Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Women on the verge of a breakthrough:networking among entrepreneurs in the United States and Italy

The literature on work, marriage and the family, and organized social life irrtplies that women are embedded in different personal networks than men, with potential conseauences for their rates of business formation, sirvival, and growth. We tested this implication by studying the personal networks of potential and active entrepreneurs in the Research Triangle Area, North Carolina and Milan, Italy. Instead of substantial differences in the networks of men and women, we were surprised by the degree of similarity we discovered, within and between countries. Networking activity is very similar within each country, as is network density. However, the sex composition of networks differs dramatically by sex in both countries. In some respects, the gap between the male and female worlds appears to have dosed substantially, but the personal networks of women in both countries still include few men.
Aldosterone and telomere length in white blood cells.

BACKGROUND Aldosterone accelerates cardiovascular aging by mechanisms that generate reactive oxygen species. Telomere length in white blood cells (WBCs) may be a bioindicator that registers the accruing burden of systemic oxidative stress. The aim of the present study was, therefore, to examine the relationship between plasma aldosterone and telomere length in WBCs. METHODS We studied 75 normotensive and never-treated mildly hypertensive men whose blood was drawn for the measurements of plasma aldosterone concentration and the terminal restriction fragment (TRF) length in WBCs. RESULTS The slope of the TRF-age relationship in the entire cohort showed a decrease in telomere length of 26 +/- 5 base pairs per year (r = -0.46, p <.001). Age-adjusted TRF length was the longest in the lowest aldosterone quartile (6.74 +/- 0.12 kb) and shortest in the highest aldosterone quartile (6.36 +/- 0.11 kb), with intermediate TRF lengths in the second and third aldosterone quartiles (analysis of variance [ANOVA] trend test, p =.025). In telomeric attrition equivalence, participants in the upper aldosterone quartile were 15 years older than their peers in the lowest quartile. CONCLUSIONS The inverse relationship between aldosterone and WBC telomere length suggests not only that aldosterone is pro-oxidant but that elevated concentrations of this hormone might be linked to a higher rate of telomere attrition and perhaps increased biological aging in humans.
Transition metal-catalyzed formation of boron-nitrogen bonds: catalytic dehydrocoupling of amine-borane adducts to form aminoboranes and borazines.

A mild, catalytic dehydrocoupling route to aminoboranes and borazine derivatives from either primary or secondary amine-borane adducts has been developed using late transition metal complexes as precatalysts. The adduct Me(2)NH.BH(3) thermally eliminates hydrogen at 130 degrees C in the condensed phase to afford [Me(2)N-BH(2)](2) (1). Evidence for an intermolecular process, rather than an intramolecular reaction to form Me(2)N=BH(2) as an intermediate, was forthcoming from "hot tube" experiments where no appreciable dehydrocoupling of gaseous Me(2)NH.BH(3) was detected in the range 150-450 degrees C. The dehydrocoupling of Me(2)NH.BH(3) was found to be catalyzed by 0.5 mol % [Rh(1,5-cod)(mu-Cl)](2) in solution at 25 degrees C to give 1 quantitatively after ca. 8 h. The rate of dehydrocoupling was significantly enhanced if the temperature was raised or if the catalyst loading was increased. The catalytic activity of various other transition metal complexes (Ir, Ru, Pd) for the dehydrocoupling of Me(2)NH.BH(3) was also demonstrated. This new catalytic method was extended to other secondary adducts RR'NH.BH(3) which afforded the dimeric species [(1,4-C(4)H(8))N-BH(2)](2) (2) and [PhCH(2)(Me)N-BH(2)](2) (3) or the monomeric aminoborane (i)Pr(2)N=BH(2) (4) under mild conditions. A new synthetic approach to the linear compounds R(2)NH-BH(2)-NR(2)-BH(3) (5: R = Me; 6: R = 1,4-C(4)H(8)) was developed and subsequent catalytic dehydrocoupling of these species yielded the cyclics 1 and 2. The species 5 and 6 are postulated to be intermediates in the formation of 1 and 2 directly from the catalytic dehydrocoupling of the adducts R(2)NH.BH(3). The catalytic dehydrocoupling of NH(3). BH(3), MeNH(2). BH(3), and PhNH(2). BH(3) at 45 degrees C to give the borazine derivatives [RN-BH](3) (10: R = H; 11: R = Me; 12: R = Ph) was demonstrated. TEM analysis of the contents of the reaction solution for the [Rh(1,5-cod)(mu-Cl)](2) catalyzed dehydrocoupling of Me(2)NH.BH(3) together with Hg poisoning experiments suggested a heterogeneous catalytic process involving Rh(0) colloids.
Glycan Binding Specificity and Mechanism of Human and Porcine P[6]/P[19] Rotavirus VP8*s

