Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Crowdfunding: The New Frontier for Financing Entrepreneurship?

This paper aims to take stock of the extant knowledge on an emerging practice in the entrepreneurial finance landscape: crowdfunding, which seems to play an increasing important role for the seed financing of entrepreneurial projects. We provide a systematization of what it is known on this theme, which can be useful to scholars, practitioners, and policymakers interested in the phenomenon from different angles. Adopting a phenomenon-based approach, which is deemed to be appropriate when investigating new and rather unexplored phenomena, we first review the emergent literature on the theme to single out the aspects that so far have attracted the bulk of scholarly interest. Then, we compare the crowdfunding with other forms of entrepreneurial finance. Finally, we offer a first survey on Italian crowdfunding platforms.
IL-15 Activates Telomerase and Minimizes Telomere Loss and May Preserve the Replicative Life Span of Memory CD8+ T Cells In Vitro

The preservation of the replicative life span of memory CD8+ T cells is vital for long-term immune protection. Although IL-15 plays a key role in the homeostasis of memory CD8+ T cells, it is unknown whether IL-15 regulates the replicative life span of memory CD8+ T cells. In this study, we report an analysis of telomerase expression and telomere length in human memory phenotype CD8+ T cells maintained by IL-15 in vitro. We demonstrate that IL-15 is capable of activating telomerase in memory CD8+ T cells via Jak3 and PI3K signaling pathways. Furthermore, IL-15 induces a sustained level of telomerase activity over long periods of time, and in turn minimizes telomere loss in memory CD8+ T cells after substantial cell divisions. These findings suggest that IL-15 activates stable telomerase expression and compensates telomere loss in memory phenotype CD8+ T cells, and that telomerase may play an important role in memory CD8+ T cell homeostasis.
Time trends in incidence, causes of death, and survival of cancer of unknown primary in Sweden

Time trends in incidence, causes of death, and prognosis of cancer of unknown primary (CUP) could provide important clues for occult primary sites and thus result in effective organ-specific treatment, although such studies are seldom reported. We aimed at examining time trends in percentage and incidence rates, causes of death, and survival of CUP. A total of 50 545 patients with CUP were identified in the Swedish Cancer Registry from 1960 to 2008. We used direct standardization to standardize age-adjusted incidence rate to the Segi world population. Consistent increase before the late 1990s and dramatic decrease afterward was observed for both percentage and incidence of CUP in Swedes regardless of sex. Comparable time trends were noted in Norwegian and Finnish populations, but with several years earlier peaking times. For most anatomic sites, CUP and lung cancer were the two most common causes of death for patients with CUP irrespective of nodal involvement. Survival probability at 12 months after CUP was approximately 20% and then leveled off at approximately 10%. Adenocarcinoma accounted for most of this incidence variation and experienced the worst prognosis. High incidence rates and comparable time trends for CUP were observed in Sweden, Norway, and Finland. The increasing time trends may partially reflect the change of autopsy rates in these countries. The decreased incidence in the last decade could be due to an increasing identification of unknown primary caused by improving diagnostic methods. Histological types were significantly associated with survival in patients with CUP.
Automatic Extraction of Power Lines from Aerial Images of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

There has been little investigation for the automatic extraction of power lines from aerial images due to the low resolution of aerial images in the past decades. With increasing aerial photogrammetric technology and sensor technology, it is possible for photogrammetrists to monitor the status of power lines. This letter analyzes the property of imaged power lines and presents an algorithm to automatically extract the power line from aerial images acquired by an aerial digital camera onboard a helicopter. This algorithm first uses a Radon transform to extract line segments of the power line, then uses the grouping method to link each segment, and finally applies the Kalman filter technology to connect the segments into an entire line. We compared our algorithm with the line mask detector method and the ratio line detector, and evaluated their performances. The experimental results demonstrated that our algorithm can successfully extract the power lines from aerial images regardless of background complexity. This presented method has successfully been applied in China National 863 project for power line surveillance, 3-D reconstruction, and modeling.
Application of the Subspace Identification Method using the N4SID Technique for a Robotic Manipulator

This paper presents results for the application of the Subspace Identification Method using N4SID technique in its deterministic case. The goal is to obtain a state-space mathematical model for a robotic manipulator with five degrees of freedom. This study aims to present alternatives to the Prediction Error identification techniques in multivariable systems with high complexity and elevated computational efforts. Results indicate that the applied subspace identification leads to a successful state-space mathematical model which makes it an efficient alternative method to mathematical modeling in future projects.
Monolithic Three-Dimensional 65-nm CMOS-Nanoelectromechanical Reconfigurable Logic for Sub-1.2-V Operation

