pinecone/core-2020-05-10-deduplication huggingface dataset:
Cten promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition through post-transcriptional stabilization of Snail

Cten promotes cell migration however the knowledge of underlying signalling pathways is sparse. We have shown that Cten downregulates E-cadherin, a feature of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). This prompted us to investigate whether Cten further contributed to EMT processes to regulate cell motility.\ud
\ud
The regulation of Snail by Cten was investigated following overexpression, knockdown (by RNA-interference) or knockout of Cten in HCT116, Caco-2 and SW620 colorectal cancer (CRC) cell lines. Subsequently, the cycloheximide (CHX) pulse chase assay was used to investigate changes in Snail protein stability and the functional relevance of Cten-Snail signalling was investigated.\ud
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Snail was identified as a downstream target of Cten signalling using multiple approaches of Cten expression manipulation. Furthermore, this activity was mediated through the SH2 domain of Cten. The CHX assay confirmed that Cten was regulating Snail at a post transcriptional level and this was through the prevention of Snail degradation. Cell migration, invasion and colony formation efficiency were increased following forced expression of GFP-Cten but subsequently lost when Snail was knocked down, demonstrating a functional Cten-Snail signalling axis.\ud
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In conclusion, we have described a novel Cten-Snail signaling pathway that contributes to cell motility in CRC, mediated by the stabilization of Snail protein. This finding potentially furthers the understanding of EMT regulatory networks in cancer metastasis
Direct synthesis procedure for sub-harmonic stub band-pass and band-stop filters

A non-iterative synthesis procedure for sub-harmonic stub (SHS) bandpass
and band-stop filters is presented. The method ensures better agreement
between the synthesized filter response and the original prototype function than was
possible previously without iterative techniques. The procedure is illustrated for two
L-band microstrip filters, with good agreement between modeled and measured
responses.National Research Foundation of South Africa (Grant ID# 73666).http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1098-2760hb201
Ion mobility spectrometry-mass spectrometry (IMS-MS) of small molecules: separating and assigning structures to ions

The phenomenon of ion mobility (IM), the movement/transport of charged particles under the influence of an electric field, was first observed in the early 20th Century and harnessed later in ion mobility spectrometry (IMS). There have been rapid advances in instrumental design, experimental methods, and theory together with contributions from computational chemistry and gas-phase ion chemistry, which have diversified the range of potential applications of contemporary IMS techniques. Whilst IMS-mass spectrometry (IMS-MS) has recently been recognized for having significant research/applied industrial potential and encompasses multi-/cross-disciplinary areas of science, the applications and impact from decades of research are only now beginning to be utilized for "small molecule" species. This review focuses on the application of IMS-MS to "small molecule" species typically used in drug discovery (100-500 Da) including an assessment of the limitations and possibilities of the technique. Potential future developments in instrumental design, experimental methods, and applications are addressed. The typical application of IMS-MS in relation to small molecules has been to separate species in fairly uniform molecular classes such as mixture analysis, including metabolites. Separation of similar species has historically been challenging using IMS as the resolving power, R, has been low (3-100) and the differences in collision cross-sections that could be measured have been relatively small, so instrument and method development has often focused on increasing resolving power. However, IMS-MS has a range of other potential applications that are examined in this review where it displays unique advantages, including: determination of small molecule structure from drift time, "small molecule" separation in achiral and chiral mixtures, improvement in selectivity, identification of carbohydrate isomers, metabonomics, and for understanding the size and shape of small molecules. This review provides a broad but selective overview of current literature, concentrating on IMS-MS, not solely IMS, and small molecule applications. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc
Frequency reconfigurable RF circuits using photoconducting switches

This is the pre-peer reviewed version of an article published in the journal, International Journal of RF and Microwave Computer-Aided Engineering [© Wiley Periodicals, Inc.]. The definitive version is available at: dx.doi.org/10.1002/mmce.20415Designs for a frequency switchable dual-band branch-line coupler and a reconfigurable S-band power\ud
amplifier input matching network with photoconducting switches are presented. Frequency switching\ud
is achieved by increasing the power of the laser applied to the highly resistive silicon wafer and\ud
changing the properties of silicon under optical illumination. The advantages of this approach are\ud
high-speed switching, electromagnetic transparency (no interference) and thermal and electrical\ud
isolation between the device and the control circuit. A branch-line coupler frequency shift of 35% and\ud
10% has been achieved from all switches off to all switches on in lower (900 MHz) and upper (1800\ud
MHz) frequency bands, respectively. Frequency switchable class AB power amplifier with silicon\ud
switch in the input matching circuit has obtained the frequency tuning range of 2.5-3.5 GHz with no\ud
significant loss in efficiency and linearity
Multiple disadvantage and wage growth: the effect of merit pay on pay gaps

