Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Heparan sulfate proteoglycan and FGF receptor target basic FGF to different intracellular destinations.

Basic FGF is a prototype of a family of heparin binding growth factors that regulate a variety of cellular responses including cell growth, morphogenesis and differentiation. At least two families of receptors bind bFGF and could mediate its response: (1) tyrosine kinase-containing FGF receptors, designated FGFR-1 to FGFR-4, and (2) heparan sulfate proteoglycans that bind bFGF through their heparan sulfate chains. Both are known to undergo internalization and thus bFGF bound to the different receptors may be internalized via more than one pathway. It is not known whether the intracellular fate of bFGF differs depending upon which receptor binds it at the cell surface. To investigate the respective roles of these receptors in the intracellular targeting of bFGF, we utilized NMuMG cells that bind and internalize bFGF through their heparan sulfate proteoglycans, but do not express detectable levels of FGFRs nor respond to bFGF. Basic FGF conjugated to saporin (bFGF-saporin) was used as a probe to study targeting of bFGF by the different receptors. Saporin is a cytotoxin that has no effect on cells if added exogenously. However, it kills cells if it gains access to the cytoplasm. The NMuMG cells internalize bFGF-saporin but are not killed. Transfecting these cells with FGFR-1 results in bFGF-responsive cells, which bind and internalize bFGF through FGFR-1, and are killed. Removing the heparan sulfate from these cells eliminates killing by bFGF-saporin. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Cell-mediated immune response in malnutrition.

The primary and secondary immune responses to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) were profoundly depressed in rats with malnutrition as determined by the marked reduction of direct plaque- (PFC) and rosette- (RFC) forming cells in the spleen, thymus and bone marrow. In the thymus and spleen of the immunized rats with malnutrition during the primary immune response the percentage reduction of RFC was greater than that of PFC but in the secondary immune response it was the reverse that occurred. Skin transplants were rejected by rats with malnutrition as they were in the controls although it is possible that transplants would survive longer in more severely malnourished animals. Peripheral blood lymphocytes from both unimmunized rats and monkeys with malnutrition responded better to pokeweed mitogen (PWM) than to phytohaemag-glutinin (PHA), suggesting greater impairment of thymus-derived dependent T cells, than of bursa equivalent, antibody-forming B cells among peripheral blood lymphocytes. In the control animals the PHA responsiveness was greater than PWM responsiveness.
Correlations of Y chromosome microchimerism with disease activity in patients with SLE: analysis of preliminary data

Background: Recently it has been suggested that microchimerism may have a significant role in the aetiopathogenesis of some autoimmune diseases. Objectives: To evaluate the incidence of microchimerism in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), to quantify the phenomenon, to evaluate changes of microchimerism during follow up, and to correlate these data with clinical and laboratory variables. Methods: Patients were selected for the study on the basis of the following criteria: (a) pregnancy with at least one male offspring; (b) no history of abortion and blood transfusion. Microchimerism was detected using a competitive nested polymerase chain reaction for a specific Y chromosome sequence and an internal competitor designed ad hoc. Disease activity and organ involvement were also evaluated. Results: Sixty samples from 22 patients with SLE and 24 healthy controls were examined. Microchimerism was seen in 11 (50%) patients and 12 (50%) controls. The mean number of male equivalent cells was 2.4 cells/100 000 (range 0.1–17) in patients with SLE and 2.5 (range 0.2–1.8) in healthy controls. No differences in the incidence of microchimerism or in the number of microchimeric cells were found between patients and healthy controls. Patients with a history of lupus nephritis had a higher mean number of fetal cells than patients with no such history. Disease activity did not appear to correlate with microchimerism. Conclusions: The preliminary data suggest that microchimerism does not interfere with the disease course of SLE, although further analysis on larger groups will be necessary to confirm these observations.
Social Influence and Contextual Utilization of Customer Relationship Management Technology in an International Field Sales Organization