ABSTRACT Rotaviruses (RVs), which cause severe gastroenteritis in infants and children, recognize glycan ligands in a genotype-dependent manner via the distal VP8* head of the spike protein VP4. However, the glycan binding mechanisms remain elusive for the P[II] genogroup RVs, including the widely prevalent human RVs (P[8], P[4], and P[6]) and a rare P[19] RV. In this study, we characterized the glycan binding specificities of human and porcine P[6]/P[19] RV VP8*s and found that the P[II] genogroup RV VP8*s could commonly interact with mucin core 2, which may play an important role in RV evolution and cross-species transmission. We determined the first P[6] VP8* structure, as well as the complex structures of human P[19] VP8*, with core 2 and lacto-N-tetraose (LNT). A glycan binding site was identified in human P[19] VP8*. Structural superimposition and sequence alignment revealed the conservation of the glycan binding site in the P[II] genogroup RV VP8*s. Our data provide significant insight into the glycan binding specificity and glycan binding mechanism of the P[II] genogroup RV VP8*s, which could help in understanding RV evolution, transmission, and epidemiology and in vaccine development. IMPORTANCE Rotaviruses (RVs), belonging to the family Reoviridae, are double-stranded RNA viruses that cause acute gastroenteritis in children and animals worldwide. Depending on the phylogeny of the VP8* sequences, P[6] and P[19] RVs are grouped into genogroup II, together with P[4] and P[8], which are widely prevalent in humans. In this study, we characterized the glycan binding specificities of human and porcine P[6]/P[19] RV VP8*s, determined the crystal structure of P[6] VP8*, and uncovered the glycan binding pattern in P[19] VP8*, revealing a conserved glycan binding site in the VP8*s of P[II] genogroup RVs by structural superimposition and sequence alignment. Our data suggested that mucin core 2 may play an important role in P[II] RV evolution and cross-species transmission. These data provide insight into the cell attachment, infection, epidemiology, and evolution of P[II] genogroup RVs, which could help in developing control and prevention strategies against RVs.
Near rationality in wage setting

This study argues that it is interesting to examine near rational behaviour in the context of an efficiency wage model, where there are positive if decreasing returns to increasing the wage beyond the efficient level. Previous research has found it difficult to distinguish between efficiency wage and bargaining models, which have similar empirical predictions. But unions are a priori more likely to develop in environments in which the technology favours efficiency wage payments. This makes it interesting to investigate what it costs the firm to deviate from the efficiency wage. If it does not cost a lot, firms may give in to union demands. This study derives expressions for the wage deviation and for the associated profit loss. For illustrative purposes, these are calibrated for UK, US and Indian manufacturing, taking a plausible parameterization of the effort-wage function and using available estimates of the wage and employment elasticities of output. While there is evidence of positive effort returns to wages in the UK and India, the results are consistent with wage bargaining pushing the wage above the efficient level. The associated profit loss is considerably larger in the UK than in India. In contrast, US firms pay wages that are insignificantly different from the efficiency wage.
The Biological, Social and Organisational Effects of Shift Work