This is the accepted version of the following article: Multiple disadvantage and wage growth: the effect of merit pay on pay gaps. Human Resource Management, 2015, which has been published in final form at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/hrm.21692/abstractThis article concerns rates of wage growth among women and minority groups and their impact on pay gaps. Specifically, it focuses on the pay progression of people with more than one disadvantaged identity, and on the impact of merit pay. Recent research indicates that pay gaps for people in more than one disadvantaged identity category are wider than those with a single-disadvantaged identity. It is not known whether these gaps are closing, at what rate, and whether all groups are affected equally; nor is it known whether merit pay alleviates or exacerbates existing pay gaps. In addressing these issues, the analysis draws on longitudinal payroll data from a large UK-based organization. Results show that pay gaps are closing; however, the rate of convergence is slow relative to the size of existing pay disparities, and slowest of all for people with disabilities. When the effect of merit pay is isolated, it is found to have a small positive effect in reducing pay gaps, and this effect is generally larger for dual/multiple-disadvantaged groups. These findings run counter to the well-established critique of merit pay in relation to equality outcomes. The implications of this are discussed, and an agenda for research and practice is set out
A step forward in disclosing the secret of stradivari's varnish by NMR spectroscopy

It is commonly thought that the varnishes used by the great violin-maker Antonio Stradivari may have a role in determining not only the esthetical features but also the acoustic properties of his instruments, and the idea of a "lost secret" is still widespread among musicians and violin-makers. Previous scientific researches on varnish samples of Stradivari's instruments revealed that they were generally made by a mix of linseed oil with and colophony or metal rosinates in different ratios ranging between 75/25 (oil/resin) and 60/40 (oil/rosinate). However, it is still not clear whether the mixture composition can be related to any structural and/or functional feature of the resulting varnish. To investigate this aspect, we prepared varnishes with different linseed oil/colophony (w/w) ratios and applied NMR techniques to achieve information about their chemical-physical characteristics. Here, we show that the two components strongly interact in the solid state and that only the varnish prepared from 75/25 (w/w) linseed oil/colophony mixture displays unique properties in terms of dynamic homogeneity unlike coatings with other compositions. Our results suggest that the so-called "secret" of Stradivari's finish could not be related to unknown ingredient(s) but to a specific oil/resin composition that provides the best performance
New Insight into a Deceptively Simple Reaction: The Coordination of bpy to RuII-Carbonyl Precursors - The Central Role of thefac-[Ru(bpy)Cl(CO)3]+Intermediate and theChloride Rebound Mechanism

This work demonstrates how a careful reexamination of well-trodden fields can fill conceptual gaps that previously escaped full understanding. The coordination of 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy) to the known Ru(II)-chlorido-carbonyl precursors – the dinuclear [RuCl2(CO)3]2 (P1) and the polymeric [RuCl2(CO)2]n (P2) – has been investigated by several groups in the past, and a remarkably large number of ruthenium mono(bpy) carbonyls were identified and fully characterized. Many were investigated as catalysts or key intermediates for the photochemical, electrochemical, and photo-electrochemical reduction of CO2, and for the water–gas shift reaction. Nevertheless, even though most – if not all – the reaction products are known already, a careful exam of the literature led us to believe that a convincing general scheme interconnecting them all was still missing and important questions remained unanswered. For this reason, we investigated the reactivity of two mononuclear Ru(II)-carbonyl-dmso precursors, trans,cis,cis-[RuCl2(CO)2(dmso-O)2] (P3) and fac-[RuCl2(CO)3(dmso-O)] (P4) – that can be considered as ‘activated forms’ of P2 and P1, respectively – towards the coordination of bpy. Compounds P3 and P4, allowed us to gain new mechanistic insight and a deeper level of understanding. In particular, we found that coordination of bpy to P4 (or P1) generates first the tricarbonyl cation fac-[Ru(bpy)Cl(CO)3]+.This key intermediate undergoes the facile and selective nucleophilic attack on the CO trans to Cl (by RO– in alcoholic solvents or OH– from adventitious water in other solvents), leading to all other species. We also demonstrated that Cl– – even when in large excess – is unable to replace a carbonyl on fac-[Ru(bpy)Cl(CO)3]+. However, the chloride set free from the precursor, competes efficiently with bpy for the coordination to Ru(II) (chloride rebound mechanism)
Towards sustainable development in the Arab MENA region: a longitudinal analysis of environmental disclosure in corporate annual reports