Building from related interdisciplinary theories, this research identifies social influence–related variables that are linked to customer relationship management (CRM) technology utilization within an international business-to-business field sales force. Field sales employees (n = 147) in a multinational organization from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States were surveyed to test the research model. Four of 7 primary hypotheses were supported, predicting more than 65% of the variance in the research model. Effort expectancy, uncertainty avoidance, collective performance expectancy, and internal/organizational social influence all showed antecedent significance to contextual utilization of CRM technology. The results of this study suggest that group-oriented individual decision making and the related concept of institutional collectivism are equally as important as individual-oriented decision making in the international utilization of organizational technology. Based on the strong significance shown in the results of this study, it would also be wise to consider cultural value–derived uncertainty avoidance in practical development of training and implementation of multinational CRM systems.
Circulating endothelial cells and microparticles for prediction of tumor progression and outcomes in advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND Circulating endothelial cells (CECs) and microparticles (MPs) are proposed as useful biosensors for angiogenesis and membrane damage in cancer. OBJECTIVE We investigated their predictive value for progression disease (PD) and clinical outcomes in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with cytotoxic chemotherapy. METHODS Peripheral blood samples were obtained from 60 patients. Immunomagnetic separation (IMS) and flow cytometry techniques were used to quantify CECs and MPs, respectively. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis was used to determine the optimal cutoff values for CECs and MPs counts according to their levels in patients with an objective response (OR) and non-responders after treatment. Baseline serum biomarkers levels and their kinetics after chemotherapy were correlated with tumor response and outcomes in advanced NSCLC patients. RESULTS Forty-seven patients presented an OR after chemotherapy. Of these, 28 patients progressed within three months. Through an increase in their levels during or after chemotherapy, CECs and MPs correctly predicted PD in 57% and 61% of these patients, respectively. Regarding tumor stage, NSCLC patients with stage IV had significantly higher pretreatment CECs and MPs levels than stage III patients (p= 0.037 and 0.018, respectively). Moreover, progression-free survival (PFS) was significantly longer in patients with high baseline CECs levels than those with low pretreatment CECs values (p= 0.05). Moreover, patients with high percentage change in CECs count after chemotherapy had significantly longer time to progression (TTP) duration (p= 0.018). CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest the increase in CECs and MPs number during or after chemotherapy as predictive biomarkers of tumor progression in advanced NSCLC patients. An association of basal CECs and MPs values with tumor stage was also shown in advanced NSCLC patients. However, baseline CECs levels and their kinetics after chemotherapy seem to be prognostic factors in advanced NSCLC.
Dynamics of Women Entrepreneurs in Sultanate of Oman: Opportunities and Obstacles

The study is a questionnaire based purposive sampling of 100 respondents in Oman. The Arab world is a patriarchal society with unwritten rules and the objective of the study is to uncover the opportunities available to Omani women and the obstacles which they face as an entrepreneur as well as in the process of becoming an entrepreneur. The study also looks into the basic differences in the perception of women who are entrepreneurs and women who would like to become entrepreneurs in the future. Analysis of variance is used for hypothesis testing. Factor analysis is used to explore the motivational factors, obstacles faced and success factors of women entrepreneurs and future entrepreneurs in Oman.
Predictors of response to rituximab in patients with neuropathy and anti–myelin associated glycoprotein immunoglobulin M

Abstract We evaluated the efficacy and safety of rituximab in an open‐label, uncontrolled study of 13 patients with polyneuropathy associated with antibodies to myelin‐associated glycoprotein (MAG) and correlated the response to therapy with clinical and laboratory features. One year after rituximab therapy, anti‐MAG immunoglobulin M (IgM) titers were significantly reduced. At that time, eight patients (62%) had improved in both the inflammatory neuropathy cause and treatment (INCAT) sensory sumscore and the Medical Research Council sumscore for muscle strength and seven of them also in the INCAT disability score. The improvement in the mean INCAT sensory sumscore was significant at 12 months and correlated with lower anti‐MAG antibody at entry and at follow‐up. This study suggests that rituximab may be efficacious in patients with anti–MAG associated neuropathy and particularly on sensory impairment and in those with moderately elevated antibody titers. These findings suggest that antibody reduction below a critical level may be necessary to achieve clinical improvement.
The Roles of Channel-Category Associations and Geodemographics in Channel Patronage

Consumers purchase goods from various channels or retail formats, such as grocery stores, drugstores, mass merchandisers, club stores, and convenience stores. To identify the most appropriate channels and to allocate the distribution of products among channels efficiently, managers need a better understanding of consumer behavior with respect to these channels. The authors examine the moderating role of channel-category associations in consumer channel patronage by extending the literature on brand associations to the context of channels, and they estimate a model that links channel-category associations with consumer geodemographics and channel share of volume. The authors first identify the product categories associated with particular channels through a correspondence analysis of a field-intercept survey. They then use the channel-category associations and geodemographic factors to estimate their direct and interactive effects on channel share of volume. The channel-category associations have significant main effects and interaction effects with channel type and geodemographic factors on channel share of volume, and they account for the majority of the explained variance (72%) in channel share of volume. Overall, the findings provide several conceptual and managerial insights into consumer channel perceptions and patronage behavior.
Shopping motives as antecedents of e-satisfaction and e-loyalty

