Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Role of Mechanical Stimulation in Stem Cell Differentiation

Mechanical forces are known to play a role in cell behavior and adaptation within their environment. In recent years, special attention has been paid to how these forces interact with various stem cell sources to direct stem cell differentiation. Embryonic, induced pluripotent, and adult or progenitor stem cells have all used in research involving mechanical stimulation. These various cell types have been exposed to numerous types of stimulation, such as tensile or compressive strain, fluid shear stress, or oscillatory vibration. Interestingly, despite the wide range of stem cell sources and types of mechanical stimulation used, the pathways activated under mechanical stimulation are very similar. Mechanical stimulation can impact numerous pathways, including TGF-β, Wnt, and MAPK. Forces can also affect cytoskeletal structure, osmolality of the cytoplasm, or affect nuclear pore size and permeability. This collective knowledge has provided great evidence for the field to use mechanical stimulation alone, or combined with biochemical stimulation, to promote differentiation towards various phenotypes. This differentiation is often associated with increased production of extracellular matrix proteins, such as collagens and glycosaminoglycans, which can greatly impact the mechanical properties of a tissue-engineered construct. Ultimately, the role of mechanical stimulation in stem cell differentiation and behavior is, and will continue to be, a vital component in countless tissue engineering applications.
A cost benefit study of voluntary disclosure: some empirical evidence from French listed companies

The aim of this paper is to relate the extent of disclosure in the annual reports of French listed companies to some economic determinants. The sample includes the 1995 annual reports of 102 randomly selected industrial and commercial firms. The extent of disclosure is measured by an index based on financial and non-financial discretionary information. The model of hypothesis explaining voluntary disclosure is defined as the interplay of contradictory forces: inducements deriving principally from agency theory and limitations imposed by information costs. The results reveal that voluntary disclosure is significantly related to size, foreign activity and to a proxy for proprietary costs.
Governing Quasi-Public Network Services for adaptation to climate change

Adaptation takes place in both private and public sectors, or as an interrelation between the two, and often under the realm of public regulation. Thispaper uses the Swedish and the Norwegian electricity grid sector, as providers of a vital public good under strict public regulation, to analyse reforms' effects on adaptive capacity in this area. The paper shows that transformational changes in both sectors during the 1990s shifted both the formal organisational structure (rules and regulations), as well as the organisational culture, in the direction of economic efficiency. These two dimensions individually reduced adaptive capacity to climate change, although differently in the two countries. However, the formal structure and organisational culture also yielded substantial influence on each other. This leads to the conclusion that when designing public regulations and implementing reforms, organisational culture must be considered in the design. Also the paper contests previous findings in the literature by showing that under given conditions there exist some substitution between the two dimensions in influencing adaptive capacity, implying that both dimensions should be included when analysing adaptation since analysing them in isolation is likely to lead to wrong conclusions.
Cash Flows in Networks

The concept of maximising present value is applied to the timing of activities in a network. The mathematical form of the problem is that of maximising a nonlinear function subject to linear constraints and can be solved as a succession of linear programmes. By application of duality principles the problem can be treated as a form of maximum value flow problem in which discounted cash flows are distributed along arcs from pay events to receipt events. The solution is aided by the “equilibrium theorem” of dual linear programming in that in the optimum condition flows occur only along arcs whose corresponding activity has zero float. The flows which occur in the optimally scheduled solution are directly proportional to the marginal cost which would be incurred by lengthening the activity corresponding to the arc along which the flow occurs. Some implications derived from the model are discussed and a number of possible applications are proposed.
Exports and economic growth: The case of South Africa

Economic policy has always accorded an important role to export production in the overall growth process in South Africa. Recent policy proposals once again reaffirm this commitment. This paper attempts to ascertain whether the emphasis on export production is justified. Using modern econometric techniques within a multivariate framework, the results show that there is uni-directional Granger-causality running from exports to economic growth in South Africa. In addition, the gross domestic product (GDP) accounting identity underestimates the contribution of exports to economic growth. Thus, deliberate policy measures that stimulate export production will greatly enhance the growth prospects for the South African economy. The results in this paper also indicate that more attention should be given to the promotion of non-primary exports. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Patterns of Welfare State Indicators in the EU: Is There Convergence?

Convergence of social protection objectives and policies in Member States is an explicit objective of the EU. Earlier research has shown that there has indeed been a tendency of convergence of social protection levels over the last decades. However, comparative studies frequently use indicators which may not be representative as measures of the welfare state. In this article we have done several convergence tests with the most recent data, using a variety of indicators of social protection: social expenditures, both at the macro and at the programme level, replacement rates of unemployment and social assistance benefits and poverty indicators. Together, these indicators provide a broader picture of the evolution of social protection. Our results are less clear cut than earlier findings. We still find convergence of social expenditure in EU countries over a longer period. However, this trend seems to have stagnated in recent years. The evidence is mixed for the other indicators. Replacement rates of unemployment benefits converged to a higher level, but social assistance benefits did not. Poverty rates and poverty gaps have converged since the mid-1980s, but the levels of both indicators have developed in the opposite direction.
Gastrointestinal stromal tumors of the duodenum: surgical management and survival results.

