Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Regulation of protein A synthesis by the sar and agr loci of Staphylococcus aureus

The synthesis of protein A in Staphylococcus aureus is regulated by global regulatory loci such as sar and agr. Phenotypic data indicate that both sar and agr suppress protein A synthesis; like agr, sar also regulates protein A production at the transcriptional level. To determine the genetic requirement of sar in protein A suppression, we transformed shuttle plasmids containing various sar fragments into a sar mutant. Our results indicated that the 560-bp sarA transcript, or, more probably, the SarA protein (13.5 kDa), is sufficient for suppressing protein A gene transcription when introduced on a multicopy plasmid or as a single copy in the chromosome. Immunoblot analysis with a chicken anti-protein A antibody also confirmed the reduction in protein A expression in these sar mutant clones. Complementation studies revealed that the transcription of the protein A gene can be suppressed in a sar mutant background by a plasmid containing RNAIII. Surprisingly, in agr deletion mutant clones and in clones derived from the agr-sar double mutant, protein A gene transcription can also be suppressed by plasmids containing the sarA transcript plus additional upstream sequence but not the sarA transcript alone. These data suggest that the sar locus can down-modulate protein A gene transcription via both RNAIII-dependent and RNAIII-independent pathways. Consistent with the hypothesis of an RNAIII-independent pathway is an additional genetic requirement for protein A suppression in the agr deletion mutant RN6911 as well as the isogenic double sar-agr mutant, whereas in the sar mutant background, the sarA transcript encoding the SarA protein alone is sufficient. These data suggested that both sar and agr are coregulators of protein A synthesis in S. aureus.
Women's Motivation Related to Mastery, Career Salience, and Career Aspiration: A Multivariate Model Focusing on the Effects of Sex Role Socialization

This model focuses on three motivation dimensions, career salience, career aspiration, and mastery, in an effort to understand better why women contribute less to the arts, sciences, and humanities. The model, conceived in the 1970s and extended in the 1980s, is grounded in social learning theory and emphasizes how sex role socialization affects women's career motivation. This model guided the design of a longitudinal study, first funded in 1978, for which data was collected in 1980, 1990, and 1991 to 1993. Participants in 1980 were 9th and 12th grade students in six high schools in the Midwest: two rural, two suburban, and two inner city. Measures included to test the model are briefly presented, as are summary findings.
In vivo chemotherapeutic insight of a novel isocoumarin (3-hexyl-5,7-dimethoxy-isochromen-1-one): Genotoxicity, cell death induction, leukometry and phagocytic evaluation

Abstract Chemotherapy is one of the major approaches for the treatment of cancer. Therefore, the development of new chemotherapy drugs is an important aspect of medicinal chemistry. Chemotherapeutic agents include isocoumarins, which are privileged structures with potential antitumoral activity. Herein, a new 3-substituted isocoumarin was synthesized from 2-iodo-3,5-dimethoxy-benzoic acid and oct-1-yne in a cross-coupling Sonogashira reaction followed by a copper iodide-catalyzed intramolecular cyclization as key step using MeOH/Et3N as the solvent system. The present study also evaluated the leukometry, phagocytic activity, genotoxic potential and cell death induction of three different doses (5 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg) of this newly synthesized isocoumarin, alone and in combination with the commercial chemotherapeutic agents cyclophosphamide (100 mg/kg) and cisplatin (6 mg/kg) in male Swiss mice. The results suggest that the isocoumarin has genotoxicity and causes cell death. Noteworthy, this new compound can increase splenic phagocytosis and lymphocyte frequency, which are related to immunomodulatory activity. When combined with either cyclophosphamide or cisplatin, chemopreventive activity led to a reduction in the effects of both chemotherapeutic drugs. Thus, the new isocoumarin is not a candidate for chemotherapeutic adjuvant in treatments using cyclophosphamide or cisplatin. Nevertheless, the compound itself is an important prototype for the development of new antitumor drugs.
Approaching the Skyline in Z Order

Given a set of multidimensional data points, skyline query retrieves a set of data points that are not dominated by any other points. This query is useful for multi-preference analysis and decision making. By analyzing the skyline query, we observe a close connection between Z-order curve and skyline processing strategies and propose to use a new index structure called ZBtree, to index and store data points based on Z-order curve. We develop a suite of novel and efficient skyline algorithms, which scale very well to data dimensionality and cardinality, including (1) ZSearch, which processes skyline queries and supports progressive result delivery; (2) ZUpdate, which facilitates incremental skyline result maintenance; and (3) k-ZSearch, which answers k-dominant skyline query (a skyline variant that retrieves a representative subset of skyline results). Extensive experiments have been conducted to evaluate our proposed algorithms and compare them against the best available algorithms designed for skyline search, skyline result update, and k-dominant skyline search, respectively. The result shows that our algorithms, developed coherently based on the same ideas and concepts, soundly outperforms the state-of-the-art skyline algorithms in their specialized domains.
Do East Asians Respond More/Less Strongly to Organizational Justice than North Americans? A Meta-Analysis

