Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Differential Display of mRNA by PCR

This unit outlines the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐based technique of mRNA differential display, which identifies genes that are differentially expressed between cells or tissues. The basic protocol describes the actual differential display PCR reaction along with details of the identification, reamplification, and cloning of candidate differentially expressed genes. A support protocol provides instructions on removing contaminating genomic DNA from the RNA samples and reverse transcribing the purified RNA to produce the cDNA used in the subsequent PCR reactions.
Robustness properties of a control procedure for systems with input delay

The control of systems with input delays is by now recognized to be a finite dimensional problem to be solved within standard framework provided a transform due to Artstein is used. The implementation of the synthesized control laws is nevertheless inducing nonrobustness and fragility in the control loop. In this paper a method of implementation that involves stability redesign of the control is proposed that implies robustness and nonfragility.
Quantum phases of atomic boson-fermion mixtures in optical lattices

The zero-temperature phase diagram of a binary mixture of bosonic and fermionic atoms in a one-dimensional optical lattice is studied in the framework of the Bose-Fermi-Hubbard model. By exact numerical solution of the associated eigenvalue problems, ground state observables and the response to an external phase twist are evaluated. The stiffnesses under phase variations provide measures for the boson superfluid fraction and the fermionic Drude weight. Several distinct quantum phases are identified as functions of the strength of the repulsive boson-boson and the boson-fermion interactions. In addition to the bosonic Mott-insulator phase, two other insulating phases are found, where both the bosonic superfluid fraction and the fermionic Drude weight vanish simultaneously. One of these double-insulator phases exhibits a crystalline diagonal long-range order, while the other is characterized by spatial separation of the two species.
State Strength and Economic Globalization: Proposing a Typology of CSR Regulation

This article takes its starting point in two recent and related empirical developments: First, through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) companies address global challenges and opportunities. Second, national governments increasingly regulate CSR. This poses a puzzle: if private actors face a range of new social demands as they operate in host countries then does that leave home country governments any room to regulate corporations? Existing research highlights three types of government involvement in CSR regulation: substitution, mirroring and private governance of transnational business. Each type can be categorized along two dimensions: the strength of economic globalization and the strength of the state. We show that explanations of the role of governments in driving CSR fail to account for the growth of government regulation that shapes internationalized CSR rules through companies. We propose that the literature on CSR regulation should include a fourth regulatory model characterized by a strong state and a high degree of economic globalization. We refer to this as “state-driven governance of transnational business”.
The C-Terminal Domain of B-Myb Acts As a Positive Regulator of Transcription and Modulates Its Biological Functions

ABSTRACT The myb gene family consists of three members, named A-, B-, and c-myb. All three members of this family encode nuclear proteins that bind DNA in a sequence-specific manner and function as regulators of transcription. In this report, we have examined the biochemical and biological activities of murine B-myb and compared these properties with those of murine c-myb. In transient transactivation assays, murine B-myb exhibited transactivation potential comparable to that of c-myb. An analysis of deletion mutants of B-myb and c-myb showed that while the C-terminal domain of c-Myb acts as a negative regulator of transcriptional transactivation, the C-terminal domain of B-Myb functions as a positive enhancer of transactivation. To compare the biological activities of c-myb and B-myb, the two genes were overexpressed in 32Dcl3 cells, which are known to undergo terminal differentiation into granulocytes in the presence of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). We observed that c-myb blocked the G-CSF-induced terminal differentiation of 32Dcl3 cells, resulting in their continued proliferation in the presence of G-CSF. In contrast, ectopic overexpression of B-myb blocked the ability of 32D cells to proliferate in the presence of G-CSF and accelerated the G-CSF-induced granulocytic differentiation of these cells. Similar studies with B-myb–c-myb chimeras showed that only chimeras that contained the C-terminal domain of B-Myb were able to accelerate the G-CSF-induced terminal differentiation of 32Dcl3 cells. These studies show that c-myb and B-myb do not exhibit identical biological activities and that the carboxyl-terminal regulatory domain of B-Myb plays a critical role in its biological function.
Explanatory factors regarding manufacturer brand price consistency

