Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Immunotype epitopes of Neisseria meningitidis lipooligosaccharide types 1 through 8

Lipooligosaccharides (LOS) of the eight immunotypes found in serogroup B Neisseria meningitidis were purified from their prototype strains grown in tryptic soy broth. Rabbit antisera to these LOS were prepared. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by silver staining revealed that most of the LOS antigens contained two major components; the larger components had apparent molecular weights (Mrs) in the range of 4,800 +/- 300, and the smaller components had an apparent Mr of 4,300. Immunoblot analysis showed that the larger major component of an LOS, in general, was much more immunogenic because the rabbits produced antibodies exclusively or primarily to this component even though the LOS immunogen contained both large and small major components. Antibodies to the smaller 4,300-Mr components were infrequently observed but, when present, were cross-reactive with the same-size components of all heterologous LOS. Hence, the immunotype epitopes reside in the larger major components of all immunotypes except type 5, in which a smaller major component having an apparent Mr of 4,400 carries the epitope. Rabbit antisera to types 1, 5, and 6 were immunotype specific. Antisera to other types had cross-reactivities with some heterologous LOS, and the larger components, but not the 4,300-Mr components, of the LOS were primarily responsible for the cross-reactivities. This finding suggests that the larger components of cross-reactive LOS have a similar structure in addition to their type-specific sugar moieties. The LOS of N. meningitidis M986, a strain used for the production of a serotype 2a vaccine, was found to contain the immunotype 7 epitope.
Phase I dose escalation study to determine the safety, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of BMS-582664, a VEGFR/FGFR inhibitor in patients with advanced/metastatic solid tumors.

3051 Background: This is the first multiple-dose study with BMS-582664, an oral VEGFR/FGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (IC50 34, 10, 145, 125 nM for VEGFR2, VEGFR3, FGFR1 and FGFR2 respectively). Patients (pts) with metastatic solid tumors refractory to standard therapy were enrolled. Part A of this study has completed. Part B is ongoing to evaluate the effect of BMS-582664 on dynamic contrast enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) parameters. METHODS Part A: Open label dose escalation, continuous qd schedule, 3 patients per cohort. The starting dose was 180 mg. Dose escalation continued until dose limiting toxicities (DLTs) at 1000 mg in 2/3 pts were observed. The next lower dose level (800 mg) was expanded to 6 pts. Blood sampling for pharmacodynamic [circulating endothelial cells (CECs) and Collagen IV ELISA] and PK analysis was performed on Days 1, 8 and 26. BMS-582664 (prodrug) and its active metabolite, BMS-540215 were analyzed using an LC/MS/MS assay. DCE-MRI was performed at 320 mg, 600 mg and 800 mg at baseline ×2, Days 2, 8 and 26. RESULTS Negligible BMS-582664 was detected. BMS-540215 AUC increased proportionally to dose increase across 180 mg to 1000 mg. The accumulation ratio (Day 26:Day 1) of C24hr, Cmax and AUC was 4.8, 2.0 and 2.1 respectively at 1000 mg, but close to 1 at lower doses. The median time on study for all patients in Part A was 84 days. CONCLUSIONS DLT was dizziness/fatigue. BMS-582664 has pharmacodynamic and anti-tumor activity and was well tolerated at ≤ 800 mg qd. [Table: see text] [Table: see text].
Exploring the development of relationship marketing in the National Health Service: An empirical analysis of supplier–purchaser relationships in a quasi-market environment

Abstract This paper attempts, through empirical research, to examine the extent to which the principles of relationship marketing have been developed within the National Health Service (NHS) in England. It examines the propensity for NHS Trust acute hospitals to develop strategic relationships with Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) and other secondary care purchasers. Within the discussion, consideration is given to the impending changes to the NHS being introduced by the UK coalition Government. The findings from this study appear to support the argument that the manifestation of relationship marketing within the health service takes a particular, and perhaps peculiar, form and have not yet developed into the customer focused relationship marketing found within commercial organizations.
The President's Letter to Stockholders: An Examination of Corporate Communication Strategy

