Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Post-transcriptional Regulation of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor by Hypoxia (*)

The major control point for the hypoxic induction of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene is the regulation of the steady-state level of the mRNA. We previously demonstrated a discrepancy between the transcription rate and the steady-state mRNA level induced by hypoxia. This led us to examine the post-transcriptional regulation of VEGF expression. Actinomycin D experiments revealed that hypoxia increased VEGF mRNA half-life from 43 ± 6 min to 106 ± 9 min. Using an in vitro mRNA degradation assay, the half-life of VEGF mRNA 3′-untranslated region (UTR) transcripts were also found to be increased when incubated with hypoxic versus normoxic extracts. Both cis-regulatory elements involved in VEGF mRNA degradation under normoxic conditions and in increased stabilization under hypoxic conditions were mapped using this degradation assay. A hypoxia-induced protein(s) was found that bound to the sequences in the VEGF 3′-UTR which mediated increased stability in the degradation assay. Furthermore, genistein, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, blocked the hypoxia-induced stabilization of VEGF 3′-UTR transcripts and inhibited hypoxia-induced protein binding to the VEGF 3′-UTR. These findings demonstrate a significant post-transcriptional component to the regulation of VEGF.
An Analysis on Rural Tourism Development Model in Yi County of Huangshan City

The Yi Countyâ€™s rural tourism model has changed a lot, gradually transferring from the single model to the composite model, which integrates sightseeing, touring, entertainment, leisure, vocation, and shopping. This article mainly focuses on the rural tourism development model. Yi County is a typical case for others, which gives a new development model.
“Organizing Trust”. On the Institutional Underpinning and Erosion of Trust in Different Organizational Forms in Public Transport

Competitive tendering of local bus operations is spreading further in Europe, affecting changes in both interorganizational as well as personal relationships. When contractual relations between people and organizations are changing, the mutual expectations in terms of what is negotiable are changing. Since negotiations rest on trust, these changes imply a restructuring of what can be trusted. This paper will give an overview of these developments, develop an analytical framework distinguishing the new and the old contractual relations, and discuss observed and anticipated potentials and unforeseen side effects of these developments in relation to different ways of organizing trust.
Nutrient Metabolism Platycodi Radix Affects Lipid Metabolism in Mice with High Fat Diet – Induced Obesity

An aqueous extract of Platycodi radix inhibited the hydrolysis of triolein emulsified with phosphatidylcholine by pancreatic lipase in vitro and it reduced the elevation of rat plasma triacylglycerol level 2–4 h after oral administration of a lipid emulsion containing corn oil. These preliminary results suggested that the aqueous extract of Platycodi radix may inhibit the intestinal absorption of dietary fat by inhibiting its hydrolysis. Therefore, we examined the antiobesity activity of the aqueous extract of Platycodi radix by testing whether the extract prevented the obesity induced by feeding a high fat diet to mice for 8 wk. Body weights at 3–8 wk and the final parametrial adipose tissue weights were significantly lower in mice fed the high fat diet containing 5% aqueous extract of Platycodi radix than in the controls fed the high fat diet. The aqueous extract of Platycodi radix also significantly reduced hepatic triacylglycerol concentrations that were elevated in mice fed the high fat diet alone. Inulin, which is a major component of Platycodi radix, had no effect on the hydrolysis of triolein emulsified with phosphatidylcholine by pancreatic lipase in vitro, and did not prevent obesity or the fatty liver induced by the high fat diet. On the other hand, the total saponin fraction of the aqueous extract inhibited pancreatic lipase activity in vitro. Therefore, the antiobesity effect of the aqueous extract of Platycodi radix in mice fed a high fat diet may be due in part to the inhibition of intestinal absorption of dietary fat by the saponins of Platycodi radix. J. Nutr. 130:
Detection of G-Quartet Structure in a DNA Aptamer Stationary Phase Using a Fluorescent Dye

