Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development of dual responsive nanocomposite for simultaneous delivery of anticancer drugs

Abstract In this paper novel stimuli-responsive cationic mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) were fabricated through the facile polymerization method. The synthesis process was characterized and validated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The prepared nanoparticles were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Zeta potential and thermogravimetric analysis methods. SEM results revealed the uniformity in size and shape of nanoparticles with a mean diameter of approximately 60 nm. Two model anticancer drugs, Doxorubicin (DOX) and Methotroxate (MTX) were loaded effectively to functionalized MSNs through electrostatic interactions. Our developed HPLC-UV method was applied for simultaneous determination of DOX and MTX. Modified MSNs yielded a pH and temperature-triggered release of entrapped drugs at tumor tissue environment (lower pH and higher temperature than physiological condition). In-vitro cytotoxicity assay showed that the blank carrier showed no cytotoxicity on both A549 and MCF7 cells at different amounts after incubation for 72 h confirming its suitability as a drug carrier. Multi anticancer drug-loaded MSNs, in the other hand, caused an efficient anticancer performance verified by DAPI staining and MTT assay tests. It was concluded that our findings may open the possibilities for cooperative thermo and pH-responsive targeted delivery of DOX and MTX to the cancerous tissues.
Environmental harshness, latitude and incipient speciation

Are rates of evolution and speciation fastest where diversity is greatest – the tropics? A commonly accepted theory links the latitudinal diversity gradient to a speciation pump model whereby the tropics produce species at a faster rate than extra‐tropical regions. In this issue of Molecular Ecology, Botero et al. ( ) test the speciation pump model using subspecies richness patterns for more than 9000 species of birds and mammals as a proxy for incipient speciation opportunity. Rather than using latitudinal centroids, the authors investigate the role of various environmental correlates of latitude as drivers of subspecies richness. Their key finding points to environmental harshness as a positive predictor of subspecies richness. The authors link high subspecies richness in environmental harsh areas to increased opportunities for geographic range fragmentation and/or faster rates of trait evolution as drivers of incipient speciation. Because environmental harshness generally increases with latitude, these results suggest that opportunity for incipient speciation is lowest where species richness is highest. The authors interpret this finding as incompatible with the view of the tropics as a cradle of diversity. Their results are consistent with a growing body of evidence that reproductive isolation and speciation occur fastest at high latitudes.
Exploring Drug Dosing Regimens In Vitro Using Real-Time 3D Spheroid Tumor Growth Assays

Two-dimensional monolayer cell proliferation assays for cancer drug discovery have made the implementation of large-scale screens feasible but only seem to reflect a simplified view that oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes are the genetic drivers of cancer cell proliferation. However, there is now increased evidence that the cellular and physiological context in which these oncogenic events occur play a key role in how they drive tumor growth in vivo and, therefore, in how tumors respond to drug treatments. In vitro 3D spheroid tumor models are being developed to better mimic the physiology of tumors in vivo, in an attempt to improve the predictability and efficiency of drug discovery for the treatment of cancer. Here we describe the establishment of a real-time 3D spheroid growth, 384-well screening assay. The cells used in this study constitutively expressed green fluorescent protein (GFP), which enabled the real-time monitoring of spheroid formation and the effect of chemotherapeutic agents on spheroid size at different time points of sphere growth and drug treatment. This real-time 3D spheroid assay platform represents a first step toward the replication in vitro of drug dosing regimens being investigated in vivo. We hope that further development of this assay platform will allow the investigation of drug dosing regimens, efficacy, and resistance before preclinical and clinical studies.
Accounting Science's Contribution to the Corporate Governance and Executive Accountability Problem

Effective corporate governance and related accountability mechanisms are presumed to mitigate conflicts of interest and provide reasonable assurance that each party observes certain behavioral norms. Among the academic disciplines, one might expect that accounting would be well equipped to examine and prescribe improvements in accountability among agents in capitalist settings. But this article documents that the “top four” accounting journals in North America (The Accounting Review, Journal of Accounting Research, Journal of Accounting and Economics, and Contemporary Accounting Research; hereafter, “top” journals), which reputedly publish premier scientific articles and weigh most heavily in tenure and promotion decisions at U.S. universities, did not publish systematic critiques of ineffective corporate governance practices in the decade before Sarbanes‐Oxley (2002). To explain this phenomenon, this article presents arguments and evidence that the top journals' editorial ideology of scientism, fact‐valu.
Growth, Development & Elitism: An Insight into Commissions on Higher Education