This paper presents the first comprehensive analysis of corporate environmental disclosure (CED) in the Arab MENA region. Using a detailed research instrument containing 55 items, content analysis of the annual reports of 180 non-financial companies listed on nine major stock markets was conducted over a five-year period. The calculation of an unweighted disclosure index indicates that, although the level of disclosure might be considered relatively low by international standards, it varies by country. Perhaps of greater significance for the future of sustainable development in the region, disclosure is shown to have increased significantly over the period 2010-2014. Further analysis shows that, although there are some differences relating to categories of disclosure, this is a region-wide phenomenon not driven by a subset of countries or types of company. This benchmark study provides a systematic picture for policy makers in the region and, for future researchers, both substantive findings and methodological insight
Small and medium sized enterprises and sustainability: managers' values and engagement with environmental and climate change issues

This article reports on an in-depth, qualitative study into the pro-environmental engagement of small businesses in the east of England, with respect to climate change in particular. Managers of environmentally pro-active small businesses were asked about the proenvironmental measures they had implemented in their firms, their motivations for doing so, and their understanding of climate change. The managers in this study had a relatively good understanding of environmental issues in general and climate change in particular, and had implemented a range of pro-environmental measures in their firms. Their understanding\ud
of climate change was a holistic one, which sat within their overall understanding of environmental and social issues. While economic arguments and external pressure played a role in their pro-environmental engagement, perhaps the most notable motivation for managers in this study to engage with environmental and climate change issues was personal values and beliefs. Environmentally engaged managers exhibited an internal locus of control. Some of these findings contrast with the views of key informants in local government and business advice organisations, who tend to emphasise the business case and cost arguments when trying to encourage small businesses towards greater environmental engagement. These findings suggest that public policy and business advice in this area should perhaps focus more strongly on personal values and a sense of being able to contribute to environmental protection in their engagement with small businesses
Constructing risk and avoiding need : findings from interviews with social workers and police officers involved in safeguarding work with migrant children

Previous research illustrates the lack of services and provision for the needs of migrant children; assessments of needs in the early stage of their arrival into the UK have previously been advocated. This paper reports on a qualitative study with officials in agencies working with children at a UK port of entry. Along with a sense of isolation and fragmentation between those agencies involved in this work, there were clear tensions between the safeguarding agendas and practices of the agencies involved. Analysis of interviews with social workers and police officers suggests that there was a lack of confidence and trust between agencies and in multi-agency approaches to safeguarding children entering the UK. Assessment approaches tend to be risk orientated at the expense of being culturally attuned and children’s rights focused. These findings are discussed together with recommendations for further research
The Contemporary Politics of Child Protection: Part Two (The BASPCAN Founders lecture 2015)

This paper is based on the Founders lecture of the same title presented at the BASPCAN Congress ‘New Directions in Child Protection and Well-being’ in April 2015 in Edinburgh. In a very schematic way it attempts to critically review changes in child protection policies in the UK since the first BASPCAN Congress in 1991. It argues that while there are similarities there are also important differences. The nature of the problems to be addressed has become both broader and more complex and this is reflected in developments in policy and practice. At the same time the challenges for child protection have become increasingly politicised such that the narrative of professional and system failure has become more dominant and pervasive. This has the effect of deflecting political and policy attention from the size and nature of the social problems to be addressed. The paper concludes by considering the most recent developments and their possible impact including the Statutory Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse chaired by Justice Lowell Goddard
An Evaluation of a Specialist Firesetting Treatment Programme for Male and Female Mentally Disordered Offenders (The FIP-MO)

Individuals who set deliberate fires are frequently encountered by clinicians working in forensic mental health services. However, little attention has been paid to developing standardised treatment for this behaviour and few evaluations of treatment have been conducted in forensic mental health services. This study evaluates a new standardised group cognitive behavioural treatment programme for individuals residing in forensic psychiatric hospitals who have engaged in deliberate firesetting (The Firesetting Intervention Programme for Mentally Disordered Offenders; FIP-MO).  Sixty-three male and female patients with a history of deliberate firesetting commenced FIP-MO treatment. Patients who met the referral criteria for treatment but who resided at hospitals where FIP-MO treatment was not available were recruited as a Treatment as Usual comparison group. The treatment group completed a battery of psychometric assessments pre and post treatment, with the comparison group completing these at similar time points. Results showed that patients who completed the FIP-MO made significant improvements post-treatment, relative to the comparison group on fire-related measures (e.g., problematic interest and associations with fire) and anger expression. Further, effect size calculations showed that the treatment group made larger pre-post treatment shifts on the majority of outcome measures compared to the comparison group. These findings suggest that FIP-MO treatment is effective for reducing some of the key factors associated with deliberate firesetting
Using personality item characteristics to predict single-item reliability, retest reliability, and self-other agreement