Monolithic three-dimensional (M3D) CMOS-nanoelectromechanical (CMOS-NEM) reconfigurable logic (RL) circuits are experimentally demonstrated. This is the first experimental demonstration of 65-nm M3D CMOS-NEM RL circuits satisfying the 1.2-V supply voltage (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${V}_{\mathsf {DD}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>) requirement of the 65-nm technology node. The fabrication process is identical to the conventional 65-nm CMOS baseline process, in which copper NEM memory switches are formed by a dual damascene process.
Twenty Years of the Journal of Marketing Theory and Practice

This paper reviews the work published in JMTP during its first 20 years. It finds extensive global coverage in terms of authors and material, despite a U.S. emphasis. In addition, a diversity of topics is covered and is making a significant contribution, as defined by citations, to broader academic discourse. The works published have a strong applied focus, although this might be expected to have been higher given the journal's applied foundations. The paper also identifies the most prolific individuals and institutions, based on the number of articles published and citations to those articles. The paper concludes that JMTP has made a valuable contribution to marketing academia and its global recognition continues to grow.
Candida albicans Stimulates IL-23 Release by Human Dendritic Cells and Downstream IL-17 Secretion by Vδ1 T Cells

γδ T cells expressing the Vδ1 TCR are expanded in patients with HIV infection. We show in this article that circulating Vδ1 T cell numbers are particularly high in patients with HIV and candidiasis, and that these cells expand and produce IL-17 in response to Candida albicans in vitro. Although C. albicans could directly stimulate IL-17 production by a subset of Vδ1 T cells, fungus-treated dendritic cells (DCs) were required to expand C. albicans–responsive Vδ1 T cells to generate sufficient numbers of cells to release IL-17 at levels detectable by ELISA. C. albicans induced the release of IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-23 by DCs, but addition of these cytokines or supernatants of C. albicans–treated DCs to Vδ1 T cells was not sufficient to induce proliferation. We found that direct contact with DCs was required for Vδ1 T cell proliferation, whereas IL-23R–blocking studies showed that IL-23 was required for optimal C. albicans–induced IL-17 production. Because IL-17 affords protection against both HIV and C. albicans, and because Vδ1 T cells are not depleted by HIV, these cells are likely to be an important source of IL-17 in HIV-infected patients with candidiasis, in whom CD4+ Th17 responses are impaired. These data show that C. albicans stimulates proliferation and IL-17 production by Vδ1 T cells by a mechanism that involves IL-23 release by DCs.
Effect of coadministration of nelfinavir, indinavir, and saquinavir on the pharmacokinetics of amprenavir

Pharmacokinetic interactions are expected when human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) protease inhibitors are coadministered because many are both substrates forand inhibitors of CYP3A4. The goal of this model‐based pharmacokinetic analysis was to describe the differences observed in amprenavir pharmacokinetics among treatment arms in the Adult AIDS Clinical Trial Group (AACTG) study protocol 398 and to propose mechanisms toaccount for them.
Information Resource Development and Utilization in the Wisdom Forestry Times

This paper has analyzed the problem of the information resource development and utilization, studied the meaning,goal and feasibility of the information resource development and utilization in the wisdom forestry period. Some reasonable suggestions about how to realize information resource development and utilization in the wisdom forestry period have been put forward so as to speed up the development of the forestry informatization.
E-learning for education in primary healthcare—turning the hype into reality: A Delphi study

Objective: E-learning has the potential to provide effective education for general practice, but there are significant difficulties that must be overcome. Design: We initiated a two-round Delphi study, aiming to identify expectations and barriers to e-learning in primary healthcare education. Methods: We distributed questionnaires to 60 primary care experts who are also experts in the field of e-learning. Their responses were independently analysed by two of the authors (J.G., H.C.V.) and were clustered to form 32 themes. These were fed back to the participants in a second postal questionnaire with the objective of reaching agreement or disagreement, with a cut-off of 80%. Results: The response rate was 67% (n=40) in the first and 60% (n=36) in the second round. The extent of agreement reached ranged from 8% (“e-learning is displacing practical teaching and learning”) to 97% (“e-learning needs convincing didactical concepts”). Agreement was high with the themes “e-learning gets a new focus by mixed learning concepts” and “users will have a higher level of media competence 5 years from now” (94% each). There was a positive attitude to e-learning, but there was concern about the lack of orientation towards users’ needs and the poor development of innovative didactical concepts. In implementing e-learning in primary care, education should be independent of financial influence from the healthcare industry in order to eliminate conflicts of interest. Conclusion: The experts’ responses show that e-learning in primary healthcare education can contribute substantially to undergraduate, graduate, and continuing medical education, and should therefore be evaluated in systematic studies.
Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 resistance and cross‐decreased susceptibility to oseltamivir and zanamivir antiviral drugs

Neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs) oseltamivir and zanamivir are currently the only effective antiviral drugs available worldwide for the management of influenza. The potential development of resistance is continually threatening their use, rationalizing and highlighting the need for a close and sustained evaluation of virus susceptibility. This study aimed to analyze and characterize the phenotypic and genotypic NAIs susceptibility profiles of A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses circulating in Portugal from 2009 to 2010/2011. A total of 144 cases of A(H1N1)pdm09 virus infection from community and hospitalized patients were studied, including three suspected cases of clinical resistance to oseltamivir. Oseltamivir resistance was confirmed for two of the suspected cases. Neuraminidase (NA) H275Y resistant marker was found in viruses from both cases but for one it was only present in 26.2% of virus population, raising questions about the minimal percentage of resistant virus that should be considered relevant. Cross‐decreased susceptibility to oseltamivir and zanamivir (2–4 IC50 fold‐change) was detected on viruses from two potentially linked community patients from 2009. Both viruses harbored the NA I223V mutation. NA Y155H mutation was found in 18 statistical non‐outlier viruses from 2009, having no impact on virus susceptibility. The mutations at NA N369K and V241I may have contributed to the significantly higher baseline IC50 value obtained to oseltamivir for 2010/2011 viruses, compared to viruses from the pandemic period. These results may contribute to a better understanding of the relationship between phenotype and genotype, which is currently challenging, and to the global assessment of A(H1N1)pdm09 virus susceptibility profile and baseline level to NAIs. J. Med. Virol. 87: 45–56, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Research the Elements of Entrepreneurial Support Based on Network Relationship Strength

The entrepreneurs is the key to decided business success, whose decision is impacted by its environment, especially the impact of entrepreneurial support. Focused support elements which entrepreneurs needs, using the network organization theory method, and the elements of composition as a breakthrough, the paper analysis the elements of entrepreneurial support system and the relationship between the main effects and the mediating effect relationship. Keywords—Entrepreneurial network ; entrepreneurship ; entrepreneurial venture support ;
Food labelling from a consumer perspective

Posits that food labelling is one medium by which consumers can acquire knowledge about the food they consider buying. This type of information is becoming increasingly important in a food market where direct contact with the personnel over the counter is declining. Reports the results from a pilot study and a consumer survey including 1050 respondents. Reveals that the majority of consumers read the food labels (often, sometimes or seldom), and that the reading frequency was associated with the degree of uncertainty about the food supply. Additives occupied a far more prominent place in these reading activities, than what could be expected from the respondents’ general notions of what constitutes a healthy diet. Discusses these results with regard to consumer apprehension of the presentation of data on the food labels.
Antibody to myosin: the specific visualization of myosin-containing filaments in nonmuscle cells.

Myosin in human, rat, mouse, and chicken fibroblasts was localized by indirect immunofluorescence microscopy using antibodies prepared in rabbits against highly purified chicken gizzard myosin. Filaments containing myosin span the interior of the cells and are often parallel to each other. The majority of the fibers are concentrated toward the adhesive side of the cell. Most of the myosin-containing filaments show "interruptions" or "striations. " From a comparison of these fibers in fluorescence and phase microscopy and from previous results on actin-containing fibers, we conclude that at least some of the cytoplasmic myosin can be found in the actin-containing fibers, which themselves have been shown to be very similar or identical to the microfilament bundles. The occurrence of both myosin and actin in the microfilament bundles provides a basis for the motility and contractility of the cell.
A note on the quantification of computer programming skill

Abstract There are sound reasons for believing that expertise in computer programming consists of two components, which should both be of interest to employers. Time-based expertise corresponds to the conventional notion of expertise, and is a function solely of the time spent programming. Multiskilling expertise, by contrast, accrues through exposure to a variety of programming languages and tasks, and is related to the cognitive development of high-level programming schemata. This multidimensional model was tested by developing measures to quantify the diversity of programming language usage and the diversity of programming tasks, and then assessing programming skill in 206 computer programmers. As predicted, factor analysis identified two underlying factors. The actual amount of time spent programming and the time since first learning to program loaded highly on one factor ("time-based skill"), while the number of languages known, the diversity of language usage, and the diversity of programming tasks loaded highly on the second factor ("multiskilling"). The data also revealed that programmers tend not to keep abreast of new developments in their field. Thus, many programmers who are "expert" in the time-based sense risk obsolescence due to a lack of multiskilling expertise.
SPINAL CORD INJURY: IMPACT ON CLIENTS’ SIGNIFICANT OTHERS

Spinal cord injury often has a permanent and overwhelming impact on its victims and on their significant others-the family and friends who have close personal relationships with the injured. In contrast to previous works focusing primarily on the disabled, this study attempts to determine the needs and anxieties of the significant others. T h e more understanding health workers have of what these significant others may be experiencing, the more likely they are to help them, and through them, the client.
Strengthening regional identities and culture through wine industry cross border collaboration

