Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Intrinsic Radiation Sensitivity: Cellular Signaling is the Key

Abstract Szumiel, I. Intrinsic Radiation Sensitivity: Cellular Signaling is the Key. Radiat. Res. 169, 249–258 (2008). The concept that the balance between DNA damage and repair determines intrinsic radiation sensitivity has dominated radiobiology for several decades. There is undeniably a cause– effect relationship between radiation-induced molecular alterations in the genomic DNA and cellular consequences. In the last decade, however, it has become obvious that the chromatin context affects the fate of damaged DNA and that cellular signaling is an important factor in defining intrinsic radiation sensitivity. Damaged DNA is the site of signal generation; however, alternative signaling at the plasma membrane is triggered: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) inactivate phosphatases and consequently cause activation of kinases localized at the plasma membrane; this includes ligand-independent activation of receptor kinases. Cells with an apparently functional DNA repair system may show increased radiation sensitivity due to deficiencies in specific kinases essential for repair activation and checkpoint control. Other signals that determine intrinsic radiosensitivity may affect proneness to apoptosis, the balance between DNA damage fixation and repair, and the translocation of proteins participating in the response to ionizing radiation. Interplay between the various signals decides the extent to which the repair of radiation-inflicted damage is supported or limited; in some cell types, this includes DNA-damage-independent processes guided by plasma membrane-generated signaling. Cellular signaling in the context of specific subcellular structures is the key to understanding how the molecular effects of radiation are expressed as biological consequences in various cell types. A systems approach should bring us closer to this end.
An Integrated Model of Market and Limit Orders

We develop an integrated model in which a risk neutral informed trader optimally chooses any combination of: a market buy, a market sell, a limit buy including the optimal limit buy price, and a limit sell including the optimal limit sell price. We allow orders to cross with one another without involving the market maker. This generates transactions inside the bid-ask spread, corresponding to what is observed in practice. Using minimal distributional assumptions, we are able to characterize the informed trader's optimal strategy. We find that he sometimes chooses to submit market orders when the terminal risky asset value is inside the bid-ask spread. This results from the fact that a market buy submitted by the informed trader sometimes executes at a price below the ask by crossing with a limit sell submitted by an uninformed trader and it never executes above the ask in our single period model. Thus, the expected execution price of the informed trader's market buy is below the ask. Hence, there are some terminal asset values, above the expected execution price and below the ask, for which it is optimal for the informed trader to submit a market buy. In addition, with a richer menu of strategies to choose from, the informed trader is able to exploit mutually beneficial interactions between opposite order types. For example, any time the terminal asset value is above the bid, a combined market buy-limit sell is more profitable than a market buy only. Sometimes the two orders will cross against one another and the informed trader will end up with a zero net trade. This is beneficial because the combination eliminates states in which the same market buy submitted in isolation would have executed at a loss. In this sense, the limit sell acts as a "safety-net" for the accompanying market buy--an intuition that has not been captured in the extant theoretical microstructure literature. Adding specific distributional assumptions, we obtain an analytic solution and explore the comparative statics of the informed trader's limit price strategy.
Lateral sorting in model membranes by cholesterol-mediated hydrophobic matching

Theoretical studies predict hydrophobic matching between transmembrane domains of proteins and bilayer lipids to be a physical mechanism by which membranes laterally self-organize. We now experimentally study the direct consequences of mismatching of transmembrane peptides of different length with bilayers of different thicknesses at the molecular level. In both model membranes and simulations we show that cholesterol critically constrains structural adaptations at the peptide-lipid interface under mismatch. These constraints translate into a sorting potential and lead to selective lateral segregation of peptides and lipids according to their hydrophobic length.
Strategic Investment Policy : Role of Knowledge Spillovers

This paper provides a theoretical background for the function of knowledge spillovers in determining the efficacy of policies targeted toward attracting FDI, which have been becoming significantly more popular in developing countries. Having characterized the strategic relationship between MNEs and local firms in host countries, we confirm that knowledge spillovers from the Northern MNEs to local firms in the South perform a crucial function in determining the Southern government's incentive to provide FDI subsidies. Additionally, when the costs of FDI policy for the host country are not appropriately calibrated to the expected benefits of the policy, the government has less incentive to provide subsidies to MNEs.
Exploring the Impacts of Service Guarantee Strategy

