Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Structural Sterols Are Involved in Both the Initiation and Tip Growth of Root Hairs in Arabidopsis thaliana[W]

Structural sterols are required for membrane integrity, cell growth, and plant development. This work shows that structural sterols are one of the early polarity markers during root hair formation and development in Arabidopsis. Local accumulation of structural sterols may regulate plasma membrane properties at the tip, vesicular trafficking, and progression of polarized tip growth of root hairs. Structural sterols are abundant in the plasma membrane of root apex cells in Arabidopsis thaliana. They specifically accumulate in trichoblasts during the prebulging and bulge stages and show a polar accumulation in the tip during root hair elongation but are distributed evenly in mature root hairs. Thus, structural sterols may serve as a marker for root hair initiation and growth. In addition, they may predict branching events in mutants with branching root hairs. Structural sterols were detected using the sterol complexing fluorochrome filipin. Application of filipin caused a rapid, concentration-dependent decrease in tip growth. Filipin-complexed sterols accumulated in globular structures that fused to larger FM4-64–positive aggregates in the tip, so-called filipin-induced apical compartments, which were closely associated with the plasma membrane. The plasma membrane appeared malformed and the cytoarchitecture of the tip zone was affected. Trans-Golgi network/early endosomal compartments containing molecular markers, such as small Rab GTPase RabA1d and SNARE Wave line 13 (VTI12), locally accumulated in these filipin-induced apical compartments, while late endosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, plastids, and cytosol were excluded from them. These data suggest that the local distribution and apical accumulation of structural sterols may regulate vesicular trafficking and plasma membrane properties during both initiation and tip growth of root hairs in Arabidopsis.
Identification of sialic acid-binding function for the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus spike glycoprotein

Significance Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) recurrently infects humans from its dromedary camel reservoir, causing severe respiratory disease with an ∼35% fatality rate. The virus binds to the dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) entry receptor on respiratory epithelial cells via its spike protein. We here report that the MERS-CoV spike protein selectively binds to sialic acid (Sia) and demonstrate that cell-surface sialoglycoconjugates can serve as an attachment factor. Our observations warrant further research into the role of Sia binding in the virus’s host and tissue tropism and transmission, which may be influenced by the observed Sia-binding fine specificity and by differences in sialoglycomes among host species. Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) targets the epithelial cells of the respiratory tract both in humans and in its natural host, the dromedary camel. Virion attachment to host cells is mediated by 20-nm-long homotrimers of spike envelope protein S. The N-terminal subunit of each S protomer, called S1, folds into four distinct domains designated S1A through S1D. Binding of MERS-CoV to the cell surface entry receptor dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) occurs via S1B. We now demonstrate that in addition to DPP4, MERS-CoV binds to sialic acid (Sia). Initially demonstrated by hemagglutination assay with human erythrocytes and intact virus, MERS-CoV Sia-binding activity was assigned to S subdomain S1A. When multivalently displayed on nanoparticles, S1 or S1A bound to human erythrocytes and to human mucin in a strictly Sia-dependent fashion. Glycan array analysis revealed a preference for α2,3-linked Sias over α2,6-linked Sias, which correlates with the differential distribution of α2,3-linked Sias and the predominant sites of MERS-CoV replication in the upper and lower respiratory tracts of camels and humans, respectively. Binding is hampered by Sia modifications such as 5-N-glycolylation and (7,)9-O-acetylation. Depletion of cell surface Sia by neuraminidase treatment inhibited MERS-CoV entry of Calu-3 human airway cells, thus providing direct evidence that virus–Sia interactions may aid in virion attachment. The combined observations lead us to propose that high-specificity, low-affinity attachment of MERS-CoV to sialoglycans during the preattachment or early attachment phase may form another determinant governing the host range and tissue tropism of this zoonotic pathogen.
Growth factors and chemotherapeutic modulation of breast cancer cells

A variety of molecules including growth factors are involved in the metastasis of breast cancer cells to bone. We have investigated the effects of osteoblast derived growth factors, such as insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1) and transforming growth factor beta‐1 (TGF‐β1), on doxorubicin (adriamycin)‐induced apoptosis and growth arrest of estrogen receptor positive (ER+) (MCF‐7) and negative (ER–) (MDA‐MB‐435) breast cancer cell lines. Human breast normal epithelial (MCF‐10A), breast cancer (MCF‐7) and metastatic breast cancer (MDA‐MB‐435) cell lines were exposed to different doses of doxorubicin (0.1, 1 or 10 μm) at various exposure times (12, 24 or 48 h). The doxorubicin cytotoxicity was found to be higher in cancer cell lines (MDA‐MB‐435 and MCF‐7) compared with normal breast epithelial cells (MCF‐10A cells). Doxorubicin appeared to exert a blockade of MCF‐7 and MDA‐MB‐435 cells at the G2/M phase, and induced apoptosis in MDA‐MB‐435 (29 ± 4.2% vs 3.4 ± 1.9% control) as assessed by flow cytometry, DNA fragmentation and terminal deoxynucleotidyl‐transferase mediated deoxyuridine 5‐triphosphate and biotin nick‐end labelling (TUNEL) assays. Estradiol (E2) stimulated the growth of MCF‐7 cells and increased the distribution of the cells at the G2/M and S phases. Exogenous IGF‐1 partially neutralized the doxorubicin cytotoxicity in both cancer cell lines (MCF‐7 and MDA‐MB‐435). Similarly, TGF‐β1 partially neutralized the doxorubicin cytotoxicity in MDA‐MB‐435 cells by reducing the number of cells at the
An evaluation of the behaviour-change techniques used on Canadian cancer centre Web sites to support physical activity behaviour for breast cancer survivors.