Abstract Customer loyalty is fundamental to the profitability and survival of e-tailers. Yet research on antecedents of e-loyalty is relatively limited. This study contributes to the literature by investigating the effect of motives for online shopping on e-satisfaction and e-loyalty. A structural equations model is developed and tested through data from an online survey involving 797 customers of two UK-based e-tailers focussing on hedonic products. The results suggest that convenience, variety seeking, and social interaction help predict e-satisfaction, and that social interaction is the only shopping motive examined with a direct relationship to e-loyalty. Data also show that e-satisfaction is a strong determinant of e-loyalty. These findings are discussed in the light of previous research and avenues of future research are proposed.
Customer loyalty in the sport services industry: the role of service quality, customer satisfaction, commitment and trust

Despite the fact that customer loyalty is essential for business survival, the relationship between perceived service quality and customer loyalty remained relatively underdeveloped and a review of these studies indicates that validity and reliability issues have yet to be fully addressed. This shortage is more intense in the context of sport and there have been very limited attempts to investigate the relationship between service quality and loyalty in the context of sport. This study examined the generalizability of a previously validated model concerning how customer perceptions of quality of services provided affect customer loyalty in the sport services industry. For this, data were collected from 437 sport service users include some different sport area. The a priori proposed model concerning service quality perceptions and customer loyalty was tested using structural equation modeling techniques. The proposed model was determined to fit the data reasonably well. These results indicate that customer loyalty can be explained by customers’ perceptions of the service quality of sport services provider. The theoretical and practical implications of the model within the framework of sport services management are discussed.
How Consumers View Dental Advertising

This study revealed that, for the most part, consumers favor advertising by dentists, although nearly half of them did not wish to see more advertising. More than half of the consumers feel that newspapers and professional magazines are appropriate media for dentists to use in advertising. Finally, the study showed that most consumers have not seen dentists advertise, but of those who have, more than half of them have noticed dentists' advertisements via television and newspaper.
Acceptance of online customization for apparel shopping

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify the determinants of successful customization of apparel in e‐retailing and to provide managerial suggestions for strategic planning.Design/methodology/approach – Using an online survey, data are collected from 300 female adults in the US secured through a nationwide random sampling method. AMOS 7.0 and SPSS 15.0 are used to analyze the data.Findings – Customers recognize the benefits of online customization of apparel when they perceive the website to be useful and competent. Additionally, customers perceive customization websites to be more useful when the websites are secure for the information customers provide. Interestingly, the ease of operation of a website is negatively related to the perception of a competent website and does not influence a positive attitude toward the online customization of apparel.Practical implications – In order to give the impression of competent and useful websites, marketers need to develop secure websites. Ease of opera.
Susceptibility of community Gram-negative urinary tract isolates to mecillinam and other oral agents.

OBJECTIVE To determine the susceptibility of community outpatient Gram-negative urinary tract isolates to mecillinam and other commonly used oral agents. DESIGN AND SETTING The study was a laboratory-based study of consecutive Gram-negative urinary tract isolates. Only those isolates considered to be significant pathogens were included in the study. Susceptibility testing was performed using agar dilution methodology following guidelines published by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards. POPULATION STUDIED Outpatients presenting to a family physician or clinic with signs or symptoms suggestive of a urinary tract infection were included in the study. MAIN RESULTS Of 2000 consecutive community isolates (91.8% Escherichia coli, 3.9% Klebsiella species, 2.0% Proteus species, 2.3% others), in vitro susceptibilities were: mecillinam 98.8%, ampicillin 77.0%, ciprofloxacin 100%, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole 91.6% and nitrofurantoin 95.4%. Susceptibility to mecillinam was significantly better than all other agents except ciprofloxacin (P<0.001, McNemar's test). Organisms with reduced susceptibility to mecillinam included Citrobacter species, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Providencia species. CONCLUSIONS Community Gram-negative urinary tract isolates remain highly sensitive to mecillinam and ciprofloxacin, but a significant number have developed resistance to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. Further studies are required to determine the clinical significance of these results.
The need for adaptive processes of benchmarking in small business‐to‐business services

Purpose – This paper aims to explore current management attitudes towards benchmarking and its implementation within small business‐to‐business service firms in order to enhance a deeper understanding of benchmarking within such contexts.Design/methodology/approach – The paper uses in‐depth case analysis of small architectural services to collect empirical data on benchmarking initiatives, attitudes, key characteristics and constraints on benchmarking.Findings – Findings suggest that there are significant variations in the receptiveness of small business‐to‐business firms towards the adoption of benchmarking. There may be an inherent distrust of benchmarking, as it is primarily perceived as being a tool for larger organizations, where productivity improvements are the main driver. Evidence of perceived constraints in both the implementation of benchmarking and in the definition of what constitutes best practice highlighted a cultural difficulty for small architectural firms when adopting a business proces.
An adaptive current controller for reduction of commutation torque ripple in a sensorless BLDC drive

