Cross Linkages Research Articles

The Temporal Study of Spot and Futures Market Volatility : Cross Linkages among the Equity, Commodity, and Forex Markets in India

The Temporal Study of Spot and Futures Market Volatility : Cross Linkages among the Equity, Commodity, and Forex Markets in India

Abstract TMP51: A Big-data Neuro-informatics Infrastructure To Support Research Pipelines For Cerebrovascular Disease

Background: Cerebrovascular disease has significant gaps in translational and outcomes research. We provide the framework for a neuro-informatics pipeline, “Registry for Neurological Endpoints Assessment Among Patients with Ischemic and Hemorrhagic Stroke (REINAH)”, aimed at harnessing ‘big data’ across a 7-hospital certified stroke healthcare system. Methods: An automated extract, transform, load (ETL) process imports all clinical inpatient and outpatient data for patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS), intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), transient ischemic attack (TIA), subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) and matched controls. Following validation, a 2 nd stage ETL merges geocoding data for area deprivation index and generates domain specific dashboards. Neuroimaging and physiological wave form data are imported and analyzed for infarct / hemorrhage characteristics, cerebral small vessel disease burden, and hemodynamic variability. Cross linkages between REINAH and Medicare claims data have been established with > 98% overlap. Functional, cognitive, and quality of life outcomes are collected up till 365-days after discharge. Results: As of August 5, 2022, REINAH hosts data on 18,746 patients, including primary encounters for 1,863 ICH, 13,964 AIS, 1,264 SAH, and 3,307 TIA patients. Median (IQR) age for patients is 69 [58-79] years, including 51.7% Female, 15.6% Hispanic, 64.4% White, 24.6% Black, 5.4% Asian. Median Glasgow Coma Scale scores for AIS and ICH are 15 [14-15] and 13.5 [7-15], respectively. The successful contact rate for outcomes assessment is 70.9%, with 69.8% of responders providing consent for follow up. REINAH layout and demographics are shown in Figure. Conclusions: Mature data pipelines are needed to support validated and rapid evidence synthesis. REINAH provides a highly curated, clinically focused platform for stroke research that may impact patient care and post-stroke outcomes.

Remodeling of imbalanced extracellular matrix homeostasis for reversal of pancreatic fibrosis

Pancreatic fibrosis is mainly manifested by imbalance in extracellular matrix (ECM) homeostasis due to excessive deposition of collagen in pancreas by activated pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs). Recently, some drugs have exhibited therapeutic potentials for the treatment of pancreatic fibrosis; however, currently, no effective clinical strategy is available to remodel imbalanced ECM homeostasis because of inferior targeting abilities of drugs and collagen barriers that hinder the efficient delivery of drugs. Herein, we design and prepare collagen-binding peptide (CBP) and collagenase I co-decorated dual drug-loaded lipid nanoparticles (named AT-CC) for pancreatic fibrosis therapy. Specifically, AT-CC can target fibrotic pancreas via the CBP and degrade excess collagen by the grafted collagenase I, thereby effectively delivering all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) and ammonium tetrathiomolybdate (TM) into pancreas. The released ATRA can reduce collagen overproduction by inhibiting the activation of PSCs. Moreover, the released TM can restrain lysyloxidase activation, consequently reducing collagen cross-linking. The combination of ATRA and TM represses collagen synthesis and reduces collagen cross linkages to restore ECM homeostasis. The results of this research suggest that AT-CC is a safe and efficient collagen-targeted degradation drug-delivery system for reversing pancreatic fibrosis. Furthermore, the strategy proposed herein will offer an innovative platform for the treatment of chronic pancreatitis.

