Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The importance of organizational learning for organizational sustainability

Purpose – This Special Issue is intended to heighten awareness of the importance of organizational learning in addressing the demands of organizational sustainability, and in particular triple bottom line (TBL) sustainability. A definition of TBL sustainability is provided, together with an exploration of the practical issues relevant to adopting organizational learning in addressing it. By exploring research and practitioner viewpoints bearing on sustainability‐related applications of organizational learning, this Special Issue aims to help organizations remove barriers to achieving sustainability goals and catalyze the progress for an organization on its sustainability journey.Design/methodology/approach – General sustainability‐related concerns and challenges associated with organizational learning are reviewed, and individual authors voice their understanding of the application of organizational leaning to particular aspects of sustainability based on their research, their case studies, and the extant.
Complete Loss of Post-translational Modifications Triggers Fibrillar Aggregation of SOD1 in the Familial Form of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis*

Dominant mutations in Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD1) cause a familial form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (fALS), and aggregation of mutant SOD1 has been proposed to play a role in neurodegeneration. A growing body of evidence suggests that fALS-causing mutations destabilize the native structure of SOD1, leading to aberrant protein interactions for aggregation. SOD1 becomes stabilized and enzymatically active after copper and zinc binding and intramolecular disulfide formation, but it remains unknown which step(s) in the SOD1 maturation process is important in the pathological aggregation. In this study we have shown that apoSOD1 without disulfide is the most facile state for formation of amyloid-like fibrillar aggregates. fALS mutations impair either zinc binding, disulfide formation, or both, leading to accumulation of the aggregation-prone, apo, and disulfide-reduced SOD1. Moreover, we have found that the copper chaperone for SOD1 (CCS) facilitates maturation of SOD1 and that CCS overexpression ameliorates intracellular aggregation of mutant SOD1 in vivo. Based on our in vivo and in vitro results, we propose that facilitation of post-translational modifications is a promising strategy to reduce SOD1 aggregation in the cell.
On the regularity of the Anosov splitting for twisted geodesic flows

Let M denote a closed Riemannian manifold whose geodesic flow is Anosov. Given a real number λ and a smooth one form θ, consider the twisted geodesic flow obtained by twisting the canonical symplectic structure by the lift of λdθ to the tangent bundle of M . For λ in a certain open interval around the origin the twisted flow remains Anosov. We show that the Anosov splitting of the twisted geodesic flow is never of class C1 unless λ = 0.
Random Weighting Estimation of One-sided Confidence Intervals in Discrete Distributions

This paper presents a new random weighting method for estimation of one-sided confidence intervals in discrete distributions. It establishes random weighting estimations for the Wald and Score intervals. Based on this, a theorem of coverage probability is rigorously proved by using the Edgeworth expansion for random weighting estimation of the Wald interval. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed random weighting method can effectively estimate one-sided confidence intervals, and the estimation accuracy is much higher than that of the bootstrap method.
Information-flow types for homomorphic encryptions

We develop a flexible information-flow type system for a range of encryption primitives, precisely reflecting their diverse functional and security features. Our rules enable encryption, blinding, homomorphic computation, and decryption, with selective key re-use for different types of payloads. We show that, under standard cryptographic assumptions, any well-typed probabilistic program using encryptions is secure that is, computationally non-interferent) against active adversaries, both for confidentiality and integrity. We illustrate our approach using %on classic schemes such as ElGamal and Paillier encryption. We present two applications of cryptographic verification by typing: (1) private search on data streams; and (2) the bootstrapping part of Gentry's fully homomorphic encryption. We provide a prototype typechecker for our system.
Zinc and Zinc Transporters in Macrophages and Their Roles in Efferocytosis in COPD

Our previous studies have shown that nutritional zinc restriction exacerbates airway inflammation accompanied by an increase in caspase-3 activation and an accumulation of apoptotic epithelial cells in the bronchioles of the mice. Normally, apoptotic cells are rapidly cleared by macrophage efferocytosis, limiting any secondary necrosis and inflammation. We therefore hypothesized that zinc deficiency is not only pro-apoptotic but also impairs macrophage efferocytosis. Impaired efferocytic clearance of apoptotic epithelial cells by alveolar macrophages occurs in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cigarette-smoking and other lung inflammatory diseases. We now show that zinc is a factor in impaired macrophage efferocytosis in COPD. Concentrations of zinc were significantly reduced in the supernatant of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of patients with COPD who were current smokers, compared to healthy controls, smokers or COPD patients not actively smoking. Lavage zinc was positively correlated with AM efferocytosis and there was decreased efferocytosis in macrophages depleted of Zn in vitro by treatment with the membrane-permeable zinc chelator TPEN. Organ and cell Zn homeostasis are mediated by two families of membrane ZIP and ZnT proteins. Macrophages of mice null for ZIP1 had significantly lower intracellular zinc and efferocytosis capability, suggesting ZIP1 may play an important role. We investigated further using the human THP-1 derived macrophage cell line, with and without zinc chelation by TPEN to mimic zinc deficiency. There was no change in ZIP1 mRNA levels by TPEN but a significant 3-fold increase in expression of another influx transporter ZIP2, consistent with a role for ZIP2 in maintaining macrophage Zn levels. Both ZIP1 and ZIP2 proteins were localized to the plasma membrane and cytoplasm in normal human lung alveolar macrophages. We propose that zinc homeostasis in macrophages involves the coordinated action of ZIP1 and ZIP2 transporters responding differently to zinc deficiency signals and that these play important roles in macrophage efferocytosis.
Non-Photorealistic Rendering for Aesthetic Virtual Environments

