I Pass, the electronic ticket used by Kaohsiung MRT system, is a contactless electronic ticket developed on the basis of the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to increase convenience ...of this public transit system and ridership. This paper investigated
Kaohsiung citizens’ acceptance and use of I Pass using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). The research model comprised of six constructs and four moderators. The constructs were performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence,facilitating conditions, behavioral intention, and use behavior, while the moderators were
gender, age, experience, and voluntariness of use. It analyzed data collected from a questionnaire survey on users of I Pass and tested the quality of the questionnaire using several measurement criteria. Finally, correlations and strength of correlation between latent constructs were identified using Structural Equation Modeling. Results show that “Effect
Expectancy” and “Social Influence” have significant and positive influence on “Behavioral Intention”; “Facilitating Conditions” and “Behavioral Intention” have significant and positive influence on “Use Behavior”. Besides, all the moderators have moderating effects on the relationships between the latent constructs. This paper attempted to explore the main factors affecting users’ usage of I Pass through empirical research and to provide a reference for Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corporation (KRTC) on future development of I Pass.
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CEKLJ, FFLJ, NUK, ODKLJ, UL, UM, UPUK
Aims/hypothesis
Oxidative stress, inflammation and cell death are closely involved in the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM). C1q/tumour necrosis factor-related protein-3 (CTRP3) has ...anti-inflammatory properties but its role in DCM remains largely unknown. The aims of this study were to determine whether CTRP3 could attenuate DCM and to clarify the underlying mechanisms.
Methods
Streptozotocin (STZ) was injected intraperitoneally to induce diabetes in Sprague–Dawley rats. Cardiomyocyte-specific CTRP3 overexpression was achieved using an adeno-associated virus system 12 weeks after STZ injection.
Results
CTRP3 expression was significantly decreased in diabetic rat hearts. Knockdown of CTRP3 in cardiomyocytes at baseline resulted in increased oxidative injury, inflammation and apoptosis in vitro. Cardiomyocyte-specific overexpression of CTRP3 decreased oxidative stress and inflammation, attenuated myocyte death and improved cardiac function in rats treated with STZ. CTRP3 significantly activated AMPactivated protein kinase α (AMPKα) and Akt (protein kinase B) in H9c2 cells. CTRP3 protected against high-glucose-induced oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis in vitro. AMPKα deficiency abolished the protective effects of CTRP3 in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, we found that CTRP3 activated AMPKα via the cAMP–exchange protein directly activated by cAMP (EPAC)–mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) pathway.
Conclusions/interpretation
CTRP3 protected against DCM via activation of the AMPKα pathway. CTRP3 has therapeutic potential for the treatment of DCM.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OBVAL, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
AIM： To study the levels of serum soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 （sICAM-1）, plasma D-lactate and diamine oxidase （DAO） in patients with inflammatory bowel disease （IBD）, and the potential ...clinical significance. METHODS： Sixty-nine patients with IBD and 30 healthy controls were included in this study. The concentration of sICAM-1 was detected with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the level of D-lactate and DAO was measured by spectroscopic analysis, and the number of white blood cells （WBC） was determined by routine procedure. RESULTS： The levels of sICAM-I, DAO, and WBC in IBD patients were significantly higher than those in the control group （P 〈 0,01）, sICAM-I in IBD patients was found to be closely related to the levels of DAO and D-lactate （212.94 ± 69.89 vs 6.35 ± 2.35, P = 0.000）, DAO 212.94 ± 69.89 vs 8.65 ± 3.54, P = 0.000） and WBC （212.94 ± 69.89 vs 7.40 ± 2.61, P = 0.000）, but no significant difference was observed between patients with ulcerative colitis and patients with Crohn＇s disease. The post-treatment levels of sICAM-I, D-lactate and WBC were significantly lower than before treatment （sICAM-I 206.57 ± 79.21 vs 146.21 ± 64.43, P = 0.000）, （D-lactate 1.46 ± 0.94 vs 0.52± 0.32, P = 0.000） and （WBC 7.24 ± 0.2.33 vs 5.21 ± 3.21, P = 0.000）. CONCLUSION： sICAM-1, D-lactate and DAO are closely related to the specific conditions of IBD, and thus could be used as a major diagnostic index.
Trace Na sources, extraction dynamics of trace Na, and influences of calcination temperature on quartz lattice, fluid inclusions, and muscovite were studied in detail herein for trace Na extraction ...from the quartz ore with water leaching at 90℃. Experimental results suggested that the trace Na sources included quartz lattice, fluid inclusions, and muscovite. The extraction rate of the trace Na in quartz ores can reach 31.0wt% after calcination at 900℃ for 5 h and water leaching at 90℃ for 24 h. The extraction process consisting of the dissolution of unfree Na and diffusion of free Na was dominated by calcination temperature. Calcination at 900℃ for 5 h was effective for extraction of the trace Na in fluid inclusions and muscovite. The extraction of the trace Na was mainly affected by the decrepitation of fluid inclusions when the calcination temperature ranged from 400 to 600℃ and by the damage of muscovite when the calcination temperature ranged from 600 to 900℃. Based on the extraction rates at different calcination temperatures, approximately 20.1wt% of the trace Na occurred in fluid inclusions, approximately 10.9wt% existed in muscovite, and 69.0wt% mainly occurred in quartz lattice.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OBVAL, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Abstract How policymakers and academics organize and visualize core ideas affects how they define and perceive problems and generate policy solutions. While understanding complex ideas—such as ...productivity—as the product of a set of discrete inputs can help target inquiry and structure policy interventions, this can also lead to siloed thinking that neglects dynamic effects and interactions between elements. This paper explores how three organizations conceptualize the ‘productivity puzzle’ and suggests that they might be oversimplifying the roots of productivity. We present a systematic review of labour productivity literature using bibliometric coupling and network analysis to develop an alternative framework and map of themes and gaps. This work encourages policy to (1) adopt a systems lens and perceive productivity as the product of dynamic interactions and (2) think critically about how to structure future research on productivity.
