Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Strategic Risk Management Approach for Small and Medium-Sized Manufacturing Enterprises (SMEs)--- A Theoretical Framework

The smooth running of a small or medium-sized manufacturing enterprise (SME) presents a significant challenge irrespective of the technological and human resources it may have at its disposal. Every organization faces undesirable events and unwanted setbacks in its day to operations. These are referred to as 'disturbances' in our research, and all disturbances put an organization at operational, occupational and financial risk. To deal with these disturbances effectively, a SME needs a systematic method of approach and a set of appropriate tools. In order to achieve this, we have developed a theoretical framework for risk management appropriate for SMEs linked to typical disturbances. This paper presents and describes this framework along with its systematic working principles
Additive Neuroprotective Effect of Borneol with Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Ischemic Stroke in Mice

Intravenous stem cell transplantation initiates neuroprotection related to the secretion of trophic factor. Borneol, a potential herbal neuroprotective agent, is a penetration enhancer. Here, we aimed to investigate whether they have additive neuroprotective effect on cerebral ischemia. Borneol was given to mice by gavage 3 days before middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) induction until the day when the mice were sacrificed. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were intravenously injected at 24 h after MCAO induction. Neurological deficits, infarct volume, cell death, and neurogenesis were evaluated. Combined use of MSCs and borneol could more effectively reduce infarction volume and cell apoptosis, enhance neurogenesis, and improve the functional recovery than that of MSCs alone. The findings showed that combined use of borneol and stem cells provided additive neuroprotective effect on cerebral ischemia. However, the supposed effect of borneol on the improved MSC penetration still needs further direct evidence.
Murine Syngeneic Graft-Versus-Host Disease Is Responsive to Broad-Spectrum Antibiotic Therapy

Murine syngeneic graft-versus-host disease (SGVHD) initiates colon and liver inflammation following lethal irradiation, reconstitution with syngeneic bone marrow transplantation, and therapy with the immunosuppressive agent cyclosporine A. Previous studies have demonstrated that the inducible disease is mediated by CD4+ T cells with increased reactivity of peripheral and liver-associated lymphocytes against intestinal microbial Ags. In the current report, studies were performed to analyze the specificity of the CD4+ T cell response of T cells isolated from diseased animals and to determine the in vivo role of the microbiota to the development of SGVHD. Increased major histocompatibility Ag (MHC) class II-restricted responsiveness of SGVHD CD4+ T cells against microbial Ags isolated from the ceca of normal animals was observed. The enhanced proliferative response was observed in the CD62L− memory population of CD4+ T cells. To determine the role of the bacterial microbiota in the development of murine SGVHD, control and CsA-treated bone marrow transplantation animals were treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics (metronidazole, ciprofloxacin) after transplantation. Cyclosporine A-treated animals that were given antibiotic therapy failed to develop clinical symptoms and pathological lesions in the target tissues characteristic of SGVHD. Furthermore, the reduction in intestinal bacteria resulted in the elimination of the enhanced antimicrobial CD4+ T cell response and significantly reduced levels of the inflammatory cytokines, IFN-γ, IL-17, and TNF-α. The elimination of the disease-associated inflammatory immune responses and pathology by treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics definitively links the role of the microbiota and microbial-specific immunity to the development of murine SGVHD.
The Roles of Environmental Factors in Regulation of Oxidative Stress in Plant

Exposure to a variety of environmental factors such as salinity, drought, metal toxicity, extreme temperature, air pollutants, ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation, pesticides, and pathogen infection leads to subject oxidative stress in plants, which in turn affects multiple biological processes via reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. ROS include hydroxyl radicals, singlet oxygen, and hydrogen peroxide in the plant cells and activates signaling pathways leading to some changes of physiological, biochemical, and molecular mechanisms in cellular metabolism. Excessive ROS, however, cause oxidative stress, a state of imbalance between the production of ROS and the neutralization of free radicals by antioxidants, resulting in damage of cellular components including lipids, nucleic acids, metabolites, and proteins, which finally leads to the death of cells in plants. Thus, maintaining a physiological level of ROS is crucial for aerobic organisms, which relies on the combined operation of enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants. In order to improve plants' tolerance towards the harsh environment, it is vital to reinforce the comprehension of oxidative stress and antioxidant systems. In this review, recent findings on the metabolism of ROS as well as the antioxidative defense machinery are briefly updated. The latest findings on differential regulation of antioxidants at multiple levels under adverse environment are also discussed here.
Signals of positive selection in mitochondrial protein‐coding genes of woolly mammoth: Adaptation to extreme environments?

