Tech Group Research Articles

Technology as Resistance: Pioneers of Korean Media Art from the 1960s to the 1990s

Abstract This paper calls for a reassessment of early-stage Korean avant-garde and experimental art as the cornerstone of Korean media art. The aim is to discern a new genealogy of media art in Korea by tracing and linking the activities of early avant-garde artists and media art pioneers who have been neglected in the dominant art historiography, which has shown a preference for painting and video art. My detailed analysis of the experimental artists of the 1960s and 1970s, small groups in the mid-1980s, and the Art Tech Group in the early 1990s demonstrates how they revealed and articulated their spirit of resistance against academism and the mainstream using technology, thus following a different trajectory from that of the avant-garde and media art in Europe and North America.

The blind leading the blind: Co-production of medication safety solutions for people with sight impairment in community pharmacy

Abstract Introduction Around 237 million medication errors occur each year in England, with an estimated cost of £98 million1. We carried out a scoping review identified that people with sight impairments were a group at high risk of errors (under review). Aim To improve medication safety for people with sight impairments by developing an ‘App’ to help them manage medications. Methods We attended an initial in-person ‘Tea and Tech’ stakeholder group led by Henshaws Sight Loss charity in Manchester, UK and sought feedback from people with sight impairments about their experiences of medication. Ethical approval for this study was granted by The University of Manchester Research Ethics Committee (Ref: 2021-11098-18381). Co-design workshops – Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we held two online workshops, minimising the need for travel and face to face meetings2. Workshops were promoted by RNIB amongst their ‘Community Connectors’. Community Pharmacists who were part of our NIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Translational Research Centre were also invited to participate to provide their perspective as healthcare professionals. Sessions were co-facilitated by patient safety researchers and researchers acting as notetakers. The first workshop (June 2021), focussed on the experiences of people with sight impairment around using medication, and potential solutions to these. The second workshop (July 2021), ranked these potential solutions, prioritising ideas for development. Results Those attending the Tea and Tech group warned against developing ‘another App’, highlighting problems caused by their sight impairment around installing and using ‘Apps’ generally. Co-design workshops were attended by six people with sight impairment and six community pharmacists. The difficulties reported included inability to distinguish between medications, to access dosing instructions (on medication labels) and safety information within product information leaflets. The solutions ranked as most important were 1) one to one consultations with pharmacists 2) improving medication packaging and 3) the need for pharmacist training. Discussions highlighted the lack of a system for pharmacists to reliably identify people with sight impairments. This led us to develop a pharmacy software system called Find Logo And Give Medication advice (FLAG-Me Vision) which identifies people with sight impairments using existing data within the electronic health record. An on-screen alert (shown as a logo) on the patient medication record, prompts pharmacy staff to offer a one-to-one consultation. Resources available on our website (www.flag-me.org) supports consultations and meets the remit for pharmacist training. Our prototype software created by Imago Student Software company at The University of Manchester, was tested using dummy NHS records and Hospital Run (open-source software). Discussion/Conclusion Market discovery and testing for FLAG-Me Vision has been undertaken via iCURe DISCOVER programme3. Feedback is that FLAG-Me Vision is well received by people with sight impairments and pharmacists alike. Future plans include piloting this software with pharmacy software suppliers within one community pharmacy chain in Greater Manchester.

Beyond Transactional Democracy: A Study of Civic Tech in Canada

Technologies are increasingly enrolled in projects to involve civilians in the work of policy-making, often under the label of 'civic technology'. But conventional forms of participation through transactions such as voting provide limited opportunities for engagement. In response, some civic tech groups organize around issues of shared concern to explore new forms of democratic technologies. How does their work affect the relationship between publics and public servants? This paper explores how a Civic Tech Toronto creates a platform for civic engagement through the maintenance of an autonomous community for civic engagement and participation that is casual, social, nonpartisan, experimental, and flexible. Based on two years of action research, including community organizing, interviews, and observations, this paper shows how this grassroots civic tech group creates a civic platform that places a diverse range of participants in contact with the work of public servants, helping to build capacities and relationships that prepare both publics and public servants for the work of participatory democracy. The case shows that understanding civic tech requires a lens beyond the mere analysis or production of technical artifacts. As a practice for making technologies that is social and participatory, civic tech creates alternative modes of technology development and opportunities for experimentation and learning, and it can reconfigure the roles of democratic participants.

Telemedicine in the Time of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results from the First Survey among Italian Pediatric Diabetes Centers.

