Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Human epidermal Langerhans cells express the high affinity receptor for immunoglobulin E (Fc epsilon RI)

It has been suggested that epidermal Langerhans cells (LC) bearing immunoglobulin E (IgE) may be involved in the genesis of atopic disease. The identity of the IgE receptor(s) on LC remained unclear, although it represents a crucial point in understanding cellular events linked to the binding of allergens to LC via IgE. In this report, we demonstrate that epidermal LC express the high affinity receptor for the Fc fragment of IgE (Fc epsilon RI) which has, so far, only been described on mast cells and basophils. Epidermal LC react with antibodies specific for the alpha subunit of the tetrameric (alpha, beta, 2 gamma) Fc epsilon RI. Specific transcripts for Fc epsilon RI alpha and Fc epsilon RI gamma were detected in LC and correspond to those of human basophils and of the human basophil cell line KU812. Furthermore, human basophils, KU812 cells, and LC express the putative beta subunit. Thus human LC express the complete structure of Fc epsilon RI. This finding opens new perspectives in the putative functional role of this structure on antigen-presenting cells.
Traffic Sign Conspicuity: The Effects of Clutter, Luminance, and Age

The effects of visual clutter, luminance, and aging on traffic sign conspicuity were examined in two experiments. Experiment 1a evaluated clutter using subjective judgments from 28 older and younger observers. Participants categorized daytime and nighttime traffic scenes into high or low clutter. Using these categorized scenes, in Experiment 1b a new sample of 28 younger and older participants visually searched for traffic signs. Reaction time and eye movement data were analyzed. Results suggested that aging and clutter affect con-spicuity. Moreover, older adults had poorer performance on target-absent trials. No luminance effect or any age by clutter interactions were obtained. Expertise gained through many years of driving may dampen clutter effects experienced by older adults. The nonlinear relationship between fixation frequency and fixation duration is discussed in relation to similar findings in experimental visual search. Results suggest that age differences found in processing simple visual stimuli may not generalize to more naturalistic scenes.
Xenopus SMOC-1 Inhibits Bone Morphogenetic Protein Signaling Downstream of Receptor Binding and Is Essential for Postgastrulation Development in Xenopus

The bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) family of signaling molecules and their antagonists are involved in patterning of the body axis and numerous aspects of organogenesis. Classical biochemical purification and protein sequencing of highly purified fractions containing potent bone forming activity from bovine cartilage identified several BMPs together with a number of other proteins. One such protein was SMOC-2 (secreted modular calcium-binding protein-2), classified as belonging to the BM-40 family of modular extracellular proteins. Data regarding the biological function of SMOC-2 and closely related SMOC-1 remain limited, and their expression or function during embryological development is unknown. We therefore isolated the Xenopus ortholog of human SMOC-1 (XSMOC-1) and explored its function in Xenopus embryos. In gain-of-function assays, XSMOC-1 acted similarly to a BMP antagonist. However, in contrast to known extracellular ligand-binding BMP antagonists, such as noggin, SMOC antagonizes BMP activity in the presence of a constitutively active BMP receptor, indicating a mechanism of action downstream of the receptor. We provide several lines of evidence to suggest that SMOC acts downstream of the BMP receptor via MAPK-mediated phosphorylation of the Smad linker region. Loss-of-function studies, using antisense morpholino oligonucleotides, revealed XSMOC-1 to be essential for postgastrulation development. The catastrophic developmental failure observed following XSMOC knockdown resembles that observed following simultaneous depletion of three ligand-binding BMP antagonists described in prior studies. These findings provide a direct link between the extracellular matrix-associated protein SMOC and a signaling pathway of general importance in anatomic patterning and cell or tissue fate specification.
Trust and Distrust Network Accuracy and Career Advancement in an Organization

Although there is some evidence individuals’ knowledge of the organization’s social network can be a valuable resource, providing advantages, it is unclear whether those advantages also relate to employee performance outcomes, such as career advancement. Thus, the question this study seeks to answer is “Does accuracy of the social network provide a unique resource unto itself, positively affecting one’s promotion in the organization? ” This question is answered from a social exchange and social resources view using cognitive social structure-style data collected in the call center of a large U.S. restaurant equipment manufacturing firm. Evidence suggests that social network accuracy of the work-related trust and distrust networks increased the chances for promotion compared with the less accurate. In addition, trust and distrust network accuracy moderated supervisor-rated performance effects on promotion, such that accuracy is generally more beneficial for low compared with high performance individuals, increasing their chances of promotion. Contributions to research in career advancement, social networks, network cognition, and positive and negative tie perception are discussed.
The Pique Technique: A Goal-Oriented Effect?

