Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Expression patterns of bone‐related proteins during osteoblastic differentiation in MC3T3‐E1 cells

Bone formation involves several tightly regulated gene expression patterns of bone‐related proteins. To determine the expression patterns of bone‐related proteins during the MC3T3‐E1 osteoblast‐like cell differentiation, we used Northern blotting, enzymatic assay, and histochemistry. We found that the expression patterns of bone‐related proteins were regulated in a temporal manner during the successive developmental stages including proliferation (days 4–10), bone matrix formation/maturation (days 10–16), and mineralization stages (days 16 –30). During the proliferation period (days 4–10), the expression of cell‐cycle related genes such as histone H3 and H4, and ribosomal protein S6 was high. During the bone matrix formation/maturation period (days 10–16), type I collagen expression and biosynthesis, fibronectin, TGF‐β1 and osteonectin expressions were high and maximal around day 16. During this maturation period, we found that the expression patterns of bone matrix proteins were two types: one is the expression pattern of type I collagen and TGF‐β1, which was higher in the maturation period than that in both the proliferation and mineralization periods. The other is the expression pattern of fibronectin and osteonectin, which was higher in the maturation and mineralization periods than in the proliferation period. Alkaline phosphatase activity was high during the early matrix formation/maturation period (day 10) and was followed by a decrease to a level still significantly above the baseline level seen at day 4. During the mineralization period (days 16–30), the number of nodules and the expression of osteocalcin were high. Osteocalcin gene expression was increased up to 28 days. Our results show that the expression patterns of bone‐related proteins are temporally regulated during the MC3T3‐E1 cell differentiation and their regulations are unique compared with other systems. Thus, this cell line provides a useful in vitro system to study the developmental regulation of bone‐related proteins in relation to the different stages during the osteoblast differentiation. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Novel current control technique for synchronous current converter in weak grids/micro grids using Lyapunov stability

Microgrids are gaining considerable attention due to the installation of renewable power generation resources in areas that are closer to the load centers. The multivariable droop idea, acknowledges active power sharing by concurrent drooping of both voltage and frequency, in resistance as well as weak grids. To develop a multivariable-droop synchronous current converter control strategy for current management using Lyapunov stability of microgrid applications. In this paper overview of Lyapunov stability of linear continuous systems is presented. The conditions for the existence of the solutions for both regular and irregular singular linear systems are introduced. To guarantee an asymptotical stability for linear continuous singular systems and new stability conditions are analyzed. A considerable attention is focused on the design of controllers for multivariable linear systems so that certain system properties could be preserved under various classes of perturbations occurring in the system. It presents a multivariable-droop synchronous current converter control strategy for current management of weak grid/microgrid applications, and offers a systematic and straightforward design approach using the loop shaping technique. The controller integrates current regulation, management, and limitation that are applicable to microgrids (MGs). The simulation is done by MATLAB/SIMULINK software.
Computational simulation of internal bone remodelling around dental implants: a sensitivity analysis

This study aimed to predict the distribution of bone trabeculae, as a density change per unit time, around a dental implant based on applying a selected mathematical remodelling model. The apparent bone density change as a function of the mechanical stimulus was the base of the applied remodelling model that describes disuse and overload bone resorption. The simulation was tested in a finite element model of a screw-shaped dental implant in an idealised bone segment. The sensitivity of the simulation to different mechanical parameters was investigated; these included element edge length, boundary conditions, as well as direction and magnitude of the implant loads. The alteration in the mechanical parameters had a significant influence on density distribution and model stability, in particular at the cortical bone region. The remodelling model could succeed to achieve trabeculae-like structure around osseointegrated dental implants. The validation of this model to a real clinical case is required.
Insulin/IGF-I and Related Signaling Pathways Regulate Aging in Nondividing Cells: from Yeast to the Mammalian Brain

Mutations that reduce glucose or insulin/insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) signaling increase longevity in organisms ranging from yeast to mammals. Over the past 10 years, several studies confirmed this conserved molecular strategy of longevity regulation, and many more have been added to the complex mosaic that links stress resistance and aging. In this review, we will analyze the similarities that have emerged over the last decade between longevity regulatory pathways in organisms ranging from yeast, nematodes, and fruit flies to mice. We will focus on the role of yeast signal transduction proteins Ras, Tor, Sch9, Sir2, their homologs in higher organisms, and their association to oxidative stress and protective systems. We will discuss how the “molecular strategy” responsible for life span extension in response to dietary and genetic manipulations appears to be remarkably conserved in various organisms and cells, including neuronal cells in different organisms. Taken together, these studies indicate that simple model systems will contribute to our comprehension of aging of the mammalian nervous system and will stimulate novel neurotherapeutic strategies in humans.
A defective Il15 allele underlies the deficiency in natural killer cell activity in nonobese diabetic mice

