Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The AtVAM3 Encodes a Syntaxin-related Molecule Implicated in the Vacuolar Assembly in Arabidopsis thaliana *

The vacuole constitutes a large compartment in plant and fungal cells. The VAM3 gene ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae encodes a syntaxin-related protein required for vacuolar assembly. An Arabidopsis thalianacDNA library, designed for expression in S. cerevisiae,was screened for cDNAs able to complement defective vacuolar assembly of the Δvam3 mutation. One cDNA, encoding a 33-kDa protein with structural similarities to the other syntaxins, was identified. The product of AtVAM3 (AtVam3p) was expressed in various tissues including roots, leaves, inflorescence stems, flower buds, and young siliques. The AtVAM3 transcripts were abundant in undifferentiated cells in the meristematic region. AtVam3p fractionated predominantly to an 8,000 × g pellet fraction where a vacuolar membrane protein H+-translocating inorganic pyrophosphatase (H+-PPase) also fractionated. Immunoelectron microscopy showed that AtVam3p was localized to restricted regions on the vacuolar membranes. We propose that AtVam3p provides the t-SNARE function in the vacuolar assembly in A. thaliana.
Coyote use in an era of heightened border enforcement: New evidence from the Arizona-Sonora border

ABSTRACT This article utilises unique survey data from wave I of the Migrant Border Crossing Study (n = 415) to examine how people facilitate unauthorised crossing attempts through southern Arizona. The analysis expands on previous studies in two important ways: first, it focuses exclusively on one of the busiest regions of the US–Mexico border for unauthorised migration in an era of heightened border enforcement, and second, it distinguishes between two main coyote types: ‘border business' and ‘interior’. Findings suggest migrants with more crossing experience and those who crossed during peak migration months have lower odds of travelling with ‘interior' coyotes, while with opposite is true for people with weak ties in their desired US destination. Results also indicate that women are more likely than men to travel with both coyote types. Conversely, more experienced migrants have higher odds of crossing with family/friends than either coyote type. First-time crossers also have greater odds of travelling with family/friends than ‘interior' coyotes, but not ‘border business' coyotes. Overall, results highlight important differences between coyote types and point to the continued importance of social network ties, first-hand migration experience, and gender in the social process of migration. Implications for future research are also discussed.
Effects of Diet and Genetics on Growth Performance of Pigs in Response to Repeated Exposure to Heat Stress

Heat stress (HS) is one of the costliest issues in the U.S. pork industry. Aims of the present study were to determine the consequences of repeated exposure to HS on growth performance, and the effects of a high fiber diet, the genetic potential for high lean tissue accretion, and the genetic potential for residual feed intake (RFI) on resilience to HS. Barrows (n = 97) from three genetic lines (commercial, high RFI, low RFI) where subjected three times to a 4-day HS treatment (HS1, HS2, and HS3) which was preceded by a 9-day neutral (TN) adaptation period (TN1) and alternated by 7-day periods of neutral temperatures (TN2, TN3, and TN4). Body weight gain (BWG), feed intake (FI), feed conversion efficiency (FCE), RFI, and the drop in BWG and FI between TN and HS were estimated for each period, and slaughter traits were measured at the end of TN4. Commercial pigs had lower FI when fed a high fiber diet compared to a regular diet (2.70 ± 0.08 vs. 2.96 ± 0.08 kg/d; P < 0.05), while no differences were found for BWG, RFI or FCE. HS reduced FI, BWG, and FCE, increased RFI, and resulted in leaner pigs that generate smaller carcasses at slaughter. In TN, commercial pigs grew faster than the low and high RFI pigs (1.22 ± 0.06 vs. 0.720 ± 0.05 and 0.657 ± 0.07; P < 0.001) but growth rates were not significantly different between the lines during HS. Growth rates for the low RFI and high RFI pigs were similar both during TN and during HS. Pigs of interest for genetic improvement are those that are able to maintain growth rates during HS. Our results show that response in growth to HS was repeatable over subsequent 4-d HS cycles, which suggests the potential for including this response in the breeding index. The best performing animals during HS are likely those that are not highly superior for growth in TN.
The Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS): A comparison of forms A and B and proposals for a new subscaled version

