Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
DCE-MRI biomarkers for monitoring an anti-angiogenic triple combination therapy in experimental hypopharynx carcinoma xenografts with immunohistochemical validation

Background Novel anti-angiogenic treatments are increasingly complementing established cancer therapy strategies in head and neck tumors. Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be applied for early and non-invasive therapy monitoring by non-invasive quantitative assessment of tumor microcirculation as in vivo imaging biomarkers of therapy response. Purpose To monitor the anti-angiogenic effects of a novel combination therapy on experimental head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) with dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)-MRI. Material and Methods Athymic rats (n = 18) with subcutaneous HNSCC xenografts were investigated by DCE-MRI before and after 7 days of a daily triple therapy regimen combining the COX-II-inhibitor celecoxib, the matrix-metalloproteinase-inhibitor GM6001, and the uPA-inhibitor upamostat. Quantitative measurements of tumor blood flow (tBF), tumor blood volume (tBV), and permeability-surface area product (PS) were calculated and validated by immunohistochemistry. Results Mean tBF and tBV in triple-therapy animals decreased significantly from day 0 to day 7 (tBF, 41.0 ± 14.2 to 20.4 ± 5.7 mL/100 mL/min; P < 0.01; tBV, 17.7 ± 3.9 to 7.5 ± 3.3%; P < 0.01). No significant effects on PS were observed in either group (P > 0.05). Immunohistochemical analysis showed a significantly lower tumor vascularity in the therapy group than in the control group (CD31), significantly fewer Ki-67+ proliferating tumor cells and significantly more Capase-3+ apoptotic tumor cells (P < 0.05). Significant (P < 0.05) correlations were observed between tBF/tBV and CD31 (tBF, r = 0.84; tBV, r = 0.70), tBV and Ki-67 (r = 0.62), as well as tBF and caspase-3 (r = −0.64). Conclusion DCE-MRI may be a suitable tool for the non-invasive monitoring of the anti-vascular effects of this innovative triple therapy regimen with potential for clinical translation.
Performance Pay and Credibility of Performance Measurement: Evidence from CEO Incentive Compensation

This paper investigates the credibility of performance measurement from the evidence of a link between CEO incentive compensation and CEOs` overstatement of their firms` earnings, measured by stock return sensitivities to firms` earnings announcements. It empirically analyzes whether the stock market response to announced earnings is positively related to the CEO`s performance pay. It appears that stock return sensitivities to firms` earnings announcements increased with CEO pay-performance ratio in all earnings categories. Using stock return sensitivities as indicators of a CEO`s overstatement of firm earnings, this suggests not only that such overstatements exist, but also that overstatements are more severe among CEOs with high incentive compensation. This suggests that performance measurements based on performance pay are not credible. In addition to tightening market monitoring, regulatory authorities should develop measures that can reduce overstatement, such as making CEO compensation better linked to long-term performance, which is more difficult to embellish.
Effects of training on potassium homeostasis during exercise and skeletal muscle Na+,K(+)-ATPase concentration in young adult and middle-aged Dutch Warmblood horses.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of moderate short-term training on K+ regulation in plasma and erythrocytes during exercise and on skeletal muscle Na+,K(+)-ATPase concentration in young adult and middle-aged horses. ANIMALS Four 4- to 6-year-old and four 10- to 16-year-old Dutch Warmblood horses. PROCEDURE The horses underwent a 6-minute exercise trial before and after 12 days of training. Skeletal muscle Na+,K(+)-ATPase concentration was analyzed in gluteus medius and semitendinosus muscle specimens before and after the 12-day training period. Blood samples were collected before and immediately after the trials and at 3, 5, 7, and 10 minutes after cessation of exercise for assessment of several hematologic variables and analysis of plasma and whole-blood K+ concentrations. RESULTS After training, Na+,K(+)-ATPase concentration in the gluteus medius, but not semitendinosus, muscle of middle-aged horses increased (32%), compared with pretraining values; this did not affect the degree of hyperkalemia that developed during exercise. The development of hyperkalemia during exercise in young adult horses was blunted (albeit not significantly) without any change in the concentration of Na+,K(+)-ATPase in either of the muscles. After training, the erythrocyte K+ concentration increased (7% to 10%) significantly in both groups of horses but did not change during the exercise trials. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE In horses, the activation of skeletal muscle Na+,K(+)-ATPase during exercise is likely to decrease with age. Training appears to result in an increase in Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity in skeletal muscle with subsequent upregulation of Na+,K(+)-ATPase concentration if the existing Na+,K(+)-ATPase capacity cannot meet requirements.
Talking and Texting Among Teenage Drivers: A Glass Half Empty or Half Full?

