Constructing Internet access: The emergence and use of ICTs in new social spaces

This thesis examines the introduction of new Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) into new social spaces. These new social spaces have been called the 'middle ground' (MG). They are found not in the workplace nor in the home but are located elsewhere in community centres, libraries and Internet cafes. The MG is used for education, communication and information retrieval. This thesis draws upon two case studies to explore the institutional, sociological and cultural development and use of such MG spaces. Theoretically, this thesis draws upon the Sociology of Science & Technology, specifically Actor Network Theory (ANT). According to ANT, to understand just how a technology becomes (or fails to become) a success we must follow and observe various innovators as they attempt to enrol others into their 'networks'. The utility of ANT is twofold. Firstly, it enables me to study 'innovation' and secondly to move beyond overarching general notions (such as technological determinism) to understand the complex ways new ICTs are being utilised in the 'middle ground'. The first case study examines the development of a 'virtual university' project 'Televersity'. Here I examine the relationship that develops between the key actors involved with the project, the strategic co-operation between the actors and the use of representations of the Local Learning Centres (LLCs) and identity of the users. The second case study examines the establishment and use of an Internet cafe. I explore the representational resources that the founders utilise in their attempts to stabilise the identity of the Internet cafe and its users. I then proceed to compare these with accounts of use, derived through a series of interviews with (and observations of) the users. The thesis thus aims to illuminate the heterogeneous and complex nature of the MG and the cooperation and flexibility needed at a policy level for such places to be sustained. Furthermore, by using an approach like ANT, we can begin to understand the micro-level shaping of the MG and the relation between these local processes and the wider dynamics within which they are embedded

CXCR4 and Axillary Lymph Nodes: Review of a Potential Biomarker for Breast Cancer Metastasis

CXCR4 is a 7-transmembrane G-protein chemokine receptor that allows for migration of hematopoietic cells from the bone marrow to the peripheral lymph nodes. Research has shown CXCR4 to be implicated in the invasion and metastasis of several cancers, including carcinoma of the breast. CXCL12 is the ligand for CXCR4 and is highly expressed in areas common for breast cancer metastasis, including the axillary lymph nodes. Axillary lymph nodes positive for breast carcinoma have been an important component of breast cancer diagnosis, treatment, and subsequent research. The goal of this paper is to analyze the literature that has explained the pathways from CXCR4 expression to breast cancer metastasis of the lymph nodes and the prognostic and/or predictive implications of lymph node metastases in the presence of elevated CXCR4

c>1 Non-Critical Strings and Large-N Matrix Field Theory

Motivated by a possible relativistic string description of hadrons we use a discretised light-cone quantisation and Lanczos algorithm to investigate the phase structure of phi^3 matrix field theory in the large N limit. In 1+1 dimensions we confirm the existence of Polyakov's non-critical string theory at the boundary between parton-like and string-like phases, finding critical exponents for longitudinal oscillations equal to or consistent with those given by a mean field argument. The excitation spectrum is finite, possibly discrete. We calculate light-cone structure functions and find evidence that the probability Q(x) of a parton in the string carrying longitudinal momentum fraction between x and x+dx has support on all 0<x<1, despite the average number of partons being infinite.Comment: 9 pages LateX + 7 figures uuencode

Current Status of Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors as Novel Therapeutic Agents for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive type of breast cancer that is clinically defined as lacking estrogen and progesterone receptors, as well as being ERBB2 (HER-2) negative. Without specific therapeutic targets, TNBC carries a worse prognosis than other types of breast cancer in the absence of therapy. Research has now further differentiated breast cancer into subtypes based on genetic expression patterns. One of these subtypes, basal-like, frequently overlaps with the clinical picture of TNBC. Additionally, both TNBC and basal-like breast cancer link to BRCA mutations. Recent pharmaceutical advances have created a class of drugs, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors, which are showing potential to effectively treat these patients. The aim of this paper is to summarize the basis behind PARP inhibitors and update the current status of their development in clinical trials for the treatment of TNBC