Background: Use of telemedicine for children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic was investigated. Method: 68 Italian pediatric diabetes centers were invited to complete a survey about telemedicine usage in their pediatric patients, allocated to the no-tech group (multiple daily injections and self-monitoring blood glucose) and the tech group (insulin pump and/or flash- or continuous-glucose monitoring). Results: 60.3% of the centers completed the survey. In both the no-tech and tech groups, the most used ways of communication were generic download portals, instant messaging with personal physicians’ mobiles, working emails, and phone calls to physicians’ mobiles, with no difference, except for the use of email being higher in the no-tech group (p = 0.03). Seventy-four percent of the centers did not have any systematization and/or reimbursement, with significant differences among regions (p = 0.03). Conclusions: Almost all Italian pediatric diabetes centers use telemedicine in a semi-volunteering manner, lacking proper codification, reimbursement system, legal traceability, and accreditation system.

Impact of Weight Matters and Use of App-Based Technology on Changes in Eating Behavior in African Americans

Abstract Objectives Eating behavior changes are an essential component in long-term weight loss and key in reducing the risk of chronic disease. With increased access and use of app-based technology to monitor individual's health, the role of technology in eliciting eating behavior changes was investigated. Methods 498 African Americans were enrolled into Weight Matters, a culturally tailored, weight management intervention aimed at reducing risk factors of chronic disease in African Americans. Participants were randomized into a Tech group (N = 249, 89% female, 51.5 ± 13.4 yrs, BMI: 36.6 ± 8.3) that utilized app-based technology to track their fitness, diet, and health data and a Non-Tech group (N = 248, 88% female, 51.5 ± 12.5 yrs, BMI: 36.4 ± 7.7) that used paper-based tracking. The intervention consisted of bi-weekly educational sessions focused on health, fitness, and nutrition during an 18-week period with scheduled follow ups post-test and 12 months. In addition, participants received a one-year fitness membership. The Three Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ-R18) was used to measure cognitive restraint (CR), uncontrolled eating (UE), and emotional eating (EE) at enrollment, post-test, and 12 months. Results Repeated measures ANOVA was used to compare the changes in the construct scores of CR, UE, and EE within-subjects as well as between-subjects. There were no significant differences in mean scores of CR (F(2, 426) = .78, P = 0.46), UE (F(2, 426) = .28, P = 0.76), and EE (F(2, 426) = 1.07, P = 0.34) between Tech and Non-tech groups. For CR, the mean differences between enrollment and posttest (χ = −1.03, P < 0.001) as well as enrollment and 12-month follow-up (χ = −.86, P < 0.001) were statistically significant. There was a significant mean difference between the enrollment and 12-month (χ = 1.15, P < 0.001) for UE while the other two comparisons were not significant. There were no significant differences observed in EE throughout the study. Conclusions Improvements in cognitive restraint and uncontrolled eating were observed in participants enrolled in an 18-week weight management intervention and the effect persisted after 12 months. However, the use of app-based technology to monitor their fitness, diet, and health data did not impact eating behavior change. Funding Sources Supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) (DHHS Grant # 1102017000118).

The Assessment of Supportive Accountability in Adults Seeking Obesity Treatment: Psychometric Validation Study.

BackgroundTechnology-mediated obesity treatments are commonly affected by poor long-term adherence. Supportive Accountability Theory suggests that the provision of social support and oversight toward goals may help to maintain adherence in technology-mediated treatments. However, no tool exists to measure the construct of supportive accountability.ObjectiveThis study aimed to develop and psychometrically validate a supportive accountability measure (SAM) by examining its performance in technology-mediated obesity treatment.MethodsSecondary data analyses were conducted in 2 obesity treatment studies to validate the SAM (20 items). Study 1 examined reliability, criterion validity, and construct validity using an exploratory factor analysis in individuals seeking obesity treatment. Study 2 examined the construct validity of SAM in technology-mediated interventions involving different self-monitoring tools and varying amounts of phone-based interventionist support. Participants received traditional self-monitoring tools (standard, in-home self-monitoring scale [SC group]), newer, technology-based self-monitoring tools (TECH group), or these newer technology tools plus additional phone-based support (TECH+PHONE group). Given that the TECH+PHONE group involves more interventionist support, we hypothesized that this group would have greater supportive accountability than the other 2 arms.ResultsIn Study 1 (n=353), the SAM showed strong reliability (Cronbach α=.92). A factor analysis revealed a 3-factor solution (representing Support for Healthy Eating Habits, Support for Exercise Habits, and Perceptions of Accountability) that explained 69% of the variance. Convergent validity was established using items from the motivation for weight loss scale, specifically the social regulation subscale (r=0.33; P<.001) and social pressure for weight loss subscale (r=0.23; P<.001). In Study 2 (n=80), the TECH+PHONE group reported significantly higher SAM scores at 6 months compared with the SC and TECH groups (r2=0.45; P<.001). Higher SAM scores were associated with higher adherence to weight management behaviors, including higher scores on subscales representing healthy dietary choices, the use of self-monitoring strategies, and positive psychological coping with weight management challenges. The association between total SAM scores and percent weight change was in the expected direction but not statistically significant (r=−0.26; P=.06).ConclusionsThe SAM has strong reliability and validity across the 2 studies. Future studies may consider using the SAM in technology-mediated weight loss treatment to better understand whether support and accountability are adequately represented and how supportive accountability impacts treatment adherence and outcomes.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT01999244; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01999244