AIM To provide long-term survival results of operable duodenal gastrointestinal stromal tumors (DGISTs) in a tertiary center in China. METHODS In this retrospective study, the pathological data of 28 patients with DGISTs who had been treated surgically at the Second Department of General Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital (SRRSH) from June 1998 to December 2006 were reviewed. All pathological slides were examined by a single pathologist to confirm the diagnosis. In patients whose diagnosis was not confirmed by immunohistochemistry at the time of resection, representative paraffin blocks were reassembled, and sections were studied using antibodies against CD117 (c-kit), CD34, smooth muscle actin (SMA), vimentin, S-100, actin (HHF35), and desmin. Operative procedures were classified as wedge resection (WR, local resection with pure closure, without duodenal transection or anastomosis), segmental resection [SR, duodenal transection with Roux-Y or Billroth II gastrojejunostomy (G-J), end-to-end duodenoduodenostomy (D-D), end-to-end or end-to-side duodenojejunostomy (D-J)], and pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD, Whipple operation with pancreatojejunostomy). R0 resection was pursued in all cases, and at least R1 resection was achieved. Regional lymphadenectomy was not performed. Clinical manifestations, surgery, medical treatment and follow-up data were retrospectively analyzed. Related studies in the literature were reviewed. RESULTS There were 12 males and 16 females patients, with a median age of 53 years (20-76 years). Their major complaints were "gastrointestinal bleeding" (57.2%) and "nonspecific discomfort" (32.1%). About 14.3%, 60.7%, 17.9%, and 7.1% of the tumors originated in the first to fourth portion, respectively, with a median size of 5.8 cm (1.6-20 cm). Treatment was by WR in 5 cases (17.9%), SR in 13 cases (46.4%), and by PD in 10 cases (35.7%). The morbidity and mortality rates were 35.7% and 3.6%, respectively. The median post-operative stay was 14.5 d (5-47 d). During a follow-up of 61 (23-164) mo, the 2-year and 5-year relapse-free survival was 83.3% and 50%, respectively. Eighty-four related articles were reviewed. CONCLUSION Surgeons can choose to perform limited resection or PD for operable DGISTs if clear surgical margins are achieved. Comprehensive treatment is necessary.
Altered prefrontal activity and connectivity predict different cognitive deficits in schizophrenia

Cognitive dysfunction is considered a core feature of schizophrenia, and impaired performances in episodic memory (EM) and executive function (EF) tasks are consistently reported in schizophrenia patients. Traditional fMRI and EEG studies have helped identifying brain areas, including the prefrontal cortex (PFC), involved in these tasks. However, it is unclear whether intrinsic defects in prefrontal function per se contribute to poor performance in schizophrenia, given the presence of confounds like reduced motivation and psychotic symptoms. TMS/hd‐EEG measurements are obtained without cognitive effort, and can be calculated in any cortical area.
Gulf Coast Residents Underestimate Hurricane Destructive Potential

AbstractMost people do not realize that hurricane destructiveness increases nonlinearly with increases in storm intensity. Three studies were conducted to examine people’s perceptions of hurricane destructive potential and their likelihood of evacuation. In the first study, undergraduate students (n = 349) provided damage ratings of hurricanes in each Saffir–Simpson category. A majority (84%) of students produced only linearly increasing damage profiles by hurricanes. In the second study, a simple random sample of Gulf Coast residents (n = 402) who participated in a telephone survey when a tropical storm was affecting the U.S. east coast revealed that a majority (77%) thought hurricane damages increased linearly with hurricane category and hence underestimated the damage major hurricanes could produce. In the third study, a simple random sample (n = 396) of Gulf Coast residents participated in an experiment over the telephone during an active phase of the 2008 hurricane season. One-half of the sample rece.
Determinants of Cation Permeation and Drug Sensitivity in Predicted Transmembrane Helix 9 and Adjoining Exofacial Re-entrant Loop 5 of Na+/H+ Exchanger NHE1*