The present study reported a meta-analysis of the relationship between justice perceptions and affective organizational commitment, job satisfaction, turnover intentions, and trust in East Asia. Based on the tripartite model of self concept, we argued that the relationship between justice perceptions and outcome variables may be influenced by the salience of the personal versus relational/collective dimensions of self concept. Specifically, we argued that the salience of the personal self concept may lead to larger effect sizes in North America. While we also argued that the salience of the relational/collective self concept may increase the effect of justice perceptions in East Asia, these effects may be potentially eclipsed by the concerns for social harmony in this region. Results of our study suggest that in general, the effects of justice on outcome variables tend to be greater in North America than in East Asia.
Polymorphic CA repeat in IGF-I gene: lack of association with schizophrenia.

Center of Behavioraland Neurodegenerative Disorders, Brescia University and EULO, Brescia, ItalyCorrespondence to Massimo Gennarelli, PhD, Genetic Unit, IRCCS SanGiovanni di Dio, Fatebenefratelli, Via Pilastroni 4, Brescia 25125, ItalyTel: +39 030 350 1453; fax: +39 030 353 3513;e-mail: gennarelli@fatebenefratelli.itReceived 26 June 2009 Revised 10 July 2009Accepted 19 July 2009
The impact of gender and rank on job satisfaction among rehabilitation counselor educators

DEBORA S. OLIVEIRA ! EDUCATION ! Ph.D. Rehabilitation Counseling, The Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL December, 2011 ! Dissertation: The impact of gender and rank on job satisfaction among rehabilitation counselor educators ! Ed.S. Specialist in Education in Rehabilitation Counseling, The Florida State University December, 2008 ! M.S. Healthcare Services Administration, NovaSoutheastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, FL June, 1992 ! B.S. Occupational Therapy, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI June, 1977 ! Graduate Certificate in Aging Studies, The Florida State University Pepper Institute on Aging and Public Policy June, 2009 ! EXPERIENCE ! August 1, 2008-Present Interim Director, Division of Occupational Therapy, School of Allied Health Sciences, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee. FL. Responsible for administration functions of the division, faculty and staff supervision, curriculum development, and related duties concerning student and division matters. Instructor for master’s level courses.
Are Equally Likely Outcomes Perceived as Equally Likely?

Subjective probability weighting is well known as an important factor in decision making. The case of equally likely outcomes is of special importance for two reasons. First, it is encountered in practice often, when expectations are typically based on a given set of historical observations that are each observed once. Second, many researchers believe that in this case probabilities are not subjectively weighted. If this hypothesis is correct, the case of equally likely outcomes can be employed to make clear inferences about the utility/value function, with a neutralization of probability weighting effects. We experimentally examine whether equally likely outcomes are indeed perceived as equally likely. Surprisingly, we find a clear negative answer. Moderate outcomes are significantly overweighed relative to extreme outcomes. Several important implications for models of decision making and economics are discussed.
Role of the Parabrachial Nucleus on Taste Memory Formation in the Rat

This paper explores the research conducted to understand the role of the rat parabrachial nucleus (PBN) in taste-mediated behavior. Gustatory information of the PBN is modulated by three key principles: taste-visceral input from the NST, descending projections from corticofugal areas, as well as indirect signals from inhibitory GABAergic mechanisms. While these three components modify PBN activity, the convergence of signals in the PBN is significant for changes in palatability. In regards to appetitive taste formation, nutritional solutions paired with taste stimuli can increase the hedonic value of the tastant. Brain areas responsible for taste preferences include the PBN, in particular the lPBN, as demonstrated in lesion and electrical stimulation studies. On the other hand, taste aversions occur when the taste stimulus is associated with negative gastrointestinal consequences. Excitotoxic and ibotenic acid lesions of the PBN also impaired formation of taste avoidance behavior. Therefore, the PBN, with input from its complex neural circuitry, can be considered as a principal brain structure in learning and memory process of taste formation.
Trends in prevalence and outcome of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

