Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Enhancing firm performance through internal market orientation and employee organizational commitment

Abstract Considering the importance of retaining key staff and managing the negative impact of high labor turnover on firm performance, this study investigates the notion of internal market orientation (IMO) as an employee management tool for helping companies retain employees and leverage performance via their organizational commitment. Drawing on data from three different managerial respondents in 275 companies based in China, the findings demonstrate the precedential effect of IMO on corporate performance through employees’ organizational commitment and retention. Interdepartmental relationship and interdepartmental communication, together with ownership types are identified as potential moderating variables, which may vary IMO’s effectiveness in the framework. This study provides scholars and practitioners with empirical evidence of IMO’s contribution to different industries and markets. Building on a western perspective, this study extends the literature in an emerging market context and specifically has implications for managing Chinese employees.
Mature natural killer cells with phenotypic and functional alterations accumulate upon sustained stimulation with IL-15/IL-15Rα complexes

Cytotoxic lymphocytes such as natural killer (NK) and CD8 T cells play important roles in immunosurveillance by killing virally infected or malignant cells. The homeostatic cytokine, IL-15, promotes the development, function, and survival of NK and CD8 T cells. IL-15 is normally presented in trans as a surface complex with IL-15 receptor-alpha-chain (IL-15Rα) by dendritic cells (DCs) and monocytes. Signaling by IL-15 occurs via the IL-2/IL-15 receptor β-chain (CD122) which is expressed primarily by NK1.1+ cells and CD8 T cells. The use of preformed complexes of IL-15 with soluble IL-15Rα complexes to boost the effector function of CD122+ cytolytic lymphocytes such as NK and CD8 T cells has recently gained considerable attention. Here we describe the impact of transient and prolonged in vivo stimulation by IL-15/IL-15Rα complexes on NK and CD8 T cells. Whereas transitory stimulation increased the number of activated NK cells and significantly enhanced their effector function, prolonged stimulation by IL-15/IL-15Rα complexes led to a marked accumulation of mature NK cells with considerably impaired activation, cytotoxicity, and proliferative activity, and an altered balance of activating and inhibitory receptors. In contrast to NK cells, CD8 T cells exhibited an activated phenotype and robust T cell receptor stimulation and effector function upon chronic stimulation with IL-15/IL-15Rα complexes. Thus, prolonged stimulation with the strong activating signal leads to a preferential accrual of mature NK cells with altered activation and diminished functional capacity. These findings point to a negative feedback mechanism to preferentially counterbalance excessive NK cell activity and may have important implications for cytokine immunotherapy.
Elusive Role of the CD94/NKG2C NK Cell Receptor in the Response to Cytomegalovirus: Novel Experimental Observations in a Reporter Cell System

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection promotes the differentiation and persistent expansion of a mature NK cell subset, which displays high surface levels of the activating CD94/NKG2C NK cell receptor, together with additional distinctive phenotypic and functional features. The mechanisms underlying the development of adaptive NK cells remain uncertain but some observations support the involvement of a cognate interaction of CD94/NKG2C with ligand(s) displayed by HCMV-infected cells. To approach this issue, the heterodimer and its adaptor (DAP12) were expressed in the human Jurkat leukemia T cell line; signaling was detected by transfection of a reporter plasmid encoding for Luciferase (Luc) under NFAT/AP1-dependent control. Engagement of the receptor by solid-phase bound CD94- or NKG2C-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) triggered Luc expression. Moreover, reporter activation was detectable upon interaction with HLA-E+ 721.221 (.221-AEH) cells, as well as with 721.221 cells incubated with synthetic peptides, which stabilized surface expression of endogenous HLA-E; the response was specifically antagonized by soluble NKG2C- and HLA-E-specific mAbs. By contrast, activation of Jurkat-NKG2C+ was undetectable upon interaction with Human Fetal Foreskin Fibroblasts (HFFF) infected with HCMV laboratory strains (i.e., AD169, Towne), regardless of their differential ability to preserve surface HLA-E expression. On the other hand, infection with two clinical isolates or with the endotheliotropic TB40/E strain triggered Jurkat-NKG2C+ activation; yet, this response was not inhibited by blocking mAbs and was independent of CD94/NKG2C expression. The results are discussed in the framework of previous observations supporting the hypothetical existence of specific ligand(s) for CD94/NKG2C in HCMV-infected cells.
Neurological soft signs in non‐psychotic patients with cannabis dependence