Objective: Cell phone use and text messaging in particular are associated with an increased risk of motor vehicle crashes. However, the frequency with which teenagers use cell phones while driving is still largely unknown. Methods: The current study obtained self-reported cell phone use behaviors while driving, including text messaging, along with beliefs about these actions, for a sample of licensed teenage drivers. Questionnaires were mailed to a random sample of 1947 high-school-age teens in 2 large metropolitan areas in North Carolina. Questionnaires were completed and returned by 537 teens, of whom 320 had an intermediate or full driver's license. Results: In total, 45 percent of teens reported using a cell phone in some capacity during their most recent trip. Fifteen percent reported that they only talked on a cell phone, 15 percent sent or read a text message only, and 15 percent both talked and texted. More generally, 12 percent of teens reported that they often talked on a cell phone while driving, 4 percent reported that they often initiated a text conversation while driving, 11 percent said that they often replied to texts, and 23 percent often read text messages. Teens reported using several strategies to reduce the risk associated with using a cell phone while driving. Among teens who had ever talked on a cell phone while driving, 47 percent said that they try to keep their conversations short because they are driving. Among teens who had ever texted while driving, approximately half said that they often wait until it feels safe to read and reply to text messages (58% and 47%, respectively). Conclusion: Most teens surveyed reported having talked or read or sent a text message using a cell phone while driving. Somewhat less than half engaged in one of these behaviors the last time they drove. However, many teens reported using strategies to reduce this risk and in certain instances, cell phone nonuse was the normative behavior. Better measurement of the extent and nature of phone use while driving is needed.
Progress in general sum-connectivity index

The general sum-connectivity index of a graph G is defined as χ<inf>a</inf>(G) = Σ<inf>uv∊E(G)</inf>(d<inf>u</inf>+d<inf>v</inf>)<sup>α</sup>, where d<inf>u</inf> (or d<inf>v</inf>) denotes the degree of vertex u (or v) in G, E(G) denotes the edge set of G, and α is a real number. This paper outlines the results up to now on this problem. Additionally, the formula for calculating the general sum-connectivity index of polyomino chains and suggestions for further research are given.
Enhancing Women’s Rights and Capabilities: An Intersectional Approach to Gender-Based Violence Prevention

Drawing on post-colonial feminist theory, this paper provides a critical assessment of United Nations (UN) gender-based violence theory and practice. Chapter One provides epistemic critiques of UN agencies’ current theoretical framework, paying particular attention to the concepts of gender, power, and culture. In order to help redress the problems identified in Chapter One, I argue in Chapter Two that we must look to the feminist theory of intersectionality. With its nuanced conceptions of oppression and privilege, intersectionality provides analytic depth to discussions of gender, power, and culture, which I argue can improve the practical effectiveness of gender-based violence prevention efforts. Chapter Three outlines the UN’s shortcomings in practice and illustrates how intersectionality can help remedy the problems identified. Drawing on the case of refugee camps in Ngara and Kibondo Tanzania, I highlight how specific programs and policies informed by the UN’s framework prove inadequate in both decreasing rates of violence and providing services to survivors. Finally, I discuss future implications of an intersectional approach to gender-based violence prevention and how it makes an invaluable contribution to established UN practice.
Lennox‐Gastaut syndrome with late‐onset and prominent reflex seizures in trisomy 21 patients

