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Role of microRNA-145 in DNA damage signalling and senescence in vascular smooth muscle cells of Type 2 diabetic patients
Get PDFYesIncreased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is a significant clinical problem. Despite advancements in achieving good glycaemic control,
this patient population remains susceptible to macrovascular complications. We previously discovered that vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC) cultured from T2DM patients exhibit persistent phenotypic aberrancies distinct from those of individuals without a diagnosis of T2DM. Notably, persistently elevated expression levels of microRNA-145 co-exist with characteristics consistent with
aging, DNA damage and senescence. We hypothesised that increased expression of microRNA-145 plays a functional role in DNA damage signalling and subsequent cellular senescence specifically in SMC cultured from the vasculature of T2DM patients. In this study, markers of DNA damage
and senescence were unambiguously and permanently elevated in native T2DM versus non-diabetic (ND)-SMC. Exposure of ND cells to the DNA-damaging agent etoposide inflicted a senescent phenotype, increased expression of apical kinases of the DNA damage pathway and elevated expression levels of microRNA-145. Overexpression of microRNA-145 in ND-SMC revealed evidence of functional
links between them; notably increased secretion of senescence-associated cytokines and chronic activation of stress-activated intracellular signalling pathways, particularly the mitogen-activated protein kinase, p38a. Exposure to conditioned media from microRNA-145 overexpressing cells resulted in chronic p38a signalling in naïve cells, evidencing a paracrine induction and reinforcement of cell senescence. We conclude that targeting of microRNA-145 may provide a route to novel interventions to eliminate DNA-damaged and senescent cells in the vasculature and to this end further detailed studies are warranted
Analysis of the combinatory effect of uniaxial electrical and magnetic anisotropy on the input impedance and mutual coupling of a printed dipole antenna
Get PDFYesThe main objective of this work is to investigate the combinatory effects of both uniaxial magnetic and electrical anisotropies on the input impedance, resonant length and the mutual coupling between two dipoles printed on an anisotropic grounded substrate. Three different configurations: broadside, collinear and echelon are considered for the coupling investigation. The study is based on the numerical solution of the integral equation using the method of moments through the mathematical derivation of the appropriate Green’s functions in the spectral domain. In order to validate the computing method and evaluated Matlab® calculation code, numerical results are compared with available literature treating particular cases of uniaxial electrical anisotropy; good agreements are observed. New results of dipole structures printed on uniaxial magnetic anisotropic substrates are presented and discussed, with the investigation of the combined electrical and magnetic anisotropies effect on the input impedance and mutual coupling for different geometrical configurations. The combined uniaxial (electric and magnetic) anisotropies provide additional degrees of freedom for the input impedance control and coupling reduction.This work is part of the POSITION-II project funded by the ECSEL joint Undertaking under grant number Ecsel-7831132-Postitio-II-2017-IA,www. position-2.eu and partly funded by FCT/MCTES through national funds and when applicable co-funded EU funds under the project UIDB/50008/2020- UIDP/50008/2020. This work was also supported in part by the DGRSDT (General Directorate of Scientific Research and Technological Development) - MESRS (Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research), Algeria, and RTI2018-095499-B-C31, Funded by Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, Gobierno de España (MCIU/AEI/FEDER,UE)
The optimal configuration of IT-enabled dynamic capabilities in a firm’s capabilities portfolio: A strategic alignment perspective
Get PDFYesAlthough IT-enabled dynamic capabilities (ITDCs) add value to firms operating in turbulent and rapidly changing environments, firms face several challenges in developing, deploying, and maintaining the right portfolio of ITDCs. Since ITDCs are not uniformly advantageous, firms need to make strategic decisions in order to accomplish the complex task of achieving optimal ITDC configurations. This conceptual paper draws on the strategic alignment perspective to identify the optimal configuration of ITDCs for a firm based on its business strategy orientation indicated by the Miles and Snow typology. This paper first explicates the theoretically ideal configurations of ITDCs based on the competitive strategy patterns associated with each Miles and Snow archetype and then develops a model for measuring the strategic fit of ITDCs. This paper contributes to the literatures on ITDCs and strategic alignment by identifying optimal ITDC configurations and by conceptualizing the strategic fit of ITDCs respectively
IPR Law Protection and Enforcement and the Effect on Horizontal Productivity Spillovers from Inward FDI to Domestic Firms: A Meta-Analysis
Get PDFYesWe study the role of the strength of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) law protection and enforcement in influencing horizontal productivity spillovers from inward FDI to domestic firms in host countries. While most WTO countries adopted strong IPR legislation due to exogenous pressure resulting from the signing of the Trade-Related Aspects of IPR (TRIPS) agreement, public IPR enforcement strength continues to vary significantly between countries. We meta-analyse 49 studies and find that public IPR enforcement strength has a direct positive effect on horizontal productivity spillovers from inward FDI to domestic firms and a negative moderating effect on the relationship between IPR law protection strength and horizontal productivity spillovers from inward FDI to domestic firms
Secure Virtual Mobile Small Cells: A Stepping Stone Towards 6G
Get PDFYesAs 5th Generation research reaches the twilight, the research community must go beyond 5G and look towards the 2030 connectivity landscape, namely 6G. In this context, this work takes a step towards the 6G vision by proposing a next generation communication platform, which aims to extend the rigid coverage area of fixed deployment networks by considering virtual mobile small cells (MSC) that are created on demand. Relying on emerging computing paradigms such as NFV (Network Function Virtualization) and SDN (Software Defined Networking), these cells can harness radio and networking capability locally reducing protocol signalling latency and overhead. These MSCs constitute an intelligent pool of networking resources that can collaborate to form a wireless network of MSCs providing a communication platform for localized, ubiquitous and reliable connectivity. The technology enablers for implementing the MSC concept are also addressed in terms of virtualization, lightweight wireless security, and energy efficient RF. The benefits of the MSC architecture towards reliable and efficient cell-offloading are demonstrated as a use-case.European Union's H2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement H2020-MCSAITN- 2016-SECRET 722424 [2
Factors affecting neuropsychological assessment in a group of South Asian older adults
Get PDFThe accuracy of neuropsychological assessment is critical in the diagnosis of
cognitive impairments in older adults. However, existing neuropsychological
tests may not be suitable for minority populations. This thesis aimed to address
this issue by recruiting cognitively-healthy South Asian older adults and
assessing cognitive function in this group. Results showed that typically used
assessments, despite being translated, were not suitable for this cohort.