Controlled Release of Therapeutics From Enzyme-Responsive Biomaterials

Numerous promising drug leads are regularly abandoned due to having poor pharmacokinetic profiles. Biomaterials are often used as drug delivery systems to improve the pharmacokinetics of these otherwise promising drug candidates. Hydrogels are a subset of biomaterials that offer porous matrices, permeable to endogenous nutrients in aqueous in vivo environments. Environmentally sensitive hydrogels have become of interest to further tailor these materials to only allow therapeutic release in response to specific environmental cues instead of simple encapsulation and subsequent diffusion. Enzyme-responsive materials allow for the exploitation of endogenous tissue enzyme expression levels and/or altered expression levels during pathological states. The simplest and most common method for stimulus-dependant release is through the destruction of the matrix to release encapsulated therapeutics that would otherwise be trapped indefinitely. A second approach is to covalently attach therapeutics to the hydrogel scaffold and include enzymatically sensitive cross linkages throughout the scaffold backbone. The third, and least common approach, is to use labile linkers between the therapeutic and the scaffold which affords controlled, precise release of the therapeutic with a known molecular structure. These linkers can also be tailored to specific enzymes that are elevated in certain disease states. This review will; 1) briefly describe matrix degradation; 2) present the cleavage of covalently attached therapeutics and; 3) highlight the few examples of targeted cleavage of therapeutics from specific matrix locations and the potential use of these systems in biomedicine.

Catalysing Socio-Ecological Change: The Extraction and Processing of Edible Oils, 1910-1940

Abstract This article argues that histories of global north and south are interconnected and inseparable parts of the same processes that shaped different environments. In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, systematic science-based commodification attributed economic and use values to natural resources. This changed western perceptions of natural environments. The commodification of plant and animal oils led to global entanglements of European production and consumption with resource extraction sites in Africa, Asia and the Antarctic. These historical accounts are often written in national frames or focused on one commodity. This article explores the global in ter- and cross linkages with and between extraction regions. The historical distribution of sustainability gains and costs was continuously negotiated through building these global supply chains. I trace socio-technical changes from 1910 to 1940, when West European margarine industries constructed the entangled global resource supply chains. This article scrutinises the contestation, tensions and outcomes, revealing the conflicting values, interests and differences in power relations between indigenous actors and the global system entanglers active in Congo, Indonesia and the Antarctic. My analysis highlights the social and ecological changes in the entangled regions, and sketches the global economic, social and ecological trade-offs of these developments.

Alkylating Agents, the Road Less Traversed, Changing Anticancer Therapy.

Cancer is considered one of the gruelling challenges and poses a grave health hazard across the globe. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), new cancer cases increased to 18.1 million in 2018, with 9.6 million deaths, bringing the global cancer rate to 23.6 million by 2030. In 1942, the discovery of nitrogen mustard as an alkylating agent was a tremendous breakthrough in cancer chemotherapy. It acts by binding to the DNA, and creating cross linkages between the two strands, leading to halt of DNA replication and eventual cell death. Nitrogen lone pairs of 'nitrogen mustard' produce an intermediate 'aziridinium ion' at the molecular level, which is very reactive towards DNA of tumour cells, resulting in multiple side effects with therapeutic consequences. Owing to its high reactivity and peripheral cytotoxicity, several improvements have been made with structural modifications for the past 75 years to enhance its efficacy and improve the direct transport of drugs to the tumour cells. Alkylating agents were among the first non-hormonal substances proven to be active against malignant cells and also the most valuable cytotoxic therapies available for the treatment of leukaemia and lymphoma patients. This review focus on the versatile use of alkylating agents and the Structure Activity Relationship (SAR) of each class of these compounds. This could provide an understanding for design and synthesis of new alkylating agents having enhanced target specificity and adequate bioavailability.

PH-triggered intracellular release of doxorubicin by a poly(glycidyl methacrylate)-based double-shell magnetic nanocarrier.

