Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Drosophila chaoptin, a member of the leucine‐rich repeat family, is a photoreceptor cell‐specific adhesion molecule.

Drosophila chaoptin, required for photoreceptor cell morphogenesis, is a member of the leucine‐rich repeat family of proteins. On the basis of biochemical and genetic analyses we previously proposed that chaoptin might function as a cell adhesion molecule. To test this hypothesis, chaoptin cDNA driven by the hsp 70 promoter was transfected into non‐self‐adherent Drosophila Schneider line 2 (S2) cells. Following heat shock induction of chaoptin expression, the transfected S2 cells formed multicellular aggregates. Mixing experiments of chaoptin expressing and non‐expressing cells suggest that chaoptin expressing cells adhere homotypically. Previously it was shown that chaoptin is exclusively localized to photoreceptor cells. Thus, chaoptin is a cell‐type‐specific adhesion molecule. Biochemical analyses presented in this paper demonstrate that chaoptin is linked to the extracellular surface of the plasma membrane by covalent attachment to glycosyl‐phosphatidylinositol. We propose that chaoptin and several other members of the leucine‐rich repeat family of proteins define a new class of cell adhesion molecules.
Key CSR dimensions for the food chain

Purpose – This paper aims to identify and define the content of corporate social responsibility (CSR) for the food chain.Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative research approach was applied in the study, based on participatory and case study research methodologies. The study drew on three different case food products and their supply chains: rye bread, broiler chicken products and margarine. The content of CSR was built through participatory workshops, the aim of which was to elicit the ideas of different stakeholder groups.Findings – The study identified seven key dimensions of food chain CSR: environment, product safety, corporate nutritional responsibility, occupational welfare, animal health and welfare, local market presence and economic responsibility.Originality/value – The results provide food and agribusiness companies with a better understanding of core CSR issues and their relevance in complex chains and networks. This may encourage the companies to promote their activities in a more respo.
Evolution of caves in porous limestone by mixing corrosion: A model approach.

When water from the surface, e.g. from a lake, fl ows down through porous carbonate rocks, through a region with high hydraulic conductivity and encounters the water table of a phreatic aquifer, both waters mix by diffusion along their boundary. In a carbonate aquifer, where both surface and phreatic waters are saturated with respect to calcite, mixing corrosion causes renewed dissolution capacity Δc eq of the carbonate rock in the diffusion-mixing zone, extending from the boundary separating the phreatic water from the surface water encountering it. A numerical model is presented from which the initial change of porosity in such a diffusion-mixing zone is obtained. The initial change of porosity can be calculated from the local distribution of the mixing ratio, and the second derivative of Δc eq with respect to m . m(x,y) is the spatial distribution of the mixing ratio m= V surf /(V suf + V prh ) , where the V ’s assign the corresponding volumes of surface and phreatic water. The second derivative has been calculated for three geochemical scenarios with differing CO 2 - concentrations of surface and phreatic water by the use of PHREEQC-2. The spatial distribution m(x,y) is obtained by using MODFLOW and MT3DMS in a modelling domain with constant hydraulic conductivity for various fl ow velocities of the phreatic aquifer. The time scale of cave evolution is estimated from the results. Passages of dimensions of about one metre in width and several 10 cm in height, extending in length along the boundary line, where surface and phreatic waters meet, can be created in time scales of 10 000 years. These caves are horizontal with blind ending passages and closely resemble the isolated caves observed in Central West Florida.
Signatures of first stars in galaxy surveys: Multitracer analysis of the supersonic relative velocity effect and the constraints from the BOSS power spectrum measurements

We study the effect of the supersonic relative velocity between dark matter and baryons on large-scale galaxy clustering and derive the constraint on the relative velocity bias parameter from the Baryonic Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS) power spectrum measurements. Recent work has shown that the relative velocity effect may have a dramatic impact on the star formation at high redshifts, if first stars are formed in minihalos around z~20, or if the effect propagates through secondary effects to stars formed at later redshifts. The relative velocity effect has particularly strong signatures in the large scale clustering of these sources, including the BAO position. Assuming that a small fraction of stars in low-redshift massive galaxies retain the memory of the primordial relative velocity effect, galaxy clustering measurements can be used to constrain the signatures of the first stars. Luminous red galaxies contain some of the oldest stars in the Universe and are ideally suited to search for this effect. Using the BOSS power spectrum measurements from the Sloan Data Release 9, in combination with Planck, we derive the upper limit on the fraction of the stars sensitive to relative velocity effect f_star<3.3% at the 95% confidence level in the CMASS galaxy sample. If additional galaxy sample not sensitive to the effect is available in a given survey, a joint multi-tracer analysis can be applied to construct a sample-variance cancelling combination, providing a model-independent way to verify the presence of the relative velocity effect in the galaxy power spectrum on large scales. Such a multi-tracer analysis in future galaxy surveys can greatly improve the current constraint, achieving a 0.1% level in f_star.
Childhood Psoriasis: An Epidemiologic Survey of 112 Patients