The nonobese diabetic (NOD) mouse strain has a genetic deficiency in natural killer (NK) cells. This defect underlies this strain's utility in several experimental settings; in particular, it promotes engraftment of human tissue in NOD hosts during the generation of “humanized” mouse models. We have mapped the major NK-cell defect in the NOD vs. C57BL/6 (B6) strain to an inadequately expressed Il15 allele. Treatment of NOD mice with a reagent that specifically enhances interleukin (IL)-15 bioavailability normalized NK-cell numbers and activity in the absence of nonspecific stimulation. These findings raise the possibility of exploiting reagents that impact the IL-15 receptor pathway to facilitate construction of humanized mouse models on non-NOD genetic backgrounds.
A Mechanistic Model for the Superglue Fuming of Latent Fingerprints *

ABSTRACT: The use of superglue vapors to detect latent fingerprints, known as superglue fuming, is a chemical process that has not been fully described. The role of the fingerprint material in the process, leading to formation of methyl cyanoacrylate polymer at the site of the fingerprint, remains to be established. Films of liquid alkanes respond similarly to actual fingerprints in the fuming experiment. Their responses depended on the hydrocarbon used, viscosity, and film thickness. Aspects such as film thickness appear to be relevant for actual fingerprints as well. A model was proposed in light of these observations. The model compares the process with gas chromatography, in which molecules partition between the gas phase and a stationary phase. Aspects such as accumulation of superglue monomers by partitioning into a thin film (or wax) are consistent with the preferential response of fingerprints on surfaces relative to the background.
Clinical and genetic evaluation in a French population presenting with primary focal dystonia

Primary focal dystonia (PFD) is known to be a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of movement disorders. To evaluate the frequency of familial focal dystonia in a French population presenting with PFD, we screened 197 patients (150 index cases and 47 affected family members) presenting focal primary dystonia for the GAG deletion in the DYT1 gene and analyzed linkage to the DYT6, DYT7, and DYT13 loci in those who presented a family history. Fourteen families could be recruited and, among them 47 new symptomatic individuals could be identified by clinical examination. A group of 104 patients were without family history and 46 patients (30.7%) were found to have at least one first‐degree relative with dystonia. Mean age at onset was significantly later (55.4 ± 14.0 years) in the blepharospasm group and earlier in patients with writer's cramp (35.8 ± 14.0 years). The group of patients with family history showed a mean age at onset significantly earlier (39.2 ± 18.0) than in patients without family history (47.4 ± 14.4 years). Fourteen families demonstrated an autosomal mode of transmission and five families were studied further for genetic linkage analysis, but no significant linkage to one of the three loci could be observed. Our results illustrate the importance of genetic factors and the clinical heterogeneity of PFD. They indicate the existence of one or several as yet unmapped genes responsible for these diseases. © 2005 Movement Disorder Society
Facilitating and improving health information sharing in the U.S.

Since the enactment of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, health information technology networks have had the potential to connect public health agencies, private clinics, practitioners, and laboratories to share health-related data. Information sharing benefits participating organizations by reducing transaction costs, maintaining collaborative relationships, increasing efficiency in policymaking, being competitive, and finally, leading to desired policy changes and innovation such as policy integration and collaborative governance. In spite of its significance and mutual benefits, little is known about how external and internal features of organizations influence information sharing in public agencies. Hence, this study not only addressed these issues but also aimed to provide further understanding of influential factors on the information-sharing activities of public organizations from three perspectives – the policy, technological, and organizational lenses. Also, this research suggested new measurement for organizational information sharing by specifying the target audience and the activities to share information. The findings reveal that the impacts of the organizational characteristics of local health departments on information sharing are greater than the impacts of the legislation and the use of information technology. Specifically, a certain degree of centralization and formalization – if they do not overly restrict flexibility – can help organizations share information with other agencies by setting organizational goals or providing guidance to achieve the goals. This research also highlights critical roles of human resource management, a strategic plan, and contracting out of public service delivery for better outcomes – in determining the activities and the levels of government with which to share information. In addition, the results imply that information sharing can be an initial step for organizations to seek further collaboration. Taken together, this research found that these policy, technological, and organizational characteristics jointly determine local government agencies’ information sharing. As the United States government has strived to promote information sharing among agencies across sectors to improve policymaking, this study can contribute to identifying the determinants of information sharing and understanding how the federal government can help local and state governments prepare guidelines and secure needed resources to actively share information. INDEX WORDS: Information sharing, Health Information Technology, Local health departments, Health Information Technology for Clinical and Economic Health (HITECH) provision, Information Technology, Organizational
FAR1 and the G1 phase specificity of cell cycle arrest by mating factor in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Significant accumulation of Far1p is restricted to the G1 phase of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell cycle. Here we demonstrate yeast cell cycle regulation of Far1p proteolysis. Deletions within the 50 N-terminal amino acids of Far1p increase stability and reduce cell cycle regulation of Far1p abundance. Whereas wild-type Far1p specifically and exclusively promotes G1 phase arrest in response to mating factor, stabilized Far1p promoted arrest both during and after G1. The loss of the G1 specificity of Far1p action requires elimination of FAR1 transcriptional regulation (by means of the GAL1 promoter) as well as N-terminal truncation. Thus, the cell cycle specificity of mating factor arrest may be largely due to cell cycle regulation of FAR1 transcription and protein stability.
Engagement of External Expertise in Information Systems Implementation

