Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CD 8 Naive T Cell Counts Decrease Progressively in HIV-infected Adults

Weshow here that CD8 naive T cells are depleted during the asymptomatic stage of HIV infection. Although overall CD8 T cell numbers are increased during this stage, the naive CD8 T cells are progressively lost and fall in parallel with overall CD4 T cell counts. In addition, we show that naive CD4 T cells are preferentially lost as total CD4 cell counts fall. These findings, presented here for adults, and in the accompanying study for children, represent the first demonstration that HIV disease involves the loss of both CD4 T cells and CD8 T cells. Furthermore, they provide a new insight into the mechanisms underlying the immunodeficiency of HIV-infected individuals, since naive T cells are required for all new T cell-mediated immune responses. Studies presented here also show that the well-known increase in total CD8counts in most HIV-infected individuals is primarily due to an expansion of memory cells. Thus, memory CD8 T cells comprise over 80% of the T cells in PBMCfrom individuals with < 200 CD4/Vl, whereas they comprise roughly 15% in uninfected individuals. Since the naive and memory subsets have very different functional activities, this altered naive/memory T cell representation has significant consequences for the interpretation of data from in vitro functional studies. (J. Clin. Invest. 1995. 95:2061-2066.)
Evidence and transparency in the open public services-reform: perspectives for the third sector

The concepts of ‘transparency’ and ‘evidence of what works’ are key features in the implementation and success of the open public service policy. This paper explores, from the perspective of the third sector, the meaning of these concepts and how we can expect them to be operationalized. Initially, an implementation guided by evidence and transparency seems reasonable and ethical. The practical meanings of the concepts become more complicated once we look more closely into the institutional landscape in which organisations operate, with competition for limited resources, uncertainties around commissioning, and opposing ideas about what counts as evidence creating an unpredictable environment. The principles of transparency and evidence-based policy can contribute to the public good through providing the basis for trust between different stakeholders. From the perspective of the individual organisation though, sharing information may expose them to the control and judgement by outsiders. The paper identifies some key research questions that highlight the challenges faced by third sector organisations in this context. (Less)
Inflammation and pharmacokinetics: potential implications for HIV-infection

ABSTRACT Introduction: The physiological changes accompanying inflammation may alter the pharmacokinetics (PK) of certain medications. Individuals infected with HIV have chronically elevated inflammatory markers despite viral suppression following effective antiretroviral therapy (ART), as well as age-related inflammation. Understanding the potential clinical implications of inflammation on the PK of medications is important for understanding dose-response relationships and necessitates future research. Areas covered: An extensive literature search was carried out using PubMed and associated bibliographies to summarize the current state of knowledge regarding altered PK in response to inflammation and its application to the field of HIV. Expert opinion: Preclinical and clinical studies show that inflammation leads to a downregulation of certain drug metabolizing enzymes and both up and down regulation of transporters depending on the transporter and cell type. Decreased gastric acidity, fluid shifts, and plasma protein alterations also occur with inflammation, leading to potential absorption, distribution, and clearance changes. More research is needed including controlled PK studies to address the clinical relevance of these observations, especially in the aging HIV-infected population. Results from future studies will enable us to better predict drug concentrations in individuals with inflammation, in line with efforts to provide personalized pharmacotherapy in our healthcare system.
Relative Importance of Impulse-Buying in Retail Stores

to a greater intensity in the areas now covered and to new areas. Two factors might make that possible: (I) reduced cost of transportation, which does not seem to be as important in the case of clothing and notions as in other fields, and (2) the addition of unique or lowpriced foreign merchandise to present lines of merchandise. It may be said, further, that this case illustrates the fact that while "natural" factors, such as location and transportation cost, tend to determine market areas, the forces of differentiation, such as personal service, still make possible profitable operation in areas normally covered by other market centers. RICHARD O. SIELAFF University of Minnesota Duluth, Minnesota
Overload Induced Heat Shock Proteins (HSPs), MAPK and miRNA (miR-1 and miR133a) Response in Insulin-Resistant Skeletal Muscle

Background: Insulin resistance (IR) may decrease muscle adaptability. Heat shock proteins (HSPs), mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), and miRNA are thought to play a role in muscle hypertrophy but it is unclear if IR may affect their regulation. Methods: Soleus muscles of lean Zucker (LZ) and insulin resistant obese Zucker (OZ) rats were overloaded for 7 or 21 days and subjected to immunoblotting and RT-PCR. Results: IR was associated with decreased muscle hypertrophy. Overload increased HSP27 phosphorylation in both the LZ and OZ rats at day 7 but only in the LZ at day 21. IR was associated with diminished overload induced MAPK phosphorylation and decreased expression of miR-1 and miR133. Overload decreased mir-1 levels in both the LZ and OZ but to a greater extent in the LZ animals. Conclusion: These results suggest that alterations in the regulation of HSPs, MAPKs and miRNA may be associated with the diminished hypertrophy of IR muscle.
Actor Equivalence in Networks: The Business Ties That Bind