The fluorescent porphyrin dye N-methylmesoporphyrin IX (NMM) was used to provide direct evidence of intramolecular G-quartet formation by an oligonucleotide immobilized at the inner surface of a fused silica capillary. The oligonucleotide is the thrombin-binding DNA aptamer, which has been used in several analytical applications, including a stationary phase for open tubular capillary electrochromatography. Spectroscopic studies of the dye in batch solutions of the aptamer and of an oligonucleotide with the same base composition, but in a different, “scrambled” sequence that does not form an intramolecular G-quartet, provided evidence of selective fluorescence enhancement of NMM by the aptamer in the intramolecular G-quartet structure. On-column experiments compared results for injections of NMM onto an aptamer-coated capillary, a capillary coated with the scrambled sequence oligonucleotide, and a bare fused silica capillary. Results show that while NMM adsorbs to both coated capillaries, the selective fluorescence enhancement provides evidence of the intramolecular G-quartet structure on the aptamer-coated capillary.
Dual-frequency IVUS array for contrast enhanced intravascular ultrasound imaging

Recent studies suggest that contrast enhanced intravascular ultrasound (CE-IVUS) may be used for identifying vulnerable plaques through molecular imaging or detecting neovascularizations within a growing atherosclerotic lesion. However, typical intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) transducers operate at a high frequency band (20-60 MHz) which makes them not ideal for imaging microbubble contrast agents due to the less effective microbubble excitation at high frequencies. In this paper, a prototyped dual-frequency array for CE-IVUS was developed and tested. The prototype flat transducer array consists of a receiving array (32 elements, 30 MHz) built on the top of a transmitting array (8 sub-elements, 2.25 MHz) to achieve real-time superharmonic contrast enhanced imaging. The size of the receiving aperture was varied, tested and resultant images were compared. Images of a contrast-filled microtube can be observed clearly with only 4 receiving elements at an excitation voltage of 55 V, which indicates feasibility of CE-IVUS imaging after circularly wrapping the array for catheter integration.
Increased variance in germline allele-specific expression of APC associates with colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Germline variations in allele-specific expression (ASE) are associated with highly penetrant familial cancers, but their role in common sporadic cancers is unclear. ASE of adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) is associated with pathogenesis of familial adenomatous polyposis. We investigated whether moderate variations in ASE of APC contribute to common forms of colorectal cancer (CRC). METHODS Denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography was used to analyze germline ASE of APC in blood samples from patients with CRC (cases, n = 53) and controls (n = 68). Means, medians, and variances of ASE were compared. Variants in the APC gene region also were analyzed. RESULTS The distribution of ASE differed significantly between groups; cases had significantly larger amounts of variance than controls (P = .0004). Risk for CRC increased proportionally with the degree of deviation from the mean. The odds ratio for individuals with levels of ASE that deviated more than 1 standard deviation from the mean was 3.97 (95% confidence interval, 1.71-9.24; P = .001); for those with levels greater than 1.645 standard deviations, the odds ratio was 13.46 (95% confidence interval, 1.76-609.40; P = .005). Sequence analysis revealed that a patient with a high level of ASE who did not have a family history of CRC carried a nonsense mutation in APC (p.Arg216X). Genotype analysis of APC associated multiple single-nucleotide polymorphisms with ASE values and/or variance among cases, but not controls. Cis variants, therefore, might account for some of the variance in ASE of APC. CONCLUSIONS Patients with CRC have a larger variance in germline levels of ASE in APC than controls; large distances from the mean ASE were associated with risk for common forms of CRC.
Multinationals, Techno-Entrepreneurs and the Globalization of Technology Value Chains

