Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cytosolic Ca 2 1 – Induced Apoptosis in Rat Cardiomyocytes via Mitochondrial NO-cGMP-Protein Kinase G Pathway s

Previously, we showed that in adult rat cardiomyocytes, nitric oxide (NO) donors stimulate mitochondrial cGMP production, followed by cytochrome c release, independently of the mitochondrial permeable transition pore. We investigated whether mitochondrial cGMP-induced cytochrome c release from cardiac mitochondria is Ca-sensitive. Mitochondria and primary cultured cardiomyocytes were prepared from left ventricles of male Wistar rats. The cytosolic Ca concentration was adjusted with Ca-EGTA buffers. Cytochrome c released from mitochondria was measured by Western blotting. Cardiomyocyte apoptosis was assessed by Annexin V staining. Cytochrome c release from cardiac mitochondria was evoked by buffered Ca (1 mM); this was inhibited by NO-cGMP pathway inhibitors such as N-monomethyl-L-arginine monoacetate (inhibitor of NO synthase), 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-4,4,5, 5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide (NO scavenger), 1H[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ, NO-sensitive guanylyl cyclase inhibitor) and voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC) inhibitor, 4,49-diisothiocyano-2,29-disulfonic acid stilbene, but not by cyclosporin A (mitochondrial permeable transition pore inhibitor). Furthermore, this release was significantly and dose dependently inhibited by 0.3–3 mM KT5823 (protein kinase G inhibitor). At the cellular level, intracellular perfusion of cardiomyocytes with buffered Ca (1 mM) also induced apoptosis, which was inhibited in the presence of ODQ. A membrane-permeable cGMP analog, 8-Br-cGMP, but not cGMP itself, mimicked buffered Ca actions in both cardiac mitochondria and cardiomyocytes. We further confirmed an increase in protein kinase G activity by adding cGMP in mitochondrial protein fraction. Our results suggest that mitochondrial NO-cGMP pathway-induced cytochrome c release from cardiac mitochondria, triggered by increased cytosolic Ca, occurs through VDAC via the stimulation of an undiscovered mitochondrial protein kinase G.
Discrete-time function consensus algorithms for second-order moment statics

This paper studies distributed function calculation by discrete-time consensus algorithms. We propose a class of discrete-time recursive algorithms to calculate the weighted second-order moment statics in a distributed way. Different from the continuous-time algorithm, the jumping of the states in discrete-time algorithms makes the convergence analysis much more difficult. In this paper, we first give some sufficient conditions on the control input for driving the whole system to function consensus. Then based on the conditions, we design the algorithm and show that if the communication topology is connected, then by adjusting the communication gain between adjacent agents properly, the proposed distributed algorithm can drive all agents' states to the square root of the weighted second-order moment statistics of the initial values. The numerical simulation shows the effectiveness of our algorithms.
Districting and dispatching policies for emergency medical service systems to improve patient survival

The major focus of Emergency Medical Service (EMS) system is to save lives and to minimize the effects of emergency health incidents. Districting, or designing pre-determined response areas, allows an EMS system to reduce the response time of paramedic support to the incident. Furthermore, dispatching policies affect system performance. Thus, in this study we propose integrated dispatching and districting policies to improve the performance of EMS systems. We measure performance in terms of patient survival probability. We propose several policies for districting/dispatching, these are provided as inputs to a simulation model that compares the performance of different policies. Our response areas, or districts, are designed using a constructive heuristic which considers adjusted expected coverage. Intra-district and inter-district dispatching policies are developed considering the degree of the urgency of the call. Computational results show that integrated districting and dispatching policies are vital in increasing patient survivability.
Alfacalcidol in CKD-MBDA Fresh Look