Community pharmacies risk cyber breaches unless IT systems upgraded, warns pharmacy tech group

Community pharmacies risk cyber breaches unless IT systems upgraded, warns pharmacy tech group

EVALUATION OF GENETIC DIFFERENCES ON IMMUNOLOGICAL RESPONSE IN TWO NATIVE CHICKEN STRAINS FED ON DIFFERENT NATURAL AND ORGANIC ACID SUPPLEMENTATION

The main objective of this study was to investigate the effect of the genetic differences in immunological response by use the natural growth promoters in diets offered to local chicken strains (GoldenMontazah (GM) and Bandra (B)). The present study was carried out in Seds Poultry Breeding Research Station, Animal Production Research Institute, Banysweif Governorate, through August to January (2016). A total of 240 chicks (120 hens of each strain) were used from 16 to 40 weeks of age. Birds were randomly distributed into six treatments. Each treatment had 20 (female) chicks (20X 6X 2) that were individually caged. The first treatment of each strain served as a control group and fed the formulated basal diet without any tested feed additives. The second treatment fed the basal diet with BioPlus® 2B, (400gm/ton) a commercial probiotic preparation (pro. (Bio)). The third treatment hens were fed the same basal diet with the addition of TechnoMos® (500gm/ton) a prebiotic type (pre. (Tech)).The fourth treatment fed the basal diet with Diamond V®(2.5kg/ton) a commercial prebiotic produced (pre. (Dia)). The fifth treatment fed the basal diet with FORMI® NDF (2kg/ton) (organic acid (FORMI)). The sixth treatment fed the basal diet with combination of (BioPlus® 2B, (400gm/ton) + TechnoMos® (500gm/ton) + FORMI® NDF (1kg/ton)) (combination (BTF)). Data showed that, the Heterophils/Lymphocyte ratio percentage value was significantly higher in Golden Montaza than Bandara. The highest value was found for organic acids (FORMI) group and the lowest value was found for probiotic (Bio Plus) group. As for the antibody titer before vaccination the highest values were found for pre (Tech) group in comparison to pre (Dia) group. And there were no significant differences between the control group and all treated groups. Also, the higher values of antibody titer against Newcastle vaccine after vaccination were found in pre (Tech.), org ((FORMI), combination (Bio, Tech and FORMI) and control groups compare to values were found in pre (Dia) and pro (Bio) groups. As for the differences titer between before and after vaccination against Newcastle disease virus, there were no significant differences.

An Experimental Study of the Effects of Solid-to-Coolant Thermal Conductivity Ratio in Helium-Cooled Divertor Modules

