Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Caveolae, Plasma Membrane Microdomains for α-Secretase-mediated Processing of the Amyloid Precursor Protein*

Caveolae are plasma membrane invaginations where key signaling elements are concentrated. In this report, both biochemical and histochemical analyses demonstrate that the amyloid precursor protein (APP), a source of Aβ amyloid peptide, is enriched within caveolae. Caveolin-1, a principal component of caveolae, is physically associated with APP, and the cytoplasmic domain of APP directly participates in this binding. The characteristic C-terminal fragment that results from APP processing by α-secretase, an as yet unidentified enzyme that cleaves APP within the Aβ amyloid sequence, was also localized within these caveolae-enriched fractions. Further analysis by cell surface biotinylation revealed that this cleavage event occurs at the cell surface. Importantly, α-secretase processing was significantly promoted by recombinant overexpression of caveolin in intact cells, resulting in increased secretion of the soluble extracellular domain of APP. Conversely, caveolin depletion using antisense oligonucletotides prevented this cleavage event. Our current results indicate that caveolae and caveolins may play a pivotal role in the α-secretase-mediated proteolysis of APP in vivo.
Factors associated with failure in ventilatory weaning of children undergone pediatric cardiac surgery.

OBJECTIVE To assess factors associated with failure in ventilatory weaning of children undergone surgical correction of congenital heart diseases. METHODS Cohort study with 29 children. The heart diseases were divided into cyanotic (nine children) and acyanotic (20 children). We studied children from 0 to 5 years who underwent heart surgery with invasive mechanical ventilation. RESULTS The failure group presented smaller value in SpO2 and higher values during days of stay in IMV and FiO2 when compared to the success group (P<0.05). It was observed that 4 children (14%) had failed in weaning, being necessary to return the ventilatory prosthesis before 48 hours after extubation. CONCLUSION The days of IMV, SpO2 and FiO2 were the main factors associated with failed extubation in this group of patients.
The Implications of Lighted Ureteral Stenting in Laparoscopic Colectomy

Objective: The placement of indwelling ureteral catheters during colorectal surgery has been recommended for prevention of ureteral injuries. With the advent of laparoscopic colectomy (LCo), the role of preoperative placement of lighted ureteral stents (LUS) has also become commonplace. We sought to evaluate the value of lighted ureteral stent placement in laparoscopic colectomy. Methods: Sixty-six patients underwent LCo with LUS inserted preoperatively. Stents were removed in the immediate postoperative period. Two surgeons performed all the colectomies; 32 patients were males and 34 were females. Fifty patients underwent sigmoid colectomy, 4 had abdominoperineal resection, 4 had right colectomy, and 1 each had transverse or subtotal colectomy. Eighteen patients had a diagnosis of cancer, 34 had diverticular disease, and 14 had neoplastic polyps. Forty patients had bilateral and 26 had unilateral stent placement. A review of the incidence of ureteral injuries, hematuria, and anuria as the cause of acute renal failure was accomplished, comparing the unilateral and bilateral stented groups. Results: One (1.5%) patient suffered a left ureteral laceration during sigmoid colectomy. This was managed successfully with stent reinsertion. Sixty-five (98.4%) patients had gross hematuria lasting 2.93 days (1 to 6 days). The cost of bilateral stent placement was $1504.32. A statistically significant difference occurred in the duration of hematuria (days) between patients who had unilateral (2.5 ± 0.82) and bilateral stent placement (3.37 ± 1.05), (P < 0.001). Four patients suffered from anuria, 2 required renal support needing hemodialysis for 3 to 6 days, 3 (75%) had bilateral stents, and 1 (25%) had a unilateral stent. Conclusions: We recommend the placement of lighted ureteral stents as a valuable adjunct to laparoscopic colectomy to safeguard ureteral integrity. Transient hematuria is common but requires no intervention. Reflux anuria occurs infrequently and is reversible.
Market Driven Strategy: Processes for Creating Value

Explosive technological change is rapidly creating countless new market opportunities. The author provides a proven market-driven approach to formulating and implementing competitive strategy at the business unit level - "in the trenches". Day introduces the five critical strategic choices that managers must make - in selecting channels, in product differentiation, in pricing - that will yield a competitive advantage.
The Competitive Advantage of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs): The Role of Entrepreneurship and Luck