The effect of justifying a request for money combined with the pique technique was examined in three studies. Passersby in the street were asked for money, either for some small change (control condition) or for exactly 42 cents (pique technique condition). Results reported that use of the pique technique increased compliance (Study 1), particularly when a legitimate reason for asking was given (Study 2). Study 3 found that, when the requester stated that they were close to obtaining the sum necessary to buy a product, compliance was increased with the pique technique. The pique technique likely increased participants’ feeling that the person asking was close to reaching the sum necessary to buy something, thus increasing the pressure to comply with the request.
Smoking Cessation in Pregnancy: A Survey of the Medical and Nursing Directors of Public Antenatal Clinics in Australia

Summary: Smoking is a major cause of adverse pregnancy outcomes. However limited data are available documenting the perceptions of care providers in this area. This mail survey undertaken in 1992‐1993 aimed to assess the smoking cessation practices of Australian public antenatal clinics. Questionnaires were returned by 140 (80%) of the 175 eligible hospitals, 83 (48%) medical directors and 108 (62%) nursing directors. Smoking advice was rated an essential activity at the first antenatal visit by 69% of responding directors. Nonetheless, only 12% of clinics indicated they offered relevant training and 4% reported written policies. Results also indicate senior staff may have suboptimal levels of awareness of smoking risks. Clinics used a narrow array of strategies to promote cessation. Almost one‐third of directors said they advised smokers to cut down rather than stop smoking completely. There is a need for antenatal clinics to implement integrated strategies for the detection and treatment of pregnant smokers including staff training and modifications to the clinics' environment. In addition, major health promotion agencies need to develop effective smoking cessation programmes designed specifically for use in antenatal clinics and to monitor their on‐going implementation.
Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor mRNA is expressed in the developing taste bud‐bearing tongue papillae of rat

Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) are expressed in many areas of the nervous system and its target tissues. Using in situ hybridization we have investigated the possible presence of NGF mRNA and BDNF mRNA in the developing fungiform and circumvallate papillae of the rat tongue. BDNF mRNA is present in the epithelium of the developing fungiform papillae in E15, E16, and E17 rat embryos with peak concentration at E16. It starts to diminish after E17 and is almost absent at E21. There is a specific temporospatial change in the expression of BDNF mRNA in developing circumvallate papillae. It is expressed in the epithelium of the superior and posterior surfaces of the papillae at E15, E16, and E17. Already at E17 the BDNF mRNA labeling has started to decrease in the superior epithelium. At E19 and E21, BDNF mRNA is exclusively present in the epithelium of the inner and outer walls of the trench, surrounding the papilla at the posterior and lateral surfaces where the taste buds are located later in life. BDNF mRNA was also detected in the developing palatal taste buds. NGF mRNA was below detection level in the developing papillae. The highly localized expression of BDNF mRNA in areas where taste buds are to be formed suggests that BDNF may be one crucial factor in the formation of the epithelial innervation prior to taste bud formation. It might also participate in the formation and/or maintenance of the papillary and/or taste bud innervation apparatus. We conclude that the neurotrophin BDNF is expressed in early development of taste bud‐bearing papillae in the rat tongue in a temporally and spatially controlled manner, presumably to act as a target‐derived chemoat tractant for the early nerve fibers. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Handbook of Qualitative Research Techniques and Analysis in Entrepreneurship