In this paper I will discuss three broad areas in which shiftwork has effects within industry and commerce, and to consider logical points of intervention. The three areas where the effects of shiftwork are of concern are biological, social and organisational. As I go over them I will try to bring out some of the points where the literature and the research in this field suggest that practicable change could be considered. I am not going to argue that one can totally overcome the effects of shiftwork. It is not a case that one can sustain. However, I do believe that some of the negative effects can be reduced. One can make it more possible for shift-workers to cope. But while the situation can be somewhat improved the problems of shiftwork are inherent in the nature of having work run over 24 hours.
Orthogonal complex-valued spreading sequences with a wide range of correlation properties

A new family of complex-valued spreading sequences was proposed for code-division multiple-access (CDMA) systems by Oppermann and Vucetic (1994, 1997), which offer the system designer the choice of a wide range of correlation properties. This letter identifies a subfamily of spreading sequences for use in CDMA systems in which the sequence elements in any set are orthogonal. The subfamily also offers a very wide range of values for both aperiodic auto-correlation (AC) and aperiodic cross-correlation (CC) functions with the added property of having orthogonal elements.
Intergenerational Downward Mobility in Educational Attainment and Occupational Careers in West Germany in the Twentieth Century

What happens in the occupational careers of men if the intergenerational continuity in status reproduction is disrupted by the failure to reproduce the parental level of educational attainment? We frame this failure as a risk for intergenerational status maintenance and ask whether such a risk induces extra effort by way of compensation. By studying eight birth cohorts born between 1919 and 1971 characterized by largely differing conditions with regard to educational and occupational opportunities, we examine how macro-social conditions contribute to opportunities to compensate for such failure later on. In examining this question, we add a new piece to the puzzle of how social origin and education contribute to status attainment and of how the social context shapes these linkages across historical time. We estimated multilevel growth curve models to assess the effect of educational downward mobility (EDM) on the development of occupational status over the career. Our empirical results show that the status of men who experience EDM increases faster over the course of their careers. Moreover, these men reach a slightly higher status as compared with their peers who had reached at least the same educational level as their fathers. The prevailing macro-societal conditions did not cause variation in the effect of EDM on men's career attainment.
Comparison of Children’s Menu Items at Full- and Quick-Service Restaurants

Objectives The proportion of food consumed by children from restaurants tripled during the last 4 decades and that coincided with the increased rate of obesity. Despite the presence of data linking quick-service (QS) food consumption to poor diet quality, studies comparing the nutrition content of the children’s menu items at QS restaurants (QSRs) with those at full-service restaurants (FSRs) are limited. The objectives of this study were to examine the nutrition content of common children’s menu items at both QSRs and FSRs and compare these data with recommendations reported by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2015–2020, Eighth Edition. Methods Using the 2014 data of the MenuStat project, 10 food items that are on both QSR and FSR children’s menus were selected. Data from each restaurant category were aggregated and the overall average of the nutritional content of each individual food item was calculated and compared between the two restaurant categories. Results The average of calories, fat, carbohydrates, and added sugar of most items on the children’s menu of QSRs are lower than those of FSRs. Also, most food items on children’s menus of FSRs, and to a lesser extent those of QSRs, exceeded the national recommended calories and fat content per meal. Conclusions Although some children’s menu items of QSRs have less fat and fewer calories compared with those of FSRs, most menu items in both FSRs and QSRs do not meet national dietary recommendations. Healthcare professionals may expand discussions with patients to include both restaurant categories when counseling them and their families on obesity prevention. Also, educating children and families about reading the nutritional content information of children’s menu items when eating out to make an informed choice can be a tool in fighting childhood obesity.
Development of Purkinje cell degeneration in a knockin mouse model reveals lysosomal involvement in the pathogenesis of SCA6