Education plays a pivotal role through Mean Years of Schooling, Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in fostering Human Development Index (HDI). India after liberalization has witnessed several pioneering initiatives in this regard like Sarva Sikshya Abhiyan (SSA) and massive involvement of the private sector in technical education. However infrastructural deficit of state universities and quality shortfall in most of the universities has led to constitutions of several commissions to give doable suggestions for quality up-scaling. The Planning Commission has played a stellar role both in terms of allocation in pushing the agendas of Equity, Excellence through flagship programmes like RUSA & TEQUIP. The paper brings out the evolution of development economics and centrality of education in contributing to inclusivity and higher employability and the need to ensure that the elitist bias evidenced in various commissions report be abdicated infavour of development of state and private universities with knowledge clusters providing the requisite synergy. It has also identified areas through which the private corporate sector can play a more effective role to education through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), providing autonomy in charging of fees and a more pragmatic FDI & Public Private Partnership (PPP) model based on best global practices
Goal Tolerance, outside Investors, and Family Firm Governance

Le Breton–Miller and Miller argue that as the family becomes more embedded in the firm, the firm's decision makers become more susceptible to influence by the family, and agency problems rise for outside investors. We contend that the family's embeddedness in the business does not, in itself, explain whether the assumptions of agency theory are warranted. Our commentary offers an alternative way in which outside investors might look at family firms‘ goals. Outsiders should assess the complementarity of the family firm's objectives with their own if they are to make rewarding investments in family firms.
Europeanization of Economic Policy in the New Member States

[From the introduction]. To say that Europeanization is an overused and controversial concept would be an understatement, yet a recent substantial increase in scholarly publications on the subject has done little to clarify this term. Scholars differ on the definition of Europeanization, the mechanisms through which it affects member states (and EU candidate countries), their politics, policies or institutions, as well as whether or not Europeanization leads to a conversion of policy outcomes. Especially lacking, in this plethora of research, are cross-national studies which capture Europeanization in a quantifiable way and estimate its impact while taking into account the alternative ways in which Europeanization works. This paper, building on a wide range of theoretical and case-studies research, represents one such attempt to measure the impact of Europeanization on the economic policy of the now new EU member states from Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). The first section overviews the many definitions of Europeanization and justifies the use of the term to denote change in institutions, policy or preferences as a result of the influence of the European Union. This section also elaborates on why scholars should expect Europeanization to be present in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) even before these countries acceded to the EU. The second section develops a model of Europeanization to be applied to the CEE countries and summarizes seven propositions for how various factors affect the process of Europeanization of public policy in the CEE. The third section examines, by examples and statistical analysis, the extent to which the EU – through various channels of the Europeanization process – affects economic policy in the CEE. The final section concludes.
In vivo investigation of cardiac metabolism in the rat using MRS of hyperpolarized [1‐13C] and [2‐13C]pyruvate

Hyperpolarized 13C MRS allows the in vivo assessment of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) flux, which converts pyruvate to acetyl‐coenzyme A (acetyl‐CoA). [1‐13C]pyruvate has been used to measure changes in cardiac PDC flux, with demonstrated increase in 13C‐bicarbonate production after dichloroacetate (DCA) administration. With [1‐13C]pyruvate, the 13C label is released as 13CO2/13C‐bicarbonate, and, hence, does not allow us to follow the fate of acetyl‐CoA. Pyruvate labeled in the C2 position has been used to track the 13C label into the TCA (tricarboxylic acid) cycle and measure [5‐13C]glutamate as well as study changes in [1‐13C]acetylcarnitine with DCA and dobutamine. This work investigates changes in the metabolic fate of acetyl‐CoA in response to metabolic interventions of DCA‐induced increased PDC flux in the fed and fasted state, and increased cardiac workload with dobutamine in vivo in rat heart at two different pyruvate doses. DCA led to a modest increase in the 13C labeling of [5‐13C]glutamate, and a considerable increase in [1‐13C]acetylcarnitine and [1,3‐13C]acetoacetate peaks. Dobutamine resulted in an increased labeling of [2‐13C]lactate, [2‐13C]alanine and [5‐13C]glutamate. The change in glutamate with dobutamine was observed using a high pyruvate dose but not with a low dose. The relative changes in the different metabolic products provide information about the relationship between PDC‐mediated oxidation of pyruvate and its subsequent incorporation into the TCA cycle compared with other metabolic pathways. Using a high dose of pyruvate may provide an improved ability to observe changes in glutamate. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Using options to price maturity guarantees