ABSTRACT This study examines the impacts of service guarantee in terms of consumers' perceived purchase risks, loyalty, complaint behaviors, and intent to use “word-of-mouth” within the context of the casual dining restaurant segment. The scenario method was developed and used to test the research hypotheses. The results of the study reveal that a well-executed service guarantee could reduce consumers' perceived purchase risks, and increase a positive word-of-mouth and customer loyalty. On the other hand, it also raises consumers' intent to complain upon service failure. Furthermore, the results of the study indicate that a “specific” service guarantee is much more effective in reducing consumers' perceived purchase risks, and increasing consumers' intent to claim after a service failure as opposed to an “unconditional” service guarantee. The results of the study suggest that a service guarantee offered by independent restaurants could offer a competitive advantage over brand restaurants not offering a service guarantee.
Deformable model-based PET segmentation for heterogeneous tumor volume delineation

PET-guided radiation therapy treatment planning, clinical diagnosis, assessment of tumor growth and therapy response are dependent on the accurate delineation of the tumor volume. Several PET segmentation techniques have been proposed in the recent years. Most these techniques fail in the presence of heterogeneity in the lesion. In this work, an active contour model based on the work presented by Chan and Vese (2001) is proposed to handle the heterogeneity of the lesion uptake. In the proposed method, the fitting terms in the Chan-Vese formulation are modified by introducing extra input images, including the smoothed version of the original image, using anisotropic diffusion filtering (ADF) and a trous wavelet transform of the image to handle the heterogeneity of the lesion uptake and avoid getting stuck in local minima. The advantage of utilizing ADF for image smoothing is that it avoids blurring the object's edges and preserves the average activity within a region, which is an important property for accurate PET quantification. The a trous wavelet transform is utilized due to its easy implementation and better performance at high noise levels. The algorithm was evaluated using seven clinical datasets with T3-T4 laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma from Louvain database where the 3D histology served as reference for comparison. Further evaluation was performed using phantom studies. The proposed method is also compared with a number of commonly used segmentation techniques, including fixed thresholding by 40% of the maximum SUV, the thresholding technique proposed by Nestle et al., and a fuzzy clustering-based approach (FCM). The quantitative data analysis shows that the segmented volumes using the proposed method have the highest overlap with the histology volumes. Moreover, the relative errors of calculated volumes and classification errors are lowest when using the proposed approach. Therefore, the proposed PET segmentation technique seems suitable for accurate tumor volume delineation.
Venture growth – new findings from a multilevel perspective – Guest Editors' introduction to the focus issue on growth

New venture growth is an important research topic. Past research suggests that growing young ventures play a critical role in local, regional and national economies through the creation of jobs, the generation of profits and the development of innovations. Questions regarding how ventures grow, including internal and external forces, and where is growth occurring, such as international versus domestic markets, have received much less attention, limiting our true understanding of this phenomenon. This introduction addresses these questions, outlining the themes of papers in the special issue on growth.
Impact of Deep-Trench-Isolation-Sharing Techniques on Ultrahigh-Speed Digital Systems

In the past, the large area of heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs) in silicon germanium (SiGe) bipolar complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (BiCMOS) processes has prevented them from being widely used in ultrahigh-speed digital systems. The consequent longer interconnects among HBTs also offset the speed advantage of HBTs. In this brief, four deep trench isolation sharing (DTIS) methods are proposed to significantly reduce the HBT layout area. The 2 &times; 2 HBT layout area can be reduced by 20%-42%, and large-scale HBT system layouts can be reduced by 24%-48% or even further. Two IBM 0.18- mum SiGe 7HP chips based on Xilinx 6200 digital configurable logic blocks (CLBs) and logic cells were fabricated for verification. The maximum difference between measurement and postlayout simulation is 6.1%. Compared with the traditional layout implementation, the DTIS layout improved the system speed by 22% due to shorter interconnects among HBTs.
Institutional economics and economic development