This paper describes the reduction in torque ripple due to phase commutation of brushless dc motors. The torque ripple at low speeds is reduced by dual switching mode with 120° switching. In this paper an adaptive hysteresis current controller is proposed to eliminate harmonics and to compensate reactive power of VSI fed BLDC drive. An algorithm based on reference frame theory (d-q-0) is used to determine suitable current reference signals. The result of simulation study presented in the paper along with PI controller is found satisfactory to reduce the commutation torque ripple and to eliminate harmonics in the utility current. These results are compared with the conventional sensored BLDC motor drive which is controlled by outer speed loop using PI controller. The above studies have been carried out through detailed digital dynamic simulation using the MATLAB/Simulink.
Permission-based mobile advertising

This article reports the results of a study of permission-based advertising via mobile phones. The study, part of the proof of concept for a UK startup, specifically explored the effectiveness of SMS text messaging as an advertising medium for reaching young adults. The results suggest that, with the right execution, the mobile channel has the potential to benefit both advertisers and consumers. The findings also include some suggestions about when and how to use this emerging new medium. Although confined to SMS text messaging in the UK, the results are also likely to be relevant to other countries, and to more advanced mobile communication technologies as these are rolled out.
Human Langerhans cells selectively activated via Toll‐like receptor 2 agonists acquire migratory and CD4+T cell stimulatory capacity

In epidermal Langerhans cells (LCs), the expression pattern and the functions of TLRs have been poorly characterized. By using mAb, we show that LCs from human skin express TLR1, ‐2, ‐5, ‐6, and ‐9, the cognate receptors for detection of specific bacteria‐derived molecules. As compared with other TLR agonists, LCs acquired a more matured phenotype when activated by specific bacterial or synthetic TLR2 agonists. In addition, monocyte‐derived Langerin+/CD1c+LCs (CD1c+MoLCs) secreted higher amounts of IL‐6 and TNF‐α by stimulation via TLR2 than by stimulation via TLR3, ‐4, ‐5, ‐8, and ‐9. In contrast to MoLCs, dendritic cells, generated from the same donor monocytes, were activated by agonists of TLRs other than TLR2 as well. Lipopeptides triggering TLR2 induced IL‐1R‐associated kinase‐1 phosphorylation and migration toward the chemokines CCL19 and CCL21 in epidermal LCs and CD1c+MoLCs. Up‐regulation of CD86, CD83, and CCR7, TNF‐α and IL‐6, and NF‐κB activation and proliferation of CD4+T cells could be inhibited TLR2‐specific blockage using antibodies prior to TLR2 activation. Application of anti‐TLR1, anti‐TLR6, and anti‐TLR2 indicated an exclusive role of TLR2 in IL‐6 induction in human LCs. Collectively, our results show that TLR2 expressed by LCs mediates inflammatory responses to lipopeptides, which implicates a central role in sensing pathogens in human skin.
Organizational Culture, Organizational Structure and Human Resource Management as Bases for Business Process Orientation and their Impacts on Organizational Performance

This article presents the main findings of a survey conducted with the aim of describing the interplay of the variables organizational structure, organizational culture and human resource management — considering the assumptions of the business process orientation (BPO) approach — and of identifying the relationship between these constructs and organizational performance, based on the four critical dimensions of the balanced scorecard technique: financial, customer/market, processes/capabilities and learning/growth. We used data from a sample of 368 medium and large Brazilian companies. By means of structural equations modeling we analyzed the associations between the constructs of the proposed nomothetic model. The results point to the existence of positive and statistically significant associations between the constructs investigated, except for the relationship between organizational structure and organizational performance. The results, including with respect to the relatively weak association between elements of organizational structure and performance, suggest that BPO initiatives can have a strong effect on organizational performance, adding to discussions of the theme.
On the importance of discharge variability in the morphodynamic modeling of rivers

A 2D morphodynamic river model is applied to evaluate bed level changes after implementation of a flood prevention measure. The bed level changes are calculated in a deterministic simulation using a simplified discharge hydrograph, as well as in a probabilistic approach where a set of variable, more realistic discharge time-series is used. It is demonstrated that variability in the dischargehydrograph has important impacts on the resulting bed levels, and that by using a simplified hydrograph in the deterministic calculation relatively large uncertainties are associated with the morphological outcomes. Recommendations are given to construct an adjusted simplified hydrograph that may yield a better match with probabilistic results, and thereby reducing uncertainties of deterministic morphodynamic calculations. Also, it is shown that morphological effects caused by a flood prevention measure may vary significantly laterally across a river section. This observation reinforces the need for a 2D approach in the evaluation of morphodynamic effects of river interventions.