One hundred and twelve cases of chitdhood psoriasis, constituting 5% of all psoriasis patients registered in our ciinic, were studied over a period of nine years (January 1980 to December 1988). There were 57 male and 55 female patients. Age of onset ranged from 1 month to 13 years, with a mean and median age of 7 years. A positive famiiy history of psoriasis was elicited from 9.8% of patients. The commonest form of psoriasis found was plaque (89.6%), followed by guttate (25.9%). Infection was the most common triggering factor, occurring in 15.2% of cases. Many of these findings are at variance with observations reported elsewhere for this age group.
Relationship of Employee-Reported Work Limitations to Work Productivity

Background. Work limitation rates are crucial indicators of the health status of working people. If related to work productivity, work limitation rates may also supply important information about the economic burden of illness. Objective. Our objective was to assess the productivity impact of on-the-job work limitations due to employees’ physical or mental health problems. Research Design. Subjects were asked to complete a self-administered survey on the job during 3 consecutive months. Using robust regression analysis, we tested the relationship of objectively-measured work productivity to employee-reported work limitations. Subjects. We attempted to survey employees of a large firm within 3 different jobs. The survey response rate was 2245 (85.9%). Full survey and productivity data were available for 1827 respondents. Measures. Each survey included a validated self-report instrument, the Work Limitations Questionnaire (WLQ). The firm provided objective, employee-level work productivity data. Results. In adjusted regression analyses (n = 1827), employee work productivity (measured as the log of units produced/hour) was significantly associated with 3 dimensions of work limitations: limitations handling the job’s time and scheduling demands (P = 0.003), physical job demands (P = 0.001), and output demands (P = 0.006). For every 10% increase in on-the-job work limitations reported on each of the 3 WLQ scales, work productivity declined approximately 4 to 5%. Conclusion. Employee work limitations have a negative impact on work productivity. Employee assessments of their work limitations supply important proxies for the economic burden of health problems.
Corporate Citizenship and Corporate Social Investment Drivers of Tri-Sector Partnerships

There is a growing literature about both sustainable development and corporate social responsibility. Few links are made between these two important areas of work. This paper does not review this literature; rather, it suggests a conceptual approach to bridge the two areas. It then explores the new roles and responsibilities of business within a new operating paradigm that has shifted from a ‘do no harm’ approach to a ‘demonstrate positive development benefit’ imperative. The paper then makes a case for business to respond to a growing range of both global and project-specific drivers of corporate social investment. To do this, the paper draws on case studies in the mining and energy sectors of tri-sector partnerships between business, civil society organisations and government/intergovernmental agencies. Finally, the paper suggests that management tools, such as tri-sector partnership models and sustainability performance indicators, have a role to play in assisting both companies and their stakeholders in assessing the extent to which their production activities are contributing to, and not detracting from, sustainable development goals.
Tribal motivation in sponsorship and its influence on sponsor relationship development and corporate identity

Whilst the literature on sponsorship suggests it has evolved from a philanthropic gesture to a strategic tool that mangers leverage to provide sustainable competitive advantage, this paper reports on a study which suggests other motivational factors may be on par with or supersede commercial or altruistic considerations. Drawing on self identification, social identity and tribal marketing literature, the paper explores the concept of tribal support as a motivational factor for sponsorship participation and examines the moderating effect this may have on sponsor-object relationship development and on corporate identity development. Findings show strong sub-cultural, tribal connection and variations in self and social identification among sponsors and demonstrate how sponsorship motivation affects sponsor relationship development, sponsor-event fit, brand association and corporate identity development in complex ways.
The effect of framing on willingness to buy private brands

Purpose – This research seeks to demonstrate the effect of framing on consumers' willingness to buy private brands.Design/methodology/approach – Using an experimental design, 500 participants answered a questionnaire addressed to examine their willingness to buy four private brand products framed either in positive (save) or negative (lose) terms.Findings – Consumers' willingness to buy private brands was higher when the information was presented in negative (loss) framing relative to presenting the very same information in positive (save) framing.Research limitations/implications – This research examined the effect of framing on willingness to buy private brands. Future research is needed to examine the effect of framing on actual purchasing behavior and regarding other products retailers wish to promote, other than private brands.Practical implications – Retailers typically try and promote sales of private brands using messages suggesting that consumers will save money by buying their brand. The results.
The implications of intensive care unit capacity strain for the care of critically ill patients

