• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.5.1-5.19
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• 2024

The key role of T cells in cancer immunotherapy is well established and is highlighted by the remarkable capacity of Ab-mediated checkpoint blockade to overcome T-cell exhaustion and amplify anti-tumor responses. However, total or partial tumor remission following checkpoint blockade is still limited to only a few types of tumors. Hence, concerted attempts are being made to devise new methods for improving tumor immunity. Currently, much attention is being focused on therapy with IL-2. This cytokine is a powerful growth factor for T cells and optimises their effector functions. When used at therapeutic doses for cancer treatment, however, IL-2 is highly toxic. Nevertheless, recent work has shown that modifying the structure or presentation of IL-2 can reduce toxicity and lead to effective anti-tumor responses in synergy with checkpoint blockade. Here, we review the complex interaction of IL-2 with T cells: first during normal homeostasis, then during responses to pathogens, and finally in anti-tumor responses.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.15-31
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• 2024

Purpose - This study explores the causes behind the high rate of impulse purchases in live streaming e-commerce. Design/methodology/approach - The research model is empirically validated with survey data collected from 324 respondents in China, using the Partial Least Squares (PLS) methodology. Findings - We found that the interactivity and visibility of live streaming are key in creating para-social relationships and perceived presence, leading to customers' impulse purchases. Research implications or Originality - This study deepens the understanding of consumers' impulse purchases in live-streaming e-commerce, revealing that para-social relationships and perceived presence developed through real-time interactions can increase impulse buying. It also highlights the differences between relationship-oriented and task-oriented interactions in fostering customers' perceived presence and para-social relationships in live streaming.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.15
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• pp.6627-6632
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• 2015

Background: We conducted a study exploring the clinical safety and efficacy of decitabine in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), combined with a complex karyotype. Materials and Methods: From April 2009 to September 2013, a total of 35 patients with AML/MDS combined with a complex karyotype diagnosed in the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University were included for retrospective analysis. All patients were treated with decitabine alone ($20mg/m^2$ daily for 5 days) or combination AAG chemotherapy (Acla 20mg qod*4d, Ara-C $10mg/m^2$ q12h*7d, G-CSF $300{\mu}g$ qd, the dose of G-CSF adjusted to the amount in blood routinely). Results: In 35 patients, 15 exhibited a complete response (CR), and 6 a partial response (PR), the overall response rate (CR+PR) being 60% (21 of 35). Median disease-free survival was 18 months and overall survival was 14 months. In the 15 MDS patients with a complex karyotype, the CR rate was 53.3% (8 of 15); in 20 AML patients with complex karyotype, the overall response rate was 65% (13 of 20). The response rate of decitabine alone (22 cases) was 56.5% (13 of 22), while in the combination chemotherapy group (13 cases), the effective rate was 61.5% (8 of 13)(P>0.05). There are 15 patients with chromosome 7 aberration, after treatment with decitabine, 7 CR, 3 PR, overall response rate was 66.7% (10 of 15). Of 18 patients with 3 to 5 kinds of chromosomal abnormalities, 66.7% demonstrated a response; of 17 with more than 5 chromosomal abnormalities, 52.9% had a response. In the total of 35 patients, with one course (23 patients) and ${\geq}$two courses (12 patients), the overall response rate was 40.9% and 92.3% (P<0.05). Grade III to IV hematological toxicity was observed in 27 cases (75%). Grade III to IV infections were clinically documented in 7 (20%). Grades I to II non-hematological toxicity were infections (18 patients), haematuria (2 patients), and bleeding (3 patients). With follow-up until September 2013, 7 patients were surviving, 18 had died and 10 were lost to follow-up. In the 6 cases who underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) all were still relapse-free survivors. Conclusions: Decitabine alone or combination with AAG can improve outcome of AML/MDS with a complex karyotype, there being no significant difference decitabine in inducing remission rates in patients with different karyotype. Increasing the number of courses can improve efficiency. This approach with fewer treatment side effects in patients with a better tolerance should be employed in order to create an improved subsequent chance for HSCT.