Contents: Introduction PART 1 AN INTRODUCTION TO THE CONSTANT COMPARATIVE TECHNIQUE Alistair R. Anderson and Sarah L. Jack 1. Using the Constant Comparative Technique to Consider Network Change and Evolution Sarah L. Jack, Alistair R. Anderson, Sarah Drakopoulou Dodd and Susan Moult 2. Using Constant Comparison as a Method of Analysis in Entrepreneurship Research Susan M. Smith and Edward McKeever 3. Grounded Theory Analysis in Entrepreneurship Research Anne Bollingtoft The Future for the Constant Comparative Technique Alistair R. Anderson and Sarah L. Jack PART II METAPHOR METHODOLOGIES: EXPLORING ENTREPRENEURSHIP RESEARCH, PEDAGOGY AND RESEARCHERS Sarah Drakopoulou Dodd and Alice de Koning 4. Enacting, Experimenting and Exploring Metaphor Methodologies in Entrepreneurship Sarah Drakopoulou Dodd and Alice de Koning 5. Con'text'ualising Images of Enterprise: An Examination of `Visual Metaphors' used to Represent Entrepreneurship in Textbooks Robert Smith 6. Metaphors in Communication of Scholarly Work Cecilia Bjursell Metaphor Methodologies in Entrepreneurship Research Sarah Drakopoulou Dodd and Alice de Koning SECTION III THE CRITICAL INCIDENT TECHNIQUE: AN OVERVIEW Claire M. Leitch 7. Researching the Entrepreneurial Process using the Critical Incident Technique Elizabeth Chell 8. The Efficacy of the Qualitative Variant of the Critical Incident Technique (CIT) in Entrepreneurship Research Claire M. Leitch and Frances M. Hill 9. A Critical Incident Technique Approach to Entrepreneurship Research using Phenomenological Explicative Data Collection Richard T. Harrison Critical Incident Technique: Some Conclusions Claire M. Leitch PART IV PROVENANCE AND USE OF FOCUS GROUPS John Watson and Rick Newby 10. Conducting a Traditional Focus Group John Watson, Rick Newby, Helle Neergaard and Robert Smith 11. Conducting a Focus Group using Group Support System (GSS) Software Geoff Soutar, Rick Newby and John Watson 12. Conducting an On-line Focus Group Rick Newby and John Watson Focus Groups: What have we Learned? John Watson and Rick Newby PART V REPERTORY GRIDS IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP: PRACTICAL EXAMPLES FROM RESEARCH Rita G. Klapper 17. Using Repertory Grid Technique to Explore the Relationship between Business Founders and Support Agents Anja Hagedorn 18. Using Repertory Grid to Assess Intangibles: Uncertainty Reduction for Lean Start-ups in Entrepreneurship Enrique Diaz de Leon and Paul Guild 19. Repertory Grid Technique: An Ideographic and Nomothetic Approach to Knowledge Carmen Dima 20. Concluding Thoughts on Repertory Grids Rita G. Klapper Index
Confidence Based Out-of-Order Renaming for Speculatively Multithreaded Processors

Speculatively multithreaded processors find parallelism by speculatively fetching and renaming dynamic flows of instructions from (perhaps) widely seperated parts of the program flow graph. These processors must handle inter-thread register dependences. The approach followed in this paper is to dynamically identify the consumers of interflow register mappings that will be (but have not yet been) produced in a logically earlier thread and then to dynamically awaken those consumers as soon as the mapping they are waiting for is produced. The main contribution of this paper is the design and evaluation of the inter-thread register renaming and synchronization mechanisms for a speculatively multithreaded processor that does not need compiler support. Our scheme is realizable, aggressive, and flexible and achieves speedups within about 10% of those achievable by an oracle. We find that inter-thread synchronization mechanisms can and must use path confidence information so that the producers of register mappings can awaken consumer instructions at just the right time, neither so early that the producer is on a misspredicted branch path, nor so late as to add latency to the critical path. We also demonstrate that a relatively straight-forward predictor can find the set of consumer instructions that must wait without being overly conservative.
Toward a Configurational Perspective on the CEO