Every intensive care unit (ICU) has an inherent “capacity” or “ability to provide high-quality care for everyone who is or could become a patient in that ICU on a given day”. (1) As with any operation, an ICU’s capacity is not without bounds. ICU capacity has been likened to a balloon able to stretch to a point to accommodate more patients or higher acuity, but when capacity is exceeded, the balloon pops or care deteriorates. (1) However, it is also possible that ICUs operate like motors rather than exhibiting markedly different performance at an inflection point of demand, their efficiency may change as a continuous function of the demands placed on them. In this perspective, we discuss the evidence regarding what contributes to ICU capacity strain, identify key knowledge gaps in the field, and consider the implications for future research and patient care.
Relationship Marketing and Customer Satisfaction: An Information Economics Perspective

Marketing science has long been concerned with the question of the extent to which customer satisfaction leads to customer retention and, subsequently, to a positive effect on profits. Most of the behaviour-driven explanations posit a generally positive relationship between the two. However, this generality has not been confirmed in empirical investigations. In this paper, the relationship between customer satisfaction and customer retention is analysed from an economic perspective. The overall aim is to identify relevant factors that influence the effect of satisfaction on the retention of clients. Based on considerations derived from economics of information theory, it is revealed that apart from the speed of technological progress, the possibility of assessing product quality is a significant driver for customer satisfaction as a source of retention.
How to Use mTOR Inhibitors? The Search Goes On

Flechner et al. compared two sirolimus-based strategies with standard therapy in 469 de novo, standard-risk renal allograft recipients. Patients were randomized into one of three groups: group 1 was a sirolimus-based calcineurininhibitor (CNI) withdrawal strategy with initial sirolimus and tacrolimus combination therapy followed by tacrolimus withdrawal 3 months after transplantation; group 2 represented a CNI-avoidance strategy with sirolimus and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and group 3 consisted of a standard CNI-therapy with tacrolimus and MMF. All patients received Daclizumab induction and corticosteroids.
MxA gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients infected chronically with hepatitis C virus treated with interferon‐α

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection causes acute and often chronic liver disease. The treatment of choice is interferon‐α (IFN‐α). The proportion of patients responding to therapy in terms of a sustained virological response, however, is relatively low. One possible reason for the lack of effectiveness might be neutralization of the drug by host's inhibitory factors. Recent kinetic studies suggested that high doses of IFN‐α, especially during the initial phase of therapy, might improve the virological response rates. Eighteen patients infected chronically with HCV were treated with IFN‐α either at a standard dose (3 × 106 to 6 × 106 IU IFN‐α three times weekly) for 6 to 12 months or with an intensified therapy (6 × 106 IU IFN‐α daily) for at least one month. As surrogate parameter for the intracellular effect of the drug, MxA gene expression was quantified in RNA preparations from peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Beta‐2‐microglobulin (β2M) concentrations were measured in serum. Serum HCV RNA titers were monitored in parallel. When compared to healthy individuals, untreated patients infected chronically with HCV were found to express 2.8‐fold higher amounts of MxA specific transcripts. MxA gene expression and serum ß2M concentrations were found to be induced after administration of IFN‐α, independent of the virological response not only during the initial phase of the intensified therapy but also over several months during standard therapy. It is concluded from these results that both early non‐effectiveness of high dose IFN‐α therapy as well as long‐term non‐effectiveness of standard therapy are not due to IFN‐α inhibitory or neutralizing elements in serum. J. Med. Virol. 62:318–326, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Redundant governance structures: an analysis of structural and relational embeddedness in the steel and semiconductor industries

Network researchers have argued that both relational embeddedness—characteristics of relationships—and structural embeddedness—characteristics of the relational structure—influence firm behavior and performance. Using strategic alliance networks in the semiconductor and steel industries, we build on past embeddedness research by examining the interaction of these factors. We argue that the roles relational and structural embeddedness play in firm performance can only be understood with reference to the other. Moreover, we argue that the influence of these factors on firm performance is contingent on industry context. More specifically, our empirical analysis suggests that strong ties in a highly interconnected strategic alliance network negatively impact firm performance. This network configuration is especially suboptimal for firms in the semiconductor industry. Furthermore, strong and weak ties are positively related to firm performance in the steel and semiconductor industries, respectively. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Theophylline does not shorten hospital stay for children admitted for asthma.

