Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Major Contribution of the P2Y1 Receptor in Purinergic Regulation of TNF&agr;-Induced Vascular Inflammation

Background— Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease, and extracellular nucleotides are one of the factors possibly involved in vascular inflammation. The P2Y1 receptor for adenosine 5|o:-diphosphate has been shown to be involved in the development of atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E–deficient mice. Our aim is to determine whether the endothelial P2Y1 receptor plays a role in leukocyte recruitment during vascular inflammation and characterize underlying mechanisms. Methods and Results— We show here that the P2Y1 receptor plays a role in leukocyte recruitment in inflamed mouse femoral arteries. Moreover, in wild-type bone marrow–transplanted chimeric P2Y1-deficient mice with an apolipoprotein E–deficient background, a strong reduction of adhesion molecule–dependent leukocyte recruitment was observed after local injection of tumor necrosis factor &agr; and interleukin 1&bgr;, excluding a role for the platelet or other hematopoietic cell type P2Y1 in these events. Similarly, the in vitro adhesion of isolated mouse monocytes to tumor necrosis factor &agr;–stimulated murine endothelial cell monolayers and their migration across the cell layers were strongly reduced in P2Y1-deficient compared with wild-type endothelial cells, as was the expression of the adhesion molecules P-selectin, Vascular cell adhesion molecule 1, and intercellular adhesion molecule 1. Pharmacological inhibition using the selective antagonist MRS2500 also resulted in decreased expression of adhesion molecules. These events are related to the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and activating transcription factor 2 pathway. Finally, in vivo administration of MRS2500 resulted in strong reduction of leukocyte recruitment in inflamed femoral arteries of apolipoprotein E–deficient mice. Conclusions— The data highlight a key role of the endothelial P2Y1 receptor in acute vascular inflammation. Pharmacological targeting the P2Y1 receptor could represent a promising approach for the treatment of vascular inflammation.
A Spiritual Response to the Financial Crisis? Making Decisions for the Really Long Run

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Hong Kong Retailers

Examines the environment hostility‐planning‐performance relationship of Hong Kong retailers. A positive relationship is found between environment hostility and the threats encompassed by the existing labour shortage, rising rents, foreign‐based competition, the 1997 return to Chinese governance and Hong Kong′s relationship with mainland China. Retailers who perceive less hostility in their environment are more planning‐oriented. Short‐term planners significantly outperformed non‐planners. Formal long‐range planning was unrelated to retailer performance.
Multi-Gigabit high-range fixed wireless links at high millimeterwave carrier frequencies

The paper reviews our recent experimental work in the area of multi-Gigabit fixed wireless links operating in the high millimeterwave frequency range. An E-band link is employed to transmit up to 6 Gbit/s over a line-of-sight terrestrial distance of 36.7 km using QPSK modulation, and 15 Gbit/s over 15 km using 8QAM. At 240 GHz, up to 64 Gbit/s QPSK are transmitted over a distance of 850 m. The paper details the unified architecture of the analog transmit-receive frontends, reports EVM and BER data for these links and discusses link budget calculations.
Stabilized C-Band Kerr Frequency Comb

We have designed and fabricated a Kerr frequency comb oscillator with 27.5 GHz repetition rate by pumping a whispering gallery mode crystalline resonator with a laser at 1560 nm center wavelength. The oscillator is stabilized to the Rb<inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$^{87}$</tex-math></inline-formula> D<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$_2$</tex-math></inline-formula> line using frequency doubling with a periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) waveguide. Allan deviation of the repetition rate of the frequency comb was measured to be on the order of 10<inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$^{-11}$</tex-math></inline-formula> at 1 s to 1000 s integration time. The long-term stability limitation is attributed to the frequency drift of the phase matching window of the PPLN structure as well as to mode interaction and associated drift of the resonator spectrum.
Comparative study of milk compositions of cattle, sheep and goats in Nigeria

