Learning in Hybrid-Project Systems: The Effects of Project Performance on Repeated Collaboration

This study advances contingency theories of performance-outcome learning in hybrid-project systems, in which both project participants and superordinate organizations influence the formation of project ventures. We propose that performance-outcome learning depends on the perceived relevance of prior performance and on organizational control over project participants. We examine this framework using data on 239 U.S. movie projects from the years 1931-40. In keeping with our theory, higher project performance led to future collaborations with the same partners, contingent on prior collaborations, project similarity, and organizational control. Our findings imply distinct patterns of network evolution and unfolding adaptation of hybrid-project systems through slow-moving, local adjustments

Electrochemical Biosensor for Detection of BCR/ABL Fusion Gene Using Locked Nucleic Acids on 4-Aminobenzenesulfonic Acid-Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode

In this study, an electrochemical DNA biosensor was developed for detection of the breakpoint cluster region gene and the cellular abl (BCR/ABL) fusion gene in chronic myelogenous leukemia by using 18-mer locked, nucleic acid-modified, single-stranded DNA as the capture probe. The capture probe was covalently attached on the sulfonic-terminated aminobenzenesulfonic acid monolayer-modified glassy carbon electrode through the free amines of DNA bases based on the acyl chloride cross-linking reaction. The covalently immobilized capture probe could selectively hybridize with its target DNA to form double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) on the LNA/4-ABSA/GCE surface. Differential pulse voltammetry was used to monitor the hybridization reaction on the capture probe electrode. The decrease of the peak current of methylene blue, an electroactive indicator, was observed upon hybridization of the probe with the target DNA. The results indicated that, in pH 7.0 Tris-HCl buffer solution, the peak current was linear with the concentration of complementary strand in the range of 1.0 × 10−121.1 × 10−11 M with a detection limit of 9.4 × 10−13 M. This new method demonstrates its excellent specificity for single-base mismatch and complementary dsDNA after hybridization, and this probe has been used for assay of PCR real sample with satisfactory results

Data_Sheet_1_Identification of Pharmacokinetic Markers for Guanxin Danshen Drop Pills in Rats by Combination of Pharmacokinetics, Systems Pharmacology, and Pharmacodynamic Assays.doc

This paper reported a feasibility study strategy of identifying pharmacokinetic (PK) markers for a cardiovascular herbal medicine, Guanxin Danshen drop pill (GDDP). First, quantification analysis revealed the constituent composition in the preparation by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Subsequently, physiochemical property calculation predicted the solubility and intestinal permeability of the constituents in the preparation. Furthermore, HPLC–MS analysis ascertained the absorbable ingredients and their PK properties in rat plasma. The main effective substances from the ingredients absorbed into blood and their cardiovascular effects were also predicted by systems pharmacology study, and were further confirmed by in vivo protective effects on isoprenaline-induced myocardial injury in mice. Finally, the ingredients with high content, representative structure feature, favorable PK properties, high relevant degree to myocardial ischemia (MI) issues, and validated therapeutic effects were considered as the PK markers for the preparation. Ginsenosides Rg1, Rb1, and tanshinone (TS) IIA were identified originally as PK markers for representing PK properties of GDDP. In addition, integrated PK studies were carried out according to previous reports, viz. drug concentration sum method and the AUC weighting method, to understand the in vivo process of GDDP comprehensively. The present study maybe provide a reference approach to identify PK markers for cardiovascular herbal medicines.</p

Table_1_The role of hypertension in bone mineral density among males older than 50 years and postmenopausal females: evidence from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2005–2010.pdf

BackgroundHypertension is a significant chronic disease that has been linked with bone mineral density (BMD) in various studies. However, the conclusions are contradictory. The purpose of our study was to identify the bone mineral density (BMD) of postmenopausal females and males older than 50 years with hypertension.MethodsThis cross-sectional study of 4,306 participants from the 2005–2010 US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey explored the relationship between BMD and hypertension. Participants who had a mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥140 mmHg, or a mean diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥90 mmHg, or were taking any prescribed medicine for high blood pressure were defined as having hypertension. BMD values were measured at the femoral neck and lumbar vertebrae as the primary outcome. Weight general linear model was used to describe the status of BMD in patients with hypertension. Weighted multivariate regression analysis was conducted to demonstrate the association between hypertension and BMD. Weighted restricted cubic spline (RCS) was used to assess the relationship between BMD and SBP and DBP.ResultsOur study found that there was a positive association between hypertension and lumbar BMD and the lumbar BMD was significantly higher in the presence of hypertension than in the control group in both males (1.072 vs. 1.047 g/cm2) and females (0.967 vs. 0.938 g/cm2; both p ConclusionsHypertension was associated with higher BMD at the lumbar vertebrae in both males older than 50 years and postmenopausal females.</p

Silica Nanowires-Filled Glass Microporous Sensor for the Ultrasensitive Detection of Deoxyribonucleic Acid

DNA carries genetic information and can serve as an important biomarker for the early diagnosis and assessment of the disease prognosis. Here, we propose a bottom-up assembly method for a silica nanowire-filled glass microporous (SiNWs@GMP) sensor and develop a universal sensing platform for the ultrasensitive and specific detection of DNA. The three-dimensional network structure formed by SiNWs provides them with highly abundant and accessible binding sites, allowing for the immobilization of a large amount of capture probe DNA, thereby enabling more target DNA to hybridize with the capture probe DNA to improve detection performance. Therefore, the SiNWs@GMP sensor achieves ultrasensitive detection of target DNA. In the detection range of 1 aM to 100 fM, there is a good linear relationship between the decrease rate of current signal and the concentration of target DNA, and the detection limit is as low as 1 aM. The developed SiNWs@GMP sensor can distinguish target DNA sequences that are 1-, 3-, and 5-mismatched, and specifically recognize target DNA from complex mixed solution. Furthermore, based on this excellent selectivity and specificity, we validate the universality of this sensing strategy by detecting DNA (H1N1 and H5N1) sequences associated with the avian influenza virus. By replacing the types of nucleic acid aptamers, it is expected to achieve a wide range and low detection limit sensitive detection of various biological molecules. The results indicate that the developed universal sensing platform has ultrahigh sensitivity, excellent selectivity, stability, and acceptable reproducibility, demonstrating its potential application in DNA bioanalysis

The peroxidic bridge is essential to the inhibitory activity of artemisinin in both yeast and malaria parasites.

