Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Deal-flow portfolios in innovation collaborations — Revisiting the rationale of innovation networks

Regional innovation systems straggle to live up to certainly exaggerated expectations despite high effort into facilitation of innovation network collaboration and cluster forming. As well, innovation performance remains difficult to measure. Facilitation is the aim of many institutions like technology transfer centres, living labs, incubators, or business idea competitions. In this paper we present a study of seven action research cases from which we argue that a result or "deal-flow" rationale of innovation networks mobilizes stronger engagement of stakeholders than the facilitation rationale. Innovation processes on network level then can be designed to co-ordinate seamless deal-flows. The practical contribution of the paper is that innovation intermediaries can derive a sustainable value position as innovation process managers. The paper revisits the concrete intermediary function of "match making" as innovation process design.
Variability of fMRI‐response patterns at different spatial observation scales

Functional organization units of the cerebral cortex exist over a wide range of spatial scales, from local circuits to entire cortical areas. In the last decades, scale‐space representations of neuroimaging data suited to probe the multi‐scale nature of cortical functional organization have been introduced and methodologically elaborated. For this purpose, responses are statistically detected over a range of spatial scales using a family of Gaussian filters, with small filters being related to fine and large filters—to coarse spatial scales. The goal of the present study was to investigate the degree of variability of fMRI‐response patterns over a broad range of observation scales. To this aim, the same fMRI data set obtained from 18 subjects during a visuomotor task was analyzed with a range of filters from 4‐ to 16‐mm full width at half‐maximum (FWHM). We found substantial observation‐scale‐related variability. For example, using filter widths of 6‐ to 8‐mm FWHM, in the group‐level results, significant responses in the right secondary visual but not in the primary visual cortex were detected. However, when larger filters were used, the responses in the right primary visual cortex reached significance. Often, responses in probabilistically defined areas were significant when both small and large filters, but not intermediate filter widths were applied. This suggests that brain responses can be organized in local clusters of multiple distinct activation foci. Our findings illustrate the potential of multi‐scale fMRI analysis to reveal novel features in the spatial organization of human brain responses. Hum Brain Mapp, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Bacterial vaginosis: A practical review

ABSTRACT Bacterial vaginosis is a common vaginal infection that causes discharge, odor, and irritation. It can predispose women to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV. Recurrent bacterial vaginosis may require prolonged treatment to return the vaginal flora to a normal predominately lactobacilli-dominated environment.
The ENACT study: a pan-European survey of acute coronary syndromes. European Network for Acute Coronary Treatment.

AIM The European Network for Acute Coronary Treatment (ENACT) study was designed to collect prospective information across Europe on the relative frequency, diagnosis and management of the whole spectrum of acute coronary syndromes. METHODS Cardiologists, who were respondents to mailings sent out to 17 European countries with the target of reaching one centre per million inhabitants, completed a prospective patient record, each physician providing information on 10 consecutive patients with a working diagnosis on admission of acute coronary syndrome, and a questionnaire. RESULTS A total of 390 responses were received (0.91/10(6)population) with data on 3092 patients in 29 countries. The patient population comprised 1431 (46%) with an initial working diagnosis of unstable angina/non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, 1205 (39%) with myocardial infarction and 445 (14%) with suspected acute coronary syndrome. The ratio of unstable angina to myocardial infarction was 1.2:1 and this was similar across Europe. An initial diagnosis of myocardial infarction was more likely to be confirmed than unstable angina or suspected acute coronary syndrome. There were wide variations in the rates of angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention across Europe. Most unstable angina patients received aspirin, nitrates and heparin (unfractionated heparin 44% intravenous, 16% subcutaneous; low-molecular-weight heparin 50%). Overall, 50% of unstable angina patients and 34% of myocardial infarction patients received low-molecular-weight heparin and 6% and 8% respectively received a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor, but there were large inter-country differences. There were also national differences in the use of calcium antagonists, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and beta-blockers. CONCLUSION The ENACT study provides robust data, for the first time, on the relative frequency of unstable angina and acute myocardial infarction across Europe. It provides insight into differences in management across Europe and a reference benchmark of current treatment.
Electrical properties of nitrided-oxide systems for use in gate dielectrics and EEPROM