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the potentialities of cross border projects to develop and promote wine culture, and consequently tourism and hospitality; paying particular attention to the process and actions supporting the development and refinement of cultural attributes, traditional values and regional identity. Design/methodology/approach – Methodologically, it is a deductive reasoning exploratory research, based on the findings of an extensive undergoing project across ten countries, spanning from Italy to Eastern Europe, and theoretically founded on an extensive literature review. Findings – The findings identify the spectrum and nature of opportunities and constraints of cross border collaborations in developing the wine industry and reaping of its wider economic and cultural benefits. Further to the scholarly value of the findings, the paper identifies and presents the descriptive managerial/industrial implications, along with prescriptively explicit directions toward practical .
Protein synthesis inhibitors prevent the induction of laminin B1, collagen IV (α1), and other differentiation‐specific mRNAs by retinoic acid in F9 teratocarcinoma cells

Several differentiation‐specific genes, including those for collagen IV and laminin, are induced by retinoic acid (RA) in mouse F9 teratocarcinoma cells. Dibutyryl cAMP can enhance the effect of RA in these cells, but dibutyryl cAMP alone does not induce these genes. Inhibition of RNA synthesis with 5‐6‐dichloro‐1‐B‐D‐ribofuranosylbenzimidazole prevents the induction of these genes by RA; inhibition of DNA synthesis with aphidicolin does not prevent the induction. In vitro transcription studies (Wang et al., Dev. Biol., 107:75–86, 1985) demonstrate that these differentiation‐specific genes are regulated by RA at least partially at the level of transcription. To determine whether the regulation of transcription of these differentiation‐specific genes is a primary effect of RA, we measured the sensitivity of the induction of mRNAs specific for these RA‐inducible genes to inhibitors of protein synthesis. RNA was isolated from F9 cells that had been treated for 20 hr with RA (with or without dibutyryl cAMP) in the presence or absence of either cycloheximide or puromycin. We then hybridized the 32P‐labeled recombinant plasmids collagen IV (α1) (pcl5), laminin B1 (pcl56), and pcJ6 to RNA from the treated cells. Both cycloheximide and puromycin inhibited the RA induction of the collagen IV (α1), laminin B1, and J6 mRNAs. In contrast, in a control experiment, a 20‐hr treatment with cycloheximide did not inhibit the accumulation of metallothionein l‐specific mRNA in response to zinc in F9 cells. Thus protein synthesis is required for the expression of the collagen IV (α1), laminin B1, and J6 genes, and this result suggests that the transcriptional regulation of these genes by RA is indirect.
An automatic active contour model for multiple objects

Active contours, or snakes, are widely used for segmentation of medical images. This paper presents an automatic active contours model which can extract multiple objects in an image without any manual assistance. Initialization of contours depends on some points which we called centers of divergence. These points are computed by gradient vector flow field. One active contour is generated according to each center of divergence. After normal deformation, we get desired contours as well as some undesired.
Firm-level export performance assessment: Review, evaluation, and development

Export performance is one of the most widely researched but least understood and most contentious areas of international marketing. To some extent, this problem can be ascribed to difficulties in conceptualizing, operationalizing, and measuring the export performance construct, often leading to inconsistent and conflicting results. This study reviews and evaluates more than 100 articles of pertinent empirical studies to assess and critique export performance measurements. Based on gaps identified in this evluation, guidelines for export performance measure development are advanced, suggesting, however, a contingency approach in their application. Several conclusions and implications for export strategy and future research are derived from this analysis.
A quadrupole ion trap/time-of-flight mass spectrometer with a parabolic reflectron.

A matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-quadrupole ion trap/reflectron time-of-flight (MALDI-QIT/reTOF) mass spectrometer design and its operation in both normal and tandem mass spectrometric modes are described. A parabolic reflectron was found to be capable of providing mass resolution of 5000 for an initial ion energy distribution ranging over a 50% energy interval of the entire reflectron energy range. The sensitivity, ion isolation and fragmentation efficiency in the MALDI-QIT/reTOF instrument were close to those observed in the MALDI/QIT mass spectrometer. The mass resolution was shown to depend on the extraction field potentials, the r.f. trapping voltage amplitude and the phase of shutting down the r.f. voltage before extraction. At values of qs < 0.3-0.4 the mass resolution does not depend on the ion mass, is in a range of 1000-1400 and is governed by the extraction voltages and the ion temperature before extraction, the latter shown to be in the range 1180-1690 K. The variation of the mass resolution for ions at values of qs > 0.4 is irregular but normally it is lower than that for ions having lower qs values. Mass spectral line positions shifted when the trapping voltage before extraction was varied. The line shifts were larger for lower mass ions and were comparable to the line widths in the case of very low masses.