Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
PROBLEM‐SOLUTIONS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS EXPERTISE

This article uses evidence on the management of Information Systems (IS) expertise to critique conventional understandings of the management of expert groups. These tend to focus on problems of ‘integration’ or ‘control’ at the point of production. But this neglects the interplay between organizations and the wider structure of IS expertise; the latter being shaped by the evolving computer technology regime and the IS occupation's ability to colonize technological knowledge. In this context, the management of expertise is better viewed as an evolving series of ‘problem-solutions’. ‘Hybrid managers’ and ‘strategic information systems’ are cited as instances of such problem-solutions.
PICOT: a multidomain scaffolding inhibitor of hypertrophic signal transduction.

See related article, pages 711–719 Unlike the explosive hyperplastic growth that occurs during early embryonic development, neonatal and adult cardiomyocytes undergo hypertrophy as a consequence of a much more subtle increase in the fractional growth rate of the heart. Both physiological and pathological hypertrophy results from mechanical and neurohormonal signals (and their downstream effectors) that tend to increase the rate of cardiac protein synthesis. These growth-promoting pathways are counterbalanced by signaling molecules that tend to inhibit or attenuate the prohypertrophic growth response.1 In this issue of Circulation Research , Jeong et al2 continue to add to a growing list of negative regulators of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, and describe how PICOT (protein kinase C–interacting cousin of thioredoxin) may function to inhibit the calcineurin (CnA)–nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) signaling pathway responsible for regulating specific aspects of the hypertrophic phenotype. PICOT was first identified in 2000 by Witte et al in a yeast 2-hybrid screen of protein kinase C (PKC)θ-interacting proteins.3 These authors used full-length, catalytically inactive PKCθ to screen a Jurkat T-cell lymphoma cDNA library. They identified a highly conserved, 37.5-kDa cytoplasmic protein containing at least 2 functional domains. The N-terminal, PKCθ binding domain shared sequence homology with the thioredoxin family of proteins but lacked the conserved Cys-Gly-Pro-Cys motif essential for enzyme activity. The C-terminal domain contained 2 tandem repeats, now called PICOT homology (PIH) domains that are shared by proteins expressed in a …
Informal carers' experience of caring for stroke survivors.

BACKGROUND Stroke is the third most common cause of death in industrialized countries and a major cause of adult disability. However, the burden of caring for stroke survivors usually rests with family members who have neither chosen nor volunteered for the role of 'carer'. AIMS This paper reports on a study which aimed to describe the experience of caring for a stroke survivor at one year after stroke in Scotland. STUDY DESIGN Semi-structured, taped interviews were conducted with 90 carers of stroke survivors one year after stroke and the data analysed using NUD*IST. The interviews were part of a larger study, which included the administration of a range of valid and reliable multidimensional instruments to both carers and stroke survivors. The interview prompt schedule had been developed and tested in a previous study. FINDINGS Although a medical emergency, stroke was not always diagnosed or treated as such by either the public or general practitioners. Initially most carers found that they lacked the knowledge and skills to care for the stroke survivor at home and so they had to learn how to obtain the information and assistance required. Carers had to adapt to the changes that stroke effected in the stroke survivor and seek alternative ways of securing the resources they needed for managing their lives. They thought that they had not been prepared adequately for the caring role or assessed satisfactorily in terms of whether they could manage given their skill level, age and/or health status. CONCLUSIONS A public health campaign to educate and inform that stroke is a medical emergency is required if stroke disability is to be minimized. The use of new technologies should be considered in facilitating carers' learning how to care. There is a need to test alternative models of stroke follow-up in multi-centre studies that are holistic and place the carer-stroke survivor at the centre of care.
Meteorological Influences on Swarm Emergence in Honey Bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) as Detected by Crowdsourcing

