cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Acute surgical vs non-surgical management for ocular and peri-ocular burns: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Burn-related injury to the face involving the structures of the eyes, eyelids, eyelashes, and/or eyebrows could result in multiple reconstructive procedures to improve functional and cosmetic outcomes, and correct complications following poor acute phase management. The objective of this article was to evaluate if non-surgical or surgical interventions are best for acute management of ocular and/or peri-ocular burns. This systematic review and meta-analysis compared 272 surgical to 535 non-surgical interventions within 1 month of patients suffering burn-related injuries to 465 eyes, 253 eyelids, 90 eyelashes, and 0 eyebrows and evaluated associated outcomes and complications. The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Scopus databases were systematically and independently searched. Patient and clinical characteristics, surgical and medical interventions, outcomes, and complications were recorded. Eight of the 14,927 studies queried for this study were eligible for the systematic review and meta-analysis, with results from 33 of the possible 58 outcomes and complications using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) and Cochrane guidelines. Surgery was associated with standard mean differences (SMD) 0.44 greater visual acuity on follow-up, SMD 1.63 mm shorter epithelial defect diameters on follow-up, SMD 1.55 mm greater changes in epithelial diameters from baseline, SMD 1.17 mm2 smaller epithelial defect areas on follow-up, SMD 1.37 mm2 greater changes in epithelial defect areas from baseline, risk ratios (RR) 1.22 greater numbers of healed epithelial defects, RR 11.17 more keratitis infections, and a 2.2 greater reduction in limbal ischemia compared to no surgical intervention. This systematic review and meta-analysis found that compared to non-surgical interventions, acute surgical interventions for ocular, eyelid, and/or eyelash burns were found to have greater visual acuity on follow-up, shorter epithelial defect diameters on follow-up, greater changes in epithelial diameters from baseline, smaller epithelial defect areas on follow-up, greater changes in epithelial defect areas from baseline, greater numbers of healed epithelial defects, more keratitis infections, and a greater reduction in limbal ischemia, possibility preventing the need of a future limbal stem cell transplantation.
Path formation using a robot swarm with limited sensing capabilities

In this paper, we present a swarm intelligence control mechanism for robot path formation. In our controller the robots form a linear chain between two points which the individual robots cannot detect simultaneously in a search space with obstacles. The controller is able to form a path in the environment with obstacles and exhibits good scalability and fault tolerance characteristics. The individual robots are limited in that they do not know where they are in the search space, cannot communicate with each other and cannot differentiate between obstacles and other robots. We study three distinct swarm sizes and observe that larger robot groups achieve success in less time and are more successful overall.
Drug Removal Systems and Induction Chemotherapy

Regional chemotherapy developed in the 1950s continues to play an integral part in the development of newer therapies for advanced solid malignancies. Regional therapies have evolved in complexity, but are still based on the pharmacokinetics of drug delivery to solid malignancies. The quest remains on how to deliver a greater amount of antineoplastic agent to the tumor-bearing region with less side effects and toxicity. Hemodialysis, hemofiltration, and hemoperfusion are used to improve systemic and regional drug clearance. These techniques using drug removal systems demonstrate that the combination of regional therapies plus surgery can be essential in promoting improved patient outcomes. However, recent reports suggest that regional chemotherapy used in a neoadjuvant setting followed by curative surgery yield the best long-term results. Sequentially, the addition of adjuvant chemotherapy further improves patient outcomes.
Deploying and testing an expandable surgical chamber in microgravity

Prolonged spaceflights will increase the possibility of injury to flight crews and mission personnel. These injuries are anticipated to include foreign body injury, mechanical injury, and burns. Surgical repair of these injuries must take into consideration problems of contamination of the injury as well as contamination of the Space Station or transport vehicle environment. Use of a portable expandable surgical chamber is felt to be the most efficient and effective means of providing necessary surgical care in a Space Station environment. A first prototype expandable surgical chamber has been developed and tested in zero gravity. A second prototype has now been developed and will be tested.
Understanding the impact of national culture on firms’ benefit-seeking behaviors in international B2B relationships: A conceptual model and research propositions

Abstract Firms in an international B2B relationship often simultaneously pursue two types of benefits: Common benefit (cooperation) and private benefit competition). Past literature only examined performance implications of such behavioral tensions. Drawing on Hofstede’s cultural dimensions, this study attempts to build a theoretical model to better understand firms’ behavioral intentions from a cultural perspective in international B2B relationships. Propositions were developed on five dimensions of the cultural framework: individualism/collectivism, uncertainty avoidance, masculinity/femininity, long-term orientation/short-term orientation, and power distance. This model should help firms to select partners with the most compatible objectives and to establish appropriate safeguarding mechanisms based on their behavioral intentions.
Risk factors for heart failure in women with ischemia and no obstructive coronary artery disease