The use of reliability estimates is increasingly scrutinized as scholars become more aware that test-retest stability and self-other agreement provide a better approximation of the theoretical and practical usefulness of an instrument than its internal reliability. In this study, we investigate item characteristics that potentially impact single-item internal reliability, retest reliability, and self-other agreement. Across two large samples (N=6,690 and N=4,396), two countries (Estonia and The Netherlands), and two personality inventories (the NEO PI-3 and the HEXACO-PI-R), results show that 1) item variance is a strong predictor of self-other agreement and retest reliability but not of single-item internal reliability, 2) item variance mediates the relations between evaluativeness and self-other agreement, and 3) self-other agreement is predicted by observability and item domain. On the whole, weak relations between item length, negations, and item position (indicating effects of questionnaire length) on the one hand, and single-item internal reliability, retest reliability, and self-other agreement on the other, were observed. In order to increase the predictive validity of personality scales, our findings suggest that during the construction of questionnaire items, researchers are advised to pay close attention especially to item variance, but also to evaluativeness and observability
Estimating rainfall erosivity by aggregated drop size distributions

Rainfall erosivity is defined as the potential of the rain to cause erosion, and it can be represented by rainfall kinetic power. At first in this paper, the raindrop size distributions (DSD) measured by an optical disdrometer located at Palermo in the period June 2006–March 2014 and aggregated for intensity classes, are presented. Then an analysis of raindrop size characteristics is carried out, and the reliability of Ulbrich's distribution, using both the maximum likelihood and momentum estimate parameter methods, is tested. The raindrop size measurements are used to determine the experimental rainfall kinetic power values, which are compared with the ones calculated by a theoretically deduced relationship. This analysis demonstrates that the kinetic power is strictly related to the median volume diameter of DSD. Finally, the reliability of the simplest Marshall and Palmer exponential DSD for estimating the rainfall kinetic power is demonstrated. Copyright Â© 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
zCap: a zero configuration adaptive paging and mobility management mechanism

Today, cellular networks rely on fixed collections of cells (tracking areas) for user equipment localisation. Locating users within these areas involves broadcast search (paging), which consumes radio bandwidth but reduces the user equipment signalling required for mobility management. Tracking areas are today manually configured, hard to adapt to local mobility and influence the load on several key resources in the network. We propose a decentralised and self-adaptive approach to mobility management based on a probabilistic model of local mobility. By estimating the parameters of this model from observations of user mobility collected online, we obtain a dynamic model from which we construct local neighbourhoods of cells where we are most likely to locate user equipment. We propose to replace the static tracking areas of current systems with neighbourhoods local to each cell. The model is also used to derive a multi-phase paging scheme, where the division of neighbourhood cells into consecutive phases balances response times and paging cost. The complete mechanism requires no manual tracking area configuration and performs localisation efficiently in terms of signalling and response times. Detailed simulations show that significant potential gains in localisation effi- ciency are possible while eliminating manual configuration of mobility management parameters. Variants of the proposal can be implemented within current (LTE) standards
A new approach to compact semiconductor device modelling with Qucs Verilog-A analogue module synthesis

Since the introduction of SPICE non-linear controlled voltage and current sources, they have become a central feature in the interactive development of behavioural device models and circuit macromodels. The current generation of SPICE-based open source general public license circuit simulators, including Qucs, Ngspice and Xyce©, implements a range of mathematical operators and functions for modelling physical phenomena and system performance. The Qucs equation-defined device is an extension of the SPICE style non-linear B type controlled source which adds dynamic charge properties to behavioural sources, allowing for example, voltage and current dependent capacitance to be easily modelled. Following, the standardization of Verilog-A, it has become a preferred hardware description language where analogue models are written in a netlist format combined with more general computer programming features for sequencing and controlling model operation. In traditional circuit simulation, the generation of a Verilog-A model from a schematic, with embedded non-linear behavioural sources, is not automatic but is normally undertaken manually. This paper introduces a new approach to the generation of Verilog-A compact device models from Qucs circuit schematics using a purpose built analogue module synthesizer. To illustrate the properties and use of the Qucs Verilog-A module synthesiser, the text includes a number of semiconductor device modelling examples and in some cases compares their simulation performance with conventional behavioural device models