An important element of technology globalization is the rise of technology-based entrepreneurs in China, India, Mexico and other emerging economies. Increasingly, these techno-entrepreneurs are strategically important as part of the innovation value chain of multinational enterprises (MNEs). Some of these linkages began as MNEs sought to cut costs by outsourcing activities to offshore firms. More recently, however, MNEs are globally dispersing more and more of their engineering work, and increasingly the MNEs are having emerging economy techno-entrepreneurs do much of their higher-level engineering and technology development work.This has major potential consequences for the MNEs, their home countries, their host countries, and the on-going development of global technology value chains. Before assessing these potential consequences, however, we need a much clearer understanding of how these local entrepreneurial firms fit into the strategies of the MNEs and of the processes by which the entrepreneurial firms come into being and develop as key parts of global technology creation chains. We need to understand better the role the new entrepreneurial firms are playing in the development of technologies that the MNEs use to serve customers not just in the emerging economies, but around the world.The specific organizational form of Techno-entrepreneurship, the inter-firm linkages, the growth trajectories as well as the implications for national policies have been under conceptualized in the existing literature. Technology entrepreneurship that is linked to MNEs is, we hypothesize, different from the general category of entrepreneurship. Further, we consider the extent to which linkages with offshore techno-entrepreneurs are complements to, and the extent to which they are substitutes for, MNE linkages with techno-entrepreneurs in their home country. The implications for MNEs and national competitiveness are also examined.Based on field work carried out in the U.S., EU, Japan, China, India, and Mexico by the authors and their collaborators from these countries, this paper presents brief case descriptions of the processes by which technology entrepreneurs from the emerging economies are becoming part of worldwide technology value chains.
Quantitative motor unit action potential analysis in 2 paraspinal neck muscles in adult Royal Dutch Sport horses.

BACKGROUND Reference values for quantitative electromyography (QEMG) in neck muscles of Royal Dutch Sport horses are lacking. OBJECTIVE Determine normative data on quantitative motor unit action potential (QMUP) analysis of serratus ventralis cervicis (SV) and brachiocephalicus (BC) muscle. ANIMALS Seven adult normal horses (mean age 9.5 standard deviation [SD] ± 2.3 years, mean height 1.64 SD ± 4.5 cm, and mean rectal temperature 37.6 SD ± 0.3°C). METHODS An observational study on QMUP analysis in 6 segments of each muscle was performed with commercial electromyography equipment. Measurements were made according to formerly published methods. Natural logarithm transformed data were tested with ANOVA and posthoc testing according to Bonferroni. RESULTS Mean duration, amplitude, phases, turns, area, and size index (SI) did not differ significantly among the 6 segments in each muscle. Mean amplitude, number of phases, and SI were significantly (P < .002) higher in SV than BC, 520 versus 448 μV, 3.0 versus 2.8 μV, and 0.48 versus 0.30 μV, respectively. In SV 95% confidence intervals (CI) for amplitude, duration, number of phases, turns, polyphasia area, and SI were 488-551 μV, 4.3-4.6 ms, 2.9-3.0, 2.4-2.6, 7-12%, 382-448, and 0.26-0.70, respectively; in BC this was 412-483 μV, 4.3-4.7 ms, 2.7-2.8, 2.4-2.6, 4-7%, 393-469, and 0.27-0.34, respectively. Maximal voluntary activity expressed by turns/second did not differ significantly between SV and BC with a 95% CI of 132-173 and 137-198, respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE The establishment of normative data makes objective QEMG of paraspinal muscles in horses suspected of cervical neurogenic disorders possible. Differences between muscles should be taken into account.
Lymphatic Endothelial Heparan Sulfate Deficiency Results in Altered Growth Responses to Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-C (VEGF-C)*♦

Growth and remodeling of lymphatic vasculature occur during development and during various pathologic states. A major stimulus for this process is the unique lymphatic vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C). Other endothelial growth factors, such as fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) or VEGF-A, may also contribute. Heparan sulfate is a linear sulfated polysaccharide that facilitates binding and action of some vascular growth factors such as FGF-2 and VEGF-A. However, a direct role for heparan sulfate in lymphatic endothelial growth and sprouting responses, including those mediated by VEGF-C, remains to be examined. We demonstrate that VEGF-C binds to heparan sulfate purified from primary lymphatic endothelia, and activation of lymphatic endothelial Erk1/2 in response to VEGF-C is reduced by interference with heparin or pretreatment of cells with heparinase, which destroys heparan sulfate. Such treatment also inhibited phosphorylation of the major VEGF-C receptor VEGFR-3 upon VEGF-C stimulation. Silencing lymphatic heparan sulfate chain biosynthesis inhibited VEGF-C-mediated Erk1/2 activation and abrogated VEGFR-3 receptor-dependent binding of VEGF-C to the lymphatic endothelial surface. These findings prompted targeting of lymphatic N-deacetylase/N-sulfotransferase-1 (Ndst1), a major sulfate-modifying heparan sulfate biosynthetic enzyme. VEGF-C-mediated Erk1/2 phosphorylation was inhibited in Ndst1-silenced lymphatic endothelia, and scratch-assay responses to VEGF-C and FGF-2 were reduced in Ndst1-deficient cells. In addition, lymphatic Ndst1 deficiency abrogated cell-based growth and proliferation responses to VEGF-C. In other studies, lymphatic endothelia cultured ex vivo from Ndst1 gene-targeted mice demonstrated reduced VEGF-C- and FGF-2-mediated sprouting in collagen matrix. Lymphatic heparan sulfate may represent a novel molecular target for therapeutic intervention.
Management compensation as a value-added competitive method for casual theme restaurants.