Abstract In the first study, a combined sample of mature students, depressed and formerly depressed patients, and the patients first degree relatives completed either Form A or Form B of the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS). Factor analysis of the two sets of data suggest that, contrary to the original proposals, the two versions of the DAS are not equivalent when a wide range of respondents are sampled. A second study presents preliminary information about a 24-item DAS which can be used to derive three subscale ratings related to Achievement, Dependency, and Self-Control. It is proposed that such subscales may be the preferred way of pursuing possible vulnerability factors rather than seeking more global effects.
Governing Catholic schools: an English case study

Abstract This paper argues that recent legislation in England has created a culture in schools that is at odds with that required by the Catholic Church. It reports the results of a 2004 survey of almost 100 governors and six diocesan directors of education which examined the extent to which school governors were aware of consequential tensions and, if so, how they were seeking to resolve them. The survey confirmed the findings of Grace that the ‘spiritual capital’ that had defined the ethos of Catholic schools in the past was weakening and not being renewed. The schools were therefore beginning to lose their distinctive character.
In vivo screening of modified siRNAs for non-specific antiviral effect in a small fish model: number and localization in the strands are important

Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are promising new active compounds in gene medicine but the induction of non-specific immune responses following their delivery continues to be a serious problem. With the purpose of avoiding such effects chemically modified siRNAs are tested in screening assay but often only examining the expression of specific immunologically relevant genes in selected cell populations typically blood cells from treated animals or humans. Assays using a relevant physiological state in biological models as read-out are not common. Here we use a fish model where the innate antiviral effect of siRNAs is functionally monitored as reduced mortality in challenge studies involving an interferon sensitive virus. Modifications with locked nucleic acid (LNA), altritol nucleic acid (ANA) and hexitol nucleic acid (HNA) reduced the antiviral protection in this model indicative of altered immunogenicity. For LNA modified siRNAs, the number and localization of modifications in the single strands was found to be important and a correlation between antiviral protection and the thermal stability of siRNAs was found. The previously published sisiRNA will in some sequences, but not all, increase the antiviral effect of siRNAs. The applied fish model represents a potent tool for conducting fast but statistically and scientifically relevant evaluations of chemically optimized siRNAs with respect to non-specific antiviral effects in vivo.
Topic Detection and Tracking Pilot Study Final Report

Topic Detection and Tracking (TDT) is a DARPA-sponsored initiative to investigate the state of the art in finding and following new events in a stream of broadcast news stories. The TDT problem consists of three major tasks: (1) segmenting a stream of data, especially recognized speech, into distinct stories; (2) identifying those news stories that are the first to discuss a new event occurring in the news; and (3) given a small number of sample news stories about an event, finding all following stories in the stream.
Correlates of the Academic Achievement of Adolescents with Behavioral Disorders

The purpose of this study was to identify the correlates and predictors of the academic achievement of adolescents with behavioral disorders. A series of standardized assessment instruments designed to measure locus of control, study skills, and academic achievement were individually administered to 86 11- to 15-year-old behaviorally disordered students. Special education teachers completed a rating scale assessing each student's academic school survival skills. Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients were calculated between measures of survival skills, locus of control, and study skills and students’ achievement test scores and academic grade point average. Overall, student achievement test performance was significantly correlated with organizational skills and an internal locus of control orientation. IQ and organizational skills were identified as significant predictors of writing, arithmetic, reading, general facts, and overall academic achievement. Organizational skills was the only significant predictor of students’ special education grade point average. Two variables, organizational skills and age, were significant predictors of overall grade point average. No predictors were identified for mainstream grade point average.
Truancy and Pupil Performance.