Chronic Kidney Disease Mineral and Bone Disorder (CKD-MBD) is a result of metabolic changes that occur in patients with chronic kidney disease. The consequences are renal osteodystrophy and vascular calcifications, especially seen in the more advanced stages of chronic renal failure. Different treatment regimens including dietary phosphate restriction, oral phosphate binders and active vitamin D supplementation have been used during the last 30 years. Alfacalcidol (1a(OH)D3) is an analog of vitamin D3, a pro-drug of 1,25(OH)2D3, which is hydroxylated at position number 1 and therefore bypasses the impaired 1a-hydroxylation in the diseased kidneys of patients with chronic renal failure. Alfacalcidol was the first vitamin D analog produced in the 1970’s, available for treatment of renal osteodystrophy in all stages of CKD. It has been used in most European countries since then, either alone or in combination with calcimimetics or bisphosphonates and shown to attenuate all aspects of CKD-MBD. During the last 20 years, new vitamin D analogs with a potentially less effect on plasma calcium and phosphate and a more positive effect on the cardiovascular system have been on the market. None have demonstrated superiority compared to alfacalcidol. Based on the available clinical data, alfacalcidol can still be prescribed for treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism in both early and late stages of CKD, besides being affordable to many patients, which is an important factor in many countries. Hopefully, new drugs will be available in the future, which have positive effects on mortality and cardiovascular morbidity in CKD.
Immunohistochemistry of Active Gibberellins and Gibberellin-Inducible α-Amylase in Developing Seeds of Morning Glory1

Gibberellins (GAs) in developing seeds of morning glory (Pharbitis nil) were quantified and localized by immunostaining. The starch grains began to be digested after the GA contents had increased and reached a plateau. Immunohistochemical staining with the antigibberellin A1-methyl ester-antiserum, which has high affinity to biologically active GAs, showed that GA1 and/or GA3 were localized around starch grains in the integument of developing young seeds, suggesting the participation of GA-inducible α-amylase in this digestion. We isolated an α-amylase cDNA (PnAmy1) that was expressed in the immature seeds, and using an antibody raised against recombinant protein, it was shown that PnAmy1 was expressed in the immature seeds. GA responsiveness of PnAmy1 was shown by treating the young fruits 9 d after anthesis with GA3. RNA-blot and immunoblot analyses showed that PnAmy1 emerged soon after the rapid increase of GA1/3. An immunohistochemical analysis of PnAmy1 showed that it, like the seed GA1/3, was also localized around starch grains in the integument of developing young seeds. The localization of GA1/3 in the integument coincident with the expression of PnAmy1 suggests that both function as part of a process to release sugars for translocation or for the further development of the seeds.
An assessment of operational efficiencies in the UK retail sector

Purpose – The paper's aim is to assess performance of firms in the UK retail sector.Design/methodology/approach – Economic efficiencies of 41 retail companies working in the UK between 2000 and 2005 are examined in this study using three related methodologies: data envelopment analysis (DEA), Malmquist productivity index (MPI), a bootstrapped Tobit regression model. DEA is used to calculate technical and scale efficiencies of companies. Two outputs (turnover, profit before taxation) and three inputs (total assets, shareholders funds, and number of employees) are employed for the efficiency measurement. MPI is used to analyze the patterns of efficiency change over the six year period 2000‐2005. DEA efficiencies are then used to test important hypotheses on the impact of environmental variables, namely head office location, type of ownership, years of incorporation, legal form and retail characteristic, on the functioning of the UK retail sector using bootstrapped Tobit regression.Findings – DEA analysis ha.
A note on the Liapunov approach to the study of asymptotic stability for differential equations

A new sufficient condition for asymptotic stability of ordinary differential equations is proposed. Unlike classical Liapunov theory, the time derivative along solutions of the Liapunov function may have positive and negative values. The classical Liapunov approach may be regarded as an infinitesimal version of the present theorem. Verification in practical problems is harder than in the classical case; an example is included in order to indicate how the present theorem may be applied.
Comparison of ring and linear polyethylene from molecular dynamics simulations

