Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Factor Xa Cleavage of Tissue Factor Pathway Inhibitor Is Associated with Loss of Anticoagulant Activity

Summary Tissue factor : factor VIIa induced activation of blood coagulation is inhibited by the complex between factor Xa and tissue factor pathway inhibitor (factor Xa : TFPI). We recently reported that phospholipid-bound factor Xa reduces the high binding affinity of factor Xa : TFPI for negatively charged phospholipids by a partial degradation of TFPI (17). The present study was undertaken to elucidate the factor Xa cleavage sites in TFPI and to delineate the consequences of this proteolysis with respect to the inhibitory activity of factor Xa : TFPI. We found that phospholipid-bound factor Xa cleaves in TFPI the peptide bonds between Lys86-Thr87 and Arg199-Ala200. Interestingly, Arg199 is the P1 residue of the third Kunitz-type protease inhibitor domain. The fast cleavage of the Arg199-Ala200 bond results in a 50-70% reduction of the anticoagulant activity of factor Xa : TFPI, as determined with a dilute tissue factor assay, but is not associated with a diminished inhibitory activity of factor Xa : TFPI towards TF : factor VIIa catalyzed activation of factor X. On the other hand, the slower cleavage of the Lys86-Thr87 peptide bond was associated with both a diminished anticoagulant and anti-TF : factor VIIa activity. Dissociation of factor Xa from the cleaved TFPI was not observed. These data provide evidence for a dual role of factor Xa since it is the essential cofactor in the TFPI-controlled regulation of TF-dependent coagulation as well as a catalyst of the inactivation of TFPI.
Reinforcement learning in a behaviour-based control architecture for marine archaeology

We present a novel path planner for adaptive behaviour of an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV). A behaviour-based architecture forms the foundation of the system with an extra layer which uses experience to learn a policy for modulating the behaviours' weights. In effect, this creates an abstract environment for the Reinforement Learning (RL) agent's state and action space. Subsequently, it simplifies the problem the RL agent is addressing, creating a more stable system. The Episodic Natural Actor Critic (ENAC) RL algorithm is used due to the continuous input and output domains and for the natural actor critic's convergence properties. Adaptiveness of the system is presented in a thruster failure scenario. RL is used in this failure scenario to learn an appropriate policy for the behaviours' weights under the new vehicle dynamics. We apply this control architecture to the domain of marine archaeology which has an inherent problem of navigation in unknown, potentially complex and dangerous environments. Simulated results of the proposed control architecture demonstrate its feasibility and performance.
Corporate Governance, Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability: Comparing Corporate Priorities within the South African Mining Industry

Abstract The study compared corporate priorities of corporate governance, corporate social responsibility and sustainability within the South African mining industry. Using descriptive content analysis, data for 10 mining organisations listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange was quantitatively analysed and compared using Global Reporting Initiative sustainability reporting dimensions. Results showed social performance as the most highly reported sustainability dimension although other sustainability dimensions were also fairly high. The relatively high social reporting was attributed to increased pressure on the social front from the general society, labour and government on mining organisations as the country continues to make a transition towards a new inclusive dispensation from an exclusive socio-economic and political history.
Apocalypse then: The Evolution of the North Atlantic Economy and the Global Crisis

The financial crisis that struck the global economy in late 2008 had its origins in excesses in the US housing market. Its reverberations, however, were felt around the world and nowhere more keenly than in Western Europe. While North Atlantic trade links were in relative stasis, the North Atlantic furnished a uniquely close relationship across financial institutions, as a combination of dominant US financial markets, European competition policy, and differences in financial regulation made the European banking system heavily dependent on dollar wholesale funding. Empirical estimates and macroeconomic model simulations indicate that growth spillovers predominantly flow westwards across the North Atlantic. The bellwether nature of US financial markets creates uniquely large spillovers to the rest of the world even in normal times, and these spillovers are only enhanced if disruptions to bank wholesale funding markets are added -- as occurred during the recent global crisis.
Selective modulation of specific protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms in primary human megakaryocytic vs. erythroid cells