Furthermore, skills required for test completion such as mathematics and
writing/hand dexterity (which are related to education levels) influenced test
scores. Therefore, new assessments of general cognitive function and
associative memory were developed to improve the accuracy of
neuropsychological test scores. The new tests were not affected by education
and they achieved high internal and test re-test reliability. Time of day (TOD)
that testing takes place is also known to affect cognition. Interestingly, no TOD
effects were observed in this cohort. It was hypothesised that engagement in
the daily five Islamic prayers may have contributed to this lack of a TOD effect.
However, the results did not confirm this. The thesis then looked at overall
prayer engagement and cognition. Results showed that engagement in the
daily five prayers and Quran recitation significantly increased scores on
assessments of processing speed. This thesis demonstrates that accurately
assessing cognition in South Asian older adults is challenging and that the
cognitive tests used must be suitable for this cohort. Interesting findings
emerged for prayer engagement which may have wider implications for the
field of cognitive reserve
Estimating the number of cars in UK and US households
Get PDFThe quest towards resolving concerns about transportation energy consumption
and emissions across nations has created more interests to investigate factors
responsible for households’ car ownership. While literature holds an extensive
body of investigation usually compartmentalised in individual different
disciplines, limited efforts have been made to promote inter-linkages of this
strand of research across different disciplines. To fill this gap, this study
developed an integrating Multinomial logit (MNL) model to examine the impact of
some rarely-investigated and conventional explanatory variables, including:
ethnicity, accommodation tenure, settlement nature, mental belief,
environmental concern, geographical regions, household structure, driving
licence, number of household income earners and household income, on car
ownership.
Analysis based on rich data sets of British Household Survey and US Consumer
Expenditure Survey found not only the conventional explanatory variables to be
significantly linked to the number of cars in the US and UK households, but also
the rarely-investigated psychological variables were found to be significantly
linked as well. As Socio-demography, Geography and Psychology impact on
how people and households process information and assess market offers (e.g.,
products and services), this study presents findings which have beneficial implications for policymakers and transportations planners, including those who
would like to alter people’s behaviour from private car ownership to public
transportation use, car sellers in terms of how to identify and reach potential
customers, provision of alternative forecasting approaches to car ownership
scholars as well as possible consideration for general car ownership decision
making. Caution should be taken when interpreting the relationship between
psychological factors and car ownership since the psychological factors adopted
are measure representatives from databases used with limitations in the factor
structure for a representative sample of the countries’ population
Sensemaking in Dynamic Business Environments: Managerial Practices in the Oil and Gas Sector in Bahrain
Get PDFIt has become the norm for organisations in many industrial sectors to constantly
operate in dynamic, uncertain and challenging business environments. Technology,
regulations, global economy, changing political actions and international conditions are
all changing rapidly, creating dynamic business conditions for organisations to
understand, react to and thus survive. The Oil and Gas (O&G) sector which is the
backbone of the economic growth for many countries in the Middle East region is not
an exception to the real world of business filled with uncertainties.
The construction of meaning or sensemaking is a prerequisite management skill for
complex problem solving and decision-making for survival in today’s increasingly
dynamic business environments. Current literature on sensemaking tends to focus on
senior management’s role in the process, overlooking the critical role middle
management teams play in the construction of meaning. Further, although
sensemaking literature illustrates the influence of sensegiving and sensebreaking on
sensemaking, there is limited empirical research in existing literature on how middle
management teams apply sensegiving and sensebreaking to influence the process.
Finally, this research fills a gap in sensemaking research in developing countries to
decolonise Western-based research and ensure that local culture and ideologies are
taken into account. In particular, it provides important data for the O&G sector in
Bahrain, which is important for the Middle East region.