Age, Sex, and Nest Success of Translocated Mountain Quail in Oregon, 2001–2010

We trapped mountain quail (Oreortyx pictus) from relatively abundant populations in southwestern Oregon for re-introduction or augmentation in areas of central and eastern Oregon where they were rare or extirpated. We captured 2,596 mountain quail during 2001–2010 using treadle-style traps, of which 1,430 were released in Oregon; the remaining birds were transferred to Idaho, Nevada, and Washington. Yearlings (hatch-year) comprised 69.6% of the total (n 1⁄4 2,596). Analysis of nuclear DNA from 850 captured quail revealed 50.5% were male. We radiomarked 800 (55.9%) of the quail released in Oregon and monitored them to estimate reproductive success. We located 150 nests in Oregon; at least 1 egg hatched in 110 (73.3%) nests. Average (6 SE) clutch size was 10.2 6 0.2 eggs and average number of chicks hatched from successful nests was 8.3 6 0.3. Sixty-eight nests (45.3%) were incubated exclusively by males, 78 (52.0%) exclusively by females, and 4 (2.7%) by birds of unknown gender. Males incubated slightly larger clutches (11.0 6 0.3) and hatched more eggs than females (5.5 6 0.5). Males also regularly contributed to brood-rearing. The reproductive effort and nest success of translocated mountain quail was comparable to native populations in Oregon. Translocations may be an effective means of restoring mountain quail populations that have been extirpated or augmenting populations that have substantially declined

Severe Clostridial Pyomyoma following an Abortion Does Not Always Require Surgical Intervention

Background. Clostridial infection following pregnancy may be fatal, and surgery is considered as the treatment of choice. We suggest a conservative management in selected cases when preservation of fertility is of major importance. Case. A 41-year-old primigravida presented with abdominal pain and fever, one day following dilatation and curettage at 20 weeks of gestation. Her abdomen was diffusely tender, with a uterus enlarged to 20 weeks' gestation. Laboratory studies were consistent with sepsis and hemolysis. CT demonstrated a gas-containing mass compressing the uterine cavity, and presence of air in pelvic veins. Blood cultures were positive for Clostridium perfringens. The patient was treated conservatively, with IV antibiotics and fluid resuscitation, and recovered. Conclusion. In selected cases of infected myoma complicated by clostridial sepsis, refraining from surgical intervention is a possible therapeutic approach

Backlog control in optoelectronic production using a digital twin

Digital twins are becoming increasingly popular in industry and are being used in various areas, such as production planning and control. Logistics performance still needs to be improved, especially in highly complex and automated production processes such as optoelectronics. The significant challenges faced by industrial companies today, such as stricter quality standards, smaller quantities and shorter product life cycles, exacerbate this phenomenon. In this context, digital twins offer a point of reference for improvement by providing an additional database that can be used to make more informed decisions in realtime. The novel contribution of this paper is the design of a simulation as a digital twin in the context of optoelectronic production. It is used to simulate a variety of backlog scenarios in production planning and to provide an additional source of data for backlog control. We also present an application example of how the digital twin can reduce backlogs in the production process. The simulation indicates that the designed model can effectively support the improvement of logistics performance by addressing the significant challenges in modern production

Heads Up! A Biomechanical Pilot Investigation of Soccer Heading Using Instrumented Mouthguards (iMGs)

Soccer players purposefully head the ball, raising concerns about reduced tolerance to concussion and potential long-term brain health. By combining qualitative video analysis with custom-fit instrumented mouthguards (iMGs), we aimed to categorize header kinematics (peak linear acceleration (PLA) and peak angular acceleration (PAA)) by header type and ball delivery method. iMGs were fitted to 10 male collegiate players for twelve matches. A total of 133 headers were verified and contextualized via video review. The most common header type (38.7%), as well as the preceding ball delivery method (47.4%), was found to be a pass. Approximately one-quarter of header impacts (27.0%) occurred below 10 g. For header type, there were no significant differences in kinematics, with shot attempts having the highest median PLA and PAA. For ball delivery methods, goal kicks had significantly greater PAA than long balls and pass attempts. The current study highlights the utility of qualitative video analysis in combination with real-time head kinematic data from iMGs to understand the mechanism and severity of header impacts. The pilot findings indicate that high-speed ball delivery methods result in higher head kinematics and should be a focus of future mitigation strategies