We have investigated the pattern of expression of classical (α, βI, βII, γ), novel (δ) and atypical (ζ) protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms during the course of human hematopoietic differentiation along the closely related megakaryocytic and erythroid lineages. Using in situ immunofluorescence analysis, freshly isolated human pluripotent CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells expressed detectable amounts of all the PKC isoforms investigated. On the other hand, clear‐cut differences in terms of PKC staining were noticed between cells belonging to the erythroid and megakaryocytic lineages, obtained after 9 days of serum‐free liquid culture in the presence of specific growth factors. Specifically, 1) erythroid cells showed a very weak expression of PKC‐α, ‐βI, ‐βII, and ‐γ, while megakaryocytes showed an enhanced expression of all classical PKC isoforms, predominantly confined to the cytoplasm; 2) the expression of PKC‐δ increased in the cytoplasmic and nuclear compartments of both erythroid and megakaryocytic cells with respect to CD34+ cells; and 3) atypical PKC‐ζ isoform showed a striking accumulation in the nucleus during both erythroid and megakaryocytic differentiation. Anat Rec 255:7–14, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Development of an Enhanced Phenotypic Screen of Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Lytic Granule Exocytosis Suitable for Use with Synthetic Compound and Natural Product Collections

We previously developed an assay of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte lytic granule exocytosis based on externalization of LAMP-1/CD107A using nonphysiological stimuli to generate maximal levels of exocytosis. Here, we used polystyrene beads coated with anti-CD3 antibodies to stimulate cells. Light scatter let us distinguish cells that contacted beads from cells that had not, allowing comparison of signaling events and exocytosis from stimulated and unstimulated cells in one sample. Bead stimulation resulted in submaximal exocytosis, making it possible to detect compounds that either augment or inhibit lytic granule exocytosis. Coupled with the assay’s ability to distinguish responses in cells that have and have not contacted a stimulatory bead, it is possible to detect three kinds of compounds: inhibitors, stimulators, which cause exocytosis, and augmenters, which enhance receptor-stimulated exocytosis. To validate the assay, we screened a set of synthetic compounds identified using our previous assay and a library of 320 extracts prepared from tunicate-associated bacteria. One of the extracts augmented exocytosis threefold. Activity-guided fractionation and structure elucidation revealed that this compound is the known PKC activator teleocidin A-1. We conclude that our modified assay is suitable for screening synthetic compound plates and natural product collections, and will be useful for identifying immunologically active small molecules.
Measuring Service Quality and Customer Satisfaction: An Empirical Study in the Senior-Care Organizations in Rural Areas of Central Taiwan

With rapid aging of the Taiwan population, the senior-care market has been growing in rural areas of Taiwan. Competition among senior care market players also soared in the past decade and consumers have been demanding better quality performances. This has forced the Senior Care Organizations (SCOs) to fine-tune their employee training programs to meet specific customer needs. The authors examined the relationship between service quality and customer satisfaction of the SCOs residents in rural areas of central Taiwan based on the ten dimensions: access, communication, competence, courtesy, credibility,reliability, responsiveness, security, tangibles, and employeeâ€™s understanding their customer. The 143 effective data were collected from 3,008 senior residents living in the 94 private SCOs in rural areas of central Taiwan, where a random sample was selected to participate the survey through drop-off and face to face interview. T-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and multiple regression analysis were used to test the relationship. The statistical results showed that courtesy and security were significantly and positively related to customer satisfaction. The results also show that demographic factors of age and health conditions have highly significant impact on customer satisfaction when living in the senior-care organizations. This finding, among others, suggests that senior-care operators in rural areas of central Taiwan might have overlooked the above mentioned major dimensions as factors leading to customer satisfaction and, ultimately, to a sustainable competitive edge. To pinpoint what the senior residents really need, the SCOs in central Taiwan should keep communicating with them, to identify the priority dimensions towards customer satisfaction.
Occlusion detectable stereo-systematic comparison of detection algorithms