ABSTRACT A crowdsourced dataset of 1,335 honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) swarm events in Germany in 2011 was created by beekeepers, public institutions, and members of the public and analyzed with respect to prevailing weather. The emergence of swarms appeared to be influenced by temperature and rainfall. On successive warm days in May the number of swarming events increased noticeably, but during a mid-month frost event the number of swarming events dropped markedly. Swarming events also occurred only rarely on rainy days. This study showed how crowdsourcing can be used to generate large, useful, phenological datasets.
COMBINED EFFECTS OF ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION AND TEMPERATURE ON MORPHOLOGY, PHOTOSYNTHESIS, AND DNA OF ARTHROSPIRA (SPIRULINA) PLATENSIS (CYANOPHYTA) 1

Natural levels of solar UVR were shown to break and alter the spiral structure of Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis (Nordst.) Gomont during winter. However, this phenomenon was not observed during summer at temperatures of ∼30°C. Since little has been documented on the interactive effects of solar UV radiation (UVR; 280–400 nm) and temperature on cyanobacteria, the morphology, photosynthesis, and DNA damage of A. platensis were examined using two radiation treatments (PAR [400–700 nm] and PAB [PAR + UV‐A + UV‐B: 280–700]), three temperatures (15, 22, and 30°C), and three biomass concentrations (100, 160, and 240 mg dwt [dry weight] · L−1). UVR caused a breakage of the spiral structure at 15°C and 22°C, but not at 30°C. High PAR levels also induced a significant breakage at 15°C and 22°C, but only at low biomass densities, and to lesser extent when compared with the PAB treatment. A. platensis was able to alter its spiral structure by increasing helix tightness at the highest temperature tested. The photochemical efficiency was depressed to undetectable levels at 15°C but was relatively high at 30°C even under the treatment with UVR in 8 h. At 30°C, UVR led to 93%–97% less DNA damage when compared with 15°C after 8 h of exposure. UV‐absorbing compounds were determined as negligible at all light and temperature combinations. The possible mechanisms for the temperature‐dependent effects of UVR on this organism are discussed in this paper.
Socioeconomic Trends in Single-Parent Families in Taiwan, 1980-1995

Using Family Income and Expenditures Survey from 1980 to 1995 waves, the proportion of single-parent families and their socioeconomic characteristics are examined. The finding shows that the number of single-parent families significantly increased during this period. In 1980-83 about one out of every 25 families with children was headed by a parent who had never married or who was divorced, separated, or widowed. But the number had risen to one out of every 18 families between 1992 and 1995. This increase was accompanied by substantial changes in the socioeconomic characteristics of the families. The number of divorced parents significantly increased; they were younger and more educated than traditional single parents were, who in the earlier period had tended to be widowed. Measures of economic well-being, such as the size-adjusted income and expenditures, the Engel index, and the poverty rates, all indicate the inferior status of single-parent families in society. In particular, families headed by widowed and separated mothers were the worst off.
3D DMB Player and its Realistic 3D Services over T-DMB

In this work, we demonstrate a 3D DMB player which provides users with realistic 3D services over terrestrial-digital multimedia broadcasting (T-DMB). Since the bit-budget for the transmission of additional data stream is strictly limited in the current state of T-DMB, the 3D services are based on depth-image-based rendering (DIBR) that the depth information as the additional data can be compressed efficiently. This demonstration presents a depth preprocessing procedure for reducing holes (disocclusion area) in transmitters and a fast rendering procedure using look-up-table (LUT) in receivers. By means of the 3D services, viewers can consumes realistic and exciting 3D contents in mobile 3D DMB players.
Legitimacy Building in the Evolution of Small-Firm Multilateral Networks: A Comparative Study of Success and Demise

This article reports a longitudinal examination and comparison of two multilateral networks of small and medium-sized firms in the U.S. wood-products manufacturing industry. The research focused on how each of these networks built legitimacy over the course of their early evolution, from the pre-network field, to initial formation and growth, and toward sustainment, culminating in the success of one and the demise of the other. Our findings demonstrate that despite differences in their early bases of support, which resulted in very different strategic emphases, the two networks ultimately had to address three conceptually distinct dimensions of legitimacy—the network as form, the network as entity, and the network as interaction. Based on the findings, we develop specific propositions and draw some tentative conclusions about how legitimacy is established in multilateral networks and how the failure to build legitimacy across the three dimensions may lead to network collapse.
Protections in Relation to Dismissal: From the Workplace Relations Act to the Fair Work Act