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 6 (SCA6) is a neurodegenerative disease caused by the expansion of a polyglutamine tract in the Cav2.1 voltage-gated calcium channel. To elucidate how the expanded polyglutamine tract in this plasma membrane protein causes the disease, we created a unique knockin mouse model that modestly overexpressed the mutant transcripts under the control of an endogenous promoter (MPI-118Q). MPI-118Q mice faithfully recapitulated many features of SCA6, including selective Purkinje cell degeneration. Surprisingly, analysis of inclusion formation in the mutant Purkinje cells indicated the lysosomal localization of accumulated mutant Cav2.1 channels in the absence of autophagic response. The lack of cathepsin B, a major lysosomal cysteine proteinase, exacerbated the loss of Purkinje cells and was accompanied by an acceleration of inclusion formation in this model. Thus, the pathogenic mechanism of SCA6 involves the endolysosomal degradation pathway, and unique pathological features of this model further illustrate the pivotal role of protein context in the pathogenesis of polyglutamine diseases.
Therapeutically blocking interleukin-11 receptor-α enhances doxorubicin cytotoxicity in high grade type I endometrioid tumours

High grade type I endometrial cancers have poor prognosis. Interleukin (IL)11 is elevated in tumours and uterine lavage with increasing tumour grade in women. IL11 regulates cell cycle, invasion and migration and we recently demonstrated that IL11 receptor (R)α inhibition impaired low and moderate grade endometrial tumourigenesis in vivo. In this report, we hypothesized that micro-RNA(miR)-1 regulates IL11 and that IL11 promotes high grade endometrial tumour growth. We aimed to determine whether combination treatment using an anti-human IL11Rα blocking antibody (Ab) and doxorubicin chemotherapeutic impairs high grade tumour growth. MiR-1 was absent in human endometrial tumours versus human benign endometrium (n = 10/group). Transfection with miR-1 mimic restored miR-1 expression, down-regulated IL11 mRNA and impaired cell viability in grade 3-derived AN3CA human endometrial epithelial cancer cells. AN3CA cell proliferation was reduced in response to Ab and doxorubicin combination treatment versus Ab, IgG control, or doxorubicin alone. Subcutaneous xenograft tumours were established in female Balb/c athymic nude mice using AN3CA cells expressing IL11 and IL11Rα. Administration of recombinant human IL11 to mice (n = 4/group) activated IL11 downstream target, signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT3) and significantly increased tumour growth (p < 0.05), suggesting that IL11 promotes high grade tumour growth. IL11Rα blocking Ab reduced STAT3 phosphorylation and combination treatment with doxorubicin resulted in a significant reduction in tumour growth (p < 0.05) compared to Ab, doxorubicin, or IgG control. Our data suggest that therapeutically targeting IL11Rα in combination with doxorubicin chemotherapy could inhibit high grade type I endometrioid cancer growth.
Analyzing Television News: Pro-Social & Anti-Social Effects of Criminal Depictions & Information Processing on Race Perceptions

Analyzing Television News: Pro-Social & Anti-Social Effects of Criminal Depictions & Information Processing on Race Perceptions By Eunette Gentry Dr. Robert E. Parker, Advisory Committee Chair Professor of Sociology University of Nevada, Las Vegas This quantitative research is a content analysis of network affiliate crime reporting statistics in Las Vegas. As part of this study, six months of news content in Las Vegas was recorded in order to gather pertinent sociological information about crime reporting techniques and its potential effects on public perceptions of crime and race. Pertinent issues such as media-image affect on viewers, biases within reporting information, and gatekeeping within the media are analyzed. This study adds substantive knowledge through empirical research to existing literature that asserts media depictions do shape and/or affect perceptions and attitudes about crime and race. Data sources consist of NBC, CBS, and ABC Las Vegas area newscasts. The results show there is a statistically significant relationship between the variables Suspect Image Shown and Race (among Hispanics and Blacks). This study has both local and national implications connected to ongoing top news story reports involving the killing of unarmed Black men – such as Michael Brown and Eric Garner – at the hands of police. Results of this analysis suggest its findings can be used to begat change in the manner in which journalists report details of crimes and alleged criminals. Suggestions for future research are also considered. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank Dr. Robert Parker, my advisor and committee chair, for his staunch support, sage advice, and unyielding encouragement throughout my academic pursuits. I would also like to thank my committee members: Dr. Christie Batson, Dr. Andrew Spivak, and Dr. Lawrence Mullen for their commitment, guidance, and support. I also owe a debt of gratitude to, and would like to sincerely thank, everyone in the Department of Sociology who has taught, nurtured, and mentored me throughout my matriculation in the doctoral program. To my loving parents, I owe the very genesis of my pursuits in academia to you: Dr. Roosevelt Gentry and Mrs. Eula F. Gentry. Thank you for your never-ending support, guidance, and encouragement. I also thank God, for blessing me with daily fortitude and guidance throughout this research process; because, with Him all things are possible!
Understanding Human Behaviors in Crowds by Imitating the Decision-Making Process