Psychomotor performance has consistently been found to be altered in chronic cannabis users. Neurological soft signs (NSS) reflect neurological dysfunction involving integrative networks, especially those involving the cerebellum, where cannabinoid receptors are particularly concentrated. Our objective was to study, for the first time, NSS in a group of patients with cannabis dependence compared with a of healthy control subjects, matched for age, gender and level of education. All outpatients seeking treatment for chronic cannabis use in the substance abuse department of Sainte‐Anne Hospital in Paris between June 2007 and May 2009 and meeting the cannabis dependence DSM‐IV criteria were included in the study (n = 45). Patients with psychotic disorders, bipolar 1 disorder and current alcohol, opioid or cocaine dependence were excluded. All patients and controls were assessed using the Diagnostic Interview for Genetic Studies, which screens for lifetime DSM‐IV diagnoses, and the Standardized Neurological Examination of Neurological Soft Signs. NSS scores were significantly higher in patients with cannabis dependence compared with healthy subjects (8.90 ± 4.85 versus 6.71 ± 2.73, respectively, Mann–Whitney: U = 775.0, P = 0.05). Patients had particularly high scores on motor coordination and sensory integration NSS factors. Cannabis dependence is associated with more NSS and especially motor coordination and sensory integration signs. These results suggest that cannabinoids interact with the brain networks underlying NSS, known to be altered in schizophrenia.
Escherichia coli K-12 Mutants Resistant to Nalidixic Acid: Genetic Mapping and Dominance Studies

Escherichia coli K-12 strains tested so far (approximately 20) can be separated into three groups on the basis of their abilities to form colonies on nutrient agar supplemented with nalidixic acid (NAL): (i) Nals or wild type (no growth at 1 to 2 μg/ml); (ii) NalAr (growth at 40 μg/ml or higher); and (iii) NalBr (growth at 4 μg/ml, but no growth at 10 μg/ml). The NalAr group has a spectrum of sensitivity ranging from 60 to over 100 μg/ml. All Hfr strains of the NalAr and NalBr groups transfer NAL resistance to recipient cells at genetic loci which are at 42.5 ± 0.5 and 51 ± 1 min, respectively, on the Taylor-Trotter map. Some members of the NalAr group also have the genetic locus for NalBr. The nalAs allele is completely dominant to nalAr in a partial diploid configuration. In haploids, nalAr-nalBr is phenotypically NalAr; nalAr-nalBs is NalAr; and nalAs-nalBr is NalBr. The map location of nalA and the easy differentiation between NalAr and NalAs allow this marker to be used as a counterselector in bacterial conjugation experiments.
Functional Cloning of Bacillus anthracis Dihydrofolate Reductase and Confirmation of Natural Resistance to Trimethoprim

ABSTRACT Bacillus anthracis is reported to be naturally resistant to trimethoprim (TMP), a drug that inhibits dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), a key enzyme in the folate pathway. A microdilution broth assay established that the MIC of TMP for B. anthracis Sterne is >2,048 but ≤4,096 μg/ml. A putative DHFR sequence was amplified from B. anthracis Sterne genomic DNA. The PCR product was cloned into the Invitrogen pCRT7/CT-TOPO vector, followed by transformation into Escherichia coli TOP10F′ chemically competent cells. Plasmid DNA from a clone showing the correct construct with a thrombin cleavage site attached downstream from the terminus of the cloned PCR product was transformed into E. coli BL21 Star (DE3)pLysS competent cells for expression of the six-histidine-tagged fusion protein and purification on a His-Bind resin column. Functionality of the purified Sterne recombinant DHFR (Sterne rDHFR) was confirmed in an established enzyme assay. The 50% inhibitory concentrations of TMP and methotrexate for the Sterne rDHFR were found to be 77,233 and 12.2 nM, respectively. TMP resistance was observed with E. coli BL21 Star (DE3)pLysS competent cells transformed with the Sterne DHFR gene. Alignment of the amino acid sequence of the Sterne DHFR gene revealed 100% homology with various virulent strains of B. anthracis. These results confirm the natural resistance of B. anthracis to TMP and clarify that the resistance is correlated to a lack of selectivity for the chromosomally encoded gene product. These findings will assist in the development of narrow-spectrum antimicrobial agents for treatment of anthrax.
Heterogeneous Firms, Financial Constraints and Export Behaviour: A Firm‐Level Investigation for China

