Relevant Locations Research Articles

All for one and one for all? Integration in high-performance sport

ABSTRACT Purpose : To examine the lived experiences of the integrated model of elite sport from the perspective of parasport insiders. Research design : Since 2002, an integrated model for competition has been implemented by Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF). Commonwealth Games XXI was selected as a relevant location to conduct research regarding integration. Ethnographic methods included interviews, go-along conversations and observation. Interviews were conducted with Games personnel to enhance understandings of integration in sport. Qualitative thematic analysis was conducted to determine significant themes. Findings : The findings confirmed that integration is considered the preferred model among non-athletes who were unanimous in their support. Analysis indicated that the parasport athlete experience was mixed, reflecting negative and positive experiences. Three themes were identified as impactful of the athlete experience: ableization, size of the parasport contingent, lack of unified collective voice. Practical implications : Future research that examines whose assumptions inform decision making and program delivery is necessary to determine the merits and drawbacks of integration in sport. Research contributions : By foregrounding the lived experiences of a group of parasport insiders, the research generates unique insights into the integrated model of sport from a perspective that is often missing, and credibly informs those who manage integration in sport.

The tubarial salivary glands: A potential new organ at risk for radiotherapy

IntroductionThe presence of previously unnoticed bilateral macroscopic salivary gland locations in the human nasopharynx was suspected after visualization by positron emission tomography/computed tomography with prostate-specific membrane antigen ligands (PSMA PET/CT). We aimed to elucidate the characteristics of this unknown entity and its potential clinical implications for radiotherapy. Materials and methodsThe presence and configuration of the PSMA-positive area was evaluated in a retrospective cohort of consecutively scanned patients with prostate or urethral gland cancer (n = 100). Morphological and histological characteristics were assessed in a human cadaver study (n = 2). The effect of radiotherapy (RT) on salivation and swallowing was retrospectively investigated using prospectively collected clinical data from a cohort of head-neck cancer patients (n = 723). With multivariable logistic regression analysis, the association between radiotherapy (RT) dose and xerostomia or dysphagia was evaluated. ResultsAll 100 patients demonstrated a demarcated bilateral PSMA-positive area (average length 4 cm). Histology and 3D reconstruction confirmed the presence of PSMA-expressing, predominantly mucous glands with multiple draining ducts, predominantly near the torus tubarius. In the head-neck cancer patients, the mean RT dose to the gland area was significantly associated with physician-rated post-treatment xerostomia and dysphagia ≥ grade 2 at 12 months (0.019/gy, 95%CI 0.005–0.033, p = .007; 0.016/gy, 95%CI 0.001–0.031, p = .036). Follow-up at 24 months had similar results. ConclusionThe human body contains a pair of previously overlooked and clinically relevant macroscopic salivary gland locations, for which we propose the name tubarial glands. Sparing these glands in patients receiving RT may provide an opportunity to improve their quality of life.

EEG correlates of spatial shifts of attention in a dynamic multi-talker speech perception scenario in younger and older adults

Speech perception under “cocktail-party” conditions critically depends on the focusing of attention toward the talker of interest. In dynamic auditory scenes, changes in talker settings require rapid shifts of attention, which is especially relevant when the position of a target talker switches from one location to another. Here, we explored electrophysiological correlates of shifts in spatial auditory attention, using a free-field speech perception task, in which sequences of short words (a company name, followed by a numeric value, e.g., “Bosch–6”) were presented in the participants’ left and right horizontal plane. Younger and older participants responded to the value of a pre-defined target company, while ignoring three simultaneously presented pairs of concurrent company names and values from different locations. All four stimulus pairs were spoken by different talkers, alternating from trial-to-trial. The location of the target company was within either the left or right hemisphere for a variable number of consecutive trials (between 3 and 42 trials) and then changed, switching from the left to the right hemispace or vice versa. Thus, when a switch occurred, the participants had to search for the new position of the target company among the concurrent streams of auditory information and re-focus their attention on the relevant location. As correlates of lateralized spatial auditory attention, the anterior contralateral N2 subcomponent (N2ac) and the posterior alpha power lateralization were analyzed in trials immediately before and after switches of the target location. Both measures were increased after switches, while only the increase in N2ac was related to better speech perception performance (i.e., a reduced post-switch decline in accuracy). While both age groups showed a similar pattern of switch-related attentional modulations, N2ac and alpha lateralization to the task-relevant stimulus (the target company's value) was overall greater in the younger, than older, group. The results suggest that N2ac and alpha lateralization reflect different attentional processes in multi-talker speech perception, the first being primarily associated with auditory search and the focusing of attention, and the second with the in-depth attentional processing of task-relevant information. Especially the second process appears to be prone to age-related cognitive decline.