As part of the ARIES study, the Georgia Tech group has experimentally studied the thermal performance of a helium-cooled ‘finger-type’ tungsten divertor design that uses jet impingement and a fin array to cool the plasma-facing surface. These studies were performed using air at Reynolds numbers Re, spanning those for prototypical operating conditions. A brass test section heated with an oxy-acetylene torch at incident heat fluxes up to 2 MW/m2 was used. Recently, data obtained with room-temperature helium suggests that dynamic similarity between the air and helium experiments cannot be achieved by only matching Re because of the difference in the relative contributions of convection and conduction through the annular side walls of the divertor. Numerical simulations suggest that achieving dynamic similarity requires matching the ratio of the thermal conductivity of the divertor module material to that of the coolant under operating conditions, as well as Re.Studies were performed to verify that experiments at the prototypical Re and thermal conductivity ratio using helium at room temperature give Nusselt numbers Nu that are dynamically similar to those at prototypical operating conditions. Given that the thermal conductivity of helium decreases as temperature decreases, matching of the thermal conductivity ratio required a carbon steel test section with a thermal conductivity much lower than that of the brass alloy previously used. The resulting ratio of the test section to coolant thermal conductivities is similar to that of the tungsten alloy and helium at prototypical conditions. The data were used to verify generalized correlations for Nu, as a function of Re and the thermal conductivity ratio. The correlations can be used to determine the maximum heat flux that can be accommodated by the divertor at prototypical conditions.

Verification of Thermal Performance Predictions of Prototypical Multi-Jet Impingement Helium-Cooled Divertor Module

An experimental investigation of the thermal performance of the Helium-Cooled Multi-Jet (HEMJ) modular divertor design developed by the Karlsruhe Research Center (FZK) was previously performed at Georgia Tech using air at Reynolds numbers (Re) spanning those at which the actual He-cooled divertor is to be operated. More recently, another experimental investigation was performed by the Georgia Tech group for a similar finger-type divertor module using both air and He as coolants. The results of these experiments suggest that, in addition to matching Re, dynamic similarity between the air and He experiments requires that a correction be made to account for the differences in the relative contributions of convection and conduction (through the divertor walls) to the overall heat removal rate by the module. This correction factor depends on the thermal conductivity ratio of the solid to the coolant. Experiments similar to those previously conducted have therefore been performed using air, argon, or He as coolant for test sections constructed of brass or steel thus covering a wide range of thermal conductivity ratio. The resultant correlation between Re, the heat removal rate, and the thermal conductivity ratio from these experiments can be used to predict the thermal performance of HEMJlike divertors at prototypical operating conditions.

Optimization of Pin-Fin Arrays for Helium-Cooled Finger-Type Divertor

The helium-cooled modular divertor concept with integrated pin array developed by the Karlsruhe Research Center (FZK) is unusual among helium-cooled tungsten divertor designs in that it relies upon an array of pin fins on the back of the cooled surface, instead of jet impingement, to cool the plasma-facing surface. The Georgia Tech group experimentally studied a similar design constructed of brass which combined jet impingement with an array of identical cylindrical pin fins using air at nondimensional coolant mass flow rates, i.e. Reynolds numbers, which spanned the range expected under prototypical conditions. The results suggested that the pin-fin array, at least for the particular geometry studied, provides little, if any, additional cooling beyond that provided by jet impingement.Given that this earlier study considered only one pin-fin array geometry, however, a numerical study was performed to investigate whether changes in the array geometry could improve performance. Specifically, numerical simulations using the commercially available computational fluid dynamics software package ANSYS® 14.0 was used to examine how varying the pitch-to-diameter ratio for the fin array and the height of the fins affected average pressure boundary temperature and the pressure drop across the divertor. These results can, with appropriate experimental validation, be used to determine whether pin-fin arrays can be used to improve the thermal performance of helium-cooled tungsten divertors.

BBF2H7-Mediated Sec23A Pathway Is Required for Endoplasmic Reticulum-to-Golgi Trafficking in Dermal Fibroblasts to Promote Collagen Synthesis

Collagen fibers, structural elements responsible for mechanical strength in skin, are synthesized constitutively in response to cytokines such as IGF-I. However, little is known about their intracellular trafficking from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the Golgi apparatus during synthesis. We demonstrate herein that the BBF2 human homolog on chromosome 7 (BBF2H7)-mediated Sec23A pathway is involved in regulation of intracellular procollagen trafficking. The mRNA and protein expression of BBF2H7, Sec23A, and type I and III collagen (COL1 and COL3) was induced by IGF-I stimulation. In addition, the cleaved form of BBF2H7 was detected in IGF-I-treated cultures, indicating that activation occurs concurrently with its expression. Knockdown with small interfering RNAs targeting BBF2H7 caused a significant reduction in the expression of COL1 and COL3, regardless of IGF-I treatment. Both mitogen-activated protein kinase and phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase pathways via IGF-I receptor activation were required for BBF2H7 induction. Using immunofluorescence microscopy, we showed that Golgi apparatus dysmorphology is due to coat protein complex II vehicle hypoplasia caused by the absence of BBF2H7 and Sec23A. The BBF2H7-mediated Sec23A pathway was required for ER-to-Golgi procollagen trafficking to promote collagen synthesis. This role of growth factors such as IGF-I, which to our knowledge is previously unreported, suggests antiaging strategies.

