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The formulation of service rules is an important issue in queueing theory research. Different queueing rules have a direct impact on the efficiency of the queueing system and customer satisfaction. This paper mainly studies the queueing system index of two identical service desks of customer classification service system. Based on the queueing system theory of single service desk and multiple service desks, the main queueing index of the system such as average queue length and average waiting time is obtained. Through numerical analysis, the two service modes of customer classification service and customer non-classification service are compared, and it is found that there are obvious differences in system operation indexes of different service modes. Under a reasonable classification strategy, customer classification service can improve system operation efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As a breakthrough technology, big data provides an opportunity for organizations to acquire business value and enhance competitiveness. Many companies have listed big data analytics (BDA) as one of their top priorities. However, research shows that managers are still reluctant to change their work patterns to utilize this new technology. In addition, the empirical evidence on what determines their adoption of BDA in management decision making is still rare. Method: To more broadly understand the determinants affecting managers' actual use of BDA in decision making, a survey was conducted on a sample of 363 respondents from New Zealand, China, and Vietnam who work in different managerial roles. The dual process theory, the technology--organization--environment framework, and the key associated demographic characteristics are integrated to form the theoretical foundation to study the internal and external factors influencing the adoption. Results: The findings illustrate that the common essential factors across countries linking BDA in decision making are technology readiness, data quality, managers' and organizational knowledge related to BDA, and organizational expectations. The factors that are more situation-dependent and evident in one or two countries' results are managers' predilection toward valuing intuition and experience over analytics and organizational size. Conclusion: The findings enrich the current literature and provide implications for practitioners on how they can improve the adoption process of this new technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have become a potential energy storage material due to its high specific surface area, adjustable structure and functionality. Nevertheless, an efficient and controllable method to synthesize MOFs is still highly desired. Herein, we develop a simple and efficient electrochemical synthesis method, in which the Ni2+ ions are provided by nickel foam (NF), and rod-like arrays of Ni-MOFs are obtained in-situ on NF. The obtained products need no additional treatments and can be directly used as a binder-free electrode material. As a result of that, it can significantly improve the rapid transport of electrons and ions near the surface of the electrode. Particularly, the rod-like array Ni-MOFs grown on NF could self-assembled to be flower shaped structural characteristic, which demonstrated high capacity performance (area specific capacity of 5.11 C/cm² at a current density of 2 mA/cm²) and excellent rate performance. In addition, the as-assembled Ni-MOF-1 h//AC hybrid supercapacitor (HSC) reveals a high energy density of 586.7 mWh/cm² at a power density of 3679 mW/cm². [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Lysosomal dysfunction is implicated in human heart failure for which ischemic heart disease is the leading cause. Altered myocardial expression of CTSD (cathepsin D), a major lysosomal protease, was observed in human heart failure, but its pathophysiological significance has not been determined. METHODS AND RESULTS: Western blot analyses revealed an increase in the precursor but not the mature form of CTSD in myocardial samples from explanted human failing hearts with ischemic heart disease, which is recapitulated in chronic myocardial infarction produced via coronary artery ligation in Ctsd+/+ but not Ctsd+/− mice. Mice deficient of Ctsd displayed impaired myocardial autophagosome removal, reduced autophagic flux, and restrictive cardiomyopathy. After induction of myocardial infarction, weekly serial echocardiography detected earlier occurrence of left ventricle chamber dilatation, greater decreases in ejection fraction and fractional shortening, and lesser wall thickening throughout the first 4 weeks; pressure–volume relationship analyses at 4 weeks revealed greater decreases in systolic and diastolic functions, stroke work, stroke volume, and cardiac output; greater increases in the ventricular weight to body weight and the lung weight to body weight ratios and larger scar size were also detected in Ctsd+/− mice compared with Ctsd+/+ mice. Significant increases of myocardial autophagic flux detected at 1 and 4 weeks after induction of myocardial infarction in the Ctsd+/+ mice were diminished in the Ctsd+/− mice. CONCLUSIONS: Myocardial CTSD upregulation induced by myocardial infarction protects against cardiac remodeling and malfunction, which is at least in part through promoting myocardial autophagic flux. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective To detect the expression of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in the different differentiations of lung cancer tissues and to study the mechanism of invasion of A549 cells affected by NGAL. Methods The expression of NGAL was detected by immunochemistry in lung cancer tissue and the tissue around edge of the cancer. The effect of NGAL expression on A549 cells was observed by using qRT-PCR and Western blot. The abilities of invasion and metastasis were evaluated by transwell invasion and migration assay, and cell scratch assay in vitro. The protein expression of E-cadherin, Vimentin was measured by immunofluoresence and Western blot. Results The positive expression rate of NGAL was 76.32% (58/76) in the lung cancer, 13.3% (4/30) in adjacent tissue by immunochemistry. NGAL expression levels in the lung cancer tissues were significantly higher than that in adjacent tissues. The rate of migration and invasion in NGAL-siRNA group was 60.4%±6.4% compared to 50.5%±4.4% in the control group, there was a significant difference (P<0.05). Vimentin was suppressed, and E-cadherin was upregulated when NGAL was inhibited. MMP-2 and MMP-9 decreased when NGAL was knocked down. Conclusion The expression level of NGAL is highly expressed in lung cancer. NGAL may be one of important indicators involved in lung cancer infiltrated and transferred. NGAL might be one of potential targets for lung cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the use of multifunctional drugs as neuroprotective agents for glaucoma. It reviews the current literature on multifunctional drugs. It explores the effectiveness of these drugs in the treatment of glaucoma. The development of compounds that act on multiple therapeutic targets is also highlighted.

A novel 9,10-dihydro-9,10-ethanoanthracene-11,12-diimine/ Pd(OAc)2 system has been demonstrated to form a highly efficient catalyst for the Suzuki--Miyaura cross-coupling of various aryl bromides and activated aryl chlorides with arylboronic acids in high yields at room temperature in ethanol/ aqueous media under ambient atmosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]