Background Cancer centre Web sites can be a useful tool for distributing information about the benefits of physical activity for breast cancer (bca) survivors, and they hold potential for supporting health behaviour change. However, the extent to which cancer centre Web sites use evidence-based behaviour change techniques to foster physical activity behaviour among bca survivors is currently unknown. The aim of our study was to evaluate the presentation of behaviour-change techniques on Canadian cancer centre Web sites to promote physical activity behaviour for bca survivors. Methods All Canadian cancer centre Web sites (n = 39) were evaluated by two raters using the Coventry, Aberdeen, and London-Refined (calo-re) taxonomy of behaviour change techniques and the eEurope 2002 Quality Criteria for Health Related Websites. Descriptive statistics were calculated. Results The most common behaviour change techniques used on Web sites were providing information about consequences in general (80%), suggesting goal-setting behaviour (56%), and planning social support or social change (46%). Overall, Canadian cancer centre Web sites presented an average of M = 6.31 behaviour change techniques (of 40 that were coded) to help bca survivors increase their physical activity behaviour. Evidence of quality factors ranged from 90% (sites that provided evidence of readability) to 0% (sites that provided an editorial policy). Conclusions Our results provide preliminary evidence that, of 40 behaviour-change techniques that were coded, fewer than 20% were used to promote physical activity behaviour to bca survivors on cancer centre Web sites, and that the most effective techniques were inconsistently used. On cancer centre Web sites, health promotion specialists could focus on emphasizing knowledge mobilization efforts using available research into behaviour-change techniques to help bca survivors increase their physical activity.
Improving Superconducting Properties of MgB$_{2}$ by Graphene Doping

We report the synthesis and characterization of MgB<sub>2</sub> made from nano-boron and doped with graphene in the following mole percentages, x = 0, 3.0 and 12.0. The effect of graphene doping on the normal state resistivity (ρ), superconducting transition temperature (T<sub>c</sub>), irreversibility and upper critical fields (H<sub>irr</sub> and H<sub>c2</sub>), and critical current density (J<sub>c</sub>), as well as the pinning force (F<sub>p</sub>) were evaluated. We found that the graphene doping has a positive impact on the above mentioned properties. In the case of the optimally doped (x = 3.0%) sample, the critical current density at 5 K corresponds to 1.4 × 10<sup>5</sup> A/cm<sup>2</sup> for 2 T field, whereas the undoped sample showed 9.6 × 10<sup>4</sup> A/cm<sup>2</sup> for the same field, i.e., 1.5 times improvement. Furthermore, the optimally doped sample showed a J<sub>c</sub> of nearly 1 × 10<sup>4</sup> A/cm<sup>2</sup> at 5 K, 8 T, which is a significantly high value. The upper critical field has been enhanced to 13 T at 20 K for the optimal doping level. The flux pinning behavior has been evaluated from the curve of flux pinning force against applied magnetic field, and it reveals that the maximum pinning has been improved by nearly 1.2 times at 20 K, due to the graphene doping.
Analysis on the correlation of atmospheric path radiation and air pollution index

Conventional ground-based air pollution observations are difficult to indicate the spatial distribution of pollutant and its changes. To overcome the difficulty, this paper proposes a method which is used to monitor the distribution of urban air pollution by using remote sensing technology. The method uses surface reflectance image to extract the weak atmospheric information from MODIS data, and then generate the atmospheric path radiation (APR) image. The APR image and air pollution data obtained from ground stations are applied to monitor the change of air condition in Shanghai and Nanjing areas. The study indicates that APR values are sensitive to air pollution index (API); and remote sensing data maybe have great potential in monitoring of air pollution at regional- or global-scale.
Volunteer tourism impacts in Ghana: a practice approach