The conformational and dynamical properties of macromolecular melts are strongly affected by topological constraints. The extent to which the constraints become dominant depends on various polymer parameters, such as molecular weight and architecture. In this regard, the conformational characteristics and dynamics of linear polymers have been studied extensively experimentally and theoretically. 1 It has been confirmed that their conformational properties in a melt are identical to those of unperturbed chains. 2,3 With respect to their dynamics, a transition occurs from an isotropic motion, described by the Rouse model, 1 to a locally anisotropic motion induced by the noncrossability of neighboring chains when the molecular weight exceeds a certain value. The latter dynamics may be approximated by the reptation theoretical model, 4 as confirmed by computer simulations 5-7 and experiments. 8-10 In the conventional reptation model, the presence of the chain ends plays a dominant role in relaxation process of a linear polymer in a melt. For other polymer architectures such as polymer rings, which obviously have no ends, different relaxation processes have to be expected. A new model of a ring polymer in a gel, a so-called “lattice animal”, was proposed, 11 and experiments of ring polymers in linear matrices 12 and linear polymers in ring matrices13 were performed. In various rheological measurements, 14-16 it was found that the viscosity of rings beyond a certain molecular weight exhibit a molecular weight dependence similar to that of linear molecules. The predicted entanglement molecular weight is higher than that of comparable linear molecules. However, no conclusive experimental results have been obtained so far, since the synthesis of unknotted and nonconcatenated “pure” ring polymers remains an unresolved issue. 14 Recently, Monte Carlo simulation studies 17-20 on ring polymers in a melt have been performed exploiting the bondfluctuation model. These simulations exhibit a severe influence of topological constraints on polymer conformations as well as their dynamics. However, ring polymers are predicted to show a higher diffusion constant compared to their linear counterparts, 17 in apparent disagreement with experimental results. 21
Cutting Edge: Identification of a Novel Chemokine Receptor That Binds Dendritic Cell- and T Cell-Active Chemokines Including ELC, SLC, and TECK

Searching for new receptors of dendritic cell- and T cell-active chemokines, we used a combination of techniques to interrogate orphan chemokine receptors. We report here on human CCX CKR, previously represented only by noncontiguous expressed sequence tags homologous to bovine PPR1, a putative gustatory receptor. We employed a two-tiered process of ligand assignment, where immobilized chemokines constructed on stalks (stalkokines) were used as bait for adhesion of cells expressing CCX CKR. These cells adhered to stalkokines representing ELC, a chemokine previously thought to bind only CCR7. Adhesion was abolished in the presence of soluble ELC, SLC (CCR7 ligands), and TECK (a CCR9 ligand). Complete ligand profiles were further determined by radiolabeled ligand binding and competition with >80 chemokines. ELC, SLC, and TECK comprised high affinity ligands (IC50 <15 nM); lower affinity ligands include BLC and vMIP-II (IC50 <150 nM). With its high affinity for CC chemokines and homology to CC receptors, we provisionally designate this new receptor CCR10.
Oculobulbar involvement is typical with Lambert–Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome

Oculobulbar symptoms and/or signs were present in 18 of 23 (78%) of Lambert–Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) patients evaluated at the Lahey Clinic ( Table ). Sixty‐five percent (15 of 23) of our patients had ptosis and/or diplopia, each present in 11 individuals. Bulbar signs and symptoms, including dysarthria in 10 and dysphagia in 8 patients, also were observed among our LEMS population. More than one prereferral oculobulbar feature occurred in 13 of our LEMS patients. Prereferral diagnostic considerations included myasthenia gravis, myopathies, and psychiatric disorders. These findings suggest that these atypical characteristics served to dissuade some colleagues from a diagnosis of LEMS. Thus, the presence of oculobulbar symptoms and signs cannot be used to exclude LEMS from the differential diagnosis.
R&D portfolio management framework for sustained competitive advantage