Background: NHE1 is a therapeutic drug target, yet knowledge of sites involved in cation translocation and drug binding remains incomplete. Results: Mutagenesis analyses identified residues in transmembrane helix M9 and exofacial re-entrant loop EL5 that affect substrate affinities and/or drug sensitivity. Conclusion: M9 and EL5 form part of the cation permeation pathway. Significance: These findings provide new insight into the structure-function domains of NHE1. Mammalian Na+/H+ exchangers (NHEs) regulate numerous physiological processes and are involved in the pathogenesis of several diseases, including tissue ischemia and reperfusion injuries, cardiac hypertrophy and failure, and cancer progression. Hence, NHEs are being targeted for pharmaceutical-based clinical therapies, but pertinent information regarding the structural elements involved in cation translocation and drug binding remains incomplete. Molecular manipulations of the prototypical NHE1 isoform have implicated several predicted membrane-spanning (M) helices, most notably M4, M9, and M11, as important determinants of cation permeation and drug sensitivity. Here, we have used substituted-cysteine accessibility mutagenesis and thiol-modifying methanethiosulfonate (MTS) reagents to further probe the involvement of evolutionarily conserved sites within M9 (residues 342–363) and the adjacent exofacial re-entrant loop 5 between M9 and M10 (EL5; residues 364–415) of a cysteine-less variant of rat NHE1 on its kinetic and pharmacological properties. MTS treatment significantly reduced the activity of mutants containing substitutions within M9 (H353C, S355C, and G356C) and EL5 (G403C and S405C). In the absence of MTS, mutants S355C, G403C, and S405C showed modest to significant decreases in their apparent affinities for Na+o and/or H+i. In addition, mutations Y370C and E395C within EL5, whereas failing to confer sensitivity to MTS, nevertheless, reduced the affinity for Na+o, but not for H+i. The Y370C mutant also exhibited higher affinity for ethylisopropylamiloride, a competitive antagonist of Na+o transport. Collectively, these results further implicate helix M9 and EL5 of NHE1 as important elements involved in cation transport and inhibitor sensitivity, which may inform rational drug design.
Poverty Underestimation in Rural India- A Critique

When ever the Planning Commission of India releases the poverty data, that data is being criticised by experts and economists. The main criticism is underestimation of poverty especially in rural India by the Planning Commission. This paper focuses on that criticism and compares the Indian Planning Commission’s 2004-05 rural poverty data with the India’s 2400 kcal poverty norms, World Bank’s US $1.08 poverty concept and Asian Development Bank’s US $1.35 poverty concept.
Is empowerment really a contributory factor to service quality?

This article investigates how empowerment of front-line staff affects service quality in mass and technological services. A questionnaire survey and in-depth interviews were conducted. Analysis of the questionnaire data revealed that although there was a moderate association between empowerment and service quality in mass services, the relationship was not statistically significant in technological services. The interview data explain these results and highlight important differences between mass and technological services, both in the type of staff and in the nature of tasks undertaken. Moreover, it was apparent that there were difficulties in implementing empowerment in mass services.
Dual role of cyclic AMP‐dependent protein kinase in neuritogenesis and synaptogenesis during neuronal differentiation

To create precise neural circuits in the nervous system, neuritogenesis and synaptogenesis are the critical cellular processes during neuronal differentiation. We examined the cyclic AMP (cAMP)‐responsible signaling pathways for regulating neuritogenesis and synaptogenesis in NG108‐15 cells. A rise in intracellular cAMP concentration by a membrane‐permeable cAMP analog, dibutyryl cAMP (DBcAMP), led to an increase in the number of neurites and varicosities. Inhibition of cAMP‐dependent protein kinase (PKA) activity by a PKA inhibitor (H89) accelerated this neuritogenesis and neurite outgrowth rate. Treatment with H89, however, decreased the number of varicosities and the frequency of postsynaptic miniature current recorded in the cultured cells, resulting in suppression of synaptogenesis. Immunoblot analyses revealed that PKA activity mediates phosphorylation of a gene transcription factor, cAMP‐response element binding protein (CREB). On the other hand, inhibition of a mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) pathway by a MAPK/ERK kinase (MEK) inhibitor (PD98059) suppressed both neuritogenesis and neurite outgrowth without CREB phosphorylation. These results suggest strongly that PKA simultaneously plays two different roles in neuronal differentiation: inhibition of neuritogenesis and stimulation of synaptogenesis, via CREB‐mediated gene expression. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Categorizing Risks in the Insurance Industry

This paper analyzes the welfare implications of imperfectly categorizing risks in the insurance industry under conditions of asymmetric information. Firms, initially unable to distinguish the risk type of individuals, are provided with imperfect information concerning risk membership. The paper then compares various Wilson-type equilibria to determine the welfare implications of firms imperfectly categorizing risks. It is shown that only in the case where the initial equilibrium is of the Nash no-subsidy type is there a Pareto-type improvement in welfare.
Using Single Respondents in Strategy Research

A survey of empirical papers has revealed a number of studies that have used single respondents, usually the CEO or a top management team member, to make inferences about certain strategic dimensions of their business. In this note, we highlight some of the problems in using this approach. We base our comments on a study of 76 businesses where multiple respondents were accessed. We conclude that, because of often wide variations in responses between members of the same top team (measured by Cronbach alpha), the use of single respondents in this type of strategy research is probably unreliable.
Does Exporting Increase Productivity? A Microeconometric Analysis of Matched Firms