Long‐term evaluation ofAstraTech andBrånemark implants in patients treated with full‐arch bridges. Results after 12–15 years

To study the long-term outcome of implant survival rate, soft and hard tissue conditions and prosthetic status in a group of individuals treated with either Astra Tech TiOblast or Brånemark turned implants supporting a full-arch bridge. Edentulous patients treated with either Astra Tech TiOblast surface or Brånemark turned implants were recalled for examination after 12-15 years. Out of initially 66 patients 46 were available for examination. Intra-oral radiographs were taken for bone level assessments. Clinical prosthetic conditions, number of surviving implants, implant stability, plaque scores, probing pocket depths, bleeding and pus after probing were recorded. Analyses of bone level changes during the total observation period were performed. Three patients in the Astra Tech group lost totally eight implants and five patients in the Brånemark group lost 10 implants during the total observation period. No statistically significant difference in implant loss or bone level change was found. Sixteen per cent of Astra Tech and 29% of Brånemark patients showed at least one implant with ≥2 mm bone loss after the first year in function. The corresponding prevalence on implant level was 6% and 5% respectively. No significant differences were found between the other examined variables. Two patients showed prosthetic complications of the supra construction in need of repair. Seven bridges had minor ceramic chippings. Treatment with Astra Tech TiOblast implants and Brånemark turned implants supporting full-arch bridges showed generally good clinical results with low numbers of implants with marginal bone loss indicative of peri-implantitis. No significant differences were found between the implant systems after 12-15 years in function.

MiR-125b, a Target of CDX2, Regulates Cell Differentiation through Repression of the Core Binding Factor in Hematopoietic Malignancies

MicroRNA-125b (miR-125b), a small noncoding RNA molecule, has been found to be deregulated and functions as an oncogene in many cancers including hematopoietic malignancies. However, the mechanisms accounting for miR-125b dysregulation remain to be elucidated. The present study aims to identify the factors that might contribute to up-regulation of miR-125b in human hematopoietic malignancies and its downstream targets for lineage-specific differentiation. We at first reported that CDX2, a homeobox transcription factor, binds to promoter regions of the miR-125b gene and activates transcriptional regulation of miR-125b in malignant myeloid cells. We further revealed that increasing levels of CDX2 in malignant myeloid cells activate miR-125b expression, which in turn inhibits core binding factor β (CBFβ) translation, thereby counteracting myeloid cell differentiation, at least for granulocytic lineage, and promoting leukemogenesis. Interestingly, we found that this novel pathway including CDX2, miR-125b, and CBFβ was mediated by undergoing all-trans-retinoic acid induction. Once differentiation ensues with all-trans-retinoic acid treatment, CDX2 activity decreases, leading to a reduction in miR-125b transcription and up-regulation of CBFβ in myeloid cells and in patients. The study provides a new mechanism that contributes to hematopoietic malignancies, which could involve deregulation of miR-125b and its up- and downstream factors. As altered expression of miRNAs has been reported in a wide range of malignancies, delineating the underlying molecular mechanisms of aberrant miRNA expression and characterizing the upstream and downstream factors will help to understand important steps in the pathogenesis of these afflictions.

Effects of Short-Term Adaptation to Dietary Carbohydrates on Glucose and Insulin Dynamics in Healthy and Overweight/Obese, Insulin Resistant Mares

Effects of Short-Term Adaptation to Dietary Carbohydrates on Glucose and Insulin Dynamics in Healthy and Overweight/Obese, Insulin Resistant Mares

The Isomerase Active Site of Cyclophilin A Is Critical for Hepatitis C Virus Replication