The electrical properties of nitrided oxide systems as a function of process conditions were examined. In terms of electron trapping, the observed results can be explained by the existence of two different traps: intrinsic and high field generated traps. The densities of these traps are determined by the nitridation condition and subsequent heat cycles. The lowest density of electron traps was observed in an annealed nitrided oxide (NO). The results also have implications for radiation damage and hot electron channel degradation in thin gate dielectrics. Under very high electric fields, destructive breakdowns were observed for nitrided oxide, probably due to the absence of electron traps. Such breakdowns restrict the design of EEPROM's using such dielectrics.
Pharmacokinetics and Biodistribution of (86)Y-Trastuzumab for (90)Y dosimetry in an ovarian carcinoma model: correlative MicroPET and MRI.

UNLABELLED Preclinical biodistribution and pharmacokinetics of investigational radiopharmaceuticals are typically obtained by longitudinal animal studies. These have required the sacrifice of multiple animals at each time point. Advances in small-animal imaging have made it possible to evaluate the biodistribution of radiopharmaceuticals across time in individual animals, in vivo. MicroPET and MRI-based preclinical biodistribution and localization data were obtained and used to assess the therapeutic potential of (90)Y-trastuzumab monoclonal antibody (mAb) (anti-HER2/neu) against ovarian carcinoma. METHODS Female nude mice were inoculated intraperitoneally with 5.10(6) ovarian carcinoma cells (SKOV3). Fourteen days after inoculation, 12-18 MBq (86)Y-labeled trastuzumab mAb was injected intraperitoneally. Tumor-free mice, injected with (86)Y-trastuzumab, and tumor-bearing mice injected with labeled, irrelevant mAb or (86)Y-trastuzumab + 100-fold excess unlabeled trastuzumab were used as controls. Eight microPET studies per animal were collected over 72 h. Standard and background images were collected for calibration. MicroPET images were registered with MR images acquired on a 1.5-T whole-body MR scanner. For selected time points, 4.7-T small-animal MR images were also obtained. Images were analyzed and registered using software developed in-house. At completion of imaging, suspected tumor lesions were dissected for histopathologic confirmation. Blood, excised normal organs, and tumor nodules were measured by gamma-counting. Tissue uptake was expressed relative to the blood concentration (percentage of injected activity per gram of tissue [%IA/g]/%IA/g blood). (86)Y-Trastuzumab pharmacokinetics were used to perform (90)Y-trastuzumab dosimetry. RESULTS Intraperitoneal injection of mAb led to rapid blood-pool uptake (5-9 h) followed by tumor localization (26-32 h), as confirmed by registered MR images. Tumor uptake was greatest for (86)Y-trastuzumab (7 +/- 1); excess unlabeled trastuzumab yielded a 70% reduction. Tumor uptake for the irrelevant mAb was 0.4 +/- 0.1. The concentration in normal organs relative to blood ranged from 0 to 1.4 across all studies, with maximum uptake in spleen. The absorbed dose to the kidneys was 0.31 Gy/MBq (90)Y-trastuzumab. The liver received 0.48 Gy/MBq, and the spleen received 0.56 Gy/MBq. Absorbed dose to tumors varied from 0.10 Gy/MBq for radius = 0.1 mm to 3.7 Gy/MBq for radius = 5 mm. CONCLUSION For all injected compounds, the relative microPET image intensity of the tumor matched the subsequently determined (86)Y uptake. Coregistration with MR images confirmed the position of (86)Y uptake relative to various organs. Radiolabeled trastuzumab mAb was shown to localize to sites of disease with minimal normal organ uptake. Dosimetry calculations showed a strong dependence on tumor size. These results demonstrate the usefulness of combined microPET and MRI for the evaluation of novel therapeutics.
Evaluating the Performance of Thai Equity Funds