This paper discusses the institutionalists' economic thought and how they saw the role of property rights in economic development. It points out that the role of various institutions in the economic performance of many developing countries cannot be ignored. One of the important institutional factors in many developing countries and transitional economies is the nature and definition of property rights. This paper therefore addresses the impact of property rights on overall economic performance of a country and more specifically on agricultural production and on the conservation and management of the environment. It is generally agreed that property rights are a claim to a benefit stream where the state provides protection from others who may interfere with the benefit stream. Well‐defined property rights are considered vital for transitional economies which are undertaking major structural changes. The recent literature on property rights in transitional economies is largely concentrated on the former socialist and communist economies of Eastern Europe, which are embracing the market economy. However, this also has significant implications for many developing countries like Fiji which can also be considered as transitional economies. For Fiji the transition is from a highly protected, inward‐looking economy towards an export‐oriented economy. Getting the property rights “right” seems to be one of the major obstacles to economic reform agendas for many of the South Pacific countries including Fiji.
Role of colonic microbiota in colorectal carcinogenesis: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND AND AIM The human colonic mucosa is populated by a wide range of microorganisms, usually in a symbiotic relation with the host. Sometimes this balance is lost and a state of dysbiosis arises, exposing the colon to different metabolic and inflammatory stimuli (according to the microbiota's changing profile). Recent findings lead to hypothesize that this unbalance may create a subclinical pro-inflammatory state that increases DNA mutations and, therefore, colorectal carcinogenesis. In this article we aim to systematically review the scientific evidence regarding colonic microbiota and its role in colorectal carcinogenesis. METHODS Systematic review of PubMed searching results for original articles studying microbiota and colorectal cancer until November 2014. RESULTS Thirty-one original articles studied the role of colon microbiota in colorectal carcinoma including both human and animal studies. Different and heterogeneous methods were used and different bacteria were considered. Nevertheless, some bacteria are consistently augmented (such as Fusobacteria, Alistipes, Porphyromonadaceae, Coriobacteridae, Staphylococcaceae, Akkermansia spp. and Methanobacteriales), while other are constantly diminished in colorectal cancer (such as Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Ruminococcus, Faecalibacterium spp., Roseburia, and Treponema). Moreover, bacteria metabolites amino acids are increased and butyrate is decreased throughout colonic carcinogenesis. CONCLUSION Conclusive evidence shows that colorectal carcinogenesis is associated with microbial dysbiosis. This information may be used to create new prophylactic, diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for colorectal cancer.
Liver histology in patients with HBsAg negative anti‐HBc and anti‐HCV positive chronic hepatitis

The liver histology of 68 consecutive anti‐HCV/HCV‐RNA positive chronic hepatitis patients who were HBsAg/anti‐HBs negative, anti‐HBc positive (Case bC group) was compared with that of 68 anti‐HCV/HCV‐RNA positive chronic hepatitis patients who were HBsAg/anti‐HBc negative (control C group). The patients were pair‐matched by age (±5 years), sex, and risk factors for the acquisition of parenteral infection. Case bC group showed a significantly higher mean fibrosis score (2.3 ± 1.1) than control C group (1.5 ± 1.1, P < 0.001) and more histological evidence of cirrhosis (22% vs. 7.3%, P < 0.05). In addition, the patients in Case bC group showed more severe inflammation of the portal tracts (3.5 ± 0.8 vs. 3.0 ± 1.1, P < 0.005) and there was a higher prevalence of patients with rhomboid‐shaped hepatocytes (26.4% vs. 2.7%, P < 0.005), acidophilic bodies (33.8% vs. 1.4%, P < 0.0001), sinusoidal inflammation (29.4% vs. 10.3%, P < 0.01), lymphoid follicles in the portal tracts (72% vs. 44.1%, P < 0.05), Kupffer cell proliferation (29.4% vs. 11.8%, P < 0.05), bile duct damage (44.1% vs. 10.3%, P < 0.0001), and ductular proliferation (30.9% vs. 2.7%, P < 0.001) than in control C group. No difference in these histological features was observed between HBV‐DNA negative and positive patients in Case bC group. The data suggest that anti‐HBc positive patients with HCV chronic infection have a significantly higher degree of liver fibrosis, and that hepatocellular apoptosis, bile duct damage, and ductular proliferation correlate with the presence of this antibody in the serum. J. Med. Virol. 75:222–226, 2005. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Cutting Edge: Collective Efficiency and International Competitiveness in Pakistan

Clustering can provide important benefits for small- and medium-sized enterprises in the developing world. Yet gaps remain in our understanding of how such clusters organize, function and compete. This paper draws on case material from a Pakistani cluster, a global player in the world market for surgical instruments, to argue that cheap labour is an insufficient explanation for international success. Instead, it argues that collective efficiency gams of clustering namely passively acquired external economies and actively generated joint action benefits, are central to competitiveness. The paper shows that while all firms in the cluster gain from agglomeration economies, the extent of inter-firm co-operation, and the benefits arising from it, are highly differentiated. It concludes that external economies, while necessary, are not sufficient to bring about growth. For growth, joint action, particularly in strategic vertical ties with local subcontractors and external buyers, is critical.
The National Minimum Wage, Low Pay and the UK Hotel Industry

This article examines low pay and the national minimum wage in the UK hotel industry, focusing on the lowest remunerated workers in the industry — room attendants — who have hitherto been overlooked in studies of the industry. It draws on qualitative research from eight case studies and relates this material to other secondary data. By including employees' experience, it reveals the management and employment practices that have limited the effect of the national minimum wage and attempts to alleviate low pay.The article ends by suggesting how this employee experience can be transmuted into political voice to improve the position of low wage workers.
Second Home Ownership and Sustainable Development in Northern Sweden