Abstract Study objective Women with ischemia and no obstructive coronary artery disease (INOCA) are at increased risk for heart failure (HF) hospitalizations, which is predominantly HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). We aimed to identify predictors for the development of heart failure HF in a deeply phenotyped cohort of women with INOCA and long-term prospective follow-up. Design, setting and participants Women enrolled in the NHLBI-sponsored Women's Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation (WISE) were evaluated for baseline characteristics including clinical history, medications, physical exam, laboratory data and angiographic data. Using a multivariate Cox analysis, we assessed the association between baseline characteristics and the occurrence of HF hospitalizations in 493 women with evidence of ischemia but no obstructive coronary disease, no prior history of HF, and available follow-up data. Results During a median follow-up of 6-years, 18 (3.7%) women were hospitalized for HF. Diabetes mellitus and tobacco use were associated with HF hospitalization. In a multivariate analysis adjusting for known HFpEF predictors including age, diabetes, hypertension, tobacco use, and statin use, novel predictive variables included higher resting heart rate, parity and IL-6 levels and lower coronary flow reserve (CFR) and poor functional status. Conclusions There is a considerable incidence of HF hospitalization at longer term follow-up in women with INOCA. In addition to traditional risk factors, novel risk variables that independently predict HF hospitalization include multi-parity, high IL-6, low CFR, and poor functional status. These novel risk factors may be useful to understand mechanistic pathways and future treatment targets for prevention of HFpEF.
Predicting bark thickness with one- and two-stage regression models for three hardwood species in the southeastern US

Abstract Tree bark, as the outermost protective layer of tree stems, is an important indicator to evaluate the fire resistance properties of trees and to assess the tree mortality induced by fire. Despite its importance, many existing bark thickness models were not primarily developed for predicting bark thickness directly, i.e. with bark thickness as a response variable, and most past studies were focused on modeling bark thickness in conifers. Thus, the objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of various bark thickness models/methods for three common hardwood species in the southeastern US. A total number of 47,281 measurements from 2,070 trees were used in analysis. Results showed that bark thickness at breast height (1.37 m or 4.5 ft above ground) varies by tree size and species, which can be predicted by a species-specific linear regression model with DBH as a single predictor. To predict bark thickness profile, a combination of stem taper function and bark thickness model, a two-stage method, is suggested, which generally performs better than a single bark thickness function (one-stage method) in terms of bias and precision. For a given model form, the two-stage method produced more reliable prediction of bark thickness at upper and lower portions of tree stem than the one-stage method. With the three species examined, the segmented stem taper functions provided more accurate predictions than the variable-exponent function. The results of this study can provide guidance for ecologists and forest managers when selecting appropriate approaches to predict bark thickness.
Simulation of partial shading on solar photovoltaic modules with experimental verification

With rapidly growing energy demands and increased consciousness about the environment, PV installations are being increasingly used in various applications such as communications and lighting. However, one of the major challenges in using a PV source is that they are often subjected to partial shading and rapid fluctuations of shading. In many cases, the PV arrays get partially shaded due to various reasons, resulting in lower energy production yields. This further leads to nonlinearities in characteristics, causing it to get more complicated if the entire array does not receive uniform insolation. In this study, a Simulink-based mathematical model of a PV system has been developed to simulate the performance of a PV system for the various conditions of partial shading. The simulated results have been compared with experimentally obtained results of the various configurations of shading that were used for the partial shading conditions on a commercially available PV module.
Abstract 2514: Activity of a novel Foxp3-tumor cell vaccine in a murine model of renal cell carcinoma

Proceedings: AACR 106th Annual Meeting 2015; April 18-22, 2015; Philadelphia, PA Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common type of kidney cancer in adults and represents 80% of the cases. Treatment options for patients with advanced disease are limited. Targeted molecular therapies have shown survival benefit but most patients develop therapy resistance overtime. Preclinical and clinical studies indicate that immunotherapies are effective and may play a role in the treatment of advanced RCC. However, the response rate is ∼ 20%, with a limited number of patients achieving durable remission. A major barrier to vaccine therapy is the presence of immunosuppressive cell populations including regulatory T cells (Tregs), myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). In the current study, we designed a tumor cell and Tregs dual-targeting vaccine by inducing Foxp3 expression in tumor cells, and tested this vaccine along with an unmodified vaccine in an orthotopic murine model of RCC, RENCA. We observed that both RENCA cell vaccine and RENCA Foxp3 cell vaccine prevented tumor growth in 6 out 10 animals. Interestingly, in an intervention setting, the RENCA Foxp3 tumor cell vaccine was superior to the RENCA tumor cell vaccine with a significant anti-tumor activity (45% inhibition of tumor weights) (p<0.01). Moreover, RENCA Foxp3 tumor cell vaccine reduced the number of tumor infiltrating Tregs (42% reduction, p<0.05) and Treg Foxp3 expression both in peripheral blood and tumor infiltrates. In summary, our results suggest that a strategy targeting Tregs along with vaccine therapy or a dual targeting vaccine strategy may be beneficial in established RCC. We also observed that suppressive myeloid cell (SMCs) populations dominate the established tumor microenvironment and we are currently testing the combination of the dual-targeting vaccine with a SMC-targeting agent. Citation Format: Li Shen, Ashley Orillion, Remi Adelaiye, Eric Ciamporcero, Swathi Ramakrishnan, Roberto Pili. Activity of a novel Foxp3-tumor cell vaccine in a murine model of renal cell carcinoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 2514. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-2514
South Africa’s Experience in Constitution-Building

