Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
OCCUPATIONAL STRESSORS AND RESILIENCE IN CRITICAL OCCUPATIONS: THE ROLE OF PERSONALITY

Critical occupations refer to professions in which workers perform critical duties to protect and serve the public; the nature of these jobs often exposes workers to events and conditions that critically impact their mental and physical well-being. In addition to the traumatic experiences part and parcel to the job, characteristics of these critical occupations – long work hours, nonstandard schedules, dangerous tasks, and a physically demanding work environment – contribute additional stressors. Yet, many workers in these occupations thrive despite the risks. Given the stressful conditions of critical occupations and potential for adverse individual and familial outcomes, it is important to consider why individuals would choose to work in critical occupations, why they might respond differently during stressful work-related events, and why some workers are particularly resilient. We posit that personality research offers intriguing insights into career selection, coping, and resilience for workers in critical occupations. Examining factors that reduce risk and promote resilience for these multiple-stressor occupations has the potential to inform research and policies that better meet the needs of employees and their families.
A Classification Model to Predict the Rate of Decline of Kidney Function

The African American Study of Kidney Disease and Hypertension (AASK), a randomized double-blinded treatment trial, was motivated by the high rate of hypertension-related renal disease in the African-American population and the scarcity of effective therapies. This study describes a pattern-based classification approach to predict the rate of decline of kidney function using surface-enhanced laser desorption ionization/time of flight proteomic data from rapid and slow progressors classified by rate of change in glomerular filtration rate. An accurate classification model consisting of 7 out of 5,751 serum proteomic features is constructed by applying the logical analysis of data (LAD) methodology. On cross-validation by 10-folding, the model was shown to have an accuracy of 80.6 ± 0.11%, sensitivity of 78.4 ± 0.17%, and specificity of 78.5 ± 0.16%. The LAD discriminant is used to identify the patients in different risk groups. The LAD risk scores assigned to 116 AASK patients generated a receiver operating curves curve with AUC 0.899 (CI 0.845–0.953) and outperforms the risk scores assigned by proteinuria, one of the best predictors of chronic kidney disease progression.
The relationship between bilingualism and the development of cognitive processes in problem solving

Abstract This study examined the effects of differing degrees of bilingualism on the nonverbal problemsolving abilities of children in grade 3. Three linguistic groups were compared on problem-solving tasks designed to measure control of attention or analysis of knowledge, processes previously shown to develop differently in monolingual and bilingual children solving linguistic problems (Bialystok, 1988). In this study, an English-speaking monolingual group was compared with a French–English bilingual group and a Bengali-English bilingual group. All of the children in the study were similar except for their language background. Tests of language proficiency confirmed that the French-English subjects were balanced bilinguals and that the Bengali-English subjects were partial bilinguals. The balanced French–English bilinguals showed better performance on the non-linguistic tasks requiring control of attention than both the partial bilingual group and the monolingual group. There were no differences found between the groups on the non-linguistic task requiring analysis of representational structures. These results indicate that balanced bilinguals carry over their linguistic advantage in control of attention into the non-linguistic domain.
Tumors caused by overexpression and forced activation of Stat5 in mammary epithelial cells of transgenic mice are parity‐dependent and developed in aged, postestropausal females

In transgenic mice overexpressing Stat5 or a constitutively activated Stat5 variant (STAT5ca), we show for the first time that parity is required for the development of tumors in postestropausal females. Tumors were detected in glands of multiparous transgenic female mice after latency period of 14 months, but rarely in their age‐matched virgin (AMV) counterparts. This period was not affected by distinguishable tumor pathologies and was not dependent upon transgenic Stat5 variant. To associate Stat5 deregulation, parity and the postestropausal tumor occurrence with mammary cancer formation, the activities of endogenous and transgenic Stat5 were measured in the glands of aged multiparous and AMV females. No differences in phosphorylated Stat5 (pStat5) levels were found between the 2 cohorts. However, promoter sequences comprising the Stat5 binding sites from the cyclin D1 or the bcl‐x genes associate differentially with acetylated histone H4 in aged multiparous and AMV STAT5ca transgenic females. Individual epithelial cells varied greatly with respect to the presence of nuclear pStat5. A small subset of epithelial cells, in which pStat5 and cyclin D1 were co‐expressed, was exclusively present in the multiparous glands. Changes in chromatin structure might persist past the reproductive life time of the multiparous mice and contribute to the transcription of the cyclin D1 gene by activated Stat5. This may cause the detectable expression of cyclin D1 and add to the process of tumorigenesis. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Restriction site polymorphism of the genes encoding the major 25 kDa and 36 kDa outer-membrane proteins of Brucella.