Abstract Jay Barney's article in 1986 has provided two very important indicators for the long-term success of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which are entrepreneurship and luck. In SMEs where resources and capabilities are scarce, entrepreneurs need to shoulder the responsibility of ensuring the survival and success of their firms. In addition to that, flexibility in operations and adaptability to changes afford SMEs with a greater possibility to gain from unexpected changes and accidental discoveries. To examine the impact of entrepreneurship and luck on the competitive advantage of SMEs, 356 usable survey responses collected from Malaysian SMEs were analysed. The data were analysed using multiple regression analysis with the results suggesting that both entrepreneurship and luck do play a significant role in influencing the competitive advantage of SMEs. The findings provide an important contribution in the fonnulation of a model of competitive advantage among SMEs. From the findings of this study, policy makers are advised to consider incorporating entrepreneurial traits development in the education curriculum to inculcate these characteristics among our future business leaders. Apart from that, SMEs are encouraged to cultivate a flexible and adaptive organisational structure in order for it to benefit from both endogenous and exogenous luck.
CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT AND CUSTOMER LOYALTY; A SURVEY IN THE SECTOR OF BANKING Assist. Prof. Dr. Duygu KOÇOĞLU*

In the centre of marketing activities today is the customer satisfaction. For the banks to be successful in the intensively competitive environment, they are bound to attach importance to customer satisfaction. The purpose of the present study is to reveal the relationship between the banks’ customer relationship management and the customer loyalty. The study has been conducted on a sample group of 350 staff employed in all the branches in
Organizational Culture, Strategy Implementation and Commercial Bank Performance in Zimbabwe

The study investigates the impact of organizational culture and strategy implementation on commercial bank performance in Zimbabwe. Using a four factor, six dimensional organizational culture index and an eight dimensional strategy implementation index to statistically measure culture and strategy implementation impact, the study employs ordinary least regression method to quantify and econometrically model the impact of the two variables on commercial bank performance. Data collection was achieved through questionnaire administration. The results of the study show that culture and strategy implementation have a statistically significant and positive impact on commercial bank performance. For banks which are regarded as performing (both average and high), organizational culture has strong positive effect on their performance while for smaller and poor performing banks, the effect of organizational culture was nearly neutral. Strategy implementation was also found to have strong positive effect in high performing banks and between neutral to negative effect in non-performing banks. The study concludes that the dynamic environment under which banks operate makes the impact of intangible resources differ across institutions. Based on the results of this study, it is recommended that leadership of commercial banks need to invest in creating a defining culture in banks and effective strategy implementation techniques. Utilizing such attributes remains a major determinant of commercial bank performance in Zimbabwe
Determination of 5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid in human serum by stable-isotope dilution high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

The need for specific and sensitive methods for the determination of distinct serum folates is of high priority in clinical research settings. A stable-isotope liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS) assay was developed for the quantitative determination of the monoglutamyl form of 5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid (5-MTHFA) in human serum. Serum samples (0.5 ml) were amended with the internal standard, [5-13C5]MTHFA that had been labeled on the glutamic acid portion of the molecule and allowed to equilibrate. The analyte was trapped onto a solid-phase cartridge and then eluted with the HPLC mobile phase. Forty microliters was taken for LC/ESI-MS analysis using electrospray ionization operated in the positive ion mode. Using the standard method of addition of 5-MTHFA to serum, a linear dilution curve (y = 12.777x - 1.404; range 0.94-97 ng x ml(-1)) was constructed. The precision of the method was 5.3% (CV) based on the analysis of four sample replicates. The mass spectrum produced upon collision induced dissociation of the analyte in serum was used to confirm the identity of the 5-MTHFA. The method was applied to the analysis of a set of serum samples that contained standardized concentrations of 5-MTHFA. The determinations of 5-MTHFA in these samples using the LC/ESI-MS procedure were found to be in good agreement with other folate methods. A highly accurate and specific method for the analysis of 5-MTHFA in serum has been developed utilizing stable isotope dilution mass spectrometry.
Visual Performance after Bilateral Implantation of a new Diffractive Aspheric Multifocal Intraocular Lens with a 3.5 D Addition

Purpose To evaluate visual performance after implantation of a new diffractive aspheric multifocal intraocular lens (MIOL) with a +3.50 D addition power. Methods A total of 24 cataract patients were bilaterally implanted with the Diffractiva-aA MIOL in 2 ophthalmologic centers and followed for 6 months. Postoperative evaluations included visual acuities (VA) at various distances, defocus testing, contrast sensitivity (CS) measurements, and patient satisfaction questionnaire. Results Six months postoperatively, binocular uncorrected VA (mean ± SD; logMAR) was 0.00 ± 0.05 (≍20/20) for distance, 0.06 ± 0.13 (≍20/23) for intermediate (1 m), and 0.00 ± 0.05 (≍20/20) for near (40 cm). All patients achieved uncorrected VA of 20/25 or better for distance and near, and 20/40 or better at 1 m. Monocular and binocular defocus curves showed 2 peaks of maximum VA at the distance focus (0.0 D) and the near focus (-2.5 D) and a good range of intermediate vision with the lowest mean acuity being at -1.5 D defocus. Photopic and mesopic CS were within the standard normal range. The majority of patients (n = 22; 91.7%) were spectacle independent; 8.3% (n = 2) reported wearing glasses occasionally for very small print (1 patient) or for watching television (1 patient). Overall, all patients were “very satisfied” (n = 22; 91.7%) or “satisfied” (n = 2; 8.3%) with the procedure. Conclusions The new Diffractiva-aA MIOL provided a full range of vision from near to far generating highly satisfied, spectacle independent patients with only minimal visual disturbances at night.
Stock Prices, Stock Indexes and Index Funds