We study the impact of access to finance on exports using Chinese firm-level data. We distinguish two modes of external finance, namely bank loans and issuing stocks to shareholders. We not only consider the impact either of these has individually on export behaviour, but also their interaction. We build the two external sources, as well as internal finance, into a heterogeneous firm-type model, which allows us to investigate the relationship between financial constraints and firms’ exports. We examine the model's predictions empirically using a comprehensive longitudinal firm-level data set from China. Our empirical results are consistent with the theoretical predictions. Firms who have more interest expenditure or can issue stocks to their shareholders have higher propensity to export and export more. Moreover, the more financial options a firm has, the better a firm performs in terms of export volume and export propensity.
Low hepatitis B envelope antigen seroconversion rate in chronic hepatitis B patients on long-term entecavir 0.5 mg daily in routine clinical practice

Aim Data from registration trials with highly selective patients have shown that hepatitis B envelope antigen (HBeAg)-positive patients with chronic hepatitis B respond well to entecavir (ETV) 0.5 mg daily, with an HBeAg seroconversion rate of 21% at 12 months. However, there are varying data on the treatment outcomes of ETV 0.5 mg daily in routine clinical settings, with seroconversion rates at 12 months ranging from 8 to 48% in studies limited to 44–90 patients from centers in Asia, Europe, and South America. Materials and methods In the present study, we examined long-term treatment efficacy and tolerability in 136 consecutive treatment-naive HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients treated between January 2005 and January 2011 with ETV 0.5 mg daily at community clinics and tertiary centers in the USA. The primary study end point was HBeAg seroconversion. Results Sixty-one percent of HBeAg-positive patients were men, mean age 39±12 years, median hepatitis B virus DNA 7.48 (3.7–9.8) log10 IU/ml, median alanine aminotransferase 67 (14–1077) U/l, and median treatment duration 18 (6–60) months. At months 12, 24, and 36, complete viral suppression rates were 41, 66, and 85% and HBeAg seroconversion rates were 4.8, 20, and 30%, respectively. No patients experienced adverse events or developed genotypic resistance to ETV. Conclusion In clinical settings, ETV is highly tolerable and potent at suppressing hepatitis B viremia; however, the rates of HBeAg seroconversion appear to be much lower than those reported, highlighting the importance of appropriate counseling and planning for long-term therapy.
Hepatitis C virus infection involves CD34(+) hematopoietic progenitor cells in hepatitis C virus chronic carriers.

Although hepatitis C virus (HCV) mainly affects hepatocytes, infection is widespread and involves immunologically privileged sites. Whether lymphoid cells represent further targets of early HCV infection, or whether other cells in the hematopoietic microenvironment may serve as a potential virus reservoir, is still unclear. We studied whether pluripotent hematopoietic CD34(+) cells support productive HCV infection and can be used to establish an in vitro infection system for HCV. Six patients were selected as part of a cohort of HCV chronic carriers who developed a neoplastic disease. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and branched DNA signal amplification assays were used to detect and quantitate HCV RNA in extracted nucleic acids from purified bone marrow and peripheral blood CD34(+) cells. Direct in situ RT-PCR, flow cytometry analysis, and immunocytochemistry were applied to demonstrate specific viral genomic sequences and structural and nonstructural virus-related proteins in intact cells. Results indicated that both positive and negative HCV RNA strands and viral proteins were present in CD34(+) cells from all HCV-positive patients and in none of the controls. Additional experiments showed that a complete viral cycle took place in CD34(+) cells in vitro. Spontaneous increases in viral titers indicated that virions were produced by infected hematopoietic progenitor cells. To further define the cellular tropism, we attempted to infect CD34(+) cells in vitro. We were unable to demonstrate viral uptake by cells. These findings suggest that HCV replication can occur in the early differentiation stages of hematopoietic progenitor cells, and that they may be an important source of virus production.
Market Analysis Based on an Entropy Measure for the Degree of Competition