This chapter draws on a brief history of the constitution-making process in South Africa to highlight five particular aspects of constitution-building. Noting that the process of constitution-making has become a key element in political transitions and post-conflict settlements in the post-cold war era, it is argued that the process of building a constitutional democracy encompasses a far broader range of issues than the drafting and adoption of a new constitution. The chapter identifies and discusses five sources of variation in constitution-building processes that impact the different issues enabling the building of a constitutional democracy. First, there is a temporal dimension, which may be characterised as being both macro and micro in scope, in that the general historic timing of a democratic transition as well as the specific time-frames within the process of constitution-making, all have clear consequences for the choices available to the parties. Second, there is a question of process in which the specific process of constitution-building, chosen from a range of historic options, is deployed by the parties to achieve specific advantages over their opponents but can also serve as a means to ensure that the political transition proceeds. Third, participation in the constitution-building process is an aspect that is important both for those who are active in the actual constitution-making process as well as the broader society that is called upon to accept and legitimate the constitutional product as the basis of a future social compact. Fourth, the recognition and use of constitutional principles is an important element of constitution-building in this era. Finally, the substantive choices inherent in a constitution-building process involve alternative institutional designs and substantive elements of the constitution, all of which have a significant impact on the overall process of constitution-building.
Penang engineering smart-support

Achieving greater efficiencies in productivity and smart approach of information technology (IT) to fulfill the business needs in a company is always important issues, especially in a challenging research and development (R&D) environment. Today, the need of electronically accessing information and sharing information in a group of people is a must in organization. These needs are important for the peoples to work more efficiency and productivity. This paper is to illustrate the smart approaches taken by CTDG Penang engineering computing supporting total Penang R&D users. These approaches mainly will concentrate more on Windows environment with the implementation of features available using Microsoft Windows 2000 Server operating system. In these paper we will discuss further more on the challenges that GTDG Penang R&D Center facing in Windows base environment, the smart approach by implementation of Microsoft Windows 2000 server, the impact of the implementation to R&D users and the benefits of implementing Microsoft Windows 2000 server achieved through better security, manageability, users support and uptime.
Using A Digital Planetarium For Teaching Seasons To Undergraduates

Computer-generated simulations and visualizations in digital planetariums have the potential to bridge the comprehension gap in astronomy education. Concepts involving three-dimensional spatial relationships can be difficult for the layperson to understand, since much of the traditional teaching materials used in astronomy education remain two-dimensional in nature. We study the student performance after viewing visualizations in an immersive theater and in non-immersive classrooms for the topic of seasons in an introductory undergraduate astronomy course. Using weekly multiple-choice quizzes to gauge student learning, comparison of curriculum tests taken immediately after instruction and pre-instruction quizzes show a significant difference in the results of students who viewed visualizations in the planetarium versus their counterparts who viewed non-immersive content in their classrooms, and those in the control group that saw no visualizations whatsoever. These results suggest that the immersive visuals help by freeing up cognitive resources that can be devoted to learning, while visualizations shown in the classroom may be an intrinsically inferior experience for students.
Measurements of Hair in Normal Newborns

Recently the attention of pediatricians has been directed towards the study of hair as a means of assessing the nutritional status of children.1-3 During the intrauterine life of babies, the hair begins to grow during the 8th to 12th weeks of gestation. This growth continues throughout pregnancy, although there are indications that some hair is lost during this time. At the time of birth the majority of scalp hair is five to six months old.4 Nutritional environment during the prenatal life is an important determinant of hair growth, and thus morphological characteristics of the hair at birth should reflect the status of nutrition from the 12th week of gestation till birth.
Quality-of-Service Based Protection in MPLS Control WDM Mesh Networks