This study examines the content of president's letters of high and low performing firms in an effort to discover patterns in communication strategy. Preliminary analysis of president's letters of the top and bottom 25 firms of the Fortune 500 based on return on equity revealed six recurring themes: (a) Environment, (b) Growth, (c) Operating Philosophy, (d) Markets and Products, (e) Unfavorable Financial Reference, and (f) Favorable Financial Reference. Results indicate that high and low performing firms can be correctly classified based on themes emphasized in their respective presidents' letters. Low performing firms were correctly classified more frequently than high performing firms and both groups placed predominant emphasis on the past. These findings suggest that financial performance influences the manner in which CEOs report annual corporate results.
Perceived Strategies Under the Focus of Strategic Positioning Theory, Resource Based-View, Strategic Mission and Organizational Typology: a Study of Companies in Southern Brazil

This paper examines the subject of organizational strategy of companies in southern Brazil. Our aim is to propose a tool that allows the identification of strategic approaches of organizations. From theoretical viewpoint of strategic positioning, resource-based view, strategic mission and strategic typology, an integrating framework is proposed. We conducted a survey using a questionnaire with closed questions and applied it to medium and large firms in southern Brazil. Using the factorial analysis technique and cluster analysis, we analyzed the identified strategies in each cluster, comparing them with the perceived performance. The results suggest that the more strategies are aligned with the theoretical model, considering the four approaches used, the better the performance perceived by managers is.
Marketing government and social services

What is Marketing? Relevance of Marketing to Government and Social Service Agencies Developing a Marketing Plan Evaluating Marketing Efforts Identifying Potential Target Markets Selecting Target Markets and Identifying Sources of Unresponsiveness Allocation Decisions: Equity Issue Strategic Distribution of Services Program Management New Program Development Diffusion of New Services Program Retrenchment Objectives of Pricing Establishing a Price Promotion: An Overview Advertising and Public Service Announcements Personal Selling Publicity and Incentives.
From Marketing Mix to Relationship Marketing

Discusses the nature and sometimes negative consequences of the dominating marketing paradigm of today, marketing mix management, and furthermore discusses how modern research into, for example, industrial marketing and services marketing as well as customer relationship economics shows that another approach to marketing is required. This development is supported by evolving trends in business, such as strategic partnerships, alliances and networks. Suggests relationship marketing, based on relationship building and management, as one emerging new marketing paradigm of the future. Concludes that the simplicity of the marketing mix paradigm, with its Four P model, has become a straitjacket, fostering toolbox thinking rather than an awareness that marketing is a multi‐faceted social process, and notes that marketing theory and customers are the victims of today′s mainstream marketing thinking. By using the notion of a marketing strategy continuum, discusses a number of consequences of a relationship‐type ma.
Can the inbred mouse be immunized against its own tumor.

In attempts to isoimmunize inbred strain C mice with the use of a tumor of recent spontaneous origin as the immunizing agent, no differences in the total number of tumors or in the times of appearance of the tumors were found between experimental and control groups. The pretreated mice exhibited, however, a small but significant increase in survival time as compared with the controls. The data thus show that the inbred mouse can be immunized against tumors of its own strain of recent origin, but that the extent of immunity thus achieved is a rather small and subtle one. The mechanisms underlying the immune phenomena observed remain to be elucidated.
A taxonomy for modelling and analysis of diffusion of (mis)information in social networks

The use of internet as a medium for communication, e-commerce, education and entertainment has grown many-fold in the last decade. There is an ever increasing dependence on such networks to obtain information. In this scenario, social networks have come to play a very decisive role in the transmission of information and as a medium for exerting influence in the population. The role played by different social networks in keeping the netizens updated has proved to be very efficient. However, the implicit faith in the transmission of information through this media has become counterproductive many times in the recent years. Their use in the manipulation of information and the resulting spread of misinformation has far reaching consequences in influencing the behaviour of the population. The aim of this paper is to review the models of diffusion of information in the social networks with specific stress on misinformation and the factors governing its spread in terms of time and size.
Potential for landsliding: Dependence on hyetograph characteristics