In view of the growing importance of marketing, there is a need to measure the degree of market competition for analysing strategic advantage. The need for such a measure can also be felt for categorizing the market structure for the usage of market theories in a real life situation. To meet these above-mentioned needs, the present note proposes three desiderata for a good measure for the degree of market competition. Further, one measure, based on the concept of entropy, has been proposed which makes use of market share vector. It also examines the suitability of the proposed measure in meeting the desiderata. A case study has a1so been carried out, covering two white good items, to demonstrate the applicability of the suggested procedure for market categorization.
Influence of chronic neck pain on cervical joint position error (JPE): Comparison between young and elderly subjects.

BACKGROUND Evaluation of cervical joint position sense in subjects with chronic neck pain has gained importance in recent times. Different authors have established increased joint position error (JPE) in subjects with acute neck pain. However, there is a paucity of studies to establish the influence of chronic neck pain on cervical JPE. OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to understand the influence of chronic neck pain on cervical JPE, and to examine the differences in cervical JPE between young and elderly subjects with chronic neck pain. METHODS Forty-two chronic neck pain patients (mean age 47.4) were compared for cervical JPE with 42 age-matched healthy subjects (mean age 47.8), using a digital inclinometer. The cervical JPE were measured in flexion, extension, and rotation in right and left movement directions. RESULTS The comparison of JPE showed significantly larger errors in subjects with chronic neck pain when compared to healthy subjects (p< 0.001). The errors were larger in all of the movement directions tested. Comparison between young and older subjects with chronic neck pain revealed no significant differences (P> 0.05) in cervical JPE. CONCLUSIONS Cervical joint position sense is impaired in subjects with chronic neck pain.
Location decision-making of ‘creative’ industries: insights from the media and computer games sectors

In the literature there has been significant research undertaken examining the ‘creative class’ thesis within the context of the locational preferences of creative workers. However, relatively little attention has been given to the locational preferences of creative companies within the same context. Accordingly, this paper reports on research conducted to qualitatively analyse the location decision-making of companies in the creative sector. We specifically address the role of so-called ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ factors in company location decision-making and assessing as well examining the variation of these factors by company size and whether they are indigenous or multi-national. The study focuses on ‘core’ creative industries in the media and computer games sectors and utilises interview data with company managers and key elite actors in the sector to investigate the foregoing questions. The results show that ‘hard’ factors are of primary importance for the location decision-making in the sectors analysed but that ‘soft’ factors play quite an important role, (especially for foreign multi-nationals) when ‘hard’ factors are satisfactory in more than one competing city-region.
The impact of asthma exacerbations on health-related quality of life in moderate to severe asthma patients in the UK.

INTRODUCTION The objective of this study was to report the impact of exacerbations on health-related quality of life (HRQL) and health utility in patients with moderate to severe asthma (BTS levels 4 & 5) in the UK. MATERIALS AND METHODS Prospective data regarding HRQL were collected (n=112) using the EQ-5D, mini Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (mAQLQ), and Asthma Symptom Utility (ASUI) measures. RESULTS The mAQLQ, EQ-5D and ASUI were all significantly worse for patients suffering exacerbations (p<0.001) compared to those without. There was also evidence of a further HRQL decrement in those patients who had been admitted to hospital as a result of an exacerbation during the four-week study. CONCLUSIONS This study documents the impact of asthma exacerbations on HRQL in patients with moderate to severe asthma. There was some evidence of floor effects on the mAQLQ and ASUI in their ability to capture the impact of exacerbations. These study data are suitable for use in economic evaluations.
Decreased Density of Presynaptic α2‐Adrenoceptors in Postmortem Brains of Patients with Alzheimer's Disease

