Bridging Alone: Religious Conservatism, Marital Homogamy, and Voluntary Association Membership

This study characterizes social insularity of religiously conservative American married couples by examining patterns of voluntary associationmembership. Constructing a dataset of 3938 marital dyads from the second wave of the National Survey of Families and Households, the author investigates whether conservative religious homogamy encourages membership in religious voluntary groups and discourages membership in secular voluntary groups. Results indicate that couples’ shared affiliation with conservative denominations, paired with beliefs in biblical authority and inerrancy, increases the likelihood of religious group membership for husbands and wives and reduces the likelihood of secular group membership for wives, but not for husbands. The social insularity of conservative religious groups appears to be reinforced by homogamy—particularly by wives who share faith with husbands

Effective risk relievers for dimensional perceived risks on mail-order purchase: a case study on speciality foods in the UK

This article examines the effective risk relievers for different dimensions of perceived risk on mail-order purchase of food products. The sample comprised 1,600 active and inactive mail-order specialty food shoppers in the UK. The analysis focused on the correlation coefficients between consumers' levels of perceived risk and their weight on the importance of the risk relievers. Amongst 15 risk relievers, the results implied that there are certain risk relievers attached to higher levels of importance by consumers, who perceive higher levels of risks in certain aspects of mail-order purchase. Therefore, mail-order companies should promote the effective risk relievers to reduce specific dimensions of perceived risks

Missing Links: Referrer Behavior and Job Segregation

How does referral recruitment contribute to job segregation, and what can organizations do about it? Current theory on network effects in the labor market emphasizes the job-seeker perspective, focusing on the segregated nature of job-seekers’ information and contact networks, and leaves little role for organizational influence. But employee referrals are necessarily initiated from within a firm by referrers. We argue that referrer behavior is the missing link that can help organizations manage the segregating effects of referring. Adopting the referrer’s perspective of the process, we develop a computational model which integrates a set of empirically documented referrer behavior mechanisms gleaned from extant organizational case studies. Using this model, we compare the segregating effects of referring when these behaviors are inactive to the effects when the behaviors are active. We show that referrer behaviors substantially boost the segregating effects of referring. This impact of referrer behavior presents an opportunity for organizations. Contrary to popular wisdom, we show that organizational policies designed to influence referrer behaviors can mitigate most if not all of the segregating effects of referring

Expression proteomics of UPF1 knockdown in HeLa cells reveals autoregulation of hnRNP A2/B1 mediated by alternative splicing resulting in nonsense-mediated mRNA decay

BACKGROUND: In addition to acting as an RNA quality control pathway, nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) plays roles in regulating normal gene expression. In particular, the extent to which alternative splicing is coupled to NMD and the roles of NMD in regulating uORF containing transcripts have been a matter of debate. RESULTS: In order to achieve a greater understanding of NMD regulated gene expression we used 2D-DiGE proteomics technology to examine the changes in protein expression induced in HeLa cells by UPF1 knockdown. QPCR based validation of the corresponding mRNAs, in response to both UPF1 knockdown and cycloheximide treatment, identified 17 bona fide NMD targets. Most of these were associated with bioinformatically predicted NMD activating features, predominantly upstream open reading frames (uORFs). Strikingly, however, the majority of transcripts up-regulated by UPF1 knockdown were either insensitive to, or even down-regulated by, cycloheximide treatment. Furthermore, the mRNA abundance of several down-regulated proteins failed to change upon UPF1 knockdown, indicating that UPF1`s role in regulating mRNA and protein abundance is more complex than previously appreciated. Among the bona fide NMD targets, we identified a highly conserved AS-NMD event within the 3` UTR of the HNRNPA2B1 gene. Overexpression of GFP tagged hnRNP A2 resulted in a decrease in endogenous hnRNP A2 and B1 mRNA with a concurrent increase in the NMD sensitive isoforms. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the large number of changes in protein expression upon UPF1 knockdown, a relatively small fraction of them can be directly attributed to the action of NMD on the corresponding mRNA. From amongst these we have identified a conserved AS-NMD event within HNRNPA2B1 that appears to mediate autoregulation of HNRNPA2B1 expression levels