Abstract The mammoths originated in warm and equatorial Africa and later colonized cold and high‐latitude environments. Studies on nuclear genes suggest that woolly mammoth had evolved genetic variations involved in processes relevant to cold tolerance, including lipid metabolism and thermogenesis, and adaptation to extremely varied light and darkness cycles. The mitochondria is a major regulator of cellular energy metabolism, thus the mitogenome of mammoths may also exhibit adaptive evolution. However, little is yet known in this regard. In this study, we analyzed mitochondrial protein‐coding genes (MPCGs) sequences of 75 broadly distributed woolly mammoths (Mammuthus primigenius) to test for signatures of positive selection. Results showed that a total of eleven amino acid sites in six genes, namely ND1, ND4, ND5, ND6, CYTB, and ATP6, displayed strong evidence of positive selection. Two sites were located in close proximity to proton‐translocation channels in mitochondrial complex I. Biochemical and homology protein structure modeling analyses demonstrated that five amino acid substitutions in ND1, ND5, and ND6 might have influenced the performance of protein–protein interaction among subunits of complex I, and three substitutions in CYTB and ATP6 might have influenced the performance of metabolic regulatory chain. These findings suggest metabolic adaptations in the mitogenome of woolly mammoths in relation to extreme environments and provide a basis for further tests on the significance of the variations on other systems.
Analysis of complications after blood components' transfusions.

UNLABELLED Complications after blood components still constitute an important clinical problem and serve as limitation of liberal-transfusion strategy. The aim of the study was to present the 5-year incidence of early blood transfusions complications and to assess their relation to the type of the transfused blood components. MATERIAL AND METHODS 58,505 transfusions of blood components performed in the years 2006-2010 were retrospectively analyzed. Data concerning the amount of the transfused blood components and the numbers of adverse transfusion reactions reported to the Regional Blood Donation and Treatment Center (RBDTC) was collected. RESULTS 95 adverse transfusion reactions were reportedto RBDTC 0.16% of alldonations (95/58 505) - 58 after PRBC transfusions, 28 after platelet concentrate transfusions and 9 after FFP transfusion. Febrile nonhemolytic and allergic reactions constitute respectively 36.8% and 30.5% of all complications. CONCLUSION Nonhemolyticand allergic reactions are the most common complications of blood components transfusion and they are more common after platelet concentrate transfusions in comparison to PRBC and FFP donations.
Interval-valued GA-P algorithms

When genetic programming (GP) methods are applied to solve symbolic regression problems, we obtain a point estimate of a variable, but it is not easy to calculate an associated confidence interval. We designed an interval arithmetic-based model that solves this problem. Our model extends a hybrid technique, the GA-P method, that combines genetic algorithms and genetic programming. Models based on interval GA-P can devise an interval model from examples and provide the algebraic expression that best approximates the data. The method is useful for generating a confidence interval for the output of a model, and also for obtaining a robust point estimate from data which we know to contain outliers. The algorithm was applied to a real problem related to electrical energy distribution. Classical methods were applied first, and then the interval GA-P. The results of both studies are used to compare interval GA-P with GP, GA-P, classical regression methods, neural networks, and fuzzy models.
Third generation WCDMA radio evolution

Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) produced the first full version of the WCDMA standard at the end of 1999. This release, called Release'99, contains all the necessary elements to meet the requirements for IMT-2000 technologies, including 2 Mbps data rate with variable bit-rate capability, support of multi-service, QoS differentiation and efficient packet data. The Release 5 specifications were created in March 2002 and they contain downlink packet data operation enhancement, under the title high speed downlink packet access (HSDPA). HSDPA utilizes Hybrid ARQ and higher order modulation for improving data-spectral efficiency and for pushing bit rates beyond 10 Mbps. The further 3GPP releases will study the enhancements of packet-data performance in uplink. Other important features in future 3GPP releases include advanced antenna technologies and WCDMA standard for new spectrum allocations. The paper describes the main solutions of 3GPP WCDMA standard in more detail. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Automatic power monitor (APM) in switching charger with smooth transition loop selector (STLS) for high-energy throughput system