(Re-)organisation of spatial configurations in visual working memory: The fate of objects rendered relevant or irrelevant by selective attention.

People maintain object locations not as independent absolute positions but based on inter-object relations in the form of a spatial configuration in visual working memory (VWM). Initial evidence suggests that spatial configurations can be reorganised during maintenance; however, this mechanism is not well understood. We report three experiments investigating this reorganisation process. First, we found that directing spatial attention with a retro cue triggers a reorganisation of spatial configurations during maintenance (Experiment 1). Second, we investigated the role of contextual objects rendered either relevant or irrelevant through the retro cue by manipulating the locations of the context at retrieval both within a partial display (Experiment 2a) and a whole display (Experiment 2b). Whereas the similar impairment of memory performance by changing the relevant and global context suggests a complete reorganisation of spatial configurations in VWM, this interpretation was challenged by the observation of impaired memory performance with changes of the irrelevant objects in a whole display that retains the relevant locations. Thus, we suggest that reorganisation should be considered to be the formation of a partial configuration based on the objects rendered relevant by the retro cue in addition to the originally encoded global configuration, with both configurations affecting memory performance.

Frequency-adaptive cancellation of harmonic disturbances at non-measurable positions of steel strips

The active rejection of harmonic disturbances is of great importance in many industrial applications. For instance, transverse vibrations of steel strips in hot-dip galvanizing lines entail an inhomogeneous zinc coating of the final product. Controlling the vibrations of these steel strips is particularly complicated because their direct measurement at the relevant location is not available. More specifically, the disturbance input, the displacement measurement, the electromagnetic actuator which acts as control input, and the system output to be controlled are all located at different positions along the steel strip. The control scheme proposed in this work minimizes the harmonic steady-state response of the system output to be controlled. In contrast to a state–space approach, the method does not utilize a high-dimensional state observer, and requires only modest computational resources during online operation. Furthermore, negative effects in the closed-loop system due to observation or control spillover are effectively avoided. The developed harmonic disturbance rejection scheme is validated by experiments conducted on a test rig that mimics the conditions from an industrial hot-dip galvanizing line.

Anisotropic gradient-based filtering for object segmentation in medical images

ABSTRACT A four-step approach for image filtering and object segmentation is explored. The key steps are i) a low-pass digital differentiator is used to compute the image gradient (vector) field; ii) the regularised anisotropic diffusion method is used to filter this vector field; iii) the modified image is reconstructed from the filtered gradient field as a least-squares best fit; iv) object segmentation is performed on the reconstructed image. The advantages of this approach is the easier identification of noise in the gradient field, and consequently the image filtering can be more effective. The least-squares fit allows for non-local adjustment to the image to improve overall smoothness while enhancing object contrast. Importantly one can also ensure that relevant feature boundary locations are preserved while appearing smoother due to the filtering. The proposed filtering methodology is compared to image filtering applied directly to the image intensity. A set of challenging medical images of mammography exams and confocal microscopy experiments are used as numerical tests.

