Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prolonged expression of CD154 on CD4 T cells from pediatric lupus patients correlates with increased CD154 transcription, increased nuclear factor of activated T cell activity, and glomerulonephritis.

OBJECTIVE To assess CD154 expression in patients with pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to explore a transcriptional mechanism that may explain dysregulated expression of CD154. METHODS Cell surface CD154 expression (pre- and postactivation) in peripheral blood CD4 T cells from 29 children with lupus and 29 controls matched for age, sex, and ethnicity was examined by flow cytometry. CD154 expression was correlated with clinical features, laboratory parameters, and treatments received. Increased CD154 expression on CD4 T cells from the SLE patients was correlated with CD154 message and transcription rates by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and nuclear run-on assays, respectively. Nuclear factor of activated T cell (NF-AT) transcription activity and mRNA levels in CD4 T cells from SLE patients were explored by reporter gene analysis and real-time RT-PCR, respectively. RESULTS CD154 surface protein levels were increased 1.44-fold in CD4 T cells from SLE patients as compared with controls in cells evaluated 1 day postactivation ex vivo. This increase correlated clinically with the presence of nephritis and an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Increased CD154 protein levels also correlated with increased CD154 mRNA levels and with CD154 transcription rates, particularly at later time points following T cell activation. Reporter gene analyses revealed a trend for increased NF-AT, but decreased activator protein 1 and similar NF-kappaB, activity in CD4 T cells from SLE patients as compared with controls. Moreover, NF-AT1 and, in particular, NF-AT2 mRNA levels were notably increased in CD4 T cells from SLE patients as compared with controls. CONCLUSION Following activation, cell surface CD154 is increased on CD4 T cells from pediatric lupus patients as compared with controls, and this increase correlates with the presence of nephritis, increased CD154 transcription rates, and increased NF-AT activity. These results suggest that NF-AT/calcineurin inhibitors, such as tacrolimus and cyclosporine, may be beneficial in the treatment of lupus nephritis.
Divided by Cytochrome Oxidase: A Map of the Projections from V1 to V2 in Macaques

Current models partition the primate visual system into dorsal (magno) and ventral (parvo, konio) streams. Perhaps the strongest evidence for this idea has come from the pattern of projections between the primary visual area (V1) and the second visual area (V2). Prior studies describe three distinct pathways: magno to thick stripes, parvo to pale stripes, and konio to thin stripes. We now demonstrate that V1 output arises from just two sources: patch columns and interpatch columns. Patch columns project to thin stripes and interpatch columns project to pale and thick stripes. Projection of interpatches to common V2 stripe types (pale and thick) merges parvo and magno inputs, making it likely that these functional channels are distributed strongly to both dorsal and ventral streams.
Can Marketing Campaigns Induce Multichannel Buying and More Profitable Customers? A Field Experiment

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Total quality management : an investigation of the link between management control systems and organisational learning to support continuous improvement

An examination was undertaken amongst a number of quality and finance managers. Their perceptions as to the role of organisation learning and its effect, if any, on the success of the quality initiative in their organisation were examined. The majority of respondents noted that their organisations are operating in a competitive environment whereby it is necessary to improve efficiency and customer satisfaction. The need for such improvement has lead to the adoption of an operating philosophy based on continuous improvement. However, respondents have identified differing levels of satisfaction with the quality initiatives adopted by their organisations. A discriminant analysis was undertaken to identify organisational practices that may explain the differences in outcomes identified by respondents. The focus of the analysis was on the difference between the most successful and the least successful quality programs.
Auditor Capacity Stress and Audit Quality: Market-Based Evidence from Andersen's Indictment

The unprecedented migration of Andersen's clients that followed Andersen's indictment in March 2002 potentially placed a large burden on successor auditors' audit resources. We refer to this strain, measured at the local-office level, as auditor capacity stress. We examine the effect of auditor capacity stress on investor assessments of audit quality by examining changes in earnings response coefficients (ERCs) of Big-4 client firms. We observe larger decreases in marginal ERCs in fiscal 2002 relative to a base period of 1999-2001 for clients at successor auditors' offices that experience high capacity stress than for clients of low-capacity-stress offices. That is, capacity stress appears to adversely impact perceived audit quality in the first year with successor auditors. However, we also find that marginal ERCs recover more substantially in fiscal 2003 relative to 2002 for clients of high-capacity-stress audit offices than low-capacity-stress offices. This finding suggests that clients experience relief from capacity stress in 2003, with greater relief for more highly-stressed auditors. The evidence indicates that auditor failures can be quite disruptive to audit markets but a quick recovery is possible.
An empirical study of e-commerce marketing success

