Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
TIM Family Proteins Promote the Lysosomal Degradation of the Nuclear Receptor NUR77

The cell surface receptor TIM-1 attenuates kidney cell death after injury in vitro. Delivered to the Lysosome by TIM The orphan nuclear receptor NUR77 promotes cell death in the kidney after injury. Balasubramanian et al. identified the TIM (T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain) family of cell-surface receptors as binding partners of NUR77. TIM proteins inhibited the transactivation function of NUR77 and also promoted its lysosomal degradation, which for TIM-1 required the phosphatidylserine-binding pocket and clathrin-mediated endocytosis. In an in vitro model of ischemic injury with kidney epithelial cells, TIM-1 enhanced cell survival by decreasing the abundance of NUR77. Thus, strategies that increase the abundance of the TIM-1 could ameliorate cell death after kidney injury. T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain (TIM) proteins are cell-surface signaling receptors in T cells and scavenger receptors in antigen-presenting cells and kidney tubular epithelia. Here, we demonstrated a function for TIM proteins in mediating the degradation of NUR77, a nuclear receptor implicated in apoptosis and cell survival. TIM proteins interacted with and mediated the lysosomal degradation of NUR77 in a phosphoinositide 3-kinase–dependent pathway. We also showed dynamic cycling of TIM-1 to and from the cell surface through clathrin-dependent constitutive endocytosis. Blocking this process or mutating the phosphatidylserine-binding pocket in TIM-1 abrogated TIM-1–mediated degradation of NUR77. In an in vitro model of kidney injury, silencing TIM-1 increased NUR77 abundance and decreased epithelial cell survival. These results show that TIM proteins may affect immune cell function and the response of the kidney to injury.
The library as an information utility in the university context: Evolution and measurement of service

We examine the problem of measuring library performance objectively, with particular attention to the service rendered to the users of the library. We also consider that the context in which the library operates may modify the performance goals, both properly and improperly. We selected an aggregate measure of performance, the Total Contact Time per Potential User. This is mathematically decomposed into eight parameters which are independently meaningful, measurable and manipulatable. They provide a multi‐dimensional picture of the corresponding aspects of library performance. We present a detailed algorithm for the determination of four of these from a frustration study and sketch the significance and possible measurement techniques for the others. Some values of the four performance parameters related to frustration or availability are reported and their significance for a user oriented cost‐benefit analysis is discussed briefly.
Evidence that multifunctional calcium/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase II (CaM KII) participates in the meiotic maturation of mouse oocytes

Calcium‐dependent signaling pathways are thought to be involved in the regulation of mammalian oocyte meiotic maturation. However, the molecular linkages between the calcium signal and the processes driving meiotic maturation are not clearly defined. The present study was conducted to test the hypothesis that the multi‐functional calcium/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase II (CaM KII) functions as one of these key linkers. Mouse oocytes were treated with a pharmacological CaM KII inhibitor, KN‐93, or a peptide CaM KII inhibitor, myristoylated AIP, and assessed for the progression of meiosis. Two systems for in vitro oocyte maturation were used: (1) spontaneous gonadotropin‐independent maturation and (2) follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH)‐induced reversal of hypoxanthine‐mediated meiotic arrest. FSH‐induced, but not spontaneous germinal vesicle breakdown (GVB) was dose‐dependently inhibited by both myristoylated AIP and KN‐93, but not its inactive analog, KN‐92. However, emission of the first polar body (PB1) was inhibited by myristoylated AIP and KN‐93 in both oocyte maturation systems. Oocytes that failed to produce PB1 exhibited normal‐appearing metaphase I chromosome congression and spindles indicating that CaM KII inhibitors blocked the metaphase I to anaphase I transition. Similar results were obtained when the oocytes were treated with a calmodulin antagonist, W‐7, and matured spontaneously. These results suggest that CaM KII, and hence the calcium signaling pathway, is potentially involved in regulating the meiotic maturation of mouse oocytes. This kinase both participates in gonadotropin‐induced resumption of meiosis, as well as promoting the metaphase I to anaphase I transition. Further evidence is therefore, provided of the critical role of calcium‐dependent pathways in mammalian oocyte maturation. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 61:560–569, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Alterations of the Salivary Secretory Peptidome Profile in Children Affected by Type 1 Diabetes

