Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Mating Designs for Establishing Nested Association Mapping Populations in Maize and Arabidopsis thaliana

The nested association mapping (NAM) strategy promises to combine the advantages of linkage mapping and association mapping. The objectives of my research were to (i) investigate by computer simulations the power and type I error rate for detecting quantitative trait loci (QTL) with additive effects using recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations of maize derived from various mating designs, (ii) compare these estimates to those obtained for RIL populations of Arabidopsis thaliana, (iii) examine for both species the optimum number of inbreds used as parents of the NAM populations, and (iv) provide on the basis of the results of these two model species a general guideline for the design of NAM populations in other plant species. The computer simulations were based on empirical data of a set of 26 diverse maize inbred lines and a set of 20 A. thaliana inbreds both representing a large part of the genetic diversity of the corresponding species. I observed considerable differences in the power for QTL detection between NAM populations of the same size but created on the basis of different crossing schemes. This finding illustrated the potential to improve the power for QTL detection without increasing the total resources necessary for a QTL mapping experiment. Furthermore, my results clearly indicated that it is advantageous to create NAM populations from a large number of parental inbreds.
Work Stress Reactivity and Health Outcomes: A Study of Nurses

i Dedication . iii Acknowledgements. iv List of Tables . vii List of Figures . viii Chapter 1: Introduction/Overview . 1 Stressors and Reactivity.1 Drawing Relationships Between Reactivity and Outcomes . 4 This Dissertation . 7 Chapter 2: The Study of Stressors . 10 History.10 Stressor-Focused Inquiries.12 Stressors in the Work Context . 15 The Transactional Model of Stress and Coping.20 Appraisal . 20 Coping.23 Influences or Effects of Stressors . 25 Chapter 3: Reactivity . 29 Reactivity and its Individual-Level Correlates . 31 Situational/Dynamic Influences on Reactivity . 34 Behavioral Reactivity.36 Effects of Reactivity . 37 Chapter 4: Behavioral Reactivity, Health, and Well-Being.40 Health Behavior . 42 Well-Being.49 Chapter 5: The Current Study.54 Work Stressors and Health in Nursing.54 Reactivity and Health.56 Hypotheses.58 Contributions.62 Chapter 6: Method . 64 The Oregon Nurse Retention Project.64 Participants.64 Measures . 65 Procedures.71 Analysis.72 vi Chapter 7: Results . 80 Stressors and Health Behaviors . 80 Reactivity Slopes and Outcomes . 84 Chapter 8: Discussion . 94 Patterns of Reactivity.95 Reactivity as a Predictor . 100 Limitations and Suggestions for Future Studies . 106 Contributions, Implications, and Conclusion.110 References.132 Appendix A: Measures by Timepoint.159
Protein Export Marks the Early Phase of Gametocytogenesis of the Human Malaria Parasite Plasmodium falciparum*

Despite over a century of study of malaria parasites, parts of the Plasmodium falciparum life cycle remain virtually unknown. One of these is the early gametocyte stage, a round shaped cell morphologically similar to an asexual trophozoite in which major cellular transformations ensure subsequent development of the elongated gametocyte. We developed a protocol to obtain for the first time highly purified preparations of early gametocytes using a transgenic line expressing a green fluorescent protein from the onset of gametocytogenesis. We determined the cellular proteome (1427 proteins) of this parasite stage by high accuracy tandem mass spectrometry and newly determined the proteomes of asexual trophozoites and mature gametocytes, identifying altogether 1090 previously undetected parasite proteins. Quantitative label-free comparative proteomics analysis determined enriched protein clusters for the three parasite developmental stages. Gene set enrichment analysis on the 251 proteins enriched in the early gametocyte proteome revealed that proteins putatively exported and involved in erythrocyte remodeling are the most overrepresented protein set in these stages. One-tenth of the early gametocyte-enriched proteome is constituted of putatively exported proteins, here named PfGEXPs (P. falciparum gametocyte-exported proteins). N-terminal processing and N-acetylation at a conserved leucine residue within the Plasmodium export element pentamotif were detected by mass spectrometry for three such proteins in the early but not in the mature gametocyte sample, further supporting a specific role in protein export in early gametocytogenesis. Previous reports and results of our experiments confirm that the three proteins are indeed exported in the erythrocyte cytoplasm. This work indicates that protein export profoundly marks early sexual differentiation in P. falciparum, probably contributing to host cell remodeling in this phase of the life cycle, and that gametocyte-enriched molecules are recruited to modulate this process in gametocytogenesis.
A Meta‐analysis for Exploring the Diverse Causes and Effects of Stress in Teachers