Abstract: The full agonist [3H]bromoxidine (UK 14304) was used to quantitate α2‐adrenoceptors in postmortem brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease. The effects of aging and human serum Cohn fraction IV on [3H]bromoxidine binding were also assessed. In patients with Alzheimer's disease, the binding capacity (Bmax) of [3H]bromoxidine was lower in the frontal cortex (37%), hypothalamus (33%), and cerebellum (52%) than in matched controls. In the hippocampus, amygdala, and head of caudate, the binding capacities (Bmax) were unchanged. Quantitative autoradiographic analyses with [3H]bromoxidine confirmed the existence of a marked reduction (55–60%) in α2A‐adrenoceptor density in the frontal cortex (layers I and III). In patients with dementia who did not meet neuropathological criteria for Alzheimer's disease, the density of α2‐adrenoceptors was unchanged. In control subjects, the density of α2A‐adrenoceptors in the frontal cortex showed a significant negative correlation with age at death. The inhibitory effect of human serum Cohn fraction IV on [3H]bromoxidine was very similar in control subjects and patients with Alzheimer's disease. The observed decrease in the density of brain α2‐adrenoceptors in Alzheimer's disease may represent direct biochemical evidence of a presynaptic location of this receptor on noradrenergic nerve terminals in the human CNS.
T cell suppression by osteoclasts in vitro

T cells are critical regulators of osteoclast differentiation and function in bone, but whether osteoclasts can, in turn, regulate T cell homing, and response to stimuli is unclear. To investigate whether osteoclasts are immune competent cells, the expression of HLA Class II and costimulatory receptors was evaluated by RT‐PCR and immunohistochemistry by comparing osteoclast precursors and mature osteoclasts. T‐cell‐attracting chemokines were measured in the supernatants of confluent cultures of osteoclasts and compared with mesenchymal stromal cells and osteoblasts. T cell proliferation, cytokine production, and apoptosis were assayed in co‐cultures with osteoclasts in the presence or absence of mitogenic stimuli. To define the mechanism of action of osteoclasts, cytokine‐blocking experiments were performed. Our findings revealed that mature osteoclasts constitutively expressed Class II HLA in the membrane and upregulate the expression of CD40 and CD80 during differentiation. Osteoclasts secreted high levels of most T cell chemoattractants and effectively retained T cells in adhesion assays. Moreover, the osteoclasts potently blunted T cell response to PHA and CD3/CD28 stimulation, thus inhibiting proliferation, suppressing T cell TNFα and IFNγ production and decreasing T cell apoptosis by a mostly cell‐contact independent mechanism. In conclusion, osteoclasts are immune‐competent cells which can retain T cells and suppress in vitro T cell response to proliferative stimuli. J. Cell. Physiol. 226: 982–990, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Coumarin A/AA induces apoptosis‐like cell death in HeLa cells mediated by the release of apoptosis‐inducing factor

It has been demonstrated that naturally occurring coumarins have strong biological activity against many cancer cell lines. In this study, we assessed the cytotoxicity induced by the naturally isolated coumarin A/AA in different cancer cell lines (HeLa, Calo, SW480, and SW620) and in normal peripheral‐blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Cytotoxicity was evaluated using the MTT assay. The results demonstrate that coumarin A/AA was cytotoxic in the four cancer cell lines tested and importantly was significantly less toxic in PBMCs isolated from healthy donors. The most sensitive cancer cell line to coumarin A/AA treatment was Hela. Thus, the programmed cell death (PCD) mechanism induced by this coumarin was further studied in this cell line. DNA fragmentation, histomorphology, cell cycle phases, and subcellular distribution of PCD proteins were assessed. The results demonstrated that DNA fragmentation, but not significant cell cycle disruptions, was part of the PCD activated by coumarin A/AA. Interestingly, it was found that apoptosis‐inducing factor (AIF), a proapoptotic protein of the mitochondrial intermembrane space, was released to the cytoplasm in treated cells as detected by the western blot analysis in subcellular fractions. Nevertheless, the active form of caspase‐3 was not detected. The overall results indicate that coumarin A/AA induces a caspase‐independent apoptotic‐like cell death program in HeLa cells, mediated by the early release of AIF and suggest that this compound may be helpful in clinical oncology. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 23:263–272, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/jbt.20288