The line integral convolution (LIC) method, originally developed for imaging vector fields in scientific visualization, has the potential to produce images with directional characteristics. In this paper, we present four techniques to explore the use of LIC in generating images in the style of the Impressionists. In particular, we develop an Impressionist Line Integral Convolution algorithm (ILIC) to generate images with impressionist styles. This algorithm takes advantage of directional information given by a photographic image, incorporates a shading technique to blend cool and warm colors into the image, and finally applies the revised LIC method to imitate artists, paintings done in impressionist styles. Furthermore, we propose a color fidelity technique, which takes advantage of the cool-to-warm scheme, initiating artists’ conventional painting to enhance visual depth perception. We also present an information preservation technique, which quantifies image details to control the convolution length, making it possible to preserve subtle information during the convolution process. Finally, we demonstrate a top-down sampling technique, where a series of artistic mip-maps is generated to construct aesthetic virtual environments. These maps provide constant strokes with directional cues, thus achieving frame-to-frame coherence in an interactive walkthrough system. Both the silhouette drawing and tour into the picture (TIP) approaches are employed to enhance the user’s immersion in a virtual world. The experimental results demonstrate the merits of our techniques in generating images in impressionist styles and constructing an interactive walkthrough system that provides an immersion experience rendered in painting styles.
Anti-proliferative and anti-tumour effects of lymphocyte-derived microparticles are neither species- nor tumour-type specific

Background Unregulated cell proliferation or growth is a prominent characteristic of cancer. We have previously demonstrated that LMPs (cell membrane microparticles derived from apoptotic human CEM T lymphoma cells stimulated with actinomycin D) strongly suppress the proliferation of not only human endothelial cells but also mouse Lewis lung carcinoma cells. Methods LMPs were generated either from CEM T cells using different stimuli or from 3 different types of lymphocytes. The effects of LMPs on cancer cell proliferation were examined using cell lines from different species and tissues. The cell cycle kinetics was evaluated by FACS and the expression of cell cycle-related genes was determined using quantitative RT-PCR. The in vivo anti-tumor effect of LMPs was investigated using xenografts and allografts. Results LMPs at doses far above physiological levels dramatically suppressed the proliferation of cancer cells in a non species-specific manner. LMPs selectively target high proliferating cells and their anti-proliferative effect is not dependent on parental cell origin or stimuli. The anti-proliferative effect of LMPs was due to induction of cell-cycle arrest in G0/G1, with associated increases in expression of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p15INK4b, p16INK4a, and p21Cip1. In vivo, LMPs significantly suppressed tumor growth in animal tumor models. Conclusion These results highlight the potential role of LMPs in modulating the growth of high proliferating cells. Given that cell-based therapies are considered less toxic than pharmacologic approaches and have the potential to target multiple pathways in a synergistic manner, LMPs may serve as a veritable option for cancer treatment.
Structuring communication software for quality-of-service guarantees

We propose architectural mechanisms for structuring host communication software to provide QoS guarantees. In particular, we present and evaluate a QoS sensitive communication subsystems architecture for end hosts that provides real time communication support for generic network hardware. This architecture provides services for managing communication resources for guaranteed QoS (real time) connections, such as admission control, traffic enforcement, buffer management, and CPU and link scheduling. The design of the architecture is based on three key goals: maintenance of QoS guarantees on a per connection basis, overload protection between established connections, and fairness in delivered performance to best effort traffic. Using this architecture we implement real time channels, a paradigm for real time communication services in packet switched networks. We evaluate the implementation to demonstrate the efficacy with which the architecture maintains QoS guarantees while adhering to the stated design goals. The evaluation also demonstrates the need for specific features and policies provided in the architecture.
ORL1 receptors are enriched in a subpopulation of sensory neurons and prolonged activation produces no functional loss of surface N-type calcium channels