[1] This paper examines the effect of hyetograph shape on the potential for landsliding in soil-mantled landscapes. An existing pore pressure response model (Iverson, 2000) is used to study the effects of unsteady rainfall infiltration in hillslopes, and the effect of slope and convergent topography is expressed using a steady state model of slope-parallel subsurface flow. Slope stability is assessed using an infinite slope analysis. This theoretical framework is coupled with simple hyetograph models and to intensity-duration-frequency functions to determine the return period of landslide-triggering rainfall. Results also show that hyetographs with a peak at the end of a rainfall event have a stronger destabilizing effect than hyetographs with a constant rainfall or with a peak at the beginning of a storm. Thus the variability of hyetograph shapes adds uncertainty to the assessment of landsliding triggered by rainfall.
Comparison of serum, ear notches, and nasal and saliva swabs for Bovine viral diarrhea virus antigen detection in colostrum-fed persistently infected (PI) calves and non-PI calves

The diagnosis of neonatal and young calves persistently infected (PI) with Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) by antigen-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ACE) may be complicated by interference from colostrum-derived specific antibodies. Ten calves, with 3 calves identified as PI and 7 as non-PI were used in the current study. All non-PI calves were shown to be seropositive for BVDV-specific antibodies by antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Ab-ELISA) on serum. Serum samples, ear notch samples, and nasal and saliva swabs were collected from each calf from birth until 12 weeks of age and tested by ELISA for BVDV-specific antigen and antibodies. Following colostrum ingestion, Ab-ELISA sample-to-positive (S/P) ratios rose by a mean of 0.95 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.64–1.25) and 1.72 (95% CI = 1.55–1.89) in seropositive, non-PI calves and in PI calves, respectively. The mean S/P ratios then declined to approximately 1.1 in non-PI calves and 0.5 in PI calves at between 60 and 80 days of age. In PI calves, testing for antigen in serum and nasal and saliva swabs was subject to interference by colostrum-derived antibodies in calves up to 3 weeks of age. Nasal swabs were less affected than serum and saliva swabs. Ear notches maintained positive ACE corrected optical densities at all sample times, despite a drop in the signal following the ingestion of colostrum.
Stopping antiepileptic drugs in seizure-free patients.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW Based on the available evidence, we aim to balance risks and benefits of antiepileptic drug (AED) withdrawal in medically and surgically treated adults and children who achieved remission. We summarize risks and predictors of seizure relapse after AED withdrawal and chances of not regaining seizure freedom. Finally, we discuss how AED discontinuation can inform us on the natural course of the epileptic disorder. RECENT FINDINGS In medically treated patients, the risk of recurrence after AED withdrawal is increased until 2 years after withdrawal, although long-term seizure outcomes seem to be unaffected by drug policies. Most relapses occur during the first year after withdrawal. Several predictors of postwithdrawal relapse have been identified. The risk of developing uncontrollable epilepsy following withdrawal is less than one in five. Whether AED withdrawal after epilepsy surgery contributes to seizure outcome has never been studied in a randomized controlled manner. Recent studies suggested that AED reduction merely unmasks incomplete surgical success. The risk of not regaining seizure freedom after postoperative relapse is around 30% and probably not affected by AED reduction. Timing of AED discontinuation does not influence eventual seizure outcomes. SUMMARY There is no proof that AED withdrawal itself negatively affects long-term seizure outcomes in patients who became seizure-free under AED treatment or after epilepsy surgery. AED discontinuation unveils the natural history of the epilepsy in medically treated patients, and the completeness of resection of the epileptogenic network in patients who underwent epilepsy surgery.
A continuation power-flow for distribution systems voltage stability analysis