The focus of this study is to evaluate the performance of selected 48 open-ended equity mutual funds in Thailand during the year 2003 through 2007. Four performance measures are used, the Treynor measure, the Sharpe measure, the Jensen measure, and Treynor-Mazuy measure. The empirical results reveal limited ability of mutual fund managers in both selecting undervalued stocks and forecasting the market correctly. Based on the market timing techniques of Treynor-Mazuy model, only ten mutual funds present significant positive coefficients of market timing ability. Consistent with the Jensen’s model, only fourteen mutual funds show a significant positive coefficient of stock selectivity ability.
Determinants of Growth in an Error-Correction Model for El Salvador

An error-correction model identifies determinants of growth consistent with results from panel regressions based on a standard Cobb-Douglas production function for El Salvador for 1970-1995, with structural factors affecting the technology variable and macroeconomics and expectations explaining the deviations from the long-run trend. Consistency of the parameters is satisfactory, especially considering that half of the sample period was affected by a civil war, 40 percent of the working population migrated to foreign countries during that period, and the rapid process of economic reform after the advent of peace resulted in overlapping structural patterns.
A compact self-decoupling dual band MIMO antenna

This paper presents a compact self-decoupling dual band MIMO antenna that meets wireless local area network communication standards. The self-decoupling is taken place by purposely using a folded loop-shape element in the MIMO antenna. Furthermore, the feeding point of the element antenna is deliberately selected so as to produce both the two desired frequency bands. The whole loop structure is constructed to produce the lower frequency band while a portion of the loop is resonant to the higher frequency band. The MIMO antenna contains two folded loop-shape elements situated back-to-back with a closed inter-element distance of one-tenth wavelength of the lower band. The novelty of this MIMO antenna is attributed to the achievement of good isolation without using any other supplementary decoupling mechanisms. In addition, the properties of small in size, simple in structure, nearly omni-directional in radiation pattern with moderate radiation gain make the proposed MIMO antenna fully compatible and fairly attractive to the wireless and internet network applications.
Social engagement and depressive symptoms: do baseline depression status and type of social activities make a difference?

OBJECTIVES our purpose is to examine whether the association between social engagement and depressive symptoms differs by initial level of depressive symptoms and by the types of social engagement in which older adults engage. DESIGN persons aged 60 years and older in 2006 (n = 4,098) were drawn from Wave 1 of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing and followed through Wave 3 (2010). Growth curve analyses were conducted to identify the association between engagement in multiple types of social activities and 4-year change in depressive symptoms. Depression trajectories are examined separately by baseline depression status. RESULTS attending religious services was related to an increase in depressive symptoms and participating in social gatherings with friends and neighbours was related to a decrease in depressive symptoms, but only among persons with CES-D 10 scale score below 10 at baseline. CONCLUSIONS our findings suggest that the positive effects of participating in social gatherings with friends and family are manifest among older adults who have good mental health to begin with. Our findings also suggest that the association between social engagement and mental health varies by type of engagement and initial depression level.
Synergistic interactions between overlapping binding sites for the serum response factor and ELK-1 proteins mediate both basal enhancement and phorbol ester responsiveness of primate cytomegalovirus major immediate-early promoters in monocyte and T-lymphocyte cell types

