Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Geographische Restrukturierung internationaler Wertschöpfungsketten: Standortentscheidungen von KMU aus regionalökonomischer Perspektive

Die okonomischen Implikationen einer verstarkten Migration deutscher Unternehmen nach Osteuropa und Asien werden derzeit intensiv diskutiert. Wichtige wirtschaftliche Akteure sind KMU des verarbeitenden Gewerbes, die zum einen Elemente komplexer Wertschopfungsketten bilden, zum anderen haufig durch Produktdifferenzierung die Markte jeder Lieferstufe gestalten. Das vorliegende Papier soll in dieser Diskussion einen Beitrag aus Sicht der Neuen Okonomischen Geographie leisten. In einem partialanalytischen Modell wird untersucht, welchen Einfluss das Spannungsfeld von Produktions- und Transportkosten auf die Standortwahl der Unternehmen ausubt und welche Parameterkonstellationen industrielle Agglomeration fordern bzw. behindern. In diesem Zuge wird das Modell von Venables (1996) um standortdifferenzierte Technologien erweitert und im Rahmen einer Simulation auf Unternehmen des metallerzeugenden und -verarbeitenden Gewerbes ubertragen.
A colorimetric detection system for Calymmatobacterium granulomatis

Objective: To incorporate the first polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for Calymmatobacterium granulomatis into a colorimetric detection system for use in routine diagnostic laboratories. Methods: A capture oligonucleotide specific for the Klebsiella phoE gene was covalently linked to tosyl activated magnetic beads. Biotinylated phoE PCR products obtained from 14 positive specimens from patients with donovanosis and isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae, K rhinoscleromatis, and K ozaenae were cleaved with HaeIII for the purpose of differentiation, captured by the prepared beads, and subjected to standard EIA detection methodology. Eight samples from unrelated genital conditions underwent the same procedure. It was anticipated from the sequence data that the biotinylated fragment would be cleaved from the capture oligonucleotide target region in the three Klebsiella phoE products (that is, a negative colorimetric result) while the entire fragment of interest would remain intact in the positive C granulomatis phoE products (that is, a positive colorimetric result). Results: All 14 positive specimens from patients with donovanosis gave strong colorimetric readings with this detection system. Isolates of K pneumoniae, K rhinoscleromatis, K ozaenae, and the eight specimens from unrelated genital conditions were negative. Conclusion: The successful development of a colorimetric detection system for C granulomatis incorporating two levels of specificity enables the molecular diagnosis of this condition to be undertaken by routine diagnostic laboratories. This should have an important role in the Australian government's campaign to eradicate donovanosis by 2003 though the test still needs to undergo trials and be validated using a larger number of samples from geographically diverse parts of the world in order to ascertain the generalisability of the methodology.
Exclusión en la Distribución de Productos Durables y la Estrategia de Predar por Tiempo: la Guerra del Plasma

Este trabajo realiza un analisis economico del caso conocido como La Guerra del Plasma, en el cual la reaccion de las multitiendas Falabella y Paris S.A. frente a sus proveedores impidio la realizacion del Banco de Chile de una feria tecnologica para sus clientes en Abril de 2006. Mas alla de la conducta de colusion, acreditada en el juicio, este trabajo muestra que las multitiendas predaron el mercado para ganar tiempo, por la via de usar restricciones verticales sobre sus proveedores. Este comportamiento les habria permitido retrasar la entrada de empresas rivales en el retail de productos durables, en un periodo de alta demanda esperada. En tal sentido, la estrategia de exclusion seguida, generando una predacion temporal del mercado, habria sido altamente rentable para Falabella y Paris S.A.
Suppression of blood monocyte and neutrophil chemotaxis in acute human malaria