This study provides a correlational meta ‐ analysis of 65 independently written or published studies on teacher stress between 1998 and 2003. We measured the relationships between teacher stress and numerous other constructs including coping, burnout, emotional responses, personality mediators, personal support, environmental structure, and background characteristics. A theoretical ‐ empirical model of construct relationships investigated across studies was developed and n = 2,527 correlational effect sizes were used to estimate the empirical relationships between the operationalized theoretical constructs. Results showed that the strongest association of teacher stressors exists with negatively oriented emotional responses confirming the central role of teachers’ coping mechanisms, personality mediators, and burnout potential according to our model of the stress cycle. Key words: stress, coping, teacher burn ‐ out, teacher emotional response Cette recherche fournit une meta ‐ analyse correlationnelle de 65 etudes, redigees ou publiees entre 1998 et 2003, sur le stress chez les enseignants. Les auteurs ont mesure les relations entre le stress des enseignants et de nombreux autres construits, dont l’adaptation au stress, l’epuisement professionnel, les reactions emotionnelles, les personality mediators, le soutien personnel, la structure du milieu et les antecedents. Un modele theorico ‐ empirique des relations entre les construits a ete elabore et des valeurs d’effets correlationnels de n = 2527 ont ete utilisees pour determiner les relations empiriques entre les construits theoriques operationalises. Les resultats demontrent que, pour les facteurs de stress chez les enseignants, l’association la plus importante se trouve du cote des reactions emotionnelles negatives, ce qui confirme le role cle des mecanismes d’adaptation au stress des enseignants, des personality mediators et du potentiel d’epuisement professionnel selon le modele du cycle du stress qui a ete utilise. Mots cles : stress, adaptation au stress, meta ‐ analyse, enseignants.
Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex Encodes Emotional Value

The ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) plays a critical role in processing appetitive stimuli. Recent investigations have shown that reward value signals in the vmPFC can be altered by emotion regulation processes; however, to what extent the processing of positive emotion relies on neural regions implicated in reward processing is unclear. Here, we investigated the effects of emotion regulation on the valuation of emotionally evocative images. Two independent experimental samples of human participants performed a cognitive reappraisal task while undergoing fMRI. The experience of positive emotions activated the vmPFC, whereas the regulation of positive emotions led to relative decreases in vmPFC activation. During the experience of positive emotions, vmPFC activation tracked participants' own subjective ratings of the valence of stimuli. Furthermore, vmPFC activation also tracked normative valence ratings of the stimuli when participants were asked to experience their emotions, but not when asked to regulate them. A separate analysis of the predictive power of vmPFC on behavior indicated that even after accounting for normative stimulus ratings and condition, increased signal in the vmPFC was associated with more positive valence ratings. These results suggest that the vmPFC encodes a domain-general value signal that tracks the value of not only external rewards, but also emotional stimuli.
A Theory of Generative ConvNet

We show that a generative random field model, which we call generative ConvNet, can be derived from the commonly used discriminative ConvNet, by assuming a ConvNet for multicategory classification and assuming one of the categories is a base category generated by a reference distribution. If we further assume that the non-linearity in the ConvNet is Rectified Linear Unit (ReLU) and the reference distribution is Gaussian white noise, then we obtain a generative ConvNet model that is unique among energy-based models: The model is piecewise Gaussian, and the means of the Gaussian pieces are defined by an auto-encoder, where the filters in the bottom-up encoding become the basis functions in the top-down decoding, and the binary activation variables detected by the filters in the bottom-up convolution process become the coefficients of the basis functions in the top-down deconvolution process. The Langevin dynamics for sampling the generative ConvNet is driven by the reconstruction error of this autoencoder. The contrastive divergence learning of the generative ConvNet reconstructs the training images by the auto-encoder. The maximum likelihood learning algorithm can synthesize realistic natural image patterns.
The Cost of Being Late: The Case of Credit Card Penalty Fees

This paper is the first in the literature to examine the determinants of US credit card penalty fees. Many critics of credit card fees - including a number of US Senators - have argued that credit card penalty fees reflect banks' market share. Using a unique data set we find that fees are increasing in customer risk which supports the position of defenders of penalty fees, such as banks. However, our finding that fees are increasing in a bank's market share is consistent with the concerns expressed by politicians and regulators. We also find card penalty fees are direct substitutes for card interest rates.
Recurrence of extreme events with power‐law interarrival times

In various geophysical applications, power‐law interarrival times are observed between extreme events. Classical extreme value theory is based on exponentially distributed interarrivals and can not be applied to these processes. We solve for the density of the maxima of a sequence of random extreme events with any distribution of random interarrivals by applying a continuous time random max model, similar to a random walk model. The equation is exact when the distributions of the exceedances and the interarrivals are known. If only the tail properties of the exceedances and interarrivals can be estimated, then limiting extreme value distributions governing the maximum observation or exceedance are used. The general extreme value densities are obtained by transforming the classical extreme value distributions via subordination. This new class of extreme value densities can be used to obtain recurrence intervals for extreme events with power‐law interarrivals.
What role does leaders' emotional labor play in effective leadership? An empirical examination