Purpose: Lennox‐Gastaut syndrome (LGS) is a severe epileptic condition characterized by multiple seizure types including tonic seizures, slow spike‐and‐wave discharges on electroencephalography (EEG), and cognitive impairment. LGS can occur in apparently healthy subjects or in patients with preexisting brain damage. The onset peaks between 3 and 5 years of age and the prognosis is usually poor. Herein we report 13 subjects with trisomy 21 who developed LGS.
The XcpR protein of Pseudomonas aeruginosa dimerizes via its N‐terminus

Extracellular protein secretion by the main terminal branch of the general secretory pathway in Pseudomonas aeruginosa requires a secretion machinery comprising the products of at least 12 genes. One of the components of this machinery, the XcpR protein, belongs to a large family of related proteins distinguished by the presence of a highly conserved nucleotide binding domain (Walker box A). The XcpR protein is essential for the process of extracellular secretion and amino acid substitutions within the Walker A sequence result in inactive XcpR. The same mutations exert a dominant negative effect on protein secretion when expressed in wild‐type bacteria. Transdominance of XcpR mutants suggests that this protein is involved in interactions with other components of the secretion machinery or that it functions as a multimer. In this study, the amino‐terminal portion of the cI repressor protein of phage λ was used as a reporter of dimerization in Escherichia coli following fusion to full‐length as well as a truncated form of XcpR. The cI–XcpR hybrid proteins were able to dimerize, as demonstrated by the immunity of bacteria expressing them to killing by λ phage. The full‐length XcpR as well as several deletion mutants of XcpR were able to disrupt the dimerization of the chimeric cI–XcpR protein. The disruption of cI–XcpR dimers using the deletion mutants of XcpR, combined with the analysis of their dominant negative effects on protein secretion, was used to map the minimal dimerization domain of XcpR, which is located within an 85 amino acid region in its N‐terminal domain. Taken together, the data presented in this paper suggest that the XcpR protein dimerizes via its N‐terminus and that this dimerization is essential for extracellular protein secretion.
Seasonal Stochastic Blockmodeling for Anomaly Detection in Dynamic Networks

Sociotechnological and geospatial processes exhibit time varying structure that make insight discovery challenging. To detect abnormal moments in these processes, a definition of `normal' must be established. This paper proposes a new statistical model for such systems, modeled as dynamic networks, to address this challenge. It assumes that vertices fall into one of k types and that the probability of edge formation at a particular time depends on the types of the incident nodes and the current time. The time dependencies are driven by unique seasonal processes, which many systems exhibit (e.g., predictable spikes in geospatial or web traffic each day). The paper defines the model as a generative process and an inference procedure to recover the `normal' seasonal processes from data when they are unknown. An outline of anomaly detection experiments to be completed over Enron emails and New York City taxi trips is presented.
Efficient power management in wireless sensor networks

Wireless sensor networks (WSN) are used extensively to monitor a wide range of physical and environmental parameters. The collected data can then be used to make various decisions and control actions. The individual sensors nodes of a WSN typically consist of a processor, sensors, and transceiver. As the monitoring device of WSN is increasingly mobile, the need for efficient power management (PM) techniques is becoming crucial in order to extend the life of the battery.
PRÁTICAS GERENCIAIS DE MICRO E PEQUENAS EMPRESAS

O estudo investiga quais são os instrumentos e procedimentos gerenciais utilizados em micro e pequenas empresas na tomada de decisão. Pesquisa descritiva com abordagem quantitativa foi realizada por meio de levantamento, tendo como amostra as 41 empresas respondentes do questionário. A análise dos dados foi realizada com aplicação de estatística descritiva, entropia informacional e o teste Mann-Whitney U. Os resultados mostram que nas empresas pesquisadas a tomada de decisão é baseada na experiência do proprietário. As empresas têm conhecimento do resultado mensal, mas não o discutem com o seu contador. A maioria das empresas não utiliza a contabilidade na tomada de decisão, seja pelo fato da informação contábil não refletir a real situação da empresa e/ou o gestor desconhecer sua utilidade. Os instrumentos gerenciais mais utilizados na tomada de decisão são controles operacionais e planejamento tributário, e os menos utilizados são demonstrações contábeis, métodos de custeio e outros instrumentos gerenciais. A maioria destas empresas não conhece ou não faz uso de instrumentos que orientam as estratégias e ações organizacionais, como o planejamento estratégico e o orçamento. Palavras-chave: Instrumentos gerenciais. Procedimentos gerenciais. Tomada de decisão. Micro e pequenas empresas.
The customer socialization paradox: the mixed effects of communicating customer role expectations