• International Journal of High-Rise Buildings
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.127-154
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• 2020

Disproportionate collapse triggered by local structural failure may cause huge casualties and economic losses, being one of the most critical civil engineering incidents. It is generally recognized that ensuring robustness of a structure, defined as its insensitivity to local failure, is the most acceptable and effective method to arrest disproportionate collapse. To date, the concept of robustness in its definition and quantification is still an issue of controversy. This paper presents a detailed review on about 50 quantitative measures of robustness for building structures, being classified into structural attribute-based and structural performance-based measures (deterministic and probabilistic). The definition of robustness is first described and distinguished from that of collapse resistance, vulnerability and redundancy. The review shows that deterministic measures predominate in quantifying structural robustness by comparing the structural responses of an intact and damaged structure. The attribute-based measures based on structural topology and stiffness are only applicable to elastic state of simple structural forms while the probabilistic measures receive growing interest by accounting for uncertainties in abnormal events, local failure, structural system and failure-induced consequences, which can be used for decision-making tools. There is still a lack of generalized quantifications of robustness, which should be derived based on the definition and design objectives and on the response of a structure to local damage as well as the associated consequences of collapse. Critical issues and recommendations for future design and research on quantification of robustness are provided from the views of column removal scenarios, types of structures, regularity of structural layouts, collapse modes, numerical methods, multiple hazards, degrees of robustness, partial damage of components, acceptable design criteria.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.224-233
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• 2012

The limiting sequence and relative ratio of lysine (Lys), methionine (Met), and threonine (Thr) for calves about 2 mo of age fed milk replacers (MR) containing soy protein are not clearly defined. The objective of the study was to investigate the effect of supplementing MR containing 22% CP, half from soy protein concentrate (SPC, 40.56% CP, flour) and half from whey proteins, with Lys, Met, and Thr to estimate amino acid (AA) sequence and their relative ratio for calves about 2 mo of age. A method of partial deduction of AA was adopted. Twenty-four newborn calves (half males and half females, $40.7{\pm}0.9$ kg of BW) were fed 1 of 4 MR diets for 56 d (n = 6/diet). The diets were supplemented with all (positive control) or with 2 of the 3 AAs: Lys, Met and Thr, (i.e., PC (22% CP, 2.34% Lys, 0.72% Met and 1.80% Thr), PC-Lys (22% CP, 1.64% Lys, 0.72% Met and 1.80% Thr), PC-Met (22% CP, 2.34% Lys, 0.50% Met and 1.80% Thr), and PC-Thr (22% CP, 2.34% Lys, 0.72% Met and 1.26% Thr)). Calves were fed thrice daily; starter (20% CP, 1.03% Lys, 0.30% Met and 0.69% Thr), hay (3.23% CP, 0.29% Lys, 0.12% Met and 0.23% Thr) and water were offered free choice. Starter and hay were only offered beginning on d 36 (after 5 wk) and d 43 (after 6 wk), respectively. BW, body size and blood samples measures were taken every two weeks. Three-day total collection of feed refusals, feces, and urine were recorded starting at d 33 and d 54 of age, respectively. From the results, the limiting sequence and relative ratio between the 3 AAs in calves with different diet structures were calculated. The limiting sequence of the 3 AAs were ranked as Lys, Met and Thr; the proper ratio was 100:29:70 for MR-only diet and 100:30:60 for diets consisted of MR, starter and hay. Nitrogen digestion and utilization and nutrient digestibility were negatively affected by AA deletion treatments. From the evidence of this experiment, it did not appear that the AA limiting sequence was selectively altered by differences in diet structures such as would be encountered in practice. The relative ratio between the 3 AAs varied with the offer of starter and hay to calves, and the average ratio was 100:29.5:65 for calves during 2 to 10 wk of age.

• Information Systems Review
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.151-171
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• 2016

With the widespread adoption of mobile devices, such as smart phones and smart pads, as well as the rapid growth of mobile technologies, consumer shopping patterns are changing. This study investigates key factors of consumer purchasing intention in a mobile shopping mall context by incorporating trust belief into the theory of planned behavior. We posit perceived usefulness, perceived enjoyment, perceived ease of use, and trust belief as antecedents of behavioral attitude toward mobile shopping malls. Moreover, social influence and security are identified as key enablers of trust belief on mobile shopping malls. Data collected from 154 consumers with purchasing experience in mobile shopping malls are empirically tested against a research model using partial least squares. Analysis results show that behavioral attitude and perceived behavioral control significantly influence purchasing intention. Moreover, this study reveals the significant effects of perceived usefulness and perceived enjoyment on behavioral attitude. Trust belief indirectly influences purchasing intention through behavioral attitude and is significantly affected by social influence. Understanding consumer purchasing decision-making processes in mobile shopping malls can help service providers to develop effective marketing and operation strategies and campaigns.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.141-159
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• 2017