Two core-double-shell pH-sensitive nanocarriers were fabricated using Fe3O4 as magnetic core, poly(glycidyl methacrylate-PEG) and salep dialdehyde as the first and the second shell, and doxorubicin as the hydrophobic anticancer drug. Two nanocarriers were different in the drug loading steps. The interaction between the first and the second shell assumed to be pH-sensitive via acetal cross linkages. The structure of nanocarriers, organic shell loading, magnetic responsibility, morphology, size, dispersibility, and drug loading content were investigated by IR, NMR, TG, VSM, XRD, DLS, HRTEM and UV-Vis analyses. The long-term drug release profiles of both nanocarriers showed that the drug loading before cross-linking between the first and second shell led to a more pH-sensitive nanocarrier exhibiting higher control on DOX release. Cellular toxicity assay (MTT) showed that DOX-free nanocarrier is biocompatible having cell viability greater than 80% for HEK-293 and MCF-7 cell lines. Besides, high cytotoxic effect observed for drug-loaded nanocarrier on MCF-7 cancer cells. Cellular uptake analysis showed that the nanocarrier is able to transport DOX into the cytoplasm and perinuclear regions of MCF-7 cells. In vitro hemolysis and coagulation assays demonstrated high blood compatibility of nanocarrier. The results also suggested that low concentration of nanocarrier have a great potential as a contrast agent in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Controlling mechanisms and cross linkages of ecosystem metabolism and atmospheric CO2 flux in the northern South China Sea

This study aims to understand the controlling mechanisms of ecosystem metabolic states and air-sea CO2 fluxes and their cross linkages in the northern South China Sea (NSCS). The integrated gross production (IGP), integrated dark community respiration (IDCR), and integrated bacterial respiration (IBR) were all higher in summer than in winter ranging from 851, 435, and 243 to 5032, 10707, and 7547 mg C m−2 d−1, respectively. The discrete estimates of gross production (GP) and dark community respiration (DCR) were modulated by temperature, salinity and nutrient availability through different mechanisms in summer and winter and in shallow (Zhujiang River plumes and shelves) and deep (slope and basin) sampling stations. GP was correlated with DCR (r = 0.74, p < 0.0001), which in turn was largely attributed (65%) to bacterial respiration in the NSCS. Most spatial and summer-winter variability in the IGP/IDCR ratios was less than 1 (heterotrophic), except for in two ratios in winter in the Zhujiang River plume. However, these ratios were higher in winter than in summer because of the vertical pumping of nutrient in winter. Given the higher level of seawater pCO2 in summer than in winter, the NSCS appears to act as a balance to minor source of atmospheric CO2 in summer but a sink in winter. The air−sea fluxes of CO2 and ecosystem metabolic states share a close link in summer but separate in winter. Internal and external sources of dissolved organic carbon may play a key role in causing the heterotrophic conditions and atmospheric CO2 sink in winter.

Can Firms’ Market Performance Be Explained Better? Role of Strategy, Sustainability Levers

Practitioners of strategy such as C-suite executives as well as academicians have always expressed a keen interest in understanding the motivations for firm growth. Though they look at it from different dimensions, both confidently observe the impact of several strategy levers such as organic growth focus, the soft power focus exemplified by Michael Porter’s ‘bargaining power of the buyer’, and the tangible resource focus that stems from investment in competence generating assets on the market performance of firms. Michael Porter also provided critical insights using an industry based perspective wherein he studied the levers of competitive advantage. Research studies have also incorporated the relevance of the industry environment and the role of different stakeholders in the overall progress of a firm. Theories such as the Resource Based View (RBV) as well as frameworks such as VRIO (Valuable, Rare, difficult to Imitate, Organized to capture value) have found acceptance among the practitioners since they have observed its power to explain the rationale behind firm growth and market performance. However, the sustainability and environmental focus has shot into prominence in the recent two decades on account of scholars such as John Wilkington. Hence, we find that strategy papers have now attempted to include an understanding of practices in this domain of sustainability and its corresponding impact (if any) on firm performance. At the same time, we also observe that research that delves into the cross linkages between the RBV and the triple bottom line exemplified by the 3Ps (People, Planet and Profits) are relatively lesser in number. Hence, our paper aims to understand the linkages between the sustainability dimension as espoused by corporates as well as other strategy dimensions and firm performance. Using the database PROWESS, managed by the Centre for Monitoring the Indian Economy, (CMIE), the study uses a sample of more than 500 companies and key findings indicate that there is a significant explanatory power of some strategy levers and the sustainability dimensions in unravelling the deeper reasons behind firm performance. We use specific multivariate analysis techniques to support our findings. We observe that our paper contributes significantly to advancing a new framework to explain the firm performance; this has critical ramifications for academicians as well as practitioners of strategy - it has the potential to chart out newer growth trajectory for firms in an ultra-competitive business environment.