Variations in the milk composition of Nigerian cattle, sheep and goats as well as residual phenotypic correlations between the milk constituents were investigated. The study utilized Bunaji, Yankasa and Red Sokoto breeds of cattle, sheep and goats, respectively. Results indicated that sheep and goats differed significantly (P 0.05). Residual phenotypic correlations between the milk constituents revealed highly significant (P<0.01) and positive relationships between total solids and solids-not-fat (0.97 and 0.98 in cattle and sheep, respectively). All other correlations were positive (ranging from 0.12 to 0.77), except between protein and total solids (-0.44) and protein and solids-not-fat (-0.64) in cattle. Multiple linear regression equations were fitted to predict the percentages of protein and fat. It was demonstrated that protein percentage could be predicted from total solids and solids-not-fat with the highest accuracy of 94, 86 and 82 % in cattle, sheep and goats, respectively. On the other hand, the accuracy of prediction of fat percentage was very low in all the species (R2=0.01, 0.03 and 0.37 in cattle, sheep and goats, respectively).
Egyptian Consumers’ Perception of Social Media as Health Information Source

The paper addresses the contemporary question of social media role as credible and trustworthy source of information. However, social media have provided healthcare organizations with new opportunities to communicate and engage with consumers. Nevertheless, healthcare providers should understand the key stages of consumers’ decision-making and tailor the right message at the right time, in the right place to the right consumers’ segment, which will to increase their chance of reaching and influencing consumers’ behaviors and perceptions.
Recurrent stroke in symptomatic carotid stenosis awaiting revascularization

Objective: We aimed to quantify the risk and predictors of ipsilateral ischemic stroke in patients with symptomatic carotid stenosis awaiting revascularization (carotid endarterectomy [CEA] or carotid artery stenting) by pooling individual patient data from recent prospective studies with high rates of treatment with modern stroke prevention medications. Methods: Data were included from 2 prospective hospital-based registries (Umeå, Barcelona) and one prospective population-based study (Dublin). Patients with symptomatic 50%–99% carotid stenosis eligible for carotid revascularization were included and followed for early recurrent ipsilateral stroke or retinal artery occlusion (RAO). Results: Of 607 patients with symptomatic 50%–99% carotid stenosis, 377 met prespecified inclusion criteria. Ipsilateral recurrent ischemic stroke/RAO risk pre-revascularization was 2.7% (1 day), 5.3% (3 days), 11.5% (14 days), and 18.8% (90 days). On bivariate analysis, presentation with a cerebral vs ocular event was associated with higher recurrent stroke risk (log-rank p = 0.04). On multivariable Cox regression, recurrence was associated with older age (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] per 10-year increase 1.5, p = 0.02) with a strong trend for association with cerebral (stroke/TIA) vs ocular symptoms (adjusted HR 2.7, p = 0.06), but not degree of stenosis, smoking, vascular risk factors, or medications. Conclusions: We found high risk of recurrent ipsilateral ischemic events within the 14-day time period currently recommended for CEA. Randomized trials are needed to determine the benefits and safety of urgent vs subacute carotid revascularization within 14 days after symptom onset.
When Trade Credit Facilitates Access to Bank Finance: Evidence from Us Small Business Data

While trade credit is traditionally considered as a substitute for bank loans, recent theoretical papers (e.g. Biais and Gollier (1997)) suggest that bank debt and trade credit can also be considered as two complementary sources of financing. By using US small businesses data (NSSBF 1998), this paper provides an empirical analysis of these hypotheses. The empirical findings are consistent with the hypothesis that trade credit helps firms to improve their reputation. The results show that trade credit can work as a signal about firm's quality and thus facilitates access to bank debt. Keywords: Bank, Trade credit, Informational asymetry
Favorable long-term outcome after isolated liver transplantation in a child with short bowel syndrome.