Purpose – In the marketing process, the positioning effort exerted by manufacturers for their brands is slowed by the commercial objectives of intermediary firms. In addition, to act as buyers, retailers act as suppliers of demand segments. When they receive privileged conditions in their product purchasing contracts, they do not always transfer them, totally or partially, to the final consumers through prices. The purpose of this paper is to analyse price dispersion tools available to consumer goods manufacturers to obtain price consistency.Design/methodology/approach – An empirical study was conducted that analysed the retail price dispersion of 66 manufacturer brands in the categories of packaged foods, drugstore products, personal care products, and cellulose derivatives marketed in 574 Spanish retail outlets in different cities.Findings – In general, manufacturer brands achieve greater price‐consistency, and therefore less price dispersion, when the consumer's knowledge of the product category is gre.
Operationalizing the Marketing Concept in the Nonprofit Sector

ABSTRACT This paper questions the validity of applying the market orientation construct, which was developed ostensibly for and in large multinational organizations, to a sector whose characteristics differ greatly. Instead, this paper argues for a new approach to the operationalization of the marketing concept in the nonprofit sector. The components of this 'societal orientation' are delineated, as are the organizational imperatives, antecedents and the potential consequences and benefits associated therewith.
The Role of Standards In a Performance-based Building Regulatory System

Building regulatory systems consist of regulations adopted into law through whatever legislative or administrative procedures are appropriate to the legal system in place, supported by standards that provide the detail on what is considered necessary or sufficient to be considered in compliance. Regulations embody the public expectations for how buildings and facilities are expected to perform and as such represent public policy. Regulators, who develop and enforce regulations, are empowered to act in the public interest to set this policy and are ultimately responsible to the public in this regard.
Effects of iNOS-related NO on Hearts Exposed to Liposoluble Iron

Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) protects heart against ischemia/reperfusion injury. However, it is unknown whether the beneficial effects of iNOS are mediated by the interaction of NO with radical oxygen species (ROS). To address this issue, we examined the effects of liposoluble iron-induced ROS generation in isolated perfused hearts from rats treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). LPS administration (10 mg/kg, i.p., 6 h before heart removal) induced iNOS expression and increased NO production as indicated by a 3-fold elevation of nitrite level in coronary effluents relative to control hearts. An enhanced expression of heme-oxygenase 1 protein was also observed in septic hearts compared to control. Iron-induced perfusion and contractile deficits were ameliorated by LPS with more important coronary than myocardial benefits. In iron-loaded hearts, oxidative stress as measured by the 2,3 dihydroxybenzoic acid/salicylic acid concentration ratio in cardiac tissue was 23% lower in septic than in control heart although the difference did not reach significance. In addition, the presence of the NO synthase inhibitor N-nitro-l-arginine in the perfusion medium totally blocked NO production but did not reverse the protective effects of LPS. The results indicate that LPS protects from iron-induced cardiac dysfunction by mechanisms independent on ex vivo NO production and suggest that NO acts as a trigger rather than a direct mediator of the cardioprotective effects of LPS in heart exposed to iron.
Comparative neurovirulence of attenuated and non-attenuated strains of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus in mice.

A candidate live-attenuated virus vaccine for protection against Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) (designated V3526) was tested in mice to measure the magnitude, duration, and kinetics of virus replication in the blood and the central nervous system and its phenotypic stability after multiple passages in mice and cell culture. All results were compared to parallel experiments with parental virus and the existing VEE virus vaccine, TC-83. Maximum virus titers in the brains of V3526-inoculated mice were between 10- and 100-fold less than those observed in brains of mice inoculated intracranially (i.c.) with either the parental virus or TC-83. Neither V3526 nor TC-83 was lethal in BALB/c mice inoculated i.c. However, mice inoculated with TC-83 developed acute symptoms lasting at least 14 days. In contrast, i.c. inoculation of TC-83 was uniformly lethal for C3H/HeN mice. V3526 was avirulent in both BALB/c and C3H/HeN mice after i.c. inoculation. The virulence characteristics of V3526 remained unchanged after five serial i.c. passages in mouse brains or after five cell culture passages. Finally, pathologic changes induced after i.c. inoculation of V3526 were consistently less severe and of shorter duration than those observed in TC-83-inoculated mice. Based on these results, V3526 is stable and appears to be significantly less neurovirulent in mice than TC-83.
Temporal context memory in high-functioning autism