Sustained competitive advantage requires a portfolio of R&D (research and development) projects which is balanced in terms of certain qualitative factors especially competitiveness category (i.e., capacity, competency), phase (i.e., basic research, applied research, development), and novelty category (i.e., evolutionary, revolutionary) because they help ensure that a firm has a continuous stream of both short and long range sources of profitability. Another factor by which to balance a set of projects is the category of the source of the R&D idea (e.g., internal, external) because customer generated ideas can be powerful in the marketplace and should be guaranteed inclusion in a portfolio. The proposed decision making framework for R&D portfolio project selection guides decision makers through the processes of identifying qualitative attributes of projects, determining which attributes to include in the analysis, assessing projects in terms of those attributes, dividing candidate projects into balancing groups, ranking projects within those groups, and selecting the optimum projects within each group. Strategic analysis that includes multiple dimensions of technology (i.e., technoware, humanware, inforware, orgaware) and multiple perspectives (i.e., technical, organizational, political, and environmental) helps analysts identify the full value and weaknesses of projects. The knowledge gained from this analysis can reduce false negative and false positive errors in project selection. Validation of the framework through a Delphi process as well as a case study are planned.
Incorporating attitude towards Halal banking in an integrated service quality, satisfaction, trust and loyalty model in online Islamic banking context

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to empirically investigate the influence of consumer attitude towards Halal banking on e‐service quality and e‐satisfaction, in an online Islamic banking context. The proposed model also aims to investigate the relationships among e‐service quality, e‐satisfaction, e‐trust and e‐loyalty.Design/methodology/approach – A questionnaire was designed to collect data from the regular users of online services of Islamic banks in Pakistan. Convenience sampling method was adopted to collect data from the existing customers of six Islamic banks, residing in five major urban centres of Pakistan. A total of 350 questionnaires were distributed, out of which 292 returned questionnaires were suitable for further analysis. Structural equation modelling procedure was used to test the proposed research model.Findings – The results of this research suggest that attitude towards Halal banking positively influences perceived e‐service quality and overall e‐satisfaction with the online ser.
High performance silicon modulator with extremely low loss

For RF-/microwave-applications, the loss of the current optical silicon modulator (typical ∼1 dB/mm) is still too high for commercial using compared with that of Lithium Niobate modulator. Approaches for reducing the loss often compromise with the degradation of the other two key performance parametric including modulation efficiency and switching speed. In this work, we achieved the reduction of the phase shifter loss by optimizing the doping level of the modulator while keeping the modulation efficiency and switching speed still at a high level. 10Gbit/s silicon modulator is realized with 0.7 dB/mm phase shift loss and phase shift efficiency VπLπ= 3.4V·cm. The phase shift loss can also be reduced to 0.45 dB/mm with efficiency VπLπ= 4.3V·cm. Compensated doping method is utilized to optimize the doping level along the cross section of the phase shifter.
Retention in Plaque and Remineralization of Enamel Lesions by Various Forms of Calcium in a Mouthrinse or Sugar-free Chewing Gum

Casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) nanocomplexes incorporated into sugar-free chewing gum have been shown to remineralize enamel subsurface lesions in situ. The aim of this study was to compare the ability of CPP-ACP, with that of other forms of calcium, to be retained in supragingival plaque and remineralize enamel subsurface lesions in situ when delivered in a mouthrinse or sugar-free gum in randomized, double-blind trials. In the mouthrinse study, only the CPP-ACP-containing mouthrinse significantly increased plaque calcium and inorganic phosphate levels, and the CPP were immunolocalized to the surfaces of bacterial cells as well as the intercellular matrix. In the chewing gum studies, the gum containing the CPP-ACP, although not containing the most calcium per piece of gum, produced the highest level of enamel remineralization independent of gum-chewing frequency and duration. The CPP could be detected in plaque extracts 3 hrs after subjects chewed the CPP-ACP-containing gum. The results showed that CPP-ACP were superior to other forms of calcium in remineralizing enamel subsurface lesions.
The Impact and Cost of Power Load Shedding to Domestic Consumers