The primary purpose of this study is to propose that the management compensation package at Outback Steakhouse is a value-adding competitive method. Specifically the research focused on a survey of general manager's attitudes in regards to their intentions to seek out new employment and the effect ofthe compensation plan provided by Outback Steakhouse on the managers' intentions. This research will provide insight into the use of compensation packages and programs as proactive, value-adding competitive methods in retaining good quality managers in casual theme restaurants.
The ideal vegetable attributes based on consumer preferences: a conjoint analysis approach.

Consumers' purchase decisions are influenced by the attributes that they attach to the product. This study was conducted in the major vegetable markets of the Philippines in order to understand the relevant attributes and the respective attribute levels that consumers identified with carrot and cabbage using conjoint analysis. It also aimed to identify market segments according to relevant vegetable attributes assigned. Carrot and cabbage are important crops in Benguet Province, Northern Philippines in terms of volume produced and marketed. The important product attributes of carrot for consumers, according to order of importance are price, origin, freshness, size, and color. Similarly, cabbage consumers gave the highest importance value to price followed by production method, origin, shape, and freshness. The market segments for carrot consumers are described as: price conscious and origin-sensitive. The former prefer carrot priced at PhP 15 (US$ 0.35) per kg while the latter prefer carrots produced in Benguet. The market segments for cabbage consumers are the: health-conscious and the price and origin conscious. The former gave the highest utility score to the attribute level organic under production method indicating that they connect food much more with their well-being. On the other hand, the latter gave high importance to cabbage with the lowest price of PhP 10 (US$ 0.23) per kg and cabbage produced in Benguet.
Factors that Inhibit Globally Distributed Software Development Teams

Globally distributed teams can frequently have problems specifically related to the distance and differences among team members. This paper synthesizes literature related to globally distributed software development teams to find the factors that inhibit team success. This research indicates that cultural differences, trust, communication, shared mental models, temporal agility, and work transitions can all cause problems on globally distributed software development teams. This research can help both researchers and practitioners gain valuable insights on factors that can affect the performance of globally distributed teams.
Strategic Management: An Integrated Approach

PART ONE: INTRODUCTION TO STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT. 1: Strategic Leadership: Managing the Strategy-Making process for Competitive Advantage. 2: External Analysis: The Identifi cation of Opportunities and Threats. PART TWO: THE NATURE OF COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE. 3: Internal Analysis: Distinctive Competencies, Competitive Advantage, and Profitability. 4: Building Competitive Advantage Through Functional-Level Strategy. PART THREE: STRATEGIES. 5: Building Competitive Advantage Through Business-Level Strategy. 6: Business-Level Strategy and the Industry Environment. 7: Strategy and Technology. 8: Strategy in the Global Environment. 9: Corporate-Level Strategy: Horizontal Integration, Vertical Integration, and Strategic Outsourcing. 10: Corporate-Level Strategy: Related and Unrelated Diversification. PART FOUR: IMPLEMENTING STRATEGY. 11: Corporate Performance, Governance, and Business Ethics. 12: Implementing Strategy in Companies That Compete in a Single Industry. 13: Implementing Strategy in Companies That Compete across Industries and Countries. PART FIVE: CASES IN STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT.
Cophylogenetic analysis of dated trees