ion from transactions costs is inevitably a short-coming of the methodology. The true cost of the maturity guarantee is the solution to equation (2) plus the present value of transactions costs incurred through rebalancing the hedge portfolio. Brennan and Schwartz (1979) report that if transactions costs are 2% of the value of the reference portfolio transacted equation (2) understates the true cost of a ten year maturity guarantee on a single-premium contract by about 3%. If these estimates are representative it most probably means that in practice the solutions from equation (2) lie within the margin of error. Alternatively, it would be necessary to add approximately 3% to the solutions This content downloaded from 157.55. 39.177 on Tue, 15 Nov 2016 04:02:18 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor. org/terms Using Options to Price Maturity Guarantees 155 implied by equation (2). Thus, equation (4) provides a reasonable starting-point in relation to its assumptions about transactions costs, although it is worthwhile noting that in practice life offices in the United Kingdom are currently constrained by the valuation regulations from rebalancing their hedge portfolios since they are required to hold 100% of their reference portfolios at all times.
Signaling pathways of PAX2 and its role in renal interstitial fibrosis and glomerulosclerosis

PAX2, a nuclear transcription factor in renal development, is strongly expressed during kidney development and plays an important role in kidney development, differentiation, and renal cell proliferation. PAX2 is expressed in epithelial cells of fetal kidneys and its expression is up-regulated in certain pathologic conditions. However, the transcription activation of PAX2 and its signaling pathways are complicated. Recent discoveries find that the PAX2 gene is pivotal in kidney development and it is implicated in the pathogenesis of renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF) and glomerulosclerosis (GS). Here, I comprehensively reviewed the signal transduction pathways of PAX2 and its role in the pathogenesis of RIF and GS.
Macroeconomic Effects of Fiscal Policy in Malaysia: Real or Inflationary?

companies and increasing the standard of living of the people. On the contrary, high fiscal deficit could distort the role of fiscal policy to achieve a better economic growth rate. Statistics shows that the federal government debt has increased from 51% of GDP in 2011 to 53.7% of GDP in 2012. This study attempts to provide some evidence on how far accelerating fiscal deficit could hinder economic growth and increase inflation. Although inflation is said to be a monetary phenomenon, some economists argue that the fiscal policy is able to influence the inflation level. Given the large effects of fiscal policy on macroeconomy, it is important to find out whether the effect is more on output or the price level. In other words, does the macroeconomic effect of fiscal policy is real or inflationary? The findings would provide more information to the policy makers in designing and implementing a better fiscal policy.
Contemporary management of muscle-invasive bladder cancer

The current standard treatment for muscle-invasive nonmetastatic bladder cancer is neoadjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy followed by radical cystectomy. However, neoadjuvant chemotherapy is not widely accepted even with level 1 evidence. Adjuvant chemotherapy should be discussed if patients have not received neoadjuvant chemotherapy before surgery and have high-risk pathologic features. Although not considered standard of care, bladder-sparing therapy can be considered for highly selected patients and for those medically unfit for surgery. Even though there are no level 1 data, the treatment outcomes for highly select patients given bladder-sparing therapy appear promising, with many patients retaining a functional bladder. Personalized chemotherapy is currently being actively pursued to target the underlying molecular changes and tailor to individual needs.
Economic policies and seaports: Strategies for port authorities

This paper discusses the strategies which might be adopted by port authorities, given that modern port technologies have considerably limited the scope for competition. It therefore analyses the several forms of competition relevant to ports, any or all of which may apply in any given instance. It describes the 'minimalist strategy, which consists of recognizing that public sector bodies have many faults, may make many mistakes and that well-intentioned attempts to rectify faults in the private sector may make matters worse. Second, it describes the ‘pragmatic’ strategy, which involves establishing committees to examine problems and to recommend actions, if they can reach a consensus. Third, it describes the ‘public sector’ strategy, which involves the port authority taking over all port functions. Finally, it describes the ‘competitive’ strategy, which involves a careful reproduction of the circumstances of competition, even though there may be room for only one efficiently-sized operator at a time. Fran.
Domestic Resource Mobilisation and Financial Development