This paper presents a new method for tracing PV curves in radial distribution power systems. The proposed method starts at no-load and leading to the maximum loading point whereas no ill-conditioning problems were detected. In this method, the stable and unstable solutions are solved simultaneously. The stable part is calculated by first-order polynomial secant predictor and solved using the radial power-flow method. The unstable part is calculated using a two-bus equivalent model and an iterative solution process is implemented to compute the node voltages of unstable systems. Adaptive step wise control has been implemented in the two methods to improve the solution process and reduce the number of the calculated points along the traced curve. The results calculated with the proposed method for a 33-bus radial feeder show that the developed method is very efficient calculating the PV curves of radial distribution systems. The results are compared with the continuous Newton-Raphson power-flow solver for different case studies. The calculated results at different nodes of the study system are more accurate than those calculated using Newton-Raphson method. The developed method exhibits superior convergence characteristics for high R/X ratio. The results show that the proposed method fits well for distribution systems.
Novel Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in the Promoter and Intron 1 of Human Pregnane X Receptor/NR1I2 and Their Association with CYP3A4 Expression

The hypothesis was tested that sequence diversity in pregnane X receptor (PXR) cis-regulatory regions is a significant determinant of variation in inducible and constitutive CYP3A4 expression. A combination of comparative genomics and computational algorithms was used to select regions of the human PXR promoter and intron 1 that were resequenced in the polymorphism discovery resource 24 DNA subset. PXR single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) were then genotyped in donor human livers phenotyped for CYP3A4 and multidrug resistance protein 1 mRNA and primary human hepatocytes phenotyped for basal and rifampin-inducible CYP3A4 activity. The human PXR promoter [16.9 kilobase (kb)] was significantly larger than in rodents (2.9 kb). Eighty-nine SNPs were identified in the promoter and intron 1 of PXR. The SNPs most consistently associated with CYP3A4 phenotypic measures were a 44477T>C(-1359) promoter SNP (in linkage disequilibrium with SNP 463970, a 6-base pair deletion in intron 1a, and SNP 46551, a C nucleotide insertion in intron 1b); SNP 63396C>T in intron 1 (in linkage disequilibrium with SNP 63704A>G, a 63813(CAAA)(CA) variable repeat, and SNP 65104T>C); and SNP 56348C>A, SNP 69789A>G, and SNP 66034T>C. Donor livers with the variant PXR alleles had altered hepatic expression of PXR targets compared with livers with PXR wild-type alleles. These results identified PXR promoter and intron 1 SNPs associated with PXR target gene expression (CYP3A4) in donor livers and cultured hepatocytes and that a striking number of the linked intron 1 SNPs will affect putative binding sites for hepatic nuclear factor 3β (FOXA2), a transcription factor linked with PXR expression.
Recent advancements in dental digital radiography

For more than a century, now radiographs have been taken using radiographic film. Digital imaging has been replacing traditional films in private practice, academic institutions in the last two decades. As use of digital radiography has become more common in the last decade with rapidly evolving changes in the way healthcare is administered, coupled with the amazing recent advances in imaging, many dental professionals are thinking of using digital system as a substitute to conventional film system. This has necessitated a review of the different technologies used for digital imaging in dentistry with broad overview of the principles in digital system, equipment, digital imaging receptors, procurement, enhancement process, transfer, and storage developments along with comparisons of film-based imaging, processing and image analysis.
USING SUPPLY CHAIN EFFICIENCY IN PORTFOLIO SELECTION

Supply chain management is increasingly viewed as the primary value-generating and costcutting process by business organizations. More recently, however, companies with successful supply chain management have observed that it is a major shareholder value driver and helps them in creating competitive differentiation. Latest research studies have shown that the financial markets accept this argument and react favorably to the announcements about firms’ adoption of new methods, tools, or processes to increase their supply chain efficiency [Hendricks and Singhal (2003)]. The purpose of this paper is to establish a linkage between supply chain efficiency of firms and their stock prices. It is shown that identifying the most efficient supply chains can be of paramount importance to portfolio managers for the purpose of stock selection, and data envelopment analysis (DEA) can be a valuable tool for them.
Trust and Market Efficiency