Most small businesses lack computer experience and do not have sufficient internal computer expertise. Hence, small businesses are more dependent on external expertise such as consultants and vendors than are larger businesses. This paper compares the information systems (IS) effectiveness of a group of small businesses that engage separate consultants and vendors (consultant-vendor approach) with that of another group of small businesses that engage vendors who also provide consultancy service (vendor-only approach). The results show that small businesses that adopt the vendor-only approach have more effective information systems than small businesses that adopt the consultant-vendor approach. Further, the vendor-only approach results in the same level of consultant effectiveness and a better level of vendor support for small businesses compared with the consultant-vendor approach. The relationship between vendor and other parties in the IS implementation project is found to be an important predictor of IS effectiveness.
Safety aspects of aprotinin therapy in cardiac surgery patients

Aprotinin is the only agent with Class A Level 1 evidence for reduction in rates of transfusion and return to operating theatre to control bleeding after heart surgery. Principal on the list of safety issues raised over the years are increased risk for: a) thrombosis; and b) renal dysfunction. With multiple administrations, hypersensitivity reactions have emerged as a further safety concern. This review discusses these issues, based on the examination of > 500 published articles. The article also specifically places in context the data presented recently from the observational McSPI database analysis. This report suggested that aprotinin should be withdrawn from human use as serious safety issues have been ignored or missed, an inference not in agreement with the majority of the human safety literature.
Phosphorylation of connexin 43 acts as a stimuli for proteasome-dependent degradation of the protein in lens epithelial cells.

PURPOSE The lens is an avascular organ in which gap junctions provide a pathway for intercellular communication, which is vital to maintain lens transparency. Connexin43 (Cx43) is the main gap-junctional protein in lens epithelial cells. Phosphorylation of connexins is implicated in the regulation of intercellular communication. The objective of this report is to determine whether phosphorylation of Cx43 in lens epithelial cells alters its resistance to degradation by a proteasome dependent mechanism. METHODS Primary cultures of LEC were incubated with protein kinase activator (TPA) and allowed to recover either in the presence or absence of proteasome or lysosome inhibitors. The contribution of the proteasome for the degradation of the phosphorylated form of Cx43 was further investigated by metabolic labeling with 32P or [35S]-methionine. Subcellular distribution of Cx43 was evaluated by immunofluorescence using antibodies directed against Cx43. Gap junctional intercellular communication was evaluated by transfer of the dye Lucifer yellow. RESULTS Inhibitors of proteasome and lysosome both stabilize Cx43, while proteasome inhibitors preferentially stabilize the phosphorylated form of the protein. Pulse chase experiments with 32P or [35S]-methionine show that while phosphorylation destabilizes Cx43, proteasome inhibitors stabilize the phosphorylated form of the protein. Intercellular communication is inhibited by TPA and can be restored by proteasome inhibitors, probably by preventing loss of Cx43 from the plasma membrane following treatment with TPA. CONCLUSIONS Our observations support a model in which the combined action of phosphorylation and protein degradation by a proteasome dependent mechanism contribute to regulate Cx43 stability in plasma membrane and intercellular communication through gap junctions, thus adding a novel level of regulation to intercellular communication in lens epithelial cells.
Import of biopolymers into Escherichia coli: nucleotide sequences of the exbB and exbD genes are homologous to those of the tolQ and tolR genes, respectively

Escherichia coli with mutations in the exb region are impaired in outer membrane receptor-dependent uptake processes. They are resistant to the antibiotic albomycin and exhibit reduced sensitivity to group B colicins. A 2.2-kilobase-pair DNA fragment of the exb locus was sequenced. It contained two open reading frames, designated exbB and exbD, which encoded polypeptides of 244 and 141 amino acids, respectively. Both proteins were found in the cytoplasmic membrane. They showed strong homologies to the TolQ and TolR proteins, respectively, which are involved in uptake of group A colicins and infection by filamentous bacteriophages. exbB and exbD were required to complement exb mutations. Osmotic shock treatment rendered exb mutants sensitive to colicin M, which was taken as evidence that the ExbB and ExbD proteins are involved in transport processes across the outer membrane. It is concluded that the exb- and tol-dependent systems originate from a common uptake system for biopolymers.
The performance of Islamic mutual funds, why is it not better than conventional?