Management literature offers substantial insight about many aspects of CEO-related phenomena. Whether it involves aspects of the position of CEO, personal characteristics of the CEO, or the environment in which the CEO operates, research about the CEO has yielded a number of important findings. Despite the proliferation of research regarding the CEO, we find that the literature as a whole is fragmented. By this, we mean that the CEO is often used as a context to test discrete theories. In this article, we contend that the fragmentation in the literature is a result of scholarship existing within theoretical fault lines and rarely venturing to incorporate theories beyond a given domain. This fragmentation results in inconsistent and inconclusive findings in the CEO-related literature. We propose an integrative framework, which we call the configurational perspective on the CEO, to help resolve this fragmentation problem. The configurational perspective on the CEO highlights three separate CEO-related research domains: the position, the person, and the environment. In taking stock of research in each of these domains, we address how they can be integrated in different configurations to help reduce the fragmented nature of the literature.
Development of a reduction-sensitive diselenide-conjugated oligoethylenimine nanoparticulate system as a gene carrier

Background The reduction-sensitive cationic polymer is a promising nonviral carrier for gene delivery. Until now, disulfide bonds have been the only golden standard for its design. The aim of this research was to develop a novel reduction-responsive cationic polymer as a gene carrier. Methods Polycationic carriers were synthesized by addition of branched oligoethylenimine 800 Da (OEI800) via an active ester containing diselenide bonds. Disulfide bonds cross-linked with OEI800-SSx and monoselenide bonds linked with OEI800-Sex were synthesized and compared. Their molecular weights and degradation properties were determined using gel permeation chromatography. Changes in particle size, morphology, and DNA binding were investigated by dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, and electrophoresis assay in a reduction environment. Cytotoxicity and transfection in vitro were evaluated in a murine melanoma cell line (B16F10) and a human cervical epithelial carcinoma cell line (HeLa), while intracellular degradation and dissociation with DNA were studied by confocal laser scanning microscopy with FITC-labeled OEI800 derivatives and Cy5-labeled DNA. Results Diselenide-conjugated OEI800 (OEI800-SeSex) polymer carriers of high molecular weight were successfully synthesized. After compacting with DNA, the OEI800-SeSex polymers formed nanoparticles with an average size of 140 nm at an adequate C/P ratio. OEI800-SeSex showed reduction-responsive degradation properties similar to those of the OEI800-SSx via gel permeation chromatography, dynamic light scattering, and transmission electron microscopy. OEI800-SeSex showed much lower cytotoxicity than PEI25k, and significantly higher transfection efficiency than OEI800 in both B16F10 and HeLa cells. Transfection of luciferase in the OEI800-SeSex group was comparable with that of standard PEI25k and traditional reduction-sensitive polymer OEI800-SSx groups. Furthermore, intracellular degradation of OEI800-SeSex and dissociation with DNA were also confirmed by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Conclusion The OEI800-SeSex obtained was able to bind plasmid DNA efficiently to yield nanosized particles and had reduction sensitivity which is as efficient as that for OEI800-SSx. In vitro experiments confirmed its low cytotoxicity and high transfection ability. Diselenide bonds can be used as effective and novel reduction-sensitive linkages for gene delivery.
Prediction of Pavement Performance through Neuro‐Fuzzy Reasoning

Abstract: Government agencies and consulting companies in charge of pavement management face the challenge of maintaining pavements in serviceable conditions throughout their life from the functional and structural standpoints. For this, the assessment and prediction of the pavement conditions are crucial. This study proposes a neuro‐fuzzy model to predict the performance of flexible pavements using the parameters routinely collected by agencies to characterize the condition of an existing pavement. These parameters are generally obtained by performing falling weight deflectometer tests and monitoring the development of distresses on the pavement surface. The proposed hybrid model for predicting pavement performance was characterized by multilayer, feedforward neural networks that led the reasoning process of the IF‐THEN fuzzy rules. The results of the neuro‐fuzzy model were superior to those of the linear regression model in terms of accuracy in the approximation. The proposed neuro‐fuzzy model showed good generalization capability, and the evaluation of the model performance produced satisfactory results, demonstrating the efficiency and potential of these new mathematical modeling techniques.
On the robustness to measurement noise and unmodeled dynamics of stability in hybrid systems