An increasing stream of research has shown that leaders‟ emotions have substantial impact on followers‟ attitudes and performance. However, this line of research has not explored the psychological process leaders use to generate and express their emotions. This is an important gap in the leadership literature because theoretical and empirical work suggests that leaders do manage their feelings and / or expressions of emotions in leader-follower interactions. Therefore, to fill this critical gap, this dissertation examined the role of leaders‟ emotional labor on followers‟ attitudes and performance and on leaders‟ attitudes and well-being. A longitudinal survey design was employed to test study hypotheses. Data were collected from supervisors and their direct reports in three business organizations in the Midwest. Results show that leaders‟ surface acting was significantly negatively associated with followers‟ transformational leadership perceptions, which were positively related to follower job satisfaction, organizational identification, task performance, and organizational citizenship behavior directed toward the organization (OCB-O). Leaders‟ deep acting and display of genuine emotions were positively related to followers‟ emotional engagement, which was positively related to job satisfaction, organizational identification, and OCB-O. In addition, the mean level of leaders‟ expressed positive emotions moderated the relationship between leaders‟ display of genuine emotions and followers‟ positive emotional reactions, such that leaders‟ display of genuine emotions had the most positive effect when followers perceived that the mean level of leaders‟ expressed emotions was highly positive. Consistent with my arguments, transformational leadership and positive emotional reactions were positively related to emotional
Psychoeducation in schizophrenia--results of a survey of all psychiatric institutions in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

INTRODUCTION Psychoeducation can reduce rehospitalization rates and mental health costs in schizophrenia. The aims of this study were to investigate the percentage of patients and family members participating in psychoeducation in the year 2003 and to evaluate how psychoeducation was conducted. METHODS Part I of a 2-part postal survey was sent to the heads of all psychiatric institutions in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland; part II was sent directly to the moderators of psychoeducational groups. Responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS Psychoeducation was offered in 86% of the responding institutions and in 84% of these for schizophrenia (response quotas: part I, 54%; part II, 55%). A mean of 21% of the patients with schizophrenia and 2% of their family members had taken part in psychoeducation in the responding institutions in the year 2003. DISCUSSION Many readmissions and thus significant costs to the health system and substantial human suffering could be avoided if more patients and their family members participated in psychoeducation. New approaches to offering more psychoeducation would consist in integration of the entire psychiatric team into psychoeducation and peer-to-peer strategies.
Dopaminergic activity in depressed smokers: A positron emission tomography study

Tobacco dependence is highly prevalent in depressed patients. We assessed changes in [11C]‐raclopride binding potential (BP) using positron emission tomography (PET) before and after the oral administration of d‐amphetamine in healthy controls and unmedicated patients with current depression with and without current tobacco dependence. Over a single study day 2 [11C]‐raclopride positron emission tomography scans were taken in 38 subjects: at baseline and 2 h following oral d‐amphetamine 30 mg. Twenty controls (9 smokers, 11 nonsmokers) and 18 subjects with current major depressive episode (8 smokers, 10 non‐smokers). Striatal [11C]‐raclopride binding potential was measured before and after d‐amphetamine administration. Depressed smokers had a lower baseline [11C]‐raclopride binding potential compared with both control non‐smokers (P < 0.007) and depressed non‐smokers (P < 0.001). There was a main effect of smoking status on amphetamine‐induced change in [11C]‐raclopride binding potential (P < 0.02), but no main effect of depression. This may be due to a floor effect because of the low BP at baseline. Depressed subjects reported significant increase of positive mood after d‐amphetamine administration compared with controls (depressed smokers vs. control smokers: P < 0.05; depressed non‐smokers vs. controls: P < 0.055). Tobacco dependence appears to decrease d‐amphetamine‐induced changes in [11C]‐raclopride binding potential as measured by positron emission tomography. Comorbid major depression and tobacco dependence exacerbates this effect, suggesting an altered dopamine system in comorbid patients. Synapse 63:681–689, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Prevalence of livestock-associated MRSA in broiler flocks and risk factors for slaughterhouse personnel in The Netherlands