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is nonpermissive or persistent in many lymphoid and myeloid cell types but can be activated in differentiated macrophages. We have shown elsewhere that both the major immediate-early gene (MIE) and lytic cycle infectious progeny virus expression can be induced in otherwise nonpermissive monocyte-like U-937 cell cultures infected with either human CMV (HCMV) or simian CMV (SCMV) by treatment with the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). Two multicopy basal enhancer motifs within the SCMV MIE enhancer, namely, 11 copies of the 16-bp cyclic AMP response element (CRE) and 3 copies of novel 17-bp serum response factor (SRF) binding sites referred to as the SNE (SRF/NFkappaB-like element), as well as four classical NFkappaB sites within the HCMV version, contribute to TPA responsiveness in transient assays in monocyte and T-cell types. The SCMV SNE sites contain potential overlapping core recognition binding motifs for SRF, Rel/NFkappaB, ETS, and YY1 class transcription factors but fail to respond to either serum or tumor necrosis factor alpha. Therefore, to evaluate the mechanism of TPA responsiveness of the SNE motifs and of a related 16-bp SEE (SRF/ETS element) motif found in the HCMV and chimpanzee CMV MIE enhancers, we have examined the functional responses and protein binding properties of multimerized wild-type and mutant elements added upstream to the SCMV MIE or simian virus 40 minimal promoter regions in the U-937, K-562, HL-60, THP-1, and Jurkat cell lines. Unlike classical NFkappaB sites, neither the SNE nor the SEE motif responded to phosphatase inhibition by okadaic acid. However, the TPA responsiveness of both CMV elements proved to involve synergistic interactions between the core SRF binding site (CCATATATGG) and the adjacent inverted ETS binding motifs (TTCC), which correlated directly with formation of a bound tripartite complex containing both the cellular SRF and ELK-1 proteins. This protein complex was more abundant in U-937, K-562, and HeLa cell extracts than in Raji, HF, BALB/c 3T3, or HL-60 cells, but the binding activity was altered only twofold after TPA treatment. A 40-fold stimulation of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase activity mediated by four tandem repeats of the SNE could be induced within 2 h (and up to 250-fold within 6 h) after addition of TPA in DNA-transfected U-937 cells, indicating that the stimulation appeared likely to be a true protein kinase C-mediated signal transduction event rather than a differentiation response. Slight differences in the sequence of the core SRF binding site compared with that of the classical c-Fos promoter serum response element, together with differences in the spacing between the SRF and ETS motifs, appear to account for the inability of the SCMV SNEs to respond to serum induction.
Improving influenza virus detection.

INTRODUCTION Influenza virus infections cause significant morbidity, and the unique ability of these viruses to undergo antigenic drift and shift means that it is critical for current laboratory assays to keep pace with these changes for accurate diagnosis. New subtypes have the potential to evolve into pandemics hence accurate virus subtyping is also essential. AREAS COVERED In this article, the authors review the current techniques available to detect influenza virus. EXPERT OPINION The biggest gains in improving on influenza diagnostics may lie in reappraising our current approach and optimizing all existing steps in influenza detection: pre-analytical, analytical, post-analytical. In addition, we must foster close collaboration between governments, surveillance networks and frontline diagnostic laboratories, and utilize advances in information technology to facilitate these interactions and to disseminate crucial information.
Bacteriotherapy with Lactobacillus reuteri in rotavirus gastroenteritis.

BACKGROUND Certain lactic acid bacteria may accelerate recovery from acute diarrhea. Lactobacillus reuteri is a commonly occurring Lactobacillus species with therapeutic potential in diarrhea. DESIGN Prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in two hospitals. METHODS Children between 6 and 36 months of age admitted for rotavirus-associated diarrhea were randomized into three groups to receive either 10(10) or 10(7) colony-forming units (cfu) of L. reuteri or a matching placebo once a day for up to 5 days. RESULTS The main effect of L. reuteri was on the duration of watery diarrhea. The mean (+/-SD) duration of watery diarrhea after initiation of treatment was 2.5 (1.5) days in the placebo group (n = 25) vs. 1.9 (0.9) days in the small dosage (n = 20) and 1.5 (1.1) days in the large dosage (n = 21) L. reuteri recipients (P = 0.01). By the second day of treatment watery diarrhea persisted in 80% of the placebo, 70% of the small dosage and 48% of the large dosage L. reuteri recipients (P = 0.04, large dosage vs. placebo). Stool cultures for lactobacilli confirmed that administration of L. reuteri resulted in good colonization of the GI tract. The mean (+/-SD) of total Lactobacillus count 2 days after treatment initiation was 2.8 (1.6) log 10 cfu/g in the placebo group, 4.5 (2.0) log 10 cfu/g in the small dosage L. reuteri group and 6.1 (1.2) log 10 cfu/g in the large dosage L. reuteri group (P = 0.0004). CONCLUSIONS L. reuteri effectively colonized the gastrointestinal tract after administration and significantly shortened the duration of watery diarrhea associated with rotavirus. There was a correlation between the dosage of L. reuteri and the clinical effect.
A population‐based model of the nonlinear dynamics of the thalamocortical feedback network displays intrinsic oscillations in the spindling (7–14 Hz) range