Patterns of relationships are of interest to researchers in marketing. In particular, the concept of "networks" of inter-relationships has found appeal among business marketers. While many network methods exist for analyzing the structure of network ties, most of the reported network research in business marketing has been qualitative or anecdotal in nature. In this paper, we present an analytical technique that will provide complementary perspectives to qualitative network descriptions, and yet is simple to learn and implement. The method explicitly examines the structure of relational linkages between firms (or between actors within a single firm), clustering actors in a network on the basis of their similarity (i.e., resemblance in profiles of relational ties to others). Furthermore, the analysis allows the simultaneous empirical derivation of both perspectives of a relational dyad (e.g., both the buyer and seller aspects of market structure are analyzed). The methodology is demonstrated on two diverse data sets: one describing buyer-seller transactions, and the other describing marketing ties among the major international automobile manufacturers.
DOSE OF INTRAVITREAL BEVACIZUMAB (AVASTIN) USED AS PREOPERATIVE ADJUNCT THERAPY FOR PROLIFERATIVE DIABETIC RETINOPATHY

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of lower than usual doses of intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin) on vitreous vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) concentration and intraoperative bleeding when used as preoperative adjunct therapy in patients undergoing vitrectomy for proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Methods: Fifty-two eyes (52 patients) with indications for vitrectomy were studied; 12 received bevacizumab, and 40 did not. The bevacizumab group was given a single intravitreal injection of bevacizumab (0.16–1.25 mg) 3 days before vitrectomy. Numbers of intraoperative coagulation spots administered for hemostasis were compared between the two groups. In both groups, vitreous samples were collected during vitrectomy, and VEGF levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The VEGF concentration was 1880.1 ± 1927.5 in the nonbevacizumab group and 24.9 ± 25.1 in the bevacizumab group, and the difference was significant (P = 0.0001). Although VEGF concentrations were apparently lower at higher bevacizumab doses, no significant correlation was observed (r = 0.366, P = 0.2425). Numbers of intraoperative coagulation spots differed significantly between the bevacizumab (3.2 ± 0.8) and nonbevacizumab (5.7 ± 1.0) groups (P < 0.0001). In the bevacizumab group, there was no correlation between the number of intraoperative coagulation spots and the bevacizumab dose (r = 0.272, P = 0.3919). Conclusion: When intravitreal bevacizumab was administered as preoperative adjunct therapy to patients undergoing vitrectomy for proliferative diabetic retinopathy, the lowest dose tested (0.16 mg) was as effective as the standard dose (1.25 mg) in reducing vitreous VEGF concentrations and also decreasing intraoperative bleeding as measured by the reduced number of coagulation spots.
Effect of Image, Trust and Responsiveness of Social Welfare Organizations on Continuing Sponsorship of Private Donors: Focusing on Mediation Effect of Organizational Identification and Moderation Effect of their Financial Status

The study aims at verifying the effect of the image, trust and responsiveness to social welfare organizations on continuing the sponsorship of private donors, the mediating effect of the organizational identification and the moderating effect of their financial status. As a result of causal analysis of the variables by structural equation models, regardless of donors' financial status, social welfare organizations' image, trust and responsiveness has no direct effect on continuing the sponsorship. Among the donors in relatively good financial status, social welfare organizations' image, trust and responsiveness positively have direct effects on organizational identification, which has a direct effect on continuing the sponsorship. That is, the image, trust and responsiveness influence the continuity of the sponsorship through the full mediating effect of organizational identification. On the other hand, among relatively poor donors, only the organizations' image and trust positively influence the organizational identification, The direct and indirect effects on the continuity of the sponsorship are different according to the private donors' financial status, which means that the moderating effect of the donors' financial status is proved. The result of latent mean analysis regarding 5 main latent variables according to the private donors' financial status, shows the significant difference in the continuity of sponsorship only(Mean= .197, Cohen's D=.779). By emphasizing that Organizational identification is a critical factor in terms of enhancing the continuity of sponsorship, some practical implications are discussed based on the study's findings. ■ keyword :∣Organizational Image∣Trust∣Responsiveness∣Organizational Identification∣Sponsorship Financial Status∣ 접수일자 : 2015년 06월 29일 수정일자 : 2015년 07월 20일 심사완료일 : 2015년 07월 20일 교신저자 : 이원준, e-mail : wjlee@cs.ac. kr 사회복지조직에 대한 이미지, 신뢰성, 반응성이 개인 기부자의 후원지속성에 미치는 영향: 조직동일시의 매개효과와 경제형편의 조절효과를 중심으로 259
Better Jobs in Better Supply Chains