In stereo algorithms with more than two cameras, the improvement of accuracy in correspondence search is often reported. On the other hand, another important aspect of the polynocular stereo is the ability of occlusion detection. The camera matrix stereo SEA, which we have developed, offers a simple but effective framework to detect the presence of occlusion and to obtain reliable correspondence. SEA can produce a dense and accurate depth map with sharp object profiles. In this paper, we made some systematic comparison of several algorithms for occlusion detection in SEA. The results are quite interesting and reasonable. They are useful to design an actual polynocular stereo system.
A very discontinuous Borel function

Abstract It is shown to be consistent that the reals are covered by ℵ1, meagre sets yet there is a Baire class 1 function which cannot be covered by fewer than ℵ2, continuous functions. A new cardinal invariant is introduced which corresponds to the least number of continuous functions required to cover a given function. This is characterized combinatorially. A forcing notion similar to, but not equivalent to, superperfect forcing is introduced.
Increasing effectiveness in e-commerce: recommendations applying intelligent agents

The efficient management of the information regarding customers, consumers or other users, in massive markets, is a necessary condition for the implementation of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) processes or relational marketing. A new approach of information technologies to consumer data should generate an analysis of customers' behaviour, by synthesising key abstract information that will facilitate and improve the customisation of services and will lead to a gain in sales. Recommender Systems and Multiagent Systems (MAS) are the information technologies applied in this paper, jointly with a new methodology that allows, thanks to a greater efficiency, the selection of the most relevant sources of consumers' information to carry out recommendations of purchases to consumers.
Comparison of canine core bone marrow biopsies from multiple sites using different techniques and needles.

BACKGROUND Commonly used 11 or 13ga needles are relatively large for collection of bone marrow (BM) biopsies from small dogs. OBJECTIVES The aims of this study were to assess ease of BM collection and quality of specimens obtained from small dogs using 13 and 15ga needles and to determine if specimen encasement would improve quality. METHODS Humeral and iliac biopsies obtained from 17 Beagle dogs with a 15ga needle and a power driver were compared with humeral biopsies obtained with a 13ga Jamshidi needle. Ease of collection (scored as 1 [very difficult] to 5 [very easy] for 3 components of collection with scores summed), section quality (scored as 1 [poor] to 5 [good]), and lesions at collection sites were scored. Quality of additional humeral biopsies obtained with a 15ga needle and wrapped in tissue paper prior to fixation was assessed. RESULTS Use of a 15ga needle to obtain a humeral BM biopsy was significantly easier (mean score ± SD = 13.6 ± 1.7) than obtaining humeral BM using a 13ga needle (11.4 ± 1.6; P < .001) or obtaining iliac BM using a 15ga needle (10.9 ± 2.0, P < .001). Quality of humeral biopsies obtained with a 13ga needle (3.9 ± 1.2) was better than for biopsies of the humerus (1.9 ± 1.3, P < .001) or ilium (1.4 ± 0.6, P < .001) using a 15ga needle. Only sites sampled with a 13ga needle were identifiable grossly after the procedure. In most biopsies, cell density and cellularity were lower when a 15ga needle was used. Paper-wrapping of biopsies did not improve quality. CONCLUSIONS In small dogs, collection of humeral BM biopsies using a 15g needle is feasible and more easily accomplished than collection using a 13ga needle. Hematopoiesis may be underestimated in specimens collected using the smaller needle.
Genetic Engineering of Bacteria that can Produce Urate Oxidase