Summary The host response to Plasmodia includes the production of enlarged populations of peripheral blood monocytes and tissue macrophages in the spleen and the liver. Since the hyperplasia of the mononuclear phagocyte system is believed to arise as a consequence of an enhanced blood monocyte influx, we tested monocyte chemotactic responsiveness in 19 patients with acute primary attack malaria. In addition, the neutrophil chemotaxis was measured in 12 patients. Before the initiation of antimalarial treatment a significant depression of monocyte chemotaxis was observed in approximately half of the patients when compared with healthy control subjects. The depression was found in Plasmodium falciparum malaria as well as in P. vivax or P. ovale malaria patients. The defective responsiveness was not receptor specific, since the responses towards casein and zymosan activated serum proved to be equally suppressed. The monocyte chemotaxis was followed in 14 of the patients, during treatment and after complete recovery. After 3 days of treatment the response had improved in most of the patients, and after 7 days all patients had a normal monocyte chemotaxis, which remained normal after one month. No significant differences between P. falciparum and P. vivax/ovale malaria was observed with respect to blood monocyte chemotactic responsiveness. Neutrophil chemotaxis in patients with P. falciparum infections was similarly suppressed before treatment (54% of controls), was still defective after 3 days of treatment, and nearly normalized after 7 days (87% of controls). Furthermore, monocyte phagocytic and candidacidal activities were assessed in the same patients on admission and during the follow‐up. In contrast to chemotaxis, these functions were normal in all of the patients whenever measured. In conclusion, not all cell functions were altered in concert, and the previously unreported suppression of chemotactic migration might reflect a change in blood leucocyte subpopulations, deactivation in vivo or a direct suppressive effect of Plasmodia induced products.
Microstructure characterization of a duplex stainless steel weld by electron backscattering diffraction and orientation imaging microscopy techniques

This paper describes the electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) technique used to characterize the microstructure (especially the morphology and constitution) of the base metal (BM), the heat-affected zone (HAZ) and the fusion zone (FZ) on a lean duplex stainless steel (LDX). This technique provides advantages due to its simplicity of use and greater depth of information, thereby increasing the amount of information obtained by traditional characterization techniques such as optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The use of EBSD together with orientation imaging microscopy (OIM) as a tool to understand phase transformation paths and ferrite-austenite variant selection was discussed. Vickers microhardness measurements were performed and no significance difference between the different zones was found. Orientation distribution function (ODF) results show that there are no significant changes on the crystallographic texture of the samples after welding. The advantages of using SEM together with EBSD for microstructure analyzing and texture development were also discussed.
Localized cell death focuses mechanical forces during 3D patterning in a biofilm

From microbial biofilm communities to multicellular organisms, 3D macroscopic structures develop through poorly understood interplay between cellular processes and mechanical forces. Investigating wrinkled biofilms of Bacillus subtilis, we discovered a pattern of localized cell death that spatially focuses mechanical forces, and thereby initiates wrinkle formation. Deletion of genes implicated in biofilm development, together with mathematical modeling, revealed that ECM production underlies the localization of cell death. Simultaneously with cell death, we quantitatively measured mechanical stiffness and movement in WT and mutant biofilms. Results suggest that localized cell death provides an outlet for lateral compressive forces, thereby promoting vertical mechanical buckling, which subsequently leads to wrinkle formation. Guided by these findings, we were able to generate artificial wrinkle patterns within biofilms. Formation of 3D structures facilitated by cell death may underlie self-organization in other developmental systems, and could enable engineering of macroscopic structures from cell populations.
New natural history of interferon-beta-treated relapsing multiple sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the impact of interferon-beta (IFNbeta) on disease progression in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients. METHODS A cohort of 1,504 relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (1,103 IFNbeta-treated and 401 untreated) patients was followed for up to 7 years. Cox proportional hazards regression adjusted for propensity score inverse weighting was used to assess the differences between the two groups for three different clinical end points: secondary progression (SP) and irreversible Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores 4 and 6. Times from first visit and from date of birth were used as survival time variables. RESULTS The IFNbeta-treated group showed a highly significant reduction in the incidence of SP (hazard ratio [HR], 0.38, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.24-0.58 for time from 1st visit; HR, 0.36, 95% CI, 0.23-0.56 for time from date of birth; p < 0.0001), EDSS score of 4 (HR, 0.70, 95% CI, 0.53-0.94 for time from first visit; HR, 0.69, 95% CI, 0.52-0.93 for time from date of birth; p < 0.02), and EDSS score of 6 (HR, 0.60, 95% CI, 0.38-0.95 for time from first visit; HR, 0.54, 95% CI, 0.34-0.86 for time from date of birth; p < or = 0.03) when compared with untreated patients. SP and EDSS scores of 4 and 6 were reached with significant delays estimated by times from first visit (3.8, 1.7, and 2.2 years) and from date of birth (8.7, 4.6, and 11.7 years) in favor of treated patients. Sensitivity analysis confirmed findings. INTERPRETATION IFN-beta slows progression in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients.
Sensitivity of an infaunal amphipod, Eohaustorius estuarius, to acute waterborne exposures of 4‐nonylphenol: Evidence of a toxic hangover