Results on robustness to measurement noise and unmodeled dynamics of stability in hybrid systems are presented. We show that arbitrarily small measurement noise can lead to lack of existence of solutions in hybrid systems. One solution to this problem is to pass the measurements through a filter. Robustness to measurement noise using this filtering is shown explicitly. We also study the effect of unmodeled sensor/actuator dynamics in the closed loop and we demonstrate that stability is robust to a class of singular perturbations. The results are illustrated for the inverted pendulum on a cart system when attempting to globally asymptotically stabilize the inverted position of the pendulum and the neutral cart position
How Well Do Semantic Relatedness Measures Perform? A Meta-Study

Various semantic relatedness, similarity, and distance measures have been proposed in the past decade and many NLP-applications strongly rely on these semantic measures. Researchers compete for better algorithms and normally only few percentage points seem to suffice in order to prove a new measure outperforms an older one. In this paper we present a meta-study comparing various semantic measures and their correlation with human judgments. We show that the results are rather inconsistent and ask for detailed analyses as well as clarification. We argue that the definition of a shared task might bring us considerably closer to understanding the concept of semantic relatedness.
Voices of Trauma and Resilience

Due to war-related conflict and monsoon flooding, the number of internally displaced persons residing within and refugees or asylum seekers originating from Pakistan has reached over two million. Such displacement trends necessitate increased understanding of culturally specific trauma reactions for this population. This predominantly qualitative exploratory study utilised a concurrent mixed methods triangulation design within an action research methodology to examine trauma-related symptomatology and phenomenological perspectives on internal displacement for Pakistani women. Results indicate: (a) significant experiences of distress including multiple displacements, separation from family, loss of property, experiences of terror and exposure to personal and community violence as well as (b) effects of distress including altered feeling states, awareness of consciousness and physical states. Implications for disaster response and trauma recovery with Pakistani populations are highlighted.
Carrier rates in the midwestern United States for GJB2 mutations causing inherited deafness.

CONTEXT Mutations in the GJB2 gene are the most common known cause of inherited congenital severe-to-profound deafness. The carrier frequency of these mutations is not known. OBJECTIVES To determine the carrier rate of deafness-causing mutations in GJB2 in the midwestern United States and the prevalence of these mutations in persons with congenital sensorineural hearing loss ranging in severity from moderate to profound, and to derive revised data for counseling purposes. DESIGN Laboratory analysis, performed in 1998, of samples from probands with hearing loss for mutations in GJB2 using an allele-specific polymerase chain reaction assay, single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis, and direct sequencing. SETTING AND SUBJECTS Fifty-two subjects younger than 19 years sequentially referred to a midwestern tertiary referral center for hearing loss or cochlear implantation, with moderate-to-profound congenital hearing loss of unknown cause, parental nonconsanguinity, and nonsyndromic deafness with hearing loss limited to a single generation; 560 control neonates were screened for the 35delG mutation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Prevalence of mutations in the GJB2 gene by congenital deafness status. RESULTS Of 52 sequential probands referred for congenital sensorineural hearing loss, 22 (42%) were found to have GJB2 mutations. The 35delG mutation was identified in 29 of the 41 mutant alleles. Of probands' sibs, all homozygotes and compound heterozygotes had deafness. Fourteen of 560 controls were 35delG heterozygotes, for a carrier rate expressed as a mean (SE) of 2.5% (0.66%). The carrier rate for all recessive deafness-causing GJB2 mutations was determined to be 3.01% (probable range, 2.54%-3.56%). Calculated sensitivity and specificity for a screening test based on 35delG mutation alone were 96.9% and 97.4%, respectively, and observed values were 94% and 97%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that mutations in GJB2 are the leading cause of moderate-to-profound congenital inherited deafness in the midwestern United States. Screening of the GJB2 mutation can be offered to individuals with congenital deafness with high sensitivity and specificity by screening only for the 35delG mutation. A positive finding should establish an etiologic diagnosis and affect genetic counseling.