Seventy-seven Brucella reference and field strains from different geographic origins and hosts representing the six recognized species and their different biovars were analysed for diversity of their genes encoding the major 25 and 36 kDa outer-membrane proteins (OMPs) by PCR-RFLP. The 25 kDa OMP is encoded by a single gene (omp25) whereas two closely related genes (omp2a and omp2b) encode and potentially express the 36 kDa OMP. Analysis of PCR products of the omp25 gene digested with nine restriction enzymes revealed two species-specific markers, i.e. the absence of the EcoRV site in all Brucella melitensis strains and an approximately 50 bp deletion at the 3' terminal end of the gene in all Brucella ovis strains. Analysis of PCR products of the omp2a and omp2b genes digested with 13 restriction enzymes indicated a greater diversity than the omp25 gene among the six Brucella species and within the Brucella abortus, Brucella suis, B. melitensis and B. ovis species. Greater polymorphism was also detected for the omp2b than for the omp2a gene, especially in B. ovis which seemed to carry two similar (but not identical) copies of omp2a instead of one copy each of omp2a and omp2b for the other Brucella species as was previously suggested by Ficht et al. (1990; Mol Microbiol 4, 1135-1142). Results of PCR-RFLP indicated that distinction can be made between Brucellia species and some of their biovars, except between B. canis and B. suis bv. 3 and 4, on the basis of the size and diversity of their major OMP genes, and that it could be of importance for diagnostic, epidemiological and evolutionary study purposes.
Intra-Familial Clinical Heterogeneity: Absence of Genotype-Phenotype Correlation in Primary Hyperoxaluria Type 1 in Israel

Background/Aims: Primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1) is caused by the deficiency of the liver enzyme alanine:glyoxylate aminotransferase which results in increased synthesis and excretion of oxalate. The clinical manifestations of PH1 are heterogeneous with respect to the age of onset and rate of progression. The aim of this study was to investigate possible relationships between a given genotype, the biochemical profile and the clinical phenotype. Methods: We conducted a study of 56 patients from 22 families with PH1 from Israel. The clinical and biochemical data were compiled and the genotype was determined for each family. Results: The prevalent phenotype was of early onset with progression to end-stage renal disease during the first decade of life. Fifteen PH1-causing mutations were detected in 21 families: 10 were first described in this patient population. Marked intra-familial clinical heterogeneity was noted, meaning that there was no correlation between a given genotype and the phenotype. Conclusions: The clinical course of patients with PH1 is not dictated primarily by its genotype. Other genetic and/or environmental factors play a role in determining the ultimate phenotype.
Portfolios of Agricultural Market Advisory Services: How Much Diversification Is Enough?