Exporting involves sunk costs, so some firms export whilst others do not. This proposition derives from a number of models of firm behavior and has been exposed to microeconometric analysis. Evidence from the latter suggests that exporting firms are generally more productive than nonexporters. They self-select, in that they are more productive before they enter export markets, but the evidence suggests that entry does not make them any more productive. This paper investigates exporting and firm performance for a large panel of UK manufacturing firms, applying matching techniques. The authors find that exporters are more productive and they do self-select. In contrast to other evidence, however, exporting further increases firm productivity.
Developing a Market Orientation in a Transitional Economy: The Role of Government Regulation and Ownership Structure

In this article, the authors report the findings of an exploratory study that examines the challenges of developing a market orientation in China, the world's largest transitional economy. The findings suggest that though managerial actions are relevant, in transitional economies, environmental factors—most notably, government policies—are a major influence on firms’ aspirations to be market oriented.
Diagnostic value of computed tomography in re-treatment of root fillings in maxillary molars.

AIM To compare the diagnostic information and radiation dose between intraoral radiography and computed tomography (CT) in re-treatment decision making concerning root fillings in maxillary molars. METHODOLOGY Thirty-nine root-filled maxillary molars with suspected apical periodontitis were examined with two intraoral periapical radiographs and CT. Presence of periapical lesion/s per tooth and root were analysed for both techniques. In addition, in the CT images, the number of root canals, erosion, or perforation of cortical bone plates, and the distance between palatal root and cortical bone plates were evaluated. Radiation dose for CT was registered and calculated; and that of periapical radiographs used as reported previously (Ekestubbe et al. 2004). RESULTS Periapical radiographs revealed periapical lesions in 33 teeth compared with 38 on CT images. A lesion of any root was detected more often with CT. The mesiobuccal root had two root canals in 30 teeth of which 27 of the MB2 canals were not filled, and 22 roots with an unfilled canal were associated a periapical lesion. Distances to palatal root, from the buccal and palatal cortex were measured in CT and varied between 5.0-12.0 mm and 0-4.0 mm, respectively. Based on the radiographic information, a variety of treatment alternatives were suggested. Mean effective dose of periapical radiographs was 0.02 mSv and that of CT 0.055 mSv. CONCLUSIONS Computed tomography may give important information in re-treatment decision when considering root fillings in maxillary molars. The radiation dose should be considered individually.
The role of university-based industrial extension services in the business performance of small manufacturing firms: case-study evidence from Western New York

This paper investigates the role of university-based industrial extension services in the business performance of small manufacturing firms in an economically declining region of the United States (Western New York). The outreach initiatives of a specific University at Buffalo (UB) programme are described. Particular attention is given to the activities of UB's Centre for Industrial Effectiveness (CIE), an outreach unit with a mandate to improve the product and/or process development efforts of local manufacturing firms. Our data suggest positive returns on investment for firms that have sought technical support under CIE programmes. A key finding is that CIE's services typically entail the transmission of well-established procedures rather than radically new ways of doing things. A further finding is that firms that have used CIE to develop improved products have experienced stronger investment returns than their counterparts that have focused upon process development (although the returns are positive in both instances). More broadly, our data suggest positive correlations between levels of project investment and a variety of commercial outcomes, including sales growth, job-retention, and unit-cost reduction. The implications of these results for regional economic development policy are discussed. The paper also reviews some of the weaknesses that curtail the effectiveness of university-based centres such as CIE.
Changes Over Time in Union Relative Wage Effects in the UK and the Us Revisited

This paper examines the impact of trade unions in the US and the UK and elsewhere. In both the US and the UK, despite declining membership numbers, unions are able to raise wages substantially over the equivalent non-union wage. Unions in other countries, such as Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal and Spain, are also able to raise wages by significant amounts. In countries where union wage settlements frequently spill over into the non-union sector (e.g. France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Sweden) there is no significant union wage differential. The estimates from the seventeen countries we examined averages out at 12 per cent. Time series evidence from both the US and the UK suggests three interesting findings. First, the union differential in the US is higher on average than that found in the UK (18 per cent compared with 10 per cent). Second, the union wage premium in both countries was untrended in the years up to the mid-1990s. Third, in both countries the wage premium has fallen in the boom years since 1994/95. It is too early to tell whether the onset of a downturn in 2002 will cause the differential to rise again or whether there is a trend change in the impact of unions. It is our view that most likely what has happened is that the tightening of the labor market has resulted in a temporary decline in the size of the union wage premium. Time will tell whether the current loosening of the labor market, that is occurring in both countries, will return the union wage premium to its long run values of 10 per cent in the case of the UK and 18 per cent in the case of the US. On the basis of past experience it seems likely that they will.