Intelligent methods for automatic protection and restoration are critical in optical transport mesh networks. This paper discusses the problem of quality-of-service (QoS)-based protection in terms of the protection-switching time and availability for end-to-end lightpaths in a WDM mesh network. We analyze the backup lightpath-sharing problem in such networks and study the correlation of the working lightpaths and the impact of the correlation on the sharing of the backup lightpaths. We present a multi-protocol-label-switching (MPLS) control-based fully distributed algorithm to solve the protection problem. The proposed algorithm includes intelligent and automatic procedures to set up, take down, activate, restore, and manage backup lightpaths. It greatly reduces the required resources for protection by allowing the sharing of network resources by multiple backup lightpaths. At the same time, it guarantees, if possible, to satisfy the availability requirement even with resource sharing by taking the correlation of working lightpaths into consideration. A simple analysis of the proposed algorithm in terms of computation time and message complexity indicates that the implementation of the algorithm is practical. The illustrative studies that compare the performance of 1:1, unlimited sharing, and QoS-based backup sharing algorithms indicate that QoS-based sharing achieves comparable performance as unlimited sharing, which is much better than the 1:1 backup scheme in terms of connection blocking probability, average number of connections in the network for a given offered load, and network resource utilization.
The effect of nasal continuous positive airway pressure on normal ears and on ears with atelectasis.

Objectives The effect of short-term nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on normal and atelectatic ears was studied to investigate the effect of positive pressure on these ears. Study design and setting This is a prospective study performed at the ear, nose, and throat clinic of a district general hospital. No randomization was designed for this study. Patients The study on the normal ears was performed on healthy volunteers, whereas the study on atelectatic ears was performed on patients who had difficulty in performing the Valsalva maneuver. Intervention Tympanometry, audiometry, and electronystagmography were performed on normal subjects before, during, and immediately after a single use of nasal CPAP. In the group of atelectatic ears, otoscopy and audiometry were performed before and immediately after the use of nasal CPAP (3 hours). Main outcome measure The change in the middle ear pressure and hearing on the normal ears during the use of nasal CPAP was measured. In the group with atelectatic ears, the incidence of reinflation of the collapsed eardrum after the use of nasal CPAP was measured. Results Positive pressure was recorded in all the middle ears during the use of nasal CPAP, resulting in a reversible hearing impairment. More than two thirds of the atelectatic eardrums could be reinflated by a single use of nasal CPAP. Conclusion Nasal CPAP could be used to deliver positive pressure into the middle ear and, hence, could be used as a device to reinflate a collapsed eardrum in many atelectatic ears.
Nightguard vital bleaching: side effects and patient satisfaction 10 to 17 years post-treatment.

Statement of the Problem: The long-term patient satisfaction and safety of nightguard vital bleaching (NGVB) requires further evaluation. Purpose of the Study: The purpose of this study was to evaluate patients' satisfaction and identify side effects of NGVB up to 17 years post-treatment. Materials and Methods: Thirty-one participants who had completed previous NGVB studies using 10% carbamide peroxide were contacted at least 10 years post-treatment (range 10-17 years, average 12.3 years). Participants reported shade satisfaction (very satisfied (VS), partially satisfied (PS), or not satisfied (NS)) as well as potential complications. Participants had teet h#6t o 11examined for tooth vitality, gingival inflammation (Loe's Gingival Index (GI)), and radiographically for external cervical resorption (ECR). Results: All of the participants had successful lightening of their teeth. Sixty-one percent (19) had not retreated their teeth. Of those who had not retreated their teeth and who responded to the question of whitening satisfaction, 31% (4/13) were VS, 54% (7/13) were PS, and 15% (2/13) were NS with their current shade. Of those who had retreated their teeth, all were VS or PS. Ninety-one percent of the examined teeth had GI = 0 (normal), 7% had GI = 1 (mild inflammation), and 2% had GI = 2 (moderate inflammation). Sixty-nine percent of teeth tested responded to a cold stimulus. Radiographs did not detect ECR or apical lesions. No participant reported having a gingival biopsy post-treatment, and 87% would whiten again. Conclusions: Patient satisfaction with NGVB may last as long as 12.3 years in average (range 10-17 years) post-treatment. GI and ECR findings were considered within the normal expectations for the sample studied, suggesting minimal clinical post-NGVB side effects up to 17 years.
Missing Pieces Myosin Binding Protein C Truncations in Familial Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (FHC)-hereditary cardiac hypertrophy in the absence of abnormal load-is arguably the best example of how genetic approaches have substantially augmented our insight into cardiac disease. For decades, it was recognized that hypertrophic cardiomyopathy could segregate in families, but only recently, with the advent of more powerful genetic tools, has it been possible to identify chromosomal loci associated with the disease and even to define specific genes as the causative factors. Linkage mapping has disclosed the existence of at least five loci associated with FHC, on chromosomes 14q11, 15q2, 1q3, 11p13-q13, and 7q3, and the culprit genes have been established for the first four of these: beta-myosin heavy chain (beta-MHC), [1] alpha-tropomyosin, [2] cardiac troponin T, [2] and myosin binding protein C (MyBP-C), [3,4] respectively. Thus, each of the reported FHC disease genes encodes a protein that is localized to the sarcomere of cardiac muscle. The resulting paradigm of FHC as a disease of the sarcomere [2] provides a rational basis for this unifying phenotype to arise from multiple genetic anomalies and fosters the prediction that disease genes yet to be identified will include additional components of the sarcomere or, potentially, regulators of sarcomere function. Of the proteins implicated in FHC to date, MyBP-C is by far the least familiar and least well understood. MyBP-C first was discovered more than 20 years ago as a contaminant associated with myosin preparations and was subsequently shown to belong to the intracellular immunoglobulin super-family, with fiber-specific isoforms. [5] MyBP-C is localized to the A band of sarcomeres (more specifically, to the cross-bridge-bearing C region) and is aligned transversely in a series of periodic stripes, suggesting …
Reduction of congener specific PCBs in water and peanut oil by polyethylene packaging film