This paper proposed a switch-based charger system instead of LDO-based charger for Li-Ion batteries. The automatic power monitor (APM) controls three main power delivery paths to generate five different charging cases. Moreover, with the proposed smooth transition loop selector (STLS), the charging process can transfer smoothly and never oscillate between two consecutive stages. Furthermore, the STLS can bear different batteries with wide built-in resistance variation by adjusting charging factors. The stability analysis proves that the stability of APM loop is guaranteed by only one Type-III compensator. The simulation results ensure the performance of the system controlled by APM even if the power source is unable to provide sufficient power.
A trophic cascade regulates salt marsh primary production

Nutrient supply is widely thought to regulate primary production of many ecosystems including salt marshes. However, experimental manipulation of the dominant marsh grazer (the periwinkle, Littoraria irrorata) and its consumers (e.g., blue crabs, Callinectes sapidus, terrapins, Malaclemys terrapin) demonstrates plant biomass and production are largely controlled by grazers and their predators. Periwinkle grazing can convert one of the most productive grasslands in the world into a barren mudflat within 8 months. Marine predators regulate the abundance of this plant-grazing snail. Thus, top-down control of grazer density is a key regulatory determinant of marsh grass growth. The discovery of this simple trophic cascade implies that over-harvesting of snail predators (e.g., blue crabs) may be an important factor contributing to the massive die-off (tens of km2) of salt marshes across the southeastern United States. In addition, our results contribute to a growing body of evidence indicating widespread, predator regulation of marine macrophyte production via trophic cascades (kelps, seagrasses, intertidal algae).
RNA Silencing of Cks1 Induced G2/M Arrest and Apoptosis in Human Lung Cancer Cells

Cdc kinase subunit 1 (Cks1) has been shown to involve in the regulation of cell cycle progression and p27Kip1 degradation. To define the role of Cks1 in lung tumorigenesis, we examined the expression of Cks1 in human lung cancer cell lines and tested the effect of Cks1‐specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) on these cells. Reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) and western blot analysis showed that Cks1 was highly expressed in human lung cancer cells. Transfection of Cks1 siRNA down‐regulated Cdc2 kinase activity and induced G2/M arrest in Cks1‐ overexpressing H358 lung cancer cells. Long‐term treatment of Cks1 siRNA induced caspase activation and apoptosis in H358 cells. On the contrary, Cks1 siRNA did not affect viability of normal human lung fibroblasts under the same experimental condition. Collectively, our results suggest that Cks1 participates in the steps of lung tumorigenesis and this gene may be a target for the treatment of lung cancer. IUBMB Life, 57: 583‐589, 2005
Insig Required for Sterol-mediated Inhibition of Scap/SREBP Binding to COPII Proteins in Vitro*♦

When added to living cells, sterols such as cholesterol and 25-hydroxycholesterol block the lateral movement of sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs) into COPII-coated vesicles on endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membranes and thereby prevent the SREBPs from reaching the Golgi complex for processing to the mature forms that activate cholesterol synthesis. Sorting of SREBPs into COPII vesicles is mediated by Sar1 and the coat proteins Sec23 and Sec24. Here, we explore the mechanism of sterol inhibition in vitro through use of protein pull-down assays. We show that addition of cholesterol or 25-hydroxycholesterol to microsomal membranes in vitro blocks Sar1-dependent binding of the Sec23/24 complex to Scap, the SREBP escort protein. This in vitro inhibition is dependent on the presence of Insig-1, an ER resident protein that is necessary for sterol-mediated inhibition of Scap/SREBP transport in intact cells. Sec23/24 binding to Scap requires the hexapeptide sequence MELADL located in a cytoplasmic loop of Scap. This hexapeptide acts as a sterol-regulated ER sorting signal. These studies define the biochemical parameters responsible for regulated sorting of an ER membrane protein into COPII-coated vesicles.
5‐HT2 Receptors, Roles and Regulation