To the Editor: Hassan et al. (1) recently reported a child with short bowel syndrome who underwent a liver transplantation and then a Bianchi procedure with a good long-term nutritional outcome. The authors stated that only a few cases of isolated liver transplantation performed for liver failure in short bowel syndrome have been reported and emphasized that long-term follow-up on the clinical and nutritional status of such children is lacking. We report here on a girl with short bowel followed for 8 years after an isolated orthotopic liver transplantation. The patient underwent isolated liver transplantation at 4 years for end-stage liver disease associated with IV nutrition. Her clinical history and early follow-up after liver transplantation have been reported in detail (2). She presented at birth with distal ileal atresia and secondary midgut volvulus, and all but 78 cm of proximal small bowel were resected on day 1 of life. She was maintained on parenteral nutrition and at 3 years of age experienced cirrhosis with hepatic failure as a consequence of parenteral nutrition. An isolated liver transplantation was performed at the age of 4 years that was complicated by an abdominal wound dehiscence with evisceration and a single rejection episode. Liver function test results normalized after 5 months. Her long-term clinical condition has been favorable. Eight years after liver transplantation, her liver function test results are normal while taking cyclosporine as the sole therapy. No complication of liver transplantation (renal failure, lymphoproliferative syndrome) have occurred. Intestinal function improved gradually after transplantation. Oral nutrition was reintroduced, and parenteral nutrition was stopped 18 months after transplantation. Today the patient takes a normal diet, and serum nutritional markers (calcium, iron, albumin) are normal. She has 4-5 stool/day and still has steatorrhea (60 g/d, 30 g/d, 21 g/d at 1, 2, and 6 years, respectively, after transplantation; normal, <6 g/day). Her daily calorie intake is 3,212 Kcal/d 8 years after transplantation, which we estimate to be 112% of the recommended daily allowance. She had an acceleration of both weight and height gain 1 year after transplantation, even after parenteral nutrition was stopped (Figure 1). At 11 years, her weight was 35.6 kg (0 SD), her height was 155 cm (+1 SD), and her pubertal status was stage 2 for breast and stage 2 for pubic hair by the Tanner scale. This case confirms that isolated liver transplantation can be a good long-term therapeutic option for cirrhosis associated with short bowel syndrome. Efforts should be made to evaluate, as in the case of Hassan et al., all of the conservative measures that may promote intestinal adaptation.
Sodium caffeate induces endothelial cell apoptosis and inhibits VEGF expression in cancer cells.

AIM To investigate the induction of endothelial cell apoptosis and the suppression of VEGF expression in cancer cells by sodium caffeate (SCA). METHODS Apoptosis of transformed human umbilical vein endothelial cells (ECV304 cell line) was detected by flow cytometry, DNA electrophoresis assay and morphological assessment. Western blotting analysis was applied for determination of VEGF expression in cancer cells. Substrate degradation by type IV collagenase was measured by zymography. ELISA was used to detect the binding of type IV collagenase with relevant monoclonal antibody. RESULTS SCA induced ECV304 cell apoptosis in a time- and dose-dependent manner. After treatment with 100 and 250 microg X mL(-1) of SCA for 48 h, DNA laddering appeared. SCA treated cells showed strong blue fluorescence and distinct changes of nuclear morphology, such as pyknosis and the occurrence of apoptotic bodies. VEGF expression in hepatoma HepG-2 cells and prostate carcinoma DU145 cells was reduced after SCA treatment. The degradation activity of type IV collagenase including MMP-2 and MMP-9 secreted by giant cell pulmonary carcinoma PG cells was inhibited by SCA in a dose-dependent manner. SCA also reduced the binding of mAb 3D6, a relevant monoclonal antibody, to type IV collagenase. CONCLUSION SCA can induce endothelial cell apoptosis and inhibit VEGF expression as well as type IV collagenase activity in cancer cells. SCA might be active in modulating tumor angiogenesis and the microenvironment.
A low-power 10-Gb/s receiver with merged CTLE and DFE summer

This paper presents a wireline communication receiver with merged continuous-time linear equalizer (CTLE) and decision feedback equalizer (DFE) summer circuit. The merged circuit removes the traditional CTLE and merge it into the following DFE summer to builds linear equalization so as to significantly reduce the receiver power consumption. Analysis for the conventional equalizer and proposed circuit are presented. The proposed circuit architecture is experimentally verified at a 10 Gb/s wireline receiver with 0.45 mW/Gb/s power efficiency.
Insights on web-based peer review: A case study with energy engineering students