Therefore, this research investigates how middle management teams use sensemaking
to understand complex problems and how they apply sensegiving and sensebreaking
to influence the sensemaking process in Bahrain’s O&G sector. The data was gathered
using a qualitative approach using in-depth semi-structured interviews, middle
management team meeting observations and operational documents review.
The findings include seven themes and 26 sub-themes are visualised in a four-step
sensemaking process framework. This framework also illustrates the sensemaking
triggers and properties, as well as the influences and sources of information middle management teams adopt to construct meaning in dynamic O&G environments.
Further, the four-step sensemaking process framework incorporates the different
sensegiving and sensebreaking techniques embraced.
This research extends the existing sensemaking literature by providing a descriptive
empirical framework to better understand middle management team sensemaking,
sensegiving and sensebreaking in dynamic O&G environments. This four-step
sensemaking process framework gives middle management teams a way to organise
information related to events in an objective manner, enabling them to develop effective
reactions to a fast-changing environment. The framework also offers human resource
practitioners a platform to assess and develop middle management sensemaking skills
The Impact of the Empowerment of Women Police and Enhancing Their Role in Leadership. A Case Study of the Abu Dhabi Police General Head Quarter
Get PDFWomen's empowerment in the police sector as leaders is an important study that has received
little attention in the literature. Understanding the problems and hurdles, as well as solutions
to empower women police today as leaders in the police force, was the emphasis of the study.
The goal of this research was to investigate the concept of female police empowerment in
the Abu Dhabi Police. This study looks at the important elements of empowerment for
ADHGHQ women police, as well as the problems they encounter because of their gender in
a historically male-dominated industry. The following four research questions served as a
guide: 1) To what extent the principles of empowerment are implemented of women police
in the ADPGHQ? 2) What is the impact of empowerment implementation on leadership of
women police in the ADPGHQ? 3) What is the impact of empowerment implementation on
skills of women police in the ADPGHQ? 4) What is the impact of empowerment
implementation on the abilities of women police in the ADPGHQ? An in-depth survey and
personnel meeting were conducted with women police operating in all ADPGHQ sectors to
have a better grasp the issue. The data collection and analysis paradigms used in the research
investigation were quantitative. The core data is gathered through questionnaires and
personal meetings with a group of 650 female police officers from various sectors who work
at the Abu Dhabi Police (ADHGHQ). Data was gathered via e-mail, and personnel were
present. This research finishes with practice recommendations for strengthening police
leadership in the ADPGHQ and removing real and perceived barriers to women's full
involvement in the workforce and leadership. A proposal method was established to improve
the position of women's police empowerment in leadership, according to the study. This
approach is intended to empower female police officers in positions of leadership at
ADPGHQ, but it can also be used as a general conceptual framework to empower women in
other police sectors. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that women police require
empowerment to achieve the desired leadership position
Numerical study of the dam-break waves and Favre waves down sloped wet rigid-bed at laboratory scale
Get PDFYesThe bed slope and the tailwater depth are two important ones among the factors that affect the propagation of the dam-break flood and Favre waves. Most previous studies have only focused on the macroscopic characteristics of the dam-break flows or Favre waves under the condition of horizontal bed, rather than the internal movement characteristics in sloped channel. The present study applies two numerical models, namely, large eddy simulation (LES) and shallow water equations (SWEs) models embedded in the CFD software package FLOW-3D to analyze the internal movement characteristics of the dam-break flows and Favre waves, such as water level, the velocity distribution, the fluid particles acceleration and the bed shear stress, under the different bed slopes and water depth ratios. The results under the conditions considered in this study show that there is a flow state transition in the flow evolution for the steep bed slope even in water depth ratio α = 0.1 (α is the ratio of the tailwater depth to the reservoir water depth). The flow state transition shows that the wavefront changes from a breaking state to undular. Such flow transition is not observed for the horizontal slope and mild bed slope. The existence of the Favre waves leads to a significant increase of the vertical velocity and the vertical acceleration. In this situation, the SWEs model has poor prediction. Analysis reveals that the variation of the maximum bed shear stress is affected by both the bed slope and tailwater depth. Under the same bed slope (e.g., S0 = 0.02), the maximum bed shear stress position develops downstream of the dam when α = 0.1, while it develops towards the end of the reservoir when α = 0.7. For the same water depth ratio (e.g., α = 0.7), the maximum bed shear stress position always locates within the reservoir at S0 = 0.02, while it appears in the downstream of the dam for S0 = 0 and 0.003 after the flow evolves for a while. The comparison between the numerical simulation and experimental measurements shows that the LES model can predict the internal movement characteristics with satisfactory accuracy. This study improves the understanding of the effect of both the bed slope and the tailwater depth on the internal movement characteristics of the dam-break flows and Favre waves, which also provides a valuable reference for determining the flood embankment height and designing the channel bed anti-scouring facility.National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No: 51879179, 52079081), the Open Fund from the State Key Laboratory of Hydraulics and Mountain River Engineering, Sichuan University (SKHL1809) and the Sichuan Science and Technology Program (No. 2019JDTD0007