The role of human capital as a source of competitive advantage has long been recognized; however, there has been little research into the competencies required in the supply chain management system. ...This paper strengthens the ties between supply chain and human resource management by examining the competencies inherent in successful supply chain management systems. Using structural equation modeling we assess the linkages between individual, network and inter-organizational competencies, investment in strategic partnership and firm performance. The findings reveal that both organizational awareness (competency at the individual level) and supply network competency (competency at the organizational level) have significant and positive effects on collaborative awareness. The importance of inter-organizational competencies is supported by the significant positive effect that collaborative awareness has on investment in strategic planning. Implications for human resource managers and supply chain managers are also provided.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) maternally expressed gene 3 (MEG3) has been implicated in the progression of esophageal cancer (EC). However, the specific mechanism of the involvement of MEG3 in EC ...development in relation to the regulation of immune escape remains uncertain. Thus, the aim of the current study was to investigate the effect of MEG3 on EC via microRNA-149-3p (miR-149-3p).
Gain- and loss-of-function experiments were initially performed in EC cells in addition to the establishment of a 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide-induced EC mouse model aimed at evaluating the respective roles of forkhead box P3 (FOXP3), MEG3, miR-149-3p, mouse double minute 2 homolog (MDM2) and p53 in T cell differentiation and immune escape observed in EC.
EC tissues were found to exhibit upregulated FOXP3 and MDM2 while MEG3, p53 and miR-149-3p were all downregulated. FOXP3 was confirmed to be a target gene of miR-149-3p with our data suggesting it reduced p53 ubiquitination and degradation by means of inhibiting MDM2. P53 was enriched in the promoter of miR-149-3p to upregulate miR-149-3p. The overexpression of MEG3, p53 or miR-149-3p or silencing FOXP3 was associated with a decline in CD25
FOXP3
CD4
T cells, IL-10
CD4
T cells and IL-4
CD4
T cells in spleen tissues, IL-4, and IL-10 levels as well as C-myc, N-myc and Ki-67 expression in EC mice.
Collectively, MEG3 decreased FOXP3 expression and resulted in repressed regulatory T cell differentiation and immune escape in EC mice by upregulating miR-149-3p via MDM2-mediated p53.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Amphiphilic poly(hydroxyaminoethers) (PHAEs) with thermoresponsive solubility in aqueous solutions are developed in this study. Through the control of stoichiometric ratios of functional groups and ...the reaction temperature, a series of PHAEs with different hydrophilic segments is synthesized, as evidenced by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H‐NMR) and Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopy. These PHAEs could be dissolved in aqueous solutions and exhibit the thermal phase transitions with lower critical solution temperatures (LCSTs) due to the hydrogen bonding between the hydrophilic segments and water, as confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). In addition, the hydrophilic‐lipophilic balance (HLB) values suggest that the PHAEs are more hydrophilic amphiphiles and suitable for use as oil‐in‐water emulsifiers. Consequently, commercially available epoxy resins can be successfully stabilized by the PHAEs in water to form stable emulsions. These crosslinkable waterborne epoxy resins show good thermal and resistance properties, and the feasibility in anticorrosion coating applications for steel surfaces is demonstrated.
Amphiphilic poly(hydroxyaminoethers) exhibiting thermoresponsive solubility in aqueous solutions are developed, which are capable of emulsifying epoxy resins for anticorrosion coating applications.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Purpose
Building on the expectancy value theory, the purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of word-of-mouth (WOM) and customer value (i.e. functional value and ease-of-doing-business value) ...on B2B business performance in the B2B sales process.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors develop a framework to understand how B2B WOM and customer value influence supplier sales performance. This model was tested using structural equation modeling with a sample of 220 suppliers on Alibaba.com.
Findings
The empirical findings demonstrate that B2B WOM valence and volume have positive influences on the number of quotations and the number of transactions, respectively. Additionally, B2B WOM volume mediates the relationship between operational performance and the number of transactions. Response rate mediates the relationships between response time and both the number of quotations and the number of transactions, respectively.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the industrial marketing of B2B sales on the digital platform by investigating two influencers on sales performance: WOM and customer value.