Parasites and the associations they form with their hosts is an important area of research due to the associated health risks which parasites pose to the human population. The associations parasites form with their hosts are responsible for a number of the worst emerging diseases impacting global health today, including Ebola, HIV, and malaria. Macro-scale coevolutionary research aims to analyse these associations to provide further insights into these deadly diseases. This approach, first considered by Fahrenholz in 1913, has been applied to hundreds of coevolutionary systems and remains the most robust means to infer the underlying relationships which form between coevolving species. While reconciling the coevolutionary relationships between a pair of evolutionary systems is NP-Hard, it has been shown that if dating information exists there is a polynomial solution. These solutions however are computationally expensive, and are quickly becoming infeasible due to the rapid growth of phylogenetic data. If the rate of growth continues in line with the last three decades, the current means for analysing dated systems will become computationally infeasible. Within this thesis a collection of algorithms are introduced which aim to address this problem. This includes the introduction of the most efficient solution for analysing dated coevolutionary systems optimally, along with two linear time heuristics which may be applied where traditional algorithms are no longer feasible, while still offering a high degree of accuracy (> 91%). Finally, this work integrates these incremental results into a single model which is able to handle widespread parasitism, the case where parasites infect multiple hosts. This proposed model reconciles two competing theories of widespread parasitism, while also providing an accuracy improvement of 21%, one of the largest single improvements provided in this field to date. As such, the set of algorithms introduced within this thesis offers another step toward a unified coevolutionary analysis framework, consistent with Fahrenholz original coevolutionary analysis model.
Randomized trial of 8-week versus 12-week VNCOP-B plus G-CSF regimens as front-line treatment in elderly aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients.

BACKGROUND Among the third-generation chemotherapy regimens specifically adapted in the last decade for elderly aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) patients, we designed an 8-week cyclophosphamide, mitoxantrone, vincristine, etoposide, bleomycin and prednisone (VNCOP-B) plus granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) regimen which, in a national multicenter trial, induced good complete response (CR) and relapse-free survival rates with only moderate toxic effects. Here we report a prospective, multicenter, randomized trial comparing the efficacy and toxicity of 8- and 12-week regimens of VNCOP-B plus G-CSF. PATIENTS AND METHODS From February 1996 to June 2001, 306 consecutive previously untreated stage II-IV aggressive NHL patients > or =60 years of age were enrolled from 12 Italian cooperative institutions. Of the 297 evaluable patients, 149 and 148 received 8- and 12-week regimens, respectively, of VNCOP-B. RESULTS The CR rates were 63% and 56% in the 8- and 12-week groups; at a median of 32 months (range 3-62 months), relapse-free survival rates were 59% and 55%, respectively. Hematological and non-hematological toxicities were similar in both treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS Our data show that extending induction treatment with the VNCOP-B plus G-CSF regimen from 8 to 12 weeks does not raise the CR rate or provide a more durable remission.
Evaluation of Performance of Women Urban Co-Operative Banks in Bangalore District: An Application of CAMEL Approach

Banking sector is one of the fastest growing sectors in India. Today’s banking sector is becoming more complex with RBI issuing the licenses for other private players in banking sector. The study also concentrates on Women Banking in India - its benefits and critics and an attempt was made to evaluate the performance & financial soundness of Women Urban Cooperative Banks in Bangalore District using CAMEL approach. It is found that in terms of Capital Adequacy Mahila Co-operative Bank has the top position. In case of Earnings Quality, Asset Quality and Liquidity aspects Sri Matha Mahila Co-operative Bank has held the top position. In case of Managerial Efficiency, it is Sri Lakshmi Mahila Sahakari Bank Niyamitha holds the top position.
Studying the Forest , Not The Trees : Dendritic Morphology In Populations Of Neurons

Tom Verhovshek received a B.S. In 1998 from Indiana University. He currently works in the La-Oratory for Neural development and Plasticity at Indiana University, directed by Dr. Sengelaub. Dale Sengelaub received a Ph.D. In 1983 from Cornell University and is currently a professor in the Department of Psychology and the Program in Neural Science at Indiana University. They can be reached at 812855-6461 or via email at sengelau@indiana.edu