Stimulation of 5-HT2 receptors in mammals by agonists causes detrimental neurological, psychological, and circulatory effects. 5-HT2 antagonists block the elicited effects, but by themselves, they do not cause any apparent behavioral, neurological or subjective effects. However, 5-HT2 antagonists increase slow wave sleep and have a therapeutic action on impaired circulation, dysthymia, and negative symptoms in schizophrenia. Chronic treatment of rodents with various 5-HT2 antagonists was reported to cause an anomalous desensitization and 5-HT2 receptor down regulation. In this study we further investigated the 5-HT2 receptor regulation in vivo and in vitro by agonist and antagonist treatment. Treatment of rats with the 5-HT2 agonist, 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylphenyl)-2-aminopropane (DOM) (2.5 mg/kg s.c., every 8 h), rapidly caused desensitization of the head twitch response (-20% and -80% after 2 and 4 injections) and a decrease in the number of frontal cortical 5-HT2 receptors labeled with [3H]ketanserin (-24% and -41%, 24 h after 2 and 4 injections). The receptor resynthesis/degradation revealed half-times of 5 days initially to 3 days in the later drug-free period. Administration of the antagonist ketanserin (2.5 mg/kg, s.c., every 8 h) 15 min before the agonist, antagonized the acute behavioral effect but did not prevent the 5-HT2 receptor down regulation after 4 treatments. In contrast, ketanserin by itself, given 4 times, caused a reduction in the Bmax-value of [3H]ketanserin binding by 19% and given 10 times it caused a reduction in the Bmax-values by 28% and 31% of [3H]ketanserin and [3H]DOB binding in the frontal cortex. Hence 5-HT2 receptors labeled by an antagonist and an agonist ligand were similarly decreased. In vascular smooth muscle cells in culture kept for at least 24 h in a serotonin-free medium before treatment, the 5-HT2 receptor mediated 5-HT-induced inositol phosphate formation, was rapidly desensitized by agonist treatment: -20% after 15 min and -80% after 1 h incubation of the cells with 10(-5) M 5-HT or DOM. After 2 h and 24 h treatment resensitization occurred with half-times of 5 h and 12 h, respectively. Pretreatment of the cells for 15 min or 24 h with 10(-7) M of the antagonists setoperone or ketanserin, followed by extensive washing, caused a reduction in the 5-HT-induced inositol phosphate formation by about 50% with setoperone and by 30% with ketanserin. Effects of 15 min and 24 h drug pretreatment were similar. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Lumière sur la zircone 3Y-TZP utilisée en implantologie orale : Etude de la relation entre la microstructure et la durabilité

La zircone 3Y-TZP presente un grand interet pour les applications dentaires, en implantologie orale, elle semble etre un materiau extremement prometteur: elle allie une biocompatibilite a un aspect esthetique satisfaisant et presente aussi des proprietes mecaniques tres superieures aux autres ceramiques. Ces bonnes proprietes mecaniques sont intimement liees a la microstructure du materiau, elle-meme directement liee aux procedes d’elaboration comme nous l’a rappele l’alarmante serie de ruptures de plus de 800 tetes de protheses de hanche en zircone au debut des annees 2000, due au phenomene de vieillissement de ce materiau. Cependant, les etudes cliniques menees a ce jour ne font toujours pas etat des interrelations existant entre la microstructure, les proprietes mecaniques et la sensibilite au vieillissement. Il etait donc primordial de valider et d’appliquer les connaissances acquises dans le domaine des sciences des materiaux pour l’application de la zircone 3Y-TZP en implantologie oral. C’est l’objectif de notre premiere publication. Nous avons egalement developpe, dans notre deuxieme publication, un protocole d’evaluation permettant dans un premier temps, d’evaluer l’effet de l’etat de surface et de la microstructure sur la resistance mecanique d’implants neufs, puis de suivre leurs cinetiques de vieillissement tout en analysant l’evolution de la microstructure et son influence sur la resistance mecanique au cours du vieillissement. Tout cela permettant in fine, de predire la durabilite d’un type d’implant. Nous avons par la suite, developpe un programme informatique permettant la detection et la quantification du vieillissement pour un volume donne. Cette detection de la zone vieillie ou transformee est basee sur des modifications microstructurales caracteristiques engendrees lors du vieillissement. Enfin, nous avons pu mettre en evidence l’occurrence du phenomene de vieillissement in vivo, par l’analyse d’explants issus d’une etude clinique et demontrer leur probable implication dans ces cas d’echec. Le logiciel informatique de traitement d’image developpe a ete egalement, applique aux explants dans le but de mettre en lumiere et d’expliciter l’occurrence du phenomene de vieillissement in vivo, afin de sensibiliser les acteurs de ce marcher aux problematiques rencontrees et d’optimiser de ce dispositif medical, a la lumiere des connaissances actuelles.
Previsão da Volatilidade Cambial: GARCH com mudança de regime markoviano