The use of polyethylene film to reduce the concentration of selected polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners (one each from tri to deca chlorinated) from aqueous and oil systems, was investigated. The trend in removal of PCBs from the aqueous system showed an inverted mirror pattern of its uptake by the polyethylene film. There appeared to be little loss of PCBs from the oil during the duration of the study. The rate loss from each system was compared as a function of PCB congener types. The results show that the lower chlorinated congeners were removed at a faster rate from the water than their higher counterparts. In the oil, the congeners with higher chlorination generally were removed at a faster rate than those with lower chlorination. The mass balance ratio confirmed that the PCBs removed from the dissolved solutions were sorbed by the contacting polyethylene film.
Global optimization for neural network training

We propose a novel global minimization method, called NOVEL (Nonlinear Optimization via External Lead), and demonstrate its superior performance on neural network learning problems. The goal is improved learning of application problems that achieves either smaller networks or less error prone networks of the same size. This training method combines global and local searches to find a good local minimum. In benchmark comparisons against the best global optimization algorithms, it demonstrates superior performance improvement.
Wood and stem anatomy of woody Amaranthaceae s.s.: ecology, systematics and the problems of defining rays in dicotyledons

Wood and stem anatomy is studied for seven species of six genera (root anatomy also reported for one species) of Amaranthaceae s.s. Quantitative data on vessels correlate closely with relative xeromorphy of respective species, agreeing with values reported for dicotyledons without successive cambia in comparable habitats. Libriform fibre abundance increases and vessel diameter decreases as stems and roots of the annual Amaranthus caudatus mature. Long, thick-walled fibres in Bosea yervamora may be related to the upright nature of elongate semi-climbing stems. Non-bordered or minutely bordered perforation plates characterize Amaranthaceae, as they do most other Caryophyllales. Amaranthaceae have idioblastic cells containing druses, rhomboidal crystals or crystal sand: these forms intergrade and seem closely related. Rays are present in secondary xylem of the Amaranthaceae studied. Cells intermediate between ray cells and libriform fibres occur in Charpentiera elliptica. Degrees of diversity in rays and reports of raylessness in Amaranthaceae induce discussion of definition and identification of rays in dicotyledons; some sources recognize both rays and radial plates of conjunctive tissue in Amaranthaceae. The action of successive cambia is described: lateral meristem periclinal divisions produce secondary cortex externally, conjunctive tissue internally and yield vascular cambia as well. Vascular cambia produce secondary phloem and secondary xylem, in both ray and fascicular zones, as in a dicotyledon with a single cambium. Identification of meristem activity and appreciation of varied ray manifestations are essential in understanding the ontogeny of stems in Amaranthaceae (which have recently been united with Chenopodiaceae). © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2003, 143, 1–19.
Respiratory Water Loss in Camels

Rates of oxygen consumption and respiratory water loss were studied in camels that were exposed to desert heat and water deprivation. We found that changes in body temperature are accompanied by considerable changes in respiratory water loss. Body temperature fluctuations are greatest in dehydrated camels (up to 7 degrees C), and in these the respiratory water loss might vary from about 0.06 to 1.2 g/min. The respiratory frequency varied from about 4 to 28 min$^{-1}$, while the metabolic rate varied by less than twofold. The lowest values for respiratory water loss can be explained by the exhalation of air at temperatures far below body temperature, and, in addition, removal of water vapour from the exhaled air, resulting in exhalation of air at less than 100% relative humidity.
The present values of delayed rewards are approximately additive.

