1,721,039 research outputs found

    CELL GROWTH AND CHOLESTEROL ESTERS

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    In recent years, understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in intracellular cholesterol homeostasis has radically changed to include an increasing number of structurally diverse receptors and carriers. The latest additions have led to the implication of cholesterol in fundamental cell functions such as cellular signaling and growth regulation. It appears that, at least in some instances, adaptive regulation of cholesterol metabolism does not protect cells indefinitely. Changes in this fine homeostatic regulation may occur leading to pathologic consequences. The challenge of this book has been to provide a useful point of reference on the mechanisms that link cholesterol esters to cell growth and division. Particular attention has been dedicated to the alterations in cholesterol esterification in two important proliferative processes such as cancer and atherosclerosis. The data presented in this book provide in vivo and in vitro evidence of a strong relationship between cholesterol esterification and rate of cell proliferation, and suggest that changes in the cholesterol esterification pathway might represent fundamental events in developmental growth processes. Although much progress has been made in tumor and atherosclerosis research, and remarkable therapeutic successes have been achieved in both these pathologies, several questions on the mechanisms underlying changes in cholesterol metabolism and cell proliferation remain to be answered. Therefore, the data acquire particular significance in view of the possibility that the overall process of cholesterol esterification could play a key role in regulating cell proliferation. We hope that this book provides valuable information not only for physicians, but also for teachers and students. As for the Editors, we would like to look at this book as a milestone of a path started some seven years ago when two friends, even though not so young any more, still deeply fascinated by science and the potentiality of biology, put together their scientific competence to face important matters such as the pharmacological control of pathological proliferative processes from a novel perspective. Alessandra Pani Sandra Dessi

    DG3: Exploiting Gesture Declarative Models for Sample Generation and Online Recognition

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    In this paper, we introduce DG3, an end-to-end method for exploiting gesture interaction in user interfaces. The method allows to declaratively model stroke gestures and their sub-parts, generating the training samples for the recognition algorithm. In addition, we extend the algorithms of the $-family for supporting the online (i.e., real-time ) stroke recognition and their parts, as declared in the models. Finally, we show that the method outperforms existing approaches for online recognition and has comparable accuracy with offline methods after a few gesture segments

    Storytelling: a strategy for brand communication

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    Purpose of the study. The purpose of this research is to understand how storytelling supports existing brands and how it may help starting brands in their first phase of life. Based on the analysis of the Mesa winery, which highlights the strong connection between storytelling and brand, the paper takes into consideration the role of packaging, labeling, and the company’s architecture. Methodology. This paper combines aspects of theory with empirical suggestions coming from the experience of the Mesa Winery. The methodology of case study is appropriate for developing a theory through a deep comprehension of the empirical phenomena and the context in which they take place (Eisenhardt, 1989). Findings. The experience of the Mesa Winery permits to highlight the way in which the phenomenon of storytelling can be used as a communication strategy for small businesses as well. Moreover, it highlights that storytelling can be a new way to manage the brand. Research limits. This study is limited in that it analyzes only one single case. Practical implication. What emerges from the case study is that a brand’s image based on a storytelling strategy can be conveyed through various elements, bringing the company into direct contact with the consumer. Originality of the study. The contribution we intend to provide is connected with the reduction of insufficient knowledge of the new relationship role between brand and storytelling (Kapferer, 2008). In some scholarly contributions there are many interesting scientific studies with reference to brand and storytelling analyzed separately, but few of them deepen the meaning of the new role of storytelling as it strengthens a brand

    The new territorial orientation of a transnational company: Italian pasta

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    Taking the new consumer requirements for products linked to regional identi-ty and cultural heritage into consideration, today’s transnational companies have modified their strategies. By using a regional or geographic indication, it is possible to exploit existing associations that consumers have with a region or particular place and provide products that have a specific image. The pur-pose of this case study is to illustrate this new orientation of transnational companies’ towards a rediscovery and evaluation of terroir. To pursuethis goal we chose to use the case study methodology, based on the analysis of the Ital-ian food company Barilla. The study underlines the decision of this transna-tional company to offer a line of products closely linked to their geographical origin. Furthermore, it analyses how this territorial links are able to communi-cate and transmit cultural and traditional roots

    Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis

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    The present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
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