SUMMARY To determine methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carriage in poultry and slaughterhouse personnel, 40 Dutch broiler flocks, in six slaughterhouses and 466 personnel were sampled. Of the employees, 26 were positive (5·6%), indicating a higher risk of exposure when compared to the general Dutch population (0·1%). This risk was significantly higher for personnel having contact with live animals (5·2%) – especially hanging broilers on the slaughterline (20·0%) – than for all other personnel (1·9%). Conventional electric stunning conferred a significantly higher risk of MRSA carriage for employees than CO2 stunning (9·7% vs. 2·0%). A total of 405 broilers were sampled upon their arrival at the slaughterhouse, of which 6·9% were positive. These broilers originated from 40 Dutch slaughter flocks of which 35·0% were positive. MRSA contamination in the different compartments of slaughterhouses increased during the production day, from 8% to 35%. Of the 119 MRSA isolates, predominantly livestock-associated MRSA ST398 was found, although 27·7% belonged to ST9 (spa type t1430). There is an increased risk of MRSA carriage in personnel working at broiler slaughterhouses, particularly those having contact with live animals.
Academic Achievement and Psychological Distress among Muslim Adolescents Attending Public High Schools

Islamic norms and Islamophobia present unique challenges for Muslim adolescents attending public high schools in United States. Yet, Muslim youth see Islam not just as religion but also as a guiding force and a way of life. Additionally, they negotiate multiple social identities based on race, ethnicity, social class, and gender. This study addressed the question: What is the relationship between gender, religiosity, and acculturation of Muslim adolescents and their perceptions of three school contextual variables – perceived support from teachers, school structural support for religious practices, and acculturative hassles – to their academic achievement, educational aspirations, and psychological distress? Islamic religiosity was found to be significantly positively associated with both academic performance and educational expectations. American and native culture acculturation was positively associated with higher educational expectations. Female Muslim students reported performing academically just as well as their male cohorts and had comparable high educational and professional aspirations. Additionally, this study found that although most Muslim students reported experiencing a moderate to high number of hassles at school unique to their religion, they did not find them severe enough to affect their academic achievement and expectations. However, hassles were positively associated with psychological distress. Further, students reported receiving moderate to high teacher support from most of their teachers which was significantly associated to their academic achievement. The adolescents also report moderate levels of structural support at school for their religious practices. The findings of the study thus, augment as well as contradict prior literature. The above findings contradict literature that tends to emphasize underperformance of female Muslim students and lack of support from teachers in general. Further, the study findings elaborate the existing literature by establishing the positive link between religiosity and academic engagement, and number of acculturative hassles and higher psychological distress among high school Muslim students. The results of this study thus, underscore the importance of further research on the contribution of individual level coping and adaptation and the role of school context in the academic engagement and psychological adjustment of Muslim high school students. Several recommendations for future research with this hard to access population are also made.
Education as related to job satisfaction and health

In Sweden, there are considerable health differences between social groups and between women and men. Regardless of social position, women often report more symptoms than men. The aim of this study was to investigate how education is related to job satisfaction and to different aspects of well-being and symptoms in a nationally representative cohort of middle-aged women and men with children. Moreover, the study aimed to investigate the associations between education, job satisfaction, working-hours, partner status, number of children and various aspects of health. Regardless of gender, a long education was associated with significantly higher levels of general job satisfaction, sense of coherence, self-acceptance, purpose in life, personal growth and fewer physical and mental symptoms. General job satisfaction was a significant predictor of all health-related measures, apart from purpose in life. On the whole, men reported a better health compared to women who reported significantly more physical as well as psychological symptoms.
Mandibular Tori: A source of autogenous bone graft

Restoration of lost alveolar bone support remains as one of the main objectives of periodontal surgery. Amongst the various types of bone grafts available for grafting procedures, autogenous bone grafts are considered to be the gold standard in alveolar defect reconstruction. Although there are various sources for autogenous grafts including the mandibular symphysis and ramus, they are almost invariably not contiguous with the area to be augmented. An alternative mandibular donor site that is continuous with the recipient area and would eliminate the need for an extra surgical site is the tori/exostoses. Bone grafting was planned for this patient as there were angular bone loss present between 35-36 and 36-37. As the volume of bone required was less and bilateral tori were present on the lingual side above the mylohyoid line, the tori was removed and used as a source of autogenous bone graft, which were unnecessary bony extensions present on the mandible and continuous with the recipient area. Post-operative radiographs taken at 6 and 12 month intervals showed good bone fill and also areas of previous pockets, which did not probe after treatment indicates the success of the treatment. The use of mandibular tori as a source of autogenous bone graft should be considered whenever a patient requires bone grafting procedure to be done and presents with a tori.
A theoretical interpretation of the main scrape-off layer heat-flux width scaling for tokamak inner-wall limited plasmas

The International Tokamak Physics Activity Topical Group on scrape-off layer and divertor physics has amassed a database comprising hundreds of reciprocating Langmuir probe measurements of the main scrape-off layer heat-flux width λq in inner-wall limited discharges. We have carried out an analysis, based on turbulent transport theory, of the variation of λq with respect to the dimensionless plasma parameters. Restricting our analysis to circular plasmas, we find that a model based on non-linearly saturated turbulence can well reproduce the λq values found in the database.