Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Apical secretion of apolipoproteins from enterocytes

Synthesis and secretion of apolipoproteins in pig small intestine was studied by pulse-chase labeling of jejunal segments, kept in organ culture. Apo A-1 and apo B-48 were the two major proteins released, constituting 25 and 10%, respectively, of the total amount of labeled protein in the mucosal-side medium where they appeared with a t1/2 of 50-60 min. Using tissue from fasting animals, > 85% of newly synthesized apo A-1 and about one third of apo B-48 was released to the mucosal-side medium. Newly synthesized apolipoprotein that remained associated with the intestinal segment accumulated in the soluble fraction, suggesting a basolateral secretion into the intercellular space, and both this accumulation and the release to the medium was prevented by culture at 20 degrees C. The specific radioactivity of apo A-1 and apo B-48 released to the medium was significantly higher than that of the corresponding apolipoproteins remaining associated with the intestinal tissue. Furthermore, during culture periods of up to 5 h, the enterocytes and their tight junctions largely remained intact as evidenced by the inaccessibility of the nonpermeable surface marker Ruthenium red. We therefore propose that enterocytes release most of their newly made free apo A-1 and a significant portion of apo B-48 by exocytosis via the brush border membrane into the intestinal lumen. Fat absorption reduced apolipoprotein secretion to the medium and induced the formation of chylomicrons, containing apo A-1 at their surface, as evidenced by immunogold electron microscopy. The chylomicrons were localized in the Golgi complex and near the basolateral plasma membrane, but not in the apical region of the enterocytes, indicating that only free apolipoproteins are secreted to the intestinal lumen.
Impaired function of regulatory T-cells in hypersensitivity pneumonitis

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is characterised by lung lymphocytosis. Most individuals exposed to HP antigens remain asymptomatic. The mechanisms involved in the impaired immune tolerance leading to HP are unclear. Normally, T-regulatory (Treg)-cells control the immune response. The aim of the present study was to determine whether Treg-cell suppressive function deficiency can explain the uncontrolled inflammation in HP. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and blood samples were obtained from normal subjects, asymptomatic individuals and HP patients. BAL and blood Treg-cells were isolated. The ability of Treg-cells to suppress T-cell proliferation and the role of interleukin (IL)-17 was verified. BAL and blood Treg-cells from normal subjects suppressed the proliferative response of activated T-cells by 47.1 and 42%, respectively. BAL and blood Treg-cells from asymptomatic subjects had a slightly decreased activity and suppressed proliferation by 29.4 and 31.8%, respectively. BAL and blood Treg-cells from HP patients were totally nonfunctional and unable to suppress proliferation. Low levels of IL-17 were detected in sera and BAL from both normal and asymptomatic individuals, whereas measurable levels were found in patients. Treg-cells may be involved in antigen tolerance in asymptomatic subjects. Defective Treg-cell function, potentially caused by increased IL-17 production, could account for the exacerbated immune response characteristic of HP.
Predicting Earnings Surprises in European Countries

Despite the incredible amount of time and effort spent on forecasting company earnings, it is baffling that the average (consensus) earnings forecast is consistently biased. Even more surprising is that we can identify a range of characteristics that are systematically related to these forecast biases. The number of analysts following a stock, the dispersion among their forecasts, the sector affiliation, and the nationality of a stock can be used to predict an upcoming earnings surprise. Predicted earnings surprises are significantly related to subsequent stock return, although the value of the prediction varies from sector to sector. A long-short portfolio strategy based on the prediction rule would therefore work well for some sectors, if not for others. Although on average there is value in the signal, a judicious implementation is required to fully benefit from its potential.
Promoting Community through Caring Leadership: An Action Research Project

The overall purpose of this study was to increase collaboration across USD’s decentralized graduate admission departments through the approach of caring leadership (Uusiautti, 2013). The study was guided by the overarching question: How can I use caring leadership (Uusiautti, 2013) within academic affairs to encourage effective collaboration and understanding and foster a sense of community across departments? It was also guided by the sub-questions: Does gender impact the practices of collaboration and exchange of ideas within decentralized admission offices? If so, how does the current culture and structure of USD’s graduate admission offices aid/impede the practice of caring leadership (Uusiautti, 2013) across departments when considering intersecting identities? Data was collected through surveys, evaluations, and reflections with the intention of promoting understanding, encouraging the exchange of ideas, and developing a sense of community. As a result of this study, the Office of Graduate Admissions will continue to foster a stronger sense of community and increase in-person communication between the decentralized admission offices, leading to a better understanding of departmental needs and responsibilities while strengthening cross-departmental efforts to better serve prospective students. Ultimately, this project is aimed at helping me improve my professional practice as a higher education administrator. PROMOTING COMMUNITY THROUGH CARING LEADERSHIP 3
Computation of Turbulent Flow Through Parallel Plates with Streamwise Periodic Ribs by a Method with Self-Adjusted Relaxation Factor

