The membrane protein composition of the primary cilium, a key sensory organelle, is dynamically regulated during cilium-generated signaling [1, 2]. During ciliogenesis, ciliary membrane proteins, along with structural and signaling proteins, are carried through the multicomponent, intensely studied ciliary diffusion barrier at the base of the organelle [3-8] by intraflagellar transport (IFT) [9...

Investment projects and businesses can be entered or exited at a cost, and the theory of real option teaches us how to find optimal activity levels that should trigger entry or exit. However, in practice, different managers or owners operate under different constraints and might apply different thresholds to the same business. We are interested in the hedging of the risk related to the cost of ...

Background A major obstacle to achieving effective DNA-based therapeutics is efficient delivery of the DNA to its site of action in the cell. Upon internalization by endocytosis, the endosomal membrane represents a critical physical barrier preventing access of DNA to the cell cytosol. In order to overcome the membrane barrier and facilitate cytosolic entry, the endosomolytic bacterial protein ...

The blood brain barrier (BBB) refers to the complex anatomical barrier in the brain composed of endothelial cells, astroglia, pericytes, perivascular macrophages and basal lamina. Its selectivity controls the entry of substances into the Central Nervous System (CNS) [1]. BBB disruption affects neurodegeneration [2] and in some cases can be harnessed to deliver intravenous therapeutics to the CN...

In Computer Graphics, it is common practice to accompany lectures with hands-on tutorials and/or project assignments that allow students to write and run their own interactive graphics applications. In the special case of Virtual Reality courses, this approach is difficult to maintain since the software requirements pose a high entry barrier to students. In this paper, we propose a technique to...

The paper examines the relationship between Lean Construction and Performance Improvement programs in construction organizations. The authors argue that the structure and focus of existing performance improvement programs are a barrier to Lean Construction’s entry into the

There are industries that tend to remain monopolized, with successive generations of a good being introduced by an incumbent monopolist. This paper investigates the tendency of persistent leadership in durable goods industry. In particular it explores the implications of the durability of a good on the pricing and innovation behavior of both the incumbent monopolist and a potential entrant. It ...

Due to the ability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to prevent the entry of drugs into the brain, it is a challenge to treat central nervous system disorders pharmacologically. The development of nanotechnology provides potential to overcome this problem. In this review, the barriers to brain-targeted drug delivery are reviewed, including the BBB, blood-brain tumor barrier (BBTB), and nose-to-b...

Nicotine increases the permeability of the blood-brain barrier in vivo. This implies a possible role for nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the regulation of cerebral microvascular permeability. Expression of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits in cerebral microvessels was investigated with immunofluorescence microscopy. Positive immunoreactivity was found for receptor subunits alpha3, ...

The gut mucosa acts as a barrier against microbial invaders, whereas resident commensal and foreign invading bacteria interact intimately with the gut epithelium and influence the host cellular and immune systems. The epithelial barrier serves as an infectious foothold for many bacterial pathogens and as an entry port for pathogens to disseminate into deeper tissues. Enteric bacterial pathogens...