57 Wyznaczenie algorytmu obliczeń dawek dla automatycznych filtrów klinowych

CelCelem pracy było eksperymentalne wyznaczenie algorytmu, na podstawie którego możliwe byłoby obliczenie czasów napromieniania przy zastosowaniu automatycznego filtra klinowego zainstalowanego w głowicy akceleratora liniowego SATURN 43 F.MetodaW pierwszej części eksperymentu wykonano pomiary dawki pochłoniętej w fantomie stałym dla trzech energii fotonowych: 6, 15 i 25 MV, na głębokości 10 cm, dla pola 10×10 cm. Pomiary były wykonywane w trzech punktach pola – w środku w osi wiązki promieniowania oraz w dwóch symetrycznych punktach, oddalonych od środka pola o 2,5 cm. Ponieważ ostateczny wynik napromieniania metodą automatycznych filtrów klinowych jest sumą dawek dla pola otwartego i pola z klinem 60°, w eksperymencie zmierzono dawki w wybranych punktach pola przy polu otwartym i polu z klinem. Całkowity czas ekspozycji był stały i wynosi 200 jm. Następnie otrzymane wartości dawek były sumowane, kolejno dla każdego punktu pomiarowego.WynikiNa podstawie przeprowadzonych pomiarów wyznaczono zależność czasów napromieniania od kątów filtrów klinowych. Pozwoliła ona na wyznaczenie algorytmów opisujących działanie automatycznego filtra klinowego. Poniższa tabela przedstawia procentowe czasy napromieniania polem otwartym i polem z klinem 60° dla kilku filtrów, najczęściej używanych w radioterapii.[[tgroup cols="7"]][[colspec colname="col1"/]][[colspec colname="col2"/]][[colspec colname="col3"/]][[colspec colname="col4"/]][[colspec colname="col5"/]][[colspec colname="col6"/]][[colspec colname="col7"/]][[tbody]][[row]][[entry morerows="1" rowsep="1" align="left" valign="bottom"]]KAT KLINA[[/entry]][[entry namest="col2" nameend="col3" rowsep="1" align="left"]]ENERGIA 6 MV[[/entry]][[entry namest="col4" nameend="col5" rowsep="1" align="left"]]ENERGIA 15 MV[[/entry]][[entry namest="col6" nameend="col7" rowsep="1" align="left"]]ENERGIA 25 MV[[/entry]][[/row]][[row]][[entry rowsep="1" align="left"]]T0[[/entry]][[entry rowsep="1" align="left"]]T0[[/entry]][[entry rowsep="1" align="left"]]T60[[/entry]][[entry rowsep="1" align="left"]]T0[[/entry]][[entry rowsep="1" align="left"]]T60[[/entry]][[entry rowsep="1" align="left"]]T0[[/entry]][[/row]][[row]][[entry rowsep="1" align="left"]]5[[/entry]][[entry rowsep="1" align="left"]]14%[[/entry]][[entry rowsep="1" align="left"]]86%[[/entry]][[entry rowsep="1" align="left"]]14%[[/entry]][[entry rowsep="1" align="left"]]86%[[/entry]][[entry rowsep="1" align="left"]]12%[[/entry]][[entry rowsep="1" align="left"]]88%[[/entry]][[/row]][[row]][[entry rowsep="1" align="left"]]10[[/entry]][[entry rowsep="1" align="left"]]26%[[/entry]][[entry rowsep="1" align="left"]]74%[[/entry]][[entry rowsep="1" align="left"]]26%[[/entry]][[entry rowsep="1" align="left"]]74%[[/entry]][[entry rowsep="1" align="left"]]22%[[/entry]][[entry rowsep="1" align="left"]]78%[[/entry]][[/row]][[row]][[entry rowsep="1" align="left"]]15[[/entry]][[entry rowsep="1" align="left"]]38%[[/entry]][[entry rowsep="1" align="left"]]62%[[/entry]][[entry rowsep="1" align="left"]]37%[[/entry]][[entry rowsep="1" align="left"]]63%[[/entry]][[entry rowsep="1" align="left"]]31%[[/entry]][[entry rowsep="1" align="left"]]69%[[/entry]][[/row]][[row]][[entry rowsep="1" align="left"]]20[[/entry]][[entry rowsep="1" align="left"]]49%[[/entry]][[entry rowsep="1" align="left"]]51%[[/entry]][[entry rowsep="1" align="left"]]46%[[/entry]][[entry rowsep="1" align="left"]]54%[[/entry]][[entry rowsep="1" align="left"]]39%[[/entry]][[entry rowsep="1" align="left"]]61%[[/entry]][[/row]][[row]][[entry rowsep="1" align="left"]]30[[/entry]][[entry rowsep="1" align="left"]]68%[[/entry]][[entry rowsep="1" align="left"]]32%[[/entry]][[entry rowsep="1" align="left"]]61%[[/entry]][[entry rowsep="1" align="left"]]36%[[/entry]][[entry rowsep="1" align="left"]]52%[[/entry]][[entry rowsep="1" align="left"]]48%[[/entry]][[/row]][[row]][[entry rowsep="1" align="left"]]40[[/entry]][[entry rowsep="1" align="left"]]85%[[/entry]][[entry rowsep="1" align="left"]]15%[[/entry]][[entry rowsep="1" align="left"]]74%[[/entry]][[entry rowsep="1" align="left"]]26%[[/entry]][[entry rowsep="1" align="left"]]64%[[/entry]][[entry rowsep="1" align="left"]]36%[[/entry]][[/row]][[row]][[entry align="left"]]45[[/entry]][[entry align="left"]]93%[[/entry]][[entry align="left"]]7%[[/entry]][[entry align="left"]]82%[[/entry]][[entry align="left"]]18%[[/entry]][[entry align="left"]]70%[[/entry]][[entry align="left"]]30%[[/entry]][[/row]][[/tbody]][[/tgroup]