Crowd behavior understanding is crucial yet challenging across a wide range of applications, since crowd behavior is inherently determined by a sequential decision-making process based on various factors, such as the pedestrians' own destinations, interaction with nearby pedestrians and anticipation of upcoming events. In this paper, we propose a novel framework of Social-Aware Generative Adversarial Imitation Learning (SA-GAIL) to mimic the underlying decision-making process of pedestrians in crowds. Specifically, we infer the latent factors of human decision-making process in an unsupervised manner by extending the Generative Adversarial Imitation Learning framework to anticipate future paths of pedestrians. Different factors of human decision making are disentangled with mutual information maximization, with the process modeled by collision avoidance regularization and Social-Aware LSTMs. Experimental results demonstrate the potential of our framework in disentangling the latent decision-making factors of pedestrians and stronger abilities in predicting future trajectories.
Perceptions of the National Agriscience Teacher Ambassador Academy toward Integrating Science into School-Based Agricultural Education Curriculum.

The purpose of this study was to determine perceptions of participants in the 2007 National Agriscience Teacher Ambassador Academy (NATAA) toward integrating science into the agricultural education curriculum. NATAA participants felt that students are more motivated to learn, better prepared in science, provided more opportunities to solve problems, and have a deeper understanding of agriculture when science is enhanced in the agriculture curriculum. Time, support, resources, and funding were recognized as barriers to integrating science. Teachers felt that integrating science had an impact on student enrollment as well as stakeholder support for the agriculture program. Teacher preparation programs are a catalyst to helping teachers learn to integrate science into the program. NATAA participants reported using teacher-oriented inquiry strategies between three and four times per week, while using student oriented inquiry a little over once per month.
GaN HEMT and MMIC Design and Evaluation

Gallium Nitride based devices due to their inherent material properties are considered as one of the most promising devices to realize high power, high frequency transistors with lower power consumption in next-generation applications. Although the technology has been studied since early 1970s, there is still a vast room and expectations in its yet unachieved findings. In present work the GaN technology is explored and state-of-the-art studies of GaN based HEMTs and their application in MMICs are presented. Different designs are presented and evaluated and the results are reported. In particular the HEMT performance is studied in terms of DC in addition to large signal conditions, where the device’s performance becomes function of power levels it is driven with. The peculiarities and challenges of building an automated Load-Pull setup are outlined and analysis for further improvements is presented.
Growth-expectations among women entrepreneurs: embedded in networks and culture in Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and in Belgium and France

An entrepreneur usually has an expectation for the firm, expecting expansion, stability or contraction. Expectation is influenced by the entrepreneur's attributes, but expectation is also embedded in the micro-environment of networking and the macro-environment of culture. Traditional culture and secular-rational culture differ in roles for women, which influence women entrepreneurs' networking and expectations. The design compares cultures, with data from three traditional societies, Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia and two secular-rational societies, France and Belgium, surveyed in the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, randomly sampling 39,336 women, including 2,306 entrepreneurs. Analyses show that women entrepreneurs have growth-expectations based on their background and increased by their competence and opportunity-motive, which also promote business networks around their firms. Formation of expectations is embedded in the networks in the way that networking increases expectations. Formation of expectations is embedded in culture in the way that, surprisingly, expectations are higher in traditional culture than in secular-rational culture.