Relatively little empirical research has been conducted on impacts of volunteer tourism in local communities. This paper therefore focuses on the local consequences of volunteer tourism for two projects in Tamale, Ghana: Zion Primary School and Tamale Children's Home. A practice approach provides a useful theoretical framework to investigate how volunteers and local actors interact in these projects. In a practice approach, interactions become central to the analysis, highlighting the ways in which volunteers, local people and the local context mutually influence one another. Observations and interviews with volunteers and local actors were used to identify positive and negative consequences of their interactions, which are strongly interlinked and depend on routines, backgrounds and positions of the actors, and contextual conditions. The consequences of volunteer practices are also linked to other current and future practices. A practice approach provides insights into complex situations and may be more suited to analysing the impacts of volunteer tourism than a traditional mono-disciplinary focus.
Information Security Policy Compliance: An Empirical Study of Rationality-Based Beliefs and Information Security Awareness

Many organizations recognize that their employees, who are often considered the weakest link in information security, can also be great assets in the effort to reduce risk related to information security. Since employees who comply with the information security rules and regulations of the organization are the key to strengthening information security, understanding compliance behavior is crucial for organizations that want to leverage their human capital. This research identifies the antecedents of employee compliance with the information security policy (ISP) of an organization. Specifically, we investigate the rationality-based factors that drive an employee to comply with requirements of the ISP with regard to protecting the organization's information and technology resources. Drawing on the theory of planned behavior, we posit that, along with normative belief and self-efficacy, an employee's attitude toward compliance determines intention to comply with the ISP. As a key contribution, we posit that an employee's attitude is influenced by benefit of compliance, cost of compliance, and cost of noncompliance, which are beliefs about the overall assessment of consequences of compliance or noncompliance. We then postulate that these beliefs are shaped by the employee's outcome beliefs concerning the events that follow compliance or noncompliance: benefit of compliance is shaped by intrinsic benefit, safety of resources, and rewards, while cost of compliance is shaped by work impediment; and cost of noncompliance is shaped by intrinsic cost, vulnerability of resources, and sanctions. We also investigate the impact of information security awareness (ISA) on outcome beliefs and an employee's attitude toward compliance with the ISP. Our results show that an employee's intention to comply with the ISP is significantly influenced by attitude, normative beliefs, and self-efficacy to comply. Outcome beliefs significantly affect beliefs about overall assessment of consequences, and they, in turn, significantly affect an employee's attitude. Furthermore, ISA positively affects both attitude and outcome beliefs. As the importance of employees' following their organizations' information security rules and regulations increases, our study sheds light on the role of ISA and compliance-related beliefs in an organization's efforts to encourage compliance.
Optimal Control and Competitive Equilibrium of Production-Inventory Systems with Application to the Petroleum Refining Industry

In this work, we study a competitive equilibrium production-inventory model with application to the petroleum refining industry. We first analyze a continuous-time optimal control problem of a firm (refinery) making procurement, production, and sales decisions under uncertain raw material (crude oil) price, finished goods (petroleum products) price, and operating costs. The costs include inventory holding cost, production cost, and some other operating costs. The firm maximizes the expected discounted profit over an infinite horizon. We prove the optimality of certain threshold-type control policies. Next, we consider an economy with many raw material suppliers, production firms, and consumers. The source of uncertainties in this economy is the supply and the demand fluctuations. Based on the firm-level optimal control policies, we establish a competitive rational expectations equilibrium and characterize the dynamics of the equilibrium by a set of equations that describes certain operational tradeoffs. We provide a general procedure for computing the equilibrium and derive the equilibrium in explicit form for a special economy. To assess the empirical usefulness of the equilibrium theory, we simulate the industry equilibrium in the special economy under various settings. We find that the simulated equilibrium price and inventory processes exhibit some patterns that are observed in the actual petroleum data. Finally, we fit the theoretical model using the actual data. The results generally support the theoretical model.
Simulation study of MNG based metamaterial structures

This paper presents the design and parametric analysis of various MNG structures such as SRR, CLL, SR and Omega particle. Depending on the structure and its dimensions, negativity and S-Parameter characteristics of each MNG structure changes. These structures exhibits stop band characteristics depending on negative permeability and hence find applications in microwave circuit. The structures are realized on Fr4 substrate of relative permittivity 4.4 and thickness 1.6mm. The substrate dimension is (4.2×4.2) mm2. These structures are individually studied under free space excitation using microwave simulation software Ansoft HFSS.
Gait variability and fall risk in community-living older adults: a 1-year prospective study.

