Linear transformations of two independent Brownian motions and orthogonal decompositions of Brownian filtrations

Brownian motions defined as linear transformations of two independent Brownian motions are studied, together with certain orthogonal decompositions of Brownian filtrations

Demand Uncertainty and the Choice of Business Model in the Semiconductor Industry

The traditional approach to voluntary provision of pure public goods typically models the factors of group heterogeneity and group size in a piecemeal fashion and fails to explain salient empirical observations. Integrating both factors into a single model, we examine how they interact with each other to determine the structure of Nash equilibrium, and show that this model is indeed useful in making realistic predictions

Regulation of CLC-1 chloride channel biosynthesis by FKBP8 and Hsp90β.

Mutations in human CLC-1 chloride channel are associated with the skeletal muscle disorder myotonia congenita. The disease-causing mutant A531V manifests enhanced proteasomal degradation of CLC-1. We recently found that CLC-1 degradation is mediated by cullin 4 ubiquitin ligase complex. It is currently unclear how quality control and protein degradation systems coordinate with each other to process the biosynthesis of CLC-1. Herein we aim to ascertain the molecular nature of the protein quality control system for CLC-1. We identified three CLC-1-interacting proteins that are well-known heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90)-associated co-chaperones: FK506-binding protein 8 (FKBP8), activator of Hsp90 ATPase homolog 1 (Aha1), and Hsp70/Hsp90 organizing protein (HOP). These co-chaperones promote both the protein level and the functional expression of CLC-1 wild-type and A531V mutant. CLC-1 biosynthesis is also facilitated by the molecular chaperones Hsc70 and Hsp90β. The protein stability of CLC-1 is notably increased by FKBP8 and the Hsp90β inhibitor 17-allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17-AAG) that substantially suppresses cullin 4 expression. We further confirmed that cullin 4 may interact with Hsp90β and FKBP8. Our data are consistent with the idea that FKBP8 and Hsp90β play an essential role in the late phase of CLC-1 quality control by dynamically coordinating protein folding and degradation

Gender Differences in Pathways to Compulsive Buying in Chinese College Students in Hong Kong and Macau

The addictive nature of compulsive buying implies that mood disturbances, stress, and cognitive biases that underlie compulsive buying might operate in ways similar in both genders. In the current study, we aimed to test hypothetical pathways of mood compensation and irrational cognitions, which may explain compulsive buying tendencies. We also examined potential gender differences in these pathways. Methods Two-hundred and thirty-two male (age: M = 20.30, SD = 1.74) and 373 female Chinese college students (age: M = 19.97, SD = 1.74) in Hong Kong and Macau completed measures assessing compulsive buying, psychological distress, avoidance coping, materialism, and buying-related cognitions. Mediation analyses via a structural equation modeling approach explained by Cheung (2007, 2009) were conducted, with gender as a grouping variable. Results There was a gender difference in the mood compensation pathway; avoidance coping partially mediated the link between psychological distress and compulsive buying severity in females only. On the other hand, the irrational cognitive pathway, in which irrational buying-related cognitions fully mediated the link between materialism and compulsive buying severity, was supported for both genders. There was no gender difference in the extent of mediation within the irrational cognitive pathway, and the mediation effect within the irrational cognitive pathway was larger than that within the mood compensation pathway for both genders. Conclusions Mood compensation processes in compulsive buying might be female specific, and secondary to irrational cognitions, which were gender invariant. Gender-dependent mechanisms and irrational cognitions should be emphasized in compulsive buying treatment

Spondylodiscitis with Epidural and Psoas Muscle Abscesses as Complications After Transrectal Ultrasound-guided Prostate Biopsy: Report of a Rare Case

A 71-year-old man presented with spondylodiscitis with epidural and psoas muscle abscesses following transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)- guided prostate biopsy. These rare complications were detected by computed tomography of the abdomen and magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine. The patient was successfully treated with antibiotics and underwent neurosurgery. Awareness of presentations such as backache and weakness of the lower limbs after prostate biopsy is important as these symptoms are usually mistaken for bone or muscle problems and often not recognized as being related to infection

Intrathecal glutamate release during hindlimb tourniquet inflation and femoral artery occlusion in rats

Background/PurposeA tourniquet is commonly used in limb surgery. Tourniquet inflation after a period of time may produce painful sensation. While the mechanisms of tourniquet-induced pain are still unknown, two components, pressure and ischemia, have been proposed. In this study, in vivo microdialysis was used to detect changes in intrathecal glutamate, an excitatory amino acid highly relevant to pain transmission, following hindlimb tourniquet application and femoral artery occlusion in the rat.MethodsMale Wistar rats were used. For the tourniquet study, 6 rats of the study group received 30 minutes right hindlimb tourniquet inflation and another 6 rats as the control group received only tourniquet application without inflation. In the femoral artery occlusion study, 6 rats of the study group received 30 minutes right femoral artery occlusion and another 6 rats as the control group received only sham operation without femoral artery occlusion. Cerebrospinal fluid dialysates were collected prior to, during, and after tourniquet application or femoral artery occlusion. Glutamate was measured by HPLC.ResultsA significant increase in intrathecal glutamate release was found during the tourniquet inflation period, and it returned to baseline after tourniquet deflation. No change of glutamate release was noted during femoral artery occlusion or after femoral artery reperfusion.ConclusionThe intrathecal glutamate release was increased by the hindlimb tourniquet inflation, but not influenced by femoral artery occlusion in the rat

Vibrio vulnificus in Taiwan

Clinical features of 84 patients with V. vulnificus infection are analyzed and molecular features of isolates are described

Revisiting the Marrow Metabolic Changes after Chemotherapy in Lymphoma: A Step towards Personalized Care

Purpose. The aims were to correlate individual marrow metabolic changes after chemotherapy with bone marrow biopsy (BMBx) for its potential value of personalized care in lymphoma. Methods. 26 patients (mean age, 58 ± 15 y; 13 female, 13 male) with follicular lymphoma or diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, referred to FDG-PET/CT imaging, who had BMBx from unilateral or bilateral iliac crest(s) before chemotherapy, were studied retrospectively. The maximal standardized uptake value (SUV) was measured from BMBx site over the same area on both initial staging and first available restaging FDG-PET/CT scan. Results. 35 BMBx sites in 26 patients were evaluated. 12 of 35 sites were BMBx positive with interval decrease in SUV in 11 of 12 sites (92%). The remaining 23 of 35 sites were BMBx negative with interval increase in SUV in 21 of 23 sites (91%). The correlation between SUV change over the BMBx site before and after chemotherapy and BMBx result was significant (P < 0.0001). Conclusions. This preliminary result demonstrates a strong correlation between marrow metabolic changes (as determined by FDG PET) after chemotherapy and bone marrow involvement proven by biopsy. This may provide a retrospective means of personalized management of marrow involvement in deciding whether to deliver more extended therapy or closer followup of lymphoma patients