Effect of Al3+ ions substitution in novel zinc phosphate glasses on formation of HAp layer for bone graft applications

Aluminium doped phosphate based bioglasses have potential applications in the field of bone tissue engineering, because of their excellent bioactivity and biocompatibility along with high mechanical strength and controlled dissolution. In the present study, 8ZnO–22Na2O–(24-x)CaO–46P2O5–xAl2O3 (where x = 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 mol%) glass system was synthesized and investigated by means of XRD, FTIR, SEM and EDS before and after immersion in SBF for 3, 7, 14 and 21days, the physic-chemical properties of the samples, including density and microhardness, evaluation of pH and weight loss of glasses in physiological fluid and cell cultural studies like cell viability, cytocompatability and cell proliferation by seeding rMSCs cells on the glass samples in order to throw some light on their structural properties. The results showed that, the density and Vickers hardness found to be increased with the increase in content of alumina due to the slight increase in the number of octahedrally coordinated Al3+ ions and stronger ionic cross linkages due to insertion of Al3+ ions between phosphate networks. The initial rise in pH and controlled solubility in SBF strongly supports the apatite layer development. The growth of the rMSCs cells on all samples showing good cytocompatability and proliferation up to 6 mol% Al2O3 after that decreases slightly with an increase in alumina content due to network forming action of Al3+ ions in zinc phosphate based glasses. The results confirmed the suitability of these glasses for clinical trials towards bone repair and regeneration resorbable implants.

Polymer Electrolyte Membranes

Polymer electrolyte membranes (PEM) with good properties are essential for the improvement of electrochemical operations. The increase in properties of polymer electrolyte membranes will develop the performance of polymer electrolyte membranes in the fuel cells. The importance of polymer electrolyte membranes is increasing recently due to its activity and simplicity in energy associated applications like automobiles and various portable applications. PEM has various properties like proton conductivity, chemical stability, mechanical properties, thermal stability and so on. These properties are enhanced and influenced by various factors like morphology, the molecular weight of the membranes, chemical structures, cross linkages etc. The present chapter attempts to summarize about the properties of polymer electrolyte membrane involved in the different types of electrochemical utilizations. Keywords: Polymer electrolyte membrane, fuel cells, morphology, proton conductivity, chemical structure.

A REVIEW OF WOOD-BARK ADHESION: METHODS AND MECHANICS OF DEBARKING FOR WOODY BIOMASS

Debarking systems and strategies are used to increase the value of woody biomass by separating wood and bark into two value-added product streams. Several debarking methods have been used for the removal of bark from wood. The selection of a debarking method is often based on the wood type and its end use. Debarking methods discussed briefly in this review include drum debarking, ring debarking, cradle debarking, chain flail debarking, high-pressure water jet debarking, compression debarking, and biodebarking. The performance of these debarking methods is highly dependent on operational parameters of machines, properties and type of woody biomass, and pretreatments. A universal applicable mechanistic model of the debarking process would be especially valuable for the development and optimization of debarking systems. In this respect, the competing objectives of high bark removal, low wood damage, high throughput, and low energy must be balanced against one another to arrive at a truly optimized approach. Wood-bark bond strength plays a vital role in impacting the effectiveness and efficiency of debarking technology. Thus, it is important to understand how mechanical properties of the wood-bark interface are influenced by different factors. Key factors that affect the wood-bark bond strength include MC, harvest season, wood species, temperature, and direction of applied load. The likely reason why MC affects the wood-bark adhesion strength is that the constituent elements of primary plant cell walls (cellulose, hemicellulose, and pectin) behave differently when they are exposed to water molecules. For example, there is negligible change in the length if cellulose microfibrils when exposed to water molecules. However, characteristics of hemicellulose and pectin behave differently than cellulose when they contact with water molecules. Also, the difference in the adhesion strength of wood-bark bond among varieties of woody plants is possibly due to the difference in density of cross linkages of homogalacturonan pectin by Ca2., and arabinan and galactan side chains of pectin. The relevance of this information to the debarking process is discussed.