If a lack of trust causes investors to discount the information in accounting numbers, then the stock price will tend to under-react to earnings surprises. Using survey measures of interpersonal trust across regions of the United States, we find greater stock price reactions to earnings surprises for firms located in high trust regions. Their counterparts located in low trust regions experience sluggish reactions to earnings news, but subsequently experience greater price drift. Our results are not due to firm characteristics, respondent attributes, or regional differences in economic and social conditions, and are robust to the inclusion of state and firm fixed effects. The impact of trust is mitigated through signaling (i.e., dividend payout and debt) and external certification (i.e., credit rating and auditor choice). Following the passage of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the relation between trust and stock price reactions to earnings surprises is eliminated, highlighting the interconnection between regulation, trust, and market efficiency.
Pay Harmony? Social Comparison and Performance Compensation in Multibusiness Firms

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Protein-leucine fed dose effects on muscle protein synthesis after endurance exercise.

UNLABELLED Protein-leucine ingestion after strenuous endurance exercise accentuates muscle protein synthesis and improves recovery of muscle performance. PURPOSE The objective of this study is to determine whether a low-dose protein-leucine blend ingested after endurance exercise enhances skeletal muscle myofibrillar protein fractional synthetic rate (FSR). METHOD In a crossover design, 12 trained men completed 100 min of high-intensity cycling, then ingested either 70/15/180/30 g of protein/leucine/carbohydrate/fat (15LEU), 23/5/180/30 g of 5LEU, or 0/0/274/30 g of CON beverages in randomized order in four servings during the first 90 min of a 240-min recovery period. Muscle biopsies were collected at 30 and 240 min into recovery with FSR determined by L-[ring-13C6]phenylalanine incorporation and mTORC1 pathway phosphorylation by Western blot. RESULTS The 33% (90% CL, ±12%) increase in FSR with 5LEU (mean, SD: 0.080, 0.014%·h(-1)) versus CON (0.060, 0.012%·h(-1)) represented near-maximal FSR stimulation. Tripling protein-leucine dose (15LEU: 0.090, 0.11%·h(-1)) negligibly increased FSR (13%, ±12% vs 5LEU). Despite similar FSR, mTORC1(Ser2448) phosphorylation only increased with 15LEU at 30 min, whereas p70S6K(Thr389), rpS6(Ser240/244), and 4E-BP1γ(Ser112) phosphorylation increased with protein-leucine quantity at one or both time points. Plasma leucine and essential amino acid concentrations decreased during recovery in CON but increased with protein-leucine dose. Serum insulin was increased in 15LEU versus CON (60%, ±20%) but was unaffected relative to 5LEU. Regression analysis revealed p70S6K-rpS6 phosphorylation moderately predicted FSR, but the associations with plasma leucine and essential amino acids were small. CONCLUSIONS Ingesting 23 g of protein with 5 g of added leucine achieved near-maximal FSR after endurance exercise, an effect unlikely attributable to mTORC1-S6K-rpS6 signaling, insulin, or amino acids. Translating the effects of protein-leucine quantity on protein synthesis to optimizing adaptation and performance requires further research.
The ultimate bound of a sampled-data system with sliding mode controller

Almost all of control methods proposed so far have been designed in the continuous-time domain. Actual systems, however, have been implemented in the discrete-time domain since MCU and/or microprocessors have been used for the control system, that is, the overall system turned to be a sampled-data system. For the sampled-data system, it is well known that the ultimate error cannot converge to zero even though the proposed continuous-time control algorithm showed the asymptotic stability in the continuous-time domain. That is, the actual output turns to be a bounded signal in the steady state. In this paper, therefore, the ultimate error bound of the sampled-data system has been derived, and it is shown that the ultimate error is related to the sampling period. It represents that one can easily obtain the sampling period enough to get the desired steady state error bound.