A pick cutter is a rock-cutting tool used in partial-face excavation machines such as roadheaders, and its quality is a key element influencing the excavation performance and efficiency of such machines. In this study, pick cutters with hardfacing deposits applied to a tungsten carbide insert were made with aim of increasing their durability and wear resistance. They were field-tested by being installed in a roadheader and compared with conventional pick cutters under the same excavation conditions for 24 hours. The hardfaced pick cutters showed much smaller weight loss after excavation, and therefore better excavation performance, than the conventional pick cutters. In particular, the damage to and detachment (loss) of tungsten carbide inserts was minimal in the hardfaced pick cutters. A detailed inspection using scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry and three-dimensional X-ray computed tomography scanning revealed no macro- or micro-cracks in the pick cutters. The reason for the absence of cracks may be that the heads of pick cutters are mechanically worn after the tungsten carbide inserts have been worn and damaged. However, scanning revealed the presence of voids between tungsten carbide inserts and pick cutter heads. This discovery of voids indicates the need to improve production processes in order to guarantee a higher quality of pick cutters.

• Journal of IKEEE
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• v.8 no.1 s.14
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• pp.145-151
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• 2004

For wide-band spread spectrum communication systems such as IMT-2000, a digital matched filter is a key device for rapid spreading code synchronization. Although a digital matched filter can be implemented easily, large power consumption at the higher chip rate and large summation delay of longer chip length are the bottleneck of practical use. In this paper, we propose a optimized partial correlation digital matched filter structure which can be constructed of the so-called generalized hierarchical Golay sequence. a partial correlation structure can reduce the number of correlators, but enlarge the size of flip-flops. In this paper, The proposed approach focuses on efficient circuit size, power dissipation, maintaining the operating throughput. A proposed digital matched filter reduce the size of flip-flops by rounding method. and it reduces about 45 percentages of power dissipation and chip area as compared with digital matched filter which is not rounded. rounding. The proposed architecture was verified by using Xilinx FPGA.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.53-68
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• 2014

The purpose of this study is to verify the relationships among innovative behavior, turnover intention, and job security. An additional purpose was to examine partial mediating effects on psychological ownership. The baseline of analyzing those relationships in this study is that the role of psychological ownership will be a mediator between job security and turnover intention as well as innovative behavior in the organization. To accomplish these purposes, a model was built among job security as predictor variable, the psychological ownership as mediating variable and turnover intention, and innovative behavior as criteria variables based on the studies conducted in the various areas. The 248 questionnaires surveyed from the area of DaeGu and Kyungbuk were used in the statistical analyses. The detail statistical techniques are such as descriptive analysis, reliability analysis, factor analysis, correlation analysis, and multi regression analysis. The results of the study show that job security had positively significant effect on turnover intention and innovative behavior. In addition, only the psychological ownership of organization-level thinking have partial mediating effects between job security and innovative behavior also job security and turnover intention. The results may indicate that the psychological ownership of organization-level thinking be a key factor to alleviate the turnover intention of employees and to encourage the innovative behavior during their works for the small-medium size companies showing the unstable job security.

• Knowledge Management Research
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.123-140
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• 2020

In call centers where customers contact a firm's customer service without face-to-face interaction, customer service representatives (CSRs) determine its service competitiveness. In other words, a firm's service excellence relies on its CSRs. Drawing on the concept of agility from service and information technologies studies, this study conceptualizes customer response capability as a variable consisting of customer response expertise and customer response agility, and further verifies its effects on customer service performance. Moreover, this study examines whether a firm's digital and human knowledge resources are related to CSRs' customer response capability. To empirically test the proposed hypotheses, the partial least squares analysis is conducted with a total of 371 responses collected on CSRs from two insurance call centers. The findings indicate that a firm's digital and human knowledge resources enhance CSRs' customer response expertise and customer response agility, thereby increasing customer service performance. The results draw the conclusion that CSRs' customer response capability is a key antecedent of superior customer service.