In recent years, many UK investors have given up the quest for superior performance and have instead simply sought to match the returns on some broad market index. This has led to the suggestion that the growth in index funds has depressed the stock prices of those companies that are not represented in the index and has thereby increased their cost of capital. This effect may have been accentuated by the actions of fund managers, whose performance is compared with that of a market index and so who also have an incentive to avoid those stocks that are not included in the index. This paper argues that, in practice, these price effects are likely to be very small. In support of this view, the paper examines the price adjustments that occur when a stock is added to, or removed from, a stock market index.
Conditional Currency Risk Premia

The downside risk CAPM (DR-CAPM) can price the cross-section of currency returns. The dierence in market-beta between high and low interest rate currencies is higher conditional on bad market returns, when the market price of risk is also high, than it is conditional on good market returns. Correctly accounting for this variation is crucial for the empirical performance of the model. The DR-CAPM can jointly explain the cross-section of equity, commodity, government bond and currency returns thus oering a unied risk view of these asset classes. JEL classication: F31, G12, G15
Quality of life in a population of patients with hand eczema: a six-month follow-up study.

Hand eczema is a disease with a potentially profound effect on an individual’s life in terms of daily functioning and interpersonal relationships. Accordingly, methods for measuring health-related quality of life (QoL) are increasingly used to evaluate the effect of various treatments. In studies of skin diseases the most widely used dermatology-specific questionnaire is the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) (1). The various scales applied, in the context of skin diseases, were evaluated by Both et al. (2). Their paper, which evaluated the interpretability of the DLQI, revealed a need for reports concerning the minimal change of score that is relevant to the patients. A similar need was expressed in a review by Basra et al. (3). The aim of the present study was to explore potential factors related to a low health-related QoL among patients with hand eczema and to examine the responsiveness of the DLQI score to clinical changes.
Role of Chemotherapy in Advanced Gastric Cancer: Review from a Latin American Perspective

Gastric cancer (GC) is the fourth most common neoplasm and the second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. In Latin America (LA), the burden of this disease is higher and is the leading cause of cancer death in some countries. Chemotherapy is the standard treatment for advanced-stage GC. However, the best regimen for specific populations, such as LA, is as yet unknown. Cisplatin and fluoropyrimidine continue to be the standard of care in light of the findings of phase III studies, while docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) are alternatives for patients with suitable overall health. Oxaliplatin or irinotecan with fluoropyrimidine can also be used in elderly patients who are not candidates for cisplatin, or have a limited performance status. This review examines studies conducted in LA. Patients from LA are under-represented in multicenter trials of chemotherapy and targeted therapies. The major challenges currently lie in implementing strategies in which patients are selected on the basis of regional, racial or molecular characteristics, to consider the molecular subtype of GC for enrolment, and in selecting patients according to prognostic factors to optimize the benefits of chemotherapy.
Translation Exposure and Firm Value, Evidence from Australian Multinational Corporations

The purpose of this study is to analyse the economic effect of foreign currency translation adjustments and to investigate the relationship between these adjustments and firm value, for a sample of 181 Australian multinational corporations, with foreign subsidiaries concentrated in three specific geographical regions (Asia, Europe and NAFTA). The study is based on collected data for the five-year period from 2000 to 2004, and uses a two-stage market model methodology, resulting in the implementation of a cross-sectional time series model to test for the affect of translation differences on computed excess returns. The study finds that translation adjustments in income statements and in shareholders' equity are significantly related to excess returns. These results are consistent with accounting exposure being contributory to firm value.
Patient preferences for disease-modifying drugs in multiple sclerosis therapy: a choice-based conjoint analysis

Objectives: With an increasing number of disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) for multiple sclerosis (MS), patient preferences will gain importance in the decision-making process. We assessed patients’ implicit preferences for oral versus parenteral DMTs and identified factors influencing patients’ treatment preference. Methods: Patients with relapsing–remitting MS (n = 156) completed a questionnaire assessing treatment preferences, whereby they had to decide between pairs of hypothetical treatment scenarios. Based on this questionnaire a choice-based conjoint analysis was conducted. Results: Treatment frequency and route of administration showed a stronger influence on patient preference compared with frequency of mild side effects. The latter attribute was more important for treatment-naïve patients compared with DMT-experienced patients. The higher the Extended Disability Status Scale score, the more likely pills, and the less likely fewer side effects were preferred. Pills were preferred over injections by 93% of patients, when treatment frequency and frequency of side effects were held constant. However, preference switched to injections when pills had to be taken three times daily and injections only once per week. Injections were also preferred when pills were associated with frequent side effects. Conclusions: Our results suggest that route of administration and treatment frequency play an important role in the patients’ preference for a given DMT.
Phylogenetic characteristics of dengue virus revealed the hig relatedness 1 between imported and local strains during the dengue outbreak in 2013 in 2 Yunnan , China