Over the past 15 years the statutory framework regulating fairness in dismissal has undergone much change, as parliaments have attempted to address what they see as the inadequacies of the system. This paper provides a comparison of three time periods at the federal level: the Workplace Relations Act 1996 (Cth) (‘WR Act’) before the Work Choices package of late 2005, the WR Act after the Work Choices package took effect, and the Rudd Government’s new Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (‘FW Act’), which passed both House of Parliament on 20 March 2009. Most of the termination of employment provisions in the FW Act commenced on 1 July 2009, with the remainder (namely those in the National Employment Standards) expected to commence on 1 January 2010. The objective of this article is to provide an overview of the continuities and discontinuities over these three periods, with a focus on the framework of the new FW Act. The paper examines both unfair dismissal law and unlawful termination law, as they have generally become known. Unfair dismissal law provides an avenue for certain employees to make an application for relief on the ground that their termination was ‘harsh, unjust or unreasonable’. Unlawful termination, by contrast, has come to refer to a package of additional provisions regarding termination of employment, namely, minimum notice periods, a prohibition on dismissal based on a discriminatory ground such as race or sex, and information and consultation requirements on employers relating to redundancies of 15 or more employees.
Beyond Flying Geese: The Expansion of East Asia’s Electronics Trade

Abstract The flying geese (FG) hypothesis, which asserts the sequential catching-up processes of the latecomers, holds well in the past. Yet a simultaneous boom within the electronics industry across East Asia casts doubt on the applicability of the hypothesis. By using the RCA and NET indices, the paper finds that the FG pattern shows in the electronics industry as a whole, but not always so at the disaggregated level. This suggests that the FG formation may not appear in other industries, if they are involved in international production fragmentation or have differentiated products, and if certain latecomers have become new leaders.
Fibronectin Binding Protein and Host Cell Tyrosine Kinase Are Required for Internalization of Staphylococcus aureus by Epithelial Cells

ABSTRACT Staphylococcus aureus expresses several surface proteins that promote adherence to host cell extracellular matrix proteins, including fibronectin (Fn). Since this organism has recently been shown to be internalized by nonprofessional phagocytes, a process that typically requires high-affinity binding to host cell receptors, we investigated the role of its Fn binding proteins (FnBPs) and other surface proteins in internalization by the bovine mammary gland epithelial cell line (MAC-T). Efficient internalization of S. aureus 8325-4 required expression of FnBPs; an isogenic mutant (DU5883), not expressing FnBPs, was reduced by more than 95% in its ability to invade MAC-T cells. Moreover, D3, a synthetic peptide derived from the ligand binding domain of FnBP, inhibited the internalization of the 8325-4 strain in a dose-dependent fashion and the efficiency of staphylococcal internalization was partially correlated with Fn binding ability. Interestingly, Fn also inhibited the internalization and adherence of S. aureus 8325-4 in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast to internalization, adherence of DU5883 to MAC-T was reduced by only approximately 40%, suggesting that surface binding proteins, other than FnBPs, can mediate bacterial adherence to cells. Adherence via these proteins, however, does not necessarily result in internalization of the staphylococci. An inhibitor of protein tyrosine kinase, genistein, reduced MAC-T internalization of S. aureus by 95%, indicating a requirement for a host signal transduction system in this process. Taken together, these results indicate that S. aureusinvades nonprofessional phagocytes by a mechanism requiring interaction between FnBP and the host cell, leading to signal transduction and subsequent rearrangement of the host cell cytoskeleton.
What do reaction functions tell us about central bank preferences