Evaluation of the effectiveness of the use of the household appliances production line using the OEE indicator

W artykule przedstawiono wyniki w zakresie oceny efektywności wykorzystania linii produkcyjnego sprzętu AGD. Do oceny efektywności wykorzystano podstawowy miernik w koncepcji TPM - Kompleksowego Utrzymania Maszyn, tj. wskaźnik OEE. Kalkulacji wskaźnika OEE dokonano z wykorzystaniem darmowego kalkulatora do obliczeń i symulacji wskaźnika OEE firmy Neuron dostępnego na stronie internetowej: http://www.neuron.com.pl/pliki/kalkulator_oee.zip. Analizy efektywności dokonano dla 5 dni pracy badanej linii. Następnie w oparciu o uzyskane wyniki przedstawiono również średni poziom wykorzystania OEE. Analiza wykazała, że poziom efektywności pracy linii mierzony OEE zawiera się w granicach 59,97-88,39%, co należy uznać za wynik zadawalający a nawet dobry. Decydujący wpływ na obniżenie poziomu efektywności miała dostępność czasowa linii, a w szczególności awarie wyposażenia w linii. Zaproponowano działania mające na celu ograniczenie liczby awarii. Zaproponowano skorzystanie z techniki „5 x dlaczego” celem poznania, za każdym razem, przyczyny źródłowej awarii oraz zaproponowania skutecznych działań zaradczych. Należy też w pełni wykorzystywać potencjał grup roboczych złożonych z operatorów maszyn i pracowników działu utrzymania ruchu w identyfikacji przyczyn źródłowych awarii i przeciwdziałaniu ich ponownego wystąpienia.The article presents the results in the field of assessment of the effectiveness of the use of the household appliances production line. The basic measure in the concept of TPM - Total Productive Maintenance, i.e. the OEE indicator, was used for the effectiveness assessment. OEE calculation was made using a free calculator for calculations and simulations OEE, the company Neuron, available on the website: http://www.neuron.com.pl/pliki/kalkulator_oee.zip. Effectiveness analysis were performed for 5 days of operation of the tested line. The analysis showed that the level of work efficiency of the line measured with OEE is within 59.97-88.39%, which should be considered satisfactory and even good result. The time availability of the line, in particular equipment failures in the line, had a decisive impact on the reduction of the effectiveness level. Actions have been proposed to limit the number of failures. It was proposed to use the "5 x why" technique in order to learn, each time, the causes of the source failure and to propose effective remedial actions. It is also necessary to fully use the potential of working groups composed of machine operators and employees of the maintenance department in identifying the source causes of failures and preventing their recurrence