This paper analyses the impact and cost of the high level of power load shedding to domestic consumers in 2012 by a survey based approach. The paper develops a methodology for quantification of the cost of outages by deriving the utility loss, cost of self-generation and other costs incurred. Overall, the total outage cost to residential consumers in the urban areas of Pakistan is estimated at close to Rs 200 billion. The willingness to pay more for uninterrupted electric supply is also determined. Policy recommendations are made to mitigate the impact of load shedding on domestic consumers.
The NASCAR Phenomenon: Auto Racing Sponsorships and Shareholder Wealth

ABSTRACT This study presents the first analysis of the impact of NASCAR sponsorship announcements on the stock prices of sponsoring firms. The primary finding of the study--that NASCAR sponsorship announcements were accompanied by the largest increases in shareholder wealth ever recorded in the marketing literature in response to a voluntary marketing program--represents a striking and unambiguous stock market endorsement of the sponsorships. Indeed, the 24 sponsors analyzed in this study experienced mean increases in shareholder wealth of over $300 million dollars, net of all of the costs associated with the sponsorships. A multiple regression analysis of firm-specific stock price changes and select corporate and sponsorship attributes indicates that NASCAR sponsorships with more successful racing teams, corporate (as opposed to product or divisional) sponsorships, and sponsorships with direct ties to the consumer automotive industry are all positively correlated with perceived sponsorship success, while corporate cash flow per share (a well-known proxy for agency conflicts within the firm) is negatively related with shareholder approval.
Molecular and Cellular Pathobiology Activationof the NOTCH Pathway inHeadandNeckCancer

NOTCH1 mutations have been reported to occur in 10% to 15% of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC). To determine the significance of thesemutations, we embarked upon a comprehensive study ofNOTCH signaling in a cohort of 44 HNSCC tumors and 25 normal mucosal samples through a set of expression, copy number, methylation, and mutation analyses. Copy number increases were identified in NOTCH pathway genes, including the NOTCH ligand JAG1. Gene set analysis defined a differential expression of the NOTCH signaling pathway in HNSCC relative to normal tissues. Analysis of individual pathway-related genes revealed overexpression of ligands JAG1 and JAG2 and receptor NOTCH3. In 32% of the HNSCC examined, activation of the downstream NOTCH effectors HES1/HEY1 was documented. Notably, exomic sequencing identified 5 novel inactivating NOTCH1mutations in 4 of the 37 tumors analyzed, with none of these tumors exhibitingHES1/HEY1 overexpression. Our results revealed a bimodal pattern of NOTCH pathway alterations in HNSCC, with a smaller subset exhibiting inactivating NOTCH1 receptor mutations but a larger subset exhibiting otherNOTCH1 pathway alterations, including increases in expression or gene copy number of the receptor or ligands as well as downstream pathway activation. Our results imply that therapies that target the NOTCH pathway may be more widely suitable for HNSCC treatment than appreciated currently. Cancer Res; 74(4); 1091–104. 2013 AACR.
Service Strategies for Higher Educational Institutions Based on Student Segmentation

ABSTRACT Over the last decade, higher education institutions in the U.S. have faced increased competition and expenditures coupled with declines in financial support. Furthermore, they often have been forced to cater to the needs of an increasingly diverse group of students and must design service strategies based on the unique needs of each group. This paper advocates the use of target marketing principles to effectively and efficiently allocate resources among the various groups. Student registration data from a large, urban, public university, which is routinely available at little cost, is used to identify five student segments. These segments include traditional students, non-traditional students, a sizable international student segment, a graduating segment, and a group of transferees. The unique needs of each segment are identified and appropriate service strategies are formulated for each segment. The diversity of the segments establish the utility of using target marketing principles for designing service strategies and the viability of using registration database for such a purpose.