Abstract In two experiments, human subjects were asked to estimate their present values of single delayed rewards and their present values of temporal sequences of three rewards. Present values were solicited by asking subjects to indicate an amount of money v for which they would be indifferent between receiving v at the end of the session and receiving the delayed reward(s). A procedure was used for which responding the true value of v was the optimal strategy, and the actual payoff that each subject received was determined by one randomly selected trial. In Experiment 1 (n = 29) each delayed reward was $9.90 in cash. In Experiment 2 (n = 19) the delayed rewards were dated $15 gift certificates to a local restaurant. In both experiments, the present values of the sequences were approximately equal to the sums of the present values of their component rewards. The presence of outliers suggests that a few subjects may have valued sequences less than the sums of their single rewards. Effects of a preference for uniform sequences, if any, were too small to be detected. Discounting of sequences was well fit by a parallel hyperbolic discounting equation, consistent with Mazur's [Mazur, J.E., 1986. Choice between single and multiple delayed reinforcers. J. Exp. Anal. Behav. 46 (1), 67–77] results using multiple reinforcers.
Development of Functional Poly(amido amine) CXCR4 Antagonists with the Ability to Mobilize Leukocytes and Deliver Nucleic Acids

CXCR4 chemokine receptor plays a crucial role in metastatic spread of multiple types of cancer. The present study reports on synthesis of functional polymers based on newly synthesized CXCR4-inhibiting monomers. The resultant linear polymeric CXCR4 antagonists (PCX) show improved ability to inhibit CXCR4 when compared with the monomers. The CXCR4 antagonism provides PCX with the ability to mobilize leukocytes from bone marrow to peripheral blood and to inhibit cancer cell invasion. Due to their cationic nature, PCX can form polyplexes with DNA and mediate efficient transfection. The reported findings validate PCX as promising dual-function polymeric drugs that can deliver therapeutic nucleic acids and improve cancer therapy by simultaneously inhibiting CXCR4 chemokine receptor.
The development and initial assessment of Reach Out and Read Plus Mathematics for use in primary care paediatrics

Objective: Children from low-income families are often not well-prepared for kindergarten entry, especially in mathematical skills. Caregivers may lack the knowledge and confidence to teach early mathematical skills. The purpose of this study was to develop a parent–child activities-based mathematics learning programme and test its acceptability and initial efficacy. Method: The evidence-based Reach Out and Read (ROR) programme was adapted to incorporate mathematics content. ROR plus Mathematics (ROR+M) was developed and introduced during well-child visits. Descriptive and repeated-measures analysis of variance analyses were used to evaluate pre- and three weekly post-intervention assessments. Results: Parents self-reported acceptability and initial efficacy of the ROR+M programme was demonstrated. No change was reported in non-mathematical reading behaviour. Discussion: ROR+M was developed and implemented in a primary care paediatric setting serving primarily low-income families. Acceptability and initia...
Precarious Work in Global Exports: The Case of Indonesia

This paper relies on the global commodity chain framework and the standards of Decent Work laid out by the International Labour Organization to examine employment outcomes in export-oriented production in Indonesia. The empirical model investigates the extent to which industrial characteristics related to global production sharing explain variability in employment outcomes in the Indonesian manufacturing sector. The results suggest that export orientation, labor intensity, and female crowding negatively affect the likelihood of decent work outcomes. In addition, foreign direct investment has a positive affect, although it is overwhelmed by the other factors.
Lower bounds for permanents of Gram matrices having a rank one principal submatrix

Abstract Let A=[aij] be a positive semidefinite Hermitian (n+p×(n+p) matrix partitioned into blocks A>11, A12, A21 and A22 such that A11 is n×n and A22 is p×p. Let A denote the (n+p−1)×(n+p−1) matrix obtained from A by deleting the first row and column of A. We prove that if A11 is of rank one, then per (A)⩾na 11 per ( A ) with equality if and only if A12 is the zero matrix or A has a row of zeros.
Internalized stigma and sterile syringe use among people who inject drugs in New York City, 2010–2012

Background Little is known on the effect of stigma on the health and behavior of people who inject drugs (PWID). PWID may internalize these negative attitudes and experiences and stigmatize themselves (internalized stigma). With previous research suggesting a harmful effect of internalized stigma on health behaviors, we aimed to determine socio-demographic characteristics and injection risk behaviors associated with internalized PWID-related stigma in New York City (NYC).
Driven by inhibition

Abstract We study the stability and information encoding capacity of synchronized states in a neuronal network model that represents part of the thalamic circuitry. Our model neurons have a Hodgkin–Huxley-type low threshold calcium channel, display post-inhibitory rebound, and are connected via GABAergic inhibitory synapses. Noise drives both the subthreshold non-spiking as well as the above threshold regularly spiking state into a self-organized, stochastically synchronized state. Neuronal firing is organized in stochastic clusters, with individual neurons hopping from cluster to cluster. The information content of the resulting spike trains consists of two separate contributions: the spike-time jitter around cluster firing times, and the hopping from cluster to cluster.
Retention of Stabilometer and Pursuit Rotor Skills