BACKGROUND The prevalence of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction may be changing as a result of changes in population demographics and in the prevalence and treatment of risk factors for heart failure. Changes in the prevalence of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction may contribute to changes in the natural history of heart failure. We performed a study to define secular trends in the prevalence of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction among patients at a single institution over a 15-year period. METHODS We studied all consecutive patients hospitalized with decompensated heart failure at Mayo Clinic Hospitals in Olmsted County, Minnesota, from 1987 through 2001. We classified patients as having either preserved or reduced ejection fraction. The patients were also classified as community patients (Olmsted County residents) or referral patients. Secular trends in the type of heart failure, associated cardiovascular disease, and survival were defined. RESULTS A total of 6076 patients with heart failure were discharged over the 15-year period; data on ejection fraction were available for 4596 of these patients (76 percent). Of these, 53 percent had a reduced ejection fraction and 47 percent had a preserved ejection fraction. The proportion of patients with the diagnosis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction increased over time and was significantly higher among community patients than among referral patients (55 percent vs. 45 percent). The prevalence rates of hypertension, atrial fibrillation, and diabetes among patients with heart failure increased significantly over time. Survival was slightly better among patients with preserved ejection fraction (adjusted hazard ratio for death, 0.96; P=0.01). Survival improved over time for those with reduced ejection fraction but not for those with preserved ejection fraction. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction increased over a 15-year period, while the rate of death from this disorder remained unchanged. These trends underscore the importance of this growing public health problem.
Differentiating normal and disordered personality using the General Assessment of Personality Disorder (GAPD).

Criteria to differentiate personality disorder from extremes of normal personality variations are important given growing interest in dimensional classification because an extreme level of a personality dimension does not necessarily indicate disorder. The DSM-5 proposed classification of personality disorder offers a definition of general personality disorder based on chronic interpersonal and self/identity pathology. The ability of this approach to differentiate personality disorder from other mental disorders was evaluated using a self-report questionnaire, the General Assessment of Personality Disorder (GAPD). This measure was administered to a sample of psychiatric patients (N = 149) from different clinical sub-sites. Patients were divided into personality disordered and non-personality disordered groups on the basis of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis II Disorders (SCID-II). The results showed a hit rate of 82% correct identified patients and a good accuracy of the predicted model. There was a substantial agreement between SCID-II interview and GAPD personality disorder diagnoses. The GAPD appears to predict personality disorder in general, which provides support of the DSM-5 general diagnostic criteria of personality disorder.
The Impact of A “Brief ECT Orientation Module” on The Knowledge and Attitudes of Medical Students Towards ECT in India

Background: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) continues to be an intervention that attracts controversy in spite of its proven efficacy. There is limited literature on attitude and knowledge of medical students towards ECT from Asian and African countries. Aim: The current study assesses the impact of a “Brief ECT Orientation Module” on the knowledge of and attitudes of Indian medical students towards modified ECT. Subjects and Methods: The study was conducted at a tertiary care multi-specialty hospital associated with a government medical college. The students were administered the study questionnaire on Day 1 of Psychiatry clerkship. Following this, they were administered the Brief ECT Orientation Module. Assessment was made using a questionnaire with items related to knowledge and attitude towards ECT before and after “Brief ECT Orientation Module. ” Results: Fifty-nine students completed the study. There was a significant improvement in knowledge of medical students on all the three domains of the questionnaire for assessment of knowledge about ECT-related facts. A change in attitudes towards ECT was also observed following Brief ECT Orientation Module, especially among those who witnessed ECT administration. Conclusion: The findings of the current study suggest that the Brief ECT Orientation Module is effective in improving the knowledge and attitude of medical students towards ECT.
An evaluation of Success and Dyslexia – a multi component school-based coping program for primary school students with learning disabilities: Is it feasible?

A learning disabilities coping program was implemented in the final year of two primary schools within the context of a whole class coping program and whole school learning disabilities professional development. Using data collected over three years from school surveys, reports, interviews, school documents and a field diary, this paper reports on the feasibility of implementing and sustaining this intervention. The schools successfully implemented the program and continue to use components of it. Facilitators were: priority given by the school, usefulness and ease of use of the coping program, teacher skill and interest and maintenance of the connection between the universal and withdrawal aspects of the program. It is likely there is a need for increased presence of the above facilitators for continued implementation of all components of the intervention to be sustained.
Treating Justice Involved Persons with Mental Illness

In this article, we present the results of a preliminary evaluation of a comprehensive treatment program specifically designed to treat co-occurring issues of mental illness and criminal risk in persons with mental illness (PMI) that are criminal justice involved. Participants include 47 incarcerated male PMI in a secure psychiatric prison or a residential treatment facility. Of the 47 participants, 31 (66%) completed the program, attended 94% of all sessions, completed 83% of assigned homework, and actively participated in treatment sessions as evidenced by participation ratings. Change was examined using a four-tiered assessment strategy, including pre–post significance testing, magnitude of effect sizes, clinical cutoffs, and reliable change indices. Results showed evidence of strong therapeutic alliance and treatment program satisfaction, as well as symptom reduction and some evidence for reduced criminal thinking. Program modifications and implications for enhancing service delivery to justice involved PMI are discussed.
Looking at learning approaches from the angle of student profiles