Purpose – Increasingly companies ask customers to participate in creating and producing services. This research aims to explore the effect that communicating role expectations to customers may have on their processing and evaluation of the encounter.Design/methodology/approach – A dyadic experiment using prototypical customer‐couples and practicing insurance agents was implemented. Couples and agents were randomly assigned to dyads, which were then assigned to one of two conditions – a no‐expectations or an expectations condition. Post‐encounter, couples evaluated service quality and indicated their satisfaction, trust and anticipation of future interaction.Findings – The study found that socialized customers relied more on service quality in evaluating the encounter than did unsocialized customers. However, socialized wives showed decreased trust, satisfaction and anticipation of future interaction than did non‐socialized wives (no significant differences for husbands). Research limitations/implications –.
Partial Activation of Natural Killer and γδ T Cells by Classical Swine Fever Viruses Is Associated with Type I Interferon Elicited from Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells

ABSTRACT Vaccination with live attenuated classical swine fever virus (CSFV) vaccines can rapidly confer protection in the absence of neutralizing antibodies. With an aim of providing information on the cellular mechanisms that may mediate this protection, we explored the interaction of porcine natural killer (NK) cells and γδ T cells with CSFV. Both NK and γδ T cells were refractory to infection with attenuated or virulent CSFV, and no stimulatory effects, as assessed by the expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II (MHC-II), perforin, and gamma interferon (IFN-γ), were observed when the cells were cultured in the presence of CSFV. Coculture with CSFV and myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) or plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) showed that pDCs led to a partial activation of both NK and γδ T cells, with upregulation of MHC-II being observed. An analysis of cytokine expression by infected DC subsets suggested that this effect was due to IFN-α secreted by infected pDCs. These results were supported by ex vivo analyses of NK and γδ T cells in the tonsils and retropharyngeal lymph nodes from pigs that had been vaccinated with live attenuated CSFV and/or virulent CSFV. At 5 days postchallenge, there was evidence of significant upregulation of MHC-II but not perforin on NK and γδ T cells, which was observed only following a challenge of the unvaccinated pigs and correlated with increased CSFV replication and IFN-α expression in both the tonsils and serum. Together, these data suggest that it is unlikely that NK or γδ T cells contribute to the cellular effector mechanisms induced by live attenuated CSFV.
Plant Vacuolar ATP-binding Cassette Transporters That Translocate Folates and Antifolates in Vitro and Contribute to Antifolate Tolerance in Vivo*

The vacuoles of pea (Pisum sativum) leaves and red beet (Beta vulgaris) storage root are major sites for the intracellular compartmentation of folates. In the light of these findings and preliminary experiments indicating that some plant multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP) subfamily ATP-binding cassette transporters are able to transport compounds of this type, the Arabidopsis thaliana vacuolar MRP, AtMRP1 (AtABCC1), and its functional equivalent(s) in vacuolar membrane vesicles purified from red beet storage root were studied. In so doing, it has been determined that heterologously expressed AtMRP1 and its equivalents in red beet vacuolar membranes are not only competent in the transport of glutathione conjugates but also folate monoglutamates and antifolates as exemplified by pteroyl-l-glutamic acid and methotrexate (MTX), respectively. In agreement with the results of these in vitro transport measurements, analyses of atmrp1 T-DNA insertion mutants of Arabidopsis ecotypes Wassilewskia and Columbia disclose an MTX-hypersensitive phenotype. atmrp1 knock-out mutants are more sensitive than wild-type plants to growth retardation by nanomolar concentrations of MTX, and this is associated with impaired vacuolar antifolate sequestration. The vacuoles of protoplasts isolated from the leaves of Wassilewskia atmrp1 mutants accumulate 50% less [3H]MTX than the vacuoles of protoplasts from wild-type plants when incubated in media containing nanomolar concentrations of this antifolate, and vacuolar membrane-enriched vesicles purified from the mutant catalyze MgATP-dependent [3H]MTX uptake at only 40% of the capacity of the equivalent membrane fraction from wild-type plants. AtMRP1 and its counterparts in other plant species therefore have the potential for participating in the vacuolar accumulation of folates and related compounds.
Utilizing an Overseas Seminar for Experiential Activities in International Marketing