Three independent trials were conducted using mortality and burial as endpoints. Amphipod mean lethal concentration to 50% (LC50) was 227 μg/L. One‐hour burial as a sublethal endpoint increased the sensitivity of the toxicity test by 40%; however, most amphipods that survived exposure were able to recover within 24 to 48 h. This toxic hangover was dose‐dependent.
A Cognitive Study of the Metaphoric Structuring of SHIJIAN

Metaphor is the result of human mind conceptualizing the world. In many previous studies about metaphor, space and time are thought to be the two most fundamental concepts in cognition, by which other concepts are constructed. Nevertheless, discussion of the metaphoric structuring of time in natural language is rare, not to mention the time concept in Chinese. This paper aims to evaluate whether the concept of time in Chinese is metaphorically structured, thus in turn, trying to discover the means adopted by Chinese people to understand SHIJIAN.
Human ovarian tissue vitrification/warming has minor effect on the expression of apoptosis-related genes.

BACKGROUND In this study, we evaluated the incidence of apoptosis at the ultrastructural levels and expression of some apoptosis-related genes in vitrified human ovarian tissue just after warming. METHODS Human ovarian tissue biopsies from 23 women after caesarean section were transported to the laboratory within 2 hours, and then they were cut into small pieces. Some pieces were vitrified and warmed and the other samples were considered as control. Apoptosis was assessed by a transmission electron microscope and also by molecular analysis of pro-apoptotic (Fas, FasL, Bax, p53, caspase8, and caspase3) and antiapoptotic (Bcl-2 and BIRC5) genem RNA levels using real-time RT-PCR before and after vitrification. RESULTS No sign of apoptosis was shown ultrastructurally in vitrified samples. The level of FasL, Bcl-2, Bax, p53, and caspase3 mRNA and Bax:Bcl-2 ratio were similar in non-vitrified and vitrified groups; however, the expression of Fas and caspase8 genes was higher and BIRC5 was lower in vitrified samples compared to non-vitrified group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION The fine structure of human vitrified ovarian tissue was well preserved; moreover, vitrification was shown to affect the expression of some apoptosis-related genes. However, additional study is needed to confirm this observation.
Continuous Imputation of Missing Values in Streams of Pattern-Determining Time Series

Time series data is ubiquitous but often incomplete, e.g., due to sensor failures and transmission errors. Since many applications require complete data, missing values must be imputed before further data processing is possible. We propose Top-k Case Matching (TKCM) to impute missing values in streams of time series data. TKCM defines for each time series a set of reference time series and exploits similar historical situations in the reference time series for the imputation. A situation is characterized by the anchor point of a pattern that consists of l consecutive measurements over the reference time series. A missing value in a time series s is derived from the values of s at the anchor points of the k most similar patterns. We show that TKCM imputes missing values consistently if the reference time series pattern-determine time series s, i.e., the pattern of length l at time tn is repeated at least k times in the reference time series and the corresponding values of s at the anchor time points are similar to each other. In contrast to previous work, we support time series that are not linearly correlated but, e.g., phase shifted. TKCM is resilient to consecutively missing values, and the accuracy of the imputed values does not decrease if blocks of values are missing. The results of an exhaustive experimental evaluation using real-world and synthetic data shows that we outperform the state-of-the-art solutions.
Activation of cytotoxic T cells by nonstimulating tumor cells and spleen cell factor(s).