This research seeks to examine the factors affecting the success of e-commerce marketing and how they relate to the success of e-commerce marketing in any given firm. It therefore gives a deeper insight to factors such as, total revenue, number of items sold, percent of returning visitors, new account sign up, and customer life value. All measures were based on items in existing instruments and literature. The researcher was measured using 5 point Likert scales where 1 represents “strongly disagree” and 5, “strongly agree. ” The research is divided into various sections, each with its main theme. The introduction gives a general overview of what ecommerce marketing is and how it can be achieved. The literature review looks at what different scholars say about the same topic under different dimensions and gives a schematic conceptual framework of the research study. The research ends with a conclusive section that summarizes the major point of the research.
Note on 'Competition in Two-Sided Markets'

We extend the models in ("Competition in two-sided markets" of Armstrong (2006, Rand Journal of Economics ) by adding within-group externalities. In the monopoly and duopoly cases, positive within-group externalities reduce the price of the own group. Negative externalities have an opposite price effect. In the case of a competitive bottleneck, we show by examples that within a certain range of parameter values, a novel phenomenon arises that the platform attracts more agents from one of the groups compared with the social optimum.
Amino Acids, Glutamine, and Protein Metabolism in Very Low Birth Weight Infants

Glutamine has been proposed to be conditionally essential for premature infants, and the currently used parenteral nutrient mixtures do not contain glutamine. De novo glutamine synthesis (DGln) is linked to inflow of carbon into and out of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. We hypothesized that a higher supply of parenteral amino acids by increasing the influx of amino acid carbon into the TCA cycle will enhance the rate of DGln. Very low birth weight infants were randomized to receive parenteral amino acids either 1.5 g/kg/d for 20 h followed by 3.0 g/kg/d for 5 h (AA1.5) or 3.0 g/kg/d for 20 h followed by 1.5 g/kg/d for 5 h (AA3.0). A third group of babies received amino acids 1.5 g/kg/d for 20 h followed by 3.0 g/kg/d for 20 h (AA-Ext). Glutamine and protein/nitrogen kinetics were examined using [5-15N]glutamine, [2H5]phenylalanine, [1-13C,15N]leucine, and [15N2]urea tracers. An acute increase in parenteral amino acid infusion for 5 h (AA1.5) resulted in decrease in rate of appearance (Ra) of phenylalanine and urea, but had no effect on glutamine Ra. Infusion of amino acids at 3.0 g/kg/d for 20 h resulted in increase in DGln, leucine transamination, and urea synthesis, but had no effect on Ra phenylalanine (AA-Ext). These data show an acute increase in parenteral amino acid–suppressed proteolysis, however, such an effect was not seen when amino acids were infused for 20 h and resulted in an increase in glutamine synthesis.
Brownian dynamics close to a wall studied by photon correlation spectroscopy from an evanescent wave.

Dynamic behavior of Brownian particles close to a wall is studied by photon correlation from an evanescent wave with variable penetration depth. Surface correlation spectra strongly differ from the bulk measurements and are completely interpreted in terms of the combined wall's mirror effect and evanescent-wave geometry. Relevance of these new effects to the light-scattering study of surface dynamics is discussed.
Marketing Nonprofit Programs and Services: Proven and Practical Strategies to Get More Customers, Members, and Donors

MARKETING AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS The Role and Benefits of Marketing in Nonprofit Organizations What Are You Selling? What Are They Buying CONDUCTING COST EFFECTIVE MARKET RESEARCH Who is Your Customer? : The Values and Techniques of Market Research Target Marketing to Reach Your Best Customers How Many Customers Do You Have? : Improving Your Market Share and Analyzing Your Competition Strengthening Your Marketing Practices with Internal Audits SUCCESSFUL MARKETING STRATEGIES Promotion, Publicity and PR: Effective Ways to Get More Customers, Members, and Donors Making Advertising Work for Your Nonprofit Media Selection: Choosing the Right Mix Packaging Programs and Services for Your Market Strategies for Recruiting the Volunteers You Want Most Your Marketing Strategy: Fifteen Steps for Putting It All Together.
Learning on the Job : Improving Robot Perception Through Experience

This paper is about robots that autonomously learn how to interpret their environment through use. Specifically, robot perception is improved with every outing through effortless human assistance. This is made possible by the fact that robots operate repeatedly in specific application domains. Our approach, which we call Experience-Based Classification (EBC), is similar in spirit to the concept of hard negative mining (HNM), but it is entirely self-supervised. In the context of autonomous driving we use 17km of data to show that EBC is a practical alternative to HNM, and demonstrate the advantages of experience-specific classifiers. We believe that our approach presents a fundamental shift in how robot perception is viewed, and advocate for lifelong learning systems that excel in a specific application domain instead of providing mediocre performance everywhere.
Effects of cigarette smoke on immune response: chronic exposure to cigarette smoke impairs antigen-mediated signaling in T cells and depletes IP3-sensitive Ca(2+) stores.