Episodic memory, i.e. memory for specific episodes situated in space and time, seems impaired in individuals with autism. According to weak central coherence theory, individuals with autism have general difficulty connecting contextual and item information which then impairs their capacity to memorize information in context. This study investigated temporal context memory for visual information in individuals with autism. Eighteen adolescents and adults with high-functioning autism (HFA) or Asperger syndrome (AS) and age- and IQmatched typically developing participants were tested using a recency judgement task. The performance of the autistic group did not differ from that of the control group, nor did the performance between the AS and HFA groups. We conclude that autism in high-functioning individuals does not impair temporal context memory as assessed on this task. We suggest that individuals with autism are as efficient on this task as typically developing subjects because contextual memory performance here involves more automatic than organizational processing.
Globalization and Innovation Policy

This major book presents case studies of ten small country national systems of innovation (NSIs) in Europe and Asia, namely, Denmark, Finland, Hong Kong, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Sweden and Taiwan. These cases have been carefully selected as examples of success within the context of globalization and as ‘new economies’ where competition is increasingly based on innovation.
A run-based algorithm for identifying connected components in binary images

We present a run-based algorithm for identifying connected components in binary images. We define affecting scope of a run and use an array whose size is equal to width of the image to store runs' labels in a row. The label's storing scope in the array is the run's affecting scope. By checking values in the array we can know whether the current run connects with any upper-row neighbor runs. We also define updating principles to maintain the array. The algorithm only needs to scan image one pass and need not maintain an equivalent table, so its speed is fast and it is very simple. It can identify 4-connectivity and 8-connectivity connected components in binary images. Experiment results show that the algorithm is effective.
Endothelial cells in human cytomegalovirus infection: One host cell out of many or a crucial target for virus spread?

Summary Endothelial cells (EC) are assumed to play a central role in the spread of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) throughout the body. Results from in-situ analyses of infected tissues and data from cell culture systems together strongly suggest that vascular EC can support productive replication of HCMV and thus contribute to its haematogeneous dissemination. By inducing an angiogenic response, HCMV may even promote growth of its own habitat. The particular role of EC is further supported by the fact that entry of HCMV into EC is dependent on a complex of the envelope glycoproteins gH and gL with a set of proteins (UL128–131A) which is dispensable for HCMV entry into most other cell types. These molecular requirements may also be reflected by cell type-dependent differences in entry routes, i.e. endocytosis versus fusion at the plasma membrane. An animal model with trackable murine CMV is now available to clarify the pathogenetic role of EC during haematogeneous dissemination of this virus.
Multi-sensor image fusion scheme based on dual-tree complex wavelet transform

The development of decomposition methods improves the quality of image fusion. Using Dual Tree-complex wavelet transform instead of Discrete Wavelet Transform may improve the performance of multi-sensor image fusion. In the process of fusion, window-based fusion rule which takes Local Variance into account was proposed to fuse low frequency sub-bands. The experimental result shows that DT-CWT as a decomposition method is superior to DWT. Moreover, the proposed method shows better performance than pixel-based fusion rule.
Determinants of successful international expansion of professional service firms: A case study of Arabian firms

This study looks at drivers of internationalisation and the important location decision factors contributed to the selection of a beneficial country for international expansion. One in‐depth and information‐rich case study of the Arabian premium international professional service firms was purposively undertaken. The results show that both firm and location‐specific factors, firm’s competitive advantage, company’s management attitudes and profit growth were the main drivers of internationalisation. Further, the study reveals that the pre‐development of country qualitative and quantitative location factors was elemental to attain profitable foreign country choice. Accordingly, these findings have significant theoretical and practical implications to the internationalisation and foreign market entry of professional service firms.
Antecedents of brand credibility under asymmetrical information

This study focuses on the antecedents of brand credibility and validates part of the model presented by Erdem and Swait (1998). Following the signalling literature, we argue that under asymmetrical information, the importance of brand credibility stems from the capability of brands to inform consumers who are uncertain about product attributes. Indeed, firms may use brands to notify consumers about product positions and to assure that their product claims are credible. Using information economics as theoretical background, the proposed perspective determines how credibility is shaped. Data was collected across a number of consumers in Australia via a self-report survey and a structural equation model (SEM) was estimated. The results provide empirical evidence and support the work of Erdem and Swait (1998).
Glial cells have heart: rH1 Na+ channel mRNA and protein in spinal cord astrocytes