In this study, the flow-field and forced-convection characteristics of turbulent flow through plates with streamwise periodic ribs is simulated by a faster converged numerical method. The method based on self-adjusted under relaxation factors is motivated from the concept of Bi-CGSTAB algorithm, which updates the solution vectors by the 2-norm minimization of the residual vectors of the governing equations, thus the optimal selection of the under relaxation factors for each control volume can be determined and hence the faster convergence for the numerical simulation can be achieved. In the flow-field, the upper wall is assumed thermally insulated, whereas the bottom plate with streamwise rectangular periodic ribs is provided with a uniform heat flux. The flow field and heat transfer characteristics are predict by Durbin’s k 2 ε v − − model, the numerical approach is based on the finite volume technique with staggered grid arrangement, and the PISO algorithm is adopted to obtain the pressure and the velocities. The local Nusselt number distribution along the bottom wall is calculated and compared with the experiment results concluded by Lorenz et al. It also compared with the computed results of Luo et al. The proposed method adopts the self-adjusted under relaxation factor provides the accurate flow-field and the forced-convection characteristics, furthermore, it indeed accelerates the convergence in this numerical simulation.
Survey on Mental Health Status of Urban Community Residents in Xi'an Based on SCL-90 Psychological Scale

The purpose of this study is to investigate the mental health status of 1021 community residents in Xi'an, which provides a scientific basis for understanding the mental health status of urban residents in our country, establishing a psychoanalysis model and promoting residents' health. The community residents of 8 community health service centers in Xincheng District of Xi'an City were used as the research object from June 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016, using the SCL-90 psychological scale for their psychological status measuring. The result is that the scores of SCL-90 for community residents in Xi'an are between 1.24 and 1.67. There were significant differences between male and female in other factors except for hostility (t=1.111, P=0.267), phobic-anxiety (t=1.658, P=0.098) and psychotic (t=0.359, P=0.025), interpersonal relationship (t=5.132, P=0.000), depression (P<0.05), and women's scores were higher than men's score (t=2.730, P=0.006). The scores of female anxiety (t=2.722, P=0.007) and psychotic (t=3.302, P=0.001) in 2016 were higher than those in the year of 1986; the study showed that the highest score was between the ages of 18 and 44 (youth group). This study can reflect the mental health of urban residents in Xi’an. The study found that the general mental health of residents in China remains steady. The concrete manifestations of women’s psychological health problems are increasingly prominent, and there is an upward trend in obsessive-compulsive disorder, interpersonal relationship and psychosis. The Chinese residents have the most severe mental health problems between the ages of 18 and 44, especially in the age group of 30-39.
Autophagy Protects Advanced Glycation End Product-Induced Apoptosis and Expression of MMP-3 and MMP-13 in Rat Chondrocytes

Aging is one of the most prominent risk factors for the pathological progression of osteoarthritis (OA). One feature of age-related changes in OA is advanced glycation end products (AGEs) accumulation in articular cartilage. Autophagy plays a cellular housekeeping role by removing dysfunctional cellular organelles and proteins. However, the relationship between autophagy and AGE-associated OA is unknown. The aim of this study is to determine whether autophagy participates in the pathology of AGE-treated chondrocytes and to investigate the exact role of autophagy in AGE-induced cell apoptosis and expression of matrix metalloproteinase- (MMP-) 3 and MMP-13. AGEs induced notable apoptosis that was detected by Annexin V/PI double-staining, and the upregulation of MMP-3 and MMP-13 was confirmed by Western blotting. Autophagy-related proteins were also determined by Western blotting, and chondrocytes were transfected with mCherry-GFP-LC3B-adenovirus to monitor autophagic flux. As a result, autophagy significantly increased in chondrocytes and peaked at 6 h. Furthermore, rapamycin (RA) attenuated AGE-induced apoptosis and expression of MMP-3 and MMP-13 by autophagy activation. In contrast, pretreatment with autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA) enhanced the abovementioned effects of AGEs. We therefore demonstrated that autophagy is linked with AGE-related pathology in rat chondrocytes and plays a protective role in AGE-induced apoptosis and expression of MMP-3 and MMP-13.
Immunomodulatory Dendritic Cells Inhibit Th1 Responses and Arthritis via Different Mechanisms1

Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional APCs which have the unique ability to present both foreign and self-Ags to T cells and steer the outcome of immune responses. Because of these characteristics, DCs are attractive vehicles for the delivery of therapeutic vaccines. Fully matured DCs are relatively well-defined and even used in clinical trials in cancer. DCs also have the potential to influence the outcome of autoimmunity by modulating the underlying autoimmune response. To gain a better appreciation of the abilities and mechanisms by which immunomodulatory DCs influence the outcome of T cell responses, we studied several immunomodulatory DCs (TNF-, IL-10-, or dexamethasone-stimulated bone marrow-derived DCs) side by side for their ability to modulate T cell responses and autoimmune diseases. Our data show that these differentially modulated DCs display a different composition of molecules involved in T cell activation. Although, all DC subsets analyzed were able to inhibit the induction of collagen-induced arthritis, the modulation of the underlying immune response was different. Vaccination with TNF- or IL-10-modulated DCs altered the Th1/Th2 balance as evidenced by the induction of IL-5- and IL-10-secreting T cells and the concomitant reduction of the IgG2a-IgG1 ratio against the immunizing Ag. In contrast, DCs modulated with dexamethasone did not affect the ratio of IL-5-producing vs IFN-γ-producing T cells and tended to affect the Ab response in a nonspecific manner. These data indicate that distinct mechanisms can be used by distinct DC subsets to change the outcome of autoimmunity.
Bone mineral density and donor age are not predictive of femoral ring allograft bone mechanical strength

While metal or plastic interbody spinal fusion devices are manufactured to appropriate mechanical standards, mechanical properties of commercially prepared structural allograft bone remain relatively unassessed. Robust models predicting compressive load to failure of structural allograft bone based on easily measured variables would be useful. Three hundred twenty seven femoral rings from 34 cadaver femora were tested to failure in axial compression. Predictive variables included age, gender, bone mineral density (BMD), position along femoral shaft, maximum/minimum wall thickness, outer/inner diameter, and area. We used support vector regression and 10‐fold cross‐validation to develop robust nonlinear predictive models for load to failure. Model performance was measured by the root‐mean‐squared‐deviation (RMSD) and correlation coefficients (r). A polynomial model using all variables had RMSD = 7.92, r = 0.84, indicating excellent performance. A model using all variables except BMD was essentially unchanged (RMSD = 8.12, r = 0.83). Eliminating both age and BMD produced a model with RMSD = 8.41, r = 0.82, again essentially unchanged. Compressive strength of structural allograft bone can be estimated using easily measured geometric parameters, without including BMD or age. As DEXA is costly and cumbersome, and setting upper age‐limits for potential donors reduces the supply, our results may prove helpful to increase the quality and availability of structural allograft. © 2014 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 32:1271–1276, 2014.
A Tale of Two Cities: Information Security Policy Compliance of the Banking Industry in the United States and South Korea

This study compares the information security policy (ISP) compliance of the banking industry between the United States and South Korea. The distinctive differences of national culture between both nations has led to meaningful findings of ISP compliance at the organizational and individual levels. Drawing on the Cross Value Framework (CVF), this study conducted a survey and distributed questionnaires to the banking employees in the United States and South Korea. Our analysis results reveal that organizational cultures, namely, hierarchical and rational cultures, drive organizational norms in support of ISP compliance in the banking sectors in both nations. While organizational cultures demonstrate no direct effect on individual’s compliance among the banking employees in the United States, organizational cultures consisting of team, rational, and entrepreneurial cultures directly influence individual’s compliance in South Korean banking. Accordingly, this study suggests that common industry characteristics play a role in ISP compliance at the organizational level and that national culture may act as a moderator in ISP compliance at the individual level.
Skills, Tasks and Technologies: Implications for Employment and Earnings

A central organizing framework of the voluminous recent literature studying changes in the returns to skills and the evolution of earnings inequality is what we refer to as the canonical model, which elegantly and powerfully operationalizes the supply and demand for skills by assuming two distinct skill groups that perform two different and imperfectly substitutable tasks or produce two imperfectly substitutable goods. Technology is assumed to take a factor-augmenting form, which, by complementing either high or low skill workers, can generate skill biased demand shifts. In this paper, we argue that despite its notable successes, the canonical model is largely silent on a number of central empirical developments of the last three decades, including: (1) significant declines in real wages of low skill workers, particularly low skill males; (2) non-monotone changes in wages at different parts of the earnings distribution during different decades; (3) broad-based increases in employment in high skill and low skill occupations relative to middle skilled occupations (i.e., job 'polarization'); (4) rapid diffusion of new technologies that directly substitute capital for labor in tasks previously performed by moderately-skilled workers; and (5) expanding offshoring opportunities, enabled by technology, which allow foreign labor to substitute for domestic workers in specific tasks. Motivated by these patterns, we argue that it is valuable to consider a richer framework for analyzing how recent changes in the earnings and employment distribution in the United States and other advanced economies are shaped by the interactions among worker skills, job tasks, evolving technologies, and shifting trading opportunities. We propose a tractable task-based model in which the assignment of skills to tasks is endogenous and technical change may involve the substitution of machines for certain tasks previously performed by labor. We further consider how the evolution of technology in this task-based setting may be endogenized. We show how such a framework can be used to interpret several central recent trends, and we also suggest further directions for empirical exploration.
Conversational Gaze Aversion for Humanlike Robots