Since Taylor's 1993 paper researchers have devoted a lot effort to estimation of monetary policy rules. Taylor showed that a simple central bank reaction function, with the interest rate as monetary policy instrument and inflation and output gap as explanatory variables, mimics the Fed funds rate pretty well during the period from 1987 to 1992. Often, the Taylor rule coefficients are interpreted as if they reflect central bank's preferences. However, this may be misleading. In this paper we show that Taylor rule coefficients are complicated terms consisting of preference parameters as well as parameters given by the structure of the economy. We illustrate our conclusion that Taylor rule coefficients cannot be interpreted as reflecting central bank preferences by estimating standard forward-looking Taylor rules for the Bundesbank, the Fed and UK and confront these with our results obtained by a multi-equation GMM approach in order to detect central bank preferences.
Beating the clock: reducing cardiovascular risk by rapid blood pressure reduction with olmesartan

Importance of the field: Hypertension is a major cardiovascular risk factor, and treatment guidelines acknowledge the value not only of reducing elevated blood pressure (BP) to target levels (< 140/90 mmHg and < 130/80 mmHg in patients with diabetes or those at high cardiovascular risk) but also of doing this rapidly. Areas covered in this review: The importance of rapid BP control has been demonstrated by trials like the Valsartan Antihypertensive Long-term Use Evaluation trial. Combination therapy provides greater efficacy than monotherapy and reduces BP more rapidly. Combining angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) with agents from other classes, like calcium channel blockers or diuretics, is an established way to provide effective, rapid and well-tolerated BP reduction. What the reader will gain: Although ARBs are widely used as mono- and combination therapy, it is not widely appreciated that there are differences between these drugs in efficacy and speed of action. The ARB olmesartan medoxomil provides rapid reductions in BP as monotherapy and combination therapy, with large BP reductions observed within the first few weeks of treatment. Take home message: In addition to controlling BP, speed of onset of action is an important factor in the management of hypertensive patients and treatments that lower BP rapidly should help to reduce cardiovascular risk.
The convergent and predictive validity of quality and productivity practices in Hong Kong industry

An empirical study was conducted to determine the effect of quality and productivity improvement practices on firm quality, operating and financial performance in Hong Kong industry. Using data from 130 firms, factor analysis was performed to converge the critical factors of the improvement approaches. Then regression modelling was applied to determine the strength of the relationship between the improvement approach and a firm's actual performance. Results showed that quality performance is strongly related to the improvement approach while operating and financial performance were found to be weakly related.
Definition, Classification, and Epidemiology of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a distinct subgroup of pulmonary hypertension that comprises idiopathic PAH, familial/heritable forms, and PAH associated with connective tissue disease, congenital heart disease, portal hypertension, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, and some other conditions. The hemodynamic definition of PAH was recently revised: PAH is now defined by a mean pulmonary artery pressure at rest > or =25 mm Hg in the presence of a pulmonary capillary wedge pressure < or =15 mm Hg. The exercise criterion (mean pulmonary artery pressure > or =30 mm Hg during exercise) that was used in the old definition of PAH has been removed because there are no robust data that would allow defining an upper limit of normal for the pulmonary pressure during exercise. The revised classification of pulmonary hypertension still consists of five major groups: (1) PAH, (2) pulmonary hypertension due to left heart disease, (3) pulmonary hypertension due to chronic lung disease and/or hypoxia, (4) chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, and (5) miscellaneous forms. Modifications have been made in some of these groups, such as the addition of schistosomiasis-related pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary hypertension in patients with chronic hemolytic anemia to group 1.
Calorie labeling and fast food choices in surveys and actual markets: some new behavioral results

