Protein kinase C in cellular transformation: a valid target for therapy?

The protein kinase C (PKC) family of serine/threonine protein kinases share structural homology, while exhibiting substantial functional diversity. PKC isoforms are ubiquitously expressed in tissues which makes it difficult to define roles for individual isoforms, with complexity compounded by the finding that PKC isoforms can co-operate with or antagonize other PKC family members. A number of studies suggest the involvement of PKC family members in regulating leukaemic cell survival and proliferation. Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), the most common leukaemia in the Western world, exhibits dysregulated expression of PKC isoforms, with recent reports indicating that PKCβ and δ play a critical role in B-cell development, due to their ability to link the B-cell receptor (BCR) with downstream signalling pathways. Given the prognostic significance of the BCR in CLL, inhibition of these BCR/PKC-mediated signalling pathways is of therapeutic relevance. The present review discusses the emerging role of PKC isoforms in the pathophysiology of CLL and assesses approaches that have been undertaken to modulate PKC activity

Centripetal Forces in China's Economic Takeoff

This paper uses provincial time series data from the People's Republic of China to empirically investigate two propositions relating to economic development: (i) that economic takeoff--or an acceleration in economic growth--is associated with inflows of foreign direct investment (FDI), possibly through technological transfer; and (ii) that takeoff is accompanied, at least in the short term, by widening income inequality. The results indicate that FDI flows have increased the rate of convergence in per capita incomes across China's provinces. However, the pattern of FDI, which has gone mainly to the relatively wealthy provinces, has caused different provinces to converge toward different steady states. . Copyright 2002, International Monetary Fund

Closed-loop Reference Models for Output-Feedback Adaptive Systems

Closed-loop reference models have recently been proposed for states accessible adaptive systems. They have been shown to have improved transient response over their open loop counter parts. The results in the states accessible case are extended to single input single output plants of arbitrary relative degree.Comment: v1 Submitted to European Control Conference 2013, v2 Typos correcte

Cumulative Prospect Theory Based Dynamic Pricing for Shared Mobility on Demand Services

Cumulative Prospect Theory (CPT) is a modeling tool widely used in behavioral economics and cognitive psychology that captures subjective decision making of individuals under risk or uncertainty. In this paper, we propose a dynamic pricing strategy for Shared Mobility on Demand Services (SMoDSs) using a passenger behavioral model based on CPT. This dynamic pricing strategy together with dynamic routing via a constrained optimization algorithm that we have developed earlier, provide a complete solution customized for SMoDS of multi-passenger transportation. The basic principles of CPT and the derivation of the passenger behavioral model in the SMoDS context are described in detail. The implications of CPT on dynamic pricing of the SMoDS are delineated using computational experiments involving passenger preferences. These implications include interpretation of the classic fourfold pattern of risk attitudes, strong risk aversion over mixed prospects, and behavioral preferences of self reference. Overall, it is argued that the use of the CPT framework corresponds to a crucial building block in designing socio-technical systems by allowing quantification of subjective decision making under risk or uncertainty that is perceived to be otherwise qualitative.Comment: 17 pages, 6 figures, and has been accepted for publication at the 58th Annual Conference on Decision and Control, 201

Hospitality shown by Periyapuranam

Human life is of high purpose. Intended goal. Human life is not a life made up of organs. Emotions are also a life of morality.  High civilization and culture must prevail in human life. Human life is complete in evidence. The goal of testimony is pure love, which gives that pleasure. Therefore, life is about living by activities in such a way that the body, soul and consciousness are all benefited. In that sense, life is a collection of people's values. It identifies the identity of an individual by how he operates in the public sphere and how he acts in the social sphere. Religion explains the spiritual relationship between man and God. Religion is the spiritual art of cultivating man into a divine being. There are many names of religion, but the goal is the same. Similarly, though there are many principles, God is the only God in the form of grace, power and knowledge. That is why the proverb that without Him not an atom moves clearly proves this fact

Financing strategy for achievement of the MDGs and implementation of the Tenth Five Year Plan.

This working paper presents an analysis of the strategy required to generate the required resources for investment in various services necessary to achieve the MDGs. The analysis attempts to quantify the fiscal space to finance the MDGs and identify the necessary fiscal reforms required to finance the MDGs in a sustainable manner. The next section outlines the analytical framework used to determine the potential for expanding fiscal space in an economy. Section 3 makes an assessment of overall financing requirements for achieving the MDGs and compares it with the Tenth Plan outlay. Section 4 explores the prospects of domestic revenue mobilisation. Section 5 analyses expenditure trends, its consistency with MDG costing requirements and explores the scope for creating fiscal space by improving efficiency and reprioritisation. Section 6 considers the role of ODA and examines the scope for borrowings (both external and domestic) and section 7 deals with the possibilities of enhancing fiscal space through private sources (FDI, households, public-private partnerships). The last section presents the concluding remarks.