Second home tourism can be considered a good option for contributing to sustainable development in rural areas (i) due to its limited negative impact on environment and host community and (ii) due to its important contribution to local service suppliers. This is particularly true when the second home is not rented but owned. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to provide a broad overview of second home ownership in peripheral parts of Sweden and to discuss the interrelationship between sustainable development and second home tourism in these areas. It is argued that a decreasing demand for second homes due to societal changes in the metropolitan areas challenges the role of second home tourism for a sustainable development. The analysis is mainly based on a unique geographical database covering more than 500,000 second homes in Sweden and providing information about their value, location and owners. Recent statistics on second home usage are used to complement the other data.
Shifting Trends in Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery: A Need for Caution and Regulation

57 There has been a tremendous paradigm shift taking place in cutaneous and aesthetic surgery in the last two decades. A marked shift from invasive to minimally invasive techniques has revolutionised the practice of aesthetic surgery. This is particularly evident in aesthetic rejuvenation of the periocular region. The serendipitous discovery of botulinum toxin diminishing wrinkles by the ophthalmologists Carruthers and Carruthers probably fuelled this shift. [1] The next was the easy availability of nonallergenic, readily available fillers like hyaluronic acid which lead to their widespread use in facial rejuvenation.
Beyond Dispute: International Judicial Institutions as Lawmakers

The increasing number of international judicial institutions, producing an ever-growing stream of decisions, has been one of the dominant features of the international legal order of the past two decades. The shift in quantity has gone hand in hand with a transformation in quality. Today, it is no longer convincing to only think of international courts in their role of settling disputes. While this function is as relevant as ever, many international judicial institutions have developed a further role in what is often called global governance. Their decisions have effects beyond individual disputes. They exceed the confines of concrete cases and bear on the general legal structures. The practice of international adjudication creates and shifts actors' normative expectations and as such develops legal normativity. Many actors use international judicial decisions in similar ways as they do formal sources of international law. To us, this role of international adjudication beyond the individual dispute is beyond dispute.
Importance Of Financing The Social Economy Projects

The re-emergence of the social economy sector as important agent for occupation, economic growth, social solidarity, associationism and social services, coincided with a higher importance of running program and project- based activities in all European countries, irrespective whether they are member states of candidate states. Within the context of the benefits specific to the social economy projects it is important to debate and analyse the subject of continuing the activities of this form of economy by consolidating the financial allocations. Thus, complementary to the identification of new consistent sources of financing of the activity performed by the social economy organisations, it is important to know the position of the initiatives within the current context of the global economy and to apply rigorously the project implementation methodology.
Disparate Effects of Lithium and a GSK-3 Inhibitor on Neuronal Oscillatory Activity in Prefrontal Cortex and Hippocampus

Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) plays a critical role in cognitive dysfunction associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), yet the mechanism by which GSK-3 alters cognitive processes in other disorders, such as schizophrenia, remains unknown. In the present study, we demonstrated a role for GSK-3 in the direct regulation of neuronal oscillations in hippocampus (HIP) and prelimbic cortex (PL). A comparison of the GSK-3 inhibitors SB 216763 and lithium demonstrated disparate effects of the drugs on spatial memory and neural oscillatory activity in HIP and PL. SB 216763 administration improved spatial memory whereas lithium treatment had no effect. Analysis of neuronal local field potentials in anesthetized animals revealed that whereas both repeated SB 216763 (2.5 mg/kg) and lithium (100 mg/kg) induced a theta frequency spike in HIP at approximately 10 Hz, only SB 216763 treatment induced an overall increase in theta power (4–12 Hz) compared to vehicle. Acute administration of either drug suppressed slow (32–59 Hz) and fast (61–100 Hz) gamma power. In PL, both drugs induced an increase in theta power. Repeated SB 216763 increased HIP–PL coherence across all frequencies except delta, whereas lithium selectively suppressed delta coherence. These findings demonstrate that GSK-3 plays a direct role in the regulation of theta oscillations in regions critically involved in cognition, and highlight a potential mechanism by which GSK-3 may contribute to cognitive decline in disorders of cognitive dysfunction.
Institutionalization of feed market: legal aspects

Institutional environment determines the development of the market of feed, play a pivotal role on legal regulation, as the fundamental, which stimulates the formation and effective functioning of the economic system and its structural and sectoral subsystems. Purpose – theoretical and practical study of institutional determinants of development of the market of feed and rationale regulatory priority directions of its transformation. Analysis performed on the basis of scientific and special methods of economic research. The basic definition, subsystems and elements, subjects and objects of the process, institutional imperatives and objectives, proposed copyright concept of "institutionalization of feed market". Conclusions regarding the importance of institutionalizing the feed market in a systematic manner; improvement of normative legal regulation of the market and the harmonization of legislation with EU standards. JEL Code – O43.