The acidic soluble fraction of whole saliva of type 1 diabetic children was analyzed by reversed phase (RP)1–HPLC-ESI-MS and compared with that of sex- and age-matched control subjects. Salivary acidic proline-rich phosphoproteins (aPRP), histatins, α-defensins, salivary cystatins, statherin, proline-rich peptide P-B (P-B), beta-thymosins, S100A8 and S100A9*(S100A9* corresponds to S100A9 vairant lacking the first four amino acids), as well some naturally occurring peptides derived from salivary acidic proline-rich phosphoproteins, histatins, statherin, and P-B peptide, were detected and quantified on the basis of the extracted ion current peak area. The level of phosphorylation of salivary acidic proline-rich phosphoproteins, histatin-1 (Hst-1), statherin and S100A9* and the percentage of truncated forms of salivary acidic proline-rich phosphoproteins was also determined in the two groups. The study revealed that statherin, proline-rich peptide P-B, P-C peptide, and histatins, were significantly less concentrated in saliva of diabetic subjects than in controls, while concentration of α-defensins 1, 2 and 4 and S100A9* was higher. The low concentration of P-C peptide was paralleled by high levels of some of its fragments. On the whole, the study highlighted the severe impairment of the repertoire of peptides involved in the safeguard of the oral cavity in children who have diabetes, as well as an higher concentration of the proinflammatory mediator S100A9* with respect to healthy children.
METHODS FOR ATTRIBUTING AMBIENT AIR POLLUTANTS TO EMISSION SOURCES

▪ Abstract Six methods for attributing ambient pollutants to emission sources are reviewed: emissions analysis, trend analysis, tracer studies, trajectory analysis, receptor modeling, and dispersion modeling. The ranges of applicability, types of information provided, limitations, performance capabilities, and areas of active research of the different methods are compared. For primary, nonreactive pollutants whose effects of concern occur on a global scale, an accounting of emissions rates by source type and location largely characterizes source contributions. For other pollutants or smaller spatial scales, accurate estimates of emissions are needed for identifying the emissions reduction potentials of possible control measures and as inputs to dispersion models. Emission levels are frequently known with factor-of-two accuracy or worse, and improved estimates are needed for dispersion modeling. The analysis of regional or urban-scale trends in emissions and ambient pollutant concentrations can provide qua.
Respondent direct experience and contingent willingness to pay for new commodities: a switching endogenous interval regression analysis

Most environmental economists argue that direct experience with the good being valuated, or with similar goods, is a precondition for providing valid willingness to pay (WTP) responses to contingent valuation questions. Two questions are posed in this article. The first is whether previous use experience of a resource (Séné nature reserve) similar to that being valuated (future nature reserves) and located in the same geographical area (Gulf of Morbihan) impacts on WTP. The second is whether accounting for the endogeneity of direct experience matters in the estimation of WTP. We find that respondents who have not experienced the Séné nature reserve provide value estimates that are statistically comparable to that of respondents who have experienced it. Our assumption is that respondents have acquired sufficient and adequate experience of future nature reserves from the questionnaire that experience obtained by experiencing the Séné nature reserve was not necessary for making a valid value formulation. Hence, aggregation of WTP estimates to obtain a total valuation of the future nature reserves is reasonable over the full target population. In addition, our results show that direct experience is endogenously determined; but controlling for the endogeneity has a marginal effect on WTP estimates.
CancerGD: A Resource for Identifying and Interpreting Genetic Dependencies in Cancer

Genes whose function is selectively essential in the presence of cancer associated genetic aberrations represent promising targets for the development of precision therapeutics. Here we present CancerGD (www.cancergd.org), a resource that integrates genotypic profiling with large-scale loss-of-function genetic screens in tumor cell lines to identify such genetic dependencies. CancerGD provides tools for searching, visualizing, and interpreting these genetic dependencies through the integration of functional interaction networks.
Wine demand in the United Kingdom and new world structural change: a source-disaggregated analysis†

This study examines bottled wine demand in the United Kingdom (UK) by exporting country and assesses the structural adjustment in demand as indicated by the decline in imports since 2004. When comparing the two periods, 1995–2003 and 2005–2009, UK wine imports from Australia became more responsive to changes in aggregate wine expenditures (in real terms) in the latter period. The demand for French wines became more price inelastic in the latter period while the demand for other European wines became price elastic. If the UK government is concerned with decreasing alcohol consumption, an increase in the wine excise tax would lead to a relatively larger decrease in imports from Italy, Portugal, and Spain. The tax on French wines would lead to greater revenue, but a smaller decrease in French wine consumption. [EconLit citations: F14; Q11; Q17]. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Constitutive expression of ciliary neurotrophic factor in mouse hypothalamus

Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) is a potent survival molecule for a large number of neuronal and glial cells in culture; its expression in glial cells is strongly upregulated after a variety of nerve tissue injuries. Exogenously administered CNTF produces an anorectic effect via activation of hypothalamic neurons and stimulates neurogenesis in mouse hypothalamus. To determine whether CNTF is produced endogenously in the hypothalamus, we sought cellular sources and examined their distribution in adult mouse hypothalamus by immunohistochemistry. CNTF immunoreactivity (IR) was predominantly detected in the ependymal layer throughout the rostrocaudal extension of the third ventricle, where numerous ependymocytes and tanycytes exhibited specific staining. Some astrocytes in the grey matter of the anterior hypothalamus and in the median eminence of the hypothalamic tuberal region were also positive. Stimulation of cells bearing CNTF receptor α (CNTFRα) induces specific activation of the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signalling system. Treatment with recombinant CNTF and detection of the nuclear expression of phospho‐STAT3 (P‐STAT3) showed that CNTF‐producing ependymal cells and tanycytes were intermingled with, or very close to, P‐STAT3‐positive, CNTFRα‐bearing cells. A fraction of CNTF‐producing ependymal cells and tanycytes and some median eminence astrocytes also exhibited P‐STAT3 IR. Thus, in normal adult mice the ependyma of the third ventricle is both a source of and a target for CNTF, which may play hitherto unknown roles in hypothalamic function in physiological conditions.
The dynamics of the inventor network in German biotechnology: geographic proximity versus triadic closure

Economic geography has developed a stronghold analyzing how geography impacts innovation. Yet, despite increased interest in networks, a critical assessment of the role of geography in the evolution of networks is still lacking. This article attempts to explore the interplay between geographic distance and triadic closure as two main forces that drive the evolution of collaboration networks. Analyzing the evolution of inventor networks in German biotechnology, the article theoretically argues and empirically demonstrates that—as the technological regime of an industry changes over time—inventors increasingly rely on network resources by forming links to partners of partners, while the direct impact of geographic distance on tie formation decreases. Although initially triadic closure reinforces the geographic distance effect by closing triads among proximate inventors, over time triadic closure becomes an increasingly powerful vehicle to generate longer distance collaboration ties as the effect of geographic proximity decreases.
Multifactor Explanations of Asset Pricing Anomalies

Previous work shows that average returns on common stocks are related to firm characteristics like size, earnings/price, cash flow/price, book-to-market equity, past sales growth, long-term past return, and short-term past return. Because these patterns in average returns apparently are not explained by the capital asset pricing model, (CAPM), they are called anomalies. The authors find that, except for the continuation of short-term returns, the anomalies largely disappear in a three-factor model. Their results are consistent with rational intertemporal CAPM or arbitrage pricing theory asset pricing but the authors also consider irrational pricing and data problems as possible explanations. Copyright 1996 by American Finance Association.
Classification and differentiation between kidney yang and yin decficiency syndromes in TCM based on decision tree analysis method

The classification and differentiation between kidney Yang and Yin deficiency syndromes (KDS-YANG and KDS-YIN) in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) was performed with the approaches of decision tree as well as logistic regression analysis. A clinical epidemiology study on 44 symptoms, 5 tongue signs and 2 pulse signs (TCM diagnostic features) was conducted among 2,765 patients with KDS. Accordingly, an effective syndrome-identifying model on KDS-YANG and KDS-YIN was established. The results indicated that in terms of statistical significance (P < 0.05) of the cases with the above two different syndromes, the diagnostic indicators such as 11 symptoms, 2 tongue signs, and 1 pulse signs was found out by logistic regression analysis. The accurate rate of differentiating KDS-YANG and KDS-YIN was proved to be 88.0%. What’s more, four symptoms-aversion to cold, cold limbs, pale tongue, deep and thread pulse-were confirmed to be the most significant variables, which was beneficial for the syndrome differentiation. The decision tree analysis model was an effective approach to differentiate KDS-YANG and KDS YIN, which could be helpful to change the syndrome-diagnosing method from experience-based to datamodel based.
CONVERGENCE ANALYSIS OF AN INTERIOR-POINT METHOD FOR MATHEMATICAL PROGRAMS WITH EQUILIBRIUM CONSTRAINTS

We prove local and global convergence results for an interior-point methodapplied to mathematical programs with equilibrium constraints. The globalresult shows the algorithm minimizes infeasibility regardless of startingpoint, while one result proves local convergence when penalty functions areexact; another local result proves convergence when the solution is not evena KKT point.
Stock Market Efficiency Withstands another Challenge: Solving the "Sell in May/Buy after Halloween" Puzzle

Examining the years 1970 to 1998, Bouman and Jacobsen (2002) document unusually high monthly returns during the November-April periods for both United States (U.S.) and foreign stock markets and label this phenomenon the Halloween effect. Their research suggests that the Halloween effect represents an exploitable anomaly and has negative implications for claims of stock market efficiency. Re-examining Bouman and Jacobsenâ€™s empirical results for the U.S. reveals that their results are driven by two outliers, the â€œCrashâ€ of October 1987 and the collapse of the hedge fund Long-Term Capital Management in August 1998. After inserting a dummy variable to account for the impact of the two identified outliers, the Halloween effect becomes statistically insignificant. This anomaly is not economically exploitable for U.S. equity markets. We extend the research to the S&P 500 futures contract and find no evidence of an exploitable Halloween effect over the period April 1982-April 2003.
Efficient Embedded Neural-Network-Based License Plate Recognition System