25 Background: An outbreak of dengue occurred in Yunnan province with more than 26 2,000 infected cases from August to November of the past 2013. To characterize this 27 DENV prevalence in Dehong prefecture of Yunnan and explore its orig in, 28 phylogenetic and evolutionary analysis on the DENV strains col lected from local 29 patients and imported travelers were performed comparatively. 30 Methods: A total of 41 dengue positive serum samples were randomly collec ted from 31 these dengue positive travelers who entered China at Ruili port and l ocal dengue fever 32 patients in Dehong prefecture of Yunnan Province, China. Envelope (E) Gene of 33 DENV was amplified and sequenced. Their genotypes distribution and e volutionary 34 characteristics were elucidated clearly by phylogenetic and bayesia n analysis. 35 Results: Phylogenetically, all the collected 41 dengue positive samples could be 36 classified into Genotype I (43.9%) of serotype DENV-1 and Asian I genotype (56.1% ) 37 of DENV-2 serotype. The DENV strains derived from local patient s and cross border 38 travelers were scattered in this two clusters equally. Furthe rmor , high relatedness 39 *Corresponding author: oliverxia2000@aliyun.com 1 Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Center for Molecular medicine in Yunnan province, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China; yanghenglin@yipd.org 3 Yunnan Research Institute of parasitic disease control, Kunming, China. # Equal contributor between DENV strains from these two populations was revealed by evolutionary 40 characteristics. 41 Conclusions: These results revealed the high relatedness between imported and loc l 42 DENV strains during the dengue outbreak in 2013. And these may imply this local 43 dengue outbreak was caused by newly imported infection from neighbor ng country 44 Myanmar. 45 46 Key worlds: dengue, outbreak, Phylogenetic analysis, Bayesian analysis, i mported 47 infection. 48
Multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant Gram-negative pathogens: current and emerging therapeutic approaches

Introduction: In the era of multidrug-resistant, extensively drug-resistant (XDR) and even pandrug-resistant Gram-negative microorganisms, the medical community is facing the threat of untreatable infections particularly those caused by carbapenemase-producing bacteria, that is, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii. Therefore, all the presently available antibiotics, as well as for the near future compounds, are presented and discussed. Areas covered: Current knowledge concerning mechanisms of action, in vitro activity and interactions, pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamics, clinical efficacy and toxicity issues for revived and novel antimicrobial agents overcoming current resistance mechanisms, including colistin, tigecycline, fosfomycin, temocillin, carbapenems, and antibiotics still under development for the near future such as plazomicin, eravacycline and carbapenemase inhibitors is discussed. Expert opinion: Colistin is active in vitro and effective in vivo against XDR carbapenemase-producing microorganisms in the critically ill host, whereas tigecycline, with the exception of P. aeruginosa, has a similar spectrum of activity. The efficacy of combination therapy in bacteremias and ventilator-associated pneumonia caused by K. pneumoniae carbapenemase producers seems to be obligatory, whereas in cases of P. aeruginosa and A. baumannii its efficacy is questionable. Fosfomycin, which is active against P. aeruginosa and K. pneumoniae, although promising, shares poor experience in XDR infections. The in vivo validity of the newer potent compounds still necessitates the evaluation of Phase III clinical trials particularly in XDR infections.
Are ETFs Replacing Index Mutual Funds?

We develop an equilibrium model to investigate whether an Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) is a more efficient indexing vehicle than an Open-Ended Mutual Fund (OEF). We find that while flow-induced trading is costly to OEF investors, it is also beneficial to those investors who cause the flow -- it is simply a zero-sum game. Indeed, the OEF structure can be viewed as providing insurance for investors with liquidity shocks, and hence is beneficial for risk averse investors. However, this liquidity insurance is not without cost -- it can cause moral hazard %that induce excessive trading and reduce the OEF performance. Moreover, we find that investors with higher individual liquidity needs prefer to invest via the OEF since they benefit more from the liquidity insurance. Surprisingly, the OEF structure is still viable despite the concentration of higher-liquidity-need investors in the OEF. The reason is that flow-induced trading costs depend only on the aggregate liquidity need, not on individual liquidity needs, which cancel out at the fund level. As a result, OEFs and ETFs coexist in equilibrium with different liquidity clienteles. Finally, we derive empirical predictions that ETFs are better suited for narrower and less liquid underlying indexes, and for investors with longer investment horizons.