This study analyzes the potential risk-reduction gains from naive diversification among market advisory services for corn and soybeans. The total possible decrease in risk through naive diversification is small, mainly because advisory prices are highly correlated on average. Moreover, because marginal risk-reduction benefits decrease rapidly with size and the cost of holding the portfolios increases linearly due to services' subscription fees, it is optimal to limit portfolio size to a few advisory programs. Based on certainty equivalent measures and two representative risk-aversion levels, preferred portfolio sizes are between one and three programs.
Over-Expression of p45SKP2 in Kaposi’s Sarcoma Correlates with Higher Tumor Stage and Extracutaneous Involvement but Is Not Directly Related to p27KIP1 Down-Regulation

F-Box protein p45SKP2 is the substrate-specific receptor of ubiquitin-protein ligase SCF/p45SKP2 and is involved in the degradation of p27Kip1 through the ubiquitin/proteasome pathway. In addition, p45SKP2 facilitates proteolysis of other molecules related to the cell cycle, is frequently over-expressed in transformed cells, and induces S phase in quiescent cells. The aim of this study was to determine whether p45SKP2 expression is altered in aggressive lesions of Kaposi’s sarcoma and its relation to p27KIP1down-regulation. We performed immunohistochemistry using antibodies directed to p45SKP2, p27KIP1, and Ki67 on paraffin blocks corresponding to 47 cases of Kaposi’s sarcoma (8 macules, 10 plaques, 12 tumors, and 15 extracutaneous lesions). p45SKP2 nuclear over-expression was present in all Kaposi’s sarcoma stages, being significantly increased in skin tumors (mean ± 95% confidence interval: 39.2 ± 18.8) and extracutaneous lesions (25.8 ± 17.3) as compared with macules (18.9 ± 8.2) and plaques (29.2 ± 12.0; P = .0199). On the other hand, Kaposi’s sarcoma progression was associated with a decrease in p27KIP1 expression and Ki67 immunoreactivity was independent of disease stage. No statistically significant differences were found in regard to patients’ sex and human immunodeficiency virus status and regression analysis failed to show a correlation among p45SKP2, p27KIP1 and Ki67 immunostaining scores. These findings suggest that p45SKP2 is involved in Kaposi’s sarcoma progression, not only by promoting the degradation of p27KIP1 but also through other mechanisms still unknown.
Inhibition of choline uptake by N-cyclohexylcholine, a high affinity ligand for the choline transporter at the blood–brain barrier

The blood–brain barrier (BBB) choline transporter (CHT) may have utility as a drug delivery vector for drugs that act in the central nervous system. Previous studies suggested the importance of hydrophobic moieties on the cationic nitrogen of choline for improved affinity for this transporter. In a pilot study, we therefore designed five novel N-cycloalkyl derivatives of choline, one of which showed promising inhibition properties. This choline analogue had a cyclohexyl (UMBB-5) moiety substituting one of the methyl groups attached to the cationic nitrogen in choline. In situ experimental data were obtained from in situ rat brain perfusion studies. The binding affinity for the BBB-choline transporter found for UMBB-5 was Ki = 1.9 µM. Comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) suggested that the cyclohexyl moiety orientates towards a steric favourable area. Taken together, the results of these in situ and in silico studies provide further evidence or restrictions that occur with binding to this brain drug delivery vector.
‘Two hundred ninety‐four’: Remediation and multimodal performance in tourist placemaking

We offer here a multimodal discourse analysis of a range of verbal (writing and speech), nonverbal (movement and gesture) and technological (photography and video) resources used by tourists at the Leaning Tower of Pisa. In doing so, we pin-point the recycling and layering of mediatized representations (e.g. guidebooks and official brochures), mediated actions (e.g. climbing the Tower or posing in front of it), and remediated practices (e.g. posting a YouTube video of oneself climbing the 294 steps to the top of the Tower). Through this kind of empirically-based examination of tourists’ discursive and embodied performances – their ways of talking about and behaving in spaces – we witness how people never simply visit places but are always actively shaping and making these places. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is, therefore, as much an emergent production of the tourist imagination as it is a pre-existing, lop-sided construction of stone.
Physiology of the Aging Vasculature Habitual exercise and arterial aging