Lysyl Oxidase: Its Diversity in Health and Diseases.

The mechanical properties of extracellular matrix (ECM) and connective tissues is largely dependent on the collagen and elastin structure. Lysyl oxidase (LOX) plays a critical role in the formation and repair of the ECM by oxidizing lysine residues in elastin and collagen, thereby initiating the formation of covalent cross linkages which stabilize these fibrous proteins. Due to its multiple functions both extracellularly and intracellularly, lysyl oxidase is involved in several processes in the tumorigenic pathway, in many different cancer types and stages. Alteration in LOX activity is implicated in many diseases and disorders including inflammation and inflammatory diseases, fibrosis of distinct organs and fibrotic disorders, cancer promotion and progression. There are only sparse reports of mutations or epigenetic alterations in the LOX gene. This review provides the recent clinical developments in the molecular mechanisms and pathologic process, pointing out LOX as a potential therapeutic target in translational medicine.

Role of titanium ions on the physical and structural properties of calcium zinc bismuth phosphate glass ceramics

The transparent glass ceramics of composition 10CaF2–20ZnO–(15–x)Bi2O3–55P2O5: xTiO2 (0≤x≤4) were prepared by melt quenching followed by heat treatment. The prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, differential thermal analysis and scanning electron microscopy. These studies have revealed that the samples contain well defined randomly distributed crystalline phases with the complexes of Ti4+ and Ti3+ ions. Spectroscopic studies viz., optical absorption, electron paramagnetic resonance, Fourier transform infrared and Raman were also carried out on these glass ceramics. The results of optical absorption and electron paramagnetic resonance studies revealed that part of the titanium ions exist in Ti3+ state that occupy the tetragonally distorted octahedral sites in the glass ceramic network and these ions are found to increase with an increase in the content of nucleating agent TiO2. Fourier transform infrared and Raman studies indicating the formation of TiO6 structural units along with cross linkages viz., P–O–Bi, P–O–Ti. But when TiO2 is present in the larger quantities, the Π-bond of P=O may be ruptured by TiO4 structural units which may cause the creation of new non-bridging oxygen ions facilitating the formation of [TiO6/2]2− structural units also. Therefore, the analysis of spectroscopic studies indicating that the glass ceramics contain greater than 2mol% of TiO2 is suitable for semiconducting applications.

RETRACTED: On the interplay between energy consumption, economic growth and CO2 emission nexus in the GCC countries: A comparative analysis through wavelet approaches

In this paper, we investigate the cross linkages between CO2 emission, economic growth and energy consumption for six GCC countries (Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, UAE and Qatar) over the period (1980–2013). In doing so, we consider a new approach namely wavelet window cross correlation (WWCC) that combines multi-scaling decomposition, and lead/lag cross correlations. To further assess the robustness of this new method, we rely on the traditional wavelet coherence framework. The results pointed out the existence of bilateral causal effects between EC and EG while only a unidirectional relationship was found from EC to CO2 emissions. The intensity of the co-movements reaches its zenith at coarser scales (in the long run). In addition, the decoupling effects are identified in the short run becoming less pronounced in the long run. Overall, the findings support the hypothesis of the so-called neighborhood-effect since we found striking similarities across countries in the pattern of relationships between the variables. The implications of this study will be useful in better encircling the best ways to adopt a pro-active knowledge aiming to preserve the environment in the GCC region.

The complexity of condensed tannin binding to bovine serum albumin – An isothermal titration calorimetry study

Isothermal titration calorimetry was applied to study the binding of purified proanthocyanidin oligomers to bovine serum albumin (BSA). The molecular weight of the proanthocyanidin oligomer had a major impact on its binding to BSA. The calculated change in enthalpy (ΔH) and association constant (Ka) became greater as the oligomer size increased then plateaued at the heptameric oligomer. These results support a model for precipitation of proteins by proanthocyanidin where increased oligomer size enhanced the opportunity for cross linkages between proteins ultimately forming sediment-able complexes. The authors suggest tannin binding to proteins is opportunistic and involves multiple sites, each with a different Ka and ΔH of binding. The ΔH of binding comprises both an endothermic hydrophobic interaction and exothermic hydrogen bond component. This suggests the calculated entropy value (ΔS) for tannin–protein interactions is subject to a systematic error and should be interpreted with caution.