The urate oxidase gene was cloned into Lactobacillus bulgaria to produce urate oxidase to decompose uric acid and treat hyperuricemia. Using the Candida utilis urate oxidase gene sequences (uricase, E12709) on GenBank, PCR-amplified urate oxidase gene fragments were inserted into the plasmid pMG36e to construct the recombinant plasmid PMG36e-U, which was then electrotransformed into Lactobacillus bulgaria. We used SDS-PAGE to identify urate oxidase in the cell lysates of the genetically engineered bacteria and to measure urate oxidase activity. The urate oxidase gene was PCR-amplified from the Candida utilis genome. The recombinant plasmid PMG36e-U containing the urate oxidase gene was successfully electrotransformed into Lactobacillus bulgaria. The molecular weight of the urate oxidase subunit synthesized by the genetically engineered bacteria was approximately 34 KD based on SDS-PAGE, and the in vitro enzymatic activity from the bacteria preparation was up to 0.33 u/mL. Conclusion: The urate oxidase gene was cloned into Lactobacillus bulgaria and successfully decomposed uric acid.
J. C. R. Licklider's Vision for the IPTO

The Information Processing Techniques Office of the Advanced Research Projects Agency was founded in 1962 as a step toward realizing a flexible military command and control system. In setting the IPTO's research agenda for funding, its first director, J.C. R. Licklider, emphasized the development of time-sharing systems. This article looks at how Licklider's early vision of "a network of thinking centers" helped set the stage for the IPTO's most famous project: the Arpanet.
Social Media Effect on Sustainable Products Purchase

Suggested Citation: Ben Abdelaziz, Semah Ibrahim; Saeed, Muhammad Amas; Benleulmi, Ahmed Ziad (2015) : Social Media Effect on Sustainable Products Purchase, In: Kersten, Wolfgang Blecker, Thorsten Ringle, Christian M. 978-3-7375-6207-2 (Ed.): Sustainability in Logistics and Supply Chain Management: New Designs and Strategies. Proceedings of the Hamburg International Conference of Logistics (HICL), Vol. 21, epubli GmbH, Berlin, pp. 63-93
Seasonal patterns of photosynthesis in Douglas fir seedlings during the third and fourth year of exposure to elevated CO2 and temperature

The interactive effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 and temperature on seasonal patterns of photosynthesis in Douglas fir (Psuedotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) seedlings were examined. Seedlings were grown in sunlit chambers controlled to track either ambient (~400 p.p.m.) CO2 or ambient +200 p.p.m. CO2, and either ambient temperature or ambient +4 °C. Light-saturated net photosynthetic rates were measured approximately monthly over a 21 month period. Elevated CO2 increased net photosynthetic rates by an average of 21% across temperature treatments during both the 1996 hydrologic year, the third year of exposure, and the 1997 hydrologic year. Elevated mean annual temperature increased net photosynthetic rates by an average of 33% across CO2 treatments during both years. Seasonal temperature changes also affected net photosynthetic rates. Across treatments, net photosynthetic rates were highest in the spring and autumn, and lowest in July, August and December‐January. Seasonal increases in temperature were not correlated with increases in the relative photosynthetic response to elevated CO2. Seasonal shifts in the photosynthetic temperature optimum reduced temperature effects on the relative response to elevated CO2. These results suggest that the effects of elevated CO2 on net photosynthetic rates in Douglas fir are largely independent of temperature.
Characterization of micelles by capillary electrophoresis

A practical approach for the characterization of pure micelles, and binary or ternary mixed micelles by capillary electrophoretic methods is presented. Interest is focused on the determination of mobility and composition of the micelles. The investigations are performed with bile salts, phosphatidylcho‐lines and fatty acids. Pure bile salt micelles are characterized with the help of marking and displacement methods. Binary bile salt/phospholipid and ternary bile salt/phospholipid/fatty acid micelles are analyzed using capillary electrophoresis (CE) techniques with standard and improved UV detection, laser‐induced fluorescence and electrospray ionization ‐ mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS). For both the binary and the ternary systems, only one stable mixed micellar phase is found with a high negative mobility.
Managing special events in the new era of the triple bottom line

A new concept has emerged in special event research—the Triple Bottom Line (TBL). The TBL, borrowed from accounting and finance, amalgamates the social, economic, and environmental aspects of activities into one framework. Within the context of special events, the TBL has been particularly linked to their evaluation. In this conceptual article it is argued that while this approach to event evaluation is useful, it is imperative that the underlying principles of the TBL be applied to the planning stage of special event management. This article proposes a framework for this purpose that draws upon Stakeholder Theory. By using this framework, the underlying principles of the TBL can be implemented to special event planning so that the outcomes of special events can be enhanced for their stakeholders.
Modified coronally advanced flap associated with a subepithelial connective tissue graft for the treatment of adjacent multiple gingival recessions.