Introduction： An increasing number of targeted drugs have been tested for the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma （NPC）. However, targeted therapy-related oncogenic mutations have not been fully ...evaluated. This study aimed to detect targeted therapy-related oncogenic mutations in NPC and to determine which targeted therapy might be potentially effective in treating NPC. Methods： By using the SNaPshot assay, a rapid detection method, 19 mutation hotspots in 6 targeted therapy-related oncogenes were examined in 70 NPC patients. The associations between oncogenic mutations and clinicopathologic factors were analyzed. Results： Among 70 patients, 12 （1 7.1%） had mutations in 5 oncogenes： 7 （10.0%） had v-kit Hardy-Zuckerman 4 feline sarcoma viral oncogene homolog （KIT） mutation, 2 （2.8%） had epidermal growth factor receptor （EGFR） mutation, 1 （1.4%） had phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase, catalytic subunit alpha （PIK3CA） mutation, 1 （IA%） had Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog （KRAS） mutation, and 1（1.4%） had simultaneous EGFB and v-Raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog BI （BRAF） mutations. No significant differences were observed between oncogenic mutations and clinicopathologic characteristics. Additionally, these oncogenic mutations were not associated with tumor recurrence or metastasis. Conclusions： Oncogenic mutations are present in NPC patients. The efficacy of targeted drugs on patients with the related oncogenic mutations requires further validation.
AIM： To investigate the relationship between salt intake and salty taste and risk of gastric cancer. METHODS： A 1：2 matched hospital based case-control study including 300 patients with gastric ...cancer and 600 cancer-free subjects as controls. Subjects were interviewed with a structured questionnaire containing 80 items, which elicited information on dietary, lifestyle habits, smoking and drinking histories. Subjects were tested for salt taste sensitivity threshold （STST） usingconcentrated saline solutions （0.22-58.4 g/L）. Conditional logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios （ORs） and 95% confidence intervals （95% CI）. RESULTS： Alcohol and tobacco consumption increased the risk of gastric cancer OR （95% CI） was 2.27 （1.27-4.04） for alcohol and 2.41 （1.51-3.87） for tobacco. A protective effect was observed in frequent consumption of fresh vegetable and fruit OR （95% CI） was 0.92 （0.58-0.98） for fresh vegetable and 0.87 （0.67-0.93） for fruit. Strong association was found between STST ≥ 5 and gastric cancer OR = 5.71 （3.18-6.72）. Increased STST score was significantly associated with salted food intake and salty taste preference （P 0.05）. CONCLUSION： A high STST score is strongly associated with gastric cancer risk. STST can be used to evaluate an inherited characteristic of salt preference, and it is a simple index to verify the salt intake in clinic.
Objective To investigate the involvement of sirtuin 1(SIRT1)-uncoupling protein 2(UCP2) pathway in the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and whether berberine exerts its effects by ...regulating this pathway. Methods Male SD rats were divided into three groups: normal control group, high-fat diet group, and berberine supplement group. The rats in the normal control group were given normal diet while the rats in the other two groups were fed with high-fat diet. Rats in the berberine supplement group were concurrently given berberine(100 mg/kg body weight) once daily. After 16 weeks, the levels of serum, liver lipids, and serum aminotransferase were measured using an automatic biochemical analyzer. Superoxide dismutase(SOD) activity and malondialdehyde(MDA) content in the liver were measured using commercial kits. Histopathological changes of liver tissues were observed by hematoxylin and eosin(HE) staining and Oil Red O staining. The hepatic m RNA and protein levels of SIRT1 and UCP2 were assayed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) or Western blotting. Results Berberine supplement could significantly decrease the serum and liver lipid contents in rats fed with high-fat diet. Meanwhile, SOD level was significantly elevated, but MDA level was reduced in the liver. The results of HE and Oil Red O staining showed that the hepatic steatosis was alleviated in berberine supplement group. Furthermore, berberine induced an increase in SIRT1 expression but a decrease in UCP2 expression. Conclusion The regulation of hepatic SIRT1-UCP2 pathway may be an important mechanism by which berberine exerts the beneficial effects in NAFLD rats.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
Trace Na sources, extraction dynamics of trace Na, and influences of calcination temperature on quartz lattice, fluid inclusions, and muscovite were studied in detail herein for trace Na extraction ...from the quartz ore with water leaching at 90°C. Experimental results suggested that the trace Na sources included quartz lattice, fluid inclusions, and muscovite. The extraction rate of the trace Na in quartz ores can reach 31.0wt% after calcination at 900°C for 5 h and water leaching at 90°C for 24 h. The extraction process consisting of the dissolution of unfree Na and diffusion of free Na was dominated by calcination temperature. Calcination at 900°C for 5 h was effective for extraction of the trace Na in fluid inclusions and muscovite. The extraction of the trace Na was mainly affected by the decrepitation of fluid inclusions when the calcination temperature ranged from 400 to 600°C and by the damage of muscovite when the calcination temperature ranged from 600 to 900°C. Based on the extraction rates at different calcination temperatures, approximately 20.1wt% of the trace Na occurred in fluid inclusions, approximately 10.9wt% existed in muscovite, and 69.0wt% mainly occurred in quartz lattice.
Full text
Available for:
EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OBVAL, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
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