This paper uses the matched sample from sweeps 1–3 the Youth Cohort Study (YCS) III to explore the influences on young people's attitudes towards school, their truancy behaviour and their examination performance at age 16. A review of the literature suggests a range of possible variables, many of which are available from the YCS. The results demonstrate a clear role for many socio-economic and local area characteristics. It is shown that adverse attitudes are closely linked to absenteeism from school. In addition, unfavourable attitudes and truancy both adversely affect the examination performance of young people. Two aspects of self-selection were investigated which revealed that: first, young people who take the examinations have unobserved characteristics which lead to higher scores; second, the group selected into TVEI were those likely to perform less well, but that the scheme had a significant positive effect on their scores.
Super low noise InGaP gated PHEMT

Very high performance InGaP/InGaAs/GaAs PHEMTs will be demonstrated. The fabricated InGaP gated PHEMTs devices with 0.25 /spl times/ 160/cm/sup 2/ and 0.25 /spl times/ 300 /spl mu/m/sup 2/ of gate dimensions show 304 mA/mm and 330 mA/mm of saturation drain current at V/sub GS/ = 0 V, V/sub DS/ = 2 V, and 320 mS/mm and 302 mS/mm of extrinsic transconductances, respectively. Noise figures for 160 /spl mu/m and 300 /spl mu/m gate-width devices at 12 GHz are measured to be 0.46 dB with a 13 dB associated gain and 0.49 dB with a 12.85 dB associated gain, respectively. With such a high gain and low noise, the drain-to-gate breakdown voltage can be larger than 11 V. Standard deviation in the threshold voltage of 22 mV for 160 /spl mu/m gate-width devices across a 4-in wafer can be achieved using a highly selective wet recess etching process. Good thermal stability of these InGaP gated PHEMTs is also presented.
Simulation-Based Performance Comparisons of Routing Protocols for Mobile Ad Hoc Networks

An ad hoc network is a collection of wireless mobile hosts forming a temporary network without the aid of any established infrastructure or centralized administration. Because of the limited range of each host’s wireless transmission, to communicate with hosts outside its transmission range, a host needs to enlist the aid of its nearby hosts in forwarding packets to the destination. A routing protocol for ad hoc networks is executed on every host and is therefore subject to the limit of the resources at each mobile host. In this paper, the authors focus on on-demand schemes, studying and comparing the performance of three routing protocols: AODV, CBRP, and DSR. Results indicate that despite its improvement in reducing route request packets, CBRP has a higher overhead than DSR because of its periodic hello messages, while AODV’s end-to-end packet delay is the shortest when compared to DSR and CBRP.
What Your Face Vlogs About: Expressions of Emotion and Big-Five Traits Impressions in YouTube

Social video sites where people share their opinions and feelings are increasing in popularity. The face is known to reveal important aspects of human psychological traits, so the understanding of how facial expressions relate to personal constructs is a relevant problem in social media. We present a study of the connections between automatically extracted facial expressions of emotion and impressions of Big-Five personality traits in YouTube vlogs (i.e., video blogs). We use the Computer Expression Recognition Toolbox (CERT) system to characterize users of conversational vlogs. From CERT temporal signals corresponding to instantaneously recognized facial expression categories, we propose and derive four sets of behavioral cues that characterize face statistics and dynamics in a compact way. The cue sets are first used in a correlation analysis to assess the relevance of each facial expression of emotion with respect to Big-Five impressions obtained from crowd-observers watching vlogs, and also as features for automatic personality impression prediction. Using a dataset of 281 vloggers, the study shows that while multiple facial expression cues have significant correlation with several of the Big-Five traits, they are only able to significantly predict Extraversion impressions with moderate values of R2.
The SDSS DR6 luminosity functions of galaxies