Chronic exposure of mice and rats to cigarette smoke affects T-cell responsiveness that may account for the decreased T-cell proliferative and T-dependent antibody responses in humans and animals exposed to cigarette smoke. However, the mechanism by which cigarette smoke affects the T cell function is not clearly understood. Our laboratory has shown that chronic exposure of rats to nicotine inhibits the antibody-forming cell response, impairs the antigen-mediated signaling in T cells, and induces T cell anergy. To determine the mechanism of cigarette smoke-induced immunosuppression and to compare it with chronic nicotine exposure, rats were exposed to diluted, mainstream cigarette smoke for up to 30 months or to nicotine (1 mg/kg b.wt./24 h) via miniosmotic pumps for 4 weeks, and evaluated for immunological function in vivo and in vitro. This article presents evidence suggesting that T cells from long-term cigarette smoke-exposed rats exhibit decreased antigen-mediated proliferation and constitutive activation of protein tyrosine kinase and phospholipase C-gamma1 activities. Moreover, spleen cells from smoke-exposed and nicotine-treated animals have depleted inositol-1, 4,5-trisphosphate-sensitive Ca(2+) stores and a decreased ability to raise intracellular Ca(2+) levels in response to T cell antigen receptor ligation. These results suggest that chronic smoking causes T cell anergy by impairing the antigen receptor-mediated signal transduction pathways and depleting the inositol-1,4, 5-trisphosphate-sensitive Ca(2+) stores. Moreover, nicotine may account for or contribute to the immunosuppressive properties of cigarette smoke.
FAKTOR-FAKTOR YANG MEMPENGARUHI TINGKAT UNDERPRICING PADA SAAT PENAWARAN UMUM SAHAM PERDANA

This study aims to examine and analyze factors that affect the level of underpricing of shares in the company made an initial public offering (IPO). The variables studied include underwriter reputation, auditor reputation, firm size and return on asset (ROA). The study was conducted using multiple linear regression analysis. Data collection using a documentary study with purposive sampling method. From a population of 76 companies, obtained a sample of 64 companies. The result can be concluded: first, the underwriter’s reputation could not show a significant effect on the level of underpricing. Second, auditor’s reputation could not show a significant effect on the level of underpricing. Third, firm size could not show a significant effect on the level of underpricing and fourth, return on asset (ROA) successfully demonstrated a significant effect on the level of underpricing.
Long-Range Communication between the Silencers of HMR

ABSTRACT Gene regulation involves long-range communication between silencers, enhancers, and promoters. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, silencers flank transcriptionally repressed genes to mediate regional silencing. Silencers recruit the Sir proteins, which then spread along chromatin to encompass the entire silenced domain. In this report we have employed a boundary trap assay, an enhancer activity assay, chromatin immunoprecipitations, and chromosome conformation capture analyses to demonstrate that the two HMR silencer elements are in close proximity and functionally communicate with one another in vivo. We further show that silencing is necessary for these long-range interactions, and we present models for Sir-mediated silencing based upon these results.
The Business of Rural Tourism: International Perspectives

1. The business of rural tourism: international perspectives. 2. Managing rural tourism businesses: financing, development and marketing issues. 3. Rural tourism in the United States: the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway and KOA. 4. Rural tourism in Canada: the Saskatchewan vacation farm operator as entrepreneur. 5. Rural tourism in Canada: issues, opportunities and entrepreneurship in aboriginal tourism in Alberta. 6. Rural tourism in Germany: farm and rural tourism operators. 7. Rural tourism in China: development issues in perspective. 8. Rural tourism in Australia: the Undara Experience. 9. Rural tourism in New Zealand: rafting at River Valley Ventures in the Rangitkei. 10. Conclusions and implications for rural business development.
Lambda Interferon Renders Epithelial Cells of the Respiratory and Gastrointestinal Tracts Resistant to Viral Infections