<p>(A) Molecular structures of artemisinin and analogues (artemisinins) used in the study. Deoxyartemisinin contains only one O in the otherwise O-O bridge. (B) Inhibition of yeast growth with artemisinins. Strains of <i>ndi1</i>Δ and <i>nde1</i>Δ, with mutated internal and external NADH dehydrogenase (type II complex I) respectively, exhibit reduced sensitivity to artemisinins. (C) Inhibition of <i>P. falciparum</i> growth by artemisinins in cell culture. Data were shown as mean ± SEM.</p

Artemisinin acts by depolarizing mitochondrial membrane of malaria parasites and yeast cells.

<p>(A,B) Artemisinin treatment resulted in loss of Δψ_m (mitochondrial membrane potential) in <i>P. berghei</i> (A) and yeast (B). The membrane potential could be mostly recovered by washing off artemisinin shortly after treatment. Δψ_m was monitored by the fluorescence intensity of DiOC₆(3) or rhodamine 123 (Rh123). Higher fluorescence intensity of stained cells indicates higher Δψ_m. n = 5. (C) Effect of artemisinin and deoxyartemisinin on the membrane potential of isolated malarial mitochondria. Isolated <i>P. berghei</i> mitochondria were incubated with artemisinin or deoxyartemisinin. Loss of membrane potential was apparent with 100 nM artemisinin treatment but not visible with 8 µM deoxyartemisinin. Δψ_m was assessed by measuring the Δψ_m-dependent uptake of Rh123. n = 3. Art, artemisinin. Deoxy-Art, deoxyartemisinin (D) Effect of artemisinin and deoxyartemisinin on membrane potential of isolated yeast mitochondria. Isolated yeast mitochondria were incubated with 1 µM artemisinin or 8 µM deoxyartemisinin. Δψ_m was assessed by measuring the Δψ_m-dependent uptake of Rh123. n = 3. Art, artemisinin. Deoxy-Art, deoxyartemisinin (E) Artemisinin selectively depolarizes malarial mitochondria but not CHO mitochondria. Mitochondria isolated from <i>P. berghei</i> and CHO cells were mixed and treated with 100 nM artemisinin. Artemisinin is not effective on the mammalian mitochondria. n = 3. Data were shown as mean ± SEM. * <i>p</i><0.05 versus control; ** <i>p</i><0.01 versus control.</p

Interference of the electron transport chain affects the artemisinin's action.

<p>(A) An isobologram for DPI and artemisinin. Data points above the line indicate antagonism between DPI and artemisinin. FIC: fractional inhibitory concentration. DPI: diphenylene iodonium chloride. (B) An isobologram for DPI and chloroquine (CQ). (C) Effect of DPI on the ROS promoting ability of artemisinin. ROS was monitored using the DCFH-DA assay. (D) Effect of DPI on the depolarizing ability of artemisinin. Δψ of isolated <i>P. berghei</i> mitochondria was assessed by measuring the Δψ-dependent uptake of Rh123. (E) Iron chelator DFO inhibits ETC activity. (F) Iron chelator DFO reduces artemisinin-induced ROS production in isolated malarial mitochondria. n = 3. Data were shown as mean ± SEM. ** <i>p</i><0.01 versus conrol; *** <i>p</i><0.001 versus control; ^##<i>p</i><0.01 versus Art.</p

Artemisinins are distributed to the mitochondria.

<p>Immunofluorescence analysis revealed the subcellular localization of artesunate. Artesunate-treated <i>P. berghei</i> cells were stained with DAPI, Mitotracker Red and monoclonal antibody against artesuate. The top and bottom panels are cells without or with artesuate treatment, respectively. Some of the artesuate immunofluorescence signal is colocalized with mitochondria. Scale bar, 5 µm.</p

Table_6_Transcriptome Profiling Predicts New Genes to Promote Maize Callus Formation and Transformation.xlsx

Maize transformation is highly based on the formation of embryonic callus, which is mainly derived from scutellum cells of the immature maize embryo. However, only a few genes involved in callus induction have been identified in maize. To reveal the potential genes involved in the callus induction of maize, we carried out a high-throughput RNA sequencing on embryos that were cultured for 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 days, respectively, on a medium containing or lacking 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. In total, 7,525 genes were found to be induced by 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and categorized into eight clusters, with clusters 2 and 3 showing an increasing trend related to signal transmission, signal transduction, iron ion binding, and heme binding. Among the induced genes, 659 transcription factors belong to 51 families. An AP2 transcription factors, ZmBBM2, was dramatically and rapidly induced by auxin and further characterization showed that overexpression of ZmBBM2 can promote callus induction and proliferation in three inbred maize lines. Therefore, our comprehensive analyses provide some insight into the early molecular regulations during callus induction and are useful for further identification of the regulators governing callus formation.</p