Descriptive epidemiology of childhood cancers in Bangalore, India

While fairly complete and reliable incident data on childhood cancers are available from the registries in India, mortality and survival information is not. Information concerning the latter was obtained by the Bangalore cancer registry through active follow-up involving visits to homes of patients. Between 1982 and 1989, 617 cases of cancers in childhood were registered, giving an age-standardized incidence rate of 84.8 and 48.4 per million in male and female children, respectively. Active follow-up provided mortality/survival information in 532 or 86.2 percent of these cases. Overall, observed five-year survival was 36.8 percent (both genders combined) with a relative survival of 37.5 percent when childhood mortality in the general population was taken into account. The five-year relative survival was best for thyroid carcinoma (100 percent) followed by Hodgkin's disease (73 percent) and retinoblastoma (72.9 percent). Survival was comparatively low, being 9.9 percent in acute nonlymphatic leukemia and less than 20 percent in rhabdomyosarcoma and the category grouped as 'other malignant neoplasms.' Survival in Hodgkin's disease was influenced by clinical stage at presentation, but was not statistically significant possibly due to small numbers.     

Synergic influence of a surfactant and ultrasonication on the preparation of soluble,conducting polydiphenylamine/silica‐nanoparticle composites

Conducting polydiphenylamine was used to encapsulate silica nanoparticles through the oxidative polymerization of diphenylamine in the presence of ultrasonic irradiation. The polymerization was performed in the presence of sodium lauryl sulfate as a surfactant. Experiments performed in the absence of ultrasound clearly demonstrated that the application of ultrasonication played multiple roles in the preparation of a composite of polydiphenylamine with silica nanoparticles. Ultrasonication dispersed the silica nanoparticles, converted sodium lauryl sulfate to lauryl alcohol, and augmented the dispersion of the silica‐nanoparticle/polydiphenylamine composite in an organic medium. Silica‐nanoparticle/polydiphenylamine composites were also prepared in the absence of ultrasound and/or sodium lauryl sulfate. The silica‐nanoparticle/polydiphenylamine composites were characterized with Fourier trans form infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet–visible/near‐infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 3912–3918, 2006     

Novel electrically conductive and ferromagnetic composites of poly(aniline‐co‐aminonaphthalenesulfonic acid) with iron oxide nanoparticles: Synthesis and characterization

Nanocomposites of iron oxide (Fe₃O₄) with a sulfonated polyaniline, poly(aniline‐co‐aminonaphthalenesulfonic acid) [SPAN(ANSA)], were synthesized through chemical oxidative copolymerization of aniline and 5‐amino‐2‐naphthalenesulfonic acid/1‐amino‐5‐naphthalenesulfonic acid in the presence of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles. The nanocomposites [Fe₃O₄/SPAN(ANSA)‐NCs] were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, elemental analysis, UV–visible spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), superconductor quantum interference device (SQUID), and electrical conductivity measurements. The TEM images reveal that nanocrystalline Fe₃O₄ particles were homogeneously incorporated within the polymer matrix with the sizes in the range of 10–15 nm. XRD pattern reveals that pure Fe₃O₄ particles are having spinel structure, and nanocomposites are more crystalline in comparison to pristine polymers. Differential thermogravimetric (DTG) curves obtained through TGA informs that polymer chains in the composites have better thermal stability than that of the pristine copolymers. FTIR spectra provide information on the structure of the composites. The conductivity of the nanocomposites (～ 0.5 S cm^?1) is higher than that of pristine PANI (～ 10^?3 S cm^?1). The charge transport behavior of the composites is explained through temperature difference of conductivity. The temperature dependence of conductivity fits with the quasi‐1D variable range hopping (quasi‐1D VRH) model. SQUID analysis reveals that the composites show ferromagnetic behavior at room temperature. The maximum saturation magnetization of the composite is 9.7 emu g^?1. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2007     

Characterization and preparation of new multiwall carbon nanotube/conducting polymer composites by in situ polymerization

Composites based on poly(diphenyl amine) (PDPA) and multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were prepared by chemical oxidative polymerization through two different approaches: in situ polymerization and intimate mixing. In in situ polymerization, DPA was polymerized in the presence of dispersed MWNTs in sulfuric acid medium for different molar composition ratios of MWNT and DPA. Intimate mixing of synthesized PDPA with MWNT was also used for the preparation of PDPA/MWNT composites. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the diameter of the tubular structure for the composite was 10–20 nm higher than the diameter of pure MWNT. Scanning electron microscopy provided evidence for the differences in the morphology between the MWNTs and the composites. Raman and Fourier transform IR (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, X‐ray diffraction, and UV–visible spectroscopy were used to characterize the composites and reveal the differences in the molecular level interactions between the components in the composites. The Raman and FTIR spectral results revealed doping‐type molecular interactions and coordinate covalent‐type interactions between MWNT and PDPA in the composite prepared by in situ polymerization and intimate mixing, respectively. The backbone structure of PDPA in the composite decomposed at a higher temperature (>340°C) than the pristine PDPA (～300°C). This behavior also favored the molecular level interactions between MWNT and PDPA in the composite. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 3721–3729, 2006     