Taking in account the conclusions of our previous case-study in the civil engineering course at UTAD (University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal) this work presents the results of a case study in an energy engineering undergraduate course. Based on the quantitative and qualitative analysis of collected data, it examines students' attitudes towards web-based peer assessment, distinguishing their role as reviewers or as feedback receivers. It identifies which factors are related to students' use and appreciation of feedback. Moreover, an analysis of the type of feedback is presented in an attempt to evaluate students' written communication skills. The results of this study allow deepening the reflexion on how to improve the design and implementation of future web-based peer assessment tasks.
Endoscopic Doppler ultrasound for measurement of azygos blood flow. Validation against thermodilution and assessment of pharmacological effects of terlipressin in portal hypertension.

BACKGROUND Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is a new modality allowing real-time flow measurements by means of the Doppler technique. The aim of the study was to evaluate azygos blood flow measurements by endoscopic ultrasound. METHODS Measurements of azygos blood flow by EUS and by the thermodilution technique were compared in 20 patients with portal hypertension. The ability of EUS flowmetry to detect changes in the azygos and portal venous flow after an intravenous dose of 2 mg of terlipressin was evaluated in 13 of the patients in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over design. RESULTS The EUS Doppler and thermodilution measurements correlated significantly (R=0.81, P < 0.001). The azygos blood flow was found to be 14% higher by the EUS method than by thermodilution. The coefficient of variation of the EUS Doppler measurements of the azygos blood flow was 14.8%. After administration of terlipressin, the azygos blood flow, as measured by EUS Doppler, decreased significantly by 23% from 915 to 704 ml/min (P = 0.014) and the portal venous flow decreased by 28% from 1170 to 789 ml/min (P = 0.03). No effects of placebo were detected. CONCLUSIONS These results show that EUS measurement of the azygos blood flow correlate strongly to the measurements by the thermodilution technique, and EUS is moreover well tolerated by the patients. The method is applicable for monitoring pharmacological effects on the superior porto-systemic collateral circulation and portal venous flow in patients with portal hypertension.
Combined inhibition of Chk1 and Wee1: In vitro synergistic effect translates to tumor growth inhibition in vivo

Targeting Chk1 protein kinase can enhance the antitumor effects of radio- and chemotherapy. Recent evidence disclosed a role of Chk1 in unperturbed cell proliferation and survival, implying that Chk1 inhibitors could also be effective as single agents in tumors with a specific genetic background. To identify genes in synthetic lethality with Chk1, we did a high-throughput screening using a siRNA library directed against 719 human protein kinases in the human ovarian cancer cell line OVCAR-5, resistant to Chk1 inhibitors. Wee1 tyrosine kinase was the most significant gene in synthetic lethality with Chk1. Treatment with non-toxic concentrations of a Chk1 inhibitor (PF-00477736) and a Wee1 inhibitor (MK-1775) confirmed the marked synergistic effect in various human cancer cell lines (breast, ovarian, colon, prostate), independently of the p53 status. Detailed molecular analysis showed that the combination caused cancer cells to undergo premature mitosis before the end of DNA replication, with damaged DNA leading to cell death partly by apoptosis. In vivo treatment of mice bearing OVCAR-5 xenografts with the combination of Chk1 and Wee1 inhibitors led to greater tumor growth inhibition than with the inhibitors used as single agents with no toxicity. These data provide a strong rationale for the clinical investigation of the combination of a Chk1 and a Wee1 inhibitor.
A digital self-tuning tracking controller for permanent-magnet synchronous motors