BACKGROUND The clinical choice of the appropriate surgical technique aiming at root coverage relies, among other factors, on the number of adjacent gingival recessions. This study aimed to clinically evaluate the effectiveness and the predictability of root coverage at adjacent multiple gingival recessions using a modified coronally positioned flap associated with the subepithelial connective tissue graft. METHODS Ten non-smoking, healthy subjects (five men and five women; mean age, 28.7 years) presenting 29 Class I or II adjacent multiple gingival recessions were enrolled. Each patient was treated using a modified coronally advanced flap associated with the subepithelial connective tissue graft. Probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), recession depth (RD), and width of keratinized tissue (KT) were measured at baseline and 6 months later. The Student t test was used to compare treatment outcomes through time. RESULTS The results revealed significant CAL gain (mean gain +/- SD, 1.97 +/- 0.94 mm; P <0.0001), RD decrease (2.03 +/- 0.78 mm; P <0.0001), and KT increase (1.31 +/- 1.23 mm, P <0.0001). The average root coverage was 96.7%, and complete root coverage was found at 93.1% of the defects. Nine of the 10 patients (90% of the patients) experienced complete root coverage. CONCLUSIONS The modified coronally advanced flap associated with the subepithelial connective tissue graft was effective and predictable to produce root coverage at multiple adjacent gingival recessions associated with gain in the CAL and in the width of KT.
Ethical Decision Making and Decision Support Systems in Public Procurement - A Theoretical Discussion

Decision making concerned with public procurement (PP) decisions presents a theoretical discussion of the challenges that extend beyond those associated with the purchasing function of private enterprise, because it seeks to serve the elusive concept of ‘public good’. In particular, ethical issues arising from such decision making are particularly complex. Lately, public purchasing managers have been faced with the added complexities attached to increasing levels of regulations that constrain their decision making and introduce unprecedented levels of scrutiny and requirements for compliance. Considering the broad European Union (EU) context, this research study investigates the ethical dimensions of spending public funds and considers the impact decision support systems could have on the work of managers engaged in public procurement. The article argues that public procurement creates a highly constrained setting for decision makers, which limits the range of means they can apply in their projects. This opens up a potential role for decision support system (DSS) tools in shaping the decision making of managers engaged in PP decisions and in particular in promoting ethical decisions. The main conclusion, however, is that although introducing ICT tools such as DSS may help promote such important values as transparency and accountability, the application of technology also raises fresh concerns regarding the limitations inherent in control-oriented regulations when it comes to fostering efficiency and ethical behaviours in managerial decision making.
Horizontal collaboration in logistics: a feasible task for group purchasing

Current attention to the argument of collaborative procurement has been investigated by both academia and industry practitioners as the concept of group purchasing. This paper first reviews the literature on horizontal collaboration in purchasing task and recognises the interface between purchasing progress and the logistical point of view of supply as the accomplishing task of the procurement cycle. Secondly, it examines the effects of a successful horizontal collaboration in logistics activities among a group of small and medium sized food enterprises (SMEs) which have participated in a purchasing consortium. ‘Homo-regional firms’ are introduced as a logistics concept illustrating the potentiality in establishing horizontal collaboration in logistics activities in order to gain a competitive advantage. Methodology consists of data collection through quantitative questionnaires in direct contact with the firms. The results show a reduction of 10% to 30% in outbound logistics cost in comparison to the time period in which the firms were undergoing procurement by themselves.