(2012). Opioid-related (ORL1) receptors are enriched in a subpopulation of sensory neurons and prolonged activation produces no functional loss of surface N-type calcium channels. Running title: ORL1 receptors in nociceptive sensory neurons ABSTRACT: The opioid-related receptor, ORL1, is activated by the neuropeptide nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) and inhibits high-voltage activated (HVA) calcium channel currents (I Ca) via a G-protein coupled mechanism. Endocytosis of ORL1 receptor during prolonged N/OFQ exposure was proposed to cause N-type voltage-gated calcium channel (VGCC) internalization via physical interaction between ORL1 and the N-type channel. However, there is no direct electrophysiological evidence for this mechanism in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons or their central nerve terminals. The present study tested this using whole-cell patch clamp recordings of HVA I Ca in rat DRG neurons and primary afferent excitatory synaptic currents (eEPSCs) in spinal cord slices. DRG neurons were classified on the basis of diameter, isolectin-B4 (IB4) binding and responses to capsaicin-, N/OFQ-and a µ-opioid agonist, DAMGO. IB4-negative neurons < 20 μ m diameter were selectively responsive to N/OFQ as well as DAMGO. In these neurons, ORL1 desensitization by a supramaximal concentration of N/OFQ was not followed by a decrease in HVA I Ca current density or proportion of whole cell HVA I Ca contributed by N-type VGCC as determined using the N-type channel selective blocker, ω-conotoxin CVID. There was also no decrease in the proportion of N-type I Ca when neurons were incubated at 37°C with N/OFQ for 30 min prior to recording. In spinal cord slices, N/OFQ consistently inhibited eEPSCs onto dorsal horn neurons. As observed in DRG neurons, preincubation of slices in N/OFQ for 30 min produced no decrease in the proportion of eEPSCs inhibited by CVID. In conclusion, no internalization of the N-type VGCC occurs in either the soma or central nerve terminals of DRG neurons following prolonged exposure to high, desensitizing concentrations of N/OFQ.
Multiple sclerosis and fracture

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, inflammatory, demyelinating central nervous system disease with time and space disseminated lesions that usually occurs in young adults, typically aged between 20 and 45 years. Recently, researches have indicated MS may be associated with increased risk of fracture and osteoporosis. In this review, we aim to identify the fracture risk in MS patients, also address the pathogenic mechanisms and interventions of fracture in those patients.
Gender differences in students’ approaches to A‐level subject choices and perceptions of A‐level subjects: a study of first‐year A‐level students in a tertiary college

Summary The degree to which 16‐19‐year‐olds are properly advised concerning A‐level and other courses has recently become an issue of some political concern in the UK, following a report by the Audit Commission (1993) highlighting the wastage of resources ensuing from students failing to complete or failing their courses. The study described here follows an earlier project by one of the authors investigating approaches to subject option choice at 14 (Stables, 1986). In the present study, 209 first‐year A‐level students in a tertiary college completed a questionnaire during the Autumn term 1991 investigating their approaches to A‐level choice and their perceptions of their chosen subjects. Information was drawn concerning feelings about Year 11 subjects, reasons for choosing A‐level subjects, the function of A‐levels, advice sought and given, career aspirations and perceptions of A‐level courses. The findings are analysed by gender and ability grouping. They reveal gender differences in certain areas, sugg.
A Wavelet Based Data Compression Technique for Power Quality Events Classification

This paper proposes a wavelet –based data compression for classification of PQ events. The Compression technique is performed through signal decomposition, signal reconstruction and according to the criterion of the maximum wavelet energy coefficients. To justify the proposed method, data are simulated under disturbances in which various power quality events which include voltage sag, swell, momentary interruptions and harmonics were simulated and used for testing the performance of various order and scale for daubechies and symlet functions. Simulation results indicate that the order 2 and scale 5 of wavelet functions offers superior compression performance compared to various other levels. Key-Words: Power Quality, wavelets, Multiresolution signal decompositions, data compression
Family structure, materialism, and compulsive consumption

Despite the rapid and dramatic changes in the structure of the American family over the past thirty years (e.g., divorce, single parenting), consumer researchers have largely neglected the issue of how alternative family forms influence consumer behavior. The authors' initial inquiry into this area finds that young adults reared in disrupted families are more materialistic and exhibit higher levels of compulsive consumption than young adults reared in intact families. Furthermore, they show that the relationship between family structure and compulsive consumption is partially mediated by both the amount of resources available within the family and the degree of family stress. The authors also find that the impact of family disruption on family stress is moderated by socioeconomic status. They conclude by proposing an agenda for future research that considers the antecedents, processes, and consequences of alternative family structures as they relate to consumer behavior. Copyright 1997 by the University of Chicago.
Development of cephalic neural crest cells in embryos of Lampetra japonica, with special reference to the evolution of the jaw.