Independent effects of statistical learning and top-down attention

It is well known that spatial attention can be directed in a top-down way to task-relevant locations in space. In addition, through visual statistical learning (VSL), attention can be biased towards relevant (target) locations and away from irrelevant (distractor) locations. The present study investigates the interaction between the explicit task-relevant, top-down attention and the lingering attentional biases due to VSL. We wanted to determine the contribution of each of these two processes to attentional selection. In the current study, participants performed a search task while keeping a location in spatial working memory. In Experiment 1, the target appeared more often in one location, and appeared less often in other location. In Experiment 2, a color singleton distractor was presented more often in location than in all other locations. The results show that when the search target matched the location that was kept in working memory, participants were much faster at responding to the search target than when it did not match, signifying top-down attentional selection. Independent of this top-down effect, we found a clear effect of VSL as responses were even faster when target (Experiment 1) or the distractor (Experiment 2) was presented at a more likely location in visual field. We conclude that attentional selection is driven by implicit biases due to statistical learning and by explicit top-down processing, each process individually and independently modulating the neural activity within the spatial priority map.

Progressive instability of bilateral sacral fragility fractures in osteoporotic bone: a retrospective analysis of X-ray, CT, and MRI datasets from 78 cases.

The pathogenetic mechanism, progression, and instability in geriatric bilateral fragility fractures of the sacrum (BFFSs) remain poorly understood. This study investigated the hypothesis of sequential BFFS progression by analysing X-ray, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) datasets. Imaging data from 78 cases were retrospectively analysed. Fractures were categorized using the CT-based Fragility Fractures of the Pelvis classification. MRI datasets were analysed to detect relevant fracture location information. The longitudinal sacral fracture was graded as stage 1 (bone oedema) on MRI, stage 2 (recent fracture), stage 3 (healing fracture), or stage 4 (non-union) on CT. Ligamentous avulsions at the L5 transverse process and iliac crest were also captured. Contralateral sacral lesions were only recognized by initial bone oedema on MRI in 17/78 (22%) cases. There were 22 cases without and 56 cases with an interconnecting transverse fracture component (TFC) [between S1/S2 (n = 39) or between S2/S3 (n = 17)]. With 30/78 patients showing bilateral fracture lines at different stages (1/2: n = 13, 2/3: n = 13, 1/3: n = 4) and 38 at similar stages, Wilcoxon tests showed a significant stage difference (p < 0.001). Forty cases had a coexistent L5 transverse process avulsion, consistent with a failing iliolumbar ligament. Analysis of variance revealed significant increases in ligamentous avulsions with higher fracture stages (p < 0.001). Our results support the hypothesis of stagewise BFFS progression starting with unilateral sacral disruption followed by a contralateral lesion. Loss of sacral alar support leads to a TFC. Subsequent bone disruption causes iliolumbar ligament avulsion. MRI is recommended to detect bone oedema.

Preliminary efficacy of the Quit Together Couple focused pregnancy smoking cessation intervention in Romania

Abstract Significance Smoking rates before and during pregnancy are high in Romania and other low- and middle-income countries. We report on the efficacy of a smoking cessation intervention for couples during and after pregnancy in Romania. Methods The Quit Together trial enrolled participants between 2017-2019. The target population was comprised of pregnant smokers and their life partners in Romania. Eligibility criteria included age &amp;gt; =18; pregnant; smoker; married or with a stable partner; willing to share partner contact info to be invited as participants as well. Participants self-enrolled through the Quit Together project webpage responding to Facebook ads and Google AdWords ad campaigns, and promotion through emails, online discussion groups, and printed materials distributed nationally by perinatal educators in ObGyn clinics and other relevant locations. Quit Together is a telephone counselling program building on the Motivation and Problem Solving (MAPS) approach enhanced by targeting the couples' smoking behavior and focusing on dyadic efficacy for smoking cessation. We report preliminary efficacy results of Quit Together. Preliminary Results There were 130 pregnant smokers with confirmed enrollment in the Quit Together trial. Among those who completed the intervention, the postpartum follow-up rate was close to 87% (N = 47/52). The mean age was 28, ranging from 18 to 42. Over 42% graduated college. Over 62% of the pregnant smokers had moderate-high nicotine dependence. Interim smoking cessation efficacy analyses on the first 52 participants indicate that the self-reported quit rate was 29.6% in the intervention group (8/27) vs 20% in the control group (5/25). Biochemically confirmed quit rates were 11.1% (3/27) vs 8% (2/25). Conclusions Motivation and problem-solving telephone counseling with couples can increase smoking cessation during pregnancy. These interim findings suggest that Quit Together may be an efficacious program for prenatal smoking cessation.