The pattern of retention for two motor skills was studied in 80 college men. Subjects were given an initial learning trial for both tasks then retested after 3, 5, 7, or 21 days of rest. Both skills exhibited little loss, although the pattern was not the same for both skills. On the pursuit rotor all four groups showed significant reminiscence, while on the stabilometer the trend was for performance to be impaired, although only the change for the 7-day group was significant. There was little relationship between ability to perform on the two tasks (r = .22).
Regulation of the Type III InsP3 Receptor by InsP3 and ATP

Many hormones and neurotransmitters raise intracellular calcium (Ca(2+)) by generating InsP(3) and activating the inositol 1,4, 5-trisphosphate receptor (InsP(3)R). Multiple isoforms with distinct InsP(3) binding properties () have been identified (). The type III InsP(3)R lacks Ca(2+)-dependent inhibition, a property that makes it ideal for signal initiation (). Regulation of the type III InsP(3)R by InsP(3) and ATP was explored in detail using planar lipid bilayers. In comparison to the type I InsP(3)R, the type III InsP(3)R required a higher concentration of InsP(3) to reach maximal channel activity (EC(50) of 3.2 microM versus 0.5 microM for the types III and I InsP(3)R, respectively). However, the type III InsP(3)R did reach a 2.5-fold higher level of activity. Although activation by InsP(3) was isoform-specific, regulation by ATP was similar for both isoforms. In the presence of 2 microM InsP(3), low ATP concentrations ( 6 mM) decreased channel activity. These results illustrate the complex nature of type III InsP(3)R regulation. Enhanced channel activity in the presence of high InsP(3) may be important during periods of prolonged stimulation, whereas allosteric modulation by ATP may help to modulate intracellular Ca(2+) signaling.
Compliant space mechanisms: a new frontier for compliant mechanisms

Abstract. Compliant mechanisms offer distinct advantages for use in space that can address many of the issues encountered with current rigid-link space mechanisms. Compliant space mechanisms are defined as moveable mechanical assemblies that achieve their desired motion, force, or displacement by means of the deflection of flexible members and can perform a necessary function in the environments of launch and space. Many current space mechanisms are already highly optimized, yet they still experience inherent challenges, and it is unclear if significant improvements in performance can be made by continuing to refine current designs. Compliant space mechanisms offer a promising opportunity to change the fundamental approach to achieving controlled motion in space systems and have potential for dramatic increases in mechanism performance given the constraints of the space environment. This paper proposes the merger of the fields of compliant mechanisms and space mechanisms as a future direction of research in compliant mechanisms, discusses in detail the motivation to do so, and addresses the key factors of applying compliant mechanism technology to space mechanisms.
WAVE FRONT ANALYSIS IN COMPOSITE MATERIALS

Abstract : The propagation of an initially sharp plane pressure pulse through a linear elastic composite medium is analysed. Wave front and ray theory analogous to geometrical optics is shown to determine the change in shape of the leading wave front and also the stresses immediately behind it. For certain circumstances the stress amplitudes on this front, or the corresponding tensile stresses on its reflection at the free back surface of a slab, may be critical in design. Examples are presented of an initially sharp plane pressure pulse transmitted through an elastic circular cylinder and an elastic spherical inclusion. The method can be applied to more general composite configurations, and can be extended to determine the stress gradient behind the front. For the latter, general formulae are derived by which the reflection and transmission coefficients can be determined for the stress gradient and the higher order derivatives at an arbitrary interface.
Tuna muscle aldolase—I. Purification and properties

Abstract 1. 1. An aldolase from tuna muscle has been isolated and concentrated by ammonium sulfate fractionation. The aldolase protein amounted to 3 per cent of the total extractable protein and had a specific activity of 7·25. This is about one-third the amount of aldolase normally extracted from rabbit muscle. The concentrate had about 60 per cent the specific activity of the rabbit muscle aldolase. 2. 2. The tuna muscle aldolase preparation behaved as a homogeneous protein electrophoretically and during ultracentrifugal sedimentation. 3. 3. The kinetics of the reaction were investigated. Borate inhibition was of the partially noncompetitive type. 4. 4. The tuna protein was less stable, e.g. more susceptible to aggregation than rabbit muscle aldolase, and the aggregation could be partially eliminated by cysteine or cysteine and EDTA. The metal-catalyzed aggregation followed a first-order reaction and the aggregated protein was enzymatically inactive. 5. 5. The enzyme resembled rabbit muscle aldolase, in many properties, including kinetics and chromophore contents in the molecule, but was more unstable.
Forces and causes in Kant’s early pre-Critical writings