Seals DR, DeSouza CA, Donato AJ, Tanaka H. Habitual exercise and arterial aging. J Appl Physiol 105: 1323–1332, 2008. First published July 31, 2008; doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.90553. 2008. —Aging affects the function and structure of arteries and increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). In healthy sedentary adults, aging is associated with increased stiffness (reduced compliance) of large elastic arteries; impaired vascular endothelial function, including reductions in endothelium-dependent dilation (EDD), release of tissue-type plasminogen activator (fibrinolytic capacity) and endothelial progenitor cell number and function; increased intima-media wall thickness (IMT); and peripheral vasoconstriction (decreased basal leg blood flow). Habitual physical activity/increased aerobic exercise capacity is associated with reduced risk of CVD. Compared with their sedentary peers, adults who regularly perform aerobic exercise demonstrate smaller or no age-associated increases in large elastic artery stiffness, reductions in vascular endothelial function, and increases in femoral artery IMT. A short-term, moderateintensity aerobic exercise intervention (brisk daily walking for 12 wk) improves carotid artery compliance and can restore vascular endothelial function in previously sedentary middle-aged and older adults. Reduced oxidative stress may be an important mechanism contributing to these effects. Habitual resistance exercise increases (high-intensity) or does not affect (moderate-intensity) large elastic artery stiffness, and prevents/restores the age-associated reduction in basal leg blood flow independent of changes in leg fat-free mass. Habitual exercise favorably modulates several expressions of arterial aging, thus preserving vascular function and possibly reducing the risk of CVD.
Exploiting the reconfigurability of the PAnDA architecture to overcome physical substrate variations

Field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) are widely used in applications where on-line reconfigurable signal processing is required. Speed and function density of FPGAs are increasing as transistor sizes shrink to the nano-scale. As these transistors reduce in size, intrinsic variability becomes more of a problem, as every physical instance of a design behaves differently, resulting in a decrease in fabrication yield. This paper describes an adaptive, evolvable architecture that allows for correction and optimisation of circuits directly in hardware using bio-inspired techniques. Similar to FPGAs, the programmable analogue and digital array (PAnDA) architecture introduced here can be reconfigured on a digital level for circuit design. Accessing additional configuration options of the underlying analogue level enables continuous adjustment of circuit characteristics at run-time, which enables dynamic optimisation of the mapped design's performance. Moreover, the yield of devices can be improved post-fabrication via reconfiguration at the analogue level, which can overcome faults caused by variability and process defects.
PREDICTING MARITAL SATISFACTION ON THE BASIS OF ATTACHMENT STYLES AND DIFFERENTIATION OF SELF

The purpose of this research was to study the association between adult attachment styles and self differentiation with marital satisfaction. Using cluster sampling, 209 married students (110 male & 99 female) of Tehran Un-iversity were randomly selected. The data were collected using three Que-stionnaires: The adult attachment style scale (Colins & Read 1990), differe-ntiation of self inventory (Skowron & Smith, 2003), and Enrich marital satis-faction scale.
The effects of laser irradiation of cartilage on chondrocyte gene expression and the collagen matrix

Laser reshaping of cartilage is an emerging technology aimed at replacing conventional techniques for aesthetic and reconstructive surgery. Little is known about the mechanisms of wound healing following the photothermal heating during laser reshaping and, ultimately, how collagen remodels in the irradiated tissue. Healthy hyaline and elastic cartilage as found in the ear, nose, larynx, and trachea does not express collagen type I which is characteristic of fibro‐cartilage and scar tissue. The aim of the study was to determine if collagen I and II gene expression occurs within laser irradiated rabbit septal cartilage.
Becoming voluntarily childless: an exploratory study in a Scottish city.