Abstract 2788: Characterization of a panel of orthotopic syngeneic models using bioluminescent imaging for the evaluation of immuno oncology therapeutics

Abstract Background: The rapid development of immuno-oncology (I/O) therapies for various cancer types has transformed the paradigm of cancer treatment from targeting the tumor to targeting the immune system, and now to combination strategies. Numerous Phase I-III trials with immunotherapeutics and combinations are being conducted; however, a lot of these are failing. More preclinical models are required to help investigate efficacy, uncover mechanisms of action, and to design more rational combination strategies. The most widely used models for immunotherapy evaluation are models with functional murine immunity such as syngeneic allograft models and genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs). Syngeneic models are used in nearly all I/O therapy programs as these are well-characterized and straightforward to set-up as subcutaneous models. However, one of the major disadvantages of subcutaneous models is the lack of a clinically relevant tumor microenvironment (TME) including stromal cells, immune cells, extracellular matrix etc. The dynamic interplay of these cells drive alterations in cellular functions and impact study outcomes. Using bioluminescent imaging (BLI), we have developed and characterized a panel of orthotopic models where tumor cells are inoculated in a relevant organ-specific location to recapitulate the immune and stromal component interactions with the tumor, which can also facilitate metastatic spread. These models can be used to evaluate various therapies in both the orthotopic and metastatic settings. Method: A panel of syngeneic cell lines were labeled with bioluminescence by transducing the cell lines with a lentiviral vector carrying the firefly luciferase gene. This panel represents a diverse range of cancer types including liver (Hepa 1-6 and HT22), breast (4T1), colon (CT26.WT), brain (GL261), prostate (RM-1), and pancreas (Pan02). These bioluminescent cells were orthotopically implanted into immune competent mice. In-life tumor growth and metastasis were assessed using the IVIS® Spectrum In Vivo Imaging System. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes were assessed by flow cytometry (BD LSRFortessa™) and multiplex IHC. Results: Orthotopic implantation of syngeneic models was successfully demonstrated for all models as confirmed by in-life imaging and ex vivo imaging at termination. Baseline response towards various checkpoint inhibitors and chemotherapies were established. For the Hepa 1-6 liver model, response to an anti-PD-1 antibody was significant in both the subcutaneous and orthotopic setting. In contrast, the H22 liver model responded to both sorafenib and anti-mCTLA-4 antibody in the subcutaneous model but not in the orthotopic setting. In addition, anti-mCTLA-4 treatment led to more significant inhibition of pancreatic Pan02 tumor growth in the orthotopic model in comparison with its corresponding subcutaneous setting. Conclusion: Bioluminescent syngeneic models in the orthotopic setting provide a valuable tool for testing immunotherapies, with a more clinically relevant TME in comparison to the corresponding subcutaneous model. The establishment of a range of models covering diverse cancer types allows for a thorough interrogation of immunotherapeutic potential. Citation Format: Diandong Jiang, Bryan Miller, Yanrui Song, Rajendra Kumari, Annie An, Jie Cai, Davy Xuesong Ouyang, Henry Qixiang Li, Yinfei Yin. Characterization of a panel of orthotopic syngeneic models using bioluminescent imaging for the evaluation of immuno oncology therapeutics [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 2788.