A new digital self-tuning tracking controller for a permanent-magnet synchronous motor is presented, providing for either velocity or position trajectory tracking when both the electrical and mechanical parameters of the motor are unknown. A time-scale simplification leads to a discrete-time design model that is reduced-order and that evolves in the slower mechanical time-scale. A new piecewise-linear parameterization of the motor torque-angle characteristic functions allows for arbitrarily accurate identification of higher-order harmonics, without requiring more computation than traditional single-term sinusoidal descriptions. Experimental results demonstrate that excellent performance is achieved, even with very poor initial parameter knowledge. <<ETX>>
Enumerability, decidability, computability - an introduction to the theory of recursive functions

Reading a book is also kind of better solution when you have no enough money or time to get your own adventure. This is one of the reasons we show the enumerability decidability computability an introduction to the theory of recursive functions as your friend in spending the time. For more representative collections, this book not only offers it's strategically book resource. It can be a good friend, really good friend with much knowledge.
Modelling Users` Trust in Online Social Networks

Previous studies (McKnight, Lankton and Tripp, 2011; Liao, Lui and Chen, 2011) have shown the crucial role of trust when choosing to disclose sensitive information online. This is the case of online social networks users, who must disclose a certain amount of personal data in order to gain access to these online services. Taking into account privacy calculus model and the risk/benefit ratio, we propose a model of users` trust in online social networks with four variables. We have adapted metrics for the purpose of our study and we have assessed their reliability and validity. We use a Partial Least Squares (PLS) based structural equation modelling analysis, which validated all our initial assumptions, indicating that our three predictors (privacy concerns, perceived benefits and perceived risks) explain 48% of the variation of users` trust in online social networks, the resulting variable of our study. We also discuss the implications and further research opportunities of our study.
Homological mirror symmetry for punctured spheres

We prove that the wrapped Fukaya category of a punctured sphere (S with an arbitrary number of points removed) is equivalent to the triangulated category of singularities of a mirror Landau-Ginzburg model, proving one side of the homological mirror symmetry conjecture in this case. By investigating fractional gradings on these categories, we conclude that cyclic covers on the symplectic side are mirror to orbifold quotients of the Landau-Ginzburg model.
Comportements d'agents en mouvement : une approche cognitive pour la reconnaissance d'intentions. (Moving agents behaviours : a cognitive approach for intention recognition)

Dans un contexte applicatif de surveillance de zone maritime, nous voulons fournir a un operateur humain des informations semantiquement riches et dynamiques relatives aux comportements des entites sous surveillance. Reussir a relier les mesures brutes en provenance d’un systeme de capteurs aux descriptions abstraites de ces comportements est un probleme difficile. Ce dernier est d’ailleurs en general traite en deux temps: tout d’abord, realiser un pretraitement sur les donnees heterogenes, multidimensionnelles et imprecises pour les transformer en un flux d’evenements symbolique, puis utiliser des techniques de reconnaissance de plans sur ces memes evenements. Ceci permet de decrire des etapes de plans symboliques de haut niveau sans avoir a se soucier des specificites des capteurs bas niveau. Cependant, cette premiere etape est destructrice d’information et de ce fait genere une ambiguite supplementaire dans le processus de reconnaissance. De plus, separer les tâches de reconnaissance de comportements est generateur de calculs redondants et rend l’ecriture de la bibliotheque de plans plus ardue. Ainsi, nous proposons d’aborder cette problematique sans separer en deux le processus de reconnaissance. Pour y parvenir, nous proposons un nouveau modele hierarchique, inspire de la theorie des langages formels, nous permettant de construire un pont au-dessus du fosse semantique separant les mesures des capteurs des intentions des entites. Grâce a l’aide d’un ensemble d’algorithmes manipulant ce modele, nous sommes capables, a partir d’observations, de deduire les plausibles futures evolutions de la zone sous surveillance, tout en les justifiant des explications necessaires.
Economic Analysis of M&A in Japan: International Characteristics and Economic Role (Japanese)

The Japanese economy is currently experiencing a major merger and acquisition (MA that the activities of activist funds have had a positive impact on share values and have influenced the financial policies of the target companies; and that we have not yet seen the systematic occurrence of negative aspects of M&As, such as management overconfidence, the overvaluation of stock markets, and the breakdown of trust between stakeholders as a result of M&As.