Recurrent and hormone-refractory prostate cancer (PCA) exhibits aggressive behaviors while current therapeutic approaches show little effect of prolonging the survival of patients with PCA. Thus, a ...deeper understanding of the patho-molecular mechanisms underlying the disease progression in PCA is crucial to identify novel diagnostic and/or therapeutic targets to improve the outcome of patients. Recent evidence suggests that activation of Wnt signaling in cancer stem cells (CSCs) contributes to cancer progression in malignant tumors. Here, we report that a novel Wnt co-activator ASPM (abnormal spindle-like microcephaly associated) maintains the prostate CSC subpopulation by augmenting the Wnt-β-catenin signaling in PCA. ASPM expression is incrementally upregulated in primary and metastatic PCA, implicating its potential role in PCA progression. Consistently, downregulation of ASPM expression pronouncedly attenuated the proliferation, colony formation, and the invasive behavior of PCA cells, and dramatically reduced the number of ALDH
CSCs and inhibited cancer stemness and tumorigenicity. Mechanistically, ASPM interacts with disheveled-3 (Dvl-3), a cardinal upstream regulator of canonical Wnt signaling, and inhibits its proteasome-dependent degradation, thereby increasing its protein stability and enabling the Wnt-induced β-catenin transcriptional activity in PCA cells. In keeping with the role of ASPM as a CSC-regulator, ASPM co-localizes with ALDH in PCA tissues and its expression exhibits high intra-tumoral heterogeneity. The proportion of high-ASPM-expressing cells in the tumor inversely correlates with the relapse-free survival of PCA patients. Collectively, our data points to ASPM as a novel oncoprotein and an essential regulator of Wnt signaling and cancer stemness in PCA, which has important clinical and therapeutic significance.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Obesity is closely linked with metabolic diseases, while life and prenatal exposure to endocrine‐disrupting chemicals has been implicated in the development of obesity. Magnesium lithospermate B ...(MLB), an active compound of Salvia miltiorrhiza (Danshen), has beneficial effects on insulin resistance and metabolic abnormalities in diet‐induced obese rodents. Since exposure to endocrine‐disrupting chemical Bisphenol A (BPA) during pregnancy mimics the effects of high fat diet‐induced alterations of glucose and lipid metabolism in adult male offspring, the effects of daily MLB supplementation for 4 weeks on metabolic abnormalities in rats weaning from prenatal BPA‐exposed dams were investigated. BPA‐exposed rats developed obesity and adiposity concurrent with hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance, hypertriglyceridemia, and elevation of circulating glucagon and free fatty acids. Increased hepatic fatty acid synthesis and decreased fatty acid β‐oxidation, activation of adipocytic adipogenesis, maturation, and lipogenesis, as well as reduction of muscular glucose uptake were demonstrated in BPA‐exposed rats. The aforementioned alterations were improved by MLB supplementation. Additionally, MLB displayed negative effects on glucocorticoid receptor action and inflammation, and promoted lipolysis and thermogenesis in the adipose tissues. In conclusion, our findings suggest that MLB may be a potential therapeutic compound against metabolic diseases, including maternal exposure‐induced metabolic abnormalities.
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
(Mill.) Swingle (Simaroubaceae) is a deciduous tree widely distributed throughout temperate regions in China, hence suitable for genetic diversity and evolutionary studies. Previous studies in
have ...mainly focused on its biological activities, genetic diversity and genetic structure. However, until now there is no published report regarding genome of this plant species or Simaroubaceae family. Therefore, in this paper, we first characterized
complete chloroplast genome sequence. The tree of heaven chloroplast genome was found to be a circular molecule 160,815 base pairs (bp) in size and possess a quadripartite structure. The
chloroplast genome contains 113 unique genes of which 79 and 30 are protein coding and transfer RNA (tRNA) genes respectively and also 4 ribosomal RNA genes (rRNA) with overall GC content of 37.6%. Microsatellite marker detection identified A/T mononucleotides as majority SSRs in all the seven analyzed genomes. Repeat analyses of seven Sapindales revealed a total of 49 repeats in
,
,
,
, while
,
, and
had a total of 48 repeats. The phylogenetic analysis using protein coding genes revealed that
is a sister to
and also suggested that Simaroubaceae is a sister to Rutaceae family. The genome information reported here could be further applied for evolution and invasion, population genetics, and molecular studies in this plant species and family.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Molecular imaging is an emerging field that integrates advanced imaging technology with cellular and molecular biology. It can realize noninvasive and real time visualization, measurement of ...physiological or pathological process in the living organism at the cellular and molecular level, providing an effective method of information acquiring for diagnosis, therapy, and drug development and evaluating treatment of efficacy. Molecular imaging requires high resolution and high sensitive instruments and specific imaging agents that link the imaging signal with molecular event. Recently, the application of new emerging chemical technology and nanotechnology has stimulated the development of imaging agents. Nanoparticles modified with small molecule, peptide, antibody, and aptamer have been extensively applied for preclinical studies. Therapeutic drug or gene is incorporated into nanoparticles to construct multifunctional imaging agents which allow for theranostic applications. In this review, we will discuss the characteristics of molecular imaging, the novel imaging agent including targeted imaging agent and multifunctional imaging agent, as well as cite some examples of their application in molecular imaging and therapy.
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DOBA, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VSZLJ
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