1,078 research outputs found
Robustness: a New Form of Heredity Motivated by Dynamic Networks
We investigate a special case of hereditary property in graphs, referred to
as {\em robustness}. A property (or structure) is called robust in a graph
if it is inherited by all the connected spanning subgraphs of . We motivate
this definition using two different settings of dynamic networks. The first
corresponds to networks of low dynamicity, where some links may be permanently
removed so long as the network remains connected. The second corresponds to
highly-dynamic networks, where communication links appear and disappear
arbitrarily often, subject only to the requirement that the entities are
temporally connected in a recurrent fashion ({\it i.e.} they can always reach
each other through temporal paths). Each context induces a different
interpretation of the notion of robustness.
We start by motivating the definition and discussing the two interpretations,
after what we consider the notion independently from its interpretation, taking
as our focus the robustness of {\em maximal independent sets} (MIS). A graph
may or may not admit a robust MIS. We characterize the set of graphs \forallMIS
in which {\em all} MISs are robust. Then, we turn our attention to the graphs
that {\em admit} a robust MIS (\existsMIS). This class has a more complex
structure; we give a partial characterization in terms of elementary graph
properties, then a complete characterization by means of a (polynomial time)
decision algorithm that accepts if and only if a robust MIS exists. This
algorithm can be adapted to construct such a solution if one exists
Environmental costs and benefits of growing Miscanthus for bioenergy in the UK
Funded by BBSRC. Grant Number: LK0863 Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) Carbo-BioCrop project. Grant Number: NE/H01067X/1 MAGLUE projectPeer reviewedPublisher PD
Semiautomated Glasgow-Blatchford Bleeding Score helps direct bed placement for patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding.
OBJECTIVE: The Glasgow-Blatchford Bleeding Score (GBS) was designed to identify patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) who do not require hospitalisation. It may also help stratify patients unlikely to benefit from intensive care.
DESIGN: We reviewed patients assigned a GBS in the emergency room (ER) via a semiautomated calculator. Patients with a score â€7 (low risk) were directed to an unmonitored bed (UMB), while those with a score of â„8 (high risk) were considered for MB placement. Conformity with guidelines and subsequent transfers to MB were reviewed, along with transfusion requirement, rebleeding, length of stay, need for intervention and death.
RESULTS: Over 34 months, 1037 patients received a GBS in the ER. 745 had an UGIB. 235 (32%) of these patients had a GBS â€7. 29 (12%) low-risk patients were admitted to MBs. Four low-risk patients admitted to UMB required transfer to MB within the first 48âhours. Low-risk patients admitted to UMBs were no more likely to die, rebleed, need transfusion or require more endoscopic, radiographic or surgical procedures than those admitted to MBs. No low-risk patient died from GIB. Patients with GBS â„8 were more likely to rebleed, require transfusion and interventions to control bleeding but not to die.
CONCLUSION: A semiautomated GBS calculator can be incorporated into an ER workflow. Patients with a GBS â€7 are unlikely to need MB care for UGIB. Further studies are warranted to determine an ideal scoring system for MB admission
Implementing FCTC Article 17 through Participatory Research with Bidi Workers in Tamil Nadu, India
Introduction: The exploitation, poor conditions and precarity in the bidi (hand-rolled leaf cigarette) industry in India makes it ripe for the application of the FCTCâs Article 17, âProvision of support for economically viable alternative activitiesâ. âBottom upâ, participatory approaches give scope to explore bidi rollersâ own circumstances, experiences and aspirations. Methods: A team of six community health volunteers using a participatory research orientation developed a questionnaire-based semi-structured interview tool. Forty-six bidi rolling women were interviewed by pairs of volunteers in two northern Tamil Nadu cities. Two follow-up focus groups were also held. A panel of 11 bidi rollers attended a workshop at which the findings from the interviews and focus groups were presented, further significant points were made and possible alternatives to bidi rolling were discussed. Results: Bidi workers are aware of the adverse impact of their occupation on them and their families, as well as the major risks posed by the product itself for the health of consumers. However, they need alternative livelihoods that offer equivalent remuneration, convenience and (in some cases) dignity. Alternative livelihoods, and campaigns for better rights for bidi workers while they remain in the industry, serve to undercut industry arguments against tobacco control. Responses need to be diverse and specific to local situations, i.e. âbottom upâ as much as âtop downâ, which can make the issue of scaling up problematic. Conclusion: Participatory approaches involving bidi workers themselves in discussions about their circumstances and aspirations have opened up new possibilities for alternative livelihoods to tobacco
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Flinders Island spotted fever rickettsioses caused by "marmionii" strain of rickettsia honei, Eastern Australia
Australia has 4 rickettsial diseases: murine typhus, Queensland tick typhus, Flinders Island spotted fever, and scrub typhus. We describe 7 cases of a rickettsiosis with an acute onset and symptoms of fever (100%), headache (71%), arthralgia (43%), myalgia (43%), cough (43%), maculopapular/petechial rash (43%), nausea (29%), pharyngitis (29%), lymphadenopathy (29%), and eschar (29%). Cases were most prevalent in autumn and from eastern Australia, including Queensland, Tasmania, and South Australia. One patient had a history of tick bite (Haemaphysalis novaeguineae). An isolate shared 99.2%, 99.8%, 99.8%, 99.9%, and 100% homology with the 17 kDa, ompA, gltA, 16S rRNA, and Sca4 genes, respectively, of Rickettsia honei. This Australian rickettsiosis has similar symptoms to Flinders Island spotted fever, and the strain is genetically related to R. honei. It has been designated the "marmionii" strain of R. honei, in honor of Australian physician and scientist Barrie Marmion
Systemic RALA/iNOS nanoparticles; a potent gene therapy for metastatic breast cancer coupled as a biomarker of treatment
This study aimed to determine the therapeutic benefit of a nanoparticular formulation for the delivery of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene therapy in a model of breast cancer metastasis. Nanoparticles comprising a cationic peptide vector, RALA, and plasmid DNA were formulated and characterized using a range of physiochemical analyses. Nanoparticles complexed using iNOS plasmids and RALA approximated 60Â nm in diameter with a charge of 25Â mV. A vector neutralization assay, performed to determine the immunogenicity of nanoparticles in immunocompetent C57BL/6 mice, revealed that no vector neutralization was evident. Nanoparticles harboring iNOS plasmids (constitutively active cytomegalovirus [CMV]-driven or transcriptionally regulated human osteocalcin [hOC]-driven) evoked iNOS protein expression and nitrite accumulation and impaired clonogenicity in the highly aggressive MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer model. Micrometastases of MDA-MB-231-luc-D3H1 cells were established in female BALB/c SCID mice by intracardiac delivery. Nanoparticulate RALA/CMV-iNOS or RALA/hOC-iNOS increased median survival in mice bearing micrometastases by 27% compared with controls and also provoked elevated blood nitrite levels. Additionally, iNOS gene therapy sensitized MDA-MB-231-luc-D3H1 tumors to docetaxel treatment. Studies demonstrated that systemically delivered RALA-iNOS nanoparticles have therapeutic potential for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. Furthermore, detection of nitrite levels in the blood serves as a reliable biomarker of treatment. Keywords: nonviral gene therapy, nitric oxide, nanoparticle, breast cancer, metastasi
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