This study starts with investigating the relation of perceived workload, motivation for learning and working memory capacity (WMC) with students’ approaches to learning. Secondly, this study investigates if differences exist between different student profiles concerning their approach to the learning and the influence of workloads thereon. Results show a relation for workload and motivation but not for WMC. By means of a cluster analysis, three student profiles were identified based on WMC and motivation. Students characterised by high WMC and average motivation scored higher on surface approaches and lower on deep approaches than students with high autonomous motivation. These latter students also score higher on deep approaches than students characterised by low WMC. Finally, it was found that all student profiles responded the same to the influence of workload. In contrast with prior research, deep approaches were higher when the workload was higher.
Extensive Genomic Diversity in Pathogenic Escherichia coli and Shigella Strains Revealed by Comparative Genomic Hybridization Microarray

ABSTRACT Escherichia coli, including the closely related genus Shigella, is a highly diverse species in terms of genome structure. Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) microarray analysis was used to compare the gene content of E. coli K-12 with the gene contents of pathogenic strains. Missing genes in a pathogen were detected on a microarray slide spotted with 4,071 open reading frames (ORFs) of W3110, a commonly used wild-type K-12 strain. For 22 strains subjected to the CGH microarray analyses 1,424 ORFs were found to be absent in at least one strain. The common backbone of the E. coli genome was estimated to contain about 2,800 ORFs. The mosaic distribution of absent regions indicated that the genomes of pathogenic strains were highly diversified becasue of insertions and deletions. Prophages, cell envelope genes, transporter genes, and regulator genes in the K-12 genome often were not present in pathogens. The gene contents of the strains tested were recognized as a matrix for a neighbor-joining analysis. The phylogenic tree obtained was consistent with the results of previous studies. However, unique relationships between enteroinvasive strains and Shigella, uropathogenic, and some enteropathogenic strains were suggested by the results of this study. The data demonstrated that the CGH microarray technique is useful not only for genomic comparisons but also for phylogenic analysis of E. coli at the strain level.
Restored Circulating Invariant NKT Cells Are Associated with Viral Control in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B

Invariant NKT (iNKT) cells are involved in the pathogenesis of various infectious diseases. However, their role in hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is not fully understood, especially in human species. In this study, 35 chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients, 25 inactive carriers (IC) and 36 healthy controls (HC) were enrolled and the proportions of circulating iNKT cells in fresh isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were detected by flow cytometry. A longitudinal analysis was also conducted in 19 CHB patients who received antiviral therapy with telbivudine. Thereafter, the immune functions of iNKT cells were evaluated by cytokine secretion and a two-chamber technique. The median frequency of circulating iNKT cells in CHB patients (0.13%) was lower than that in HC (0.24%, P = 0.01) and IC (0.19%, P = 0.02), and increased significantly during antiviral therapy with telbivudine (P = 0.0176). The expressions of CC chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) and CCR6 were dramatically higher on iNKT cells (82.83%±9.87%, 67.67%±16.83% respectively) than on conventional T cells (30.5%±5.65%, 14.02%±5.92%, both P<0.001) in CHB patients. Furthermore, iNKT cells could migrate toward the CC chemokine ligand 5. Patients with a high ratio (≥1.0) of CD4−/CD4+ iNKT cells at baseline had a higher rate (58.33%) of HBeAg seroconversion than those with a low ratio (<1.0, 0%, P = 0.0174). In conclusion, there is a low frequency of peripheral iNKT cells in CHB patients, which increases to normal levels with viral control. The ratio of CD4−/CD4+ iNKT cells at baseline may be a useful predictor for HBeAg seroconversion in CHB patients on telbivudine therapy.
Saffold Cardioviruses of 3 Lineages in Children with Respiratory Tract Infections, Beijing, China

To clarify the potential for respiratory transmission of Saffold cardiovirus (SAFV) and characterize the pathogen, we analyzed respiratory specimens from 1,558 pediatric patients in Beijing. We detected SAFV in 7 (0.5%) patients and identified lineages 1–3. However, because 3 patients had co-infections, we could not definitively say SAFV caused disease.
A Comparative Quality Evaluation of PBSMT and NMT using Professional Translators

This paper reports on a comparative evaluation of phrase-based statistical machine translation (PBSMT) and neural machine translation (NMT) for four language pairs, using the PET interface to compare educational domain output from both systems using a variety of metrics, including automatic evaluation as well as human rankings of adequacy and fluency, error-type markup, and post-editing (technical and temporal) effort, performed by professional translators. Our results show a preference for NMT in side-by-side ranking for all language pairs, texts, and segment lengths. In addition, perceived fluency is improved and annotated errors are fewer in the NMT output. Results are mixed for perceived adequacy and for errors of omission, addition, and mistranslation. Despite far fewer segments requiring post-editing, document-level post-editing performance was not found to have significantly improved in NMT compared to PBSMT. This evaluation was conducted as part of the TraMOOC project, which aims to create a replicable semi-automated methodology for high-quality machine translation of educational data.