Abstract This paper considers Kant’s conception of force and causality in his early pre-Critical writings, arguing that this conception is best understood by way of contrast with his immediate predecessors, such as Christian Wolff, Alexander Baumgarten, Georg Friedrich Meier, Martin Knutzen, and Christian August Crusius, and in terms of the scientific context of natural philosophy at the time. Accordingly, in the True estimation Kant conceives of force in terms of activity rather than in terms of specific effects, such as motion (as unnamed Wolffians had done). Kant’s explicit arguments in the Nova dilucidatio for physical influx (in the guise of the principle of succession) are directed primarily against the conception of grounds and existence held by Wolff, Baumgarten, and Meier, and only secondarily against Leibniz (by asserting the priority of bodies over mind rather than vice versa). Finally, Kant’s reconciliation of the infinite divisibility of space and the unity of monads in the Physical monadology is designed to respond to objections that could be raised naturally by Wolff and Baumgarten.
N≥4 supergravity amplitudes from gauge theory at one loop

We present the full two-loop four-graviton amplitudes in N = 4, 5, 6 supergravity. These results were obtained using the double-copy structure of gravity, which follows from the recently conjectured color-kinematics duality in gauge theory. The two-loop four-gluon scattering amplitudes in N = 0, 1, 2 supersymmetric gauge theory are a second essential ingredient. The gravity amplitudes have the expected infrared behavior: the two-loop divergences are given in terms of the squares of the corresponding one-loop amplitudes. The finite remainders are presented in a compact form. The finite remainder for N = 8 supergravity is also presented, in a form that utilizes a pure function with a very simple symbol.
Luteotrophic and luteolytic mechanisms in rat corpora lutea.

Chronic LtH administration begun either on the first day of diestrus or toward the end of pseudopregnancy maintained maximal progesterone secretion and inhibited 20α-OHsteroid dehydrogenase activity. Total steroidogenesis and ovarian cholesterol levels were not altered by LtH treatment. The luteotrophic action of LtH was explained in part by its antagonistic action toward luteal 20α-OH-steroid dehydrogenase and in part by its mobilization of a progesterone precursor. Chronic LH administration to animals bearing nonfunctional corporalutea reduced the ovarian output of progesterone and 20α-OH-pregn-4-en-3-one. On the other hand, chronic administration of LH to animals bearing functional corpora lutea caused a fall in ovarian vein progesterone concentration coincident with a rise in 20α-OH-pregn-4-en-3-one without reducing total steroidogenesis. The acute administration of LH to immature rats near the time of PMS-induced ovulation stimulated progesterone secretion and partially depleted ovarian cholesterol. ...
Feasibility Study of Carbon Nanotube Microneedles for Rapid Transdermal Drug Delivery

We introduce a new approach for fabricating hollow microneedles using vertically-aligned carbon nanotubes (VA-CNTs) for rapid transdermal drug delivery. Here, we discuss the fabrication of the microneedles emphasizing the overall simplicity and flexibility of the method to allow for potential industrial application. By capitalizing on the nanoporosity of the CNT bundles, uncured polymer can be wicked into the needles ultimately creating a high strength composite of aligned nanotubes and polymer. Flow through the microneedles as well as in vitro penetration of the microneedles into swine skin is demonstrated. Furthermore, we present a trade study comparing the difficulty and complexity of the fabrication process of our CNT-polymer microneedles with other standard microneedle fabrication approaches.
Renewable Energy Policies: A Brief Review of the Latest U.S. and E.U. Policies

The U.S. Government and the European Union have developed policies to promote microgeneration and smart grid initiatives. Many projects and significant developments have been accomplished, although the momentum has just begun. To accelerate the implementation and to include the private sector, the U.S. states and the E.U. countries have developed their policies to improve their share of green and economic energy production. The main policies have guaranteed longterm profits for the private sector and tax credits for individuals to participate. Although incredible, these policies need to be constantly compared and modified to keep the green energy progress on track. Liquidation of the government-supported renewable energy projects and consequences for the expected sustained growth of this sector show that the government subsidies have not generated enough incentives for the private sector to decrease the cost of renewable energy manufacturing and research and development. The timely and rightful intervention of government must create a strong private sector to achieve the steady momentum of growth in technical skills and manufacturing infrastructures. This article provided a brief review of the latest relevant ideas that central and local governments have developed with the hope of creating more unified and stronger policies.
Use of linear programming for cam design

Abstract The paper shows how linear programming can be used to design “polynomial” cam paths. Polynomials of lower degree may be used by allowing the characteristics required at specified points to be in a range of values rather than a particular value. The formulation of the linear programming model is discussed for requirements on displacement, velocity, acceleration and jerk. Two transformations are presented to reduce numerical problems. An example is provided as well as a brief review of linear programming.