Performance Enhancement of Hybrid TDOA/AOA Using Multipath Delay Estimation

During the launch mission of a launch vehicle (LV), localization of the LV is very important for ensuring flight safety. Usually, active localization systems such as the ground tracking radar systems and onboard navigation systems of the LV are responsible for acquiring the relevant location information for localization. However, if, in addition to the existing localization methods, passive localization using ground telemetry stations can be implemented, the reliability of the flight safety control for the LV can be improved. Time of arrival (TOA), time difference of arrival (TDOA), and angle of arrival (AOA) are typical localization techniques used for an emitting target. In this paper, we examine passive TDOA/AOA localization that uses two ground telemetry stations, and propose a technique to improve its localization accuracy, based on second-order polynomial regression and the removal of the estimated multipath delays in the TDOA/AOA results. By comparing the results of our proposed technique with the measured data from an on-board GPS used in the 3rd Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1 (KSLV-1) mission, our study confirms that the localization accuracy has been improved.

Bioinspired design of triboceramics: Learning from the anisotropic micro-fracture response of dental enamel under sliding contact

In the quest for novel ceramics for tribological applications via bioinspired design, the differences in the fracture modes that arise upon scratching relevant locations of ceramic-like tooth enamel are investigated. It is found that fracture initiates from weak rod-sheath interfaces at relatively low loads, independent of the sliding direction. However, the geometry and propagation of the cracks depends on the orientation of the interfaces relative to the maximum tensile stress: scratching along the occlusal surface propagates approximately sinusoidal cracks, parallel to the sliding direction, while scratching along the cross-section produces straight cracks that propagate normal (scratch parallel to occlusal surface) or parallel (scratch perpendicular to occlusal surface) to the sliding direction. The formation of cracks is hindered in scratching near the enamel-dentine junction. Implications for the microstructural design of triboceramics (bulks and coatings) with improved durability are discussed.

Toward a Practical Method for Hypersonic Transition Prediction Based on Stability Correlations

An accurate boundary-layer transition prediction method integrated with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solvers is pursued for hypersonic boundary-layer flows over slender hypersonic vehicles at flight conditions. The geometry and flow conditions are selected to match relevant trajectory locations from the ascent phase of the HIFiRE-1 flight experiment, namely, a 7 deg half-angle cone with 2.5 mm nose radius, freestream Mach numbers in the range of 3.8–5.5, and freestream unit Reynolds numbers in the range of . Earlier research had shown that the onset of transition during the Hypersonic International Flight Research Experimentation 1 (HIFiRE-1) flight experiment correlated with an amplification factor of for the planar Mack modes. However, to incorporate the -factor correlations into a CFD code, we investigate surrogate models for disturbance amplification that avoids the direct computation of stability characteristics. The results demonstrate that the application of the commonly used approach, which is based on a database of stability characteristics for locally similar profiles, leads to large, unacceptable errors in the predictions of amplification factors. We propose and demonstrate an alternate approach that employs the stability computations for a canonical set of blunt cone configurations to train a convolutional neural network model that is shown to provide substantially improved transition predictions. The excellent performance of the neural network model is also confirmed for cone configurations with nose radius and half-angle values outside of those used to build the database. Finally, the convolutional neural network model is found to outperform the linear stability calculations for underresolved basic states.

Attentional capture by a color singleton is stronger at spatially relevant than irrelevant locations: Evidence from an ERP study.

Top-down spatial attention can modulate contingent attentional capture, but the underlying mechanism is still not clear. Using variants of spatial cueing paradigms, our previous event-related potential study showed that peripheral color singleton cues with task-relevant features captured attention (indexed by cue-elicited N2pc) even when the targets appeared at central locations, but the magnitude of attentional capture was smaller than when the targets appeared at same peripheral locations. One reasonable explanation is that the modulation effect is due to spatial relevance of cues. However, several other confounding factors might also explain the modulation effect, such as task difficulty, spread of attentional window, and inside/outside relation between cue and attentional window. In the present study, we rearranged the relative locations between cues and targets to control these factors and to further examine whether inequivalence of attentional capture across attended and unattended locations was a common phenomenon. In two experiments, color singleton cues elicited apparent N2pc components when participants were searching for targets possessing the same color, which replicated typical findings of contingent attentional capture. More importantly, the modulation effect of top-down spatial attention on the cue-elicited N2pc still existed even when the factors of task difficulty (Experiment 1), spread of attentional window (Experiment 1), or inside/outside relation between cue and attentional window (Experiment 2) were controlled. These results consistently demonstrate that attentional capture by a color singleton is stronger at spatially relevant locations than at spatially irrelevant locations, suggesting an important role of spatial relevance on contingent attentional capture.