Foreign markets are becoming increasingly important to many U.S. firms. These firms will need international marketers who are able to understand and assimilate the many complex issues found in the international environ ment. For this reason it is very hard for marketing students to gain the experience they will need to become effective international marketers solely in the class room. This paper describes an international marketing seminar which takes students overseas. During the seminar students have an opportunity to interact directly with business executives who have day to day responsibility for their firms' international market ing activities. This article describes the seminar and how a faculty member can organize one.
POS5 Gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Encodes a Mitochondrial NADH Kinase Required for Stability of Mitochondrial DNA

ABSTRACT In a search for nuclear genes that affect mutagenesis of mitochondrial DNA in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, an ATP-NAD (NADH) kinase, encoded by POS5, that functions exclusively in mitochondria was identified. The POS5 gene product was overproduced in Escherichia coli and purified without a mitochondrial targeting sequence. A direct biochemical assay demonstrated that the POS5 gene product utilizes ATP to phosphorylate both NADH and NAD+, with a twofold preference for NADH. Disruption of POS5 increased minus-one frameshift mutations in mitochondrial DNA 50-fold, as measured by the arg8m reversion assay, with no increase in nuclear mutations. Also, a dramatic increase in petite colony formation and slow growth on glycerol or limited glucose were observed. POS5 was previously described as a gene required for resistance to hydrogen peroxide. Consistent with a role in the mitochondrial response to oxidative stress, a pos5 deletion exhibited a 28-fold increase in oxidative damage to mitochondrial proteins and hypersensitivity to exogenous copper. Furthermore, disruption of POS5 induced mitochondrial biogenesis as a response to mitochondrial dysfunction. Thus, the POS5 NADH kinase is required for mitochondrial DNA stability with a critical role in detoxification of reactive oxygen species. These results predict a role for NADH kinase in human mitochondrial diseases.
The Impact of Interactive Quality between Tour Guides and Tourists on Tourist Perceptions——A Model with Tourist Perceived Risks as Mediator

Service quality of a tour guide has always been the focus of controversy in the area of tourism service.The paper tries to construct a structural equation model consisting of three dimensions(conduct,expertise and problem solution of tour guides) as antecedents,tourist personal risks and non-personal risks as mediator and tourist perceived value and satisfaction as consequence variables.By using 530 tourists who have been rendered the service of travel services as a sample,the authors find that it is likely to significantly reduce tourist perceived personal risks and enhance tourist perceived value and satisfaction by upgrading the conduct,professional expertise and the ability of tour guides.However,the impact of interactive quality between tour guides and tourists on tourist perceived non-personal risks and the impact of tourist perceived non-personal risks on tourist perceived value and satisfaction are relatively complicated.
Hemodynamic measurements in bacteremia and septic shock in man.

Patients studied after genitourinary instrumentation have a high incidence of bacteremia. Of 31 such patients studied, eight developed gram-negative bacteremia, 10 developed gram-positive bacteremia, three developed mixed bacteremia, and 10 were abacteremic after instrumentation. Patients with gram-negative bacteremia had greater falls in central venous pressure and systemic vascular resistance and greater increases in cardiac index than either the abacteremic group or the patients with gram-positive bacteremia. These findings are consistent with vasodilatation during early gram-negative bacteremia due to release of a vasodilator substance. Fifty patients were studied during established septic shock, and the 31 with gram-negative infections had lower cardiac output and heart rates than the 19 with gram-positive infections. Vasoconstriction was more common in patients with gram-negative infections. In established shock due to gram-negative organisms, myocardial function appeared to be depressed, and vasodilatation was less marked.