OBJECTIVE To determine if the use of intravenous theophylline, in the form of aminophylline, when added to systemic corticosteroids and aerosolized beta 2-agonists, enhances the improvement of children with acute asthma exacerbations. DESIGN A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, clinical trial. SETTING The University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, an urban primary- and tertiary-care pediatric medical center. PATIENTS Forty-two children, aged 2 to 18 years, admitted to the hospital for acute exacerbations of asthma. METHODS Patients were randomized to receive either intravenous theophylline to maintain a serum level greater than 55 mumol/L or a placebo infusion. All patients received methylprednisolone and nebulized albuterol. A clinical severity score was assessed twice daily. RESULTS The mean length of stay for the treatment and control groups was 52.3 +/- 32.3 hours and 48.2 +/- 26.6 hours, respectively (t = 0.45, P = .65). The rate of improvement of clinical scores was similar. CONCLUSION These data suggest that the addition of theophylline to albuterol and corticosteroids does not enhance improvement of children admitted to the hospital with asthma.
Developing our understanding of patronizing frontline employees

Purpose – In an overwhelming portion of the US service economy, the multifaceted responsibilities that frontline employees play as patrons have been overlooked within the academic literature. The notion of employees as customers is a common business practice that garners sizeable benefits to both the firm and its employees; unfortunately, research on this topic is still in its infancy. The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of internal marketing and job satisfaction on employee patronage, and the role of patronage on employee engagement in a Cooperative Extension Service System.Design/methodology/approach – An online survey administered to Cooperative Extension employees in frontline service roles was used to test the proposed structural model. Structural equation modeling carried out using the Amos 18.0 software program was employed to analyze the proposed hypotheses.Findings – It was found that internal marketing is composed of five dimensions, as tested using a second‐order hierarchical str.
What is the track record of multi donor trust funds in improving aid effectiveness? An assessment of the available evidence.

vi Executive summary viii 1. Background 1 1.1 Aims and rationale for review 1 1.2 Definitional and conceptual issues 2 1.3 Policy and practice background 13 1.4 Research background 16 1.5 Objectives 18 2. Methods used in the review 19 2.1 User involvement 19 2.2 Identifying and describing studies 20 2.3 Methods for synthesis 23 2.4 Deriving conclusions and implications 26 3. Search results 27 3.1 Studies included through searching and screening 27 3.2 Details of included studies 28 4. Synthesis results 32 4.1 Further details of studies included in the synthesis 32 4.2 Synthesis of evidence 32 4.3 Synthesis: quality assurance results 36 4.4 Summary of the results of the synthesis 36 5. Strengths and limitations 38 5.1 Strengths 38 5.2 Limitations 39 6. Conclusions and recommendations 43 6.1 Conclusions 43 6.2 Recommendations 45 7. References 51 7.1 Studies included in review 51 7.2 References used in the text of the technical report 52 7.3 Studies not included in the final data set, but with relevant information . 55
Psychiatric Symptomatology in Crack Cocaine Abusers

Many substance abusers present with elevated scores on self-report measures of psychopathological symptoms. We decided to examine this in a sample of 194 crack cocaine abusers. Results indicated that these individuals reported significantly greater psychopatholgical distress than manual-provided norms, and that this distress was not related to recency of cocaine use. Rank order correlation suggests that a pattern of scores specific to cocaine abusers may exist. Finally, while intake scores of psychopathological distress did not predict treatment retention/outcome, those successfully completing 12 weeks of outpatient treatment were both cocaine abstinent and less psychiatricaally distressed.
Gender bias in customer evaluations of service quality: an empirical investigation

Purpose – The presence of gender biases in performance evaluations has been previously demonstrated in a number of studies. This study aims to extend current research by examining gender differences in customer ratings of service performance. A secondary research objective of this study is to investigate gender differences in perceptions of service fairness.Design/methodology/approach – Using the SERVQUAL scale to measure service quality perceptions, responses from a sample of 8,667 customers are examined in a hierarchical regression analysis to determine if gender biases are present.Findings – The results of this study show that biases exist in service quality evaluations. Specifically, the data show that male service providers will receive higher service quality ratings than female service providers. However, the gender bias seems to diminish when service fairness is considered. It appears that customer perceptions of fair treatment are far more powerful and important determinants of overall satisfactio.