Dynamic behaviour of DEMO vacuum vessel during plasma vertical displacement events

In tokamaks during plasma vertical displacement events (VDEs) electrical currents occur in the vacuum vessel (VV) and in the in-vessel components (IVCs) that interact with the strong magnetic field generating large electromagnetic (EM) loads. The aim of the present work is the evaluation of the peak displacements and accelerations of the DEMO VV in case of VDEs. Four types of VDEs are investigated that are specified to generate the most severe net loads. The assessment considers also the electromagnetic-mechanical coupling between the VV and the toroidal field (TF) coils whose characteristic stiffness and damping coefficients were determined through a transient EM analysis. In a second step a transient dynamic analysis was performed using a structural finite element (FE) model of the VV to evaluate the displacement and acceleration peaks during the VDEs in relevant locations of the VV.

Marine Biofouling: A European Database for the Marine Renewable Energy Sector

Biofouling is a major problem shared among all maritime sectors employing submerged structures where it leads to substantially increased costs and lowered operational lifespans if poorly addressed. Insight into the ongoing processes at the relevant marine locations is key to effective management of biofouling. Of specific concern for the marine renewable energy (MRE) sector is the fact that information on biofouling composition and magnitude across geographies is dispersed throughout published papers and consulting reports. To enable rapid access to relevant key biofouling events the present work describes a European biofouling database to support the MRE sector and other maritime industries. The database compiles in one document qualitative and quantitative data for challenging biofouling groups, including non-native species associated with MRE and related marine equipment, in different European Ecoregions. It provides information on the occurrence of fouling species and data on key biofouling parameters, such as biofouling thickness and weight. The database aims to aid the MRE sector and offshore industries in understanding which biofouling communities their devices are more susceptible to at a given site, to facilitate informed decisions. In addition, the biofouling mapping is useful for the development of biosecurity risk management plans as well as academic research.

AMR Escherichia coli and its temporal and spatial variability within the aquatic environment

Phenotypic and genotypic identification methods have been used to determine the temporal and spatial dynamics of AMR-Escherichia coli in a mainly rural watercourse that receives WWTP-effluent compared to a parallel river which does not. We aimed to investigate the incidence of plasmid-mediated mcr-1and β-lactamase-genes in E. coli recovered from both water and Asellus aquaticus samples throughout two-calendar-years. Samples of the water and A. aquaticus were recovered from the relevant locations each month. CHROMagar ESBL agar was used throughout to isolate and identify ESBL-E. coli. The presence of AMR-genes was confirmed using the ‘BSAC’ antibiotic-disk-synergy method and PCR analysis to confirm the presence of mcr-1and ESBL-genes. The CHROMagar ESBL agar was found to be 99.7% (n=578) accurate when confirmed with a PCR analysis of the ESBL-genes. Seventy-six-point-six percent (n=449) of the isolated ESBL-E. coli were correctly identified as ESBL-producing organisms using the ‘BSAC’ method. Interestingly 61.9% (n=358) of the ESBL-E. coli were also found to carry the mcr-1 gene. Our data shows that AMR levels were highest at the WWTP-effluent throughout the two-years for both water and A. aquaticus samples. The incidence of AMR-E. coli 1km downstream of the effluent discharge was equivalent to the parallel river sites, suggesting that the dispersal of AMR from the WWTP-effluent is limited, although AMR-E. coli were found in relatively high numbers at the WWTP-effluent. We argue that the presence of AMR in the freshwater invertebrate A. aquaticus could represent an important route by which AMR can spread from the aquatic environment to the terrestrial environment.

Morphologic Classifications and Locations of Microaneurysms and Clinical Relevance in Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion.