Effect of Mechanical Stretching of the Skin on Collagen Fibril Thermal Stability

Stabilization of collagen fibres during development and through growth to maturation has now become fairly documented. In vitro effect of mechanical stretching of rats’ skin on oxidative deamination of e-NH2-groups of lysine and hydroxylysine, and functional properties of its type І collagen were studied. Experiments were carried out on the skin of a 3-months old male Wistar rat weighing about 800 mg. The skin tissue was divided into four (4) and subjected to different mechanical stresses in Ringer-Kreb’s medium for 6 hours at 37 oC. The Degree of oxidative deamination of lysine and hydroxylysine was evaluated by way of the content of free e-amino (e-NH2) and aldehyde (COH) groups. Level of covalent cross-linking of collagen in skin samples was assessed by its solubility in 1 M solution of NaCl and expressed as a percentage of total collagen content in the tissue. Collagen synthesized under the influence of mechanical stretching had higher content of free e-NH2-groups and lower level of inter-molecular cross-links compared to the collagen synthesized without the stretching. This finding may indicate that fibrils formed in the former were shorter and had lower thermal stability due to a decrease in the degree of cross linkages.

Do Side Effects Really Matter in Financial Contagion? An International Bank-Sovereign Simulation

During the recent financial crisis the linkages between banks, public finances and the real economy were one of the important issues. The feedback and cross effects have shown their importance, and evidenced the need for more complete models that include circular feedbacks, cross linkages and side effects.In this paper we have developed a comprehensive simulation model for testing if these “secondary” effects have a relevant impact on the system, so that a more holistic approach can lead to more effective evaluations. The model includes some connecting aspects, as like indirect correlation and contagion between banks and public finances, and their sensitivity of both to the real economy variations.For verifying if results are model sensitive, the simulations are performed according to two different models. Results show that neglecting these indirect effects is misleading, and substantially underestimates the crisis effects.

Poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogel based fiber interferometer sensor for heavy metal cations

A Mach Zehnder fiber interferometer is demonstrated for sensing of the heavy metal cation, Ni2+ using a responsive poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) based hydrogel. The presence of Ni2+ increases degree of cross linkages within the hydrogel and increases its refractive index, leading to phase shift in the interferogram. Ni2+ concentration is monitored by the shifting of interference dips with a sensitivity of 0.214nm/μM and limit of detection of 1nM. Design of the PVA hydrogel to optimize sensitivity is discussed and the capability of the gel to immobilize various receptors enables a flexible platform for sensing applications.

Needle-free intravaginal DNA vaccination using a stearoyl oligopeptide carrier promotes local gene expression and immune responses

The vaginal mucosa is the most common site of infection for viruses that are transmitted through heterosexual intercourse, including human immunodeficiency virus and papillomavirus. Thus, in order to prevent or respond to these infections, strong vaginal immunity is required as the first line of defense. We previously investigated the use of a needle-free injector as a mucosal vaccination tool in rabbits and demonstrated that this is a promising method for stimulating vaginal gene expression and immune responses. In order to improve gene expression, we have examined local vaginal gene transfection efficiency using a non-needle jet injector combined with an effective peptide carrier in rabbits. The carrier used was a stearoyl (STR) peptide with Cys (C), Arg (R) and His (H) residues that form disulfide cross linkages via Cys (STR-CH₂R₄H₂C) which was developed in our previous study. As a result, vaginal gene expression using the needle-free injector combined with STR-CH₂R₄H₂C carrier was significantly improved compared to that without STR-CH₂R₄H₂C carrier. Moreover, intravaginal pDNA vaccination by the needle-free injector combined with STR-CH₂R₄H₂C carrier and CpG-ODN promoted not only local vaginal IgA and IgG, but also serum IgG secretion, to a degree significantly higher than that of naked pDNA.