Identifying and overcoming the challenges of implementing a project management office

With the ongoing challenge of successfully managing information technology (IT) projects, organizations are recognizing the need for greater project management discipline. For many organizations, this has meant ratcheting up project management skills, processes, and governance structures by implementing a project management office (PMO). While anecdotal evidence suggests that implementing a PMO can be quite difficult, few studies discuss the specific challenges involved, and how organizations can overcome them. To address this gap in existing knowledge, we conducted a Delphi study to (1) identify the challenges of implementing a PMO for managing IT projects, (2) rank these challenges in order of importance, (3) discover ways in which some organizations have overcome the top-ranked challenges, and (4) understand the role of PMO structure, metrics, and tools in the implementation of a PMO.We identified 34 unique challenges to implementing a PMO and refined this list to 13 challenges that our Delphi panelists considered most important. The top-three challenges were (1) rigid corporate culture and failure to manage organizational resistance to change, (2) lack of experienced project managers (PMs) and PMO leadership, and (3) lack of appropriate change management strategy. Through follow-up interviews with selected panelists, we identified a series of actions that can be taken to overcome these challenges including having a strong PMO champion, starting small and demonstrating the value of the PMO, obtaining support from opinion leaders, hiring an experienced program manager who understands the organization, bringing the most talented PMs into the PMO implementation team, adopting a flexible change management strategy, and standardizing processes prior to PMO implementation. The interviews were also used to better understand the role of PMO structure, metrics, and tools. In terms of PMO structure, we found that ‘light’ PMOs were more likely to be implemented successfully. Most organizations eschew formal metrics, instead relying on subjective indicators of PMO success. Lastly, it appears that PMO tools are difficult to implement unless a project management culture has been established.     

Formulating and Solving Nonlinear Integrated Ecological-Economic Models Using GAMS

In order to analyze, understand and prescribe natural resourcemanagement strategies, the decision making framework should ideallycapture the dynamics of inter-dependency between the economic andecological systems in an integrated manner. However, by including twocomplex systems within a single integrated framework makes many of thepresent analytical tools redundant. Computational models on the otherhand are ideally suited to meet this challenge. The size and complexityof models solved through numerical techniques have increasedexponentially over the last decade. This is especially true fornon-linear optimization models. However, although the science of solvingnon-linear models has improved significantly, the solving of thesemodels is still an art. In this paper, we look at the criticalparameters that a modeler needs to be aware of when developingintegrated economic-ecology models and some `tricks' to solve them withthe minimum of effort through the use of the optimization software GAMS(General Algebraic Modeling System).     

Modeling Instrumental Rationality, Land Tenure and Conflict Resolution

Full instrumental rationality and perfect institutions are two cornerstoneassumptions underlying neoclassical models. However, in the real world, thesetwo assumptions never hold, especially not in developing countries. In thispaper, we develop a game theoretical model to investigate if relaxations inthe full instrumental rationality and perfect institutions premise can explainthe conflicts that have been occurring between the various principals in theNarok district in Kenya with regard to land tenure and use.     

Preparation of a functional nanofibrous polymer membrane incorporated with poly(2-aminothio phenol) stabilized gold nanoparticles

Functional nanofibrous polymer membranes were prepared by incorporating poly(2-aminothio phenol) (P2AT) stabilized Au NPs onto electrospun polyvinylidene fluoride (PVdF) nanofibers (designated as P2AT-Au NPs@PVdF-NFM). The preparation of P2AT-Au NPs@PVdF-NFM involves two steps: loading of 2AT (monomer) into electrospun PVdF nanofibrous membrane and polymerization of 2AT by gold chloride. P2AT and Au NPs were simultaneously formed into the electrospun PVdF-NFM. Transmission electron microscope image of P2AT-Au NPs@PVdF-NFM informs the presence of Au NPs (with sizes ~10 nm) onto PVdF-NFM.     

Enhanced electrocatalytic performance of cyano groups containing conducting polymer supported catalyst for oxidation of formic acid

A new palladium (Pd) based catalyst was developed using poly(diphenylamine-co-3-aminobenzonitrile) (P(DPA-co-3ABN)) as the new catalyst support. The sizes, distribution and stability of Pd nanoparticles (Pd NPs) are strongly influenced by the cyano group (–CN) present in P(DPA-co-3ABN). Field emission scanning electron microscopy image and energy dispersive x-ray analysis revealed good dispersion of Pd NP onto P(DPA-co-3ABN) matrix. The electrocatalytic activity of P(DPA-co-3ABN)/Pd catalyst electrode (CE) was investigated in terms of formic acid (FA) electro oxidation. The onset potential and catalytic current for the electro oxidation of FA are higher at P(DPA-co-3ABN)/Pd-CE as compared to PdNPs loaded pristine PDPA catalyst electrode (PDPA/Pd-CE). P(DPA-co-3ABN)/Pd-CE exhibited 18 time higher electrocatalytic current than PDPA/Pd-CE for oxidation of FA.