Life history data were collected from 78 individuals who were partners in voluntarily childless marriages in order to identify some of the situations and motives informing the decision to remain childless. The respondents, who were volunteers contacted at family planning clinics in Scotland, were clustered in professional, intermediate, and skilled occupational groups and had been married for an average of 5 years. Avoidanceof the penalties of parenthood constituted the basis of motivation to remain childless for 39% of the women and 38% of the men in the sample, whereas protection of the rewards of childlessness was the primary motivating factor for 61% of women and 62% of male respondents. 27 of the 30 avoiders (90%) had never expected to become parents. Their wish to avoid parenthood was based on a dislike for children (6 respondents) or a view of parenthood as an unrewarding prospect (2 respondents), a loss of control over self and future (15) respondents), financial deprivation (2 respondents), or too heavy a responsibility (5 respondents). The 48 men and women who chose to protect the rewards of childlessness view childlessness as facilitating marital harmony (11 respondents), a condition for marriage (3 respondents), more fulfilling (14 respondents), a way of defending life-style routines (18 respondents), or a social and moral responsibility (2 respondents). The woman's career, an adequate standard of living, and spontaneous acton were the goals most often cited by study participants as having been made more accessible by childlessness. The findings of this study suggest that voluntary childlessness is not an expression of neurosis or immaturity; rather, it is a complex decision of which the benefits are considered to outweigh the costs of social nonconformity. It is tentatively concluded that the proportion of childless couples is likely to increase.
Two Stage Decontamination of Agricultural Equipment Using Power Washing Followed by Disinfectant Treatments

Foreign agricultural pests can become problematic to the environment, economy, animal, plant, and human health if widely transported on contaminated equipment or vehicles. Two equipment decontamination studies were conducted using a mobile power washer and disinfectant treatments. The first study factors were: steel and fabric surfaces, power washing conditions, disinfectants, and disinfectant adjuvants. The second study factors were: relative humidity conditions, disinfectant type, disinfectant additive, and number of repeat disinfectant applications. Efficacy for the power washing and disinfectant treatments was based on log10 reduction of Bacillus subtilis spores attached to the two surface types. Power washing increased log10 reduction of spores by 3 to 4 log, when washing was followed by disinfectant treatments. The optimal decontamination treatment in the first study was power washing for 30 seconds at a distance of 10 cm, using a commercial chlorine dioxide formulation (Electro-Biocide) with Reign (1%) that resulted in a 4.7 log10 reduction of B. subtilis spores on steel washers. In the second study the optimal treatment was power washing for 10 seconds at a nozzle distance of 20 cm with a commercial disinfectant (Easy Decon DF-200) mixed with 20% glycerol resulting in a 5.1 log10 reduction of B. subtilis spores on wool fabric samples.
Risk-based Selective Referral for Cancer Surgery: A Potential Strategy to Improve Perioperative Outcomes

Background:Studies have demonstrated volume-outcome relationships for numerous operations, providing an impetus for regionalization; however, volume-based regionalization may not be feasible or necessary. Our objective was to determine if low-risk patients undergoing surgery at Community Hospitals have perioperative mortality rates comparable with Specialized Centers. Methods:From the National Cancer Data Base, 940,718 patients from ∼1430 hospitals were identified who underwent resection for 1 of 15 cancers (2003–2005). Patients were stratified by preoperative risk according to age and comorbidities. Separately for each cancer, regression modeling stratified by high- and low-risk groups was used to compare 60-day mortality at Specialized Centers (National Cancer Institute-designated and/or highest-volume quintile institutions), Other Academic Institutions (lower-volume, non-National Cancer Institute), and Community Hospitals. Results:Low-risk patients had statistically similar perioperative mortality rates at Specialized Centers and Community Hospitals for 13 of 15 operations. High-risk patients had significantly lower perioperative mortality rates at Specialized Centers compared with Community Hospitals for 9 of 15 cancers. Regardless of risk group, perioperative mortality rates were significantly lower for pancreatectomy and esophagectomy at Specialized Centers. Risk-based referral compared with volume-based regionalization of most patients would require fewer patients to change to Specialized Centers. Conclusions:Perioperative mortality for low-risk patients was comparable at Specialized Centers and Community Hospitals for all cancers except esophageal and pancreatic, thus questioning volume-based regionalization of all patients. Rather, only high-risk patients may need to change hospitals. Mortality rates could be reduced if factors at Specialized Centers resulting in better outcomes for high-risk patients can be identified and transferred to other hospitals.