OBJECTIVE To test the hypothesis that increased gait variability predicts falls among community-living older adults attending an outpatient clinic. DESIGN Prospective, cohort study. SETTING Three outpatient geriatric clinics. PARTICIPANTS Fifty-two community-living, ambulatory men and women aged > or = 70 years. INTERVENTIONS Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Subjects walked at a normal pace for up to 6 minutes wearing force-sensitive insoles that measured the gait rhythm on a stride-to-stride basis. Afterward, subjects reported fall status on a weekly basis for 1 year. The primary outcomes were the association between measures of the stride-to-stride fluctuations in gait rhythm and (1) subsequent falls during a 12-month follow-up period and (2) potential contributing factors. RESULTS Almost 40% of the subjects reported falling during the 12-month follow-up period. Stride time variability was 106 +/- 30 ms in subjects who subsequently fell (n = 20) and 49 +/- 4 ms in those who did not experience a fall (n = 32) during the 12-month follow-up period (p <.04). Logistic regression also showed that stride time variability predicted falls (p <.05). Stride time variability correlated significantly with multiple factors including strength, balance, gait speed, functional status, and even mental health, but these other measures did not discriminate future fallers from nonfallers. CONCLUSIONS These findings show both the feasibility of obtaining stride-to-stride measures of gait timing in the ambulatory setting and the potential use of gait variability measures in augmenting the prospective evaluation of fall risk in community-living older adults.
Initial In-Mine Position Estimation Using RFID Tags

Determining the real-time position of an underground mining vehicle relative to a global map is a very important problem facing the mining industry. Unfortunately, techniques such as Global Positioning System (GPS) cannot be used in underground mines. Alternate approaches must therefore be explored. Promising research from the field of robotics provides a possible approach to in-mine positioning, using a technique known as Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM). It is crucial that the initial position given to the SLAM algorithm is accurate. This paper investigates the concept of using an array of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags placed at know positions to provide the initial position to the SLAM algorithm. A Least Squares based position estimator is presented and evaluated in an experiment. The estimator's average error is calculated for a number of cases. It is shown that the estimator presented in this paper compares well with an estimator presented previously but uses less than 8 times as many tags. The results suggest RFID based positioning, using this Least Squares approach, has the potential to provide accurate and low-cost initial position estimation.
Budgetary Systems And The Control Of Functionally Differentiated Organizational Activities

Considerable attention has been given to the question of the role of budget systems in the control of organizations which differ in terms of characteristics such as size, structure, and diversity (Bruns and Waterhouse [1975] and Merchant [1981]). By contrast, little attention has been directed to the broader question of how characteristics of different functional activities within the organization-e.g., marketing versus R&D-influence the effectiveness of control strategies such as the degree of participation in budget setting and the reliance placed on accounting information in control. Of course, the two questions are related in that differing functional activities are typically structured differently in response to various environmental determinants, and this in turn will influence the choice of controls to be used in each. This paper reports the results of an empirical investigation in which the marketing and R&D units of a large electronics firm were compared in terms of both the environmental conditions they face and the effects of their control system choices on managerial performance within the two functional areas. The results provided limited support for predicted
Analytical nonlinear model for permanent magnet synchronous machine incorporating saturation saliencies

This paper investigates the nonlinear model of the permanent magnet synchronous machines (PMSMs). In order to incorporate the structural and saturation saliencies, two parameters are defined to indicate the saturation ratios. An analytical model is derived and the inductance matrix is expressed in both stationary and rotating reference frames, respectively. An incremental inductance measure system is established, on which a real PMSM is tested and numerically simulated. The nonlinear inductance matrix is deduced and expressed by a nonlinear function, regressed from the experimental collected data. Based on the magnetic parameters observed from the prototype, the estimated inductance curves are compared with the experimentally measured curves. Finite Element Method (FEM) is also applied to verify the developed mathematic model. Finally, simulations and experiments are carried out to verify the proposed model. The results show that the proposed method can be applied to analytically express the machine nonlinearity.
Prophylactic antiemetic effects of midazolam, dexamethasone, and its combination after middle ear surgery.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate and compare the efficacy of the combination of midazolam and dexamethasone, with midazolam and dexamethasone alone, for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in female patients undergoing middle ear surgery. METHODS A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 80 female patients (mean age 32.6 years), undergoing middle ear surgery with general anesthesia at Ohud Hospital, Madina, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from May 2007 to May 2008. Patients were classified into 4 groups. They received intravenous normal saline (S group), midazolam 0.075 mg/kg (M group), or dexamethasone 10 mg (D group), or a combination of midazolam and dexamethasone (MD group), before the induction of anesthesia. Postoperatively for 24 hours observation and assessment of nausea, vomiting, rescue anti-emetics, and side effects of the study drugs such as headache and drowsiness were carried out. RESULTS There was a significant difference between the 4 groups. The MD group was the least to develop PONV compared to other groups (p<0.01). Regarding nausea, there was a non-significant difference between the 4 groups, although the MD group developed the least symptoms among the 4 groups, there were no significant differences in pain intensity and side effects such as, headache, dizziness, and drowsiness between the 4 groups. CONCLUSION The combination of midazolam 0.075 mg/kg and dexamethasone 10 mg intravenously is better than either drug alone in reducing the incidence of PONV in female patients after middle ear surgery.