This is the fifth in a series of Briefings for Business that Oxfam has published recently, the purpose of which is to offer ideas and insights into topical poverty issues and what they mean for business. Oxfam believes business plays a key role in poverty reduction by creating jobs that enable people to work their way out of poverty. There is a growing body of evidence that better labour standards also benefit business by boosting sales, staff recruitment and retention, and supply chain productivity. Sustainable, green and ethical are moving from the margins to the mainstream. Is your business prepared? Better Jobs in Better Supply Chains sets out two key labour issues based on Oxfam’s current analysis and two business behaviours that hinder rather than help. In each case the issue is explored and the benefits of addressing them are identified. The four issues highlighted are; Precarious work and poverty wages, weak relations between management and workers, purchasing practices that undermine labour standards, and over-reliance on audits. Leading companies, working with NGOs and trade unions, have started to tackle the root causes of poor standards. Case studies are included on initiatives by Adidas, Next, Marks & Spencer, ASDA George, Danone, McDonalds and many other companies. There is a tool to help you benchmark your company, a section on emerging issues and a list of resources.
Empirical support of the positive impact of an Intranet on communication in the working environment

Organizations of all shapes and sizes have to embrace information technology to surviveand thrive in an increasingly competitive environment. Consequently, the level ofpenetration and sophistication of information technology is growing rapidly, and withit a concomitant increase in the level of organizational impact. In this article the authorsinvestigate the impact of an Intranet on organizational issues, such as communication.The research study shows that technology like an Intranet, if used correctly, can havea very positive impact on an organization’s communication culture and as such on variousother important organizational issues. The research was conducted in an insurancecompany in South Africa (“The Insurance Company”).
Telecommunication Service Quality Assessment: A Comparative Study of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited and Reliance Communications Limited

This study compared the customers’ perception of quality of telecom services provided by Reliance Communications Limited (a private player) and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (a public player) in western Uttar Pradesh. Using modified SERVPERF scale, thirty scale items, customers’ perceptions were sought on eight aspects of service quality. In addition to standard five dimensions, three more dimensions, network quality, customer complaint and convenience, were added to the scale. Most of the research studies comparing private and public enterprises in India show that customers’ level of satisfaction is comparatively more for private enterprise than that of public sector enterprise. So it was felt that Reliance Communications Limited (RCOM) would outperform Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) on the measures of service quality. This contention was largely supported. The results also indicated that both groups have room for improvement.
Targeting of Motor Proteins

Microtubules are responsible for chromosome segregation and the movement and reorganization of membranous organelles. Many aspects of microtubule-based motility can be attributed to the action of motor proteins, producing force directed toward either end of microtubules. How these proteins are targeted to the appropriate organellar sites within the cell, however, has remained a mystery. Recent work has begun to define the targeting mechanism for two well-studied motor proteins, kinesin and cytoplasmic dynein.
Signal Fusion-Based Algorithms to Discriminate Between Radar Targets and Deception Jamming in Distributed Multiple-Radar Architectures

The potential abilities of distributed multiple-radar architectures in the electronic counter-countermeasure are analyzed based on the difference between target echoes and deception jamming in spatial scattering properties. The deception signals received by different receivers are fully correlated, while the correlation of target echoes varies gradually with the interval of view angles. According to this difference, the thought of signal fusion is first adopted and a corresponding algorithm is proposed to discriminate the deception jamming from radar targets in the Neyman-Pearson sense. In this algorithm, active false targets are identified by correlation tests between arbitrary two targets' complex envelopes in different receivers. To evaluate its discrimination performance, the theoretical expression for the rejection probability of false targets is derived. Simulations verify the feasibility of the new algorithm and its performance improvement over the existing data fusion-based methods. The merit of the method lies in that it can discriminate deception signals generated by arbitrary modulation and can be used in series with data fusion-based methods to improve discrimination performance further.
Asymptomatic spinal cord lesions in clinically isolated optic nerve, brain stem, and spinal cord syndromes suggestive of demyelination

