis among type 2 diabetes patients–Women.
New benzofuran neolignans with neuroprotective activity from Phyllanthodendron breynioides
Creators: name: Su, Tong
name: Pu, Mei-Cen
name: Tang, Di-Kai
name: Long, Jin-Chen
name: Yuan, Fang-Yu
name: Yin, Ai-Ping
name: Wu, Shu-Qi
name: Yin, Sheng
name: Tang, Gui-Hua
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2022
Subjects: Biophysics
Biochemistry
Cell Biology
Pharmacology
Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified
Chemical Sciences not elsewhere classified
Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
Cancer
Hematology

description: A pair of undescribed dihydrobenzofuran neolignan enantiomers, (+/−)-phybrenan A (1a/1b), two new benzofuran neolignans, phybrenan B and C (2 and 3), along with four known neolignans (4 − 7) were obtained from the plants of Phyllanthodendron breynioides P. T. Li. The planar structures of all isolates were demonstrated by the analysis of detailed spectroscopic evidence (NMR, HRMS, and IR), and the absolute configurations of novel neolignans were elucidated by combined calculated and experimental ECD data analysis. The neuroprotective activities of all benzofuran neolignans against sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-induced cell death were examined in rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells. The results exhibited that three compounds (4 − 6) possessed remarkable neuroprotective activities at 10 µM, better than the positive drug edaravone.
Variation of Mixed Hodge Structures associated to an equisingular one-dimensional family of Calabi-Yau threefolds
Creators: name: Nieto-Baños, Isidro
name: Del Angel-Rodriguez, Pedro Luis
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2015
Subjects: subject: Algebraic Geometry (math.AG)
subject: FOS: Mathematics
subject: 14Q15, 14J32, 14C30, 14D07 (primary)

description: We study the Variations of mixed Hodge structures (VMHS) associated to a pencil ${\cal X}$ (parametrised by an open set $B \subset {\Bbb P}^1$) of equisingular hypersurfaces of degree $d$ in ${\Bbb P}^{4}$ with exactly $m$ ordinary double points as singularities as well as the variations of Hodge structures (VHS) associated to the desingularization of this family $ \widetilde{\cal X}$. The case where exactly $l \le m $ of those double points are in algebraic general position (short:agp) is studied in detail and determine the possible limiting mixed Hodge structures (LMHS) associated to each of the points in ${\Bbb P}^1\backslash B$. We find that the position of the singular points being in agp is not sufficient to describe the space of first one-adjoint conditions and naturally the notion of a set of singular points being in homologically good position (short: hg) is introduced. By requiring that the set of nodes in agp is also in hg, the $F^2$-term of the Hodge filtration of the desingularization is completely determined. The particular pencil $ {\cal X}$ of quintic hypersurfaces with $100$ singular double points with $86$ of them in agp which served as the starting point for this paper is treated with particular attention.
description: 26 pages,one figure, "accepted version" to appear in Canadian Journal of Mathematics