A pesquisa comparou os modelos GARCH tradicionais e o modelo GARCH com troca de regimes no que tange seu poder de previsao da volatilidade cambial. Foi utilizada a serie historica de retornos do câmbio real/dolar de fevereiro de 1999 a dezembro de 2015, sendo esse periodo dividido em dentro e fora da amostra. Os horizontes de previsao analisados foram de 1, 5, 10 e 21 dias uteis. A acuracia das previsoes fora da amostra foi calculada considerando tres funcoes de perda: Erro Absoluto Medio, Erro Absoluto Medio Percentual e o Erro Quadratico Medio. Comparou-se o poder de previsao dos modelos atraves do teste de Giacomini e White. Por fim, buscou-se comparar o desempenho de cada um dos modelos em uma situacao real de utilizacao, no caso, no calculo do Value at Risk de uma carteira cambial. Os resultados apontam para um ganho de precisao na utilizacao do modelo MRS-GARCH-N na previsao da volatilidade para o horizonte de um dia util e sua aplicacao no modelo de gestao de risco Value at Risk. Esse bom desempenho no curto prazo nao se mantem em prazos mais longos.
Implementation of an Inpatient Electronic Referral System (Opt-to-Quit) From the Electronic Health Record to the New York State Smokers' Quitline: First Steps.

OBJECTIVES (1) To implement a new policy-driven referral program, Opt-to-Quit, using electronic data transfer from the electronic health record (EHR) to the New York State Smokers' Quitline (NYSSQL) and (2) to improve referrals to the NYSSQL for smoking caregivers of children admitted to a children's hospital. METHODS Smoking caregivers of pediatric patients were referred to the NYSSQL through a standardized template built into the EHR, during the child's hospitalization or emergency department encounter. Direct data exchange was based on a point-to-point protocol, without dependence on any external centralized processing service. Input and oversight were provided by a multidisciplinary task force, which included physician and nursing leadership, information technology specialists, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act compliance personnel and legal counsel, and NYSSQL staff. The process was refined through several iterative plan-do-study-act cycles, using a single-armed, prospective cohort study design, including surveys of nursing staff and continued input of information technology experts on both hospital and Quitline sides. RESULTS In 2013, 193 smokers were identified in 2 pilot units; 62% (n= 119) accepted referral to the NYSSQL. In 2014, after expansion to all inpatient units and the emergency department, 745 smokers were identified, and 36% (n = 266) accepted referral. Over the 2 years, overall increase in referrals was 124%; as of the first quarter of 2015, referral rate was sustained at 34%. CONCLUSIONS Hospital-wide implementation of the Opt-to-Quit program through our EHR was feasible and sustainable and has significantly improved referrals to the NYSSQL.
Geroprotection by Glycerol

Abstract: Chaperones, particularly the heat‐shock proteins, are considered as key players in the maintenance of protein homeostasis and are associated with longevity and cellular immortalization. In this study, we investigated the geroprotective activity of the chemical chaperone glycerol. Glycerol showed significant chaperoning activity in refolding heat‐denatured luciferase in vivo and in protecting cells from heat stress‐induced cytotoxicity. This was accompanied by decrease in p53, an upregulation of a stress chaperone mortalin/mtHsp70, and an increase in proteasome activity in the presence of oxidative stress.
The future of graduate and postdoctoral training in the biosciences

This article summarizes the outcomes of the second national conference on the Future of Bioscience Graduate and Postdoctoral Training. Five topics were addressed during the conference: diversity in leadership positions; mentoring; modernizing the curriculum; experiential learning; and the need for better data on trainees. The goal of the conference was to develop a consensus around these five topics and to recommend policies that can be implemented by academic and research institutions and federal funding agencies in the United States.