OBJECTIVES Conventional T2 weighted MRI studies have highlighted the fact that the presence of clinically silent brain lesions increases the risk of developing clinically definite multiple sclerosis after an isolated syndrome of the optic nerve, brain stem, or spinal cord. The objectives of the present study are: (1) to show whether or not these patients also have asymptomatic abnormalities of the spinal cord, and (2) to recruit a new cohort of such patients using high resolution MRI of both brain and spinal cord. METHODS The brain was imaged in the axial plane with 3 mm thick contiguous slices using a proton density and T2 weighted fast spin echo (FSE) sequence; a T1 weighted sequence after the injection of gadolinium-DTPA; and a fast fluid attenuated inversion recovery (fFLAIR) sequence. The spinal cord was imaged in the sagittal plane with 3 mm thick slices using a T2 weighted FSE and a T1 weighted gadolinium enhanced sequence. RESULTS Thirty three patients, mean age 31 (16–46) were recruited. There were 14 men and 19 women. Brain MRI was abnormal in 22 (67%); no patient was seen with abnormalities on only one or other sequence. Six patients (18%) displayed one or more gadolinium enhancing lesions on brain MRI. In the spinal cord, nine (27%) patients displayed one or more clinically silent lesions on FSE. Two patients showed one and two gadolinium enhancing lesions in the spinal cord respectively. CONCLUSION This high incidence of spinal cord lesions emphasises that asymptomatic demyelinating lesions may also involve clinically eloquent pathways. Follow up studies are required to determine their prognostic importance.
Agricultural Based to Manufacturing Oriented Growth: In the Case of Thailand

In Thailand, agriculture has been the foundation for the rapid development of many industries, in the form of the raw materials, intermediate goods, and domestic food. Many industries in Thailand have to rely on the agricultural sector as a supplier of some important raw material. Also, most manufacturing workers are from rural areas and many of these workers work in manufacturing when it is not the harvest period. By the nature of the prevailing medium-sized industries and labor-intensive industries, many manufacturing firms are still dependent on the agricultural sector. Nevertheless, the policy over the past decades in Thailand has been to promote the manufacturing sector and lessen the importance of the agricultural sector. One might question why the government decided to do so? And what have we learned from Thailand’s experience? As well, what did the data present some learning experience during Thailand major financial crisis? Such understandings of the phenomenon of this case study developing from the real experience of the Thai economy are beneficial for studying the changes of Thailand’s development and competitiveness position in the World market, the changes of Thailand’s agricultural and manufacturing proportions, and policies manipulation. Some aspects are also worth discussing, leave for analysts to brainstorm in class like basic understandings to how each economic sector has been affected, like agricultural, manufacturing, services sectors, in terms of firms, producers, and consumers. As well, some discussions are about economic stability aspects.
Service Learning in the Hospitality and Tourism Business Environment

Abstract The authors discuss service learning as a key learning methodology for hospitality and tourism students. Service learning combines academic and practical experiences to enhance student learning. It needs to be related to the mission, goals, and objectives of a hospitality and tourism program as well as an integral component of course goals and objectives. The elements of service learning are discussed and several project examples are related to illustrate the use of service learning in the classroom and the instructor's role in the process.
The Growth of Family Firms: An Innovative Model Based on Public-Private Partnership

The crucial role of Family Firms in supporting the economic development of a territory has stimulated the flourish of a variety of Public Policies, such as tax benefits, special funds, guarantees and expertise development. Nevertheless, in a global economy, given the growing importance of factors such as integration, internationalization and innovation, it is necessary to redesign the public intervention. This study proposes a new model of intervention suitable for financing the growth of Family Firms and investigates its expected effects. The model is based on a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) capable to enable an enterprise network of Family Firms supported by a special financial vehicle.Given the positive correlation between Family Firms development and territorial development, the Public Sector can benefit from this new policy to achieve socio-economical goals. This study shows that, as promoter of the initiative, the role of the Public Sector should be to enhance the creation of favorable conditions for the development of the enterprise network, acting as facilitator and integrator of the system. Moreover, it should be responsible for the creation and monitoring of the activities of the financial vehicle in which co-exist private resources brought by Pension Funds and Mezzanine Funds. At the same time, the study supplies the Public Sector with an integrated scorecard in order to measure both socio-economical and financial performances.A systematic classification of existing Public Policies shows that this model would maximize the benefits of all actors involved.The dynamism of firms financed by risk capital and the worsening of credit conditions, highlight the need of financing the enterprise network through equity. Nevertheless, Family Firms are resistant to lose control. Considering that the purpose of this study is the growth of Family Firms, this model requires the financing of the firms’ network not only through equity but also through a hybrid instrument, the Mezzanine finance. This type of instrument, in contrast with the traditional debt capital, is suitable for financing the expansion projects of Family Firms thanks to its flexibility and long-term orientation. The intervention of private investors in the partnership program is carried out not only through a contribution of financial resources, but also with the provision of expertise which absence could, indeed, undermine the survival of firms.This innovative form of intervention could be significantly implemented in an area characterized by the intensive presence of Family Firms. The Italian territory represents a potential area of applicability of this new policy because its economic system mostly relies on Small and Family Firms.