Astrocytes in vitro express several distinct voltage‐sensitive sodium currents, including tetrodotoxin (TTX)‐resistant in non‐stellate astrocytes and TTX‐sensitive currents in stellate astrocytes. However, the molecular identity of the underlying channels, and the mechanisms that regulate their expression, have yet to be identified. Since spinal cord astrocytes in vitro express sodium currents that are nearly ten‐fold greater that those of astrocytes derived from other regions, we used reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR), in situ hybridization, and immunocytochemistry to search for a sodium channel mRNA and protein corresponding to a TTX‐resistant channel in these cells.
Doxorubicin‐Loaded Magnetic Silk Fibroin Nanoparticles for Targeted Therapy of Multidrug‐Resistant Cancer

A strategy to prepare doxorubicin-loaded magnetic silk fibroin nanoparticles is presented. The nanoparticles serve as a nanometer-scale drug-delivery system in the chemotherapy of multidrug-resistant cancer under the guidance of a magnetic field. The magnetic tumor-targeting ability broadens the range of biomedical applications of silk fibroin, and the nanoparticle-assisted preparation strategy is useful for the advancement of other biomacromolecule-based materials.
Relatórios de sustentabilidade segundo a Global Reporting Initiative (GRI): uma análise de correspondências entre os setores econômicos brasileiros

This article aims to present the level of adhesion and publication volume of sustainability reports of Brazilian companies according to the Guidelines of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) between 2000 and 2008. For the analysis, five variables were defined: i) Economic Sector of companies; ii) Year of adhesion; iii) Application Level Guidelines; iv) Existence of Shares Traded at BMF & BOVESPA; and v) Participation in Composition of the Corporate Sustainability Index (ISE) of BMF & BOVESPA. As regards the methodological procedures were applied single and multiple analyzes by correspondence between the sectors of economic activity and the 5 variables of studies defined. The results show that the number of organizations that have published environmental reports through 2008 is low. However, there is growing acceptance elsewhere, mostly in Europe, as demonstrated by the number of publications. Brazilian companies accounted for half of the volume of publications in 2008 in Latin America, and the energy sector led this process, comprising 35% of the sample.
Query2Vec: An Evaluation of NLP Techniques for Generalized Workload Analytics

We consider methods for learning vector representations of SQL queries to support generalized workload analytics tasks, including workload summarization for index selection and predicting queries that will trigger memory errors. We consider vector representations of both raw SQL text and optimized query plans, and evaluate these methods on synthetic and real SQL workloads. We find that general algorithms based on vector representations can outperform existing approaches that rely on specialized features. For index recommendation, we cluster the vector representations to compress large workloads with no loss in performance from the recommended index. For error prediction, we train a classifier over learned vectors that can automatically relate subtle syntactic patterns with specific errors raised during query execution. Surprisingly, we also find that these methods enable transfer learning, where a model trained on one SQL corpus can be applied to an unrelated corpus and still enable good performance. We find that these general approaches, when trained on a large corpus of SQL queries, provides a robust foundation for a variety of workload analysis tasks and database features, without requiring application-specific feature engineering.
Endorsement of a user-level bandwidth management application in a directory service environment

In a world of the global communications, with continuous expansion to new horizons, which requires anytime and anywhere access to information sources, the need to manage the communication requirements is a very important issue. Traditional IP networks are facing difficulties in ensuring, to a user, a specific bandwidth[1] level for network access. Related to this matter, in this article we are proposing a bandwidth control solution, through the medium of a newly developed Java application. The bandwidth management process is realized taking account of the privileges arising from the user's membership to certain directory service group, by using Active Directory specific software components. This paper presents the endorsement elements for a proposed network management application, highlighting the performed tests, at the development level, and the results obtained with the aimed bandwidth control application.
Paradigm Shifts in Business Education: Using Active Learning to Deliver Services Marketing Content

Business schools have recently been criticized for failing to prepare students for the increasingly complex, fast-paced, and global work environments they will face as employees of organizations in the 1990s and beyond. Students must be taught both new content and new skills in order to meet the changing needs of U.S. businesses. Services marketing is a prime example of the new content that must be added to business school curricula, since services now account for more than 70% of our GNP Services marketing courses can also provide an excellent opportunity for students to practice critical new workplace skills. The objectives of this article are to describe the changes necessary in marketing curricula to ensure that students have the appropriate skills and content to adequately meet the needs of their future employers; to provide an overview of services marketing course content; to describe the traditional and the active learning educational paradigms; to demonstrate how active learning techniques can be used to teach both content and skills in a services marketing course; and to provide specific examples of active learning exercises designed to address key content areas in services marketing.