The Islamic mutual funds objective tries to safeguard the moslem community from usury, masyir, and gharar. However, that product still has a problem which relates to the performance. Based on the literature review, Islamic mutual funds can not outperform the market benchmark and the conventional mutual funds. It happens because of some factors in the Islamic mutual funds product. Unskilled manager is the inside factor causing the lack of Islamic mutual funds performance. It is because the manager does not have many choices in making portfolio aligned with shariah. Then, the outside factor is about the regulation itself relating to the goverment policy. In this paper, the writer tries to offer the solutions. Firstly, Islamic mutual funds has to be bravely different to give clear identity as fully shariah compliance in purpose to attract moslem communities to invest. Secondly, the goverment has to promote Islamic funds market to make it more developed.
The role of crisis typology and cultural belongingness in shaping consumers’ negative responses towards a faulty brand

Purpose Previous research on brand crisis has introduced the difference between a values-related crisis and a performance-related crisis. However, little remains known regarding consumers’ varying negative responses towards these two different types of brand misconduct. This paper aims to investigate and compare consumers’ affective and behavioural negative reactions (i.e. negative word of mouth and purchase intention) towards a faulty brand during a values-related crisis and a performance-related crisis by testing the mediation of negative emotions and introducing the moderating role of cultural belongingness (collectivistic vs individualistic). Design/methodology/approach The authors tested a model of moderated mediation in a cross-cultural investigation on a sample of 229 Italian and Asian consumers. The study is a 2 (cultures: collectivistic vs individualistic) × 2 (crisis: performance-related vs values-related) between-subjects experimental design. The moderated mediation model shows that consumers’ negative reactions (negative word of mouth and negative purchase intention) towards a faulty brand involved in different crisis typologies is explained by the mediating role of negative emotions, and that this mediation depends on a consumer’s cultural belongingness. Findings The results suggest that consumers belonging to a collectivistic culture (e.g. Asian culture) tend to react in a more severe and strict manner when faced with a values-related brand crisis event then when faced with a performance-related crisis. The arousal of negative emotion towards a brand represents the mediating variable in behavioural responses (i.e. negative word of mouth and purchase intention). Originality/value The present study extends current knowledge in the field of consumers’ negative response to brand irresponsibility behaviours while introducing the role of crisis typology and cultural belongingness. In particular, individualistic people are more sensitive to a values-related crisis in comparison with a performance-related one. The findings of this study have strong managerial implications for defining effective response strategies to negative events involving brands in different markets.
ROLE OF KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES ON PERFORMANCE OF MULTINATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS WITH A CASE OF MULTI-CHOICE KENYA

The purpose of this study was to analyze the influence of knowledge management strategies on performance of the multinational organization with Multi-Choice being a case study. The study aimed at investigating the effect of knowledge Identification strategies, Knowledge acquisition strategy, knowledge application strategy and knowledge sharing strategy on performance of Multi-choice limited Kenya. The study adopted a case study research design where Multi-Choice was picked as a case. The target population was 333 management staff from different departments at Multi-Choice which and the sample size was 100. Q uestionnaires and interviews were used as main instruments for data collection. Analysis and interpretation of data was done using qualitative and quantitative methods according to research objectives and research questions. The data collected was summarized, classified, tabulated and analyzed qualitatively. This study recommended to the management of multi-choice to ensure that incentives are put in place to encourage knowledge sharing among employees and also provide its employees with the platform for sharing knowledge this would help stimulate knowledge sharing leading to achievement of higher international performance. The study suggested that further research on the same topic be done in the government corporations in order to give reliable result that reflect the real situation in service provision sector. The study also suggested that the same study should be done on knowledge management strategy on performance of Non-governmental sector by focusing on other sectors rather than Multi-choice Kenya such as manufacturing, trading sector in order to depict reliable information that illustrates real situation across the sectors. Key Words: knowledge Identification strategies, Knowledge acquisition, knowledge application, knowledge sharing