We present number counts, luminosity functions (LFs) and luminosity densities of galaxies obtained using the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Sixth Data Release in all SDSS photometric bands. Thanks to the SDSS DR6, galaxy statistics have increased by a factor of ∼ 9 in the u-band and by a factor of ∼ 4 − 5 in the rest of the SDSS bands with respect to the previous work of Blanton et al. (2003b). In addition, we have achieved a high redshift completeness in our galaxy samples. Firstly, by making use of the survey masks, provided by the NYU-VAGC DR6, we have been able to define an area on the sky of high angular redshift completeness. Secondly, we guarantee that brightness-dependent redshift incompleteness is small within the magnitude ranges that define our galaxy samples. With these advances, we have estimated very accurate SDSS DR6 LFs in both the bright and the faint end. In the 0.1 r-band, our SDSS DR6 luminosity function is well fitted by a Schechter LF with parameters �� = 0.90 ±0.07, M�−5log10h = −20.73±0.04and � = −1.23±0.02. As compared with previous results, we find some notable differences. In the bright end of the 0.1 u-band luminosity function we find a remarkable excess, of ∼ 1.7 dex at M0.1u ≃ −20.5, with respect to the bestfit Schechter LF. This excess weakens in the 0.1 g-band, fading away towards the very red 0.1 z-band. A preliminary analysis on the nature of this bright-end bump reveals that it is mostly comprised of active galaxies and QSOs. It seems, therefore, that an important fraction of this exceeding luminosity may come from nuclear activity. In the faint end of the SDSS DR6 luminosity functions, where we can reach 1 − 1.5 magnitudes deeper than the previous SDSS LF estimation, we obtain a steeper slope, that increases from the 0.1 u-band, with � = −1.01 ± 0.03, to the very red 0.1 z-band, with � = −1.26±0.03. These state-of-the-art results may be used to constrain a variety of aspects of star formation histories and/or feed-back processes in galaxy formation models.
Pyrethroids in Southern California coastal sediments

Little is known about pyrethroid fate and effects in estuarine and marine environments. In the present study, the extent and magnitude of pyrethroids in coastal embayments of the Southern California Bight (SCB), USA, were assessed. Using a stratified probabilistic design, 155 sediment samples were collected from four embayment habitats (estuaries, marinas, open bays, and ports) and analyzed for eight common‐use pyrethroids. Total pyrethroid concentrations ranged from less than 0.5 to 230 µg/kg dry weight (area‐weighted mean concentration = 5.1 ± 3.1 µg/kg) and were detected in 35% of the total SCB embayment area. Estuaries and marinas had the greatest areal extent of detectable concentrations (up to 65%) and the greatest area‐weighted mean concentrations (22.1 ± 26.5 µg/kg). Sites with the greatest pyrethroid concentrations were located near sources of runoff from urban watersheds. Bifenthrin and cyfluthrin were detected in 32 and 15% of all samples, respectively, whereas the other six pyrethroids were detected in ≤5% of samples. Permethrin and bifenthrin had the highest concentrations at 132 and 65 µg/kg. Toxic units estimated for the marine amphipod Eohaustorius estuarius ranged from 0 to 5.8, exceeding unity in 9 and 32% of the total and estuary habitat areas, respectively, and were not correlated with mortality, suggesting that other factors (e.g., co‐occurring contaminants, reduced bioavailability) may affect the predictive capability using a single test species. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2012; 31: 1649–1656. © 2012 SETAC
Greece SOUND GENERATION AND CONTROL OF THERMOACOUSTIC INSTABILITIES BY NANOSECOND PLASMA DISCHARGES

Sound generation by nanosecond repetitively pulsed plasma discharges is investigated experimentally. High voltage pulses of 10 nanosecond duration pro vide rapid heating of the air. A high-frequency pulse train between 20 and 30 kHz is burst mod ulated to generate low-frequency components. The generation of pressure waves from the modul ate discharge pulse train is characterized based on acoustic measurements in an impedance tu be. Different combinations of modulation frequency, electrode gap distance, modulation dut y cycle and pulse repetition frequency are studied in terms of electric energy and acoustic source a mplitude. The measurement results suggest that overall, the amplitude of the pressure wave com ponents at the modulation frequency can be well estimated based on the electrical power using an a nalytical expression for acoustically compact unsteady heating. As an application of sound genera tion by low-frequency modulated NRP discharges, feedback control is applied to suppress the rmoacoustic instabilities in a Rijke tube. The pressure oscillation amplitude is reduced by more than two orders of magnitude when the plasma discharges are suitably synchronized with the se lfxcited fluctuations.
Identity of Hemolysins Produced by Vibrio cholerae NonO 1 and V . cholerae 01 , Biotype