We conducted a survey and a randomized natural experiment with the same subjects to investigate the effect of information about calorie intake on fast food choices. This combined approach allows us to maximize both internal and external research validity and test consistency of findings. We find that providing information about calories in a survey context for fast food menus has a moderate effect on calorie consumption, decreasing on average by 2.96 percent the amount of calories of the selected food choices. However, the same nutritional information had no significant impact on actual purchases in the restaurant context. Among the possible menus, the salad menu (the healthiest menu) was the most preferred option by those respondents who received nutritional information in the survey context; whereas in the restaurant, the most popular choice for the same group of people was the “Double bacon burger option” (the least healthy option). Finally, we find that the average calorie content of participants’ actual purchases increases significantly (0.17%) with the number of days elapsed between the day when the survey took place (and information was provided) and the actual purchase day at the restaurant. These results show large discrepancies between stated preferences and actual market behavior. These findings may be justified by the existence of projection bias and subjects acting under rational ignorance.
Cytotoxic and neutralization tests with serum and lymph node cells of isologous mice with induced resistance against gross lymphomas.

Summary Sera from mice which had been rendered resistant against the isologous transplantation of Gross virus-induced lymphomas in the way described in the preceding paper were found to be cytotoxic for the cells of Gross lymphomas when tested in vitro in the presence of complement. The humoral antibody or antibodies appeared to be specific for the Gross lymphomas as suggested by the absence of detectable cytotoxic effect on lymphoma cells of other origin or on normal lymphoid cells. Sera from mice pretreated with lymphomas of other origin gave no cytotoxic effect against Gross lymphomas; sera of mice pretreated with normal C3H lymph node cells or immunized against the polyoma virus were ineffective as well. The cytotoxicity of anti-Gross lymphoma sera could be absorbed with Gross lymphoma cells but not with a number of other cell types tested. There appeared to be partial or complete cross-reactivity between different independently induced Gross-lymphomas. Admixture of lymph node cells from isologous mice resistant against a Gross lymphoma inhibited the outgrowth of a low number of cells from the same neoplasm.
The epithelial-mesenchymal transition of the Drosophila mesoderm requires the Rho GTP exchange factor Pebble

Drosophila pebble (pbl) encodes a Rho-family GTP exchange factor (GEF) required for cytokinesis. The accumulation of high levels of PBL protein during interphase and the developmentally regulated expression of pbl in mesodermal tissues suggested that the primary cytokinetic mutant phenotype might be masking other roles. Using various muscle differentiation markers, we found that Even skipped (EVE) expression in the dorsal mesoderm is greatly reduced in pbl mutant embryos. EVE expression in the dorsalmost mesodermal cells is induced in response to DPP secreted by the dorsal epidermal cells. Further analysis revealed that this phenotype is likely to be a consequence of an earlier defect. pbl mutant mesodermal cells fail to undergo the normal epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and dorsal migration that follows ventral furrow formation. This phenotype is not a secondary consequence of failed cytokinesis, as it is rescued by a mutant form of pbl that does not rescue the cytokinetic defect. In wild-type embryos, newly invaginated cells at the lateral edges of the mesoderm extend numerous protrusions. In pbl mutant embryos, however, cells appear more tightly adhered to their neighbours and extend very few protrusions. Consistent with the dependence of the mesoderm EMT and cytokinesis on actin organisation, the GTP exchange function of the PBL RhoGEF is required for both processes. By contrast, the N-terminal BRCT domains of PBL are required only for the cytokinetic function of PBL. These studies reveal that a novel PBL-mediated intracellular signalling pathway operates in mesodermal cells during the transition from an epithelial to migratory mesenchymal morphology during gastrulation.
Bargmann structures and Newton-Cartan theory.

It is shown that Newton-Cartan theory of gravitation can best be formulated on a five-dimensional extended space-time carrying a Lorentz metric together with a null parallel vector field. The corresponding geometry associated with the Bargmann group (nontrivially extended Galilei group) viewed as a subgroup of the affine de Sitter group AO(4,1) is thoroughly investigated. This new global formalism allows one to recast classical particle dynamics and the Schroedinger equation into a purely covariant form. The Newton-Cartan field equations are readily derived from Einstein's Lagrangian on the space-time extension.