Application of a carbazole derivative as a spectroscopic fluorescent probe for real time monitoring of cationic photopolymerization

The performance of 1-(9-ethylcarbazol-3-yl)-4,4,4-trifluorobutane-1,3-dione (1) as a fluorescent probe for the monitoring of cationic photopolymerization processes by Fluorescence Probe Technique (FPT) has been evaluated in comparison with the response of 7-diethylamino-4-methylcoumarin (Coumarin 1) (2). Triethylene glycol divinyl ether and diphenyliodonium hexafluorophosphate were used as an example monomer and a cationic photoinitiator respectively. It has been found that the probe 1 withstands the cationic polymerization conditions and provides correct probe response. 1-(9-ethylcarbazol-3-yl)-4,4,4-trifluorobutane-1,3-dione shifts its fluorescence spectrum with progress of cationic photopolymerization of the monomer, which enables the monitoring of the polymerization progress using the fluorescence intensity ratio measured at two different wavelengths as the progress indicator. By comparing the behavior of 1 and 2, it has been documented that the fluorescence spectrum of probe 1 shows a spectacular hypsochromic shift (Δλ = 33 nm) upon the monomer polymerization, while the shift of 2 is three times smaller (Δλ = 11 nm). Moreover, the sensitivity of probe 1 is more than 2.5-times higher than that of any other probes suitable for monitoring cationic polymerization processes, reported previously. Therefore, application of the carbazole derivative (1) as a new probe for the monitoring of the crosslinking process of coatings cured by cationic photopolymerization has been proposed

Characterization and cloning of the human splicing factor 9G8: a novel 35 kDa factor of the serine/arginine protein family.

By adopting a monoclonal antibody approach, we have identified a novel splicing factor of 35 kDa which we have termed 9G8. The isolation and characterization of cDNA clones indicate that 9G8 is a novel member of the serine/arginine (SR) splicing factor family because it includes an N-terminal RNA binding domain (RBD) and a C-terminal SR domain. The RNA binding domain of 9G8 is highly homologous to those of the SRp20 and RBP1 factors (79-71% identity), but the homology is less pronounced in the cases of SF2/ASF and SC35/PR264 (45-37% identity). Compared with the other SR splicing factors, 9G8 presents some specific sequence features because it contains an RRSRSXSX consensus sequence repeated six times in the SR domain, and a CCHC motif in its median region, similar to the zinc knuckle found in the SLU7 splicing factor in yeast. Complete immunodepletion of 9G8 from a nuclear extract, which is accompanied by a substantial depletion of other SR factors, results in a loss of splicing activity. We show that a recombinant 9G8 protein, expressed using a baculovirus vector and excluding other SR factors, rescues the splicing activity of a 9G8-depleted nuclear extract and an S100 cytoplasmic fraction. This indicates that 9G8 plays a crucial role in splicing, similar to that of the other SR splicing factors. This similarity was confirmed by the fact that purified human SC35 also rescues the 9G8-depleted extract. The identification of the 9G8 factor enlarges the essential family of SR splicing factors, whose members have also been proposed to play key roles in alternative splicing