ABSTRACT Virus-infected cells secrete a broad range of interferons (IFN) which confer resistance to yet uninfected cells by triggering the synthesis of antiviral factors. The relative contributions of the various IFN subtypes to innate immunity against virus infections remain elusive. IFN-α, IFN-β, and other type I IFN molecules signal through a common, universally expressed cell surface receptor, whereas type III IFN (IFN-λ) uses a distinct cell-type-specific receptor complex for signaling. Using mice lacking functional receptors for type I IFN, type III IFN, or both, we found that IFN-λ plays an important role in the defense against several human pathogens that infect the respiratory tract, such as influenza A virus, influenza B virus, respiratory syncytial virus, human metapneumovirus, and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus. These viruses were more pathogenic and replicated to higher titers in the lungs of mice lacking both IFN receptors than in mice with single IFN receptor defects. In contrast, Lassa fever virus, which infects via the respiratory tract but primarily replicates in the liver, was not influenced by the IFN-λ receptor defect. Careful analysis revealed that expression of functional IFN-λ receptor complexes in the lung and intestinal tract is restricted to epithelial cells and a few other, undefined cell types. Interestingly, we found that SARS coronavirus was present in feces from infected mice lacking receptors for both type I and type III IFN but not in those from mice lacking single receptors, supporting the view that IFN-λ contributes to the control of viral infections in epithelial cells of both respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts.
Exercise-induced increase in glucose transport, GLUT-4, and VAMP-2 in plasma membrane from human muscle.

A major effect of muscle contractions is an increase in sarcolemmal glucose transport. We have used a recently developed technique to produce sarcolemmal giant vesicles from human muscle biopsy samples obtained before and after exercise. Six men exercised for 10 min at 50% maximal O2 uptake (Vo2max) and then to fatigue at 100% Vo2max (5.7 +/- 0.2 min). Vesicle glucose transport at 5 mM increased from 3.3 +/- 0.6 pmol.microgram-1.min-1 at rest to 6.6 +/- 1.0 pmol.microgram-1.min-1 at fatigue (mean +/- SE, n = 6, P < 0.05). This increase in glucose transport was associated with a 1.6-fold increase in vesicle GLUT-4 protein content. Glucose transport normalized to GLUT-4 protein content also increased with exercise, suggesting increased intrinsic activity of GLUT-4. Furthermore, exercise resulted in a 1.4-fold increase in sarcolemmal vesicle-associated membrane protein (VAMP-2) content, suggesting that muscle contractions may induce trafficking of GLUT-4-containing vesicles via a mechanism similar to neurotransmitter release. Our results demonstrate for the first time exercise-induced translocation of GLUT-4 and VAMP-2 to the plasma membrane of human muscle and increased sarcolemmal glucose transport.
Medical Migration: What Can We Learn from the UK's Perspective?

This paper seeks to determine the macro-economic impacts of migration of skilled medical personnel from a receiving country's perspective. The resource allocation issues are explored in theory, by developing an extension of the Rybczynski theorem in a low-dimension Heckscher-Ohlin framework, and empirically, by developing a static computable general equilibrium model for the United Kingdom with an extended health sector component. Using simple diagrams, an expansion of the health sector by recruiting immigrant skilled workers in certain cases is shown to compare favorably to the (short-term) long-term alternative of using domestic (unskilled) workers. From a formal analysis, changes in non-health outputs are shown to depend on factor-bias and scale effects. The net effects generally are indeterminate. The main finding from the applied model is that importing foreign doctors and nurses into the United Kingdom yields higher overall welfare gains than a generic increase in the National Health Service budget. Welfare gains rise in case of wage protection.
Information Resources

As the author pointed out in his first book, modern products and the technologies that support them are far too complex to be completely developed by a single company. Therefore, companies must learn to cooperate with each other to leverage the expertise that each has. Chesbrough points to the licensing of IP as an important part of this practice. Most companies possess IP which they are not using and which they will never use. However, it is a mistake to assume that the IP is not valuable to others with different capabilities and a different market focus. Companies like Qualcomm have recognized that their real capabilities are in developing new technologies for the cellular communications market, but not in making products for sale to the consumer. Therefore, Qualcomm focuses on making chips and licensing its technologies for others to incorporate into cell phones. IBM, on the other hand, has significant manufacturing capabilities and has begun to supplement its core business by licensing its extensive portfolio of IP. That company has increased its IP licensing revenues from a few million dollars per year to $1.2 billion.
EXPLORING THE PHENOMENON OF CONSUMER REPURCHASE BEHAVIOURS IN AUCTION WEBSITES

This study aims to explore consumer repurchase behaviours in auction websites. Although there are a number of researchers studying repurchase intention in the online shopping environment, there is a lack of evidence about the relationship between repurchase intention and repurchase behaviour as well as the difference between non-auction websites and auction websites which suggest that those studies are less relevant when viewed in the consumer repurchase behaviours in auction websites context. Since repurchase behaviour may be motivated by online seller’s promotion strategies, such as website design, service provision, brand and loyalty, this study explores customer’s repurchase behaviour from auction websites which operate under different operational strategies. This research adopts a multiple case study methodology to understand how repurchase intention motivates repurchase behaviour and how online sellers’ strategies influence the relationship between repurchase intentions and repurchase behaviours in the auction website environment.