The ability of three cultured mouse tumor lines to stimulate a cytotoxic response in 5-day cultures of allogeneic lymph node cells was studied with a 51Cr release assay. Two lines of mesenchymal origin, P815 and EL-4, were found to be highly stimulatory, whereas the third cell line, CaD2, a mammary gland epithelial tumor, did not stimulate over a wide range of cell concentration. CaD2 cells were shown to contain major antigens similar to those of P815 cells by the specific lysis of both cells by lymphocytes activated to H-2d-bearing peritoneal cells.UV-irradiated P815-cells, like gamma-irradiated CaD2 cells, did not stimulate a cytotoxic response, but both cell lines were found to stimulate a full and specific response to allogeneic lymph node cells if these mixed cultures were supplemented with a supernatant harvested from concanavalin A-stimulated spleen cells.
OS SITES DE COMPRA COLETIVA SOB A ÓTICA DA BAIXA RENDA

O presente estudo procura analisar a relacao da baixa renda com os sites de compra coletiva. A baixa renda e um publico com forte potencial para ser o foco de investimento de grandes empresas e os sites de compra coletiva se tornaram um mercado promissor na internet e no Brasil. Serao discutidos neste trabalho as caracteristicas da baixa renda brasileira, seu comportamento online e o uso dos sites de compra coletiva. Pretende-se assim, contribuir com o desenvolvimento academico, visto que tais assuntos ainda nao foram associados em pesquisas anteriores. O trabalho foi realizado a partir de uma pesquisa exploratoria qualitativa com integrantes da baixa renda paulistana. As analises obtidas mostraram em linhas gerais, aspectos motivacionais de compra nos sites de compra coletiva, a importância da confianca nesses sites e outros fatores referentes a satisfacao do consumidor. Alem disso, o estudo aponta quais servicos sao preferencia de compra dos entrevistados e as formas de pagamento mais utilizadas nos sites em questao.
The efficiency of mechanical power development during muscular shortening and its relation to load

When shortening occurs during a maintained isotonic contraction, as Aubert (1956) found during shortening at constant speed, the ‘efficiency’ remains very constant throughout, even over a considerable range of length. The efficiency varies largely with the load P, being zero at P = 0 and P = P0 (isometric). Near its maximum around P /P0 = 0·5 the efficiency (in frog sartorii at 0 °C) is consistently about 0·45. The form of the relation between efficiency and load is discussed, particularly in view of recent findings on the heat of shortening of muscle. The mechanical power developed during shortening is greatest when P/P0 = v/v0 = about 0·3; but the efficiency here is only 3 to 5% less than its maximum.
Revisited Pseudo-MOSFET Models for the Characterization of Ultrathin SOI Wafers

The pseudo-MOS transistor (Psi-MOSFET characteristics) is a simple and successful technique for the monitoring of silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer quality. To characterize modern ultrathin films, a reconsideration and review of Psi-MOSFET physics and models is required. Selected numerical simulations are presented, which shed light on the intriguing features governing Psi-MOSFET characteristics. Updated models accounting for the density of interface states and channel-to-surface coupling effects in ultrathin SOI wafers with passivated and nonpassivated surfaces are derived. These analytical models show excellent agreement with measurement and simulation data.
Bayesian network-Based Projected Clustering

Clustering in high dimensional data is an important task. Projected clustering has emerged as a possible solution to the challenges associated with high dimensional clustering. A projected cluster is a subset of points together with a subset of attributes, such that some category of value of cluster points has great probability in these attributes. The relationship between projected cluster and Bayesian network is discussed in this paper. The dense cells can be identified by Bayesian network, and then adjacent dense cells can be merged into a projected cluster. It avoids the blind selection of dimension and the chicken-and-egg problem that must identify dimensions and data objects simultaneously. It can also search clusters on arbitrary subspace. The experiment results on categorical attributes show that Bayesian network-based projected clustering performs well in high dimensional data.
Desarrollo y extranjerización temprana de capacidades empresariales locales en Argentina: el caso Core Security