Cyclosporine A and nonimmunosuppressive cyclophilin (Cyp) inhibitors such as Debio 025, NIM811, and SCY-635 block hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication in vitro. This effect was recently confirmed in HCV-infected patients where Debio 025 treatment dramatically decreased HCV viral load, suggesting that Cyps inhibitors represent a novel class of anti-HCV agents. However, it remains unclear how these compounds control HCV replication. Recent studies suggest that Cyps are important for HCV replication. However, a profound disagreement currently exists as to the respective roles of Cyp members in HCV replication. In this study, we analyzed the respective contribution of Cyp members to HCV replication by specifically knocking down their expression by both transient and stable small RNA interference. Only the CypA knockdown drastically decreased HCV replication. The re-expression of an exogenous CypA escape protein, which contains escape mutations at the small RNA interference recognition site, restored HCV replication, demonstrating the specificity for the CypA requirement. We then mutated residues that reside in the hydrophobic pocket of CypA where proline-containing peptide substrates and cyclosporine A bind and that are vital for the enzymatic or the hydrophobic pocket binding activity of CypA. Remarkably, these CypA mutants fail to restore HCV replication, suggesting for the first time that HCV exploits either the isomerase or the chaperone activity of CypA to replicate in hepatocytes and that CypA is the principal mediator of the Cyp inhibitor anti-HCV activity. Moreover, we demonstrated that the HCV NS5B polymerase associates with CypA via its enzymatic pocket. The study of the roles of Cyps in HCV replication should lead to the identification of new targets for the development of alternate anti-HCV therapies.

Expression of TDP-43 C-terminal Fragments in Vitro Recapitulates Pathological Features of TDP-43 Proteinopathies

The disease protein in frontotemporal lobar degeneration with ubiquitin-positive inclusions (FTLD-U) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) was identified recently as the TDP-43 (TAR DNA-binding protein 43), thereby providing a molecular link between these two disorders. In FTLD-U and ALS, TDP-43 is redistributed from its normal nuclear localization to form cytoplasmic insoluble aggregates. Moreover, pathological TDP-43 is abnormally ubiquitinated, hyperphosphorylated, and N-terminally cleaved to generate C-terminal fragments (CTFs). However, the specific cleavage site(s) and the biochemical properties as well as the functional consequences of pathological TDP-43 CTFs remained unknown. Here we have identified the specific cleavage site, Arg(208), of a pathological TDP-43 CTF purified from FTLD-U brains and show that the expression of this and other TDP-43 CTFs in cultured cells recapitulates key features of TDP-43 proteinopathy. These include the formation of cytoplasmic aggregates that are ubiquitinated and abnormally phosphorylated at sites found in FTLD-U and ALS brain and spinal cord samples. Furthermore, we observed splicing abnormalities in a cell culture system expressing TDP-43 CTFs, and this is significant because the regulation of exon splicing is a known function of TDP-43. Thus, our results show that TDP-43 CTF expression recapitulates key biochemical features of pathological TDP-43 and support the hypothesis that the generation of TDP-43 CTFs is an important step in the pathogenesis of FTLD-U and ALS.

West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.

AbstractRubber Products (MIC: SIC: 3069 NAIC: 326299)West Pharmaceutical Services manufactures components and systems for injectable drug delivery and plastic packaging and delivery system components for the healthcare, personal care and consumer products markets. Co.'s Pharmaceutical Systems segment designs, manufactures and sells a range of elastomer, metal and plastic components used in parenteral drug delivery for the branded pharmaceutical, generic and biopharmaceutical industries. Co.'s Tech Group segment provides custom contract‐manufacturing applications utilizing plastic injection molding and manual and automated assembly processes targeted to the healthcare and consumer products industries.

C-IAP1 and c-IAP2 Are Critical Mediators of Tumor Necrosis Factor α (TNFα)-induced NF-κB Activation

c-IAP1 and c-IAP2 Are Critical Mediators of Tumor Necrosis Factor α (TNFα)-induced NF-κB Activation

Deformation and failure of bulk nanograined and ultrafine-grained materials

Deformation and failure mechanisms of bulk nanostructured materials as first observed and modeled by the Michigan Tech group are briefly discussed in the light of more recent developments. These observations and initial discrete models motivate the formulation of an extended continuum mechanics framework to capture deformation and fracture at the nanoscale. It is shown, in particular, that higher-order strain gradients enter naturally into the standard equations of continuum mechanics as a consequence of the mechanical interaction between “bulk” and internal or external “surface” points. Since these interactions become more dominant, as the dimensions of the sample decrease, it may be argued that the resultant gradient-dependent equations of elasticity and plasticity may be used for describing the behavior at the micro and nanoregime; in particular, the mechanical response of ultrafine-grained materials and nanograined polycrystals. Some examples and benchmark problems based on such modified equations of elasticity (micro/nanoelasticity) and plasticity (micro/nanoplasticity) for addressing the mechanical response of materials at the submicron regime are discussed.