In this paper, a video processing methodology for a field-programmable gate array (FPGA)-based license plate recognition (LPR) system is researched. The raster scan video is used as an input with low memory utilization. During the design, Gabor filter, threshold, and connected component labeling (CCL) algorithms are used to obtain license plate region. This region is segmented into disjoint characters for the character recognition phase, where the self-organizing map (SOM) neural network is used to identify the characters. The system is portable and relatively faster than computer-based recognition systems. The robustness of the system has been tested with a large database acquired from parking lots and a highway. The memory requirements are uniquely designed to be extremely low, which enables usage of smaller FPGAs. The resulting hardware is suitable for applications where cost, compactness, and efficiency are system design constraints.
Looking at Gen Y shopping preferences and intentions: exploring the role of experience and apparel involvement

Apparel retailers need more information to reach and increase patronage from Generation Y with $150 billion purchasing power. Experiential retailing, involving one or more of the five senses, helps create utilitarian and hedonic benefits for brick-and-mortar apparel shoppers. However, little is known about how Generation Y responds to experiential strategies. This study of Generation Y brick-and-mortar apparel shoppers, using a cohort approach, seeks to determine which dimensions of a shopping experience, as well as shopping involvement level and demographics, are associated with store preference and patronage intent.
Developing deep learning approaches and personal teaching efficacy within a preservice teacher education context.

BACKGROUND University students' approaches to learning have been demonstrated to affect learning outcomes across a wide range of courses, favouring the use of a deep approach. Interventions to promote the use of deep approaches have had mixed success, with the most successful interventions involving large-scale course redesign. AIMS This paper describes a study in which contextual modifications were implemented in an existing preservice teacher education programme to increase students' use of deep approaches to learning and reduce their reliance on the use of surface approaches, without the need for major redesign. Students' perceptions of their competence in performing the tasks of teaching (personal teaching efficacy) were also expected to improve in response to improvements in quality learning. SAMPLE Three cohorts of students (N = 134), enrolled in a preservice teacher education degree programme at a rural university in New South Wales, Australia participated in the study. METHOD A longitudinal quasi-experimental design was used, with Cohort 1 acting as a control while Cohorts 2 and 3 represented treatment groups. Repeated measures were taken on Biggs' (1987b) Study Process Questionnaire, a modified version of Gibson and Dembo's (1984) Teacher Efficacy Scale and the Academic subscale within Lefcourt's (1981) Multidimensional-Multiattributional Causality Scale. An action research paradigm was embedded to enable the development and refinement of the altered teaching approaches. RESULTS Results indicated that the modifications to teaching methods, task requirements and assessment processes applied to the treatment group encouraged changes in students' approaches to learning by firstly reducing their use of surface approaches and later increasing the use of deep approaches. While both treatment and contrast groups exhibited equivalent growth in teaching efficacy, differences between cohorts were noted in the sources that informed personal teaching efficacy at the conclusion of the course. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that the study succeeded in its major goal of improving the quality of teaching and learning in this teacher education programme. The results conform to the findings of previous research and are consistent with learning approach theory. While the specific contextual modifications used in the current study may not necessarily be transferable to other settings, the processes employed in the generation of those modifications could find wider applicability.
Business model innovation in the retail industry: growth by serving the silver generation

How can an established retailer face the challenge of an ageing society? We study the components of business model innovation in the German retail landscape that are implemented on the sales floor to cater to the needs of the silver generation segment. Applying a multiple case-study approach our analysis suggests that the five firms under study focus on three specific areas: 1) store layout and physical environment; 2) intensified customer service; 3) increase in 'senior-friendly' product offerings. Improvements in these areas help retail firms increase the value proposition, improve customer relationships, and augment revenues. In total, our research highlights how retailers can alter their business models to better meet the needs of the growing silver generation segment.
Institutional Solutions for Governing the Global Commons: Design Factors and Effectiveness

Rather than relying on authoritative political structures to solve the dilemmas of governing the global commons, institutional perspectives show that governance can occur in situations where, at first glance, individual incentives for short-term economic gain seem to proscribe collective action. In this regard, a theoretical framework drawing on the study of common-pool resources explains effective institutional governance as the combination of internal design features and exogenous issue-area factors. This study raises the question of which institutional design principles provide for effective solutions for governing the commons. It does so in the context of international fisheries commissions. These institutions are often less than adequate conservers offish. Through an analysis of institutional goals and objectives, this study identifies some design features of fisheries institutions associated with this lack of conservation effectiveness, while at the same time identifying the institutional sources of the continuity afforded to participants by these enduring institutions.