Neural crest cells contribute extensively to vertebrate head morphogenesis and their origin is an important question to address in understanding the evolution of the craniate head. The distribution pattern of cephalic crest cells was examined in embryos of one of the living agnathan vertebrates, Lampetra japonica. The initial appearance of putative crest cells was observed on the dorsal aspect of the neural rod at stage 20.5 and ventral expansion of these cells was first seen at the level of rostral somites. As in gnathostomes, cephalic crest cells migrate beneath the surface ectoderm and form three major cell populations, each being separated at the levels of rhombomeres (r) 3 and r5. The neural crest seems initially to be produced at all neuraxial levels except for the rostral-most area, and cephalic crest cells are secondarily excluded from levels r3 and r5. Such a pattern of crest cell distribution prefigures the morphology of the cranial nerve anlage. The second or middle crest cell population passes medial to the otocyst, implying that the otocyst does not serve as a barrier to separate the crest cell populations. The three cephalic crest cell populations fill the pharyngeal arch ventrally, covering the pharyngeal mesoderm laterally with the rostral-most population covering the premandibular region and mandibular arch. The third cell population is equivalent to the circumpharyngeal crest cells in the chick, and its influx into the pharyngeal region precedes the formation of postotic pharyngeal arches. Focal injection of DiI revealed the existence of an anteroposterior organization in the neural crest at the neurular stage, destined for each pharyngeal region. The crest cells derived from the posterior midbrain that express the LjOtxA gene, the Otx2 cognate, were shown to migrate into the mandibular arch, a pattern which is identical to gnathostome embryos. It was concluded that the head region of the lamprey embryo shares a common set of morphological characters with gnathostome embryos and that the morphological deviation of the mandibular arch between the gnathostomes and the lamprey is not based on the early embryonic patterning.
Stories from the Field: Reflections on HCI4D Experiences

Human-computer interaction for development (HCI4D) requires considerable time in the field interacting with users. While this is true for most HCI work, fieldwork in developing regions presents unique challenges due to differences in culture, language, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. As a group of nine HCI4D researchers, we have adopted a systematic approach to reflect on the challenges we have encountered in the field. Arising from this exercise are three contributions: The first is our research method itself, which uses a mix of qualitative and quantitative instruments to elicit and synthesize individual experiences. The second, intended for beginning researchers, is a set of lessons learned and suggested strategies for navigating the unique challenges of HCI4D research. The third, intended for the HCI4D community at large, is a critical reflection on the field itself, inspired by our findings. Topics covered include the incentives and agendas of the research world, the importance of managing expectations, the nature of #8220;participation#8221; in HCI4D, and the conflict between research and development more generally.
Incomplete Stent Apposition and Very Late Stent Thrombosis After Drug-Eluting Stent Implantation

Background— Stent thrombosis may occur late after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation, and its cause remains unknown. The present study investigated differences of the stented segment between patients with and without very late stent thrombosis with the use of intravascular ultrasound. Methods and Results— Since January 2004, patients presenting with very late stent thrombosis (>1 year) after DES implantation underwent intravascular ultrasound. Findings in patients with very late stent thrombosis were compared with intravascular ultrasound routinely obtained 8 months after DES implantation in 144 control patients, who did not experience stent thrombosis for ≥2 years. Very late stent thrombosis was encountered in 13 patients at a mean of 630±166 days after DES implantation. Compared with DES controls, patients with very late stent thrombosis had longer lesions (23.9±16.0 versus 13.3±7.9 mm; P<0.001) and stents (34.6±22.4 versus 18.6±9.5 mm; P<0.001), more stents per lesion (1.6±0.9 versus 1.1±0.4; P<0.001), and stent overlap (39% versus 8%; P<0.001). Vessel cross-sectional area was similar for the reference segment (cross-sectional area of the external elastic membrane: 18.9±6.9 versus 20.4±7.2 mm2; P=0.46) but significantly larger for the in-stent segment (28.6±11.9 versus 20.1±6.7 mm2; P=0.03) in very late stent thrombosis patients compared with DES controls. Incomplete stent apposition was more frequent (77% versus 12%; P<0.001) and maximal incomplete stent apposition area was larger (8.3±7.5 versus 4.0±3.8 mm2; P=0.03) in patients with very late stent thrombosis compared with controls. Conclusions— Incomplete stent apposition is highly prevalent in patients with very late stent thrombosis after DES implantation, suggesting a role in the pathogenesis of this adverse event.