A partir de la salida de la convertibilidad, en la primera decada del siglo XXI, la economia argentina experimento lo que algunos autores denominaron como un “renacer emprendedor” que implico la creacion y el crecimiento de una cohorte significativa de nuevas firmas, tanto en sectores tradicionales como en sectores de mayor dinamismo tecnologico (software, diseno, biotecnologia, etc.). El marcado sendero de crecimiento de buena parte de estas empresas jovenes dinamicas de base tecnologica las hizo recurrir al financiamiento externo para proseguir con su proceso expansivo. Con la llegada de este financiamiento se observa un proceso gradual de extranjerizacion de la propiedad accionaria a traves de aportes de fondos de capital de riesgo del exterior. En este marco, el objetivo de este trabajo es estudiar estos dos procesos: el de crecimiento y el de extranjerizacion. Lo distintivo del estudio es que se exhibe el proceso de crecimiento empresarial y el de extranjerizacion accionaria temprana como un movimiento intimamente conectado. El abordaje metodologico es cualitativo, concretamente, se expone un estudio de caso en profundidad.
Restraint of the G2/M Transition by the SR/RRM Family mRNA Shuttling Binding Protein SNXAHRB1 in Aspergillus nidulans

Control of the eukaryotic G2/M transition by CDC2/CYCLINB is tightly regulated by protein–protein interactions, protein phosphorylations, and nuclear localization of CDC2/CYCLINB. We previously reported a screen, in Aspergillus nidulans, for extragenic suppressors of nimX2cdc2 that resulted in the identification of the cold-sensitive snxA1 mutation. We demonstrate here that snxA1 suppresses defects in regulators of the CDK1 mitotic induction pathway, including nimX2cdc2, nimE6cyclinB, and nimT23cdc25, but does not suppress G2-arresting nimA1/nimA5 mutations, the S-arresting nimE10cyclinB mutation, or three other G1/S phase mutations. snxA encodes the A. nidulans homolog of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Hrb1/Gbp2; nonessential shuttling messenger RNA (mRNA)-binding proteins belonging to the serine-arginine-rich (SR) and RNA recognition motif (RRM) protein family; and human heterogeneous ribonucleoprotein-M, a spliceosomal component involved in pre-mRNA processing and alternative splicing. snxAHrb1 is nonessential, its deletion phenocopies the snxA1 mutation, and its overexpression rescues snxA1 and ΔsnxA mutant phenotypes. snxA1 and a second allele isolated in this study, snxA2, are hypomorphic mutations that result from decreased transcript and protein levels, suggesting that snxA acts normally to restrain cell cycle progression. SNXAHRB1 is predominantly nuclear, but is not retained in the nucleus during the partially closed mitosis of A. nidulans. We show that the snxA1 mutation does not suppress nimX2 by altering NIMX2CDC2/NIMECYCLINB kinase activity and that snxA1 or ΔsnxA alter localization patterns of NIMECYCLINB at the restrictive temperatures for snxA1 and nimX2. Together, these findings suggest a novel and previously unreported role of an SR/RRM family protein in cell cycle regulation, specifically in control of the CDK1 mitotic induction pathway.
Multifaceted Roles of GSK-3 in Cancer and Autophagy-Related Diseases

GSK-3 is a ubiquitously expressed serine/threonine kinase existing as GSK-3α and GSK-3β isoforms, both active under basal conditions and inactivated upon phosphorylation by different upstream kinases. Initially discovered as a regulator of glycogen synthesis, GSK-3 is also involved in several signaling pathways controlling many different key functions. Here, we discuss recent advances regarding (i) GSK-3 structure, function, regulation, and involvement in several cancers, including hepatocarcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, breast cancer, prostate cancer, leukemia, and melanoma (active GSK-3 has been shown to induce apoptosis in some cases or inhibit apoptosis in other cases and to induce cancer progression or inhibit tumor cell proliferation, suggesting that different GSK-3 modulators may address different specific targets); (ii) GSK-3 involvement in autophagy modulation, reviewing signaling pathways involved in neurodegenerative and liver diseases; (iii) GSK-3 role in oxidative stress and autophagic cell death, focusing on liver injury; (iv) GSK-3 as a possible therapeutic target of natural substances and synthetic inhibitors in many diseases; and (v) GSK-3 role as modulator of mammalian aging, related to metabolic alterations characterizing senescent cells and age-related diseases. Studies summarized here underline the GSK-3 multifaceted role and indicate such kinase as a molecular target in different pathologies, including diseases associated with autophagy dysregulation.