Gaze aversion—the intentional redirection away from the face of an interlocutor—is an important nonverbal cue that serves a number of conversational functions, including signaling cognitive effort, regulating a conversation’s intimacy level, and managing the conversational floor. In prior work, we developed a model of how gaze aversions are employed in conversation to perform these functions. In this paper, we extend the model to apply to conversational robots, enabling them to achieve some of these functions in conversations with people. We present a system that addresses the challenges of adapting human gaze aversion movements to a robot with very different affordances, such as a lack of articulated eyes. This system, implemented on the NAO platform, autonomously generates and combines three distinct types of robot head movements with different purposes: face-tracking movements to engage in mutual gaze, idle head motion to increase lifelikeness, and purposeful gaze aversions to achieve conversational functions. The results of a human-robot interaction study with 30 participants show that gaze aversions implemented with our approach are perceived as intentional, and robots can use gaze aversions to appear more thoughtful and effectively manage the conversational floor.Categories and Subject DescriptorsH.1. 2 [Models and Principles]: User/Machine Systems —human factors, software psychology; H.5. 2 [Information Interfaces and Presentation]: User Interfaces — evaluation/ methodology, usercentered design
Bilingual versus monolingual infants’ novel word-action mapping before and after first-word production: Influence of developing noun-dominance on perceptual narrowing

This experimental study examined bilingual (English and another noun-dominant language) and monolingual (English) preverbal (10.5-month-old) and postverbal (12.5-month-old) infants’ word-action mapping. Sixteen infants in each group were habituated to dynamic video-displays of novel word-action pairings during infant-controlled habituation. They received two words, /wem/ and /bæf/, spoken synchronously with an adult shaking or looming an object, and were tested with switched versus same word-action pairings. Results revealed that for the preverbal bilingual infants, word-action mapping is intensified relative to postverbal bilingual infants. For the postverbal bilingual infants, word-action mapping is attenuated and inversely correlated with noun learning. No such differences were observed in the monolingual infants. These findings illustrate a perceptual protraction prior to word production, and accelerated perceptual narrowing to nouns after word production in bilingual infants learning two noun-dominant languages.
Movie-Generated EFL Writing: Discovering the Act of Writing through Visual Literacy Practices.

The present article explores the idea of using movies in EFL classrooms to develop students' writing skill. In this qualitative study, 15 EFL learners were engaged in different writing activities in a contextualized form of movies, meaning that the films acted as text-books, and activities were designed based on the contexts of the films. Taking an action research design and by relying on different sources to enrich the class, the researchers took the role of learners-instructors to explore writing beyond its conventional practices in EFL classrooms. After 40 hours of instruction, it was shown that the students found a way to enrich their writings and to express their ideas through words and statements that resembled the way writers and directors of the movies dealt with pictures. Students were engaged in deciphering the pictures, inferring and expressing the meanings, and finding a framework for their writings based on the genres of the movies. Following these activities, learners learnt how to be visually literate and to move beyond the predetermined writing formats and discover their own through an artistic practice to give life to their texts, like movies.
Effect on Users of the Seating Element Types in Cafés / Restaurants

In this study, the impact of different seating unit types on subjects’ perceptional evaluation of cafe/restaurant environments has been examined. The scopes for assessment were being ergonomic, privacy and perceptual preferences. The data for this research were obtained from students’ ratings of digital pictures for two hypothetical cafes/restaurants. These spaces were prepared exactly the same. The only differences were that one space was furnished with chairs and the other was furnished with booths. Each dining environment was tested by using bipolar scales. Results indicated that cafes/restaurants furnished with booths were considered to be more ergonomic, private, comfortable and less crowded than the cafes/restaurants furnished with chairs. Furthermore, gender differences in evaluation were also examined. Due to the gender differences, findings showed that female subjects perceived cafes/restaurants furnished with booths more positively than male subjects. Additionally, their preferences for seating locations in cafes/restaurants were also different.