Hemolysins purified from non-O1 Vibrio cholerae (non-O1 hemolysin) and a Vibrio chokrae 01, biotype El Tor (El Tor hemolysin) were investigated for their homology. The hemolysins were isolated from the culture supernatant fluids by ammonium sulfate precipitation and gel filtration on Sephadex G-100 columns. The purified hemolysins gave single bands with an identical mobility on conventional polyacrylamide gel disc electrophoresis. The molecular weights of the non-O1 and El Tor hemolysins were estimated to be about 60,000 by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and the amino acid compositions of the hemolysins were very similar. The specific activities of the hemolysins were identical, and both hemolysins were neutralized to the same extent with antisera against the homologous and heterologous hemolysins. Ouchterlony double immunodiffusion tests with both hemolysins and antihemolysin serum gave a common (fused) precipitin line. These data indicate that the non-O1 hemolysin is biologically, physicochemically, and immunologically indistinguishable from the El Tor hemolysin.
Relationship Functioning & Immune Health in HIV+ Latinas

Despite the fact that HIV infection has soared amongst heterosexual women of color, Latinas are consistently underrepresented in HIV research (Carmona, Romero & Loeb, 1999). Latinas are at increased risk for HIV due cultural inhibitions of condom use, idealized gender roles, and idealization of romantic relationships. Yet these relationships, when chronically stressful, can exacerbate mental health problems such as depression (Hammen, 2005), and long-term effects of poor immune response. This study aims to investigate the links between relationship functioning and immune functioning, as measured by CD4 cell count and prevalence of gynecological problems, over time and how depression may mediate these links, in both HIV+ and HIV- heterosexual Latinas. Its results will thus be useful in understanding and creating new public health prevention and intervention methods aimed at ethnic minority women. I am using a sample of HIV-positive (N=97) and HIV-negative Latinas (N=52) from the University of California-Los Angeles Charles Drew Medical Center Women and Family Project, a longitudinal study examining the impact of HIV on women’s lives (Wyatt & Chin, 1992). The data has been collected and I will analyze data across two years, using hierarchical linear modeling and focusing on measures of relationship quality, depression, CD4 t-cell levels, and gynecological problems. In accordance with the stress/social support hypothesis (Burman & Margolin, 1992), I predict that poor relationship functioning over time will be associated with decreased CD4 levels and a higher prevalence of gynecological problems, and that depression will mediate these associations.
Concerning Increase in Antimicrobial Resistance in Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli Isolated from Young Animals during 1980–2016

This study was conducted in order to assess the antimicrobial resistance patterns of E. coli isolated from young animals affected between 1980 and 2016. The selected isolates for this study (n=175) carried stx1/stx2 genes and the most prevalent type of pathogenic E. coli found belonged to serogroup O101, antigen (K99)–F41 positive. All STEC-positive isolates were tested for susceptibility to 11 antimicrobials. Multidrug resistance (MDR) increased from 11% during the 1980s to 40% between 2000 and 2016. Resistance to tetracycline and streptomycin was the most frequent co-resistance phenotype (37%). Co-resistance to tetracycline and sulfonamide was found in 21% of E. coli isolates, while the MDR pattern to tetracycline, sulfonamide, and streptomycin was observed in 12% of the strains tested. Only 8% of isolates were co-resistant to tetracycline, ampicillin, streptomycin, and sulfonamide. The most common resistance genes found were those encoding for tetracycline, sulphonamides, and streptomycin, with 54% (n=95) of the tested isolates containing at least one of the genes encoding tetracycline resistance. A total of 87% of E. coli that tested positive for tetracycline (tetA, tetB, and tetC) and sulphonamide (sul1) resistance genes were isolated between 2000 and 2016. A large number of isolates (n=21) carried int1 and a nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that all class 1 integron gene cassettes carried sul1, tet, and dfrA1 resistance genes. An increase was observed in the level of resistance to antimicrobials in Romania, highlighting the urgent need for a surveillance and prevention system for antimicrobial resistance in livestock in Eastern Europe.