The thalamocortical network is modelled using the Wilson–Cowan equations for neuronal population activity. We show that this population model with biologically derived parameters possesses intrinsic nonlinear oscillatory dynamics, and that the frequency of oscillation lies within the spindle range. Spindle oscillations are an early sleep oscillation characterized by high‐frequency bursts of action potentials followed by a period of quiescence, at a frequency of 7–14 Hz. Spindles are generally regarded as being generated by intrathalamic circuitry, as decorticated thalamic slices and the isolated thalamic reticular nucleus exhibit spindles. However, the role of cortical feedback has been shown to regulate and synchronize the oscillation. Previous modelling studies have mainly used conductance‐based models and hence the mechanism relied upon the inclusion of ionic currents, particularly the T‐type calcium current. Here we demonstrate that spindle‐frequency oscillatory activity can also arise from the nonlinear dynamics of the thalamocortical circuit, and we use bifurcation analysis to examine the robustness of this oscillation in terms of the functional range of the parameters used in the model. The results suggest that the thalamocortical circuit has intrinsic nonlinear population dynamics which are capable of providing robust support for oscillatory activity within the frequency range of spindle oscillations.
Galectins in innate immunity: dual functions of host soluble β‐galactoside‐binding lectins as damage‐associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) and as receptors for pathogen‐associated molecular patterns (PAMPs)

Summary: The glycocalyx is a glycan layer found on the surfaces of host cells as well as microorganisms and enveloped virus. Its thickness may easily exceed 50 nm. The glycocalyx does not only serve as a physical protective barrier but also contains various structurally different glycans, which provide cell‐ or microorganism‐specific ‘glycoinformation’. This information is decoded by host glycan‐binding proteins, lectins. The roles of lectins in innate immunity are well established, as exemplified by collectins, dectin‐1, and dendritic cell (DC)‐specific intracellular adhesion molecule‐3‐grabbing non‐integrin (DC‐SIGN). These mammalian lectins are synthesized in the secretory pathway and presented on the cell surface to bind to specific glycan ‘epitopes’. As they recognize non‐self glycans presented by microorganisms, they can be considered as receptors for pathogen‐associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), i.e. pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). One notable exception is the galectin family. Galectins are synthesized and stored in the cytoplasm, but upon infection‐initiated tissue damage and/or following prolonged infection, cytosolic galectins are either passively released by dying cells or actively secreted by inflammatory activated cells through a non‐classical pathway, the ‘leaderless’ secretory pathway. Once exported, galectins act as PRR, as well as immunomodulators (or cytokine‐like modulators) in the innate response to some infectious diseases. As galectins are dominantly found in the lesions where pathogen‐initiated tissue damage signals appear, this lectin family is also considered as potential damage‐associated molecular pattern (DAMP) candidates that orchestrate innate immune responses alongside the PAMP system.
Functional analysis of disease‐causing mutations in human UDP‐galactose 4‐epimerase

UDP‐galactose 4‐epimerase (GALE, EC 5.1.3.2) catalyses the interconversion of UDP‐glucose and UDP‐galactose. Point mutations in this enzyme are associated with the genetic disease, type III galactosemia, which exists in two forms – a milder, or peripheral, form and a more severe, or generalized, form. Recombinant wild‐type GALE, and nine disease‐causing mutations, have all been expressed in, and purified from, Escherichia coli in soluble, active forms. Two of the mutations (N34S and G319E) display essentially wild‐type kinetics. The remainder (G90E, V94M, D103G, L183P, K257R, L313M and R335H) are all impaired in turnover number (kcat) and specificity constant (kcat/Km), with G90E and V94M (which is associated with the generalized form of galactosemia) being the most affected. None of the mutations results in a greater than threefold change in the Michaelis constant (Km). Protein–protein crosslinking suggests that none of the mutants are impaired in homodimer formation. The L183P mutation suffers from severe proteolytic degradation during expression and purification. N34S, G90E and D103G all show increased susceptibility to digestion in limited proteolysis experiments. Therefore, it is suggested that reduced catalytic efficiency and increased proteolytic susceptibility of GALE are causative factors in type III galactosemia. Furthermore, there is an approximate correlation between the severity of these defects in the protein structure and function, and the symptoms observed in patients.