PurposeTo classify microaneurysms (MAs) and investigate the relationships with retinal edema in eyes with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO).Study DesignRetrospective, observational, consecutive case series.MethodsEyes with MAs due to BRVO that underwent optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) were enrolled. MAs on OCTA images were morphologically classified into six types: focal bulge, saccular, fusiform, mixed (saccular/fusiform), pedunculated, and irregular. The frequency, size, location, and relationships with retinal edema also were investigated.ResultsTwenty-four eyes of 23 patients (12 men, 11 women; mean age, 68.0 years) were enrolled. A total of 244 MAs were detected on the OCTA images. The focal bulge and saccular types accounted for over 70% of all MAs. Smaller MAs such as the focal bulge or saccular type also were detected both at the edge of the nonperfused areas (NPAs) and in collateral vessels. In contrast, larger MAs such as the pedunculated or irregular types tended to form at the edges of the NPAs. Older age, the presence of MAs in the collateral vessels, and the absence of pedunculated type were independent predictive factors for retinal edema but not the MA size, or presence in the retinal deep capillary plexus. After treatment, the mean retinal thickness decreased significantly, but the mean MA size remained unchanged.ConclusionOCTA enables morphologic classification, three-dimensional analysis, and investigation of the longitudinal changes of MAs with noninvasive volumetric quantification, leading to a better understanding of the pathology of MAs in eyes with BRVO.

Electrifying Times: restructuring and decision-making in an automobile concern in the 21st century – The case of BMW Group

The aim of this paper is to capture the changed location decision-making processes and location factors of the automotive industry, resulting from the current challenges brought by electro mobility. From the Taylorist assembly-line production system in the “Fordism” era to the just-in-time focused manufacturing of the Japanese carmakers during “post-Fordism” and at the turn of the millennium with global production and new technologies in the digital age, location analysis has changed massively over time. The same is to be expected for the fourth revolution in the industry. For this reason, the decision-making process of a major German car manufacturer is analysed in a field study conducted over a two-year period. Based on this, a decision process that takes the new framework conditions into account is modelled. The relevant location factors are then examined in a survey of the relevant departments in the BMW Group. Due to the changed production requirements in the course of the electrification, the uncertainty in the technological change and the unstable political trading conditions, the factors: network suitability, risk exposure, optimal sunk cost usage and sustainability play central roles. Before the latest economic crisis, the industry was focused on exploiting opportunities and expanding the production network. This tendency now seems to be transformed by a volatile technological future and by cost pressure. This means that ‘sustainability’ is increasingly important in automobile industry decision-making, but in specific ways.

Effect of redox-responsive DTSSP crosslinking on poly(l-lysine)-grafted-poly(ethylene glycol) nanoparticles for delivery of proteins.

Therapeutic proteins are utilized in a variety of clinical applications, but side effects and rapid in vivo clearance still present hurdles. An approach that addresses both drawbacks is protein encapsulation within in a polymeric nanoparticle, which is effective but introduces the additional challenge of destabilizing the nanoparticle shell in clinically relevant locations. This study examined the effects of crosslinking self-assembled poly(l-lysine)-grafted-poly(ethylene glycol) nanoparticles with redox-responsive 3,3'-dithiobis(sulfosuccinimidyl propionate) (DTSSP) to achieve nanoparticle destabilization in a reductive environment. The polymer-protein nanoparticles (DTSSP NPs) were formed through electrostatic self-assembly and crosslinked with DTSSP, which contains a glutathione-reducible disulfide. As glutathione is upregulated in various cancers, DTSSP NPs could display destabilization within cancer cells. A library of DTSSP NPs was formed with varying copolymer to protein (C:P) and crosslinker to protein (X:P) mass ratios and characterized by size and encapsulation efficiency. DTSSP NPs with a 7:1 C:P ratio and 2:1 X:P ratio were further characterized by stability in the presence proteases and reducing agents. DTSSP NPs fully encapsulated the model protein and displayed 81% protein release when incubated with 5 mM dithiothreitol for 12 hr. This study contributes to understanding stimulus-responsive crosslinking of polymeric nanoparticles and could be foundational to clinical administration of therapeutic proteins.