wide range of health and development issues. These chapters are written by established experts in their respective fields, adding to the collection’s credibility. Inevitably, then, the book’s strengths are in its breadth, rather than its depth, and each chapter should be seen as a gentle introduction to a particular issue. Also, the failure of most chapters to directly engage with the matrix approach greatly reduces the book’s potential contribution. For example, little is said about how disease prioritisation might be accomplished or justified. Despite its range, the book contains a number of significant gaps. Given the long list of topics that might be covered, this is to some extent excusable. Nevertheless, some omissions do stand out. In particular, the paucity of reference to the World Bank and allied organisations and their ongoing agenda of health sector reforms is a serious gap. These reform frameworks continue to shape the reality of health policies for most developing countries, despite their uneven track record over the last 15 years. One senses that WHO’s advocacy of matrix approaches is an attempt to wed its own traditional disease orientation to the Bank’s emphasis on financial and institutional mechanisms. As such, at least one chapter dealing with health sector reform initiatives would be an essential complement to the disease focus in the final section. Ideally, chapters might consider how specific forms of decentralisation on new public management could lend themselves to managing particular diseases. Similarly, little is said about how a matrix approach might be embedded in sector-wide approaches in low income countries. The book’s other main gap is that it does little to address the massive resourcing shortfalls facing the health sectors in the world’s poorest countries. Even with increased international development assistance, the health budgets of many such countries often equate to just a handful of dollars per person each year. In these contexts, many of the proposals contained in this book are more aspirational than realistic in the immediate future. The solutions to these problems are essentially political, rather than technical.
Takaful: An Islamic insurance instrument

The Takaful concept evolved from individual common interest during the industrial era of the early 1900’s. Only eighty million of the world’s 2.5 billion poor are currently covered by some form of microinsurance. Only 3% of the poor in India and China are insured, and only 0.3% of the poor in Africa are insured. In 23 of the 100 poorest countries in the world, there is currently no identified micro-insurance activity. The majority of the population is in the low-income bracket. On top of that, society’s awareness regarding the importance of insurance is rather low. In this paper, it will be stressed that efforts still need to be directed towards educating the public on Islamic insurance to appreciate the protection aspects that insurance can offer. Conventional insurance involves the elements of uncertainty, gambling, and interest, all of which are unacceptable under Islamic law. There existed anxiety among Muslims regarding the inconsistency of conventional banking and insurance in compliance with Islamic laws. This allowed the creation of a new industry, takaful, which offered risk protection and savings products to the world’s 1.6 billion Muslims. One of the greatest challenges facing the takaful industry is the misconception that it is exclusively for Muslims. Takaful products have attracted even non-Muslim communities, despite the obvious religious and cultural differences. Nonetheless, the interest shown by non-Muslims and the support of Muslims is not enough to promote the awareness and the growth of takaful and what it has to offer. It is this lack of awareness that presents one of the greatest challenges to the development and growth of the national and global industry.
Optimal Rewards in Contests

We study all-pay contests under incomplete information where the reward is a function of the contestant's type and effort. We analyse the optimal reward for the designer when the reward is either multiplicatively separable or additively separable in effort and type. In the multiplicatively separable environment the optimal reward is always positive while in the additively separable environment it may also be negative. In both environments, depending on the designer's utility, the optimal reward may either increase or decrease in the contestants' effort. Finally, in both environments, the designer's payoff depends only upon the expected value of the effort-dependent rewards and not the number of rewards.
Searching for Livelihood Security: Land and Mobility in Burkina Faso

The incremental approach to land reform in sub-Saharan Africa constitutes a rapprochement between proponents of the introduction of private property regimes and their critics. The incrementalists recognise that local tenure regimes can change and that they should be the basis of any land-reform programme. This article argues that an important gap remains with regard to the dynamics of tenure arrangements observed in a highly insecure environment, because the incremental approach retains a western-type of tenure security as its ultimate goal. Geographic mobility of actors and fields is essential to the protection of livelihoods in the north-central region of Burkina Faso. This mobility not only is made possible by the prevailing land tenure regime but also underpins its flexibility and allows the merging and shifting of rights. All of this argues against the establishment of western-type tenure security and in favour of the maintenance of flexible resource tenure regimes - a model discussed in recent years in relation to pastoral land use in drylands. This would have the additional advantage of integrating understandings of, and approaches to, pastoralists' and crop-farmers' land use in regions where these population groups already intermingle.
Promoting Tourism Destination Image

This article examines the role of tourism promotion as a component of destination image formation. It reports the findings of a study in which 1,100 respondents from around the globe described their previsit perceived image of seven sample destinations, as well as the information sources they used. The findings suggest that tourism promotion does not have a major impact upon the perceptions of travelers and that other sources of information have a much greater bearing on the formation of destination image. As a result, tourism authorities need to understand that successful tourism promotion is dependent on a broad range of external influences. At the same time, the impact of marketing communication decisions on measurables such as revenue, market share, and costs must be carefully assessed.
Efficient Search by Committee

This note constructs an efficient mechanism for finding the best candidate for a committee from a sequence of potential candidates. Committee members have independent private values information about the quality of the candidate. The mechanism selects the best candidate according to the standard utilitarian welfare criterion. Furthermore, the mechanism can be modified to have a balanced budget.